Altar of Gore "Infinite Visions of Violence & 2018 Demo"

    Altar of Gore doles out a bestial death metal bludgeoning on their new vinyl compilation which combines the band’s 2018 demo and 2022 release, “Infinite Visions of Violence.” The New Jersey based extreme metal act offers listeners one mighty putrid death metal onslaught featuring some savage sounding riffs along with some utterly horrendous fear inducing vocals. 

    Sentient Ruin Laboratories will be responsible for releasing the album on vinyl, which was remastered by Will Killingsworth at Dead Air Studios. Altar of Gore definitely captures the primitive and ruthless bestial death metal sound that focuses on crafting monstrous riffs and ear shattering ritualistic drumming. I can hear influences such as Bestial Warlust, Blasphemy and Archgoat, but then at times I find Altar of Gore throws in some gory inspired old school death metal elements as well which reminded me a bit of Carcass, Impetigo and Exhumed. 

    When listening to the nine track featured on this release, I found myself really taken back by the sheer level of unforgiving brutality that came from the primitive arrangements. This style of extreme music does not demand a great deal of technicality, but the overall production and delivery needs to make an impact, otherwise most people just tune out after hearing the first song. Altar of Gore’s deafening presentation vividly stands out right from the start and the first track, “Infinite Visions of Violence,” drags you down into the depths of hell by unleashing a violent thunderstorm of bone snapping guitar chords and coffin crushing drum parts. However, out of all the abominable sounds on the first track, the vocals are what caught my attention the most and I thought the horrifying growls amplified the track’s malevolent tone. 

    As the album progresses from track to track, you do not hear a lot of sloppy over the top guitar compositions that sound like they were written by some douche who hangs out at the local Guitar Center and randomly runs through scales. A song such as, “Descent Into Charnel Depths,” is a very ominous cut of raw death metal that contains a truly sickening main rhythm. Also, the frantic and agonizing guitar solo provides a perfect touch to the already unfathomably aural defiling composition. The cover of Hellhammer’s, “Aggressor,” is another track that I really enjoyed and I think Altar of Gore did a solid job taking this classic track and injecting even more insidious energy into the song. "Descent into Charnel Depths," is probably the most hellacious sounding track on the album and I question whether or not a human actually recorded the vocal parts, because the low growls sound as though they are coming from some demonic beast.  

    Overall, this album does not disappoint if you are looking for a might helping of sacrilegious sounding bestial death metal. When listening to the album I never felt like the riffs and drumming were poorly executed and if anything the track's are extremely tight sounding. Plus, the vocals sound as though they were recorded within the confines of underground burial chamber by some inhuman force from beyond. To me this album is a no brainer if you are a fan of this more abrasive style of hateful sounding death metal, and I do believe Altar of Gore is an act to keep an eye on. 

Check out the album below: 

Sentient Ruin Bandcamp:

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/album/infinite-visions-of-violence-2018-demo

Altar of Gore Bandcamp:

https://altarofgore.bandcamp.com/music

Savage Necromancy "Feathers Fall to Flames"

     Savage Necromancy perfectly captures the unapologetic and malevolent extreme metal spirit with their full-length release, “Father Fall to Flames.” These extreme metal maniacs from Phoenix, Arizona, really nail down the basic elements of what is needed to create an undeniably blasphemous album. Their sound combines the straightforward brutality of old school death metal with the pure hostile and vile mindset of sacrilegious black metal. If you are a fan of bands like Blasphemy, Bestial Warlust, Beherit and Archgoat, then you’ll definitely find this album to your liking. 

    The first track on the album, “Milenio De La Crucifixión,” begins with what sounds like a demonic incantation being read over this spine-chilling organ synth arrangement, giving the album a very horrifying cinematic vibe. Eventually the haunting cries fade away and this gruesome sounding riff cuts through the soundscape unleashing an onslaught of hateful distortion. After this first song and hearing the guitar tone, I was instantly sold and looked forward to the coming tracks. Although I’ve heard a decent amount of bands play this style of extreme music, I found the overall production and execution to be very impressive. Songs such as, “Baptized in the Cum of the Goat” and “Conquest of Nazareth,” are written in a very direct and brutal manner, which definitely leaves an impact when listening to the music. 

