Concert Review: Bonded by Blood, Malpractice, Mortalis and Hemotoxin (3/16/2024)

 

    I think for those living in Contra Costa County, there has been a void ever since Red House in Walnut Creek closed down in 2016, especially when pertaining to all ages music venues. For years I have talked about how punk and metal bands have struggled to book shows in this region of the Bay Area and I even wrote an article about this topic a few years ago. So, when I heard that there was going to be an all ages metal show in Brentwood on March 16th featuring four killer bands, I definitely decided to make the trek out the Brentwood Emporium located in the city’s downtown to check it out. 

    The four bands billed for the show were : Bonded by Blood, Malpractice, Mortalis and Hemotoxin. This was definitely a special show for Hemotoxin, a band that I believe has been a flagship band amongst the Contra Costa County metal scene, as well as an act that has put out some exceptional releases over the years. Also, I think for a lot of people getting the chance to see a line-up featuring four such ravenous metal acts, helped draw out the metal maniacs for this show. I thought the turnout was solid as I pulled up to the venue and I also was extremely impressed by the venue’s layout. There was a strong vibe right from the get go as you had fans of all ages starting to come in and surround the stage located in the front of the venue. 

Hemotoxin

    Opening the show was Contra Costa County’s own progressive death/thrash titans, Hemotoxin, a band that I have been following and reviewing for well over ten years. The first time I saw Hemotoxin was when they opened up for Havok in Walnut at the Red House around 2013, and this band has continued to progress as musicians and songwriters. It was great to see bassist Nathan Fruth back in the band as he and guitarist/singer Michael Chavez play so well together and are at the core of Hemotoxin's heavy technical sound. Also, this would be the first show featuring new members Juan Carlos Garcia on guitar and drummer Aryan Pakkhoo, with both doing a tremendous job for their first performance with the band. As a four piece, Hemotoxin sounded better than ever and I do believe their performance started to really resonate with the feverish crowd. Since Covid struck when the band put out their third full-length release, “Restructure the Molded Mind,” I was excited to finally hear songs from that album live, especially “Automation,” which lyrically is very relatable to the world we are living in today with all the technological advancements that will impact human existence. For the encore, the band played “The Shadow Over Innsmouth,” a Lovecraft inspired song from their debut album that I was singing along to as Michael delivered the chorus section with such profound passion. I am excited for the band’s future as they have a new album in the works and based on the response from the audience during the band’s set, I see Hemotoxin building off this momentum and I wish to see them continue to get the credit they deserve for all their years of hard work. 

Mortalis

    After Hemotoxin left the stage to a thunderous roar from the crowd, the second band, Mortalis, started setting up for their thrash metal onslaught. Based out of Southern California, Mortalis, seemed like they were extremely enthusiastic to be playing up in the Bay Area and I was glad to see the band getting a loud response as they tore into their first song. I thought the singer/guitarist conveyed a lot of raw emotion as he played his flying v guitar and interacted with the audience. During their set I also noticed that the pit was starting to expand as the riffs became more intense. Mortalis had a solid sound that reminded me of early Metallica, Anthrax and Megadeth, along with some other metal influences sprinkled in the mix. I would definitely recommend checking them out and hope to see them come back to the Bay Area in the future. 

Malpractice

    The third band to perform was Malpractice, an up and coming group of young headbangers from the Bay Area that looked to add to the musical mayhem with their own brand of hellish sounding thrash. Right off the bat, I have to say that the band’s bassist is an extremely talented musician who added an extra boost of explosive low end brutality to the band’s overall sound. I thought the lead singer and guitarist really captured the rebellious essence of heavy metal as he shouted out the lyrics and hammered away at his guitar like a possessed lunatic. The band’s drummer made his presence known by playing with an utter astonishing amount intensity as he dealt out juggernaut sounding rhythms from behind the kit. My only complainant and maybe it is because I have become more cranky in my old age, is that some girl in front of the stage was taking a selfie video while the band was performing for an egregious amount of time. Luckily the pit started to move in her direction and I think she valued the life of her phone so she stopped, and the people behind her could finally enjoy Malpractice’s performance. Overall, I think Malpractice is a promising act that has something going for them, but of course my recommendation is to keep working hard at their craft and avoid ending up like those bloated bearded metal bands playing the same generic sounding recycled thrash riffs at some backyard outlaw mud show to an audience of tire iron wielding barefoot humanoids. 

