Sometimes, you just have to sit back, relax and go back to the drawing board, and try to figure out a way to mold something fresh, out of a genre that’s been done to the last reeking, rotting circle of death. In the case of Japan’s Pharmacist, as you can probably guess, that genre is riffy, groovy, filthy, sleazy Deathgrind, a la (of course) early Carcass. This is the sophomore full-length outing from these dudes, and not only have they officially carved their own path, with the same blood and tissue-covered scalpel that crafted classics like Reek of Putrefaction and Symphonies of Sickness, its stench may be just as strong and putrid, because fuck me, this is the best take on the groovy, melodic Deathgrind sound I’ve heard in recent memory. So much so, that i’d even go as far as to implement the word… Progressive (*GASP*) into the mix. Flourishing Extremities on Unspoiled Mental Grounds is a filth-ridden, but eloquently crafted slab of grinding, grooving Death Metal, with an entire pharmacy of chunky, juicy riffs, that you won’t get from the lowly, middle-aged schmo in scrubs, at the back of your local CVS.
Starting off with Accelerating Suppuration, this thing immediately starts off with shit-stomping drums, dueling with chunky ass guitars and sniveling, vomitous vocals, snarling all about. Fluctuating between blasts, and catchy, but nasty grooves, with a melodic seasoning peppered throughout; a pattern kept up for seven whole minutes, keeping my attention all the way through. Corpus Sonica is more purely groove-oriented, but this is where the word “progressive” started seeping into my head, as this is where things start to unwind and the layers really start to peel back, which would become a pattern as this thing goes on. I don’t want to bring up Carcass too much, but what really grabs me about this album, is that (at least to me), most of the melodic and groovy side of this album, is channeled from Heartwork, as well as the riff style, for the most part. Necromorph and The Great Contractor really made that apparent to me, which boosted my enjoyment by en extra mile! There are even a few moments that remind me of No Love Lost or Carnal Forge, which are recognized Carc-classics for a reason.
But, the biggest plus of all…
What’s another thing you’d never, ever expect to hear in a Deathgrind album? The one thing the genre was never built to harbor? The last thing you’d expect to run into while swimming through the sonic reeking sewage, that is this album, despite all the other treasures you’ve already found in the mix? SOLOS!! No, you’re not having a stroke reading this, some sweet-ass solos are also present on this fucker, my favorite one being on the title-track, smack-dab in the middle of those thick, shit-kicking guitars and puking snarles, two well-placed solos swoon through the air, over some snappy drum beats. Just another layer to this musty pallet, that further adds to the progressiveness of the overall sound. To backtrack a bit, The Great Contractor also displays a couple of them, that are just as deliciously tantalizing. Like I said, the layers were carefully peeled back throughout this album, and every detail was revealed at the right time. There’s also some small, but noticeable hints of Human/Individual Thought Patterns-era Death peppered into the mix. It just got better and better as it went on, and stuck its sonic meathooks firmly into my flesh and kept me invested until it was done.
As tempting as it was at times, I can’t call this full-on Carcass worship, because it’s not. Their DNA sure as hell courses through its veins, undoubtedly, but it’s anything but a stagnant imitation. It’s a mutation into an even more intelligent creature, with more weapons at its disposal, swimming through the sewers with much more adaptivity and vitality, and once it reveals itself, you’ll be frozen with awe, but it will swallow you whole and shit out your bones, leaving them to be found washed up in a river somewhere, spewed from the mouth of a storm drain. It’s riffy, it’s grindy, it’s groovy and it’s rich with musicianship of an almost otherworldly level. Where other bands of this small sect of Death Metal, like Exhumed, Impaled, Aborted and more recently, Pissgrave have carved their own avenues, from the path that those young British chaps led the way on, Pharmacist have dissected that same corpse and used its organs to craft their own monster of a sound, and it’s a fully functional beast if I ever heard one. One of the best releases of this ilk that I’ve heard in recent memory, that my newly found love for won’t be found in a morgue with a toe tag any time soon!
