Impiety: The Impious Crusade (EP 2013)

Stealing

The esteemed Metallattorney should be writing this review. He’s written about them several times. In 2009 he wrote, “Impiety has been one of the most extreme, powerful bands in underground metal for years.” And I pretty much operate on the assumption that he wants to hear everything from Hells Headbangers. Because it’s completely within his realm of expertise, and he’s expressed such admiration for them, first dibs on anything from Impiety should have, by all rights, gone to Metallattorney.

I guess he just did too good a job at selling them. He hasn’t sold me a lemon for the better part of a decade, and Impiety is no exception to that winning streak.

Intöxicated: Röck 'n Roll Hellpatröl (2013)

Putting the ö in Röck ‘n Roll

Check out this poorly-drawn, leather jacket-wearing wolfman on a motorcycle in front of a building labeled “Whore House.” The band is named Intöxicated, and they called their album Röck ‘n Roll Hellpatröl. At this point you may be wondering whether this is a real thing or just a parody. There is no question it is both: It’s the real deal, and an over-the-top self-parody. If you don’t already want to buy it, then I don’t know if we can be friends.

So, you can pretty much guess what they sound like. Speed metal, like early Motörhead before they started adding in a ballad to every album. They’re German, so as you might expect it has less bounce to the rhythm and less nuance to the vocals. But it is, if anything, even more raunchy than “Jailbait.” The real question is whether they’re good enough to live up to that album cover.

Cerekloth: In the Midst of Life We Are in Death (2013)

They Are in Death

I’m not quite sure if this title, In the Midst of Life We Are in Death, is intended as a commentary on the current state of death metal. The last year’s death metal output has been almost completely underwhelming. And if that’s what Cerekloth trying to say, they’re right about the In the Midst of Life part. But more importantly, they’ve also earned the right to claim they Are in Death.

The Danish five-piece have as honest and unaffected take on death metal as any band in recent memory. They’re clearly not modern death metal, but they’re not old-school either. You have to turn the volume up a few notches to hear it properly, but they’re not afraid of melody or outside influence either. They’ve freed themselves from the constraints of uber-specific genre, and the result is a fucking monster of an album.

Denouncement Pyre: Almighty Arcanum (2013)

Australia Will Destroy You and Everyone You Love

Review by Metallattorney. He is the law.

Those who have been following me for awhile probably know that I am a big fan of the Australian extreme metal scene. You know the one, the bestial thrash/black/death mix that come to be referred to as the "war metal" scene. That scene had started to lose its lustre over the last several years but there are signs that there may be a revitalization at work lately. Groups like Denouncement Pyre, Vomitor, Black Jesus, and Mongrel's Cross have all emerged in a major way over the last few years. Though Denouncement Pyre and Vomitor have been around for quite awhile, Denouncement Pyre since 2003 and Vomitor since 1999, they have really gotten notice recently. These are likely the bands that are leading the Australian extreme metal scene for years to come.

If anything, this sophomore full-length from the Aussie crushers is an improvement over their debut release. This is mostly due to the improvement in the production quality. Their last album was murky, and while it sounded good for the type of chaotic metal that was on that disc, it is nice to hear that they have cleaned things up a little bit without going too far and sounding sterile. This is just about right where it should be for a raw black/death/thrash metal album.

Deceased: Supernatural Addiction (2000)

Criminally Underrated

Review by Metallattorney. He is the law.

This is not a new release, rather this is the reissue of Deceased's fourth album. The more I hear from this band, the more I love them. Which is saying something because I have been completely on board with their style since the first time I heard them a few years ago. How this band continues to put out terrific album after terrific album with almost no notoriety whatsoever is completely beyond me. But we are not really here to discuss that. What we are to do is to take a look at this release.

I have not heard everything released by this band yet, but this is probably the most melodic album that I have heard yet from them. The guitar leads in particular are incredible. The beginning melody to opening track "The Premonition" grabs the listener right away and refuses to let go. It is a harbinger of things to come on this release because the album never lets up. Deceased plow through this album like a rampaging beast. The album is fast and furious.

Vomitor: The Escalation (2012)

Australia: Dangerously Awesome Still

Review by Metallattorney. He is the law.

Vomitor is yet another filthy and dirty band blending extreme metal styles from Australia. The band is made up of members who have spent time in Bestial Warlust, Gospel of the Horns, Portal and others, demonstrating the ever-fluctuating nature of extreme metal in Australia. So right away, you know this is going to be some nasty stuff. And with a name like Vomitor, you can pretty much bet that they will be about as subtle as a sledgehammer to the groin.

Vomitor makes a lot of noise. So much that listening to them is likely to net you a disturbing the peace charge. That would be a Misdemeanor III in Nebraska, punishable by up to 90 days in jail or a $500.00 fine or both. Sorry, lawyer moment there.

Black Jesus: Black Jesus Saves (Demo 2010)

Australia: Awesome but Deadly

Review by Metallattorney. He is the law.