Bonded by Blood

Once Malpractice finished their set and made their way off the stage, the headliner Bonded by Blood started getting ready for their set. This group from Southern California has been around for a while and I have heard some of their music over the years, but I had never had the opportunity see them live before, so I was definitely looking forward to hearing their set. The band blends thrash and hardcore together to create one momental sounding concoction of furious sounding riffs that can get a mosh pit going right away. I was impressed by the band’s singer who demonstrated tremendous skills as a frontman by delivering the lyrics with a pure unapologetic attitude. The twin guitar attack provided a lethal dose of headbanging thrash riffs, while the drummer and bassist provide a strong rhythmic foundation. Even after all the intense moshing around the audience was still going strong with a few exceptions, like the guy who tripped over the stanchion rope and took a bump similar to that of Shawn Michaels at SummerSlam 2005. As the band finished their set the audience howled for an encore, which the band obliged as they seemed to be fueled by the maniacal metal noise coming from the mass group of people in front of the stage. In the end, Bonded by Blood put on a crushing performance and I hope to hear them continue to perform as well as record new material. 

Overall, I think all the band’s deserve an enormous amount of credit for putting on some solid performances throughout the entire evening. Also, the turnout was very strong, which is great for the local metal scene in this area and will hopefully inspire more shows in the future. I would recommend checking out the Brentwood Emporium, as the venue itself was very impressive and has the potential to be a significant place for the Contra Costa County music scene given the fact that it hosts all ages shows. Once again, I look at bands like Hemotoxin who have continued to persevere over the years, which I would say is driven by the loyal fanbase that continues to show up in full force whenever the opportunity arises. So in conclusion, I look forward to the future of this area’s metal scene, as bands like ones that performed last night along with the people who showed up in attendance keep the headbanging spirit alive and strong. 

Clip of Hemotoxin performing "The Shadow Over Innsmouth" :

Link to the article I wrote about the Bay Area music scene and lack of venues in Tri-Valley if interested :

https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2018/02/tri-valley-music-venues-tale-of.html

Album Recommendation: The Mission “God’s Own Medicine”

    There are some albums in the history of rock music that really do stand the test of time and still holdup when you listen to them today. I've come across countless releases that I believe would fall into this category, and the debut album from UK band The Mission titled “God’s Own Medicine,” is in my opinion one of those perennial albums. 

    Originally released in November of 1986, The Mission’s debut album came to be after singer/guitarist Wayne Hussey and bassist Craig Adams left their previous band The Sisters of Mercy to start a new group. Joined by guitarist Simon Hinkler and drummer Mick Brown, this new band looked to continue to explore the post-punk/new wave/goth rock soundscapes which Wayne and Craig had created in The Sisters of Mercy, but they would also go on to create a truly unique sound of their own with the release of The Mission's debut album. 

    Lyrically, this album features some extremely captivating lyrics to the accompany the haunting melodies and mesmerizing chord progressions. From the opening lines on the first song, “Wasteland,” where Hussey delivers the memorable lines with such a solemn sounding tone, “I still believe in God, but God no longer believes in me,” instantly grips you before being introduced to the vibrant sounding galloping guitar riff. I definitely believe, “Wasteland,” is a great opening song that features some brilliant arrangements to complement the song’s very deep and impactful sound. Wayne Hussey’s vocals are extremely well recorded and his voice perfectly soars over the instruments during the chorus section to deliver some unbelievably emotionally charged lyrics. Throughout the album I would say that the chorus sections vividly stand out on each track, which one can attribute to how the band masterfully transitions from the verse sections to choruses. Also, instead of overwhelming their compositions with unnecessary synths to create massive sounding atmospheres, the dynamic guitar work incorporated on each song really builds up these monumental sounding musical landscapes.  

    Another aspect about this album that cannot be overlooked, and definitely adds to the band's unique sound, is Hussey’s use of a 12-string electric guitar. On tracks like, “Wasteland,” “And the Dance Goes On,” and “Severina” the overall sound benefits from the extra fullness of the 12-string, especially during the chorus sections. Out of the three singles released from the album, "Stay With Me,” “Wasteland,” and “Severina,” I would say that, “Severina,” is the one track that people tend to recognize the most from the album, and in my opinion would be very influential on future goth rock/new wave/post-punk artists. Again, the utilization of full chords mixed with the haunting melodies and tight rhythm section due to the solid bass lines from Craig Adams as well as Mick Brown’s tight drumming, makes the music flow with a profound synergy. 

