Grave Digger: Fields Of Blood (Napalm Records) [Matt Bladen]
After 40 years (!) Grave Digger reach 20 albums. Fields Of Blood is the final part of their Scottish Highlands Trilogy, the first was Tunes Of War in 1996, the second The Clans Will Rise Again in 2010 and once again Grave Digger have brought their Teutonic Metal assault in force. Why a German band have written three albums about Scottish historical/fantasy is beyond me but hey, Serenity are Austrian and their historical scope goes across Europe, at least parts of this record were actually recorded in the Scottish Highlands. Now after 40 years Grave Digger know what works and what their (probably rabid) fan base want from their albums so after the intro of The Bonnie Banks Of Loch Lomond we get the first proper track All For The Kingdom which has some sturdy trad metal guitar riffs from Axel Ritt that comes straight out of the 80's, though the modern production means that the piledriving rhythms of Jens Becker (bass) and Marcus Kniep (drums) batter you with some low down grooves.
Musically this is a trad metal assault as if grunge never happened it's laser focussed riffs from moment one leaving Chris Boltendahl able to deliver the massive choruses of Lions Of The Sea and Freedom (about William Wallace), often repeated ad nauseum, with his gruff delivery. Now sometimes a repeated chorus can be a tad annoying however it does make many of these tracks earworms, I was singing Lions Of The Sea for hours afterwards! The concept also allows them to ramp up the theatrical elements, with bagpipes throughout as you would expect, most prominently on Gathering Of The Clans and on the stomping Heart Of Scotland, which blatantly steals from Over The Hills And Far Away in the middle/solo section. They manage to to recruit Noora from Battle Beast on Thousand Tears, which as a ballad is the weakest track.
It's a minor blip though in an otherwise very good fist pounding metal album from this very, VERY, experienced metal unit. After 40 years Grave Digger are still delivering the goods with tracks like My Final Fight. Top flight German metal is like top flight German football, highly skilled, full of machine like precision but bloody entertaining. 7/10
Xibalba: Años En Infierno (Southern Lord Records) [Rich Oliver]
Años En Infierno is the fourth album from California hardcore death metallers Xibalba. This is my first exposure to this band and upon reading the words death metal and hardcore terrible images of the defilement that is deathcore came to mind but thankfully Xibalba are not a horrid deathcore band instead being a fetid mix of old school death metal, bruising hardcore and dirgy doom metal.
After 40 years (!) Grave Digger reach 20 albums. Fields Of Blood is the final part of their Scottish Highlands Trilogy, the first was Tunes Of War in 1996, the second The Clans Will Rise Again in 2010 and once again Grave Digger have brought their Teutonic Metal assault in force. Why a German band have written three albums about Scottish historical/fantasy is beyond me but hey, Serenity are Austrian and their historical scope goes across Europe, at least parts of this record were actually recorded in the Scottish Highlands. Now after 40 years Grave Digger know what works and what their (probably rabid) fan base want from their albums so after the intro of The Bonnie Banks Of Loch Lomond we get the first proper track All For The Kingdom which has some sturdy trad metal guitar riffs from Axel Ritt that comes straight out of the 80's, though the modern production means that the piledriving rhythms of Jens Becker (bass) and Marcus Kniep (drums) batter you with some low down grooves.
Musically this is a trad metal assault as if grunge never happened it's laser focussed riffs from moment one leaving Chris Boltendahl able to deliver the massive choruses of Lions Of The Sea and Freedom (about William Wallace), often repeated ad nauseum, with his gruff delivery. Now sometimes a repeated chorus can be a tad annoying however it does make many of these tracks earworms, I was singing Lions Of The Sea for hours afterwards! The concept also allows them to ramp up the theatrical elements, with bagpipes throughout as you would expect, most prominently on Gathering Of The Clans and on the stomping Heart Of Scotland, which blatantly steals from Over The Hills And Far Away in the middle/solo section. They manage to to recruit Noora from Battle Beast on Thousand Tears, which as a ballad is the weakest track.
It's a minor blip though in an otherwise very good fist pounding metal album from this very, VERY, experienced metal unit. After 40 years Grave Digger are still delivering the goods with tracks like My Final Fight. Top flight German metal is like top flight German football, highly skilled, full of machine like precision but bloody entertaining. 7/10
Xibalba: Años En Infierno (Southern Lord Records) [Rich Oliver]
Años En Infierno is the fourth album from California hardcore death metallers Xibalba. This is my first exposure to this band and upon reading the words death metal and hardcore terrible images of the defilement that is deathcore came to mind but thankfully Xibalba are not a horrid deathcore band instead being a fetid mix of old school death metal, bruising hardcore and dirgy doom metal.
