CD REVIEW: SETHOS (Bandung Black Metal) - Promo CD, by Jack Frost, 4/6/2018.

SETHOS (Bandung Black Metal) - Promo three-track CD (2018).

Track-listing:

1. Defying unworthy deity

2. Helpless and breathlewss

3. Invisible divinity.

Total number of copies: 10.

My copy is number 10 out of 10.

SHORT REVIEW: The band plays in the melodic Black and Roll style of Watain, Antestor, and new Satyricon. Highly recommended - the promo has strong songwriting and crisp modern production; the band's top-class Death Metal-influenced vocals are placed high up in the mix which works very well here. It is certainly quite possible to tell that one musician is a Deep Purple fan as the classic-rock influence can be found in both sound and production. 

BIO: SETHOS is a Black Metal band that formed in March 2017 with Daevas; Maggot; Wawan (Gore Infamous); Faiz (ex-Stigmatuary); and Aep (Bloodgush) as the first lineup. At some point Wawan could not play in the live gigs because of work commitments, and they are being helped by Babay (Moredead, Jarah) as additional live member. They made their first promo Invisible Divinity and only made 24 CD copies. After the release of the promo the band Sethos almost split up, leaving only Daevas and Maggot. Despite only two members remaining, they are still active and are helped by additional musicians for their live performance. In 2018 Sethos will release one single called "Defying Unworthy Deity" that they will share for free on Internet. The band plays in the melodic Black and Roll style of Watain and new Satyricon. Highly recommended [by Jack Frost based on news provided by Maggot of Sethos band, 5 March 2018]. 

Video-clip: 'Defying Unworthy Internal Deity'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjoLj9aTiTg

Website: 
https://www.facebook.com/sethosofficial/

CD REVIEW: ABOLISHING THE IGNOMINIOUS (Pittsburgh, USA) - Vociferous Obsolescence.

Abolishing the Ignominious (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA) - Vociferous Obsolescence (Coyote Records) 

An abomination was born by Abolishing the Ignominious all around the f***ing world and spreading a bloody carnage of the most f***ing brutal with a "Vociferous Obsolescence" putting the f***ing Earth to rot! This hungry f***ing beast performs a twisted Brutal Death F***ing Metal destroying everything in its f***ing path in a f***ed up f***ing way and with this first massacre, Its managing very well to mark the f***ing minds of scared people! This "Vociferous Obsolescence" is divided in six killer f***ing acts being all f***ing excellent and having all of them a few boring parts but surrounded by great moments making flows this f***ing shit still very well! Because of the very high twisted touch, its not really the kind of release being very addictive maybe by lacking on the catchy riffing side but mostly because this f***ing shit is completely f***ed up on all f***ing parts! The Abolishing the Ignominious warbeast is controlled by Eston Browne (Humanity Falls) on Vocals, Joseph Luciano (Andromorphus Rexalia/ Disgruntled Anthropophagi/ Injurious/ Manipulated Calamity/ Emblugeoned/ Psychophagia) on Guitars/ Bass/ Drums/ Backing Vocals and the sick duo is doing an amazing f***ing job with this weird f***ing songwriting not being perfect of course but sharing some original and creative f***ing material! Eston is giving a f***ing brutal guttural but the vocals on this record is perhaps a little redundant after a while! We can also feel the style of Joseph in this release by continuing to spread his twisted f***ing mind with riffing out from the sick f***ing head of some crazy f***er escaped from the asylum and same goes for the drums being f***ing great, brutal and weird as f***! The production is not perfect but f***ing good and mixing as well making sounds that f***ing shit like a beast losing control of itself and shredding everyone in its f***ing way! In general this debut album is f***ing excellent and despite to have some flaws, its managing to keep our attention on this monstrous devastation and Abolishing the Ignominious really managed their f***ing start into sickness by doing some recommended f***ing shit into the shitty f***ing genre! Twisted F***ing Act of Mindless F***ing Brutality! 8.5/10. [This review was first published by Andrew Sick of Sick Reviews and is used here with his kind permission.]

