Norway's Diskord have a reasonably old school sound to them, but calling them an old school death metal band would do them a disservice, I believe. Rather than be a clone of whatever classic death metal band they prefer, Diskord have infused themselves with the elements of what made death metal of that era so great. What do I mean by that? I mean that there's a little big of grit, not the immaculately polished sound that's part and parcel of modern death metal. I mean that if I saw Diskord live, I would furiously bang my head rather than stare at the guitarists hands the entire set. I mean that it's interesting and even inventive, rather than treading a path so well worn it's become a ditch. It seems that being inventive in metal music (or music period) these days means combining seemingly disparate influences to create something fresh, if that's the case, than Diskord are surely among the leaders of the pack in that regard. If there was one band to compare them to, it would be Atheist, whose proclivity for the progressive they share. On occasion they ascend to Cynic-esque levels of jazz fusion and Disharmonic Orchestra oddness. But Dystopics isn't all strange chords and timing, Diskord take their time to slog through the muck with a Mental Funeral era Autopsy vibe. Autopsy and Athiest might be on opposite ends of the death metal spectrum, but there are some totally out there moments on this record that remind me more of Iceburn than any death metal band. Yeah, let that one sink in while you're downloading this and adding it to your music library...which you should start doing right now.
Showing posts with label death metal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label death metal. Show all posts
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Diskord- Dystopics (2012)
Been on a pretty big death metal binge recently, so how about some more totally rad death metal from 2012?
Norway's Diskord have a reasonably old school sound to them, but calling them an old school death metal band would do them a disservice, I believe. Rather than be a clone of whatever classic death metal band they prefer, Diskord have infused themselves with the elements of what made death metal of that era so great. What do I mean by that? I mean that there's a little big of grit, not the immaculately polished sound that's part and parcel of modern death metal. I mean that if I saw Diskord live, I would furiously bang my head rather than stare at the guitarists hands the entire set. I mean that it's interesting and even inventive, rather than treading a path so well worn it's become a ditch. It seems that being inventive in metal music (or music period) these days means combining seemingly disparate influences to create something fresh, if that's the case, than Diskord are surely among the leaders of the pack in that regard. If there was one band to compare them to, it would be Atheist, whose proclivity for the progressive they share. On occasion they ascend to Cynic-esque levels of jazz fusion and Disharmonic Orchestra oddness. But Dystopics isn't all strange chords and timing, Diskord take their time to slog through the muck with a Mental Funeral era Autopsy vibe. Autopsy and Athiest might be on opposite ends of the death metal spectrum, but there are some totally out there moments on this record that remind me more of Iceburn than any death metal band. Yeah, let that one sink in while you're downloading this and adding it to your music library...which you should start doing right now.
Norway's Diskord have a reasonably old school sound to them, but calling them an old school death metal band would do them a disservice, I believe. Rather than be a clone of whatever classic death metal band they prefer, Diskord have infused themselves with the elements of what made death metal of that era so great. What do I mean by that? I mean that there's a little big of grit, not the immaculately polished sound that's part and parcel of modern death metal. I mean that if I saw Diskord live, I would furiously bang my head rather than stare at the guitarists hands the entire set. I mean that it's interesting and even inventive, rather than treading a path so well worn it's become a ditch. It seems that being inventive in metal music (or music period) these days means combining seemingly disparate influences to create something fresh, if that's the case, than Diskord are surely among the leaders of the pack in that regard. If there was one band to compare them to, it would be Atheist, whose proclivity for the progressive they share. On occasion they ascend to Cynic-esque levels of jazz fusion and Disharmonic Orchestra oddness. But Dystopics isn't all strange chords and timing, Diskord take their time to slog through the muck with a Mental Funeral era Autopsy vibe. Autopsy and Athiest might be on opposite ends of the death metal spectrum, but there are some totally out there moments on this record that remind me more of Iceburn than any death metal band. Yeah, let that one sink in while you're downloading this and adding it to your music library...which you should start doing right now.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Organ Donor- Demo (2012)
The "About" section on the Organ Donor Facebook page describes them as "Friends ripping together in the vein of Entombed, Death, Napalm Death, Atheist, Carcass..." I find that sometimes bands aren't necessarily the best at describing their sound, I can think of a few reasons for this. One is that being part of the project, they're unable to give an objective summary of their sound or draw accurate comparisons. Another is that they (falsely) believe themselves to be wholly original and refuse to acknowledge that they wear their influences on their sleeves just like everybody else. Organ Donor are obviously not one of those bands.
Organ Donor come from Richmond, VA, which is a veritable primordial soup for metal bands these days. Sometimes I wonder why I left that place. Anyway, Organ Donor will forcibly rip the organs from your body and donate them to science, because they're nice guys like that. They feature current and ex members of Battlemaster, Parasytic, Cannabis Corpse, Bastard Sapling and about a dozen other bands (and this demo was recorded by the guitarist of Windhand). You'll find that the list of bands from their Facebook page as quoted above will give you a pretty good idea of what they sound like. Though, I might add early Morbid Angel to the list. They've got all the necessary ingredients to satisfy that refined old school death metal palate of yours. Groovy riffs that beg, nay, command you to bang your head, a few ripping solos, a hammering rhythm section and one of the best vocalists and wittiest lyricists in death metal today.
Oh, and you can name your own price for it on Bandcamp, so why the hell wouldn't you get this?