It’s not every day where I come across an Atmospheric Black Metal release that truly drives itself into my soul and brings about genuine emotion, through a fairly simple formula, but, out from the chilling doldrums of hallucinatory madness, formed from one’s most traumatic nightmares, Faceless Entity conjures up the most distorted figments of an ailing mind and forces you to face the malicious spirits of your past, but not without a small gleam of hope to guide you. The Great Anguish of Rapture is the second full-length of this mysterious force, and it may be its most viscerally impassioned and cosmically uplifting creation yet, while keeping true to its signature harrowing, ghastly atmospherics, like a vengeful spirit wrapping its hand around your throat and strangling the air from your lungs, forcing you to witness what lies beyond the physical realm you inhabit, as your eyes turn white and inch ever-so close to death, only to let go and drop you back to the ground, as you gasp in relief. Coming a long way from their early demos, I feel like this is the album they have been working towards and this may be their magnum opus, as well as one of the best Atmo BM outings I’ve heard in a hot minute!
The title-track starts this off on the slower side, with a somber kick/snare beat, common among the slower side of Depressive Black Metal, specifically from acts like Trist or Hypothermia, but slowly picks up the pace as it goes on, building tension like an ominous fog, laced with equally despondent melodies and blown out, scratching guitars. It isn’t long until tortured shrieks fill the air, converging with the oppressive smog, conjuring visions of an otherworldly beast, looming among the stars. There is a significant contrast in mood throughout this album, as I find it to be both hauntingly chilling and in a strange way, spiritually sobering. Both moods are balanced soundly, which calls into question what exactly that being is; is it malicious? A wrathful deity? Some interdimensional creature? Or perhaps, even a angel? It’s left to the imagination, as you’re sworn further into the abyss, continuing into Decaying Banners of Existence, which picks up at a mid-tempo and those guitars continue to scratch against the chilling winds, as those shrieks continue to sear through it.
The Enigma of Death goes full speed ahead and starts right off by throwing you into a whirlwind of blast-beats and piercing tremolos, with occasional wailing melodies. This track has a slight Post-Black Metal feel to it, that’s noticeable, but not overbearing. The blasts eventually break back into the slow, more despondent pace, but remains riddled with tension and the manic shrieks only make it even more volatile. The sheer emotion that’s poured into every ounce of this is undeniable, as it oozes through every little detail. There are moments that focus more on one end of the spectrum than the other, like A Growing Void, that treads the deepest into the more foreboding side of this album, without much of a break from the darkness. The dramatic croons make a return as well for a few seconds. Things reach the ultimate climax with closer, Death, a Rot Beneath the Mask of Existence, winding it down with one last visceral explosion of suffocating fury and gut-wrenching despair. You are forced to be fully cognizant of the sonic fortress collapsing around you, as this hallucinatory fever dream comes to a close, ending with one final harrowing gasp.
This is the type of sound that doesn’t need more than what it already has, as the emotion and essence does most of the talking and gets the message across loud and fucking clear. It’s a mesmeric seance of haunting dissonance, drenched in feverish chill, that’s both ghastly and radiant. A perfect blend of atmosphere and potent melodicism, that will bring forth an upheaval of emotion, without question, as it sonically transfixes into your soul and freezes you in your tracks, unlocking hidden doors of repressed memories, and forcing you to relive those hideous visions head-on, while empowering you to face them all at once.
The Great Anguish of Rapture is available April 15th through Argento Records and the Faceless Entity Bandcamp.
Well, fuck. Holy shit. Would you look at that. We’re already in April and the first quarter of 2022 is already in the books! The years are flying by and blending together more and more these days and it’s getting to the point where I’m starting to question my own existence within this physical plane and wonder if I’m just swooning on acid hits for months at a time. Or are the jaded claws of aging just tightening their grip around my throat more as time goes on? Will I be too jaded to do these in the future? Guess we’ll see.
Anyway, the frustrating and confusing flux of time aside, it’s that time again. Time to bust out the shovels, step into the wreckage and dig up the remnants of what the first three months of 2022 dropped on my head, that I was able to get around to. If you were paying attention the last time, you already know what’s up. So, let’s get the tired introduction over with and touch that steel to the dirt.
