Montag, 30. April 2018

BLACK WIZARD - "LIVIN' OBLIVION" (2018)

BLACK WIZARD - "LIVIN' OBLIVION"
("Running time: 45:29 minutes; 9 songs)
("Listenable Records"; 2018; CD):
Hey, my dear readers, yes, it's time or even maybe again about time that finally some new dose'n'load is coming up for and aimed at you, yes, and so 'it' does right now and right here and you now get my newest record-review and this time it's all about the newest offering titled "LIVIN' OBLIVION" of/by BLACK WIZARD from the cities of Vancouver and New Westminster in British Columbia in, of course, Canada and it was released still pretty recently this very year of 2018 via "LISTENABLE RECORDS" and I have it since last month and so now more or less exactly one full month and since this more or less full month it is pretty constantly and regulary on heavy rotation and this should tell you already quite a bit (if not- nearly- all). BLACK WIZARD were before "LIVIN' OBLIVION" totally unknown to me and so please don't expect any commentaries to or about their former releases or so, and instead of this I will concentrate solely on "LIVIN' OBLIVION" here and now. This is really very fascinating musick and it is really 'rich' in a sense of being diverse, multi-layered, and multi-facetted in an overwhelming way and above all it's incredible intense, atmospheric, and emotional and this really all the time. Damn fantastic!!! Music-wise BLACK WIZARD serve us a heavily grapping and really rousing, a truly overwhelming and immense conquering Doom Metal on all levels high skilled as fuck and massively enriched with/by dustrdry and boneshaking and pretty 'hypnotical' classical (Hard and Vintage) Rock marks that add to it all a highly cultivating Stoner Rock or (maybe better) Stoner Metal spirit to it all and the whole album, BLACK WIZARD's "LIVIN' OBLIVION", is marked by just absoultely amazing songwriting that's highly diverse and covering such 'wide territories of classy musick' and overwhelming big various emotions and serve it all ongoingly with that much fresh and organic intensity and with that incredible much of a dense/tight atmosphere that again and again you will find yourself being left with eyes, ears and mouth wide open, yes, and all is delivered by high skilled musicians that serve their very own Doom Metal/Stoner Metal with a through'n'through very own and unique character and identity that it is just and nothing less and nothing but totally amazing. Maybe best described as a totally independently and self-aware mixture out of THE OBSESSED and CANDLEMASS with some BLACK SABBATH in it all as well but all done sort of even more atmospheric (or maybe better with a totally unique brand of atmosphere to it all) and with a very own 'special' flavour cultivating it all, yes, and BLACK WIZARD are here on and with "LIVIN' OBLIVION" also not shying away from by Speed Metal filled Thrash Metal slashers that are perfectly integrated into the whole album and that even bands like TESTAMENT wouldn't do any better. The biggest trademarks are surely the powerful and full of 'big' expression and honest heartfelt emotions delivered clear and clean and impressive strong sung and delivered highly unique lead vocals as well as the ferocious guitars that shine all the time with their very own special tone creating a world totally of their or of 'it' very, very own and all is backed up by a rumbling bass and highly massive as well as diverse'n'skilled and incredible heavy and forceful punching full'n'pure high power'n'energy drumming that really adds a lot and I mean really a lot to the songs and the whole album as well. This is one of the best and pretty much most unique records I had and have the pleasure to listen to so far in 2018 and each and every song is purest platinum and I can nothing but recommend this fantastic piece of art and musick, that's also made round by very good and highly interesting lyrics, a gorgeous artwork, and a perfect heavy and yet very natural/organic production-sound, to any of you out there who's into intense, atmspheric, metallic and rocking musick of the highest (quality) grade and that's also damn fresh and re-freshing and nicely clicheé-free, too. Yes, and so what are you waiting for, damn it, get this masterpiece and with it definitely one of the very strongest albums we will get in this day'n'age of 2018. Absolutely amazing and fantastic and nothing but overwhelming, too.
(10 of 10 points)
http://www.blackwizard.org/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)





BLACK WIZARD - "LIVIN' OBLIVION" (2018; complete album)









Freitag, 27. April 2018

FORMLOS - "LASS UNS FLIEGEN" (2018)

FORMLOS - "LASS UNS FLIEGEN"
(Running time: 41:47 minutes; 11 songs)
("Metalspiesser Records"; 2018; CD):
Hey guys, yes, belive it, it's true, the next dose is coming already aiming right at'n'for you and here and now this means that you right now and right here get my (newest) record-review on the new and for all what I know so far second full-length-album "LASS UNS FLIEGEN" of the young german band FORMLOS rocking out of the town of Thale pretty near to/from where I live and it was released pretty to very recently on/via the so far to me totally unknown "METALSPIESSER RECORDS" label. (Btw, also FORMLOS were totally unknown before "LASS UNS FLIEGEN" to me.) "METALSPIESSER RECORDS"? Hm, do give us FORMLOS some kind of Metal? Nah, here we have and get a through'n'through German Rock album - and a surprisingly fresh and good one I have to admit. FORMLOS have a very strong and own, a pretty and really unique character and identity. Surely some influences are more or less clear to be heard and it are bands like KÄRBHOLZ and some FREI.WILD that come to my mind when I listen to FORMLOS' "LASS UNS FLIEGEN" but they do it all already (for it is just their second full length release so far) really and very self-contained and, if you want so, pretty 'independently' with a strong focus on really huge and (for all what I can and would say) honest emotions that shine through in the very atmospheric rocking music as well as also in the somehow mostly really fresh and sort of massively surprisingly clicheé-free lyrics. It is not that the lyrics are sort of totally 'alien'-stuff in the world and context of German Rock and instead of this they are mostly to completly more or less typical German Rock stuff but they are delivered and worked out linguistically in a very fresh, very unique, and also pretty to very clicheé-free way and that's just really, really damn good. The same is to say to/about the music that's slightly melancholic and with some 'good' pathos (but thankfully never in an overboarding way) presented mostly through'n'through pretty much 'pure' and maybe just here and there a very little bit slightly 'punky' German Rock but that's filled with very huge heartfelt emotions that also reflect in the very own and sort of pretty 'special' tone of the fresh and strong rocking guitars that mark the songs and the music of FORMLOS (at least here on "LASS UNS FLIEGEN" in 2018) heavily as well as also in the pretty fresh structured and arranged in an 'independently' way compositions on this little shining silver disc that manage to really shine with a big rousing potential even with that somewhat melancholic vibe that's interwoven into the songs and the music. And even if not every song or every part knows to convince or conquer the by far most parts and songs know how to and do so and if FORMLOS should work on some more pace diversity and also some more rhythm variations in the future it surely will only get even better. But anyhow, from my point of view any fan of good German Rock should know (about) FORMLOS and their damn strong "LASS UNS FLIEGEN" album that's beside the already mentioned very strong and unique guitar playing especially marked by the surely pretty outstanding lead vocals that are full and powerful sung and just beautifully clear and melodic and also very emotional and just 'press on stamp' heavily. The pretty crashing rhythm section is then backing it all up in a pretty beefy and bulky way. Really good lyrics, a very cool artwork, and a clear and yet warm wafting production sound round it all up. I can calmly recommend this to if you are into German Rock and also to everyone looking for honest and emotional Rock music in general, yes, and so I do here and now and so go out and look for it.
(8 of 10 points)
https://www.facebook.com/Formlosband (-the link to the facebook site of the band)





