Legacy Of Brutality – Path Of Forgotten Souls
My interest was peaked before I even listened to Legacy Of Brutality’s music. Mainly with the hopes that they were named after the beloved Misfits collection of the same name. Well, it becomes obvious real fast that if they are then their music shares no similarities with it. A quick glance at the band photo on the back of the CD case gives better insight into what these guys are all about. Two members are donning Origin and Suffocation shirts, and, oddly enough, another seems to be rocking a Destroyer 666 shirt(gotta respect that!). Tecchnical, heavy as hell death metal is what Legacy Of Brutality skillfully craft. Though the album is full of great tracks it can be tiring all in one sitting, LOB doesn’t deviate far from the beaten path often, so Path Of Forgotten Souls shines best in small doses. The lyrics tend to leave something to be desired. On “Martyrchrist” the lyrics “I dig holes in entrails and grounds” are a nod to such exquisite penmanship as can be found in Cannibal Corpse. Overall, this is damn good death metal and a solid album I’d recommend to any fans of the genre.
Rating: 7.5/10
Cadaverous Condition – Burn Brightly Alone
Much to my surprise Cadaverous Condition have been around since 1990. I honestly can’t say that I had heard of them before checking out Burn Brightly Alone. Equally impressive is the fact that they’ve maintained the same lineup for twenty years. Few bands can manage that for five! It’s extremely difficult to put a finger on just what style of metal Cadaverous Condition’s music is. As the band themselves says in their press info, “We have been labelled death metal, doom metal, and death folk, all of this is true, though there is still no explanation of our music.” There’s a whole lot going on on Burn Brightly Alone, that’s for sure. All of it is good. You’ve got some death and doom in the form of songs like the opener “Ghost,” death rock grooving songs like “Use Your Blood,” and folkier style stuff such as “Wicklow Nightfall.” There’s even a catchy ass cover of The Decemberists “We All Go Down Together.” There’s so many twists and turns along the way with this album that’s it’s hard not to stay interested. This makes for a good full sit down listener. I may be pretty late in discovering this band and their music, but this is definitely a case of better late than never.
Rating: 9/10
Primal – Deathzone
Oh, Polish black metal. Something I have a strong love/hate relationship with. It tends to adhere so strictly to the rules of the genre you couldn’t squeeze a glimmer of melody or quality production in if you tried. No thinking outside of the box allowed! Then there’s the over-the-top blatant religion bashing. Mainly Christianity. While I’m probably the most distanced person from religion(especially Christianity) you could ever meet it still gets old after a while. It pretty much equates to preaching in your music. Judging by song titles that include “Book Of Revelation” and “Liars” there’s definitely a little of that going on with Deathzone. Also, their brief press info(two lines and a website) states this to be “the debut of this antireligious project.” Otherwise I wouldn’t have a clue seeing as I can’t understand one bit of the Gollum-esque vocals. Regardless, I still do like this album. It’s good, safe, playing by the rules black metal. The songs are dark and heavy and entertaining enough. Just don’t expect much else. It’s perfect for your next bible burning or whatever.
Rating: 6.5/10
Engraved Disillusion – Embers Of Existence
Embers Of Existence kicks off on a scorching note with fantastic guitar leads and killer harsh vocals, and it doesn’t let up from there. Engraved Disillusion instantly show themselves to be a talented band with ample potential. After listening to this album quite a bit, I cannot believe these guys haven’t already been snatched up by a major label. They cite influences such as At The Gates, Carcass, and Dark Tranquility, and they wear them well. There’s a strong melodic death metal vibe that resonates in each of the ten powerful tracks this album offers. The songs are bold and have a hookiness to them that keeps you coming back for more. ”Fragments Of Memory” and the title track really show off the skill Engraved Disillusion possesses, and “Epitaph” is easily my favorite song on the album. It has an aggressive driving rhythm backed by some terrific melody to really make it stand out for me. There’s also a cool growl along chorus. Fans of various metal styles can really enjoy this album.
Rating: 8/10
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