Top Eleven of 2019

1) Warforged - I: Voice
    https://warforged.bandcamp.com/
    Truly amazing album by a fairly new unit. On first listen, I really wasn't sure what to make of this album. Giving it a few listens, and spending time to really absorb what was going on, now, you can see where it lands.

2) Abyssal - A beacon in the husk
     https://abyssal-home.bandcamp.com/
     Pushing their trademark cacophony into new areas once more. Now we have a fusion of melody, and dare I say 'post-rock' passages on this album. The lyrical content is just as deep, and illusive as always. I would definitely recommend the lp, to properly enjoy the art, and lyrics.

3) No One Knows What The Dead Think - S/T
     https://nooneknowswhatthedeadthink.bandcamp.com/album/no-one-knows-what-the-dead-think
     Probably about as close to a proper Discordance Axis reunion as we'll ever get. Grindcore played with immaculate precision. Get on it now !

4) False - Portent
    https://gileadmedia.bandcamp.com/album/portent
    Suffocating. Probably the best way to describe their sound. Every open space is used to push more sound forward. The band easily falls into the 'Black Metal' catagory. I would argue that, this is more of a starting point.

5) Anemone Tube & Jarl & Monocube - The hunters in the snow
     https://aufabwegen.bandcamp.com/album/the-hunters-in-the-snow
     A true 'concept album' if ever there was one. This is a fusion of Dark Ambient, Electronica, and Noise. There is an entire story, and explanation on the album title, and what the painting means to the bands involved. Good headphones are a definite must.

6) Obscura - Everything they released
     https://obscura.bandcamp.com/
     One of my all-time favorite bands, since they formed. They have everything you want in progressive technical death metal. My advice, start with Akrosis, and work around from there. Live they are just as awesome as you would expect.

7) Helium Horse Fly - Hollowed
    https://heliumhorsefly.bandcamp.com/
    A fusion of noise-rock, punk, and eerie atmosphere. I would say they are more of a 'mood' thing. If portishead were darker, and more dissonant, you would come to this. A band definitely doing their own thing, on their own terms.

8) Gorevent - Everything they released
     https://bloodcurdlingenterprise.bandcamp.com/album/abnormal-exaggeration
     Masters of brutal slamming metal. Japan once again proves they can bring the slams, and then some. It's complete goresoaked insanity, and nothing less. Tune in, and turn it up !

9) Sunn O))) - Pyroclasts
     https://sunn.bandcamp.com/
     What can possibly be said about these guys ? You either worship at their altar of drone, or hate them with an equal passion. I've seen them live three times, and loved every minute of it. It is as loud as you think, and louder. The air itself is vibrating when they play. When they have Atilla with them, it's all the more brilliant.

10) Brain Blast - Primal Impulse
       https://brainblastofficial.bandcamp.com/
       A fairly new unit in the Tech-Death world. Precise controlled tech exactly as you want it. Truly all killer, and no filler. Whatever they do in the future keep an eye on these guys. The genre may be 'crowded', still, the best surpass the rest.

11) Theologian - Everything they released
       https://annihilvspowerelectronix.bandcamp.com/album/people-are-weak-they-deserve-pain
       Industrial the way it should be done. With album titles like - Finding comfort in overwhelming negativity - you know what you're in for. I liken them to the positive aspects of negative thinking. They have a lengthy catalog to explore. My personal favorite is 'Pain of the saints'.

Well, its only been two years.

Who knows, maybe someday I'll actually have something to say. Till then, enjoy the silence.
Vestigia Nulla Retrosum

Deathspell Omega - Paracletus - lyrical examination : Epiklesis I

Epiklesis I
 “...anyone who
speaks against the Holy
either in this age, or in
the age to come”
[Matt. 12:32]

Come, Thou Sanctifier, almighty and eternal God,
and bless this sacrifice prepared for the glory of Thy Holy Name

Roi Céleste, Consolateur, Espirit de vérité,
Viens et fais en nous ta demeure,
Le double abime, la fosse épouvantable

Let the rivers of paradise recede to their spring
May their sear beds expel desperate drops of anguish
May these bitter waters quench our thirst
Until the last second of the last hour, forevermore

Vestigia null retrorsum

It's been awhile ...

This space is most certainly not dead, or ignored, or unwanted. Life sometimes takes precedence over leisure time. Needles to say, I will be adding more here in the near future. First plan of action is to give my interpretation of Deathspell Omega's lyrics from Paracletus. One of their best albums. This will begin shortly.

31 - A film by Rob Zombie

I always like to preface my reviews of Rob's films by saying, yes, I am a fan of his movies. That being said onto the review ! Fair warning here - I will spoil this to complete, and utter ruin.
Our movie opens showing the cast of characters driving down an unknown road in an old rusty motor-home. They are all engaged in idle banter about nothing. Rob definitely enjoys the redneck hillbilly trash type of persona. Thankfully the drive scene doesn't over stay its welcome. Our band of malcontents are soon greeted with a rather odd roadblock. Naturally they get out to investigate, and try to move things out of their way to continue on their journey. Sure enough they are taken away from their surroundings, and brought to a rather grimy warehouse to play 31. It should be noted that their kidnappers are like an atypical goon squad from the original batman t.v. show. Naturally the scene opens with our cast waking up in the warehouse, and greeted by a voice explaining the 'rules' of the game. Then they are told their odds of survival. Those familiar with Rob's films know Sheri is his creative muse, and star of the show. As our cast move around the area they confront, and dispatch with a rather forgettable array of odd 'villans'. First is a nazi dwarf that speaks fluent spanish of all things. Then a 'Life, and Death' couple. The film has a definite 'Devils Rejects' vibe to it, which is obviously intentional. I thought it would have been better served to give the film it's own identity, that's just me. Then there is the 'dinner scene', which pays complete homage to 'The texas chainsaw massacre'. You can definitely tell Rob loves that film, and 'I spit on your grave' for setting, and colour palate material. As far as violence goes, this is pretty much on par with his previous work. Same goes for the gore factor, nothing above, and beyond. If you've seen any of 'The Purge' films, it's very much in line with those. Shock factor is pretty wasted on me. Towards the end we meet our final bad guy. 'Doom head', as he in named. The first thing you will note is that this is Robs joker of the film. He's actually the most interesting character of the entire film. Up until now, everyone is pretty forgettable, and has fairly pointless dialog as well. There is the usual amount of profanity, and panic etc, that you would come to expect. As is with any other type of road trip movie everyone is slowly picked off throughout the course of the film. Naturally Sheri is the only one left. In a total blatant ripoff scene from 'Texas Chainsaw' she is found wandering down a back road in a bloody daze. Low, and behold who pops up to finish her off ? Doom head. Yes, no survivors here ! If you've never seen any of Rob's films do not start with this one. Others, it's worth watching once, that's about it.

The beginning ...

This will be my permanent repository for all things musical, film views, and anything else that crosses the hemispheres of interest to me. Your will is yours alone, uninfluenced by outside energy.