THE CASKET "Dead Is Alive"

THE CASKET "Dead Is Alive" MCD (Earblast Records)

Right from the initial guitarworks it is clear to me that THE CASKET heavily leaned towards the US-styled brutal death Metal tendency. But they're not quite that to-the-wall US brutal death Metal all the way. This has much to do with the way they arrange the songs I think. Most prevalent is of course the drum-programming utilised here. I mean, those riffs will perfectly fit any guttural generic brutal death Metal album with ease, but then combined with the programming arrangements, they're not quite that anymore. Perhaps THE CASKET tries to incorporate some other elements of death Metal in them, but that drum-programming, they're not that potent. More than a couple of times I'll get lost in the course of the listening, distraction caused primarily by the way the programming altering the passages in the songs. Those songs will work even better with a real drummer, this I could almost be sure of. And that could elevate THE CASKET as a typically good death Metal band most probably. But for now, those drum-programmings won't do much for me. Leave MORTICIAN alone, they are not from this planet.

www.facebook.com/pages/thedeadcasket

CLAW "Negativity Through Solitude"

CLAW "Negativity Through Solitude" (Blackwinds Production)

CLAW's first album after a couple of rehearsals and demos finally being released to the masses, after numerous delays and slight mishaps. Well, with a band that preaches everything negative, that is to be expected I think. Currently the better known black Metal bands of Malaysia due to the nationwide exposure on a local so-called 'righteous' magazine (they're on the cover, yes, but not for an intended coverage), you can expect everything that's being shown on their previous outputs in "Negativity Through Solitude". Surging, sweeping black Metal hymns more akin to Finnish extreme black Metal hordes (Sargeist, Satanic Warmaster, Baptism, Behexen, you name it) and a bit of that Nordic side. Arguably the most 'un-local' of the local black Metal bands for now, period, which is a good sign too. Nothing to babble about their music, it is unapologetically true to the coffin black Metal cravings without any pseudo weird shit  with great songwriting talent. But maybe, and I do wish, that the drums could be more monotonous in the right way, it will suits the way they approach their compositions better. Sometimes that rolling breaks emerges too often that in some ways disturb the climaxing nature of the songs. Some clever plays with the cymbals would be more than enough and surely works even better. The mixing sounds a bit too much 'mp3' to my abused ears too, if you know what I'm saying. Coupled that with some simplistic DIY packaging that doesn't justify the potential of this damned album. Admittedly, the album will be released on cassette tape format soon, with different cover artwork and most importantly, with the mix that's being touted as 'how it was meant to be', so let's just hope all will fall into the right places this time. I awaits the more deserving presentation of this album, and let's see how much more it could surprise me then.

http://claw-kvlt.blogspot.com

ANGUISH "Hung Rotten"

ANGUISH "Hung Rotten" demo 2012

"Hung Rotten" could as well being summed up as the closing for a chapter of ANGUISH existence. The tape contains 2 unreleased songs from their "Mass Dismemberment"-era plus a cover of HYPOCRISY "Pleasure Of Molestation". Rather than being laid to rest and eat the dust, the sole remaining member from the original line-up vetoed those 2 songs are worthy enough to get it out and after some reworkings on the original recording, here they are. A direct continuation from "Mass Dismemberment", yet these sounds a bit more crude and menacing (different recording sessions maybe). ANGUISH are old school brutal death Metal done with passion and spirit fully intact, facts bare laid and sound with nothing to hide. Like what's being typed in the first sentence, it's a logical ending for a chapter. The new phase of ANGUISH will be revealed soon, according to their backbone, and from what I could gather it's going to be more and more death Metal madness to come. "Hung Rotten" is a fitting edition to their discography, this 3 songs are perfect to fill in the gaps while waiting for their new material. Pro-tape limited and hand-numbered to 200 edition.

magicbards@yahoo.com

HUMILIATION "Brink Of Defeat"

HUMILIATION "Brink Of Defeat" (Gempita Records)

Currently the most productive band from Malaysia (3 full lengths, 2 eps, and counting), HUMILIATION reminds us once more of the words 'less is more'. But you'll get nothing less, and nothing else than the formulaic headbanging-friendly old death Metal approach from them, and proudly to say you'll find that in all their releases. Here is a death Metal bowing to the likes of mighty BOLT THROWER and just a little of that 90's NYDM buoyancy. 3 tracks of all that in a sexy swirl vinyl "Brink Of Defeat" is. These kind of music works well in live shows, that is a fact. And it does well for me with the duration of this release, not so sure on that if they goes longer (a full album, for instance). That can be captured with more variations on the compositions probably. But variations plays second fiddle for Metal like these in most cases. Inking a deal with US based Deepsend Records just recently, and constant live shows throughout the years, the band seems to be doing it just fine admittedly.

