Pyrexia - Gravitas Maximus (Unique Leader Records) [Matt Bladen]
Having been something I've been dealing with recently due to Covid, I understand how horrible pyrexia (abnormal elevation of body temperature) can be, however this Pyrexia make horrible music, a brutal death metal sound that they have been championing since 1990. Continually associated with and compared to fellow New Yorkers Suffocation, Pyrexia have had ups and downs like any bands but have been steadily releasing records under the Unique Leader banner since 2007. Gravitas Maximus is their fourth on the label (their sixth in total) and it's 24 minute headbanger that will certainly to appeal to anyone that loves their death metal, fast, furious and ferocious.
Having been something I've been dealing with recently due to Covid, I understand how horrible pyrexia (abnormal elevation of body temperature) can be, however this Pyrexia make horrible music, a brutal death metal sound that they have been championing since 1990. Continually associated with and compared to fellow New Yorkers Suffocation, Pyrexia have had ups and downs like any bands but have been steadily releasing records under the Unique Leader banner since 2007. Gravitas Maximus is their fourth on the label (their sixth in total) and it's 24 minute headbanger that will certainly to appeal to anyone that loves their death metal, fast, furious and ferocious.
Chris Basile continues to lead the band forward in their third decade his savage guitar playing coming in unison with Danny Trapani. The duo make for a surprisingly technical sound, where the short run times back in tonnes of shifts, bassist Shaun Kennedy adding the low gut punches. Check out how often Apostles To The Grave changes in just 2:52. This pace could not be even imagined without the astounding full force drumming style of John Glassbrenner, who must have fucked his ankles with some of these double kicks. Grinding grooves such as The Day The Earth Shook (Survival Of The Fittest) and Rule Of 2 and outright flesh rippers such as the Pawn To King and the title track, will still bring comparisons to Suffocation but with the band going full force and vocalist Jim Beach, grunting down the mic, you get nearly 25 minutes of brutal death metal which is no bad thing. 8/10
Atlas - Ukko (Long Branch Records) [Matt Bladen]
Finland is so often associated with black and power metal, but on their second full length offering Finns Atlas are continuing their own unique style of music they dub Northcore. Based in modern metalcore but with all manner of additions Ukko is a record that had me pricking up my ears despite metalcore not always being my number one listening choice. Inspired by Finnish folk music and poetry, the record explores death, healing rebirth and faith using a technically proficient style of metal that brings fantastic eardrum rattling percussion, broad soundscapes, expressive roared vocals and thundering heavy riffs. There are also acoustic segues in Susi and on the fireside balladry of Lehto. Waves of atmospherics on the title track and smaller interludes such as Joki that lead into the breakdown driven numbers like the extremely heavy Uhri or the more melodic final number Pohjannaula where there is a feeling of bands such as Monuments or Architects, adding dreamy cleans and fluid solos. With lyrics in both Finnish and English Atlas offer something a little unique with their brand of 'Northcore'. Worth experiencing at least once. 7/10
Formulaic oftentimes comes off as a slight or a knock against a creator in all different disciplines. In the case of Rising Insane, it's more of a tip of the hat, especially because the German five-piece infused recent release, Afterglow, with a throaty dose of by-the-book metalcore. Frontman Aaron Steineker knows his way around both early 2000s pop punk and 2010s hardcore punk with notes being hit with both abrasive ferocity and pleasant tonality. In shades of 'PMA'-core progenitors The Ghost Inside, Rising Insane make certain to include positive, encouraging and raw lyrics, much to the delight of a 2021's ear. 8/10
Final Coil - Somnambulant II (Wormholedeath Records) [Matt Cook]
The biggest problem I had with Final Coil’s Somnambulant II was the cantankerous way in which the vocals seemed to ineffectively overlap. It consistently felt like Phil Stiles and Richard Awdry were competing with one another for airtime, never achieving the intended harmonic balance and summoning a maelstrom of noise. An additional ailment reared its ugly head in the form of programmed drums. Not something entirely unheard of, on this album it severely damaged the overall quality. Not only did it come off as belonging on a more synthwave/electronic-style album, but it also opened the door for a cacophony of industrial- and miscellaneous-themed percussion and sound effects that did much more bad than good. 5/10
The biggest problem I had with Final Coil’s Somnambulant II was the cantankerous way in which the vocals seemed to ineffectively overlap. It consistently felt like Phil Stiles and Richard Awdry were competing with one another for airtime, never achieving the intended harmonic balance and summoning a maelstrom of noise. An additional ailment reared its ugly head in the form of programmed drums. Not something entirely unheard of, on this album it severely damaged the overall quality. Not only did it come off as belonging on a more synthwave/electronic-style album, but it also opened the door for a cacophony of industrial- and miscellaneous-themed percussion and sound effects that did much more bad than good. 5/10