UnhinderedbyTalent's Forum Replies

Strong month this time with me picking up the fantastic Narbeleth (props to Sonny).  Since listening through the playlist on Sunday, these Spanish residing Cubans have not been off my speakers much.  New Mütiilation slipped by me and that track sounds promising to my ears.  I was not too smitten with Suldusk or Moonlight Sorcery but it was great to see some BAN (underrated album that "Odinist..."), Rotting Christ and Xasthur getting some air time. 

At just two tracks and ten minutes in length, Nocturnus' self-titled EP from some two decades ago makes for a concise feature release. Coming six years before what was to prove to be their final full length release (Ethereal Tomb), this single/EP captures the band at their technical best. Pressing their urgent and interesting style of death metal on the listener, those signature synths are in fine form adding symphonic flourishes to the otherwise scathing tech-death on show here.

The rabid gallop of the riffs coupled with the bold pace changes and mesmirising leads are examples of a band in fine form. Sad that they decided to split not long after this release as the potential over these two tracks is really promising, capturing the best bits of The Key and Thresholds. With Mike Browning fired from the band and the band name trademarked by the remaining members this was the only release to feature James Marcinek on the drums. A combination of some less than satisfactory production work and the fact that James was no Mike Browning ensured that the drum work sort of just sat in the background whilst everything else drove the music forward.

There is a sense of disconnect with the instrumentation at certain points during Mummified for me with those snths sounding a tad wayward in places. However, Possess the Priest is a fine slab of tech-death presented with a real sense of direction. It is hard to score this at much more than a three however given the short runtime and the fact that one of the two tracks is clearly inferior to the other.

3/5

The bank holiday weekend has been a welcome break from work and so I have attempted to use the time to actually listen to a couple of the features for the first time in what feels like an age.  Here's my review:

When asked in a 2019 interview about Fenriz describing Worship Him as “the first Norwegian black metal album”, Vorphalack from Samael replied, “We were not exactly satisfied with the sound of the album, we wanted to have something fatter and heavier. We actually reached what we were looking for when we released Blood Ritual but yeah that album sounds different.” It is hard to disagree with Vorphalack, Blood Ritual is gifted (or cursed depending on your preference) with a much beefier production than anything that came before from the Swiss group. As much as I enjoy a raw black metal album from time to time, I think that sometimes a bit of clarity is needed to really let a band’s sound shine. Whilst I will not attest to be being all that familiar with Blood Ritual until this past week, whilst listening as a standalone bm record I found that instantly I could take away positives from the experience.

A slower, more measured take on black metal that takes reference from Celtic Frost clearly, Blood Ritual is accessible without sacrificing the mandatory underground vibe that one would expect from such a record. The dense gloom that permeates the album is a chilling yet welcoming cloak in which to shroud yourself as a listener. There are smatterings of latter day Satyricon in this album (bearing in mind we were in 1992 when this was released) and although the comparison is relevant, I would suggest that the Swiss’ effort is less clinical and sterile then say Diabolical Now era Satyricon.

The simpler approach reaps its rewards for me, allowing strong structures such as After the Sepulture to grow well over its four-and-a-half-minute duration. As such, Blood Ritual has a sense that Samael are using the space better to construct an album as opposed to charging blindly through at a more traditional bm pace. Not that there is any denial of such intensity here. Indeed, the title track is a solid bm romp that blends this more traditional pacing with the clearer production values nicely. However, I could not see tracks such as Macabre Operetta (or the less impressive With the Gleam of Torches) at over six minutes faring so well on a shorter and more rabid tempo-based release.

My two main criticisms are that the album is firstly too long (even the two interlude/intro tracks don’t necessitate such a lengthy track list) and lacks much in the way of variety overall. The latter criticism holds less weight given that this is also one of the key strengths of the album. I think this is probably the best evidence that the Celtic Frost and Bathory influences got worn perhaps too visibly on the band’s sleeves. That having been said there is a level of intelligent (albeit a few notches above basic) songwriting here that needs to be acknowledged. There is still something enchanting about the primitive riffing of Bestial Devotion, that whilst is never groundbreaking, it is still presented so honestly that it is hard to ignore. That is probably how I would sum up Blood Ritual altogether as well.

4/5

For May please Ben:

Misotheist - "Stigma" (from "Vessels by Which the Devil is Made Flesh", 2024)

Doedsvangr - "The Salt Marsh" (from "Serpents ov Old", 2021)

For May please Daniel:

Celestial Sanctuary - "Yearn for the Rot" (from "Soul Diminished")

Stargazer - "Old Tea" (from "A Merging to the Boundless")

Afterbirth - "Hovering Dead Human Drones" (from "In But Not Of", 2023)

Magefa - "Amputated By Force" (from "New Era of Darkness", 2019)

Slimelord - "Gut-Brain Axis" (from "Chytridiomycosis Relinquished", 2024)

For May please Sonny:

Buzzov•en - "Crawl Away" (from "…At A Loss", 1998) 

Nightfell - "The Swallowing of Flies" (from "A Sanity Deranged", 2019)