    Throughout the album I never felt that Savage Necromancy was recycling the same monotonous sounding riffs and the music vividly captures your attention by continuing to deliver that utterly savage sounding approach. When looking at this group, each member of this extreme war machine injects a certain amount of distinct abhorrent talent into songs, thus creating some very monstrous compositions. The vocals throughout the entire album delivered a tremendous amount of raw unapologetic energy with my favorite example being the vocal parts during, “Storming the Gates of Heaven.” As the guitarist frantically hammers out these agonizing bone crushing riffs, the vocals come roaring over the chaos unleashing a massive amount of unholy aggression. 

    Also, the drumming on this album was unfathomably deafening at times to the point where you started to wonder if your speakers might blow out. On the track, “Disgorging Christ’s Kingdom,” the drumming and guitar playing makes you feel like the world around you is collapsing into some black abyss. Again, the band is extremely consistent with their delivery, thus allowing you to become possessed by the primitive and bestial sounding assault. 

    Overall I would describe, “Feathers Fall to Flames,” as an album completely focused on dealing out punishing riffs and down right brutal rhythms. Also, I believe that the album’s strong production along with the band's tight sound, is what ultimately made this such an insidious sounding release. I highly recommend people check out Savage Necromancy if they are into this style of extreme metal music, especially if you are a fiendish headbanger who enjoys terrorizing their community by wearing demonic themed band shirts and playing their music at full volume as they go to the grocery store. 

Check out the entire album below:

Savage Necromancy Bandcamp:

https://savagenecromancy666.bandcamp.com/

Uranium "An Exacting Punishment"

    After another strong year of extreme and punishing releases, Sentient Ruin Laboratories looks to start 2023 off with an unspeakably devastating debut full-length release conjured up from the insidious one-man blackened industrial act known as, Uranium. “An Exacting Punishment,” is a five-track exploration into a nightmare like post-apocalyptic world where all of humanity has perished under a sinister blanket of suffocating radiation. 

    Uranium is a truly unique act that caught my attention right away and definitely fits within the Sentient Ruin roster. I think what makes this album standout is the profound ambient sounds which do not follow any sort of rules, or common musical patterns. The harsh unpredictable soundscapes keep you listening with great interest, while pulling you further into the desolate sounding void. I can pick up a variety of influences ranging from black metal to industrial, but I think the artist behind Uranium is able to really make this album convey a distinct overall sound, which also greatly strengthens the album's conceptual presentation. 

    The opening composition, “Trinity,” is a really warped sounding piece of music that comes across as almost sadistically hypnotic. As the massive amounts of distortion twist and turn like a serpent slithering over an endless field of bones, the vocals provide an utterly horrifying touch to the already sinister atmosphere. On the second track, “Prison of Flesh,” you can really hear the nerve pounding industrial elements which create a brutal sounding climate of pestilent entropy. Track number three, “Gnawing at the Bones,” is a bit of a departure from the more grueling distorted assault upon the ears which was heavily emphasized on the previous tracks. The song conveys a very eerie and bone chilling atmosphere where the sounds leave you speechless as if you are witnessing some unfathomable evil scenario unfold before your eyes. 

    The final two tracks on the album continue to push that extreme experimental mentality that Uranium seems to utilize with such profound ferocious force. “An Exacting Punishment,” is not only the longest track off of the album, but I also believe that the song is the most dynamic arrangement on the album. At first the music flows and establishes this very mesmerizing structure that somehow morphs into a cataclysmic industrial bludgeoning. On the final song, “No Light,” the drum sounds violently explode across the landscape as the end draws near and the music starts to reach that hopeless oblivion. I thought the climatic conclusion to this album was very well thought out, especially when looking back at how the entire album was arranged. 

    If you are a fan of unorthodox extreme music that combines the deafening nature of industrial metal with the raw savage nature of black metal, then you should definitely check out Uranium’s, “An Exacting Punishment.” This album is extremely well produced and the creativity that went into each track is not to be ignored. Even though Uranium does not show off any technical talent, I personally find that the ability to bring together a plethora of haunting sounds to tell a vivid and surreal sounding tale to be more impressive than some dude randomly shredding for 40 minutes. Once you starting listening to Uranium I can guarantee that you will find it hard to turn away from the utter insanity and malevolent sounding hallucinogenic terror that enters your ears and alters your mind. An album that is truly worth checking out!  

