Anaal Nathrakh: Endarkenment (Metal Blade Records) [Lucas Tuckwood]
Birmingham’s finest lunatics Anaal Nathrakh are back and more mental than ever- it’s their latest record, Endarkenment. Brimming with ten utterly filthy tracks that venture across just about every single solitary subgenre within extreme metal, it’s a ceaseless assault of black metal-infused grind that’s sure to leave listeners in awe. Let me be the first to say folks, that this album is absolutely crazy. As stated by the artists themselves, it’s “a musical bath in sulphuric acid”, and that’s as good a description as any. While programmed drum tracks are a divisive topic, I find that here they hit far more often than they miss, as they machine-gun away beneath the riffs. Musically, Nathrakh incorporate rapid grindcore blast beats with black metal style riffing, but this time, certain songs incorporate melodic choruses akin to traditional power metal.
Birmingham’s finest lunatics Anaal Nathrakh are back and more mental than ever- it’s their latest record, Endarkenment. Brimming with ten utterly filthy tracks that venture across just about every single solitary subgenre within extreme metal, it’s a ceaseless assault of black metal-infused grind that’s sure to leave listeners in awe. Let me be the first to say folks, that this album is absolutely crazy. As stated by the artists themselves, it’s “a musical bath in sulphuric acid”, and that’s as good a description as any. While programmed drum tracks are a divisive topic, I find that here they hit far more often than they miss, as they machine-gun away beneath the riffs. Musically, Nathrakh incorporate rapid grindcore blast beats with black metal style riffing, but this time, certain songs incorporate melodic choruses akin to traditional power metal.
It’s a strange blend, but it pays off tremendously well, as these tracks are some of the most memorable songs on offer here, as Dave Hunt not only demonstrates his ability to growl like an evil beast, but the ability to hit some real melodic notes too. There’s still plenty of that traditional, truly filthy grindcore these lads are known for, and though I’m not grindcore’s biggest fan, I found every track to be pretty enjoyable. These more melodic songs include the title track, The Age Of Starlight and Feeding The Death Machine, and they’re some really incredible experiments in genre blending. In conclusion, what you’ve got here is in equal parts a great grindcore album with black metal influence, as well as an excellent splicing of power metal trappings. There’s even a song here called A Pig With Cocks In Its Eyes, just in case you were thinking that this album lacks that loveable, huggable extreme metal obscenity. Thoroughly recommended. 8/10
Ascension Of The Watchers: Apocrypha (Dissonance Records) [Paul Hutchings]
Formed in 2002, Fear Factory frontman Burton C. Bell had retreated to Pennsylvania under John Bechdel’s mentorship for seven months. The result was Iconoclast, a demo that combined textured melodies with Bell’s distinctive vocals and a combined gothic and industrial sound. In 2008 the debut LP, Numinosum, was released through 13th Planet, the label of Ministry legend Al Jourgensen. As well as playing some intimate shows, the band supported Killing Joke for their reunion tour in honor of their fallen friend, Paul Raven, who had played a key part on Numinosum.
12 years later, and the sophomore release has arrived. Recorded at drummer Jayce Lewis’ Northstone Studios near Bridgend in South Wales, the album was beset by the collapse of the crowdfunding venture Pledgemusic that had seen the band raise 124% of their target. And to be honest, it’s a shame that it did claw it’s way upwards because this is one of the most boring records I’ve heard in eons. Whilst I appreciate that this album is full of ambient atmospheres, melancholic moods, and deep, prophetic visions. But it is just dull.
The likes of Honorė and the disastrous cover of Terence Trent D’Arby’s Sign Your Name are amongst the tracks that litter this 64-minute release. Repetitive, miserable, and just plain dreary, two spins meant that I’d lost over two hours of my life to this. The odd industrial twinge couldn’t prevent it from dropping into one of the worst albums of 2020. I wasn’t expecting Fear Factory and that was just as well. Turgid, bloated and monotonous, this is an album that you should really give a listen to, just to remind yourself of how much good music is out there. 4/10
Warlung: Optical Delusions (Heavy Psych Sounds) [Matt Bladen]
Optical Delusions is the third album from Texan heavy rockers Warlung following their previous releases Sleepwalker (2017) and Immortal Portal (2019). They have honed their sound on various shows around the USA opening for bands such as High Reeper, Forming The Void and King Buffalo. So what you can expect here is occult-themed doom filtered through the leather clad NWOBHM anthemia mixed with classic rock overtones. Driven by the twin guitar attack and dual vocals from George Baba and Philip Bennett you get the same kind of hazy echoed sound that Ghost and Uncle Acid, as well as the hard rocking Aussies Wolfmother.
