Angry Metal Guy<p><a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/sijjin-helljjin-combat-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Sijjin – Helljjin Combat Review</a></p><p><i>By Mark Z.</i></p><p>I’ve heard people say that today’s music has nothing new to offer, but I actually think it has the opposite problem. To me, there are too many fucking bands out there playing technical blackened dissodeath with a tuba or some shit and not enough who simply take a tried-and-true style and execute it well. Such was what initially drew me to <strong>Sijjin</strong>. Right around the time their infamous doom-death band <strong>Necros Christos </strong>dissolved in 2021, bassist/vocalist Malte Gericke and drummer Iván Hernández joined forces with guitarist Ekaitz Garmendia (<strong>Legen Beltza</strong>) to pay homage to the earliest years of death metal with <strong>Sijjin</strong>’s full-length debut, <em>Sumerian Promises</em>. With its twisted tremolos and thrashy undercurrents, <em>Sumerian Promises</em> was a fun throwback that reeked with the archaic death stench of bands like <strong>Sadistic Intent</strong>, <strong>Mortem</strong>, <strong>Atomic Aggressor</strong>, and early <strong>Morbid Angel</strong>. Almost four years later, the group have now finally delivered their second album, <em>Helljjin Combat</em>. But is this a triumphant victory or yet another casualty of the heavy metal battlefield?</p><p>One thing is clear: <em>Helljjin Combat</em> is quite a bit different than its predecessor. The change in approach is apparent right from the opener, “Fear Not the Tormentor,” which begins with an extended instrumental opening that uses technical riffing and lively bass guitar in a way that almost sounds like <strong>Voivod</strong>. The tech-thrash vibe continues throughout the songs’s eight-and-a-half minute runtime, with dexterous fretwork trading off with quick, chunky chords and twirling tremolos, all anchored by a refrain that consists of a staccato shout of the track title. While it’s not the primitive death-thrash I was looking for, it’s a fine song in its own right.</p><p>Unfortunately, the rest of the album isn’t quite as successful in executing the band’s new style. It soon becomes apparent that many of these eight tracks spend less time delivering sharp hooks and memorable riffs and more time simply lurching forward on mid-paced pseudo-grooves that only occasionally get the head bobbing. Sometimes, interesting ideas will crop up, like when “Religious Insanity Denies Slavery” evokes old <strong>Metallica</strong> with a dusty, cleanly-picked midsection that builds into Old West-style lead guitars. Yet moments like this only make it more apparent how so much of the surrounding material fails to stand out. It doesn’t help that none of these songs are under five minutes, and it’s also unfortunate how many of them open with similar-sounding semi-technical riffs that make me contemplate hitting the stop button well before the album’s 49 minutes are over. Malte’s vocals also sound throatier and less raspy than on <em>Sumerian Promises</em>, which is fitting for the band’s new approach but still isn’t the most welcome change.</p><p></p><p>Fortunately, there’s some stuff to enjoy here. The two pre-release songs, “Dakhma Curse” and “Five Blades,” probably won’t make anyone’s Song ‘O the Year List, but at least their nimble riffing and quicker rhythms offer the album a nice shot of energy. “The Southern Temple” serves as a decent closer with the more powerful riffing in its second half, and the band’s instrumental prowess is more impressive than ever (especially Ekaitz’s adept riffing and solos). Ekaitz recorded the album in his own studio in the Basque Country, and the result is fantastic. The sound is clear and powerful, with the guitars roaring confidently and the bass guitar maintaining an active and distinct presence below the riffing. And while the atmosphere isn’t as strong as the debut, there’s still a whiff of ancient evil here that I find most welcome.</p><p>Yet ultimately, <em>Helljjin Combat</em> is the epitome of a Mixed bag. While the production and the instrumental performances are great, the songwriting is less compelling. With a few sharper hooks, tighter track lengths, and a couple of faster songs, <em>Helljjin Combat</em> could have easily been better than <em>Sumerian Promises</em>. As it is, I can’t help but be a bit disappointed that not only did <strong>Sijjin</strong> choose to move away from death metal and into a more technical thrash metal sound, but also that they didn’t do the best job executing this new style. While there are a couple of decent songs and some impressive things here, I don’t see <em>Helljjin Combat</em> as an album I’ll be returning to often.