Thursday, August 22, 2013

Cvinger "Monastery of the Fallen"




Here's a black metal band from  Slovenia called Cvinger.  As English is not their native language it's difficult to tell if the band want to use the v in their name as a u as in kvlt.  There's definitely nothing commercial about Cvinger's music and it is highly likely they will have a cult following but both of these are simply due to the nature of their music.


A creepy atmosphere is created at the fore of the album on the track "Chapter 1 - Into The Depths of Arcane Sanctuary"  but the music  on "Monastery of The Fallen" is largely generic black metal although the vocals are slightly clearer than most of the genre but the guitars sound like angry bumblebees and there are choral parts that would make the Mormon Tabernacle Choir proud.    Simply having a song entitled "Blaspherion" makes it apparent that Cvinger's blasphemy is an important ingredient in this band's  black metal.  Chants end "Among The Crucified"  and proceedings are kicked off with what sounds like a church choir.   It's nigh impossible not to wonder if a group of monks were brought in to chant on "Chapter 3: Amen" because the song does sound like it was recorded at a monastery.


Applause is deserved for the Cvinger's willingness to experiment with quieter moments however at the end of the dark night, however there's almost nothing other than location that separates Cvinger from the rest of the face painted corpse.  "Monastery of The Fallen" will still appeal to fans of generic black metal who need to be as corpse-rotting cult as humanly possible.

2/5

The album is available on CD for 10 euro and "Monastery of the Fallen" can be heard at Cvinger's bandcamp site.










.



Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Carton - "Sunburst" EP



This EP from Vemont band Carton's comes as a nice change of pace and style from all the metal that's been gracing the pages on this blog of late.  Carton play beautifully messed up noisy pop with a garage rock approach.  There's no polish or pretense here.  The band would have fitted perfectly on 80's student radio in New Zealand between the Violent Femmes (in fairness, just the fact that they mention a "permanent record" brings the comparison) and the jangly guitar Flying Nun stuff.

There are three different guys handling vocal duties throughout "Sunburst" but it really doesn't alter the overall sound the band at all. "Better Drugs" is both harsh and melodic while carrying a bucketload of psychedelia although for some reason that is difficult to put a finger on, it brings The Senseless Things to mind.

On most of the songs, the instruments are louder than the vocals and due to Carton's raw approach, this definitely works in their favour.    There are three different guys handling vocal duties but it really doesn't alter band's overall sound very much.   If Carton were an animal, they would be a kitten getting tangled up in a ball of wool again and again because they quietly yelp, aren't clean, the hooks are definitely there and despite being messy and a picturesque quality can be found despite the mess.

3.5/5

Check the ep out on their bandcamp site.




Carton on facebook



The Small Takeover on facebook


Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Impiety "The Impious Crusade"




Singapore based blackened death metallers, Impiety are back with another short release.     On this five song release, the band's blending of black metal and death metal works well and despite the frenzied pace of the songs, Impiety don't stretch themselves musically.  Other reviewers will criticize them for this but imagine the reviewer's backlash if AC/DC recorded a new album and just one song was acapella  or death metal.    Sticking with what they know and do well really works in Impiety's favour too.


Buzzsaw guitars threaten to chop off any meek listeners ears and that's probably not a bad thing  because with song titles like "Commanding Death & Destroy" and "Accelerate the Annihilation",  the Christianity hating and worship of evil in the lyrics  is blood that clearly runs  strong in the veins of this band.  There is no room here for any goodie-two shoes unless they're in more than one piece.


With only five songs, this release is really too short and the best song is a cover of "Lucifer's Legion's", which was originally from Swedish death metallers, Sorcery although Impiety have beefed up and very much stamped their own style on the tune.  Why the hell is Abba's "Super Trouper" on my promo?  I kept waiting for Impiety's version of the song but no, it's not there.  I really hope this song isn't on the actual release.  I'd link to the band's website but there's no mention of this release which means whoever takes care of it isn't on top of events.  A link to the band's facebook page will have to suffice.







Monday, August 19, 2013

Destroyers of All - "Into The Fire"




If you were wondering if Portuguese thrash metal exists, it does and here's the proof.  On this six song release, Destroyers of All play some tight thrash with death metal overtones.  There are traditional metal guitar solos that border on power metal and separate this band from a tonne of others.  The band aren't all about speed or laying waste to everything for the sake of brutality.

The intro to M4 is reminiscent of a number of songs from "Master of Puppets" with that slow build up as the guitar drags the listener in for the pre-pummel.  Later in the song there is that quiet operatic metal choral style and a definite Latin guitar influence before morphing as angry thrash and then regressing to NWOBHM but a modernized version complete with click drums.  The vocals throughout the recording are largely reminiscent of Lamb of God or late period Pantera.

 Destroyers of All throwing of various snippets of metal into a blender is admirable but unfortunately doesn't always come together that well.  The band are at their best when they keep things simple.  "The Astral Projection" would have been a more enjoyable song if the furious thrash tempo hadn't slowed down at all.  

"Into The Fire" has six songs but the meat is the four songs sandwiched between the instrumentals.  The release has its moments but it's difficult to shake the feeling that this band is stretching too high with their hybridization of metallic styles.  There's only haze in crystal ball as the future of this band is uncertain.  There's also an uncertainty whether the band's chosen moniker is a nod to the New Zealand death metal band Ulcerate.  The entire release is available for your listening pleasure at the band's website which is linked below.

2/5



Beastwars - IV

After over a year off for various reasons, we have returned solely because we wanted to review the new Beastwars album. I really w...