NO NONSENSE METAL REVIEWS
5 ESSENTIAL ALBUMS EVERY EXTREME MUSIC FAN NEEDS.
Metal music is not everyones cup of tea, but for those of us who are fans, it is more than just music. Metal is a way of life, filled with CD's, mountains of black T-shirts and usually a lot of alcohol. Metal is such a diverse genre that incorporates so many different styles and sounds, that rivalries and divisions expectedly plague this sacred brotherhood, but whether you're a die-hard "MWOBHM" old-schooler, or a flicky-fringe adorning youngster, we all share a common raging thirst for new music. That said, finding your next favourite album is easier said than done. but if extremity is your thing, then here are 5 albums of the brutal stuff to get stuck into. Enjoy!
PORTAL: VEXOVOID
Other than a corpse-laden, candlelit Church at Midnight on October 31st, very few things are more hauntingly terrifying than this album. Portal, have a very unique sound that is unlike anything else out there. Their horrifying Blackened-Death sound pushes the very boundaries of extremity. The music itself is masterfully constructed, with so many different layered elements that bring something new to the table every time you listen. This is an album that the newbies would find extremely difficult to decipher, not just because of its complexity, but also because of the sheer chilling intensity. Tracks such as "The Black Wards" and "Curtain", could quite easily be the soundtrack of harrowing nightmares, but also provide an extremely enjoyable listen.
TORTURE KILLER: SWARM
From humble roots as a Six Feet Under cover band, Torture Killer ended up recruiting the Death-Metal legend himself, Chris Barnes, to then go on and create a truly gruesome masterpiece. As with most of Chris Barnes' work, Swarm is practically packed with putrefaction. Songs such as "Forever Dead" and "Cannibal Gluttony" are as predictable as you can imagine, which is in no way a bad thing. Swarm is pure and concentrated Death-Metal, all killer and no filler, that's not designed to re-write the book, but instead to blow off the dust and cobwebs and show the scene how it should be done.
UNFATHOMABLE RUINATION:
MISSHAPEN CONGENITAL ENTROPY
This album is a perfect embodiment of all that the Metal underground is about. A brutally barbaric album from start to finish, constructed by extremely talented musicians, topped with the most guttural vocals and unnecessarily complicated song titles around. Unfathomable Ruination are one of many young bands making strides in the modern Metal scene, but this album is definite diamond in the rough. Songs like "Carved Inherent Delusion" and "Futile Colossus Decapitated" are not for the faint hearted, but for fans of technical, slam, and everything in between, these tracks are a must listen.
AUTOPSY: THE HEADLESS RITUAL
Any Metal-head worth their salt will know that Autopsy are one of the most crucial bands in the evolution of extreme Metal. Their classic releases, such as; Severed Survival and Mental Funeral, are regarded by many bands and fans as being pioneering releases that blazed a trail for the rest to follow. Since their comeback, Autopsy have had one of the fastest rates of release around, dropping new material on an almost annual basis. However, their first full-length release in 16 years, the stunning Macabre Eternal, alongside their most recent release, Tourniquets, Hacksaws and Graves, have taken a majority of the spotlight, while in between release, The Headless Ritual remained lurking in the background. This is testament to the brilliance of Autopsy and their music, that an album as phenomenal as The Headless Ritual, would be left in the wake of both its post and predecessor, but still remain an amazing release. Tracks such as, "Slaughter At Beast House" and "Running From The Goathead", are superb offerings, just as diabolical and grim as any of Autopsy's other classics. This is definitely an album that shouldn't be ignored.
DARK FORTRESS: YLEM
If you took a heaped tea-spoon of Triptykon, Behemoth and threw in some Belphegor for good measure, then the resulting creation would probably sound a lot like Ylem. Beyond the familiarity of the sounds found on Ylem, this is a truly brilliant album. The songs are extremely well composed and diverse, straying between the crushing heaviness of tracks like "Osiris", to the chant along epics like "Evenfall". The Black and Death-Metal world is completely saturated with bands, all fighting to standout, but unlike most of their contemporaries, Dark Fortress standout with a blend of familiarity and unexpected diversity, the best example being the closing track, "Wraith". From start to finish, Ylem is full of surprises, but is guaranteed to satisfy anyone with a taste for the dark side of things.