Om - "Unitive Knowledge of the Godhead" (from "Pilgrimage", 2007)

Apr 24

1. Municipal Waste – “Waste ‘em All” (from “Waste ‘em All”, 2003) [Submitted by Sonny]

2. Anthrax – “Protest and Survive” (from “Attack of the Killer B’s”, 1991) [Submitted by Daniel]

3. Nailbomb – “Wasting Away” (from “Point Blank”, 1994) [Submitted by Daniel]

4. Toxic Hollocaust – “War is Hell” (from “Evil Never Dies”, 2003) [Submitted by Sonny]

5. Sextrash – “Seduced by Evil” (from “Sexual Carnage”, 1990)

6. Morbid Saint – “Rise from the Ashes” (from “Swallowed by Hell”, 2024)

7. Sadus – “Good Rid’nz” (from “Swallowed in Black”, 1990) [Submitted by Daniel]

8. Epidemic – “Insanity Plea” (from “Decameron”, 1992) [Submitted by Sonny]

9. Biomechanical – “The Unseen” (from “Cannibalised”, 2009)

10. Exhorder – “Year of the Goat” (from “Defectum Omnium”, 2024) [Submitted by Vinny]

11. The Very End – “Zeitgeist” (from “Zeitgeist”, 2021)

12. Vektor – “Pteropticon” (from “Terminal Redux”, 2016) [Submitted by Sonny]

13. Su Ta Gar – “Mari” (from “Jaiotze Basatia”, 1991)

14. Hell Fire – “Sirens of the Hunter” (from “Metal Masses”, 2016)

15. Agressor – “Bloody Corpse” (from “Neverending Destiny”, 1990) [ Submitted by Sonny]

16. Celtic Frost – “The Usurper” (from “To Mega Therion”, 1985) [Submitted by Sonny]

17. Grotesque – “Submit to Death” (from “The Incantation E.P.”, 1990) [Submitted by Daniel]

18. Sabbat – “Satanasword” (from “Karmagmassacre”, 2003) [Submitted by Sonny]

19. Unpure – “Small Crooked Bones” (from “Prophecies Ablaze”, 2023)

20. Antichrist – “Militia of Death” (from “Forbidden World”, 2011)

21. Sadistik Exekution - “Agonizing the Dead” (from “The Magus”, 1991) [Submitted by Daniel]

22. Forbidden – “Tossed Away” (from “Twisted into Form”, 1990) [Submitted by Daniel]

23. Dust Bolt – “I Witness” (from “Sound & Fury”, 2024)

24. Mutilator – “Brigade of Hate” (from “Immortal Force”, 1987) [ Submitted by Sonny]

25. Mentor – “Equal in Fire” (from “Wolves, Wraiths and Witches”, 2021)

26. Demolizer – “Cancer in the Brain” (from “Thrashmageddon”, 2020)

27. ThrashWall – “War Outside the Wall” (from “ThrashWall”, 2020)

28. Martyr – “Into the Darkest of All Realms” (from “You Are Next”, 2016)

29. God’s Hate – “God’s Hate” (from “God’s Hate”, 2021)

30. Lowest Creature – “Reapers Fool” (from “Sacrilegious Pain”, 2019)

31. Mordred – “Killing Time” (from “In This Life”, 1991) [Submitted by Daniel]

Condolences Rex.  Buried my own grandmother on Thursday at 97.  Third coffin I have carried in 7 months. 

New Ulcerate this year.  14th June - Cutting the Throat of God.

I have placed a pre-order already.  I trust these guys enough to buy anything they release cold.

Agreed that this will be a highlight for the year.

Exhorder - Defectum Omnium (2024)

I am not the biggest fan of the seminal debut album from New Orlean's groove metallers Exhorder.  Whilst filed firmly in the "overrated" pile of releases that seem to get undue praise, I still give it the odd spin now and again to make sure it is not just me being a dick (it isn't).  Not to say that Exhorder are without their merits of course, just that I am easily put off by releases that promise so much but deliver so little - it is purely an expectations thing.  It has been thirty-four years since Slaughter in the Vatican was released and Defectum Omnium is still only Exhorder's fourth full release ina career that spans nearly forty-years.  In keeping with the debut, Defectum Omnium has some truly standout moments and at the same time, some other moments you hope to soon forget.

By far the strongest element here is those chunky, groovy riffs that blaze their presence across the surface of the record on many of the tracks here.  Listening to the infectious riffing of Three Stages of Truth/Lacing the Well as I type this, I am reminded of PanterA and the many hours I spent with their albums as a teenager; the rolling riffs of Walk and I'm Broken being specific reminders I take from this record.  Supported by a solid if never remarkable shift on the drum stool, the rhythm section of Exhorder put in a truly memorable effort.  Unfortunately, the lead work leaves a lot to be desired.  It is directionless and only serves to detract from some of the better tracks in particular.  In fact, overall, the songwriting is not the best from a band who have been at this for four decades.  They are trying to talk about all the right things you would expect a groove/thrash metal to; combining a punkish element in attitude at least in places.  Yet, despite having relevant themes, they just come oue in a jumbled mess that sometimes gets translated by the structure of the songs but on so many other occasions fails to become barely legible really.

