Catching Up: 2020 Part 7

CIRITH UNGOL: FOREVER BLACK

Cirith Ungol are another band that has reunited after a long hiatus and this is their first full-length since 1991.  Surprisingly, only the bassist is new to the band.  What is truly amazing about this release is that it sounds as if the band has not skipped a beat, like there was only a year or two since the last album instead of 30.  They sound rejuvenated and all of the elements of the band's sound from their heyday in the mid-to-late 80's is present, from the galloping riffs, fantasy-inspired lyrics, and menacing vocals.  This is a terrific reunion album and a wonderful return to form for this band.  

NECROWRETCH: THE ONES FROM HELL

I could be wrong, but this might have been the first new album I bought in 2020.  I am not sure that really has any actual significance, but I seem to recall that.  Necrowretch is a black/death metal band from France, and this is the first album I have checked out from the band.  The black metal elements tend to be more immediate, with the tremolo riffing and dark and foreboding atmosphere.  The songs are all fast-paced with riffs flying in all directions and feral, shrieking vocals.  The album is quite impressive and leads me to believe I need to look into more by Necrowretch.

PHALANX: GOLDEN HORDE

Here is another EP, but I figured I might as well throw it in here.  This is an incredibly short release, clocking in just over 16 minutes, but Phalanx packs a lot of furious energy into that short amount of time.  The music is hardcore-tinged death metal (without being deathcore).  It owes more to bands like the recent output of Nails than to Hatebreed or the like.  There are a number of vocal styles present, and the band has three singers.  One features more of a hardcore shout, another emits screeching black metal-esque shrieks.  I am not sure what is going on with the group at this point.  This EP from 2020 is the last material from them so far.  

REVOLTING: THE SHADOW AT THE WORLD'S END

With a name like Revolting, you absolutely know what this band will sound like.  Revolting is led by Rogga Johansen who has been in something like 30 bands (including Massacre, Paganizer, Putrevore, Ribspreader, Bone Gnawer and more).  That might be an exaggeration, but it might also be an underestimate.  Revolting is pure Swedish death metal, in the best possible way.  Featuring the familiar buzzsaw guitar riffing and ferocious vocals, Revolting is a callback to the early days of Grave and Nihilist, and with the short tracks, this is a very enjoyable listen that doesn't take up much time.  I love this release and definitely need to check out more of Revolting's work.

SORCIER DES GLACES: UN MONDE DE GLACE ET DE SANG

No, I don't speak French so I have no idea what any of that means.  I could look it up, but I'm lazy.  Shortly before I took a hiatus a few years ago, I was really getting into Quebec black metal bands, such as this one and including Monarque, Drave and Cantique Lepreux.  This album is generally representative of everything I like about the scene, swirling riffs, pounding drums and atmosphere that conjures up blizzard imagery and raspy vocals that mesh well with the riffs.  The songs are lengthy and there is a fair amount of repetition, but again, this is typical of the scene.  This would be a very good introductory album to this scene.

Skeletal Remains and More in Omaha: Oct. 15, 2024

It has been quite awhile since I have been to a concert.  I have missed a couple that I wanted to attend for various reasons (mostly work-related).  I only found out about this one after seeing a poster in a record store I just happened to venture into randomly in the middle of last week.  After resolving a potential trial scheduled for next week, I decided fuck it, I'm going.  The venue was the Reverb Lounge, a place I had never been before, but which appears to share some space with The Waiting Room (maybe?).  

Up first was a Des Moines, IA-based band called Traffic Death.  This was my first experience with this band.  They are definitely raw, but there is some undeniable talent there.  They kind of overdid it with the audio samples prior to songs, which kind of came off sounding clumsy, but there were some damn good riffs and they were pretty decent.

Witch Vomit was next and I have to say, they were probably the highlight of the night for me.  I have enjoyed the three releases I have picked up from them, but they really killed it live.  They were exactly as filthy and disgusting as one would hope from a death metal band.  I grabbed their newest album at the show because they were seriously impressive.  

North Dakota Lovecraftian death metal monsters Phobophilic hit the stage next.  I was not terribly familiar with them previously and they really only have one album out, which came out a couple years ago.  They were decent, but did not make a real strong impression on me.  I felt they were maybe trying too hard to be like Demilich.  I think they are well worth watching what they do in the future though.

Bewitcher was next and they probably stood out the most among the bands with their blackened speed metal attack that sounds lifted out of the early 1980's.  They seem to be enjoying something of a moment (as much as an underground metal band can) as the bar was completely packed during their set.  They absolutely shredded live and really livened things up.  They really got the small crowd moving throughout their set and did not let up on the throttle until they finished.

A lot of people left after Bewitcher, but those that stayed got quite the treat, because Skeletal Remains was fantastic.  Their sound is more rooted in the early days of death metal, back when there was not as much distinction between death metal and very heavy thrash metal.  So speed and precision in the riffs is the name of the game.  They performed a blistering set for about 40 minutes or so.  I was damn glad I stuck around, despite how late it was getting (I had an hour-and-a-half drive home).  All told, I was glad I decided to go.  I don't get to too many concerts anymore and I might have skipped this one had I not gotten that trial resolved.  

T-SHIRT WEARING: Molder