Embryonic Devourment- Heresy of the Highest Order Review

 

Embryonic Devourment bring some super technical brutal death metal that bounces all over the place yet somehow manages to stay cohesive whilst only hanging on by the slightest thread. The guitar playing here is pure insanity honestly, and the bass mostly follows suit in terms of bringing the mayhem along with it. Dissonant, jumbled, fret fondling is here in spades. A good portion of this album is a fairly disorienting experience. The track "Heresy of the Highest Order" is the highlight for me. The track features some straight up amazing soloing. It also has some extremely straightforward old school heavy metal style riffing that manages to fit in perfectly among the dissonant passages that surround it.

Admittedly there are some sections of this album that go overboard with the wankery for my taste. These moments can become tiresome and honestly if the moments of greatness didn't click so hard with me I probably wouldn't return to it. The severely slowed, lurking vibes emanating from "Murder of the Ancients" are another standout that make those tiresome moments not so bothersome. I really feel like with a little bit of time at the drawing board these guys could become something really special. It's obvious from the moments of pure wankery that they're extremely skilled. The highlights here also show that they carry the ability to write some very interesting songs and passages that are nothing short of perfect. Hopefully in the future they'll offer something just a tad dialed back chock full of moments similar to the chunks on this one that shine through the jangly strings of notes.

Overall Heresy of the Highest Order is a fun frenzy of scatter brained death metal. It's chalk full of interesting twists and turns and managed to keep me on edge throughout the runtime. If you enjoy yourself some intensely note heavy guitar playing there's plenty of sections here to please the ear. JAM IT!!!

Void Column - Admonition of Clarity Review

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Void Column are a death/doom band coming out of Quebec, Canada. The band have a few demos under their belt and have come again with an EP featuring 16 minutes of murky, doomy debauchery. Masters in the art of guitar based hypnotism, Admonition of Clarity proves to be a killer time that will leave you confused and quacking like a Lovecraftian chicken.

The thing that jumps out automatically is the insanely thick, bogged out guitar tone. The presence of nastiness is profound to say the least. These guys dish out some wicked grooves. The one that demolishes the close of opener "Mortal Damnation" is quite a doozy. "Pillars of Nothingness" sinks it's claws into you with a stupidly catchy, hypnotic riff. "Thanatophobia" gives a nice little synth interlude also, as if the superb riffage wasn't enough to keep things interesting. The content here is fairly primitive but it appeals to the needs of my lizard brain that craves little else aside from some knuckle dragging fun.

Overall Admonition of Clarity leaves quite the impact despite it's extremely short runtime. 16 minutes was not nearly enough to satisfy my hunger for the goods that Void Column dish out. Those who like their death metal gross and spooky will be pleased with this one. It's become clear over the past few years that anyone playing extreme metal with the word "Void" anywhere near their name are more than likely going to slay you in some beautifully grotesque fashion. This is definitely a band to keep an eye on for whenever they concoct a gooey full length for the masses. There's no doubt in my mind that whenever it comes it will be strong because I could easily see myself jamming something three times this length from them and enjoying every minute of it. JAM IT DAMMIT!

Abolishment of Flesh- In the Presence of Darkness

 

Abolishment of Flesh is a death metal band from Texas. The band's first full length under the name Abolishment was much more of a relentlessly brutal affair but they've slowly dialed it back and gotten more into incorporating melody into the fold. Their past dabblings in more brutal territory give this album an interesting flair in it's approach, culminating into a pretty satisfying melting pot of death metal diversity. Some melodic tendencies, an old school semi technical leaning, and tastes of that nasty Texan brutality make for an interesting blend when all wrapped into one package. 

The guitar playing on this album is magnificent. There's plenty of moments scattered throughout featuring breathtaking leads and every solo is masterfully crafted to fit the riffs and grooves that surround them. The songwriting here displays a great deal of talent when it comes to creating beautiful melodies that blend effortlessly with the rhythmic attacks that they bounce back and forth with. The opening track starts right in with this approach which leads into a nice little clean break before transitioning to a pummeling groove that hits the spot. Early on Abolishment is dishing out some stuff that reminds me of mid era Death and that is certainly not a bad thing. 

The track "Behind Deceitful Eyes" uses vocal layering to great effect. Vocally this album is actually fairly diverse. The main approach is a standard growl with some screams mixed in. The layering is used sporadically and there's also some shrieks here and there. The title track has some unexpected cleans thrown in and surprisingly they work quite well and actually pop up on what I would consider a standout track on the album. The aforementioned layering really creates a nice, menacing tone throughout the duration of the record and adds some bite to many moments without going overboard with it. 

When "Self Righteous Regurgitation" hits with it's slam inducing opening riff the album kicks into high gear. Everything becomes a bit more sharp and dangerous for a bit moving forward. Regardless of the level of hostility Abolishment is working at the solos never fail to be masterfully crafted. The title track kicks off with some awesome tapping that paints the picture of one tumbling into a bottomless pit where some beast awaits. An epic simplistic groove follows that allows the events to play out. 

Overall In the Presence of Darkness is a pretty damn solid display of death metal goodies. These guys dish out a nice little smorgasbord of death metal variety proficiently. They nail the Death worship early on and weave in their earlier brutal death metal influences in a cohesive way that really works. Their previous albums were solid in terms of songwriting but the production typically left something to be desired. With this latest effort the murkiness that brought them down in the past has been cleared up. There's enough diversity here that the album should appeal to most death metal fans regardless of their preference when it comes to the details. It also closes out with an absolutely sick cover of a Sepultura classic. JAM IT!!!

Afterbirth- Four Dimensional Flesh

Afterbirth is a brutal death metal band from New York making strides to add new layers to the genre. The band released one 4 track demo back in 1994 only to vanish into obscurity shortly after. After a long hiatus they reformed and dropped another demo back in 2014 and followed it up with a well received album in 2017. The year is 2020 and Afterbirth make their triumphant return with Four Dimensional Flesh. Don't let the band name fool you, these guys are playing some brutal death metal but it is far from a run of the mill, dime a dozen releases that seemingly drop everyday. Four Dimensional Flesh while still bringing the brutality, almost feels like a journey of sorts.

