4 Doors to Death Vol. II

    Back in 2015 Unspeakable Axe Records opened the gateways into a realm of unimaginable brutality with the first 4 Doors to Death release. Four bands were chosen to unleash their sinister death metal talents upon the extreme music world. I can tell that all four bands on that release made an impact and proved to be formidable death metal acts.

    The time has come for Unspeakable Axe Records to open the gateways once again, but this time the label has found four new artists to bring about pure death metal devastation upon the metal world. The four bands that are featured on volume two: Nucleus, Ectoplasma, Fetid Zombie and Temple of Void, display tremendous old school death metal songwriting skills and prove to be four acts that people who crave musical brutality will want to check out.

    The first band on the split, Nucleus, is a technical death metal band from Chicago that explores science fiction lyrical themes, while writing these brutal mind being instrumental compositions. I am quite familiar with the band, having reviewed their last two full-length albums. The two tracks they provided on this four band split, “Nexus” and “Replicant,” are both amazing pieces of cosmic crushing horror. Their overall musicianship is what stands out the most, as well as their dynamic songwriting skills. The compositions take listeners into different directions, yet maintain a ferocious presentation that never loses its abrasive and unforgiving attitude.

    The second band on the split is, Ectoplasma, a band that delivers monumental riffs with enough force to knock you off your chair and into another dimension. These Greek metal musicians hold nothing back on their three songs, especially in terms of how the tracks flow in such an unapologetic manner. Out of the three, “Atrocious Ovomorphic Death,” is definitely my favorite and I like how the band starts the song off with a sound clip from the movie, Alien, which compliments the song’s theme extremely well. The band rips through these insidious sounding riffs, while the drummer hammers out some pulverizing skull crushing blast beats.

    Fetid Zombie, the third band on the album, conjures up some malevolent sounding recordings that really captured my attention. This Virginia based act takes listeners on a hellish old school death metal joyride into the unfathomable depths by writing terrifying cuts of gruesome brutality. I liked the use of two different vocal styles at times that added such a diabolical contrast to the already haunting old school death compositions. “Celestial Horror,” is definitely the track that stood out the most to me with its bone chilling atmosphere. Fetid Zombie shows how sometimes the best songs are not the ones that are overly technical, but instead grab you attention by experimenting with different sounds to build a mesmerizing atmosphere.

    The last band on the split, Temple of Void, contributes three songs to the release that demonstrates the band’s creative death doom mentality. The first one, “Voidmind,” opens with a monstrous riff and drum attack which lays siege to the musical landscape leaving carnage and despair as the music slowly charges forward.  All the bands on this release sounded great and the recording quality of each track did not disappoint, however, Temple of Void’s music just seemed to be on another level in terms of production value. Their second song, “Perfection of the Hideous,” is an instrumental piece that deviates from the band’s thunderous death doom onslaught. I thought the band’s musical creativity and high level of musicianship was on full display for listeners to get an idea of how they are not just another typical death doom group.

    In the end, 4 Doors to Death Vol. II is a death metal release full of exceptional extreme music making prowess. I believe Unspeakable Axe Records is a record label that knows how to bring together tremendous talent. If you are a death metal wanting to know what are some bands of the current bands you should check out, well then Unspeakable Axe has four that you do not want to pass up, or close the door on.


Preview below:

Link To Unspeakable Axe Records:
http://unspeakableaxerecords.com

Nucleus Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/nucleusmetal/

Fetid Zombie Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/fetidzombie/

Ectoplasma Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Ectoplasma-1579524392276613/

Temple of Void:
https://www.facebook.com/TempleOfVoid/

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…

Nucleus "Entity"

    Science fiction themed death metal outfit, Nucleus, takes listeners on a space odyssey through mind bending brutality with their sophomore release, “Entity.” The Chicago based band constructs some monstrous sounding tracks displaying strong technical prowess, while maintaining an unforgiving old school death metal attitude.

    Set to be released through Unspeakable Axe Records in June of this year, the new album picks up where Nucleus left off on their debut full-length release, “Sentient.” The band’s sound is extremely tight and their technical abilities really standout when listening to the new album. Another point to bring up about this release is the quality of each recording. The music is well composed and the overall album flows unlike most of your modern day death metal releases that tend to sound like a cluster of tracks sort of hastily thrown together. Nucleus exhibits a catchy brutal sound, but also knows when to utilize their dynamic songwriting talents to add diversity in their compositions.

