/r/RABM/

Sunday, December 27, 2015

V/A - "Crushing Intolerance Vol. 3" (2015)

V/A "Crushing Intolerance (vol.3)"

Year: 2015
Genre: Black Metal
Country: Earth

Track List:
  1. Grst - The Sacred and the Obscene
  2. Antlers - Hundreds
  3. Dawn Ray'd - Cauldron Of Rebirth
  4. Regnvm Animale - Ars Moriendi
  5. Nephilim - The hunt of forest demons
  6. A Diadem of Dead Stars - The Cold Breath of Infinite Mother
  7. Winterbourne - Conversation with the Embers
  8. Concord - Ashes Bloom
  9. Neverchrist - ACAO, REACAO, RENEGACAO
  10. Ancient Emblem - Sisters
  11. Adore - Upon the Abysmal Threshold
  12. Wildspeaker - Invasive Species
  13. Xederis -The Intimacy of Hatred
  14. No Heroes - Colorless
  15. Shadow Lake - Twilight's Volition
  16. Rütäbägä - Chronoscape
  17. Ghosts of Glaciers - Maelstrom
  18. Worhs - Les Yeux Ouverts
  19. Ashbringer - Ethereal Aura pt. II
  20. Saus - Bigot Basher
  21. Black Cascade - Flames of Amazon
  22. Satanatum - Deaf Blind and Silent
  23. Cuscuta - The Last Graveyard (Xu Lizhi)
bandcamp

The 3rd volume in the "Crushing Intolerance" series of anti-NSBM compilations by The Black Metal Alliance is finally here. I admit that I haven't listened to it yet, but just looking at its track list shows a lot of names that already were featured on my blog, as well as a few bands that are completely unknown to me and would be interesting to discover.

Friday, December 25, 2015

Carabia - "Apologie d'une fin..." (2015)

CARABIA "Apologie d'une fin..."

Year: 2015
Genre: Black Metal, Blackened Punk
Country: France

Track List:
  1. Apologie d'une fin ...
  2. Fantasme de Destruction
  3. Qu'une question de temps ...
bandcamp

A demo from an one-man project based out of Brest, France. If I understood correctly, the author doubts if it can be called RABM, because the lyrics are about the end of the world rather than changing it, yet he's still an activist who loves and plays black metal.
P.S. My apologies for not reviewing anything in a while, I had some problems during the recent few weeks, including problems with my computer. Hopefully I'll post everything I received during that time until the end of this year.

Thursday, December 24, 2015

V/A - "Love Music Hate Borders" (2015)



V/A - "Love Music Hate Borders"

Year: 2015
Genre: Various (Mostly Crust)
Country: Various

  1. Cancer Spreading - Ghastly Visions
  2. Spermafrost - Sogginess, Leches, Workless
  3. Uhrit - Tyranny
  4. The Kroni - Dope War
  5. Deathcharge - Holocausto
  6. Adacta - Katastrofy
  7. URA - Comentiendo Errores
  8. Wilt - Flames at Down
  9. Lust For Death - Nothing
  10. Nazka - Piss of the System
  11. Cloud Rat - At Peace in Hell
  12. Victims of Classwar - A Heart for the Butcher
  13. Barque - The Necromancer
  14. Disclone - Shattered Life
  15. Amara - Endless Bullshit
  16. La Floraison de la Fin Onirique - Capitano
  17. Catholic Youth - Pro Life Sucks
  18. Artigo DZ9 - Sobre a Guerra
  19. Exilent - If Rights Exist on Papers Only
  20. Pigpride - Stigma
  21. Rancor - Minha Utopia Seu Desespero
  22. Ruptra - Exillo
  23. Aurea - VII
  24. Angoracold - Satancio Pandemonium
  25. Hieros Gamos - Diaz (Blood Flows)
  26. Segregated - Provided Lies
  27. Zerum - 0100
  28. Silence Means Death - A Senseless War
  29. Hellskum - No Solution
  30. Bombardo - Solldado Lazallamas
  31. Peste - The Way to Freedom
  32. Auralskit - Peace is Lies

"100% of the proceeds of this compilation will go toward: noborders20miglia.noblogs.org 

The No Border Camp of Ventimiglia started on the 11th of June, when a group of migrant moved on the rocks in order to resist the police eviction, identification and continue to struggle for their freedom. 

From that day solidarity networks from different territories have been working to build a permanent laboratory of resistance to repressive politics we see in action on borders. 

From Lampedusa to Calais passing through Ventimiglia, migrant people in their everyday life are not free to move around Europe in search of a life better than a mere survival. 

The No Border Camp host different collectives and individuals coming from different backgrounds, having in common the desire to oppose the discriminatory logic of power and to fight for their freedom of movement, not only for migrants but for all those people that are suffering from the restrictions of freedom. 

"WE ARE NOT GOING BACK" 

No Border Camp - Ventimiglia"


TDSAU facilitates another cool digital-only comp to raise money for The No Border Camp, a worthy cause for the crisis at hand. Mostly made up of crust but there are a good number of bands that really stick out. Was happy to see Cloud Rat on this as they're always great. The URA track is also pretty intense.

Pay what you want downloadability.


- P.


