The Deathtrip – Deep Drone Master

by Lefteris Kefalas

the-deathtrip-deep-drone-master-cdThe first thing we realize upon setting foot in Deathtrip’s personal hell is that this album contains something reminiscent of the great black metal records of the 90s. Riff-wise and sound-wise, it definitely sounds up to date, but its primitiveness and immediacy surely recaptures some of the old magic of the genre’s origin.

After a brief intro, we are taken aback by the razor-sharp riffing of the ‘Flag of Betrayal’. Aldrahn’s performance is definitely a highlight (as is in every song), his versatility and charisma give him a primary role, driving the listener through his own uninhabited and inhospitable … Read more

Slice the Cake – Odyssey to the Gallows, an Analysis Of

by Dæv Tremblay

The release of the much-anticipated Odyssey to the West, from the progressive deathcore band Slice the Cake, has been somewhat obfuscated by some internal problems. I do not wish to delve into this, but rather write about the music itself, the lyrics, and the concept surrounding it all. Understand that I do not take any side there, but merely observe the fact that the music is out there for everyone to hear, and that I wish to express my opinions on it, as well as expose the underlying storyline. Today, I will cover the Gallows part. So without … Read more

OSR: April 9th, 2016

by Dæv Tremblay

osr4-9

From Argentina, Aeuphoria released Æthernal Velum back in January. It’s a pretty good albeit rather normal technical death metal album. What does set them apart, however, is their penchant for atmospheric passages on a few tracks, but they would gain much by developing the atmospheric side of their sound and embedding it in their tech-death songs as well so they don’t sound so bland.
The new Haken album, Affinity, is a pretty good progressive metal release. It doesn’t do anything groundbreaking, and not all songs are good at all. For example, “Earthrise” feels like a cheesy 80’s pop song… Read more

The Algorithm – Brute Force

by Daniel Kuburoglu

In today’s world, the modern metal scene finds itself facing an odd paradox of being more diverse and varied than ever before, while also having a notably larger number of puritans than a lot of other music scenes. As such, the word “gimmick” gets thrown around way more than it has any right to be, and with an act like The Algorithm I’d say that finding this label tossed about is pretty much a given. However, with the release of its latest album Brute Force, The Algorithm not only completely dismisses the notion of being merely a “gimmick act” … Read more

Book of Sand – Occult Anarchist Propaganda & Elegy

by Dæv Tremblay

Book of Sand is an experimental one-man band shrouded in mystery. Just trying to put a name on the person behind it would require an extensive investigation; for now, they refer to themselves only as “d”, or “dcrf”. Since 2009, they have nine releases, one of which being a split with The Skin Horse. Last year, I reviewed The Face of the Deep, which I described as unworthy of listening, but upon further reflection provides a unique albeit rather abstract experience, and can be enjoyed for what it is, simply.

Earlier this year, Book of Sand released two albums: … Read more