october 2023 Issue 002 YOUR ESSESNTIAL GUIDE TO ROCK AND METAL Hellfekted Gig gallery on page 10 alkaloid review on page 9
A quintessential quintet Over the past decade we have seen an intriguing duality in the metal scene with the release of several new albums from the behemoths of heavy metal, as well as an emergence of trailblazers that nobody saw coming! With Megadeth, Metallica and Iron Maiden each releasing two albums over that period, I was starting to wonder who was going to reach their lofty heights and become household names in the future. The last 3 years for me have been pivotal in the progression of heavy metal; my taste has become broader, and I’ve become more excited about the future of the genre. I’d like to spotlight 5 albums that will remain masterpieces in my music collection forever: 1) Blossom, Pupil Slicer Released this year, this is a superb sophomore album from a band that really should have more recognition globally. The sounds in this album are wide-ranging added to the frantic vocals from Kate Davies making it an absolute must for anyone who appreciates an ambitious approach from a band that will hopefully continue to develop. 2) Etemen Ænka, DVNE I first saw this band at the Damnation festival in Leeds in 2021 where they proved to me that they could rival anyone in the progressive metal scene. The use of synths with ambient sounds, heavy subs and leads add a new dynamic to this album making it a standout from its predecessor. 3) Strength, Unto Others Formally Idle Hands, this band really have redefined the gothic metal genre. As a big fan of 1980s goth music, I’ve admired Paradise Lost for taking the crown from Andrew Eldrich of Sisters of Mercy and adding the necessary growls and guitar distortion. However, Unto Others have pushed into a new direction combining wolf howl vocals and cheesy earworms. 4) Black Harvest, Green Lung Another Sophomore album from a band that has done well to emulate Black Sabbath with a contemporary and nuanced sound. My love for goth-metal plays a part in my affection for this band as they blend doom with goth-tinged riffs in this magnum opus. 5) Darkness in the Light, Unearth I know this is slightly more than ten years old, but as a late listener I decided to include it.When I was first exposed to this band, I was a little tentative, as I am not a huge fan of metalcore. However, this album really is the exception to the rule, departing from the metalcore sound that I had become accustomed to. The production quality is superb and these guys really know how to impress. This is one of the most technical and consistent albums I have heardsince the early days of Opeth. They blend technical thrash, assaultive hardcore,and well-integrated melody providing an audio feast for any metal fan. Opinion Peice by Darren Holmes
flashback SHOGUN: 15 YEARS ON Fifteen years ago, on September 30, 2008, Trivium unleashed their transformative album “Shogun” upon the metal world. This release, their fourth studio effort, not only solidified their status as a dominant force in the genre but also left an indelible mark on the landscape of modern metal. “Shogun” was a conceptual triumph, drawing inspiration from Eastern philosophy and the art of war, particularly influenced by Miyamoto Musashi’s “The Book of Five Rings.” Its lyrical depth transported listeners into a realm of introspection and mastery, a far cry from the typical metal fare. Musically, “Shogun” was a tour de force. Matt Heafy and Corey Beaulieu’s guitar work was nothing short of breathtaking, while Paolo Gregoletto and Travis Smith provided a thunderous rhythm section. Heafy’s vocal versatility, oscillating between melodic crooning and ferocious screams, elevated the album’s intensity. Standout tracks like “Kirisute Gomen” and the epic nine-minute title track showcased the band’s technical prowess, while “Shogun” charted on the Billboard 200, solidifying Trivium’s position in American heavy metal’s new wave. Fifteen years on, “Shogun” remains a metal classic, celebrated by fans worldwide. Trivium’s live performances of the album underscore its enduring legacy, influencing a new generation of metal musicians. “Shogun” by Trivium is more than an album; it’s a milestone in metal history, a timeless masterpiece that continues to inspire and captivate.
Tomb mold The Enduring Spirit As I try to navigate the plethora of death metal artists out there right now I find myself solely reliant on recommendations and accidental discoveries. That said, I have been awaiting the release of The Enduring Spirit by Tomb Mold for some months with eager anticipation. I had almost forgotten on its release day until a friend prompted me to listen with a band camplink he had at the ready. This album demonstrates a maturity from one of the stalwarts in progressive death metal. The melodies are fantastic and I’m finding it hard to articulate the style that this album embodies. The synthesis of doom, prog and death really demonstrates how talented this band has become and how they’ve imbibed a number of influences across a wide range of musical genres. For those who appreciate technical music, this is an album for you. The title track ‘The enduring spirit of calamity’ epitomises the new Tomb Mold sound with its thrash riffs and progressive metal grooves. Combined with powerful songwriting this album has really elevated Tomb Mold up the rankings of the death metal hall of fame. If you like death you’ll love this! Review by Darren Holmes
Page 9 Numen Self-styled world’s most extreme prog metal band Alkaloid offer up a new sci-fi/Lovecraftian-inspired double platter. Written during and since the pandemic, this truly shows Alkaloid at their most weird, wonderful and virtuosic. The album manages to meld huge gargantuan riffs with warpspeed progressive death metal whilst at the same time adding places to their previous masterpiece ‘Liquid Anatomy’. The second CD is Alkaloid at their most uninhibited with total freedom of expression; a state that few bands ever achieve but which some may criticise as being self indulgent and overly long. This is exactly how prog should be - a journey that pushes limits. It’s immensely complex music that reveals it’s secrets with time. You could argue that they could self-edit, shorten, rein-in or tone- down the album but that’s not what Alkaloid are about. They push boundaries and test your listening abilities. The last track ‘Alpha Aur’ has enough music on its own to be half an album to most bands. In time ‘Numen’ could eventually be recognised as Alkaloid’s magnum opus... This is top-tier extreme metal. jazz/classical breakdowns that bizarrely actually fit the music perfectly. It’s an album clearly meant for intelligent metal-heads with an attention span and is sometimes initially overwhelming in its complexity but forever astounding and beautiful. It works best in its double CD format, with the first 6 tracks the most accessible and similar in Review by Wesley Howell. Want to write for CRUNCH? e-mail: alex@crunch-magazine.co.uk for more information Wormhole Almost Human International technical brutal death metal outfit wormhole with yet another release, of which god himself had no hand in creating. Right off the bat, track one launches you into the cosmic void with its gruelling vocals, capable of communication with an alien lifeform. Julian Kersey has really gone above and beyond on this release. His vocals are dark, heavy and everything you need them to be for such a layered record. “System Erase” - explores a dark part of BDM, with a touch of deathcore in there. The contrast of the slower chuggy riffs and intense drumming makes for an excellent auditory delight, for those who seek the shadowed comforts of death metal. Track two (Elysiism) continues this contrast style, with chugging riffs and destructive drumming. However there is an element of proggy-bass in there, giving me the impression this album is more experimental than meets the eye. Basil Chiasson is an unsung hero in the death metal bass league, with this being one of the greatest studio bass performances of this year. Spine Shatter High-Velocity Impact is a credit to the riffage and lickage on this record. Sanil and Sanjay Kumar absolutely abuse Brutal-Tech-Deaths boundaries pushing for an eclectic take on what is sometimes seen as a set sub-genre. The chugs that could blast you into dark matter conjoined with the complex melodic play- ing confuse the ears in such a way you think you’d be listening to an astrological orchestra. Extremely experimental in parts, the release is absolutely stella. It seems that 2023 has benn an excellent year for death metal releases, and Wormholes release will go down in that histrory. The title track is intense with every shred of the word. The complex riffage and intricate licks combined with that booming growl absolutely destroys you. Wormhole outdid themselves massively with this release, and it will remain a part of music collection forever.
Fleepit Digital © 2021