What Remains for Q1 2022:
Midnight: Let There be Witchery (Metal Blade Records)
I will admit, I’m fairly new to Midnight. After years of indifference, this album finally turned me around and made it all click with me, finally realizing the snarling, perverted Blackened Speed Metal sleaze that these hooded menaces have to offer! Groovy, gnarly, perverted and evil, filled with catchy riffs that force you to headbang by punching you in the face repeatedly! I’ve talked some shit in the past, but I get it now and I’m always down for a little witchery, so keep on conjuring!
The long-awaited new EP by Blackened Death Metal necromancers, Mortuary Drape, sounding as necro and deathly as ever! Harsh, ripping Death, soiled in the foul waters of Black Metal’s most rotten dungeons. No shortage of nasty riffs to be found here, as well as a Mercyful Fate cover, that’s both well-done and reminded me of Emperor’s cover of Gypsy, that I’ve jammed out many a times as a goofy teenager, still in my exploration phase, Excellent EP by one of the most revered and feared in the genre!
Furis Ignis: Decapitate the Aging World (Iron Bonehead Productions)
Atmospheric Black Metal from the cold, arcane mountains, where the freezing wind hurts and the ice is sharp to the touch. Chilling Black Metal, paying homage to the icy mounds of the 2nd wave, where screeching guitars and muddy drums fill the air, helmed by distant, foggy howls. Pretty simple formula, but very strident in it’s delivery and full of wailing emotion. Cold, stark and drearily visceral. Also, that For All Tid-esque cover art! *thumbs up*
Wolfbastard: Hammer the Bastards (Clobber Records)
Where Midnight goes for the groovier side of Blackened Thrash/Speed, Wolfbastard goes straight for the throat with spiteful vengeance! I’m all for a good, well-placed “FUCK OFF” in between riffs and these Brits bring attitude, as well as fury and ferocity to their sound. Fast, precise and face-smashing, delivered in a quick, but painful 31-minutes in length. Great stuff! Perfect for any beer-swelling degenerate looking for something to pass out in their own puke to!
Druid Lord: Relics of the Dead (Hells Headbangers)
I’ve had my eye on Druid Lord since the previous album, but this one is another heavy hitter in their still-growing discography! Ghoulish Death Doom, served straight from Hell’s steaming cauldrons. The deepened bond between Death Doom and Horror has spawned some gems, and if Acid Witch or Hooded Menace are your bag, then this is another one to add to your Halloween playlist… or to throw on during a nice, wholesome blood orgy! That also works just fine!
Vorga: Striving Towards Oblivion (Transcending Obscurity Records)
Cosmic Black Metal straight from the vast and immersive stratosphere, that echoes through the cold stark vacuum of existence as we know it. A fine debut album by a very promising act, that’s epic, enchanting and fierce, conjuring up a more cathartic soundtrack to humanities imminent end, brought on by our own man-made perils. Excellent stuff that rings though the stars and pierces the air, chanting cold benevolence to a galaxy in ruin.
Darvaza: Ascending into Perdition (Terratur Possessions)
Occult Black Metal of the nastier ilk, stripping away the cloaked grandeur and just letting the blood and vomit fly in your face, as you stand among the stench of dead animals, as their flesh decomposes from bone. Darvaza brings the heat and aggression, and delivers its esoteric musings with violent force, spewing some juicy, filthy riffs at your senses in the process. No pomp & circumstance needed for this slab of mud-slinging filth. Aural punishment through and through!
Hexerei: Ancient Evil Spirits (Sentient Ruin Laboratories)
Sentient Ruin has been on a roll as of late, as you can tell by my recent review of the new Black Fucking Cancer album. Here’s another one from their early 2022 catalog to get lost in and get clawed to death by. Raw Black Metal is a hard sell for me these days, but this is absolutely feral and has a set of claws to it, that come out and gash you up from the hit of play. Ghastly Black Metal that drags you into the suffocating furnaces of Hell and conjures hideous visions of snarling demons, dancing ritualistically around you, as it violates you and gnashes its teeth in pleasure. Ancient and perverse Raw BM, that absolutely smoked all those fake vampires claiming the title. Not for the feeble or unworthy.
