Brock’s 2 Cents – September 2022

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This year started off seeming to take forever but fall is here and New Years right around the corner. I’m super excited for the upcoming MERCYFUL FATE and IRON MAIDEN concerts along with a few others. College and NFL football are back, NHL is only a few days away and killer metal releases are dropping every week, what a time to be alive! 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}

BLIND GUARDIANThe God Machine = 4.25/5 |Nuclear Blast |POWER METAL
It’s been a while since I’ve been excited about an album release. I’m not the biggest fan of PM but I enjoy a good hand full of bands and BLIND GUARDIAN is one of my favorites in the genre. The last 3 albums (omitting the orchestra one) were all so-so, with my last favorite one being A Night at the Opera. It’s been 7 years and The God Machine is a comeback album in my book. I love when a veteran band can take a step back from pushing the boundaries and experimenting to a point that could lose fans but instead keeps it simple and creates a well written album that keeps you entertained from start to finish. The God Machine delivers just that, a perfect blend of heaviness and atmosphere that pays homage to the old albums but yet can stand on its own. The hooks, riffs and chorus harmonies will definitely have many of these songs stuck in your head for days later. The God Machine is more straightforward approach similar to the earlier albums leaving a lot of the orchestra elements off this album. This is BLIND GUARDIAN plain and simple! A must for fans and PM fans alike! 9 tracks, 5 are killer and 3 are good.
ffo: DEMONS & WIZARDS, HELLOWEEN, IRON MAIDEN, GAMMA RAY, FALCONER, ICED EARTH

BLOODBATHSurvival of the Sickest = 2.5/5 |Napalm |OLD SCHOOL DEATH METAL
Survival of the Sickest is a return to old! Bringing back vibes of the first few albums and truly focusing in on OSDM while still having some modern touches here and there. The production on this album is amazing and helps add to this steamroller of OSDM flattening your eardrums. I’ve enjoyed every album they’ve put out one way or another, but this scratches that inch for the old ’90s Swedish DM feel. As I feel like The Fathomless Misery, Grand Morbid Funeral and The Arrow of Satan is Drawn was more modern DM as the fans that didn’t like those can rest assure that this is the OSDM worship you probably wanted from the band. The only noticeable difference here is a bit of blackened vibes added to a few songs, but they fit perfectly and don’t take away from overall old school vibe. This has that early album sound but yet doesn’t contain the catchiness that the earlier albums had, and I think that is what is lacking. This is a good album, but something is missing, and I can’t put my finger on it, so this didn’t get a great rating from me. 11 tracks, 3 are killer and 4 are good.
ffo: ENTOMBED, GRAVE, DISMEMBER, ASPHYX, ENTRAILS, GOREMENT

SOILWORKOvergivenheten = 3/5 |Nuclear Blast |MELODIC DEATH METAL
So, I’m a big fan of SOILWORK. I loved their earlier albums, then when they followed IN FLAMES and went down the metalcore path but realized their mistake and came back to the old Gothenburg sound starting with The Living Infinite, they’ve been on a solid path of releasing top quality Gothenburg metal! Any old fans definitely need to listen to The Ride Majestic and Verkligheten as they both hold their own with their first few albums! With two good EPs since the Verkligheten album, now comes Overgivenheten which is SOILWORK displaying they are masters at the Gothenburg sound. Another new album that’s a perfect balance between the old metal vibes and mainstream song writing that keeps fans engaged on their albums! The Ride Majestic is the greatest album they’ve released in the past 15 years, Overgivenheten is a damn good solid release and is worth the listen! 14 tracks, 2 instrumentals, 4 are killer and 6 are good!
ffo: IN FLAMES, DARK TRANQUILLITY, SCAR SYMMETRY, WOLFHEART, DARKANE

REVOCATIONNetherheaven = 2/5 |Metal Blade |TECHNICAL DEATH/THRASH METAL
I’m a huge fan of their first 2 albums Empire of the Obscene and Existence is Futile, then they released a few albums that were average/mediocre in my book until their last album The Outer Ones which is killer! REVOCATION has always seemed to balance between the thin line of tech DM (for the progressive nerds that what it uber technical) and songwriting that’s mainstream enough to capture a widespread audience. I feel like Netherheaven falls in that latter category, a lot of these songs seemed a bit repetitive and boring. I did just saw them live (again) recently and they put on a killer live set but some of the new tracks didn’t even hit right live. Reading of reviews of this album, it seems I maybe alone as most fans enjoyed Deathless and Great is Our Sin and hating The Outer Ones as I loved it. Overall, I think this is one of their more boring albums. 9 tracks, 1 instrumental, 2 are killer and 4 are good.
ffo: ARSIS, HAVOK, VEKTOR, GOROD, BLOODSHOT DAWN, NEURAXIS

