Decoherence "Order"

    Sentient Ruin’s extreme aural conquest continues to rage through the summer with yet another monstrous new album from one of the most devastating acts around. Based out of the UK, Decoherence  takes elements from industrial metal, black metal and death metal to achieve an unfathomably inhuman sound that tears down the walls of reality and traverses into truly nightmarish sounding landscapes. 

    The band’s third album, “Order,” continues where the band left on their previous full-length release, “Unitarity,” but also experiments with some even more surreal sounding industrial elements to create a bleak lifeless world where chaos has unraveled to a point you feel like everything around you is spinning out of control. I also recommend checking out the band’s compilation album, “System I,” which Sentient Ruin released back in 2021 that features an exceptional cover of Killing Joke's, "The Wait." 

    From the very beginning on this new album, Decoherence seeks to shake the foundations of extreme music by going against the grain with each composition. The first couple tracks on the new album, “Closed Timelike Curves” and “An Unconfined System,” are a couple maniacal offerings of deafening distorted creativity. You feel as though all these different noises are getting thrown into this monstrous machine, which then violently hammers out these explosive ear shattering rhythms. Something I noticed as well when listening to the beginning of this album was how cold and inhumane the atmospheres sounded, as if I was hearing the soundtrack to some horrifying dystopian futuristic science fiction film where humanity has been erased by malevolent artificial intelligence. 

    Throughout the album Decoherence’s harsh unapologetic mindset is what I believe fuels this album’s eye opening sound. A track such as, “With No Pre-Existing Direction,” features a plethora of agonizing riffs as well as these raw black metal vocals that echo over hateful sounding distortion from the guitars to achieve a pure hostile overall tone. “Quintessence Field,” is another pestilent mind altering track containing some dynamic and hypnotic sounding arrangements. Musically, everything just comes together so well that the album keeps you locked into this shattered mindset where you see reality slowly slipping away into the grim distorted thunderous musical landscape that pulls you further into the inevitable abyss.  

    Decoherence is a band that you are either going to embrace right away for their willingness to create unconventional sounding joineries into dark and twist soundscapes, or one that will have your brain melting from their insidiously entropic sounding arrangements. For fans of industrial metal, black metal and extreme music that wishes to shatter normal time signatures and hacks away at deviant sounding chord progressions, then you are going to want to check out this new album. Decoherence’s, “Order,” pushes the extreme music world further into the nightmarish oblivion to provide a sense of where humanity is headed as a majority of people blindly become enslaved to the materialistic world around them. 

Check out the song "Closed Timelike Curves" :

Sentient Ruin Bandcamp (Album comes out July 28th, so go pre-order now!):

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/album/order

Decoherence "System I"

    When listening to a Decoherence release I swear that you feel like you are being thrown through a vortex full of agonizing dynamic arrangements that eventually takes you to an eternal galactic realm of pure darkness. This band executes an extreme metal vision that brings together nightmare inducing industrial sounds with unforgiving black metal. Their new release, “System I,” contains remastered singles and tracks from EPs which were only available previously through digital format.  

    I’ve reviewed a couple of the band’s full-length releases before and I have never found myself walking away with massive amounts of criticism. Actually, I find it extremely hard to critique this group of musicians due to the fact that they put in some much effort into their creative style of extreme music. The production quality and overall atmosphere presented on this album provides a vivid rush of inhuman brutality. “System I,” breaks down the walls of typical extreme metal music by exploring the endless voids of cosmic sounding entropy and travels deep into the harsh blackened gateways of unorthodox sounding compositions. I can tell you that there are few bands who write like Decoherence, and with good reason, because this band knows how to make everything come together for one unforgettable extreme listening experience. 

    Compared to the band’s earlier releases, I really felt like the eight songs on this new album were very profound and offered a lot to take away. The guitar playing once again transcends the typical gritty distorted sinister sounding riff approach to instead make way for guitar parts that methodically pull apart your cerebral cortex piece by piece. As with all Decoherence releases, the band builds-up anticipation on the first song by mixing together these haunting industrial sounds that help usher in the massive sounding chaotic arrangements. “Line of Force,” is a track that really explores the more hypnotic industrial side of this band’s sound, while also adding those grim black metal touches into the mix. 

