Portal - Vexovoid

As the construction work going on next door sounds more and more like they are trying to open a gateway to the deep dark depths of hell, let me take this time to introduce them to something that might help them open up the gates a lot faster and easier.. that being Portal's latest album 'Vexovoid'.

I can't think of many bands who can be so down tuned, yet carve out an absolute whirlwind of dark chaos. This is scathing, just drenched in deep and droning distortion and blistering. How low can you go? Seriously. The key here though is the way the songs weave and suddenly twist. Take the windy melodies and out of no where, churn out ridiculous blast beating. The way the riffs tremolo and drone out or the way the drums just lay out their thunderous thuds just sends a sick feeling to the pit of your stomach.

It is almost like you hear and feel a deep ringing noise beneath you, drilling.. burrowing its way so deep to touch the earths core. But with real strain and still enough strength to claw its way to it. Even the strained calls of The Curator just adds to the deep and dark devastation. Enough force to blanket the city in a thunderous storm so destructive that it will have the people mistakenly think that a black hole has arrived to compress the world into a tiny particle.

So, perhaps instead of spending your weeks, months or whatever trying to unearth the world next door. Put this album on and I am pretty certain you will have the job done in 35 minutes. Hmm, I think these noises at either end have compressed my brain because my head hurts now. Time for a break..

Ikil

Aosoth - IV: An Arrow in Heart

A discussion with a friend a few years ago about black metal bands from France made the point of how the french do take it to the extreme. Over the top if you will. Not in a bad way, but just more the point that what ever mood they want to fill their art with, they will make sure it is not only there, but saturate it! Aosoth's new album 'IV: An Arrow in Heart' is one of those moments. Do they saturate this album in darkness and blistering heaviness or what?

I think back to 2004 when Deathspell Omega's album 'Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice' came out and all the metal zines were raving about it being a black metal classic. At least to these ears, Aosoth has done one better here. It is just as heavy, just as dark, just as organic and fucking evil. The big difference is they change the patterns a bit to set their moments apart. Take the blistering speeds of songs like the title song or 'One With The Prince...' but become overwhelmed by the technical twists or dissonant riffs and slowed down moments. Almost mesmerizing, really capturing you in their darkness. Even at around five minutes on 'One With The Prince...', that moment where the boulder like drums take full control and that riff lifts the floor from under you. Just awesome.

Perhaps angels do exist, but like humanity, there are evil ones too, that lurk in the underground. The raw and deep tones in these crushingly heavy riffs have caused the holy structures to crumble and the path ways to crack open and cave in, which can allow these evil ones to ascend and strangle their way to reclaiming the kingdom in the skies above. Led by the harsh calls of MkM, they will march throughout the Earth and build black Temples to worship their dark one.

After all the chaos that you have heard. Take a moment to reflect with 'Broken Dialogue', with its drones and dark melodic steps. It will not be long though before 'Ritual Marks of Penitence' bellows in for the final piece to slowly grind away at ripping a giant hole into the Earths heart. And thus the end to a very fine black metal album.

When that part of you feels that Deathspell Omega has become a little too 'spaz-tech' or Blut Aus Nord has become a little too 'mechanical', Aosoth is the perfect option to turn to. Black, crushing and still carrying an organic sound. Great work!

Ikil

The Dillinger Escape Plan - One Of Us Is The Killer

There is not much that can be said here, so this might be a pretty short write up. The Dillinger Escape Plan simply is one of the best live bands going right now. By far the most energetic and you don't know what to expect every time you see them live. The new album, 'One Of Us Is The Killer', like all their other albums, has again turned my mindset into mush but still manages to heal it through its amazing ability to craft spastic and punishing music with some of the most amazing pop moments that ignorant pop music fans of today will NEVER hear.

Songs like 'Prancer' and 'When I Lost My Bet' are your typical spastic, stomach twisting, neck breaking, flip out, demented moments that showcases vintage Dillinger, however the disjointed metal denting punches appear to have more raw bite and viciousness since 'Calculating Infinity'. Gotta love the heavy swing in them also. And those clean breaks that are like ants scattering madly all over the place after some little kid kicked their kingdom down and drowned it in red cordial.

