Banished
[Above: front/back of cover]
Deliver Me Unto Pain
This CD is a reprint of the original 1993 release. The track 'Cast Out the Flesh' is one of my favorite death metal songs ever! Brutal and insanely powerful, I absolutely love this song!!! I never really got into the rest of the album, but 'Cast Out the Flesh' is entirely worth the price of this CD.
[Below: Inside]
[Below: CD]
Blasphemous Creation
[Above: front/back of cover]
The Rise of Marduk
For the last decade or so Mourning the Ancient has been blessed with repeatedly receiving a new release from this amazing band. In a scene drowned in garbage Blasphemous Creation has always risen to the top. This new release, The Rise of Marduk, continues to impress. The first thing you might notice is the polished, professional sound. It really helps present a solid package here. The guitars are truly superb, melodic and complex, they are their own vocalist, singing an aggressive and epic melody to the listener. The human vocalist is very competent as well, singing in a black/death style everyone is sure to like. The drummer is the last piece in this aggressive puzzle that is Blaspemous Creation. He is very skilled and could surely keep up with the best of them. It's hard to find something negative here. But let me try... Hmmm... Do you want me to make something up? Okay, I got one: It really sucks that you're not listening to this right now like I am!
Seriously, it's a great band, and it always surprises me when bands like this aren't super popular, while many bands, far less competent and interesting, are. Strangely this new release must be self-financed, as there is no mention of a label. But you know, little gems like this, unknown by the masses, have a magic that is ruined with popularity. So while I'm glad that Blasphemous Creation isn't known and loved by the whole underground -- they certainly deserve it.
[Below: CD back]
[Below: Inside/CD tray]
[Below: CD]
[Below: Sticker]
Aedh
[Above: Cover/spine/inner]
Torches of the Badb
Hailing from Canada, Aedh is an interesting Black Metal band for several reasons. First, the band concentrates on Irish-Gaelic culture/spirituality, instead of the more typical Germanic-Nordic. Musically Aedh (which is an Irish word for fire) is varied and keeps your attention, ranging from harsh and fast black metal to atmospheric acoustic guitar and a rather ritualistic melody.
It's cool to see a cassette being used for a demo (this is Aedh's 2nd demo) in today's digital world, especially a professionally produced cassette. This old, abandoned format seems more personal than a CD-R demo, and I'm a sucker for old technologies.
The vocals on this are pretty unique, sounding a lot like those used on Sarcofago's 'Rotting' release, which I loved, especially since it was one of the first 'black metal' bands I ever heard.
Anyway, an interesting release from a band that I'd like to hear more of.
By the way, I looked up the name 'Aedh' while doing this review and found that:
a) There are two people in the U.S. with the name Aedh.
And:
b) The name is ranked 931,644 in the U.S.
Just thought you might like to know that!
Aedh email:
curseofmacha@gmail.com
[Above: inside cover]
[Above: Lyrics side a]
[Above: Lyrics side b]
Arktogäa
[Above: cover/spine]
Blood for Wotan
First, the name 'Arktogäa' is a mythical continent, similar to Hyperborea or Thule and was the hypothetical native land of the Aryans.
Arktogäa hails from Italy and plays a mix of NSBM and RAC style music, which they do extremely well. The black metal is superbly done, full of anger and audial violence. It's catchy, melodic and embued with feeling. The singer has a top-notch voice.
This release also contains atmospheric tracks, one of which bears the voice of the Führer, and is like a building storm. It's strange how well Adolf Hitler's voice sets to music. It is like music itself. Charged with power and magick. The band mixes it well and it makes a cool track.
Arktogäa gets the black metal formula right, where so many others these days fail. Blood for Wotan has the type of sound that will make you snarl in bliss with its energy and anger.