I do not know how many halfway decent groove metal records we should expect in 2024.  I do not know how many we would expect per year over the last twenty years or so in fact.  However, whilst Defectum Omnium most definitely does have its defects (could not resist) it is more of a disappointment than an absolute failure.  There is power in the grooves here, a frantic pace to the more aggressive sections and a sense of a band still able to apply some relevance to themselves in an over-saturated sub-genre.  A trim on the track numbers would certainly help and some more thought in the lead work is a must if there is to be another Exhorder album after this one.  However, there is promise here, it just needs some space to develop into in without being compressed by sub-par and mediocre tracks and ideas.

3.5/5

Hi Ben, can you add Exhorder's latest please?  "Wrath of Prophecies".

I really enjoyed the Altar of the Stag track you submitted and the Dyatlov Pass Incident has always intrigued me, so that is an album I definitely have on my list to dig into.

It's weird one alright (the incident - not the track).  Currently listening to Dark Histories podcast and the episode about Dyatlov as it happens.

Found some time this evening to listen to this playlist.  I have discovered the amazing The Flight of Sleipnir with that haunting and serene track you put up Sonny. This is by far my pick of the tracks this month and was followed by Spectral Voice with the heaviest thing I have heard so far this year by far.  Cavernous and putrid at the same time, this was right up my alley.  Clever use of the simplest of string arrangements to create superb atmosphere.  In addition to this I hear dmy first Fudge Tunnel track ever and plan to check out more as well as the big sound of KYPCK also making an impact this month.  Dukatalon have great potential also based on that rabid piece of sludge you included.

Disappointed with Loss if I am honest, had heard so much hype about this band and that record also but I was underwhelmed.  I found Funeral to be clunky and cumbersome albeit with beautiful vocals, similarly the poor vocals of Goatess soon got lost when the instruments kicked in but I was not moved to revisit.  Hour of 13 were my least favourite, what is with them vocals folks?

Solid list again though Sonny and I have me some new discoveries to accompany me on a long drive to Glasgow tomorrow.

Thanks Sonny.  Actually one of the playlists that I have done at the last minute due to work being crazy at the mo.

For April please:

Kowloon Walled City - "Gambling on the Richter Scale" (from "Gambling on the Richter Scale", 2009)

Whores - "Tell Me Something Scientific" (from "Ruiner", 2011)

Dopelord - "Scum Priest" (from "Children of the Haze", 2017)

For April please:

Ondfødt - "Tå do dör" (from "Det Österbottniska Mörkret", 2023)

Vampirska - "Feasting on the Dried Blood of Majesties" (from "Torturous Omens of Blood and Candlewax", 2020)

For April please:

The Ritual - "Aura Precursor of Aphotic Collapse" (from "Låniåkeå", 2015)

Massacre - "Dawn of Eternity" (from "From Beyond", 1991)

Coffins -  "Hour of Execution" (from "Beyond the Circular Demise", 2019)

Fulci - "Gore Life" (from "Opening the Hell Gates", 2015)

Cannibal Corpse - "Frenzied Feeding" (from "Chaos Horrific", 2023)

