Taphos - Come Ethereal Somberness

Band: Taphos
Title: Come Ethereal Somberness
Label: Blood Harvest Records
Release Date: 8 June 2018
Country: Denmark

Format Reviewed: High Quality Digital Promo

If we talk about pure Death Metal assault, uncompromising, aggressive, with a great sense of rottenness and a great old school aura, then we can not ignore Taphos, a Danish quartet ready to shake off the drowsiness of the world's most cavernous Death scene.

"Come Ethereal Somberness" is an album that shouts to the four winds its passion and devotion to the foundations of the best Death Metal of the late 80's, although trying to define the style can become a somewhat complicated task. You could say that the strength of the combo lies in the ability to amalgamate different influences of the past, passing them through a modern prism (in terms of sound quality) that leads to a vicious and frenetic concatenation of Death Metal very well made, simple and terribly addictive.

Of course, the greatness of a band like Taphos lies in the distinctive grace that they apply to their compositions, which places them in a position of substantial privilege, unlike the multitude of acts that only remain in an attempt of homage that, unintentionally, they do not stop having a certain aftertaste to a simple carbon copy of past glories, like Gruesome, for example.

Taphos is responsible for redefining the teachings of legends such as Sadistic Intent, with some obscurity à la Incantation, Autopsy's own maniacal obsession and a tendency, in a lower percentage, for certain Blackened Death characteristics, which are so fashionable today.

The attack is fierce, with excellent riffs and fast tempos. Many millimeter-calculated blasts and tremolo techniques, in the most intense parts, stand out in structures made directly to create internal traumas in cervical areas.

The machine stops its march, at times, to delight us and give us a break with small acoustic interludes, although they are not very durable and, before we know it, we are quickly submerged again in a frenzied whirlwind of endless assault riffs. The formula works perfectly.

"Come Ethereal Somberness" is an absolute pleasure of pure classic Death Metal, totally punishing and very easy to assimilate and enjoy, made by a young band of which I hope to have more news in the near future. Put Taphos to 11 and break your neck!. 8.5/10 Sergio.

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8.5/10 To Greatness and Glory
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Abythic "Beneath Ancient Portals

Band: Abythic
Title: Beneath Ancient Portals
Label: Blood Harvest
Release Date: 11 May 2018
Country: Germany
Format reviewed: Digital CD quality

"Beneath Ancient Portals" is Abythic’s debut full-length release which contains eight tracks and goes a little over forty minutes in its entirety. Although Abythic is a death metal band and fairly much influenced by the old school, there are at times, quite the hints of doom here too. This can be heard on and off throughout the tracks, especially in the first track, "Prelude to Obscurity", which comes across as a bit of an intro style track as well and without any vocals present either, and in the track, "T.H.O.N." and also in the track "Depths of Oblivion" too. In these moments the listener is cast into a world of slow, heavy, sustaining, sorrowful riffs which can be accompanied by dark harmonies and sometimes eerie solos as well. The sound here reminds me a bit of the likes of Desecresy and their style of a doomy death metal that they are known for. This combination of death and doom that Abythic does, works well together while the vocals remain guttural and brutal throughout despite the pace being either slow, mid-pace or fast. The more faster tracks on this full-length are Purulent Phantasm and the track "Afterwards Behind Beyond", which presents the more aggressive attack of old school death metal styles, that is also part of this release by Abythic. Not having heard this band before, until now, has made me take a further interest and shows how variations of styles can complement each other. What you have here, is raw, heavy, doomy death metal of the old school flavour taking you down a road of obscurities and dread. Abythic "Beneath Ancient Portals", is an example of underground death metal with a unique blend and worthy of your attention! 9/10 Wolven Deadsoul  




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9/10 Epic Storm

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Vahrzaw - Husk

Band: Vahrzaw
Title: Husk
Label: Blood Harvest
Release Date: 23 April 2018
Country: Australia
Format reviewed: Digital CD quality

"Husk" is the third full length of the veterans of the Australian underground extreme scene: Vahrzaw. A trio of musicians dedicated to the sonic invocation of blasphemous storms of Blackened Death. A band that began in the mid-90's, but could only release its first album in 2009: the highly recommended "Defiant". Five years later they launch the successor, "Twin Suns & Wolves' Tongues", and now, four years later, the album that we have in hand and that, unfortunately, represents the swan song of the trio. As I could read recently on the Bandcamp page of his label, Blood Harvest: “After 25 years of playing punishing black/death metal, VAHRZAW have really had enough of the bullshit associated with producing albums, and even EPs”, I assume they got tired of writing music. Which is a pity, since they have always had great potential.

