Almost one year after the fabulous demo-tape På Förtvivlans Krön (see update November 10th 2014), Sweden’s devastating army Svärta return with six (mainly lengthy; i.e. in between four and nine minutes) new epics in order to continue their up-marching sonic terror. Be grateful, dear listener, because that former release was quite impressive (I gave it a 90/100-score).
Hatevömit (or Hatevomit, without the ‘¨’) originate from Istanbul, Turkey, and a couple of years ago they (guitarist / bassist Unholy Nuklear Terrorist and vocalist / lyricist Damnare, both formerly in e.g. The Upheaval) joined forces with the Mexican drummer Hugo ‘Revolt’ Olivos from mighty Vomitile.
Goatthroat are a very young yet, at the same time, experienced trio from Germany, with members from Old Skull and As Light Becomes Shadow. After having joined forces in 2014, the members soon recorded ten pieces of purest Evilness and Grimness, gathered under the banner of Rites Of Blasphemy. And for sure these ‘songs’ are rites of blasphemy. The material and the artwork do fit (look at the cover painting and you’ll understand), and so do the sound and atmosphere.
Dalkhu are a Slovenian duo that recorded one full length before (back then Dalkhu were a four-piece), 2010’s Imperator, which was independently released. And now they return with a second one, which was recorded from August 2014 till January 2015 at the Nightside Studio, and mastered at the famous Necromorbus Studio by Tore Stjerna.
It might not be that huge yet, the Middle Eastern scene, but believe me if I say that there are quite a lot of splendid Metal acts out there, despite religious suppression and narrow-minded bullshit. I can sum up quite an impressive list of great projects and bands from Iran, Saudi-Arab, Jordan or U.A.E., but I have to admit that I do not owe anything at all that comes from Lebanon. So, I’m like a virgin experiencing a Tripoli-based for the first time, but besides the bloody deflowering, it isn’t a painful experience at all; on the contrary, it pleases me, it satisfies me…
After one full album and several split-contributions, Volahn, one of the many projects by Eduardo Ramirez, returns with a second full studio album, called Aq’ab’al. This six-tracker ‘symbolizes the earthly dark spaces & those within our own consciousness’. The title stands for the place of rebirth and transformation, a re-generating power, based on the Mayan mythology and beliefs, a returning source of inspiration in many of Eduardo’s projects.
Vargsheim are a band from the Baden-Württemberg region, formed in 2004 as Blutrunst by Harvst, Kaelt and Blutwolf. After the release of the demonstrational recording Eine Nacht In Düsteren Nebeln, guitar player Blutwolf left the band, and Blutrunst changed their moniker into Vargsheim.
Black Lord are a Mexican project by a guy called Black Lord, who takes care of all instruments, with exception of the drum parts, which get performed by nobody else but Astarot, the guy behind great outfits such as Abysmal Depths, Astarot or Alasthor (several releases by these projects, especially done via Satanath Records, have been published on this site, so do not hesitate to read the reviews).
A quick one: Horror Of Naatu are a Polish project, consisting of vocalist / guitar player / bassist / lyricist and composer Hunger and drummer August, both active in Stillborn. With No Hope For No One they bring a handful of own songs and a Cannibal Corpse cover, which was recorded in early 2014 at the Roslyn Studio (I do remember this name from Hell United’s album Aura Damage).
Ad Noctem Funeriis (to my limited knowledge of the Latin language this moniker has been misspelled, but who cares about that) are an Italian act that contributed on a split with defunct Italian band Propaganda in 2008, and that released a first album in very early 2009 (…of Evil and Torment, via Salute Records). Then things went silent, but eventually the band entered the studio again in Winter 2014 in order to record their second full length album.