FORMLOS - "LASS UNS FLIEGEN" (2018, "LASS UNS FLIEGEN")









Mittwoch, 25. April 2018

DELIRIUM ROCK'N'ROLL - "DEM SCHICKSAL ENTGEGEN" (2018)

DELIRIUM ROCK'N'ROLL - "DEM SCHICKSAL ENTGEGEN"
(Running time: 48:52; 13 songs)
("Sunny Bastards"; 2018; CD):
Hey folks, yes, next load coming up and this means here and now that you right now and right here get my record-review on the pretty recently a month ago via "SUNNY BASTARDS" released second full-length-album of/by DELIRIUM ROCK'N'ROLL titled "DEM SCHICKSAL ENTGEGEN". Once again DELIRIUM ROCK'N'ROLL were a band totally unknown to me before I got my hands on their newest which means their "DEM SCHICKSAL ENTGEGEN" album and once again we are now talking about a band that I am now pretty happy and glad to finally know, even "DEM SCHICKSAL ENTGEGEN" is a bit sort of a 'weird' record because it kicks off after a 'stately' arranged, composed, and delivered intro with incredible hymnal and by crunchy and crispy guitars onwards pushed mid to up paced very 'rockish' German Oi! with some a thankfully fresh and not retro-like done/delivered 1990's spirit (especially the damn great tracks "DEM SCHICKSAL ENTGEGEN", "UNTER MEINER HAUT", "GEMEINSAM", "ROCK'N'ROLL GENUG", and "ALLES NUR ZUM SPASS" are here definitely to mention) and then more and more it sort of 'tilts' into a pretty much through and through German Rock direction but this (also thankfully) very self-contained and 'independently' with a strong and very own to pretty unique identity and character that shines best and clear through in the sharp edged and heavy hitting yet all the time very groovy rocking and catchy and hymnal melodic guitars that have a very unique tone and mark the songs heavily - and this for all the damn right reasons. Also the in my book phenomenal, very charismatic and very bulky hard'n'smart lead vocals only add up to it all. The forceful rhythm-section backs it all stunningly and massively up. And even when DELIRIUM ROCK'N'ROLL move more and more and then sort of completly into the German Rock sector, with for example the ballad "LEUCHTFEUER" or the sort of melancholic German Rock tune "HOL MICH HIER RAUS", DELIRIUM ROCK'N'ROLL still do (again: thankfully) their very own thing and so don't expect any lame BÖHSE ONKELZ clone, no stale FREI.WILD ripp-off, no KRAWALLBRÜDER copy, or what the hell else ever, hell no, DELIRIUM ROCK'N'ROLL sound all the time completly and only like themselves and this is something that I always cherich a lot and this even more when it's all done not only self-conatined but also (really) good and (damn) strong and with a lot of fresh ideas like here in the case of DELIRIUM ROCK'N'ROLL. Expect damn strong and fucking good by strong guitars and very characteristic and expressive vocals heavily dominated hard smacking and yet very melodic, catchy, and hymnal German Rock with some strong good healthy German Oi! marks in it all, delivered by well-skilled musicians and clothed in rousing and energetic, very dynamic arranged and composed songs that also offer a lot of fresh rhythm arrangements and a pretty surprising groove work. Beside the already above mentioned first five songs I also have to mention the powerful yet incredible anthemic "UNSERE LEIDENSCHAFT" and the high octane fists-in-the-air-smasher "HOCHMUT" that are also total faves of me, myself, and (m)I(ne) on "DEM SCHICKSAL ENTGEGEN". A bunch of pretty good and nicely multi-facetted lyrics, an absoluetly gorgeous artwork, and a crunchy and nicely dirty production-sound we get on top of it all as well. This is a damn good and partially also already fucking great record and I can only recommend it to any fan of German Rock and German Oi! as well after it sits perfectly somewhere in the middle in-between this two different worlds on its very own position. Very well done guys, very well. Cheers & Oi!
(8,5 of 10 points)
http://delirium-rocknroll.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)







DELIRIUM ROCK'N'ROLL - "DEM SCHICKSAL ENTGEGEN" (2018, "DEM SCHICKSAL ENTGEGEN")







Sonntag, 22. April 2018

HARTE WORTE - "SO WIE IHR UNS KENNT" (2018)

