Last year I was sort of surprised positively by Cream, a two-tracker released on tape and digitally via the Italian label SØVN Records. it was a huge contrast to another tape by Jessop&Co., Skin Blade, which was released about half a year earlier, this time via Spain’s finest Craneal Fracture Records. I will come back to that release immediately. First a short introduction on the band.
Very recently I came in touch with a new label, based in Boston, MA, US of A. Main reason was the cassette release of a new EP by Cryostasium, a unique love-it-or-hate-it one-man orchestra by Cody Maillet. I will come back to this immediately. Yet first I want to express my astonishment yet huge respect for the label, and this because of its raison d’être. Fish Prints was started just a couple of months ago by Cody’s twin brother Thor, releasing ‘curious sounds, past and present’.
Japan has quite a vivid Noise scene, and this since the earliest years of this underestimated genre.
Cultus Profano is the name of a new entity from the Californian city of Los Angeles. It is meant to promote cocktails on the beach, fast cars and colourful bath fashion… Not! No, it is an outfit by Arthur Mendiola aka Advorsus, knows as (former or current) drummer (and vocalist) in e.g. Sadistic Intent, Vesterian or Blaskyrkh. He joined forces with (female) guitarist / vocalist Strzyga with Cultus Profano as moniker.
Cryo Chamber have never been afraid to release collaboration – I am not talking about split releases, yet about recordings based on a co-operation of different artists. Label owner Simon, for example, has several collabs with his (sublime) project Atrium Carceri, but the same goes for quite a lot projects that are closely related to this label (Alphaxone, Cities Last Broadcast, ProtoU, Council Of Nine, God Body Disconnect and so on).
“While the companion’s dread was reflected in the stones a way opened. The streaming water formed an ocean that crystallized the light from the incantations and spells of our guide. They discovered the cult that was upsetting the place and that was abandoning itself in despicable rituals from the depths of time.” That is exactly what this album deals with, like an introduction of an illustrious journey through ancient Mesopotamian mysteries, myths and occult rituals, an esoteric trip towards a forgotten cave of metaphysical darkness and lights.
Praise the Horned One, bless Him with a sacrifice, for He made Myrkvid resurrect from oblivion! Hail!
Hailing from the very south of Saskatchewan (actually, they are from the city of Regina), not that far from the border with our oh so beloved country U.S.Aargh, Altars Of Grief are another Extreme Doom band from Canadian soil – or is it Prairie Doom they are performing...
Earlier this year I published a review for 2016’s full length album D.I.M. (http://www.concreteweb.be/reviews/nagaarum), and soon I will also write and update one for the newest one, called Apples, but this review deals with the former recording, Homo Maleficus, which was actually released fifteen months ago.
Łódź-based horde Doomster Reich return with a fourth release, after The League For Mental Distillation (2014, The End Of Time Records, http://www.concreteweb.be/reviews/doomster-reich), Let Us Fall (originally independently released, then re-issued in 2015 by The End Of Time Records; see http://www.concreteweb.be/reviews/doomster-reich-0), and the EP Seven Seals (2017, s
