30 September 2022

REVEAL FANZINE: ISSUE #15


REVEAL FANZINE: ISSUE #15
Published in September 2022

Interviews: BEGRAVEMENT (USA), NIHILISTIUM (UK), MALAÖUN (Malaysia), DEATH IN COMA (Malaysia), HORDA CANNIBAL (Mexico), NORTAVLAGGH.377 (Singapore) and BLOODBATH RECORDS (Japan). Biographies / Press Releases: A MORS ET BELLO (Mexico), MAXSHIT (Malaysia) and NIHILO (Switzerland). Reviews / News Updates / Others: CABRA INFERNAL (Ecuador), GRIMORIUM VERUM (Ecuador), HELL FURY (Ecuador), ARCHDEMON (Finland), DIABO (Brazil), UNHOLY IMPALER (Italy), KOBOLD (Serbia), IMPIOUS COMMUNION (Mexico), DEVOURER (Sweden), NIHILO (Switzerland), MELEKTAUS (Chile), EXCRUCIATE 666 (France), THE BLACK DISORDER (Poland), ECHELON (UK/Sweden), ONION TERROR (UK) and GREBER (Canada).

Frontcover: BEGRAVEMENT - Death Metal from Minnesota, USA
Backcover: Mörtemiis, The sole genius behind UK’s NIHILISTIUM
Format: 28-pages / A5-sized / English-written
Prices: RM 5 / USD 5 / trade welcomes, write first!

Purchasing/Inquiries:

Download PDF: REVEAL_issue15

REVEAL FANZINE: ISSUE #14


REVEAL FANZINE: ISSUE #14 
Published in September 2022

Interviews: THE REBEL RIOT (Myanmar), NO SECURITY (Malaysia), SERANGGA (Malaysia), DISM (Malaysia), DECEIT (Philippines), DISGIYERA (Philippines) and RIBAG SUDE (Indonesia). Biographies / Press Releases: ÁNGEL PORCO (Argentina), XXII ARCANA (Italy), SEPULCHRAL CURSE (Finland), UNVEILED (Malaysia), REINCARNATED (Thailand) and AZORES & METAL COMPILATION VOL.#1 (Portugal). Reviews / News Updates / Others: ANAMNESIS (Belgium), DERELICTED (Germany), HANDCRAFT (Malaysia), LEVIATHAN PROJECT (USA), SCROLLKEEPER (USA), SERMON (Türkiye), XIRROSSIX (Argentina), MEADOW GROVE (Finland), DOLDREY (Singapore), SKULL SOCIETY (Colombia), HROSSHARSGRANI (Austria), UZIEL MARRATU (Germany) and SLOWLY WE ROT FANZINE (Romania).

Frontcover: Kyaw Kyaw, vocalist/guitarist of THE REBEL RIOT
Backcover: Arol Soleh, guitarist/vocalist of NO SECURITY
Format: 28-pages / A5-sized / English-written
Prices: RM 5 / USD 5 / trade welcomes, write first!

Purchasing/Inquiries:

Download PDF: REVEAL_issue14

29 September 2022

Review: GRIMORIUM VERUM / CABRA INFERNAL - Vientos Del Pasado Y La Maldición Eterna


GRIMORIUM VERUM (Ecuador) / CABRA INFERNAL (Ecuador) - “Vientos Del Pasado Y La Maldición Eterna” Split 2022
Ecuadorian Black Metal heinous conspiracy! A magnificent 2-way split cassette even though the sound quality is not at the best level, but the mission & vision behind it has surpassed everything. This profane alliance entitled “Vientos Del Pasado Y La Maldición Eterna” consists of 7 tracks with around 40 minutes. Grimorium Verum is said to be the first Black Metal act in Ecuador. The band presents 4 tracks; 3 songs recorded in rehearsals in 1998 and never released before and an additional live song are also included. Cabra Infernal contributes 3 songs taken from a rehearsal prior to the recording of their 2 new albums, which were recorded this year 2022. Both of them have a raw sound (because these are rehearsal versions) of Black Metal but each has their own character. Grimorium Verum is more raw and sounds ancient meanwhile Cabra Infernal is quite grim and satanically unholy! Unleashed by Aniquilación Satánica Producciones, this split is indeed something exclusive, containing recording materials from two different times but amalgamated by the same essence. This, a darkest treasure of the mighty Andes, absolutely!
aniquilacionsatanicapro@yahoo.com