HARTE WORTE - "SO WIE IHR UNS KENNT"
(Record Review: 44:55 minutes; 13 songs)
("Sunny Bastards"; 2018; CD):
Hey guys, yes, next 'working session' up here and here and now (and, if you want to say it so, one more time again) this means that the next record-review is coming right now right here for you and this time it's all about the 2018 full-length-album of/by HARTE WORTE (en)titled "SO WIE IHR UNS KENNT" released (if I am now not completly on the wrong tracks) at the 19. January of 2018  via the (al)mighty "SUNNY BASTARDS" label, yes, and after I am trying to 'shorten' my record-reviews a bit so right here and right now direct 'into the action': This is now already the 4th full-length-album in ten years of existence of/by HARTE WORTE from the german city of Essen and it is for what reason(s) ever the first record of them that I know (and own) and so don't expect here and now any comparisions with/to their former records from/by me. What we get here and now from HARTE WORTE in 2018? Hm, I don't really know what's the story behind their "Pott Core" slogan, because I mean it's pretty clear that they come from Essen in the german region named the "Ruhrpott" and so the "Pott" in "Pott Core" is obvious and clear but the "Core" should better lead you in no wrong direction because after all and at the end of day all the Hardcore notes and marks in here are only very rudimentary and at its core HARTE WORTE's "SO WIE IHR UNS KENNT" is a very strong 'rockish' and only very slightly 'hardcoreish' German Oi!/Streetpunk album with a pretty sympathic and strongly outspoken anti-fascist alignment pushed forward by heavy hitting and sharp cutting guitars, noisy 'rowdyish' and nasty lead vocals, loud and full back up chants, a bone cracking bass, and heavy smacking drumming, the songwriting is all the time through'n'through very straight ahead but it still manages to cover quite a bit of different moods and emotions and thanks or due to the all the time pretty high and rousing energy it kicks ass pretty much all the time without turning sort of stale at the end. Mostly good and also pretty diverse lyrics, a pretty cool artwork, and a 'shooting' production-sound then round it all up. This is now so far a very short record-review and even quite a bit 'shorter' like I am aiming at with future record-reviews but this is due to the fact that all is good and fine with me and that I don't have that much anyhow anyway to say anymore to/about it and this is also due to my pretty much one and only problem with HARTE WORTE's "SO WIE IHR UNS KENNT", yes, and to say it short: Everything that HARTE WORTE do up here on "SO WIE IHR UNS KENNT" you've heard sort of a thousand times before (and often even a bit to a bigger bit better) at least if you're older than 18 and if you're into this whole Oi! and Punk 'thing' from Germany for longer than ten years or so. To me it's somehow sort of a 'kids record', even this may now sounds hard (but it isn't meant hard)... but at least they do what they do really good and so I will now close this record-review with saying that you can at least calmly risk one or two ears, and do yourself the favor and give it a good and fair try. Cheers & Oi!
(7,5 of 10 points)
https://de-de.facebook.com/HarteWorte2015/ (-the link to the facebook site of the band)





HARTE WORTE - "GELIEBT, GEHASST" (2018, "SO WIE IHR UNS KENNT")








Donnerstag, 19. April 2018

GOITZSCHE FRONT - "DEINES GLÜCKES SCHMIED" (2018)

GOITZSCHE FRONT - "DEINES GLÜCKES SCHMIED"
(Running time: 62:26 minutes; 17 songs)
("Rookies & Kings" + "D.O.R." & "Soulfood"; 2018; CD):
Yes, here it is, damn it, we're rampaging on loud'n'proud right here and right now going strong in 2018 and then also the glorious boys from the east are back: GOITZSCHE FRONT finally deliver us their newest full-length-album "DEINES GLÜCKES SCHMIED" (released still pretty recently, more or less, two months ago right in the middle of February 2018), the successor-album to/of their strong 2016 full-length-album "MONUMENT" (I did my review on it last year up here), and... by the way, I'm currently trying (finally again) to 'shorten' my record-reviews a good bit and so don't you wonder but straight and direct into it all... while "MONUMENT" was (and still is) pretty to damn strong (and this without a single little doubt then and now) in my book "DEINES GLÜCKES SCHMIED" easily 'beats' ist predeccessor-album and comes up or is already nearly pretty much 'on-par' with their (at least so in my book) so far groundbreaking masterpiece "...AUS RUINEN", such a damn fucking strong asskicker it simply is, point and fact. Anyone who is bitching around because'n'about this whole and still currently strong going German Rock stuff that is now since a decade or so 'ongoingly' on the rise with bands like the (al-)mighty KRAWALLBRÜDER, FREI.WILD (their new album is a huge surprise, damn it, absolutely unexpected, stay tuned for my review on it), KÄRBHOLZ, and a big bunch of other bands, yes, anyone bitching around because of this bands shut up and read on or read something else, how you like it, because surely there exist tons of absolute bullcrap bands in this genre with maybe more, maybe less shady 'political-unpolitical' agendas but a.) where not and b.) not all and c.) not everyone who has a different opinion than you is 'automatically' a nazi. And with that said and so out of the way: GOITZSCHE FRONT are damn fucking back and with "DEINES GLÜCKES SCHMIED" they deliver one hell of a new masterpiece album that's especially in its very own genre (at least currently) pretty much unrivaled. The (German) Oi! and (German) Punk/Punkrock roots are only as footprints still around this days but if you listen with attention you can still get them being proud parts of GOITZSCHE FRONT's DNA as a band and here and there we get also pretty harsh Metal influences (especially the guitars lead here and there in a harsh thrashing manner the way) and (sort of thankfully) the slightly Emo Pop styled influences that here and there marked "MONUMENT" quite a bit are not really to be found here on "DEINES GLÜCKES SCHMIED" anymore. Call it German Rock or just Rock or Hard Rock or how-ever the hell else, because that's not that important after all, but what's important is that this is high octane and full throttle, forceful and no prisoners taking, quite a bit metallic and slightly Oi!-punky Rock & Roll with (strong) german lyrics delivered by powerful, full, and highly charismatic 'german' lead vocals (backed up by loud backings) marked by very strong, skilled, multi-facetted, highly dynamic, and rousing songwriting and it's especially just great that the high-energetic verses are as strong as the ultimative catchy and hymnal chorus', yes, that's how I like it. And something that's also exactly how I like it is the fact that GOITZSCHE FRONT has their very own and pretty unique style'n'sound, sounding like no other band but themselves, and that unique style'n'sound they cultivated and enriched even far more here on and with "DEINES GLÜCKES SCHMIED" right in 2018. Strong and diverse, rich and skilled delivered guitars, rumbling bass playing, and thundering drumming make'n'mark the songs together with the above already mentioned top notch lead vocals (and also the massive backings), delivering powerful punches full of drive and packed up full to the max with honest and intense emotions and shining with tight atmospheric arrangements. Heartfelt lyrics straight out of life, a pretty cool artwork, and a crushing production-sound round it all up. My favorites are clearly "STREICHHOLZ UND BENZIN", "N.S.O.W.", "DIESE WELT", "HOL DIR DEN AUGENBLICK ZURÜCK", "UNSERE FAHNEN WEHEN", "1000 KILOMETER", "DEINES GLÜCKES SCHMIED", "ICH BIN ZURÜCK", and "IN ALTER MANIER" and this are songs that I honestly love and so maybe check this hymns out first - but also with the other here and now not mentioned tracks you won't make any mistake. Only the (for/to me) too cheesy ballad  "TAG DES REGENS" I totally dislike, hm, but maybe that's just me, who knows. Highly recommended and I'm pretty sure that GOITZSCHE FRONT will have delivered with "DEINES GLÜCKES SCHMIED" one of the definite highlights of/in/for 2018 and so just go out and get it. Cheers & Oi!
(9 of 10 points)
https://www.goitzschefront.de/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)








