Review: Portrait – Crossroads (Metal Blade 2014 CD)

 Been way too inactive for a while now, but the intention is to change that, and what could possibly be better than breaking the silence with some thoughts of the new album by Sweden's leading heavy metal purveyors Portrait? Crossroads is their third album, and just like its predecessor, it's a little bit coloured by line-up changes, the departure of guitarist and songwriter Richard Lagergren being the most significant one. Anyway, they sorted it out by David Olofsson wielding the second guitar, and to handle the bass, they brought in Cab, from the legendary Swedish thrashers Hypnosia.

 Claiming that this album is off to a good start is an understatement. After the short instrumental intro Liberation, very reminiscent of King Diamond's Black Horsemen, At The Ghost Gate takes over. Their previous albums have both had fast (and great) first tracks, but this is definitely on a whole new level. I'm not sure I've heard such a powerful opener since Bathory's A Fine Day To Die.

 A such intense start of course raises the bar for the rest of the album, but by now you simply know that Portrait is a band to be relied on. High quality heavy metal songs are lined up one by one. Faster ones such as In Time and Our Roads Must Never Cross, mid-tempo oriented ones like We Were Not Alone and Ageless Rites, and the heaviness of Black Easter, everything you could ask for is right there. The 9 minutes long finale entitled Lily is probably the absolute highlight though, along with the opener, an extremely dark, melancholic and phenomenal tune. Although the fact that it's title is a female name and that it's the last track sure brings to mind a certain Danish band, that seems almost impossible to not refer to when speaking of Portrait.

 Anyway, Crossroads definitely meets the high set expectations, and establishes Portrait even more as one of Sweden's leading heavy metal band, both at the moment and in the history. I can't name many bands that have released three albums of equal quality. 8.5/10 /H

Review: Miasmal – Cursed Redeemer (Century Media 2014 LP)

 One of the LP's that has been played most frequently the last month is this second album by the Gothenburg death metallers. It's their first release not being self titled, as far as I know. I almost expected it to be named Miasmal II or something, but apparently they were clever enough to come up with another album title this time. The formula is basically the same as on the first album, rough, powerful and uncompromising death metal. The title track is opening just as convincing as Mesmerized did, the mid-tempo mangel in Excelsior is just as crushing as Death Mask, both albums contains eight songs and the playing time differs by only about 20 seconds. So Miasmal II might be just what it is, in one way. Why changing a winning concept?

 

 Even though some melodies are sneaked in every now and then, it is far from the so called “Gothenburg-sound” (despite their geographical origin). The proportion of melodies used is way more comparable to Dismember, which comes to mind more than any other band while listening to this. In the absence of the masters of death who nowadays are buried, yet not forgotten, Miasmal is an excellent substitute. I was just going to add something like “ their sound is still original though”, but I'll pass since those statements are too watered down. I'll leave that to all the labels out there promoting their shitty bands instead. Miasmal plays death metal, and they're doing it very well. 8/10 /H

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