DOPPELGANGERS XXX

 In a web of reanimating the (un)dead descends an electrifying Speed Metal assault. Thunder ripping NWHOBHM, with G.B.H. totting (a stout reminder of Punk's importance to Metal), oranges waving, Thrash laced Hi-gh—an outlet for denim and fucking leather.

  Bonus: Wheels.

—Hi-gh
—Murdeath

MUSRUM (ERIC THACKER, ANTHONY EARNSHAW)

 From what the Mad Mane Machine has gathered, Musrum is a highly valued cult book. Considerately, that can be an apex for wrapping up book blogging—especially when a sought after style is nowhere to be found, few entries later. It would be doing the book much worse than good. Shit.

  Schizophrenic and experimental writing—these have managed to be checked before. Musrum ticks the weird-and-phenomenal-without-even-trying box. Reinstating all belying preconceptions towards meaninglessness, implied meanderings, and conclusive misconceptions. The existential world of Musrum. It may convince it is the opposite of a mind trip, yet its realization is an inimitable directory of how not to impose anything. As a rule, it just is—minus mere existence.

  For one, Musrum is a stretcher upon its course. There is a set of images eloquently re-arranged to match the written counterpart of its deranged and determined stylistic humour. The amount of logo creations up-fronts the number of word creations. Many of them recall to the Metal genre; where funly, they were related—as follows—to various sub-genres to an almost astounding precision.

Cover (07) — Death Metal. Very Morbid Angel distortions

COLUMBUS ... (09) — Occult Doom Metal/any tribal variation. Woodcraft and symbology

THE ATTIC (15) — Stoner (Doom). Thick text in the vein of Sleep

THE IRON CASTLE (19) — Progressive Metal. Sharp/defined symmetry (far from Thrash's)

THE EXPLORATION OF THE WORLD (32) — Atmospheric Sludge Metal. Coastline/Island indenting . . . since Pirate Metal is not really a genre. . . .

THE WEEDKING'S PLOT (37) — Raw/Atmospheric Black Metal. Fucking Groot

THE PURSUIT BEGINS (41) — Post-Metal. Cresting with wavelines/rendering to softness

IN ODESSA (52) — Avant Garde Metal. A funny 'mess' of objects living and non-living

MUSRUM  A PROLOGUE OF BANNERS — Gothic Metal

MUSRUM'S PLAN TO UTILIZE THE INDUSTRIAL SUBURBS OF THE ESTATE AS AN ARSENAL (69) — Brutal Death Metal heavy on Hardcore/Sludge Metal. Not very stylized, solid font. (Borderline Grindcore)

WHEEL-LORE (72) — Speed Metal. Thrash-like precision meets arrows

THE TREE TELEGRAPH (80) — Depressive Suicidal Black Metal. Trees; Pines in particular

PRINCIPLES OF FLOWERLIGHT (82) — European Power Metal. (Sun)Flower power

THE ELDER TREE (93) — Grindcore. Nasum spikiness with talons. Sweet perfection

PREPARATION AT THE CAMP (97) — Industrial Metal. Wtf  moment as human limbs spell it out

THE ISLE THROUGH THE WOODS (104) — Experimental Dark Metal. Which really is  Industrial Black Metal

THE MUD CASTLE (107) — (Progressive) Groove Metal. Ahem! Toning down/up from (19). The whole logo realized anew as a block

Unnamed (109) — Duckcore. Thank you so much Metal Duck. This would be limbo

THE IMITATION GARDEN (112) — Drone Metal. Beating dunes eaten by time? Fascinating arrangement

FEAR, AFFLICTION - AND STRANGE HOPE (124) — Technical Death Metal. A die; no cast—Hexahedron with impressions/layers

SPOILS OF WAR (129) — Experimental? taken. Avant garde? taken. How do genres start? Not cheating here . . . Boris belongs somewhere?

THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO INTERSOL (133) — (Viking) Folk Metal. Through a rugged mapping and sea-faring arises the the nation (and title)

SECOND MOVEMENT: BELLA: LA DAME GENOVESE (134) — Love Metal (hark!). Arrow-shots to the hearts of sentimentalization

THIRD MOVEMENT: ALLEGRO (136) — That Byzantine Metal should be a thing? All above (134), in mosaic detail. Also deduct arrow. Right, Batushka exists

THE WEEDKING'S PLIGHT (151) — Crust loving Powerviolent Grind. Sells itself as Botanical Metal. Caterpillar's legs espouse the whole disappointing irony

THE WEEDKING'S FATE (155) — This sadly goes to Technical Brutal Death Metal. Fucking tech death heads horse-shitting the genre in alarming retardedness

DOPPELGANGERS XXVIII

 The way of the cenotaph. When viewing older DM band pictures, rampant graveyard shots pop up. In an effort to capture the spirit of the dead shift, below are monoliths of unhallowed spontaneity—kicking off with the most ghastly looking. Grey Mist delivers unhinged Doom, albeit touching on that aspect as Alunah extends on their most doomy—female vocals galloping too. Not far from where the Doom bands illustriously depict gargoyles and burial grounds sculpts. Wolf Dawn—the oddball here, is unrelenting blackened Speed Metal; which is enough to imply major ass kicking. Die already. . . .

—Misty Grey

—Veteris

XENO (ATLAS CONSTRUCT)

  Music—the mad Mane Machine'll straightforwardly admit—comes in two outstanding varieties. The outright blow-you-away and the sink-some-teeth-first. As an effect the former has less staying power—applying to majority of Pop and bangers (funny thing considering the nostalgic aspect overshadows this some time down the life). The mad Mane Machine's experience with Xeno is upon this line of distinction. Blown away at first listen . . . degradation with repeat absorption.

  It's always been on the hunt for progressive Death Metal. This had been birthed by a denotable bad habit of back-benching in class and prog/tech deathing by various means. Such lead to an encounter with Xerath, who at the time sounded off-kilter. To the admission of the Xeno guys, they do borrow a leaf from them. Expressively heard pumping and pulsating in the keyboard section, along a mixture of keyboards and grooves. As such, the mad Mane Machine's view is based on first impression—but judgement is based on a much calmer treatise of the unfoldings aided by replay.

  For a young band, it's a weighty burden to quickly quip with their hats flung into the field of their emulations. Having some Djent permeations that instigate the Gojira-esque groove laden brushes upon the cavernous walls of Death Metal. Here is more of a passing than a missing link between Meshuggah and Gojira; with a keyboard component—the inner section offers no surprise when the listener lends their selves to this. With that said, it is more of a quick blend of the two with more an assimilating effect on the latter band—and the quicker the connection, the more charged its fix; sterilizing long-term stance. And if one started out similarly—endless prog death quests, the hunt will be on faster than they can say gesundheit.

  None a diabolical act to say Atlas Construct is a burden that is straining to collapse on itself, for has not the album art professed it in all an earth-bound glory—the band's choice. Hard to unsee and discord such an impression. The Mad Mane Machine would be more stoked for a second release and actually appreciate to have a definite stand reiterated. hath a quick fire be a sure fire—a hefty fix, or a diverting impression.

MR. MORBID & MELPH (UNRELEASED DEMONS)

  Rap 4 heads—an ambiguous though somehow fitting description. Even as the phrase would better describe  a release like Heavy Metal Kings, this is neither bad for the same.

  Mr. Morbid and Melph have struck the Rap structure with a magic wand such that whatever twinkles off is brilliance and lusciousness. For the benefit of heinous views coupled with respect for decadence—the heads administered to ought giving a closer look to the cynicisms chipping off loose like fiery splinters from heavily welded metal. this is not Horrorcore or sensitive emo bullshit in its self immersed efforts to spite and dispute the self. rather, it is a cry echoed in the cover—what they wish of their identities is the portrait the musical canvas displays—demons throbbing with pulses of unhinged feelings.

  Melph appears to be the producer lending flaps to Mr. Morbid's laid back —often sleek—flow; around a few spits by Mr. Morbid. This EP works so well it could be listened from any track as the first that mere putting down becomes an irresistible matter of choice. Fucking perfect length. E.N.D. dwells on an electric guitar that's something leering into what an alternative Metal band may have to offer—not that it's bad, for its somewhat tasty effort.

  Unreleased Demons found an outlet upon the intersection of a duct that clicks—if not falling in place like jigsaw. Do not hesitate upon this—or fuck, it's rap 4 heads.

DOPPELGANGERS XXVII

Three Doom bands. The first is a Lucifer's Fall self titled release—grabbing with a Heavy Metal uprise that funnels into awesome Doom. All Light Shall Fade is an epic leaner, meaner with its punch—the singing is half right for The Mad Mane Machine. Splashing with Rock and heavy Stoner is To the Fallen. This is priggish Doom waving a gavel at every perfunctory down-tuning.