Ultra Silvam: The Sanctity of Death (Regain Records)
If you miss early Watain and seek a less melodic and theatrical version of them, then look no further than Ultra Silvam, because they bring the punishment you seek in spades. Very modern, but ripping Black Metal, with hints of Thrash, but multitudes of blasting ferocity. Again, pretty modern, but gnarly meat & potatoes Black Metal, laced with blasphemous fervor, molded by dirt, blood and bone.
Deathhammer: Electric Warfare (Hells Headbangers)
The latest serving of riffs on a silver platter, by one of Thrash Metal’s most venomous entities. Deathhammer bring the heat with chaotic splendor, ramming it all down your throat in a matter of minutes, as every track is filled with a continuous array of flesh-tearing riffs, one right after another. Intense, devilish chaos from start to finish. Get on it and get hammered!
With the current conflict that Ukraine faces, a lot of talented musicians and artists face a facet of unprecedented challenges and can use the support. Svrm is definitely one of them. This is brilliant Black Metal, rich with atmosphere and impassioned melody, with minimalistic, but grandiose vigor, with a voice from some sort of Lovecraftian void. A quick listen, but a mystifying one at that! Ukraine has a very hefty Black Metal scene, including one of my favorite acts from there in Drudkh, and Svrm is now right up there too! Excellent stuff that blends drama and catharsis wondrously.
ฮฯฮตฯฮฟฮฝฯฮฑฯ (Acherontas): Malocchio: The Seven Tongues of ฮฮฑฮทฮผฯฮฝ (Zazen Sounds)
Occult Black Metal titans, Acherontas (or ฮฯฮตฯฮฟฮฝฯฮฑฯ, as they currently go by) never miss and are as vital as ever, churning every ounce of conviction into the spellbinding, but ferocious marvel that is their 9th full-length. Another brilliantly crafted pallet of majestically precise blackened riffs, with a gleaming melodic overtone, that accentuates its overall tone. As piercingly harsh and woefully melodramatic as the artwork suggests, the way Acherontas has always been. Great stuff!
Desolate Shrine: Fires of the Dying World (Dark Descent Records)
Thy Kingdom Scvm guest writer, Hope Gould described this album as “like drowning in liquid mercury”, which is as good of a description as even I can give it, as it drops you in a sea of nightmarish haze, and rains down its pallet of crushing guitars and bolder-like drums onto you like a destructive mudslide burrowing down on unsuspecting drivers on a mountain-side road. An absolute head-crusher of an album, with a foray of chunky, visceral riffs, that swing from every angle, some of which sneak up on you at the most unexpected times. Blackened Death Metal that’s well-rooted and unique in its own way. Not quite as dismally atmospheric as the previous albums, but still as ominous and foreboding as Desolate Shrine has always been!
Father Befouled: Crowned in Veneficum (Everlasting Spew Records)
Father Befouled has always been a stand-out in Blackened Death for me, mainly because of the cavernous depths they bring the style to, and they did not disappoint in bringing the heat with this one! The reeking atmosphere that radiates from this thing is akin to a vast, putrid, muddy, corpse-filled sinkhole, sprung up from the most vile doldrums of Hell itself, where the most sinister of souls were cast to. Incredibly filthy and merciless in delivery, with a rotten abyss of smoldering riffs, molded in perverse blasphemy. Another eviscerating ripper of a full-length, by one of my underground go-to’s, in terms of Blackened/cavernous Death!
Other Mentions:
Shadow Dungeon: Gรฆstgerรฝne (Independent)
Downcross: Hexapoda Triumph (Cavum Atrum Rex)
Verbum: Exhortation to the Impure (Iron Bonehead Productions)
Night Spires: Whispers from the Grave (Independent)
That does it, folks. It’s been a pretty damn ruthless first quarter, as this is only the tip of the iceberg of what we were graced with over the last three months. You can check my full reviews for the rippers dropped by Wiegedood, Immolation, Hath, Aeviterne & Black Fucking Cancer as well. At a time where the world around us is in the shitter and we’re all sitting here, looking at our watches, waiting for World War 3 to start at any moment, it’s the quality jams that make it all worth the supposed imminent collapse of the planet worth it! Check these out if you haven’t already, and I’ll be back soon.
Thy Kingdom Scvm 