"Rooms to Nowhere" is my personal favorite from the album, although I will say it is very hard to pick just one. The strange guitar part towards the mid-section of the track has been forever embedded in my memory since first listen. There's little moments like this sprinkled all throughout the album that really make it stand out from the pack. The band effortlessly keeps the listener guessing and manages to build an atmosphere while still staying in the realm of a genre that is built almost exclusively on crushing the listener at all costs. The drumming is masterful and really the backbone that holds everything together. The whole album gives the feeling of rushing through a maze where every corner holds another monstrosity, but, occasional you take a turn and run into something beautiful. Well, maybe not beautiful exactly, but there is some refreshing breaks from the controlled chaos occasionally spattered in there for good measure.

Overall Four Dimensional Flesh is a breath of fresh air for the genre. While I've always loved me some knuckle-dragging brutal death, it's nice to see a band coming to the forefront offering something much more dynamic than what one would normally expect. The band manages to add progressive tinges to one of the most brutal a primitive styles of music known to man. This one may even be a good gateway album for someone looking to get into the subgenre, as I could see many people who typically don't gravitate towards the more brutal stuff finding something to love here. If you go back and listen to their 1994 demo it is shocking to see the development Afterbirth has had since then. All too often we see bands that vanished into obscurity in the 90's come back and release a subpar album. Afterbirth bucks that trend and I think most would be hard pressed to find another band make a return quite like they have. The demo they'd released back in the day was pretty awesome, especially for the time, but these past two full lengths are a whole different beast altogether. I highly recommend anyone into extreme metal in genre give this a listen along with the previous full length! It will be very interesting to see where the band goes next. Definitely a name to keep a look out for in the future! GET IT!!

Carve the Earth- Blood Magik

AN AUDIO GRIMOIRE TO SUMMON THE ALMIGHTY RIFF!

Carve the Earth is a blackened thrash band out of Oregon. The band has been around since 2015 and dropped one EP in 2016 prior to this release. Blood Majik clocks in at a mere 25 minutes and the band does not waste a second of your precious time. Right off the bat the band comes to the ritual table bringing forth their brand off thrashy, black metal tinged riffs. Blood Magik shows off a near perfect blend of the two styles. The black/thrash metal subgenre is easily one of my favorites and compared to most other bands claiming this genre tag (in my experience at least), this band seems to lean more  towards the black metal side of things in the songwriting department. This makes for a healthy dose of atmosphere coupled with the balls of the more aggressive side of thrash, marrying into a perfect storm for metallic greatness!

One of the stand out features of the band is the vocals. Jerin Smith delivers a very wide variety of different vocal approaches and it really keeps the listener guessing what kind of wretched delivery he'll be dishing out next. Throughout the six tracks there's a healthy dose of putrid shrieking, some standard screams, and oddball growl, and a nice hearty yell here and there. "Eve of the Blood Magik Rite" is the first appearance of what may be his most unorthodox sounding performance. These odd vocals are sprinkled throughout the EP and while it may be a little off-putting to some, to me, it gives the band a truly distinct sound. Smith's delivery overall keeps the album feeling fresh and helps the runtime fly by with ease.

Blood Magik spends a good amount of its time throwing out killer riff after killer riff. Most of the tracks here do an amazing job creating an epic atmosphere without sacrificing the savage nature of the music. Tracks that lean into the black metal influence full force like "Forging the Hammer" and the closer "Perverse Creation" prove to be standout songs. Carve the Earth do a stellar job when playing the speedy, disjointed sounding tremolo sections. Overall the whole album showcases a band in their sweet spot. Not a note of filler to be found front to back, just killer songwriting and awesome performances to back them up. Each track has it's own, fleshed out identity and many elements that make them stand out. The production here is also great. Another release that has the bass sitting high up in the mix and it benefits the sound greatly. On the track "Eve of the Blood Magik Rite" the bass even gets a little solo moment that leads into an awesome build up.

Overall Blood Magik is a quick listen and one that is well worth your time. Fans of the genre will not be disappointed in the slightest. This is yet another example of 2020 already being an amazing year for metal and we haven't even hit the halfway mark yet! If you're on the fence I'd recommend giving "Forging the Hammer" and "Hypnotica" a listen, and if you like either of those take the dive and soak in this fantastic slab of metal.  'Hypnotica" ends with the catchiest riff on the album, and the ending of "Forging the Hammer" is no joke either. Anybody into thrash or black metal that's more riff based would be a fool not to give this one a shot. Anyone out there just into interesting, energetic vocal performances would be wise to give it a spin as well. This is really one of those albums you can play front to back, then when it's over, hit the play button once again and enjoy just as much as you did prior. Replay value through the roof, riff writing through the roof, audible bass that is badass, all the ingredients needed to concoct a killer metal album that will slay you repeatedly. GET IT!!!

Live Burial- Unending Futility

Live Burial is a death metal band from the UK. I nearly skipped this one because the album cover just didn't exactly leap out and scream "awesome death metal" at me, but upon listening I quickly realized what a mistake that would have been. The band features members of Horrified (whose first album I recall enjoying quite a bit) and this is their second full length offering. They manage to dish out that nasty old school sound without getting trapped into the [insert band name here] worship category. From the intro with it's soaring leads followed by a tremolo laced barrage to the near ten minute epic closer "Cemetery Fog" Living Burial are here to flex their death metal muscles and bury any weakling listening alive!

Upon first listen the main thing that stood out immediately was the mix. Everything is balanced out so perfectly here. No instrument is completely dominating and the bass isn't just following the guitar in the same old boring fashion. The two stringed instruments mesh in a way that paints a picture of a dungeon crawling battle that perhaps for the poor fellow on the cover just ended poorly. "The Crypt of Slumbering Madness" truly sounds FUCKING MASSIVE. When this track came on the album really caught my attention. The bass stands out and almost takes the spotlight on this one. Some of the songwriting here is very strong to say the least. The leads that close this track are icing on the metallic cake as well. When the band slows down with their more epic, lethargic approach everything really works to great effect. "Rotting on the Rope" is a great example of Live Burial doing this to near perfection. It's followed up by the beautiful interlude "Winds of Solace". The fretwork here is breathtaking and it works incredibly well with the pacing of the album and it's placement.