gempita.records@gmail.com

PUTREFIED REMAINS "EERIE - Spread The Hate"

PUTREFIED REMAINS "EERIE - Spread The Hate" CDEP 2012 (Metal Porn Production)

Necroabyssious and his VARATHRON legacy should be proud. This EP is one of the most aptly justified attempt at honouring their creations. Look at the cover art before you start reading. Doesn't it 'eerie-ly' familiar? An unused proposed cover art for a VARATHRON release maybe? Haha. Far-fetched, but the idea is there. So it musn't be all that wrong. Now push the 'play' button. Ok, everything is clear now. Before anyone making an attempt of dissing this as another worthless carbon copy release, please consider these two major factors: A) The band doesn't hide the fact that it is their homage to that distinctive Hellenic sound B) They do it blatantly, considerably SO well. The Greek black Metal characteristics are what most local bands in the 90's tried to emulate back then, but many succumbed to mediocrity, for whatever reason unknown. PUTREFIED REMAINS finally got it done right this time, but with that thoughts of getting anything a bit different here thrown into the bin. None to be found here. Those song structures will reminds you of VARATHRON, the drum kit might be bought from any Greek studios producing Metal in the 90's garage sale, the line-up might be distancing themselves from other releases, Necroabyssious might be using another pseudonym here, etc.; those kind of thoughts. Worshippers of "His Majesty At The Swamp" and "Walpurgisnacht", this EP is a must. I thoroughly am delighted listening to this. They don't surface as much these days, let alone being (faithfully) done this well.

metalporn666@gmail.com

ATOMICDEATH/BLOODSTONE "Hellish Nuclear Destruction"

ATOMICDEATH/BLOODSTONE "Hellish Nuclear Destruction" split CD (Bloods of War Records)

Back for it again, ATOMICDEATH bombed us with another release, this time with the Singaporeans BLOODSTONE. A thrash Metal split, obviously. ATOMICDEATH wasted no time restarting what they have unfold in "Missile Massacre", glorious feast of simplified Slayer-esque thrash Metal with rigid underground Metal spontaineity. They sounded a bit more direct on the thrashing approach here, not even an ounce of that hunger being left out. I have nothing much to complaint about them, furthermore with the local scene nowadays with its sudden surge of thrash Metal inclined bands, I'll pick ATOMICDEATH out from the bunch without a single regret. So please, give us more of that plutonium digesting gesticulated Metal, no problem. BLOODSTONE is the more crude version of thrashing madness here, more chaotic, more primitive too. Probably leaning more on the European side of it I think. BLOODSTONE is just, alright to me. They done it quite good I think, but perhaps lack that compositional edge the ATOMICDEATH guys have in abundance. If this split is a war, then ATOMICDEATH is the victor, with considerable margin I might add.

http://bloodofwarrecords.blogspot.com

bloodofwar_records@yahoo.co.uk

VISITANT "The Sword Without Eyes"

VISITANT "The Sword Without Eyes" (Celestial Frequency)

It took BARELY 13 years to see the follow-up from VISITANT after their split-tape with TASYIM came out in 1999. And right until the unleashing of "The Sword...", VISITANT for me harbours the words aggressive, fast, epic, with a certain rawness in it. Fast forward a decade plus 3 more years, what can you make of VISITANT then? If you put the materials on the split-tape and this MCD side by side, then among the initial findings would be in terms of the productions of course. That split-tape is almost a rehearsal recording left untouched to preserve its primeval nature. Here in "The Sword..." is what would probably be one of the better production job for a local release indeed. Perhaps that long hiatus has its own blessing indeed. "The Sword Without Eyes" is the opening track too, and when it starts there's this instant VISITANT vibe injected, you know it if you've heard them before. As the proceeding gets going, by then you'll notice what is VISITANT, and what was VISITANT. The band incorporates a lot more of that 'epicness' nowadays, made possible mostly due to the fact that synths are an integral part of their compositions from this point on, and surely the possibilities of the productions itself. The aggresiveness is still there, yet it is to my surprise that I could even say this MCD might appeals to the current listeners of pagan, heathen Metal wave/front/whatever. I'm missing that certain 'rawness', but they, as do you and me, aged, so that might be the reasoning. The 'new' VISITANT emerges gradually right until the last song. Hell, "Tales of the Past II" might even be a favourite campsitesittingbythefire hit, and in no means I'm joking here. VISITANT nowadays will surely garner a wider listener base, only those hopeless narrow-minded romantics like me (you?) will reminisce, at least a bit; at their raw youthful exuberations back then. Future release(s) demanded, at the meantime you'll find not much of an excuse to skip this one out, a very solid and convincing output.

www.facebook.com/Visitant.Official

www.facebook.com/CelestialFrequency