CD REVIEW / VIDEO - VIRTUE (Oxford, England NWOBHM) - We Stand To Fight CD reissue (1985/ 2003)

I remember Oxford being a strange city in the South of England (full of charvs and students paying for chips with cheques – the twats!) I certainly don’t remember it being a hotbed of blazing metal. Perhaps I arrived a little too late, but nonetheless Virtue’s ridiculously short compilation here presents some truly excellent heavy metal. Of course, by ’85 the NWOBHM well had almost dried up but Virtue gave us what has been identified as second generation NWOBHM. They were a young band – I suppose they aren’t any more thirty years can change a lot of things, but never mind that – and certainly they were influenced by Maiden and Priest’s Screaming for Vengeance as opposed to the first wave who primarily had Sabbath, Purple and 70s Priest as their guiding metal lights.

One of the main appeals of NWOBHM is its youthful, high energy nature and its innocence and this is why often bands don’t tend to age as gracefully or even have such a long run in terms of studio albums. Virtue definitely have these two qualities and yet they have that second generation sophistication that sets them apart from, say, the NWOBHM of the earlier 1980s. Somewhat surprisingly, there’s a sense of doom here; a sense that maybe the good days where coming to an end. Just check out the opening to ‘Fool’s Gold’, couldn’t that riff and those ominous tolling bells have fit on a Candlemass album? It’s as if the band knew that England was starting to fade as a metal superpower so they, ahem, stood and fought bravely with true heavy metal fury.

So basically, on what is the possibly the shortest compilation in my collection you get two excellent releases with no mess, no fuss and certainly no filler (isn’t it refreshing to have a compilation without eighteen barely listenable demos tacked on the end?). Which one comes out on top? Well, I couldn’t possibly decide so I’d have to say both! We Stand to Fight might feature the band’s anthem but Fool’s Gold has a classy melodic sheen and a more refined approach… ultimately they were on to a massive winner and it’s just a damn shame that they never managed to make a full-length.

Despite the generally similar formula to this comp – great vocals, great solos, great songs - there’s actually quite a bit of variation in terms of mood. Sometimes it’s verging on epic; ‘We Stand to Fight’ comes across as a fast-paced minature version of an epic and sometimes it has a more playful quality that works just as well on ‘Hideaway’. Either way, it all comes off splendidly and the band just make it such a fun listen with its memorable hooks, over-the-top solos (KK and Glen would be proud – as these young chaps also managed to ride on the wind) and Tudor Sheldon’s rough yet sonorous vocals.

Honestly, this isn’t really the kind of music that needs to be dissected and analysed in great depth. It’s fresh, energetic and gleefully played – as if the band had put together different bits and pieces from their NWOBHM forerunners and added their own dash of magic. Strangely, sometimes Virtue almost sound like a more modern metal band and I don’t mean that in a derogatory way. It’s not like these are clichéd or trite numbers delivered with a sly-winking glance like some more recent bands might ply (a band from 2010 with a name like "Night Witch" doesn't usually fill me with confidence). On the contrary this has that NWOBHM innocence combined with a more technical flair that reminds me of more modern bands; how sometimes they would combine a more heads-down traditional part with a more involved riffing style that’s informed by power metal. Virtue also did this… but they did it before power metal and with all the sincerity and vigour one could ask for. So, to conclude, if you’re going to buy one Virtue release – buy this one, it’s got all of their songs [score 88%]

Full album We Stand To Fight on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7STUe7IIgU

CD REVIEW: DEVANGELIC (Rome, Lazio, Italy) - Phlegethon, by Andrew Sick (Sick Reviews), 8/11/2017

DEVANGELIC (Rome, Lazio, Italy) - Phlegethon (Comatose Music)

