Coscradh "Nahanagan Stadial" Album Review

 

  If you're looking for something dark,foreboding and utterly nasty Coscradh's devastating new album Nahanagan Stadial achieves this in vast abundance, like a pack of rabid wolves roaming at nightfall leaving a path of destruction in it's wake Coscradh have created something that sounds like it's straight from the pits of hell.

  The title track Nahanangan Stadial has an extremely doom laden intro with a filthy guitar tone, for those curious the track name is reference to an irish term for the rapid onset of a glacial period ten thousand years ago,it's epic song structure also has elements of Bestial War Metal similar to Teitanblood,Bestial Warlust and Profanitica, Feast Of The Epiphany is an absolutely ripper from the onset,the overload of speed is designed to perpetually annihilate the senses,the outro at the end of the track creates a really bleak atmosphere then we're hit with the obliterating sledgehammer that is Plagues Of Knowth the relentlessness is somewhat satisfying and creates a really ugly and nasty aura which at times very blasphemous sounding. 

  Cladh Halainn continues the bludgeoning with equal measures of nastiness and devilish undertones leaving a maelstrom of destruction in it's path, Closing track Feallaire Doite crawls and manifests with a slow dirge until a barrage of different vocals and filthy riffs unleash like an apocalyptic snowstorm hellbent on total obliteration.

  Nahanagan Stadial delivers bleak soundscapes designed to obliterate with devastating effect,if you're loking for clean sounding over produced heaviness this is not for you,what you do get is nasty,filthy and an extremely ugly display of  brutality, Coscradh have unleashed a truly amazing album, a sound coming from a post apocalyptic wasteland created down in the fiery depths of hell,you're not likely to hear something as nasty as Nahanagan Stadial this year, a truly devastating offering not for the weak minded or faint of heart.

SPOTIFY:https://open.spotify.com/artist/2S3tnOx1iCmlA6FhXMTlbx?si=c1Au0SStQ8CCw_FMFA_NSg

BANDCAMP:https://coscradh.bandcamp.com/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Coscradh

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/coscradh/

Abaddon Incarnate "The Wretched Sermon" Album Review

 

 There's rare occasions when bands inprove throughout the years and able to maintain a level of consistency while having the same levels of Obliterating Brutality for nigh on 25 years,this is the case with Death Metal/Grindcore Veterans Abaddon Incarnate, when you listen to The Wretched Sermon you'll find it hard to believe that their previous full length album Pessimist was released in 2014 since then there's been two line up changes with the addition of Irene Siragusa on Bass and the return of Original Drummer Olan Parkinson, who played on the bands first two albums The Last Supper and Nadir, the transition between line up changes and the long gap between albums has been seamless and the band has if anything aged like a fine wine and lost none of the trademark face melting ferocity.

  Going straight for the juggular from the offset with the ferocious Rising Of The Lights once that drum intro kicks in you know your head is about to be blasted off with a barrage of riffs and blast beats designed to dissect and lacerate with razor sharp precision combine the relentless ferocity of Steve Maher's vocals you have a more then fitting opener to set the tone for what's to come, Veritas is pure Grindcore that hits like a tonne of bricks,swiftly and viciously we're  hit with the anger and vitriol of Gateways, the following two tracks Epic Desecration and Parasite have plenty of ferocity layered with heavy groove laden riffs,which has been a trademark synonymous with the band since their inception all those years ago,Hideous Arise is an absolute fucking juggernaut,the part with the vocals layered over the lead is unabashed nastiness and filthiuness. 

Another relentless track to make our ears bleed with the 90's era Death Metal masterclass that is Killing Spree and yes( i am referencing the current music video) it does sound like someone going a mass murdering killing spree,there's a slightly melancjolic piano piece at the end of the track, straight form the get go Into The Maelstrom hits like a sledgehammer,the Guitar tone on this tone is so dark and sinister and gives the track a really eerie atmosphere, the band mix it up a little on the absolutely excellent Resurrected From A Mass Grave with  some obiterating Grindcore and 90's Death Metal like a mix of Early Napalm Death mixed with riffs reminiscent of material from the bands debut The Last Supper.

