Ruins of Elysium - Seeds of Chaos and Serenity

Artist: Ruins of Elysium
Release Title: Seeds of Chaos and Serenity
Year: 2017
Label: Self-Released/Independent
Genre: Symphonic Power Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Kama Sutra
2. Shadow of the Colossus
3. Serpentarius
4. Beyond the Witching Hour
5. Iris
6. The Birth of a Goddess
7. Seeds of Chaos and Serenity

Continuing to uphold their past success, international symphonic metallers Ruins of Elysium have brought their epic sound and capabilities to offer even more bombast and grandeur into their material than their previous efforts. Taking a concept approach around the anime Sailor Moon for their epic title track, the groups’ sophomore full-length was self-released April 4, 2017.

Similar to their previous effort, the band is once again in full-on bombastic and glory mode throughout this one offering a stellar look into their formula. This here is built primarily around the grandiose tempos, featuring lightning-fast riffing and barreling drumming that is completely overshadowed by the bombastic keyboards that offer the over-the-top theatrics customary within the genre. It runs through these efforts with reckless abandon as the histrionics from the music match the spoken tales of glory and heroism that is captured expertly by these over-the-top rhythms giving this one the kind of driving attitude that works for the most part. That gets held up by the one detrimental, overriding flaw here in the overriding and truly bombastic epic at the end, going on far longer than necessary to really prove it’s point and making for a truly exhaustive ending more than anything. The dedication to go for something like this, a massive mini-album in its own right as the five-track suite makes for a fun enough representation of their work anyway beyond going through the motions of what’s on offer elsewhere on the album, yet the fact that it just goes on endlessly as the five movements clock in around regular-length tracks anyway and it just makes the album a drag to have to get through in order to experience it all. Though it’s fun enough, the daunting feel and approach are what somewhat lower this one.

As there’s one huge, nearly overwhelming effort holding this one back somewhat, it’s a little lower than what it should be as the rest of this one is some rather impressive symphonic-styled power metal that’s featured here make this a must for any fan of the style or can celebrate the excess within.

Score: 85/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://ruinsofelysium.bandcamp.com/album/seeds-of-chaos-and-serenity

NervoChaos - Nyctophilia

Artist: NervoChaos
Release Title: Nyctophilia
Year: 2017
Label: Greyhaze Records/Cogumelo Records (co-production)
Genre: Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Moloch Rise
2. Ritualistic
3. Ad Majorem Satanae Gloriam
4. Season of the Witch
5. Waters of Chaos
6. The Midnight Hunter
7. Rites of 13 Cemeteries
8. Vampiric Cannibal Goddess
9. Stained With Blood
10. Lord Death
11. Dead End
12. World Aborted
13. Live Like Suicide

Still carrying strong to this day, Brazilian death metal maniacs NervoChaos have been around for just over two decades and have remained one of the most consistent if not prolific acts in the genre which is the result of several line-up changes over the years. With longtime member Eduardo Lane joined by new guitarist Cherry, Lauro on guitars and vocals as well as a returning Thiago Anduscias, the groups’ seventh full-length effort arrives April 7, 2017 on a coproduction with Greyhaze Records and the legendary Cogumelo Records.

Holding true to their legacy, the group pretty much offers the same explosive attack that served them well throughout their storied career. That means a sharp series of simple, churning riff-work and rapid-fire tempos, offering plenty of blistering rhythms that bring along the raw, primitive blackened style. Offering a small stepping between the charging riff-work and dripping simplistic work overall a part of their style, this offers up a truly dark and furious attack that really gives this a frantic effort. When this drops off into softer realms, there’s a difference in the intensity and driving riff-work featured throughout here as the straightforward churning style on display here works incredibly well with the faster sections yet not on these slower parts which just sounds sluggish and barely devoid of any energy or enthusiasm. It’s the single detrimental issue to be found here as the rest of the album, no matter how tight and confined the majority of the rhythms may seem, soak in that tight and brutal atmosphere which helps to overcome these issues.

Carrying on with a strong, familiar sense to their traditional sound, the group is certainly giving off another solid release that has plenty to like and only a few minor issues to be found here that makes this a fine choice for fans of their previous work or those into the Brazilian extreme metal scene in general.

