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Weapon - From the Devil's Tomb |
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Written by Philip
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Wednesday, 10 October 2012 12:11 |
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With debut albums there are rarely expectations. Aside from those few already familiar with the band through live performances, EPs, singles, or demos, the debut album introduces the vast majority of listeners to the band. For this reason, aside from word of mouth or visual aesthetics and other superficial aspects, there can hardly exist expectations for a band's debut album. One doesn't know what to expect, or what sort of musical worlds are about to emerge from their stereos. You take it as it comes and it either floors you with something incredible, bores you to death, or leaves you somewhere in the middle. Perhaps confused. Perhaps undecided. Perhaps with mixed emotions of love and hate. Weapon's debut did the former, flooring me with some unexpected and fantastic, original death metal, hardly ever delivering anything less than something ideal. But with sophomore attempts there are always expectations, even if slight or subtle.
Some are so impressed by a debut they say it's unlikely the band will reproduce that sort of magic on a follow up. Some expect nothing less than an equally excellent second album. But there's always an expectation, whether it be that the band remain true to their established sound, or that the band explore new territory and refrain from releasing the same album over and over again. A fan base has been established with the debut, and the sophomore runs the risk of disgusting the fans who were drawn in because of minute peculiarities and minor details that made the debut powerful. For this reason, a sophomore release can be tricky territory. Piss off old fans and hope to make new ones? Stay true to our core fans? Yes, now the awful fans must be considered. And while it's doubtful most bands who are true to their vision worry about what others will think of their music, there's always that minor pulsing thought, "It'd be great if the fans are into it..." |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 10 October 2012 14:04 |
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Read the full review [Weapon - From the Devil's Tomb]
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Weapon - Drakonian Paradigm |
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Written by Philip
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Wednesday, 03 October 2012 16:56 |
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I first came to hear of Weapon sometime in 2009 through the association of a member of two supremely masterful Canadian bands, Axis of Advance and Revenge. Vermin, as he is known, played bass for Weapon. As I learned later, it was only on an EP that I never heard. But this was all I needed to develop an interest. Over time I forgot why I had any interest in the band. Months later, when I found Drakonian Paradigm in the store I remembered being fascinated by the band, but couldn't recall why. I looked them up on my phone and found nothing informative but their logo. A primitive assortment of dangerous tools crudely built by ancient men with the need to kill spelled out WEAPON and lit torches in my chest. The logo was enough to sell me. The crudeness of these hateful weapons-as-letters was at odds with the sounds that first came from the speakers, an almost beautiful acoustic passageway that hinted at magic and mysticism. But no, this was a passageway into far fiercer territory. That fierce territory, once we arrived, was clearly the stuff of raw savagery. If riffs could cause a holocaust, these would do it. My, the fury with which they strike at the mind! Oh dear, the crazed razors they cut like! Melodies that simultaneously wrapped all ears in metaphysical straight jackets and transported one to freer lands where daggers grew on trees were weaving their way through the guts of man. Though familiar in many ways, I hadn't heard anything quite like it. |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 03 October 2012 22:39 |
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Read the full review [Weapon - Drakonian Paradigm]
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Deceased - Surreal Overdose |
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Written by Liu
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Saturday, 16 July 2011 13:21 |
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Shrieks From The Hearse Records
Sometimes, good things come to those who wait. This is a philosophy one must have if you are a Deceased fanatic. Their last album, As The Weird Travel On, was delivered six years ago and was perhaps the most underrated album of 2005. Several things have changed in that time, most notably the retirement of guitarist Mark Adams from music altogether. The band finally found the time this year to regroup and put to tape their next death metal monstrosity.
This is death metal done right. Deceased have their own niche within the genre, one that doesn't really have classification. They may be heavier than that fat girl you once took home, but they aren't brutal death metal. They have enough melody to make Dave Murray and Adrian Smith smile, yet they certainly do not belong in the melodic death metal genre. They possess intricacies and nuances, but don't string together riff after riff after riff mindlessly like many in the technical death metal genre. No, Deceased is above all that nonsense. They are just Deceased, death metal as it should be, presented as is and with no apologies.
Surreal Overdose is probably their most manic album since Luck Of The Corpse. The tunes are fast and in your face, with the aggression amped up from their last two albums. As soon as Skin Crawling Progress begins, you are assaulted with a barrage of riffs and then King Fowley's menacing vocals. He wastes no time in narrating his chilling tales of horror and doom. It's amazing that he never gets short of breath as he goes through his horrid tomes. King is also back behind the drum kit, sitting it out the last time due to complications with a blood clot that almost ended the maniac. It doesn't sound like he's lost a step either. He's all over the kid like a madman, sounding much more natural and fluent than a lot of the protools assisted hitters out there. |
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Last Updated on Saturday, 16 July 2011 14:12 |
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Read the full review [Deceased - Surreal Overdose]
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Babylon Rising Festival w/ Rotting Christ - April 16, 2011 |
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Written by Liu
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Monday, 18 April 2011 16:06 |
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Babylon Rising Festival: Rotting Christ, Infernaeon, Generichrist and Death Legion
April 16, 2011
La Repuesta, Santurce, Puerto Rico
Start time on the ticket said 7pm, but as usual the doors weren't open to the waiting crowd until a little before 9pm. Last month at the Saetith show the start time was delayed for two hours because two of the opening bands hadn't arrived yet. This time it was because the venue security had yet to arrive. It's always something, heh.
Death Legion was the first to hit the stage. You've probably never heard of them because this was their first ever gig in front of a crowd and they left quite an impression. The Puerto Rican band played a form of blackened death metal and set the tone for everything else that would transpire throughout the night. The band wore masks that made it look like they had dried mud on their faces with spikes sticking out. It was an interesting look. Despite being their first gig, they already possessed a tight sound that suggested that they've been around for far longer than they really have.
Up next was Generichrist from Tampa, Florida. Their sound can best be described as a mix between death metal, grindcore and thrash. All of their songs were quick jabs to the face, packed with intensity and anger. Lively song titles like Extinction Of The Jesus Freaks and My Lovely Whore gives you an idea of what the band is about. Their set was short and to the point, with vocalist Tony Anderson refusing to stand still, moving around the stage like a man possessed and with a purpose. That purpose of course was to bludgeon the senses of all who stood before them. They succeeded.
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Last Updated on Monday, 18 April 2011 18:48 |
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Read the full review [Babylon Rising Festival w/ Rotting Christ - April 16, 2011]
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