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My Sleeping Karma – 'Moksha' (Napalm)
Genre: Instrumental Metal
There must be some significance with fives or something because Moksha, the fifth album from My Sleeping Karma is made up of five proper tracks and five interludes. Telling the difference is moot as their melodic, instrumental, psych-laden metal flows together seamlessly.
Moksha is a peaceful and hypnotically engaging journey through vast and lush soundscapes. Melody and key-driven atmosphere lay the foundation of the highly textured affair. There's an ebb and flow between the ethereal and the more aggressive and one never knows what one might hear. Horns, piano, strings, accordion, and mantric chanting all add to the album's depth. It's progressive and escapist, drawing the listener into its captivating embrace. At times strange, it's nevertheless a beautiful piece of instrumental metal.
Rating: 4
(Matt Hinch)
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Nightslug – 'Loathe' (Dry Cough/Broken Limbs)
Genre: Sludge Metal
Riding ear-piercing waves of feedback comes German sludge trio Nightslug and their latest opus to filth, Loathe. It's seven dirges of extreme heaviness, as mind-deadening with or without vocals, as hate-filled as they are.
At times Nightslug move like their name, crawling with great effort (“The Thrill is Gone: Repulsion”) while at others their punk influences ring true. At those times the grimy notes blur under heavy distortion so the nasty bass provides the audible riff basis. Massive riffs from down-tuned guitars abusing amps with pitiless tone makes Loathe flat-out one of the year's heaviest albums whether beating you over the head or just getting inside it. For fans of Fistula, Eyehategod, Moss
Rating: 4
(Matt Hinch)
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Nocturnal Depression - 'Spleen Black Metal' (Avantgarde)
Genre: Black Metal
Generic blast beats? Check. Practically inaudible bass? Check. Intrusively high-pitched “frost-bitten” shrieking that sounds like someone is probably in dire need of treatment for laryngitis? Check. All of these ingredients can be used to make the perfect generic depressive black metal album.
But what really helps to save Spleen Black Metal is their sensibility for melodies, both from guitars and the occasional violin. They have such a presence and so effortlessly set the mood that Nocturnal Depression almost escape the fate of being “just another black metal band”. Almost. The violins are a very nice plus though. Very nice.
Rating: 2.5
(James Gamble)
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Possession - '1585-1646' (Iron Bonehead/Invictus)
Genre: Black/Death Metal
There are a few bands named Possession out there. This one is from Belgium. They haven't released a full album yet, and 1585-1646 is their second EP. It's a concept record that tells the story of a French witch during the years mentioned in the album title, ending in her being burned at the stake.
Possession blend dense black metal and groovy death metal with aggressive vocals to create an album that's dark and intense. The grooves make it more accessible and memorable, and the concept is a compelling one. It's a potent EP clocking in at 25 minutes, and it would be interesting to see if they could translate that to a full-length.
Rating: 3.5
(Chad Bowar)
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Prion - 'Uncertain Process' (Comatose)
Genre: Death Metal
The Argentine trio Prion return with Uncertain Process, their third album overall and first since 2008. It's a bludgeoning dose of old school death metal.
Prion roar out of the gates from the album's opening notes and steamroll the listener into submission. The drums are turned up loud in the mix, with blast beats and powerful fills driving the album forward. There's no subtlety here, but plenty of technicality and an adequate amount of musical and vocal variety to avoid monotony.
Rating: 3
(Chad Bowar)
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Sideburn – ‘Evil or Divine’ (Metalville)
Genre: Stoner Rock/Heavy Metal
Stockholm-based stoner rock group Sideburn have an interesting sound buttressed by an even more intriguing frontman. New guitarist/vocalist Dimitri Keiski wields a considerable set of pipes on the quartet’s fifth full-length release Evil of Divine, imposing his will on a track like “The Day the Sun Died,” but then sounding oddly out-of-place with his peculiar blend of Axl Rose and Ronnie James Dio.
For a stoner record with old school doom vibes, the album’s seven songs drag more than they should, and are uniformly lacking memorable choruses, which ultimately comes back to Keiski. The proto rock/heavy metal elements are solid, and Meshuggah’s Tomas Haake’s cousin Fredrik plays drums, but beyond that, this one is as uncertain as its title suggests. A poor man’s Sahg.
Rating: 3
(Evan Mugford)
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Temple Of Dagon - ‘Revelations Of The Spirit’ (Black Voodoo)
Genre: Death Metal/Crust
Los Angeles’ Temple Of Dagon are an intensely heavy amalgamation of death metal and crust, loaded up with lumbering riffs, a huge bass lurking in the background, and d-beats galore. Revelations Of The Spirit is a new, four song EP, represents my first exposure to the band.
Rather than just steamrolling through four short songs, somewhat surprisingly, Revelations Of The Spirit clocks in at nearly the twenty minutes and features a fair amount of variety with tempo changes and even a few moments of melody with the odd solo or two. However, the bulk of the music fits this style with a rollicking gallop backed up by a thick production. The result is good and Temple Of Dagon merit further investigation.
Rating: 3.5
(Dave Schalek)
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Trixter - 'Human Era' (Frontiers)
Genre: Hard Rock
Trixter were part of the final wave of hair metal bands in the early '90s that were soon edged out by grunge. They had a couple of radio hits such as "Give It To Me Good" and "One In A Million." They disbanded for more than a decade before getting back together. Human Era is their second album since the reunion.
The songs are straightforward and packed with hooks and singalong choruses along with excellent guitar work. There are some songs that would have been big hits back in the day, but these days that's not in the cards. Fans of that era of music will certainly appreciate that Trixter are still flying the flag and along with many other bands are showing that a genre of music that was mocked and minimized by some has proven to have lasting appeal.
Rating: 3.5
(Chad Bowar)
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Withering Soul - ‘Adverse Portrait’ (Mortal)
Genre: Black Metal
Beyond the clattering double bass drums and snarling screams on Withering Soul’s third album lies solace constructed from mystical synths and subtle melodies. This is a record gleaming with fury, yet doesn’t resign itself to being a one-dimensional entity. Though much anguish is expressed, that develops into somber longing when the proceedings slow down.
Closer “In Abscence” reflects this attitude the best, though the plucking bass guitar driving the calmer section within “Hex Illusion” is an admirable attempt. At 40 minutes and lacking much filler, Adverse Portrait is a breezy listen for black metal aficionados.
Rating: 3.5
(Dan Marsicano)