—Lucifer's Fall
—Majesty in Ruin
—The Zenith

RUPTURED BIRTH (TRANSMUTANT)

  Canada has seen an upsurge of great Death Metal bands—especially tech death. With such laid groundwork for expected high repute in the country's metal exports, it would be highly safe to suggest listenership to a band from the mentioned North American soil. Inadvertently, it seems the bar was set too high by the predecessors, given the potential acumen of Ruptured Birth and a failure to completely allure.

  Since this is Brutal Death Metal and not much should be expected—a terrible precept by itself—as it denounces and dents better instigators. Suppurating a slam catch-all which make the band's overhead additions seem like a joke. If anything, Unnatural Selection is the best way forward for Ruptured Birth—by virtue of expressing this song. Saprogenic coalesces a rabies sample that admonishes any belief of anything great forthcoming; a not so promising pace-setter it would rather be satisfying to listen to Katalepsy's Rabid as a better exchange. The whole idea of the song is taking the brutal death metal usual, but palely—by huge repetition of breakdowns and the lead work. The shrieks are far from saving grace by point of eccentrically aplombing non stand-out growls. A basis that falls upon Strogg once it sparks flashy Rings of Saturn sides, furthered along the release.

  Hurtling, very much on the side of miss upon few hits like parts of Blood Siren—where it is catch off-guard; repeat the grabber. Brutal Death Metal that wants to slam possessively, with ties to tech death, but still wants to have a demeanor which pulls off like it owes Deathcore its existence. This time straddling has cost somebody—good thing it is a brutal death metal band?

  The Shape threatens to parlay its sample the Craniotomy serial killer style—however, checking on sample length. Rhythm goes a bit fuzzy compacting annihilating no-frills riffs. Such fuzziness heads straight into the next track. Once with textured solos that overrun ears with technical patterns plus slam accentuations. Samples start to teeter on overload. Taking on a sharp experimental offset is the finisher—or assorted phase before bonus tracks that might well be enjoyed from their original EP—provides the only substance to hold on to.

  This is no different from what has already been said concerning horror and science fiction intermingles. An art that is equal to lack of identity well represents the content it helps wrap. Horrific sci-fi or science fictional horror—if it has enough science orientation to be gauging futures. What Ruptured Birth espouse is non confounded footing in gory medicinal havoc which would matter less had they encapsulated it with brisk butchery.

DOPPELGANGERS XXVI

  Fucking Old English. The shit that Doom and Black metal incessantly emulate—not far from the case here once the blast-heavy La Sanche release Death Magick instigates its BM tinges on this Demo. A live output from Right Hand of Doom—Doom that captures a psychedelic to space craft on Oasis of the White Palm. Endless dreams of evocation.

—La Sanche

—Right Hand of Doom

QUO VADIS (DEFIANT IMAGINATION)

  Taking my time to accept accidents don't happen—that stems from a failure to account how I came across Quo Vadis, despite how popular this band seems to be even if it sounded remotely familiar. The lads churn out some of the best of in death metal—which is assembled from the genre stalwarts past and present. Adding various edges to their take on death metal—wasting no time to combine melody and technicality.

  Matthew Sweeney is one hell of a vocalist albeit not perfect. It takes enormous breath control to pull a feat as done on the album opener. Making no difference if done by low growl or a high pitched singing as Kiske—bottom line is control; challenging as trying either is. His flaw is noticeable in track four—sounding strained where all instruments bar one have been stripped away—how much vocalists' flaws do they hide. There is a bridge appearing before the main vocal work which lieges the path of Overkill's Necroshine in the refrain supporting part. A literal death-bat, skull-bashing with death metal.

  Majestic kicker is To the Bitter End—written with music in mind, and technicality at heart; just like the rest of the album, where it's the actual music and end product matters more than impressing with sideshows that will appeal to fellow instrumentalists—but not strictly to them. Silence Calls the Storm lays at the figurehead of Beyond Creation together with the opener and the second song, emulating them to a limited degree. The bassist is a straight-up face of BC, and yes he does not take center-stage if only an effective pulsating presence.

  When putting their Death hats on, they must have been beanies. The close-tying Tunnel Effect (Element of the Ensemble IV) hangs away to prevent cloning and duplication. Hearkening Born Dead—especially the drum work—as the guitarists exhibit their lopped emulations that reach the acme of a Schuldiner solo. Title track too, alongside In Contempt. The opera version of an interlude introduces some female vocals—which is not a surprise when the closing track pummels melodeath with a gushing propensity for a slight sullenness.