</p><p></p> <p><strong>Rating:</strong> 2.5/5.0<br><strong>DR:</strong> 9 | <strong>Format Reviewed:</strong> 320 kbps mp3<br><strong>Label:</strong> <a href="http://www.sepulchralvoice.de/index2.htm" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Sepulchral Voice Records</a><br><strong>Websites:</strong> <a href="https://sijjin.bandcamp.com/album/helljjin-combat" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">sijjin.bandcamp.com</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063482105195#" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sijjin_official" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">instagram.com/sijjin_official</a><br><strong>Releases Worldwide:</strong> April 25th, 2025</p><p></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2-5/" target="_blank">#25</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2025/" target="_blank">#2025</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/apr25/" target="_blank">#Apr25</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/atomic-aggressor/" target="_blank">#AtomicAggressor</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/death-metal/" target="_blank">#DeathMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/helljjin-combat/" target="_blank">#HelljjinCombat</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/international-metal/" target="_blank">#InternationalMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/legen-beltza/" target="_blank">#LegenBeltza</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/metallica/" target="_blank">#Metallica</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/morbid-angel/" target="_blank">#MorbidAngel</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/mortem/" target="_blank">#Mortem</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/necros-christos/" target="_blank">#NecrosChristos</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/review/" target="_blank">#Review</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/reviews/" target="_blank">#Reviews</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/sadistic-intent/" target="_blank">#SadisticIntent</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/sepulchral-voice-records/" target="_blank">#SepulchralVoiceRecords</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/sijjin/" target="_blank">#Sijjin</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/thrash-metal/" target="_blank">#ThrashMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/voivod/" target="_blank">#Voivod</a></p>
101010.pl is one of the many independent Mastodon servers you can use to participate in the fediverse.
101010.pl czyli najstarszy polski serwer Mastodon. Posiadamy wpisy do 2048 znaków.
Administered by:
Server stats:
518active users
101010.pl: About · Status · Profiles directory · Privacy policy
Mastodon: About · Get the app · Keyboard shortcuts · View source code · v4.4.0-beta.1
#SepulchralVoiceRecords
0 posts · 0 participants · 0 posts today
Angry Metal Guy<p><strong><a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/black-curse-burning-in-celestial-poison-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Black Curse – Burning in Celestial Poison Review</a></strong></p><p><i>By Eldritch Elitist</i></p><p>There are a mere handful of artists whose work I would describe as genuinely transportive. <strong>Black Curse</strong> is one of them, but instead of sweeping me away into cold space, vast wilderness, or entire fucking battlefields, <strong>Black Curse</strong> transports me straight to whatever Cenobite hell rewires your pleasure centers. By all accounts, I should not like <strong>Black Curse</strong>. I don’t even like war metal<a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/black-curse-burning-in-celestial-poison-review/#fn-205533-1" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">1</a>. Yet 2020’s <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/black-curse-endless-wound-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><i>Endless Wound</i></a> clawed and wriggled and scorched its way into my good graces all the same, and upon retrospection feels like one of that year’s most enduring records. Four years on, and those assuredly busy members of <strong>Khemmis</strong>, <strong>Primitive Man</strong>, <strong>Spectral Voice</strong>, and now <strong>Ulthar</strong><a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/black-curse-burning-in-celestial-poison-review/#fn-205533-2" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">2</a> have convened again for a follow-up I never dared hope would materialize. The result is <em>Burning in Celestial Poison</em>, a record I can’t quite fully wrap my brain around, other than to gain an incomplete understanding of its brilliance.</p><p><em>Burning in Celestial Poison</em> still very much sounds like <strong>Black Curse</strong>: sonically akin to a more purely elemental <strong>Teitanblood</strong>, but with an unmistakably caustic stamp. It’s evident that the members understand that approximately 17% of the <strong>Black Curse</strong> entertainment factor stems from fucked up guitar squeals and indecipherable shrieking, as those crucial components are ever-present. Yet in contrast to the relative simplicity of <strong>Black Curse</strong>’s debut, <em>Burning in Celestial Poison</em>’s compositions invoke a puzzle box shrouded in thorns and smoke. Its average track length nearly doubles that of its predecessor, but even its shortest cuts feel unpredictable and disarmingly aggressive. For all its twists and turns, <em>Burning in Celestial Poison</em> is a more immediately visceral <strong>Black Curse</strong>, with less allowance for doom metal sections or breathing room in general. This is an outright endurance test and an utterly relentless experience, but its density and scope are captivating, ensuring maximum replay value.