BLACKBRAID Blackbraid I = 3/5 |Neuropa |ATMOSPHERIC BLACK METAL
I’m definitely falling in love more and more with atmospheric BM bands but only if they on are a certain level, I’m not big in the synth/keyboard elements and not in the ultra-raw/crappy production sound. I’ve recently discovered NECHOCHWEN and love it, now comes another band promoting native American/Appalachian/wilderness themes with BLACKBRAID. Just like NECHOCHWEN, BLACKBRAID has pulled out the primal feeling of this genre and really makes you want to blast this in the middle of the forest, taking in all that nature is! This one-man band definitely delivers an album of self-described ‘Native American BM’ which offers a unique confidence to his craft that leads to something really special with this album. Blackbraid I don’t deviate too far away from traditional BM vibes but also brings his own take on what only American BM can be but adding his personal ancestral history into the mix for this album! My only gripe is it’s too short, 36 minutes and 2 of the tracks are instrumentals, I need more! Definitely worth checking out for fans of the genre and BM fans that want to hear something different. 6 tracks, 2 instrumentals, 2 are killer and 2 are good.
ffo: NECHOCHWEN, UADA, MGLA, AURORA BOREALIS, UNTAMED LAND, SPECTRAL WOUND

WOLFHEARTKing of the North = 2.5/5 |Napalm |MELODIC DEATH METAL
I will get on my soapbox and preach that WOLFHEART in the last decade is the best Scandavian Melodic DM band period! Founder and main man Tuomas Saukkonen is just brilliant when it comes to melodic metal! His previous bands BEFORE THE DAWN, BLACK SUN AEON and DAWN OF SOLACE were incredible displays of the genre but WOLFHEART takes it to the next level! Starting off as a solo project, Tuomas has enlisted top musicians and delivered genre top quality albums with the last two Constellation of the Black Light and Wolves of Karelia setting the bar to new standards! Their sixth album, King of the North is here and to me seems a little bit too mainstream, kind of following what later INSOMNIUM has done. Not sure if this is a ‘fan grab’ to expand listenership but this is not on level with the past 2 albums. Overall, it’s a bit of a disappointment but still an ok album. 9 tracks, 3 are killer and 3 are good.
ffo: SOILWORK, INSOMNIUM, DAWN OF SOLACE, ETERNAL STORM, IN VAIN, AMON AMARTH

BEHEMOTH Opvs Contra Natvram = 1/5 |Nuclear Blast |DEATH METAL
For the record, early BM BEHEMOTH was OK, but I loved from Pandemonic Incantation to Evangelion! The last 2 albums The Satanist and I Loved You at Your Darkness were OK at best as BEHEMOTH has moved on to a slower, darker style of DM. Opvs Contra Natvram continues along that path yet still giving us a taste that BEHEMOTH could be a lot better with songs like “Malaria Vvlgata” and “Disinheritance”, but overall answer is nope as Opvs Contra Natvram falls flat and is probably they’re worst album! Such a simple and boring effort this is, and I probably knew this was coming. A mainstream grab to keep their name relevant?? Not sure. BEHEMOTH still has the potential to deliver greatness, but they offered us garbage. 10 tracks, 2 are killer and 5 are so-so.
ffo: HATE, SEPTICFLESH, BELPHEGOR, VESANIA

.357 HOMICIDEHomicidal Amusement Through Supreme Exsanguination = 3.5/5 |RealityFade |SLAM DEATH METAL
I’m a huge fan of SLAM DM but in the last decade (probably decade plus) the genre has become really stale and boring. Too many new slam bands are too deathcore or beatdown heavy or basically not really slam at all and mislabeled themselves (just because you have one groove riff/breakdown in your songs doesn’t make you slam)! One of the exceptions being .357 HOMICIDE! With a strong REPUDILATION vibe, they managed to create some SLAM that’s not ‘by the numbers’ or ‘copy and paste riff’ but actually some decent song writing! There’s definitely a homage type vibe to the old school NY SLAM DM going on here but bringing it into the modern era. Their debut EP was good, that was followed up by their debut album Executed on Site, which was a very strong release, but Homicidal Amusement Through Supreme Exsanguination is their best yet! Only gripe that the album is a little bit too long at 42 minutes, some of the songs could be shaved down a bit, but it’s nothing major. Overall, this is just straight up makes you want to get in the pit and destroy everyone. This is a must for Slam fans! 10 tracks, 5 are killer and 3 are good!
ffo: REPUDILATION, DEHUMANIZED, ENTORTUREMENT, EPICARDIECTOMY, DEVOURMENT

IMPERIUMEx Mortis Gloria = 3/5 |Ultimate Massacre |TECHNICAL DEATH METAL
If you love fast technical DM you need to check this band out! Probably the most intense rapid fire tech DM since NILE and HOUR OF PENANCE! Ex Mortis Gloria being their 3rd album and the last one, Titanomachy, was a beast so I’m highly amazed this new one is also a banger! With a theme of Roman/Greek Mythology I can only imagine this can easily be a soundtrack to the insanity that was ancient armies by the thousands battling each other. Only negative gripe is yeah you could say there is ton of NILE worship but if you sit down and really listen this band does have a lot more happening here. If you dig progressive/tech DM at 1000mph but can hit an epic atmosphere or slow it down to hit a groove but then fire back into hyper speed, this is a must, especially for fans of fast paced DM! It’s kind of a toss-up between Ex Mortis Gloria and Titanomachy of which is the best album. 10 tracks, 4 are killer and 3 are good.
ffo: NILE, BEHEMOTH, HOUR OF PENANCE, ARCHSPIRE, KRISIUN