The infernal Italian horde of f***ing demons worshiper of Disgorge USA, Devangelic, is back darker than ever with the goal to create the hell on earth with this second opus of pure destructive f***ing brutality baptized with the sperm of goats under the name of "Phlegethon" and establishing a true f***ing divine insanity that will pierce every f***ing souls around the shitty world! This bloodthirsty and ruthless demonic f***ing beast is back to offer its sick Brutal Death F***ing Metal with a composition totally f***ing brilliant and although the parts that sound a lot like Disgorge can be criticized, I think this f***ing monster does it very well, doesn't hide itself to be highly influenced and with their own f***ing identity are still able to create some original and enjoyable f***ing shit! "Phlegethon" really makes us feel to be into some hellish f***ing world and slowly burning us while the 10 f***ing wars (digipak includes 2 more songs, Morbid Angel cover and song from the demo 2016) are playing and making bleed our f***ing ears and eyes by their ingenuity and flawless f***ing execution but could have removed the intros a little long! Devangelic gives us an evil f***ing masterpiece of total f***ing sickness that will be forever marked on the wall of corpses with an atmosphere of the most heavy, sadistic and f***ing brutal!The production is f***ing insane and loud as f*** only increasing the dark and evil ambiance of this insane f***ing shit with a perfect mixing that make sounds that f***ing shit like some demons killing and dismembering everything in their f***ing path! "Phlegethon" is a f***ing gem in the shitty genre being f***ing sick and addictive from start to end but you will have need to listen to this new album sometimes to get all what is going on and to realize how this f***ing shit can be genius on each f***ing level! This brutal f***ing apocalypse is commanded by Paolo Chiti (Vocals), Mario Di Giambattista (Guitars), Damiano Bracci (Bass), Marco Coghe (Drums) and the evil f***ing quartet came out from the putrid f***ing wells of hell are giving a demonstration of talent by creating a flawless songwriting and powerful f***ing performance! Paolo as usual is giving an awesome guttural f***ing brutal, Mario is delivering crazy f***ing compositions with perfect structures including the catchy parts to each f***ing song to make this second release enjoyable from A to Z, Damiano is also showing some amazing f***ing parts and Marco on drums is just f***ing insane only increasing the f***ing level of insanity from this descent into hell! For my part I think the band just offered their best material and was hard to do since the debut album is f***ing perfect but they still managed to push the boundaries of sickness and perfection by giving some excessive brutality totally f***ing addictive! The blasphemous f***ing beast called Devangelic is now making part of the elite and "Phlegethon" is without f***ing doubt a mandatory piece of f***ing shit to all sickos having no fear to burn in f***ing hell! Perfect Addictive Evil F***ing Piece of Brutal F***ing Darkness! 10/10. (This review was first published by Andrew Sick of Sick Reviews and is used here with his kind permission.)

Personal Tribute from Andrew Sick to Mario Di Giambattista: I want to send a tribute because I think sometimes its also important to say some good things and perhaps influencing people and making understand what is brutality so I want to send a tribute to Mario Di Giambattista and he will probably not see this post since he probably hide my posts since a f***ing while lmfao Then, I want to mention the fact that this guy did a 5th full length album lastly and after all those years still capable to deliver perfection in brutality! I think with no doubt the 2 first Vulvec cd are masterpieces, the third perhaps only very good (little anecdote that I remember when I did the review of third and gave it 10/10 and some days after I said to Mario that it was a mistake from me but more a 9/10, honestly for me is important)! So even 9/10 was amazing at this moment and since this time he did 2 more albums with Devangelic and also f***ing perfect with all elements from the BDM and nothing is missing there, not much people are able to do as much masterpieces and still very creative! I only wish Mario you will never change your way of brutality and if one day you're still deciding to play mainstream music, change of band name and I will not shit on you hahaha joke apart, respect and continue the great job! (9 November 2017).

CD REVIEW: APOPTOSIS GUTRECTOMY (Karawang, ID.) - Eugenics of Terrestrial Existence, by Andrew Sick

Apoptosis Gutrectomy (Rengdasdengklok, Karawang, West Java, ID.) - Eugenics of Terrestrial Existence (Groupies Merch)