</p><p></p><p>In terms of genre composition, <em>Burning in Celestial Poison</em> has shifted the balance of black metal and death metal, giving their blackened side more earth with which to scorch. In fact, the winding compositions frequently remind me of <strong>Black Curse</strong>’s labelmate <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/funereal-presence-achatius-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><strong>Funereal Presence</strong></a>. While <strong>Black Curse</strong> operates best when they prime their assaults with death metal bluntness, this change represents a better balancing of their elements, and death metal is still frequently granted center stage. “Trodden Flesh” in particular boasts a midsection anchored with disgustingly catchy riffs that feel disconcertingly accessible in the context of this record, uncharacteristically enticing as if concealing an ulterior motive. If I have a critique from the songwriting front, it’s that memorable passages such as these feel somewhat sparse. There are <i>big</i> moments that tower above the madness, feverishly grasping at an even bolder vision, but their hold is fleeting. A greater frequency of these moments could have further elevated an already compelling vision.</p><p></p><p>Arthur Rizk returns once again as producer, and has engineered <em>Burning in Celestial Poison</em> to be similarly abrasive, with instruments presented in lower fidelity than its predecessor. The performances are further obscured by countless layers of screeching ambience, with every component thoroughly moistened by reverb. I’m of two minds regarding the production on this record. On one hand, its sheer cacophony makes for a listening experience that feels only a few steps removed from inscrutability, making its curious atmosphere all the more maliciously unknowable. On the other, my desire to constantly delve into this record’s depths for a better understanding of its thesis is mildly quelled by the hostility of its engineering. As this uncomfortable feeling is almost certainly <strong>Black Curse</strong>’s intent, I’m inclined to chalk the production choices up as a net positive. <em>Burning in Celestial Poison</em> is the rare metal record that may come across as legitimately hostile to genre veterans, and one that somehow lives up to the overwrought, hyperbolic pitch presented with its promo sheet.</p><p>After living with this album for some time, I came to the realization that <em>Burning in Celestial Poison</em> feels closer to the <strong>Black Curse</strong> imprinted in my mind following their debut than the <strong>Black Curse</strong> presented <i>on</i> that debut. It is unquestionably more than the sum of its parts and feels closer to the band’s true vision, one driven by instinct and impulse rather than a discernible, structured order. As for whether I believe this record is actually <i>better</i> than <i>Endless Wound</i>, I believe the answer will only be revealed over time. <i>Endless Wound</i> is more immediately appealing, but something about its execution feels less satisfying now that I know what <strong>Black Curse</strong> is capable of. <em>Burning in Celestial Poison</em> will almost certainly spark debate; with every spin, it becomes clearer that it is not a safe sequel. Yet this is still a work that sounds like it could only come from one collective of artists, and to me, that signifies a success on all fronts.</p> <p><strong>Rating:</strong> 4.0/5.0<br><strong>DR:</strong> 8 | <strong>Format Reviewed:</strong> 320 kb/s mp3<br><strong>Label:</strong> <a href="http://www.sepulchralvoice.de/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Sepulchral Voice Records</a><br><strong>Website:</strong> <a href="http://blackcurse-svr.bandcamp.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">blackcurse-svr.bandcamp.com</a><br><strong>Releases Worldwide:</strong> October 25th, 2024</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2024/" target="_blank">#2024</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/40/" target="_blank">#40</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/american-metal/" target="_blank">#AmericanMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/black-curse/" target="_blank">#BlackCurse</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/blackened-death-metal/" target="_blank">#BlackenedDeathMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/blood-incantation/" target="_blank">#BloodIncantation</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/burning-in-celestial-poison/" target="_blank">#BurningInCelestialPoison</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/funereal-presence/" target="_blank">#FunerealPresence</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/khemmis/" target="_blank">#Khemmis</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/oct24/" target="_blank">#Oct24</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/primitive-man/" target="_blank">#PrimitiveMan</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/review/" target="_blank">#Review</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/reviews/" target="_blank">#Reviews</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/sepulchral-voice-records/" target="_blank">#SepulchralVoiceRecords</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/spectral-voice/" target="_blank">#SpectralVoice</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/teitanblood/" target="_blank">#Teitanblood</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/ulthar/" target="_blank">#Ulthar</a></p>
