Atomizer - Caustic Music For The Spiritually Bankrupt

Released on Hells Headbangers in 2008. The band formed in 1998 and split up in 2008. Hailing from Melbourne Victoria Australia. The albums starts with "Caustic Transmissions" hard to pin point where to label the style, they exhibit many. At moments thrash, then rock, then black, to ambient and metal. With all that being thrown in the pot they seem to attach it all seamlessly to create their own sound which is difficult for most bands to achieve, I even get a feel for a punk style in the way the vocals are delivered specially in songs like "Upon The Lamb Of Gob They Suckle No More" and "A Date with Eternity". Shame they are no longer active. One may think this would turned out to be a black metal onslaught if you were going base it on outside aesthetics. A closer inspection by listening track by track reveals a wealth of talent. Esoteria Is Now In Command" is a fast driven song a bit harsh on he vocals but it fits the speed been delivered. "The Song That Sounds Your Final Dawn" dark and haunting creating a mood to suit the title perfectly. "As The Blackening Waves of Fear Within Me Rise', high velocity on the drums, into a mid paced memorable style of riffing the hinge on a Rock n Roll style of playing. "Flowering Spores of Imagination" such titles of thought provoking topics is impressive, I enjoy been able to comprehend every sentence and enjoying the vocal style more and more as I listen to it. "All Disfigured and Blue" a tribute to auto asphyxia done in a catchy metal style riffing. "The Inevitable Mutiny", now we hear a subtle clean acoustic melody that is pleasing to my ears after an entire journey of heavyness its a nice break up in the album at this point. There is a sweet bass line that builds up this particular song which is very engaging and memorable. "Our Final Campaign" clean guitar begins and spoken word style fill the spaces, The last track "The Funeral Procession" is a fitting song to leave me spell bound and intrigue by all the music still swirling in my head. I recommend this album to metal fans looking for a variety of sounds which can only be describe as Atomizer.
~Frank G.
~Artemortifica
Physical publication in AEA Zine #22
Atomizer Metal Archives

Scion Rock Fest 2013 summary

Scion Rock fest in Memphis TN 6-1-13. Free festival took place in the historic Blues Town of Memphis on Beale street and Peabody Place. Bands that participated - New Daisy: A Life Once Lost, Vektor, Corrosion of Conformity, Municipal Waste, Melvins, Testament. Handy Park: Complete Failure, Gigan, Arsis, Impaled, Noisem, Six Feet Under. Club 152: Inter Arma, Ice Dragon, Subrosa, Gates of Slumber, Pallbearer, The Obsessed. Hard Rock: Call of the Void, Rotting Out, Code Orange Kids, Vision of Disorder, Touche' Amore, Negative Approach, The Casualties

There were so many great moments that took place, watch my video to hear about my entire experience.

Ocean Chief - Sten

Released on IHATE Records. March 2013. Doom/Psychedelia is exactly what you will get from this Swedish outfit comprised of Jocke Pettersson - bass, Tobias Larsson - drums/vocals, Björn Andersson - guitar, Christian Sandberg - guitar, Johan Pettersson - synth. Founded in 2001 and having several EPs and other albums, this on is their latest. Its only four tracks but they are long and involved. The first track Den Sanna Styrkan sets the tempo with some heavy distorted bass and vocals that are in Neurosis style of singing which I like very much. Slipsten droned and sorrow is the feeling I get as I listen, like traveling through the vast open water in the night, a landscape of dark shadows and empty fields. Stenhog, admiring how involved the bass player gets in these compositions which is something I don't hear much from some of the other genres I am used to. Vocals have an effect on this song which really adds to the ambiance of the entire track. Oden, wraps up this incredible journey into parts unknown, expressive sliding style of riffs begins this one, long and creating a feel of deep thought and emotion which can only be felt by listening to the whole song from start and giving it your full attention. If you like doom metal and psychedelic passages with Neurosis influence than this will be something you should check out.
~Frank G
~Artemortifica
Physical publication in AEA zine #22
Check out Ocean Chief on FB here facebook.com/OCEAN-CHIEF