[Below: Inside]
Blood for Wotan
[Below: Flyer]
arktogaahorde.bandcamp.com/releases
Psicorragia
[Above: cover/spine]
Madremuerte
Madremuerte (Mother Death) is the newest work graced upon me by this Peruvian band. In fact, it is their first full-length work in fourteen years! Over a decade ago when I first heard Psicorragia I was so impressed I interviewed them. Since I haven't heard anything in years, I was anxious to hear this CD. Simply put, Madremuerte is a darkly beautiful and complex work. It is intricately atmospheric and operatic at times, and at other times doomy and head-pounding brutal.
The mix of so many styles is perfectly done. The skill of the musicians of Psicorragia is astounding. I don't say it lightly that they are amongst the best in their class. It's not often that I listen to a whole CD in its entirety these days, but Mother Death kept my attention from start to finish. One can feel the love and care the musicians put into this work.
I cannot sing the praises of this band enough.
The vocals range from death metal styles to black metal, and the vocalist handles everything very well. Each song has its own dark fingerprint, its own atmopshere and feel, something so very rare in music when so many albums these days just bleed together. An amazing rare work and I simply cannot recommend it more!
[Below: Inside booklet]
[Below: English translation of lyrics insert]
[Below: Back]
[Below: CD]
[Below: High resolution cover art]
Band Website:
Label Website:
Antiguus Scriptum
[Above: cover/spine/back]
In Pulverem Reverteris
From Portugal, this is a repress of a 2000 demo of this one-man-band. I had not heard of this band prior to this CD.
I have to first say, this is quite unique, I haven't heard anything quite like it. It is a mix of pagan melodies, symphonic orchestrations, black metal and the strangest sounding vocalist I've heard in a while. This has a sound that grows on you with each listen. My only complaint is that this is so short, I wish they would have thrown on some bonus tracks or something.
If you are tired of the mountain of bands who all sound alike, I'd recommend giving Antiguus Scriptum a listen.
[Above: Inside]
[Above: CD]
[Above: Antiguus Scriptum flyer]
[Above: Antiguus Scriptum flyer]
Label Website:
Dark Awake
[Above: cover/spine/back]
Soil, Blood... and the Reaping of Light
From Greece, the cradle of civilization, the land of Mighty and Wise Athena, come Dark Awake. This Digipak was released in 2013 and contains ten songs. This is the 3rd release of the band, whose first release dates back to 2008. Greece has given us many great and unique black metal bands like Varathron, Rotting Christ, Necromantia, Legion of Doom and Deviser, so I was interested to hear a dark ambient band.
Dark Awake did not disappoint. It is not like any band I've heard before. It is... very strange, in a good way, in a refreshing way. Some songs utilize a chanting female, while others utilize strange melodies, odd sounds and dark atmospheres. Tracks like 'Lux Et Tenebris', utilize melodic keyboards with accompanying dark atmosphere very well. Track eight 'Lapsit Exillis' has a superb feel that I liked very much, but whose strange melodies made my German Shepherd grumble throughout!
Dark Awake is amongst my favorite dark ambient bands. While many bands of this type can be very boring, this release wasn't boring in the least, it always had something interesting going on. A dark gem!
[Above: Inside cover/CD tray]
[Above: CD]
[Above: Shelmerdine - the dark mind behind Dark Awake]
Seges Findere/Morbid Desecration
[Above: cover/spine/back]
Never Stop the Hate
More of a gift of friendship than a promo, nonetheless, Elegy Records is amongst the only record labels that still sends Mourning the Ancient promotional CDs for review. Everything stopped very shortly after we began publicly supporting National Socialism and Adolf Hitler. Something that is taboo even in a scene that can talk about infant sacrifice, necrophilia, mass murder, etc. and no one bats an eyelid. Yet the public has been taught that NS is total evil, but still somehow it is even shunned for its alleged 'evil' in a genre of entertainment that is supposedly all about evil and darkness. Of course, none of the media lies and propaganda about NS is true, but that is another story. It really goes to show how utterly strong the system's brainwashing is though.
