RISE OF THE NORTHSTAR - "THE LEGACY OF SHI" (2018)

RISE OF THE NORTHSTAR - "THE LEGACY OF SHI"
(Running time: 43:31 minutes; 11 songs)
("Nuclear Blast Records"; 2018; CD):

And here's now already the next load incoming for you, or so to say, trust your eyes, and here and now you get my record review on the new RISE OF THE NORTHSTAR album "THE LEGACY OF SHI" released for all what I would call still pretty recently via the omnipresent "NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS" in this days and age of 2018. So, yes, the french Crossover Hardcore/Metal roughnecks are damn fucking back four years after their outstanding precursor album "WELCAME" (my review on it you do also find up here) and I can only say that it was really by far about time that the RISE OF THE NORTHSTAR finally again lightened up the sky and this time even brighter than four years ago and also already back then the sky was set on fire, yes, but this time today in 2018 the whole sky is burning completly and totally and "THE LEGACY OF SHI" is written in bright and fiery burning letters across the whole horizon and beyond from the far east to the far west and back again. This is a hard crushing, a harsh ripping, and a sharp slaying, furiously grinning Crossover bastard out of massive and groove orientated Hardcore and everything down hammering Thrash Metal cultivated with huge doses of high skilled and damn 'uniquely' done Rap (Metal) influences and huge amounts of fantastic done very strong and amazing tight/dense and very fresh atmospheric markings in it and all done on the highest levels of skills and quality and with a very huge and massively conquering very own, characteristic, and unique identity to it all and carrying an overwhelming and nearly insane dose of intensity in it all the time, oh hell yeahr, being born and bred on a grooving, ripping, and shredding valuable diet consisting especially out of RHYTHM TRIP, MADBALL, SUB ZERO, BIOHAZARD, ALL OUT WAR, SLAYER, MACHINE HEAD, and ANTHRAX and melting this all together with stand-alone and very fresh and totally up-to-date ideas and some damn phenomenal and creative and above all unbelievable intense and damn diverse and multi-layered songwriting full of exciting arrangements, brilliant done silence-loudness-playings, huge dynamics, rousing energy, some of the most crushing and also most fresh groove and rhythm work I've heard in and probably also for years, yes, and the crown is given to it all by some damn unique, creative, intense, and simply grapping and exciting, goosepimples-for-free-giving atmospheric and very, very melodic and catchy playings and parts that mark, enrich, and cultivate RISE OF THE NORTHSTAR's "THE LEGACY OF SHI" incredible strong and turning it into an amazing and awesome full charge everything with supreme might and force conquering masterpiece of the most supreme kind. Fantastic, highly rich and diverse guitar work, forceful hammering and beating bass playing, thundering and massively charging drumming, brilliant multi-facetted stunning hard and very charismatic lead vokillz, and incredible broad and fat loud'n'proud gang backings, this are the ingredients of RISE OF THE NORTHSTAR's "THE LEGACY OF SHI" and all is delivered highly unique and damn fresh and alive/lively and this all by high skilled and also damn creative musicians, yes, and to/for me that's sort of a perfect combination. Any listening tipps I will here and now in this very case spare me, definitely, because the whole damn album is nothing but all killers and hell no fillers, again: definitely. A drop-dead-gorgeous artwork, very strong and thoughtful as well as thought-provoking and also nicely (self-)ironic lyrics, and a demolishing production sound then finally round this all in a damn fucking perfect way up. This is one of the very best albums of 2018 and I definitely would say also for the next years to come and so by any means you should definitely get your hands on it, yes, and this definitely best instantly right now. Hardcore!!! Fist!!!

