Deathhammer – Evil Power

“Evil Power” marks record number three for blackened thrashers Deathhammer. These guys come from Norway, where there is a somewhat quiet, but very solid thrash scene brewing. This album packs a quick punch with just 8 tracks spanning about 35 minutes, but rest assured, it does not let up at any point. Fans of very early Destruction, Kreator, and Sodom will love what Deathhammer offers up. The vocal performance on this record would be most akin to the Schmier, as there are plenty of ear-piercing screams. Alongside these screeching moments are a more visceral vocal approach, not unlike a band like Witchtrap. In fact, perhaps the best way to describe Deathhammer would be a faster and more aggressive version of Witchtrap.

Most of the riffs on this record take classic NWOBHM sounds, dial up the speed about 60-100 BPM, and make them slightly more evil. The result is an album that takes no prisoners with its savage compositions. There are however, some riffs that are somewhat similar to the galloping charges led by Destruction on their early records (see "Sinner's Possession" as one great example). Although the band is successful in creating a few memorable tunes, that is not what “Evil Power” is about. Fortunately, the band makes up for this by delivering an uncompromising record. In addition to the endless number of great riffs, Deathhammer has some truly wicked lead guitar playing. Straddling the line between something more melodic and Slayer-styled solos, the shredding on this record could not be more fitting.

Highlights on this record include “Total Metal” and “Satan Is Back” (although as a friend pointed out to me, this track raises the question, where did Satan go?). There isn’t really any reason why these tracks stand above the rest of the crowd, as any of these songs could click with you immediately; these are just the two that work best for me. For all intents and purposes, the songs on this album are very similar. Even the closer, which is the longest song by about a minute, is no real different from the songs that only span 3 minutes. This makes “Evil Power” is an incredibly consistent release, and one that will be fun to listen to from start to finish every time!

Be sure to check out and like Deathhammer on Facebook!

Highlights

"Total Metal"

"Satan Is Back"

Final Rating

3.75/5 or 75%. 

Written by Scott 

BAT – Cruel Discipline

BAT is a relatively new speed metal supergroup that hails from the US. The big name on this project is Ryan Waste, of Municipal Waste fame, but the band’s other members have no shortage of experience in other great bands as well. “Cruel Discipline” is the follow-up EP to the band’s first demo “Primitive Age” that was released a couple of years ago, and this EP is the very definition of short but sweet. The two songs here don’t even break 5 minutes combined, but they get their point across very quickly. Both songs follow the Midnight black ‘n roll/speed metal formula that is built on dirty old-school sounding riffs. The vocals are gruff and aggressive, but entirely understandable. There is a somewhat hilarious vocal break in “Cruel Discipline” that is enjoyable just because of the sheer absurdity of it. After all, no matter how great Ryan Waste’s vocals are for this sound, he’s not exactly the guy who should be doing a vocal solo. Aside from the vocals, there is plenty of punk influence, of course, and this gives the band a lot of attitude. The production is outstanding; it really is perfect for this style of music, especially because the bass cuts through the mix well. The sound is not particularly clean, but easy to understand.

Of the two tracks, the title track is the stronger cut, largely because of its incredible guitar solo. One thing I always dig about these 80s speed metal worship bands is that they have phenomenal guitar players who understand how to construct a great solo, and “Cruel Discipline” proves this easily. The solo on “Rule of the Beast” is a bit more frantic, but is good nonetheless. This second song is a bit faster than the first, but very much in the same vein of worshipping Venom.

Ultimately, “Cruel Discipline” is an impressive release. Its only flaw is that it is too short. Perhaps these guys are too busy with their other projects, or they’re sitting on a goldmine of an album waiting to be unleashed, but two songs is too few in this case. For the right price, this is a definite must-buy, but more importantly, it also clearly marks a band that you should keep on your radar for the inevitable full-length.

Be sure to check out and like BAT on Facebook!

Highlights

"Cruel Discipline"

"Rule of the Beast"

Final Rating

4.5/5 or 90%. 