Organ Donor come from Richmond, VA, which is a veritable primordial soup for metal bands these days. Sometimes I wonder why I left that place. Anyway, Organ Donor will forcibly rip the organs from your body and donate them to science, because they're nice guys like that. They feature current and ex members of Battlemaster, Parasytic, Cannabis Corpse, Bastard Sapling and about a dozen other bands (and this demo was recorded by the guitarist of Windhand). You'll find that the list of bands from their Facebook page as quoted above will give you a pretty good idea of what they sound like. Though, I might add early Morbid Angel to the list. They've got all the necessary ingredients to satisfy that refined old school death metal palate of yours. Groovy riffs that beg, nay, command you to bang your head, a few ripping solos, a hammering rhythm section and one of the best vocalists and wittiest lyricists in death metal today.
Oh, and you can name your own price for it on Bandcamp, so why the hell wouldn't you get this?
Friday, October 19, 2012
Vinyl Fetish: Flourishing- The Sum of All Fossils LP Pre-order
The Sum of All Fossils was one of my absolute favorites of 2011. It's nearly a year later and I'm still having a ridiculously hard time trying to choose between it and Mitochondrion's Parasignosis to crown with album of the year honors. Regardless, they're both in the top 5 death metal records I've heard in the last decade and I'm jazzed this is finally being released on the only format that matters through Australopithecus Records. 300 copies are being pressed, 50 on 180gm black, 50 on maroon and 200 on white. A limited edition t-shirt to celebrate the vinyl release is also available for pre-order.
TSOAF is a challenging record and not just in terms of technicality (though it is that). It's challenging in that it completely defies pigeonholing and the listener's expectations at every turn. Swirling technical death metal riffs that would sound at home on a Mitochondrion or Portal record butt up against Am Rep style noise rock bits. The Godflesh-esque industrial stomp of the rhythm hammers throughout. The entire record is sprinkeled with ambient parts, grindcore sections and completely triumphal riffs. Even the vocals are hard to pin down, being alternately death metal growls and shouted noise rock fare. I know it sounds like a complete hodgepodge, but what makes this album so great is that Flourishing don't just manage to "pull it off", they make it sound as if combining the influences that make up their sound is completely natural and we were just too blind to see it. Fans of Gorguts, Human Remains, Pyrrhon or even Am Rep style bands with at least a tangential interest in metal should definitely check this out, it's a completely unique record.
TSOAF is a challenging record and not just in terms of technicality (though it is that). It's challenging in that it completely defies pigeonholing and the listener's expectations at every turn. Swirling technical death metal riffs that would sound at home on a Mitochondrion or Portal record butt up against Am Rep style noise rock bits. The Godflesh-esque industrial stomp of the rhythm hammers throughout. The entire record is sprinkeled with ambient parts, grindcore sections and completely triumphal riffs. Even the vocals are hard to pin down, being alternately death metal growls and shouted noise rock fare. I know it sounds like a complete hodgepodge, but what makes this album so great is that Flourishing don't just manage to "pull it off", they make it sound as if combining the influences that make up their sound is completely natural and we were just too blind to see it. Fans of Gorguts, Human Remains, Pyrrhon or even Am Rep style bands with at least a tangential interest in metal should definitely check this out, it's a completely unique record.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
StarGazer- A Great Work of Ages (2010)
Do you like the IDEA of progressive death metal but hate the fact that it usually entails incredibly cheesy guitar guitar solos, lame clean vocals, synth and other silly bullshit? Well, then Australia's StarGazer might just be the band for you. Featuring ex-members of Portal and a current member of Mournful Congregation, StarGazer play progressive death metal that harkens back to the days when "death metal" was the operative term in progressive death metal.Think Atheist, later era Death and (lame clean vocal having) Cynic with a touch of blackness and you should have a pretty good idea of what's in store for you. Not unnecessarily wanky or throw-as-many-riffs-together-as-possible-without-transitions sounding, which is a fucking achievement for a progressive death metal record these days. Highly recommended.
Try it:
Buy it:
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Vinyl Fetish: Ignivomous- Contragenesis LP
One of my favorite albums of the year to this point is finally available on the preferred format. There were two versions pressed, a limited "die hard" version on red vinyl that comes with a patch and a sticker and a regular version on black vinyl. Absolutely crushing death metal, don't miss out on this.
 | |||
| Die hard version. |
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Ignivomous - Contragenesis (2012)
Ignivomous' debut full length Death Transmutation was one of my favorites of 2009, so when they announced they were gestating a new one to be delivered this year, I was pretty excited. And deliver they did, this thing goddamn rules. I'm not big on the term old school death metal since it generally implies a simple rehashing of what's come before without really adding anything of merit and that's what the overwhelming majority of OSDM bands seem to be comfortable doing, so perhaps I'll call what Ignivomous does "traditional" death metal. If I had to compare Ignivomous to another band, it would be Incantation. If you know me (or Rob), you know that if someone across the room happens to mention Incantion our heads turn so fast that whiplash ensues. So having your band compared to Incantation is like getting the mother of all gold stars on your homework assignment in our book. Heavy as hell, tons of tremolo, Immolation-esque side-winding riffs and great vocals, this thing's a beast. Already on my best of 2012 list.
Buy it:
Not available yet, but when pre-orders are announced I'll definitely be making a post about it.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Vinyl Fetish: Carcass- Necrotic Innards Live May 1990
So...for serious, I need this. Limited to 150 copies on "Linda Blair's upchuck" colored vinyl.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Vinyl Fetish: Mitochondrion- Archaeaeon 2xLP Pre-order
Mitochondrion's 2008 debut full length Archaeaeon is finally set to be released on vinyl. If you can remember back a few months, I named Mitochondrion's Parasignosis album of the year for 2011. While Archaeaeon isn't quite as good as Parasignosis, it's still some remarkably good, completely head-fucked death metal. Issued in a gatefold with all new artwork, the first 150 copies come on gold vinyl. You better believe I got a gold copy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)