Tuesday, November 17, 2015

V/A - "Vendetta Compilation II" (2015)

V/A "Vendetta compilation II"

Year: 2015
Genre: Black Metal with various influences
Country: Germany (for the most part)

Track List:
  1. AST - fraktale
  2. ASHBRINGER - ethereal aura pt. II
  3. SVFFER - fever
  4. SEHER - der seher
  5. CULT OF OCCULT - psychotic
  6. ANTLERS - carnival of freedom and betrayal
  7. NEGATIVE STANDARDS - XVII
  8. ULTHA - you exist for nothing
  9. ANCST - spark
  10. OLD GRAVES - dawn treader
  11. SHADOW OF THE TORTURER - the church
  12. ADDAURA - the sun shines to-day also ( ...on the oaks of that bird hill )
bandcamp

The second compilation released by Berlin-based Vendetta Records about a week ago (the first one was released in the beginning of this year). Might be of interest for the RABM community because it features a lot of bands previously featured on my blog (Ast, Antlers, Negative Standards, Ancst, Addaura...)

Sorgsenhet - "Marsch der Zeit" (2015)

SORGSENHET "Marsch der Zeit"

Year: 2015
Genre: Black Metal with folk overtones
Country: Germany

Track List:
  1. Intro
  2. Durch die Tiefen der Unendlichkeit
  3. Die Reise bis zum Grund
  4. Anima Mundi
  5. Äthertraum
  6. Ballad of a Soldier
bandcamp

Sorgsenhet were formed in 2010 in Giessen, Germany. Their first demo release "Drachennebel" (2013) was apolitical, but two years later they decided to do more political left-friendly and antifascist music. In particular, the intro of this EP is an organ cover of a Yugoslavian partisan song, and the last track, "Ballad of a Soldier", is a cover version of a popular Soviet song of the same name. Additionally, you can hear an excerpt from "Warschawjanka" in the end of  the second track, "Durch die Tiefen der Unendlichkeit". The cover art for "Marsch der Zeit" is a painting by Ivan Aivazovsky called "Rainbow".

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Kluizenaer - "Anachoryt" (2015)

KLUIZENAER "Anachoryt"

Year: 2015
Genre: Raw Black Metal, Dark Ambient/Drone
Country: Netherlands

Track List:
  1. Ontkenning Van Het Bestaan Van Betekenis Of Waarde
  2. Allesomvattende Afkeer
bandcamp

The second release by a Dutch one-man project whose debut one was reviewed by me this summer. This new EP is still rooted in dark ambient and noise/drone, but it's definitely more BM-oriented than the debut album. Quite impressive stuff, especially if you listen to it alone in the dark.

Monday, November 2, 2015

BLOW OUT - "Rehearsal Hell #1" (2015)

BLOW OUT - "Rehearsal Hell #1"

Year: 2015
Genre: Hardcore, Anarchist Black Metal
Country: Germany

Track List:

  1. Schwitzkaste
  2. Infected
  3. I.D.G.F.
  4. Kacknesie
  5. Nagelhagel
bandcamp

Blow Out begins their first track with fair recording quality in a fast-paced hardcore punk fashion. Their sound is akin to Agnostic Front with a more fun, less Oi! sound, but definitely shows it's hardcore punk side. Their lyrics are rather catchy and distinguishable despite playing fast hardcore punk and screaming the lyrics. Their second track, Infected begins with intense cesauras, yet shows the quality of the recording as the singer's exhausted voice falters. Unfortunately, the second track is unable to give the same quality as the first track but it is enjoyable nonetheless. Their third track, I.D.G.F. only shows the singer's exhaustion more clearly in an obviously rushed recording. Their fourth track, Kacknesie is a slower song that provides a very black metal sound that is a relief both to the singer's vocals and to my ears. The end of Kacknesie reminded me of the intensity of hardcore punk, though I wish the whole song would've showed that initiative. The last song, Nagelhagel shows more black metal initiative. Overall, the song had some great positive initiative, but the recording was rushed with a fair quality of recording. I give it two and a half stars, ** */**.

Voice Eater - "Nihil" (2015)

Voice Eater - "Nihil"

Year: 2015
Genre: Black Metal, Doom/Sludge, Noisecore
Country: USA

Track List:

  1. Luz Negra
  2. Weight
  3. Defeater
  4. Vida Mierda
  5. Orphan Breed
  6. Weakling
  7. Duele
  8. Catharsis
bandcamp

Voice Eater from Arizona starts their first song, Luz Negra with according to me, excessively annoying ambience and follows that up with very poor recording that makes their music a headache to listen to. The same can be said of their second track, though their third track, Defeater was a lot more enjoyable despite the poor quality with it's more distinguishable screaming and enjoyable power chords. Their fourth track, Vida Mierda was of less quality than Defeater but slightly enjoyable. I really think their fifth track, Orphan Breed would've been a huge artistic success if it had been recorded with better equipment and/or under better circumstances. The same can be somewhat said of their sixth track, Weakling. Their seventh track, Duele shows amazing clarity initially despite minimal feedback on the song's recording. Their last and longest track Catharsis sounds like another potential minor success of a song from the album that was hampered by poor quality recording. It's finale sounds brilliant and somehow shines through the poor recording. A complete summary of the album would be that it was too poorly recorded to give a fair and accurate review, but I'll give it one and a half stars for effort. * */**.

Uninhabitable - "Self-Titled" (2015)

Uninhabitable - "Self-Titled"

Year: 2015
Genre: Black Metal, Blackened Crust, Hardcore
Country: USA

Track List:


  1. Banish the Throne
  2. War Crimes
  3. Se Soulever
  4. Duke of Progress
bandcamp

Uninhabitable from Asheville, North Carolina begins their first song with dark ambience and slowly strummed power chords that can draw you in to their dark, twisted world. The vocals provide an intense screaming reminiscent of what I would think is comparative to (non-anarchist) Motorhead's vocals. The song's caesuras or brief, silent pauses are also reminiscent of the band Korn (non-anarchist). Banish the Throne is sixteen minutes of brutal anarchist metal that is mostly beautiful. At short-lived intervals throughout the last half of the song the vocals become momentarily less than above par, but overall a great song with a total length of sixteen minutes and one second. Their second song, War Crimes begins with a short silence followed by power chords that seem to neither decelerate or accelerate very much. The same vocals from the last song continue, albeit more high-pitched. After about three and a half minutes the second song's beat and vocals slow down considerably.