But again, the mainstream songs like 'One Of Us Is The Killer', 'Nothings Funny' and 'Paranoid Shields' stand out most for me. Extremely catchy, and that heavy as fuck buzzing riff in the title song. As always, lyrically and the way Greg hits his notes, it is just sheer power. Always a unique feel and passion in his delivery that just elevates him over most. To add further, after all the freak outs from the other songs, these more 'laid back' times are like when the band needs to rest from all the acrobatics. But it works every single time.

Not much more can be said. The format for a Dillinger album has become somewhat predictable, but the key here is that they do this perfect EVERY time. No other band can pull off this technical precision and also be able to pull off songs that in a perfect world, should be giving pop charts a reality check. Killer album, again!

Ikil

Tribulation - The Formulas of Death

One has got to look to the likes of Necrovation and now Tribulation for the way they have evolved from the Swedish Death Metal sound. Sure, it is great that the likes of Entrails, Sorcery and co have returned to keep the legacy alive, but I heard Dismember, Grave, Unleashed and more do it each about 10 times already, so the 'new' feeling is gone. Just hear Tribulation's latest album, 'The Formulas of Death'. So different and refreshing and one of the most unique death metal albums this year.

Think of how Dissection was. Primarily death metal but leaned to the black metal element. Tribulation may not have that cold presence to them, but darkness, the epic touch, the tremolo melodies and leads and that distinct pace is all there. The riffs may not have the cold raw tone, instead a deep and dark shade. They even come up with plenty of cleaner melodies drenched in effect to add a more strange effect.

Many passages take place in structures of these songs. Speeding rhythms to galloping breaks, also slowing it down and even cleaner journeys or just eerie discordance with the lead work. It is very progressive actually. The harsh vocals with the slight echo in Johannes voice is perfect for this also. Shrilled and cold against the dark and murky sound and lyrically so dark and evil. Simply put, Tribulation has stepped away from the brutal, raw and rumbling depths and has taken to the dirty waters smothered by a thick mist.

It is a long listen. 75 minutes at that but worth every minute due to its diversity. This is the type of dark, bleak atmosphere I look for in heavy music. One that is daring, breaking from tradition and with that, Tribulation has found their own place. I remember seeing them in Oslo in 2010 and even then they were flirting a little with new ideas but I didn't think it would be as impressive as this.

This will be one of my albums of the year for sure. If more bands follow this direction led by Tribulation and Necrovation, then I will certainly be all for it!

Ikil

Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult - Necrovision

Last week I made mention how Darkthrone is still ahead of the rest. That doesn't mean I write off all of todays black metal as I am still a fan of a lot of it. Some just miss that 'magic' that makes the forefathers so good. Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult is one of those bands that just has something in their sound that puts them a step above most, as the latest album 'Necrovision' shows.

Firstly, no theatrics with the production. It is dark, raw, filthy. Like this was buried in the blackest soil but with enough force in it to lead a sizzling trail through the bleakest of paths. And the first thing I notice is the drums. That hollow rattle from the tom fills, chilling stuff. The puffs from the cymbals, the blistering beats. Simply chaotic!

Onielar is simply demonic. Her vocals have this distinct tone to them. A touch of menace and a vicious scratch. Moments of blood curdling howls that just adds a real sense of terror and evilness. Just hear those moments in 'The Hue Of Night' for instance.

Where the riffs tend to pace most of the time, they swiftly bring in tremolo and lead moments or just more disjointedness to form with the chaotic wall of raw and distorted noise, even done so subtle like at times. It is powerful enough to rip through a dark fog or thick black smoke. And all the changes happen so fast.

Song wise, nothing will come close to the best. But in terms of sound, even riffs and feel, this is one of those that is as close as it can get. It maintains the old school edge and evilness, but with even more chaos behind it than most. All of this still provides plenty of wow moments to show that this band is still consistently good at crafting old school, dark and evil black metal..