Score: 82/100

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http://www.target.com/p/nervochaos-nyctophilia-cd/-/A-52444885

Mutilator (Bra) - Immortal Force

Artist: Mutilator (Bra)
Release Title: Immortal Force
Year: 1987 (2016 reissue)
Label: Cogumelo Records (Greyhaze Records reissue)
Genre: Thrash/Death Metal
Tracklisting (original):
1. Memorial Stone Without a Name
2. Blood Storm
3. Butcher
4. War Dogs
5. Mutilator
6. Brigade of Hate
7. Immortal Force
8. Tormented Soul
9. Paranoic Command

Reissue Tracklisting:
1. Memorial Stone Without a Name
2. Blood Storm
3. Butcher
4. War Dogs
5. Mutilator
6. Brigade of Hate
7. Immortal Force
8. Tormented Soul
9. Paranoic Command
10. Evil Conspiracy (Demo)
11. Visions of Darkness (Demo)

Formed back in 1985, Brazilian death/thrash metallers under the name Mutilator were one of the handfull of acts at the forefront of the country’s extreme metal explosion that laid the foundation for the majority of acts to come in the later years to follow. One of the more important and influential albums in the original scene, the groups’ full-length debut was originally released in May 1987 on legendary Cogumelo Records before a variety of reissues including a vinyl version on June 10, 2016 on Greyhaze Records.

Given their time of activity and country of origin, there’s little surprise about what to be found in this release as it’s quite familiar in its approach. This offers up plenty of rabid thrashing rhythms in chaotic, frenetic patterns which offer barely-contained rhythms that explode in energetic outbursts after sections of quiet sprawling between these sections. This set-up, familiar to a large variety of bands from this scene, makes for quite a schizophrenic act with the rather ferocious, raw riff-work throughout here leaving the album full of fast-paced work with wild soloing and plenty of blistering drumming to accompany the frantic work within. Given all this frantic and wild material, there’s a lot of utterly vicious thrashing on display which is surely given a phenomenal boost by the atypical production work. This features that wild and raw sounding production which comes off making the material sound just that extra bit of sloppiness to appear unrehearsed and off-the-cuff like a typical jam session caught on tape, and yet for this album it works perfectly in letting the razor-wire riffing attain that style of speed and urgency which makes for a wholly defined sense of chaos within the music. This is one of the album’s strengths and helps to strengthen the connection between these acts and the more extreme works to come later on, giving this the feel of an important stepping stone in history while enhancing the enjoyment of the work isolated from its legacy. Some might not take that to mean much as it can come off sloppy and disorganized, but it makes for a great time here.

Being quite the impressive and truly vicious thrash release, this is one of the more important releases in the crowded scene from that time-period and works more often than not, making this one a rather influential release and this version of the album essential for all fans of raw, rabid early death/thrash metal.

Score: 95/100

Does it sound good? Order the reissue from here:
https://greyhazerecords.bandcamp.com/album/immortal-force

Cryptic Realms - Enraptured by Horror

Artist: Cryptic Realms
Release Title: Enraptured by Horror
Year: 2016
Label: Death in Pieces Records/Iron, Blood and Death Records (co-release)
Genre: Retro Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Enraptured by Horror
2. Doomed Cathedrals
3. In Mortal Distress
4. Total Demise
5. Sinister Force Descends
6. Vulgar Exhumation
7. Begging to Be Dead
8. Act of Derangement

Formed just in 2015, international death metal supergroup Cryptic Realms wasted no time in paying homage to the classics of the genre with their first release coming quite early on in their history leading to a crushing split release that pushed the band further. Now finally able to offer their first proper release, the bands’ full-length debut was originally released November 28, 2016 in a co-release between Death in Fire Records and Iron, Blood and Death Corps.

As befits their chosen sound, the group is quite clearly adept at their old-school mannerisms with all manner of devices throughout here to showcase this style. This is filled with efforts that showcase plenty of tight, deep churning riffing that carries plenty of variations between their pacing as the album’s straightforward nature makes for a somewhat one-note approach. Essentially being there just to showcase the swirling riff-work in various approaches, the album descends into simplistic, rather light chugging that carries the churning riff-work through these simplistic patterns with very little deviation, being played as nothing more throughout here at all as the whole album is so strictly by-the-numbers in here makes for a really dull time. It really leans into that camp so often with its rhythms and approaches that it feels too caught up in itself too easily and manages to really lose itself quite easily here as it’s quite hard to tell tracks apart from each other. Being caught in too simplistic patterns and rhythms makes it hard to figure out what’s happening, and it does take awhile to get over this and get on with the rest of the album.