PORTAL: VEXOVOID
Other than a corpse-laden, candlelit Church at Midnight on October 31st, very few things are more hauntingly terrifying than this album. Portal, have a very unique sound that is unlike anything else out there. Their horrifying Blackened-Death sound pushes the very boundaries of extremity. The music itself is masterfully constructed, with so many different layered elements that bring something new to the table every time you listen. This is an album that the newbies would find extremely difficult to decipher, not just because of its complexity, but also because of the sheer chilling intensity. Tracks such as "The Black Wards" and "Curtain", could quite easily be the soundtrack of harrowing nightmares, but also provide an extremely enjoyable listen.
TORTURE KILLER: SWARM
From humble roots as a Six Feet Under cover band, Torture Killer ended up recruiting the Death-Metal legend himself, Chris Barnes, to then go on and create a truly gruesome masterpiece. As with most of Chris Barnes' work, Swarm is practically packed with putrefaction. Songs such as "Forever Dead" and "Cannibal Gluttony" are as predictable as you can imagine, which is in no way a bad thing. Swarm is pure and concentrated Death-Metal, all killer and no filler, that's not designed to re-write the book, but instead to blow off the dust and cobwebs and show the scene how it should be done.
UNFATHOMABLE RUINATION:
MISSHAPEN CONGENITAL ENTROPY
This album is a perfect embodiment of all that the Metal underground is about. A brutally barbaric album from start to finish, constructed by extremely talented musicians, topped with the most guttural vocals and unnecessarily complicated song titles around. Unfathomable Ruination are one of many young bands making strides in the modern Metal scene, but this album is definite diamond in the rough. Songs like "Carved Inherent Delusion" and "Futile Colossus Decapitated" are not for the faint hearted, but for fans of technical, slam, and everything in between, these tracks are a must listen.
AUTOPSY: THE HEADLESS RITUAL
Any Metal-head worth their salt will know that Autopsy are one of the most crucial bands in the evolution of extreme Metal. Their classic releases, such as; Severed Survival and Mental Funeral, are regarded by many bands and fans as being pioneering releases that blazed a trail for the rest to follow. Since their comeback, Autopsy have had one of the fastest rates of release around, dropping new material on an almost annual basis. However, their first full-length release in 16 years, the stunning Macabre Eternal, alongside their most recent release, Tourniquets, Hacksaws and Graves, have taken a majority of the spotlight, while in between release, The Headless Ritual remained lurking in the background. This is testament to the brilliance of Autopsy and their music, that an album as phenomenal as The Headless Ritual, would be left in the wake of both its post and predecessor, but still remain an amazing release. Tracks such as, "Slaughter At Beast House" and "Running From The Goathead", are superb offerings, just as diabolical and grim as any of Autopsy's other classics. This is definitely an album that shouldn't be ignored.
DARK FORTRESS: YLEM
If you took a heaped tea-spoon of Triptykon, Behemoth and threw in some Belphegor for good measure, then the resulting creation would probably sound a lot like Ylem. Beyond the familiarity of the sounds found on Ylem, this is a truly brilliant album. The songs are extremely well composed and diverse, straying between the crushing heaviness of tracks like "Osiris", to the chant along epics like "Evenfall". The Black and Death-Metal world is completely saturated with bands, all fighting to standout, but unlike most of their contemporaries, Dark Fortress standout with a blend of familiarity and unexpected diversity, the best example being the closing track, "Wraith". From start to finish, Ylem is full of surprises, but is guaranteed to satisfy anyone with a taste for the dark side of things.
THANK YOU FOR READING! FEEL FREE TO COMMENT OR ASK ANY QUESTIONS! PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THIS LIST IS BASED ON MY OWN INDIVIDUAL PREFERENCES AND VIEWS (KEYBOARD WARRIORS KEEP AWAY!)
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