Triumvir Foul – An Oath of Blood and Fire [US, Death] (2014)

Self Released |4-13-14

Yes. Alright who is ready for some West Coast American death? I just hope you do not want too much information about this group as I have very little. I can promise little aside from menacing joy. From what I can gather, Triumvir Foul is a Portland two piece who has made it their goal in life to worship at the church of OSDM. Armed with influences and a penchant for shredding, this band plans to make its mark with the blood of whoever just got run over by the bulldozer. When madness and destruction are the sermons, devotion becomes a hellish experience.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Ghost Bath – Funeral [China, DSBM] (2014)

Self Released | 2-14-14

Jesus fuck. Alright, well I have already stated my immense interest in Chinese atmospheric black metal even to the point of tracking down the man behind Pest Productions. However, It has been awhile since I checked back into new releases. Before this review, I found some assorted splits such as the Happy Days / Kanashimi release The Great Depression II which suggested a larger Asian Depressive Suicidal Black Metal (DSBM) scene or at least a push happening in Japan. Ghost Bath is the first band I found which has caused enough reason for pause. Whether or not it is the complete veil of despair or the horrific vocals, but Ghost Bath shakes its listeners to their mortal coil.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Demon Eye – Leave The Light [US, Stoner Doom / NWOBHM] (2014)

Soulseller Records | 1-30-14

Okay, I can get down with this sound. Demon Eye proudly states their name was taken from a lesser known Deep Purple song of the same name. I feel the band is proud of this as Demon Eye seems infatuated with he dark side of the late 60’s and early 70’s. In fact, the stoner doom tag could be amended to proto-doom as Demon Eye has decided that 2014 is no time for them and 1971 fits their lifestyle much better.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Slomatics – Estron [Ireland, Stoner Doom] (2014)

Head of Crom Records | 2-3-14

There is something completely comforting about Slomatics. Perhaps it is the album cover influenced by vintage pulp sci-fi. Perhaps it is the thundering riffs or the droning atmosphere. Perhaps, even still, it is the levity in which the band seems to sport despite their music being caught in an avalanche of riffs. Whatever it is, Slomatics have descended through the ages to cast the world in hazy yet enjoyable style of cosmic doom.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Moloch – Verwüstung [Ukraine, Black] (2014)

Human To Dust | 2-2-14

How on earth did I miss out on Moloch? I ask this question because of my intense interest in solitary black metal. I find the style interesting because if left up to ones devices, certain individuals will run so much further than with others with assistance. Moloch was created 10 years ago and has had 11 full lengths, 8 demos, 36 splits, 10 splits and a handful of compilations and box sets. This is addition to a bevy of guest sessions and cover design for European metal bands. Moloch is a machine and Verwüstung is the 12th full length from a creator who seems to need little sleep.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Barrowlands – Thane [US, Black / Progressive] (2014)

Self Released | 3-11-14

Barrowlands is a relatively unknown Pacific Northwest act who seems to be taking a stab going at a style of black metal which has been well traveled in the past. Progressive and atmopsheric black metal is something that others have done many times. Include the fact these guys are from the pacific northwest and images of Agalloch, Wolves in the Throne Room, Alda, and Ash Borer quickly comes to mind. To play in the similar style which experienced brief popularity a few years ago is commendable as the style is conceptually sound albeit without much surprise. I set Barrowlands up for a lot as “Cascadian black metal” feels like a boom town which now lies emptier than before. Bands who continue the sound do so at a cost, which sometimes yields a greater triumph when successful.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Black Magic – Wizard’s Spell [NWOBHM / Traditional] (2014)

High Roller Records | 1-17-14

Alright, so before we begin, Black Magic is a total throwback act. There is no mistaking the band’s love fore early 80’s occult based traditional metal which gestated in the period before extreme metal. With that said, the “black/thrash” tag which this band has been filed makes sense but only in historical context. This is what music sounded like when speed mixed with heavy metal and people started to get turned on to darkness. I am stopping everything as Black Magic has currently gone unnoticed for a few months. This is an injustice as it is one of the most entertaining and enjoyable records of the year. Quick, grab your denim jackets and high top sneakers, we have a time trip to get to.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Shroud Of The Heretic – Revelations In Alchemy [US, Death] (2014)

Blood Harvest | 3-10-14

Jesus, almighty, this is some cavernous death. Shroud of the Heretic is a Portland based death metal act who has yet to see proper representation from a label. I know I mentioned this before but I have been pleasantly surprised at the quality of some unsigned metal. By all intents and purposes, the production and presentation of Revelations In Alchemy, the band’s debut, is to the caliber of some of death metal’s most profiled acts. There is no need for comparisons save for Shroud Of The Heretic being a fantastic plummet into the depths of occult death with an odd choice in color choice for their cover. Greys, blacks, browns? Fuck you, how about white and green?

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Plebeian Grandstand – Lowgazers [France, Black / Hardcore / Noise] (2014)

Throatruiner Records | 3-31-14

Goddamn it, I love Throatruiner. Since finding this French label a few years ago, my appreciation for the bastard offspring between black, hardcore, sludge, and noise has grown exponentially. What I didn’t understand at the time has now transformed into an appreciation for genre-less heavy music and a recognition for the freedom it promotes. Plebeian Grandstand is a testament to the heights and depths a band can reach when throwing off the shackles of expectation. There is only one goal for Lowgazers, and that is pure annihilation.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Aphonic Threnody / Ennui – Immortal in Death [International / Georgia, Funeral Doom] (2014)

GS Productions | 3-24-14

I mean, why would’t a funeral doom album have a cover with a casket and the lying dead? Seriously. This can’t be the first time this has been thought of. Splits are hard enough to categorize but it makes even more difficult when one band has three countries attached. Ennui is from Georgia, thankfully, while Aphonic Threnody is from the UK, Hungary, and Italy. You guys are going to make the heavy metal Olympics really hard to pick out uniforms.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.