Mortifera "Vastiia Tenebrd Mortifera" Goatowarex (2004)

This album was recommended to me off of the internet, and I had given Leviathan a listing for recommendations and when they listed this band under "melancholic French style" I was expecting a Leviathan clone, but French.

Track list are:

1. Fvrahgments 03:42 instrumental 

2. Le Revenant 04:34 

3. A Last Breath Before Extinction 05:32 

4. Epilogue D'une Existence de Cryssthal 03:11 instrumental

5. Ciel Brouillé 05:49 

6. Abstrbve Negabvtiyon Rebssurectyion 04:39 

7. Aux Confins des Tenebrss 02:51 

8. Fruits of a Tragic End (Celestia cover) 04:22 

This album is misery defined into music. Nukto's howls of despair and agony are intense and insane to say the least. Now, before I start on Nukto's mastery, I'll just go into the whole review...

Firstly, the only con is maybe the faulty drum sound every very once and awhile, and the lack of the beautiful clean breaks. 

Now...for the pros of the album. This album proves to be nothing short of genius. This album represents what depressive black metal can sound like, unlike Leviathan's mix of ambient music (which is very awesome as well) Mortifera have a very obvious sound. Slow, doomy, with various blast-away parts, but doomy and melancholic mostly throughout. The clean guitar tone is much more sophisticated than the usual black metal tone they have, which is excellent as well. The albums guitar tracks are nothing short of agonized despair formed into a sound bit. Nukto either has a knack for sorrowful tunes, or he spent days working on each riff. Hopefully the first, but hey. Now, the bass. Normally, for a black metal release, I'd say inaudible but the bass on Vastiia Tenebrd Mortifera is clear as day. And, the best part is it's very excellent work as well. Reminds of a certain Judas Iscariot, only more refined and less blasty. The drums, while we're on that bit, are excellent indeed. Nothing short of redefining what a black metal drummer should be able to do. Mix interesting beats, fills, and rides with blasting and double bass reliance.

Now, onto the obvious point of agony, fear, despair, and intensity: The vocals. Nukto is, in my book, one of the greatest black metal vocalists I've heard in a LONG time. His intensley high-pitched rasp is deadly fierce and occaisionally he gets to falsetto range intensities and just rapes your ear, for the better. He is not high pitched and annoying in the Dani Filth sense, but is raw, savage and crazy as hell in his wailing and screeching. I cannot tell what the hell he's saying, but it's most likely depressing so I normally try and decipher it myself, which is fun with these kinds of intense vocals.

Alright, I will flat out say this as well: Epologue d'une Existence de Cyrssthal is the most beautiful thing I've ever heard come from a black metal guitarist, and almost a metal guitarist (Mikael Akerfeldt wins that with Requiem from the album, Orchid). The simplicity (well, in how slow it is, the chords aren't exactly power chords) and brooding tempo mixed with the occaisional progression of happiness and/or epic"ness" create an astounding track. The dark moments are counterbalanced with the beautiful moments, then again with the downtrodden, sorrowful lines. This track shows Leviathan up in their ambient category with Nukto's own creativity and beautiful musical ideas. 

In short, this album is recommended to any fan of music with an emotive sound and even more so to people who love depressive metal. This album could also be for any black/doom/Beherit fans. This album stylistically paves a path for melodic/depressing black metal, in the same way Immortal forged a path for non-satanic Norwegian black metal bands, all those years ago. This album will crush your spirit and make you lie in a hole and/or ditch for several hours.

Favorite Songs: Can't really pick, but Epologue d'une Existence de Cyrssthal is definitely near the top. La Revenant is also brilliant. To put it in shortword; this album contains no bad songs, and no bad lines, and every song works off the other in a concept album style.

Favorite bits, though? Easily the doomy tremolo/chorded parts and the clean moments. Those are just beautiful and inspiring. 

Easily one of the best black metal albums I've heard, and definitely the best French black metal release I've ever heard.