Written by Scott 

Nekrofilth - Devil's Breath

The heavy metal genre runs an intricate gamut of sounds, ranging from melodic music featuring clean and understandable vocals, to ungodly and just downright vile creations. Make no mistake, Nekrofilth (as if you couldn't already tell based solely on the name and album art) belongs to the latter, and more wretched group. Given who the frontman (Zack Rose of Nunslaughter) of the Cleveland trio is, fans of the devil metal masters should know exactly what they're getting themselves into with the "Devil's Breath." Trying to specify the genre of the repulsive contents of this album will do no one any good, because the 13 tracks are an unholy merging of extreme metal that simply needs to be enjoyed, rather than dissected and over-analyzed. 

Nekrofilth are undoubtedly going to be compared to Nunslaughter, which isn't an entirely unfair comparison, just shortsighted. This group of vandals does have an identity of their own - the lyrical content isn't deadset on annihilating Christians or raping nuns, instead the songs are centered on subjects like fucking junkies and wanting to see others mercilessly terminated. Rose's savage vocals are what really bring the horrid lyrics to life, though, as he spews the words with such anger and disgust, the listener can't help but feel dirty at the end of each track ("Smear the Sleaze" in particular), truly doing the band's name justice. The production on the "Devil's Breath" is also stellar, not taking away any of the foulness to the riffs and overall aura of the music. 

Having gruesome lyrics and inhumane vocals isn't enough to create the gutwrenching sound that is prevalent throughout the record. Luckily, the rhythm section brings their A-game to breathe some undead life into the tracks. The riffs are bludgeoning when they're going at full speed, and are even more crushing when the tempo slows. Songs like "Crave the Grave" and the title track are unrelenting, in part to the grind-tinged and thrashy riffage, but also because of the battering of the drum kit and the insanely heavy bass playing. Listening to Nekrofilth's latest collection of putrid material is more than likely what if feels like to be slaughtered by the devil himself, and is not for those who choose to pose. If you aren't feeling somewhat violated after listening to this opus of filth, than you weren't meant to survive the devil's breath...

Be sure to check out and like Nekrofilth on Facebook!

Highlights

"Crave the Grave"

"I'm A Degenerate"
"Devil's Breath"
"Smear the Sleaze"

Final Rating

4.4/5 or 88%.

Denouncement Pyre - Almighty Arcanum

Only a little more than a month into 2013 and Australia has already unleashed an album that will more than likely find its way to the top of many year-end lists, and that record is Denouncement Pyre's sophomore "Almighty Arcanum." Of course, an album as awesome as this needs an equally awesome label like Hell's Headbangers to spread this unholy beast across the metal underground, and like nearly all of the label's releases, this one is worth your money. The Australian metal scene is no stranger to bestial black/death metal bands, so it should come as no surprise that this trio of darkness (which features members of the insanely good Nocturnal Graves) has gotten the formula for mesmerizing, yet punishing death metal down to a science, creating eight tracks of blasphemous perfection that should please fans of bands like Destroyer 666, Weapon, Beherit, Bathory and the like. 

The riffs come in dozens throughout "Almighty Arcanum," and the guitarist D. doesn't write too many lackluster ones, as a majority of the riffage on this album ranges from decent to excellent. The amount of fast and pummeling riffs is almost equal to the amount of crushing mid-paced passages and melodic sections, making for a well-balanced assault. There is absolutely no lack of quality to be found on this release, and the superior songwriting throughout guarantees it. "An Extension to the Void" is the opening track and it immediately showcases what this band does so damn well, and that's create memorable music. The song clocks in at a little over seven minutes, but it should have no problem in holding the listener's attention, as the riffs flow together with the thundering drums and haunting vocals in such a smooth manner, that the listener has no reason to tune out, but sit back and continue to be the recipient of a sonic beat-down courtesy of one of Austalia's finest in Denouncement Pyre. 

