Category: Reviews

Music and album reviews

The Devil’s Due- December 8th Vale Of Pnath- “II” review- 10/10 \m/

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Vale Of Pnath

II

Released June 10, 2016

valeop

Vance Valenzuela – Guitar
Eloy Montes – Guitar
Reece Deeter – Vocals
Eric W. Brown – Drums
Alan Parades – Bass

 

Today the devil has brought us the second album by CO melodic tech death Jedi’s Vale Of Pnath.  If for some reason you missed this album when it came out, or you still haven’t listened to it, then you fucked up.  This album rips, it has a melodic yet technical death metal feel to it, and the use of classical piano as well as organ in the tracks Klendathu and Heart Of Darkness they set the bar high.  There are albums that are great, and then you have albums like this one, from start to finish it fucking kills it. Start with the first track of the album “Blacker Than” which is the most subtle way of the band showing the listener the bar that they are raising right before you. It starts out so mellow and smooth (in comparison to what you will experience later) with the acoustic guitars playing for just shy of half a minute before the guitars go to distortion and the drums come in. But it’s the vocals at the :48 second mark that leave the lasting impression.   I can honestly say that after listening to this album since the summer I am a fan and will be for the foreseeable future.   Now the tricky part is trying to tell you guys why you should check this out, and what songs to listen to. But the fact of the matter is that every track on this fucking holds their own.  It really depends on what your personal tastes are, but just know that Vale deliver the tech in a way that many haven’t done before.  They are incorporating all these different elements together but they pull it off. The talent and the shear amount of craftsmanship that went into making this album is astonishing.  Drums are surgically precise and have a hard attack.  The drums sound great too, but that’s not all, I mean each instrument can be heard and fuck these guys are talented.  But let’s shed some light on points of interest, now for starters I am going to explain probably my favorite part of this album. On the Track “A Nightmare Phantasm” you listen to that track and get to the 1:31 mark and you are going to hear one of the coolest, most bone chilling guitar solos of 2016. It’s short and to the point but man that guitar wails.  This song is my most played track off of the album to begin with, however you still have tracks like “ The Serpents Lair” that track absolutely decimates the feeble listeners who doubt what Vale Of Pnath have in their arsenal.  I would love to tell you the one to three tracks you really should check out but the fact of the matter is, that this album is 100% bad-ass. The talent these musicians have is impressive, and the sound quality and production are in top form. These guys did their homework, they took everything they could from their first album, and improved, they did not disappoint with this album.  It doesn’t happen often but this album is a solid 10/10 \m/ and should be in everyone’s collection who are fans of melodic metal, death metal, tech death and all the sub genres that are spawned from the previous mentioned genres. Vale Of Pnath will be a big name, the proof is in the pudding, and they only have time on their side to keep raising the bar in the same way they have been.

Want to hear what all the hub-bub is about click play below

 

 

Yea now you know why this is a must have, (so if you have a metal head on your Christmas list and don’t know what to get them look no further) and why it got a 10/10 \m/ rating.  The album, plain and simple kicks ass, a whole lot of ass, and it just keeps kicking.  I’m still spinning this album, and I haven’t gotten to a point where I wasn’t amped up when listening to it. And that guitar solo in A Nightmare Phantasm gets me every time.

 

 

Check out their BANDCAMP page and order up your copy of II

 

Also head on over to their FACEBOOK page and give them a like to stay up to date on Vale of Pnath news.

Or Follow them on Twitter if that’s your social media vice of choice.

 

 

-Badger \m/

 

Visit our FACEBOOK page \m/_(><)_\m/

http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

 

The Devil’s Due- Dec 7th- Throne Of Botis ” Hymns Of Homicide” Review 7/10 \m/

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Throne Of Botis

Hymns Of Homicide

 released August 30, 2016

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Tim Crabb – Vox
Michael Tepper – Guitar / Additional Vox
Kevin Ansell – Drums
Alex Trotter – Guitar
Adam Dietzel – Bass

 

 

Today the Devil has brought us some Virgina Beach brutal death, by the name of Throne Of Botis. Throne of Botis  is some grimey brutal Virgina Beach Death Metal with a little bit of slam.  The debut E.P. from the Virginia Beach Brutal Death Metallers, contains 5 tracks of unmerciful death metal that  crushes all your expectations. From the first track you can tell that they are walking the line of death metal and slamming brutal death. “Malfeasance Of Mankind” will get you hooked early on in the song and I must say the production is solid. Sometimes you see “ Debut E.P.” from a band you haven’t heard of before and it turns out to be a demo recording in someone’s basement or a live setting and I am happy to say that this is not one of those situations.  With songs like “ This Sordid Abattoir” I’d be willing to bet they were influenced by bands such as Death, Suffocation,and Vader.  I have been spinning this E.P. for a few weeks now and I have to say, the more I listen to it, the more I enjoy it.  From the heavily armed drums, to the chugging guitar riffs, then you have those grizzly vocals.  What Throne Of Botis has done with “Hymns” is launch an assault on the listener with a barrage of blasts, and  guttural vocals with some catchy riffs.  This E.P. released in September of 2016 on Lost Apparitions Records has a few guest appearances on it, and absolutely crushes. Tracks that we really enjoy are Dismantled and Dissolved which is just brutal, honestly this is our most played track. It’s a filthy fucking track that has everything that appeals to a death metal fan like myself. The vocals are straight up post apocalyptic grizzly sounding, and the drums are tight.  From the rapid blasting to the clear ping of the cymbals when hit the sound is awesome. There is nothing we don’t like about this E.P. its heavy as fuck and when listening will trigger your mean face.  Solid E.P. and I cant wait to hear more from these VA death metallers. 7/10 \m/

Have a Listen for yourself and see what Virginia Beach brutal death sounds like

 

 

 

Like what you are hearing then go to their BANDCAMP page and grab your copy of their Debut E.P.