Their third song, Se Soulever begins with high noted power chords that convey an expectation of acceleration and the song holds true to that fact with accelerated power chords, drumming and vocals. Their fourth song, Duke of Progress initially begins with power chords and drumming that alternates between acceleration and deceleration that is joined by the screaming vocals later on. Overall, I would rate the album four stars ****.

Monday, October 26, 2015

Brain Famine - "Exploding Paranoid Universe" (2015)

Brain Famine - "Exploding Paranoid Universe"

Year: 2015
Genre: Death/Grind/Thrash Metal
Country: USA

Track List:

  1. Intro - Site of Future Landfill
  2. Corrosive Pain Lock
  3. Hallucinating Contagion
  4. Wallow at the Lower Rungs
  5. Absurdist Euphoria
  6. Ignite and Repeal
  7. Exploding Paranoid Universe
  8. Personal Violene
  9. Selfward While Blind
  10. Implement Systematic Dogmacide
bandcamp

Brain Famine from Boston with a Ukrainian member begin their first track, Intro - Site of Future Landfill with a distorted voice mixed with ambience that then grips power chords with increasing intensity that is quite attractive to the ear. The second track, Corrosive Pain Lock begins with a sound byte of what sounds like English ultra-violence and follows through with vocals very well done akin to Marilyn Manson's voice, but with awesome fast paced black metal! Their third track, Hallucinating Contagion also begins with a sound byte from a movie of violence and leads to very carefully crafted power chords and the singer takes us through a different volley of awesome vocals mixed with very skilful and very fast-paced power chords!

Their fourth track, Wallow at the Lower Rungs carries the same vocals akin to skilled Marilyn Manson yet uniquely fast-paced power chords to create another masterpiece for the black metal scene! Their fifth track, Absurdist Euphoria begins with a violent gun shot sound byte with screaming that slows down from their usually ultra-fast tempo, but still of awesome quality. Their sixth track, Ignite and Repeal was a bit below par of what I anticipated from the band so far. The tempo was fast and upbeat, but the power chords and vocals lacked in skill which dropped the rating half a star for me. Their seven track, Exploding Paranoid Universe failed to amaze me with the lack of sequential patterns of their power chords. It seemed to attempt to cover up the lack of five star talent from the sixth track.

Their eighth track, Personal Violence was mediocre unfortunately as well. I get the feeling that the last half of the album didn't have as much effort put into it as the first, which is too bad. Their ninth track, Selfward While Blind begins with a sound byte and harkens back to some more than mediocre vocals and power chords more agreeable to this band's excellent artistically creative potential. At this point I am persuaded from dropping the rating from 4 1/2 to 4 stars. Their last track, Implement Systematic Dogmacide begins with a war sound byte and very attractive power chords at first, but overall a much more acceptable sound than tracks six through eight. Overall, I give them four and a half stars! **** */**!

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Rookscare - "Unusable Signals" (2015)

Rookscare - "Unusable Signals"

Year: 2015
Genre: Anarcho-punk, Crust Doom, Industrial Metal
Country: United States

Track List:

  1. Binary Blackhole
  2. Children of the Wilted Flowers
  3. Mother, Could Heaven Melt?
  4. Herd Mentality
  5. Shadow of Vandalia
bandcamp

The album begins with their first track, Binary Blackhole that begins with power chords and dark robot ambience. Later on, there is dark anarcho-punk screaming akin to a slower, lower and better recorded version of Amebix's vocals. Their second track, Children of the Wilted Flowers begins with slow power chords and doesn't build up to vocals until about after one minute and fifty seconds in. The song ends with appropriate dark monk ambience. Their third track, Mother, Could Heaven Melt begins with power chords, moderately slow drumming and news recordings declaring "everything has been done in this state for the corporate good".

There are other recordings as well on the track that are played over the news recordings as the power chords and drumming continues. Their fourth track, Herd Mentality begins with very slow drumming and dark ambience. The vocals of the band's members sound a bit rough, but the music carries the song through with it's power chords really striking a note in my heart at about 5:25. The lyrics "Herd mentality is abandonment" help carry the song through as well.

Shadow of Vandalia begins with pipes akin to presumably an indigenous culture and leads to power chords and slow drumming. The recording begins to decline more after the slight decline of track two. The chorus of the second band member does give a unique energy to the track that makes it much more desirable about four minutes and forty-five seconds in. Their last track is quite pleasant throughout afterwards. Over all, I give it three stars ***.

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Alda - "Passage" (2015)

Alda - "Passage"

Year: 2015
Genre: Black Metal, Blackened Crust, Hardcore
Country: United States

Track List:

  1. The Clearcut
  2. Passage
  3. Weather
  4. The Crooked Trail
  5. Animis
bandcamp

The album begins with their first track, The Clearcut which has the noise ambience of crickets followed by guitar strumming. The guitars entangle into their own chorus until a dramatic pause followed by guitar plucking reminiscent of Central American folk which is joined by beautiful singing, not only from the male singer but the female as well. You are sucked into an absolutely beautiful album and know it at this point. I was hesitant, but I already was thinking "this is a five star album" to myself already. The song then makes a dramatic pause to accelerate into power chords and screaming lyrics of despair and desperation.