    My favorite song on the album, “Love Me to Death,” is a very bewitching song that I would describe as a romantic gothic love song where you hear these haunting words that manifest over the gloomy sounding chords. The female vocalist in the background provides a great contrast to Hussey’s voice, which ends up highlight the song’s strong emotional theme. Just like with, “Severina” and some of the other tracks on this album, “Love Me to Death,” is rich with mesmerizing atmospheres conjured up by Hussey and Hinkler guitar work. 

    In the end, I write this recommendation as I strongly believe that this album is one of those releases which can appeal to a wide range of music fans. The band’s sound and style definitely fits in with some of the other goth rock/new wave bands of the time, but also goes beyond due in large part to the exceptional songwriting skills and memorable arrangements. The band has released plenty of other solid albums following, “God’s Own Medicine,” however if you have not heard anything from The Mission before then I think the debut album is where you should start without question. Actually, the band is soon to be going on tour in April with plenty of West Coast dates lined-up, so I'd definitely recommend going if you have the chance. 

Check out the song "Wasteland" below:

Diabolic Oath “Oracular Hexations”

    Spawning from out of the twisted and hellish depths comes yet another inhumanely agonizing release from Portland, OR’s savage black/death metal trio Diabolic Oath. Titled, “Oracular Hexations,” this sophomore full-length release picks up right where the band left off on their debut album, “Profane Death Exodus,” yet ventures even further into the tumultuous musical void that shreds away at your sanity as you become engulfed in the abhorrent sounding extreme metal miasma. 

    Right away, I will acknowledge that this album is definitely a step into an even more sinister direction, which is hard to imagine given how much I thought their debut album was a monstrous release. However, the production on this new album along with the cataclysmic riffs seems to take on an even more aggressive and surrealistic sound. There is a truly haunting evolution that you hear on this album as the songs seem to further experiment with utterly bludgeoning unorthodox chord progressions and seismically devastating blast beats. I feel as though where most modern death metal and black metal bands take on a very repetitive formula and fail to really step outside box, Diabolic Oath really puts a tremendous amount of effort into this new album by structuring the songs to leave a profound and devastating impact. 

    Out of the six tracks featured on this album, I never thought that the band disappointed in terms of offering some dynamic extreme metal compositions. Plus, the titles for the songs on this album are also extremely descriptive with the opening song being titled, “Rusted Madness Tethering Misbegotten Haruspices.” The band wastes little time and dives right into a massive sounding arrangement featuring some bombastic riffs, grotesque growls and sickening rhythms. Throughout the album the band continues to deliver these unbelievably monumental sounding arrangements that really standout thanks to the solid production. Track number two, “Serpent Coils Suffocating the Mortal Wound,” is a dynamically fearsome sounding black/death metal onslaught which blends together different tempos as well as some frantic sounding blast beats. 

    There are tracks on this album that really explore the thresholds of extreme metal music by deviating from the same path like on, “Winged Ouroboros Mutating Unto Gold” and “Fragmented Hymns from the Globulous Cruciger.” There are some death doom elements at times which adds to the dark suffocating atmospheres, but then all of a sudden you can have an unexpected transition into an adrenaline pumping old school death metal beatdown of unapologetic aggression. One track that stood out on this release was the close to ten min song, “Gathering Hordes from the Outer Worlds.” From the opening riff you are thrown into a thunderous primordial sounding realm, while at the same time the vocalist delivers more demonic growls to complement the music’s putrid tone. In the end, you just cannot escape this band’s unapologetic ferocity as well as their savage musicianship that delivers until the final song. 


    Working with Sentient Ruin on the release of this album, Diabolic Oath will be releasing, “Oracular Hexations,” on April 5th, 2024. Looking back at the other releases I have reviewed from Diabolic Oath, most of which have been released through Sentient Ruin, I strongly believe that sonically this is their best release to date. The riffs on this album are extremely insidious and the overall execution on each arrangement instantly hooks you once you start listening. This is definitely one of those extreme metal releases you are going to want to check out, because there is simply no denying Diabolic Oath’s almost unworldly sinister extreme music making talents on this album. 

