Black Fucking Cancer / Gloam : Boundless Arcane Invokations

    Sentient Ruin deals out yet another sinister sounding release, this time bringing together two venomous black metal entities that know how to deliver some malevolent sounding music. Black Fucking Cancer and Gloam prove to be masters of the extreme metal dark arts by taking listeners on a hellish journey through realms of atmospheric terror on their spilt, “Boundless Arcane Invokations.”

    I find both acts to be skilled in their songwriting styles and even though each band only contributes one song to the split, they deliver some strong dynamic sounding cuts of extreme metal ferocity that do not disappoint. Also, both bands use the same name for their songs, which  also happens to be the name of this split. There seems to be an unholy unity between these two acts and their styles really compliment each other quite well. In terms of production, both bands construct monumental sounding atmospheres that convey a ghastly world of catastrophic horror.

    San Jose’s, Black Fucking Cancer, unleashes a malefic assault that pulls listeners into a realm of total darkness on their side of the split. I might be a bit biased since I was born in San Jose, however, Black Fucking Cancer is a band that really knows how to compose a vicious sounding landscape of black metal savagery. The opening part of the song spews out these ominous noises that eventually get swallowed up by a blanket of distortion and blistering riffs. Their singer provides tortured growls of demonic sounding agony as the other musicians hammer away at their instruments. Overall, the band executes an unforgiving vision for about twenty-two minutes, but never loses their potency or ability to keep listener’s intently listening.

    The other band on the split is, Gloam, a Santa Cruz based black metal act that wastes no time by fiercely jumping into a flurry of blasphemous riffs. As the band’s drummer lays down some raw sounding rhythms the guitarist and bassist take the opportunity to hack away at their instruments with no remorse. Gloam captures that old school black metal sound, although they are able to pay homage to old school black metal without sounding gimmicky, or falling into that pit of generic black metal rubbish. Once again, solid production and an attention to detail in terms of songwriting helps shift them past most of your modern bands who can dress the part, but can’t write songs to save their lives. 

    This split proves to be another brilliant Sentient Ruin release that sounds extremely well done from start to finish. I think the label did a great job bringing together two ruthless and impressive black metal bands. There is no denying that Black Fucking Cancer and Gloam are bands who have tremendous talent and should not be overlooked. I hope people really check out this split, because this is the type of release that I want to see more of from the metal community.



Check out the split below:

Sentient Ruin FB:

https://www.facebook.com/SentientRuin/

Gloam FB:

https://www.facebook.com/gloamshroud/

Black Fucking Cancer bandcamp:

https://blackfuckingcancer.bandcamp.com/

Sarinvomit / Eggs of Gomorrh : Encomium of Depraved Instincts

    Talk about two extreme forces teaming up to unleash eight tracks of uncompromising brutality! Sarinvomit and Eggs of Gomorrh lay waste to the metal world with their split, “Encomium of Depraved Instincts."

    Both bands are tremendous extreme metal acts that deliver a sheer destructive sound full of intensity and monumental amounts of instrumental carnage. I also thought adding live tracks to the split was a great idea and gives the listener a chance to hear how these bands sound in a live setting.

    Istanbul’s Sarinvomit starts the split off by launching into a fire storm of black metal mayhem. The singer provides such a raw and malevolent sounding delivery to compliment the unholy sounds of the other musicians who feverishly play their instruments. Songs like “Screwing the Nailed Prophets” and “Spreading VX Gas Over Kaaba” are great blasphemous pieces of music that show no mercy in their disdain for organized religion.  I truly believe Sarinvomit is an act with devastating potential and a musical attitude much needed in our world.

    The second half of the split contains material from, Eggs of Gomorrh, the Geneva based extreme metal maniacs who know how to annihilate an audience with their brand of hellish sounding blackened death metal. The band's drummer is a rapid fire blast beat monster behind the kit and plays with tremendous amounts of brutal force. Songs such as “Shrine of Disgust” and “Whore of Sodom,” demonstrate a malicious bunch of musicians looking to drown listeners in a tidal wave of distorted terror. Another solid track from the band is, “Redemption Martyr,” a savage onslaught of riffs and drums containing some gruesome and unworldly vocals.

    “Encomium of Depraved Instincts,” serves as a statement made to the entire metal community, which is that these two bands are not to be taken lightly and passed off as average extreme metal acts. Although they are playing styles of metal that are not new to the metal world, both bands bring a raw and uncompromising attitude that is sure to draw fans to their extreme metal visions. If you have not checked this split out yet, well you need to do yourself a favor and get some much needed extreme music in your life.



Check out the split below:

Sarinvomit FB:
https://www.facebook.com/sarinvomit

Eggs of Gomorrh FB:
https://www.facebook.com/eggsofgomorrh/

Aludra "Mass Stellar Graves"

    Aludra’s new album, “Mass Stellar Graves,” is a raw sounding black metal journey into pure and unforgiving atmospheric sounding entropy. Just imagine being sucked through a black hole where you cannot escape and drift endlessly through darkness for all eternity.

    The Oklahoma based black metal duo constructs abysmal sounding raw pieces of music and explores lyrical themes relating to space. “Mass Stellar Graves,” is definitely an album written to hook the listener from beginning to end with its unique concepts. The overall atmosphere throughout the album is raw and grim, perfect for dealing with topics concerning destructive cosmic forces. The drums create a very bleak sounding rhythmic backbone while the guitars wash over with melancholy chord progressions. As much as I feel like this formula is very repetitious in black metal, Aludra is able to executed it to where you are drawn into he calming chaos of blackened stellar wonder.

    Opening the album is the song, “Imprisoning Light,” which happens to be a suitable name for a song containing some harsh sounding instrumental compositions. The singer’s vocal delivery compliments the musical landscape with cries of anguish and despair. Black metal vocals can sometimes be a bit gimmicky if the instrumental structures are not very interesting, however, I think Aludra is able to make everything work together in a solid fashion. “Coma B,” is another example where the song’s atmosphere is able to break away from the typical black metal style.

    Track number three, “Sagittarius A,” takes listeners on a tormenting ride through hellish sounding arrangements of extreme chaos. I felt like the vocals were the main area of emphasis, while the instrumental compositions provide a frantic and unorthodox sounding musical backbone. “Out of Chaos,” is more of a traditional style black metal song with more of a slow frost bitten sounding delivery. Tracks five and six, “Black Void Damnation” and “Mass Stellar Graves” continue to push forward in unforgiving and chaotic directions of pure extreme prowess.

    Overall, the album is a solid effort and attempts to explore the extreme concepts of black holes and voids of endless damnation. I feel like on future efforts Aludra should continue to explore their interest in the cosmos, while also not falling into those repetitive and gimmicky black metal songwriting traps. Make the music standout and have a unique presentation instead of writing the same recycled riff while you continuously sing about worshipping Satan.

    If you want a solid release that creates grim sounding atmospheres full of raw black metal attitude, then I recommend this release.




Check out the album below:

Aludra Bandcamp:
https://aludrabm.bandcamp.com/

Aludra Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Aludra-19659...