Their second track, Passage begins under the cover of rainfall with an absolutely brilliant, dark and sombre strumming mixed with power chords that leads to somewhat accelerated power chords and screaming that churns your soul. Their third track, Weathering is quite sombre and darkly appealing that builds up with a slight intensity that subtly maintains that attractive sombreness and darkness. Their fourth track begins with water ambience noise and softly builds up folksy guitar strumming, which is very beautiful as well in a calming manner. Their last track Animis begins with barking puppy noise ambience followed by a build-up of strong screaming, but not over-fiercely met with too strong of guitar strumming and power chords throughout the rest of the song. Absolutely a new favourite album of mine and obviously a five star strong album! *****!

Alda - "Tahoma" (2012)

Alda - "Tahoma"

Year: 2012
Genre: Black Metal, Blackened Crust, Hardcore
Country: United States

Track List:

  1. In The Wake of an Iron Wind
  2. Adrift
  3. Tearing of the Wave
  4. Shadow of the Mountain
  5. Wandering Spirit
bandcamp

The album begins with their first track, In The Wake of an Iron Wind, which builds up slowly at first, but with a growing pace that leads to a relapse of a build-up, except with power chords. The vocals tend to dive into your soul during the introduction of it, or at least I felt that way. The song ends softly as it begins after the outro which is after the ten minute mark. Their second track, Adrift begins with water ambience, but then proceeds to power chords which build up and slow down multiple times as well.

Their third track, Tearing of the Wave continues in the same tradition of build-up relapses from soft vocals, guitar plucking and guitar strumming to screaming and power chords. Shadow of the Mountain, their fourth track also continues this pattern, but maintains itself throughout with soft lyrics and soft melodies that are continuously catchy throughout the album. In my opinion, Shadow of the Mountain is the best track on the album.

Their last and fifth track, Wandering Spirit picks up the build-up and relapse pattern, except strictly with power chords, that the first three tracks embraced and ends with a dark ambience of howling wolves. I liked this band, but wanted to hear more sounds like Shadow of the Mountain off of this album. I give it three and a half stars *** (*/**).

Friday, October 23, 2015

Wild's Reprisal - "Against Leviathan" (2015)

Wild's Reprisal - "Against Leviathan"

Year: 2015
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Country: United States

Track List:

  1. Bio-Civilization
  2. Gaard
  3. Neither Man Nor Beast
  4. Death of Nature
  5. The Power and the Promise
bandcamp

I really enjoyed this album, especially with it's album name being a reference to my favourite book, "Against His-Story, Against Leviathan" by Fredy Perlman. I felt as though the music spoke to me very much so. Beginning their first track, Bio-Civilization plays with dark atmospheric ambience that alternates with explosive, loud and fast paced metal. Their second track, Gaard is even faster and maintains it's speed at longer intervals with a dramatic fade-out ending that is fitting. Their third tracks begins with howling wolves and then is followed by power chords and heavy, slower drums in Neither Man Nor Beast. Their fourth track Death of Nature has more enjoyable fast-paced energy. For their last track, The Power and the Promise, expect a slower, quite softer music track and cue the piano as well for this song. It's a fitting finale for the album. The screaming throughout the well-recorded album was always very fitting as well. I give it five stars *****.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Panopticon - "Autumn Eternal" (2015)

Panopticon - "Autumn Eternal"

Year: 2015
Genre: Folk Metal, Black Metal
Country: United States

Track List:

  1. Tamarack's Gold Returns
  2. Into the North Woods
  3. Autumn Eternal
  4. Oaks Ablaze
  5.  Sleep To The Sound of the Waves Crashing
  6. Pale Ghosts
  7. A Superior Lament
  8. The Wind's Farewell
bandcamp

In what begins in the first track as a folk country song with slight metal influences, titled Tamarack's Gold Returns, harkens to bluegrass and folk more then metal. However, it is beautifully and slowly played. It's very descriptive of their location which is Kentucky. Their second track, Into the North Woods is full of raw black metal energy that tells you the band absolutely belongs within the genre and on this blog and is enjoyable and just as well recorded as the first track. Their third track Autumn takes that raw black metal energy and puts it on a super fast speed course destined for beauty! Their fourth track Oaks Ablaze is the "on the fritz" serenade of a forest wildfire, which is unfortunate only because of so few forests left in the world for what was originally a natural act.

Then their fifth track, Sleep To The Sound of the Waves Crashing, speeds back up with relatively slow, screaming vocals which maintains the beauty of the album. Halfway through the song the band harkens back to folk metal and maintains that beauty before returning back to raw black metal energy. Their sixth track, Pale Ghosts, continues the song's melody with slower vocals and slower speed. Then comes their seventh track, A Superior Lament that carries with it the sound of melancholy and black metal. The singer mixes throughout the song a much, much lower voice akin to GWAR (non-anarchist metal band) mixed with periods of lighter voices with clear and distinct dark lyrics that are lovable. Their last song for the album, The Wind's Farewell, has a mix of folk metal and black metal for the introduction of the song, but the composition of the song is mostly black metal and finishes with dark ambience. Altogether a beautiful album from a very skilled metal band. I definitely recommend them!

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Attaktix - "Demo Tape '15" (2015)

Attaktix - "Demo Tape '15"

Year: 2015
Genre: Crust/D-Beat Hardcore Punk
Country: Lithuania

Track List:

  1. Uniformed Freedom
  2. Humanity
  3. Reason
  4. Mass Extinction
  5. Warzone
bandcamp

Attaktix begins their 2015 demo with four seconds of silence and then with a quick build-up to fast, hardcore anarcho-punk right out of Lithuania, home of famous anarchist Emma Goldman. For all you black metal fans out there, if you don't mind the faster pace of punk, this is a must-hear! Their first track Uniformed Freedom carried a harder, faster yet just as hardcore sound comparative to anarcho-punk band The Profits, yet also without female vocals and much darker. Their second track Humanity has vocals that are less intensive with a drained despair echoing through them while the music carries the singer through a slightly less fast track where the drummer does not want to slow down.

