Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Atomic Aggressor - Rise of the Ancient Ones (2008)

   Atomic Aggressor was probably one of the most ancient South American extreme bands, but they didn't make it further that time than a couple of demo tapes.
    On the side of the show up of plenty of new bands, the New Wave of Old School Death Metal also resulted the reunion of many old bands, and Atomic Aggressor wasn't an exception either. This reunion resulted the compliation album "Rise of the Ancient Ones", that includes their demo songs. Similar to the old sound of the South American scene, their music showed mixed influences, and of course in the most deviant approach. It lied on the borderline of thrash and death metal, but the sound and the vocal style had some blackened touch too. They were definitely a step forward from thrash by their aggressive sound, but they kept the basic features. Sepultura could have been their most important local influence, since the style of "Morbid Visions" is often waving back from their music. The difference is that while "Morbid Visions" was an experimenting album of a young band that tried to create something new in a completely insane way, for Atomic Aggressor it was an inspiration, and they were probably more certain about what did they want and how. They had a sample before themselves already, so they sounded somehow more determined. The band also showed some musical progress, on their second demo they've tried to exceed themselves in extremity, their sound turned more aggressive, and their songs more complex. Atomic Aggressor is strongly recommended for the fans of the most dedicated fans of musickness.

Darkcreed - Dark Regions (2008)

   Darkcreed was formed in the early '90s, and they kind of missed the late '80s/early '90s death metal wave, since their few demos came out later. But after a long break, with their debut EP they had excellent timing by catching up the New Wave of Old School Death Metal.
   Their music recalled the sound of old school Swedish death metal. The same simple but catchy themes, intensity and heavy load of primitiveness are waiting for the listener. The similarity is impressing, even the song structures, lyrics and vocal style are referring to the Northern classics. The mix of blasphemous, morbid obscure topics about death and torment should be expected in the already well known style. If the band's origin wasn't known, the listener could easily believe that an old, long time forgotten record from the early '90s was newly found. The earliest period of bands like Unleashed, Grave, and Entombed are getting summoned while listening "Dark Regions". The short, melodic, but ominous solo parts are reminding to the deviant sound of Carnage. It's an excellent nostalgia material for the fans of the Swedish death scene if they might desire some "fresh blood" in the same style.

Sunday, December 29, 2019

Grave Desecrator - Sign of Doom (2008)

   Since the mid '90s have been passed, it's quite rare to find references from new bands to the once so unique old school South American scene. New or less known names appearing from time to time in the form of bands who didn't have much attention in their times, but newer formations are another thing. Grave Desecrator is one of the rare exceptions, who have been formed with similar concept.
   The band was mainly influenced by Sarcófago and old Sepultura, and recalls the mixed style of the old scene authentically. The aggressive and compromise-less attitute of "Sign of Doom" matches not only with the tendencies of past times, but it's also not far from war metal. Similar to war metal bands and in analogy with the local traditions, they avoided atmospheric sound, and instead of dark aesthetics, their effectiveness lies in the raw sound and the heaviness of the themes. The main impression is still enough old school to not cross a certain border, and the thrash metal basics are quite evident. This is the source of their never ending intensity, while the ancient black/death metal features are responsible for the heaviness and the brutality. "Sign of Doom" is not only an excellent nostalgia album, but also had refreshing role in the recent extreme underground scene. 

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Robot Lords of Tokyo - Whiskey, Blood & Napalm (2008)

   Robot Lords of Tokyo was formed as fan-made project that played mostly cover songs of well known heavy metal bands.
   Even though they've debuted with own songs, it's impossible to not find references to the big names. But since they're just kept playing for fun, and that could be intensively sensed in their music, there's no need to except anything revolutionary new. It's a laid back music that can be imagined as a backbround noise of motorcycle meet ups, or common chilling weekend live entertainment in rock pubs. On the side of the influences of their favorites an intense stoner/southern rock influence is also there in their music. That's easy to relate with the oldies of heavy metal, so we can say that it's a style where it's hard to fail. Simple, groovy themes combined with the catchiest generic heavy metal riffings and solos are always effective because it's easy to go into something nostalgic that reminds to the '80s and '70s, especially if the sound is also updated. Plus it's high party compatibility also can make it as an audience favorite at the right places. Recommended for the fans of stoner and southern rock bands.

Benedictum - Seasons of Tragedy (2008)

   Even though ordinary heavy metal is the most popular/mainstream aspect of metal music, the number of newbies is quite low in this style. That's not only because it's a style that's extremely hard to play good and without ending up as a self-comedy project. But the audience also doesn't seem so opened for new bands.
   The reason that heavy meatal sounds old fashioned nowadays is easy to shoo off, since Benedictum is the living proof how to sound modern while playing like how the oldies of the late '70s/early '80s did. Lately it became a new direction to sound vintage, exactly how the music of the big names sounded in their times, but the sound development left it's mark in Benediction's music. The good production and the clean sound are only the beginning, they were also not afraid to play more intense and occasionally wilder than how heavy metal bands used to be. This might make easier for younger generations to catch the feeling, since all generations having their specific styles and actual directions they can feel to relate to. And while "Seasons of Tragedy" counts definitely as a modern album, there are plenty of nostalgic elements to find on it (it was weird if there wasn't any). The strong '80s feeling is mainly represented in the person of Miss Veronica Freeman, who may remind to the performance of Frau Doro Pesch of Warlock. Not only because of her powerful voice, but the ultimate heavy metal bombshell queen appearance also counts as a reference. In total "Seasons of Tragedy" is a great album, competitive both on the fields of vintage and modern metal.