Mar 24

1. Shah – “From Out of Insane” (from “Escape from Mind”, 1994)

2. A.R.G. – “Perforation” (from “Entrance”, 1991) [Submitted by Vinny]

3. Tyrant – “Into Flames” (from “Too Late to Pray”, 1987) [Submitted by Daniel]

4. Death Strike – “Re-entry and Destruction” (from “Fuckin’ Death, 1991) [Submitted by Vinny]

5. Deathwish – “Wall of Lies” (from “Deamon Preacher”, 1988)

6. Sodom – “Bloodtraits” (from “Better Off Dead”, 1990) [Submitted by Daniel]

7. Megadeth – “This Day We Fight” (from “Endgame”, 2009) [Submitted by Sonny]

8. Believer – “Vile Hypocrisy” (from “Extraction from Mortality”, 1989) [Submitted by Vinny]

9. Dissimulator – “Neural Hack” (from “Lower Form Resistance”, 2024)

10. Sovereign – “Counter Tech” (from “Altered Realities”, 2024) [Submitted by Sonny]

11. Decimator – “Lift -Off” (from “Alienist”, 2020)

12. Hellwitch - “Sentient Transmography” (from “Syzygial Miscreancy”, 1990) [Submitted by Daniel]

13. Mortal Scepter – “Spear and Fang” (from “Where Light Suffocates”, 2019) [Submitted by Vinny]

14. Sacrifice – “A Storm in the Silence” (from “Soldiers of Misfortune, 1990) [Submitted by Daniel]

15. Sepulcher – “Towards an Early Rapture” (from “Panoptic Horror”, 2018) [Submitted by Sonny]

16. Armory – “The Search” (from “The Search”, 2018)

17. Testament – “Face in the Sky” (from “Souls of Black”, 1990) [Submitted by Daniel]

18. Infinite Translation – “Legion of Death” (from “Impulsive Attack”, 2010)

19. Sacred Reich – “Love…Hate” (from “The American Way”, 1990) [Submitted by Daniel]

20. Iron Angel – “Sacred Slaughter” (from “Emerald Eyes”, 2020)

21. Demonizer – “Slave of Hate” (from “The Essence of War”, 2005)

22. Evil Army – “Friday the 13th” (from “Evil Army”, 2006)

23. SSS – Eat Me Drink Me Burn Me” – (from “Problems to the Answer, 2011)

24. Torture Squad – “Out of Control” (from “Pandemonium”, 2003) [Submitted by Vinny]

25. Expander – “Biochron Space Suit” (from “Endless Computer”, 2017)

26. Red Death – “Brutalized” (from “Permanent Exile”, 2015)

27. Faith or Fear – “Deep Down” (from “Titanium”, 2012) [Submitted by Vinny]

28. Pantera – “Clash with Reality” (from “Cowboys from Hell”, 1990)

29. Kill II This – “This is the News” (from “ Trinity”, 2000)

Although I get the rationale behind RYM being a guide for adding releases, I had thought (may be incorrectly) that the point of MA was to breed a little common sense on these frankly irritating, constant waves of new tags and subgenres that are clearly out of control over there.  Bizarre then that RYM seems to get so much press here really.

The more of Hoplites that I hear the less interested I am in them/him.  I was disappointed by the new Inquisition track as well - very keys heavy.  Taake appears to be embracing some interesting traits and I do need to revisit that release of his from last year, but overall the first 9 or so tracks saw a fair bit of skipping being deployed (even on my own choices).  That The Amenta track turns out to be off a covers album which I listened to some more of but switched it off after they butchered Angry Chair by Alice In Chains.  Thankfully, Sonny saved things with a Mare Cognitum track and then Daniel continued the recovery with the Malokarpatan track.

Not heard any Diabolical Masquerade for years so that was a nice blast from the past and I still have to admit that I neglect Antaeus to a criminal level after all these years.  Really interested in that Vemod album based on that closing track.  

A full single track EP Daniel.  I applaud this choice.  I love me some Gorguts!  I thoroughly enjoyed istening to this track through as the highlight of a list that was strong overall I thought.

You are never going to go too far wrong with a list containing Demilich, Nihilist, Darkthrone, Repulsion, Bolt Thrower, Carnage, Morbid Angel and Nile.   

Had the time to get through this playlist today on my morning walk.  I still have no idea of the attraction of Sunn O))) (sorry Sonny) and I listened to all 14:59 of that track.  It is just not my cup of tea.  Also had to skip Iron Man (those vocals) and The Gathering (a bit too rocky and again the vocals grated).  I have come to the conclusion that Wino's voice actually grates on me nowadays and so I had to skip The Obsessed track also.

Thankfully there was still lots to keep me happy on the list.  Standouts were Dolorian, Crowbar, Goatsnake, Godthrymm, High on Fire and Saturnalia Temple.  Good work Sonny. 

Hi Daniel, my submissions for March please:

Mongrel - "Dog Complex" (from "Off the Leash", 2022)

Plague of the Fallen - "Cycles of Anguish" (from "Amongst the Rats", 2023)

Cryptworm - "Miasmatic Foetid Odour" (from "Oozing Radioactive Vomition", 2023)

Vomit Forth - "Unclaimed Cadaver" (from "Northeastern Depravation", 2019)

Wormhole - "Almost Human" (from "Almost Human", 2023)

Horrifier - "Assimilated Life" (from "Horrid Resurrection", 2023)

Dismember - "Dreaming in Red" (from "Indecent & Obscene", 1993)

Hi Sonny, my submissions for March please:

Black Wound - "Vermin Firstborn" (from "Warping Structure", 2023)

Altar of the Stag - "Dyatlov" (from "Visceral Offering", 2024)

Hi Ben, for March please:

Helleruin - "Naar de aarde terug" (from "War Upon Man", 2021)

Sworn - "Calamity Sea"  (from "A Journey Told Through Fire", 2023)

Naglfar - "Plutonium Reveries" (from "Harvest", 2007)

I will be submitting these for March:

Faith or Fear - "Deep Down" (from "Titanium", 2012)

Mortal Scepter - "Spear and Fang" (from "Where Light Suffocates", 2019)

A.R.G. - "Perforation" (from "Entrance", 1991)

Torture Squad - "Out of Control" (from "Pandemonium", 2003)

Death Strike - "Re-entry and Destruction" (from "Fuckin' Death", 1991)

Believer - "Vile Hypocrisy" (from "Extraction From Mortality", 1989)

