Blackened, Brutal, Atmospheric & Technical – “Despoilment of Origin” by Sarpanitum

Posted by Witness to the Void on Nov 23, 2011 in Now Playing | 0 comments

Apparently there is something in the water that leads to fantastic death metal in Birmingham, UK. Home to one of my personal favorite atmospheric / experimental death metal bands Mithras, something about this town must inspire metal musicians to look to the far past. Just as the aforementioned band looked to Rome and Persia, Sarpanitum’s Despoilment of Origin is rooted in Babylonia, Sumeria, and Akkadia. It was released on Galactic Records in 2007.  Ancient history aside, this album blasts with an absolute whirlwind of atmospheric brutal blackened technical death metal. If that isn’t a sub-sub-sub-sub-genre yet, Despoilment of Origin validates the necessity for it to be. The band members all play in noteworthy bands as well, including live guitars for Mithras, as well drums for Anaal Nathrakh and Fukpig.

Ingredients for top tier death metal: Mesopotamian mythology (similar to Nile but not Egyptian), hellacious brutal death metal fury (Cerebral Bore), sparsely and efficiently used imperial atmospherics (Behemoth, but without the slower passages), whirling technicality (Hate Eternal), and a spice of sinister death metal riffing (Diabolic). Puree these seemingly opposing flavors of metal until fluid. Final result: A  savage smoothie of technicality and devastation that will quench your thirst for unique but pulverizing death metal.

SARPANITUM
Despoilment of Origin (2007)

United Kingdom, Galactic

Band information from:
http://www.last.fm/music/Sarpanitum/+wiki
http://www.myspace.com/sarpanitum
Despoilment of Origin cover art from:
http://www.facebook.com/sarpanitum

Monumental Torment… a terrorizing blast!

Posted by Rimmon on Nov 17, 2011 in Now Playing | 1 comment

Monumental Torment is worth mentioning for couple of reasons. They’re fucking technical. They’re death metal and hell, they are uncompromising. I found people bashing them for being boring and duplicating other bands. I must warn You. This is highly specialistic music and not every band are discovering new hilltops. Some of they simply concentrate on delivering high octane and pretty insane music. I agree with one thing. They’re compositions are not too much diverse in overall. Common thing here is hanging on tremolo but in more technical than Cannibal Corpse, way. They play in tempo almost all the time and this is one of a hell, tempo indeed. With this kind of manner they chosen to attract some of the sickest maniacs of the genre, only. I think it is hard to listen Monumental Torment by the way of listening to In Flames or Dark Tranquillity (which are great bands btw.). You must be prepared to be technically slaughetered, even if they lacks of diversity through the album. Nonsense for some and genuine for others. I let You choose by Yourself. Check them!

MONUMENTAL TORMENT
Element Of Chaos (2011)

Russia/USA, Soulflesh Collector Records, Technical Death Metal

“The Afterthought Ecstasy” by First Fragment

Posted by Witness to the Void on Nov 13, 2011 in Now Playing | 0 comments

Hailing far from the fair weather of California, Quebec’s First Fragment has a self-released EP entitled The Afterthought of Ecstasy. Calling it a powerful debut is an understatement. The band plays hyper technical death metal with a touch of a classical side like earlier Fleshgod Apocalypse (before the onset of the ear-splitting keyboards in every song). First Fragment’s technical prowess is evident and undeniable, and on these 6 tracks they keep the songs tight and interesting. Their influences of neoclassical metal, namely Yngwie Malmsteen, come through quite clearly and fluidly, yet never take away from the Origin level of technicality. The production, usually not a high point on such an affair, is extremely clear without sounding sterile. This is worth your time, and you will most likely be hearing of these guys again in the future, hence it would be a wise idea to take note now so you can tell your friends all about how you heard their first EP years ago.

> www.myspace.com/firstfragmentqc

And the sky falls down… Severed Crotch – The Nature Of Entropy

Posted by Rimmon on Nov 13, 2011 in Now Playing | 0 comments

Intriguing intro and we’re into deepest lungs of hell. Severed Crotch isn’t the typical tech-death “onanist” band. They’re brutal above all and next to it, they serve You technical approach to the topic. Even if they’re death metal horde, they aquired will and power to cast several breakdowns at Your neck. Severed Crotch does not avoid aggressive rhythms and brutal blasts. Interesting thing is they come from Iceland (Reykjavik for being precise) and thus they are worldwide quality band already. Great, harsh vocals do their job planned from the beginning. They kill and don’t take hostages. It sounds very open to me. Severed Crotch isn’t into very complex technical death structures but their style varies from song to song. Very nice drift from strictly technical releases. Mature and relaxing death metal witch jazz additives.

