Writing

2019 Albums

Album Review: Rotting Christ – The Heretics 8.6 (Black Metal)

August 23, 2019 Melinda (Carcassbomb)

On the list of countries with an extended history of black metal, Greece would definitely not be among the first options that would come to mind. Yet, their banner-raisers Rotting Christ, hailing from Athens for over three decades, have ever since been a solid name of estimable repute within the community. They recently released their 13th offering, so aptly named The Heretics. As the name suggests and as you might expect, the whole album revolves around the notion of heresy; kind of an accolade to those freethinkers and revolutionaries of enlightenment who have, through their payment in blood or at the cost of their own sanity, laid the foundations of modern free speech. From Nietzsche to Voltaire and everything in between. […]

Interviews

Australian Heavypedia: Crypt Crawler (Death Metal)

August 8, 2019 Melinda (Carcassbomb)

Crypt Crawler are newcomers to the scene having starting producing singles in 2018 but they’ve sure as shit started with some quality songs. They have a DIY approach to their music that gives it an authentic rawness but there’s also a level of proficiency that brings with it a clarity to the sound. Their 2019 debut LP To The Grave can easily contend with many international releases in 2019 despite not having the aid of a label. […]

2019 Albums

Double dose: A Constant Knowledge Of Death – Vol III. Part A & B (Post Hardcore)

July 26, 2019 Melinda (Carcassbomb)

ACKOD is a very unique project that somehow exists between the void of minimalism and the bravado of extreme metal – not so surprisingly, out of California (partly), recorded at . It’s complex and brooding. It’s also likely to challenge a lot of people whose idea of music is more neatly packaged and familiar. Personally I find it quite exciting because it’s a part of a sound that doesn’t belong to a time in music but rather one that pops up here and there throughout it’s history like a rare breed. Stuff like Maudlin Of The Well if anyone can remember an underrated project from so long ago. ACKOD have come to 2019 with two releases and two more on the way. All of these releases are following the same story thread started with their first release in 2015, Vol. I: Enculturation and then Vol. II: Organic Emotions in 2016. 

These two 2019 albums in particular are quite special, not only as a return for the project but also their collaboration with artist ma-ko (@drivemeawaytroubledheart) on both album covers, really elevating the presentation of the project. ma-ko’s art has been on my feed for some time, I completely adore their style which to me seems very inspired by video game fantasy, I have a feeling these covers had some inspiration from Hyper Light Drifter but their other work on IG speaks to older JRPG’s with a beautiful and traditional aesthetic. The lyrics seem to come from the same place as the art, perhaps there was synergy there. The stories resemble the volatile societies, history and politics of such fictional places.  So let’s get into these two albums and keep an eye out for the third. […]

2018 albums

Album Review: Iron Eagle – Audio Nasty 9 (Grindcore)

June 10, 2019 Melinda (Carcassbomb)

It’s been a while since I’ve heard some good punk influenced death metal. Deathgrind, grindcore, whatever you want to call this, It’s pretty fucking rad and definitely some dirty shit through and through. It’s not as simple as you’d expect though, with many tasty treats hidden beneath a repulsive outer layer. The name is based on an old movie, Iron Eagle, if that gives you any insight into their more playful influences, humor and old films have always been effective within the genre. […]

2019 Albums

Album Review: Witch Ritual – Death:Beyond 9 (Stoner Doom)

June 6, 2019 Melinda (Carcassbomb)

I’m going to try to do this without doing a single pun involving their band name and hopefully without misspelling witch. Witch Ritual is some dense european stoner doom, real melancholic stuff. I haven’t heard their EP, but this is their debut LP that really cements their expectations high. This ones essential for fans Windhand and Jex Thoth, general doomheads should certainly check it out too. It has the raunchiness I love in stoner doom/fuzz without the exploitation aesthetic. It’s pretty awesome all over. […]

2019 Albums

Album Review: Solus – Insight 8 (Black Metal)

May 31, 2019 Melinda (Carcassbomb)

I will preface this review with the fact that I enjoy melodic black metal and typically can’t stand symphonic metal of any kind. But this self recorded and self released solo project is winning me over with the symphonic aspect, it’s a lot darker than it’s typically arranged. It’s an interesting little detour away from all of the bigger bands. It’s more about the project itself, the craftsmanship and hobby. […]

2019 Albums

Album Review: Spirit Adrift – Divided By Darkness 7.9 (Heavy Metal)

May 31, 2019 Melinda (Carcassbomb)

I discovered this one on bandcamp because of the album cover. It’s pretty awesome and something I noticed is that there’s the artist signature at the bottom, there’s a good idea for you cover artists frustrated by bands or labels not giving credit on promo and bandcamp. This one is done by Joe Petagno. He’s done other Spirit Adrift records but I haven’t heard them. You can visit Joe’s site here and his impressive discog here. I like how he’s filled wherever space would be with some kind of dangerous creature or symbol. There’s a lot going. […]

2019 Albums

Album Review: Ruff Majik – Tarn 9 (Stoner Doom)

May 22, 2019 Melinda (Carcassbomb)

South African garage doom? fuck yeah. Ruff Majik embody the stoner sound with such reverie and mastery. I’ve described it a million times now, we all know what stoner doom sounds like. Sometimes it’s slow and bassy, then sometimes it’s fast and bassy. Sometimes it’s average, and every now and then something awesome like this comes along. […]