  My appreciation for the album went further into the thoughtful title as the lyrics may want to fledge into an existence by themselves—one to be hung onto dearly with their clearly stated observations. Not to attach the listener(s)—they should listen, apprehend and detach.

LAMENT CHRIST (IN VENTUS EST DOLOR...)

  The life of black and white. It is such a gloomy and grainy leaning for dedicated doomsters and far end black metallers. Misanthropy neither is colourful but its charm in Doom's diatribes is indescribable with a completist drift; more-so its adverse effect on mood, disposition, and spirits. Of importance is inclination to willingly allow its encompassment. Totally.

  Funeral Doom relies on entirely crushing and subjugating the partakers in its playing and consumption. Emotional deterioration. On my part—since discovering DBM and Doom, satiation has strained over the pale horizon. Lament Christ's demo forays into this exact expanse, with its meanderings and moments of delivery. Clocking away as a procession, with what can be termed as field samples—harnessed space and nocturnal life forms.

  A lot on its gushing sorrow—In Ventus Est Dolor...—heavily relies on Black Metal. Times are plenty when the guitars meticulously drear from BM to Doom with a visible and soul-searing temperament—streaks of dark melancholy are hewn from the BM riffs abruptly, and equally for the inverse. Melody multiplies with its unfolding; and once The Cry of the Loon...—really an expanse—trails off, BM guitars emanate, usurping but their effect is nary close to limited. Sometimes trading or sharing sections with the slower Doom.

  This rendition of Funeral Doom as effective as its approach is, is mournfully unreplicated—even though its countenance and amplitude seems to have prostrated Locus Horrendus - The Night Cries of a Sullen Soul... tremendously. The tortured growls—the proficiently purveyed that make (Funeral) Doom a force to reckon with, terms with extending sorrow—lay to waste any sense of forgoing a dismayed existence; elevating the sense of hopelessness—amidst clean singing and humming. Screams relay an emotional peak and are eminently staged at moments of heightened playing and musical intensity. Locus Horrendus followed suit, as Desire accosted themselves to the whole array: spoken word—poignant growls of grief and piano sections with a sonata of sorts that provides the listener with context to be really pensive—outbursts of howls; only relegating the BM. Which is a few steps to being the albums distraction.

This is for contemplating sorrow and its accompanying misery at sundown, with the help of thunderpeal. It only gets depressing, with the channeling evocation that unfurls past the half mark—which matter-of-factly is unnoticable since the songs are lethargical across the seamlessness. This music is best aided by environment and outdoor surroundings for total impact. Is it summer? Take an evening away from civilization.

DOPPELGANGERS XXV

  Before Exodus' Tempo of the Damned cover was a Weird Tales pulp mag edition with an accompanying illustration—if the skeletal could harness temporal legions—wreathing under a witch's cloak; perhaps. A leap to what Eddie might develop into under a natural extension towards Thrash—horns and atrophying skin. Into the temple.

—Joseph Krucher

—Jowita Kamińska-Peruzzi

SIGNIST (OF WORLDS, ENDTIMELY ENSHADOWED)

  The ouroboros is an enticing concept—ensnaring musicians and artists as a means of expression—metaphorically or ironically. Over-exposure's desensitization make end-users and targets almost immune to a reaction—especially this being the creator's point of concern. That is the much that can happen between 2005 and now, when the blueprint of Of Worlds, Endtimely Enshadowed was realized and articulated. Furthermore, the chained self-devouring snake portrays a continuum in stasis, something of a disheveling reality, accounting for self-begetting.

  Signist is an unforgettable name, incredibly significant where there are myriad bands left, right, and center. From Russia with pluck purpose to pulverize and perpetuate perdition to the rest of the (Metal) world. Largely cast on a Thrash Metal motif that stretches to Heavy Metal and barbaric Deathy Thrash—progressions and changes abound on a lot of the songs. Influences are worn aggressively such as a slight Punk pummeling—on track six—, technicality, and portional synth flourished atmosphere. Interestingly, it is the rhythm that channels the solos. Premonition of the Endless Night's placement was tactful. Other than splitting it into a short intro or insertion of one, the behemoth of cudgeling grooves is allowed to mature into a flounce, the first of a tenacious whirlgig—the kind that Wrust lashes unrepentantly—on an intracion of melodic rhythms which culminate into a Blackened lead, accompanied by blast beats. Played at a Spazmosity Blackened Death range. An acoustic shed follows, making up for the onslaught taking the listener off the nook at the start without warning.