Their third track, Reason begins with a much slower tempo, but the singer sounds briefly revived from his drained despair. The song does pick up speed, but enough to equate to the first track. Regardless, the third track is a good listen as you begin to hear the band's raw power in their screaming chorus. Their fourth track, Mass Extinction, begins off with a very metal sound with very metal vocals that declares the band absolutely within the realm of black metal, though the band begins to yearn for the fast pace of punk and carries off with it while still carrying that love of metal along with them as their power chords come into play.

Last but not least, their track Warzone builds quickly with an Oi! hardcore anarcho-punk sound akin to their first track which reminds me of a non-anarchist Oi! punk bands like Agnostic Front or Warzone (the band) if they played anarcho-punk with power chords and sang a little black metal.

Monday, October 19, 2015

Ominous Hymn - "Promo EP" (2015)




Ominous Hymn - "Promo EP"

Year: 2015
Genre: Black Metal
Country: United States

Track List:
  1. Parasitic Virtue
  2. Banners Raised Against God and Creation
  3. As Earth and Heaven Burn
Bandcamp//Facebook

What first stood out to me about Ominous Hymn is how honest the music is. It's black metal. No silly gimmicks or run through sub genres. The members don't have demonic alias' or wear corpse paint to look more sinister. It's just honest music played by hard working musicians because they love the art. Now onto the music! This is a Promo EP of three songs. Through the three tracks you can hear the numerous inspirations (Inquisition, Deathspell Omega, Darkthrone) and is well recorded without losing a certain unpolished grime. My only real complaint being that the drums sound a little too triggered. I was especially fond of the guitar that is very musical but just so perfectly raw. My favorite track is by far "As Earth and Heaven Burn" which is a spectacular piece of music. The ending arpeggio riff has been stuck in my head for several days now. Even after many plays I find myself coming back to hear it over and over. 

Leadeater - "Oxalis" (2015)

Leadeater - "Oxalis"

Year: 2015
Genre: Black Metal, Dark Ambience
Country: United States

Track List:
  1. Oxalis
bandcamp

Leadeater begins with a sound very ambiguous, yet dark. They then harken back to the time of the 90s grunge and punk at about a minute in with a slow, rhythmic guitar that continues the musical interlude, without vocals. Their music slowly builds up to an explosion of bitter frustration with vocals after the five minute mark, which descends slightly more rapidly into despair and frustration. Eventually this mesh of feelings comes together and fuels more of the fire that is urgent need resulting in despair and frustration which is the constant showcase of the song throughout. The song was a bit too repetitious for my taste for the first 12 and a half minutes, but regardless it was done skillfully, albeit repetitiously.

Afterwards, the dark ambience sometimes doesn't sound so dark as it sounds like a popular 90s rock song as a musical interlude, in my opinion until the twenty minute and thirty second marker where the song explodes and becomes the rightful black metal/dark ambience song it deserved to be. Perhaps this is a representation of the Oakland, California music scene and I'm quick to judge, but there seemed to be something missing from the song regarding the modern black metal scene until that last mark at twenty and a half minutes. The dark ambience really sets in afterwards after the twenty-four minute mark.

Altogether, pleased enough with the last eight minutes and first four minutes to say this album is worth the listen. Unfortunately, it was so worth the listen that it's apparently already sold out. Give this band a listen, definitely!

Saturday, October 17, 2015

12 December 2015: RABM festivals in US & UK

First off: thanks to everyone who decided to join this blog as a contributor after Hayduke has left. Looks like I shouldn't be afraid for the future of the blog any more... although let's wait until the end of the year and then see.

Second: the Haglaz Fest III has just ended, but it isn't the only RABM-friendly fest to be held in 2015. On 12th of December, the Black Metal Alliance plans to release the 3rd compilation in the Crushing Intolerance series of anti-NSBM samplers. The release party is planned to be held in the Borg Ward (Milwakee, WI). The lineup consists of bands that I never heard of before, but that's what is good about the BMA - their compilations help to discover a lot of obscure new acts:

Falter MKE - (WI)
Hardcore/Grindcore
http://falterhc.bandcamp.com/

Ashbringer - (MN)
Atmospheric black metal
https://ashbringermusic.bandcamp.com/

Winterbourne WI - (WI)
Atmospheric black metal
http://winterbourne1.bandcamp.com/releases

No Heroes - (MN)
Crust/Grindcore
http://noheroesmn.bandcamp.com/releases

Shadow Lake - (OH)
Black Metal
http://shadowlake.bandcamp.com/releases

Bib - (NE) Members of Bent Life/Powerslop
Punk/Hardcore
https://bibhc.bandcamp.com/releases


facebook

On the same day, a similar fest is to be held in The Lughole (Sheffied, UK). It's called Ruins Fest and organized by Enfer du Nord and The Black Metal Alliance. Participants:


HERETOIR (Augsburg, DE)
Post-black metal. Melancholy, nostalgia, isolation and introspection.
https://heretoir.bandcamp.com/

THRÄNENKIND (Munich, DE)
Green anarchist, civilization-critical post-metal.
https://thraenenkind.bandcamp.com/

MOUNTAINS CRAVE (Leeds)
Intense atmospheric black metal.
http://mountainscrave.bandcamp.com/