GOITZSCHE FRONT - "STREICHHOLZ UND BENZIN" (2018, "DEINES GLÜCKES SCHMIED")










Mittwoch, 11. April 2018

PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS - "CHOOSING MENTAL ILLNESS AS A VIRTUE" (2018)

PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS - "CHOOSING MENTAL ILLNESS AS A VIRTUE"
(Running time: 46:28 minutes; 10 songs)
("Season of Mist" & "Housecore Records"; 2018; CD):
Hey guys, yes, again after too many days I am finally back @ work again up here. Guys, in all honesty, I am damn sorry but currently I just simply don't get it done to find or make the time to do finally some more new stuff up here again with still all the time far too much hectic and stress in the 'real life departments' right now and also the two already last month announced bigger posts are still overdue, I know, but trust me when I say that I'm still 'at it' and I hope to bring them finally up as soon as possible and for right now untill then and so far I will be happy enough when I finally bring this new post up and online still today respectively tonight, yes, and so here we finally go again: Today respectively tonight you will get my record-review on the new full-length-album of/by PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS titled "CHOOSING MENTAL ILLNESS AS A VIRTUE", released (if I now remember it correct) pretty much exactly two months ago sort of in/at the middle of February 2018 via "SEASON OF MIST" and "HOUSECORE RECORDS" and being wrapped-up in an incredible gorgeous digi-artwork. I was and still am a big, a huge fan of the debut "WALK THROUGH EXITS ONLY" of/by PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS (released back then five years ago in 2013) and so I was really curious to get my hands on the then finally released successor release and then... and then I was pretty much confused, at least a bit, because while all the Sludge Core influences and the pissed off extreme Hardcore notes where already on the debut very prominent all this harsh and devastating, bloody reigning and rotten Death Metal paired with some ice cold slaying Black Metal marks are pretty much completly (more or less) new here on "CHOOSING MENATL ILLNESS AS A VIRTUE", yes, and so (again like in the case of the above mentioned debut back then) I needed some time and it took me some listens to really get 'this all here' and before I really started to discover this pretty blocky and demanding, harsh and challenging but or and above all incredibe brutal, extreme, nicely clichèe-free, and rousing album in all its sick and twisted, sinister shining glory. PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS created with "CHOOSING MENATL ILLNESS AS A VIRTUE" a really sick'n'twisted, distorted'n'distorting and evil droning as well as crusty shredding bastard out of nihilistic'n'apocalyptic Sludge Core, absolutely demolishing and extreme and metallic as well as by crusty'n'noisy Punk fueled Hardcore, 'devastatingly distorted and distorting' Death Metal, and some few hatefilled and ice cold slaying really bitter and harsh Black Metal, all done very, very extreme as well as truly damn independently/self-conatined and maybe best loosely to be located somewhere between EYE HATE GOD on the one side, ARSON ANTHEM and some RINGWORM on the other side, all wrapped up by schizophrenic GORGUTS styled Death Metal (not on that over absolutely every top let us say 'proggy' level but in that insane and harshly extreme tradition), all cultivated by some few icy (early) DARK THRONE marks and all made round by some SUPERJOINT RITUAL impressions, yes, somewhere in between all this devastating noise you will find PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS cooking their very own sort'n'taste of crusty and thick dark soup. The songs carry a lot of emotional weight and are 'highliest' intense and interwoven through'n'through by a very sinister and psychotic atmosphere that really breathes life into the harsh delivered, blocky arranged and demanding composed, challenging songs that offer a lot of strong ideas, fresh surprises, and really demanding twists'n'turns all along the way. Driven forward by the brutal and charismatic lead vocals (brutal grunts and harsh shouts go hand in hand and some sick screms round it all up) and the multi-facetted but all the time incredible heavy and aggressive slaying'n'shredding guitars and all is then backed up beefy and bulky by the full power bass work and the massively smashing and stunning drumming. Strong and outspoken lyrics, an already mentioned fantastic artwork, and a heavy and dirty production-sound then round it all finally up. Sadly some songs just loose a bit of their focus and get lost on their way somewhere in their own noisy droning and über-aggressive 'destructiveness' and you really should prepare yourself to invest your time and yourself quite a bit into this highly extreme and insane, sick and psychotic harsh and also really damn strong album, yes, but then you definitely find yourself a really convincing brutal and extreme manifest of 'self-catharsis' and in all honesty I can only recommend this highly authentic and by all means just damn massive one here to you, period. So, yes, go out and get if you should still don't call it your own. And, yes, it's really, really good that Philip H. Anselmo is finally back again.
(9 of 10 points)
http://philanselmo.com/theillegals/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)