"Husk", musically, constitutes a great monolith of fury that starts without concessions and, in rare occasions, stops to catch its breath. The first thing that stands out is the drumming of Brandon Gawith, which is quite high in the mix, and is a good thing in this case. I mean, the guy sounds like a bulldozer crushing skulls in his path. A feature that is always welcome in a Blackened Death album. The allusions to God Dethroned are obvious, though removing all the more melodic aspect of that band. I think that Vahrzaw exploits very well the trio format to achieve an assault more linked to the most brutal specter of the genre, concatenated a chain of riffs that, without being highly original, lean very well on the implacable machine behind the kit. The bass is correct and simply follows the guitars, although helping to achieve a very well obtained meaty tone. Vocals vary between raspy rashes and some growls, also very effective. The album develops with demolishing force in its first half, fading a little in the last tracks, where some ideas begin to repeat and move away from Black/Death territory, to venture slightly into more Thrash structures.

We must not forget to mention the excellent cover art, with a hand-painted drawing, totally monochromatic, with an eerie scene of skeletons in a misty forest. It really gives the work a very specific and solid visual concept. One of the best aspects of "Husk". An album that fulfills its purpose and a band that exceeds in the technical aspect, completing a very solid last album, although sounding a bit forced in its last section. Recommended for any Blackened Death fan. 7.5/10 Sergio






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7/10 – Victory is possible

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Void Ceremony - Foul Origins of Humanity

Band: Void Ceremony
Title: Foul Origins of Humanity
Label: Blood Harvest
Date of release: 16 February 2018
Country: U.S.A
Release Reviewed: CD

Foul Origins of Humanity is Void Ceremony’s third Ep to date and it projects a complex, progressive and raw form of metal. Having plenty of blast beats, to speed picking guitars ripping through their intricate notation and resembling a Hate Eternal style or sound at times, while the mid-range but slightly mediocre vocals keep a steady tone, when they are active within the songs, that is. There are points in the song structures where the instrumentation outweighs all else with various buildups and breakdowns and melodic solos here and there as well. It gives the impression that the song writing is more about the music then the necessity to have vocals every where. This tends to show the band’s complexity and focus and furthermore with their playing and writing style, which is on the more technical/progressive side of things, yet still holds a sense of catchiness and rawness. Although this EP is only three songs and about fifteen minutes in total length, instrumentally, it tears through like whirl wind of destruction, through its progressive and brutal form of death metal. However, even though the vocals are not the main focus with this, they do seem to lack a bit in the overall output power and are definitely second to the music. Despite Eps becoming more common now, a future LP from Void Ceremony would be nice to see as well. 7.5/10 Wolven Deadsoul

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7/10 – Victory is possible

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Mortiferum - Altars Of Decay

Band: Mortiferum
Title: Altar of Decay
Label: Blood Harvest Records
Release: 23 March 2018
Country: USA