Review: HELL FURY / ARCHDEMON / DIABO / UNHOLY IMPALER - Journey Through the Flames of Hatred and Blasphemy (Rehearsal Sessions Vol.1)


HELL FURY (Ecuador) / ARCHDEMON (Finland) / DIABO (Brazil) / UNHOLY IMPALER (Italy) - “Journey Through the Flames of Hatred and Blasphemy (Rehearsal Sessions Vol.1)” Split 2022
This is an utter blasphemy! A four-way split of raw, filthy, and True Black Metal that meant to be forever underground! Unchained under Ancient Cult Records, “Journey Through the Flames of Hatred and Blasphemy (Rehearsal Sessions Vol.1)” features underrated yet low-profile dark demonic legions; Hell Fury (Ecuador), Archdemon (Finland), Diabo (Brazil) and Unholy Impaler (Italy). All four of these bands grew from the same Black Metal roots; hateful, impiously desecrating and utmost unholiness but each of them has grown and sprouted in different branches, bringing forth different and distinctive styles/sub-genres without forgetting the essences of Black Metal. This is the most interesting and most important thing about this split-tape. Satan eternally rules!
aniquilacionsatanicapro@yahoo.com

Review: ECHELON - Open Wide the Adamantine Gates


ECHELON (UK/Sweden) - “Open Wide the Adamantine Gates” Full-length 2022
Echelon is a Death Metal supergroup with members of Hail of Bullets, Bolt Thrower, Paganizer, Benediction, Johansson & Speckmann, Putrevore, Ribspreader and more! It’s an exclusive project of Dave Ingram (vocals) and Rogga Johansson (guitars), teamed up with Johan Berglund (bass) and Brynjar (drums). “Open Wide the Adamantine Gates” released on June 30, 2022 by the Mexican label - Iron, Blood and Death Corporation - is actually the third full-length from this band after “Indulgence over Abstinence Behind the Obsidian Veil” (2015) and “The Brimstone Aggrandizement” (2016). What can you expect and get from Echelon which consists of big names in the international Death Metal scene? Yes, it is perfect and high quality Death Metal in many respects, no doubt about that. “Open Wide the Adamantine Gates” comprises 10 songs (almost 40 minutes) of old-school Death Metal at its purest form, an amalgamation of British undead brutalities and Swedish melodic classics, a reminiscence of 80s/90s Death Metal undisputed heyday, and it’s charged with more hate and darkness! This is unblemished Death Metal that is very powerful and really nostalgic, created for fans of Bolt Thrower, Benediction, Dismember and Carnage. Highly recommended!

Review: THE BLACK DISORDER - The Acceptance of Humiliation


THE BLACK DISORDER (Poland) - “The Acceptance of Humiliation” Full-length 2022
The Black Disorder from Poland released a 3-track EP entitled “Monuments of Spiritual Atrocities” in October 2019. They next returned with the 8-track (41:19 minutes) full album “The Acceptance of Humiliation” in April 2022, unleashed through Iron, Blood and Death Corporation. Excellently enriched with diversified mayhemic riffs, infused with some haunting melodic parts and fearfully obscure vocals. The Black Disorder is also quite bold in its approach of some experimental features without leaving aside Black Metal essentials. Without question, this is Black Metal the way it should be.

Review: EXCRUCIATE 666 - Antic Warlord Supremacy


EXCRUCIATE 666 (France) - “Antic Warlord Supremacy” Full-length 2022
French gods of war are here again! Excruciate 666 unleashed its fourth full-length “Antic Warlord Supremacy” and it is a total explosion and massive destruction. Previously released three albums; “Riding Fires of Hate” (2010), “Rites of Torturers” (2013) and “Porkus Filth’s Crusher” (2019), Excruciate 666 through this new one - 9 tracks / 38:53 minutes - has continued their supremely dark and evil tradition. Uncompromising War Black Metal anthems, full of savagery and wickedness. “Antic Warlord Supremacy” is infernally demonic and apocalyptic!