  Shrine Of Flesh is full of heaviness and groove with a very subtle hint to 90's era Swedish Death Metal ,the twin vocal attack has a style reminiscent to early Carcass,that squealing guitar intro at the start of Hyperchaos is absolutely face melting obliteration with really thrashy elements,wouldn't usually be mentioning the word epic when it comes to Death Metal Or Grindcore but this is the case with the ridiculously fantastic Isolation and Decay this may have been mentioned on other reviews but that intro reminds me of the classic Entombed track Through The Collandes as soon as the double bass drum flows seemlessly into an unmercifully tirade is explosive drumming and relentless riffs and as usual the vocals full of vitriol,emotion and anger for the last 2+ minutes of the track the twin guitar leads combined with haunting melody,feeling ,a brooding bass tone leave you feeling drained,isolated and a hopeless feeling of solitude,closing track Silent Indifference is a trademark Abaddon Incarnate escapade full of face melting riffs,relentless drumming and vocals full of hate and abrasiveness a truly perfect way to end such an unbelievably devastating and sublime album.

 From the first time i witnessed this band playing on the back of a trailer 25+ years ago i instantly knew they were destined to be masters of their craft,but nothing prepared me for the absolute devastation they would leave in their path, even a 8 year gap between albums did nothing to deter this juggernaut.if anything they just keep getting better and unleashing top notch Death/Grind upon the world consistently, just like previous releases The Wretched Sermon leaves a path of devastation in it's wake,it gradually draws you into the grinder and spits you out like some unstoppable force of nature hellbent on destruction,unlike most bands of the same ilk Abaddon Incarnate are not afraid to mix it up a bit,instead of remaining safe they keep pushing the boundaries to new heights ,yes you will hear alot of nuances of Old School Death Metal,Grindcore etc but they always bring a freshness and innovation to the genre, there's a extremely good reason why most of the reviews coming out for this album are getting alot of high ratings for me this is going to on an awful lot of Album of The Year list and it's more then well deserved.

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7JiGOjZmUWZWyhhQsyBZs4?si=cUWMeTN4QJy1sZEt2dVnWg 

BANDCAMP: https://abaddonincarnateband.bandcamp.com/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/abaddonincarnate

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/abaddon.incarnate.official/

Strangers With Guns "All Pleasure Is Just Relief" Album Review

 

   Ever get the feeling the world seems to be descending into a self destructive mode and all around you seem to be showing no ounce of self control,Well the absolutely brilliant Strangers With Guns appear to be doing all the right things with their excellent new album All Pleasure is Just Relief. The band have been rooted in Grunge with their previous releases but have pushed the boundaries this time by adding a bit more heaviness to the mix,rest assured the humour still remains and all the semblances of homage to the 90's are still evident.

 Things get off to a flying start with the brilliant Phuque as soon as you hear that drum intro creeping into the mix you know full well you're about to get something really heavy and fast,it briefly slows down until you're hit with a very Thrash Metal inspired lead, as soon as you hear the opening riff on the second track you're thinking this sounds like Rollins Band,well this is further verified by the song title I Am Henry Rollins with it's tongue in cheek sarcasm and wicked sense of humour, Dial It Black treats us to some really heavy riffs which sound slightly similar to the Sepultura track Territory with an added "rapping" style vocals with a Dublin accent,which is usually synonymous with the bands sound courtesy of frontman Jeff Crosdale, So How Are You Feeling? has an extremely dark and eerie atmosphere with an agressive vocal delivery and a riff so haunting you could resurrect the dead.

 Halfway through the album and it continues to maintain the heaviness with the short but brilliant Positive Vibes which even has a subtle hint to the Coolio track Gangsters Paradise, time for some riffs galore with the absolutely killer Stick It To The Man there's also a very upbeat tempo prevelant throughout the track which implements a more uplifting tone to proceedings, the mood is toned down with the short instrumental track That's Kinda Nice before we're treated to something less heavy with the excellent Perception we also get the brief taste of Jeff dropping the dublin accent vocals in place of  a vocal harmony giving the track a nice mellow atmosphere, closing track Why starts off with a very sombre atmosphere until the chorus explodes into life with rocking riffs and aggressive vocals then switches back to the sombre mood this pattern is repeated until the last minute of the track we get a layered acoustic riffs over some stoner riffs.

Strangers With Guns may not be to everyones liking but what they do they do it really well and there's many facets to them musically and lyrically, they're willing to take risks which most bands are fearful of doing which leaves the door open for them to add different elements to future releases, with All Pleasure Is Just Relief  we treated to material in the vein of Rollins Band, Faith No More,Butthole Surfers,Melvins, Mudhoney and various other,adding elements of Grunge,Metal,Punk with such aplomb make this a very interesting listen which keeps getting better with each listen.

