Blood Oath – The Line Between

Blood Oath is a relatively newer Chilean death metal band that just recently released their first EP “The Line Between”. The EP was first put out on tape, but is now being re-released on CD by Unspeakable Axe Records, and therefore has the mark of quality before even hearing it! After a short atmospheric intro, the band immediately begins laying waste to your ears with their brand of classic death metal. The intro to this first full track, “Lobotomy”, sounds like the musical descent into hell, as it clearly takes great influence from Slayer and their tremolo-bar abuse. But this is a death metal record, and it isn’t long before the other classic death metal elements come into play.

Blood Oath’s sound is fairly predictable, but that’s a good thing. They occasionally try to change it up on “Lobotomy” by introducing a couple of off-kilter drumbeats, but truthfully, the band is better at playing straight-ahead death metal. Their vocalist in particular is a major strength of the band. Though he has a deep voice, his screams sound more like a ghoul than the guttural beasts that dominate death metal. The best comparison would be to a slightly more untamed version of David Vincent’s vocals on “Altars of Madness”. This is partly because the vocals almost emerge from the background; they aren’t completely at the forefront of the music even though they’re very clear. The result is that they don’t overpower the rest of the music. 

This description is true of the rest of the band as well. This EP is perfectly mixed to make each element pop up at just the right time, with no one instrument dominating. The bass in particular is always easy to hear, and makes this dark release sound even murkier. Part of what makes “The Line Between” so great is that it exudes evil. Every single track is an exercise in atmosphere, and the band doesn’t ruin it by overdoing elements like blast beats or even double bass. They use plenty of both, but only when necessary. Much to my surprise (and delight), there are tons of thrashier moments on this record, especially from the drumming. As a result, this EP sounds like something from the late 1980s rather than the years that followed. Overall, “The Line Between” hits all the right spots for my admittedly narrow tastes in death metal. It isn’t as good as the classics, but is unique enough to stand on its own, and as a result, is well worth a purchase!

Be sure to check out and like Blood Oath on Facebook!

Highlights

"Lobotomy"

"Rites of Cruelty"

Final Rating

4.25/5 or 85%.

Encyrcle – Burning Child

After a couple of years in hiding, Denmark’s speed/heavy metal juggernaut Encyrcle has returned with a new EP. Anyone salivating at the thought of a new album from this band might be disappointed to hear that it has just 3 full-length tracks, and 1 of them is a cover. Nevertheless, this is a perfect dosage that allows Encyrcle to demonstrate exactly what they’re about to both newcomers and fans who have been around since the debut. Interestingly, the record opens with an uncharacteristically positive melody, showing the band’s eclectic set of influences. Though they are fairly comfortable in the speed/heavy pocket, Encyrcle is much more than just a souped-up Iron Maiden or Judas Priest.

One of the defining characteristics of the band is their wailing singer. In the grand scheme of this style of music, he isn’t particular impressive. Encyrcle’s vocalist doesn’t hit notes that are in the stratosphere, nor does he even hold a pitch for very long. Many of his lines waver somewhat uncontrollably. For many bands this would be a deal breaker, but Encyrcle makes it work by creating an otherworldly feel to some of their music. Sometimes they wander on and on, allowing the guitars to float around with some different melodies or riffs. Where they’re going isn’t clear, but they always arrive somewhere interesting. 

It is this unique mix of sounds that is likely to make or break “Burning Child” for you. If, like me, you prefer things to be a bit more traditional, more predictable, and based around obvious hooks, then Encyrcle is unlikely to capture your attention. But the band deserves credit for taking a heavy metal sound and twisting it on its side just slightly. Surely, “Burning Child” will get better with repeated listening, as the music becomes easier to follow and the subtleties will be clearer. No matter your personal preference or traditional heavy metal, “Burning Child” is well worth a few spins as a breath of fresh air.

Be sure to check out and like Encyrcle on Facebook!

Highlights

"Delight of Evil"

"Burning Child"

Final Rating

3.2/5 or 74%.  

Solanum – Judge-Mental

After releasing a full-length a couple years ago, Winnipeg’s Solanum has returned with an EP follow-up. “Judge-Mental” is a short offering that sums up exactly what Solanum is about in 4 tracks. The band plays a loose brand of crossover thrash, focused on punky rhythms and catchy songs. Though their tracks might run a tad longer than what most other crossover bands are doing, Solanum has no problems sustaining 4-minute songs. Each of the songs moves along at a speedy pace, offering a feast of riffs and hooks.

The clear highlight is the opener, “High Class”. The chorus of this song is an interesting instance where the riff is as catchy as the vocals that accompany it. It is built around a repeating pattern of notes (almost like a slow trill) that is absurdly memorable. It helps that the singer's shouts of “High! Class!” are perfect to yell along to. Both this riff and many of the later ones on this song (and EP) show significant influence from punk, with some wonky note choices. Relative to what many other thrash bands play, Solanum’s riffs are very unique. They’re a little more complex than punk, so they’ll be satisfying to the average crossover fan.

Another element of this release that stands out is the exceptional bass playing. Tracks like “It’s Getting Darker” and “High Class” instantly introduce you to the band’s bassist, who adds a touch of fuzz to his sound to create a distorted low end. This helps add to the punk feel, and the fuzz also contributes to the imperfect production the band has. Anything cleaner would sound too sterile for this type of band, and avoid the sound that Solanum was trying to achieve. 

Relative to the band’s previous work, I foresee “Judge-Mental” as being the release I’ll be returning to the most. Whether you’re new to the band or have heard their previous album (and split in my case), “Judge-Mental” stands tall as being the best point of entry, and a promising indication of the band’s future direction.

Be sure to check out and like Solanum on Facebook!

Highlights

"High Class"

"It's Getting Darker"

Final Rating

4.2/5 or 84%. 

Written by Scott