Aah, nothing like the putrefactive aura of a decaying cemetery, covered with fog, with gravestones eroded by the impious and icy passage of time. Fertile land and solitude, illuminated only by the whitish madness of the moon at midnight. Nothing like the sound of the best Old School Death/Doom of the early 90's. Many current bands, as many will know, are immersed in a certain emulative tendency of the retro sound of the golden age of Death. An exercise of great nostalgic value, which does not always yield positive results. But the underground always has a diamond in the rough, hidden in the most inhospitable terrains of the world. Mortiferum is a relatively new band, with a single demo, this wonderful "Altar of Decay", and has the peculiarity of having conjugated, in just four songs, the best of the most gloomy and claustrophobic Death/Doom sound of yesteryear. Far from the melodic aspects of the sub genre or the endless legions of buzzsaw guitars that populate our planet, Mortiferum is responsible for writing his gospel as a sort of ode to the legendary Finnish Death scene. His attack sounds like a mixture of untidiness á la Pestigore and the commendable obsession of Demilich, without reaching so much alien technicality. This is very noticeable in the use of some very angular riffs that generate epic counterpoints with a snare drum of lewd proportions. The structures vary between cavernous spasms that remind me of Disembowelment, (Mourning September era), and Doomy sections that work with a great emphasis on some dark hallucinogenicity, like an insane vortex towards the collapsed miasma of our unconscious. The production deserves a separate paragraph, due to the intrinsic importance it adds to the work. Deliciously primitive, caustic and abysmal, I think it plays a fundamental role that enhances the most atmospheric aspects of the most rotten nature of these sonic monoliths. Undoubtedly, this makes the title of the demo totally meaningful. A declaration of principles, and a modern testament on the noble, and ancient, art of alchemy in the arts of putrefaction. "Altar of Decay" is like an ancestral animal that crawls, archaic and vital, emanating pestilence, sulphuring and waiting patiently for some unsuspecting prey. Excellent band, with very good ideas and a lot of compositional expertise that gives us one of the best demos that I could hear in recent times. Exceptional. 8/10 Sergio

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8/10 To Greatness and glory!

Shambles - Primitive Death Trance

Band: Shambles
Title: Primitive Death Trance
Label: Blood Harvest Records
Date: 5 March 2018
Country: Thailand

Shambles have been active since 1997 and have over four demos, two splits, a full length, a compilation and two Ep’s. There newest release is an EP titled Primitive Death Trance which was originally released in late December 2017 and has been recently released on 12” vinyl too. Having a combination of a death and doomy style of metal, while projecting a very dirty distorted sound, this EP carries one into the gloomy depths as well as the extreme. Open notes, tremolo picking and sustaining chords ring out, holding sway in the overall mix level, accompanied by deep monstrous vocals and drums that are present but sound a bit quiet and in the distance. For the most part, there seems to be two tempos used here, that go from a slower beat carrying all instruments through a slow drone-like haze that picks up only slightly at times, along with some variations from the beats within these parts as well. Then suddenly, all out breaks out, almost in an instant, where everything kicks into overdrive going full tilt in aggression and speed, taking this dirge drone-like tone that Shambles have to another level, where all sounds like a giant swarm of something flying over head for the attack. Primitive Death Trance, as the title for this EP lives up to its name in the concept sense and doomy overtones that are quite present here all together, yet in some ways lacks a bit of definition in the final music presentation. Even though, this is not necessarily a bad thing, perhaps it depends on what one goes for, for the final effect or a production sense. 7/10 Wolven Deadsoul


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7/10 – Victory is possible

Ossuarium - Calcified Trophies of Violence

Band: Ossuarium
Title: Calcified Trophies of Violence
Label: Blood Harvest
Release Date: 16 February 2018
Country: U.S.A.

Ossuarium are an American death metal band that have been active since 2016. They originally and independently released their debut demo titled Calcified Trophies of Violence as a limited-edition cassette in November 2017. Then later in February 2018, the demo was pressed again as a limited-edition cassette by Blood Harvest. A CD version will also be available later in April 2018.
Bringing out the raw and dirty analogue sounds of when cassettes and 7” records were both the standard of the late 80’s and early 90’s era for underground death metal bands, this is like a trip down memory lane. With heavy chugging riffs and doomy sustaining chords of the old school nature and sound, accompanied by reverb effected vocals in the mid-range area, to varying drum beat tempos ranging from sludgy slow, to mid-paced and occasional older, influenced-style blast beats, Ossuarium have a sound and presence similar to older Incantation. Containing three tracks and going a hair over sixteen minutes in length, along with classic cover art showing the imagery of gore, death and despair, this EP takes us back in time with its sound and presentation even though it is a new release. This is a great example of how three tracks can make their mark and their name known as a solid introduction for a band. The question is, when will Ossuarium have more for us? 9.5/10 By Wolven Deadsoul


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Cryptivore"Unseen Divinity"

Band: Cryptivore
Title: Unseen Divinity
Label: Blood Harvest
Release Date: 26 February, 2018
Country: Australia

