Brock’s 2 Cents – February 2021

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Two months in and the new releases are coming out left and right. I’m very excited for this year in metal because last year was such a disaster with the tour/concert situation, many of bands probably buckled down or had nothing else to do but write new music which (hopefully) translates to a bunch of new releases for this year! So, here are my reviews of recently released albums that I think you should know about. Forget about these in-depth reviews, I’m bringing you quick reviews on multiple releases to help you guide your way through the METAL world today!
BASICALLY THIS IS JUST MY OPINION, LIKE IT OR NOT…
Ratings: [0(sucks) to 5(awesome)]
{Format: Band – album title = rating |label |style of metal. review}


WEREWOLVESWhat A Time To Be Alive = 4.25/5 |Prosthetic |Technical Blackened Death Metal
So, I missed their debut album last year and I think a lot of other people did too, because that album should’ve been on tons of best of 2020 lists! You could call this a supergroup or a semi-supergroup featuring members of AKERCOCKE, THE BERZERKER and PSYCROPTIC fame. With that said in general, I’m all in, but what I heard… Holy Shit! Their debut album The Dead Are Screaming was incredible and less than a year later their sophomore album What a Time to Be Alive is here! Amazed by this, not 100% sure if it tops the debut but it might be a 1a and 1b situation. On What A Time To Be Alive the riffs jump back and forth from death to black metal with a touch of grind but overall this filthy blasting metal will have you head-banging from start to finish! This is pure ugly and abusive black/death metal, period! Nothing fancy and it’s not recreating the wheel (as I like to use this statement a lot) but DAMN, this is awesome! This will be on my top albums of 2021 list! 9 tracks, 5 are killer and 4 are good!
ffo: DEFLESHED, IMPIETY, ANGELCORPSE, MARDUK, REBAELLIUN, PERDITION TEMPLE

YOTH IRIA As The Flames Wither – 4/5 |Pagan |Black Metal
I saw some hype about their debut EP last year and didn’t pay attention, man… I messed up. This band is incredible. The debut EP, Under His Sway, was great. Now, the full length, As the Flames Wither, takes it to the next level. These seasoned veterans bring you a fresh perspective on this genre that takes BM, simplistic at times, DM and other metal influences that are weaved into this metal opus. The song writing is fantastic by mixing memorable hooks, aggression and an evil atmosphere to tie it all together. It kind of brings the best of old school mixed with new school of all types of metal genres. I won’t be surprised if this band is the next big thing in the metal scene. This will be in my top albums of 2021! A must to check out! 8 tracks, 3 are killer and 4 are good.
ffo: ROTTING CHRIST, [early] SEPTICFLESH, VARATHRON, SATYRICON, KATAVASIA

HELL-BORNNatas Liah = 2.5/5 |Odium |Blackened Death Metal
Started as a side project of BEHEMOTH & DAMNATION members in ’96 has finally released a new album after a 13 year absence. HELL-BORN is back with their 6th album, Natas Liah, which is Hail Satan backwards. I was excited to see they’ve reformed and released a new album but was kind of taken back by what I heard. This album is more melodic and straight forward in a simplistic way. Now that doesn’t mean this album is not good actually its very solid. Natas Liah has the band experimenting or maybe even just keeping ‘old school’ but I was expecting more fury, chaos and aggression out of this release. Overall, not a comeback album to rave about but a decent release for the band. Fans give it a listen and metal-heads who like some melodic thrown into their blackened DM, give it shot. 9 tracks, 2 are killer and 5 are OK.
ffo: DAMNATION, BEHEMOTH, AMON AMARTH, HATE, VADER, BELPHEGOR

FRACTAL GENERATORMacrocosmos = 3.25/5 |Everlasting Spew |Experimental Death Metal
When their debut album Apotheosynthesis came out a few years ago I gave it a once over and wasn’t feeling it, but since the release of the sophomore album I gave it another listen and I dig it, a OK debut album. Now, Marcocosmos, 6 years later has the band taking the next step of their sound. When it comes to these experimental DM bands trying to push the boundaries of DM, I’m mostly iffy about them, some times I get it and others I don’t. There’s been a lot of hype about this album. Marcocosmos is way better than the debut with a range of experimental elements that incorporate BM, grind and warped melodies into their brand of DM. This album is full of atmosphere change from chaotic to grim to moody to very complex. Only gripes is that this album will take multiple listening’s to fully grasp and with most experimental DM is lack of memorability. Definitely worth checking out especially if anyone is looking for something different. 9 tracks, 3 are killer and 4 are good.
ffo: WORMED, AUGURY, ULCERATE, MORBID ANGEL, AFTERBIRTH, GIGAN