(10 of 10 points)

http://www.riseofthenorthstar.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

RISE OF THE NORTHSTAR - "HERE COMES THE BOOM" (2018, "THE LEGACY OF SHI")

WISDOM IN CHAINS - "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS" (2018)

WISDOM IN CHAINS - "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS"
(Running time: 39:44 minutes; 13 songs)
("Demons Run Amok"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, finally a new post up here and obviously I couldn't keep up the momentum from the promising start of this month, so to say, but in real life the pre-christmas-time is this year simply damn work-intensive and with also having a real social life then so this little blog of mine up here simply comes off a little bit short currently but I guess that's just life and so all is more than just good and fine with that at the end of the day(s). But with that out of the way it's finally time to do again a little bit up here and so here and now you get my record-review on one hell of a masterpiece and this one is the new WISDOM IN CHAINS album "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS" released this summer via "DEMONS RUN AMOK" and if you know this blog now already for a few years longer and/or if you know me personally than you know that WISDOM IN CHAINS are some of my total favorites and this latest since they way back then released their immortal "CLASS WAR" masterpiece in 2007 and now we are eleven years later in 2018 and WISDOM IN CHAINS are going sort of stronger than (ever) before with "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS", hell yeahr, and two months ago I did my record-review on SLAPSHOT's new one and what I wrote there about it (of) being my Hardcore album of/for 2018 I definitely stand for it but I also definitely already knew back then that this 'title' SLAPSHOT's "MAKE AMERICA HATE AGAIN" had too share with WISDOM IN CHAINS' "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS" but simply did not want to 'pre-anticipate' and spoil it back then already, yes, and so now here we are. (And after the almighty SICK OF IT ALL also finally released also their new one very recently we will later on see what that now may mean…) WISDOM IN CHAINS serve us here on and with "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS" the newest and most impressive dose of their highly intense and highly atmospheric, incredible creative and clichée-free Hardcore full of ongoingly delivered heavy truckloads of devastating heavy and highly dynamic energy and and a rousing attitude and potential like not much else outta there, yeahr, and they even enriched it all far more today in 2018 with "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS", so at least my impression, and cultivated it even more than before with totally getting rid of any bullshit Hardcore clichée crap and with just doing their completly own thing and this so even far more consequent than already before. Melting heavy amounts of catchy and sharp Heavy Metal and crushing Thrash Metal as well as symphonic Classic Rock into their bonecracking heavy and at the same time incredible hymnal and with breath-taking melody lines shining Hardcore the Land of Kings style and that's still deeply rooted in the NY(H)C and that then is all pushed only more and only heavier forward by a massive input of Punkrock, Streetpunk and some Oi! ingredients and that is this time with working- in some good and healthy doses of atmospheric ambient-Pop even only made more rich, rousing, grapping, exciting, and also entertaining. And also only even more conquering. So expect one hell of an impressive and 'overwhelmingly-conquering' rich and grapping songwriting full of great fresh ideas, surprising twists and turns all down the road along the ride as well as open huge surprises and a in that definitely larger than life way still before "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS" in that manner just unexpected and so damn strong moments of unrestrained and 'bubbling-over' creativity without any 'scene-limitations' that is just so damn impressive and grapping that WISDOM IN CHAINS take you for an overly exciting ride full of authentic, heartfelt big emotions that they will leave you with your mouth opened wide and a satisfied joker-grin drawn on your face, oh yes, and all is marked by a very strong and huge own unique identity and charcter and a larger than life intensity as well as a damn dense'n'tight atmosphere, yes, served to us by damn skilled musicians from start to finish on the highest grade of quality and full of soulful and heartfelt, sympathic authenticity and that's something that hopefully will never change in camp WISDOM IN CHAINS. All is delivered via highly charismatic and today more than ever versatile lead vokillz backed up by widescreen crew back ups and well placed co-lead vokillz, by a damn diverse and multi-layered, multi-facetted guiatr work, by a heavy smacking bass, and by a thunderous drum work. Any band comparisions? Senseless, too huge, too strong, too characteristic, and too unique is the identity of WISDOM IN CHAINS. But, okay, let me try it this way: Throw SICK OF IT ALL and MADBALL together with METALLICA, ANTHRAX, and LED ZEPPELIN into one big bowl and garnish it with some BONECRUSHER, RANCID, and OXYMORON and you have a good starting point to finally discover WISDOM IN CHAINS on your own. If you ask for any listening tipps then it should be clear that the whole album is the purest platinum outta there and this from start to finish, definitely, but if you're interested in my personal favorites then this are probably "LIFE LESSONS", "SOMEDAY", "BETTER THAN I WAS", "THE BOY AND THE CAVE", "HEART OF A CHAMPION", "TURN MY BACK", "DUCK DOWN, STAY DOWN", and "HALFWAY THERE" simply because this are the songs I've probably listened the very most to and so maybe check this songs out first. A great, sinister 'cartoonish' artwork, a heavy smashing and yet clear and warm production-sound, and absolutely first-class lyrics then finally turn WISDOM IN CHAINS' "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS" into the complete package and the real deal. What? You still need some finishing closing words? Really? Okay, then… damn it, just go out and (finally) get WISDOM IN CHAINS' "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS" and this instantly. One hell of a fantastic album. Hardcore!!! Fist!!!