Being way too simplistic and rather one-note for its own good, this is lowered somewhat from the relatively crowded retro death metal scene due to that even though it does have enough positive elements about it to be worth a look for those who are fans of the members’ other acts or non-discerning revivalist aficionados.

Score: 75/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://ironbloodanddeath.bandcamp.com/album/enraptured-by-horror

Incarceration - Catharsis

Artist: Incarceration
Release Title: Catharsis
Year: 2016
Label: F.D.A. Rekotz
Genre: Retro Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. The Beckoning
2. Evoking the Possession
3. Devouring Darkness
4. Infernal Suffering
5. Chaos and Blasphemy
6. Purification
7. Obsessed by Death
8. Neverending Agony
9. Resignation
10. Into the Blackest Void

Formed in early 2012, Brazilian death metallers Incarceration have quickly built a reputation as one of the fastest, most extreme acts in the country which has continued as the group is now relocated to Germany. Following up the promise showed by their early works, the group finally prepares its full-length debut released October 28th. 2016 on F.D.A. Rekotz.

From the start here, it’s quite obvious about not only the bands’ influences and intentions but also the type of material to be expected throughout here. There’s a prominent attitude throughout here of tight, evocative churning riffing and controlled rhythms that demonstrate plenty of furious blasts spiced into the proceedings to make for a more dynamic affair as this one manages to whip up the energy into frantic driving tracks. These are nicely augmented by the tight riff-work and carries the blistering, intense rhythms as well as the more traditional sprawling, mid-tempo efforts along into a cohesive whole. This varied approach of controlled, restrained rhythms alongside the reckless, chaotic energy derived here gives this one so much to really like as a whole that it really holds up quite well alongside some rather detrimental flaws. The biggest issue here is the rather challenging vocals which are more in the hoarse screaming variety than any kind of true death growl which makes for quite a hard listen here and takes some getting used to. Likewise, the fact that the album is filled with such brief and mostly useless minute-long interludes which don’t make any sense to find their use here as they just eat up the time and really require the near eight-minute finale to bump this one up to a respectable length. While these efforts can be somewhat problematic for this one, some of it can be excused for being a debut but it’s still not enough to lift it up much more than that.

With some minor problems that are somewhat forgivable due to its debut status but more being pretty detrimental overall, there’s a mixed bag throughout here that it does have some appeal for some who enjoy that kind of ravenous, ferocious old-school death metal while those that can’t forgive the flaws should heed caution.

Score: 77/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
http://fda-records.com/gx2/de/incarceration-catharsis-cd-10-28-16.html

Aka Funeral - Stormy Tide

Artist: Aka Funeral
Release Title: Stormy Tide
Year: 2016
Label: Self-Released/Independent (Sepulchral Silence re-issue)
Genre: Melodic Black Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Stormy Tide
2. Faceless
3. The Eternal Hourglass of Existence
4. Ecce Homo
5. Forged in Fire
6. Frozen Path
7. Narrow Soul's

Formed in 2014 in Belo Horizonte, Brazilian black metal trio Aka Funeral have quickly risen from the underground after a year of writing and rehearsing that has brought out the bands’ first compositions in a very grand style. Completed earlier in the year and initially independently released June 16, 2016 the effort was eventually re-issued June 27, 2016 on Sepulchral Silence.

For the most part this is a pretty simplistic and savage offering that’s mostly centered around up-tempo rhythms filled with plenty of melodic riffing alongside these patterns. The trinkling tremolo-picked main rhythms here give this one plenty of swirling patterns played at rather frantic tempos to off-set those melodies, and with the benefit of much more jangly riff-work and blasting drumming along these patterns it gives this a rather traditional second-wave approach before being furthered by the tortured rhythms and frantic charging blasts that offer up the sort of melodic accents that accompany the kind of varied tempo changes which allow for a more melodic element to be featured. Though still quite raw and gravelly, there’s plenty of strong atmospheric melodies featured here alongside the blazing traditional black metal and the rather frosty rhythms which generate the kind of featuring plenty of the rumbling patterns. That gives this plenty to like here, almost enough to hold off the album’s main flaw in that there’s just not a whole lot of material here with it’s rather low running order in tight, cramped tracks that aren’t quite that long. It’s given this short running time that doesn’t have all that many tracks here which don’t feature many different notes between them and it’s brevity that makes this go over quicker than it really should. Still, this one isn’t all that terrible an effort.

