Guldemond‘s voice is very much at the centre of things and she is more than capable of throwing in some full-on growls alongside the screams, creating a very powerful effect. Musically these ladies aren’t messing about either despite the dominant presence of a clearly formidable frontwoman, with some incredibly tight and well executed playing going on here, largely at fast and blistering tempo. For an album that doesn’t hang about in terms of pace, it is remarkably lengthy with most of the fourteen tracks coming in above the five minute mark (plus a couple of instrumental interludes) and an hour’s run time in total.
It’s a thematic rather than a story arc based concept exploring (surprise, surprise) witches and consequently the songs stand up well individually. I can’t fault the production either, as each instrument is clearly balanced in the mix, whilst still having a strong vocal presence front and centre. The challenge with the album is that apart from that cover version, the furious up-tempo pace and delivery becomes a little unrelenting and one finds oneself wishing for a bit more change of pace. Nonetheless this incarnation of Burning Witches exudes confidence and formidable playing, and the more in your face sound is a definite improvement. 8/10
Sadistik Forest - Obscure Old Remains (Transcending Obscurity Records) [Paul Scoble]
Finish four piece Sadistik Forest have been battering eardrums since 2007. In that time the band have released 3 albums; a self titled debut in 2010, Death, Doom, Radiation in 2012, and 2018’s Morbid Majesties. Obscure Old Remains is the bands first EP. The EP features four pieces of Old School Death Metal which sounds fairly Swedish in style. The EP opens with Mandragore, which is fast OSDM, that is somewhat reminiscent of Dismember and has some rhythmic elements that feel quite Grindcore-ish. Next track, Barbarian is a mix of mid-paced parts that, despite the slower speed, feel driving and purposeful, and fast and flowing riffing that reminds me a little of Welsh Death Metal Legends Desecration. After Barbarian comes Nihil, which has a soft and melodic opening, before heading into a very heavy and driving section.
Cirith Ungol - Half Past Human (Metal Blade Records) [Paul Hutchings]
It’s a cruel world. Having released their masterful Forever Black last year, their first for 29 years, 2020 should have been triumphant for Ventura’s Cirith Ungol. The band were due to return to Keep It True festival in Germany for a gargantuan launch party. Instead, the band hunkered down at HQ in California and let the worldwide shit storm pass by. But they didn’t rest on the glow of Forever Black. They have dug deep into the archive archives and now provide The Legion with more material which will be consumed with as much joy as that fifth album. Half Past Human is four songs exhumed from their past, as Cirith Ungol dug deep into their archival crypts, summoning long dead forces to return. Four tracks have been reimagined, and they are all absolute bangers. Route 666 kicks things off, a muscular five-minute song that opens with Rob Garven’s thumping drumming, a sumptuous riff and then Tim Baker’s unique and magical vocals casting a spell as he tells the story.
Alastor - Onwards & Downwards (RidingEasy Records) [Matt Bladen]
Few bands do reflective, dark occult stoner doom than the Swedes and Alastor have encapsulated that in their latest release, cheerily title Onwards & Downwards. Now yes if you did only listen to the acoustic interlude Kassettband, which sounds like it was bootlegged of someones phone to an overactive metronome, then you may say that Alastor are nothing to write home about, but wait for the title track to unleash it's fuzzy, Sabbath worship and then you'll understand Alastor completely. Heavily distorted and engorged in occult-horror Onwards & Downwards is much more dense audio experience than any of their predecessors, encouraged by their new drummer, it feels as though the corpse has been reanimated and just wants to smoke a bong and crank out some riffs.
Riffs is what you get, the horror film organs fill the spaces of quiet with an eerie unease as the cascade of grinding guitar sounds crash around you, Hampus Sandell and Johan Björmander the axe abusers, working against the Sabbath/Electric Wizard/Windhand blueprint. The thunderous 6, full band tracks here driven at building crushing speed by Robin Arnryd's bass and Jim Nordström drumwork, but nothing ever seems too D.I.Y about the record (except Kassettband) the audio has been tightened up from the last release, not making it too commercial but allowing a bit more maturity to creep in. Don't recoil though Onwards & Down isn't AOR there's plenty of dirty doom riffage to rattle about in your skull, just listen to the first two songs for that. Onwards & Downwards maybe the title but this points at an upward trajectory for Alastor. 8/10