(10 of 10 points)

https://de-de.facebook.com/WisdomInChainsPAHC (-the link to the facebook site of the band)

WISDOM IN CHAINS - "THE BOY AND THE CAVE" (2018, "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS")

TERROR - "TOTAL RETALIATION" (2018)

TERROR - "TOTAL RETALIATION"
(Running time: 28:29 minutes; 13 songs)
("Nuclear Blast Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, trust your eyes because it's true and here and now today-already-the-next-day again a new post is coming up here for and straight aimed @ you and here and now we will head finally again into the department and area of Hardcore with my review on the brandnew TERROR album "TOTAL RETALIATION" released very recently @ the 28th of September of 2018 via "NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS" and I own the (standard) CD version of it and so, yes, you probably already guessed it, my review on it will be based solely and strictly on this very one but I could imagine or would even bet that there are also limited CD versions and/or various LP formats/colours of it floating around. The precursor full-length of/by TERROR titled the "25th HOUR" from back in 2015 was and still is sort of a dissapointment to/for me and is so up to this present day and this also definitely the least-listened TERROR release in my pretty extensive TERROR-(record-)collection. Last year in 2017 then with their the "WALLS WILL FALL" EP then to/for me they returned sort of to old glory and strength (my reviews on both releases you find up here, too, just search under the label of TERROR), thankfully, and here and now in 2018 they which means TERROR are finally back with a proper new full-length here'n'now with "TOTAL RETALIATION" and... okay, after this is with roughly more than 28 minutes a very short and compact one I will also keep this review by me on it a short and compact one, yes, and so: TERROR are also today back to their former glory and strength and stick to/with it and they've released with "TOTAL RETALIATION" a definite killer-album and also one more time again a sort of a blueprint for highly intense, fiery, aggressive, massively the Old School hailin'n'praisin' as well as at the same time 'ongoingly' perfectly to the New School serving, and always onwards into battle charging and in nearly equal parts by mercylessly thrashing Metal as well as relentlessly raging Hardcore Punk fueled, in the cold-concrete-streets of Los Angeles, California/U.S.A. raised through'n'through pure power and full force highly energetic Hardcore with always a very strong gang-shouting'n'sing-a-longing anthemic note to it all. Highly compact and to the point written'n'played very intense songs full of a nearly larger-than-life and sheer exploding energy and marked by a harsh and stunning heavyness on a very high level of quality and skill(s) and definitely highly charismatic, yes, so that despise of all the legions of bands from all across the globe that had been, were, and still are massively influenced and inspired by TERROR over the last decade or so you right from the kick-off of "TOTAL RETALIATION" with the incredible heavy down-to-mid-paced and pretty 'blocky' smasher "THIS WORLD NEVER WANTED ME" get that this here are no one else and especially no one less than TERROR themselves, oh hell yeahr, and this time at least in my personal perception they shaken things by far more up with more pace variations and some very stunning and heavy and pretty 'blocky' compositorial approaches and arrangements and with doing this they keep it all not only nicely fresh and exciting without straying away from their chosen path but they also only add some huge and heavy amounts of very fresh heavyness on top of it all. And doing 'things-this-way' also only led the full force and no prisoners taking fast charging parts and the massive anthemic fist in the air gang shouting parts only build more powerful momentum over all the time of TERROR's "TOTAL RETALIATION", yeahr, and this for all the right reasons. So, yes, clearly scored at the part of the songwriting and the delivery via harsh sawing and heavy hitting metallic thrashing and punky highly intense guitar work (with some damn great solos and leads cultivating it all massively), widescreen loud'n'proud hymnal/anthemic gang shouts, a highly destructive heavy bombing bass, devastating thunderous drumming, and one of the still very most charismatic and very most aggressive lead singin'n'shouting voices outta there only does justice to it in a very stunning way. Two or three songs maybe fail to grap me as massive as the other ones but here shines a lot and this is mostly really all gold. Strong and uplifting and still very authentic Underdog-lyrics, a nicely sinister and old-schoolish artwork, and one hell of a heavy bombing production sound then finally round TERROR's "TOTAL RETALIATION" strong and in all the right way up. Clearly and highly recommended and so, yeah', if you still don't have or even know it you should definitely change this very, very soon. Hardcore!!! Fist!!!