Despite the rather minor issue here with the type of tracks not really working quick well with the short running time not offering up enough variety, the amount of quality work here is still more than enough to give this a worthwhile look for those into the rawer, more simplistic side of melodic black metal as well as old-school fans in general.

Score: 80/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://akafuneralblackmetal.bandcamp.com/releases

Horror Chamber - Eternal Torment

Artist: Horror Chamber
Release Title: Eternal Torment
Year: 2016
Label: Distro Rock Records
Genre: Retro Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Beyond the Unknown
2. Eternal Torment
3. Rise of the Dead
4. Prelude to Perdition
5. Dawn of Madness
6. Believe in the Faith (Burn)
7. Blood Obsession
8. Perverse Mind

In existence since 2004, Brazilian death metallers Horror Chamber has had sporadic releases since with only a demo and an EP before this new release, after a seven-year delay between these releases as well. This debut full-length, released April 24, 2016 on Distro Rock Records, this contains eight total tracks including two brief instrumentals of churning old-school death metal.

This here manages to nicely capture the old-school feel and tone of the early death metal scene quite nicely with the riffing taking a large majority of that feel. Whipping along at frantic, fervent tempos with primitive thrash stylings as the main choice of attack, there’s a violent intensity dragged out of the riff-work when it remains at those mid-tempo paces yet generates even more greater feelings when it fires up the paces into a far more generous and blasting pace. Offering far more blastbeat-driven rhythms and churning riff-work alongside the tight patterns and thrashing arrangements that makes for a wholly more engaging and appealing experience buffered together and are generously chosen to accentuate select areas of the tracks rather than just barrel along as would be more obviously utilized in the writing which greatly benefits a more veteran approach than expected. Even slowing down the tempos into lurching, doom-like paces for the solo sections works nicely by contributing to the oppressive old-school atmosphere while enhancing the overall heaviness apparent elsewhere in the rhythms, all of which is greatly appreciated. Still, there’s the minor issue here of this one suffering two minor problems, first in the fact that there’s two brief, minute-long interludes here that really don’t need to be featured here as the other flaw, featuring only eight tracks in total, means that every available space must be maximized to generate lasting impact, and wasting that time on two non-essential throwaway breaks like that in the space crunch that it’s already under seems quite illogical as it holds this to a few original tracks that seems over before it really started. Otherwise, this one really has a lot to like.

Despite suffering a few minor issues that are not in the slightest bit concerned with their performance but rather their rather curious  inclusions in the end leaves this one really impressive overall that should wholly appeal to any aficionado of South American death metal, old-school death metal or extreme metal in general.

Score: 88/100

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www.facebook.com/horrorchamber666

Nervosa - Agony

Artist: Nervosa
Release Title: Agony
Year: 2016
Label: Napalm Records
Genre: Retro Thrash Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Arrogance
2. Theory of Conspiracy
3. Deception
4. Intolerance Means War
5. Guerra Santa
6. Failed System
7. Hostages
8. Surrounded by Serpents
9. Cyber War
10. Hypocrisy
11. Devastation
12. Wayfarer

The second full-length from Brazilian thrashers Nervosa positions them near the top of the class for the South American revival scene and perhaps the movement in general. As expected for acts in this type of scene, the main focus for the majority of the album is the old-school Bay Area riff-work prominent on the songs which generates the same crunchy, tightly-wound rhythms that were present back then, coming off with the same fiery energy and drive here that makes that material all the more impressive for creating that same impact. Without much soloing featured, instead the main focus is on the rhythms and occasional lead-work being featured, giving this one a far more mid-tempo vibe overall with a few touches off into the more brutal and blistering tempos that works nicely here adding a nice impact to the proceedings when they occur as it acts accordingly to the tempered rhythms being focused on by the majority of the tracks. This though is clearly exacerbated by the fact that the album is slightly too long for it’s own good, featuring a few too many tracks here that serve the same purpose as each other so it really feels like it could’ve used a trim to knock off one or two to make for a tighter and less repetitive experience as that gets highlighted listening to three tracks in a row featuring the same effects for the most part, which really serves as the one lone flaw here.  Had this trimmed off one or two of the weaker offerings this would’ve scored quite high overall.