 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1xeBRN8R2Y9VytLrJRH86c?si=C2JP3X7-Tyq7XIE99tzJLQ

BANDCAMP: https://strangerswithguns.bandcamp.com/

YOU TUBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/StrangersWithGuns

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/strangerswithguns

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/strangerswithguns/?hl=en

LadyAxe "Of Hell and High Water" EP Review

  Nowadays Traditoional Heavy Metal acts have the polished production, the massive sound but on the rare occasions an analog, lo-fi sound captures the atmosphere,honesty and passion needed to create something truly worth investing your time in and getting lost within the music,this is the case with the always brilliant LadyAxe, the Metal Matriarch is originally from South Africa but has since re-located to the Emerald Isle and it has brought a fire and passion that sounds unquenchable.

 Following on from last years excellent Kairos album Of Hell and High Water tells tales of Irish Pirate Queen ,Finnish & Norse Mythology,Lovecraftian Tropes and Lore with each topic all related to the sea,the EP starts off with a bang in the shape of the brilliant Mother Of Ships which portrays the tale of Grainne Mhaol ,The Irish Pirate Queen, the song has plenty of time changes and Riffs for days all layered under soaring and passionate Vocals, things get a little bit Doomy and Eerie with Finnish Mythology inspired From The Depths Come Iko Turso a story about the bearded monster who was commanded by Pohjola to attack the ship Vainamoinen,Iko Turso would be bound by a spell cast by Vainamoinen and may never surface again, within the song a New Priestess casts her own spell to unleash Iko Turso to serve her biddings, The Priestess Calls is a very haunting and atmospheric song which sounds like the spell that awakens Iko Turso from his spell,at time it almost sounds,suddenly near the end of the track we're treated to very dark and foreboding Guitar lead which sounds like the summoning has been complete.

  Time to get into some Norse Mythology with the absolutely epic masterpiece that is And I Saw The Sister Of Visund tells the fictional tale of a viking warrior abandoned by her Brethren and her Valkyrie failed to find her despite her dying in battle,she sees what she thinks is the Visund approaching but soon realises that it is in fact her Funeral ship, unable to get to Valhalla she vows to sail her funeral ship against the will of fate,the song has a very melancholic atmosphere and is reminiscent of early Manowar,this is also were you get a taste of what Axe is capable of vocally, the closing track on the EP gives us some Lovecraftian Lore in the shape of  Malediction From The Black Reef which always seems to fit well with Heavy Metal , this song is based on the Lovecraft Novel The Shadow Over Innsmouth where U-Boats torpedo the Black/Devils Reef and Dagon curses them to never die but they're trapped within the abomination that is Innsmouth,the track has a nice mid pace with powerful and passionate vocals delivering a track fitting to close such a brilliant EP.

  Of Hell and High Water may not have the big production,folk may think this method is better but what LadyAxe does is give you plenty of Atmosphere,Ethereal and Haunting Vocals,Passion and Honesty,something lacking in Modern Power/Heavy Metal these  days,also the bravery to incorporate different topics like Lovecraftian Lore,Norse and Finnish Mythology and Historical Pirate Queens gives you transparent idea that Axe likes to challenge herself by doing the research into each topic properly,where you don't get any filler on her releases,long may this continue because it works perfectly for me.

 BANDCAMP: https://ladyaxe.bandcamp.com/ 

YOU TUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/LadyAxe13

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/LadyAxe-6085329203/?pnref=lhc

 

Keith McCoy "Humachinery" EP Review

 

  Yet another quality release from Progressive Metal/Horror/Synth Wave solo artist Keith McCoy who seems to be constantly writing new music on a constant basis , following on form the brilliant Tacky Boots and Technology we're treated to the excellent Humachinery which consists of four instrumental tracks of 80's inspired synth wave mixed with Progressive Riffs, McCoy writes,mixes and produces everything himself along with the Drmming and Bass while he enlists the talents of Alan O' Connell  of Symbiotic Tomorrow on Lead Guitar and PJ O' Connell on Rhythm Guitar.

 Straight from the get go Reactive Machine hits you with a lo-fi synth before a barrage of  riffs and drums rolls hits you like a juggernaut then the Synth and Bass are briefly pushed to the fore combined with dramatic keys then into some juicy Lead Guitar work, Limited Memory treats us to some absolutely fantastic Synth passages which have a slight Horror sounding element to them which adds a dark and foreboding atmosphere to the song.