Lo Mejor del Metal Mexicano 2017

20 discos esenciales del metal hecho en México, una vez más quedó demostrado que el metal nacional goza de cabal salud con estos discos y el nivel de las bandas. Aquí no puse un orden de importancia pero si de los que considero los mejores lanzamientos de éste año, así que sin hablar más aquí les presentó mi lista personal del 2017, sus comentarios son bienvenidos y si me ha faltado incluir algún disco fue por desconocimiento (es difícil enterarse de los lanzamientos mexicanos), pero con gusto los podemos incluir más adelante.

Cabe mencionar que algunos adelantos los puedes encontrar en las diversas plataformas digitales de música como you tube, bandcamp, spotify, deezer, entre otras para que te vayas haciendo una idea de como suena el álbum de las bandas, todas son absolutamente recomendables. Como decía son 20 discos más un disco extra como sorpresa para completar las lista de lo mejor del meta mexicano 2017.

Saludos lml

1.- Darkest Agony "Forbidden Tales"

Coincidiendo con la fecha de su septimo aniversario como banda, Darkest Agony estrena el EP "The Forbidden Tales". Thrash Metal mexicano

2.- RAVENOUS DEATH "Ominous Deathcult"

Old School Death Metal, así es todavía hay bandas mexicanas que rescatan el underground en toda la extensión de la palabra.

3.- VULGAR ADDICTION "D-HOMINIZACIÓN" 

Una perfecta combinación del Thrash Metal, Death Metal y con tintes Groove de los años '90s, que más quieres? una verdadera obra maestra. 

4.- Strike Master "Strike Master" EP 

Los maestros del Thrash Metal actual nos presentan una obra llena de metralla en éste EP que será un absoluto disfrute para todos. 

5.- The Architect Of Nightmares "Consummating Divinity" 

La oscuridad sigue llegando con el Death Metal de los originarios de Monterrey con su excelente cruce entre el Thrash Metal y Death Metal. 

6.- Matalobos - "Until Time Has Lost All Meaning"

Los maestros del Doom / Death Metal mexicano actual nos presentaron una nueva entrega donde ha sido bien recibido en diversas partes del mundo, no es ara menos la desolación, agresividad y melancolía te van a atrapar con éste disco. 

7.- Skidraid "Demo 2017" 

Un excelente demo como de los que se añoran escuchar siempre, es lo que presenta ésta banda de Black Metal, frío, denso y repleto de malevolencia. 

8.- Ereshkigal "Nocturnal Abominations" 

La leyenda de méxico, True Mexican Black Metal nos viene a inspirar como debe sonar el metal oscuro en la actualidad. Una verdadera fortaleza oscura que penetra a tu cerebro, las huestes de Lord Marganor están más vivos que nunca. 

9,. Anna Fiori "IN OHTLI TONALLI" 

Metal sinfónico con tintes operísticas en español que orgullo que nuestra cultura ancestral sea fusionada con este genero tan espectacular y enérgico, felicidades a Anna por este grandioso trabajo. 

10.- Introtyl "Inside The Violence" Ep 

Éstas chicas nos ponen en sintonía con el actual Thrash Metal, repleto de riffs agrsivos y sin descanso impulsados por una batería demoledora, éste EP es estupendo para escuchar una y otra vez. 

11.- Venemous "Rise In Glory" 

Jóvenes y ya con una madurez en el aspecto musical así se presentan con su primer larga duración estos muchachos de Venemous y su poderoso Thrash Metal. 

12.-  Fumata "La Perfección de la Muerte" 

 Un álbum pesado, agresivo, denso, pero sin una luz de esperanza, así suena éste trabajo de Stooner y doom metal de muy buena calidad, para disfrutar en un lugar recóndito con un mínimo de iluminación. 

13.- Slaves of Suffering "Advent of Despair" 

Brutal Death Metal de la actualidad, así que ya sabes que esperar por lo que no está de más decirles que aquí todos los instrumentos forman una amalgama de riffs y vociferaciones adictivas. 