    The next on the release, “Ray Spallation,” is another hellishly distorted offering of extreme sounding music. Throughout most of the the album you are presented with such a plethora of dynamic arrangements that your head begins to spin as a result of the sadistic tempo changes. Tracks like, “Gate Error” and “Non-Holistic Constraints,” convey a more ferocious side in terms of presentation and thrive on adrenaline pumping blast beats to complement the chainsaw fueled guitar attack. 

    Another tormenting track off of the album is, “Dimension Witness,” which contains some utterly ghastly guitar riffs. There is nothing simplistic and dual about this band’s presentation, so every second of this release has you possessed by the blizzard of abstract extreme metal horror. Also, I really enjoyed their cover of Killing Joke’s, “The Wait,” and I liked how they approached the song. Instead of just doing a basic cover, Decoherence brought in their sinister industrial style to create a very catastrophic atmosphere. “The Wait,” is a classic that has been covered before by punk and metal bands, however, I felt as though Decoherence did tremendous job covering it by giving the track an even more terrifying edge. 

    Decoherence’s, “System I,” is currently out now and can be ordered through Sentient Ruin. Out of the three Decoherence releases I have reviewed so far, this one might as well be my favorite. I truly respect the creativity as well as the unbelievably intense instrumental compositions. The mix of industrial and black metal with touches of other extreme metal elements proves to be an almost other worldly extreme sounding concoction that has allowed Decoherence to pave their own unique path. I highly recommend checking out this album and I look forward to reviewing the next release from this band!  

Check out the full album below:

Sentient Ruin Bandcamp:

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/music

Decoherence "Unitarity"

    Listening to Decoherence is like flying a spacecraft straight into a black hole of infinite unworldly chaos and in the process losing all your sanity. The band’s style of black metal mixed with terrifying industrial elements is an extremely potent blend of vicious mind-altering music. Their sophomore release, “Unitarity,” is another journey into the cosmic gateway of unpredictable and volatile sounding landscapes that fans were introduced to on the band's debut album, "Ekpyrosis." 

    This multinational extreme metal act teams up with Sentient Ruin once again to unleash a blistering album full of hellish creativity that few artists are able to convey in such compelling fashion. The band’s debut album was an unbelievable effort that demonstrated an erratic, yet determined band looking to carve their own bloody mark into the extreme metal world by presenting a unique blend of blackened sounding terror. 

    The first song off of the album, “Final Boundary State,” is a merciless assault of aural terrorism and comes crashing through the speakers like a tsunami of raw distortion. I was instantly drawn to the band's savage guitar work as well as the monstrous drum parts. The band’s vocalist adds to the nightmarish sounding musical landscape by providing some tormenting growls that echo with great disgust across the cataclysmic arrangements. Track number two, “Equilibrium Unreached,” is another ruthless piece of music containing even more menacing riffs of inhumane nature. As the song progresses the band seems to thrive on the music's diabolical energy, thus allowing them to fiendishly construct even more abhorrent compositions. 

    Another area of this album that stands out is when the band incorporates these tranquil atmospheric moments that eventually transition into a firestorm of blackened industrial devastation. Songs like, “Metastable Phase Transition” and “Remnants,” begin with such mesmerizing sounding arrangements that soon become washed away in an avalanche of paralyzing guitars and ear shattering drums. Some bands try to do this style and end up making a flaming heap of instrumental trash, while Decoherence skillfully constructs these wicked pieces of mind-bending brutality. 

    Once again, Decoherence conjures forth a sinister release that twists the minds and decimates the ears of all those who desire some malevolent sounding music. This group is yet another Sentient Ruin band that understands what is necessary to make a quality sounding release that leaves an impact on the listener. While some black metal bands just put on the corpse paint and crank out the same generic riff structures to the point of sheer obnoxiousness, Decoherence takes you on a blackened space odyssey into a starless void of indescribable celestial horror. Now that is something we can all get behind, otherwise you can be tied to a rocket and launched into space! 