    I really like how the band starts the album off with the track, “Arrival,” which conveys a very cinematic sci-fi horror themed intro and then suddenly bursts like a chestbuster from the movie Alien into a pulverizing riff section. The band unleashes some merciless aggression throughout the song, especially the singer’s strong and monstrous sounding death growls. After the first song ends the band perfectly transitions into the next track titled, “Entity.” The guitar riffs create these intense and engaging atmospheres that are accompanied by relentless drumming and feverish bass playing. I always like those moments where the music slows down and the bass player is given an opportunity to thrown in a wicked sounding fill.

    Track number three, “Uplift,” continues the extreme sounding space like journey by hammering out more blistering pieces of death metal and there are plenty of tasty guitar parts that are guaranteed to melt your face off. Forget alien acid blood, the lead guitar playing on some of these tracks is down right incinerating! Other songs to mention on the album are, “Outpost,” “Dominion” and “Timechasm.” I would say that, “Timechasm,” is probably my favorite song off of the album and the song’s overall atmosphere makes you feel like you are floating through a haunting nebula of nightmare like proportions. The music starts out with this very calming instrumental part and eventually sucks you into a black hole of hellish old school death metal.

    After listening to this album I strongly believe that Nucleus did not settle for the simplistic old school death metal approach. The band demonstrated a desire to come up with a dynamic sounding release that in essence also maintained a vicious old school death metal sound. In the end, this is a release that will not disappoint and will leave you traveling through a galaxy of endless chaos and terrorizing technicality. Hollywood should tap Nucleus to create a sci-fi horror film, because these guys seem to have more talent and imagination than the garbage that most film studios are currently putting out right now.





Check out Nucleus "Entity" below:

Nucleus FB page:

https://www.facebook.com/nucleusmetal/

Unspeakable Axe Records FB page:

https://www.facebook.com/UnspeakableAxeRecords/

Nucleus "Sentient"

    Unspeakable Axe Records unleashes upon the metal community yet another solid extreme band, this time taking science fiction themed lyrics and monumental sounding death metal compositions into more extreme directions. Nucleus, based out of Chicago, disintegrates listener’s speakers with their debut full-length release, “Sentient.” 

    I can honestly say that once the first riff began, I had this premonition that some brutal force was coming my way. Nucleus summons the bombastic sounding aggression from old school death metal bands, but adds their own noticeable distinct stamp of ass kicking music. They really do a solid job crafting their own sound, which helps separate them from those generic sounding old school extreme metal copycats. To think of it, most of the bands I have reviewed on Unspeakable Axe Records tend to be very talented and incorporate a variety of extreme influences into their music, while expressing their own original ideas. 

    The songwriter is very consistent and as I noted earlier, I just felt like this group was going to deliver some massive and brutal sounding death metal tunes. Following the opening instrumental piece called, “Sentience,” song number two, “Dosadi,” gets the adrenaline pumping with a mean sounding riff. I swear, you just want to break everything in your path as the singer growls over the slamming instrumental parts. For the next song, “Cantos,” the band perfectly transitioned into a crushing tsunami of old school death metal worshipping horror. Every instrument is record at such a precise level that one can really appreciate the musicianship that this band put into the track. Plus, I think it is important to point out how Nucleus does not overwhelm listeners with technicality by seeing how fast they can play. Songs like, “Cube,” and, “Insurgent,” are well crafted tracks that do not need all that extra technical skill to get the band’s point across. Each musician is able to contribute their talents equally, and I don’t think one player solely steals the show. 

    Overall, they are a well rounded group of musicians that can offer such powerful pieces like, “Ancient.” To think it, I think Ancient was my favorite track on the entire album. Every riff, drum part and lyric, paint this sinister sounding world that makes for one unforgiving death metal song. The final track, “Starflyer,” was a close second favorite and forcefully shuts the lid on this extreme ride through brutal and tormented musical landscapes. 