Check out the song "Winged Ouroboros Mutating Unto Gold" below:

Link to Sentient Ruin Bandcamp:

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/

Link to Diabolic Oath Bandcamp:

https://diabolicoath.bandcamp.com/album/oracular-hexations

Aberration “Refracture”

     On their debut album, “Refracture,” Aberration molds together a monstrous sounding death metal release that ventures down into the cataclysmic depths to achieve a profoundly malevolent sound. The Minneapolis, MN based band proves to be a formidable force that looks to violently reshape the perception of extreme music by offering up some mind bending brutality with each new track. 

    Working with Sentient Ruin on the release of their debut full-length album, Aberration confidently puts forth an album that does not fall into the run-of-the-mill modern death metal category. Very similar to other artists on Sentient Ruin, I find that Aberration’s skillful musicianship as well as their abhorrent approach to composing death metal, creates an unfathomably deafening sounding realm where the music grips you from start to finish. I reviewed the band’s first self-titled EP back in 2021 and I definitely remember being impressed by the band’s willingness to compose these unique agonizing riffs, while maintaining such a vividly haunting overall tone. Recently, they put out a split with fellow Sentient Ruin label mates, Diabolic Oath, which I also recommend checking out if you're into sinister sounding death metal.

    The new album features five tracks, but most of the songs on this album average around eight to ten minutes, so do not let the number of tracks think you are getting a short release. Actually, the longer tracks feature a plethora of dynamic compositions and dissonant chord structures to keep you constantly focused and wondering where the band will transition next after already laying down a mighty death metal barrage. There is definitely an unpredictable and eradicate side to their style of death metal, but of course that is why I think Aberration is such a fascinating extreme metal act. On the opening track, “Antithesis,” the band slowly rises from the abyss and then unleashes a punishing riff assault. The vocals give off this pestilent demonic vibe as the singer growls with tremendous ferocity, while your ears get completely pummeled by the intense blast beats. At the core of this album, the drummer maintains such a monumental presence and the recording of the drummers is something that I think was exceptionally executed throughout the album. 

    On the second track, “Wresting Vibrations,” you are violently thrown into this realm full of unorthodox arrangements and chord structures, which compliments the album’s dark entropic vision. I think, "Wresting Visions," was my favorite song off of the album because of the savagely aggressive sounding dissonant riffs. Along with most of the songs off of this album, you are almost overwhelmed by the complete chaos going on in terms of how the band frantically transitions from arrangement to arrangement, but eventually you become firmly acclimated to the sadistic unpredictable musical landscape. This was also the case with tracks like, “Interstitial Enmity” and “Blighted,” where the band deals out these insidiously bludgeoning riffs. At times the music slows down to allow the band to conjure up these thunderously agonizing rhythms that end up complimenting the singer's inhumanely unapologetic vocal delivering.

    From the album’s opening track until the last song, “Refracture,” I do honestly believe that Aberration did not disappoint in terms of intensity and unforgiving brutality. Overall, this is a strong debut album from a very ambitious extreme metal band. I am not surprised that Sentient Ruin is continuing to work with Aberration, especially given the label’s strong history of putting out profoundly decimating releases. One recommendation for Aberration would be to continue to explore those surrealistically dark and unorthodox compositions which make their debut album such a compelling extreme metal creation. In a world where we are overwhelmed with mindless simplicity from mainstream music, you really do appreciate a band like Aberration for their skillfully innovative extreme metal mindset. 

Check out the song "Interstitial Enmity" below (Album comes out March 22, 2024) : 

Sentient Ruin Bandcamp:

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/

ABERRATION / DIABOLIC OATH 7” Split “Divinations”

    After dominating 2023 as one of the most brutal and savage extreme music labels around, Sentient Ruin looks to continue their sadistic sonic reign of terror into 2024 by unleashing an unbelievably sinister 7” split called, “Divinations.” This new split features two talented up and coming extreme metal acts that have put out some insanely decimating releases in the past via Sentient Ruin. Aberration from Minneapolis, MN and Diabolic Oath from Portland, OR, are two fiendish and abhorrent bands that conjure up some wicked blackened death compositions to create these suffocating abyss like atmospheres that exude such a pestilent sounding aura. 

    When I heard Aberration and Diabolic Oath would be working together, I knew right away that this split was going to offer up some monstrous sounding compositions. Both bands really capture the pure dark essence of classic black/death metal music, which is why I think fans of extreme metal music will be instantly hooked once they hear the songs on this release. Out of the two songs featured on this split, I do not believe you can say that one is better than the other, because both bands equally deliver some gruesome skull crushing riffs and truly demonic vocal parts to paint these abysmal and catastrophic musical landscapes. 