(8,5 of 10 points)

https://www.facebook.com/terrorhardcore (-the link to the facebook site of the band)

TERROR - "RESISTANT TO THE CHANGES" (2018, "TOTAL RETALIATION")

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - AUGUST 2018: LUNGBRUSH - "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL"

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - AUGUST 2018:

LUNGBRUSH- "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL" (1999)
(Running time: 38:55 minutes, 14 songs)
("Pavement Music Inc."; CD):

Tracklist:
(01.) "URBAN TRIBES"
(02.) "LOST"
(03.) "SOMETIMES"
(04.) "EXIT"
(05.) "BOUND"
(06.) "FOR A MINUTE"
(07.) "HEROIN SUICIDE"
(08.) "HINDSIGHT"
(09.) "CORPORATE BULLSH#T"
(10.) "CLOZARIL"
(11.) "JANIE"
(12.) "SYNTHETIC"
(13.) "I QUIT"
(14.) "SOILED"

Oh boy, it seems like freaky fuckin' ages and like I've totally forgot about this very article here which is in fact the next and newest "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH" article in its AUGUST 2018 edition, yes, and you know what, it's true, I sort of forgot about it so that it now nearly a full month too late comes up... and so here and now without any further ramblings, yes, let's go… Here we have a for all what I know today very much unknown and truly heavily forgotten album and that's the "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL" slasher of/by LUNGBRUSH that used to hail from Chicago, Illinois/U.S.A. and it was released in 1999 via "PAVEMENT MUSIC INC." (on CD) and for all what I know it was and still is the only proper release of/by them and it is an album that heavily breathes the spirit of the late 1990's but this like fresh air still today. This is metallic Hardcore or early Metalcore with a huge curious and searchingly mind(set) and a special tone or vibe to it all like you only got it back then in the late 1990's on but this all so strong and grapping, exciting and energizing so that it is even also today nothing but incredible fresh, strong, and alive/lively so that it still today stands its ground and this tall, brave, strong, and proud. Unfortunately I haven't found that much more informations on/to LUNGBRUSH beside the fact that they toured together with the likes of FEAR FACTORY, SLAYER, and MACHINE HEAD back in the days, yes, and so now onwards to the next chapter of this article and this is a closer look on LUNGBRUSH's "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL".