The vocals are delivered in a way that really adds to the attention grabbing nature of the album. The playing isn't overly flashy from anyone but definitely has some nice, memorable noodly passages sprinkled in for good measure. As mentioned before the bass really does add a refreshing layer to everything else in the mix and really makes a big stride in making this album stand out from the pack. Everything just comes together in a way that gives "Unending Futility" an insane amount of replay value. It's been in rotation for me for a hot minute now and anytime I find myself going to play a single track I quickly find myself playing the album in full without a second thought. With all the quality stuff that has been dropping lately this statement truly says something about how well put together this project really is.

Overall Unending Futility is a pretty killer death metal album. Upon going back and checking out the first one this is a big step up for my ears. All of the tracks here that break the five minute mark are the cream of the crop. The band does an amazing job creating a foreboding atmosphere with a lingering feeling of dread to top it off. This one comes highly recommended for anyone looking for some good mid paced death metal jams. Don't get me wrong, the album is heavy and has it's fair share of nasty, headbang inducing riffing, but, they also spend a decent chunk of time in a more subdued, crawl of anticipation lurching towards this moments of full-blown badassery. If you plan to be lazy and just skip the album, please at least hit some streaming site and give the opener "Seeping into the Earth" a shot. I feel like anybody with a single death metal loving bone in their body would be hard pressed to not dive a little deeper after hearing that epic slab of metal goodness. Very excited to see what Live Burial comes out of the woodwork next to decimate us. JAM IT!!!

Imperial Savagery- Lashing the Feral Swine

Imperial Savagery is a vicious death metal 4 piece from Chicago, Illinois. The band is chock full of vets in the metal scene and they dropped their debut album back in 2014. The debut was an amazing slab of death metal so upon seeing this released I was stoked to say the least. I got to discover this band at a small fest some years back and they dish out pure mosh inducing madness. Guitarist Flannagan rocks a stinkface that gives the impression that he might just snap his guitar in half and eviscerate some poor audience member at any moment. It's clear when listening that the band had taken that 6 year gap and honed their craft to unleash this somehow even more menacing beast of an album. Clocking in at 27 minutes of all killer no filler Lashing the Feral Swine is everything that most death metal bands wish they could be.

The album comes barreling at you like a freight train of brutality straight out of the gate and doesn't let up in the slightest. The weak will have no luck here... "Churchgate Proclamation" kicks off with a sample that sounds like blades sharpening, a fitting intro as the band quickly assaults with jagged riffing to cut the listener down to size. With most tracks lingering just above of below the 3 minute mark there's absolutely no fat to be trimmed here. The runtime flies by and the riffs come aplenty. It's hard to pick out highlights when an album is damn near flawless like it is in this case. The all out drum attack on "Frozen Ritual of Shame" springs to mind though, which on all fronts sounds like a firing squad dumping lead into your ears. The contorting riffs featured on "From Advent to Casket" are certainly no slouch either. Like many of the greatest albums in the genre this thing feels like it could derail at any moment, spiraling out of control and injuring nearby bystanders. "Claiming Dominion" is a perfect example of this barely controlled chaos at its finest.

The self titled debut was already a monster on it's own but this album expands upon the foundation they'd set and ups the ante in every way imaginable. The vocals are even more ferocious, the riffs are even more tangled and crushing, the drums are just pure insanity through and through. The bass also seems to be a bit louder in the mix, which adds to the brutality of the pummeling tenfold. With all of these elements combined each little contortion of the instruments hits the listener with an adrenaline rush that feels as though some kind of ancient power is coursing through your veins. If I were to punch a wall with "Vengeance Over Virtue" blasting in the background I assure you, the building it was a part of would be rubble in an instant.

Overall Lashing the Feral Swine is a quick demonstration of pure death metal mastery. This year has been pretty solid for metal so far but after a few listens this easily took the number 1 spot for now. I don't think there's a single fan of the genre that could possibly be disappointed in this offering. This thing is even uglier than the debut and it pulls no punches. It's rare to find an album that so perfectly incapsulates a genre pushed to its limits. There is not a single dull moment or wasted note to be found front to back. Highly recommended that anyone out there that enjoys death metal gives this at least one listen and I guarantee you, it will stay in rotation from then on. Kudos to Horror Pain Gore Death for always releasing top notch stuff and giving these guys a launching pad for this attack disguised as music! Weak death metal bands take notes, or catch the lashing like the feral swine you are! JAM IT NOW!

Skadefro- Minna fra Nordland

NORWEGIANS KNOW HOW TO CRAFT METAL!

Skadefro is a black metal band hailing from Norway with some definite influence from the doom side of the spectrum. This is their first full length following up and EP released in 2017. Skadefro dishes out a slow to mid paced brand of black metal that has an almost garage rock style attitude coursing through a good majority of the tracks here. Very much so no frills and straight to the point riffing. Minna fra Nordland clocks in at just under 30 minutes and manages to leave a lasting impression in that short period of time.

The album kicks off with "Ditt farvel". This track is a good indicator of what to expect moving forward through the tracklist. The first notes have a nice effect on the guitar that set a nice abstract, almost haunting tone. "Min siste ferd" follows and it does a great job creating a real triumphant/epic atmosphere. Simple riffing aplenty makes for a good steady groove that the band consistently creates with ease throughout the entire runtime of this album. After this the band really hits their sweet spot and from this point forward the remainder of the album absolutely flies by. From the first note of "Dødsdåp" to the final note of the title track the band squeezes in a number of different types of tracks in such a short span of time. "Dødsdåp" probably ties with the closer as the highlight of the album. It's without a doubt an energy filled anthem with such an infectious riff driving it into yet another track with an infectious riff and this cycle doesn't end until the album does.

The vocalist dishes out a nasty shriek throughout the album and while there is very little variation it fits pretty well with the instrumentation and given the simplistic nature of the music a more flashy approach probably would have been more distracting than anything else. There is a cool little manic, whispery spoken word section tossed in on the epic closing track however. Speaking of the closing track man this one is an absolute monster! It clocks in at just under 10 minutes and not a second of it is disposable. It pops in with a crushing man riff and creates a dreadful atmosphere that is oh so sweet. For a band that had only been in existence for a year at the time of recording this it is almost shocking how well fleshed out they had gotten their sound already. There sure as hell know how to close an album and I highly doubt anyone who's given this one a shot would even considering arguing that point.