Destruction of The Heavenly Realms Vol. VII -DeathGasm Records

A 16 track comp. to assault your mind. Released on DeathGasm Records. Track 1 Nominon "Worship" good production and sets the mood for the rest of the comp. Solid guitars and involved riffs. Track 2 Blaspherian "Desecration Eternal", almost reminds me of old Asphyx, very low end production, vocals are good and deep. Track 3 Diabolic "Venomous Habitations", super fast is an understatement, wow- this track blast from start to finish and never lets up, solid and aggressive speed thrash, most likely to start the mosh in a live ambience. Track 4 Abominant "The Wolves of Hate", I like the guitar riffs that start this one, remind me of old style like Dissection, I dig the vocals, they are high but not to much that overcome the instruments rather compliment them. Track 5 Avenger "Ritual of Wrath" great production everything is well balanced and has a great clarity to it, chunky and heavy guitars, classic style BM vocals make it a song to spin several times. Track 6 Infinitum Obscure "Feeding Darkness", raw recording engaging drums and inventive guitar writing make this a compositions to peel your ears to. Track 7 Azarath "I Hate Your Kind", some high pitch squeels on the guitars, really did not capture my attention much. Track 8 The New Plague "Diary of a Misanthrope", some very good talent being express on this song, guitars specially, nice hammer on pull off action. Track 9 Quinta Essentia, "Absent Illumination" (The Transgressor) more on the mid paced side of things, solid bass is evident here, drums sound a bit in the background but not bad, I like the title and lyrics are hard to comprehend so make sure to grab a lyric sheet. Track 10 The Pessimist "Mensa Rea' (With Evil Intent), exactly what the title describes, well executed drums and sick vocals make his my favorite track on this comp. Track 11 Occidens "Wrath of Blasphemy", solid fast brutal and featuring some killers solos, high talent and sick drums to capture all the madness in one brutal track. Track 12 Kult Ofenzivy "Jiz Nikdy Netratit Usilim k Nevhodnym", not sure what it means but musically its good, fast drums through most of it. Track 13 Manticore "Unveiling The Ascension" dark and heavy, eerie like chants, distorted bass and grinding drums to compliment. Track 14 Nominon "Life Extinct" this band has another track on here, cool, dark and ambient feel of this one, double kicks introduce a fast pace assault and lyrics wrap it all up into complete chaos, in a good way. Track 15 Nex "Rejections Glory" more on the venom side of things, raw production, drums are a bit behind -not to crazy about the vocals, cool cleans riffs from time to time. Track 16 Avulsion "Nomadic Hordes of Pestilence" reminds me of early Morbid Angel albums, vocals are guttural and aggressive, drums are bazing fast and guitars are creating a solid canvas over the entire composition. Overall a great Compilation with several style from thrash, BM, death, and doom- everybody from the metal stand point is bound to find something to like.
~Frank G,
~Artemortifica
Physical publication in AEA zine #22    
Check out more from DeathGasm records here facebook.com/DeathgasmRecords

Damnations Hammer - Disciples of the Hex

Released on IHATE Records. September 2012. A three piece avant garde metal style band with some catchy riffs and great production. Starting with Defiance & Retribution- as an intro compliments perfectly into the next track Throne of Fire- not the typical style BM vocal but more of its own individual taste which I enjoy. Next up is is the title song Disciples of The Hex- very cool intro transcends into a bad ass metal assault, solid guitars and deep bass. Serpent's Wrath, heavy toms start this track, remind me of old school Venom days, most definitely a headbanging master track for this record. Lyrical content is good and understandable the majority of the time. Impaled on The Horns of Betrayal, much faster than the rest of the album songs, made me take notice right away, builds nice into some aggression that will have most in the mosh pit in a live environment. Hardbingers of Darkness, evil chants spew from every orifices, with the instruments complimenting every note in perfect succession. The Hex ii, a solid guitar riff begins this song and I am thrown into a headbanging moment, probably my favorite track on here, very well executed. Gates to the Necronomicon is the last song, sounds like it was written in the vowels of hell itself, much different than the rest of the album, more on the enchanting side of things with an eerie feel to it, I rather enjoyed it, because it was a surprise to hear as it progress, like a dark path shaping moment to moment then into some creepy sounding guitars building into a killer song that will haunt me for nights to come. I recommend this for fans of school style metal like Venom or Celtic Frost with dark lyrical content.
~Frank G,
~Artemortifica
facebook.com/Damnations-Hammer
Physical publication in AEA zine #22