14.- This-Is-Hell "Ecos del Tiempo" 

Abrasivo Death Metal clásico que desata hostilidad y melodía bajo violentos riffs. Esto es Metal desafiante de voz desgarrada ejecutado con velocidad y coraje. 

15.- Martyre "The Last Solace". 

Sorprendente debut de esta agrupación Mexicana que libera una seductora fusión entre un profundo Doom con un memorable Goth n' Roll. Excelente debut y para descubrir bandas nuevas, ésta es ideal.

16.- Abominate "Crónicas de la Atrocidad".

De la frontera norte de México llega este atroz y perverso Brutal Death Metal aplastante y violento. Contundente producción con influencia directa de leyendas del género que desplaza poder, crueldad y convicción. Arriba el norte lml.

17.-  Remains "Througth Eyes of Death".

Encarna un mordaz y oscuro Death Metal que vocifera violencia y crueldad bajo el influjo de la vieja escuela en una nítida y poderosa producción. Nuevos temas más versiones renovadas totalmente regrabadas que denotan poder absoluto.

18.- Grotesque Deity "At the Blackest Way to Death".

Colosal debut de abominable y espeso Death Metal con excelente producción y presentación. Un oscuro trabajo que revela influencia de la vieja escuela, logrando un pútrido Metal de espíritu longevo.

19.- Weedsnake "Reburn".

Segundo trabajo del reptil metálico que exhala humo, vicio y distorsión. Densa propuesta que enreda un rabioso Stoner con lascivo y venenoso Sludge Doom Metal, una verdadera pasada todo el disco, aquí se ve la calidad de las agrupaciones nacionales.

20.-  Evilforces "Pest, Plagues & Storms"

Oscuro y violento debut de creativo Black Metal conceptual creado por una solitaria y perturbada mente. Esto es música maldita de temática sobrenatural que denota convicción, seguridad y locura total, la banda nos lleva por pasajes oscuros y violentos en éste mismo disco.

EXTRAS

Funereal Moon "Heavy As Hell"

Una leyenda viviente del metal underground mexicano, sobrevivientes de la ola de los primeros años noventas nos presentan una vez más su concepto de oscuridad total con su renombrado estilo, años y años en el camino de la blasfemia y todavía su legado no está completo. Hail Funereal Moon.

The Chasm "A Conscious Creation from the Isolated Domain Phase I"


La naturaleza instrumental del álbum, A Conscious Creation from Isolated Domain - Phase I es inmediatamente evidente como una continuación natural del sonido en el que los chicos de The Chasm han estado trabajando. por años; lidera la batalla sobre una variedad de ritmos interesantes, todos en el estilo melódico personal singularmente único de Corchado, que en ocasiones se sincronizan en armonía, pero con la misma frecuencia frenéticamente rebotan desde cualquier raíz instrumental. Brillante demostración de habilidades.

Varathron "Walpurgisnacht" Unisound records (1995)

Anyone who thinks black metal is nothing but static and noise would cry if they heard Varathron. The melodic structure of the band's music transcends any such nonsensical tags - this is pure atmospheric darkness set to a traditional heavy metal framework and topped off with deep, hoarse growled/whispered vocals. The riffwork is simultaneously flowing yet wickedly sharp, alternating between lurching, stabbing groove and liquid chord progressions over relentless drumming. A dark, gloomy feel permeates the entire album, accentuated by occasional subtle synth melodies and acoustic breaks.