  Stillborn Mind Reflection perpetuates a blackened infusion while track three revives the catchy, contoured and uncompromisingly conking grooves by the advent of Heavy Metal accompaniment. It wouldn't be surprising how much the guitars take center space, especially on this song. Only the 'spongy' cymbals—unluckily quite consistent once or twice—are its downside, including on Bells of Oncoming Winter, the longest and felicitously changing track. There is some featured singing as the album unravels while addition of a synthesized keyboard wells a Darkified feel—with some Post-Thrash occupations. 

  As marginalizing as their logo is—a Pagan/Viking oriented band?—any Power/Thrash cacophony?—it certainly is a pointer to the listener to heed expecting anything—especially to be blown away. With melodies that are almost epically inclined; progressive tincture and bent, its omnipotence forays the floridness abound in a gradual manner—a propitious sculpt on Thrash Metal's mould. A progressive Thrash Metal stomp where Lieveil meets Wrust.

DOPPELGANGER XXIII

  With a circuit oriented logo, it's quite disappointing that MetaVoid is not sci-fi oriented. It could fall into the math fiction section to dispense. That creates a nice backlink to sci-fi. Sharing a hexahedron of the Metatron's Cube, they rep earth—blatantly—of the six elements. Geoda plays more extreme music—the two are progressive Metal bands.

—Djent
—Death Metal

DOPPELGANGERS XXII

  Spiral out-progresses itself on Mind Trip in A Minor! With an array of soulfully maneuvered styles; Psychedelic progressive Rock, Space- and copious Post-Rock oeuvres—the album is meant to be absorbed as a cataract-less stream. More than works.

   Omen throbs outwards splinting. Heralds of the un-Black Metal world, Antestor, permeate with a passaged dominance: A slight sympho work halfway through; atmospheric littering ahead, culminating with syncopation; Acoustics; And, violins.

  Featuring the artwork of Zdzisław Beksiński, The Horn Player.

—Art Rock
—Black Metal

 

DOPPELGANGERS XX

  This joke was supposed to have been a Folk Metal one. Even Black Metal could have been a closer call—the genre oftenly roots itself  in Mother Nature's aesthetics, sometimes even lyrically and to a huge degree sonically. That is the main idea here, rather than the slightly not-very-similar album art. Nature. Born in a Tomb and the atmospheric tinged Yggdrasil: Journey Throughout the Nine Worlds are both second release full-lengths from one-man outfits.

—Ossadogva

—Darkened Winter

DOPPELGANGERS XVIII

  Daybreak contributed this Powerviolence-heavy release to their God-tier split with The Ultimate Warriors; who deliver with massive Grindcore assault. As a lone offering, Convicted is the updated version of Cryptic Slaughter's . . . Convicted. In Grind we Crust!

—Powerviolence
—Crossover

AUX MEMORY (BLOOD IS FLOWER)

 

  No extra space is needed to jut in the spirited aural vehemence of quasi-static tensions that have been energized enough to echo across the landscape of the auditory.

  Arise droning and draging feedback worship and propulsion by the sons of the Muse. Give drums or pounding, smouldering discretion but don't forgive when rasping out grunge chunks at screeching levels.

  Tribal occupations are a strike-out of hunga munga affair. A knifethrowing diversion would appreciate drums of such palpitating throbs around an arena amid long-drawn rhythms which are nothing close to distracting them.

  When the blood blooms from slipped hits on the target and blooms, let the tribute begin with dirgy vocalizations to a waning sunset. Into a night of tribal fires and more chants backed with hand sticks.

DOPPELGANGERS XVII

  Fuck yeah Noise freaks. How about the closest resemblances an experimental Rap album could have to grimy, doomy, Swedeath? Perish by that shit. The curt angles of cassette reel and leaf mosaic. Only death is real. 

—Clipping
—Fange

DOPPELGANGERS XVI

  The whorl, the vortex. An influx, an out-pour. It's all spin. Faireless to the Flesh Perverted Taste's major release version is a close ringer of From Beyond.

—Resurrected
—Massacre

 

DOPPELGANGERS XV

  Super Black Thrash from Celtic Frost and Death Metal by Resurrected propagate pieces by H.R. Giger—Satan I & elusive Satan II. Resurrected's is a desiccate and decrepit demon as per album title: Faireless to the Flesh.

—To Mega Therion
—Faireless to the Flesh