Aberration

    Aberration’s song, “Divinations of Flesh,” starts off with a flurry of primate sounding blast beats and agonizing guitar work. The vocals are utterly insidious sounding, which definitely adds to the song’s ritualistically malevolent tone. I really liked when the music slowed down and gave off a very ominous sound that slowly shreds away at your sanity as you are dragged down in the nightmarish depths of infinite darkness. Diabolic Oath’s track, “Divinations of Wrath,” was also very ruthless sounding with its very unapologetic and abrasive arrangements. The entropic guitar parts vividly standout throughout the song, which does not surprise me given the band's previous releases which also happen to feature a plethora of brutal mind altering riffs. Plus, I thought the raw production quality made the band sound even more fearsome as the song progressed and the music continued to focus in on these vile sounding riff structures. 

Diabolic Oath

    Overall, both bands really complimented each other extremely well on this split, and it comes as no surprise that Sentient Ruin will be responsible for releasing this sinister offering to kick off 2024. I would say that this is but a small taste of the destructive blackened death metal talents that Aberration and Diabolic Oath have to offer, as both shall be releasing new full-lengths this year. From this new split release alone, I predict we are going to be hearing a lot of apocalyptically decimating releases form Sentient Ruin in 2024, and Aberration and Diabolic Oath are the first two bands to commence the cataclysmic extreme metal onslaught. 

Check out the full split below :

Sentient Ruin Bandcamp:

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/

Top Ten Albums of 2023 / Rob "The Metal Guy" Awards

As 2023 comes to an end, looks like it's time once again to reflect back on all the killer releases that helped me get through this crazy year. Overall, I would say that the world of hard rock, punk and metal continues to thrive, unlike the state of Hollywood which cannot seem to put out anything worth seeing right now. Disney is so bad right now that the only thing they did this year was give South Park a great idea for new content. In terms of music labels, I would say that the underground/independent labels once again proved to be an inspiring force by working extremely hard to promote some great artists this year. Sentient Ruin for example really made an impact throughout the year and I would trust them to lead the country right now more than the knuckleheads we currently have in charge. Yes, competent leadership is hard to come by these days and sometimes I wonder if I should run for office, because I know I cannot do any worse (Rob "The Metal Guy" 2024!).  In the end, I was rather pleased with the amount of solid albums that came out in 2023 and I really look forward to hopefully another year of great music...unless our president presses the wrong button thinking he is hitting the button to have his diaper changed. Anyway, here it is people, my top ten albums of 2023!

10. Shadows "Out for Blood"

This Chilean heavy metal act really draws from classic 80's metal elements, while coming up with some sinister lyrical themes. I definitely hear a lot Mercyful Fate influence on this record, but that is what I believe made it such a solid sounding release. The riffs are unbelievably catchy and hook you right away. Also, the vocals provide that utterly haunting touch to create this dark horror movie like atmosphere where evil is lurking around every corner. This album is one of many albums that came out from Sentient Ruin this year which really stood out and ended up being in my top ten. 

Link to my full review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2023/05/shadows-out-for-blood.html

9. Uranium “Pure Nuclear Death”

Uranium is an utterly devastating act and when I listened to this new release, "Pure Nuclear Death," I was blown away by the abhorrent compositions that combine industrial elements and black/death metal. Talk about a surrealistic extreme metal exploration! Uranium does not disappoint when pertaining to the pure Armageddon like atmospheres that leave you feeling suffocated by this massive wall of decimating distortion. 

Link to my full review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2023/09/uranium-pure-nuclear-death.html

8.  Marduk “Memento Mori”

One of the most vicious and raw black metal acts around that has influenced so many young black metal bands over the years, really came out and offered up some utterly blasphemous cuts of savage black metal. I thought Marduk put together a solid album featuring some truly raw sounding black metal compositions, while not settling for overproduced substandard black metal riffs. I was rather pleased with this album and I hope to see Marduk continue to charge forward waiving the flag for intense and insidious black metal music. 

Link to my full review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2023/09/marduk-memento-mori.html

7. Decoherence "Order"

For Decoherence's third full-length album, "Order" the band went all out with more insane industrial noises mixed in with some harsh black metal elements to construct one mind altering release. The album is a dark exploration through these very unorthodox sounding riff structures, which creates some utterly entropic soundscapes. The experimentation and willingness to push the boundaries of extreme music is why I have always respected Decoherence, and I look forward to what they have in the works on future releases. 