 

And don’t forget to give them a LIKE on FACEBOOK to stay updated on Throne Of Botis news and their music.

 

Released through Lost Apparitions Records
 Artwork by Uglies Art
 Recorded by Steven Miller Recording

 

 

-Badger \m/

 

Visit our FACEBOOK page \m/_(><)_\m/

http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

 

 

The Devil’s Due- Dec 6th- Veilburner “The Obscene Rite” album review 8/10 \m/

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Today the devil hath brought us a dark, and brooding album to listen to titled “The Obscene Rite” the third release from Pennsylvania  experimental black/death metal band Veilburner.

 

 

Veilburner

The Obscene Rite

released September 30, 2016

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Mephisto Deleterio – All musical compositions/performance, engineering/mixing, and backing vocals

Chrisom infernium – Main vocals, lyrics/themes, and album artwork

 

 

 

Now this is an album that came out back in September and while trying to review this album in my own regular format (track by track) due to the nature of the album.  This is not an album you can really breakdown the way I do on most reviews. But after giving this album many spins it was apparent that to get the true and full effect you actually need to listen to this album from start to finish without stopping or skipping.  To listen to each track and focus on one is taking away from the album as a whole. The songs blend right into each other and it really needs that continues play through to get the big picture.  This is the third release by these guys and holy hell is it dark and intriguing. The first track (Postmortem Excordium)  is the one that is going to set the pace of this album  because when listening to it you really get the full spectrum of what they are going to be hammering you with for 9 tracks.  The vocals are the closest thing to a pure evil entity summoning a dark and malevolent being. Yea it’d kind of like that, its dark and ghastly to listen to.  The lyrical content follows very dark and thought provoking theoretical situations about the human race and evolving past physical and mental limitations.  I mean lets just take a moment to understand their lyrics for a moment.  They are writing songs with lyrics that are based on humans evolving beyond our limitations, if that’s not enough to get you interested I don’t know what is. I mean any band could make lyric content about the typical themes, gore,  and the like. But Veilburner focus on a different (if not darker) point of view and the music relays that. Vaterchen is a great example of this, because the darker the content the music is going to reciprocate the feeling.  This is where they excel, really pulling out the big guns to make this some of the darkest music you have heard in a long time.  fans of Deathspell Omega, Akercocke, and I’d say Dodheimsgard will really appreciate this album.  If you like your metal dark, sinister, straight up mind bending evil sounding,  Veilburner have just what you need with their latest album. 8/10 \m/ But don’t take our word for it, have a listen for yourself by listening below.

 

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Bonus:  since the album really should be played start to finish, and their previous releases are just as compelling as this one and it is cool to listen to Noumenon, and then The Obscene Rite from start to finish and back to back. But I must warn you, it’s probably going to fuck with you on various levels so make sure you are in the right frame of mind before you do.  Other than that get ready to have your mind warped from the brilliant and  mysterious Veilburner. Also it is worth mentioning that when The Obscene rite came out they were unsigned. And shortly after the release they signed to Transcending Obscurity Records.

 

 

 

 

If you like what you hear then head on over to their BANDCAMP page and grab your copy of The Obscene Rite

 

Also if they offer up a sound you can really dig, then give them a like on FACEBOOK and stay current with Veilburner news.

 

 

-Badger \m/

 

Visit our FACEBOOK page \m/_(><)_\m/

http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

 

 

 

The Devil’s Due- Dec 3rd- Minachrist- “In Absence” album review- 7/10\m/

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Minachrist

In Absence

released May 27, 2016

Connor McNamee- Lead/rhythm guitar, clean vocals, songwriting, lyrics
Nick Shaw (Black Crown Initiate) – Bass guitar, engineering
Jerry Martin (Alustrium) – Harsh vocals

 minachrist

Back in May, Minachrist dropped this album and it slipped right under so many radars, that we found it to be very justifiable in adding it to this months Devil’s due segment. Think of 12 days of Christmas, only its 31 days of metal you should be checking out.

Well if you are looking for some progressive blackened death metal that absolutely crushes.  I have always been a fan of blackened death when its done right. Well Minachrist have formulated a way to make the black and the death blend so well that when the progressive metal element is introduced as a listener you have embraced every note that has flowed out of your speakers.  Yea this album kicks a lot of ass, a whole lot. “Our Rose Garden” is one of our top played tracks, it is a downright killer track that has so many infectious elements that pull at you. With every change and transition you are wanting more. but then there are the softer tracks that are just as compelling as the fast and heavy bringing out that progressive feel.  They do rock clean vocals on this album, whether you like them or hate them. our opinion is that if you are going to do them, make sure they really fit the music. Well Minachrist walks that balanced delivery and you will be reminded of bands like Opeth that switch from really clean guitars and vocals to heavy as fuck guitars and vocals. The production of this album is on point and  after listening to this a good handful of times  its very deserving of the 7/10 \m/ rating we give it.  Have a listen for yourself and tell us what you think.

