Laster - Andermans Mijne (Prophecy Productions) [Matt Bladen]
Self described as "Obscure Dance Music" Laster are the sound of the The Cure jamming with Alcest while a band such as Kraftwerk oversee and Wiegedood take notes. Hailing from The Netherlands, they are a band that defy genre classification, jangling indie guitars make way for waves of black metal blasting as jazz rhythms (Achterstevoren) are paired with art pop on the start stop Poëtische Waarheid.
Decked out in half masks and working on the basis of music as expression, they're about as Avant Garde as you can get, the frequent genre shifts on Vorm Alleen are breakneck, black metal blastbeats unrelenting, but there's layers to all of their songs that mean you have to listen to this record a few times to let it grow on you, that's not to say there's no immediately, you can just pick up and play but to understand it you have to repeat it.
Decked out in half masks and working on the basis of music as expression, they're about as Avant Garde as you can get, the frequent genre shifts on Vorm Alleen are breakneck, black metal blastbeats unrelenting, but there's layers to all of their songs that mean you have to listen to this record a few times to let it grow on you, that's not to say there's no immediately, you can just pick up and play but to understand it you have to repeat it.
They are a band that revel in their obscurity, the mysterious image and the genre-bending style of music they play. They're a perfect fit for Damnation festival and I think they open one of the stages. Definitely worth checking out if you want to start your day with rampaging blast beats and hip shaking boogie. I'd not heard of Laster before this album but they are a unique prospect in the world of metal. 8/10
This was an interesting album to me. It was a harmony of nature as well as brutal death metal. I think that this album has many things going for it, but I want more of everything. With only three songs, I feel like I was left desiring more from As The Sun Falls.
I have not seen an album transport me to a place of natural stillness as well as this album did. There were more multiple points where I felt like going to the mountains and watching a river go by while listening to this. It is an unusual thing to experience when listening to death metal, but I enjoyed it. To me, it made this album unique and fresh.
The actual metal parts were great as well. It is easy to overlook them in favor of the atmospheric sections, but you cannot deny the skill behind this album. The mix was clear and easy to digest, as well as having a thick tone to make those metal sounds come to life. I loved how the mix let the instruments breathe. With more symphonic elements, an album like this can quickly become overwhelming. As The Sun Falls avoids this with the clarity in which they play.
The only negative thing I can say is that I want more than three songs. 9/10
Nuclear Assault - Radiation Sickness (Cherry Red Records) [Matt Bladen]
For the first time ever Nuclear Assault's Radiation Sickness is released on CD. Recorded at Hammersmith Odeon in 1987 while they were on tour in the UK supporting their debut Game Over and the subsequent EP The Plague. Formed by fired Anthrax bassist Dan Lilker and vocalist/guitarist John Connelly Nuclear Assault are a more aggressive style of thrash than Anthrax's edging more to the crossover/hardcore punk influence than the classic metal of many of their contemporaries.
Hang The Pope and Lesbians are 51 seconds and 48 seconds, respectively short blasts of aggression while Vengeance closes this 31 minute set with the same attitude Betrayal opens it with. The production is rough as a badgers ass but for you thrash fanatics you won't care. As much as I dislike Connelly's vocals you can help but admire the sheer ferocity of Nuclear Assault on a live stage. If you've not heard it or owned it before now is your chance. 6/10
Sadistic Force - Midnight Assassin (Goat Throne Records) [Jeremy Silverman]
This album was the epitome of raw energy. You can clearly tell that these three men want to come out swinging, and they do. Sadistic Force is low production, high speeds to the maximum.
The things in which this album excelled were extremely prevalent. It was easy to see that this band wanted their album to be very fast and very loud. I enjoyed how brutal and rough around the edges this album was. With ravaging riffs and intense, guttural vocals, Sadistic Force hits you in the face with sound.
I think the standouts for this album were the vocals and the guitars. This is where the band gets creative. They have a sort of Black N’ Roll feel going on for this album, with some parts being very four on the floor and straight forward. I liked how seamlessly Sadistic Force moved from these sections to traditional black metal. It was as if they gave you just a short break of sonic overload to draw you back into the album.
There were a few things that took me out of the album at first, but I was able to overcome them by the end. I thought the drums were a little too rough for me. I understood why they were the way that they were, but it took me out for a moment. The drummer himself was excellent, I just think it was a combination of the mix as well as the production. Absolute raw energy. 7/10
Sadistic Force - Midnight Assassin (Goat Throne Records) [Jeremy Silverman]
This album was the epitome of raw energy. You can clearly tell that these three men want to come out swinging, and they do. Sadistic Force is low production, high speeds to the maximum.
The things in which this album excelled were extremely prevalent. It was easy to see that this band wanted their album to be very fast and very loud. I enjoyed how brutal and rough around the edges this album was. With ravaging riffs and intense, guttural vocals, Sadistic Force hits you in the face with sound.
I think the standouts for this album were the vocals and the guitars. This is where the band gets creative. They have a sort of Black N’ Roll feel going on for this album, with some parts being very four on the floor and straight forward. I liked how seamlessly Sadistic Force moved from these sections to traditional black metal. It was as if they gave you just a short break of sonic overload to draw you back into the album.
There were a few things that took me out of the album at first, but I was able to overcome them by the end. I thought the drums were a little too rough for me. I understood why they were the way that they were, but it took me out for a moment. The drummer himself was excellent, I just think it was a combination of the mix as well as the production. Absolute raw energy. 7/10
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