Link to my full review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2023/07/decoherence-order.html

6.  Old Tower “Draconic Synthesis”

Following up Old Tower's 2021 release, "The Old King of Witches," an album that I greatly enjoyed, The Specter has returned with yet another sinister dungeon synth tale to lead minds astray and travel into the dark mysterious depth. The Specter is a genius when it comes to composing ambient dungeon synth arrangements, and I must say that the albums he has been come out with over the last few years have really stood out. Even though there are no lyrics, the sounds and synth arrangements create a profoundly dark synergy which slowly builds these vivid atmospheric tales. I cannot wait to get this on vinyl, as Old Tower's releases are a must have if you enjoy ambient/dungeon synth music. 

Link to my full review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2023/10/old-tower-draconic-synthesis.html

5.  Ch’Ahom “Knots of Abhorrence”

This album is a surrealistic venture into Mayan lore that draws you in like a malevolent jungle spirit possessing your mind as you slowly go insane from the pure blackened death bludgeoning. Ch’Ahom's ritualistic sound is perfectly captured on their debut album, “Knots of Abhorrence," and I would definitely consider this to be one the strongest conceptual releases to come out this year. Sentient Ruin was responsible from putting this out, and I think Ch’Ahom's sound and style perfectly fits in with the other bands in the Sentient Ruin roster. 

Link to my review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2023/10/chahom-knots-of-abhorrence.html

4. Ash Prison “Future Torn” 

This was yet another one of my favorite albums to be released on Sentient Ruin this year and it really took me by surprise. "Future Torn," is a killer debut album featuring some monstrous tracks that blend together industrial metal and black metal. If you are fan of early Ministry and abrasive black metal then this album will be that perfect combination of cold harsh sounding industrial rhythms and ear shattering heavily distorted guitar riffs. 

Link to my full review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2023/09/ash-prison-future-torn.html

3.  Night Demon "Outsider"

Night Demon's third full-length album took a turn into new territory by being band's first full blown concept album. Initially when I heard the first single,"Outsider," I did not think the band was going to be deviating too far from their core classic NWOBHM influenced sound, but when you listen to this album in its entirety you can really hear where the band took their time to make the album flow and tell a very fascinating story. From the musicianship to the songwriting, I truly believe Night Demon is one of the most talented acts around and deserves a lot of respect for the hard work they continue to pour into their recordings. 

Link to my full review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2023/03/night-demon-outsider.html

2.  Ceremonial Bloodbath “Genesis of Malignant Entropy”

Ceremonial Bloodbath is without question one of the most brutal and unforgiving acts around. The band's debut album which was released through Sentient Ruin in 2020, "The Tides of Blood," is an inhumanly insidious blackened death album that I consider to be one of the greatest extreme metal releases to come out in the past few years. For their follow-up release, the band did not disappoint one bit and the new material continues the bestial onslaught with even more ferocious riffs and decimating blast beats. When you look at this albums cover you see pure unholy devastation, which is exactly what you imagine when listening to the barbaric riffs and savage blast beats on this album/ 

Link to my full review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2023/10/ceremonial-bloodbath-genesis-of.html

1. Lathe of Heaven “Bound by Naked Skies” 

As someone who enjoys post-punk and new wave music, I was extremely impressed the first time I heard Lathe of Heaven's debut album, "Bound by Naked Skies." The songwriting is exceptional and the production on this album really captures that classic post-punk/new wave sound. Based out of NYC, Lathe of Heaven is a very talented act, and the band's sound reminded me a lot of Killing Joke, Joy Division and Echo & the Bunnymen, yet even though I heard a variety of influences I thought the band had very distinct and original sound. I have listened to this album almost everyday and I find that the music is written with such great substance to where you become profoundly drawn to the breathtaking chord progressions and captivating lyrics. 

