Paris is Burning - Noroi (2012)

Album Year: 2012

Genre: Metal/Death Metal/Tech Death

Location: Miami, Florida

Tracklist:

*unlisted*

Download Link:

Merch Link:

The new EP "Noroi" will be available for free download starting April 23rd

Living Impressions - Fragments (2012)

Genre: Djent,Post Rock,Technical Death Metal

Location: Portugal

A Loathing Requiem "Psalms of Misanthropy" Review

Genre: Technical/Brutal Death Metal

Label: Self Released

Release Date: 2010

Malcolm Pugh has never been a man of half measures. Fans already familiar with him know his work in the fantastic band Inferi and for a guest appearance on the amazing album “Our Cursed Rapture” by Enfold Darkness. The guitar work exhibited on those albums by Mr. Pugh has never been anything but phenomenal and this time out, on his completely solo venture “Psalms of Misanthropy” under the moniker A Loathing Requiem, Malcolm Pugh proves himself to be one of the singularly most talented musicians on the heavy metal scene today. All the instruments on this album were handled by Malcolm Pugh and all the instruments are masterfully handled. The opening track “Annihilation Induced by the Luminous Firestorm” display crushing drum sections, sinister vocals and guitar work and solos that would give Dragonforce a run for their money. Showing not only a talent for technical work, Malcolm proves he can do brutal all by himself with slamming interludes on such tracks as “Rapturous Euphoria” and “And Darkness Was Cast”. The entire album rings of a cohesive sound that is no doubt partially caused by the single musician working away on the entire work. “Psalms of Misanthropy” is a dense work and will most assuredly require most listen once or twice to hear not only the unrelenting brutality of the music but the more subtle technical aspects. Tracks like “False Gods Render Death” and “Carnage of the Infinite Black” are brutal this is true but there is much more to the music as listeners can hear, the blistering music has a very skilled technical sound to it rather than the sound of many brutal bands turning the volume to 10 and chugging away.

Malcolm Pugh proves capable of that on this album over and over but certainly does not short sell himself to merely pounding his fans’ eardrums relentlessly but gives those willing to listen and absorb the music a chance to hear his titanic skills. And this is not just the case with the guitar work; any facet of this album can be chosen and displayed as a thing of death dealing beauty. The drums hammer away at cascading speeds that fit the guitar work perfectly on songs like “Ecliptic Realm” and “Architect or Arsonist”, but to choose the standout tracks on this album is a nigh impossible task, as all the tracks on this album standout and that in a way is the magic of Malcolm Pugh. His talents are so widely showcased on this album and all the others he appears on and through all that exposer the countless times he has proven himself a talented musician, it never gets old, every time through listening to any of his work there is not once a dull moment and “Psalms of Misanthropy” is no different in that regard. A Loathing Requiem is certainly nothing new for fans of Malcolm Pugh but that can hardly be a complaint on the debut album. No comfort zones are stepped out of, no barriers pushed, and yet, “Psalms of Misanthropy” also leaves no listener unsatisfied.

Rating: 5/5

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Fallujah "The Harvest Wombs" Review

Genre: Progressive/Technical Black/Death Metal

Label: Unique Leader Records

Release Date: 2011

Being from a state generally thought of as one of the brightest most sunny places in the U.S. if not the world, it would seem that a band like Fallujah, being from that area would not be able to create a soundscape as cold, dense, and sinister as they have on their long awaited full length debut "The Harvest Wombs". Admittedly, many metal bands originate in California but Fallujah takes the rage exhibited by groups like Suicide Silence and Carnifex, punch that rage up a notch and throw their own blend of black magic onto it. The band has amazing guitar work that makes for a wonderful mix of both technically intelligent and punishingly churning music that is layered over bashing catchy drumming and mixed with some of the most sinister vocals in the genre and beautiful haunting ambient sections. The band has all these assets at their disposal and yet never overdoes any of it. Songs like "Alpha Incipient"and "Prison of the Mind" make use of Fallujah's more ambient elements while "Become One" and "Ritual of Godflesh" are some of the songs that call upon the guitarists to carry the songs, although this is not meant to say when one element is present the other is absent.

All of Fallujah brings their dark diabolical sound to all the songs on this album, even the instrumentals! Lets talk about the instrumentals! The tracks "The Flame Surreal" and "The Harvest Wombs", two massive instrumental tracks that the band sneak into the album and both tracks that are packed full with just as much genius and darkness as the rest of the album. The closing track "Assemblage of Wolves" reminds listeners that Fallujah may have the ability to make roaring technical music, but they also have phenomenal abilities at making crushing music. "The Harvest Wombs" is a delightful album that is sure to impress fans of heavy music from The Faceless to Wolves in the Throne Room. To readers who have yet to listen to "The Harvest Wombs", get to it! And to Fallujah if any of the band members are reading this review of your new album, do more like this one!!

