Review: Diagnosis? Bastard! - #2 (7” 2014 D-takt & Råpunk)

The world's only diagnosed hardcore bastards are back with their second 7-inch EP. Probably the wax that has been spinning most on my turntable so far this year. If you enjoyed the first one, this will most certainly not be a disappointment, everything from the production to the song writing is just way better. Maybe you're not as blown away by the super insane vocals this time, even though the performance on the new 7” is just as good, but what the hell.

 It starts off with a creepy voice pronouncing the title of the opening I Want To See You Die, and all hell breaks loose. Most intense shit I've heard in a long time. It's pretty much over as fast as it started, and while you're still wondering what the fuck happened, Turns To Shit takes over with its stunning riffing. I'd like to name it their best song so far, extremely enjoyable tune. Am I Stupid? Or Idiot! has been available for a while before the release of this 7”, and together with the rest of all the new songs, it shows no signs of bringing down either the high pace or the high quality.

 

 The opening of the B-side, I Hate Your Life, is just as chaotic as the one on side A. Last song Join The Queue starts off as fast as the rest of the songs, but then breaks down into a more mid-paced ending, which the band absolutely master just as good as the faster stuff. Hardcore-highlight of the year so far, no doubt. 7,5/10 /H

Black Trip & Hypertension Live @ Östersund 28/3

 

https://www.facebook.com/events/263632003792017

PARANOID - 生, 被害妄想, 死

5 TRACK E.P. 7" out in april 2014 on Konton Crasher.

Review: Extrakt - Extreme Brutality (MC 2013 Bifrost)

Second demo by the Umeå-thrashers. The sound isn't really as abysmal as on the first demo, but still raw enough. They have surely evolved a lot musically, the riffs are much better, and the songs feels more worked through in general this time. Definitely one of Sweden's best thrash metal-bands, both this and their first demo would probably be regarded as classics if they were released in the mid 80's. I just hope that they don't get any tighter, or better at their instruments from now on, and starts to sound like Kreator's later horrible albums or something, this is how it should be done! 7/10 /H

Review: Dark Forest – The Awakening (CD, 2014, Cruz Del Sur)

 The proud Englishmen of Dark Forest are back with their third album, and three is also the amount of vocalists that they've had on their albums. The new guy this time is none other than Josh Winnard, ex- Wytch Hazel. I must say that I wouldn't like to have been in his position before the recording of this album, since the vocal performance on their previous album Dawn Of Infinity, by Will Lowry-Scott, was as good as flawless. Pretty much in league with guys like Russ North on A Sultan's Ransom or Bruce Dickinson on Number Of The Beast. I also consider the rest of the Dawn Of Infinity just as fantastic as its vocals, I'd even like to call it a modern classic.

 So, in other words, following it up in a worthy way must be regarded as one of the most difficult tasks a band ever have had to face, but Dark Forest have gathered their forces and come up with the highly expected successor that is The Awakening. The biggest question is of course however they've found a vocalist that's able to fill the void that Lowry-Scott left because of his departure. Josh Winnard's voice may not be as powerful, but still he uses his more sort of calm and laid back voice in a remarkable way. It's definitely most clear in Turning The Tides, where his vocals takes over after an intro I'd almost consider as brutal, and sways away in an almost hypnotizing way. He has simply found his place, and managed to give the band a brand new expression, which was just what I hoped that he would do. It's not like they sounds totally different now though, actually I think it sounds quite a lot like their first album, just adding a more secure vocalist and a better production. I'm convinced that songs like The Wizard Of Alderley Edge would be taken to stunning heights played live by this line-up of the band.

 

 Musically then, the song writing is far away from a flaw in their otherwise great discography. The hit potential might not be as high in each and everyone of the songs as their earlier work, I must admit that I didn't felt as knocked out as I expected to feel when I heard the first samples. When the album is experienced in it's entirety though, it all unfolds, and the order is restored. I've got to have a few more rounds with it to decide whether it's as good as Dawn Of Infinity or not (or maybe even better?), but it keeps growing every time I listen to it. Dark Forest have surely set the bar very high for 2014-releases. 9/10 /H

 

PS: Could it might be possible that we've even heard the song of the year already? Judge yourselves:

Review: Nomad Son – The Darkening (CD 2013 Metal On Metal Records)

 From a place where most people probably thought that no heavy metal-band would ever dwell, namely the island of Malta, comes Nomad Son and brings forth their third album. This band features the guitarist Albert Bell, also known from the only other Maltese which existence I'm aware of, Forsaken. A band that I count as one of the best doom-bands in recent years, so it came as no surprise that Nomad Son band are playing doom metal as well.

 My feelings for this album are a bit divided, but there's no doubt that in it's best moments, it's basically on the same level as Forsaken. Light Bearer, Only The Scars, the title track and Orphaned Crown are all demonstrations of the craftsmanship of high quality song writing. The Age Of Contempt and Descent To Hell aren't really on the same super-high level, but still decent songs.

 Then we have The Devil's Banquet and Caligula, which both differs quite a bit from the rest when it comes to the arrangements. They are both possessing some kind of dark, haunting, almost unpleasant feeling, in a good way though. I'm actually not sure if it's either good or bad, since they aren't really as memorable and straight forward as the rest of the songs, but still creates a more dynamic feeling to the album in it's entirety. Either way, in conclusion it's nothing but a great album. I hope that these guys, along with Forsaken, continues to provide us all with high quality doom for many more years to come. 7/10 /H

Review: Sex Dwarf - Full Av Aska (7” 2013 D-takt & Råpunk)

9-minute rawpunk noise attack. It's so raw that it might be a bit hard to discern the songs from each other, but still too filthy is always better than too clean of course. The closing Ångestattack stands out a bit from the rest of the distortion inferno since it's more mid-paced, and probably the only song that is longer than two minutes. A perfect ending of this EP, looking forward to hear more from this band. 6.5/10 /H