    From top to bottom, there is not a dual or simplistic moment on, “Sentient.” Nucleus throws down deafening sounds of extreme music to show people that there is no settling for something boring and basic when offering brutality. Highly worth checking out if you are a fan of pure kick ass death metal...and happen to be drawn to any band that has album artwork done by Dan Seagrave. I swear, his artwork compliments the music every time...Any band with a Dan Seagrave album cover is certified brutal in my book. 

Check out their song "Cube" below:

Nucleus Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/nucleusmetal

Unspeakable Axe Records Facebook Page:

http://www.facebook.com/unspeakableaxerecords

Witchcraft "Nucleus"

    After impressing fans with their 2012 Nuclear Blast Records release, “Legend,” Witchcraft continues to find ways to push the boundaries of doom and hard rock. For their fifth studio album titled, “Nucleus,” the band astonishes listeners with musical creativity that derives from a solid doom rock foundation. 

    The Swedish based band led by chief songwriter and singer/guitarist, Magnus Pelander, who has been the main driving force ever since Witchcraft began, really takes the band into a refreshing and strong sounding direction on the new album. The album also features a couple new members with Rage Widerberg on drums and Tobias Anger on bass. I think that Magnus wanted to build off of the last albums powerful momentum that was especially prevalent in the songwriting department, while being constantly creative with the arrangements. Also, the production for “Nucleus” is a bit of a return to the bands early sound that conveys a very vintage seventies hard rock vibe. Fans will be able to discover elements from the past that they might have enjoyed mixed in with some of Magnus’ new ideas. 

    Opening the album is the dynamic guitar driven piece, “Malstroem.” The song begins with the sound of a soothing acoustic arrangement that evolves into a dark ambient distorted riff. Building up the piece to a melancholy drum and guitar attack, Magnus injects his voice into the musical landscape with haunting vocal lines. Track two, “Theory of Consequence,” begins with a vintage Sabbath like tone and is a track that really revisits the band’s early days. Song number three could possibly be the best song on the album and might be one of the best songs I have heard this year. Released as a single, “The Outcast,” is all around brilliant. The flute and guitar beginning riff is an epic sounding match. Magnus creates these solid verse parts that trade off for short lead guitar fills giving the song a diverse musical flavor. Also, I really enjoy the lyrical phrases that he put together for this song. “To save a nation from a bad economy, is like sailing away on an endless sea...” is such a powerful yet simple phrase that adds a solemn moment during the song. Eventually the band transitions into a more aggressive musical finale with more wicked sounding lead guitar licks and Magnus’ bold melodic lyrical statements. 

    Now, an area where Witchcraft really took me by surprise was the longer and very progressive rock type tracks. For song number four, the album’s title track, the band composed a fourteen minute epic of great emotional expression. About halfway through the song there is this cinematic acoustic riff that features some chanting to add to the song’s already epic film score like atmosphere. The creativity and expression is unbelievable and reminds me of music composed by Ennio Morricone. Another long and extremely dynamic song on the album is, “Breakdown.” The fluctuation of sounds and emotional tone really gives listeners a continually exciting listening experience. 

    Other tracks I want to mention are “The Obsessed” and “To Transcend Bitterness.” Lyrically Magnus is a phenomenal lyricist who knows how to create memorable phrases. He is able to demand the listener’s attention by having this melodic yet fierce delivery. It is something you can even hear through the guitar playing. There will be these haunting doom riffs that can suddenly change into a pleasant melodic hard rock piece. I think the song, “The Obsessed,” is an appropriate song title to have on this album, because Witchcraft reminds me of the band The Obsessed, in the sense that there is this musical honesty that is delivered through raw emotional expression. Wino and Magnus are two musicians who I have a lot of respect for and are two people who can write extremely deep and powerful music. 

    Witchcraft’s, “Nucleus,” is an amazing display of songwriting and musicianship. The album is exciting from beginning to end by always searching for ways to add musical diversity to get the listener analyzing the content on a deeper level. One can definitely tell some differences between this album and "Legend, and Witchcraft found a way to standout from the rest of the doom crowd. Arguably one of the most versatile doom albums I have heard in awhile. If you want a solid well crafted doom rock release that will never become boring or repetitious, trust me, you do not need to ask a scientist with a fancy Ph.D to tell you that this album is the right choice. 

Witchcraft Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/witchcraft/?fref=ts