The first half here features a lot of strong work overall. Opener ‘Arrogance’ brings blistering drumming and tight, crunchy riff-work along to a raging mid-tempo charge with pounding rhythms, plenty of deep, heavy riff-work and dynamic drumming that works over several varied tempo changes leading to furious riff-work into the series of leads into the finale for a decent enough opener. ‘Theory of Conspiracy’ immediately blasts through furious crunchy riff-work and plenty of raging drumming that races along at a charging mid-tempo pace that allows the swirling rhythms to charge alongside the crunchy patterns leading into plenty of utterly pummeling breakneck riffing and furious drumming into the final half for a stand-out highlight. ‘Deception’ uses simple, build-up crunchy riff-work with a strong series of swirling leads alongside the pounding drumming that works into the screeching leads of the solo section as the frantic, chaotic leads hold along through the tight, dynamic rhythms as the crunchy riffing leads through the finale for a solid and enjoyable effort. ‘Intolerance Means War’ features raging leads and plenty of pounding drumming whipping along through a series of dense, tightly-wound rhythms propelled along at a frantic pace with plenty of swirling leads mixed along to the crunchy riffing and tight drumming leading along through the final half for a solid and decent-enough effort. ‘Guerra Santa’ fires off tight, blistering riff-work and plenty of ravenous rhythms with the tight, blasting drumming keeping the flurry of tightly-wound riff-work firing along at a furious pace that charges along with the frantic patterns along through the final half for another strong highlight. ‘Failed System’ utilizes a tight chugging intro with plenty of fiery drumming blasting along to the frantic rhythms charging along through the twisting swirling leads pounding along to the furious thrashing riff-work leading through the frantic solo section and carrying on throughout the finale for another strong thrashing highlight.

The second half doesn’t feel as immediate as the first half but has a lot to like. ‘Hostages’ works through a stylish, plodding series of rhythms with plenty of pounding drumming that opens up into a blistering mid-tempo series of swirling patterns and furious chugging rhythms that weave through the frantic solo section and carrying through the tight final half for a solid and decent track. ‘Surrounded by Serpents’ takes rolling drumming and a series of swirling leads through choppy chugging rhythms featuring a strong charge into tight, blistering riff-work and furious drumming patterns keeping the choppy chugging drumming inline through the charging finale for an enjoyable enough effort. ‘Cyber War’ features a thumping bass-intro with a fine build-up segment that turns into tight, thumping series of raging riff-work that brings along various full-throttle tempos surging along through the blistering drumming as the frantic leads charge along into the final half for a strong, impactful effort. ‘Hypocrisy’ slowly works through a gradual build-up intro that thumps along into a tight, furious blast with pounding, charging drumming flowing along through the heavy chug rhythms and pummeling, furious drumming that carries along through the strong, charging finale for another strong, enjoyable track. ‘Devastation’ features utterly blistering and dramatic drumming alongside tight, heavy chugging riff-work along a frantic series of rhythms that keep the tight paces featured alongside the furious riffing charging along into the stylish chug patterns flowing along throughout the final half for a solid and enjoyable effort. Finally, ‘Wayfarer’ features a light, chugging bass-line with swirling riff-work that takes a bouncy hard rocking pace with the thumping rhythms eventually moving along into the raging thrash riffing patterns with the blistering, pounding drumming utilizing the furious rhythms until the soulful acapella female vocals for the finale for a fantastic rampaging thrasher which gets a little undone by those bookended pieces for a decent lasting impression.

Through no fault of the music itself and really only hurt by a feeling of overkill with too many tracks for it’s own good, there’s so much to like here as the group continues to harness it’s destructive old-school thrash sound that this ends up being of a solid, worthwhile choice for fans of the bands’ past or those looking for a solid retro-thrash experience.

Score: 89/100

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https://shop.napalmrecords.com/nervosa-agony-digipak-cd.html

Rebaelliun - The Hell's Decrees

Artist: Rebaelliun
Release Title: The Hell's Decrees
Year: 2016
Label: Hammerheart Records
Genre: Old-School Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Affronting the Gods
2. Legion
3. The Path of the Wolf
4. Fire and Brimstone
5. Dawn of Mayhem
6. Rebaelliun
7. Crush the Cross
8. Anarchy (The Hell's Decrees Manifesto)