 Theory Of Mind is all about the Synths and Keys and it feels like it could easily be part of a score in a movie,there's also a slight melancholic elelment to it,despite how short the track is it compliments the whole atmosphere within the EP, closing track Self Aware starts off with a beautifully crafted acoustic guitar piece then layered with synths,then an emotionally tinged lead takes hold ,gradually the song develops layers upon layer of synth combined with absolutely sublime lead guitar work this builds up to a crescendo of riffs upon riffs combined with drum rolls creating a song full of  feeling and atmosphere.

 Humachinery is 14+ minutes of Prog excellence and despite the lack of vocals maintains a brilliantly crafted atmosphere,at times it feels like you're listening to a movie score or soundtrack,it also has a really 80's vibe which adds a somewhat nostalgic element to the EP. Keith McCoy is not only a beast on the drums but he also has an abundance of talent with regard to song structure, mixing and producing some absolutely sublime music,long may it continue.

 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5VoteeTdGdL0VU4KHqyeUa?si=ZmtqxKqLQBad08MNGopTuQ

 BANDCAMP: https://keithmccoy.bandcamp.com/

 YOU TUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/Sixstillmissing

 FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/keithmccoymusic/

 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/keithmccoymusic/?hl=en

Organ Blender "Teemu Khan" Album Review

 

 You have finally awoken from some crazy nightmarish dystopian future dream but for some reason you can't decipher whether it's real or not,this is the kind of feeling/atmosphere you might envisage when you listen to the absolutely sublime new Organ Blender album Teemu Khan, following on from their 2020 EP the excellent  Blender Corp. the band have further pushed the boundaries of their post apocalyptic sound on this album by adding equal measure of Brutality infused with Industrial/Electronic sounds and samples,let's not forget the subtle hints of dark humour prevelent throughout the album, if you want a level of understanding what they're all about think Godflesh/Strapping Young Lad meets Aphex Twin.

 Straight from the get go we're treated to the short devastating bursts that are  Will It Blend? and Bear Song with a slight homage to Godflesh, both tracks set the tone for what's about to be unleashed upon your unsuspecting mind,things start to get a bit more Brutal with the extremely Rhythmic/Hypnotic Station,the samples running through this start to reveal the dystopian nightmare that's within the concept of the album.

 We're introduced to some sort of Protaganist in the form of Captain Krunch who seems to have some sort of obsession with control and power over life forms,we get an element of groove running through this song courtesy of the absolutely sublime bassline combined with rhythmic and relentless drumming ,a very hynotic electronic element kicks in about midway through the song before the brutality takes hold with short bursts of blast beats intertwined with Riff heavy breakdowns, Fish Song kicks off with a really groovy riff before unleashing a barrage of electronic beats combined with brief blast beats,this is maintained for the best part of the song then we're given a dose of pure Death Metal madness reminiscent of  Morbid Angel for the last part of the track, Blast Choir goes straight for the juggular with unrelenting speed and a really dark guitar tone,just like Fish Song there's a subtle hint of mid-era Morbid Angel with parts of the riffs eventually some eerie keyboard sound kicks in creating a really ambient atmosphere within the song, King maintains a great mid paced tempo throughout combining a balance of heavy riffs,industrial/electronic sounds with absolutely fantastic drumming.

  Things get even more unnervingly dark with the extremely apocalyptic sounding Meltdown which sounds like some impending nuclear attack is imminent with panic and fear taking its grip on everyone, things get a little eerie and surreal with the Industrial/Electronic meanderings of the excellent Mr. Cool the atmosphere on this reminds of Strapping Young Lad mixed with elements of Aphex Twin, onto the absolutely sublime Teemu Khan the techno intro is absolutely fantastic and creates a brilliant vacuum for the brutality that follows in trademark Organ Blender style which leads to peak 90's era Industrial vibes reminiscent of early Fear Factory, craziness ensues with the absolutely insane Drugz with it's relentless vocal delivery and it's dark and eerie industrial sounds,the further you get into this album the crazier it gets.

 We go deeper down the rabbit hole with the insane atmosphere we're treated to on the last three tracks Voice, Space Rave & The Nasty 90's are nothing more then surreal and darkly humourous insanity which leave you wondering what sort of nightmare have i been dragged through,like you've taken a cocktail of every hallucinogenic known to humankind and have the surreal feeling that this nightmare is neverending.