Especially FEAR FACTORY and MACHINE HEAD are good cornerstones to describe LUNGBRUSH and what they are doing here on "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL". Imagine a devastating and highly dynamic full throttle and full force mixture out of mid to late 1990's metallic Hardcore like for example STRIFE, TURMOIL, DISRESPECT, and SURFACE, throw some good portioned healthy doses of SICK OF IT ALL for some more raging Old School Hardcore vibes into the mix, and combine this all with 1990's Neo Thrash Metal like especially MACHINE HEAD, SEPULTURA/SOULFLY, KILLINGCULTURE, and also some FEAR FACTORY and then add a damn strong and big own identity to it all and you pretty much have the greatness that LUNGBRUSH had delivered in 1999 with their "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL" masterpiece and I really have no clue why the band didn't become bigger back then. Anyhow, we have this great asskicker here marked by fantastic songwriting with a tricky and imaginative approach to it all, with strong exciting moments and full of grapping and rousing elements and truckloads of energy and dynamics, and with a lot of especially great and nicely diverse and multi-facetted rhythm arrangements. All is delivered by pissed off raging and throaty delivered very hard shouted vokillz, crushing and devastating guitars, and a pure thunder rhythm section. Add it to all 1990's MACHINE HEAD like screaming guitars and 1990's SEPULTURA/SOULFLY like percussive tribalistic drumming and some sort of "proggy" compositorial 'playthings' like especially KILLINGCULTURE also did them back then, yes, and you should know the deal. Strong and outspoken lyrics, a very sinister artwork, and a smashing production-sound round it all finally up. To anyone into metallic Hardcore and (early) Metalcore I can only and nothing but highly recommend LUNGBRUSH's "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL" so do yourself the damn huge favour and make sure to finally (and desperately) get your hands on a copy of it. HARDCORE!!! FIST!!!

Check them out on ''Bandmine'': http://www.bandmine.com/lungbrush

LUNGBRUSH - "SOMETIMES" (1999, "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL")

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - JUNE 2018: ALL OUT WAR - "FOR THOSE WHO WERE CRUCIFIED"

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - JUNE 2018:

ALL OUT WAR - "FOR THOSE WHO WERE CRUCIFIED" (1998)
(Running time: 49:08 minutes; 13 songs)
("Victory Records"; CD):

Tracklist:
(01.) "SOAKED IN TORMENT"
(02.) "BURNING SEASON"
(03.) "FOR THOSE WHO WERE CRUCIFIED"
(04.) "RESIST"
(05.) "CLAIM YOUR INNOCENCE"
(06.) "FALSE SALVATION"
(07.) "REDEMPTION FOR THE INNOCENT"
(08.) "WITNESS THE END"
(09.) "INTO THE FLAMES OF PROGRESSION"
(10.) "AFTER AUTUMN"
(11.) "ENEMIES OF CREATION"
(12.) "TRUTH IN THE AGE OF LIES"
(13.) "APOCALYPTIC TERROR"

Oh boy, is this very one here and now long, long overdue, god damn it, I sort of honestly nearly forgot about the still pending "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH" post in its "JUNE 2018" edition, yes, no other "story" behind it or what the hell else ever and so today there's no need for any further-going secundary smalltalk as an introduction here and now, yes, and so just let's go - better late than never, I guess.