Overall Skadefro have offered up a really solid slab of rocking black metal with this album. Anyone craving some riff based nastiness should be pleasantly surprised with this thing. Don't let the mention of doom influence have you thinking this is some lethargic bore-fest either. There's plenty of drive pushing most of these tracks along and the speedier sections of this thing are done with skill. The band really seems to hit it's stride towards the middle of this album with highly replayable jams like "Under stjerneklar Himmel" and "Dødsdåp" . The slight increase in pace truly ramps up the feeling of these tracks and then when those slower moments hit it happens with much greater effect. There's no complaints to be had here. If I were to get pretty nitpicky the only suggestion would have been to throw on a couple more tracks. I'm all for a short album but when this really gets going it feels like it comes to a close fairly quickly afterwards. Another 10 to 20 minutes being added would have been more than welcome. Another thing I wouldn't mind hearing more of is a little more of those tasty leads featured on the title track previously mentioned. That was only a brief section of this album but it's obvious that guitarist Gundersen truly shines here. This one comes highly recommended for anyone into riff based black metal and anyone into doom that can handle the harsh vocal approach. Really if you like riffs in general there's no reason you shouldn't have a good time jamming this. 

Check it out here!

Jumpin' Jesus- The Art of Crucifying

Jumpin' Jesus is a very overlooked German death metal band that formed in 1989, but didn't release anything until the early 90's. With only one demo and one full-length they failed to make a noticeable mark in death metal history, but that's not to say fans of the genre won't enjoy this record. 

When the vocals kick in on "Out of the Unknown" you know you're in for an evil satanic treat. The vocalist pounds his style into your head throughout the record, his vocals aren't anything particular special, but he does have a rather wide range compared to most death metal vocalist from around this time. He mainly sticks to growls and screams, but occasionally a raspy falsetto will find it's way out of his throat, along with some more traditional thrash style vocals. 

The guitar work on the album is noteworthy. It is easy to see that this department was heavily influenced by thrash. There are some fairly complex riffs to be found here, and the distortion is set just right. For the most part the record is played at a break neck pace, but Jumpin' Jesus isn't afraid of slowing down, this is best shown during "The King of Worms" when a fairly slow, epic riff kicks in, it doesn't stay long due to it being interrupted by a face melting solo, but it plays to be one of the most effective riffs on the record, and trust me it has some healthy competition. 

This album is also one of the few death metal records where the bass is audible throughout! Sure, a lot of the time the bass is just backing the guitar but every now and then you'll hear a little jazzy bass going on in the background, when this happens it only boosts the song's level on the metal meter. Without the bass being audible the record may have came off as hollow, but with it there and firing on all cylinders the album has a nice high end, low end ratio. 

The album has some odd effects peppered in. At times it seems as though you are listening to a cheesy 80's synth filled horror movie soundtrack, but these moments are short lived, due to the low end growls intruding and the neck snapping speedy riffs that are tearing the amp to shreds. Along with these odd effect and overtones are some really cool, eerie acoustic intros. Examples of this are "The King of Worms" and "Chaingang", the intros to these songs really create a great atmosphere for the old school chaos that is about to ensue. 

The drumming actually is pretty brutal as well, it isn't just non-stop blastbeats. It definitely isn't the most groundbreaking work either but there are some complex drum patterns to be found in the albums run-time. With all that being said, every single instrument has it's fair share of time to shine. The production is very clear for it's time, which was also noticeable on their demo. 

Bottom line: Go get yourself a neck brace and find this record ASAP. It's a shame this band didn't continue after this record was recorded, it and their demo show boat loads of potential. Any fan of death metal, especially die-hard old school fans must hear this album.

Resurrection- Embalmed Existence

Resurrection was a band that formed in Florida in the early 90's and broke up shorty after releasing their old school death metal opus "Embalmed Existence". This album isn't for everyone, but it will have fans of the old school Florida scene on their knees praying to their overlooked gods. The band reformed in 2008 to release the album "Mistaken for Dead" which also failed to get noticed.

The thing that sticks out most on the album is the wicked vocals and guitar rhythms. Songs introduced by the sinister noises that come out of Paul Degoyler's mouth give the album an overall creepy feel. Resurrection created this album with one thing on their mind, to sicken the weak with some old school crushing death metal, and at that they did not fail. The production on the album is very crisp unlike some older death metal records, this gives the overall sound a great boost which is always a good thing. The guitar parts are fairly varied changing from very fast riffing to slow apocalyptic infectious riffs. The solos on the album kick mutiple asses, ranging from fast and shredding, to slow melodic solos. Both are done skillfully and would be a tear to the eye of a guitarist.

The vocals have a snarl to them, they are not quite the typical death metal growl, if compared to anyone though, it would be Malevolent Creation vocalist Brett Hoffmann. The spoken word introductions work effectively, some do find them quite annoying though due to the fact that they are used on nearly every song. I can see why some would find this tedious but it feels as though it creates the atmosphere for the song. 

The bass for the most part is inaudible, on occasion it leaks it's way into the mix but when this does happen it is brief and nearly unnoticeable, which is a shame because when the bass does creep into songs it sounds sick and would of really added to the album if it stayed throughout. The drumming on the album is also consistent, constant double bass pounds throughout the album, this style of drumming would typically become boring but on this album it is not the case. The constant pulse pounding beat blends all too well with the riffs and atmosphere. 

There really isn't one weak song on the album, none of the songs drag nor does the album as a whole. The only track on the album that has been openly complained about is "War Machine" the KISS cover song. This song gave the album a good change in pace but I don't like it's placement as the last song on the album, it would of been more fitting to put it in the middle, as a kind of break from the blistering thrash influenced death metal riffing, overall it is still a good song though. The majority of the songs do have the same structure, but each individual song manages to remain fresh sounding and entertaining.

