Unsigned Review: The Obscene (UK)

The Obscene

Vitals:

Members:

Tom - Vocals

Chris – Drums

Garry – Bass/Vocals

Jonny –Guitars

Location:

Durham, UK

Style:

Old school death metal

You'll like this if you like:

Morbid Angel

Deicide

Cannibal Corpse

Current Release:

‘The Torment of Sinners’ EP

Black metal and death metal; two genre’s which, since their inception, have been polar opposites, even enemies at times. It is unusual for a band to incorporate elements from both these styles and pull it off. However, Durham based deathsters ‘The Obscene’ have done just that. The aesthetics resemble that of the first wave of black metal (e.g. Bathory). However, when the sound hits your ears, it is reminiscent of the old school death metal bands such as Death and Morbid Angel, with a hint of Cannibal Corpse brutality.

Describing themselves as ‘raw, ugly and uncompromising’, The Obscene do exactly what they say on the tin. ‘Beyond the Hold of God’ is a perfect combination of those black and death metal elements, with vocals ranging from the deepest dirtiest rumblings to creepy Death-era Mayhem shrieks. ‘The Final Silence’ is pure uncompromising death metal at its best, its brutality and rawness is evocative of ‘Butchered at Birth’ era Cannibal Corpse. The production whilst professional still has that dirty, unpolished edge that is characteristic of old school death metal. This EP has the spirit, rawness and dirt of death metal and is the soundtrack to war.


The Obscene are currently signed to Pest Records http://www.pestrecords.ucoz.com

Rating: 4/5

Websites:

http://theobscene.ucoz.com
http://www.myspace.com/theobsceneuk
http://twitter.com/#!/theobscene
http://www.reverbnation.com/theobscene

Unsigned Review: Rash Decision (UK)

Rash Decision

Vitals:

Members:

Dave Decision – Lead Vocals/Guitar

James ‘Perky’ Perkins – Bass/Backing Vocals

Simon J Sky – Guitar/Backing Vocals

Tom Candy- Drums

Location:

Cornwall, UK

Style:

Punk/Thrash/Hardcore

You'll like this if you like:

Municipal Waste

Evile

Black Flag

Current Release:

‘Temporary Worker (Clause 4.1)’

Despite taking over the 80’s, thrash as a genre died out with the rise of grunge and when Metallica released ‘The Black Album’. Of course, hardcore bands such as Slayer and the like still soldiered on, but would thrash ever regain its 80’s glory?  This question was answered when bands like Evile and Municipal Waste blasted onto the scene. These two bands, and many others like them, proved that thrash was not dead – far from it! The unique thing about the second wave is that thrash no longer took itself seriously. Bands were starting to have fun with their music, and at thrash gigs there was a real party atmosphere and a sense of fun.

A sense of fun and a party atmosphere is exactly what you get with Cornwall-based thrashers ‘Rash Decision’. Formed in 2006, and after performing an impressive 230 gigs, taking part in 10 UK tours and three European tours, ‘Rash Decision’ have been making a hell of a lot of noise on the underground scene. With a punk ‘fuck you’ attitude and the energy of thrash, their debut release ‘Temporary Worker (Clause 4.1)’ makes you want to jump up, swing your t-shirt over your head and jump into the nearest circle pit. Vocalist Dave Decision provides raw, punky vocals reminiscent of ‘Extreme Noise Terror’ and gives their debut that punk-like aggressiveness. The guitar work is spot on, and from opener ‘Railings’ to closing track ‘Giving and Taking (Fuck You)’ punch you in the face with a fist full of thrash. The production on this record is spot on, and really emphasises the potential of these West Country thrashers. Catch these guys live now! You’ll be in for a real treat!

Rating: 4/5

Websites:

http://www.myspace.com/rashdecision
http://www.rashdecision.bigcartel.com 

Album Review: Gallhammer - 'The End'

Gallhammer - 'The End'

Gallhammer have gone through many changes in the past year, both professional and personal. With the departure of guitarist Mika Penetrator in 2010, and front woman Vivian Slaughter moving from Japan to Norway to live with Maniac (Skitliv), many of us are wondering whether the title of this album is more than a hint.  Maniac’s influence can be heard on almost every track, but rather than losing their identity it has gained them a new one. Rather than fill Mika Penetrator’s shoes, the remaining members made a bold decision not to include guitars at all on this album. The result is the feeling of slowly suffocating in a tar pit, very, very slowly. The creepy, almost childlike vocals in ‘Aberration’ and the screeching Saxophone in ‘108=7/T-NA’ add another element to this album. The combination of fast thrash in ‘Entropy G35’, to the dirge like the 12-minute anthem ‘Wander’, Gallhammer prove their critics wrong; they are not just a novelty act. Whether this is ‘the end’ for Gallhammer, they have definitely gone out on a high.

Rating: 7/10

Unsigned Review: Gran Toucher (UK)

Gran Toucher

Vitals:

Members:

Sam – Guitar

Edd- Vocals

Morrish – Bass

Johnny - Drums

Location:

Exeter, UK

Style:

Grindcore

You'll like this if you like:

Amputated

Agoraphobic Nosebleed

Current Release:

‘Human Cull’ demo

Grindcore is one of the smallest genre’s within metal and, some would argue, the hardest to access. Fans like grindcore for the gory imagery (think Cannibal Corpse meets Hellraiser), blast beats and indistinguishable vocals. Exeter based Gran Toucher do exactly this, and boy do they do it well! ‘Human Cull’ is an album full of surprises, something that you do not necessarily expect from a grindcore band.