Cryptivore began in 2015 as a one-man band from Australia fronted by Chris Anning, handling all. Unseen Divinity was originally an independent CD demo debut from the band but has now been released as a limited-edition cassette on Blood Harvest records.
Containing seven tracks of old school grinding death metal and totalling a hair over 13.5 minutes in length, this release flies by fast! Reminding me, a bit of the sounds and influences of the early Carcass albums, this has a raw presentation and feel, yet is distinctive, combining the elements of death metal and grindcore. With low guttural vocals and sometimes higher vocal trade offs in parts, this flows with crunchy guitars belting out catchy riffs and harmonies and melodic leads too. From fast speed picking segments, usually accompanied by either mid-paced to fast drumming, along with heavy chugging chords bringing out the old school riffing of slower tempos with heavy rhythms, Cryptivore have an all around, classic old school sound. This is something you would almost expect to hear in the late 80’s to early 90’s era on tape or vinyl. Keeping traditional elements of death metal alive and to say that old habits never die either, is all right here in seven tracks that do go by fairly quickly, but keep you playing this again and again. 9/10 By Wolven Deadsoul


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Anarchos "Invocation of Moribund Spirits"

Band: Anarchos
Title: Invocation of Moribund Spirits
Label: Blood Harvest
Date: January 19, 2018
Country: Netherlands

Beginning in 2010, Anarchos have a demo, an EP, a full length and are also part of a five-way split CD that came out soon after their recent full-length release.
Anarchos crank out a raw form of death metal that paints a picture like an H.P. Lovecraft scene being led by some horrific, giant, slimy monster covered in tentacles with roaring chainsaws attached. This all begins with the track called Far Beyond Infinity, which hits fast right away, going full out and reminding me of the death metal sound of the early 1990’s Swedish styles like Entombed and Dismember. Other songs, like track four titled Through Whom They Crawl, begins in a slow and heavier doomy sense before it picks up by the steady hits of the double kicks, making all instruments flow in a mid-paced driving force remnant of a Bolt Thrower like sound. Through out this release, one can hear the use of heavy buzz saw chords and crunchy riffing together with melodic harmonies, accompanied by solid drumming of varying tempos that follow suit of older school traditions, along with sporadic eerie solos making their presence known and completing all with low growling demon-like vocals from out of an asylum. Keeping with old school traditions and with subject matters of rot, decay and occult based themes, this is what is on the menu here! This is not about being pretty or happy but about rawness and aggression to the very depths of unlight in some cryptic realm. 9/10 By Wolven Deadsoul

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Faceless Burial "Grotesque Miscreation"

Band: Faceless Burial
Title: Grotesque Miscreation
Label: Blood Harvest / Iron Lung Records
Date: January 19, 2018
Country: Australia

Faceless Burial is a three-piece Australian Black/Death metal band, so far having released a demo from 2015 and a debut full length release from later 2017 titled Grotesque Miscreation. This was originally put out on vinyl in September 2017 and later on CD in December 2017.
After listening to this 10-track release, I didn’t hear the connection of this band being labeled as Black/Death metal but more of the later Death metal category, for the most part. There is a prominent tone throughout this release that carries this low, heavy, sizzling sound which both the guitars and the distorted bass bring out, reminding me of some of the older releases from Autopsy. This bottom end raw sound, along with mid-range vocals containing heavy growls and screams, to the songwriting style tends to give an impression of the old school death metal sound of the late 80’s era, but in a modern production form. With the drums as well, there is a very analogue presence, where all is acknowledged sound wise, yet is not overly bright or clickety either like some modern productions are; these tend to have either been overly triggered or are overdone with effects, losing the natural sounds of the instrument itself. This can all be a matter of opinion or preference or in relation to varying musical styles, of course, but I feel what we have here is respected references from the past that have been brought up to date. Grotesque Miscreation by Faceless Burial puts forth a sense of traditional death metal that has a unique raw sound combined with catchy heavy riffing exposing all to the bone and holding nothing back. 8/10 By Wolven Deadsoul

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Cosmic Void Ritual "The Excreted Remains of the Sabatier System"