Ikil

Bornholm - Inexorable Defiance

Some bands can take an album or two to 'settle in'. A couple of solid albums and then 'BANG!', pull off something fantastic because you tweaked things a little bit and found your 'direction' so to speak. I really get that impression from Bornholm's latest album 'Inexorable Defiance'. This is a band who has found their niche, and it works.

Still black metal, but without the grimness and coldness. This is more like five commanders of a huge viking ship setting sail into the night on an epic journey through thunderous seas to an island where they will one day rule and the lanterns in their castles will be so bright in the night, that they will be seen from space. That is the potential outcome, but lets take this for what it is now.

In a nutshell, loosely base this on pagan metal bands from say.. Finland (at least the ones that are not so cheesy). The difference here is this is serious. This is more like what Nokturnal Mortum has become through 'The Voice Of Steel' only this isn't full of lengthy songs or progressive passages.What I like is that Bornholm doesn't over do things. They time the placings of their instruments perfectly.

Tremolo riffs are there, but they don't smother. A wall of lifting fiery distortions trail along and then a tremolo will swing in from time to time. Take the lead work for instance, the acoustic passages, even the moments of disjointedness in some of the riffs. They don't shove it all down your throat in one go. They find balance and you don't get tired of any of it.

Take the synth work as well. They never make it so evident, more like a distant wave in sync with the riffs. Only in moments do they bring it to the front and just make it sound more epic. The same can be said for the vocals that basis itself on being harsh but still the moments of a clean take to add a bit of diversity and even for me, still adding a more serious and epic touch. Even the drum beats know when to keep it steady and when to flurry.

Think back to albums that breathed the real pagan spirit and place this one there. A piece of the hearts from Bathory's 'Hammerheart' and 'Twilight Of The Gods' but made to their own perfection. Well done and one of the surprises of the year..

Ikil

Darkthrone - The Underground Resistance

The prime example of longevity in black metal, Darkthrone keeps marching on while the rest finished or just have gone quiet. The key for Darkthrone has got to be the reinvention they take with every few albums. Now Darkthrone takes it a step further in a more traditional sense with 'The Underground Resistance'. Once again, they show how it should be done.

The distinct Darkthrone feel is still there of course. The trashy production, the sick and dirty sound in Nocturno Culto's vocals. Those waves of raw distortion and those punchy drum beats. This time, crust is not the backbone, more like an old demo of 80s speed/thrash and heavy metal takes, but so damn good! And as usual, the riffs are in total command. They always know how to write a good catchy riff, simple or not, they always find a way to etch it in your mind. Even repeat the riffs like they do in 'Come Warfare, The Entire Doom' and 'Leave No Cross Unturned' and it never gets boring because it sounds so good.

But even this time, they feel more epic as the songs mentioned above will show you. But take the main melodic riff of 'Valkyrie' for example. I never thought Darkthrone would write a song that would likely have an entire audience humming along if they played live. Those lifting dual leads of 'The Ones You Leave Behind'. Even those echoing and screaming solos just work so well.

I have to say, I am beginning to like the songs that Fenriz does the vocals on more than the Nocturno ones. He just has this distinct feel to his vocals. It is not anything brilliant, but for this sound, it just works. I mean, his vocals on 'Valkyrie' would be laughable if it was anyone else, but he just has this force and absolutely no shame in how he sounds that it just makes the songs cool. I really like them on there and 'Leave No Cross Unturned'.

When you look at the directions Darkthrone take with their sound, it is interesting the way they are evolving. They took their style back 15 years about seven years ago with a more crust approach. Now they are taking their style back around 25 to 30 years  with speed, thrash and traditional metal and still evolving and sounding fresh. All this while a number of black metal bands still try to emulate their sound and style from 20 years ago and don't match up. Yep, Darkthrone still are the True Kings of Norway..

Ikil