One Nightmare Unto Another From Profane Order

One Nightmare Unto Another from Profane Order

Absolutely massive, cavernous, howling War Metal. This album is a full sprint towards the finish line without a second to breath. Every track is exciting, and while the album sometimes feels like the ride is over too soon, you can tell there's zero filler. It's straightforward, adrenaline-inducing aggression from beginning to end. The riffs are tight and catchy, the drums never cease thundering, and the vocals roar spectacularly.

It can be purchased via Bandcamp and Nuclear War Now! Productions.

Oranssi Pazuzu

Mestarin kynsi, by Oranssi Pazuzu

6 track album

Mestarin Kynsi

Oranssi Pazuzu

The latest release from Finnish psychedelic black metallers Oranssi Pazuzu is possibly my favorite release of theirs yet. This is primarily due to the track Uusi Teknokratia, the first single off the album.

Overall the album is more of their maddening, psychotic black metal weirdness, but the whole thing seeps an anxious tension that ramps the listening experience up a notch. Several of the tracks exemplify a slow descent into auditory lunacy, with melody giving way to wild noise and back again. The eerie, ethereal synths steadily morph into fuzzy, aggressive guitars, with the crescendo of insane vocal howls dragging the listener through the muck of madness. The last track in particular devolves into utter wild noise to close out the album, fittingly enough.

As for the aforementioned Uusi Teknokratia, it is a lesson in anxiety. The track builds at just the right pace, a crawling, mounting tension that erupts into full blown chaos. It is creeping dread incarnate, before becoming completely unhinged. The synths and vocals blend perfectly, carrying the first part of the song, as the rest of the instruments begin to alter their repetitive melodies and rhythms before exploding. Yet even in the midst of the chaos the synths and vocals continue dragging the listener through the spiraling madness. Finally, you're given a seemingly peaceful reprieve, yet one that continues the anxiety of the first half of the track, with sounds that would suit the lead-up to a jump scare in a horror film. Honestly I cannot say enough good things about this song, and have become obsessed with it.

Kuulen ääniä maan alta is another stand out track, terrifyingly grating, and with the same extreme tension. Despite the fuzz and dissonance, the track remains thoroughly catchy, and is easily my second favorite on the album. This album is a great outing from a band that have really begun to absolutely master the art of dissonant weirdness, and I strongly encourage giving it a listen.

There's also a great Silent German Expressionism/ Film Noir style music video for Uusi Teknokratia, though it is a shortened version of the song, primarily missing the haunting outro.

You can pick up a digital copy from the band's Bandcamp page (cassettes are sold out), and physical copies via Nuclear Blast or even Amazon.

Vampyric Odinism

Elegiac

My review of this exemplary album is long overdue, considering its November 2019 release date. Such is life...

This is far and away the best Elegiac album yet, in my opinion. Sole member Hrukjan (Zane of Sacrificial Sounds Records, Blitzgeist, Airengrav, Gormanudr, Wormskull, etc.) has really hit his stride, bringing the various elements of his previous Elegiac releases and even his other projects together beautifully. The album is raw and lo-fi without sacrificing quality or melody, with an excellent mix. Much like previous releases there's a definite Darkthrone influence, but the riffs and rhythmic momentum also reminds me heavily of Bathory tracks like "A Fine Day to Die". Put simply- it rocks, exceptionally.

The title track is my favorite, and definitely invokes the sweeping march of Bathory, and even Falkenbach, with the tempo and riffs. I love every minute of it, being pulled along in the galloping horde of the guitar and drums. It's furious and full tilt, but remains staunchly melodic throughout. There's a sort of rock and roll tempo to the whole album without it ever quite becoming black 'n' roll.

The vocals are stellar, with several styles being showcased on this album. Tracks like "Draugadrottinn" "Blood Religion", and "Lord of the Undead" use the Inquisition-style vocals displayed on Zane's Blitzgeist material, eerie ritual chants to the void. "Lord of the Undead" also reminds me of Enslaved's track "Yggdrasil", with drums and deep chants as the focus. "Sacrifice" also feels very Enslaved-ish, and portrays some excellent melodic vocal work in addition to the raging howls.

"The Dagger" and "Fade to Dust" are placed perfectly on the album, as the latter track slows down the tempo and riffs of the former, maintaining the feeling but executing it differently. The tracks feel both connected and yet individual.

The album as a whole mixes raw, unapologetic black metal in the vein of the second wave, yet also displays folk and rock influences throughout. It feels both like an old friend and a new one, hailing the tradition of the genre but placing itself as a stalwart of a new age.

You can pick up the album digitally from Elegiac's Bandcamp, and physical copies are available from the page as well. Or you can get it from Sacrificial Sounds Records via Bandcamp as well!

Beneath The Crimson Eclipse Imperial Demonic

Melodic black metal in the style of Dark Funeral, Dissection, and Dimmu Borgir. The vocals in particular stand out for clarity, and like any good band in this style, the riffs are blistering and catchy.

It is available on Bandcamp and physical copies are up for pre-order through Black Lion Records.

Zorn

Zorn

A blistering mixture of black metal and punk into an orgy of sorcery and shenanigans. Absolute mischief and mayhem delivered at breakneck speeds.

It can be purchased digitally via Bandcamp and vinyl can be ordered from Sorry State Records.

Rotting Christ 2/17/23

Come and Take It Live

Photos by me.