 

 

Also featuring:
Andy Thomas (Black Crown Initiate) – guest guitar solo on “Our Rose Garden”
Ethan McKenna- guest guitar solo on “The Ecstasy of Dreams”
Ceia Schweitzer- lyrics for “Our Rose Garden” inspired by poem of the same name

 

If you like what you heard then head on over to their BANDCAMP page by clicking Here

And dont forget to head on over to their FACEBOOK page and give them a like to get all the latest.

 

-Badger \m/

Visit our FACEBOOK page \m/_(><)_\m/
http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

The Devil’s Due- Dec 2nd- Deviant Process- Paroxysm- Album Review 9/10 \m/

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Deviant Process

Paroxysm

Released 03/11/2016

Jean-Daniel Villeneuve (guitar and lead vocal)
Stéphane Simard (guitar and back vocals)
Pierre-Luc Beaulieu (Bass)
Antoine Baril (Drums)

 deviant

If you haven’t had a chance to check out Deviant Process’s album that came out back in March titled Paroxysm than you didn’t really didn’t get out from under that rock you have been under in months. This album is sick, I mean you have Augury’s Antoine Baril on this album and boy does that have an impact. This is a tech death / Progressive death metal. The opening track title “Unconscious” is fucking undeniably badass.  When the song starts you have a cool intro for a solid minute and then when the vocals kick in you know you just opened up a kickass can of metal you are going to wish you had opened sooner.

This is album will appeal to many tech death fans and progressive metal fans.  They really raise the bar with this release and its albums like this one, that when you hear it. You know, you want more of what these guys are delivering.  Tracks that really stand out are Unconscious, Persecution, and Dysfunctional Therapy.  All the songs kick ass and this is a must have for many of you reading this article. .  It’s just too damn good, to not listen to this in its entirety.  One complete spin of this and you will understand why we are giving this a 9/10 \m/ rating

 

 

Since the album dropped they have made lineup changes so we wanted to also detail the current lineup.

Current Lineup:

Jean-Daniel Villeneuve (guitar and lead vocal)
Stéphane Simard (guitar and back vocals)
Philippe Cimon (Bass)
François C. Fortin (Drums)

 

If you like what you hear, go on and head to their FACEBOOK page and give them a like.

 

Click here to check out their BANDCAMP page to order up this gem!

 

-Badger \m/

 

Visit our FACEBOOK page \m/_(><)_\m/

www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/Bmetalbreakdown/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Dischordia- Thanatopsis album review 8/10 \m/

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Dischordia

Thanatopsis

dischordia

Out 11/25/2016

Josh Turner – Vocals/Bass
Keeno – Guitars/Vocals
Josh Fallin – Drums

 

Dischordia have put together this album following last years  Sources E.P. and I gotta say.  They have a lot to offer, and they do so by utilizing so many of their influences and molding them into their own sound.   From a quick listen you will hear influences from bands like Opeth, The Red Chord, as well as the Dillinger Escape plan, and Meshuggah.  They have such a cool sound. I mean they are a legitimate progressive death metal band with multiple personalities, but all seem to jive.  If I told you that a metal band would play a song and break out a xylophone with some circus like music for a few bars before going into one of the coolest endings to an album. Most of you would probably think I need to be medicated. But Dischordia do just that, in fact there haven’t been many songs  that got more play than the albums final track titled The Traveler.  The album is one of those few albums that I simply cannot do my normal track by track review format on. This album is one that you do not break the album down track by track.  You buy this album, and push play.  When the tracks begin to fade into the next track and you aren’t paying attention to that, but focusing more on the cool shit happening in your headphones or speakers.  Then you know the album has a shit ton going on, and it’s all that stuff you want to be paying attention to.

The tracklist consists of nine hearty and heavy songs that will take you places, and I can honestly say you will listen to some tracks and it will have a different tone than the other tracks. But its all part of their style, and that I can appreciate.  As far as songs go they are all solid songs, and bring out different elements in each song to build this heavy hitting and mind bending album. its the very reason why I felt  it was an injustice to review track by track as usual. But not all albums are created equal are they? And Dischordia march to the beat of their own drum as well.

Thanatopsis  Tracklist:

  1. Thanatopsis I: The River
  2. Thanatopsis II: The Road
  3. Thanatopsis III: The Ruin feat. James Dorton
  4. The Curator
  5. 22°
  6. An Unlikely story
  7. Bone Hive
  8. Madness
  9. The Traveler

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When I was listening to this album I did get a lot of enjoyment from; The River, The Road, and The Ruin, but also Bone Hive and the Traveler. I really gravitated towards those tracks, I suppose its just personal preference, but I really dig those tracks. The first thirty seconds of Bone Hive should be enough to get you interested. Listen to the bass, and by the time the vocals come in, the song has kept the tempo, but evolved subtly and has a Meshuggah-esque feel about it. But then you have tracks like The Ruin that blow the doors off their hinges with the very first note. And then The Traveler, that is my favorite track off of the album.  I mean I have caught myself playing the last 3 minutes of traveler on a loop because of the unique and heavy progressive feel. Thanatopsis, is an album that I could easily see fans of almost any metal genre, finding something that they like about it and Dischordia. But I’d be willing to go as far to say, that if I had to play one song off this album to entice you to listen to the whole thing. It would be The Traveler.  If the word unorthodox was used to describe these guys  I would hope they embrace it.  For every bit unorthodox they are, the music is every bit as heavy and surprising.  This album right here, is an album you put on and just listen. You cant just pop it in and skip through the tracks. I encourage anyone who wants something different, or something that fits into many metal sub genres and has plenty of character, I highly recommend checking out Dischordia’s  Thanatopsis.

