Arghoslent "Galloping Through The Battle Ruins" (Wood-Nymph records 1998)

Over the years, there have been plenty of generic death metal bands, plagiarizing instead of taking influence and playing the same rehashed riffs over and over again. Arghoslent are definitely NOT one of these bands. Not only that, but they aren't overly technical - so people who do not play instruments can enjoy them just as much. From blissful, harmonized passages to frantic, power-chord rampant riffs, Arghoslent display a level of musicianship nearly unparalleled by other death metal bands.

First of all, RM's vocals are superb! He has a very distinctive rasp in his voice, and it suits all of the songs consummately. At times, you can tell that there is a distinctive black metal influence (As RM was also the vocalist for Grand Belial's Key). These moments spur the song onward and make the listening experience that much more enjoyable. The variety displayed in Arghoslent's songs is utterly amazing.

Track list are

1. Defile the Angelic 06:07  

2. The Banners of Castile 04:07  

3. The Entity 04:10   

4. Galloping Through the Battle Ruins 06:47   

5. The Imperial Clans 05:29   

6. Ten Lost Tribes 06:30  

7. Incursions 04:01   instrumental

8. Fall of the Melanic Breeds 04:48   

9. Rape of a Slave 04:34   

10. Transpolar Combat 07:42

Now there the guitars. Upon my first listen, I came to the conclusion that Pogrom and Holocausto are DEFINITELY influenced by heavy metal and NWOBHM. A lot of riffs consist of power chords, and the way they write songs make it very obvious. At times there are dual-harmonized Maiden-esque overtures and NWOBHM inspired power chord riffs. Also, their chord progressions are very similar to those that take place in heavy metal. Although there is a definite influence of heavy metal, there is a definite presence of death metal (obviously) and black metal influence. A few riffs off of the album are very dissonant and fast-paced, which reminds me of a few black metal bands. The listener, upon first listen, will be able to identify the various influences with ease.

Production-wise, this album is excellent. As an avid listener of metal, I like to hear the bass really high up in the mix, and this album does not disappoint. The bass is very closely mixed with the guitars, and listener's will be able to distinguish what Kommando is playing. For the most part, he follows along with the guitar (which there is nothing wrong with), and a few times he will go off on a little tangent. 

Then here is Alienchrist's drumming. While continuing with the theme of my review, this isn't your typical death metal drumming. You might have heard of that ever-so-popular beat that is displayed by nearly every death metal band in existence called the blastbeat. Well, there are NONE on this album. This is another attribute that sets Arghoslent away from the rest. Although there is double bass present in their songs, it isn't used in excess and leaves the listener in need of another listen. Obvious influences Alienchrist displays o nthis album are heavy metal and thrash metal. On a few instances you will hear the one-and-two-and-three-and-four thrash beat, which is one of the ones I love. Alienchrist perfectly compliments the band.

Overall, this album is relentless. Arghoslent is NOT your typical death metal band. I can guarantee you, after your first listen, that you will want to listen to it again, and it will stay in your respectable players for an extended period of time.

The Line up are:

Holocausto Guitars
Pogrom Guitars
Kommando Bass
Alienchrist Drums
Von Demonicus Vocals

Link full album

Buried Dreams "Beyond Your Mind" (Oz Records 1997)

An incredible record of a Mexican band, because it has everything that represents bands that emerged in the second half of the nineties. This disc was published on October 23th, 1997, it was integrated to the classic national metal discs along with names like Cenotaph, Agony Lords, Disgorge, Dies Irae among others that were produced by the legendary Mexican label Oz Records. For this reason we are honored to mention this debut album by this band originally from Mexico City: BURIED DREAMS. 

In the second half of the nineties he made his appearance several albums that were cataloged as the "Gotheborg sound" from Sweden as the bands At The Gates, In Flames and Dark Tranquility. For that reason, the same influences came to our country in the formation of bands with that same style. An example of this are the Buried Dreams who adopted these influences very well to create their own style and an identity for the national metal that would further along that same path.

