The Sarcophagus - Towards The Eternal Chaos (Osmose, 2009)

Track Listing:

1. Towards The Eternal Chaos (3.31)

2. Legend Sleeps Behind The Mountains (7.08)

3. Hymn To Awakening (5.04)

4. Age Of Demons (5.18)

5. The Sarcophagus (4.41)

6. A Funeral Opus (1.05)

7. Anatolian Dragons (5.35)

8. Under The Lunar Eclipse (5.43)

9. Nothingness, Emptiness, Chaos (5.38)

10. Misanthropic (5.54)

Synopsis: "Towards The Eternal Chaos" is an excellent album of virulent black metal from Turkey with the infamous Niklas Kvarforth (Shining) providing his distinctive vocals. Generally raging and fast, The Sarcophagus still manage to add a melodic element with their riffing and the subtle use of keyboards to embellish the atmosphere throughout. At times it reminds of the Swedish school of quasi-melodic black metal, such as Setherial, but not to the degree of total mimicry or redundancy.

www.myspace.com/thesarcophagus

Icon Of Phobos - Icon Of Phobos (Baneful Genesis, 2011)

Track Listing:

1. Intro - Revelations Of The Void (3.39)

2. Harbingers Of Ruin (6.22)

3. The Shrouded Worm (7.52)

4. Analgesia (5.06)

5. Shape Of Failure (6.44)

6. Misogyny In The Flesh (7.40)

7. Outro - Ecstasy In Death (3.50)

Synopsis: I bought this album without knowing anything about Icon Of Phobos as there isn't a great deal of information available, I do know they are from Los Angeles and formed in 2010, but I am glad that I did as this is a very impressive debut. This is intelligently written and performed black metal that, whilst never truly breaking boundaries, defies expectations and demonstrates why it is such a potent style when it is done as well as it is here.

www.facebook.com/iconofphobos

Slagmaur - Von Rov Shelter (Osmose, 2009)

Track Listing:

1. Intro (1.31)

2. Drako Gigante (5.14)

3. Fantom Eks Speriment (5.21)

4. Lange Knivers Natt (5.29)

5. Nattens Sorte Ord (1.57)

6. Klokker Tramp (7.02)

7. Ramaskrik (6.54)

Synopsis: Even though it is their third album this is my first encounter with Slagmaur and their somewhat peculiar take on black metal. Their sound foregoes speed in favour of a slow, sinister atmosphere and this deliberate pace certainly works in their favour as it creates a dark aura that often eludes other bands. "Von Rov Shelter" is not easy listening by any means but it is the discomfort that it creates that makes it such an interesting listen.

http://www.slagmaur.com/

Brutally Deceased - Dead Lovers' Guide (Lavadome, 2010)

Track Listing:

1. Lustful Sodomy In The House Of God (2.49)

2. Dead Lovers' Guide (2.23)

3. Blissful Desecration (4.23)

4. They Shall Feast (3.29)

5. ...And Here I Die Forsaken (4.28)

6. A Life Once Aborted (3.00)

7. Demise Of The Human Swine (4.38)

8. All That Rots And Withers (3.09)

9. Override Of The Overture (4.48)

Synopsis: With a name taken from a Grave song and a Dismember cover as the final track it doesn't take much to identify the sound of Brutally Deceased as this is pure old school death metal worship pure and simple, right down to the gritty guitar tone. Obviously there are a great number of bands releasing music in this style so it really comes down to whether it is well done rather than original and, in this case, Brutally Deceased have managed to create an enjoyable album.

www.myspace.com/brutallydeceasedband

www.facebook.com/brutallydeceased

Fleshgod Apocalypse - Agony (Nuclear Blast, 2011)

Track Listing:

1. Temptation (1.47)

2. The Hypocrisy (5.31)

3. The Imposition (4.58)

4. The Deceit (6.03)

5. The Violation (4.18)

6. The Egoism (6.22)

7. The Betrayal (5.31)

8. The Forsaking (5.37)

9. The Oppression (6.04)

10. Agony (3.34)

Synopsis: Whilst the combination of death metal and orchestration isn't a new concept I don't know if I can recall hearing it done in the manner of Fleshgod Apocalypse. It was only hinted at on "Mafia" but they've gone all in on "Agony" as it merges technical, blasting death metal with classical music and, to their credit, it sounds like a natural fit rather than disparate elements. To blend it so effectively is a credit to their compositional skills as the orchestration isn't so invasive as to overwhelm the music and, ultimately, it will still readily appeal to those who like brutal death metal.

http://www.fleshgodapocalypse.com/ 

Fortid - Voluspa Part III: Fall Of The Ages (Schwarzdorn, 2010)

Track Listing:

1. Ancient Halls (5.55)

2. Ragnarok Army From The Past (8.10)

3. Fall Of The Ages (4.45)

4. Equilibrium Reclaimed (5.42)

5. New Dawn (4.10)

6. Heltekinn (5.55)

7. The Future (10.05)

Synopsis: Hailing from Norway via Iceland and the work of one man, Einar Thorberg aka Eldur, Fortid have released three albums, this being the most recent and, as the title would suggest, the last in a trilogy. Whilst obscure, and no doubt overlooked, this is one of the best pagan metal albums I have heard as it is aggressive and epic in equal measure without sounding forced. Now a fully fledged band I hope to hear more from Fortid as "Voluspa Part III..." is the full package, the cover art is magnificent, and "Ragnarok Army Of The East" is a prime example of how to write music in this style.

www.myspace.com/fortidofficial

www.facebook.com/fortid

The Fall Of Every Season - From Below (Aftermath, 2007)

Track Listing:

1. From Below (11.53)

2. Sisyphean (4.27)

3. The Triumphant Beast (12.35)

4. Escape Of The Dove (3.39)

5. Her Withering Petals (15.12)

Synopsis: The Fall Of Every Season is the work of one man, Marius Strand, and it is a commendable first effort of melancholic doom metal. What really stands out the most is his propensity for including lighter moments throughout that contrast with the more traditional doom metal which is equal parts light and shade. These mellower parts are extremely well done and they add a breadth to "From Below" that shows a great deal of promise for the follow up, "Amends", which will hopefully arrive soon via Grau.

http://www.thefallofeveryseason.com/

  

Encoffination - O' Hell, Shine In Thy Whited Sepulchres (Selfmadegod, 2011)

Track Listing:

1. Sacrum Profanum Processionali (1.04)

2. Rites Of Ceremonial Embalm'ment (5.07)

3. Ritual Until Blood (4.24)

4. Elegant In Their Funebrial Cloaks, Arisen (4.12)

5. Crypt Of His Communal Devourment (4.54)

6. Washed And Buried (4.53)

7. Pall Of Unrequited Blood (3.55)

8. Annunciation Of The Viscera (10.34)

Synopsis: If only based upon the title and cover alone this reeks of death metal, not just in a musical sense but in concept as well where it is "a monument to the rites and processes of human mortality". Relentlessly dark and oppressive, never moving beyond a morbid crawl, Encoffination successfully incorporate this into every facet of their music with the use of organs and bells enhancing the feel of a funereal march.

www.myspace.com/encoffination

Voids Of Vomit - Veritas Vltima Vitae (Bird Of Ill Omen, 2011)

Track Listing:

1. Veritas Vltima Vitae (4.47)

2. Graveless Epitaph (3.09)

3. Cvrsed Void (4.39)

4. Walls Of Hallvcination (3.45)

5. Corpsegrinder (2.39)

Synopsis: Voids of Vomit are anything but subtle, their name alone should give that away, and this is simply old school death metal that is low on finesse but strong on brutality. "Veritas Vltima Vitae" is comprised of four brief compositions, plus one cover of "Corpsegrinder" by Massacre, of primal death metal that has a live feel whilst being neither overly polished or raw.

www.myspace.com/cultofvomit