Band: Cosmic Void Ritual
Title: "The Excreted Remains of the Sabatier System"
Label: Blood Harvest
Format: Tape
Release date: Oct. 6, 2017
Country: United States

First things first: it is a new year, and while I normally am not the type to do New Year's resoultions, I have set a new goal for myself for the year: try to stay more ahead in my reviews! That being said,
January tends to be a slower month for releases, and I tend to spend a lot of my listening time checking out releases I have missed in the previous year. Enter Cosmic Void Ritual. Having released their first two demos earlier in 2017, Blood Harvest has put June's "Gateways Through Septic Flesh" and July's "Transcendence Through Galactic Death" together as a single release under the title #The
Excreted Remains of the Sabatier System".
While I had not heard the demos before listening to the compilation, I had a pretty good idea what I
was in for from a death metal band on Blood Harvest. Angular riffing, seeped in reverb, and an open
devotion to either the 90's Finnish death metal scene or Incantation. As it turns out Cosmic Void Ritual lean more toward the former, the Demilich riffing is all over this one. As the name might suggest, Cosmic Void Ritual focus on sci-fi themes, which pairs well with project mastermind Unknown Entity's style. The guitar worships on the edge of chaos, constantly on the verge of falling completely off course and into, well, the void, or the backdrop created by the desolate atmosphere of the production. The rhythm section manages to provide a solid base and it is this dichotomy that makes the music work. While there are slight production differences between the two demos, they both have their own slight characteristic differences that serve their respective songs well.
Overall, while the style was predictable, the journey itself was most enjoyable, and I've found myself
coming back to the compilation multiple times. In a style that has begun to get a bit crowded as of late, Cosmic Void Ritual manage to show their is terrain yet to be fully explored. 7.5/10 By d00mfr00g

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Serpentrance "The Besieged Sanctum"

Band: Serpentrance
Title: The Besieged Sanctum
Label: Vault of Dried Bones / Blood Harvest
Date: November 10, 2017
Country: Russia

Serpentrance began in 2014 with their blend of a doomy, death and black metal combination of styles all together. With a limited release on cassette and now a CD release containing a bonus track, “The Besieged Sanctum” is their debut release upon this world.
Long sustaining chords with heavy dirty distortion ring out in relation to bands like Winter or Incantation, as slow beats from the drums with prominent snare hits containing a slight reverb effect create a sound atmosphere like a distant stage in a big hall. Raw but very brief guitar solos screech away sporadically and the use of whammy dives appear here and there, hitting the listener within this doomy black madness until all changes almost instantly, with everything breaking into a fast blast beat and all instruments going to full measure in speed and brutality. Then suddenly all begins again, going back into chords with a slow heavy catchy rhythm along with slowed down drum beats of the predominating doom nature of this EP. Adding to this, guttural vocals bellow out for the most part in a feeling of rage which echo and overlap at times like they are from the depths of some chaotic dimension of the Elder ones.
Overall this release has a very heavy and raw sense and with the combination of varying metal styles applied it seems to create its own place. However, there are times in this where the production almost seems to be pushed to far whether purposely for effect or not it is noticeable at times. 7.5/10 By Wolven Deadsoul

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Draghkar "World Unraveled"

Band: Draghkar
Title: World Unraveled
Label: Blood Harvest Records
Release date: October 13, 2017
Country: U.S.A.

Draghkar formed in 2016 and “World Unraveled” is their debut 3 song demo which has been released on cassette on two different labels so far. With hearing out this demo one can notice the American style death metal influences of the likes of Autopsy being a main one yet with hints of Finnish death metal too. Overall this has a fairly mid range eq in the output of the recording which seems to work well giving it a forward-in your face style presentation. From alternating guitar riffs carrying out a very catchy buzz saw sound, to pummeling drums blasting full out or hanging steady with either the ride cymbal or high-hat hits guiding all using both slow or mid paced drum patterns at different points in the songs. Vocal wise, a deep growling tone projects out with a slight reverb coming across as a horror themed effect which relates to the band’s topic matter of horror and madness. “World Unraveled” definitely comes across in a very older influenced death metal style reflecting on the times of the later 80’s to early 90’s era. It will certainly be interesting to hear more from this band in the future and what they do next. 8/10 By Wolven Deadsoul

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