 Organ Blender are a band on the up and they've created a modern day masterpiece with Teemu Khan, if you like 90's Death Metal in the vein of Morbid Angel and Pungent Stench and Industrial Metal in the vein of Godflesh,Strapping Young Lad and Fear Factory mixed with the Techno/Electronic undertones of Aphex Twin you need to check this album out, i noticed alot of people referenced Blade Runner when the saw the album cover but on further prolonged listen you could easily add the cult comedy series Red Dwarf due to the humourous undertones running throughout the album,you can also tell the band had an awful lot of fun in the writing process in this album, on that note " You Will Surrender To The Blender".

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/organblenderband

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/organblenderband/

BANDCAMP:https://organblender.bandcamp.com/

SPOTIFY:https://open.spotify.com/artist/1k5YMnMnfE8kkI3r00MNQ3?si=4pZyy8ZURgm-NfRJTaGjPw

YOU TUBE:https://www.youtube.com/user/parigeen

MERCH:https://www.redbubble.com/people/parigeen/shop

Ren Marabou & The Beserkers "Tales Of Rune" Album Review

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 The wait has finally come to an end and now the world get's to hear the highly anticipated excellent new Ren Marabou & The Beserkers album Tales Of Rune, safe to say this is a band that produces an absolutely brilliant portrayal of Norse Mythology,Viking Lore and Paganism all the while having a lot of fun doing it which comes across extremely clear while listening to their music.

 The album opens up with the track Fenrir "The One who Dwells in The Marshes"."The Chain Breaker" a track full of passion,heavy riffing with a blend of aggressive and clean vocals a great way to set the tone for what's to come. Dodssang(Death Song) get's the adrenaline flowing with it's fast pace remeiniscent of Motorhead,midway through the pace is slowed a slight bit with added groove. We're treated to a beautifully crafted song with feeling in the form of the brilliant Kinsmen Die the track is full of melancholy and a sense of lost Viking Brethren,the lead guitar in this song is a thing of beauty adding to the overall atmosphere running throughout the song. Three of Norns starts off with a slow pace before gradually building up to Hefty Riffage and plenty of Groove then into some fantastic Lead Guitar work,this is one of my favourite trcks on the album and continues to push the atmospheric boundaries of the album to another level. Getting to the half way point on the album we're drawn into the enchanted realms of the forest with the track Huldra a song about the seductive forest creature which has plenty of killer mid paced riffs and an alluring atmosphere which captivates and traps you in it's grasp.

Onto the seventh track on the album and the absolutely sublime Sigurd The Dragon Slayer this track is all about the riffs and there's plenty of quality riffs to grab the listeners attention,the atmosphere on this song makes you feel like you're going into a monumental battle only to be betrayed and murdered after the arduous and dangerous tasks. Brand Of Sacrifice is a ripping track full passion and aggression,the presence of traditional instrumentation gives the song a really full of life atmosphere and draws the listener further into the stories within the album.

Let's Drink Mead has a very Anthemic feeling to it and sounds like Ren Marabou and The Beserkers had an awful lot of fun in the writing process of this song, the concept behing this song is about Vikings killing each other in Valhalla and then going to The Great hall and drinking Mead together, overall a fantastic song. The mood get's a little bit melancholic with Odin's Sons and Daughters the track opens up with a riff not too dissimiliar to Gary Moore or Thin Lizzy ,this is another song that builds up the pace and mood switching between a melancholic atmosphere with exceptional lead guitar work to Aggressive and Passionate Vocal delivery. Bragi(God Of Music) at intervals has a somewhat hypnotic atmosphere with the layered vocals and the presence of a Mandolin giving a nice jovial feeling. The final track on the album Finngaill(Fair Foreigners) is a fitting way to end this brilliant release with it's homage at the intro(of the song) to the traditional Irish song Oro, Se Do Bheata 'Baile, a fun song about travelling with the Viking Hordes and drinking mead.

This is the bands 4th album and is by far their best to date,they continue to push the boundaries of their brand of Viking Metal/Norse Pagan Rock with brilliant musicianship, atmosphere, passion and a will to improve with each release, Ren Marabou & The Beserkers are a band on the rise and long may it continue, Tales Of Rune is an album full of Passion,Fun,Atmosphere and all the nuances to broaden their fanbase.

STREAM, LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD THE BANDS MUSIC FROM THE LINKS BELOW

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4SO7ijOmWLl1eIOXgGMOGB?si=Jn_1X-v8TqiB2u9riUfgvQ

https://renmarabou.bandcamp.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0RzRnLskzx0barj6BsL87w

CHECK OUT THE BANDS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AT THE LINKS BELOW

https://www.facebook.com/renmarabou

https://www.instagram.com/renmarabou/