8/10 \m/

 

Want to give it a listen,  click play and check out the tracks streaming below the album drops this Friday!

Then do yourself a favor and give them a LIKE on Facebook to stay up to date on any Dischordia news

Also check them out on BANDCAMP where you can order this album, as well as check out their previous releases.

-Badger \m/

Visit our FACEBOOK page \m/_(><)_\m/
http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

Burial In The Sky- Persistence Of Thought- Album Review 8/10 \m/

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Burial in the Sky

Persistence of thought

William Okronglis – vocals, rhythm guitar, bass

James Tomedi –  lead guitar, bass, keys, mandolin,

Sam Stewart – Drums

Samus Paulicelli – session drums

Out November 4th 2016

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  1. Entry I

This song begins with about a full minute of some really atmospheric sounds, they build up slowly before the band comes in hard at the 1: 09 mark where you have the drums setting the pace of this song. Vocals come in about ten seconds after.  They fall under a tech death sub-genre, but they are more than that based on the sounds of this first track. They would be more like a progressive melodic technical death metal.  The song really starts this album off well, it’s a subtle track,  do not confuse subtle for short and monotonous. Nope that is not the case.  It’s a subtle track by simply getting the listener acclimated to the sounds and stylings of Burial in the Sky.  They have guitar tones and sounds that remind me of bands ranging from the Tony Danza tap dance extravaganza to Pink Floyd. A truly unique band, offering some thought provoking metal. its got that atmospheric feel like Fallujah, I am really digging this album so far.

 

  1. Entry II

This song begins with a slow start, but it’s a cool soulful melody that’s played for the first thirty eight seconds, before the drums come in heavier, and the rest of the instruments join in.  The guitar riff at the one minute mark is a great way to progress into the first verse.  I’m having a hard time placing who the vocals remind me of. But they have a sound that brings me back to my high school days and going to the small shows.  Damn the guitars at the 2:02 mark have that cool feel again. They bring that prog sound and style to the table, that’s something I do like about these guys. It’s not just tech death, it’s a really smooth blend of atmospheric technical progressive death metal.  Or “pretty fucking cool” as I have been describing them these past few weeks.  Right around the 3:25 mark when the vocals come in those thirty seconds are great. The tone of the vocals, and then coming out to the blast beats on the drums and the way they are delivered make this a worthwhile track.  But it’s also worth mentioning about the guitar work from the 4:40 mark and lasting about 15 seconds that reminds me of Chris Letchford. so that adds another flavor to the mix,  they have a sound that can appeal to fans of  instrumental bands like Scale The Summit, to metal bands from all the various sub-genres connecting prog metal to technical metal.

 

  1. Entry III

Ahhh yes this song, it begins much like the previous tracks in a slower and almost smokey way.  They aren’t coming right out and playing, they are adding the tiny details to the sound to give you that type of imagery. It gives you this spacey feeling, like you are just floating in air.  You know the more I am getting this vibe, the more they remind me of bands like Fallujah who have a similar style.  Following that beginning sequence, they come in hard around the :53 mark but in a slow tempo. It’s more of a dramatic feel than trying to blow everyone away with speed. I love the progression of their music so far in this album, it’s subtle, wonderfully crafted and emotional in the delivery.  I will say that Entry I, Entry II, and Entry III are best listened back to back.  But all three can hold their own ground as far as how good they are individually.

 

  1. Anchors

This song also begins with that slower, spacey feel like the previous tracks had.  One thing worth mentioning before the song takes off, is that this song is 7:27 minutes/seconds long. All the tracks have a considerable amount of time, and it’s not spent playing the fastest blasts or shred fest solos.  They fill the time with sounds that buildup to make the songs just that much more enjoyable for the listener.  Don’t get me wrong, I love blistering fast blast beats and sick guitar solos. But it’s the proggy tech death bands like this one here that gives you music that is going to encourage the thought process.  This is a thought provoking album, it gets the listeners to think. I like when an album has that characteristic.  Right around the :55 mark  we get some more percussion, shakers, I think I hear a Guiro,   either way I like that they are adding some non-conventional in the mix and then  only about twenty seconds later the  heavy vocals  barrel in with brute force.  This song has plenty of ups and downs that the listener experiences. And I enjoy that about this album, the songs are keeping your attention, they are bringing you on a ride.  A wild and beautiful ride.

 

  1. Galaxy of Ghosts

This song does not start out the way the previous tracks did, nope this one is an instant 0-100 in a split second right out of the gate heavy track.  This is the odd ball track, 4 songs back to back start out cool and smooth, and then this one track begins at full speed right from the first note. This song is a solid track, and unique in its own way.  It’s different from the previous tracks but it holds its ground for being a solid track. The section at the 2:46 mark and playing through is a highlight for this track, the vocals sound layered. Then coming out of that is a mellow segment before we get some cool guitar work.  Get to the 3:37 mark and you will begin to hear the guitars setting up a killer riff, and getting the listener amped up for when the vocals come back in only about thirty or so seconds after. The rest of this track basically lifts the listener up all the way and then the last forty seconds or so  gently bring the listener back to the ground.