The brutal Indonesian abomination Apoptosis Gutrectomy is finally ready to distribute suffering and death with this debut f***ing work of an unlimited insanity called "Eugenics of Terrestrial Existence" that will glaze your f***ing blood to the f***ing bones! This relentless f***ing beast is spreading a sick Brutal Death F***ing Metal of quality that could be compared to all the other f***ing monsters in their area but maybe adding something that many of them do not have! Apoptosis Gutrectomy is offering 10 nasty f***ing songs including an intro and "Eugenics of Terrestrial Existence" is without doubt a f***ing must in the shitty genre by giving a lot of great moment creating an addictive brutal f***ing piece of total f***ing savagery! Every f***ing track of this debut full-length are f***ing great by all including catchy parts making the songs f***ing addictive and unique with a reason to be! The production is also a f***ing success but could have been better on the drums, the mixing is also well done to make sounds that f***ing shit like a real f***ing bomb of violence marking your f***ing mind until death! Apoptosis Gutrectomy is offering 29 f***ing minutes of pure and complete f***ing brutality with all ingredients to make you f***ing addicted and all elements to make a memorable f***ing album! Julian Fadhiel (Vocals), Deni Daneswara (Guitars), Erick Maulana (Bass) and Endep Dini Kurniadin (Drums) are the protagonists behind this bloodthirsty and merciless f***ing beast imposing a brilliant composition and giving a debut effort near f***ing perfect! Vocals of this shit are very powerful but missing perhaps a little bit guttural and being linear making it a little redundant after a while but nothing very unbearable! Guitars/Bass are really f***ing amazing by giving mostly awesome f***ing riffing and including a lot catchy ones making an unforgettable brutal f***ing work and the drums are sick as f*** being f***ing fast but also varied with a very enjoyable performance! "Eugenics of Terrestrial Existence" is perhaps not perfect in all points but is for sure a mandatory piece of f***ing shit to all sickos wishing to live some insane f***ing experience and Apoptosis Gutrectomy just proved to be among the sickest Indonesian f***ing bands! Brilliant F***ing Piece of Pure F***ing Savagery! 9.5/10. [This review was first published by Andrew Sick of Sick Reviews on 19 September 2017 and is used here with his kind permission.]

CD REVIEW: SEMINAL EMBALMMENT (Adelaide, Australia) - Seminal Embalmment, by Andrew Sick

Seminal Embalmment (Adelaide, Australia) - Seminal Embalmment (New Standard Elite)

The Australians Seminal Embalmment are finally ready to give their highly anticipated debut self titled f***ing album devastating all the humanity that remains in you with a brutal f***ing carnage that is greatly meeting expectations and will captivate your shitty f***ing soul from start to finish! The band is back spreading some pure Brutal Death F***ing Metal and continuing in the same f***ing way as their previous EP by sharing some powerful and catchy f***ing brutality! This debut release includes 10 tracks of true f***ing insanity including an intro and all songs of this f***ing shit are f***ing great and excellent being f***ing addictive but could be even more! This shit have no really weak riffing and rather offering a real sick experience in the genre with a lot catchy ones but perhaps missing a few to really make a perfect release! Seminal Embalmment is Justin Wood (Vocals), Luke Mottillo (Guitars), CJ Smith (Bass), Kieran Murray (Drums) and the guys in general are giving an awesome f***ing composition with everything to please and all elements needed to make some amazing f***ing brutality! Vocals are f***ing great but not enough guttural and a little linear making it redundant after a while but nothing very unbearable for the whole result; guitars and bass are really f***ing excellent and spreading some true catchy f***ing sickness and same for the drums being fast as f*** but also f***ing creative in its form! We can really feel some cold and brutal f***ing atmosphere helped by, I think, a flawless production perhaps maybe lacking a little on the disgusting side but still f***ing perfect and this f***ing shit sounds like a pile of f***ing bones being crushed by some shitty blastdozer! 32 f***ing minutes completely enjoyable having a few riffing to make you addicted and this self titled album is a total f***ing success despite some imperfections and amelioration to do! Seminal Embalmment is offering a solid debut and giving to the brutal f***ing fans some mandatory f***ing shit to add in their playlist for a while! Great F***ing Piece of Pure F***ing Brutality! 9.5/10. [This review was first published by Andrew Sick of Sick Reviews and is used here with his kind permission.]

CRITICAL DISASTER (Kediri, ID.) - Brahmavidya Shuddha Dhahanapura, by Andrew Sick, 12/4/2017

Critical Disaster (Kediri Kingdom Death Metal, East Java, ID.) - Brahmavidya Shuddha Dhahanapura (Pathologically Explicit Recordings)