SEVERED CROTCH – The Nature Of Entropy (2010)
Iceland, Self-released

Inauguration of extremity – Anomalous – Ohmnivalent

Posted by Rimmon on Nov 13, 2011 in Now Playing | 1 comment

How insane and intense feeling Anomalous shot into my body! At the beginning You will hear some wild neoclassical soloing and extreme visions of techno-brainiacs! There’s couple of progressive moments and they kicks ass (eg. “Ohmnivalent” and “Mitosis” track), but there’s a lot of “chaotic” structures as well. Those parts are not much into melody or songwriting. They concentrate on severe damage and virtuoso stops and go’s with precision and almost – blasting power. You will encounter some post-industrial-keyboard-driven moments of melodic eccentricity as well. One thing I’m sure – this is very high form of death metal powered, technical music. Vocals are the weakest part in my opinion. Too much deathcore tone in it, I suppose. Beautiful thing about “Ohmnivalent” album is the diversity and connection of different styles. Above all – highly technical, amazing cd!

ANOMALOUS – Ohmnivalent (2011)
USA, Brutal Bands

Ouroboros – Glorification Of A Myth… further development of technicality

Posted by Rimmon on Oct 23, 2011 in Now Playing | 0 comments

This is way more sick than I thought! Deathcore alike logo made me wonder if this would be technical in any form but trust me… this IS technical stunner! Genuine rhythm masterpiece. Thrashy, catchy melodies are key to their success! Vocals lacks of dynamics sometimes but this isn’t a problem if You are tech freak like me. The sound is perfect. Selective, bright and crisp. Mastering is very important in such releases and this one is amazing. I would not hesitate to call them rhythm maniacs. They based their compositions structures on technical rhythm and this worked amazingly well! Go buy it now!

Ouroboros – Glorification Of A Myth (2011)
Technical Death/Thrash Metal, Self-released

Stab in the face – Aeon Of Horus

Posted by Rimmon on Aug 30, 2011 in Now Playing | 0 comments

Whoa, this is it! Massive piece of technical, keyboard driven, death metal! There are hundreds of tempo changes (especially in the first tracks). The melodies are often similar to Necrophagist but Aeon Of Horus is class itself. I love the use of keyboards by the way. They’re very subtle and plays almost all the time in the background, creating intriguing atmosphere. Later in the album, music evolving in more mature and dark mood. “The Embodiment of Darkness and Light” is very high value album. Even my wife like it and she isn’t into tech death scene, really (except Death maybe, but they’re different story…). They were able to achieve some kind of versatility. Technical for sure but not orthodox. Great melodies and high quality vocals make it a must have album!

Ps. they have released new EP – “Exile” on July. I must check it asap.

AEON OF HORUS
The Embodiment of Darkness and Light (2008)
Technical Death Metal, Self-released

Hey Hello, The Francesco Artusato Project

Posted by Rimmon on Aug 28, 2011 in Now Playing | 0 comments

Maybe All Shall Perish isn’t in my top 100 favourite bands but Francesco Artusato proves to be worthy calling him a virtuoso! Oh well, he is pretty new in the band (from 2010) so his first solo album doesn’t sound like a deathcore fortunately.

He plays progressive metal with nice and subtle atmosphere. Lot’s of up & downscale playing but very easy to listen. Not too demanding for the listener but complexity level is high, ofcourse. Rich and full sound, makes this a really good experience. Recommended for any prog fan as well for tech deathies (hehe) like me

The Francesco Artusato Project – Chaos And The Primordial
2011, Sumerian Records, Progressive Metal

Christian Muenzner solo album!

Posted by Rimmon on Jun 26, 2011 in Now Playing | 2 comments

I never saw it coming and here it is! I saw on the official Christian facebook that his solo album is finaly here. Hm finally? Pity that I didn’t know it should appear on the market. Anyway – the good thing is the album is marvelous! Melodies and neoclassical feeling is everywhere! It’s like Warmen solo project on one hand and hmm… Kenziner on the other? Even the title is similar (Kenziner’s “Timescape”). There’s alot more of strict arpeggio playing comparing to K. Oh, and sometimes You can even hear progressive death metal here but this is rather on rare ocassion. There are hundreds of inspirations that can be found on Christian debut and You can say everything but there’s not much originality in this record if You are into virtuoso scene.

The technique is ofcourse flawless and the compositions are long and changes alot. I think I forget to mention that this is an instrumental album. I like it alot but there’s nothing I didn’t hear before.

Christian Muenzner – Timewarp (2011)
Self-released, Progressive Metal

After Oblivion heritage…

Posted by Rimmon on Jun 26, 2011 in Now Playing | 0 comments

After Oblivion is a decent technical thrash metal act which released 2 ep’s and one split up to now. They’re from Bosnia And Herzegovina and that’s the country You rarely hear of in the matter of metal. What’s the best and most weird about this cd You ask? The vocalist – Adnan Hatic sounds just like Chuck Schuldiner! When I first heard the band I thought “what the hell?!”. It would be hard to distinguish those two bands if After Oblivion would record a Death cover! This is simply a characteristic feature but the curse as well because it is hard to not compare them.

Maybe it’s a good thing that their styles differ? Anyway. The music is pretty simple even if the technique is very good. Compositions are rhythmic most of the time and go up and downwards. The funny thing is that those rhythmic parts are sometimes similar to Death style. After all I found this cd an interesting experience that any fan of technical music could check (especially for the vocals hehe). Their debut album should be a blast!

AFTER OBLIVION – Vultures (2011) promo