The third full-length from Brazilian death metal horde Rebaelliun ultimately shows that their decade-plus long disbanding hasn’t slowed them down as they pick up right where they once left off. This has the band’s trademark sound and style dripping all over this release, running the full gamut of technical and brutal riffing here with blistering displays of tightly-wound rhythms charging along into ravenous speed-drenched patterns that are running along through rather impressive tempos allowing for the various changes and tight arrangements that have always been present throughout their sound. Generating that speed with these kinds of dizzying riffing creating the different sections filled with steady mid-tempo paces or blazing along through the intense barnburners makes for a fun time here as that type of attack was prevalent in their sound from the beginning and it’s still as crushing and heavy as it was. Added along with their dynamic blasting drum-attack that piles on the blasts and choppy, up-tempo patterns that matches the generous speed anthems here it makes for a wholly pleasing and cohesive effort that still sounds like the group hasn’t lost a step at all. This ends up being the one minor misstep here in that all the album does is reaffirm what the band was all about from the beginning with this one running through all the motions of their previous attacks without much deviation, and considering the overall brevity of the album that leaves this with a feeling of wanting more out of it, but in the end this is a negligible flaw that shouldn’t hold it back too much.

The first half reintroduces the band in grand style. Opener ‘Affronting the Gods’ features blistering riffing and dynamic blasting drumming through tight, technical rhythms with plenty of frantic rhythms carrying the intense tempos along with plenty of battering drumming keeping the swirling riff-work along through the fiery solo section and keeping the tempo into the finale for a strong, impressive highlight. ‘Legion’ uses deep, crunchy riff-work and frantic, blasting drumming keeping the intensity blazing along through the chaotic, spastic leads and urgent rhythms throughout the blazing, up-tempo series of technical patterns following the chaotic solo section as the tight patterns continue into the final half for another explosive and blistering track. ‘The Path of the Wolf’ uses immediate blasting drumming and sharp, technical riff-work blazing along to utterly frantic and up-tempo rhythms holding the tight technically-charged patterns along throughout the sprawling mid-tempo solo section before bringing the intensity and blazing through the finale for a great highlight. ‘Fire and Brimstone’ features an extended noise collage intro before turning into a tight, steady mid-tempo gallop with technical riffing and dexterous, pounding drumming while the droning, surging riff-work carries the mid-tempo patterns along throughout the steady final half for a decent effort held back mostly for the lack of speed.

The second half keeps that momentum going rather nicely. ‘Dawn of Mayhem’ utilizes immediate and blistering riffing alongside blistering, blasting drumming and pounding rhythms charging along through frantic tempos with stylish mid-tempo melodies slowing down the speed leading into the solo section as the technically-challenging riffing carries the energy throughout the finale for another high-quality effort. ‘Rebaelliun’ takes stylish mid-tempo riff-work and technical chugging rhythms through sprawling mid-tempo paces with plenty of urgent rhythms throughout the mid-tempo pace as the strong leads continue carrying the steady pace through the solo section and on through the steady rhythms in the final half for a solid, enjoyable effort. ‘Crush the Cross’ features heavy, thumping rhythms and dexterous, complex drumming turning into a frantic, up-tempo series of thunderous patterns carrying the tight riff-work and intense blasting drumming along the surging rhythms full of frantic, speed-drenched patterns through the solo section and on into the finale for another strong overall highlight. Lastly, album-closer ‘Anarchy (The Hell's Decrees Manifesto)’ uses blistering drum-blasts and tight, frantic riffing through an intense series of blazing mid-tempo rhythms full of dynamic technical riffing as the blasting drumming brings the up-tempo intensity back through the solo section and on through the final half for an explosive and enjoyable finishing touch here.

While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel when it comes to these venerable and well-missed legends, the fact that it still sounds so much like the bands’ heyday and hasn’t missed a step attack-wise makes this a wholly worthwhile investment for fans itching to see their assault continue or even fans of the overall style.

Score: 96/100

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Crushing Axes - Never-Ending Battle Against the Human Plague

Band: Crushing Axes
Release Title: Never-Ending Battle Against the Human Plague
Label: Self-Released/Independent
Genre: Death Metal
Year: 2015
Tracklist:
1. Raping the Earth 03:17
2. Stretching Guts 02:28
3. Killing the Innocent 02:59
4. Death Sign 03:36
5. Christian Slaughter 03:00
6. Eppur si muove 02:35
7. Donec Mors Non Separat 03:12
8. Battle Cry 03:35
9. Labyrinth 02:53
10. Est Modus in Rebus 03:05
11. Divine Wrath