Check out the song "Prison of Flesh" : 

Sentient Ruin Bandcamp:

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/album/an-exacting-punishment

Sentient Ruin Facebook:

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

Top Ten Albums of 2022 / Rob "The Metal Guy" Awards

Well everyone, another year has gone by and it is now time for me to reflect upon all the releases that helped keep me from completely losing my sanity and turning into Mel Gibson circa 2006. I do believe that this was another solid year for rock and metal music, and although this type of music might not get featured on the TikTok, at least it isn't getting used by braindead bimbos doing moronic dances whose data is being monitored by the Chinese government. I always knew sorority girls would be the reason for America's downfall...Anyway, moving on before I rant any further, I need to thank all the hard working labels out there, especially the independent extreme music labels like Sentient Ruin, Shadow Kingdom Records and Hells Headbangers. Without these labels all of us fans would be struggling to get physical releases from our favorite artists. Gone are the days when you could easily go to a record store and buy albums. Where I live we do not have any record stores and the only place that seems to survive and not get turned into a housing development is the damn In-N-Out Burger! So I would like to thank all the bands and music labels, because without them we would all be suffering and 2022 would have been a complete disaster just like Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen's marriage...Alright then, here it is people, the Top Ten Albums list you all have been waiting for...

10. Low Moments “Picked Dead Last in the Dodgeball Game of Life” 

Some people might be scratching their heads wondering why I am including a synth/new wave band on my top ten list, but those people can just get over it and go throw a tantrum in their momma’s basement while listening to their kvlt black metal albums looking like a mix between Gaahl and a Juggalo. “Picked Dead Last in the Dodgeball Game of Life,” is a very enjoyable album, especially if you like ridiculous song titles and catchy synth wave music. One of the songs off of the album that I really liked was, “Asthmatic Around Ladies,” which is an amazing track and not simply because the title of the song had be laughing on the floor. The band perfectly captures that haunting melancholy like sound which reminded me of of bands like Joy Division, Depeche Mode and Bauhaus. I don’t know why young people spend so much time on that TikTok bullshit when they could be listening to this album.  

Link to my full review of the album :

https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2022/04/low-moments-picked-dead-last-in.html

9. Project Pain “Faster Disaster” 

If you are a thrash metal fanatic then you definitely want to check this album out! Project Pain is a band that I have been covering for a decent amount of time now and the band’s most recent album, “Faster Disaster,” ups the ante in terms of ferocity and sheer brutal force. These metal musicians based out of the Netherlands capture that old school thrash spirit extremely well and the songs never sound gimmicky, or painfully repetitive. I just really enjoy how this band deals out some juggernaut sized riffs with massive amounts of raw energy.

Link to my full review of the album : 

https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2022/10/project-pain-faster-disaster.html

8. Anticreation “From the Dust of Embers”

Anticreation’s debut album is a sinister offering and the band’s blackened death style is unfathomably insidious sounding. No surprise that they teamed up with Sentient Ruin for the release of this album, especially given the band’s devastating overall sound. From the ruthless arrangements to the hellish vocals that sound like a demon roaring from out of the abyss, Anticreation is a truly sadistic band. This is a group that I would definitely wish to see live someday, and I hope they keep releasing more merciless sounding releases.  

Link to my full review of the album : 

https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2022/07/anticreation-from-dust-of-embers.html

7. Woods of Desolation "The Falling Tide"

Usually I start thinking about my top ten list around November, so very rarely will a band enter the list if they release an album in December, unless for some reason an album really catches my attention. Well, such was the case with the new Woods of Desolation album, "The Falling Tide." Over the years I have always respected Woods of Desolation, although I was never a diehard follower of the band. Still, I listened to this new album and was just down right impressed with the quality of the musicianship, the production and the album's haunting yet comforting sound. I've heard a lot of bands try and do this mix of black metal with post-metal elements, but they usually end up failing to really hook me in the end. I really felt that this album conveyed such raw and profound emotion from start to finish, which is why I highly recommend it. 

Link to my full review of the album : 

https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2022/12/woods-of-desolation-falling-tide.html

6. Moonlight Haze “Animus”

Arguably one of the best new power/symphonic metal bands that I have heard in the last few years, and the band’s third studio album, “Animus,” is a phenomenal release. The songwriting, the production and just the pure rush of epic sounding emotion that the bands delivers on each track is truly exceptional. The band’s singer Chiara Tricarico is an amazing vocalist with an extremely profound devilry. Her vocals matched with the triumphant sounding compositions creates such powerful pieces of music. This is a band that I hope continues to rise with each new release and I do hope they get more recognition for their unbelievably impressive talents. 

