Back with Death Metal Vengeance.

Wow, it's been a while since I last wrote about Metal on this blog. But what can I say, some things just never change. When you love Metal music, you don't switch to Jazz or classical music just because you're grown up and mature. Sure, you can add some other styles and perhaps more socially accepted music to you playlist, but once you're Metal, it's for life, you're doomed. 

The fact that I haven't been around for a while doesn't mean I quit Death Metal. That just can't happen, and I'm about to prove it. 

You guys might remember how thrilled I was about Miasmal in 2011. These young swedes had just released their first album on Dark Descent Records and I was totally exited about it, as it sounded evil, nasty and somehow out of control. Perhaps "dictated by some sort of  great evil power". 

The band's second album Cursed Redeemer was issued earlier this year, on a much bigger record company, Century Media. Obviously, everyone could see the potential of this extraordinary band. And I have to say I was quite surprised by that record. Maybe a little bit disappointed as well. 

Don't get me wrong, this is still top-notch Death Metal; delivered with a bombastic heavy sound. But Miasmal has deliberately chosen to emphasize on the groove, the heaviness and an almost "dancing" beat. Nothing wrong with that obviously, but I sort of miss the darkened evil, black edge to their music. Even the artwork is more colorful than the 2011 s/t release. 

Cursed Redeemer is still a pretty cool record that will force you to headbang all along with tracks like "A Veiled Remembrence" or "Until The Last" (although that might not be such a good idea doctors say). But I'll always prefer the first record, because of the unbelievable creepy sound (maybe not even done on purpose) and it's very dark, evil atmosphere. It just had a little more personality! 

They even have some official videos now! 

If you want some truly evil stuff, you can't miss Degial's first album, Death's Stiking Wings (out on Sepulchral Voice in 2012). I was really waiting for this record to come out since Fred Estby from Dismember told me about them in 2009 during an interview, when I asked him about any new exciting bands he'd discovered. And guess what, he's credited as the producer on this first album! 

There is absolutely no need to write many lines here; you just need to know that if you like Death Metal, then you have to own this record. This is pure evil. If has everything: the speed, the heaviness, the riffs, the darkened atmosphere, the evil vibe and it will freak you out as soon as the opener "Eye Of Buril Tempest" tumbles down. 
All the songs are great on this one, but I particularly enjoy "Swarming", the VERY heavy "Death's Striking Wings", or the twisted "Black Grave (The Gateway)". 

I really enjoy bands like Degial that perpetuate the true death metal tradition, like Kaamos did before them, and Verminous continue to do (from time to time).  

One advantage of telling you about some records that came out a couple of years ago is that I can say it that without any doubt: "Death's Stiking Wings" is one of the best Death Metal records that came out lately. And if you have a chance to see these guys live, don't hesitate; this is the most promising young Death Metal band out there. 

Yath

Revolting’s Hymns Of Ghastly Horror Vs Deserted Fear’s My Empire. And the winner is….FDA Rekotz !

Here are 2 tremendous records I’ve wanted to tell you about for a while now. Better late than never right? Anyways ladies and gentlemen, if you like Death Metal in general, you might want to check these two bands out.

And if you like Death Metal, you probably know about Revolting already. Or at least you know who Rogga Johansson is. This is the man’s 5^th or 6^th Death Metal record this year. Seriously, I lost count. I bought the new The Grotesquery LP earlier, I know about a new Ribspreader album, another one from Those Who Bring The Torture, plus some other new projects the man is working on. Anyways, the guy is a Death Metal universe on his own, and most of the time you can recognize his music just by the insanely heavy sound of his guitar riffs, the massive groove he puts into them and his special guttural voice. 

And the million-dollar question is: what the hell should you get the new Revolting record specifically, when you already have dozens of Rogga’s album, and when you already know that you will NEVER manage to get them all anyway?

Well, the answer is simple: Revolting is pretty different from his usual stuff, it’s more melodic, and kind of mainstream in a way. The melodies stick, they make you feel like dancing and the headbanging is constant. I personally love the choruses, the quick solos and some songs just kick ass, like “The Black Queen” that strongly reminded me of Evocation, another Swedish band that I love (the melodic break in the middle of that song is AWESOME). 

One last thing about this cool record: it’s full of funny references, like that FANTASTIC instrumental called “The Thing That C.H.U.D. Not Be” (man that melody’s so sticky!); or that moment where Rogga screams “MOSH” in the beginning of “Kinderfeeder”. Although there’s not much to say really about this very nice record, I really enjoy listening to it, over and over, it’s like my “mainstream” moment every day.

"The Black Queen" - The awesome song I just told you about! 

Deserted Fear is a new Death Metal power trio from Germany. And honestly, with all the old-school Death Metal bands bursting from all over the world I wasn’t expecting much from another 90’s-nostalgic band. But somehow, My Empire, the band’s first album really impressed me. Don’t get me wrong though, this is pure, classic, unoriginal and by-the-book Death Metal, no more, no less. But shit, the energy and the power on this one are so huge! Listening to this record is a guaranteed moment of pure pleasure. It's all in the heavy riffs, the epic melodies, and Mahne’s crazy voice, like some sort of John Tardy (Obituary) meets Martin Von Drunen (Asphyx). 

Yep, everything's perfectly classic here, even the old-school typical black and white artwork. 

Of course, the moments where these kids bang you head like hell with hammering riffs are great, but what I enjoy the most are the epic songs on this one, more specifically the final pieces “My Empire” and “Bury Your Dead”. 

Here it is; the might "My Empire" song

Don’t ask me to pick a favorite here, these two FDA-Rekotz releases are both fantastic in their own way, they are very complementary and they basically sum-up everything I love about Death Metal (since I’m not into the very extreme and super-fast stuff). 

One pretty impressive thing to note is that after all these years, when everything’s been more or less said and done, some young and hungry bands still manage to compose and record such great Death Metal records!

These are 2 highly recommended albums by Yath

http://www.fda-rekotz.com/gx/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Revolting/144322252254789

http://www.facebook.com/desertedfear