The track list:

1. The Sword and the Cross 08:23  

2. Black Dragon 06:21   

3. Reflexions in the Light 07:15   

4. The Battle 06:07  

5. Beyond Your Mind 07:07   

6. Limits of Fantasy 08:47   

7. Looking Through the Fire 05:11   

8. Irony 06:09   

9. Moxtla 03:12  

10. Her Beauty    06:32

Line up recording

Ezequiel Mendoza Bass, Keyboards

Antonio De Yta Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals

Ndua Valdespino Guitars

Anuar Bautista Drums

Ivan Santos Vocals (lead)

The cover of both the jewel case and the slipcase are truly a work of art, showing the prehispanic influences of the group to create their own sounds and compositions. The group shows us how the Mexican metal sounds even though the sound of the production is a little low in the instruments. The influences of Swedish melodic death metal are notorious from the first notes of the first piece. They are a real enjoyment of the rhythm changes as well as their beating on the drums, boosting the speed of the songs or making more melodies between them. 

What I like about this album is its way of making each composition in a simple and direct way, we are pretentious or want to seem virtuous with the sounds, rather they give us melodies on the double guitars at each moment that a song advances, followed by the vowels that are absolutely brutal. There are no clean voices but you can appreciate the melodies of the lyrics between each song.

Contrary to popular belief Buried Dreams did not take their name from the song by Carcass. It was actually derived from their own song "Shining on Your Dreams", which the band believed to have "deep" lyrics. After realizing the coincidence they later covered "Buried Dreams" as a bonus track for the "Perception" album.

Buried Dreams formed in January 1995. In April the band began to perform live. They recorded their first promo-demo "The World Beyond" with three songs. One month later Buried Dreams won first place in the 1st.National Underground Heavy Metal Contest which led them to sign with Oz Records. So in August, with a new member for vocals, the band recorded their first full-length album called "Beyond your Mind".

I recommend the following songs as an example of the great work delivered by the band: "the sword and the cross", "black dragon", "reflexions in the light", "beyond your mind", "Irony" and "Moxtla".

Ungod "Circle Of The Seven Infernal Pacts" Merciless Records 1993

Type: Full-length
Release date: December 1993
Label: Merciless Records

Side A
1. Silence in the Golden Halls of Endless Hope 03:47   Show lyrics
2. Circle of the Seven Infernal Pacts 04:06   Show lyrics
3. Land of the Frozen Tears 01:51   Show lyrics
4. Magicus Tallis Damnatio 02:37   Show lyrics
5. Dark Winds Around the Throne of Blood 02:56

Side B
6. Lost Beast, Born in Darkness 03:59   Show lyrics
7. A Journey Through Forgotten Myth 02:23
8. The Grotesque Vision of a Dying Moon 03:24
9. Black Clouds Beyond the Fullmoon 04:50

If there was ever an underground black metal album that’s been tremendously underappreciated, this monster of a release has got to be it. “Circle of the Seven Infernal Pacts” stands for everything that is filthy and black and is a perfect example of a black metal gem lost in time and darkness. Razing guitars and haunting vocals that will give you chills of terror and excitement. A very atmospheric release with the “less is more” attitude that very few bands today are able to pull off. These German misanthropes wanted an album evil, old school, and primitive as possible and they did not fail. 

The drummer is listed as a session drummer but his contribution on this album adds to the frenzy turmoil that this album is best known for. A great example can be found in the short drum intro in “Dark Winds Around the Throne of Blood”. Although there are some mid-paced parts, overall I’d rate this a rather fast and aggressive release.

The 1 percent I left out on the score is because it is just a little too short. I would of loved this album to eclipse the 30 minute mark. It’s just too good and I’m always begging for more after the final apocalyptic riffs of “Black Clouds Beyond the Fullmoon” bring upon an abrupt and chaotic end. Recommended to fans of black metal who are waiting to be surprised by that one occult gem that they wished they had heard years before, this will not disappoint any fan into the primitive and the “dark and murky basement” sounding production.

Standout tracks: “Circle of the Seven Infernal Pacts”, “Magicus Tulis Damnatio”, “Lost Beast, Born in Darkness”, and “Black Clouds Beyond the Fullmoon”.

The production is very hollow flat and grainy; fortunatly manages to give a cult sound. Layout is cult simple and boring. Although it may seem I don't care for this album or band because of all the negative comments... there is just something I like about this album despite its flaws.

Lo mejor del Metal Mexicano 2018

Aquí tenemos 50 discos del metal mexicano de éste año 2018.

