Funeral Rain Press Corps

Genre: Black Metal
Label: Candlelight Records Cult Series
Format: Digital Promo (Earsplit PR)

In all reality, I didn’t think that Wodensthrone would be able to match their work with their debut album Loss. As it turns out, I was wrong. Not only have they matched Loss, but with Curse they may have even surpassed it.
The band takes traditional, old styled black metal like that of Bathory, Darkthrone, etc., and infuse it with folk-like elements and a serious sense of true British-ness. They remind me of a prettier (but no less vicious) Kampfar, really, but if one were to take the time and truly listen to this album, they would hear a touch of death metal at times and even some classic stuff that brings Judas Priest to mind.
Favorite songs are “Wyrgthu” and “The Name Of The Wind”.
10 out of 10.

Curse Tracklisting:
1. The Remaining Few
2. Jormungandr
3. First Light
4. The Great Darkness
5. Battle Lines
6. Wyrgthu
7. The Storm
8. The Name Of The Wind

Curse Personnel:
Wildeþrýð – Vocals/Guitar
Rædwalh – Vocals/Guitar
Árfæst – Keys/Atmospherics
Gerádwine – Bass
Hréowsian – Drums/Vocals

Wodensthrone on Facebook.

Genre: Crust Punk, D-Beat
Label: Southern Lord 

Ah, d-beat. You and I haven’t been the best of friends for the past little while, have we? I’ve neglected you quite a bit in favor of more… mainstream tastes and for that, I am sorry. To make it up to you, I have spent the last two days straight listening to Swedish d-beat mavens, Wolfbrigade and their latest offering to the crusty genre, Damned.

Since I wasn’t a huge fan or Prey To The World, I wasn’t expecting too much from Damned. And to be honest, I wasn’t really sure what to think about this album at first. I mean, it’s super aggressive and has a true, grimy crust punk feel to it from beginning to end, but  it’s fairly simplistic instrumentally (no real surprise there, but I meant “more than usual”) and the vocalist’s style of “let’s see how long I can strain my voice like this” vocals get irritating pretty quick.

There are a few classic d-beat riffs going on in Damned (the latter half of the album especially) and as stripped down as some of the songs can get, it doesn’t really detract from the dark mood that Wolfbrigade has set up. Another check in the Pro box would be the drumming. While it’s not particularly mind-blowing, it is inventive. If I could just isolate the drum track and listen to it as is, I probably would every once in a while. Lots of fun to be had in Damned if you’re a fan of manic drumming in a gloomier setting. I know that I mentioned earlier that the vocals got on my nerves. Yes, they did… but they aren’t really all that bad. Sure, I’m concerned that the vocalist isn’t going to be able to speak for a week after replicating them live, but he seems to be cool with it so who am I to judge, really?

The major flaw of this album is it’s inability to stick with me after I turn off my player. I listened to Damned for TWO DAYS STRAIGHT and I couldn’t recite a single lyric or hum a single melody as of right now. All that kept happening was I would hum something off of Death Songs (When Tigers Fight)… I’m not sure if that a dis to Wolfbrigade (Sorry!) or a testament to how awesome When Tigers Fight are (still sorry WB).

Overall: From what I can remember at any given time about this album, it’s definitely a solid effort and something that should belong in any d-beat enthusiast’s collection. But I probably won’t be returning to Damned for a while. I’ll just go ahead and say that part of that is because of the repeated listens. Seriously though, don’t let my whining keep you from checking this album out.

7/10

-  Typhon

Wolfbrigade On Facebook

Genre: Hardcore, Punk, Grind
Label: Independent 

After submitting my review for Seizure Crypt a couple of days ago, it was suggested that I gave another hardcore band from New York a shot. After a couple of days of letting Expendable Humans sink in, it is crystal clear that I owe my brother-in-metal, Dave, a big ol’ THANK YOU!!! I’m not ashamed to say that Vise Massacre had me won over in a matter of minutes with their hyper aggressive hardcore style and filthy, almost grind percussion tactics!

The overall sound that Vise Massacre spits out is a grimy hardcore masterpiece full of fresh ideas and time tested structures. There are tracks here that are reminiscent of If He Dies… He Dies, Oroku and even a little bit of a sped up Fog Wizard. So it’s safe to say that I had a massive erection forming over the first two tracks of this album.

I mentioned aggression just a few sentences ago and I don’t think that that description alone does the mood that this album conveys any justice whatsoever. Imagine walking through a crowded shopping mall, the day after Thanksgiving. You’re overheated, tired from getting up super early and fed up with all of the idiotic mouth breathers that are usurping your oxygen. An overweight house frau steps on your toe and doesn’t so much as break her waddling stride to apologize for crushing your big toe under her bovine hoof that’s crammed inside a two sizes too small croc.

Getting pissed yet?

Well, now imagine that in your hands, you’re holding two .357 Desert Eagles that never need reloading and all of the doors leading out of the mall have been locked from the outside…

Expendable Humans is the soundtrack pumping out of the P.A. system overhead as you mow down the annoying and tolerable alike.

