Füneral Rain Press Cörps

Genre: Shoegaze
Label: Hydra Head Records

I grabbed Jesu’s Silver E.P. on a whim one day. I’ve heard tons of great things about the band, and Justin Broadrick in general, and the CD was a 2 for $30 at HMV, so I grabbed it. And wow, I’m so glad I did, and so is my wife.
The album reminds us of My Bloody Valentine, which is a very good thing, as both of us are huge fans of MBV. I thought it would have been a much harder listen, but apparently the two albums that came before this one were, with Broadrick taking a more poppy approach this time.
The songs have a simplistic bass riff, with swirling guitars that are distorted and heavy, but the true weight comes from Justin’s voice. He’s a great singer, and he really knows how to use what he has for maximum effect. The lengths of the songs themselves are all six and a half minutes or longer, with “Wolves” at 8:27, but like good, well written longer songs, they don’t feel overwhelming or begin to drag on.
I’d recommend this gorgeous E.P. for fans of Broadrick’s other work (Godflesh, Final, Napalm Death), shoegaze fans, and fans of Pelican, Isis, Cult of Luna, etc., as well as fans of Nine Inch Nail’s The Fragile album. There are definitely elements inside of the song “Wolves” that remind me strongly of The Fragile.
9.5 out of 10.

Jesu Official Site

Genres: Doom, Metalcore
Label: Independent

Yeah, I said it. I don’t know exactly if I mean it, but this wicked fucking disc has elements of metalcore in it. Picture traditional doom in the ways of Black Sabbath, Orange Goblin, and the like mixed with a touch of Killswitch Engage.
But I can’t even quantify how much KSE is in it. It’s an odd fucking listen.
And I love it!
But I don’t understand it. This is going to have to take some serious repeat listening.
If you want your doom to make you wonder if it is in fact doom and not doomcore or whatever, get some Mordant Soul in your CD player. Cuz wow.
9.5 out of 10.

Mordant Soul on MySpace.

NOTE: This is an old review, moved here from the Funeral Rain Zine MySpace. Mordant Soul have unfortunately split up since it was first posted back in December 2009.

Genres: Death Metal, Doom
Label: Candlelight Records

Fuck I love doom, as anyone who’s read this site for awhile can tell you. My favorite album of all time is doom, and it spawned half of the name of the label that Typhon and I run together (Deathless Reality Records). My fourth favorite album of all time is doom too, and now, a new favorite is discovered.
October Tide is a band with tons of history, and only three albums. They formed during a short break-up of Katatonia, founded by Frederik Norrman and Jonas Renske, and they’ve barely done interviews or played live, only keeping a low profile and achieving a real cult status in the underground. And now they’ve released a new album with Candlelight, and it’s awesome.
Musically, it’s very doomy, melancholic and a little bit just plain depressing. But it’s the vocals that really take the front for me. Deep, throaty death/doom vocals, courtesy of Tobias Netzell. It’s perfect for fans of Griftegård, Draconian, and Paradise Lost.
9.5 out of 10.

October Tide on MySpace.

Genre: Death Metal
Labels: Dark Descent Records, Skeleton Plague Records

In only five songs Horrendous have not only caused scar tissue to form on my eardrums, but they’ve also played pretty much exactly what I wanted to hear today. This is DEATH METAL, uncompromising and brutal, and full of those gross and sickly lyrics fans of death metal love. Like me. Throw in a little bit of Christian bashing and you’ve got a fucking gem of a tape.
Yeah. That’s right. TAPE. That’s the only way you can get this release, through Dark Descent or Skeleton Plague, and don’t expect to pay much to get it into your grubby paws either; they’re only five bucks per tape.
This thing is for fans of Darkthrone’s Soulside Journey, Nihilist, Entombed, and similar old school death metal.
9.5 out of 10.

Horrendous on MySpace.
Originally posted on MySpace.

Genre: Death Metal
Label: Ibex Moon

This is something I’ve been waiting for since I found out Lifeless signed onto Ibex Moon. And fuck me stupid is this great. Heavy-ass death metal the way it should be played. These songs are full of riffs, but they aren’t riff collections; they are actually SONGS, with minor melodies and harmonies hidden inside of brutal hooks, as well as blatant melodies that are still intense and in your face. The whole thing is Metalgasmic, from the first song to the end of the last.
Breakdowns that aren’t corny, solos that force your hands to play air guitar, a voice that makes you pay attention, and a breakneck pace throughout this album make it near perfect.
9.5 out of 10.

Lifeless on MySpace.