PHILIP H. ANSELMO - "THE IGNORANT POINT" (2018, "CHOOSING MENATL ILLNESS AS A VIRTUE")











Montag, 2. April 2018

SADISTIK EXEKUTION - "30 YEARS OF AGONIZING THE DEAD" (2015)

SADISTIK EXEKUTION - "30 YEARS OF AGONIZING THE DEAD"
(Running time: 32:51 minutes; 9 songs)
("Nuclear War Now Productions"; 2015; CD):
Hey guys, I hope your easter(n)-days were so far as great as mine and after currently I have a little bit of time that I can spend with doing some new stuff up here, yes, and so I now do. Continuing sort of an old tradition up here you now get a record-review on an already a bit older release on which I got my hands more or less recently and this time things are about to become damn extreme up here with now all being about the 2015 compilation-rerelease CD release "30 YEARS OF AGONIZING THE DEAD" of/by none other than the legendary SADISTIK EXEKUTION, the glorious Extreme Metal sickos from the continent and country down under known as Australia. SADISTIK EXEKUTION called it in or around 2004 a day (sadly enough) but if this wouldn't have been the case then they would have been around for 30 years back then in 2015 and this was taken (thankfully and rightfully) as a proper chance to show them some honour and pay them some tribute still eleven years and so over an decade after going seperate ways by the canadian roughnecks of "NUCLEAR WAR NOW PRODUCTIONS" who rereleased in 2015 the first two SADISTIK EXEKUTION demos "SUSPIRAL" from 1991 and the infamous "AGONIZING THE DEAD" from 1992 all together and compiled it on this CD together with the "DEMON WITH WINGS" EP from 1996 and the (at least to me) pretty 'obscure' "SADISTIK ELEKTROLUTION" EP from 1997 and titled it all (pretty good fitting) "30 YEARS OF AGONIZING THE DEAD", hell yeahr, and after I finally bought it sort of more or less directly one month ago at the TANKARD gig here in Goslar at the very early beginning of March 2018 here we now are with me doing a little review on it for you and also showing this way my tribute as well as my love for SADISTIK EXEKUTION and their chaotic and extreme Metal the australian way, yes, and so now here we go: SADISTIK EXEKUTION served us one hell of a raw and rough, harsh shredding, angry sawing, and heavy slashing, pretty sick and sort of chaotic mixture out of noisy and roudy Death Metal with some good doses of old school very early really pissed-off and evil-nihilistic and incredible raw Black Metal and all melted together with brutal force and (again) damn raw and by all means fucking rough'n'tough Death Grind and sick'n'morbid Grindcore with some thrashing notes to it all (especially in the guitar department and especially on the latter tracks) and all served with a sort of a 'punky' direct approach, damn it, and I really think that terms or categories like 'just' Extreme Metal or maybe even 'simple' Chaos Metal really match(ed) SADISTIK EXEKUTION pretty well. But don't make the mistale and think that this would (have) be(en) just unstructured noise, hell no, because SADISTIK EXEKUTION knew very well how to write proper and real songs with a lot of grapping moments and in all the brute force and raw extremity of the musick we find all the time elements and moments that can be described by no terms better than 'simply' catchy hooks and the hellish raging inferno that SADISTIK EXEKUTION used and knew to unleash on us with overwhelming force and deadly precision showcased right from the beginning a very strong own identity and unique character and this you can perfectly experience here with this rerelease compilation titled "30 YEARS OF AGONIZING THE DEAD", hell yeahr, and still sort of torturing their instruments in a damn proper way SADISTIK EXEKUTION also knew how to execute. And also let me mention that the levels of energy and intensity are incredible high and that this early material of/by SADISTIK EXEKUTION still today doesn't need to shy away from anything/anyone and this (to point it out one more time) even not today, yes, and I would really and deseperately wish that we sort of would have at least one band like this again around today in this our far too often far too stereotypical and by all means by far too often over-digitalized and so (sort of) definitely 'über-sterelized' day and age. SADISTIK EXEKUTION had back in the day the reputation of being one of the extremest and sickest and personally I would add one of the most unique bands in Extreme Metal and this 'twisted' spirit of them this rerelease compilation catches perfectly, especially also because the sound quality isn't anyhow noticeable overworked and so expect a fucking raw crushing and from featured release to featured release pretty varying production or recording sound and this CD benefits massively from this, yes, and I also love how you can experience quite a strong development from the two early demos to the later releases (even "SADISTIK ELEKTROLUTION" and I somehow never were the biggest of friends and so also still not that much today, why the damn fucking bloody hell ever). Anyone into thrashing and blackened, chaotic and damn extreme, also sort of pretty sick and raw and rough grinding Death Metal massively driven and mercylessly pushed... hammered forward(s) by no prisoners taking harsh sawing and stunningly heavy shredding guitars, whipping bestial screamed, shouted, and throaty grunted sick vocals, roaring bass lines, and skullfucking drumming really should need to know (and then will damn fucking love) SADISTIK EXEKUTION and this devastating rerelease compilation CD that comes also with a gorgeous and authentic artwork and with an as a bonus added cool interview and a lot of old photos and flyers and orginal artwork(s) (no lyrics printed but you somehow still understand them pretty good and I think that you already anyway have a pretty good imagination of what SADISTIK EXEKUTION served to us on the 'lyrical front') could serve you as a perfect starting point if you want to discover SADISTIK EXEKUTION to/for you and to anyone who's already into SADISTIK EXEKUTION but doesn't own (like me, myself, and I) all the original releases (that are compiled on this rerelease) I can also only recommend SADISTIK EXEKUTION's "30 YEARS OF AGONIZING THE DEAD" and so I do here and now, hell yeahr, and so, yes, better just get it as soon as possible and then: "PLAY IT AT VOLUME OF ONE THOUSAND ARMAGEDDONS OR DIE!!!"
(8,5 of 10 points)
https://www.facebook.com/Sadistik-Exekution-230857420260167 (-don't ask me if this facebook site is an official one or not but at least there's this one)





SADISTIK EXEKUTION - "DEMON WITH WINGS" (1996, "DEMON WITH WINGS" EP /// 2015, "30 YEARS OF AGONIZING THE DEAD" CD)