MAR (Newcastle)
Bleak misery.
http://maruk.bandcamp.com/

DAWN RAY’D (Liverpool)
Black metal. Ex We Came Out Like Tigers.
http://dawnrayd.bandcamp.com/

NARAYANA (Leeds)
Negative grinding black metal
https://www.facebook.com/narayanaleeds



facebook

P.S. And finally, check out this t-shirt design from Huldrekall / Einsamkeit Tapes:




Thursday, October 15, 2015

Regnvm Animale - "Et sic in infinitum" (2015)

Regnvm Animale - "Et sic in infinitum"

Year: 2015
Genre: Black Metal, Blackened D-Beat/Crust Punk
Country: Sweden

Track List:
  1. Maya
  2. Ars Moriendi
  3. Från bördig jord till salthed
  4. Osäkerhetsprincipen
  5. Förfallet
  6. Och så vidare i evighet
  7. Kassandrarop
  8. Inåt
  9. Grund
bandcamp

Be prepared to wish greetings and solidarity to Regnvm Animale, a black metal d-beat/crust punk band from Sweden. They define themselves as an extreme metal duo. I quote their e-mail in which they write, "The songs on this first release circles around topics like freedom and being trapped and unfree, alienation towards civilization and the state of human society today." Their first track Maya opens and builds suspense in a way that is very thrilling and does deliver. Their second track opens with a unique guitar riff that makes you ponder existence. Although, their second track Ars Moriendi sounds a lot like their fourth track, Osäkerhetsprincipen. Their third track has an equal balance of screaming, singing and instrumental interludes. Then with their fifth track, Förfallet, they build up another calm before the storm that brings you back for more. Their sixth track, Och så vidare i evighet, brings you back slowly again from the second coming of the calm. Their seventh track, Kassandrarop, brings you up to speed with a serious punk rock intro, along with some spoken word with musical interludes that I would regrettably attribute to early AFI (a punk band that isn't anarchist). With their eighth track, Inåt, you feel the closing coming, but don't fret just yet as there is still one more track on the album called Grund which has a primitivist sounding banjo with folk-sounding lyrics.

Monday, October 12, 2015

Wildspeaker - "Survey The Wreckage" (2015)

Wildspeaker - "Survey The Wreckage"

Year: 2015
Genre: Blackened Crust / Hardcore
Country: USA

Track List:
  1. Ouroboros
  2. Survey The Wreckage
  3. Apex Predator
  4. Invasive Species
  5. Overgrown Tomb
  6. Abrupt Decay
  7. Ultimate Price
  8. Path To Exile
  9. Power Lines
  10. Reclamation
Bandcamp / Facebook


"Feminist, anarchist and ultra-leftist blackened crust from Texas. Be warned, this is not shit to be taken lightly – this is the real shit, music of pure intent, songs of absolutely pillaging emotion and desperation. Dragged into unimaginable pits of despair by the furious vocal delivery of singer Natalie, Wildspeaker create songs that sweep through you like a frozen wind of pure desolation and hit you like a hail of bullets, disintegrating your bones. This is crust punk in which all has gone livid, all hope has evaporated, all has ended up in embitterment, in which all prayers have been exhausted, all patience has ended, and all will to understand and tolerate certain things about society have ended in a massive implosion of rage and disillusion. Wildspeaker’s songs are a perfect blend of punk urgency and black metal bitterness." - Mattia A., Cvlt Nation

Tempest - "Self-Titled" (2015)

TEMPEST "Tempest"

Year: 2015
Genre: Blackened Punk, Hardcore Punk
Country: Canada

Track List:
  1. Intro
  2. A Grand Design
  3. Shroud
  4. Sunless Year
  5. Atonement
  6. Wounding Pattern
  7. Deprivation
  8. The Night Remains
bandcamp / facebook

A self-titled demo out from Vancouver, B.C.'s own Tempest, welcome another hardcore punk/black metal band who considers themselves akin to the sound of Buried Inside, Converge, His Hero is Gone, One Eyed God Prophecy, and Fell Voices. I listened and they definitely play hardcore punk in a black metal fashion. Honestly, they're what I thought Amebix would sound like before I had ever heard them before, which is black metal but faster and harder than Amebix actually plays. Dark ambience music with a fast rhythum that doesn't sink your heart too deeply, but it doesn't intend to, because it follows up the dark ambience with fast and speedy punk riffs! I love it. Recording quality is good, though the vocals sound distant at times, but that may be intentional. With songs like A Grand Design and Shroud, I can say it was a good listen with a refreshing mix. Some people love bad quality demos, and while the demo isn't a terrible recording, it could have been polished up or done better. I am just not of the opinion that much anything with dark ambience, even with hardcore punk influences, doesn't set up for a good album with average recording quality, in my opinion. If you give it a listen and like it, though, the album will be on React with Protest records and An Out Recordings later this year.

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Ancient Oak - "Huldufólk" (2013)

ANCIENT OAK "Huldufólk"

Year: 2013
Genre: Instrumental Black/Pagan Metal, Blackened Crust
Country: Russia

Track List:
  1. Intro
  2. The First Step
  3. Your Fear & Troubles
  4. Dreams
  5. Cognition
  6. Enlightenment
bandcamp

And finally, one more thing I wanted to review on here - a cassette from the Moscow-based one-man anarcho-black/pagan metal project Ancient Oak, which was released almost two years ago, but made available for straming on bandcamp only recently. "Huldufólk" is entirely instrumental, just like the rest of Ancient Oak's discography (except for "Den Siste Bastion", which featured some really weak vocal work, without which it'd be much better). Instrumental black metal isn't the easiest thing to make insteresting for a listener, but "Huldufólk" manages to be interesting, even if the quality of production is a little bit flaved. The follow-up release for "Huldufólk", titled "Fight The Beast", isn't available online yet, but it can be purchased on CD from the label (Eerie Torture).