Optical Delusions is the third album from Texan heavy rockers Warlung following their previous releases Sleepwalker (2017) and Immortal Portal (2019). They have honed their sound on various shows around the USA opening for bands such as High Reeper, Forming The Void and King Buffalo. So what you can expect here is occult-themed doom filtered through the leather clad NWOBHM anthemia mixed with classic rock overtones. Driven by the twin guitar attack and dual vocals from George Baba and Philip Bennett you get the same kind of hazy echoed sound that Ghost and Uncle Acid, as well as the hard rocking Aussies Wolfmother.
Phantasmagoria (not an Annihilator cover) locks you into their bewitching world from the bubbling organ opening before the bouncy riff gets you grooving to a NWOBHM styled stomp from the rhythm section of Chris and Ethan Tamez (bass & drums). Warlung have been met with critical acclaim and it's clear to hear why as they have hit on a style of music that is currently very on-trend sounding an awful lot like fellow Texans The Sword on tracks such as Scorpion In The Sand, the choppy Snake Eyes and big riffing Order Of The Solar Temple. They also often fall into the psychedelic fuzziness on Sun Eater and No Man's Land which adds an extra level to their already windscreen sound. Optical Delusions continues with Warlung's hot streak, they are certainly shifting from 'ones to watch' into a bonafide threat to the crown held by Ghost et al. Groovy and head nod inducing Optical Delusions should be on your playlist asap. 8/10
Formed in 2002, Fear Factory frontman Burton C. Bell had retreated to Pennsylvania under John Bechdel’s mentorship for seven months. The result was Iconoclast, a demo that combined textured melodies with Bell’s distinctive vocals and a combined gothic and industrial sound. In 2008 the debut LP, Numinosum, was released through 13th Planet, the label of Ministry legend Al Jourgensen. As well as playing some intimate shows, the band supported Killing Joke for their reunion tour in honor of their fallen friend, Paul Raven, who had played a key part on Numinosum.
12 years later, and the sophomore release has arrived. Recorded at drummer Jayce Lewis’ Northstone Studios near Bridgend in South Wales, the album was beset by the collapse of the crowdfunding venture Pledgemusic that had seen the band raise 124% of their target. And to be honest, it’s a shame that it did claw it’s way upwards because this is one of the most boring records I’ve heard in eons. Whilst I appreciate that this album is full of ambient atmospheres, melancholic moods, and deep, prophetic visions. But it is just dull.
The likes of Honorė and the disastrous cover of Terence Trent D’Arby’s Sign Your Name are amongst the tracks that litter this 64-minute release. Repetitive, miserable, and just plain dreary, two spins meant that I’d lost over two hours of my life to this. The odd industrial twinge couldn’t prevent it from dropping into one of the worst albums of 2020. I wasn’t expecting Fear Factory and that was just as well. Turgid, bloated and monotonous, this is an album that you should really give a listen to, just to remind yourself of how much good music is out there. 4/10
Lonewolf: Division Hades (Massacre Records) [Dave Marcovecchio]
Not very many bands can lay claim to releasing 10 albums. For French Speed-Metallers and cult favourites Lone Wolf, Division Hades represents this particular milestone in full. Having been blasting out trad speed metal for the best part of a quarter century, Division Hades acts not only as a new chapter in the bands history, but also a celebration of their history up to now.
Starting at a subdued pace with the lovelorn ballad The Last Goodbye the album quickly shifts into 50 minutes of meat & potatoes speed metal. The dual-guitar onslaught of lead lines is instantly satisfying and there are some fantastic examples of guitar acrobatics on display that would rival other more “virtuoso” bands like Children Of Bodom and Dragonforce. And while Jens Börner's vocals may be suitably rougher and gruffer than your standard speed metal falsetto, the album is staunchly traditionalist. While this ticks the boxes for your run-of-the-mill “Brothers of the power of metal of Iron and Steel” enthusiast, it's not something we haven't seen before and does very little to break new ground.
While the music itself not fitting in with the 21st century is understandable, the context changes rapidly when the same happens to the lyrics. At the risk of your dear reviewer here sounding like a snowflake millennial, it's difficult not to feel a bit perturbed when presented with the lyrics in the title track, Division Hades “You eat some meat and you're a murderer / one joke about minorities and you're a racist / and so it goes on and on”. It's clear that the band is striving for some kind of political statement, but it's executed with fists of ham and reads like something that Uncle you never speak to would post on Facebook (Hey Bobby, what's the French for “O.K Boomer”?*).
A couple of “yikes” moments aside though, the album is a solid, albeit no-frills, slab of speed metal that fans of the genre will enjoy blasting. The inclusion of a bonus disk featuring new re-recordings of tracks from throughout the bands career makes it great value for long-time fans and provides a good jumping on point for those who are new. Not many bands can lay claim to the tenure that Lone Wolf have had in the underground, and it's clear this is something they take pride in, something they reference with unintentional comedy on Underground Warriors (“One thing that we're really proud of / is to release our 10th album” Yes. These are actual lyrics). It probably won't win any new fans over, but for devotees of the old-school, Division Hades should provide some enjoyment. 5/10
*D'accord Dinosaure