Feb 24

1. Celtic Frost– “Nemesis” (from “Vanity/Nemesis”, 1990) [Submitted by Daniel]

2. Frightful – “Spectral Creator” (from “Spectral Creator”, 2021) [Submitted by Sonny]

3. Killjoy – “Enemy Within (Cycle of Insanity)” (from “Compelled by Fear”, 1990

4. Anthrax – “Armed and Dangerous” (from “Spreading the Disease”, 1985) [Submitted by Sonny]

5. Vulture – “Clashing Iron” (from “The Guillotine”, 2017)

6. Bombarder – “Speed Metal” (from “Speed Kill”, 1989)

7. Hellcrash– “Volcanic Outburst” (from “Demonic Assassinatiön”, 2023)

8. Hellish – “Goddess Death” (from “The Dance of the Four Elemental Serpents”, 2022) [Submitted by Sonny]

9. Lucifuge – “From Cosmos to Chaos” (from “Monoliths of Wrath”, 2023

10. Create A Kill – “Decimate” (from “Summoned to Rise”, 2023)

11. 8 Foot Sativa – “Perpetual Torment” (from “Breed the Pain”, 2004)

12. Soulfly – “Defeat U” (from “Prophecy”, 2004)

13. Cypecore – “Values of Life” (from “Take the Consequence”, 2010)

14. Lazarus A.D. – “Revolution” (from “The Onslaught”, 2007)

15. Ghoul – “Noxious Concoctions” (from “Noxious Concoctions”, 2024)

16. Exodus – “A.W.O.L.” (from “Impact is Imminent”, 1990) [Submitted by Daniel]

17. Cold Steel – “Full Tilt” (from “Deeper into Greater Pain”, 2023)

18. Torque – “H.L.S.” (from “Torque”, 2023)

19. Gama Bomb – “Mask of Anarchy” (from “BATS”, 2023) [Submitted by Sonny]

20. Xentrix – “Questions” (from “For Whose Advantage?”, 1990) [Submitted by Daniel]

21. Asylum – “Eternal Violence” (from “Tyrannicide”, 2022)

22. Distillator – “Guerilla Insurgency” (from “Revolutionary Cells”, 2015)

23. Flotsam & Jetsam – “Suffer the Masses” (from “When the Storm Comes Down”, 1990) [Submitted by Daniel]

24. Terminalist– “Frenetic Standstill” (from “The Crisis as Condition”, 2023) [Submitted by Sonny]

25. Eight Sins – “Street Trash” (from “Straight to Namek”, 2023)

26. Life Cycles – “Serpent’s Kiss” (from “Portal to the Unknown”, 2024)

27. Abandoned - “Visions of Death” (from “Thrash You!”, 2007)

28. Killing – “Killed in Action” (from “Face the Madness”, 2021)

29. Obliveon – “From this Day Forward” (from “From this Day Forward”, 1990) [Submitted by Daniel]

Hi Ben, please could you add:

Óreiða (Iceland)

Kowloon Walled City - "Container Ships" (2012)

Since I stumbled across their 2021 release, Piecework (an album which was my top pick for that year), I have been slowly working my way through the back catalogue of Kowloon Walled City. I soon settled on 2012's Container Ships as my next regular play, finding the angular and brittle nature of the sound that I enjoyed so much on that latter release in full flight on this release from nearly a decade earlier. The pacing of songs at this point in their careers is not as consistently slow as it was on Piecework but the bleakness is still very obvious at this stage in their songwriting. The bouncing sludge of 50s Dad as track two on here, soon injects a shot of uptempo and disorganised chaos to proceedings. The futile edge to Scott Evan's vocals is perfectly at odds with this faster pace, emphasising the awkwardness and discomfort of the character in the song.

With the bass churning away throughout Container Ships, this soon becomes a very dense sounding album. Changes of pace end with resonance to them that permeates the space around the listener. This adds further tension to what is already an emotionally taut record. The sense of loom and menace that is built over the course of the intro to the title track cannot be denied. It is a perfect soundtrack to exploring the graveyard of ships that is depicted on the cover of the album itself. Whilst undeniably burdened with a megaton sludge weight, it is the contrasting post-metal sections to tracks that really emphasises the brilliance of Container Ships. The charge of the sludge metal never gets to explode to its full potential - which I would normally class as an inhibiting factor, but it works brilliantly here. I liken it to bombs being exploded underwater. You see the water being cast far and wide, hearing the sound of the explosion itself also, yet the violece of the act seems somehow surpressed as it is hidden from view. The majority of the tracks on Container Ships are sludge bombs submerged in, or floating on the top of post-metal seas.

This is not to say that this album lacks agression. Instead the more fierce elements to the record feel more personal. Indeed they seem to hit harder by the simple acknowledgement that anger does not necessarily mean outbursts of violence. The expression of frsutration, futility and fear itself comes through on this album. Whilst the post-metal elements offer this expression they by no means temper the sense of hopelessness that the tracks exude, even on the faster-paced tracks. This is why I find most of what I have heard to date from Kowloon Walled City resonantes with me so easily. There is variation on a theme with KWC that by no means represents a compromised position.

4.5/5

Boasting a line up from bands I have never heard of before coming to this month’s The Fallen featured release, Great Falls’ Objects Without Pain promised to be a voyage of discovery if nothing else. With a quote from a review of “…if you value art as a triumph of emotion over form, then you should listen”, alongside another quote that referenced comparison with Converge’s Jane Doe album, there was an increasing sense of intrigue as I teed up the stream on Spotify.

