No, I don't know what any of those words mean, so don't ask. Akantha is a Greek black metal band. Greece is one of the more underrated black metal scenes out there, even if one discounts Rotting Christ and the similar bands like Varathron, Kawir, Thou Art Lord and others. This is Akantha's third release, but the first one I have heard. Akantha's sound owes far more to the kind of raw, primal black metal crafted by Darkthrone and their ilk than anything in the Greek scene with songs generally built around one or two riffs with a lot of pounding drums. And that is fine because while the music is sonically similar, Akantha eschewed the lo-fi production values, so what you get is Darkthrone worship, but with good production. It's an impressive release and makes the band one I might look further into.
This is the debut album from Swedish black metal band Faidra, a one-man project whose sole member keeps his identity secret so as to let the music speak for itself. And it definitely does. The music is mostly somber, atmospheric black metal with a dream-like quality that makes it easy to just sit back and immerse oneself into it. In that respect it is not unlike some of the earlier, better works by Burzum and Summoning. The music is typically slower-paced with swirling riffs and hoarse vocals. Synths are used to deepen the atmosphere without becoming overpowering. Every once in awhile, the energy level is ratcheted up, but this is usually temporary and reverts back to the languid pace of the rest of the album. The only real issue I have with this is that it is sometimes too easy to get lost in it and not realize a different song has started. It gets to be a bit monotonous at times, but it is a very solid debut. I will have to check out future releases.
Heads for the Dead is a supergroup of sorts featuring mercenary growler Ralf Haber, who has put in time in Rotpit and Revel in Flesh, joined by various members of Wombbath, Massacre, Hail of Bullets and more. The music is exactly what one would expect when bands like that are mentioned: unapologetic, grimy, old school-leaning death metal. The album hits hard and never lets up. The biggest surprise of the entire proceeding is their take on seminal black metal classic "Transilvanian Hunger", but even that is played with a force and aggression that is missing on the original, far more atmospheric track. The album seeks to capture the atmosphere of classic horror and does a great job of it. This is a compelling release with an eerie atmosphere that is even more fun to listen to around Halloween.
Rising out of the fertile metal scene of Portland, OR, Purification are true occult doom metal with an emphasis on the doom. This release is soaked in gloom and despair with its acid-soaked guitar leads and cavernous, woeful vocals. The lyrics lament the destruction of society and the death of God. It takes a little bit of patience for this album to fully sink in as it feels much longer than its 42-minute run-time, but it is worth the effort. The songs are slow-paced, but sink deep into the listener's subconscious to the point that it summons you back for more. This is undoubtedly one of the best doom metal albums of 2020.
Sweden's death metal band Wombbath were one of the many groups who released very little stuff in the 90's before disbanding and then returning 20 years later, though only guitarist Hakan Stuvemark returns. I do not know how much the world was clamoring for a Wombbath comeback, but we got one anyway. Now, their 1993 release Infernal Caustic Torments was a terrific slab of grimy, crusty Swedish death metal and it is interesting to note that the band strikes the same chord in their recent albums. Interestingly, this is the second Wombbath album of 2020, a level of production that is odd in today's music scene. I missed the first one. This is yet another ferocious release with typical Swedeath buzzsaw riffing and decayed-sounding vocals. The mix is a little tough to get used to, the album sounds like it was recorded in a cave, which I guess could be the intention, but fans of Swedish death should definitely check it out.
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