Bong – Mana-Yood-Sushai

April 26, 2012April 27, 2012 Cheryl1 Comment

I originally wrote this for inclusion in Metal Hammer. Alas, there was some kind of technical error and the piece was double commissioned. I’m interested to see what the other writer named Carter thinks of Bong’s newest release but for now, here are my thoughts*

1. Dreams of Mana-Yood-Sushai
2. Trees, Grass and Stones

Mana-Yood-Sushai heralds the first Bong studio recording in their prolific seven year history and it’s a surprising addition to their output so soon after last years full length Beyond Ancient Space. Two tracks of vibrating drone make up this release and whilst it’s lovingly crafted and deftly handled, there’s a little something missing. Mana-Yood-Sushai feels too sterile – the unfamiliar environment of the studio perhaps affecting the tone. The thrumming undercurrent of manipulated sound pulses and pushes around soft drum rolls and flourishes of sitar expertly, but Bong seem content to let the twenty minute run time of first track “Dreams of Mana-Yood-Sushai” pass with nary a moment to marvel over. It’s hypnotic sure, but not captivating enough to completely hold the attention. Drone should transport you into another dimension and the Indian instrumentation used by Bong is otherworldly in texture and depth, yet it’s not until the murmuring vocal filters through “Trees, Grass and Stones” does Mana-Yood-Sushai start to take shape. Unfortunately, it’s a case of too little too late for this otherwise bewitching act.

As is customary, I also gave it a score.

6/10

*I have been given permission to use this, please don’t strike me down Hammers Gods.

Kvlt Albvm Ov The Weak

February 8, 2012September 23, 2012 CherylLeave a comment

I know, it’s been ages since I last wrote something proper here. I’ve been too busy not having a life and….. well….. Skyrim kinda took over.

Worry not though, the ever majestic world of kvlt albvm’s is here to save the day. This time around, it’s Worship. Fucking doom. Yes, ok, it’s not black metal as most of these kvlt albvm posts have been, but the story of Worship is pretty fucking kvlt. I swear. Have a look!

1. Whispering Gloom

2. Solicide And The Dawning Of The Moonkult

3. Eclipse Of Sorrow

4. Worship

5. Keep On Selling Cocaine To Angels

It’s The End Of The Year Or Whatever….

January 9, 2012January 11, 2012 CherylLeave a comment

It’s that time of year again, where everyone goes all out to prove their exemplary credentials as a music lover and that they indeed are, the most metal. A time of year where lists abound – “Look at my fantastic taste everyone! Look at all the things I listen to that you’ve never heard of! Look at how obscure my musical interests are!”

It’s with that in mind, that I bash out a list of my own. If you’re interested in what my top six demo releases of the year are, check ’em out here: http://www.cvltnation.com/topsixdemos/

And for a list featuring things that aren’t metal at all (although yes, a lot of what you see below is on it), this is a link that has my personal top 25 on it: http://www.scenepointblank.com/features/music/scene-point-blanks-favorites-year-end-2011/2

As an aside, my top album of the year is Rome – Die Æsthetik der Herrschaftsfreiheit. I’m not including it here, because it isn’t metal and afterall, this is a metal blog right? I made a review of it, which you can read by clicking the title. Cool!

Again, for reasons of fairness, this will be alphabetical. Also, I just really like to alphabetise. Who knows how many will end up on this.

Absu – Abzu

Altar Of Plagues – Mammal

Aphrenous – Ravaged By The Incessant Scourge Of Deception

Arckanum – Helvítismyrkr

Ash Borer – Ash Borer

Barghest – Barghest

Bestial Raids – Prime Evil Damnation

Bosse-de-Nage – ii

Brocken Moon – Huffnungslos

Caïna – Hands That Pluck

Circle Of Ouroborus – Eleven Fingers

Cold Body Radiation – Deer Twillight

Corrupted – Garten Der Unbewusstheit

Craft – Void

Esoteric – Paragon Of Dissonance

40 Watt Sun – The Inside Room

Giles Corey – Giles Corey

Goatmoon – Varjot

Gottesmorder – Gottesmorder

Lake Of Blood – As Time And Tide Erodes Stone

Light Bearer – Lapsus

Mournful Congregation – The Book Of Kings

Necros Christos – Doom Of The Occult

Negative Plane – Stained Glass Revelations

Panopticon – Social Disservices

Sutekh Hexen – Luciform

Taake – Noregs Vaapen

Ulcerate – The Destroyers Of All

Woods Of Desolation – Torn Beyond Reason

Wreck & Reference – Black Cassette

Wreck And Reference – Black Cassette

August 29, 2011September 23, 2012 CherylLeave a comment

Electronic doom huh ? But that’s not even a thing !

Well. That’s where you’re mistaken. Because electronic doom is probably the best label you can put on Wreck And Reference. A band creating doom soundscapes using naught but electronic wizardry. And some drums.

1. All The Ships Have Been Abandoned

2. Surrendering

3. In Chains, Awakening

4. Evening Redness

5. Desire, Ether

6. A Lament

Cheryl Prime Attempts A ┼op ┼en Favovrite Albvms Ov The Year So Far List.

June 5, 2011July 1, 2020 CherylLeave a comment

It’s nearly the middle of the year. And what better way to celebrate than with a nice list of brilliant albums that have come out already. There’s probably better ways to celebrate this passage of time, but it’s a Sunday and I can’t be bothered. I could easily have expanded this list to a top twenty. But that seemed like a lot of effort.

This list will be alphabetical, for the sake of fairness. And also because it’s too hard to choose a number one. Sorry.

Seidr – For Winter Fire

June 2, 2011September 23, 2012 Cheryl2 Comments

I first heard about Seidr via Austin Lunn’s one man pagan-anarcho black metal (a term used by the man himself, not just some madness I made up. Honest), band Panopticon (which is brilliant, check it out). Seidr is one of many side projects that Lunn has on the boil. How he finds the time to do this and record as prolifically as he does for Panopticon, I’ll never know.

1. A Vision From Hlidskjalf

2. On The Shoulder Of The Gods

3. Sweltering

4. In The Ashes

5. The Night Sky And The Wild Hunt

6. A Gaze At The Stars

7. Stream Keeper

Pallbearer – 2010 Demo

April 14, 2011April 9, 2019 CherylLeave a comment

Last week I happened to listen to this band whilst in the presence of my mother. “What the hell are you listening to ?!” she asked, I gave her the band name and she replied with “Pallbearer ? I suppose it does sound like being at a funeral.” I love my mum. It’s the slow, processional style that gives this impression. The sheer heaviness of the music. It’s doom at it’s best.