This month I have something… okay... I have again something damn great for you. We will stay like the last past three months before this very one here also in the world of (1990's) Hardcore musick and this time we will take a trip to New York and to be more precise to Newburgh, New York and I or we or how-ever will pay and give respect and honour via this tribute to a back then and of course still today to/for me very special and important band  and this band is none other than the almighty ALL OUT WAR and here and now it will be all about their outstanding chunk of pure hatred titled "FOR THOSE WHO WERE CRUCIFIED" from back then in 1998, yes, released via the then damn mighty "VICTORY RECORDS" on CD as well as on LP. (I have the CD version and so all here and now will be about this very one.) Back then in the glorious 1990's 'things' were getting heavier and harder and simply more and more devastating in Hardcore with a lot of bands back then starting massively to incorporate more and more and/or maybe (just) more prominent than before more or less 'style-foreign elements' from for example Crust and Grind but also Rap/Hip Hop and also especially Metal into their style'n'sound with for example 'stuff' like Holy Terror Hardcore, Metallic Hardcore, more and more metalized NYHC, new School Straight Edge Hardcore and then some day also first real proper Metalcore like we know it today all too well appearing stronger and stronger and time after time more often and again  even more often on the scene and latest from the middle of the 1990's this all happened far more frequently again and again, especially (or at least) in my 'retrospective-percepetion' with sort of experiencing this development first-hand and discovering a huge load of great bands and records back then that should have and still have a pretty lifechanging as well as, so it seems, a lifelong-lasting impact on me, yes, and ALL OUT WAR surely were one of this bands and to me also one of the most prominent and most important ones, too. I discovered them in 1997 via their mighty full-length-debut-album "TRUTH IN THE AGE OF LIES" that was back then released via the (then active, don't know right now if they are still around) german label "GAIN GROUND RECORDS" and they conquered me heavily and "TRUTH IN THE AGE OF LIES" is (also) still today pretty frequently put on heavy rotation here in the Manslaughter Headquarters. Then in 1998 ALL OUT WAR released their second full-length-album "FOR THOSE WHO WERE CRUCIFIED" and this time then they conquered me in an absolutely overwhelming way and personally for/to me it is definitely the most important release of all by ALL OUT WAR and this without a single doubt. It was even more heavy, hate-filled, harsh, forceful, devastating, and simply even more compelling and conquering and in total even more greater than the already damn great debut. Some songs of the debut they also rerecorded and reused on "FOR THOSE WHO WERE CRUCIFIED" and this 'newly-done-versions' add only further proof to what I've said right before. What is really fantastic is the fact that ALL OUT WAR's "FOR THOSE WHO WERE CRUCIFIED" is still today as strong, as harsh, as fresh, as alive-lively, and as relevant as back then in 1998. And this should tell you already a lot if not even more. ALL OUT WAR are still around and still active, formed in 1991 and still going strong today. Now in and with the next chapter of this article let us have a look a bit more precise on their musick.

ALL OUT WAR played harsh Metallic Hardcore or Metalcore and developed especially already with their first proper full-lengths they should become sort of godfathers of Metalcore that should be continously on the rise latest from the late-middle/late 1990's on with more and more Hardcore bands discovering and incorporating especially Thrash Metal, the then current New School Thrash Metal, and Death Metal into their musick forming a strong own scene with bands like for example EARTH CRISIS, TURMOIL, DAMNATION A.D., DISRESPECT, SWORN ENEMY, HATEBREED, and DAY OF SUFFERING beside ALL OUT WAR leading the pack back then. Each of this bands or more or less each of this bands had back then a pretty distinguishable style'n'sound and this also was (and still is) valid also and especially for ALL OUT WAR and their "FOR THOSE WHO WERE CRUCIFIED" is only (further) proof of/for this. Melting a lot of different Hardcore and Metal elements incredibel liquid'n'fluent(ly) together and creating one hell of a devastating thunderstorm of prime Metalcore that also not shies away from some Sludge influences. The Metal on here was and is even more prominent than on a lot of current Metalcore releases and also often more present on here than the Hardcore parts - even the Hardcore roots run anyhow very deep. Especially the guitar work is filled with very fresh Metal riffs throughout the whole album and also the drumming showcases a lot of brilliant done Metal styled moments full of a quick snare drum work directly from the Metal department around the block. In general expect devastating guitars, razor spitting harsh and highly aggressive vokillz, and a every and any opposition into the dust crushing rhythm section as well as loud gang back-ups and all melted together by very intense and grapping, rousing and exciting everything killing songwriting and all done'n'delivered by very (high) skilled musicians and all in an excellent way. This was and still is and probably will always be and remain a very rich and intense masterpiece of a groundbreaking and lifechanging album that anyone into really heavy (and metallic) Hardcore, Metalcore, and surely also a lot to everyone into Thrash Metal and probably also some into Death Metal should desperately and definitely call their very own and it was and still is a damn characteristic and pretty unique album in sound'n'style and a true legendary masterpiece of an album and if you really don't own or even know it you should by any means change this as soon as finally possible. Very outspoken and damn strong lyrics, a fantastic artwork, and a heavy bombing production-sound round it all finally up, yes, and the final song is a damn great medley of cover-tunes that also wait to be finally discovered by you. Enough said, get it and then play it loud!!! ALL OUT WAR's "FOR THOSE WHO WERE CRUCIFIED", truly a real timeless classick. HARDCORE!!! FIST!!!