Some of the absolute filthiest, most depraved metal in the world has been coming from Australia for the last couple of decades. There must be some reason for it. Perhaps it is because every single animal on the godforsaken island is constantly trying to kill people. Even the koalas should be feared. With death at every turn, it is bound to have an effect on the psyches of the people. Which has to be the reason that there are so many ungodly extreme metal bands to come from the continent/country/island thingy.

In 2010, Aussies Black Jesus released their demo in cassette form only. Hell's Headbangers did what it typically does and found some nasty demo, feeling that it deserved a wider release, and re-released it on vinyl. That is just one of the many reasons why I like the label so much, their undying devotion to the metal underground.

Sathanas/The Spawn of Satan Split (2012)

Some Fine Christian Fellows

Review by Metallattorney. He is the law.

Released on Halloween this year, this split features a band from the same dank depths (Cleveland, OH) as the almighty Nunslaughter, and another one from the even more depressing Pennsylvania. I was not previously familiar with either band so this split serves as a nice introduction to two very deep underground American blackened death metal bands. Sathanas has been around since the late 1980's and have released a number of full-lengths over that time, yet somehow eluded me. The Spawn of Satan has only been recording music since 2002 and has never released a full-length, though they have been active for almost as long as Sathanas.

Nunslaughter: Christmassacre (EP 2004)

What Does the Laughter of Nuns Have to Do With Anything?

Review by Metallattorney. He is the law.

Well this is certainly interesting. A little bit of background on this release first. This is not a new release. It was initially released on Christmas Day in 2004, in a variety of formats. It was reissued this year to celebrate Nunslaughter's favorite holiday. So this is not a new release, but it is interesting nonetheless.

Nunslaughter has released a filthy little EP full of good times and Christmas cheer. We have the immortal classic "Deathlehem", the positively uplifting "Jewrusalem", and who could forget the popular children's song "Unholy Scriptures". It is pretty obvious how Nunslaughter feels about all of this.

Nunslaughter/Abigail: Fucking Satan (2011)

$7.77

Review by Metallattorney. He is the law.

Japan's Abigail and Ohio's Nunslaughter share some things in common, not the least of which is their prolific output of recordings. It was only a matter of time before these two bands, who each manage to put out a dozen new releases every year, paired up. Well here we have it, with the none-too-subtle title Fucking Satan. I am sure we are in for a hell of a ride with this one (pun not intended, but definitely appropriate).

Nunslaughter kicks things off and we are immediately treated to their style of punk-inflected death metal insanity. The first track is actually one of the longer ones Nunslaughter has done, a much more complete song than the usual one quick riff with some Satanic lyrics and done. It actually goes on for a couple of minutes and is one of the better Nunslaughter songs I have heard. The second track is much more typical Nunslaughter and lasts about 30 seconds.

Midnight: Complete and Total Hell (Compilation 2012)

Drunken Debauchery Metal

Guest review by Metallattorney. He is the law.

Midnight is a band that I have been wanting to check out for quite a long time, but for some reason I never really got around to it. Midnight is pretty much the prototypical Hell's Headbangers band, besides the mighty Nunslaughter of course. They pay tribute to a lot of the early black metal bands while remaining firmly rooted in the NWOBHM and speed metal.

Satanic Bloodspraying: At the Mercy of Satan (2012)

Best Name Ever

Can you possibly think of a better name than Satanic Bloodspraying? The truth is, with all the various raw black metal albums vying for our attention, that was the thing that made them stick out. It’s 99% of the reason I decided to listen to At the Mercy of Satan. But I’m glad I did.

The style of music is exactly what you’d expect from a South American band with a name like Satanic Bloodspraying, i.e., raw, ultra-aggressive and over-the-top black/thrash/ear-rape. But what is most obvious upon first listen is that they didn’t record it in the typical lo-fi style. Refreshingly, they let the filth of the music speak for itself instead of trying to artificially “improve” on it. That means you can actually hear the distorted bass! Score one for this Bolivian debut.

Mongrel's Cross: The Sins of Aquarius (2012)

More Aussie Brutality

Guest review by Metallattorney. He is the law.

Kicking things off with some evil-sounding keyboard melody that sounds like it would be found in a 1970's horror movie, Mongrel's Cross definitely know how to set the atmosphere for their own brand of bestial brutality. The fact that this is just the band's debut full-length is shocking. The band sound like seasoned veterans of the Australian scene.

Yes the Australian scene. Mongrel's Cross bear a sonic resemblance to groups like Gospel of the Horns, Destroyer 666, Denouncement Pyre, and Atomizer. So right away, this band is definitely up my alley.

Deiphago: Satan Alpha Omega (2012)

Deiphago: A Fancy Term for Holy Communion

Are they still calling this "war metal," or is it supposed to be "bestial black metal" now?

Either way, Deiphago fully embrace all the clichés. Ridiculously fast and raw? Check. Uncompromisingly aggressive? Check. Over-the-top, blasphemous, slightly funny song titles with made-up words? Check. Songs you can't really tell apart? Check. Sub-par production? Check. Awesome? Check.