Nocturnal Graves- Titan (Album Review)

Musician: Nocturnal Graves
Album Title: Titan
Genre/ Subgenre: Blackened Thrash Metal/ Death Metal 
Label: Season of Mist
Release Date: May 18, 2018

Titan is the first new, third overall in their discography, album from Australian blackened thrash metal act Nocturnal Graves. The band which consists of current and former members of Destroyer 666 and Denouncement Pyr. The album is a furious and bile spewing demonic monster of a release. One, that quickly makes up for lost time and decimates all that stand in its way.

There is a seething anger and hatred that dominates this satanic slab of viciousness. Razor fast and driving the music, mixes elements of trash, death, and, of course, black metal, and gives us an album that definitely stands out in the underground. 

The second track "Roar of the Wild" roars right into existence with shredding and slicing guitars that sound like Slayer taken to the blackest of extremes. From there it drives forward with speed, blast beats, and a pummeling attack. "Eccdysis, Shedding Weak Flesh" beats the listener with a slow and pounding, dark atmospheric feel that is evil, foreboding, and unquestionably heavy. The middle part where it slows down completely, with a rumbling undercurrent is guaranteed to chill the listener to the bone. The dark and anger filled "And Hell Followed Them" erupts as if from the very depths of hell, itself. Signer/ bass player J. opens the song with some of the most inhuman and demonic vocals you are likely to hear. "Bow Before None" has a South of Heaven meets early Darkthrone feel and sound to it, that is ferocious and utterly merciless and amounts to my favorite track on the album. The title song closes off the album with an almost doom metal like opening that builds into a locomotive like chugging and then sonic pummeling, that sears and slashes the flesh right off your bones, as the hate filled blast beats threaten to bring hell on earth.

Titan is an evil and heavy sounding attack on the senses. Haunting and blistering it does a killer job of mixing elements from various types of extreme metal. The result proudly shows off their influences while, making their own distinct sound. If anything the album serves as reminder of just how underrated Nocturnal Graves is and how it is time for the metal community (at least those into the more extreme side) need to stand up and take notice. Here is hoping that more will take notice of them and take this majestic and searing trip into the inferno.

4 out of 5

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Goatwhore- Vengeful Ascension (Album Review)

Musicians: Goatwhore
Album Title: Vengeful Ascension
Genre/ Subgenre: Blackened Death/ Thrash Metal
Label: Metal Blade Records
Release date: June 23, 2017
 
The latest release, Vengeful Ascension, from New Orleans demonic extreme metal masters Goatwhore is here, and it is crushing, modern masterpiece. One that is filled with unbridled ferocity, as they blast out Satanic music in what is a true crowning achievement.

The album masterfully takes what the band does best, IE full blown speed and blistering heaviness with just enough bits of hooks and catchy riffs to make for a wholly satisfying listening experience. And, this is one that actually gets better and better with each time you listen to it again.

The first track, ''Forsaken'', is a perfect example of the level of quality and style of sound that this release holds. It's a fast and heavy song accompanied by extreme and evil lyrics that seethe with anger and menace. ''Under the Flesh, Into the Soul'' mixes a driving and razor fast thrash metal sound with a little bit of an almost punk swagger. The title track opens with battering drums and goes into a slow crunch and pound which, in turn, leads into a headbangingly good and galloping attack, yet still catchy sound. It successfully alternates between speed, doom, and crunching riffs, and makes for the album's finest song, which here is saying a fuck load! The dark and haunting ''Where the Sun Is Silent'' slows things down and sounds even more evil for it. The awesome ''Mankind Will Have no Mercy'' reminds one of Slayer or early Metallica but with the heaviness pushed even further and by way of the Devil, himself. Truth be told, every song is a winner here, so I honestly could go on and on praising each track. But, instead I will say that the album ends on an extra high note with ''Those Who Denied God's Will''. With it's cold, evil sound, and unrelenting blast beats, it has the most outright and clear black metal influence of all the tracks.

With Vengeful Ascension, Goatwhore have made their undeniable masterpiece. While, they have been putting out solid work their whole career, especially from A Haunting Curse and beyond, this is their finest moment thus far. It does everything perfectly being a thoroughly listenable and driving musical force and one that welcomes and repays you in multiple listens. Without a shadow of a doubt this will rank high among the year's finest releases. It is out now, so do not waste time in getting it!

5 out of 5

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Doomsday Ceremony- Black Heart (Album Review)

Musician: Doomsday Ceremony
Album Title: Black Heart
Genre/ Subgenre: Black Metal/ Blackened Thrash Metal/ Traditional Metal
Label: Greyhaze Records

Doomsday Ceremony is a Brazilian band that mixes black metal with thrash and traditional metal to deliver some amazing sounding music. They have been around since the year 2000. This album, Black Heart, is actually their second release. They started working on it in 2011 and didn't finish it till early 2012. The album is set to be released on April 22, 2016 worldwide by Greyhaze Records. And, let me tell you, this fucker totally rips!!

Thrash style speed mixes excellently with the soaring melody from the twin guitar attack of Rieche and Ciriato. There is a wonderful flowing and shredding sound that comes from this extremely talented duo that showcases a real love for both NWOBHM and thrash that should definitely appeal to older school fans. Meanwhile, the lyrical content and feel of the album give it that nice and evil black metal edge. Vocalist Moloch further ensures it's inclusion in the black metal world with his raspy vocals. Meanwhile, drummer Wolff keeps things fast and searing, with some blastbeats to further mix things up.

The resulting product is one of the most exciting and refreshing sounding albums I have yet, to hear this year. It opens up with the dark melodic heaviness and speed of "Vultures of War", and just keeps going from there. The groove filled "Voice of the Darkness" has this very cool midsection where the music turns to midtempo crunching and it plays excellently when coupled with the vocals. Other highlights include the melodic speed of "Slaves of Sin" and absolutely awesome title track. The later includes an anthemic lyric when they say that they are "Warriors of black metal" That line right there is the coolest fucking thing I have yet to hear in 2016.

I can't stop listening to Black Heart. It's an amazing, ass kicking album that I highly recommend to fans of bands like Immortal, Mercyful Fate, and Skeletonwitch. In all, Doomsday Ceremony and this album are a fucking amazing export from Brazil!

****1/2 out of *****

 

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