Friday, February 26, 2016

Deceased-Cadaver Traditions (Double Cd-2015)

There is no denying that the US Metal act Deceased is a talented band. Just about every song on here is a cover of an already heavy and intense metal track, impressive covers of some really great songs, actually this double cd really kick ass and it is enjoyable. The production quality of the double album is the best. Aside the stunning production quality, the music is absolutely fantastic and every track on here is either a fun romp through memory lane, or just a very well done Extreme Metal version of some of metal's finest historical pieces. The real stand outs on here would have to be the Heavy Metal and Punk tracks that are covered. While hearing Death Metal renditions, the band seems to have taken these covers seriously, and the outcome is some stellar material. Expect some pretty good things from "Cadaver Traditions", and if you enjoy any of these bands, as well as Deceased, then this release is one that you really have to check out. Every track on here is a solid port over to a very serious Extreme Metal sound. Some of the tracks on here may even rub off on you as being better than the originals. It's a great album that you'll listen  more than once.
www.facebook.com/DECEASED-UP-THE-TOMBSTONES-OFFICIAL-BAND-PAGE-309398579508/
www.hellsheadbangers.com
Review by Paul Caravasi

Bat-Cruel Discipline 7" Ep (2015)

It sounds like the band is playing it live from your basement.Bat not give a fuck, infectious speed metal riffs by Nick Poulos, gritty and catchy, thick distorted bass and infectious vocals by Ryan (Municipal Waste), kick ass drumming by Felix (former DRI drummer) ready to kick your ass over and over again. In anticipation for their forthcoming debut album on HELLS HEADBANGERS, this 7" Ep features two exclusive songs of crude 'n' rude speed metal wreckage.
www.facebook.com/bewareofthebat
www.hellsheadbangers.com
Review by Paul Caravasi

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Expander-Laws Of Power (cassette 2015)

Expander is a kick ass kind of metal. It's almost punky, it's quite sludgey, and there's some big riffs to be found here. It's fast, got a huge punk feel and has some truely awesome riffing. It's fkn catchy.Yeah, this is really good! The relentless drumming combine to create a truly trance inducing experience. It's really quite astonishing when you discover that this cassette is from 2015. This tape been a real pleasant surprise for me. The riffs are massive. This is essential, I would say that it's terrificly entertaining and that most metalheads will thoroughly enjoy this. If you like Hellhammer or Celtic Frost, you'll enjoy this masterpiece of moshing brutality. Grab your beers and enjoy this fkn cool cassette!
www.facebook.com/expanderlives
facebook.com/CaligariRecords
Review by Paul Caravasi

ScumRipper-(cassette 2016)

Well, when it comes to the term 'oldschool', this band takes the cake. A selftitled demo cassette called Scumripper caught my attention and when i was listening to it with headphones and anxiously await the first track, not really sure what to expect.... Suddenly all hell breaks loose and a completely relentless raw Death Metal attack kicks in.The sound is raw and uncompromising. The song structure is also kept simple, short and to the point. The guitarplay might not take home any awards in the technicality department. However, something it has no shortage of is catchiness. I think it's safe to say that if you don't appreciate the riffs on this demo you shouldn't listen to extreme metal at all. I don't recall hearing anything this catchy and energetic since..well..ever before. The bass is for most of the time hardly audible at all but I guess that doesn't come as a surprise. It's there though, working mainly as a backbone for the guitars. I'm okay with that.The drummer makes a good job of what he has to work with. Like I said, the overall structure of this demo is kept simple. This doesn't prevent him from throwing some tasty fills and pattern changes that, while not interfering with the straightforwardness of the guitars, still makes this demo a more varied experience.Well, the vocalist has a very harsh style of singing. His raspy voice is capable of spitting out lyrics in fast and aggressive manner, something that fits the rest of the music like a glove. He just seems like the right man for this particular job. Another thing that goes for the music in general is the speed of which it's played. You won't be hearing a song on here that goes below 'fast' tempowise and quite often the songs are just blistering. There's not much more to say about this offering. If you like extreme metal
fast and catchy with a punk attitude, hunt down a copy of this demo.You won't be dissapointed. Simply put; this is one damn fine piece of Death metal from Finland!
www.facebook.com/scumripper
caligarirecords.storenvy.com
facebook.com/CaligariRecords
Review by Paul Caravasi

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Black Heaven-Blast The Mankind (2014)

Black Heaven is a modern day thrash metal band from Peru. They are mixing their classic thrash with an early-sounding style of black metal similar to what Bathory was doing on the pre-"Hammerheart" albums. By mixing these two styles and injecting some speed metal in the vein of Venom, we get Black heaven's debut full-length album "Blast The Mankind".  This album really is extremely fast, and certainly a blast from the past. The album begins with the title track which serves as killer introduction. It really reminds me quite a bit of early Destruction as well in terms of sound and purpose, and right away, the guitar riffs sound like something straight from the early Bathory or Sodom catalogue too. For the most part, the pace is fairly fast. This is definitely an album meant to melt your face off with the power of thrash. The songs are fast and these solos are fairly simple yet effective. This may seem atypical for thrash metal, and it did feel a little strange to me at first. This makes the album seem bland at times and generic. This is still a solid album that contains some badass guitar riffs, but it certainly would have benefitted from more solos and variation. In terms of drumming, the album is fairly one-sided, we mostly get d-beat punk drumming and ferocious thrash beats. This really amps up the energy and no doubt will satisfy a majority of thrash fans. The early Destruction-Venom-Bathory and Sodom influence no doubt affects the drum performance on this disc, but also especially is influential with the vocal delivery. Luis vocals are absolutely wretched on this album. Sure they do the deed and it's a fun piece of evil blackened thrash metal. Those people who love the old-school stuff should dig this. If you love thrash metal you should own this album!
www.facebook.com/blackheaventhrash
Review by Paul Caravasi

Aggression- (Demo 2015)

Originating from Peru, this amalgamation of death and thrash metal is a brutal one indeed. The vocals are low demonic death chants which are nearly impossible to decipher without the written lyrics, but great for the overall context of the music they make. Dark and heavy, the guitars are tuned down considerably low in true old school Southamerican death metal style, Aggression add much more of a thrash element into their death metal approach, making it more interesting in my opinion.The five songs are all memorable and very well played. You can listen to them all without wanting to skip any one of them. The lyrics on this album are great and full of anger, and the music makes up for it. "Maligno Empalador" is musically one of my favorite tracks on this Demo : sincere Thrash vocals over influenced death metal riffs with pounding double bass drums. The song is metaphorically comparing heroin overdose with human combustion and the lyrics are quite good. The guitar playing on this song is some of my favorite on the entire demo and it's songs like this which separate Aggression from a lot of other obscure Peruvian death/thrash bands. "Sicario" continues the gore theme and the riffs are brutal in nature with blast beats galore, this would be the second excellent song in a row. As with every song on this demo, the riffs and guitar solos are fucking killer and the songs progreses through several riffs which are all satisfying. After it's all said and done, this demo is so well musically performed I give it a solid 95%. I also rank it this high because I have a strong leaning towards both death metal and thrash. This will undoubtedly grow upon any death metal or thrash fan. Surely, you should not expect anything novel, it is musicwise vintage all the way. Well, if you're a old school die hard metalhead, you know that they do exactly what they want to do and do it with style. Old school deathrashing, but no old-timer, and thanks to Iron Xtian for sending a copy of this kick ass demo. Keep it alive!
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009045691095
aggression.pe@gmail.com
facebook.com/gateofhorror
Review by Paul Caravasi