The tenth full-length album from Brazilian one-man death metal effort Crushing Axes tends to come across more the same as his past efforts but still retains a lot of enjoyable elements to keep this one rather nicely. As a whole, the album manages to feature a pretty consistent mid-tempo style groove loaded with heavy, chunky riff-work that seems to run through in one speed, the mid-tempo sprawl. This makes for a solid, meaty helping of simple riffing arrangements with a lack of variation in the tempos regardless of the fact that this one does go for a more aggressive series of arrangements. This does seem to make this decidedly more enjoyable than before as despite the one-note sprawling mid-tempo crunch throughout this, the faster tempos and riff variations is quite a bit more intense along with a deeper, rumbling production that makes this sound quite a bit deeper and more impressive. Still, the fact remains here with the album seeming to fall in love with the same types of rhythms and riff-work throughout this as the tracks are based on the similar-type paces have eerily familiar rhythms throughout and can make for a somewhat tedious exercise when it tends to run through familiar ground with each other, but by and large this one here is quite enjoyable since the much fiery style riff-work featured.

The first half here carries this one along quite nicely. Opening track ‘Raping the Earth’ features swirling riff-work and pounding drumming taking along at a steady up-tempo pace with surprisingly energetic and wholly engaging riffing along the simplistic patterns continuing along throughout the rather steady paces along into the final half for a rather fine opening here. ‘Stretching Guts’ uses a rather savage mid-tempo series of riff-work and rather charging mid-tempo paces here with the stuttering rhythms alongside the tight drumming working along into a rather tight, vicious mid-tempo series of blasting drumming keeping the charging rhythms along into the finale for an overall enjoyable effort. ‘Killing the Innocent’ brings frantic drumming and charging mid-tempo riffing full of steady, simplistic patterns with aggressive rhythms leading along into the soaring solo section rumbling along through the steady, simplistic drumming raging along with the stuttering riff-work into the final half for a fun track. ‘Death Sign’ rumbles along with steady drumming and plenty of aggressive, simplistic riffing offering some nice trinkling melodic sprawling rhythms alongside the thunderous drum-work leading along into the staggered riff-patterns carrying along throughout the rather charging rhythms of the finale for a fun if slightly unappealing track. ‘Christian Slaughter’ takes a sturdy, mid-tempo riff and fine drumming into a steady mid-tempo charge with plenty of ravenous drumming carrying along more intense riff-work along into the solo section full of sparkling rhythms and continuing along through the steady final half for an overall enjoyable offering. ‘Eppur si muove’ features a rumbling mid-tempo crawl with thumping drumming and steady riff-work that kicks into more ferocious and intense rhythms with some rather explosive blasting drumming carrying along into a fine melodic break in the finale for a stylish highlight effort.

Overall, the second half doesn’t variate much from the upper half. ‘Donec Mors Non Separat’ features a short, simple series of steady riffing with plenty of thumping drumming taking the strong, up tempo riffing along through the steady, sprawling rhythms featured in the solo section featuring rather celestial melodic keyboards before driving along into the final half for another fun effort. The utterly bland ‘Battle Cry’ uses a simple charging riff with plenty of tight patterns and steady drumming along into a plodding tempo with strong rhythms into a simple pace that never really kicks into any gear or tempo along into the steady riff-work into the simplistic finale for a rather dull and lifeless offering.‘Labyrinth’ uses a charging mid-tempo series of fiery rhythms and pounding drumming carrying frenetic blasting with plenty of engaging riff-work and a rather explosive series of main riffs that flow along into the stylish solo section that carries the pounding blasts along into the final half for another strong highlight offering. ‘Est Modus in Rebus’ features a series of stylish series of mid-tempo riffing that settles into a lethargic charge with plenty of pounding drumming throughout as the tight rhythms carry along through the steady rumbling riffing along into the finale for another overall enjoyable effort. Lastly, album closer ‘Divine Wrath’ uses a thumping mid-tempo charge with simple riffing and thudding drumming with plenty of pounding rhythms carrying along into the tight, charging mid-section with plenty of thumping rhythms and fiery riff-work leading through the solo section and along into the charging final half for a solid ending note here.

Overall this here was quite the impressive if still somewhat flawed effort that makes for a much more impressive and enjoyable variation of his simplistic, energetic brand of death metal, making this one a rather solid effort that’s perfectly in line with fans of his previous work as well as those who prefer this kind of no-frills, to-the-point death metal.

Rating: 79/100

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