Review: MELEKTAUS - Transcendence Through Ethereal Scourge


MELEKTAUS (Chile) - “Transcendence Through Ethereal Scourge” Full-length 2004, Reissued 2022
The debut 2004 full-length entitled “Transcendence Through Ethereal Scourge” from Chilean Santiago’s Melektaus is absolutely sinistrous! Remastered and re-released by Iron, Blood and Death Corporation on February 28th, 2022 the album contains 9 songs (34:40 minutes) of brutally vicious and ferocious Death Metal, some doom-laden passages, unrelenting razorsharp riffages, hyperblasting drums, cruelly guttural growls, and with exceptional sound quality. Some epic and classic elements have added value to the overall greatness of this album, and it’s for those who dig Morbid Angel, Behemoth, Nile and Slayer.

Review: NIHILO - Resolution


NIHILO (Switzerland) - “Resolution” Full-length 2022
Death Metal at its finest way! Old-school, crushing and dark! “Resolution” is the fourth full-length of Nihilo, released on February 25, 2022 via Iron, Blood and Death Corporation. It’s a massive evolution, a significant follow-up to the previous albums; “Concordia Perpetua” (2010, self released), “Dum Spiro Spero” (2014, Subversive Records) and “Doom” (2018, Art Gates Records). Hailing from Switzerland, Nihilo has recorded and included 11 tracks in "Resolution", mixed and mastered by Patrick W. Engel at Temple of Disharmony in August - September 2021. Musically heavy and intense, Nihilo is there for the Death Metal renaissance in the Swiss underground!

Review: DEVOURER - Raptus


DEVOURER (Sweden) - “Raptus” Full-length 2022
Another superstitious release of Mexican label - Iron, Blood and Death Corporation. “Raptus” is extremely blackened metal genocide unleashed by a Swedish quartet who call themselves Devourer. This band was established in Sandviken, Gävleborg around 2002. This means that “Raptus” which was released on February 7, 2022 is an album that celebrates the 20th anniversary of their existence and this is the fourth full-length in their musical career. Devourer has previously produced three albums; “All Hope Abandon” (2013), “Across the Empty Plains” (2017) and “Dawn of Extinction” in addition to two demos and an EP. "Raptus" has comprised a total of 9 songs, approximately 42 minutes of unchallenged Black/Death metal occultism, fulfilled with rigorous ideas, vigorous songwriting, rancorous vocals and of all, murderous sound quality! Lined up by experienced musicians (having played with so many bands before) consisting of John Falk (guitars), Johan Wikholm (guitars), Fredrik Håf (vocals) and Oksana Falk (bass), Devourer is an example of a band that is in a class of its own… and it’s ultimately amazing!

Review: IMPIOUS COMMUNION - Prophecies of Catholic Extermination


IMPIOUS COMMUNION (Mexico) - “Prophecies of Catholic Extermination” Full-length 2022
Impious Communion is a Death/Black Metal project from Chihuahua - Mexico, formed in 2019 by two members of the band Mortigena. Consisting of Alan (vocals/guitars), Hircus (vocals/bass) and Nekron (drums), Impious Communion has recorded and released their debut 8 tracks full-length album CD officially on January 31st, 2022 under the banner of Iron, Blood and Death Corporation. “Prophecies of Catholic Extermination” offers a true interpretation of Black/Death Metal, hellishly empowered with impious riffages and uncompromising song compositions, viciously unrelenting drum attacks and cruelly strike through double devilish vocals. Everything sounds dark, sinister and supremely blasphemous! To conclude it all, this is 42:55 minutes of utterly satanic and anti-religion deification!

Review: KOBOLD - Technofascism


KOBOLD (Serbia) - “Technofascism” Full-length 2022
Absolutely an excellent thrash / speed metal album from Serbia’s Kobold. “Technofascism” is the third full-length from this Belgrade-based band, a follow-up to the previous two albums; “Death Parade” (2017) and “Masterpace” (2019). It contains 10 songs / 46:40 minutes of brutally executed and heavily speed, fast thrashing maniacal; packed with aggressive and technical riffs, hostile drummings, ferocious vocals (on both deadly screams and clean singing). Superlative songwriting and sound nuances that will remind you of bands such as Anthrax, Exodus, Kreator, Megadeth and the like. A killer thrash-metal release of Mexican label - Iron, Blood and Death Corporation.