The bottom line is if you are in need of death metal with that old school fresh into the 90's feel this is the cure for the itch, the album maintains it's fury and manages to create a fairly punishing sound, but for some reason it failed to be noticed in the death metal scene that Florida had going. While this isn't exactly the most creative album you'll ever hear, it is a damn good one and should be heard by any fan of the genre. Overall I give this album a firm 4.5 out of 5. Coming from a person who is obsessed with death metal as a whole, I can say with pride that this would most easily make it into my top 10 death metal albums of all time. Check it out now.

Scaremaker- What Evil Have They Summoned...

Scaremaker is a three piece that just recently hit the scene. Their first release was a three song demo in cassette form that was only a hint to the horror drenched death metal that their full length would deliver. Given that the band is signed to Razorback Records and that the album comes packaged with a toe tag some might already have a slight idea of what approach Scaremaker takes, but most will be surprised with the depraved sound coming from their speakers. 

First things first this record is some of the most evil sounding death metal that comes to mind in recent years. The band has a straightforward old school death metal sound that many bands have tried to capture and failed. Let them be tortured by their envy, this would please the beast known as the Scaremaker. What Evil Have They Summoned... features a fair amount of variation for a band with their "straight to the jugular" style. The tempos vary throughout and the riffing is always memorable. Backed with one of the most consistent drummers in the business there is no excuse to make avoiding this album acceptable.

The guitar tone has a mean crunchy sound that meshes flawlessly with the overall sound. Many of the riffs pumped out create an epic feel, this can be easily seen on tracks like "Nocturnal Bloodbath". There is a good amount of diversity in the playing as well, on the instrumental "Fatal Eve" an atmospheric riff creeps along in a slow and almost relaxing manner. Also the bass intro to "Nocturnal Bloodbath" is excellent. It works as a solid build up to the killer riff-fest that ensues shortly after. The vocal delivery shall leave anyone who dares to listen in a pool of their own blood. The use of dual vocalists is executed perfectly. Anyone who says Arch Enemy's vocalist is the best harsh female pipes around needs to give Scaremaker a listen, the music is proof enough. The sickening lows and wretched highs mix well with the tortured sound Scaremaker throws down. On top of all that clean vocals are used on the cover of "Devil's Son", and as to be expected they slay just as much as the rest of the album it closes out. The cover track shows that if the band decided to explore more punk oriented styling that they wouldn't have to much trouble getting comfortable.

Elektrokutioner is behind the kit for this band and that is always a good sign. He is known for his work with Festered and Decrepitaph (both signed to Razorback as well). He playing displayed on this album is just as top notch as all of his other work and he continues to show his talent as one of the most underrated drummers in extreme music today. Just when you think his precise pummeling has ended it starts back up again and proceeds without mercy. 

Overall Scaremaker brings what they intended and they bring it with full force. Armed with the sinister sound they have this band could really go places. The bottom line is Scaremaker is a band that metalheads in general should keep an eye out for. The album doesn't produce one dull moment from start to finish. They without a doubt, show some of the greatest potential out of the many bands that are trying to resurrect the old school death metal sound, hell if more bands of this quality step up to the plate this year might be one of the best for extreme music in quite some time.

Fin- The Furrows of Tradition

Chicago black metallers Fin have been quite busy since their formation in 2011. Having dropped a full length every year since 2013 the band managed to find their very distinct sound at a rapid pace. Their 2014 effort Refutable Arts of the Noble Reserve easily earned its spot as one of the highlights in metal for that year and The Furrows of Tradition continued that tradition for 2015. The band also dwindled down to a duo with this release and after comparing the final product it's clear that this decision was for the best.

The Furrows of Tradition kicks right off with a flurry of barbaric melodies. From this point on the band provides very little breathing room and tramples over the listener in the most satisfying way possible. As opposed to the previous full length this one comes across with quite a bit more bite considering the relentless barrage of masterful fretwork and kit abuse. That's not to say the previous effort didn't have these attributes but it's clear when listening that Fin is tapping into their potential and becoming more and more focused and refined in the songwriting process with each release.

Tracks like "A Final Shots Report" and "Arrogance... A Bridge to Fall" drive home the warlike atmosphere intended with undeniable accuracy. The triumphant melodies spread throughout are backed by distant, tortured shrieks that will surely make you want to go out and pillage your neighborhood. All these factors make for a listening experience just as uplifting as it is pummeling. This also makes the album a good entry point for people looking to get into black metal. While The Furrows of Tradition does have a barbaric stride it isn't as nasty sounding or menacing as many of their peers. The band's incorporation of infectious melodies are attention grabbing enough to allow the musical merit to shine through even to those not into extreme music.

The Furrows of Tradition should be considered essential listening for all black metal fans. Fin has a truly unique sound and this album marks the beginning of it becoming fully realized. The album clocks in at over 50 minutes and it flies by with every listen and leaves you craving more. It's clear that this duo has a classic in them and they are on the brink of putting it together. This effort is near perfection as is and I can only foresee things getting better from here. Check out Fin, you'll feel pretty victorious after doing so.

Imperial Savagery- Imperial Savagery

Imperial Savagery is a nasty death metal band hailing from Chicago, Illinois. The members are no stranger to the genre given their past experience in bands like CorpseVomit, Lividity, Enmortem, and that is just scratching the surface. Not to mention a few of the members also being involved in the stellar aural onslaught that is Sons of Famine. This is one hell of a debut to say the least, it clocks in at under thirty minutes and packs more of a punch than some bands manage in their entire discography. 

The hellish opening sounds featured on "Faithless Emptiness" sum up the descent the listener is in for perfectly. The instrumental aspect of the album feels as though it could completely derail at any point and it truly gives the entire listening experience a disorienting vibe and a constant anticipation of how the band will strike next. This is something that very few death metal acts of today can pull off without it coming out sounding forced. Dalzell's vocal delivery is insanely powerful and meshes all too well with the musical assault. The level of hatred coming from the man's vocal chords cannot be ignored.  Each member plays their part equally in making Imperial Savagery the untamable beast that it is. 