Okay, that's it for now, yes, expect the next "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH" article, the "JULY 2018" edition, to come up here early next month in August of 2018, yes, because for today this will be all and tomorrow on Tuesday and also on Wednesday I will be in Munich, yes, visiting a good friend and hailing the almighty JUDAS PRIEST tomorrow live on stage and so from Wednesday or Thursday this week on you can or you should expect new stuff up here. And now, yes, a have a nice summer-evening.

ALL OUT WAR - "APOCALYPTIC TERROR" (1998, "FOR THOSE WHO WERE CRUCIFIED")

https://www.facebook.com/Alloutwar666/ (-the link to the facebook site of the band)

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")

INTEGRITY - "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME" (2017)

INTEGRITY - "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME"
(Running time: 57:37 minutes; 14 songs)
("Relapse Records"; 2017; CD):

I think I've already mentioned one or two times before that 2017 was a very, very strong year music-wise, at least so in my book, and that it also saw the return of the almighty INTEGRITY is only one more further proof for/of my statement. 'Today' for the first time (ever) via the legendary "RELAPSE RECORDS" the outstanding INTEGRITY released their newest gem "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME" at the 14th of July of 2017 and it is (so I think) the successor album to/of "SUICIDE BLACK SNAKE" from 2013 (don't ask, I still don't know it so far... shame on me) but in my case it is finally my first 'meeting' with them again since their (al)mighty "THE BLACKEST CURSE" killer (from 2010) that I seven years... or so... ago also reviewed up here. Since then a lot of various records in different formats had been released by INTEGRITY but due to 'troublesome real life stuff'n'issues' most of them went under my radar (so far) and I know it (by) myself so you don't have to say it... shame on me... But anyhow, because finally in 2017 I managed to get my hands on INTEGRITY's newest offering "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME" already last summer pretty soon when it was released back then and this totally mindblowing fantastic masterpiece absolutely 'consumed' me, it conquered me and it 'kept me conquered' up to this present day since then. To or for me INTEGRITY were always and still are one of the very best (if not sort of the best) and also one of the most unique and inspiring as well as influential Hardcore bands ever outta there and of an importance of a far wider (out)reaching kind than solely being just a Hardcore 'thing'. They were and still are sort of an absolutely lifechanging importance to/for me in a lot if not (nearly) all ways and meanings. My first experience with INTEGRITY was way, far way back in 1995 with their absolute groundbreakers and total lifechangers "SYSTEMS OVERLOAD" and "HUMANITY IS THE DEVIL", two albums that will forever rank up high on my larger than life albums list, and in 1997 with "SEASONS IN THE SIZE OF DAYS" they absolutely conquered their crown and throne and both they maintain unrivaled up to this day and age and present day. And in 2017 they are finally back again and serve us this outstanding piece of art that "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME" totally is. I am absolutely blown away again and again by this masterpiece every time I put it on, again and again, and all the time. This is once in Cleveland born'n'based'n'raised metallic Hardcore fueled by blasphemic/satanic and nihilstic rage and energy without end and sheer 'atomizingly' harsh exploding dynamics and sheer 'ultra-violent' force that absolutely takes no prisoners, no, not a single bit, not a single one, and that simply conquers everything and anything by storm and that especially outshines all and everything with its tight, dense, very sinister and diabolic and nihilstic atmosphere and its massively mindblowing and worldshattering and definitely larger than life overwhelming intensity that marks it all in a very, very immense and stunning way. All is done and delivered by highest skilled musicians via phenomenal outstanding songwriting that is not only larger than life 'overwhelmigly' intense and mercylessly