Review: ONION TERROR / HORDA CANNIBAL - Human Stew


ONION TERROR (UK) / HORDA CANNIBAL (Mexico) - “Human Stew” Split 2022
Are you looking for some sick noisy stuff? If that’s what you seek, then I won’t hesitate to recommend this one… a split entitled “Human Stew” under the conspiracy of Onion Terror (from York, UK) and Horda Cannibal (from Campeche, Mexico). This is sick, sicker and even sickest rotten music to feed your greedy needs! The split has started with 7 tracks from Onion Terror, some new songs and re-recorded some covers. Extremely fast, short and in-your-face rawgrind / noise-to-the-core with heartbreaking screams from this 2-piece grindcore outfit. The remaining 5 tracks from Horda Cannibal where they decided to use the recording made by streaming Indie Fest Sauvage (in November 2021). Relentless heavy and brutal putrefying goregrind with cutthroat guttural voices. “Human Stew” is almost 27 minutes of insane, stinky and notorious sense of humor.

Review: HORDA CANNIBAL - Festival de Carne


HORDA CANNIBAL (Mexico) - “Festival de Carne” EP 2020
Brutality, gory, infinite grinding to death! This conclusion is enough to translate how terrible the EP entitled “Festival de Carne” from Mexican heavyweights Horda Cannibal is. The EP offers six tracks (around 14:35 minutes) crammed with bloody raw and aggressive noises! Horda Cannibal intelligently blend Brutal Death Metal, old-school Grindcore, Deathgrind and gore/horror elements in their musical works, making this band a goregrind unit that needs to be paid attention to. Their sound is truly intense, dominated with very tough riffs, inhuman blastbeats and monstrous vocals. You should listen to it because it will rot your flesh mercilessly!

Review: V.A. - Azores & Metal Vol #1


V.A. - Azores & Metal Vol #1 (Compilation 2021)
The Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal, are an archipelago in the mid-Atlantic. This is an enormous initiative by the Museu do Heavy Metal Açoriano bringing together 17 metal/underground bands from the Azorean islands in a CD compilation. You can listen and enjoy 17 songs in different music styles and varied genres. I don’t have any single favourite because I love all the bands, truly appreciate them all. You won’t always be able to have an exclusive compilation like this. Hope there will be a second volume later.

Review: SERMON - Single 2022


SERMON - Single 2022
Turkish Doom Death Metal act Sermon has made a comeback after a long hiatus. Based in İzmir, the band was formed in 1997 and released their debut demo “Cosmic Prisoner” that year. Then followed by two more demos; “Sea of Meanings” (1999) and “Insanity” (2004) before disappearing from the scene for about 14 years. Currently comprised of Harun Altun (vocals), Durmuş Kalin (lead guitars) and Cem Barut (rhythm guitars), Sermon has launched their new singles on February 26, 2022 featuring 3 lengthy tracks; Posthumous (8:38) / Requitement (6:33) / Destined to Decline (8:21). These promo songs are said to be included in their upcoming album tentatively entitled “Till Birth Do Us Part”, schedule to be available through Earache Digital Distribution. Although not directly signed under Earache Records, being given the space to be in the digital platform of this prestigious label is actually an achievement to be proud of. I’m not sure where Sermon get the inspirations for their music, but my sense strongly felt that there are huge influences from UK Doom Metal classics such as Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, Cathedral, Anathema and Solstice, and may also be infused with Swedish doom/death elements f.ex Candlemass, Tiamat, Entombed, Katatonia, Grave (just to name a few). Atmospheric, gloomy and epic characteristics stand out in Sermon’s workpieces, well-composed and well-incorporated in their heavy riffs and loud sound. The melodic parts really caught my ear, as if there were touches of Turkish native cultures and traditions. And the vocals are undeniably tremendous. Based on these 3 monumental tracks, I expect their upcoming album to be something phenomenal!

Review: SCROLLKEEPER - Misery


SCROLLKEEPER - “Misery” Single 2022
The US Heavy Metal torchbearer is return with a new composition, “Misery” released on July 1st, 2022 and it is the first single from their next 3-song EP entitled “Wetiko” which scheduled to be unleash in the coming September. The 3:27 minutes “Misery” is undoubtedly a superb track, decent and adequate in each requirement of Heavy Metal anthem. You will detect a very interesting progress from Scrollkeeper. The presence of Andreas “Neudi” Neuderth (Manilla Road, Trance, Sudden Darkness, etc) on drums and keyboardist Velizar “Villie” Shumanov teamed up with Justin McKittrick (vocals), Alex Kamburov (guitars) and Andrew Sutton (bass) has had a massive impact on the entire quality of the band. Scrollkeeper is here bringing Heavy Metal back to the World!!