2009-2015

So, today is the 6th anniversary of this blog. I started it on 29 September 2009, initially as an offshoot of the "Anarchist Black Metal" last.fm group which I created several months earlier that year. Back then I couldn't have hoped for it to gain the levels of popularity it enjoys by now, but it happened, thanks for all of those who were with me during these years.

The idea of starting something like this blog came to me even earlier, circa 2007, when I was looking for a thing that's nowadays called the "RABM scene" and realized that there wasn't anything like that back then. After a lot of research, the only thing I could find was the "Black Metal Anarchists" group on Myspace, which had surprisingly many members but not a lot of content. This made me believe there was at least some demand for anarcho-BM, while there was almost no supply at all back then (yes, I knew about Iskra and a handful of early blackened crust bands, but that was all).

After I started this blog, it was amazing for me to find out how many people interested in RABM there actually are. I was receiving band/album suggestions on almost daily basis, and pretty quickly it came to the point when I barely could find some free time to review all of them. While only a minority of these bands were "RABM" in strict sense, it was great to see how many black metal fans and artists are trying to challenge the genre's "fascist" reputation. Nowadays, I think "RABM" is already a pretty widely accepted genre definition which is used in a lot of places other than this blog (only 5 years ago, it was used almost exclusively on here), and it even has Wikipedia articles in 4 languages. Probably not the most reliable indication of success, but it still makes me proud of what I've done over these 6 years.

And now here comes the sad part. As you probably have noticed, there isn't as much activity on thing blog as it was before. There are many reasons for that, but it's mostly because I have less and less faith in the "red" and "anarchist" side of things as days pass by. Those who followed my blog during the last couple of years probably remember my observations on how the positions of many self-proclaimed "red"/"anarchist" organizations have changed to something I don't support at all, including stuff which made me feel like like this poster on Revleft who has quit his organization after they took a position of support for Taliban. I also have noticed that even the "radical" leftist positions nowadays seem to be limited to the support for identity politics and some weak form of social democracy, and that many self-proclaimed "anarchists" or "socialists" are essentially indistinguishable from the mainstream US-style liberals. Sorry, but that's something I didn't sign up for at all. Additionally, there's increasingly toxic atmosphere in the Western anarchist scene, more or less accurately described in an anonymous article titled "Things That Anarchists Say to Me in Private But Never Repeat Publicly". If that's really what anarchism is nowadays, then I don't think I want to be a part of it anymore, nor I feel welcome in such a movement anymore.

Of course, I don't regret anything I've done for the RABM scene, and I still think it's important to help its further development, but I no longer want to be someone that does it, for the reasons I've partially described above. Fortunately I've found people who agreed to continue my job with the "Anarchist Black Metal" VK group, and while I have some problems with doing the same for this blog, I think it's safe to assume that my personal mission with RABM is close to being complete. I probably still would post on here in the future, but only on special occasions, leaving most of the job of reviewing new RABM releases to someone else. As for the broken download links in my posts, most of them have been fixed by now (except maybe in the entries about some obscure releases that aren't that essential to the RABM scene). And finally, thanks again for everyone who supported what I was doing over these years, and stay tuned!

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Australasia - "Notturno" (2015)

AUSTRALASIA "Notturno"

Year: 2015
Genre: Instrumental Post-Metal
Country: Italy

Track List:

  1. Nebula
  2. Eden
  3. Kern
  4. Creature
  5. Invisible
  6. Haxo
  7. Amnesia
  8. Lumen
  9. Notturno
DOWNLOAD

A bit off-topic on here, but this is good music, and its creator apparently reads this blog. I don't think it counts as black metal, but the definitely is significant influence of atmospheric BM, and I'd recommend it mostly to those of my readers who are into post-black metal / blackgaze. The album is almost completely instrumental, although there are some voice samples. The general mood of the album is pretty accurately reflected by the cover artwork, I think.

bandcamp


Haglaz Fest III @ AZ Mülheim, Germany

Until not so long ago, I didn't know there are any RABM festivals in Germany. Turned out there's one, which is going to be held for the 3rd time already: Haglaz Fest III, 16/17 October 2015, AZ Mülheim/Ruhr. Line-up:

Unru [black metal, Bielefeld]
http://unru.bandcamp.com/

Schattenlicht [black metal, Wien]
http://schattenlicht.bandcamp.com/

Paramnesia [black metal, Strasbourg]
http://paramnesiaxpa.bandcamp.com/

Shever [doom, Switzerland]
http://shever.bandcamp.com/

Beltez [black metal]
https://www.facebook.com/Beltez

Urmorth [black metal, Schloss Holte]
https://www.facebook.com/Urmorth

Groll [doom]
http://groll.bandcamp.com/

Elurra [black metal, Mülheim]
http://elurrabeltza.bandcamp.com/

Farson [post black metal, Göttingen]
https://farsonofficial.bandcamp.com/

Victims Of Classwar [dark crust, Leipzig]

https://victimsofclasswar.bandcamp.com/


facebook

Friday, September 25, 2015

Insane Attitude - "Swarming in Decadence" (2015)

INSANE ATTITUDE "Swarming in Decadence"

Year: 2015
Genre: Old School Death Metal
Country: Italy

Track List:
  1. Violent convulsion
  2. A.P.A.B. (All Posers Are Bastards)
  3. Psychotic hangover
DOWNLOAD