 

  1. Dimensions Divide

So in the first few seconds of play on this track you observe the following.  They come in hard from the very beginning, and this has a good feel to it, like this is the track to end the album with. It has that vibe like everything comes together, and is the conclusion of the album. They hit us with a short guitar solo only about a quarter of the way into this track. There truly is a lot going on in this song.  And some will take away that this is a three piece band, but they have that spacey atmospheric sound in the background, they are delivering forceful vocals, the drums are locked in with keeping the pace of the songs, and the guitars keep hitting us with cool riffs here and there as well as a satisfying solo a few times throughout the track. Ultimately with a minute and a half left of the song, the track drops down dramatically to a somber spacey melodic tune.  Just lifting you weightlessly, taking you away giving you the image that you are doing just that floating away after listening to a powerful set of songs.

 

 

This is a solid album, it is only six tracks but each track is between 5-8 minutes long.  And each song has a lot packed in as well. This album is intriguing, I can’t explain it well. But when you listen to it, it’s hard to just focus on one track being the best on the album.   I find that I enjoy listening to this album start to finish.  Some albums have that vibe to them. Where you can just as easily play any track in random order if you wanted.  But playing at least the first three tracks back to back offers a more in depth experience when listening to the album.  They have that spacey atmospheric style like Fallujah, and it has a prog metal feel to it in other areas, but the whole time they are rocking the tech death line. I think we live in a world where you have to prove yourself in 30 seconds or less on whether or not your band or your album is the next best thing. I encourage anyone who wants to and will listen to this album. To give yourself the time to listen to it.  Don’t listen to one track and make up your mind, or listen to 30 seconds of one track skipping to the next. Give this a full play through upon listening to it for the first time.  Every song brings you up and down, but really delivers the goods.  This album is a solid 8/10 \m/ and definitely deserves to be heard.  Give it a listen,  check out the links below and  take a listen to the fifth track off this album titled Galaxy Of Ghosts.

 

 

 

 

Check Burial In The Sky out on Facebook

Order up “Persistence Of Thought” by heading HERE to their BANDCAMP Page

-Badger \m/

Visit our FACEBOOK page \m/_(><)_\m/
http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

Dehumanized- “Beyond The Mind” album review 10/10 \m/

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Dehumanized

Beyond The Mind

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Vocals – Michael Centrone

Guitar – Rich Nagasawa

Bass – Anthony Cossu

Drums – George Torres

 

 

 

  1. Worthless Prosperity

Kicking off the album is this first track that begins with some shuddersome tones and arbitrary cymbal rolls to transition the song from this introduction. To the molten death metal that I know Dehumanized bring to the table. And surely at eh thirty second mark, a short and sweet guitar riff sets up the song nicely. Mikes vocals are spot on, this is death metal the way I grew up listening to it.  This album is going to have the same affect that Internal Bleeding’s “Driven To Conquer” had.  This is a slower pace song than some but this has all the elements you look for.  From the opening riff, to the groove of the song. And not the “whatever” the fucking new slang groove means for some emo death core band out of So Cal. No I’m talking the groove, meaning you lock in to the tempo, you are head banging with everyone else in the crowd and the band. You are savoring this song and are singing along. Its catchy it’s awesome, and it’s a groove you can adhere to.  If this is how the album is going to start out, I know that Dehumanized have big things in store for the listener.  And looking at the rest of the track names these guys definitely have something up their sleeves.

 

2. P. C.C.R

This song starts out with a flowing groove made up of the chugging riff and double bass. The drums rolling right along, and guitars giving us a solid riff to get acclimated to. This goes on for about thirty seconds and then shifts tempo at the :33 mark with some blast beats.  Continue on another thirty seconds and then they kick things into high gear.  For me this is when the song gets rowdy, they lay into with this infectious groove.  These guys hit you again and again with rock solid   death metal retribution in the form of killer guitar riffs, classic death metal vocals coming from Mike, and then of course my favorite member is always the drummer. George is responsible for the sick drum beats and he doesn’t reinvent the wheel.  He doesn’t get selfish with fills he plays death metal straight up and sounds great doing it.

 

3. Beyond The Mind

This song starts out with a short but simple introduction lasting about twenty five seconds before the vocals join in on the fun and continue before the :47 mark where the song transitions into an accelerated pace.   With the beginning of the verse having a faster tempo and blast beats, where the second half of the verses are a slowed down death metal groove.  This song actually satisfies the fast paced cravings as well as the slower groove filled death metal moments.   This is a song that you will be head banging right along to from the first beat.  This is a solid track and really the introduction was a solid beginning.  Right at the : 20 second mark I was really getting into the song.

