Sunday, February 27, 2011

Uzi Suicide - "We Steal Everything" (2003)


Uzi Suicide's We Steal Everything is the perfect blend of powerviolence and thrashcore, man. These guys love veganism, satan, shoplifting and blast beats so just listen because yeah it rules.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Cruciamentum - "Convocation Of Crawling Chaos" (2009)


Cruciamentum's Convocation Of Crawling Chaos (say that ten times) is one of the finest in the  modern era of old-school death metal. It's relatively short, running under 20 minutes, but that doesn't make it any less pummeling. The vocals sound as if they have been belched  forth from the bowels of Hell and the bleak atmosphere conveyed is enough to ruin your day.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Rigor Sardonicous - "Apocalypsis Damnare" (2005)


Rigor Sardonicous are legends in their own respect -- the New York duo formed in 1988, but it wasn't until 1999 that they released their first full-length, Apocalypsis Damnare. The quality of production here is below average, cymbals loud and crashing, Joe Fogarazzo's stomach-churning vocals resounding like the bellow of a humpback whale. Akin to a stiff, rotting stench hanging in the air, funeral riffs linger and suffocate the listener with their thick molasses tempo.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Winter - "Into Darkness" (1990)


Into Darkness is my favorite death/doom album next to Spina Bifida's Ziyadah, and rightfully so. This legendary release is simply satisfying. Every riff is arduous; the vocals, deep and mean. The drum work is also excellent and, although there is something slightly unkempt about the album, it certainly doesn't take away from its ability to please. Despite existing as a band for only 3 years, Winter's footprint has called many other imitators to attempt to fill its massive size and, albeit, a few come close, the mighty Winter will forever be the entity remembered for being one of the first to participate in this grueling genre. Is there anything colder than W I N T E R ?

Infester - "To The Depths... In Degradation" (1994)


Infester's 1994 release entitled, To The Depths... In Degradation, is a phenomenal display of why American old-school death metal can contend with the likes of, say, old-school Finnish or Swedish death metal. With vocals that pay homeage to that of a gurgling bog, Infester comes out swinging with speedy and furious instrumentation (although, there is a fair amount of doom influence in the riffing). If you are an old-school death metal fan and do not have this album in your archives, then you owe it to yourself to hear this monster of a record. Much headbanging is sure to ensue.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Mangled Torsos - "Anatomia Reformata" (1993)

Anatomia Reformata is Mangled Torsos' 1993 release; try it on for size and then return for more.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Earth - "The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull" (2008)


Earth writes some of the heaviest, back-breaking drone/doom around but if you haven't been paying attention for awhile, their last few albums have opted for a less-distorted, mellower approach. That isn't to say that their latest releases haven't been heavy; quite the contrary... The Bees Made Honey is one of the heaviest albums I've ever heard. Earth combines desert drone with the desolate atmosphere of some kind of post-rock, and creates one of the loneliest instrumental masterpieces of all time. Images of dusty highways bordered by long-forsaken boomtowns vividly come to mind when listening to this release, that only more solidifies Earth's key place in music history.

Sleep Research Facility - "Deep Frieze" (2007)

Sleep Research Facility's 2007, Deep Frieze, is an hour long immersive ambient experience. The recording places the listener in an absolute trance, taking them on a frozen journey to the Arctic Circle + leaving them there, shivering in the howling tundra winds.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Macabre End - "Consumed By Darkness" (1990)


Consumed By Darkness is the epitome of underground and at only 9 minutes long it is obvious why. This demo is the only other of 2 ever released by Macabre End, so brush the dust off of this and prepare for what sheer brutality really is.

Salem - "Destruction Till Death" (1987)


Israeli death metal band, Salem, released their masterpiece in 1987, Destruction Till Death -- an album that shouldn't be taken lightly by any extreme metal fan. With a production that speaks true to its time, this sloppy demo crushes all competitors. A 48 minute experience that has the disgust and aggression of Excavation's Gravemouth and features a blasphemous vocal range reminiscent of Eyehategod's Dopesick (despite it being several years older than both releases), Destruction Till Death is often an overlooked old-school  classic that was a favorite of Euronymous himself and has influenced countless of other classic bands.

Pentacrostic - "The Pain Tears" (1992)



Pentacrostic's The Pain Tears is a death/doom album from 1992 that never ceases to please. With crawling riffs and tortured screams, this is a must-have for anyone who considers themselves a fan of the genre.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Rippikoulu - "Musta Seremonia" (1993)


One of Finland's finest offerings: death/doom legends, Rippikoulu. Musta Seremonia is as gritty and effective as sandpaper with simplistic riffs and dynamite drumming. The production is quite coarse and will certainly not appeal to all metal fans, so best leaving this one to the seasoned veterans.