Although only two out of ten tracks break past the three minute mark they all play out to their full potential. The band wastes no time on filler and within the first thirty seconds of each song you're already feeling bludgeoned beyond the point of repair. The riffs delivered from start to finish are jarring and couldn't be crafted anymore skillfully to drive home the lyrical content. Rhythmically as a whole the album is nothing short of whiplash inducing. It delves into a level of extremity that is seldom seen and doesn't give even the slightest hint of letting up throughout the entire runtime.

Overall Imperial Savagery's debut is a superb chunk of no bullshit, blasphemous death metal. These guys deserve so much more attention than they've garnered since this albums release in 2014. From start to finish this album is going to have your headbanging harder than it has ever banged before. I highly recommend anyone into extreme metal in general to give this a spin. I'd say there's a pretty strong chance that most of you will be hooked the way I am. This is without a doubt a band to keep an eye on. Also if you get a chance to catch them live don't miss it. On stage these vets were even more crushing. DO YOU BELIEVE IN GOD? IF SO YOU WILL NOT FOR LONG!

Volumes of Blood

Volumes of Blood is a new indie horror anthology from directors Jakob Bilinski, Nathan Thomas Milliner, John Kenneth Muir, P.J. Starks, and Lee Vervoort. I have yet to see any of these filmmakers previous efforts, but this is a clear example of why that needs to change. Each director brings their own distinct flavor to the table and works with the central theme given for the film. Prepare for fun.

Volumes of Blood follows a group of college students studying Urban Legends. For a project, they decide to delve into how exactly these stories start, and how they spread. They start by sharing ideas of potential fables to spread. Each one plays out in some way involving a library, like the one they are meeting in.

The first story shows a girl who is in dire need of more hours in a day. Although this isn't a feasible option, there is another, more convenient alternative: more energy. A simple solution, offered by a shady peddler, ends in a more unsavory manner.

Following our first gal, the second fable to be passed is of another nature. One man, left alone after hours to work, finds one particular task to be rather hard to accomplish. As he tries to place the books in their rightful homes, a book on the supernatural seems to gain a mind of its own. The more he tries to replace the book, whilst catching glimpses of something out of the corner of his eye, the more redundant the task becomes. The further from its shelf the book becomes, the closer something else gets to our leading man.

Next, we find ourselves in a library again after hours. This time, it is a young coed trying to finish her studies. Her eccentric boyfriend joins her, urging her to leave her responsibilities for a bit of fun. She compromises, saying she'll join him when she finishes. She is then left alone to her work. Or is she? Something is lurking, waiting for a chance to distract her by means other than drinking.

The last idea to be bounced is the story of a girl named Paige. Paige finds herself working in the library alone at night. Familiar, right? Except the fact that it's Halloween, and an unfamiliar book, supposedly able to allow its reader to speak to a deceased loved one, has found it's way to our heroine's desk. Most people would probably have the good sense to leave such a book alone. At least, people who don't harbor guilt for the suicide of an ex boyfriend. This is why children shouldn't play with dead things...

As we hear the stories passed around by the students, we start to realize that while they are discussing a part of their thesis, they have yet to discuss how exactly these grisly scenarios become perpetuated into a viral part of folklore. The head of this group of students seems to have a pretty good hypothesis. The best way to spread a make believe tale, is for it to have actually happened. 

I've always been a sucker for anthologies. They are my favorite type of horror film and have been since my childhood. While I love anthologies, there is one little problem that rings true for the bulk of them. When lacing so many short stories together, it is very difficult to compile more than a few of the same quality. Even the "top dog" V/H/S series for this generation hasn't managed to put out a consistent package in their three attempts. In this film all five tales manage to deliver the goods. They all bring a different tone to the table but not a single one of them is below average. Volumes of Blood maintains the perfect balance of camp and tension. Each segment manages to contain enough of these elements to satisfy your horror loving needs.

Overall Volumes of Blood is an old school anthology that stays consistently awesome. The final story and the tie in finale are easily my two favorite sections here. Things wrap up with a bang followed by an onslaught of bloodshed. These final moments are probably my favorite of any anthology that has came out within the last decade, and possibly the best wraparound featured in any anthology I have seen. This is a must watch for all indie horror fans and anthology lovers alike. It's definitely getting another spin from me come Halloween. It really is a blast that every horror fan should experience. Keep an eye out for Volumes of Blood to release on DVD, you won't regret it!

Computer Hearts

Computer Hearts is an interesting short directed by Canadian duo Turner Stewart and Dionne Copland. The directing team has a few shorts under their belt and have recently tackled the cinematography on Ryan Nicholson's Gutterballs 2. Watching this short, it is easy to see why they were chosen for the long awaited Plotdigger sequel. Computer Hearts is an incredibly well crafted early film project that should easily put them on the radar of most low-budget film enthusiasts. 

The film centers around a man named Albert who has become overly obsessed with a character on an interactive sex game website. He's letting his relationship with his fiancee fall apart by feeding this addiction. As he slowly begins to fall apart at the hinges, his future wife decides she is tired of his distance. She leaves and with that Albert is alone with nothing but his computer. Things go south quickly when Albert reconnects with his digital playmate quite literally.

Vanessa2 seems to have Albert's heart, though she is lacking one of her own. She is his escape. She is seemingly perfect, no real obligation (though he doesn't seem to notice), and she is always happy to see him. This low maintenance dream girl starts to really byte. Pun intended. Once the 'real' Vanessa leaves Albert, Vanessa2 sees an opportunity. Albert must decide exactly which of his lives he really wants to live.

This release contains two vastly different cuts of the film. Although most of the content is the same, the extended "Hentai Cop Cut" throws in a bit more dialogue and info that manages to completely change the intentions of our lead, Albert. If you are going to check this out I would recommend giving the "Vanessa Cut" a watch to start out with. This cut is significantly shorter, and although both cuts have things I prefer over the other, I would say this one reigns supreme. The pacing in "Vanessa Cut" makes for a much more enthralling watch, while the "Hentai Cop Cut" sacrifices that for a few extra plot points and character building.

Overall Computer Hearts is an exhilarating exercise in the oddities of the body horror subgenre. If you thought browsing the dark side of YouTube at 1 a.m. was intense, think again. Albert showcases how easy it is to get sucked into alternate reality, especially if yours is monotonous. Albert enhances the creep factor by showing how even though he plays through his every day life, his virtual feelings seem to have more depth. The extremely stylish black and white bathtub scene alone is worth the price of admission. This one comes highly recommended for fans of strange, twisted horror flicks. GET IT!!

