Smother Magazine » death metal

The Way of Purity – Crosscore

J-Sin — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 00:43:09 +0000

The Way of Purity is a group that wears balaclavas and military outfits set to deliver the message as God intended as nature from a dark place where evil and good are one in the same. So it’s with this so-called animals message that they barrage us with a deluge of syncopated rhythms, wailing guitars, and guttural vocals. Not quite death metal though it does boast some crushing double bass pedaling and technical guitarwork. Not quite hardcore or industrial or even metalcore – perhaps that’s what their title was intended to convey: this is a band that crosses the “core”. Not bad but bordering on slightly eye-rolling at times.

Hellveto – Neoheresy

J-Sin — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:44:56 +0000

A one-man show of old-school black metal and doom, Hellveto likes to play with odd atmospheres and build upon that ambience for something truly bruising. The guitars can range from lo-fi garage noise to something right out of a 40-man orchestra. An odd combo but one that seems to work for Hellveto pretty damn well. While “Neoheresy” is nowhere near as menacing as the album title might suggest, it does strike a nerve. I would appreciate it if more blackened metal folks would focus more on the melodic side of death and gloom than always striking for the juggular with rough distortion, screaming wails and shrieks, and grinding blast beats.

SuidAkra – 13 Years of Celtic Wartunes

J-Sin — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:44:28 +0000

With an album title like that you just know you’re in for the ride of your life. SuidAkra doesn’t disappoint with pagan metal so intense you’ll get tattoo from their heated spears and swords. After 8 studio albums, and thirteen years (duh), this German metal outfit has seen their music grown from a hybrid of death metal and pagan folk metal into an ingenious toke of harmonies and sweeping guitar anthems. Included along with the album is a DVD of an astounding live set from the Wacken Open Air Festival, an acoustic concert, and several nice bonuses. Check out the trailer…

Ehnahre – The Man Closing Up

J-Sin — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:57:38 +0000

Boston has become known as a scene of mavericks in the hardcore and chaotic metal circuits. Ehnahre further exemplifies this theory with their amazing debut record “The Man Closing Up” on Sound Devastation Records. Featuring multiple guitars and even a double bass, Ehnahre is chaotic death metal with elements of doom and experimental orchestral instrumentation dotting the album. Each song is riddled with brooding percussion that devastates with bone-crushing might. Tackling on the experimental scene with an abandonment of traditional song structures, the group seems poised to walk the distance in a similar limelight that previous mavericks Isis, Converge, and Neurosis previously journeyed through.

Obituary announces EP and new tour

J-Sin — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:02:06 +0000

Candlelight Records have set September 16 as the American release date of Left to Die, the new EP from Obituary. The EP follows the worldwide success of 2007′s Xecutioner’s Return and as previously announced includes two brand new songs from the legendary death metal band plus a re-recording of the band’s classic “Slowly We Rot,” and remake of the Celtic Frost classic “Dethroned Emperor.” The EP additionally contains the band’s popular “Evil Ways” video.

Obituary’s core of brothers John Tardy (vocals) and Donald Tardy (drums) with guitarist Trevor Peres came together in 1984 forming one of death metal’s most successful and respected bands. Releasing six full-length albums with Roadrunner Records, the band announced their cooperation with England’s Candlelight Records in early spring of 2007. Xecutioner’s Return was released August 28 to extensive acclaim and supported with full American and European tours. “Xecutioner’s Return totally smokes everything they’ve done since 1992′s The End Complete,” said Decibel Magazine. “A tour de force of old school death metal,” adds Blabbermouth.

Now finishing up a series of European festival dates, including Germany’s famed Wacken and Party.San Open Air festivals, the band kick off their second American tour in Atlanta, Georgia and wrap nearly 30 days later in Charleston, South Carolina. Confirmed tour dates are noted below.

09/16/2008 The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA

09/17/2008 House of Blues – New Orleans, LA

09/18/2008 Ridglea Theater – Ft. Worth, TX

09/19/2008 Scout Bar – Houston, TX

09/20/2008 Scout Bar – San Antonio, TX

09/22/2008 The Metro – Mexicali, Mexico

09/24/2008 House of Blues – W. Hollywood, CA

09/25/2008 Slim’s – San Francisco, CA

09/26/2008 The Boardwalk – Orangevale, CA

09/27/2008 Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR

09/28/2008 Studio Seven – Seattle, WA

09/30/2008 Bluebird Theater – Denver, CO

10/01/2008 Beaumont Club – Kansas City, MO

10/02/2008 Station 4 – St. Paul, MN

10/03/2008 The Pearl Room – Mokena, IL

10/04/2008 Peabody’s Down Under – Cleveland, OH

10/05/2008 BB King Blues Club – New York, NY

10/07/2008 Trocadero Theater – Philadephia, PA

10/08/2008 Rex Theater – Pittsburgh, PA

10/10/2008 Palladium – Worcester, MA

10/11/2008 Rams Head Live – Baltimore, MD

10/12/2008 Uncle Pleasant’s – Louisville, KY

10/13/2008 Amos Soutend – Charlotte, NC

10/14/2008 Music Farm – Charleston, SC

Enemy is Us – Venomized

J-Sin — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:26:58 +0000

While I’m as much of a fan of the Swedish death metal sound as the next guy, the genre is getting plagued by sound-a-likes. Enemy is Us has all the talent and the chops in the world but sound like a replica of stalwarts like At the Gates and Darkest Hour. Push that criticism aside (I mean it’s almost a compliment to be comparable to either one of those great bands), and you have yourself a pretty damn sweet album co-produced by Daniel Bergstrand (In Flames, Soilwork, Meshuggah).

Hereafter an Odyssey – Human Is As Human Does

J-Sin — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:25:41 +0000

Death metal with a dab of grind and a firm nod to Cannibal Corpse. It sounds great in writing doesn’t it? And guess what, “Human Is as Human Does” delivers! As abrasive as a track off the latest Job for a Cowboy album, Hereafter an Odyssey crushes skulls with dynamic songwriting skills and furious bonecrushing abilities. Progressive death metal mavens Hereafter an Odyssey soar with melodic and cutting undertones and each song is rife with distorted riffs and smashing percussion.