Anyway, here are a few bands that are not susceptible to the aforementioned brainwashing! This split sees Seges Findere in top form. The vocals on this reminded me a bit of Sarcofago, who ironically is covered for the song 'Satanas'. This has a great old school sound throughout, something many bands are incapable of producing today, instead making boring noisy trash.
Peel back the layer of today's crappy sea of mainstream bands and you'll find the true underground, where bands like Seges Findere stand tall.
The other band on this split, Morbid Desecration, I hadn't heard before. While the sound isn't as welcoming to my ears as S.F., it was a good listen, and I'd like to hear more, like a stand alone release.
Seges Findere never disappoint!
[Above: Inside cover/CD tray]
[Above: CD]
Aedh
[Above: cover/inner]
Au-delà des Cendres
From that mysterious land above the United States - Canada - comes Aedh. This is the second time I've had the pleasure of reviewing this black metal band.
The vocals are angry, tortured and just the type you would want in a band like Aedh. Track four 'La Lance et le Soleil', the final track on this four song release, goes out strong, probably being my favorite. It has an incredible mix of sounds and melodies.
I can feel that Aedh is still experimenting with styles. It is a young band here in 2016, and I really look forward to hearing more in the future.
[Above: Inner cover]
[Above: Inner cover]
[Above: Inner cover]
[Above: CD tray]
[Above: Back]
[Above: CD]
[Above: Gae Bolga 'zine]
It also has an interview with a Canadian band called Pagan Hellfire, which recorded a track for our old Mourning the Ancient photo CD release way-back-when. A great band with a great aura, although I haven't heard anything new from them in probably over a decade. Also included are some thought-provoking articles I found interesting and very relevant to this dying age.
My only complant is that this 'zine is too small (about 20 pages) - I'd love to read more. If you can find this, out in that vast wasteland of our world, then you've found a little gem. Same goes for Aedh. Aedh & Gae Bolga: Two dark jewels glittering in the world twilight.
Neoheresy
[Above: back/cover]
Oblawa
Released January 1, 2017 by Elegy Records, I was super impressed by this Polish band. First, the band has been around for quite a few years, since 1994 or so, under various names. Under their last name, 'Hellveto', they released over twenty CDs! Yet, somehow, I never heard them or even heard of them. I guess that's the way it is in such a crowded scene, so many bands slip through the cracks and you simply can't hear them all. Neoheresy is a band I'm glad I finally got to hear, however. They are extremely listenable and have retained an old school charm. The music is atmospheric, symphonic and top notch in just about every way. With complex melodies, choirs and black metal style vocals, Neoheresy showcases talent and long experience. There is absolutely nothing here to complain about. Great stuff!
[Above: Inner/CD tray]
Band Website:
Label Website:
_________________________________________
[Peaceville]
_________________________________________
[self-release]
_________________________________________
[Vanguard Productions - late 2015]
_________________________________________
[Wotan Front - 2016]
Great stuff.
1. Intro
2. Ablaze Fyrfos Awakes
3. È l’Ora di Marciar
4. Hammer of the Gods
5. Strength and Anger
6. Die Fahne Hoch
7. Outro
_________________________________________
[Moscow Funeral League (Release date: 2-29-2016)]
_________________________________________
[Elegy Records ©2016]
_________________________________________
[Great Turf Deluxe ©2013]
_________________________________________
[Elegy Records ©2016]
_________________________________________
[Dying Sun Records ©2016]
What's it like? The guitar sound reminds me of old Burzum - the droning atmosphere, the simple melodies which often prove to be the most powerful in black metal, and music in general. I really enjoyed the guitar aspect of Aedh, it is done so well, with such purpose, feeling and subtlety. The songs are long (8-10 minuntes) and flow well, not losing my attention. It has a sound which is easy to get lost in - as I sit here on this cold October night, staring out at the empty street outside my bunker.
_________________________________________
[Elegy Records ©2016]
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