Tracklist is:

1.     Tleilaxu (The Unborn Child) 05:59   

2. Cassiopeia's Ode 08:00   

3. The Dark Hills 03:57   

4. Mestigoth 04:48   

5. Birthrise of the Graven Image 05:18   

6. Redeunt Saturnia Regna 01:36  instrumental

7. Under the Sight of Horus 06:38   

8. Somewhere Beyond Seas 04:55   

9. Sic Transit Gloria Mundi 01:12  instrumental

"Tleilaxu (The Unborn Child) and the 8-minute epic "Cassiopeia's Ode" set things off to a fine start - the former being a pure statement of intent, with a main riff that will stick in your head for days. The second is somewhat slower, proceeding at the pace of a funeral march. The guitar work contains plenty of tasty accents and string-bends, offset by well-timed tempo changes. The gloomy feel never lets up, giving the album a noticable aspect of doom-metal influence amidst the overall blackness. Other highlights include the blistering "Under The Sight Of Horus", which is possibly the centrepiece of this disc. "Birthrise Of The Graven Image" is no slouch either, and provides an extra dose of aggression. Overall, there's 7 epic black metal tunes and 2 atmospheric instrumentals ("Redeunt Saturnia Regna" and "Sic transit Gloria Mundi" which provide coda's for "Birthrise..." and "Somewhere Beyond Seas".

Extra mention should be given to the lyics, which are far from being the conceived norm of "Satan, rape Jesus in the arse, bring forth legions of hell" that several bands which will remain unnamed have convinced many are the staple lyrical formula for this genre. The stories (yes, stories) told in these songs are taken from various sources of ancient mythology - Mediterranean, mostly, but also touching on Egyptian tales and apocalyptic themes. Unfortunately, the album is completely out of print as far as I know, but if you happen to see it anywhere, don't hesitate to pick it up. It's well worth the investment.

Some tracks 

Burzum "Aske" Deathlike Silence Productions (1993)

Perhaps the epitome of the Norwegian Black Metal movement of the early to mid 1990's, these hymns are the creation of a visionary. Recorded and released at a time when new ground was being broken musically and ideologically, 'Aske' is not so much a 3 track mini Ep as it is a statement. The front cover alone (a photograph of the scorched remains of the Fantoft stave church, which also serves as a little reminder of the Count's extra-curricular activities) is enough to give you an indication of the ideas Grishnackh was purporting at the time. "Aske" release date March 10th, 1993.

Somewhat of a rarity here, this incarnation of Burzum is not solely Varg. Emperor's Samoth lent his bass-playing talents to 2 of the 3 tracks (namely tracks 1 and 3), though it's hard to notice, honesty. The production is rough and raw, but the guitars and drums, and vocals are clearly audible, and overall the production suits the music perfectly. 

The 3 tracks on offer are all excellent. "Stemmen Fra Taarnet" is a grim, Bathory-esque headbanger of a song. Beginning with a simplistic first-wave-sounding BM riff and developing slowly into an epic yet subtle piece, the feeling prevalent is one of soaring Norwegian landscapes by the sea, of water, and of fjords. Atmospheric is an understatement. The song ends very abruptly, strangely enough, leaving the listener momentarily off balance. 

Before given time to recover, "Dominus Sathanas" begins with an evil as fuck riff. Layered guitars provide harmonies and melodies that are equally menacing and sorrowful. Early on, Varg whispers something then lets out an acidic scream around 30 seconds into the track. Although short and somewhat repetitive, this effort serves as a good intermezzo between the 2 behemoths either side of it. 

"A Lost Forgotten Sad Spirit" is a fucking masterpiece of ashen, hateful, "depressing" (before that term became stale and meaningless) black metal, which is hard to describe musically, because the level it works best on is spiritually. This is another grand, epic firestarter, bringing to mind the image of a Norwegian standing in front of a blazing church in the black of night, gazing with pride upon what he has just created. Again, the pace is slow to moderate for most of the song, at times sounding like the kind of thing Nortt might do nowadays, though not as well.

The Count's burning screams embody perfectly the prevailing mood and spirit of this mCD. The sound of one man struggling against Christianity, single-handedly fighting to rid his proud, noble country of the pathetic Christian plague, and attempting to, with music and fire as his weapons, bring back "what once was". Close your eyes, and be taken to another place. A place where the strong prevail. Where the spirits of old are alive once more. 

The complete Ep from 1993.