Aside from the impeccable songwriting skills and numerous riffs, these Aussies are able to create memorable death metal by conjuring up an evil and dark atmosphere that spans the whole album from beginning to end, making every slower passage that much more chilling, and the faster and heavier stuff stand out from atypical thrash riffage masked by intense drumming and extreme vocals. The title track and "He Who Conquers All" are the best examples of this, with both songs featuring a solid mix of rapid-fire tempos and mid-paced headbangers, but there is always that lingering dark aura that identifies the music as Denouncement Pyre and no one else. "Almighty Arcanum" is a monolithic record in terms of just how heavy and massive the sound is, proving this isn't your typical basement metal act looking to make extreme music for the sake of being extreme. This is not for the faint of heart or those looking for innovation, simply for those who enjoy music soaked in blasphemy and evil. 

Be sure to check out and like Denouncement Pyre on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Denouncement-Pyre/18810643921

Highlights
"Almighty Arcanum"
"He Who Conquers All"
"The Deceiver"

Final Rating
4.4/5 or 88%.

Evil Army - I, Commander [EP]

Evil Army is a name I've heard thrown around a bit in thrash circles, but I never actually listened to them. Then, their name came up in a promo from Hell's Headbangers, a label that doesn't really release any subpar material, making this EP automatically worth my attention. "I, Commander" isn't groundbreaking and it isn't anything remarkable, but there is some potential found on it that leads me to believe that they can get a lot better, because it's hard to judge them on three tracks that clock in at a little more than eight minutes (especially since I haven't heard their previous full-length). 

The three songs are all relatively similar in structure - they're short in length and feature midpaced to fast thrashy riffage, akin to bands like Nuclear Assault, Overkill and the German giants Kreator. Rob Evil's vocals sound like a young Angelripper, which is perfectly suited for the war-themed thrashers. The title track isn't anything special, but the other two songs "Ashes of the Nuclear Fire" and "I Must Destroy You," both have some awesome moments (the kickass break in the former track, and the riffage in the latter) that show why they attracted the attention of a lot of metalheads in the underground, as well as Hell's Headbanger's. Overall, "I, Commander" makes for a fun listen and it shows that Evil Army can produce some quality thrash in an oversaturated scene. This EP basically sounds like a lost thrash band of old from the eighties, which old-schoolers and new fans can equally enjoy, making the band's conquest closer to complete. 

Be sure to check out and like Evil Army on Facebook!

http://facebook.com/evilarmyofficial

Highlights

"Ashes of the Nuclear Fire"

"I Must Destroy You"

Final Rating

3.75/5 or 75%. 

Vomitor - The Escalation

Here is a band that really doesn't need any kind of introduction as they've been one of the best underground groups to hail from down under with their brand of primitive death/thrashing madness, so I'm gonna keep this review short and sweet. If you take some of the earliest extreme metal acts like Bathory, Venom, Hellhammer, Tormentor and the like, throw 'em in a blender with some of Australia's most potent alcohol, some devil's poison and some more alcohol, you get Vomitor. Sign them up with one of the best metal labels in the world in Hell's Headbangers, and you've got a recipe for some crude, violent and blasphemous music of the highest degree. "The Escalation" is the band's third full-length and if you enjoyed their past two records, then there is no reason to not enjoy this one, so just quit reading this and preorder the fucking thing. 

This album starts off much like the band's debut "Bleeding the Priest" does - muddled feedback noise that eventually morphs into spastic, thrashy riffage and shouting barks from hell, courtesy of frontman Death Dealer. That could be the description for just about every song on "The Escalation," but there's also plenty of ugly tremolo sections, blasting drumming, guitar solos straight from "Pleasure to Kill," crushing midpaced moments, and riffs that are older than the old-school, hailing back to the days when Venom was considered to be the devil and Lemmy was banging groupies every day (though that probably still happens). "Salem Witches Grave" is one hell of a headbanger with stellar riffage, while "Hellburst to Fight" sounds exactly what a song with that title would sound like; absolute fucking mayhem. Vomitor have continued to march forward with a sound that can only be described as bestial and ugly, but they have continued to manage sounding as old-school as possible without getting repetitive and boring, which deserves a metal salute of the most epic proportions. This is hellish noise that is guaranteed to scare off non-metalheads, as well as alienate plenty of metal-listeners who think of this as nothing more than a Sarcofago ripoff or nothing but utter disgusting noise. But for those who enjoy Vomitor's ancient metal stylings, "The Escalation" is simply awesome metal made for denying entry to the falses. 