American Guinea Pig: Bouquet of Guts & Gore

Bouquet of Guts & Gore is the first installment in the American Guinea Pig series. As a big fan of the original Guinea Pig series, I was a little skeptical about the creation of this film. Slowly but surely, as I saw the names attached that feeling washed away as I remembered all the delicious, gory abominations Marcus Koch and Oddtopsy FX have splattered onscreen over the years. The Guinea Pig title is a lot to live up to in many extreme horror fan's eyes. The level of notoriety that series has garnered over the years is nearly unmatched by anything else in the realm of horror. In anyone else's hands matching the vibe of the early flicks would be a daunting, if not impossible, task. For all the fine people behind this film, making it their own, and shattering expectations seems to come with ease.

From the moment we are introduced to the torture chamber, hearts will drop. This is a feeling that keeps me coming back to the more extreme areas of the genre. Unfortunately it is not a feeling that is easy to achieve for me these days, the last film that effectively brought it on was Hate Crime, and before that way back when I first witnessed August Underground. Immediately when this room and our trio of miscreants come into play the mood shift is monstrous. It feels as though this room is hidden within an abandoned warehouse, on the seediest alley the Earth has to offer. It's a little piece of Hell that happened to make its way onto our playground, and its minions are here to play with us. As viewers we get to glare into this chunk of Hell from the comfort of our own homes.

Bouquet of Guts & Gore is a film that seems necessary at this point in time. The "extreme" horror genre has slowly but surely been losing my attention in recent years. I still love the classics, and sure, there's occasionally a new one that blows me away; but that experience has become further spread apart throughout the years. Many directors in this field seem to be giving the gore a backseat position and utilizing shit, piss, and vomit to achieve their gross-out factor. While this did work for a certain director, who I'm sure you are all familiar with, I would hate to see the extreme horror genre all have that uniform attribute. The American Guinea Pig series works as the retaliation of that. Biro and Co. show that these cheap gags aren't the only way left to shock jaded audiences. This is the return to gore, this is the defibrillator blast to the nuts the extreme horror genre has been in need of. 

Overall, American Guinea Pig: Bouquet of Guts & Gore is a must see for all gorehounds. This is a film that is so gritty, and full of hate that it's almost hard to take in one sitting. THIS IS FUCKING MEAN. Meaner than I could have ever hoped it would be. I had very high expectations for this when it arrived and it surpassed all of them. Biro has created a monumental flick for this style that will be looked at the same way the original Guinea Pig series is now. The terror isn't ending here, as there are already sequels planned. Hopefully, this string of films will ignite a fire under the extreme horror genre's ass. American Guinea Pig has upped the ante, it's set the bar, and from now on, making a well received torture flick will be an uphill battle. Essential viewing for all of you sick twisted fucks. GET IT AND SQUIRM! 

Massacre Gun

Massacre Gun is the second film directed by Asian film legend Yasuharu Hasebe. Shortly after this movie's release, Hasebe went onto be one of the biggest forces in the Pinky Violence movement of the 70's. Here we see a far more refined style compared to his defining films throughout the coming decade. 

Massacre Gun tells the story of Kuroda and his brothers. One day his Yakuza boss gives him the order to kill his significant other. Kuroda had planned an escape route for her, but out of fear of what would happen after his betrayal, he decides to follow through with the murder. After the deed is done, he returns to his brothers and they are very angered by his decision. The turmoil within the family quickly comes to a halt when Kuroda decides to leave his old crime family behind and start up his own operation. Soon, an all out war is waged between the two factions, and the only way it will end is with bloodshed. Kuroda not only has to deal with constant paranoia, but also the internal struggle of knowing his best friend Shirasaka is still fighting for the opposing side. The tension quickly rises, and hundreds of bullets begin to fly, but only one side can stand victorious.

Massacre Gun is an intriguing Yakuza film in the fact that it seems very Americanized. A smooth jazzy soundtrack is peppered in throughout the entire movie that complements it surprisingly well. The story builds at a slow yet precise pace, and while it can at times be a bit of an endurance test, it never becomes too taxing due to the high level of style on display. You truly feel for these characters and the hardships that they have brought upon themselves. Strong character development and performance is what really makes this film work on the level it does. Without the insight on Kuroda and Shirasaka's struggle to succumb to the violence that is inevitable, the final scene would not have hit anywhere near the level it does. This buildup is what anchors the movie down, but when the finale comes to life it is more than a fair trade.

Overall, Massacre Gun is a very entertaining Yakuza flick. Although the film is not without its flaws, it features enough fight scenes and fiery gun battles to keep most action fans at the edge of their seat. It does all this while still managing to maintain its cool as ice atmosphere. Having not seen many 60's Asian crime movies prior to this I was pleasantly surprised by how far from dated Massacre Gun was. If you're into Yakuza flicks this one is definitely worth a shot.

Under the Rainbow

Under the Rainbow is Luke Ramer's first feature length film. This was my introduction to West 2nd Productions, and it was a very insightful viewing. The initial viewing of Under the Rainbow is like traveling through an unknown wormhole of the low-budget film world. It's safe to say Ramer took a step off the beaten path with this one and started forging his own. If you're looking for something different from the underground horror scene, you've found it.

The movie kicks off with a cult preparing to drown their sorrows in the Kool-Aid and travel to a realm that promises nothing but glorious things. As with most cults, it is all an illusion and once the bodies start dropping, these sugar-coated lies take them to a place vastly different than expected. We then get to know Vivi. She's a troubled soul whose pastimes include slicing away at herself and getting lost in a world of illegal substances. Vivi lost her mother during her birth, and has carried that guilt her entire life. When things go sour between her and her sole friend during a botched drug deal, she decides that suicide could be her great escape. She doesn't manage to end it all, but instead passes out on a train track.

Vivi awakens in another world, and quickly discovers what happens after suicide. She is now trapped in a purgatory of sorts and is being pursued by the minions of the Queen, who runs her new home. Given that Vivi didn't commit suicide, she is of high priority to the Queen. She trails one of the minions back to the royal fortress to get to the bottom of things and find a way out of this hell hole.

