Whispered - Shogunate Macabre review

Band: Whispered
Album: Shogunate Macabre
Label: Redhouse Finland Music Publishing
Genre: Symphonic Metal
Country: Finland
Release Date: 7th Feb 2014

If you selected a track at random, depending on which one you chose, you would be forgiven for thinking that you're listening to either a Children Of Bodom or a Septic Flesh album. At first. But then comes the Eastern instrumentation and this becomes a different beast, entirely. It sounds distinctly Finnish at its heart, but the Eastern melodies add a whole, wonderful new depth and elevate Whispered to a entirely new level. One that is way above their peers. 

I have never heard anything quite like this Finnish act before and I suspect that neither have you. Very odd and very different, but at the same time, bloody brilliant. Despite the underlying and overpowering Eastern feel, I really wouldn't class this as Folk Metal any more than I would, Therion or Nightwish. This is Symphonic Melodic Death Metal with an Eastern slant. 

While it provides a whole new experience when taken as a whole, the influences do clearly shine through. To my ears there are elements of Children Of Bodom, Kalmah, Finntroll, Therion, Dimmu Borgir, Sigh, Septic Flesh and Nightwish among others, but of course, every band has its influences and it is where they take those influences and what they do with them that matters and Whispered perform some kind of wonderful alchemy - The Folk melodies and harmonies are incorporated perfectly into the lead work and riffs and said influences are twisted, blended and mashed to great effect and there is never a dull moment as, just when you think you've got this Oriental thing pegged, they throw in something unexpected to keep you on your toes. 

With incredible musicianship and the virtuoso lead guitar work that is synonymous with the Finns, meeting occasional bursts of off the wall Finntroll / latter-day Nightwish instrumental passages and other-wordly keyboards blending seamlessly with the often strikingly beautiful Eastern melodies, the overall feel is that of a concept album-come-film soundtrack. The important thing for me to stress is that it never feels like a mere gimmick and although the basic idea soon becomes familiar, it doesn't at any point wear thin. Let's face it, not to take anything away from them, as talented as Whispered obviously are, take away the Eastern melodies and they become another run-of-the-mill, forgettable Melodic Death Metal band from Finland. 

Shogunate Macabre is one of the most enjoyable and interesting albums I've heard this or any other year. A new personal favourite and an album that is not only guaranteed to make my end of year 'best of' list, but is also going to be receiving many more spins (can you still say that?) in years to come.

Total Playing Time: 45:20

Overall: 9/10

Tracklist:

Jikininki
Hold The Sword
Fallen Amaterasu
One Man's Burden
Kappa
Lady Of The Wind
Unrestrained
Upon My Honor

Official Website: http://www.sururecords.com/whispered2013homepage/

Behemoth - The Satanist review

Band: Behemoth
Album: The Satanist
Label: Nuclear Blast
Genre: Black Metal
Country: Poland
Release Date: 3rd Feb 2014

The Polish legends have a lot to prove following the highly publicised battles they have had with the Church in their home country and of course after Adam "Nergal" Darski's personal fight with cancer - both of which they won, by the way. Not only have Behemoth proved themselves to be indestructible, but they have managed to come out of all of these trials and tribulations a stronger band than they were before. It appears that Nergal's brush with the reaper has given him a new found vigour and passion for existence. To quote the man himself "facing death made me embrace life with more purpose".

Ever since the mighty Emperor hung up their blackened cloaks, the extreme metal world has waited eagerly for a band to step up and fill the gaping void that they left behind. Well, the wait is well and truly over. Behemoth have stepped up in jaw-dropping style. This is the album the band has always been threatening to drop, but has fallen frustratingly short of in the past.

The Satanist sees Behemoth raising the bar in every conceivable way. Everything that made 2009's Evangelion a good (but not great) album has been improved upon and honed to absolute black metal perfection. The songs are perfectly crafted and never overstay their welcome, the string arrangements more subtle and the riffs sharper, colder and more vicious than ever before.

Brimming with all of the confidence befitting a band that knows it is the most important band active in the sub-genre today, this is not 'merely' the best album in Behemoth's 23 year career, but it one of the best albums the sub-genre has ever produced. A true classic which rivals anything released by the Norwegian masters of yesteryear. It is nothing short of an open challenge to the rest of the extreme metal world to up their game. The new kings are here. Put simply, this is Black Metal: Redefined.

Total Playing Time: 44:18

Overall: 9.5/10

Tracklist:

Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel
Furor Divinus
Messe Noire
Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer
Amen
The Satanist
Ben Sahar
In The Absence Of Light
O Father O Satan O Sun!