ABADDON INCARNATE The Wretched Sermon = 3.25/5 |Transcending Obscurity |GRINDCORE/DEATH METAL
A solid gem in the underground for about three decades now, this Irish band has been delivering solid deathgrind albums for a while and this sixth album The Wretched Sermon is just dominating! It’s always a trip to me when bands can release their best or one of their best albums near the back half of their career. This album is straight forward deathgrind that’s sheer speed of pummeling brutality and they don’t fray too far of the path with experimentation. It’s been eight years since the last album and ABADDON INCARNATE has definitely shown they’ve used their time wisely. They may not be pushing the boundaries of grind, but The Wretched Sermon is a fun listen that doesn’t seem like it’s 35+ minutes long. Deathgrind fans this is a must to check out! 13 tracks, 5 are killer and 5 are good.
ffo: INHUME, BLOOD, MISERY INDEX, NAPALM DEATH, INSISTENT, LOCK UP

NECRAMBULANTA Feast of Festering Flesh = 3.25/5 |Gore House Productions |SLAM/BRUTAL DEATH METAL
Wow! This EP release came out of nowhere, I thought this band was dead and buried. With 2 original members returning this new EP continues their brand of brutal slam. Their debut album Infernal Infectious Necro-Ambulatory Pandemic from 2013 was a f’n beast of an album! This new EP is good but doesn’t really match the intensity of the debut album. NECRAMBULANT’s sound is a bit more sludgy, more organic, more loose musicianship than tight precision song writing. A Feast of Festering Flesh is just straight up, plain and simple slam with influences of old school NYDM bands and slam bands that started the genre that will make ya throw down in the pit. This is not recreating the wheel in the genre, but slam fans take notice! 6 tracks, 3 are killer and 2 are good.
ffo: SANGUISGABOGG, REPUDILATION, ENTORTUREMENT, CEPHALOTRIPSY, VOMIT FORTH

DEFORMATORYHarbinger = 2.5/5 |Unsigned |TECHNICAL DEATH METAL
Definitely an underground gem in the tech DM world is DEFORMATORY out of Canada! Already with three albums out since their formation in 2011, they deliver a new EP Harbinger. Their first two albums were very solid top quality tech DM but their last album Inversion of the Unseen Horizon was killer! DEFORMATORY is definitely a noncompromising force that tries to push the boundaries of modern extreme metal, but their frenetic energy of song writing adds something different to pace themselves separate from other bands in the genre. This EP is good but it’s kind of like in one ear and out the other. There’s not much to grab a hold of as this blazing monstrosity of an album decimates your ears drums. I’m not sure if they need to write some hooks or grooves but the album plays very fast without much distinction between songs. That being my only gripe as this EP didn’t hit like that last album did. The tech side is amazing, but the song writing needs a bit of help to make these songs rememberable. 4 tracks, 2 are killer and 1 is good.
ffo: CRYPTOPSY, ORIGIN, VITRIOL, ABNORMALITY, ODIOUS MORTEM, KRISIUN

SHURIKEN CADAVERIC ENTWINEMENTConstructing the Cataclysm = 2/5 |Comatose |DEATH METAL
Featuring members of LUST OF DECAY is a two-piece band bringing their version of modern-day brutal Florida style DM. This is straight up 30+ minutes of straight forward rapid-fire riffs and double bass assault that’s reminiscence of Floridan bands releases from around the year 2000. Their debut album As the Shroud of Suffering Suffocates the Land is my favorite and has not been matched yet. Constructing the Cataclysm is a decent release but very repetitive as the first half is kind of stale as the second half is a lot better, but I did expect a lot more than what was delivered. Basically, if you’re a huge fan of Florida style DM, then check this out! 8 tracks, 2 are killer and 4 are OK.
ffo: MONSTROSITY, DEICIDE, BRUTALITY, LUST OF DECAY, FLESHROT

INHUMAN CONDITION Fearsick = 1.5/5 |Listenable Insanity |OLD SCHOOL DEATH METAL
I gave this band a listen because they’re touring with DEICIDE (the concert was awesome) and the members who are in the band (which are all ex-members of MASSARCE). Straight to the point, solid quality OSDM but nothing special. INHUMAN CONDITION sound like MASSACRE with grooves like paying homage to PANTERA. I’m not a huge fan of MASSACRE in the first place, even though all the members are in other bands I do enjoy, this didn’t click with me. Including the first album, along with this new one, it feels more like a tribute to OSDM from Florida other than trying to do something new or special. I’m not saying it’s bad, but the OSDM trend is getting very oversaturated and needs to end its course. If you’re an OSDM head, then check this out and you’ll probably enjoy it but for me, not my cup ‘o tea, I’ve heard all this before. These dudes are all veterans of the scene and very talented, they have the potential to deliver something a lot better than this. 10 tracks, a METALLICA cover, 2 are good and 4 are OK.
ffo: MASSACRE, OBITUARY, GRUESOME, CANCER, BRUTALITY

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