477. Bedemon - Child of Darkness

Genre: Traditional Doom
Origin: USA
Release Date: 2005 (Recorded in ???)
Label: Black Widow Records

Bedemon was basically a side project from the guys in a band called Pentagram. Don't think that this is a copycat band of Pentagram, though. This is great early Doom Metal with a big folk tinge to it. This is a collection of remastered tapes recorded God knows when.

The production is, for the most part, shitty. It wasn't recorded bad on purpose, it's just all the band had at the time. Back in the 70s you couldn't just plug your amp into the soundcard of you computer. You had to record analog, with tape. This is a live recording, I think, and it was recorded in Pentagram's rehearsal room. Kvlt.

However, these "problems" add heavy charisma and a unique touch to the album. The songs are VERY memorable, catchy, and have well written lyrics that read like a folk tale. There is a heavy blues influence as well as the folk influence.

It's not very "intense" and it is pretty relaxing.

Don't blast it in the car. Please.

1.	Child of Darkness	04:13
2.	Enslaver of Humanity	02:55
3.	Frozen Fear	04:14
4.	One-way Road	02:47
5.	Serpent Venom	03:56
6.	Last Call	03:07
7.	Drive Me to the Grave	03:21
8.	Into the Grave	03:15
9.	Skinned	02:09
10.	Through the Gates of Hell	03:32
11.	Touch the Sky	05:06
12.	Child of Darkness II	03:02
13.	Time Bomb	04:28
14.	Nighttime Killers	03:46
15.	Axe to Grind	05:26

Metal-Archives
A savior will walk the Earth again they say.

#478. Cyst - Concussion Symphony

Genre: Thrash Metal
Origin: USA
Year: 2002
Label: Hook N Mouth Records

Just before the infamous "thrash revival" there was a small band from West Palm Beach, Florida (which is my hometown :)) names Cyst, who loved nothing more than to pump out homage to bands like Slayer and Demolition Hammer. This sounds kinda like a cross between the two: Slayer's blistering riffage with the slower, groovy riffs of Demolition hammer. The vocals sound almost like Araya himself is at the mic. Hell, the last song on the album is a Slayer cover.

This isn't too original. This really isn't anything we haven't heard before. But, it's not supposed to be. It's thrash, for Heaven's sake! These guys thrash so hard, with so much energy, you just wonder how many guitar strings or drum heads Cyst goes through every day. This will get you moving, this will make you want to shove your fist through a wall.

It's a wonder how Cyst never gained any popularity while bands like Skeletonwitch are on major tours around the world. *sigh* the mysteries of life ;)

1.	Curse the Fates	03:53
2.	Syst	02:55
3.	I'll Break You Back	03:19
4.	Without a Sound	05:10
5.	Shield the Beating	04:22
6.	Inhuman	03:56
7.	Become Wrath	02:25
8.	The Deterioration of the American Psyche	04:15
9.	Angel of Death (Slayer cover)	03:49
Total playing time		33:15

Metal-Archives
The cause of injury.

#479. Pagan Altar - Mythical and Magical

Genre: NWOBHM/Doom/Folk
Origin: United Kingdom
Year: 2006
Label: Oracle

Who do you think of when "best metal guitar player" is mentioned? Chuck Schuldiner, Ron Jarzombek? Glenn Tipton? If so, you're wrong. Alan Jones is the best guitar player I've ever heard. He doesn't "shred" or "sweep" all the time, but he writes just awesome lead lines one after another. This guy has a whole arsenal of leads in his mind, and he is not holding back to fire them out at you.

Ok, now that the inevitable is out of the way, lets take a look at Pagan Altar's third album in 32 years, Mythical and Magical. If you like folky stuff with a doom edge to it, look no further. Classic song after classic song, it is especially hard to believe that this is anything recent. This sounds like it was recorded back before Candlemass, before Trouble, and just after Black Sabbath. There are little to none modern doom influences in here, and this has a HUGE NWOBHM vibe to it.

The vocals could get on some people's nerves. They are very, very nasal, kinda like Mark Shelton, but ever more nasally. Might as well just sing through his nose. This is a plus for me, though. The are very powerful, sometimes overpowering at some times. This benefits the music in my opinion, but I can understand how others might think otherwise.

So this album, yes it's amazing. It has made me bang my head, and it has made me cry. Few albums can make one cry, but this is one of them. Get it immediately.

1.	Intro	00:43
2.	Samhein	05:30
3.	The Cry of the Banshee	05:15
4.	The Crowman	05:36
5.	Daemoni na Hoiche	05:14
6.	The Sorcerer	07:40
7.	Flight of the Witch Queen	04:10
8.	Dance of the Druids	07:26
9.	The Erl King	08:22
10.	The Witches Pathway	05:13
11.	Sharnie	01:20
12.	The Rising of the Dark Lord	08:42
Total playing time		01:05:11

Metal-Archives
Beware the Raven that stands alone, the one that watches and waits

#480. Kataxu - Roots Thunder

Genre: NS Black Metal
Origin: Poland
Release Date: 2000
Label: Slava Productions

NSBM. Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it. In this case I love it dearly with all my heart. Kataxu was actually one of the first black metal bands I got into, and I stumbled upon them while reading random reviews on a website.