X-Reviews Compilation CD Vol.2 2011

X-Reviews Vol. 2 comes to us from Morelas Centro, Mexico. Executive producer; Mario Gallardo M. Released in 2011. Track 1 Aggressor "Toxic Addiction", first thought are on the punk elements I hear on the drums, then transforming into more thrash metal assault. Production is on the raw end of things but adds to the experience. Track 2 Dark Sadness "Nothing To Hold", interesting intro then into the song, for some reason I think of Paradise Lost when listening to this but the old PL not the new, production quality is very good. Track 3 Neverghen "Silence" my first thoughts are drums are in the background, quality is not that good but still listenable, rough guitars but cool riffs, dual vocals are cool. Track 4 External Tumor "Perpetual nightmare" very well done bass begins with some great skill, guitars come in with equal talent, excellent quality of production, aggressive drums solid snare and vocals reminds me a bit of old Behemoth. Track 5 Ammunition "Madness Controlled Nightmare" nice intro, can't remember where is from but I dig it, sick thrash riffs begin and are dominant through out, remind me of old Overkill and D.R.I. very good recording. Track 6 Pyrophoric "Beyond Divination" I have actually heard music by this band before, this particular track i have not heard- great death metal song with vocals on the guttural end and effected with some chorus or maybe reverb, solid riffs and composition. Track 7 Eisheth's Funeral "Conquest" much louder in production value, clear and clean, exhibiting signs of classic style of BM, high and captivating vocals, very evil sound which i enjoy. Track 8 Mummified "Malicious Incubus Excavation", enchanting and haunting keys lead us into a lavish nightmare of epic adventure, raw recording add to the manevolence factor, solid riffs and aggressive drums bring it to the top of the comp. Track 9 Infernal Execrator "Diabolos Execratus Execari", crazy title and equally mentally engaging music, super fast drums are slamming through out this piece and vocals like a chant in hell. Track 10 Moloch "Fallendez Herbstaub tanzt in\m Wind" painting a dark depressive canvas of deep pain and sorrow, not for everyone unless you are open to doom sorrowful music you might not like this track, I happen to enjoy it. Overall another great comp. with much to explore. 
~Frank G. 
~Artemnortifica
Physical publication in AEA zine #22   
Check out more from X-reviews at facebook.com/xreviews

X-Reviews Compilation Vol. 1

X-reviews is based out of Morelos Centro, Mexico. Compilation Vol.1 released 2010 -Executive producer Mario Gallardo. Track 1 Divine Sword "Patria Guerrera" really good band power symphonic onslaught a long song but very engaging, reminds me of Helloween. Track 2 Black Bible 'Black Winter Moon", traditional BM with very good production, I dig the vocals and drums perform solid kicks from time to time. Track 3 Atryum "The Last Word", melodic and spectacular, love the keyboards/vocals are well complimented. I get a sense of epic war like intensity. Track 4 War Faces "Rios De Sangre" translates to Rivers of Blood, raw and relenting brutality. Very aggressive and will have most people in the mosh pit. Track 5 Mandra "Social Virus", begins much like old school thrash speed metal, very raw production but that's cool because it creates a great ambience for the style. Track   6 Charro Negro "Todos Me Enferman" translates to They all Make me Sick, trumpet kicks this off which caught me by surprise- then builds to some very raw metal with killer vocals. Track 7 Via X "Milenios de Dolor" translates to "Millennium of Pain" total BM atrocity sounds almost like a live performance has been recorded, but drums still come through in good clarity. Track 8 Ablaze "Dark Titan" excellent death metal, very aggressive and brutal- loving the heavy guitars -vocals are deep and heavy as hell, guitars are well produced, chunky solid rhythms.Track 9 Aspergar "Sentry of the Apocalypses" classic sounding BM -enjoy the guitars and vocals remind me of the early years of BM- there are some elements of thrash metal that are evident here. Track 10 External Tumor "Mental Intoxication Torture" probably my favorite track on the whole comp. many good riffs including some clean guitar work make this song stand out above the rest. Track 11 Six Pounder "Marksman" better quality in production value, nice panning of the instruments, solid drums, most definitely headbanging lots to this song- vocals are raw and aggressive. Overall a great comp. many will find something to like.
~Frank G.
~Artemortifica -physical publication in AEA zine #22

 Check out more from X-reviews at facebook.com/xreviews