Distortion Faith Vol. 1 Tape

Compilation featuring 3 new PARANOID-tracks + new and/or unreleased tracks by SNOB (Can), WARCHILD (Swe), BLOODSUCKERS (Rus), KAFKA (Jap) and KOHTI TUHOA (Fin). Available at Blindead Productions or DBRP. Few copies left, so get it before it's gone!

偏執症者 (Paranoid) @ K-town & Stockholm

 

Tomorrow we're off to Stockholm (The Liffeys) to play with lots of great bands, then we're heading for K-Town Hardcore Fest to play with even more great bands. Can't wait!













Review: Meliah Rage – Warrior (Metal On Metal 2014 CD)

 The previous album by Meliah Rage, Dead To The World (also released by Metal On Metal), was something as unusual as a modern thrash metal album that I actually liked. Time now has come for the follow-up, under the name of Warrior. Before the music even starts I observe that the tracklist looks very good, eight songs is just enough, which many modern bands seems to have some difficulties to understand. After all, these guys are from the 80's, and knows how an album should be constructed.

 Nothing is won until the quality of the music itself is inspected though, and unfortunately, I don't find this album as appealing as their previous offering. The songs just aren't as memorable, and the new vocalist is very different, almost make them sound like a different band. More in the vein of Testament and Exodus with Zetro, rather than the almost entirely clean vocals on Dead To This World, which felt a bit more original. It's far away from a failure though, songs like Stranger To Your Sympathy, A Dying Day and In Hate indicates that they aren't to be counted out yet, but the great moments are simply just to few and too many of the 42 minutes don't reach any further than the insidious “ok/pretty good but not more”-impression.

 

 It never gets close to being bad though, and it must be said once again that this modern approach is definitely not my cup of tea, which makes it even more impressive that they manages to maintain my attention throughout the whole album. Which proves that they're probably among the best in their business. 5.5/10 /H

 

偏執症者(Paranoid) - Destroy Future Less System 5 Track E.P. Out Now + New Videos

 

After some delays, it's finally out! Available for purchase right here. 5 tracks of northern winds of brutal hell mangel is what to expect. Artwork by Alex Heir. Our copies aren't here yet, but keep checking back and you'll know when they've arrived.

Two new videos up as well, made by Teodor Juel Eckerström, who did a great job!

Review: Burning Saviours – Boken Om Förbannelsen (I Hate 2014 CD)

 Originally released as four individual 7”-singles by Night Tripper between 2011 and 2013, this compilation CD features all tracks of the Förbannelsen (The Curse) tetralogy. Burning Saviours are playing a fusion of doom and rock which brings to mind the sound of the 60's and 70's. Way more vintage-sounding than most other doom-albums released by I Hate, there's barely any heavy metal-presence at all. Which of course isn't always necessary, just a simple reflection. Their music is much more similar to recent successful Swedish bands like Graveyard, Witchcraft and Skogen Brinner. Burning Saviours are definitely not just one of all bands that are following the ongoing trend though, the fact that they've been around since 2003 must make them, along with Witchcraft, one of the first acts in this doom/rock revival, which it has grown into the last couple of years.

 

 The opening title track immediately sets the standard. Rhythm, riffs ,vocals, all of the musicians are doing a great job. You can tell that they've been doing this for a while. Midnight and The Offering continues in the same slow heavy rocking vein, although the tempo barely changes notably at all, so a little feeling of monotony starts to occur. Spirit Of The Woods comes just in the right time, and takes it to new levels with its decent up-tempo groove. Definitely the finest tune on this album, together with the fantastic closer Hon Dansade Med Döden (She Danced With Death). As far as improvements go, the song writing could have been a bit more varied. A bit more up tempo, maybe even jamming parts would be very welcome, these are the moments when this band is shining brightest. I'd also like more of the lyrics to be in Swedish as well, it gives them an additional touch of originality. In summary, this was a very pleasant first meeting with this bands' music, I will absolutely have to check out their earlier albums. You all should do so as well. 7/10 /H

Review: Serpent Warning – s/t (I Hate 2014 CD)

 Let's get the facts straight, a doom metal-album released by I Hate means quality. Thinking about it, it's almost unbelievable how they've spoilt us the last few years with stunning releases from bands like Jex Thoth, Black Oath and The Wounded Kings, just to name a few. And I haven't even mentioned classics like The Gates Of Slumber's Suffer No Guilt or The Time Lord by Pagan Altar yet.

 Anyway, this is the first full-lenght album from this new promising band, and it's absolutely not an exception from the fact stated above. As soon as you hear the melancholic nerve and characteristic accent of the vocals, it doesn't take much to identify that they come from Finland. Extra attentive listeners may also notice the vocalist is the same one as in The Wandering Midget.

 Musically, this album is one of those that really puts the metal in doom metal. Forget all those countless bands that just plays the same three tones very slow for 15 minutes. This album is a demonstration of great riffs, great arrangements and great vocals. In other words great songs, actual heavy metal songs, and nothing else. Italy's Doomsword comes to mind several times while listening to this album, Serpent Warning has got a bit less Manowar-influence though.

 The fact that it only contains six songs, which gives it a total playing time of 40 minutes, also settles the heavy metal connection even more. Way too many doom-albums goes on and on for far too long, what every band should have in mind is an LP with a maximum 20 minutes on each side. Just because the music is twice as slow doesn't mean that the playtime must be twice as long. Finally, I have to praise the cover, which definitely increases the overall impression with its dark and eerie atmosphere and mystique. I bet this album would both look and sound very good as a vinyl-release... 7,5/10 /H

Review: Outrage – We The Dead (Metal On Metal 2014 CD)

 The German veterans are back once more, this is their 7^th album. Three of the tracks are familiar from their earlier career, Death From Behind, Delos and Spherical appeared on their first, second and fourth demos. Definitely a good choice to include some old tunes, since the sound of their demos wasn't the best, so just like on 2011's Go To Hell, it's great to see these old songs getting the production they deserve. I'd like to make an exception for Delos though, the sound of their second demo is just perfect, and I consider it one of the finest black/thrash treasures of the 80's. Still, I guess I'm one of the very few people who actually have heard it at all, and Delos is simply one of their best songs ever, so re-recording it was probably a good move after all.

 The most interesting part of this album though, is definitely the new songs. With the release of Go To Hell, the expectations were drawn towards a more old school approach, but it's actually more in the vein of their albums from released the mid 00's. Sure, the sound is more or less the same (old school as fuck), but the arrangements and lyrics are way more complex and unique. It's way more diverse as well. You've got the thrash metal rippers like Eye For An Eye and The Biggest Wrench, mid-tempo parts like The Iron Door and Chastiser, and almost outright doom-metal tunes like Be That As It May and Sepia Eyes / Birth To The Flame. Everything flows perfectly together into a wicked symphony of darkness. What also speaks for this album is the production. Especially the drum sound on Go To Hell was a bit to modern, and that decreased the overall impression a little bit, this time the sound is flawless.

 Compared to Go To Hell, which was packed to the limit with songs that knocked you out the first time you heard them, this album will take some time to get into. But mark my words, once you do, it becomes clear that it's actually just as good, maybe even better, as it's predecessor. Outrage are really not taking the easy way out with their strange song-structures and weird lyrics, that sometimes makes no sense at all, but after all it's the dark atmosphere and waywardness of it all that makes this band so brilliant. I'd choose them any day before all the hordes of generic German thrash bands doing what has already been done a thousand times. Outrage stands supreme among all of them, and I really hope more people will check out this album and give it the time and attention it deserves. It will be worth it, trust me. 8/10 /H