Link to my full review of the album : 

https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2022/02/moonlight-haze-animus.html

5. Black Fucking Cancer “Procreative Inverse”

Black Fucking Cancer is without question one of the most savage and sinister bands around, so I was extremely impressed with their brutal sophomore release, “Procreative Inverse.” Based out of San Jose, CA, the city where I was born, Black Fucking Cancer shows no mercy when pertaining to their hellish black metal sound. The amount of vile raw energy that can be heard throughout the album is astounding. Black Fucking Cancer offers up six blistering tracks of malevolent sounding destruction while also unleashing a blackened onslaught of punishing riffs. The band's dynamic approach to writing such vicious pieces of music makes this album a definite listen for anyone in search of a truly evil sounding release. 

Link to my full review of the album : 

https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2022/03/black-fucking-cancer-procreate-inverse.html

4. Vanishing Amulet “Nocturnal Heritage”

For those of you who follow the blog, you know by now that I am a huge fan of dungeon synth. So when I heard Vanishing Amulet’s, “Nocturnal Heritage,” I was instantly hooked by the magnificent sounding atmospheres and haunting yet tranquil melodies. The album tells a captivating tale without using any lyrics by blending together these soothing ambient noises. The classic dungeon synth sound is prevalent for sure, although the album also features some very tranquil elements that gives the album this fantasy driven cinematic like vibe. 

Link to my full review of the album : 

https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2022/08/vanishing-amulet-nocturnal-heritage.html

3. Eric Wagner “In the Lonely Light of Mourning”

This is a very special release and one that I appreciate every time I listen to it. Although Eric Wagner passed away last year, this album was able to be completed before his passing and serves as a farewell to all the diehard doom fans who cherished his contributions. The songwriting on this album is extremely deep and Eric’s ability to write such meaningful songs is on full display. Also, the musicians on this album who worked with Eric sound amazing, which is why this album was so refreshing to hear. Although Eric Wagner is no longer with us, I am glad that he was able to record this album as a farewell to all his fans and the music will live on just like all his other musical contritions that fans have come to hold in such high regard. 

Link to my full review of the album : 

https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2022/02/eric-wagner-in-lonely-light-of-mourning.html

2. Assumption “Hadean Tides” 

Assumption’s, “Hadean Tides,” is a monumental release and one that extreme metal fans should definitely check out if they have not already. From start to finish this album pulls you into this behemoth sounding death/doom realm where you become completely possessed by the devastating riffs. These musicians hammer out some wicked sounding and also experiment with some mesmerizing sounds. Also, the drumming is utterly deafening throughout this release and adds so much to the band's cataclysmic style of songwriting. This album was without doubt the strongest release to be released on Sentient Ruin this year, which is saying something given the amount of great releases I reviewed from the label this year. 

Link to my full review of the album : 

https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2022/04/assumption-hadean-tides.html

1. Lustre “A Thirst for Summer Rain” 

When I heard the news that Lustre was going to be releasing a new album this year, I was beyond excited and could not wait to hear it. I have been a fan of Lustre for many years, so this album was something that was highly anticipating. Titled, “A Thirst for Summer Rain,” I can honestly say that this album sonically is one of the best sounding Lustre releases. The production is exceptional and the compositions coney such powerful emotion. Nachtzeit, the creative force behind Lustre, is a true atmospheric black metal/ambient music genius and in my opinion he is one of the best modern composers around. When listening to Lustre I have always admired how much effort he puts into the arrangements. The new material from Lustre is simply flawless and I look forward to hearing how Nachtzeit can build off of the momentum from this most recent release. 

Link to my full review of the album : 

https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2022/09/lustre-thirst-for-summer-rain.html

Rob “The Metal Guy” Awards

EP of the Year: Spectre "Omen" 

Split Release of the Year: Goathammer & Empty Chalice “From the Chalice of the Goat” 

Up and Coming Artist of the Year: Yellowcake 

Album Cover of the Year: Lustre “A Thirst for Summer Rain” 

Label of the Year: Sentient Ruin 

Biggest Douche of the Year: Sam Bankman-Fried that crypto scumbag who deserves to rot in jail

Xenomorph "Nihilistic Rustbelt Black Metal II (Demo)"

    As a fan of the Alien movie franchise as well as a fan of black metal, I never thought that the two worlds would ever cross paths. So when I received this promo for a black metal band called Xenomorph, I was instantly interested in hearing this band. Based out of Cincinnati, OH, Xenomorph is a one-man black metal act that definitely captures the malvotmnt spirit of raw old school 90’s black metal. The band’s demo, “Nihilistic Rustbelt Black Metal II,” is an utterly harsh offering that takes listeners into an abhorrent sounding world where evil lurks around every corner. 

