“Where Angels Burn” is taken from Pantheon I’s 2007 album, “The Wanderer and His Shadow”. This album takes a more melodic approach to Black Metal than what you might expect from a band which features two former members of 1349. The melodies used here really help to drive the music home – giving it an undeniable addictive quality. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found myself with a snippet of one of these tracks stuck in my head.

The album weaves from one idea to another – never afraid to take risks and never content to stick with the norm, or what you would expect. It’s the kind of album that deserves a special listening session… which is why I’m so glad I bought new headphones the other day! There are so many different layers here that it is easy to miss them on first listen (or even multiple listens!). Listening through a decent paid of headphones really helps you to appreciate the complexity of the music. Yep, it’s definitely complex, even though Pantheon I seem to play it effortlessly. They make it look so easy!

Each track paints its own audio picture – some are aggressive, some are full of melancholy and offer a combination of different atmospheres. Whatever the atmosphere or overall feeling of the track, none of them are boring. Over the past few years I’ve come to identify with the different tracks in different ways. While all of the tracks are more than deserving of your attention, the following one’s seem to demand more of my listening time that others: “Cyanide Storm” (which is available to download for free from the band’s website – just click here), “Origin of Sin”, “The Wanderer and His Shadow”, “Where Angels Burn”, “My Curse” and “Chaos Incarnate”. Ok, that’s most of the album… but it really is this good…

In case you wanted to check out the video that made me want to revisit this little obsession, please check out “Where Angels Burn” below…

Rating: 95%

pantheon-i.com

Last night, I had the urge to listen to Akercocke’s “Words That Go Unspoken, Deeds That Go Undone” album. There is nothing unusual about that since I’ve become re-obsessed with it lately as I re-discovered it a couple of months ago. It truly is a masterpiece. I absolutely love it. Anyway, I digress… Whilst listening to the album I thought I’d have a little look at the comments (or ‘shouts’ as they’re called… but that doesn’t seem very polite) on Akercocke’s Last.fm page. Aside from the usual expressions of love and the ‘this album is better than that one’ comments, there was also a link to a BlogSpot site. I clicked on the link and I soon found myself becoming very excited.

You see, I’ve been a fan of Akercocke for quite some time but I’ve never had the opportunity to listen to the band that they evolved from – Salem Orchid. Suddenly, last night, I had the chance to do so! This little delicious blog of Metal goodies had some Salem Orchid demos to download. So, I did. It also had some Church of Satan stuff (another pre-Akercocke band that I wasn’t even aware of until this point) which I also downloaded. There was also a Thus Defiled demo from 1993 that I gobbled up like a starving person at an all you can eat buffet. It was a brilliant evening. I found myself getting even more obsessed with Akercocke and I started to develop a new re-obsession with Thus Defiled. Both obsessions have continued into today and I’m currently sitting at my desk listening to that Thus Defiled demo (I plan to follow it up with “Wings of the Nightstorm” – I didn’t download this one; I have it on CD) and I’m still excited.

I know, that’s now two paragraphs that I’ve ended with the word ‘excited’, but there is a point… I promise. These old (and out of print) demos have woken up that little part of my brain that used to get excited (yes, it’s that word again) when I used to buy random second hand CDs when I was at college. I never knew what the music would be like, I just bought them on impulse. If they were good, I soon became a fan of the band and bought the rest of their stuff. If they were bad… they were destroyed! Anyway, since I rarely do that now (although I still make ‘impulse’ purchases, they’re usually online and I’ve usually had a chance to at least listen to one track before hitting the “buy now” button), I don’t feel that excited feeling as much. Downloading these demos has brought it back. It’s made me a happy bunny! It’s also made me want to start searching the Internet for Thus Defiled and Akercocke merch… I may have to do that fairly soon…

However, is it morally right for me to have downloaded these demos (for free) in the first place? I argue that it’s fine since they are out of print and I can’t get them from anywhere else (while I’m on the subject, I would gladly pay for the original cassettes/CDs if the opportunity arose). I just want to listen to more music from the bands I love… That’s cool, right? Or am I just making excuses for myself?

And so the question falls to you. Yes, YOU. Is downloading out of print stuff OK? Or is it just as bad as downloading the band’s latest album from a torrents site? Where do you stand? This is a grey area… we are now in the void.

I shall now leave you with a link to the site that has made me so happy today (and the site that has spawned the above question). If, like me, you believe that downloading out of print demos is ok, then please click here. If you think it’s wrong, don’t click there… you won’t like it.

I’ve mentioned a couple of bands in this blog, if you would like to check them out please give the links below a little click:
myspace.com/akercocke
myspace.com/thusdefiled
facebook.com/thusdefiled

Today, whilst I was scrolling through my (quite impressive – well, I like to think so) iTunes collection, I re-discovered “Forget Every Sunrise” (I also re-discovered another EP by another band, but I think I’ll save that for another time). I immediately went to the third track, “Glass Eyed Child”, because I remembered it being my favourite. I instantaneously fell in love with it again… and then I found myself with the compulsion to write about it again.

When I originally reviewed this EP in 2008, I’m ashamed to say that I wasn’t too descriptive. Yes, I talked about the basics, but I really feel that I could have said more. So that’s what I’m going to do. I hope you’re sitting comfortably…

The EP opens with “Nightfall” and instantly you know what Lahmia are all about – fantastically well executed melodeath. Yes, there are about a gazillion bands out there playing in this style, but I really think that (musically) Lahmia have what it takes to fight their way to the top of the pile. These guys could take on the big boys any day of the week! Also, considering that this came out around 3 years ago, it’s definitely aged well. It doesn’t sound dated or out of place.

