Primordial – How it Ends 9/10
Irelands Primordial are titans in the genre. Their work is unhurried and a seamless symbiotic relationship between their Celtic and black metal influences. After thirty-two years and nine albums, including 2018’s brilliant Exile Amongst the Ruins, they have transcended the genre and returned with album number ten ‘’How it Ends””.
Led by the nuanced and intelligent lyricism of A. A. Nemtheanga and his excellent vocals, Primordial have always asked the important questions, provoking and challenging,, set against some excellent tremolo riffs and the triplet rhythms of their heritage and homeland ‘’ Nothing New Under the Sun’’ asks the question of has it all been done while ‘’ Call to Cernunnos’’ is a piece of primal percussive fury that slowly and inexorably consumes the listener with its deliberate rhythm. The production is absolutely massive and lets every instrument shine in particular the work of drummer Simon O’Laoghaire that gives the album a real classic metal edge and allows the Celtic influences to shine through the guitar work. ‘’ We Shall Not Serve’’, and the title track the slow burn versus the blistering yet both brilliant, deliberate in their intent and executed brilliantly.
‘’ All Against All’’ is a more traditional black metal riff-infused monster of stomping proportions that seethes in mid-tempo fury, ‘’ Death Holy Death’’ is a huge slab of pure metal that allows the vocals to shine against a jazz-infused Sabbath backbeat. ‘’ Victory Has 1000 Fathers, Defeat Is an Orphan’’ is the more traditional Primordial, its Celtic rhythms set against the more primal percussion and its final riff utter perfection. Speaking of excellent riffing, the brief ‘’ Traidisiúnta’’ is yet another highlight.
‘’How it Ends’’ is a massive confrontational beast of an album. Defiant and angry. Set against the ugly violent truth of history and the malaise of the present, it asks the ultimate questions of who will stand and rebel against their environment. Primordial makes utterly heavy music that matters, cares, and asks for a return on the investment. Essential.
INSOMNIUM – Songs Of The Dusk 9/10
Songs Of The Dusk is not just the new EP From The Finnish masters of melancholy and melodic death metal. It is the continuation of 2023’s brilliant “Anno 1696”, an addendum-like EP that continues the story.
As stated by the band that “Anno 1696” simply had 11 great songs the final three now get their own well-deserved release, and how beautiful they are. Each track is it own individual highlight, from the acoustics of ‘’ Flowers of the Night’’ to the bombast and double kick fury that is ‘’ Stained in Red’’ a track that must stand as one of their heaviest, most vital moments. It is closer ‘’Song of the Dusk’’ that presents a possible alternate closer to the concept with its elements of clean singing harmonic and melodious guitar parts that elevate it into an instantly memorable highlight. A rousing soul-stirring moment that is filled with beauty and inherent power coupled with a tinge of hope.
Not just a companion piece but a continuation of Insomnium’s evolution and for those who want more of a fantastic record, this delivers on every level. Full of the band’s trademark incredible guitar work and excitement with each track. Insomnium defy simple genre tags by letting the music and emotion take the listener through a heavy, enlightening journey that makes them peerless. Highly recommended
Songs Of The Dusk is not just the new EP From The Finnish masters of melancholy and melodic death metal. It is the continuation of 2023’s brilliant “Anno 1696” an addendum-like EP that continues the story.
As stated by the band that “Anno 1696” simply had 11 great songs, the final three now get their own well-deserved release, and how beautiful they are. Each track is it own individual highlight, from the acoustics of ‘’ Flowers of the Night’’ to the bombast and double kick fury that is ‘’ Stained in Red’’ a track that must stand as one of their heaviest most vital moments. It is closer to ‘’Song of the Dusk’’ which presents a possible alternate closer to the concept with its elements of clean singing harmonic and melodious guitar parts that elevate it into an instantly memorable highlight. A rousing soul-stirring moment that is filled with beauty and inherent power coupled with a tinge of hope.
Not just a companion piece but a continuation of Insomnium’s evolution, and for those who want more of a fantastic record, this delivers on every level. Full of the band’s trademark incredible guitar work and excitement with each track. Insomnium defy simple genre tags by letting the music and emotion take the listener through a heavy, enlightening journey that makes them peerless. Highly recommended.
Mayhem – Daemonic Rites 8.5/10
Mayhem. The band is synonymous with black metal, True Norwegian black metal, second-wave black metal, inherent violence, infamy, and controversy. When you discuss Black Metal, their name is inevitably mentioned, such is their legacy. Unlike the other elites, Mayhem have cemented their reputation with a formidable live show and Daemonic Rites is their latest release from their last round of touring.
This is their sixth live album (counting the triptych of releases in 2018 as one) and is comparable to the seminal Live in Leipzig for capturing the essence of the band at this stage of their career. The production captures their inherent chaos with a tangible sense of immediacy and presence. The one-two punch of the modern ‘’ To Daimonion’’’ and ‘’Malum’’ is captured here excellently. If you have witnessed the ritual live recently, then Daemonic Rites confirms that for all their extremity, Mayhem does write memorable at times, punk/metal-infused darkness that is built for live destruction.
Like their sets, this is a generous seventeen-track display of raw strength with no subtlety and all fury. Hellhammer confirms his status as the anchor and his driving rhythms that are only matched by technical precision. Attila Csihar’s vocals range from the shrieks to chanting incantations, whilst the twin guitars exemplify the intensity and some pure metal head stomping moments.
An album that runs in the reverse chronology of their career, it captures some of the band’s greatest moments and a performance where they are at the pinnacle of their lunacy, suspense, and darkness. The supremely heavy ‘’Freezing Moon’ and the manic chaos of ‘’ Deathcrush’’ are still vital pieces of black metal urgency, whilst ‘’ Voces ab Alta’’ is suitably epic and it ends in ‘’Pure Fucking Armageddon.’’
Unholy, mesmerizing, and unmissable. Mayhem has delivered a must-hear recording of live vitriol and the essence of their ‘’Life Eternal.” Exemplified by excellent live performances in a genre where reputation is everything, Mayhem continuous evolution and legacy is unquestionable.