Angry Metal Guy<p><strong><a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/adorior-bleed-on-my-teeth-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Adorior – Bleed on My Teeth Review</a></strong></p><p><i>By Mark Z.</i></p><p>Somewhere along the way, <strong>Adorior</strong> got angry. When this English group released their 1998 debut <em>Like Cutting the Sleeping</em>, they sounded like a pretty traditional black metal band, albeit with occasional experimental touches in the form of cleanly sung segments and moody atmospheric passages. I don’t know what happened after that record was released, but when the band returned with 2005’s <em>Author of Incest</em>, they sounded ready to take up arms against the entire human race. <em>Author of Incest</em> is, simply put, one of the most incendiary albums ever recorded. With its scalding guitars, pummeling drums, and enraged vocals, the record showed <strong>Adorior</strong> infusing a hefty amount of death metal into the proceedings, ultimately resulting in a napalm bombing in musical form. The album’s opening track, “Hater of Fucking Humans,” is easily one of the most vicious blackened death metal songs of all time, and vocalist Melissa Gray’s performance on that track remains one of the most furious and unhinged I’ve ever heard. Now, after years of dormancy, the group are finally back with their third album, <em>Bleed on My Teeth</em>. Does it continue the band’s diabolical conquest of humanity?</p><p>It’s obviously been a long time since the last album, and in the interim <strong>Adorior</strong> lost all prior members except Melissa<a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/adorior-bleed-on-my-teeth-review/#fn-203495-1" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">1</a> and drummer “D. Molestör.” Thus, one would understandably be concerned about whether <strong>Adorior</strong> could maintain their aggression. Fortunately, Mr. Molestör seems to have selected a suitably angry cadre of newcomers from other projects he’s been involved with, including current or former members of <strong>Grave Miasma</strong>, <strong>Cruciamentum</strong>, and <strong>Qrixkuor</strong>. Opener “Begrime Judas” shows that these new recruits have just as much pent-up rage as their predecessors. With explosive riffs, fiery tremolo runs, and surging rhythms, the song is livid and combative, making it sound like no time has passed since <em>Author of Incest</em>. As if to further drive home the band’s militant nature, the track even features a ruthless half-time thrash break overlaid with samples of automatic gunfire. Such intensity rarely subsides until the title track concludes the album with wailing notes approximately 50 minutes later.</p><p>Just like the last record, <em>Bleed on My Teeth</em> matches the scorching fury of <strong>Impiety</strong> while sounding blunter, heavier, and looser. <span>Señor Molestör is an absolute madman on drums, moving </span><span>furiously between blast beats, frantic thrash drumming, and pummeling breaks that hit like artillery strikes. The guitars ejaculate </span><span>a nonstop stream of hostility, veering wildly between whiplashing tremolos, searing chords, and even some more rhythmic ideas. Songs like </span><span>“</span><span>Ophidian Strike” and “Moment of Mania” may sound chuggier than the others, but they don’t lose one drop of intensity because of it. Likewise, </span><span>“L.O.T.P. – Vomit Vomit Vomit Bastard” is one of my favorite tracks here not just because of its title, but also for how it swells with gigantic mid-paced riffs that give rise to a triumphant aura and an obscene yet strangely catchy refrain (“<em>He likes to</em></span><em> make them cum & then revel in their shame… He likes to make them say his name…</em>”<span>).</span></p><p></p><p>If there’s one hangup I have with this album, it’s the vocals. After almost two decades since the last album, Melissa’s raspy shout still sounds pissed off, but she occasionally sounds strained, and her loose sense of timing sometimes feels at odds with the music. Nonetheless, her wild approach ultimately won me over, and her occasional air siren screams only add to the maniacal energy. The chanted gang shouts in songs like “Scavengers of Vengeance” further propel the rampage and are a nice callback to similar moments from <em>Author of Incest</em>. Production-wise, the album is hefty and hot. While it sounds louder than its DR8 would suggest, everything remains clear while swarming together in a way that’s fiery and forceful, but never exhausting. The record’s dynamic drumming, superb sequencing, and occasional moments of brief ambience only further stave off fatigue.