Funeral Rain Press Corps

Genre: Blackened Death Metal
Label: Abyss Records

Abyss Records is one lucky label. They’ve picked up Fester, one of the truly original black/death bands from Norway, and are in the process of re-releasing some of stuff, including the classic Silence from 1994.
Reminding me a lot of Cynic’s work, with more blackened elements, there is a reason this album is an underground classic. It kicks ass!
The technicality of the instruments is a lot higher than most black metal, with some gorgeous sounding clean parts and evil distortion.
Vocally, Bjørn “Tiger” Mathisen is one of the most understandable blackened vocalists ever. You can actually hear what he’s saying, he is enunciating, and the style is not shrieked but rather a rough smoker’s voice; a cross between death growls and black shrieks. This has brought him close to the front of my favorite vocalists.
I definitely recommend this for fans of melodic black or death metal, especially fans of Cynic and Dissection.
8 out of 10.

Fester on MySpace.

Genres: Blackened Death Metal, Melodic Black Metal
Label: Nuclear Blast Records

Belphegor’s blackened death is much more death this time around, taking a huge step towards Morbid Angel worship (especially in the second song, “Rise To Fall And Fall To Rise”), but still full of blackened atmosphere and Satanic intent.
Technicality in the instruments is pushed, while production of the album as a whole is catapulted. Each instrument is heard as it’s separate little whole within the whole, and Helmuth’s voice is even more evil, sometimes taking on a more David Vincent/Domination underwater sound effect to affect the listener more. Melody is present, even in the vocals, and wonderfully used to obtain some of the most catchy blackened death ever recorded.
The art, like all Belphegor albums, is gorgeous. Nudes, animal heads, and Photoshop are all used wonderfully to create a perfect companion to the listening experience.
This one is for fans of Morbid Angel, Behemoth, and Lucifer himself.
8 out of 10.

Belphegor on Facebook.
Belphegor on MySpace.

Genre: Blackened Death Metal
Label: Listenable Records

Polish masters of blackened death, Hate sound in some ways a lot like Behemoth. They’ve got a similar vocal style and music writing, but there seems to be less of a black metal atmosphere to Hate’s music, taking a more direct death metal approach.
And fuck is it great. Not a note is wasted, not a breath is in vain; Erebos goes for the throat of the religious and the weak with seemingly no regard for the safety of those that get in the way.
The production of the album lets you hear everything, each guitar, each bassline, each drum kick, snare, cymbal and tom, allowing for maximum air instruments. The vocals of ATF Sinner are deep and evil, and you’ll soon find yourself invisible-oranging to them without conscious thought.
Erebos is nearly a perfect album, and if you’re into Behemoth, Morbid Angel, or Death you should get it.
8.5 out of 10.

Hate on Facebook.
Hate on MySpace.

Genre: Blackened Death Metal

Label: Paragon Records

Ah. Brazilian blackened death metal. Is there a sweeter fruit on the planet? …yeah. I’m blowing smoke out my ass here. I don’t think I’ve ever consciously heard Brazilian blackened death metal before. And if Dark Celebration’s “Phlegeton…” is any indication of the norm, then I think I’ll stick with straight up death metal and thrash from the coffee bean capitol. I mean, “Phlegeton…” isn’t really terrible or anything, it’s just boring. Once you’ve heard the first song on this album, have two choices: 1) Continue listening to the album. Or 2) Repeat the song six more times. Both of which have the same effect (expect for the song Infra Dark, which is just plain terrible). You hear the same grating (almost whiny) black-ish vocals, same hard yet melodic solos and the same recycled death metal snare punishment (It’s like the drummer from DragonForce tried his hand at death metal and failed there too).

Overall: There are a few shining moments in “Phlegeton…”, but it ends up lacking in so many other areas. This album would be good for introducing a newbie to blackened death metal.

5.0/10

Dark Celebration On MySpace

NOTE: This is a REPOST from E-MetalSpace

Advent of Bedlam has just posted the brand new music video for the track, “The Stench of your Faith”, cut from the band’s 2010 release, Behold the Chaos, recorded at Cavan Studio and produced by the band’s guitar player Max Gutierrez while the artwork was created by Alex Hoffman of Cypher Visual (Behemoth, Abigail Williams, Suicide Silence, All Shall Perish).
The video was shot by Lunas Films Inc. and edited by Andres Carrillo from Pandemonium TV based on the band’s proposed concept.
The clip was premiered on Sunday, February 07th 2011 during that night’s Pandemonium Television show by VM Latino in Costa Rica. However band’s friends, fans and colleagues were able to watch the video on Saturday, January 29th during the video’s release party held in Casa Rock Bar, Heredia Costa Rica.
“The Stench of your Faith” video clip is now available in Advent of Bedlam’s official YouTube channel and have post it in their official website and social media sites as well.