The first thing to call out is that this has Neurot Recordings written all over it. After just a few seconds of listening to the album opener Dragged Home Alive, there was no need for me to check the label this was released under. Strained vocals and sterile strings that eventually give way to monstrous riffage later in the track told me all I needed to know. The potent and pungent aggression inherent in the vocals and instrumentation reeked of a band with a real emotional connection to their art, presenting their songs from a very real place. Suffice to say that by the end of track two, Great Falls had my undivided attention.

Rattling into mathy territory with some of the more urgent and pressing tracks (guessing this is the Playing Enemy band member/s influence), Objects Without Pain represents a turbulent listen that possesses the perfect element of restraint without ever fully tempering the raging flow or direction of even the most franticly paced tracks. Where this flow does get flipped on its head and undertakes a dramatic loss of momentum it is done organically and sensibly to help inflict the emotional brevity of the messaging perfectly.

In the more sludgey moments riffs ebb and flow like huge tidal waves of black (not blackened) water with all positivity and colour drained from them. This album confronts the point where tired messaging stops being tiring and instead becomes seething frustration. It pinpoints where the collaborative approach to conflict resolution shatters into the lethal emotional shards that scar all parties involved. The notion that all loss is inevitable is never ignored but it by no means attempts to bill it as tolerable. I would disagree with the above line from the review I saw that said this album represents art over form. Objects Without Pain comes across as very structured, albeit with a crude sense of things dropping into place via the sheer brute force of the will of the musicians involved in its creation.

Whilst containing enough sludge to warrant the tag, there is a lot more to Great Falls than just one element of a genre of metal. The number of band members from the four bands that make up this mystery (to me at least) supergroup clearly gives Great Falls a broad palate to create from without ever overloading the listener. For those familiar with them, the band members of Great Falls are from Kiss it Goodbye, Gaytheist, Play Enemy and Bastard Feast.

4.5/5

Still a quiet week at work this week so managed to get through all of the playlists for my clans before end of first week of Jan.  From this list I still confess to being in a bit of a rut with death metal of late so I did skip a few tracks (Epiphanic Truth, Pyrrhon, Amon Amarth, Anata and Sacrilege all got short shrift).  My positives came in the form of Edge of Sanity, Setentia,  Neuropath and Death.  I have zero time for Cattle Decapitation though, have never understood the hype around the band at all and this track did nothing to change that opinion.

Managed to get through the playlist early this month.  Standout tracks for me were Totemesse who are completely new to me but that "Bastards" track was a fucking banger.  Good pick from Sonny on that Enslaved track, reminded me how expansive Enslaved always have been but that they have not always been the diluted version of themselvs that we have seen in the last few years.  Panopticon is an obvious winner but I do find that my time to listen properly to the music is limited when it is pushing 15 mins for one track.  Asagraum were very impressive also.

Did not enjoy that Valdrin track - heard them on a couple of other occasions and just do not hear the attraction.  That Progenie Terrestre Pura track started off okay but lost me around halfway through.

It says on the list that track 16 is Sarcofago but it is actually Spektr on the playlist itself in Spotify?

Solid list again this month.  Particularly enjoyed The Angelic Process, Convocation, Dopelord and Ocean of Grief (which was unexpected since they are quite melodic).

Less enamored with Remina, Kaunis Kuolematon, Lord Vigo, Madvro and YDI and still have my Lee Dorrian aversion when it comes to Cathedral.

Here are my February submissions Vinny:

Death Angel – “Stop” (from “Act III”, 1990)

Quoted Daniel

Hi Daniel, can't find this record on Spotify here in the UK.  Do you wish to make an alternative nomination?

Sleeping is for wimps.  Get yourselves an intravenous drip so you don't need to spend time eating and drinking.  Get a catheter fitted so no bathroom visits needed and then you have virtually no need to do anything other than listen to and review music.  Works for Andi every month seemingly 

For Feb please Ben.

Woe - "Far Beyond the Fracture of the Sky" (from "Legacies of Frailty", 2023)

Syn - "Groregn" (from "Villfarelse", 2023)

Blut Aus Nord - "Queen of the Dead Dimension" (from "Disharmonium: Nahab", 2023)

For Feb please Sonny.

Faetooth - "Strange Ways" (from "Remnants of the Vessel", 2022)

Fires in the Distance - "Psalm of the Merciless" (from "Air Not Meant for Us", 2023)

Just two from me this time please.

Skeletal Remains - "Relentless Appetite" (from "Relentless Appetite", 2024)

Year of the Knife - "Last Laugh" (from "No Love Lost", 2023)

I can't believe this release has no ratings let alone reviews so far on here.  We need to up our game Metal Academy.