This album is drenched in keyboards. They are everywhere. But, where most bands fail with the keyboard, this does the opposite. Captivating and emotional melodies meld together seamlessly, while epic and beautiful landscapes are created. This album fills you with wonder of natural beauty.

There are two metal tracks here, My Name Through the Forest and the title track. In between those songs are fantastic ambient songs. This is atmosphere, atmosphere, atmosphere. The title track is probably the best song here, where near the middle of the song a sharp-sounding riff with thunder in the background comes up, and sends shivers down your spine. All 11 minutes of this song is pure sonic pleasure.

1.	Intro	02:59
2.	My Name from the Forest	07:14
3.	War	05:07
4.	Roots Thunder	11:32
5.	Nawia	03:19
Total playing time		30:11

Metal-Archives
Sonic Orgasm

#481. Black Sabbath - Master of Reality

Genre: Traditional/Stoner Doom
Origin: United Kingdom
Release Date: 1971
Label: Warner

Ok, so this isn't underground in the least. But, hey, fuck you. This is the very first metal album I ever owned.

People get "into" metal through the more popular, mainstream bands. We didn't just start out liking Entombed. All of us at one point liked some embarrassing albums, too, whether they be Korn, Slipknot, or Poison. But anyway, some go through Metallica, some Megadeth, but my entry into metal was Black Sabbath, with Master of Reality, still one of the heaviest albums ever created. To think that this was recorded in fucking 1971 blows my mind. If I listened to this at that time I would've shat concrete blocks (made of weed)

There is a ton of psychedelic goodness here, with doomy, stonerific riffs. The riffs are just fantastic. If you thought that Dave Mustaine or Chuck Schuldiner were the best metal guitarists, then you are greatly mistaken, as proven by these monstrous riffs that roll over you with the force of a wave and the power of a fucking howitzer.

Among the sludge and doom riffage, though, are some slower tracks. "Solitude" is the only real soft song (the others are and intro and an interlude) but it is very neat. Arguably the first of a bajillion doom songs with the same name, the title fits the song perfectly. It's relaxing bass line and emotional lead playing really show the charisma that the band members share with each other.

The soft song leads into the heaviest song on the album, the epic and classic closer "Into the Void." Almost 30 years later, it still has some of the heaviest riffs known to man. Every instruments here ups the heavy factor by "1."

Bonus points for Geezer (fitting name, nowadays) here, the bass is very, very audible and the bass lines are excellent. He really paved the way for his instrument in heavy metal.

Sorry if this short review is a bit incoherent, because there is so much to say about this album. Listen for yourself, and take a trip - INTO THE VOID! (lame...)

1.	Sweet Leaf	05:05
2.	After Forever	05:26
3.	Embryo	00:28
4.	Children of the Grave	05:17
5.	Orchid	01:31
6.	Lord of This World	05:26
7.	Solitude	05:02
8.	Into the Void	06:12
Total playing time		34:27

Metal-Archives
*link removed because of DMCA complaint. However, I now strongly suggest that you download the album, and then give all of your friends the mp3 files.*

#482. Forest of Shadows - Where Dreams Turn to Dust EP

Genre: Death/Doom
Origin: Sweden
Release Date: 2001
Label: Rage of Achilles

Here we have an EP/demo from a now solo project that has been rereleased a whole bunch of times, and for good reason. This is a fairly long EP, at almost 30 minutes, but it is far, far too short. All three songs on here are fantastic, and I can play this thing 3 or 4 times in a row.

What really excels here are the melodies of each song. The clean vocals are excellent, and I really wished he used them more, and the growls are above average, and intelligible. Good lyrics, also.

I'm not sure if the drumming is programmed or not, but it fits. Not the spotlight here. Everything is focused on the melodies. Now, they aren't sweet, sugary melodies like that of Iron Maiden, they are melancholic and emotional. This guy pours emotion straight from his heart onto the music, and I can tell that he passionately wrote it. He really isn't just going through the motions here. "Wish" is probably my favorite song on here, with the beautiful clean-sung section.

1.	Eternal Autumn	09:24
2.	Wish	08:20
3.	Of Sorrow Blue	11:30
Total playing time		29:14

Metal-Archives
Brown leaves and chilly air

#483. Striborg - Southwest Passage

Genre: Black Metal
Origin: Tasmania
Release Date: 2009
Label: Displeased Records

The word "haunting" is thrown around a lot in relation to describing black metal bands these days. Lots of bands attempt to achieve that sound, but most of them fail. Striborg, on the other hand, win in every aspect of the word.

This album is a journey through the Southwest Passage, a long forgotten trail through a dense forest. You walk through the passage, encountering lost spirits and fantastic auroras of beauty and despair. Emotions inside of you change throughout the journey, when you're happy and peaceful at some points yet frightened at others. Every secret that the forest holds is intriguing, but only if you pay close attention (no driving through this forest!).

Thanks to Lord Kur from Hatred Nation for showing me the passage.

1.	Southwest Passage	06:58
2.	All Contempt Reciprocated	06:50
3.	Human Extinction	09:14
4.	Dwelling in the Fullmoon Forests	06:52
5.	Obscure and Darkened Contemplation	06:32
6.	Requiem for a Lonely Ghost	03:20
Total playing time		40:0

Metal-Archives
Take a hike