Samstag, 31. März 2018

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - MARCH 2018: HARD RESISTANCE - "ENGINE OF HATE"

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - MARCH 2018:


HARD RESISTANCE - "ENGINE OF HATE" (1997)
(Running time: 39:15 minutes; 11 songs)
("Lost & Found Records"; CD):

Tracklist:
(01.) "OUT OF CREDITS"
(02.) "NEVER GIVE UP"
(03.) "ANGRY MAN"
(04.) "RELEASE THE BRAKES"
(05.) "ON YOUR OWN"
(06.) "WATCH YOUR STEP"
(07.) "PARASITE"
(08.) "SCHOOLDAYS SHOW"
(09.) "DRESSED TO KILL"
(10.) "GREEN"
(11.) "ENGINE OF HATE"

Hey guys, yes, like yesterday announced still today right now and right here coming right in through at ya the ('obligatory') "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH" (introduction'n'tribute) post edition March 2018. This time here and now you get something very special to/for me, one of the bands and the albums that I grew up with and that had a tremendous huge impact on me and my 'socialization' (and this definitely not only music-wise) and a band and an album that's still very important to/for me and also a band and an album that are now for more then twenty years 'proud'n'brave' companions of me, myself and I and also a band and an album that were and still are sort of a defining factor'n'moment of what to/for me Hardcore was, is, and always will be... and by the way, yes, after February 2018 and March 2018 (so far) somehow were only (sort of) Metal and Rock months up here it is maybe also a good time to shake it all up here again... and so enough of the all introducing smalltalk and now what it is all about right now and right here is the 1997 album "ENGINE OF HATE" of/by the belgian Hardcore roughnecks HARD RESISTANCE containing eleven tracks in a running time of 39 minutes and 15 seconds and that was back then released via the infamous "LOST & FOUND RECORDS".

In the 1990's a lot of european Hardcore bands came up with their very own honest and heartfelt interpretation and respectful and proud development of what was once exploding out of New York City what/which was nothing else than the almighty New York Hardcore and especially bands from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Austria really made names of themselves and left a mark and an impact, bands like BACKFIRE!, RIGHT DIRECTION, DISCIPLINE (who later on should became the best in Oi! we had and thankfully have again around), DEVIATE, the RYKER'S, BRIGHTSIDE, ONLY ATTITUDE COUNTS, SPIDER CREW, BUST THE CHAIN, and many more raised hell and kicked ass and somehow and somewhere and somewhen along the way in the 1990's the term Euro Core was formed or formulated to categorize all this bands under a more or less fitting/matching but anyhow uniting and defining/identifying label to sum them up. How much sense this made or makes is here and now not of any concern, nah, so let's go further on: HARD RESISTANCE I haven't mentioned there above with all the other bands but they were and still are one of my very favorites of all this glorious bands of all in Euro Core and with their absolute masterpiece "ENGINE OF HATE" they gave me one of my all time most favoured abums outta there, definitely. HARD RESISTANCE roar out of/from the city of Antwerp in Belgium and were fromed in 1994 and they released their also damn strong debut album in 1996, titled "IT'S ALL AFROUND", and then in 1997 with their second one "ENGINE OF HATE" they gave us a lifechanging masterpiece, to me as a kid of the 1990's 'ongoingly growing up' on Hardcore, Metal, Crossover, and Punk it was nothing less than this. I was roughly 16 years young when I first listened to it and it totally conquered me in a more than supreme way and now with becoming 37 years old in a few months it still conquers me again and again and time after time. I think that says quite a bit. In 1998 HARD RESISTANCE released their third one, the MCD "PSYCHO TALES" (also damn fucking great), and after this they sort of called it a day for quite a while but nowadays they are back again (also already for some time now) and going strong again with playing live and having also released new albums (fucking great) since then. Good to see that the good guys sometimes come back again.

HARD RESISTANCE play(ed) a tough as nails NYHC born and bred Hardcore style with not much or not often used breaks on board and enriched with a harsh slightly crusty edge to it, in the no prisoners taking constantly forwards whipping approach of the songs, and all flavoured with an also slightly metallic taste and spirit, in the massively to all devastating heavyness of the musick, to it all. So, yes, HARD RESISTANCE served us a slightly crusty and metallic version of NYHC inspired Euro Core that was and still is today pretty to very self-conatined and 'independently' in its very own identity and unique character. Any sort of cheesy or catchy melody lines or any sort of trendy and/or corny gimmicks you simply won't find here, no bullcrap and false fake ass shit, hell no, instead of this here with HARD RESISTANCE's "ENGINE OF HATE" you got and still get the REAL DEAL in form/shape of highest intensity, high octane energy, no holds barred power, and sheer pure impact and full force, hell yeahr, and this non stopp and without end. Straight and direct in your face hammered songs full of authentic attitude, honest emotions, and real groundshaking heavyness and intensity, and yes, this was and is and will always be what Hardcore was meant to be at very first and will be also be meant to be exactly this. The guys knew what they had to do and what they wanted to do and so they did, and even when mostly all the songs rage on and heavy in a massively stunning up paced way they always managed to work some strong breaks, great twists'n'turns, and in general re-/upfreshing moments and elements into it all to shake it all up again and again and keeping it so all 'alive' and fresh while maintaining the incredible high and forceful intensity all the time and I always loved and still love the powerful onward slashing arranged verses as well as the mighty and full force refrains and not to talk about the devastating grooves (and also the in exactly this very way in general done rhythm work), oh yes, this was and is and will always be purest platinum from 1997 on up to the end of time(s). Harsh roaring lead vocals, full'n'loud gang back ups, devastating guitars, a roaring bass, and smashing drumming make the musick of HARD RESISTANCE "ENGINE OF HATE" and the title is sort of the 'program' that made and still makes the agenda. Outspoken and direct lyrics, a fantastic artwork, and a still today dirty and heavy production sound used to round it all up and still do so today. Each single song is a fantastic slasher and Hardcore at its very, very best, then and now, and so I could calmly and easily spare me any listening tipps for you but so I won't do because if you want to know my total and absolute über-favorites then here they come, oh yes, first and foremost the massive and ultra-heavy titletrack "ENGINE OF HATE" itself, and then the bitter and pissed off "ANGRY MAN", "SCHOOLDAYS SHOW", "NEVER GIVE UP", "GREEN", the programmatically "RELEASE THE BRAKES", and the stunning "ON YOUR OWN", yes, songs I simply sort of can't live without since 1997 like with the whole album, HARD RESISTANCE's "ENGINE OF HATE", one phenomenal piece of musick and Hardcore the most supreme way - then and now.

