Füneral Rain Press Cörps

Genres: Black Metal, Death Metal
Label: Ibex Moon

Ah… Ibex Moon. Your death metal releases are like comfortable pants. You put them on, and instantly everything is better. Gravehill’s Rites of the Pentagram is no different; granted it’s not pure death to most ears, which is why I’m including black metal as a genre above. It does at times sound like black metal played death, but that is if you’re not familiar with really deep underground old death metal (think Darkthrone’s Soulside Journey for a sometimes similar sound).
This whole album is good, no filler tracks or anything, and after reading some interviews with vocalist Mike Abominator I understand why: he won’t compromise for anything. He reminds me as the kind of guy who would throw a mountain out of his way if he had to.
This is an old school American death metal album, sounding like it could have been recorded in about 1986 to ’89, and I recommend it for fans of Blasphemous, Darkthrone, Death, Carcass, Cardiac Arrest, Lifeless, and well damn near anything that Ibex Moon has put out.
My favorite tracks are “Decibel Ritual”, “Bloodsoaked”, and “The Luciferian Mark”.
8 out of 10.

Gravehill 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.