</p><p class="">Ultimately, <em>Bleed on My Teeth</em> is a paragon of extremity. It leaves no orifice unfucked. It is an expulsion of hostility, a firestorm of fury, a fist in the ass of decency. Above all, it is a glorious return for <strong>Adorior</strong>, and a surefire treat for those bloodthirsty cretins who have been waiting so long to finally hear more of what these maniacs have to offer. Close your eyes, open wide, and let them bleed on your fukkin teeth.</p><p></p> <p><strong>Rating</strong>: 4.0/5.0<br><strong>DR:</strong> 8 | <strong>Format Reviewed:</strong> 320 kbps mp3<br><strong>Labels:</strong> <a href="https://www.darkdescentrecords.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Dark Descent Records</a> | <a href="http://www.sepulchralvoice.de/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Sepulchral Voice Records</a><br><strong>Websites:</strong> <a href="https://adorior.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">adorior.bandcamp.com</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/adorior/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">facebook.com/adorior</a><br><strong>Releases Worldwide:</strong> September 27th, 2024</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2024/" target="_blank">#2024</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/40/" target="_blank">#40</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/adorior/" target="_blank">#Adorior</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/black-metal/" target="_blank">#BlackMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/bleed-on-my-teeth/" target="_blank">#BleedOnMyTeeth</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/cruciamentum/" target="_blank">#Cruciamentum</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/dark-descent-records/" target="_blank">#DarkDescentRecords</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/death-metal/" target="_blank">#DeathMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/english-metal/" target="_blank">#EnglishMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/grave-miasma/" target="_blank">#GraveMiasma</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/impiety/" target="_blank">#Impiety</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/qrixkuor/" target="_blank">#Qrixkuor</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/review/" target="_blank">#Review</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/reviews/" target="_blank">#Reviews</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/sep24/" target="_blank">#Sep24</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/sepulchral-voice-records/" target="_blank">#SepulchralVoiceRecords</a></p>
Angry Metal Guy<p><strong><a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/concrete-winds-concrete-winds-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Concrete Winds – Concrete Winds Review</a></strong></p><p><i>By Maddog</i></p><p></p><p>I left my first splotch on this fair site with <strong>Concrete Winds</strong> in 2021. The regrettably-titled <em><a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/concrete-winds-nerve-butcherer-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Nerve Butcherer</a></em> was an archetypal 3.0. <strong>Concrete Winds</strong>’ brand of war metal was fierce, concise, and exciting, but I haven’t returned to it due to its shameless recycling of ideas. Their new self-titled record seems to promise a similar experience, even in its minutiae. Much like its predecessors, <em>Concrete Winds</em> sports amorphous cover art and unfolds over nine tracks with silly faux-death-metal two-word titles.<a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/concrete-winds-concrete-winds-review/#fn-203190-1" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">1</a> I approached the album expecting <strong>Concrete Winds</strong> to deliver a satisfactory but indistinguishable rehash of their past assaults.</p><p>I was half right. <em>Concrete Winds</em>’ sound is instantly recognizable, but it isn’t a photocopy of <em>Nerve Butcherer</em>. As before, <strong>Concrete Winds</strong>’ blackened riffs sound razor-sharp despite their simplicity. The album unfolds at a frantic pace, spanning nine tracks that treat your ears like a relay race baton. While <em>Concrete Winds</em>’ single-minded barrage feels familiar, it comes with some tweaks. The rhythmic experimentation that both helped and hurt <em>Nerve Butcherer</em> takes a back seat, with occasional exceptions like “Demented Gospels.” If anything, <strong>Concrete Winds</strong> leans further into their grindcore influences, cutting even straighter to the point (“Daylight Amputations”). Conversely, shrill guitar leads expand the band’s style while fitting snugly within it, augmenting <strong>Concrete Winds</strong>’ air raid with a siren. Other digressions include industrial percussion (“Subterranean Persuasion”) and <strong>Sodom</strong>-esque first-wave black metal (“Pounding Devotion”). <strong>Concrete Winds</strong> steps out of their comfort zone on their self-titled, even if only by an inch.