Under the Rainbow sucks you into a dimension that could not be any more captivating. This world seems to be the best of a vivid dream, coupled with the most unsettling areas of a nightmare. This flick grabs you, and pulls you into a Wonderland-esque world that you won't want to escape, if you even could. Ramer succeeds in finding a superb balance of discontent, and comfort. The film caters on the brink of reality and daydreams, teetering from craziness to sanity and back. Ultimately, it holds a thought provoking anti suicide message. Ramer conveys this message in a subtle, none-too-pushy way, allowing the viewer to perceive it in as much or little depth as they'd like.

Overall Under the Rainbow is something that all indie movie fans should give a shot. It is far from a conventional horror film but that is what makes it so great. Although Ramer was a much younger director when this was made, you could already see signs of a well defined filmmaker. It delivers on all fronts, containing a labyrinth of a story, visceral imagery, a dark tone, and solid performances all around. This is a true breath of fresh air in the genre. GET IT HERE!  

Island of Death

Island of Death is a Greek exploitation film from 1976. Greece isn't an area that is exactly known for its cinema. Watching Island of Death always makes me wish it would have sparked some kind of trend of shock movies being filmed there. The fact that a movie like this can get such an awesome blu-ray release makes me a happy camper. Nico Mastorakis successfully takes anyone who has the pleasure of viewing this flick to a strange world where sexual perversion and murder are the norm. This is truly a Video Nasty that actually deserved its spot on the list. Hide your old women, hide your goats, Island of Death is rolling in, packing a tidal wave loaded with bodily fluids.

Island of Death starts up in a way that reminds me much of the Italian cannibal films that came around this era. This illusion doesn't last long though, it wastes little to no time getting into the filth. Within 15 minutes our lead character tries to get freaky with his significant other. When she denies his pleas, he goes out and fucks a goat... yes, you read correctly HE FUCKS A GOAT. This is just the beginning of the onslaught of madness brought forth on the screen.

The essential story here is pretty thin, and is really just an excuse to deliver shock scenes in surplus. We follow an extremely religious couple who's favorite pastime is murdering sinners. However, it appears fairly early on that these two are in fact, the biggest sinners on the island. Upon unleashing their wrath on the island they leave an alarming number of unusual crime scenes in their wake. The whole film showcases just how horribly fractured their minds are.

If I'm having a bad day, nothing does the trick like the last 20 minutes of Island of Death. The final chunk of this film is one of the greatest endings in the history of cinema. I will refrain from giving away anything here, but I'll say the insanity displayed here is unmatched by anything I've ever seen. The fact that so much ridiculous over the top perversion is crammed into such a small time span is nothing short of amazing.

Overall Island of Death is a real sight to see. It is extremely odd to think that this film was made in an attempt to cash in on the shock that came with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It honestly makes me wonder what kind of warped shit was finding its way into a Texas Chainsaw print on its way to Greece. The easily offended should stay far, far away. Island of Death makes no excuses about what kind of film it is. An alarming number of taboos are shattered throughout without hesitation. This is pure, uncut exploitation for die-hard exploitation fans, anyone else can steer clear. GET IT!

$kumbagz

$kumbagz is the latest tale of debauchery from Florida's horror/exploitation powerhouse The Sleaze Box. I was first introduced to The Sleaze Box shortly after the release of Amerikan Holokaust  (which John Miller wrote). I was immediately taken aback by the amount of sleaze and style that was poured into nearly every shot. To this day I have still not revisited that film, not because I didn't like it, more because Bob Glazier looks EXACTLY like my uncle and happens to be naked a good chunk of his time on screen. It was a traumatic experience that I still haven't quite recovered from. I am also still avoiding contact with my uncle. 

The film opens with music from Eigh8t the Chosen One AND a woman fingering herself. From this moment on, I knew I was in for a fun ride. Stephanie is 25 and still living at home, much to the dismay of her parents. Her father thinks she is lazy and simply doesn't understand why she can't move on from hopping to different burger flipping jobs. Stephanie heads off to work after being ridiculed over her laziness. Once she gets to her dead-end job, her boss tries to get her to blow him. Stephanie makes a face when he gives some juicy details regarding his sexual quirks, and he fires her on the spot. Frustrated with life and without a way home she sits against a building and stews over another shitty day in her seemingly shitty life.

Before long, a man offers her a ride to his place for a drink. She gladly accepts and before she knows it she's drug and forced into a life of prostitution and abuse. Her $kumbag, drug addicted pimp is far from efficient. Most of Stephanie's clients are giant sacks of shit. Eventually, Stephanie finds her way out when her pimp ends up dead. Luckily, she finds a home with a drug dealer who isn't opposed to getting into the pimp game. Here she is getting a far better lifestyle and things seem to be going great. SPOILER ALERT! This is the fucking Sleaze Box, things won't stay great for long.

$kumbagz is a movie that definitely lives up to its title, and the label it is released on. The level of sleaze coming from the low-budget scene in Florida is enough to balance out the lack-thereof elsewhere in recent years. There isn't really a likable character in this movie (aside from possibly Stephanie and 6-9), but that is actually beneficial to the film. $kumbagz is a journey into some of the crime going on in Florida and all throughout the United States. Some of the settings here don't feel too far off from the area I'm in and I love it. The grit is here, the sleaze is here, and so is the violence. Some of the stylistic choices shown in Amerikan Holokaust are also on display here, but not nearly as often. In exchange for more of those moments, we get montages of ladies shaking their asses backed by rap music. These lengthy scenes were about as far from problematic as you can possibly get for me. 

Overall $kumbagz is an extremely gritty unique experience, and at the same time it managed to be fun as hell. There are many familiar faces from past Sleaze Box flicks and they all turn in awesome performances. Miller's warped sense of humor is still sprinkled in as usual and lands perfectly. This isn't a movie for the easily offended, but if you're easily offended you shouldn't be looking to places with the word sleaze in their name to get your entertainment. If you don't want exploitation, look elsewhere. All you other twisted bastards out there need to check this one out. GET IT!