Aggressive! Psychotic! Hateful! Fucking Perfect! Vise Massacre unlock the homicidal maniac in you through their blend of loud pounding drumwork, hardcore bellowing and grinding riffs. Expendable Humans is a hardcore adventure unlike any other that I have gone on before and couldn’t wait to take it again as soon as the album was finished. And I did. Over and over again. Once while I was strolling though the mall even…

Overall: When all is said and done, a recommendation  to listen to this album couldn’t be glowing enough from me. This is easily an album that I could listen to for days on end, tell a friend about it and listen to it with him/her for more days on end! Vise Massacre may prove that humans are expendable, but they themselves are invaluable to the metal/hardcore community!

10/10

-  Typhon

Vise Massacre On ReverbNation
Vise Massacre On Facebook 

Genre: Hardcore
Label: Closed Casket Activities

I’ll be perfectly honest with you guys; I chose to review this album based entirely on the name of the band. Although, I think “Weretigers Fight” or “Where Tigers Fight” would of been better…

Immediately, I’m reminded of the likes of Pulling Teeth (US), Runiner and a prog-less The Pax Cecilia. And that means driving, simplistic beats, roaring screams, gritty riffing and a Take No Shit approach to music! If that sounds like something you’d enjoy, then I suggest you skip the rest of this review and seek this album out because that it exactly what Death Songs exemplifies!

When Tigers Fight do a great job at mixing old school hardcore sentiments and style with the tighter modern style of hardcore without anyone losing face or sounding too “slick”. This journalist appreciates that more than you’ll know since he’s been on the fence about which side of that whole argument to jump over to. And thanks to Death Songs, I can remain comfortably seated for just a while longer.

Lyrically, you have some of the best examples of capturing the stress and angst that come from strife and repression that I have heard in years! The songs just leap out at you and embed themselves in your brainspace and stick with you long after the album is finished! And the fact that they’re delivered by hardcore heavy hitter Mike McTernan make this tiger fight that much more ferocious! McTernan’s shouting on this album is what I’d imagine a human cement mixer would sound like if it suddenly gained sentience and fronted a hardcore band. And I mean on the nose!

If I’m going to fault this album for anything, it’ll be the same thing that haunts most other hardcore/punk releases: repetition. Just about every song sounds similar to the song before it in structure and lyrical content (as awesome as that may be). Other than that, I really shouldn’t complain since they managed to get EVERYTHING else right!

Overall: After listening to When Tigers Fight for less than a minute, you can tell that this is one of those rare bands that is comprised of 100% heart! Don’t let this tremendous piece of hardcore escape your interests and check out Death Songs for yourself and let it speak to you the way it spoke to me.

9/10

-  Typhon

When Tigers Fight On Facebook

Genre: Hardcore, Metal, Punk, Fucking Fun!
Label: Independent

It’s been a while, but hitting play on Seizure Crypt’s latest testament to the D.I.Y. lifestyle, You’ve Been Had, is like reconnecting with an old friend. That may seem weird to anyone who knows about my older reviews (back at E-Metal Reviews/E-MetalSpace) of their albums, Hello My Name Is… MADNESS and Under The Gun since I barely gave the first one a chance and said that the second, “only kind of sucks”. But here, wherever I am and in whatever year this is, I’ve grown older and wiser. And guess what? I think I’ve spent enough time in the Crypt to understand what these motherfuckers are all about!

Where to start…

Well, I guess I can address the fact that this album does, in fact, sound like it was recorded using Do It Yourself methods, but by guys who’ve been doing this sort of thing for a while. Yeah, the sound can be a little rough and grainy at times, but Seizure Crypt seems to know how to tweak it to their advantage. That or their music is so full of “FUCK YOU!” that even sound itself bent the laws of physics to accommodate their hardcore lifestyles! I’m going to go with that last one.

Normally, you don’t go into a Seizure Crypt album thinking that it’s going to be a mindblowingly awesome experience with complex riffs and off-time drumming… and this album is no exception. It’s just simple but entertainingly aggressive punk/hardcore tunes that will be the perfect soundtrack to a wild and drunken night of slamming people through bar furniture! Also note that both vocalists give there all to shout, bark and psychotically rant their message at you in the scuzziest, most street level way possible! It has become a matter of charm at this point, believe it or not.

I’ll probably be cutting this review short since my hard-on for these guys keeps growing and I can’t bring myself to understand why exactly… The guys in Seizure Crypt do what they do because they love to do it. If more bands were like this, then there would be better music all around for everybody!

Overall: I’ve since gone back and listened to my other two Seizure Crypt albums and I can safely say that You’ve Been Had is the best offering to date. If you’re a fan of the D.I.Y. spirit, pick up this album (and maybe the others later) and bang your skull until that gray mush come out! And remember, “Life is not a fad you fucking poser!” Throw yourself into the Crypt!

8/10

-  Typhon

Seizure Crypt Official
Seizure Crypt On Facebook