From my point of view HARD RESISTANCE's groundbreaking masterpiece "ENGINE OF HATE" is a especially today far too often overlooked and forgotten absolutely supreme and superior album and sort of a crowning album in the history of Hardcore in general and in particular in the history of european Hardcore and especially in Euro Core and personally for me, oh man, this band and especially this album meant and still means and surely sort of forever will mean so incredible much to/for me and the memories this songs bring up in me, all the good friends back then, the damn good times, yes, all this just so damn fantastic memories... oh damn it, I slowly but steady grow old with feelings of nostalgia popping up in my mind when I listen to certain songs and albums, hell man, but I think that's maybe just how things go when you suddenly realize that you have a real and proper biography yourself for quite some time now (if you get what I mean) and so it's probably nothing to worry to much about, hahaha. ;-) And this takes anyhow anyway also nothing away from this superior album and to anyone into Hardcore (Punk) who still really doesn't know HARD RESISTANCE and their "ENGINE OF HATE" I hope I helped to change this with this tribute article a bit and maybe I manged to make you curious for/of it and you finally change this with finally buying it (you should get it for pretty to very low prices this days on the second hand market) and I just would wish that I succeeded in paying my heartfelt and honest tribute to this to/for me damn great and important band and this absolutely amazing fantastic album in a proper way. And then I will now leave you with recommending highly and strongly to get this album and with wishing you a good night and then tomorrow may all you guys have a joyful easter(n)-weekend. Next week (at least probably) we will read us again up here. HARDCORE!!! FIST!!!













HARD RESISTANCE - "ENGINE OF HATE" (1997) ///the complete album\\\









Freitag, 30. März 2018

ASENBLUT - "LEGENDEN" (2018)

ASENBLUT - "LEGENDEN"
(Running time: 22:32 minutes; 5 songs)
("AFM Records"; 2018; CD):
Hey guys, yes, I'm back on track again. So for now you will get this post and this very one will be or better is my record review on the current ASENBLUT Mini-CD "LEGENDEN" that was released pretty to very recently via the pretty big and active "AFM RECORDS" label, yes, and then tomorrow you will get the 'obligatoiary' "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH" post and then that will be pretty much all for this month... the two bigger posts that I've announced and promised you earlier this month for coming up still this very month I will serve you pretty soon and early at the beginning of April 2018 because... I was just too damn lazy to get it still right now done and I was especially far too lazy during my current (easter) holidays/vacations... I know, shame on me... to get the finishing touches done on 'them'... sorry folks... and, okay, after you now know 'what's up currently?' up here let's kick this 'thing' here really off and so now let's go: ASENBLUT are a Viking themed Death Metal band from Germany (I think, more precisely, from the City of Göttingen, pretty much near-by where I live) and they are already around for a bit over a decade or so I think and for all what I've read they seem to be a bit 'controversially discussed'... to be honest, yes, I don't see any reasons why. First of to this pseudo- and wannabe-political bullcrap farce that ASENBLUT would be a right winging Nazi band I won't even say anything but just: Hell no, they are definitely not, period. Just get a real life you AFA nutjobs and your most worst problems (especially those that you have with yourself) will  surely and simply vanish. And second or 'secondly'... music-wise... oh mighty Buddha, stop talking them down just because you don't like their german lyrics or because you are full of complexes and so you don't like that their frontman and singer is outspoken about being an active Strongman and an inactive Bodybuilder or because you just have to talk them down because they are 'just a band from near-by' because anyone and everyone who likes AMON AMARTH will also like ASENBLUT simply because at least today with what they show us here on and with "LEGENDEN" they are already next to the guys from Sweden, point and fact. I used that phrase 'at least today' because their earlier relases I don't know properly so far, but this very one here, ASENBLUT's "LEGENDEN", I know very, very well and it features four own old songs of them that are for what I know more or less completly re-done on their current level of skill(s), and this four songs namely are "DIE LEGENDE", "HELDENBÜRDE", "ASENBLUT", and "VON DES VERRÄTERS UNTERGANG", and then they also add a pretty nice and cool cover of MANOWAR's "GOD OR MAN" to it (no match compared to/with the original but still a very decent one). Heavy forward(s) pushing bulldozing Death Metal with a clear and strong Viking (or Pagan) vibe and spirit to it and with a focus on rousing mid-pace slashers with some few faster up-paced outbreaks and with very massive and the songs strongly marking melody lines to it all. Very compact and focussed songwriting that creates a pretty huge intensity and shines with a tight atmosphere. Crushing guitars, harsh grunts and screams (but still also pretty easy to understand), and a thundering rhythm section to back it all up. Imagine a good and strong mixture out of AMON AMARTH, with some UNLEASHED and some BOLT THROWER (especially if we talk about the general approach and the pace work of the songs), add some skullsmashing Thrash Metal to it with some few blackened notes to it all and you're pretty much right there. I would just wish that ASENBLUT would maybe work some more variations into their song arrangements to fresh it all up and maybe work out your own identity at least a bit more but maybe that's also just me (and after I like my Death Metal more of the brutal and U.S. american kind I am also maybe surely just not in the main target group of ASENBLUT as well, just that you know that) and other than that I really like what ASENBLUT serve us here with their "LEGENDEN" Mini-CD and I can calmly recommend this little shining disc to you. Some 'genre-typical' lyrics, a also 'genre-typical' and pretty good artwork, and a fat bombing production sound we get on top of it all. So, yes, even I am surely not in the main target group of a band like ASENBLUT they definitely convinced me with their "LEGENDEN" and made me pretty curious for a new longplayer of them hitting the scenery in the future and if you are into the above described and named styles of music and bands you now get right here and right now my honest and clear recommendation(s).
(7,5 of 10 points)
http://www.asenblut.de/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)