</p><p></p><p><strong>Concrete Winds</strong>’ old habits and new flourishes merge into an explosive 25 minutes. Every riff shines through its uncontainable energy, making any ten-second snippet of the record a pleasure in its own right. Occasional forays into other styles add novelty without skimping on power, like the industrial segments and traditional death metal influences of “Subterranean Persuasion.” <em>Concrete Winds</em> hits hardest when these pieces come together. For instance, the aggression of highlight “Infernal Repeater” fits the band’s mold, while the track’s flailing guitar melodies both stand out and heighten its intensity. Consistently smooth transitions between different songs and styles help the album’s new experiments feel at home throughout. <strong>Concrete Winds</strong> continues to play to their strengths, maintaining their violence-first approach while taking new steps.</p><p>Still, <em>Concrete Winds</em> struggles to stay fresh as a complete record. Despite diverging from its predecessors, it wears out through repetition. <strong>Concrete Winds</strong>’ trademark lowbrow war metal is the album’s core, and variations like the air raid siren guitars show up so often that they become forgettable. Once you settle into <em>Concrete Winds</em>’ style, even its most extreme cuts feel cookie-cutter, especially after several listens (“Virulent Glow”). Luckily, the album doesn’t brazenly self-plagiarize riffs as <em>Nerve Butcherer</em> did, but both its shortest songs (“Permanent Dissonance”) and its longest (“Demented Gospels”) pull from the same bag of tricks. Every idea here works in isolation, but different sections step on each other’s toes, making the final product less exciting to revisit.</p><p><em>Concrete Winds</em> hit me hard on my first spin, but it dulls as the weeks go by. A first glance reveals marked improvements over <em>Nerve Butcherer</em> and <em>Primitive Force</em>. <strong>Concrete Winds</strong> has added new tools to their arsenal and reduced their raw repetition of riffs, all while sounding just as sharp. But even over just half an hour, this abrasive brand of grindy blackened death loses its edge through overuse. Your mileage may vary. Devotees of bands like <strong>Angelcorpse</strong> should pay heed, and <span><strong>Dolph</strong></span>’s enthusiasm suggests that the album may be a hit with no-good cetaceans. While <em>Concrete Winds</em> won’t threaten my year-end list, it’s a thrilling listen with enough innovation to get me excited for its follow-up.</p> <p><strong>Rating:</strong> 3.0/5.0<br><strong>DR:</strong> 6 | <strong>Format Reviewed:</strong> 320 kb/s mp3<br><strong>Label:</strong> <a href="http://www.sepulchralvoice.de/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Sepulchral Voice Records</a><br><strong>Websites:</strong> <a href="http://concretewinds.bandcamp.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">concretewinds.bandcamp.com</a> | <a href="http://facebook.com/aggressivenoisetorment" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">facebook.com/aggressivenoisetorment</a><br><strong>Releases Worldwide:</strong> August 30th, 2024</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2024/" target="_blank">#2024</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/30/" target="_blank">#30</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/angelcorpse/" target="_blank">#Angelcorpse</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/aug24/" target="_blank">#Aug24</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/black-metal/" target="_blank">#BlackMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/blackened-death-metal/" target="_blank">#BlackenedDeathMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/blackened-grind/" target="_blank">#BlackenedGrind</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/concrete-winds/" target="_blank">#ConcreteWinds</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/death-metal/" target="_blank">#DeathMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/finnish-metal/" target="_blank">#FinnishMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/grindcore/" target="_blank">#Grindcore</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/review/" target="_blank">#Review</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/reviews/" target="_blank">#Reviews</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/sepulchral-voice-records/" target="_blank">#SepulchralVoiceRecords</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/sodom/" target="_blank">#Sodom</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/war-metal/" target="_blank">#WarMetal</a></p>
TrendingLive feeds
Mastodon is the best way to keep up with what's happening.
Follow anyone across the fediverse and see it all in chronological order. No algorithms, ads, or clickbait in sight.
Create accountLoginDrag & drop to upload