Lord Valtgryftake - “Buried Under the Carved Runes” (Inferna Profundus Records, 2022)

I dare say this name is known to a large proportion of Black Metal fans, at least the ones that tackle with the rawer side of the genre. Besides being a known name, his work is also well known, which will not surprise anyone when I say this record is a very likeable example of a ferocious incarnation of Black Metal. Production wise, it is rotten enough to make me smile, and not too extreme to push me away. Does that make a difference? It might; some records are never supposed to sound good. It sounds odd, right? Maybe it does, but it is true. Take “Centuries of Glorious Wisdom”, and its guitar riffs, filled with melody, yet it still sounds unpleasant and dead. You also have this Punk vein that runs transversal to all the tunes, except for the 2 interludes (“Opferblut I” and “Opferblut II”). Although it is not new, it is hard to obtain such a high level of quality in this "combo". When it reached the end, I felt bruised and tired of the beating, but excited for the experience. 

We are used to a more… orthodox approach from this very nice Artist (yes, he is a very nice and polite person), but this time around he unleashed his more “Fuck the World” persona, and this is the result. Wait, this is not a Black / Punk album, this is a Black Metal album with a Punk vein, which is different. This feeling, as mentioned before, runs throughout the whole of the record, making it a very nice experience. 

Again, no intentions of reinventing the wheel, but to offer a record that respects the genre, and pleases the fans. This is one of those records that has a lot of elements that remind me of the whole characteristic Heavy Metal feeling, be it Heavy, Thrash, Death, Black, Doom… that idea / image you create, as a kid, of what Heavy Metal is. Funny thing. Overall, Carlos Andrés crafted a very impressive piece of Black Metal, disgusting, disgusted and outraged, a spit in the face, a show of revolt. Take it as it is: Black Metal.

Kuka’Ilimoku & Aarkanne - “Ele’Abyssus” (Inferna Profundus Records, 2022)

From Hawaiian’s paradisiac beaches to Seattle’s rainy avenues, Kuwaha’ilo, the ferocious force behind Kuka’Ilimoku, joined forces with Chilean one-man-project, Aarkane. “Ele’Abyssus” is the result of this fusion of minds and visions. Are these 2 similar, sound wise? I dare say there are some connection links, but their approach is somewhat different. This difference gives the artist their very own identity and individuality. There is anger, and distortion, and piercing riffs, but the way they handle melody, is different. Kuwaha’ilo is a much more Punk musician than the man behind the Chilean entity; you can feel that on the drums, mostly. It incorporates that side of the Artist, and it does a good job. I personally found it very basic and uninspired. 

I am not a connoisseur of his work, so it might be wrong, but this release did not impress me. His vocals are, no questions about it, massive. The man can create that atmosphere of Hate and death. That is massive, no doubt. His repetitive riffs can, at times, build up to a really nice climax. Not a majestic release, but a cool one. Aarkanne’s side is slightly different. It is still drenched in that aggressiveness and overall chaotic feeling, but the melodic vein is much more present and takes the wheel in a way his “partner in crime” could not. “Moontower Ecstasy” drags you around, beats you, and leaves you do die. Is it that aggressive? No, not that much, but the range of emotions on this one almost hypnotizes you. Quite interesting. In general, it is a nice release, one that has its aggressive side, its hypnotic side, its melodic side… it touches base in more than one sonic reality within the Black Metal genre. Give it a go.

Inferna Profundus Records Official Bandcamp