AMENORT "Die"

AMENORT "Die" Cdr (Metal Porn Production)

Another band in the thrash Metal vein, AMENORT presents us this release via Metal Porn Production, limited to 60 copies, hand-numbered. Unending obssession with robots and hatred for zionist prompted this 5-tracker of old-school thrash Metal with strong crossover influences ala D.R.I and the likes. Strictly for the listeners of  the sound I am typing above, because that is all "Die" is. A matter of taste exclusively. AMENORT is doing it by the book, and that is all you can expect. No standout tracks to be found, all of them are in almost the same level in-between. The productions is decent for its level. There. I think I summed up "Die" good enough for you to understand. 

metalporn666@gmail.com

www.myspace.com/amenort

READY DISASTER 3-Way Split (HEREAFTER, DEMONIFICATION, HIDING FEAR)

READY DISASTER 3-Way Split (HEREAFTER, DEMONIFICATION, HIDING FEAR) CDr (Metal Porn Production)

A 3-way thrash Metal split featuring two Malaysian bands (HEREAFTER and HIDING FEAR) and Singaporeans DEMONIFICATION, offering 3 tracks each. HEREAFTER is the first in line, and yes they're still delivering their thrash Metal the way they know it. No surprises here, it is still HEREAFTER, therefore good ol' thrashing will be served as usual. A particular mention for the song "Orang Jahat", a catchy assault complimented with the honest Malay lyrics. DEMONIFICATION, as the name suggests, is the evil one this time. A rather direct thrashing approach with screaming vocals, reeking back to older days. Their songs here leave little room for breath (and imagination). More than perfect to match up with HEREAFTER, the score will be pretty even. HIDING FEAR closes the proceeding, and they're probably the worst produced band here. The sound is way too compressed, but I am trying to ignore that and focusing on the tracks here. And they prove to be the least interesting of the lot, the songs are simplistic but that won't be a problem if they don't sound this bland and chaotic. I'm left numbing after hearing their part, which prompted me reverting back to the HEREAFTER and DEMONIFICATION tracks. Limited to 150 hand-numbered copies.

metalporn666@gmail.com

KILLLER CORPSE "Death Rising"

KILLER CORPSE "Death Rising" MCD (Stoneville Records)

Besides the surging of Thrash infested bands lately, I also realized the death Metal troops creeping up quite healthily in the local scene too. And do take note that most of them are quite good actually, to say the very least. Enter out of nowhere (for me) KILLER CORPSE with this, their MCD "Death Rising". Bowing their heads towards the once glorified Florida, US death Metal deathbed; with a tendency for that doomdeath heavier hoarding of song structures. Nothing groundbreaking, yet they do it decent enough. There's also some similarities with the equally promising HUMILIATION to be found here too, check out "Horror Of War"for example, it will fit perfectly tact with any HUMILIATION releases comfortably. Even the production stays close to that of their counterpart. But I dare say KILLER CORPSE seems to be a bit more varied, as this fine MCD release shows. Decently packaged as well and for the right price to pay. Death Metal worth listening. 

www.killercorpse666@gmail.com

www.stonevillerecords.com

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