Jan 2024

1. Sarcófago – “Third Slaughter – 2nd Version” (from “Die Hard”, 2015) [Submitted by Daniel]

2. Sepultura – “R.I.P. (Rest in Pain)” (from “Schizophrenia”, 1987) [Submitted by Vinny]

3. Necrodeath – “Necrosadist” (from “Into the Macabre”, 1987) [Submitted by Sonny]

4. Epidemic – “Vision Divine” (from “Decameron”, 1992)

5. Deceased… – “Graphic Repulsion” (from “Fearless Undead Machines”, 1997) [Submitted by Daniel]

6. Dead Head – “Angel Heart” (from “Dream Deceiver”, 2017)

7. Mekong Delta– “The Final Deluge” (from “The Music of Erich Zann”, 1988) [Submitted by Sonny]

8. Droid – “Amorphous Forms (Shapeless Shadows)” (from “Terrestrial Mutations”, 2017)

9. Suicidal Tendencies – “Disco’s Out, Murder’s In” (from “Lights…Camera…Revolution”, 1990) [Submitted by Daniel]

10. Power Trip – “Firing Squad” (from “Nightmare Logic”, 2017) [Submitted by Sonny]

11. Toxic Wine – “Opresion masiva” (from “No hay lugar para los débiles”, 2016) [Submitted by Sonny]

12. Ratos de Porão – “Amazônia Nunca Mais” (from “Brasil”, 1989) [Submitted by Sonny]

13. Piraña – “God Killer” (from “Destructive Animal Revolution”, 2008)

14. Leather Brigade – “I Am the Night” (from “Pray to the Knife”, 2023) [Submitted by Vinny]

15. Diabolic Night – “Unleash the Abyss” (from “Sepulchral Magic”, 2014)

16. Malokarpatan – “Kočár postupuje temnomodrými dálavami na juhozápad” (from “Vertumnus Caesar”, 2023) [Submitted by Daniel]

17. Mayhem (US) – “Defy Your Master” (from “Burned Alive”, 1987)

18. Void – “Silent Onslaught” (from “Silent Onslaught”, 2023)

19. Torture – “Ignominous Slaughter” (from “Storm Alert”, 1989) [Submitted by Vinny]

20. Demolition Hammer – “Carnivorous Obsession” (from “Epidemic of Violence”, 1992) [Submitted by Vinny]

21. Thrashback – “Endless War” (from “Night of the Sacrifice”, 2015)

22. Legion of the Damned – “Beheading of the Godhead” (from “The Poison Chalice”, 2023)

23. Invocator – “Breed of Sin” (from “Weave the Apocalypse”, 1993)

24. Chimaira– “Pure Hatred” (from “The Impossibility of Reason”, 2003)

25. Machine Head – “In the Presence of My Enemies” (from “Through the Ashes of Empires”, 2003) [Submitted by Sonny]

26. Witchaven – “Unholy Copulation” (from “Terrorstorm”, 2010)

27. Darkthrone – “Snowfall” (from “Frostland Tapes”, 2008) [Submitted by Daniel]

If you enjoy Raphael Weinroth-Browne, Vinny, I strongly recommend you check out The Visit's 2015 album Through Darkness Into Light. It was my AOTY for 2015 and features Weinroth-Browne on cello and piano with vocalist Heather Sita Black. It's a beautiful album that deserves to be much more highly acclaimed than it is. In fact, I am going to go and listen to it again now.

Cheers Sonny.

Raphael Weinroth-Browne - "Worlds Within" (2021)

Described to me as "layers and layers of cello" which is one of my favourite instruments and so I was straight on this within minutes.  Soul soothing stuff.

I have not been listening to many of the recent Horde playlists to be honest but have taken some time out whilst on holiday for the festive season to listen to this month's and can see how the more established and historic tracks work better.  I often find it easy to represent more old-school stuf on The Pit playlist since Daniel and Sonny usually pick from the 80's heyday with consistency which frees me up to venture for the more modern releases.  I have never had a strict rule around a specific proposrtion of the list being modern or from the current year.  Prefer the "organic" approach.

One thing that struck me when I played through this moth's Horde list was how little patient I have whatsoever for melodic death metal nowadays.  I have this mindset with death metal that it should never be diluted, otherwise it is not really death metal anymore.  Odd, as I don't mind melodic black metal.  Tracks three and four on the list soon got skipped and I was grateful of the down and dirty Darkthrone demo.  I think the last melodic death metal that I listened to regularly was Heartwork by Carcass.

Nasum are a band I should be flogged for neglecting like I do.  I keep telling myself that I need to spend more time with their stuff but somehow never quite get around to it.  I actually sat through that Imperial Triumphant track which is progress for me - I still don't get the hype around them though.  I will get around to a full Neuropath album review eventually but this track underlines the Suffocation influence brilliantly for me.  The diving guitars and stop/start rhythms are great.

Wasn't too keen on some of the more melodic death/doom tracks this month - I am familiar with Hamferð and Mother of GRaves but neither really floated my boat.  Still lots to enjoy though with Cough, Sir Lord Baltimore, Remembrance and Melvins being highlights.

Dymna Lotva were an interesting prospect, post-black metal and doom (with some folk) sounds as a mixture worked for me.  Playing the album through now as I type this.

I enjoyed another solid list this month.  HIghlights being Fork of Horripilation, Malokarpatan, Auriferous Flame and Faidra.  Benn meaning to spend some time with that Faidra album in recent weeks so will prioritise this coming week as work dies down.