FOR THE PYRES Artless – 3.75/5 |Unsigned |Death Metal
A new Swedish DM band using that OSDM HM2 sound to play modern DM. Their debut EP, Artless, is absolute crushing! A blasting barrage that doesn’t let up! For 19+ minutes, FOR THE PYRES pummels you with their DM/blackened onslaught. This is what I like to hear! Blasting, intensity, head-banging riffs and damn good song writing! This is a must to check out! Definitely looking forward to more from this band! 4 tracks, 3 are killer and 1 is OK.
ffo: SULPHUR AEON, DEMONICAL, STRIGOI, AZARATH, DISMEMBER

KORPIKLAANIJylha = 3.25/5 |Nuclear Blast |Folk Metal
Everyone’s favorite drinking folk metal band returns with their 11th album, Jylha. Now you could easily say that all their albums sound the same but this one showcases more of their abilities! I barely listen to any folk metal bands but this is one of my favorites. Its fun beer drinking music! Their last album, Kulkija, was very good to compared to the last few before it. Usually their albums have a few killer tracks and a few that are OK. Jylha seems they’ve tighten up their sound and focused in on good song writing for this one. Overall it seems more metal oriented than the gimmick of ‘drinking metal’. This is one of their better albums as these songs are memorable and get stuck in your head for the next few days! So raise your wooden pint, chalice, beer stein or Viking horn and chug some beers or mead!!! 13 tracks, 5 are killer and 5 are OK.
ffo: FINNTROLL, ENSIFERUM, SKYCLAD, MOONSORROW, AMORPHIS, MAGO DE OZ

BLACK HOLE DEITYLair of Xenolich = 3.25/5 |Everlasting Spew |Death Metal
Black Hole Deity is a new name in death metal, but it has a veteran line-up featuring members of CHAOS INCEPTION, MALIGNANCY and FEAR FACTORY. Their debut EP Lair of Xenolich is a DM adrenaline rush! Drawing upon the sound from late ’90s/early 00’s American DM but giving it a modern make over this is a pleasurable head-banging EP. Packed with enough technicality, brutality and sophisticated flair of song writing to make this above the average crop of DM bands out there nowadays. I highly recommended this! 5 tracks, 1 instrumental, 2 are killer and 2 are good!
ffo: MORBID ANGEL, CHAOS INCEPTION, ABYSMAL DAWN, CANNIBAL CORPSE

GOLEM OF GORE/REDUNDANT PROTOPLASM/GORE/PULMONARY FIBROSIS4 Way Split = 2.5/5 |Meat 5000 |Goregrind
Honestly, I’m an average goregrind fan, I like a lot of the bands that established this genre but haven’t dove into recent bands that came in the last decade or so but one band I do dig is REDUNDANT PROTOPLASM and that’s why this is getting reviewed. GOLEM OF GORE starts this split off with average groove goregrind, decent stuff I’d listen to them again. Few good tracks from them. REDUNDANT PROTOPLAM is up next and continues their straight to the point, no nonsense, disgustingness. New material is killer! Definitely a band you should check out! GORE is third and I tried but can’t get into them. PULMONARY FIBROSIS ends this split with some extremely heavy goregrind. Decent stuff by them, I’ll have to check out their albums. Overall, good goregrind split! Fans will eat this up! 23 tracks, 2 covers, 6 are killer and 8 are good.
ffo: GENERAL SURGERY, LAST DAYS OF HUMANITY, REGURGITATE, ROMPEPROP, HEMDALE

ABLAZE MY SORROWAmong Ashes and Monoliths = 2/5 |Black Lion |Melodic Death Metal
ABLAZE MY SORROW is a very good but kind of in the middle of the pack Euro Melodic DM bands. They released 3 solid albums then went on hiatus till 2016 with the Black album was a good comeback. So I had high hopes for this new album 5 years later but it’s kind of disappointing. Not enough fury and aggression from this one, it’s a bit too laid back and very reminiscent of what DARK TRANQUILLITY is doing nowadays. There is some solid tracks, so fans should give it a listen. If you like Euro melodic DM, check out their earlier albums and work your way towards this one. 11 tracks, 1 instrumental, 2 are killer and 5 are OK.
ffo: EUCHARIST, SACRILEGE, DARK TRANQUILLITY, A CANOROUS QUINTET, AMON AMARTH