Official website: http://behemoth.pl

Weekly Round-Up: Feb 8th

The Haunted

After a brief and unexpected dalliance with Post-Grunge on 2011's Unseen, The Haunted have once again parted ways with vocalist Peter Dolving and with ex-vocalist Marco Aro (who replaced Dolving once before), firmly back in the fold, are back to doing what they do best -  namely a distinctive blend of Gothenburg-style Melodic Death Metal and Thrash. I actually really liked Unseen, but it never felt like a true The Haunted album. With that little "black sheep" behind them, the band are focusing, once again, on crushing our skulls with some straight-forward, in your face Metal. 

MaYaN

With this being a "side project" of Mark Jansen, it does predictably sound a little like a Death Metal version of his "day job", but whereas the first album just sounded like Epica with special guests, this time around the band has developed a more defined sound of its own and with the emphasis being placed on the heavier end of the musical spectrum, it comes across as a falling somewhere between Dream Theater meets Scar Symmetry.

Shrapnel

Has the new wave of Thrash run it's course? Has it hell. Formed in 2009, the UK's Shrapnel clearly have no interest in reinventing the wheel, but are instead clearly satisfied to be paying homage to their heroes, most obviously, (to my ears) Exodus. I have to say that Thrash isn't my area of expertise though, so I'm sure there are some of you who could pick out more influences on this. This group of young upstarts are flying the flag for old school Thrash and should please those raised on a diet of high velocity 80's Metal.

Exmortus

Absolutely cracking, Technical Melodic Death / Thrash / Heavy Metal. Superb musicianship throughout, with  jaw-dropping Classical-inspired solos, riffs to die for and great songs to boot. The one criticism I could level at it, is that the lyrics are a tad trite and predictable and the vocals are a little high up in the mix, but this doesn't spoil the finished product too much. Exmortus manage to pull of the near-impossible feat of sounding fresh, yet Classic at the same time. If you are a fan of Metal, you need to hear this.

Kampfar

Top notch Pagan Black Metal from the Norwegian veterans. Once again, they are clearly taking their influences as much from the mighty Bathory as from the early 90's wave of Norwegian Black Metal. Lyrically, they explore the now familiar territories of Norse mythology and nature. If you unfamiliar with this excellent band, but are a fan of bands such as Moonsorrow, Vreid, Thyrfing, Ereb Altor, etc this is an album not to be missed.  

Weekly Round-Up: Feb 1st 2014

There have been so many new albums this week that I haven't got around to listening to yet, that this isn't a complete round-up. I'm hoping to post a second part in the next few days...keep 'em peeled.

Grand Magus

Sweden's Grand Magus started out life as a Stoner / Doom band, but have gradually introduced a more Classic Rock / Heavy Metal edge to their music. With the exception that was the 2012's "The Hunt", Grand Magus have always hit the mark in terms of quality and, I am pleased to say, deliver the goods once again on this, their seventh full-length release. Opener "On Hooves Of Gold" is reminiscent of a heavier, doomier Deep Purple and definitely sets the tone for the rest of the album. Next up is "Steel Versus Steel" which borders on outright Judas Priest plagiarism, but they just about get away with it. This is classic, balls out Heavy Metal.

Behemoth

What is there to say about Behemoth? Well, the media has been raving about these Polish Black Metallers for years, but I never quite 'got it': All that has changed on this album. This is a game changer, plain and simple. A call to arms and an open challenge to the rest of the extreme metal world to up their game. The new kings are here. Ignore this at your peril. Black Metal: Redefined.

Thyrien

With a distinctly Finnish sound, Thyrien sound somewhat like a mix between fellow countrymen Children Of Bodom, Kalmah and Ensiferum. The musicianship is impeccable and while it may not being doing anything new, I found this to be an enjoyable and respectable debut release from a band that has been honing its craft since 2005.

Dripback

From the still smoldering ashes of underground British Metal heroes, Ted Maul and Labrat, come the ferocious, Dripback...and they carry on right where the previous bands left off - continuing the fine tradition of peers such as Raging Speedhorn, Iron Monkey, etc. They offer a distinctly British brand of Hardcore Metal delivered with skull-crushing brutality. Listen to music on their Myspace page:

https://myspace.com/dripback

Fist Fight

Neither the ham-fisted, cringe-worthy lyrics or the fact that this sounds extremely dated detract from the charm this band exudes. It's a Nu-Metal / Groove Metal throwback to the late 90's, but it has a certain something. 

Recommended track: Sleeper Cell

http://www.reverbnation.com/fistfightmetal

Googly Eyes Make Everything Better!

A bold claim, I'm sure you'll agree. But the evidence is compelling.

I saw a post about this one Metal Hammer the other day (thanks, Mark) and it was a revelation. Every human discovery - from fire to penicillin, the internet to electricity - all pale in comparison to this. I have found it far more fun than it really should be, putting these little pieces of plastic joy on my CD sleeves. To all of those who mocked me for being 'old-fashioned' for continuing to buy CDs, to you I say...I believe that I have the last laugh.

Just a small selection if my CD sleeves 'improved' with googly eyes.