Rating: 5/5

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Enfold Darkness "Our Cursed Rapture" Review

Genre: Technical Death Metal / Black Metal

Location: Nashville, TN

Sumerian Records is known for signing technically proficient bands that often fall under the category of deathcore. Certainly there are few people who would protest that practice as it brought the metal community such groups as Veil of Maya and Born of Osiris. It is a breath of fresh air though to listen to Tennessee’s own Enfold Darkness on their Sumerian debut “Our Cursed Rapture”. The musicians in this band are without a doubt technically proficient one and all, takes for example drummer Jack Blackburn’s extreme hammering throughout the entire album and certainly exemplified on such tracks as “Exaltations” parts one and two or the excellent timing showcased on “Our Cursed Rapture” or guitarists Matt Brown and James Turk displaying their talents on the same tracks and their fearsome work on songs like “In the Galleries of the Utmost Evil” which includes a nice soft jazzy passage that was an interesting turn from a band that stands on both sides of the Black Metal and Death Metal divide and never once upsets the delicate balance needed to pull that blend out sound off successfully. Enfold Darkness never once sounds like a death metal band, or a black metal band, they sound like a band that has learned the discipline and ferocity to combine those two savage and chaotic sounds and mix them together with a dose of amazing musical skill to boot. Bass on this recording was also handled by James Turk who clearly grasps the fact that too little or too much bass swings this album into one genre or the other and has managed to find equilibrium that listeners will be sure to delight in. Justin Corser’s vocals are just as extreme as he displays his ability to shriek and belt out lyrics, backed up by guitarists Matt Brown’s own hisses and snarls that would make even the holiest of the holy tremble in their sadistic wake. “Altars of Perdition” an acoustic instrumental track that is nowhere as brutal or fiery as the other songs on this record but is every bit as infectious and haunting furthers the idea that Enfold Darkness is a band as full of talent as it is surprises. A nice touch that I feel is a bonus to all those with the hard copy of this album is the liner notes, aside from providing essential lyrics also credits the extremely talented guitarists along with guest guitarist on several songs, Malcolm Pugh with guitar solos displacing the lyrics a bit to show where they performed them, certainly not an essential element of the albums experience but just a nice aesthetic touch. There is no fair way to sum up “Our Cursed Rapture” concisely, suffice it to say this is an extraordinary album by a phenomenal band that has found a way to stand out in an increasingly crowded metal scene. The concepts, the music, the liner notes, it’s all there and it gives those who listen to it an immensely rare experience. As a fan who discovered this band when they were still unsigned, I felt at the time the band deserved the chance to be heard, they have had it, and it has exceeded all expectations. Certainly their next effort, although with several lineup changes has this reviewer waiting with great anticipation.

Rating: 5/5

Isolation In Infamy - Self Titled EP (2011)

Genre: Technical Death Metal

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Track List:

1. Theory of Flight

2. Psychological Bombardment

3. Unison of Beasts

4. Threshold

5. Solitary Insanity

6. Inanimate Existence

^Solitary Insanity Download^

Complete EP Review

At first listen, this album consists of a delicate weave between your standard death metal and black metal. Intricate melodies, blended with smooth rhythm, and very clean production. There really is something for almost everyone.

This 6 track EP is really very enjoyeable. Track 3, "Unison of Beasts", is a perfect example of the level of thought and effort put into this EP. Blending technical leads with exceptional black metal influence rhythms, and churning it out into a head banging good time.
The entire EP is unique, in that all tracks are consistently and effectively their own. Although if you listen carefully you can definitely hear the bands influences. Which do nothing but enforce the fact that they've done something right.
"Solitary Insanity" is just pure groovy death metal from the start. Immaculate drum work, sonically pleasing guitars, and a tight baseline. Easily my favorite track off the album.

1:45 seconds into this track is just fantastic. Listen, and you'll bang your head. Followed by another great melodic lead.
This is a very pleasing album, and from my own personal listening experience, I can't give any exact idea's of what this remind me of. While listening most will agree there are similarities to Kreator, and Belphegor. However, there is a distinct uniqueness to this album which sets it apart from just being another band. Isolation In Infamy is doing things right, and I look forward to hearing new material out of these guys!

Review by:
Drew DePietro - Total Deathcore Team

^CLICK PICTURE FOR MERCH^

Dysphagic - EP (2009)

Genre: Technical Death Metal

Booking: dysphagic@gmail.com

Track List 

1.In Armageddon's Reach 03:53

2.Oblivion 04:07

3.Temptress 03:07

4.Today We Stand Like Mountains 03:54

New Album out spring 2011!

Disfiguring The Goddess - Circle Of Nine (2011)

Genre: Brutal Deathcore / Technical Death Metal

Location: USA

^FULL ALBUM STREAM^

Tracklist:

1. The Age Of Seraphim

2. Throne Of The Meek

3. Void Breacher

4. Mind Infection

5. Circle Of Nine

6. Stroggoes War

7. Breaching The Clone

8. Uprising

9. Klesk

10. Time-Spanned

MERCHANDISE

COMING SOON

Integer - Bite The Curb EP (2008) + New Songs (2011)

Genre: Technical Death Metal

Bite The Curb EP (2008)

(Formerly known as "fetuseater")

Bite The Curb

Indulge In The Essence

Life Of Ruin

Severing The Cerebral Cortex

Something Beautiful

Xetoc Larberec Eht Gnireves

New Songs (2011)

She Watched

Servant of the Devourer

Split Seconds