MOON ORACLE – Muse of the Nightside (Signal Rex / Bestial Burst)

Noises from the unknown.

The unknown/new entity of blackened doom death metal Moon Oracle from Finland debuts with this 23-minuute Ep containing 6 songs.

The Huntress and the Hunted, the opener is an interesting track with a repetitive but headbanger drumming and riff which remember the old school, like a mix of Celtic Frost but with experimental black metal. I mean not that kind of experimental that is crazy as fuck because their sound is simple but competent. There is a moment of doom, but the mid velocity returns in no time.

A Rape on the Plain of Nysa is more upbeat with elements both of black and death metal at the same time, but the velocity here goes to mid/fast tempo to bona fide fastest tempo which sounds disgraceful and although not being “tech” the riffs are somewhat complex or better saying, well done as they do a callback to the very beginning.

Rite of Chthonic Mother deals with a doomy black form varying to fast tempo, very noisy, lemme say, but the snail pace dominates the track.

Sinister Decresence is no more of the same as they master their sameness with different forms. It sounds like a musical contradiction, but here they do have some changes of tempo and not just of musical phrases.

Now comes the strange and cool part: Crossroads (Mysterium Triformis) tackles with a distorted form of black doom with deviant riffs and even when they accelerate this way to play doesn’t change. Very good one!

The closer The 10th Hour is very Hellhammer as in Triumph of Death: totally doom disgrace, almost funeral black metal. Great track.

Muse of the Nightside is a very well-done release for a debuting band. In their press release it’s written that is not for everyone and I beg to differ: I think it will satisfy the general public of extreme music. The only thing that one has to considerate is that this is a debut, so they will get better in the next one if they continue honing this very sound they do.

Muse of the Nightside is out TODAY ON Signal Rex / Bestial Burst on CD, Vinyl and Cassete.

Rating: 7.5/10

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Roderick Blutrache

NUNSLAUGHTER – Red is the Color of Ripping Death – (Hells Headbangers)

The satanic massacre continues.

Nunslaughter is freaking back from the infernal abyss of hell to desecrate every little thing that is sacred in this world, and of course, those who enters in their iconoclast musical enterprise won’t feel disappointed.

Songs like Murmur and Broken and Alone makes the pure diversion of those who are keen to just profane without any responsibility, breaking saints and burning churches whereas To a  Whore delivers the usual disgraceful sound and pure fun with hardcore-like drums, but very black and death metal in guitars, don’t be fooled, this band is old as time and not a lame black/punk thing!

But the title track is one of the best: it starts kinda snail paced just to diss god and whatnot, what a fun time I have with these cats, the song accelerates and the riffs in album are a little different than usual not losing any iota of Nunslaughter battle tasted quality.

The syncopated beginning of Annihilate the Kingdom of God over again explodes in fast metal of satanic proportions and it goes faster and faster while the short track Beware of God is an insanely fast deal that brings hate, despair, and satanic pleasure!

Nunslaughter is band that does better in short tracks and songs like The Devil Will Not Stray and The Temptress proves that, mainly for the long-time fans of Don The Dead and his cohorts. First is not characteristic of the band but the latter returns to curses, hatred and enjoyment at least for those who are NOT afraid to go against the norms of the religious institutions and get their kicks from musical vomits and blasphemies.

Last shortest track which clocks in at 52 seconds called Below the Cloven Hoof is pure evil binge and it remembers their classic song GOD. (If you haven’t seen the video, run to You Tube NOW!).

Although one may argue that is more of the same is not exactly that when one hears Red is the Color of Ripping Death. This album brings something new but at the same time all their essence is there, all their alexandrine strophes are there, it’s different to say at least. But one thing is certain: if you don’t like them, you better go to the church! Whilst I’m going to hear it again and again.

Red is the Color of Ripping Death is out TOMORROW on Hells Headbangers on CD. The vinyl release follows later.

Listen to the ENTIRE ALBUM here:

Rating: 9/10

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Roderick Blutrache

Graveland – Hour of Ragnarok- (Inferna Profundus Records)

The return of the PAGAN CULT.

Pagan black metal classic band Graveland is back over again with Rob Darken (Robert Fudali) and his cohorts doing the bast black metal music possible without changing their HEATHEN ideology which was Celtic and now is a Viking one for quite some time.

But this band doesn’t need explanation, introduction, reason or rhyme, so let’s go straight to the tracks!

The epic album opens up with a track called The Wolf of Twilight, and the peculiar black metal done by Graveland is as always: fast, Bathory-oriented, boisterous drum attack but with clamoring keyboards that resounds like trumpets of symphonic proportions. Kind of melodic? Yeah, but without it, it’s no Graveland.

