Being a metalhead, most of my peers didn't take to kindly that I enjoyed sports. Especially football. I always hear how football is "gay" and "it's a bunch of guys getting in top of each other. And of course these are people who love Judas Priest and listen to Korn (Jon Davis being bi-sexual). So imagine how excited I was when I saw hnw project, See Through Buildings, doing a football themed split with Florida's Sloth. This split is gonna take "team spirit" to a whole other level.
Sloth (of Gulf Coast Florida) start things off with what sounds like a industrial drum line. Then the distortion just rushes at you like James Laurinaitus. Sacking your eardrums onto the ground. You can just imagine the crowd going wild on that. Then we got See Through Buildings' side, which kicks off with the Lion's fight song (I believe it is). And just like Barry Sanders, See Through Buildings blast into the field with it's devastating harsh noise, and into the end zone. I would like to think that See Through Buildings' track would have been good enough to demolish the Pontiac Silverdome, this past spring.
If you're a fan of both projects, then you will definitely dig this split. For a sports fan like myself, I really enjoy this because I hardly come across sport fans in the underground music scene. Sloth sounded wicked as always. And I totally loved See Through Buildings using a clip of a Lions game, while a wall of noise is blaring in the background. Both of these noise artist showed what they are capable with their craft. They really do bring a punishing sound that will crush your mind and soul. Hope to hear more sports themed splits, because this is really a fun idea. Huge kudos to Ben and Brandon.
For a while now, Black Metal has definitely been a force to be reckon with. From Venom's raw-thrashy sound to Dimmu Borgir's epic symphonic tunes, Black Metal has always found a way to stick around, by evolving and taking things further. Around the late 90's/early 00's, the sub-genre was taken to a whole other level when Krieg, Leviathan, and Xasthur came to the scene. And because of them, we have what the Black Metal scene is today. And one of those bands that represent today's Black Metal scene is Mire of Despondency, who consist of one member, Nokturnus Megrothas Last year, Mire of Despondency put out 9 tracks up on Soundcloud, called Sorrow is a Void. A perfect blend of raw Black Metal and ambient/experimental music.
Sorrow is a Void starts off with a very haunting piano, which is then followed by a very wretched sound. Then "My Cold Embrace" comes in, with some mid-paced riffs and a very cold shriek. Then a acoustic guitar comes in to close that track. "Disintegration" has a nice Scandinavian folk vibe. The whispering vocals adds a nice touch and brings out a nice atmosphere. "Moonrise"is a nice ambient track. It definitely reminds me of some of the ambient stuff that Burzum does. If there was a track that will define Mire of Despondency, it will be "Shadowed Earth". Love the piano intro with the strings in the background. Then the guitar and drums come in for a killer Black Metal song. "Desolate" is also a great track. Love the rawness in the Black Metal part. And then we got "Cold Autumnal Winds", pounding away to close Sorrow is a Void. This one really steps it up and makes sure that when it's over you'll come back for more.
A great Depressive Black Metal release that captures a raw sound and a ambient/atmospheric sound. Nokturnus is definitely someone who knows this sub genre very well. And because of that, I am able to enjoy Sorrow is a Void. I don't know if there's a physical release or a download, but you can stream it on Mire of Despondency's soundcloud page. On the facebook page, there was mention that Nokturnus was working on another project. That I'm looking forward to. And then of course there's plans of making Mire of Despondency a full band. But what ever happens, I'm up for hearing anything that Nokturnus Megrothas performs in.
Hardest thing that can happen to a parent is losing their child. As the old saying goes, "a child should never go before their parents". Probably one of the toughest thing someone can overcome. I always hear about how it leaves a void when someone's child dies. And it's really heartbreaking to hear. In Ted Geoghegan's We Are Still Here, our two main characters go through that struggle. And also have to deal with something just as worse.
The movie begins with Paul and Anne Sacchetti moving in to their new home, hoping to start a new life after the death of their son, Bobby. Once they settle in, you knew something wasn't right with the Sacchetti's new home. We then meet Dave and Cat McCabe, who welcome the Sacchettis to the neighborhood. The Sacchettis invite them inside for a drink and get to know each other. Dave tells Paul and Anne about the family who use to live there, and the tragedy that happened. As it turns out, every 30 years, the house needs a family to feed upon. If not, the house will swallow the whole town. The house is also haunted by the ghost of the family who use to live there. This gave Anne the impression that her lost son's spirit, followed them to the new home. So she invites her friend May and Jacob, along with their son and his girlfriend Harry (who was a long time friend of Bobby). While spending the night, May had a nightmare which involved the house and it's dark history. This concerned her husband, Jacob, so the next day, Jacob decides to have a seance with Paul. They make contact with the spirits living in the house, and then things get crazy. The ending should satisfy some horror fans who want blood. Definitely some crazy kills.
One of the things I loved about We Are Still Here, is the atmosphere. Especially that basement. When they talk about how "hot" it is, I can just feel it a bit. The story is well done. Two couples lose their son, then move into a house that's haunted. You can only guess that this flick is gonna be one hell of a ride. And then of course you got Larry Fessenden, who is always fun to watch Seeing him play Jacob, you just can't help but love the guy. I do have to say that the beginning is a bit slow, but the movie does pick up very well. So if you're seeking a haunted house/supernatural flick, totally check out We Are Still Here. You'll get a kick out of the final scene.
The destruction that one grand sound can create. It can make the floor crumble, and have people running for cover. It can turn the sky black, and have make everyone cry for salvation. But sadly, that punishing sound will crush them to oblivion. Well that's what Through These Gates has created with In The Eyes of the a Prophet, the second album by the one-man Blackened Death Metal band, created by Michael Pendergrass. The 11 track album feature some blistering riffs, blast beats that keep pounding away, and some keyboards to expand Through These Gates' sound.
On "Distant Shadows Arise", we are greeted by a deep/hellish voice, before our face is ripped by the relentless guitar work of Pendergrass. The onslaught continues on "Dreaming In Darkness", as the blast beats get more intense and those blackened-death riffs continue coming at you like the horde of the unholy. The slow melancholic strings fit perfect to end the track. Then we got "War", a nice short track with a great epic sound. Of course "Legion" follows next and continues laying waste. I really love the riff in 1:20, it was really catchy. And by the 3:00 mark, those riffs start getting crazy. "Demons of the Rising Sun" is by far my favorite track. It's everything that I love about blackened death metal. The part in the 2:00 mark, reminds me of Rotting Christ. Or at least gives me that vibe. The piano in the end just came out of nowhere for me, and that I find awesome. "Enslaved" ends the album with a dark ambient soundscape. It definitely feels like a journey into the abyss. Or if you just walked into a cult performing a ritual. Some singing in the middle, but done in a melancholic way. And the whispering adds a more brooding atmosphere.
In The Eye's of the Prophet is very well made album that doesn't need to be overly produced, or overly polished. I'm really impressed in how the sound feels so huge. Like, how there are parts where it feels very cinematic. I like to think that Through These Gates is more than just trying to be brutal. There are a lot of dynamics and layers in Through These Gates' sound, which makes it stand out. Especially in a live setting. And don't expect some shred fest. Everything doesn't need to be super technical to be "metal". As long as you give it some heart and power, then you'll totally get something that feels real. And that's what I really love about In The Eyes of the Prophet. As awesome the production and mix is, it doesn't have that trendy/generic sound that I hear at Hot Topic, or on Uranium and the new Headbanger's Ball. What a lot of young musicians can learn from Pendergrass, is that if you work really hard on creating your craft, you can come up with something that really sticks out. And what is more awesome is that Michael Pendergrass didn't need a full band to create such a killer album.