Another old school death metal band whose members read and appreciate my blog, this time it's from Italy. They describe their style as "raw old school death metal with some thrash and hardcore influences", which I think is pretty accurate. This particular demo doesn't have political lyrics, but their debut 2008 demo did. They're also are good friends with Ü and Deiezione HC (local far-left wing hardcore band), and take part in anarcho/benefit gigs in social centers.

facebook / youtube

Tombroad - "The Rebel Witches" (2015)

TOMBROAD "The Rebel Witches"

Year: 2015
Genre: Black/Death Metal, Crust
Country: Chile

Track List:
  1. Rebel witches
  2. Términus
  3. Crush the elite!
  4. Orbis
bandcamp

A short demo tape from one of my readers in Chile. A mix of old school death and black metal with a healthy dose of punk, influenced by Venom, Hellhammer and Discharge, with lyrics containing social criticism. All the physical copies of the tape are sold out (traded / sent to zines & labels).

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Anarchists United - "The Repression Chapters" (2015)

ANARCHISTS UNITED "The Repression Chapters"

Year: 2015
Genre: Black/Thrash Metal
Country: USA

Track List:
  1. Stand
  2. Genetically Modified to Experience Agony
  3. Chaos In Fucking Corruption
  4. Left for Dead
  5. Your Lungs Inherit Ashes
  6. Opposition In Our Grasp
  7. Reign of the Corpse-Spawn
bandcamp

Another interesting find from our VK group - a NY-based blackened thrash metal band with an intriguing name and "driving lyrics about issues we face in this world today" (a quote from their bandcamp page). Pretty raw and aggressive stuff, comparable to Infernal Stronghold or Nachzehrer. Like in case with other albums I posted recently without the bands' permission, I'll post only the bandcamp link with streamable tracks, not a direct download link.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Mass Hypnosia - "Attempt To Assassinate" (2010)

MASS HYPNOSIA "Attempt To Assassinate"

Year: 2010
Genre: Death/Thrash Metal
Country: Philippines

Track List:
  1. Attempt to Assassinate
  2. Warface
  3. Traumatic Violence
  4. Stench of Cremation
  5. Fascist
  6. Psychopathic Colony
  7. Tears from the Sky
  8. Kill for the Blood
  9. Asleep or Dead
  10. Denial of Life (Death cover)
DOWNLOAD

The members of this thrash/death band seem to be the real veterans of the metal underground in the Philippines - they're playing metal for about 20 years by now. This particular incarnation of Mass Hypnosia was started in 2009 and released the first full-length album in 2010. Here it is, recommended for those who miss the spirit of late 80's and early 90's thrash metal with a heavy focus on political and societal issues in the lyrics. The band also sent me a promo of their upcoming album "No Mercy For Victory", which you can check out here.

official page

Deafest - "Runoff" (2015)

DEAFEST "Runoff"

Year: 2015
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Country: USA

Track List:
  1. Headwaters
  2. A Creek Split By Rocks
  3. Sculpting Canyons
bandcamp

A new EP from Deafest, a nature-inspired atmospheric BM project from Colorado led by Chase, the organizer of the Black Metal Alliance's Crushing Intolerance Anti-NSBM series of compilations. Like their earlier releases, which were also featured on this blog (but by other editors), this EP is fully instrumental. Turns out they also released a split EP w/ Sinding in February, of which I didn't knew about...

Dawn Ray'd - "A Thorn, A Blight" (2015)

DAWN RAY'D "A Thorn, A Blight"

Year: 2015
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Country: UK

Track List:
  1. Black Cloth
  2. Cauldron Of Rebirth
  3. Strident Voices
  4. At The Still Point
  5. A Colony Of Fevers
  6. Darken the Door
bandcamp

The Anarchist Black Metal group, which I mentioned in my previous entry, is doing very good recently. During the last month it became one of my main sources for new music, especially because most of the stuff I receive by email nowadays is not relevant to the topic of this blog at all. This album was also found there, and judging from the band's interview, they explicitly identify themselves as anarchists. Recommended for those who appreciates atmospheric BM with violin. I'm posting this without the band's permission, so there won't be a direct download link, but the whole EP is streamable off bandcamp anyway.

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Lou Quinse - s/t (2013)

LOU QUINSE "Lou Quinse EP 2008 (2013 reissue)"

Year: 2013
Genre: Black/Folk Metal
Country: Italy

Track List:
  1. Seguida (Per passar lou Rhone / Laou)
  2. Para lo lop
  3. Calant de Villlafranca
  4. Ai vist lo lop
  5. Seguida de boreias a tres temps
  6. Lo pal
bandcamp

An excellent find, thanks to our Anarchist Black Metal VK group: a folk/black metal band who plays traditional folk songs in Occitan language (the only such band I know of) and has connections to the DIY punk/hardcore scene in Turin. Hopefully it'd be OK to post this EP here without the band's permission because "Lou Quinse support free download, copyleft and free information".

"Lou Quinse, It literally means “The Fifteen” in the Francoprovençal dialect, was born in 2006. The meaning of the name does not stop there. The Fifteen is also the number of the Devil in the tarot cards and with this name the Devil is known and called in the French-provençal and Occitan valleys. “Devilish” heavy metal meets a tradition which has never suffered dogma and impositions."

"In 2008 Lou Quinse record their first ep. 5 tracks of Occitan Folk Metal which mixed up alps tradition with extreme music, become a masterpiece with songs like "Calant de Villafranca"and "Para lo lop". Five years later the devil return with a deluxe vinyl edition, remastered by Tino Paratore and a brand new song, "Lo Pal", occitan extreme version of the antifascist catalan anthem by Luis Llach "L'estaca"."