ASENBLUT - "ASENBLUT" (2018, "LEGENDEN")









Dienstag, 27. März 2018

VISIGOTH - "CONQUEROR'S OATH" (2018)

VISIGOTH - "CONQUEROR'S OATH"
(Running time: 42:24 minutes; 8 songs)
("Metal Blade Records"; 2018; CD):
Hey guys, yes and finally: I am back home from my trip to the (by me massively be-loved) city of Amsterdam and currently I've found the time to do something up here again... and with this month already coming to a close we will see if my plans up here will work still out for this month... but anyhow, yes, being back at work again up here feels good and means that here and now the next dose of record-review(s) by me for you is coming right in through ya and so here we go finally one more time again: Here and now it will be all about the current and for all what I know all in all second full-length-album titled "CONQUEROR'S OATH" by/of the young and impressively strong going U.S. American Heavy Metal band VISIGOTH released pretty much more or less exactly one month ago via the almighty "METAL BLADE RECORDS" label. VISIGOTH were totally unknown to me before I got my hands on the "CONQUEROR'S OATH" and it was due to the great cover artwork and a big bunch of very good and positive record-reviews that I pre-ordered this album and thank and praise to the almighty gods that I did so. VISIGOTH hail from Salt Lake City, Utah/U.S.A. and what they give us is nothing else or less than absolutely phenomenal Epic Heavy Metal of the supreme(st) kind and with a born and bred american flavor to it all and if you now maybe need some references then let me tell you that if you can imagine a very, very self-conatined and delicious mixture out of MANOWAR and GRAND MAGUS then you're on the right way and if you add here and there some very few slightly (early) VIRGIN STEELE reminiscences in that power-driven-epicness of the songs and then maybe also add here and there some few (early) CANDLEMASS impressions in form of that here and there nicely ''doomy'' delivery of the songs to it all as well and then you're pretty much totally right and if you can imagine this all with joy and enthusiasm then let me tell you that VISIGOTH's "CONQUEROR'S OATH" will be sort of your new holy grail and this for good and also for sure. All this influences are melted together by VISIGOTH here on "CONQUEROR'S OATH" in a totally 'independently' and/or self-contained way so that I simply have to state that this fine'n'young band already is thru'n'thru one of a kind and possesses a very strong and huge own identity and character and this combined with an immense and impressive musical quality is something that conquered and still continues to conquer me massively. VISIGOTH deliver very fresh, damn exciting and highly anthemic/hymnal songs with a huge own character and that are delivered via fantastic multi-facetted and multi-layered songwriting full of stunning and big tension arcs with massive amounts of power and tremendous portions of highly rousing energy, a mercyless onwards pushing drive, filled with grapping song architectures, intense and exciting arrangements of the verses and truly larger than life refrains, a great to outstanding riff and rhythm work, a very soul- and playful compositorial approach to it all, a nicely varying pace work, yes, and all is studded with fresh and surprising twist'n'turns all along the road like for example the damn great hard rocking and heavy rolling THIN LIZZY inspired über-anthem "SALT CITY" so that you are definitely in for an amazing, rousing, exciting, and grapping ride. Absolutely fantastic and bright shining clear and clean and also damn powerful and highly charismatic sung lead vocals mark the songs massively and truly enrich and cultivate them in a massive and impressive way. Then the stunning, heavy and forceful and yet 'phenomenally' diverse and especially intense guitar work with its singing leads and stunning solos and that brilliant rhythm and riffing work is for sure adding tons of highest quality and of that very own and unique identity to the songs (and this for all the right reasons), that are massively and stunningly backed up by the furious forward charging rhythm section. Hell yeahr, this is real Heavy Metal at'n'of its damn much very, very best and so much I can tell already here and now you can be sure that you will find VISIGOTH's "CONQUEROR'S OATH" ranked up in my this year's best of list, definitely. It's hard to name you any personal favorites but if you would want me to do so I probably would go with the almighty hymn "STEEL AND SILVER", the stunning "WARRIOR QUEEN", the absolutely poser slaying slasher "HAMMERFORGED", the already above mentioned über-anthem "SALT CITY", the sawing battle hymn "BLADES IN THE NIGHT", and the massively by (Epic) Doom Metal interwoven "THE CONQUEROR'S OATH", yes, so maybe start your discovery of VISIGOTH's "CONQUEROR'S OATH" with this purest platinum gems but don't make the mistake to think that the not mentioned "OUTLIVE THEM ALL" and "TRAITOR'S GATE" would be only anyhow anyway only slightly bad or weak songs because hell no they are definitely not, point and fact. On top of it all we do also get brilliant and (at least to me) nicely multi-facetted battle-scarred lyrics, a gorgeous artwork, and a heavy and powerful and yet warm, earthy, and organic production sound on top of it all. Okay, I think I have said all what I had to say so far and so I will now leave you with my highest recommendations to anyone into real Heavy Metal, Epic Metal, Power Metal, and/or U.S. Metal respectively American Heavy Metal (so to say) and I would like to add VISIGOTH with and due to their almighty and fantastic larger than life masterpiece "CONQUEROR'S OATH" because of the highly intense battle scarred and gladiatorial atmosphere to my personal list of Cimmerian Metal or Conan Metal and when you should finally listen to it you will pretty sure know why. All praise and hail to VISIGOTH and here with "CONQUEROR'S OATH" we definitely already have one of the very best probably top ten albums of/for 2018, definitely; highly recommended and so finally get it as soon as possible and this best right now. And now: DEATH TO FALSE METAL!!!
(10 of 10 points)
https://de-de.facebook.com/visigothofficial/ (-the link to the facebook site of the band)





VISIGOTH - "STEEL AND SILVER" (2018, "CONQUEROR'S OATH")