The first thing that strikes you is the gargantuan guitar tone which is so damn heavy it threatens to loosen one's bowels. The riffing is simplistic but devastatingly effective and the breakdowns are used effectively and sparingly and not just used as a cheap effect to mask shoddy songwriting. La Injustica kicks things off in absolutely crushing style with a barrage of riffs, crushing groove and face wrecking breakdowns. Corredor De La Muerte slows the pace right down being a far sludgier and doomy affair whilst Saka has a tribal rhythm about it mixed in with punishing groove whilst the title track is utter filth with blastbeats and primitive bludgeoning violence.
Xibalba have a cracker of an album here that shows that hardcore and death metal can be good bedfellows when done right. The production by Arthur Rizk further adds to the building wrecking amounts of carnage this album deals out. If you are in the mood for some skull crushing violence then Xibalba will definitely scratch that itch for you. 8/10
Crooked Horns: The Metamorphosis (Self Released) [Paul Scoble]
Crooked Horns have been in existence since 2012. The 3 piece, made up of Wictor A. Lindström on Guitar and Vocals, Robert Persson on Lead Guitar and Patrick Kullberg on Drums, have made 2 demos before this debut album. The band, based in Gothenburg, formed with the intent to make Rock and Roll with Black Metal influences, and have broadly succeeded in their intentions, although in my opinion it’s closer to Black Metal with some Rock and Roll influences. To my ear the main sound on offer on this album is a mix of Swedish Black Metal in the vein of Watain or Dissection, and the style of Black Metal that Immortal have employed since At Heart Of Winter and perfected on Sons Of Northern Darkness.
The album opens with Vargr which opens with some very nice blasting drums and tremolo picked riffs, after this it goes into a more riffy style that is quite reminiscent of the Immortal track Beyond The North Waves. The track goes back into some nice chaotic blasting before a very heavy ending. The track Anathema is closer to the Swedish Black metal sound, it features some very effective Tremolo picked riffs and has a very dramatic chorus. Another stand out track is Aconitum Napellus which is very thrashy black metal, with a definite punky feel to it, and is absolutely filled with energy and drive, something it shares with the track Nebel.
The album comes to a close with the track In Visions - In Dreams. In Visions - In Dreams starts slow and discordant riffs, which help to drive the track forwards. The song then goes into a faster and very melodic section that tuneful and deeply melodic, there is a feel that I would normally associate with more traditional forms of heavy metal, maybe even a little bit like NWOBHM, the song also has a very effective guitar solo and is a fantastically musical way to end the album. Metamorphosis is a great piece of melodic and tuneful Black Metal. The songwriting is very accomplished, something that is doubly impressive due to this being the bands first album. If you are looking for some very enjoyable Black Metal, packed with melody, great riffs and some very impressive blasting, look no further. 8/10
Centinex: Death In Pieces (Agonia Records) [Dr Claire Hanley]
Sirens. Strong start. I instantly leap out of my skin, having conjured up graphic visual imagery of Silent Hill. Luckily, when the wailing dissipates, I am greeted with blistering riffs and Pyramid Head is nowhere in sight. Only Death Remains is a vibrant and energetic track, with just the right amount of oomph to keep the death metal crowd happy - much like the most recent incarnation of Exodus. Vocals alternate between a barking tone and a raspy growl, equivalent to gargling on a tonne of gravel, during Derelict Souls. This song has a much slower pace but its prominence is sustained by the drummer, particularly the precision of the double kicks. A solid headbanger of a track. By the time you're subject to God Ends.
Here, you're assured that the band are skilled in delivering their brand of bouncy brutality. However, from this point onwards the tracks start to lose their identity. Tomb Of The Dead and Beyond The Dark are similar intense chug-fests. Human Torch and Cauterized, despite their persistent momentum and savage tone, blend into the background. That being said, you're treated to a momentary peek at the epic bassline during the instrumental track, Pieces. However, the bass is buried in the mix for the majority of the record, which is disappointing as it could've been much better utilised to add some variety and maintain interest. The stunning vocal performance on Sacrifice is also a noteworthy, standout element. The album ends on a high with Sky Turning Grey, which catapults the listener back to the type of upbeat double kicks and dominant distinctive riffs that opened the record, with so much potential.
Centinex are clearly experts when it comes to blending the influences of death and thrash metal, which they split straight down the middle. This is no easy feat, so respect where its due. While they are masters of their art, the individual tracks on Death In Pieces blur together, and things get repetitive very quickly, to the extent where the record doesn't bring much in the way of inspiring new material to the table. 6/10.
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