Since Iron Bonehead Productions are one of those labels that bring nothing but quality when it comes to the sound of the True Underground (the most morbid way!), I am always enthralled when receiving new stuff. Just check out one of the several reviews I did for this Berlin-based label to share my passion and appreciation.
Last year, the label released a split-LP with Vassafor, but unfortunately I didn’t have the opportunity to hear it. It’s on my (large) list with stuff to buy, but anyway, this New Zealand-based duo (BP and VK; the latter is also in Temple Nightside, amongst many others) are presented on side A of this long player with four tracks. Vassafor did record and release many interesting things in the past, with the full length Obsidian Codex (Parasitic Records, 2012) being their highlight, I guess (or that split with Sinistrous Diabolus I mentioned). …until now…
Vassafor’s contribution starts with the intro To Your Grave, mingling elements from Dark Ambient, Drone and Funeral Doom to create a mostly oppressive opening of the gate. But with Phoenix Of The Maelstrom and Crowned In Irradiated Ashes, Vassafor truly show their greatness. This material is the kind of malignancy that brings to mind acts like Blasphemy, Beherit, Masacre, Von or earlier NunSlaughter; and why not, even earlier Abruptum, if you want to. There is room for both aggression and violence, both terror and horror, both ugliness and even more ugliness. Truly, this is the kind of Ooold Skool that breathes morbidity and doom in once, seen from a thrashier side than Temple Nightside’s contribution (see further). The first one being very lengthy, the latter rather short, both of them are a pure expression of Aural Sadism which some might totally adore. Black / Grind / Gore / Death / Doom / Blast / Blaspheme Metal it is, totally lacking of any single form of modernism, experimentalism or progression; or creativity either (to be honest). Their contribution ends with a very old Mystifier-cover, Tormentum Aeternum, which is pretty fine to listen at, and I am glad Vassafor pay tribute to an underestimated band; and let’s be honest, their version is almost as impressive as the original one!
8/10
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Side B consists of two pieces by Australia’s Temple Nightside, a younger act in comparison to Vassafor (Temple Nightside were formed in 2010), but with famous / notorious members, active in bands such as Paroxysmal Descent, Pestilential Shadows, Ill Omen, Grave Upheaval and split-colleagues Vassafor, amongst several others. They come up with two pieces, which are quite different. Temple Nightside perform a very misty / mystic form of Morbid (Doom) Death Metal, kind of representing the sound of Iron Bonehead’s superior essence. Here too the Old School approach reigns supreme, but seen from a darker, more occult and asphyxiating point of view.
I do not think this stuff is as hypnotic and transcendental as some other Morbid Death / Funeral Black Doom bands that wander around lately, but Temple Nightside’s strength might be their powerful structures, the dungeon-growls (especially The Howling Void, As Wolves… haunts and spooks…), the wide variety on tempos, and the timeless melodies / riffs / rhythms.
9/10