 

 

4. Black Market 2099

This song starts out with a sound clip from Total Recall and then following that a classic death metal guitar riff is played. And from the moment that riff begins you know that this song is going to kick ass.  Right at the :33 second mark when vocals join in, you know there is no turning back now.  This is the death metal I have been looking for. This song right here. This is a perfect representation of a band killing it.  No over the top fancy frills and thrills. They do it old school.  My favorite part of this song comes at the 1:35 mark. Listen to that riff, and the set up for the vocals at the 1:44 mark. If you don’t find yourself following his every word and head banging right along to the groove.  I unquestionably love this stellar song, and have been listening to this album for about a month now.  This is the one song that seals the deal for me. I love this album and this song is an instant classic.

 

5. Abyss Ambassador

Now I know what some of you are thinking, if Black market kicked so much ass, than how does Dehumanized follow up a track like that? Well they do it with Abyss Ambassador. This song will have the feeble minded shaking like a leaf by the end of it.  That opening riff is another example of a perfect set up. I know in the first ten seconds of listening to this song, that it is not going to disappoint.  Just for a moment listen to the groove they have going between the blast beats and the guitars. Listen to the vocals and try not to get pulled in. This song is awesome, has some killer guitar riffs, but man you can really get into the vocals, and the lyrics.  This is what death metal sounds like when it’s done right.

 

6. One North

The song opens with a sample track from the Halloween remake with Danny Trejo’s character talking to Mike Myers.  Then right around the :23 second mark the band  gets things started with  a slowly approaching, yet  menacing rhythm and then vocals coming in. “ One North….. One North”   the song cultivates a slower feel  until they get to the two minute mark where they kick things into double time, picking that pace up and  hitting us with killer riff after killer riff, and infectious  lines.  Go to the 2:24 mark where they really take things to the next level.  For just shy of a minute they pull off this diabolical arrangement of heavy death metal punishment.  The kind you want to raise a beer to, yell “fuck yeah” and start head banging again.  This track is such a solid addition to the album.

 

7. The First Immortal

This song comes right out of the gate with Mike’s punishing vocals and a killer death roll from the guitars and drums.   This song is great from start to finish, I must have played this track a hundred times and it satisfies my ravenous death metal cravings every time.  This whole album does, but each song has its own little distinguishable moment in making this album an instant classic among death metal fans.  Not to mention this song is less than three minutes long, the guys have packed so much into this song, there is zero fluff factor.  They are blunt, straight to the point, and sacrifice nothing at all in order to make this song hit you where they want it to.

 

8. Last Words

This song starts out with drums and bass just doing their thing for about eight seconds until the guitar fades in and then vocals join in.  With a tempo of around 130 BPM it’s not a rapid fast blistering speed song. It’s a solid and steady death metal track, just listen to the bass in the beginning.  This song starts out with so much stability that it has a more brutal attack.  I mean just adding the bell around the : 35 second mark add emphasis on the beat.  I love the simplicity of this track, it holds down that well recognized death metal sound.  When listening to this song right when you get to the 3:05 mark they hit you with these blast beats and a cool riff that amps you up.  There is no enigma, or mystery behind this song, they made a killer, solid, simple and effective song that please the ears.

 

9. Drawn By Blood

They don’t waste any time getting the ball rolling here.  From the moment the song begins you have been pummeled with a chugging guitar riff, and battered by  the drums for a few bars. The drums begin to progress tactfully, before the tempo increases slightly, but man the vocals on this song are great. Guest vocal spot on this track really adds dimensionality to the vocals.  Right around the :37 mark you can hear the guest vocals come in, and then around :50 they start trading bars with Mike.   I love way they slow things down to take you out and pummel you relentlessly at the 3:27 mark.  Then they end up coming out of that but admittedly only for a short period of time and then go back in to the low and slow audio beat down of the listener.  With less than thirty seconds left of the song they escalate that tempo right back up with some menacing riffs and blast beats to finish it off.

 

 

10.Telepathics

Love the drum roll out to start the song, and then the melodic guitar riff comes in with another drum roll fill.  When the first verse begins, I gotta say I really dig this song, it’s not my favorite but it has so much to offer, just like all the rest of the songs on this album. The song is so damn catchy, just listen until you get to the 1:41 mark and you see them pick the tempo up and the intensity.  But just like most of the other songs, when you get to a point in a song that you are impressed by. They hit you with another element within the same song that makes you appreciate the song more and more, and then you just find that you keep spinning this album more and more.

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This album right here, is the album that everyone needs to check out. If you say you like death metal, than this is what you need to listen to, because these guys nail it. Probably the most underrated death metal band, but this album should change that. Beyond the Mind is an example of death metal done right.  I have been listening to this album for a month and I cannot get enough of it. They hit it out of the park with Beyond The Mind. Tracks I personally recommend is Black Market 2099, Abyss Ambassador, and The First Immortal.  If you want to listen to a few songs to gauge the album. These three tracks are solid, and the ones I have played the most. This album is a must have for anyone who calls themselves a fan of death metal. I love it, and this album has only made me enjoy Dehumanized more, and made me become more of a fan of their music. Dehumanized made this an instant classic in my opinion. This album is absolutely no fluff, straight up death metal, no Bullshit.

They earn a 10/10 \m/ and I stand by that. This is one of the most underrated death metal bands out there.  This album is hit after hit a solid album that continues to grow on you the more you listen to it.  They put a lot into this album, and I am confident enough to say that “Beyond the Mind” should be on your playlist.  The sound quality is great, the song writing is on point, and I was never bored listening to this, if anything I got amped up and have no plans on taking this out of rotation for the rest of 2016   For fans of Internal Bleeding,  Suffocation, Pyrexia, Skinless, and Dying Fetus.