    I must say that the artist behind Xenomorph is fully committed to recording vicious sounding black metal and has a very strong creative vision, which can be heard throughout this demo. The opening track, “Die Kraft Arbeit,” explodes with a vile sounding tone just like a chestburster breaking through human flesh. Right away I could tell that the guitar riffs were going for that barbaric of school black metal style which feverishly hammers away following along to the intense drum rhythms. As the instruments create a landscape of pure chaos, the vocals add an acidic venomous touch to the nightmarish arrangements. 

    The demo’s second track, “Punition Qui Fair Mal,” is another putrid black metal onslaught with more haunting riffs and deafening drum parts. You can definitely catch moments during the song where Xenomorph was influenced by bands such as Emperor, Gorgoroth and Mayhem. Actually, the way that the drums were recorded along with the grim overall atmosphere, I could hear a lot of early Emperor influence, particularly from the “Wrath of the Tyrant” demo. On the third track, “Broken Paradigm of Worth,” I was mainly impressed by the drumming and how the riffs following along to the horrendous sounding rhythms. 

    Even though this style of extreme metal is nothing new and I have heard countless bands pay homage to the old school back metal blueprint, I really liked the execution and compositions on this demo, which made me want to keep listening. Also, the cover Xenomorph did of Gorgoroth’s, “Possessed,” sounded really solid and was a perfect choice since Xenomorph’s sound reminded me a bit of Gorgoroth at times.

    If you are looking for some raw straightforward old school black metal, then you should make sure to check out Xenomorph’s, “Nihilistic Rustbelt Black Metal II.” I have always had respect one-man bands as it takes a lot of dedication to create releases, especially when there is one person handling all the work. For a demo, this does a tremendous job getting people to check out the band and also will give people something to look forward to if they are into this style of black metal. Trust me, compared to what they have done with the Alien movie franchise as of late, this demo will not disappoint and make you feel like you’ve wasted your time. 

Check out the demo below: 

Xenomorph Bandcamp: 

https://xenomorph8472.bandcamp.com/album/nihilistic-rustbelt-black-metal-ii-demo

Woods of Desolation "The Falling Tide"

    The last full-length album from Woods of Desolation came out in 2014, and even though fans had to wait 8 years for a new album it seems like the wait was well worth it. Titled, “The Falling Tide,” the album reunites listeners with Woods of Desolation’s cold and somber atmospheric mixed with post-black metal sounds. 

    The Australian one-man act has garnered a strong following over the years and the band's previous albums have been mostly well received by fans and critics alike. Over the years a fair amount of bands have definitely come across as Woods of Desolation fans, so much that you feel as though what made Woods of Desolation stand out has become suffocated by the endless clones. However, even when dealing with a growing number of post-black metal/atmospheric black metal bands, you can always differentiate between the skilled musicians and the generic sloppy amateurs. 

    Whenever an album hooks you instantly once you start listen to it and causes you to drop everything around you like your work or your first born child, then you know that there is something special going on. Once I heard the first track, “Far From Here,” with its heavenly opening guitar arrangement, I was definitely drawn into the mesmerizing musical landscape. The intense wave of tremolo picking matched with the thunderous drum arrangements washes over you like a monstrous tidal wave. Also, I was impressed by the vocal delivery during song which added to the rollercoaster of raw emotion. 

    Following that first song, the music continues to flow with a profound synergy and even though in the past I have not been the biggest fan of post-black metal, I truly believe that Woods of Desolation’s sound and overall approach to recording is very refreshing to hear. For example, “Beneath a Sea of Stars,” is not overly technical, yet at the same time the music is not painfully repetitive. The instrumental arrangements conjure up this storm of blistering distortion, while also providing comfort in the gloomy shroud of overwhelming darkness. During the track, “Illumination,” I could hear on full display the artist pouring a substantial amount of energy into the composition, thus giving the track a certain surreal feeling as though you are standing upon a cliff gazing out amongst the ocean as the sun begins to rise. 

    In the end, Woods of Desolation proves to be a powerful creative force with the release of, “The Falling Tide.” I would say that this is an album which completely caught me off guard and was probably one of the strongest recordings I have heard this year. Even though I am not a post-black metal fanatic, I cannot ignore the quality and artistic creativity that went into the making of this album. Conceptually this album is a perfect example of how to compose a release which can hook the listener right away and keep them engaged until the very end. To me, a lot of bands can learn something from how this release was recorded, which is why I highly recommend checking it out. 

Check out the song "The Falling Tide" below :

Woods of Desolation Bandcamp:

https://woodsofdesolation.bandcamp.com/album/the-falling-tide