Not convinced by Finsterfrost, Vertebra Atlantis or Sielunvihollinen though.  Still, plenty to go at though from this month's list.

Ben?  The Spotify playlist on the app itself is still showing as last month's selections?

I recalled that I had taken some time to review this one already:

It has taken me the best part of a decade to get around to undertaking an erstwhile and meaningful effort to review the release that is recognised by some as being “the worst album in the history of death metal”. With so much negativity flying around it is difficult to write a genuinely impartial review based on how an album sounds to you personally. A task made no easier by the fact that the band in question are one of your favourite bands in death metal, responsible for some of the greatest albums the sub-genre has seen, and they have undertaken a huge change of direction and seemingly alienated the vast majority of their fanbase.

Looking on the internet there are two camps of opinion (broadly speaking) on Illud Divinum Insanus. ‘The “this is Ear Rape” Camp’, have a clear standpoint from the outset of their argument. In this camp you are most likely to hear that this album is all the fault of either a) David Vincent and his “fucked up ideas” or b) Trey Azagathoth for letting David Vincent do “whatever the fuck he likes”. The more rational ones in this camp still exhibit an astonishing lack of rational thought by citing Pete Sandoval having back surgery and finding Jesus as being the source of the problem. In the face of such astonishing, evidence-based, and well-researched findings it is hard to see how any opposing camp could possibly exist.

Amazingly, the second camp of opinion, ‘The “this isn’t so bad guys” Camp’ has managed to flourish in the face of such vehement opposition from the aforementioned “Ear Rape” camp dwellers. This second group of more open-minded music fans acknowledge some very important distinctions in their argument when compared with their more reactionary counterparts. Namely, they admit that a) it is in David Vincent’s gift to do whatever the fuck he likes and that b) Trey Azagathoth was quite good at video games by this point and wanted someone else to run point on the album because he had done more than a few years of good shit and had earned some time with his feet up. They tend to also acknowledge that Pete Sandoval had a debilitating injury that required surgery and his belief change was a more than reasonable step in his recovery and he was rightly (and publicly) proud of what he had achieved with Morbid Angel so let’s leave him out of this!

If I had to choose sides, then go right ahead and sign me for the latter of the two camps. I might not agree with everything either camp say but there is far more wrong with the “Ear Rape” sentiment to justify any involvement there. I mean looking at old reviews I did for the follow up to this record, I slate it based on cursory listens and peer pressure so I have had a foot in the former camp at some point.

So, I do not like Illud Divinum Insanus. I do not hate it either and I think the general backlash against it is both unnecessary and misguided, showing the rather grandiose idea that bands somehow owe something to their fans to stay on the same trajectory their whole career. The fact is though that this is not a Morbid Angel album (well apart from the two main players being kind of well-established with the band name – oh and the band logo on the front of the record), in fact it is not really a death metal album when taken in its entirety. Clearly carrying a variety of musical influences in their heads at the time there are lots of non-metal as well as various other sub-genres of metal being explored here and whether you like it or not is up to you. Whether you like the industrial-tinged elements is a matter of taste (I personally do not like a lot of industrial metal but find the elements here quite measured and appropriate). If you find the “bangers” type dance beats abhorrent, then any hope you have of any return to form in the future being of a Blessed… or better still an Altars… level of accomplishment is slim to zero.

The point is that bands move on, and musicians influences change. Records that defined part of your life will always remain relevant and your favourite band now going off in some previously unheralded direction is not the end of the world. Illud… is a bitter pill to swallow after nearly a decade of waiting for a follow up to Heretic, with little to no warning of what was coming from these titans of death metal. References to Domination keep popping up in the more amenable camp but I do not see those as really all that relevant and perhaps are just over-exuberant attempts to provide some sense to Illud… and make it more palatable.

Fact is, both Trey and David can do whatever they like. Do you have to like it? No. Tim Yeung and Destructhor are no more to blame if you dislike this album than Pete Sandoval is – the album just isn’t for you.

It seems very simple to me. If you like death metal and death metal done like it was in the 90s, then you will not like this record. Stop listening to it and saying nasty things about it on the internet some eleven years after it was released and just get the fuck on with your lives. If you want to hear something different that to my ears is not all that appealing overall, then take a risk and form your own opinion.

2.5/5

January please:

Obscure Sphinx - "Nothing Left" (from "Epitaphs", 2016)

Hexvessel - "Ring" (from "Polar Veil", 2023)

January please:

Baest - "Crosswhore" (from "Danse Macabre", 2018)

Monument of Misanthropy - "Exceptionally Sadistic" (from "Unterweger", 2021)

Analepsy - "Food for the Maggots" (from "Dehumanization by Supremacy", 2015)

Skinless - "Deviation Will Not Be Tolerated" (from "Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead", 2006)

Vastum - "Vomitous" (from "Inward to Gethsemane", 2023)

10 to the Chest - "Glassed in the Face" (from "Split the Fuck Open", 2023)

Bloodbath - "Mock the Cross" (from "The Fathomless Mastery", 2008)