“Grinding Dreams” has a grittier feel to it in comparison to the previous track. I don’t know what it is, but the overall tone just feels darker. Is this better? I don’t know. It works although I wouldn’t necessarily say it was any better than “Nightfall”. In my mind these two tracks are pretty much evenly matched.

Next up is “Glass Eyed Child” and, I have to say, it’s still my favourite from this EP. Back in 2008 I believe I said something along the lines of ‘everything about this track screams CLASSIC!’ – well, fast-forward to 2011 and I’m saying the same thing. In fact, I think I like it better now. It has matured like a fine wine. Every element of the track works in complete harmony with everything else. The melody carries it along and the vocals create a dark and mysterious edge. Please don’t let me forget about this song again!

“Game of Sacrifice” has some crazily hypnotic riffs running throughout its 5 minutes and 20 seconds. On this track the band really get to show of their musicianship and, no matter how many times I listen to it, I can’t help but be impressed. This is good stuff!

“The Last Dance” provides the EP with an epic finale – I almost like it as much as “Glass Eyed Child”. Almost! Again, it’s another fine example of how Lahmia utilise melody to its optimum level. This is the kind of metal that can get stuck in your head… and, unlike a lot of the random stuff that gets stuck in my head, I’m actually happy that it’s in there.

Three years ago I said that the melodies used on this EP make each of the songs memorable and stand out in their own right. I still think that applies. This is melodeath with a firm focus on the melody.

Oh, and do you know what? When I have some money, I WILL buy that other CD and t-shirt!!!

Rating: 92% (yep, it’s gone up since I last reviewed it)

facebook.com/lahmiaofficial
myspace.com/lahmia

At Odds With God are Death Metal band hailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida (why do so many awesome bands come from Florida?) and they play the kind of melodic, yet face-meltingly awesome death metal that makes me happier than a… very happy thing…

The band is made up of Diego Montoya (guitar), Alejandro Maya (guitar), Rob Stokes (bass), Carlos Linares (drums) and Nina Saile (vocals). Of course, a Death Metal band with a female vocalist is bound to have people drawing comparisons with Arch Enemy… So, my advice to you is this – Don’t. At Odds With God are not an Arch Enemy tribute band – in fact, they sound nothing like them. The music on “Earning Damnation” is far more brutal and Nina’s vocals are more ferocious and intense than what you get with Arch Enemy. Not that I have anything against Arch Enemy (in fact, I like them a lot), it’s just that the comparison is not warranted. It’s apples and oranges here people!

Throughout the album, At Odds With God balance magnificently between epic melodies and savage brutality (check out “Thunders of Wrath” for a fantastic example). The production of the album is unbelievably good – particularly for a band that isn’t signed to a major label. You can hear every element with equal clarity, so you never miss a thing. It’s like being hit by a wall of sound – an amazingly crisp and clear wall of sound.

The combination of musicianship and song writing ability is astounding. That’s the thing here – At Odds With God write songs. They don’t rely on brutality or one lone (yet memorable) riff to do the job – the songs are the full package. I can imagine that a lot of thought has gone into the composition of each one.

My only gripe is that, at 7 tracks, “Earning Damnation” is rather short. I know that it’s meant to be quality over quantity, but At Odds With God have left me hungry for more… and I think this album was released back in 2007 (ish)… Is it time to chow down on some more At Odds With God goodness yet?

Anyone know what the band is up to these days? Is a new album on the cards?

Rating: 97%

atoddswithgod.com
facebook.com/pages/At-Odds-With-God/59442650277?sk

I first discovered Dark Remains a few years ago, when I used to do a bit of review writing for a webzine called Burning Misery (sadly, I don’t think that site exists anymore. It’s a shame – it was a great site!) and I remember that at the time I thought they were brilliant. I was going through an old school Death Metal phase then (it could be argued that I’m STILL going through that stage!) and Dark Remains fit the bill perfectly.
“Death Manifestation” (2002) was the band’s first album (as far as I know) and from the very first listen it hit me right between the eyes. There were traces of all of my Death Metal favourites here – a hint of Obituary, a touch of Death, a taste of Malevolent Creation, a dash of Grave – but the band still retained enough of its own character to make the whole thing worthwhile. They stuck to the old school Death Metal blueprint like there was no tomorrow, but it was abundantly clear that they were not a mere tribute band. “Death Manifestation”, while not perfect, was full of promise.

On the follow up, “Planet Earth Scorged” (2006), the band really started to define their own sound and I’m insanely gutted that I still haven’t had the opportunity to listen to 2009′s “A Construct to Obliterate” (since rediscovering the band at the weekend, I have written to their label to see if any of those CDs are still available and if the band are still active. I hope I get a ‘yes’ on both counts!). Anyway, I wanted to talk about “Death Manifestion”, so I better get back on topic!

On “Death Manifestation” the band explore the old school Death Metal landscape as much as possible. Some times they go straight for the juggular (such as on the title track), while at other times they opt for a slower, more sinister approach, such as that displayed on “Burned to the Stake” (although this track does have its fast tempo moments, it begins with a fantastically dark and slow paced riff!).

Throughout the album, the guitars crunch and basically sound as heavy as fuck. This really helps the guitars solo stand out and they seem to soar through the album’s distorted underbelly. The band sounds tight – it doesn’t feel like this album was thrown together in someone’s garage. Instead it sounds practiced and refined.

“Death Manifestation” is a fantastic old school Death Metal album. If you’re looking for something that will change the world, cure cancer, write a best-selling novel and then cook you dinner, then keep looking. This isn’t it. This album probably won’t change your life – but it will provide you with a more than decent way to spend some of your life. Listening to Death Metal is, afterall, a magnificent passtime.

Some of the guys in Dark Remains are also in a band called Warmaster – be sure to check them out too!

Rating: 91%