Be sure to check out and like Vomitor on Facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vomitor/170920829616359

Highlights

"Salem Witches Grave"

"Hellburst to Fight"

"Metal or Die"

Final Rating

4.4/5 or 88%. 

 

Mongrel's Cross Interview

Its been a while since I've done any interviews, but that will change and the first interview of several more to come is with the incredibly awesome Mongrel's Cross. They already released one of the best records of 2012 with their debut album "The Sins of Aquarius" (click the link for my review) and their conquest of the metal underground seems imminent. Read on as the Grand Mongrel talks about the Australian metal scene, future plans for touring and recording, and more!

SFM - Greetings, Mongrel's Cross! Hope all is well down under. Now can you give a little background info on the band for the readers who may not have heard of you guys? How long have you been around? How would you describe the band's sound?

MC - All is well here mate. Out of the city and living in the mountains now. The three Mongrel's that make up the core of the band are myself Grand Mongrel, Goet Euryn and Necros Craigos. We got together in 2009 and began thrashing some tracks for our demo. Our sound comes from all of our mutual influences. The ways of the old black, death, thrash and heavy metal is our inspiration. 

SFM - You recently released your debut full-length "The Sins of Aquarius" through Hell's Headbangers Records. The album is a favoirte of mine this year, but how has the general response to the record been?

MC - It has been really good. We have received inquiries from all over the globe and reviews have been really positive as well. 

SFM - Speaking of Hell's Headbangers, how has it been working with them? How did the partnership between the band and label begin?

MC - We sent Chase some of the tracks from our second release "Whoresanna" and he was stoked on them so he offered us a deal right away. Hell's Headbangers are great to work with. 

SFM - Hailing from a country that is so loaded as far as newer metal bands goes, is it difficult to stand out? Are you a fan of any of the newer bands today? Is there a sense of community or a brotherhood even, between the Australian bands?

MC - Its not difficult to stand out as the bands who are truly sick aren't in huge numbers. There are plenty of legends making evil metal in Australia at present and we are big supporters of them. Most Australian metal heads in the underground scene are acquainted and when shows like the recent Evil Invaders festival are held we all get together, drink piss and worship the sound of Satan. 

SFM - There's a common link between some of the bands in the Australian scene because a lot of them share band members. Are any of the Mongre's Cross guys involved in other projects?

MC - There is and all of us are involved in other bands. I have just began playing with the recently reformed Carbon. Necros Craigos drums for Impetuous Ritual and Goet Euryn has his own project named Gol. 

SFM - Mongrel's Cross played the "Evil Invaders IV" festival earlier this year, and the line-up looked absolutely incredible. How was the experience as a band playing and even as a fan of the other bands playing?

MC - It was a killer weekend! So many kick arse bands. It was a great experience and its always rewarding to play amongst your peers. 

SFM - Are there any plans on playing more live shows this year? Are there any plans to venture outside of Australia for shows anytime?

MC - We are currently in the process of jamming new material. There are eight new tracks and they sound fucking mental so we are keen to get them tight and begin recording again early next year. we are definitely interested in taking Mongrel's overseas and have discusses it within the band. It could be on next year's agenda. 

SFM - Have you had the opportunity to meet or play with any of the extreme metal icons of Australia's past such as KK Warslut (Destroyer 666, Bestial Warlust), Matthew Skarajew (Inverloch, diSEMBOWELMENT) or the fellas in Sadistik Exekution? Were these groups influential in your band's sound?

MC - Not as of yet. Destroyer are part of our heritage so yes they have been an influence on us. Sadistik Exekution could never be anything but a bad influence. 

SFM - That about concludes the interview, thank you very much for your time. Any words for your fans?

MC - "The Sins of Aquarius" is available on CD and LP from the band. Contact mongrels_cross@hotmail.com. Keep it evil and bang on. 

**Be sure to check these guys out! They will not disappoint you!

Get the record here - hellsheadbangers.com
Like the band on Facebook here - http://www.facebook.com/MongrelsCross