A cacophonic brutal f***ing apocalypse baptized Critical Disaster was born in Kediri, East Java for the second time to spread a destructive f***ing hymn of pure f***ing violence entitled "Brahmavidya Shuddha Dhahanapura" and this time sparing no f***ing soul with this infernal musickal machine of true f***ing devastation! This savage f***ing storm of relentless f***ing brutality is divided in 10 parts of murdering Brutal Death Fucking Metal including excellent guitar intro and outro from Innu Killharmonic and this f***ing demonstration of insanity is for the most totally f***ing successful by having a lot of crazy f***ing riffing, but we can also find much repetitive riffs in all songs and also much parts sounding very similar that can be also a positive aspect by making a stylized release with the same musickal feelings for the 34 killler f***ing minutes! "Brahmavidya Shuddha Dhahanapura" contains an oppressive and explosive f***ing atmosphere increasing the enjoyment of this second act of pure f***ing savagery coming to burn our f***ing spirit with its insane f***ing blasphemy! Critical Disaster is Arga (Vocals), Ilham (Guitars), Tanjung (Bass), Harispa (Drums) and the quartet commanding this uncontrollable f***ing beast is sharing a killer f***ing composition, perhaps repetitive as mentioned above, but in my opinion not taking off any pleasure from this shit by giving them a f***ing style and some shitty identity! The vocals of Arga is f***ing brutal but very redundant after a while by being very repetitive but still keeping an insane f***ing side; Ilham on guitars is performing mainly great f***ing riffs and sharing very rarely bad ones and knows how to create a catchy f***ing songwriting despite its chaotic hearing; also a great f***ing job from Tanjung on bass; and Harispa on drums is completely f***ing insane by sharing some extreme fast and non stop drumming increasing the brutal f***ing quality of this f***ing release! "Brahmavidya Shuddha Dhahanapura" is not a perfect album but having everything to break your f***ing bones by its relentless insanity having its own f***ing style but also including its part of catchy f***ing moments! The production is good but could have been way heavier with a better drums sound, mixing is also f***ing good but not perfect and it sounds a little bit chaotic but for this part increasing the ambiance and brutality shared by this f***ing shit! Despite a couple of obvious flaws, Critical Disaster is still offering a gigantic brutal blasting f***ing release recommended to each sick heads wishing to explore some f***ing blastality! Insane Fucking Piece of Relentless Brutality! 9/10. [This review was first published by Andrew Sick of Sick Reviews and is used here with his kind permission.]

CD REVIEW: DIGESTING (Jember, East Java, ID.) - Digesting (2016), by Mr Andrew Sick, 12/4/2017

Digesting (Jember, East Java, ID.)- Digesting (Dismembered Records)

From Jember, East Java, a new abomination was born to unleash its f***ing anger baptized under the damned f***ing name Digesting and spreading chaos by launching a first self titled f***ing assault lasting around 6 f***ing minutes of total f***ing brutality! This insane bloodthirsty f***ing monster is performing a Brutal Death Fucking Metal having a big influence to the old skull brutality and we can also hear some old skull death metal vibes coming to give to this putrid f***ing shit some identity! The production of this demo is f***ing great and heavy as f*** but of course not perfect, a mixing well done and despite to have some flaws, the disk sounds like a massive f***ing ton of shit invading your f***ing ears during this sick f***ing experience and increasing the enjoyment of this f***ing shit! Digesting is offering a 2-song demo being excellent to all f***ing levels but of course including some f***ing parts a little bland and not reinventing the shitty genre by sharing a songwriting that perhaps lack a little of catchy f***ing parts making a release f***ing addictive and memorable! Bagus Rohmad (Vocals), Guruh Maulana (Guitars), Faizin Dian (Drums) are the trio consisting of this violent f***ing beast and surely not delivering a perfect composition but creating some great f***ing brutality with some excellent and crazy f***ing moments! Bagus is giving a great f***ing vocals and perhaps a little bit redundant after a while but not taking off the enjoyment of this f***ing shit, Guruh is performing only good f***ing riffing and missing maybe some catchy and outstanding parts but still knowing how to write some good f***ing brutal death metal and finally, Faizin on drums is f***ing great being varied and f***ing fast as f***! Digesting is giving a work missing some highlighting f***ing parts and originality but on the other side, they are still performing some great f***ing brutality with a chaotic f***ing atmosphere increasing the shitty quality of this f***ing shit and worth to be placed among the best of the shitty genre! A demo containing nothing new but recommended to all sick f***ing heads and impatiently waiting what Digested are preparing as second assault! Great Brutal Fucking Piece of Chaotic Fucking Brutality! 8/10. [This review was first published by Andrew Sick of Sick Reviews and is used here with his kind permission.]