heavy and tough as nails harsh but also incredible diverse and highly varying and all is also massively 'rich' in every meaning(s) and so on "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME" the almighty INTEGRITY work (and this in an impressive smooth flowing way without any sort of breaks or holes or any blank space/-s in the song-architecture/-s) not only massive(ly) Metal elements and influences and impressions into their absolutely unique metallic Hardcore musick, first and foremost especially Thrash Metal but also Black Metal and Death Metal marks are clearly to be found and also sometimes bigger, sometimes smaller Doom (Metal) inspirations crush right out of the speakers and overwhelm you instantly and totally, but also traditional Heavy Metal and classic Hard Rock elements (especially in the guitar leads and the harmony and melody lines in general this influences very or pretty often shine bright but also in the rhythm structures this impressions can be found) and even Blues and Country just wait to be discovered here on INTEGRITY's "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME", oh bloody hell yeahr, and also the more or less for INTEGRITY typical 'classical/traditional' (slightly) Industrial marks rage one more time again beneath the surface of it all, yes, and also every resistance down hammering Hardcore Punk roots that are still very alive and well you will find en masse on and in it all here. The foundation clearly is very unique and sinister, evil, harsh, heavy, intense, crushing, and fast raging, very fresh and totally alive/lively done metallic Hardcore (some may call it Metalcore, okay, but personally I wouldn't do so, but okay...) but or and from this foundation on so incredible more is happening and going on on here, hell yes, INTEGRITY will leave your mind absouletyl blown (out) and your eyes and mouth wide open while your ears ring in constant excitement and hellish pleasure. All is without regrets and without mercy pushed forward by the intense and absolutely unique and charismatic hellish screamed and throaty'n'harsh shouted 'all-out-war-blasted' lead vocals of/by the legendary Dwid Hellion himself, the devastating crushing guitars, and the smashing and thunderous/thundering rhythm section, yes, and all done on one hell of an impressive level of skills and identity. To name any bands to compare INTEGRITY with makes no real sense after all because INTEGRITY pretty much were the first and still are the best and the greatest of'n'in their style but for example a great band like the mighty RINGWORM (and so many others more) would not exist or would not be around the way they are around without INTEGRITY, point and fact. This is HOLY TERROR HARDCORE of and at its very, very, very best!!! The whole album is incredible rich and more than 'just' great and in all honesty it's (nearly) perfect, yes, from start to finish, yes, and so I spare me the mentioning of any sort of personal favorite tracks because you definitely need to experience INTEGRITY's "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME" in all its larger than life glory. Fantastic lyrics, an outstanding gorgeous artwork, and a blasting'n'bombing production sound finally round it all up, yes, it's (at least nearly/almost) perfect, period. INTEGRITY's "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTNARE SHALL CONSUME" is an absolutely phenomenal and amazing album and one of the very, very best (and most unique) ones of 2017 and surely in years as well as for years to come, oh yes, and if I would have done a more sort of my 'traditional' year-retrospections on 2017 then you would find INTEGRITY's "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME" definitely in my personal top five (if not even in my personal top three) list. Okay, so I think now you should know all what you need to know so far and my last words here and now are that anyone and everybody only slightly into extreme (Hardcore) musick really have to know and own this absolutely mindblowing larger than life masterpiece. HARDCORE!!! FIST!!!
(10 of 10 points)
https://integrity.bandcamp.com/ (- the link to the Bandcamp site of the band)

INTEGRITY - "DIE WITH YOUR BOOTS ON" (2017, "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME")