Turin Turambar 'Corona Regni Satanae' review

TURIN TURAMBAR

'Corona Regni Satanae'

(Self-released)

According to Metal Archives "This album was never released, only one hundred promotional copies were sent around the world." And this is only the beginning of the weirdness living on in TT, a band / project of Ataman Tolovy (Stillborn, Genius Ultor). The music sounds deliberately disjointed, as if to prevent the listener breaking through into some sort of a private nightmare, blazing speeds and suffocating dirges follow one another with little concern of giving a coherent flow to the tunes. Fair play to the band for having the balls trying out something this different, but in all fairness the urge of extreme originality becomes mostly a chore in the second part of the album and drags down the positive impressions left off by the opening tunes. Part black metal atmospherics, part annoying industrial drone, part Voivod on really bad acid trip, do you fancy the combination? Greg of the ever-reliable Godz Ov War who submitted the disc had warned me this is not gonna be an easy review - true. Being the cool cat he is he has uploaded songs from 'Corona...' on YouTube. Be very afraid. [6,5]

(Vladimir Petrov)

Stillborn 'Los Asesinos del Sur' review

STILLBORN

'Los Asesinos del Sur'

(Ataman Productions / Pagan Records)

Despite the odd pattern of giving Spanish titles to their albums, this being their fourth since the band's inception in 1997, Stillborn do carry quite few elements in their music common to their native Polish peers. Technical prowess, massive production, blast-beats galore and blazing guitar work are all to be found here, resulting in an album that's definitely a grower. Given some time, what on first glance might seem to be hyper-intensity for its own sake, turns out into something more than just this, with quality, Morbid Angel-inspired guitar licks, old school thrash resemblances and some quite commanding,and hateful, vocal attacks. Stillborn have been wise enough to keep their songs concentrated outburst of aggression and death metal menace that doesn't tire easily, and one is convinced to believe those should go rather well in a live setting. Now, when Angel Corpse had gone dormant once again this here band is a serious contender, especially with the support they've secured from Pagan Records (who are distributing this album) and the Godz Ov War booking help. As jaded as we all have become, this is an album worth looking for. [8]

(Vladimir Petrov) 

 

Stillborn