The title track follows suit: now this one goes a little bit away from the Bathory realm and sounds very original and it has the balls to put enough change of phrases and not sounding some stupid technical band, there is a perfect balance between the raw and the well done, and it is from the DECADES of experience under the Graveland flag, it’s not different from the past but it’s always better and better!

Now I daresay that Children of Hyperborea is the sound of the year: the viking melodic vocals is something that emanates pagan pride in a brave chant just to explode in a very virulent black metal however to return to the melodic part back again: it’s a song of heroic proportions, rasping and pleasing at the same time. What a masterpiece!

Track Enlightened by the Wisdom of Runes is another thunderous piece of masterpiece over again and Mr. Fudali puts the “epicness” into perspective with much of the elements inside de disc into one song, and what a helluva of illumination!

Hour of Ragnarok is an insanely well-crafted album by a band that has been running for so long and it’s impossible to get a negative result when the case is this. Graveland is tradition above merely commercial black metal, and this is what the true pagan spirits have been seeking for so long.

Hour of Ragnarok is out on August 23^rd via Inferna Profundus Records.

Rating: 10/10

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Roderick Blutrache

Mike left Destruction. New line up and single revealed

Mike Sifringer, the long time guitarist of Destruction has left the band. Martin Furia enters.

Mike, the long guitar-server member of Destruction (the only guy who had recorded ALL Destruction albums) left the band in March but just now this information was revealed by Destruction along with a new single called State of Apathy which will be part of a new two-track EP of the same name that is supposedly to be released on September 10th via Napalm and according to the statement released today on the band’s Facebook page “The single will be available on all streaming portals, the 12 inch can be pre-ordered on NAPALMs mailorder:https://napalmrecords.com/english/destruction “

The new member is Martin Furia who has been a sound technician for Destruction since 2016, and he is also a producer and works with bands such as Bark and Furia. It’s unclear if he recorded the EP but given the date that Mike left is probable Martin Furia did so.

Curiously, last August 13th, Napalm released a live album titled Live Attack.

Reads the statement:

NEW SURPRISE SINGLE AND VIDEO ONLINE – NEW LINE UP REVEALED!It has been some difficult weeks for us since Mike left the band in March, we apologize for the delay and the late statements. We kept on working hard, so we can present you the future of DESTRUCTION. We have a pre-album single and video for you with “STATE OF APATHY” also available as a 12 inch vinyl in September. We welcome our front of house soundguy, tourmanager, good friend and producer Martin Furia in our team – please give him a very warm welcome! He is part of our family for many years! We are wishing all the very best to Mike, please read all statement below!The new record is almost recorded, more news about that soon!Check out the brand-new video: https://youtu.be/-62qSa5efOoThe single will be available on all streaming portals, the 12 inch can be pre-ordered on NAPALMs mailorder:https://napalmrecords.com/english/destructionDESTRUCTION’s SCHMIER about the new single “State Of Apathy”:“The last two years have been testing times for all of us. We are all sad to announce that Mike has left DESTRUCTION. It all was a shock and hit us hard but nevertheless there was never any doubt that we will continue as a band. We are a strong unit and are proud to welcome our new guitarist, Martin Furia, to the band! Our chemistry is great since Martin has been a part of the DESTRUCTION family for many years now. He is the perfect new man on the axe – the first shows have been a fucking blast! ‘State Of Apathy’ shows the direction DESTRUCTION will go with the new record: more ‘back-to-the-roots’, more guitars, more in your face! This band is my life and we will always give 100% to keep the spirit alive. I hope you love the new single as much as we do – thanks for all the support! We are wishing Mike the best for his future, for us there is only one way to go THRASH TILL DEATH!”Ex-Guitarist Mike about parting ways with DESTRUCTION:“It´s hard to leave a band after 39 years. Destruction is my life and something like my baby. But somtimes (SIC) you have to take desicions (SIC) that hurt. I´m very sad at the moment, but if something doesn´t feel right anymore, better stop doing it. Thanx to all former bandmates. I´m very proud about the music we have created together. Cheers to all thrashers out there. Without your support and your passion, Destruction would not exist. Peace.”DESTRUCTION’s new guitarist, Martin Furia, on joining the band:“The news is finally out and I have mixed emotions. I’m extremely proud to be part of this legendary band since 2016 as sound technician and tour manager, I’ve been all over the world with the DESTRUCTION family and they have always treated me like another member of the band.I’m sad to see Mike go because I love him and respect him as a person and guitarist, but when I was asked if I would like to be the new guitarist of DESTRUCTION I didn’t hesitate for a second. I feel ready to honor Mike’s legacy, to add my own touch and I will give my best to keep the flame of DESTRUCTION burning strong forever, with deep respect and devotion for the past and with full energy and commitment for the future!”

Here is the new track:

The cover of the new EP:

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Roderick Blutrache