Check out the song "Remnants" below. Also, albums comes out August 14, 2020 and can be ordered through Sentient Ruin (https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/album/unitarity):

Sentient Ruin Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/SentientRuin

Top Ten Albums of 2019 / Rob "The Metal Guy" Awards

I remember at the start of 2019 saying that this would be a great year for metal. Actually, I think that this year even took me by surprise with how many quality releases came out. Looking at a lot of the albums I considered to be the year's best, a majority of them are debut albums, so that tells you the talent right now amongst your younger rock and metal acts is extremely impressive. Due to the strong year we had here in 2019, I am already predicting that 2020 is going to bring us even more killer albums full of headbanging glory. So, read and enjoy this top ten list along with the Rob "The Metal Guy" Awards. Maybe leave a comment at the bottom if there are albums you thought stood out this year, or nominate people for an award you think should be given



10. Decoherence “Ekpyrosis”

If you want some high quality extreme music, then a band that is on Sentient Ruin is always a prime choice. Decoherence proved that they know how to construct abysmal sounding landscapes filled with terrifying blackened sounding compositions. The entire release is a nonstop ride into dark dimensions where malevolent forces lurk with sinister ambitions. Overall, a blistering album recorded in such an unapologetic fashion that I can’t speak enough about.

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2019/11/decoherence-ekpyrosis.html


9. Malfet “The Way to Avalon”

Taking the Arthurian legend and constructing a soundtrack to lead listeners through a world of epic fantasy, Malfet proved to show tremendous talent on this debut release. Dungeon synth is a style of music I find to be extremely cathartic and this release is a vibrant sounding offering that can put your mind at ease as you drift into the magnificent musical world created by this one-man band.

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2019/06/malfet-way-to-avalon.html


8. Pale Cremation “Grimoire”

Sometimes it only takes one man to make a killer doom album, and sure enough Matt from Pale Cremation did just that on his debut release. I really dig the riffs and overall songwriting style, because this is the type of doom metal that kicks you right in the balls with a blast of reverb and a smack of heavy grooving rhythms. A total psychedelic doom avalanche of reverb to drown your mind and blow out your speakers.

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2019/11/pale-cremation-grimoire.html


7. Nucleus “Entity”

All these people who are tripping over Blood Incantation’s new album need to understand that Nucleus had the technical science fiction death metal style down earlier this year. I found Nucleus “Entity” to be an amazing release where the technically came across so crisp and perfectly complimented the overall songwriting approach. These guys knew how to write an album that flowed with brutality, yet also offered these magnificent progressive elements to create an atmosphere of galactic death metal splendor.

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2019/04/nucleus-entity.html


6. Mournful Cries “Bad Taste”

This doom metal trio from Santa Rosa, CA did not miss the mark when they released their debut full-length album. After releasing a few demos to get people acquainted with their brand of heavy grooving bone chilling doom, the band put out an album that was bad ass from top to bottom. Solid songs that contain monumental sounding riffs and instrumental compositions for you to just float into a smoke filled land of epic doom.

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2019/07/mournful-cries-bad-taste.html


5. Saint Vitus “Self-Titled”

The doom metal icons really did a great job on their 2019 self-titled release. Also, this was the first Saint Vitus release to feature original singer Scott Reagers since “Die Healing” which came out in 1995. I felt like the band sounded tight and the overall production was another high point. Dave lays down some wicked sounding riffs and solos, while Scott narrates these haunting tales of terror.

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2019/05/review-saint-vitus-self-titled-2019.html


4. Nocturnus AD “Paradox”

Mike Browning told me when I interviewed him a few years back that he wanted to continue where the, “The Key,” left often by bringing together some extremely talented musicians and keeping the Nocturnus legacy alive. I believe Nocturnus AD did an excellent job pulling all those elements together that made, “The Key,” one of death metal’s most ambitious releases and then writing some wicked new material. I really enjoy the guitar compositions on this album along with how the keyboard creates these unconventional sounding noises to make a truly malevolent science fiction death metal themed release.

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2019/06/nocturnus-ad-paradox.html

3. Pathetic “Rat King”

Sometimes I don’t want a band to baffle me with technical structures and claim to be the future of death metal. Personally, I just want some straightforward vicious brutality that hits you like hammer to the face. Pathetic is a trio that does not mess around by writing some thunderous death metal tracks that also convey some doom and speed elements to give you one HEAVY release. “Rat King,” is an entire package full of great headbanging moments, so you need to check it out if you have not.