 

 

 

 

For up to date news and events follow Dehumanized on Facebook

looking for the album, or other merch check out Dehumanized’s webstore

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Pre- order Beyond The Mind at the Comatose music store  HERE

-Badger \m/

Visit our FACEBOOK page \m/_(><)_\m/
http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

 

 

Cognizance- Illusory E.P. Review 9/10 \m/

on By

Cognizance

Illusory – E.P.

Out 8-26-2016

VOCALS – HENRY ‘BIG MAC’ PRYCE
GUITARS – ALEX ‘THE APEX’ BAILLIE
BASS – PHIL ‘THE ROMANTIC’ ARCHBOLD
DRUMS – DAVID ‘EURO STALLION ‘ DIEPOLD

 

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  1. Visceral Doubt

This is a great introductory track to this spectacular E.P.  It begins with background sounds of tranquility, and a pleasantly melodic guitar melody that fades in with distortion and around the same time, the drums come in with a series of fills that really helps to build the song up. Then right around the :58 second mark they take things to the next level with  vocals coming in, a killer driving guitar riff, and a whirlwind of blast beats.  I must admit I was a little surprised when I saw the length of the song is only two minutes and two seconds long, with  the first minute being a melodic introduction, but they really pack the song with elements of melodic metal and technical death metal.

 

  1. Amputated From Actuality

This begins as the first track is fading out this song fades in but right from the get go you have some fast drumming and a killer guitar sound to welcome the listener.   The song has a solid tempo, it has the drive to get you energized by the music.  I really thoroughly enjoy the guitar tone and the riffs   this song. Everything comes together, the guitars are complimenting the drums, the vocals are a force all on their own, and then the chorus is damned contagious.  It is catchy and grips you, you can’t help the feeling of joining in during the chorus sections.  This song is exactly what you’d expect from Cognizance.  Melodic, technical, and impressive, because the song actually feels like it is longer than only four and a half minutes long. They pack so much into this song that you are hooked and you don’t want it to end.

 

  1. Choking on the Sands

This song is a slower song than the previous track, but is rock solid.  The song has a driving rhythm, and that’s something I have come to expect from these guys.  They are playing songs that like an engine just keeps going. It has a driving force that gets the listener going, and they add in things like the guitar solos at the one minute and two minute mark.  I really dig the vocals, as they have this hollow sound to them, a low gravely hollow sound. Flash forward to the :12 mark when they have less than a minute remaining and hit us with a fucking cool groove that will leave you head banging and ready for anything.

 

  1. Secondary Volition

The song has some atmospheric sounds in the background as a guitar fades in with a melodic solo performance. This is an instrumental track but it has the Cognizance flavor, it’s not like an instrumental that sounds nothing like the rest of the album. This song fits, literally anywhere on this E.P.  The sound of the song matches all the other songs, it’s just the mellower refined side of Cognizance and also give us the nod that the next song is going to kick ass.

 

  1. Spectrum

The beginning of this song sounds pretty badass, it starts out with a 120BPM feel with a cool groove. They give you about fifteen seconds of that section before they kick things into double time.  Which is roughly the same time when the vocals join in, and then David kicks things into high gear with his rugged drumming, only to progress to delivering the blast beats.  Right around the 1:45 mark the song changes things up and hits us with a slower roll of heavy groove.  They really know how to build a song up and then deliver on it.  Every change they make, does not disappoint. The guitar solo at the 2:47 mark is a perfect example, the tempo may have decreased, but the sound of that guitar really cuts into you. It’s a simple, yet so effective, the sound has soul in it.  I know people want a shred fest blur of fingers moving all over the fret board, but a simple, solid, and soulful solo will have a lasting impact on the song and the listener.

 

This E.P. is awesome, I love it, for the few who have heard of this E.P. well the hype is absolutely real. The really had a laser focus on writing this album, because I just didn’t catch any flaws. There isn’t a single moment of any song I didn’t care for. This E.P. delivers some great melodic tech death for an incredible price.  I am a sucker for physical copies of music, but you can’t pass on the price the digital E.P. is available for.  Everything about this album is very appealing to me, the guitars have great sound, the vocals are tight, and the drums have surgically precise timing and execution. This E.P. earns this 9/10 \m/ rating.

 

 

 

Go on and head over to their FACEBOOK page Here and give them a like to show your support

 

If you like what you hear, this E.P. will not break the bank as its literally less than $3.00 for the digital E.P.  and you can get that by going to their BANDCAMP PAGE

 

 

but they also have the physical copies, and other merch over at their BIG CARTEL page

 

-Badger \m/

Visit our FACEBOOK page \m/_(><)_\m/
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Infectology- Innards Of Misanthropic Embodiment 7/10

on By

Infectology

Innards Of Misanthropic Embodiment

Jose Erazo: Bass
Luis Quintana: Guitar
Ivan Fuentes: Drums
Jhenry Guerrero: Vocals

Released August 12th, 2016

 

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  1. Absolute Disembodiment

As quickly as the song begins the blasts crash over you and sweep you off your feet. The whole time that perpetuating guitar riff has the listener head banging.  Vocals come in only seconds after the song begins and those low guttural vocals are killing it for me right now.  Also want to point out the sound of the snare drum, it has that ping to it.  While it may not fit all bands style and sound.  It just works for a brutal death metal band, and sounds great coming from Ivan’s kit. The change that happens around the :50 second mark is a classic tell-tale sign that something is going to get heavier, faster, or brutal.  They go back into the same rhythm but it’s been taken to the next level. 1:37 they slow things down for a moment and then hit us with a period of gravity blasts around the 2:17 mark.  A simple gravity blast  filled section lasting only maybe eight seconds but giving you enough time to cause bodily harm to those around you.