Link to my full review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2023/09/lathe-of-heaven-bound-by-naked-skies.html

Rob “The Metal Guy” Awards

Label of the Year: Sentient Ruin

Best Live Performance: My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult at the Ritz in San Jose, CA

EP of the Year:  Eternal “Faceless Evil”

Most Brutal Album Cover of the Year: Ceremonial Bloodbath “Genesis of Malignant Entropy”

Music Video of the Year: Night Demon "The Wrath" 

Up and Coming Artist of the Year: Sin Offering (Check out their EP "Charnel House")  

Manga of the Year: Mao by Rumiko Takahashi 

Biggest Douche of the Year: Tony Khan the head of All Elite Wrestling (If he does not win Booker of the Year from that schmuck wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer, then at least he wins something…) 

Ceremonial Bloodbath “Genesis of Malignant Entropy”

    Sentient Ruin has already released a plethora of unfathomably brutal releases this year, however Ceremonial Bloodbath’s sophomore release “Genesis of Malignant Entropy,” is the apex album when pertaining to raw inhuman brutality. Based out of Vancouver BC, Canada, Ceremonial Bloodbath’s savage scorched-earth blackened death metal style is on a completely different level, and the band's new material looks to take the underground metal community by overwhelmingly unapologetic force. 

    Ceremonial Bloodbath's debut full-length album which was also released through Sentient Ruin, “The Tides of Blood,” is a monstrous sounding release featuring some unbelievably pestilent sounding cuts of gruesome blackened death metal along with some extremely insidious lyrical themes. If you enjoy pulverizing sadistic music similar to that of Bestial Warlust, Blasphemy, Archgoat and Beherit, then you will be instantly hooked by Ceremonial Bloodbath’s music. On this new album, these ruthless Canadian extreme metal musicians come up with even more apocalyptically devastating tracks by continuing where they left off on, “The Tides of Blood,” and going further into the deafening chaotic sounding realms of unspeakable demonic horror. 

    From the instant you start listening to this album, you feel as though you have stepped into some unholy wasteland where there is still this inhumanly savage sounding massacre taking place. The opening track, “The Ritual of Unholy Descent,” establishes a haunting atmosphere of pure surrealistic sounding horror to paint this lifeless dominion which has been incinerated through mass slaughter. On the second track, “Exhumation of the Ominous,” the band aggressively launches into a destructive sounding arrangement featuring some feverish drumming and savage riffs. The drumming on this album is utterly ear shattering and adds to the album’s catastrophic vision by fueling the band’s abhorrent drive with gruesome bone crushing rhythms. 

    Along with the primordial rhythms and barbaric guitar playing, I thought the vocals on this album were really sinister sounding and perfectly complimented the compositions. During the third track, "Bloodlust Raids of Vengeance,” I really thought that the hateful sounding vocals damned your full attention as the band hacked away at these sickening riff progressions. Another area of this album that I thought the band excelled at was incorporating some of those Bolt Thrower like lead parts into the bludgeoning mix, especially the frantic guitar solo towards the end of, “Bloodlust Raids of Vengeance.” One of the my favorite songs off of the album, “The Boneless One,” is another entropic exploration into the blackened death metal void that paints a horrendously bestial landscape where all light has been devoured by dark ageless entities. 

    Throughout this entire album I do not believe that the band ever failed to deliver a profoundly brutal sounding piece of music. Tracks like “Caustic Invocation” and “Dissonance of Morbidity,” convey such ferociously festering emotions that you become hopelessly trapped in this distorted sounding bombardment. I would say, “Mutilation of Sacrifice” is another exceptional cut of morbid brutality that appeared on the band’s 2021 demo titled, “Mutilation of Sacrifice.” I think the song perfectly fits into this album’s abysmal theme by really putting an emphasis on those agonizing riff sections as well as the blistering lead parts. For the final track on the album, “The Invocation of the Tomb of Mankind,” the band concludes by creating these terrifying cinematic sounds that makes you feel as if you are standing all alone on a deserted dark plain after witness some tragic event unfold. This feeling of complete solitude and frightening isolation is a surprising way to end an album after hearing such crushing sounding arrangements, but in the end that is what I think makes this final track vividly standout. 

    Overall, “Genesis of Malignant Entropy,” is an extremely sadistic offering and ventures into an even more hellacious direction musically, which is saying something given how much profoundly dark abhorrent energy can be heard on the band's first release. In my opinion, Ceremonial Bloodbath is one of the most destructively omniscient sounding blackened death metal acts around, and they have really worked hard to achieve a malevolent sound. I highly recommend that you check this album out as I do believe, “Genesis of Malignant Entropy,” will be making its way on some top ten lists for this year, because when all is said and done there is no denying this band’s truly raw ritualistic blackened death metal talents. 

Check out the song "Bloodlust Raids of Vengeance" below:

Sentient Ruin Bandcamp:

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/album/genesis-of-malignant-entropy

Ceremonial Bloodbath Bandcamp:

https://ceremonialbloodbath.bandcamp.com/music