Review: SCROLLKEEPER - Auto da Fe


SCROLLKEEPER - “Auto da Fe” Full-length 2021
Scrollkeeper is a Traditional Heavy Metal act hailing from Houston, Texas that specializes in high energy, anthemic original material that is reminiscent of Metal’s halcyon days. After giving birth to their first baby, “Path to Glory” EP in September 2018, Scrollkeeper has recorded several singles and these are part of their chronology in releasing their stunning debut full-length album, “Auto da Fe” which has been officially released (digitally) on June 19, 2020. A total of 11 songs have been featured, including an instrumental on the first track (as an intro). The CD version released by the Brazilian label True Metal Records has also inserted two additional bonus songs including “Hellion”, a W.A.S.P. cover. This is an album that is truly the best in many aspects; songwriting, recording quality and sound production. I think Scrollkeeper is also influenced by the power/speed/thrash metal sub-genres based on the high-pitched vocals and the guitar riffs. In many cases, Traditional Heavy Metal that is truly classic and epic is dominant in overall presentations of the band. Recommended for all metalbangers!

Review: LEVIATHAN PROJECT - Staring Away (The Darkness)


LEVIATHAN PROJECT - “Staring Away (The Darkness)” Single 2022
This is classic Heavy Metal from Orlando, Florida. Actually, I don’t know much about Leviathan Project except referring to Encyclopaedia Metallum shows that this band has released two EPs and three full-length albums in a short period of 2 years (2021-2022). It’s indeed an interesting movement. The new single ‘Staring Away (The Darkness)’ which was released on July 15, 2022 is truly a well-composed and powerful track, an aggressive and captivating sound that combines traditional Heavy Metal with catchy melodies, haunting vocals and other worldly guitars. The quality of this band is undeniable. It’s no wonder why they’re so good because guitarist Bobby Koelble is ex-Death while vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens used to be with Judas Priest.

Review: HANDCRAFT - Experimental Play


HANDCRAFT - “Experimental Play” Demo/EP 2022
Cosmic/Space Rock? Alternative/Post-Metal? Hellyeah, you can call it anything based on your own interpretation. Everything here in this 3-tracks Demo/EP (approximately 15 minutes in total) are well-thought heaviness, experimenting with varied ideas in riffs, beats & arrangements; which has produced something that sounds fresh, modern and energetic. While the first two songs which are instrumentals play a lot with technicality and strokes, the third and longest track ‘Approaching the Light in a Chaotic Dream’ is rich with blackmetal/shoegaze elements that are engrossing. Well, Malaysia’s Handcraft is another brainchild of Hazree who is also known through many bands/projects such as Shitnoise Bastards, Badass Farmer, Ragebomb, Death To All Politicians and many others (mostly into grindcore/noisecore), Thyroid (Death Metal), Pruinosus (Black Metals), etc. Handcraft is a quite different offering from this multi-talented musician. Hats off!

Review: DERELICTED - 4th Age


DERELICTED - “4th Age” EP 2021
Wonderful, truthfully delightful! You should listen to the music of this band, I am sure you will fall in love with it all of a sudden. That’s what happened to me. Derelicted is a Doom Death Metal project from Gelsenkirchen, Germany and has released the 4 tracks EP titled “4th Age” in August 2021 which (said to be) based on Tolkien’s work. Musically, it is rooted in heavy and slow-tempo Doom Death, empowered by enchanting melodic and dreamy dark elements. In some tracks, gothic and progressive elements can also be heard. Riffages are well-structured while the music arrangement is clever, in addition to strong & great vocals. If you have ever listened to their debut single “Cataclysm” (released on April 2020), you will easily find that Derelicted is much more focused and even more mature through this “4th Age” EP.

Review: ANAMNESIS - Mens-Sana


ANAMNESIS - “Mens-Sana” EP 2022
Based in Hannut (located in the province of Liège, Belgium), Anamnesis is a new name to watch out for! The band has released their debut, 5-songs “Mens-Sana” EP on April 14, 2022 which is the result of recording and mixing at Noise Factory Studio. It is about 23:30 of heavyweight Metal threat; Stoner/Sludgy Doom oriented music with a large amount of melancholic atmospheres accentuated by samples and synthesized sounds. It is like you have been taken to a dark and gloomy valley and there you have been hit hard by fear, anger, sadness, hatred and everything that leads to self-destruction. Anamnesis is genuinely intelligent in defining pain & misery through their music and surely they will continue to evolve even more in the future.
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)