Feb 022015
 

 

(KevinP inaugurates a new feature in which he runs down his list of the best releases from the preceding month.)

Welcome to my feature on the best releases of each month.  I’m calling this “Albums of the Month”, but demo’s, EP’s, splits, etc., are also viable candidates, as long as the material is good enough.  Ideally this will be posted during the last week of the month we are discussing, but this time life got in the way for yours truly and our beloved CEO.

Anyways, please feel free to share you comments, thoughts and favorite releases in the comments section below.

5.  Mindful of Pripyat…and Deeper, I Drown in Doom (EP)

For being around such a short period of time (formed in 2014), it’s quite stunning how professional and tight the sound is from this Italian trio.  Think Terrorizer and early Carcass with absolute razor precision backed by a solid production. 

All three members share vocal duties. Unseen Terror and Defecation covers included.  One of the fresher pieces of grind I’ve heard in awhile.

http://mindfulofpripyat.bandcamp.com/releases

 

 

 

 

 

4.  Chalice of BloodHelig, Helig, Helig (EP)

Old school Swedish black metal, far from being original, but damn if it isn’t catchy and enjoyable.  Lots of people claim a huge Watain influence, a band which doesn’t do much for me, so go figure.  Kinda has more of an older Marduk sound going on to these ears.  Accomplishes what it sets out to do and doesn’t overstay its welcome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm5NjnZZ_ec

 

 

 

 

 

3.  AgosIrkalla Transcendence (EP)

This one came out of nowhere a few weeks ago and I knew immediately upon first listen it would make the list.  Hypothetically, if this three-song EP were a full-length of the same quality it would possibly have taken the #1 spot.  Van Gimot (Virus of Koch) handles all the music and vocals.  Astrous (Aenaon) creates the lyrics and conceptual/visual look of the band.

This is mid-paced death metal with a blackened feel, but it’s so much more than that. Guitars have a huge sound to them, just enough grandiose mixed with the perfect amount of filth.  Vocally cavernous with reverberating hellfire (aka, a cool echo effect).  It’s hard to get super-jazzed about new bands these days, but once in awhile something comes along that just screams out for attention.  Hopefully this is just a small sample of what the future holds for this band.

 

 

 

 

 

2.  MardukFrontshwein

I’m not sure why I doubt these Swedes every time I hear about a new album coming out.  I’ve liked everything they done, but for some reason I always think “how are they going to keep it fresh and interesting”?  They generally have less room to play with within their framework than most bands, but it’s remarkable how they keep impressing me album after album over 20 years.  I mean, this is a Marduk album through and through, no real surprises.  Yet they still find continuous gold by mining that same vein.  Now how are they going to do it again in a few years?!?!?!  LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIAhTcFeyso

 

 

 

 

 

1.  Desolate ShrineHeart of the Netherworld

Let’s run through the checklist here:  Death Metal.  Finnish.  Dark Descent Records.

In case that’s not enough for ya, you can read my review here. A must listen.

http://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-heart-of-the-netherworld

  13 Responses to “KEVINP’S ALBUMS OF THE MONTH (JANUARY 2015)”

  1. Leave it to Marduk to kill it every time. You would think they would’ve lost a bit of their spunk by now, but they continue to squash any doubts that pop up in my mind.

    • I’m going to continue to doubt them every few years, this way I know the album will be great. Otherwise I may jinx them at this point 😛

  2. “…and Deeper, I Drown in Doom” is so good, i love Mindful of Pripyat 🙂

  3. Another Dark Descent release caught my ear this month- Ghoulgotha’s “The Deathmass Cloak”. They’re not Finnish but they are worth checking out.

    Also, I know it officially came out last year but the new Voices album wasn’t released in NA until January, so I’d like to count it.

    • Didn’t care for that one myself., too simple and boring. I’ll admit, the band name is so stupid, it makes me roll my eyes 🙂

      • That’s pretty much how I felt about the Desolate Shrine album. Yeah, the band name is goofy, but I dig the melody they incorporate into what can be a pretty murky genre.

  4. Forgot to mention:

    1 – if you know anyone who wants to create a logo/cartoon of my head for this monthly column, send them my way. I can’t offer any $$, just fame/glory/promotion

    2 – I’m going to start listing all the stuff I listened to each month, this way it gives a reference point as to what I heard/considered. Readers can then recommend anything I may have missed. And on that note, here is everything else I heard for January:

    Satan’s Host, Gnosis, Infra, Vivus Humane, Atomicide, Vardan, Chapel of Disease, Garroting Deep/For, Naplam Death, Hic Lacet, Deprive, Voices, Shredhead, Winds of Genocide, Archgoat, Volahn, Exgenosis, James Norbert

    • Archgoat has remained as best of the year so far for me.
      I know its too early for any thing like that, but its the first to really catch me.

      • They are one of those bands I don’t get at all. I couldn’t take them seriously in 1992 and still can’t today. At least they are consistent. LOL

    • Chapel of Disease FTW! Also, I remember catching Desolate Shrine’s “Death In You” on the Dark Descent sampler. That and the Crypt Sermon song were the ones that stuck out to me the most. Great list here!

  5. Desolate Shrine in hugely underrated, nice find.

  6. I’ve listened to the whole Agos EP and it is phenomenal. I, for one, am super-jazzed.

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