Omnihility - Dominion of Misery

Artist: Omnihility
Release Title: Dominion of Misery
Year: 2016
Label: Unique Leader Records
Genre: Brutal/Technical Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Morte Aeterna
2. Psychotic Annihilation
3. Immaculate Deception
4. Dementia Praedox
5. Dead Eden
6. Within Shadows
7. Reflections in Blood
8. Parasitic Existence
9. Necrotic. Consumption. Obsession
10. Dominion of Misery

Continuing their onslaught of brutality, Oregon-based brutal/technical death metallers Omnihility have grown rather accomplished and competent to turn their mechanically-infused assault into a whirlwind of technical and brutal death. Being the first recorded output of the band for new members bassist Isamu Sato and vocalist Adam Toepfer, the groups’ third full-length album is released February 26, 2016 on Unique Leader Records.

Much like their previous works, this is mainly a finely-acute mixture of swirling, dive-bombing technically-challenging riffing that hurtles forth at rather frantic tempos that adds an overt brutality as the band whips up a frenzy of complex arrangements alongside the mechanical patterns with the occasional dip into a more mid-tempo chug-based pattern. This serves as a nice buffer to off-set the more brutal moments here with the tightly-wound, frenzied rhythms here containing a rather charging, chaotic focus with this series of riffing coming together incredibly well to deliver a competent, pummeling release that manages to whip through enough dizzying riffing to placate the tech-crowd while featuring the kind of frenetic rhythms that give the album a solid, brutal tone. Though the technical rhythms do end up winning out in the end, there’s plenty of tight, frantic brutality on display to really give this one plenty of appeal to that section as well with the tightly-wound rhythms offering up a fine amount of brutal rhythms. There’s only a slight issue with this one, as the album sounds way too mechanical and triggered at times to really breathe like the material really calls for here as the guitars really offer no depth or variety in their tone and stay on the same format for the album’s duration while the drumming is rather one-note choppy blasts without much deviation as well. Still, this one doesn’t really do a whole lot to hamper this one as there’s plenty to readily enjoy here.

With only a minor troubling issue that holds this one back and manages to get out plenty of enjoyably complex and challenging brutality which allows this one to readily appeal to fans of both the technical and brutal realms who can also manage to overlook the minor production issue that plagues this one which isn’t a part of others.

Score: 86/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
http://www.indiemerch.com/uniqueleader/item/38158

Bewitcher - Bewitcher

Artist: Bewitcher
Release Title: Bewitcher
Year: 2016
Label: Diabolic Might Records
Genre: Black/Thrash (Speed) Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Bewitcher
2. Speed 'til You Bleed
3. Sin Is in Her Blood
4. Wild Blasphemy
5. Midnight Hunters
6. Harlots of Hell
7. Hot Nights, Red Lights
8. Black Speed Delirium
9. In the Night (The Cult Will Rise)

Initially forming in 2013, Oregon black/speed metallers Bewitcher have quickly set about to hone their darkened, old-school approach to black and speed metal over the years. Now that they’ve become a lethal, vicious force, the trio prepares it’s debut effort originally issued as a vinyl release August 18, 2016 on Diabolic Might Records with a CD version on Divebomb Records to come September 9, 2016.

Immediately from the start, this one impresses upon us the old-school feel to be discharged throughout here which fully encompases the rowdy, up-tempo riffing. Utilizing the fiery, frantic riff-work of speed metal in conjunction with the tremolo-based patterns of black metal it creates a truly ripping and explosive mixture here where it manages to incorporate the raucous and energetic style of speed metal thrashing along throughout the tracks with plenty of high-speed precision and tight patterns that generate the reckless out-of-control nature of the style. The wild, raw energy that brings here is married nicely with the ferocious black metal aesthetic where the tremolo patterns and steady, swirling tempos creates a highly enjoyable and rousing style of evil old-school sounding speed metal. Though it’s quite competent and proficiently played, the tight riff-work here doesn’t really generate much variety in the rhythm section here as the deep, raging rhythms displayed aren’t all that different from the type of material featured elsewhere on here where it just tends to run through the same thing over and over again which doesn’t really give this much of an identity here within the music with it really just tending to come off as the type of rousing-but-formulaic approach that really lets the second half sink into a mire of familiar-sounding rhythms and tempos that don’t really differentiate themselves all that much. Likewise, the gravelly hard-rock inspired vocals aren’t exactly that appealing and tend to come off in a whiny pitch compared to the rest of the music and takes some getting used to even if it does eventually come off fine. Beyond these issues, there’s not a whole lot really to dislike about this one.

Though there’s plenty of enjoyable elements to be found here, the fact that this one really does manage to feature some minor, and in some cases barely detrimental issues does make this a solid and really recommended variation for those that enjoy this rocking brand of black/speed metal or those that enjoy the faster, thrashier end of black metal.

Score: 88/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://bewitcher.bandcamp.com/album/bewitcher