Hacer una lista del metal nacional durante un año es una hazaña debido a múltiples factores, entre ellos el que a veces no se entera uno de las fechas de lanzamiento, otro es la nula promoción de los managers o las labels, así como el acceso a material físico en cd o vinilo o bien en plataformas digitales como spotify o deezer. Por todo ello poder recopilar aunque sea de último minuto se puede considerar una enorme labor de investigación para que los integrantes de las bandas mexicanas sepan que estamos pendientes de su trabajo. Crear un demo, un Ep o un larga duración no es fácil, menos en nuestro país, por ello va nuestro reconocimiento a quienes sacaron material éste año. 

Les presento mi lista de lo mejor del Metal mexicano en sus álbumes del 2018, sin ningún orden particular todos tienen la característica de ser excelentes materiales. Hay de todos los subgéneros conocidos (heavy metal, thrash metal, black metal, death metal, grindcore, shoegaze, rock stoner, etc) demostrando que las bandas mexicanas no se quedan atrás en calidad y en lo que respecta a los años de permanecer en la escena, hago referencia a esto porque en ésta lista hay bandas surgieron en los años '80s, en los '90s, en los años '2000s así como de apenas unos años de creación.

Ningún álbum de ésta lista me defraudó en su sonido, arte de su portada, grabación y mezcla de las canciones, voces utilizadas, instrumentos, brutalidad en los riffs, en sonidos melódicos, por ello les recomiendo que las disfruten todas y cada una de ellas. VIVA EL METAL MEXICANO 100% CABRONES. 

1 Dark Matter "The Infinite Loneliness."

2 Bruja negra “Behold The Omen”

https://funerealmoonofficial.bandcamp.com/album/behold-the-omen

3 Funereal Moon “Viper”

https://funerealmoonofficial.bandcamp.com/album/viper

4 Shoah “Madness alive”

5 Introtyl “Creation of Insanity”

6 Ereshkigal “Intolerance”

7 Lost in the shadows “Under the storms of hell”

8 Nuclear chaos “Unite”

10 Savage Thrash “Bad Day”

11 Mosh pit “Orgullosamente hecho en México Vol. 1” Acrania Agresor Anima Tempo Carnal Epitaph Carnero Negro Cyclic Enigma Gunfighters Kadath Mexico  Massacrator  Nuclear Chaos ORCo.  Sultans of Beer  TrittonMetalBand (Official)  Unusual Sickness  Velvet Darkness VönBastard

12 Spit in your grave “The Night of Women's Rites”

13 Canserberia “Endless Paths for the Condemned Souls”

14 Kaizan “hansei”

15 Beyonder “Always on the road”

16 Armies of Death “Heretic Dominions”

17 Symbolum satanae “Honorem Satanae”

18 Order of chaos “Dē Rērum Natūra”

19 Caligatum “epidemus”

20 Centauro – daño colateral

21 Crazy lazy – que siga el rock. 

22 Evil entourage – Into the void. 

23 FBOT – information disease

24 Fecalizer – Fecal Inferno 

25 Necromind – pandemia

26 Sick carnaval – furorem

27 Solaris imperium – maquinam creantis

28 Spawn of annihiltion – insurrection

29 Symbiotic – malum in se

30 Tulkas – take the Word

31 Umbralia – the dark path 

32 Infernal faith “dehumanized”

33 Sanguinea “día de furia”

34 Blacklord “Ritual Under The Fullmoon”

35 Gunvolt "Galaxias En Caos" 

36 Dead Legacy "Transcendence"

37 Mortal Pestilence "Universal Hatred" 

38 Eunoë - "Nican Pecua Yaocuicatl"

39 Quenstion – holders of nothing

40 Evanoth "Tempestad" 

41 Skull Metal  "Obscura confusión" Demo 

42 The Ripper Hell Rising

43 The Suffering "Death Holds No Dreams" 

44 Zombiefication "Below The Grief" 

45 Rotten Pork "Tales Of Failure" 

46 Ancient Bloods "Mysterious Death Domains" 

47 Third Reich "Thrash Em Till They Die " 

48 Morbid Messiah “Demoniac Paroxysm” 

49 Obey The Moon "Lightless" 

50 Deidad “Cultos Profanos”

Sus comentarios son bienvenidos pueden ser con su cuenta de google o anónimos. Si alguna banda no incluimos en esta lista nos disculpamos por el inconveniente. Así que lo podemos incluir sin duda. Feliz año 2019, ya que el año 2018 nos dejo de nuevo con la lección de que en México el METAL EXTREMO goza de cabal salud.