The first surprise is a big one: it sounds fricking awesome! The production on this album is first class, so most of the praise on this demo goes to sound maestro John Hurst. It sounds incredibly professional, with opener ‘Barely Hominid’ hitting you like a giant hammer. The bass on the oddly named ‘Colonic Asphyxiation’ blasts through your speaker.

The second surprise is the menacing element vocalist Edd provides. Rather than being your run-of-the-mill ‘pig squeals’, he has a deep, threatening voice which put ‘Gran Toucher’ a head above the other grindcore bands out there; however, the potential of this band has not yet been realised. It is very easy for bands to take the easy route, and play only within the confines of one particular genre. This could limit their direction and ultimately hamper their performance, and i hope Gran Toucher will exploit their obvious talents; pulling together elements from other genre’s to add more depth.

Having said that, this is a professional and exciting first release! 


Rating: 3.5/5


Website:


http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gran-Toucher/107525539283223

Band of the Week: Mors Principium Est

Band of the Week: Mors Principium Est 

Mors Principium Est were formed in Pori, Finland by Jori Haukio, Jarkko Kokko and Toni Nummelin; shortly joined by drummer Mikko Sipola. Losing the three founding members and going through more line up changes than Cradle of Filth could dampen any bands spriti, but MPE carried on to record their debut album 'Inhumanity' with Listenable Records which was released in 2003. Second album 'The Unborn' was released in 2005, follwed by 'Liberation=Termination' in 2007. An excellent example of symphonic metal done properly! Give them a listen...NOW!

Website:

http://www.myspace.com/morsprincipiumestmyspace

Unsigned Review: Meadows (UK)

Meadows

Vitals:

Members:

Charlie Kilshaw - Guitar, Vocals

Chris Moore- Guitar, Vocals

George Newnham- Bass, Vocals

Jack Newnham - Drums, Vocals

Location:

Sudbury, Suffolk

Style:

Crust, Stoner, Thrash

You'll like this if you like:

Mastodon

Kylesa

Municipal Waste

Current Release:

Four track EP currently available via the band's bandcamp profile.

I was first introduced to Meadows a couple of months ago when my band shared the bill with them at a tiny venue in Ipswich. To say I was impressed by them was an understatement; they provided an energetic and relentless set which had me hooked from the the moment they played the first note. With a nod towards the early stoner stylings of Mastodon and Kylesa, and the mad thrashers Municipal Waste, Meadows offer something different to the underground community. 

It is hard to compartmentalise this group; are they crust, stoner or thrash? Or are they an unrelenting combination of all three? I say it's the latter! Opener 'The Head Of Henry Grey' hits you like an enormous thrash train, with fierce rifts and even fiercer vocals. 'Earthhorn (10,000BC)' is distinctly leaning towards crust, and coupled with the vocals sounds like early Mastodon. Which is a hefty compliment to a band who have only just released their debut EP. 'Plough' is bass heavy monster, with thunderous rifts contrasting to slower doomy sounding tones. 'We Are The Last' completes the job, with doom laden guitars and those ever present fast paced sounds cutting through.

The overall mix of the EP is extremely professional, and makes Meadows sound more than a mere unsigned band, credit goes to Paul 'Hobopope' Rhodes for the recording, mixing and mastering. Meadows are a regular on the underground gig circuit, and I would strongly recommend you check them out...NOW!

Rating: 5/5

Paul 'Hobopope' Rhodes: 

www.hobopope.com

Meadows:

www.myspace.com/ruralmisery

www.meadows1.bandcamp.com (Where you can listen to the band's EP)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Meadows/131719773553007

Unsigned Review: Orias (Sweden)

Here is my first unsigned review, the rating systems will differ to the other reviews. I will rate as follows:

1 - Give it up

2 -  Average

3 - Good

4 - Excellent

5 - How are you unsigned?!

Orias

Vitals:

Members:

Anthony Berlin: Keys

Gianluca Delle Fave: Guitar

Nico Lauritsen: Vocals

Alex Littorin: Bass

Niklas Cvetkovski: Guitar

(Seeking New Drummer)

Location:

Sweden

Style:

Symphonic metal

You'll like this if you like:

Nightwish

Blind Guardian

Visions of Atlantic

Current Release:

Recording EP

The symphonic metal genre is one of those Marmite genre's: you either love it or you find it incredibly annoying. Some bands find it difficult not be classed as 'cheesy' and are forever labelled as a 'party band'. The few bands that do make it can spend tens of thousands of pounds polishing their music and using the world's best orchestra's. So, where does that leave those bands just starting out? In a very difficult situation indeed.

Orias hail from Sweden, one of the 'homes' of heavy metal. On my first listen to the song 'Last Tear' I was taken aback, not only by the shear professional sound but by the emotion dripping from every note and word sung or played. It is hard to believe that these guys are just starting out. Vocalist Nico Lauritsen pours everything into his performance, as if it was his last duty on earth; drawing you in. The orchestral elements add great depth to each song, especially in 'Last Tear' where they pull on your heartstrings. It is difficult to believe that it is not the London Symphonic Orchestra stepping in but founding member Anthony Berlin on keys. Orias are currently recording a full length EP, and I for one cannot wait to hear it. There is so much potential surrounding this band, that give them a real orchestra and a couple more years and the sky's the limit!

Rating: 4.5/5

Websites:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Orias/96452380268

http://www.myspace.com/oriasband