Bastard Altar –
“Struggling Beams of a Waning Moon” (Geistraum Records / Escafismo Records,
2021)
You probably heard of Bow Wielder
before, right? A Raw Black Punk Metal act from Virginia, USA. Well, the lad
behind this insane entity created one more of these insane entities, by the
name of Bastard Altar. Unlike its odd brother, Bastard Altar lives on a slightly
distinct universe. Wait, we still have powerful moments of rage and
aggressiveness, but Ben added an element that I have loved since I first
started with black metal: keyboards. Those small, very well-placed moments,
where the keyboard is the most important element in the song… it is amazing. It
is, indeed, a relatively short Demo, but a gigantic one at the same time.
2 songs, 2 instrumental moments (Intro
and Interlude). These moments where no voice is heard, are particularly
intense, in my opinion. Peaceful and slow, we get entangled in its webs, its
melodies that lure us into this black, bottomless pit, claustrophobic abyss…
this is Black Metal at its best. Call it Raw, call it Melodic, I have no
interest in labeling it, if I may be honest. It still holds aa bit of that rage
we get from Bow Wielder, yet it is much more controlled, directed if I may,
instead of just exploding, and hitting everything and everyone around.
Masterfully crafted, completely.
“A Glacial Tomb” ends the release, and
what an ending. Majestically, without a doubt. In line with the title, it takes
me to cold mountains and snowy days. The keyboards do help in giving it that
winter vibe. Nonetheless, it is a remarkable release, a very cold and beautiful
concept of Black Metal. Slow to mid-paced rhythm, melodic riff, hollowing
vocals, charging drums, all is perfectly aligned.
Beyond Helvete - “Anthem of Decay” (Immortal Frost Productions, 2022). Immortal Frost Productions has given us 2 tremendous Black Metal works this year: Corpus Christii and Pyra. Both different, but both within the realm of Black Metal (and Death Metal). This work, by Beyond Helvete, is the 3 rd IFP work I have access to, and we again drop into the universe of Black Metal. Slightly different from the already mentioned ones, but still ferocious and full of power. Beyond Helvete has been around since 2007, and Natrgaard, the man behind it, has been delivering the goods. Imagine the strength of a band like Marduk, that endurance, that consistent show of power… Beyond Helvete lives in a similar bubble, although not reaching the quality the Swedes have gathered throughout these many years of presence in the Black Metal Global scene. Nonetheless, it sounds as a good example to describe one of the facets of the German musician without limiting it to A or B. The track that names the alb...
Psychonaut 4 “… Of Mourning” (Immortal Frost Productions, 2024) Psychonaut 4 have been spreading their specific human condition for several years now, 14 to be more precise, and only now have I contacted their sound! The name was well-known, but the music was not. I have never been a fan of the more depressive side of the genre, and these lads live inside that sphere; thing is, their sound has small details that sound differently. There is a different dynamic in all their sound, an almost progressive and psychedelic approach. No, not a Floydian one, ok? They have guitar solos that sound quite cheerful. Wait… are they not on the depressive side of the globe? Maybe they are… The more you listen to this record, the more you are able to hear the different moments the band has crafted. Several emotions and stages of existence. Funny how their sound has these 2 opponent personas: sadness and joyfulness. Well, I can hear and feel moments of clarity and clear skies. But sadness does ...
Kratti “Matka Kohti Kosmista” (Signal Rex, 2024) “Kratti are the ascending newcomers of the bleak fields of Finnish Black Metal!” That is one bold statement, right? You need to be good at something before you go out and say that. Well… let’s find out. Kratti is a 3 man Finnish straight to the throat Black Metal act. They do have a point when they state they are the “…ascending newcomers…”, for their sound is stone cold ripping Black Metal. It is Finnish, and you can almost feel it in your bones. The melodies merged with that Finnish violence – that is not violence, but a harsher approach – that we all love. Come on! It is hard not to enjoy what the Finns have been doing for decades, their mastered sound, their own vision of Black Metal… Kratti goes down that path, successfully, and oh man! I was never into complex music, maybe due to my Hardcore Punk background, so when a band goes straight to the point, I am in for the ride. To say that these lads are doing something tha...
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