COLOSSUSDegenesis = 2.5/5 |Comatose |Technical Death Metal
A new band featuring Von Young (LIVIDITY, ex-DEADEN) bringing their take on tech DM. Degenesis is modern brutal tech DM that has an alien/Sci-Fi theme throughout with a strong production lets you hear all the instruments in this pummeling effort. Seven tracks of frantic technical dexterity of riffing, blistering drumming, a dark haunting atmosphere and duo vocal attack that will have your brain fried in this quick 25+ minutes. Now, that sounds awesome but there’s a lingering something here that is bringing down this album. I can’t really put my finger on it, not sure if these tracks are not memorable or maybe it’s a ‘grows on you’ type album or maybe it’s just me. A solid debut album, hopefully the next album clicks with me more. Tech Death fans give it a listen! 7 tracks, 1 instrumental, 2 are killer and 3 are OK.
ffo: SEPTYCAL GORGE, SEVERED SAVIOR, CYTOTOXIN, DEEDS OF FLESH

NIGHT HAG / CRYPTIC BROODSwollen With Rancid Phlegm (Split) = 2.5/5 |Rotted Life |Death Doom Metal
Normally I’m not a big fan of Death Doom stuff (I’m really picky about it) and don’t review it often but I know the guys in NIGHT HAG so I decided to review this split. CRYPTIC BROOD open up the split with the first 4 tracks with their style of Death Doom mixed with goregrind when they pick up the pace. First time hearing them, they do have a few albums out. Some decent stuff out of CRYPTIC BROOD, I’d listen to them again. NIGHT HAG finishes off the split with the last 3 tracks with filthy bludgeoning of Death Doom. I thought NIGHT HAG‘s debut EP Insemination Rites of the Succubus was an OK release. Right off the back I noticed they have grown and matured in the right direction. A good solid heavy sounding production to reinforce the disgustingness. Their first track hits you with more death than doom which pleases my taste! Don’t fret cause the death doom hits with the last two tracks. I enjoyed this more than the debut EP and they got me looking forward to future material. Death Doom is not one of my favorite genres but I can add NIGHT HAG to the list of bands I do like. 7 tracks, 3 are killer and 4 are OK.
ffo: AUTOPSY, MORTICIAN, INCANTATION, DIVINE EVE, COFFINS, THE CHASM

MAESTITIUMTales of the Endless = 2.5/5 |Black Lion |Melodic/Symphonic Death Metal
Another new band coming out of Sweden lately. This one man band by Elias Westrin has released his take on the Euro melodic DM genre delivering a 4 track EP which is solid. Tales of the Endless is a bit more on the laid back side of things but the last track has enough aggression to keep my hopes up when the next release comes out. Overall, decent debut release that reminds me of bands from Finland and it runs in the middle of the pack of this genre. Definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of the genre. 4 tracks, 1 intro, 1 is Killer and 2 OK.
ffo: INSOMNIUM, OMNIUM GATHERUM, WOLFHEART, SWALLOW THE SUN

MANIFESTING OBSCENITYMahapralaya = 2.5/5 |Inherited Suffering |Brutal Death Metal
The sophomore release from this Russian modern slam DM band. The word Mahapralaya stands for “great dissolution” and this album is a lot better than their debut. Mahapralaya shows signs of maturity and better song writing, but with a lot of modern slam bands there’s to much focus on breakdowns and not enough focus on grooves. It’s a solid brutal slam DM album and fans you definitely check it out! I do have a feeling they’re on their way to creating even better slam in the future! 10 tracks, 3 are killer and 4 are OK.
ffo: ABOMINABLE PURTRIDITY, SOREPTION, DERACINATED, CEPHALOTRIPSY, CONDEMNED

GRAVECRAWLERChapter 1: Abomination = 2/5 |Unsigned |Death Metal
Another new Swedish DM band that features a mix of OSDM, modern DM and a bit of BM. Their debut EP, Chapter I: Abominations, is a very heavy sounding production that helps create a bludgeoning listening experience. If you like OSDM vibe but with a modern touch this will be up your alley. Chapter 1: Abomination is an OK debut EP that shows some promising stuff here. 4 tracks, 1 is killer and 2 are OK.
ffo: ENDSEEKER, BLOODBATH, VALLENFYRE, DIABOLICAL, DISMEMBER

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