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)

Pandemonium 'Misanthropy' review

PANDEMONIUM

'Misanthropy'

(Pagan Records / Gods Ov War Productions)

Finally after a huge package of promo discs graciously sent my way by Gods Ov War, much respect for this label. I have at last arrived at the crown jewel, which I purposely saved for last, always save the best for last. I have been anticipating this album for some time. Pandemonium are not one to disappoint, they prove why they are one of the best and are leading the way for the Polish metal scene! As some will remember from my review of their promo, I am long time listener and fan of the band as I tape traded for their 'Devilri' demo back in the early 90s and loved it. These Polish maniacs are old school metal through and through and all I have to say to that is fuck yeah! The atmosphere on this record is fantastic, very dark, doomy and eerie death metal that is often mid paced, always placing an emphasis on emotion and the overall listening experience. They have not set out to be the heaviest, fastest or most brutal but they do set out to immerse you in a metallically heavy experience and create a world that is steeped in evil, in depression, in darkness and despair. This is some masterful stuff, it is hard to just single out the riffing or the drums or the vocals as Pandemonium have created this entire album as a whole, an experience, not just a collection of cool songs or killer riffs. You can not just pick out one song, the listener should either listen to the whole album or not at all. I mean sure the doomy riffs are great, the obscure excellently varied vocal performance is good, the drumming is well done and crafted in a minimalist way to make sure the song and not the performance is what is important, but none stick out above the other and it was designed that way. I wish more bands were able to achieve something like this these days. I would not call this music retro but it always feels like it has an old school vibe to me, maybe that is more due to the musicians coming out of the old school and it is in their blood rather than a conscious projection. I am honestly having a hard time finding words for this album, it is a journey and a journey I plan to take again and again. I recommend some albums, but I place this one in the must own category. Pandemonium truly have out done themselves.

(Dale Roy)

Pandemonium 

Sphere 'Homo Hereticus' review

SPHERE

'Homo Hereticus'

(Masterful Records)

Add yet another jewel to the Polish death metal crown. Sphere are one of those bands that have realized that you can actually mix different influences alongside brutality and sheer aggression, thus keeping things more vibrant and interesting for the listener. I won't be laying and say this is one hundredth percent awesomeness, but I can see myself reaching for this album in the coming future. These guys seem to be fuckin pro's on their chosen instrument and the production makes them justice – drumming is really top shelf stuff, guitars have those little intricacies that makes you pay attention and they've been clever enough to give the bassist his time in the spotlight. And then there's the romantically named Analripper demonstrating his ability of sounding both brutal and coherent at the same time. I can't see why anyone who's been raised on a steady musical diet of Morbid Angel, Deicide, Suffocation and Krabathor would willingly overlook Sphere. That said, my personal fave off 'Homo Hereticus' is the punk/d-beat nurtured 'Sadisfucktion', closely followed by the grindy lead out 'War'. That's just me however. [7,5]

(Vladimir Petrov)

Sphere ReverbNation 

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Masterful Records

 

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 

Pandemonium 'Promo 2010' review

PANDEMONIUM

'Promo 2010'

(Godz Ov War Productions)

Pandemonium's history is a bit too complicated to go into detail here, suffice to say that the band is active once again now and a new album is to be released on Pagan Records this fall. In 2010 Godz O War celebrated the band's 20^th anniversary by releasing Pandemonium's debut 1992 demo 'Devilri' on vinyl, including this here promo disc for free with all orders. A cool touch definitely, especially taking in consideration that next to the two audio tracks ('Black Forest' and 'God Delusion') this also includes some live videos of the band. The accompanying flyer do suggests to file the music under 'Satanic dark metal', which might be somewhat appropriate given the image they're projecting, but I need to hear more to be fully convinced. Neither of those tracks really grabbed my full attention, yet there's some good guitar harmonies and intricate drumming to be spotted, plus the band seem to have some interesting ideas how to unfold these mid-tempo tracks. Probably my biggest grip are the vocals, they are just 'there' for me, failing to achieve real lasting impact on the listener. Still, I wouldn't dismiss Pandemonium before hearing the planned 'Misanthropy' album, as the professional approach of this Polish act is out of question. Time shall tell, I reckon. [6]

(Vladimir Petrov)

Pandemonium

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