THE CASKET Zombified (Earblast Records 2021, ER023)

I have to congratulate THE CASKET for being the Malaysian band with the most elaborate Zombie-themed band in the country, couldn’t think of any other more prevalent than them as yet. As for the music itself, in short this is still in the ‘’you know it thus you will expect it’’ kind of old school death Metal entrapped in the 90s, veering more towards the build-up heaviness of mid-tempo horrors rather than speed or blast-beat. The feel-good kind of death Metal, if that is ever permitted in the death Metal dictionary. And by dear zombie, “Zombified” clearly is much more better in every aspect than its predecessor “Rise The Undead” which I am fortunate enough to get the opportunity to review it a certain while ago. Which is good, isn’t it? Why shouldn’t it. THE CASKET aim and purpose is as clear as an abandoned ruins after a zombie rampage, so clear that I will take the audacity of not explaining it further. No confusion is necessary. The theme is proudly declared, so is the music. That niche is yours THE CASKET, held it firmly. That (un)comfortable zone is proudly yours. Another congratulation is due for being loyal to the cause you have always believe in. Time and again in the long process it will pay its due as witnessed so many times before. You will also get a nice sticker and a button badge with the cd, rather than depart with your money for some questionable and curious purchase, “Zombified” is a safe bet if you know what’s on the plate.

www.facebook.com/thedeadcasket

earblastrecords@gmail.com

 

KILATUS The Return And Darkness It Shall Be (Evil Dead Production EDP089, 2021)

The album, and even the song-titles might give you the assumption of being slightly unimaginative and more than obvious adherence to the band’s influences and admiration, but please; just leave your prejudgment there and dive into it before making any conclusion. Sure, KILATUS offers nothing but the tested and tried European black Metal epiphanies, yet they know how to do it quite well I have to say. You know what’s being served on the plate, and you know how to consume it, thus there will be nothing you could complaint about. The songwriting is solid, always reminds you of a certain song or certain band here and there, but still, you will hear them until the very end. The third song (unsurprisingly bearing the album title) demonstrate this with confidence and without even an ounce of guilt. I highly regard the instrumentalization throughout the album, they are obviously well prepared. KILATUS is blazing through the soundscapes that shaped what the band is, tracks like “Kilatus Barzakh” for example seems like being taken out straight from “Panzer Division Marduk”, while “Thy Light After Several Thunder” clearly reminds you that KILATUS originates from this part of the world’s extreme Metal scene. I could go song by song and going on dropping names, but I leave it to your listening pleasure right there. As being stressed earlier, nothing at fault if you know what you listen, for these are no sloppy, half-arsed homages.

evildeadproduction@yahoo.com

facebook.com/SandakanWarDemons

 

 

VRYKOLAKAS “Unleashing Vrykolakas Upon Mankind” (EGP005)

VRYKOLAKAS is nothing new in the Singapore extreme underground Metal scenery. The fact that they have existed since 1991 is well documented, and the transition from a black death Metal act to the present brutal death Metal guise will not go unnoticed. And it is also a fact that their black death moments are short-lived, discovering brutal death Metal is their chosen path. This, ”Unleashing Vrykolakas Upon Mankind”, is the second full-length effort, recorded way back in 2006. Due to several circumstances it was only released in 2013 on cassette tape by Atomik Nuclear Desolation Productions, Chile. What I have here however, is the 2020 re-release on tape and CD by East Gothic Productions (EGP), the wrinkled old goat of Malaysian underground bastion since 1993 which has resurrected into life again recently. As the first track commence, it is all apparent of its brutal death lunacy. And it is also all apparent where their brutal death qibla’ is. VRYKOLAKAS nods towards the US brutal death legacy, more on this side of NY’s rather than Florida’s (as expected). I will not drop names, you know the usual suspects. Yet, as the proceeding continues, you will notice that VRYKOLAKAS didn’t intend to limit this album to just that.  As they go about throughout the whole 8 compositions, VRYKOLAKAS knowingly injected various elements into their music, wherever the songs allow them to. There are some breaks and parts which will remind you of certain influences as well, a welcoming trait that avoid Unleashing Vrykolakas Upon Mankind” turning into an endless barrage of brutality within the same spectre. Listen to the opening of ”Upcoming Sandstorm Devastation”, and don’t tell me you couldn’t find even an ounce of reminiscing a certain UK death Metal legends. The brooding, punishing of a crawler “Doom Upon Mankind” ends it all up fittingly. ”Unleashing Vrykolakas Upon Mankind” really deserves this revamped, revisited re-release, I suspect the initial release didn’t do them quite the justice they deserved, hopefully this EGP effort will rectify that in some sort. This will stand as one of the better brutal death Metal album to come out from Singapore, the way it holds ground since getting recorded way back in 2006 backs it up. Still brutally relevant. Choose either the tape or the CD, or might as well get both. The way EGP represented them smells awfully 1993 too, the way they did it back then; with ethics and stylization that I still holds high until today.

facebook.com/vrykobrutaldeath

facebook.com/eastgothicprod