 

  1. Gorging on Misanthropy

There is about a split second between the end of the last track and then they explode with sound before one second has passed. Before ten seconds have passed I find myself head banging and getting into this song.  They have a great sound going on, its dirty, its brutal, and they keep things simple.  This is what a death metal track is supposed to sound like. I like the driving rhythm the guitar riff is forcing.  The guitar is maintaining that driving force behind the song. Listen to the guitars at the 1:17 mark and you will see what I mean. It’s not a sweeping, it’s not tapping, this is an old school death metal riff that really makes the song.  For me it’s not the vocals or the drums, but I really am enjoying the guitars.

 

  1. Deification of Insanity

They give you a hell of a welcome with a brief intro with a short riff and then into the verse.  It has a grimy brutal death metal feel to it. It’s good but right at the :50 second mark is when they begin to kick things into high gear with a mean riff coming at the 1:04 mark. I love that driving guitar riff, and they leave you wanting more of that because as quickly as you get acclimated to it, they change out and into the next verse.  This song has very little filler, and just plugs right along like a well-oiled machine. Right at the 2:45 mark we get that great guitar riff we heard earlier.

 

  1. Forced Unnatural Carnal Knowledge

Damn those drums and the guitars right at the beginning of this track really set the tone. I am digging this track and they throw down a short solo to go into the next section. Right around the :50 second mark they revisit the beginning rhythm again. But only for shorter period of time as they get to a slower but heavier rhythm. It has a grimy, brutal death feel to it, and they rock the shit out of that and right at the 2:54 mark they go right back to the rapid blasts at a higher back to high speed.  This song does not disappoint, I love the section right around the 3:34 mark with the guitar squeals. Great track

 

  1. Inhuman Conception (instrumental)

This is simply an instrumental track, but what I really enjoy is the fact that it is still a brutal death metal instrumental track. It’s not a melodic “lets tone things down a moment” song.  The blast beats, the buzz saw guitar tones, the filthy riffs, they are still very prevalent throughout this instrumental track.

 

  1. Ritualistic Embodiment

Zero buildup, and one hundred percent ambush style song beginnings seem to be infectology’s modus operandi on this album.   Because you are hit with rapid blasting, grinding guitar riffs, and guttural vocals all within the first five seconds of the song. They are relentless with the brutality they wield.  The song has a solid tempo, and drive. This song can get you going pretty easily, and the song maintains that drive all the way up to the last few seconds of play. At three minutes and fourteen seconds they pack a lot into this track.

 

  1. Dying On Cauldron

This song has the classic death metal feel right from the first seconds of the song.  It has a rock solid rhythm and I dig the guitar squeals. Out of all the songs on this album, this song reminds me of late nineties death metal. Bands like deeds of flesh, or even before that dying fetus.   After the first verse, the pick up the tempo, increase the intensity, and assault us with a hail of blast beats, gritty guitars, and those damned guitar squeals.  This song really embraces the brutal death metal vibe, and they cut right to the bone with this track. There is no fluff, there are no tangents or little intricate guitar solos.  This song is laser focused brutal death metal, played straight up the way it was meant to be played.

 

  1. Inducing Excruciating Pain

This is my favorite song off the album, I just love it.  The beginning is cool and all but I like the change they go through around thirty seconds in to the song.  That bridge going between verses.  The rhythm from the very beginning ends up being amplified to a more brutal and punishing rhythm. Head banging will be happening, but even more so only 20 seconds later where the same rhythm is being played, but has more strength behind the music. I can listen to this track over and over again. It is a heavy hitting, and takes no prisoners and shows no mercy. This song rips and it seals the deal for me.  This is my personal favorite track off this album.

 

 

When all is said and done, this band set out on a mission to make an album, with unwavering brutality, heavy riffs, blasting drums, and soulless vocals.  Causing the listener to get that “fuck yeah” attitude, and to move to the beat. Mission accomplished, I like that they didn’t try reinventing the wheel. They had a goal, and went to achieve that goal, with nothing and no one getting in their way, and leaving nothing left in their wake. This album  is  a solid 7/10  \m/ and find myself spinning Inducing Excruciating Pain many times as it is my favorite track on the album. while the album is straight up brutal death metal, i feel that some of the songs would begin to sound repetitive and for that it did lose me at some points. At any rate, all songs are a solid effort, merciless, and I simply find that out of all the songs, the song I have played the most is track 8.  I will be looking forward to hearing more from Infectology in the future, and will be rocking this album for the unforeseeable future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you like what you hear,

Show them some support by giving them a like on FACEBOOK

 

 

Go on and order the album by going to their Gorehouse Productions BANDCAMP PAGE

 

 

 

-Badger \m/

 

Visit our FACEBOOK page \m/_(><)_\m/

http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com