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2019/06/pathetic-rat-king.html


2. Venom Prison “Samsara”

I think Venom Prison redeemed themselves after I listened to their debut album, which was not horrible, but did not do much for me when I listened to it. Most bands that do not impress me with their debut release tend to fade away, however, Venom Prison “Samsara” was an unbelievable album. The guitar riffs, vocal delivery and musicianship all around was dialed upon to an insane level of unforgiving energy. From start to finish I can’t find one issue

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2019/03/venom-prison-samsara.html

1. Iron Griffin “Curse of the Sky”

Iron Griffin’s sophomore release, “Curse of the Sky,” is a classic metal sounding tale of glorious vintage sounding riffs and captivating vocals. Arguably one of the best vocal performances I heard on an album in a long time, singer Maija Tiljander is able to inject such raw emotion into the triumphant sounding instrumentals. Unlike those classic metal acts who end up sounding gimmicky and write the same damn song over and over again, Iron Griffin displayed a bold confidence throughout this album. I cannot think of one dull moment when listening to this album, because the songwriting is simply majestic sounding. Definitely a group that needs to keep the ball rolling and forging more epic sounding releases down the road here.

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2019/02/iron-griffin-curse-of-sky.html

Rob “The Metal Guy” Awards 

Best EP/Demo Release of the Year: Chthonic Deity “Reassembled in Pain”

Best Split of the Year: Black Fucking Cancer / Gloam “Boundless Arcane Invokations”

Best Hardcore Punk Release: Jackal (Self-titled 7”)

Best Live Performance: Unlucky Theta at the Lister Bar in SF

Label of the Year: Sentient Ruin

Up and Coming Artist of the Year: Enshrouded

Most Ridiculous Announcement: Mötley Crüe coming out and saying they will tour again after promising all of us they were done…

Decoherence "Ekpyrosis"

    Creeping through the cosmos in a destructive and ominous manner, Decoherence is an act capable of conjuring up some catastrophic recordings. Their debut album, “Ekpyrosis,” is an unapologetic blackened assault pulling listeners into a void with terrifying disoriented twists and turns that leaves you floating through realms of mind bending dimensional horror.

    After working with Sentient Ruin earlier this year for the release of their self-titled 7” EP, the band is teaming up with the label yet again to release their monstrous debut album. The band’s unconventional style of songwriting and chaotic sounding musical landscapes allows them to step away from your typical extreme metal acts. Decoherence is another example of Sentient Ruin finding a band that does not look to be a straightforward cookie-cutter metal band.

    The opening track, “Rearrangement Collisions,” is a gritty explosion of scorching guitar work accompanied by tormented unworldly sounding growls. You feel as though the drums and guitar parts collide to create a dark cluster of utter doom and despair. The overall atmosphere is a behemoth slab of malevolent sounds that spreads a blanket of unfathomable darkness. During the second track, “Primordial Replicator,” the band unveils a more punishing style of blackened aggression where the guitars seem to be ripping through the other instruments in a merciless frenzy.

    I found the third song, “Collapse,” to be less abrasive and more ambient than the first couple songs. The song’s distorted atmosphere is recorded in such a way that makes you feel like all light around you is being swallowed up into a dark oblivion. Track number four, “Vestiges of an End,” begins with a grim sort of tone and the entire track contains these haunting sounds used to amplify the cosmic chaos which the band executes extremely well.

    The final song, “Dimensionless Angular Momentum,” combines a lot of the common musical themes heard throughout the album and the main guitar parts seem to be the driving force of this cataclysmic onslaught. As a listener you succumb to the disorder and find yourself intently listening as the band constructs these unfathomable compositions.

    I do believe that Decoherence’s, “Ekpyrosis,” is one of those releases you either find fascinating, or you are completely overwhelmed by the album’s chaotic landscapes where there is no predicable song structures. In my opinion, what makes this such an impressive release is that the band writes music without giving too much away and their approach to crafting dynamic atmospheres allows ones mind to become fully engaged. I highly recommend this release for fans of harsh sounding atmospheric entropy with enough force to inflict galactic sized destruction.

Sentient Ruin Bandcamp:

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/album/ekpyrosis

Sentient Ruin Facebook Page:

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