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úterý 3. února 2026

Recenze/review - MASS STRANGULATION - The Red Tip Massacre (2026)


MASS STRANGULATION - The Red Tip Massacre
EP 2026, Sign Of Evil Productions

for english please scroll down

Bylo to jen pár kilometrů. Chodívala si z práce každý den. Ohlížela ses za sebe a těšila se, až si doma napustíš vanu. Obyčejný život obyčejné dívky. Dny ubíhaly a tvoje sny se pomalu plnily. Potkala si jej poprvé, když přišel k vám do práce. Nebyl vyloženě hezký, ale pokaždé se usmíval a měl v sobě něco jiného, než ostatní. Okouzlil tě. Dělalo ti to dobře. Jednou tě vyzvedl z práce a měla si radost, že nemusíš jít pěšky. Jeho pohled se ale změnil a stala si se jeho další obětí v řadě. Pohltila tě temnota.

Představte si malý domek v lesích. Pod ním sklep a spoutanou mučenou dívku. Ano, death metal, ten pravý, ryzí, opravdový a autentický bývá o hnusných věcech. Italští MASS STRANGULATION si vybrali jako hlavní nosné téma svých textů sériové vrahy. Jejich hudba by mohla být klidně soundtrackem k ohavným činům, které prováděl dlouhé roky ten elegantní pán z úvodu dnešní recenze. EP jsem ochutnal nejdříve jen opatrně, ale všechny tři skladby se mi ihned zařízly do mozku i do vnitřností jako čerstvě nabroušený skalpel. Ano, přesně takhle to mám já, starý pes, rád. Poslouchejte v chladu, naprosté tmě a hlavně hodně nahlas! 


Pokaždé, když se dívám na nějaký dokument o sériových vrazích, tak mě fascinuje a mnohdy i bolí atmosféra, zlo, které se plazí najednou kolem mě, jako jedovatí hadi. Beznaděj. Strach. Bolest a utrpení. Italským tmářům se povedlo všechno tohle doslova narvat i do nového EP "The Red Tip Massacre". Novinka má poctivý, masivní a velmi dobře čitelný zvuk, který v sobě obsahuje i takovou tu starodávnou patinu, kterou máme všichni fanoušci smrtícího kovu tolik rádi. Motiv na obalu je děsivý, tematický a určitě si jej zapamatujete. A hlavně, hudba je zde opravdu dobře napsána, má v sobě potřebný drive, tlak i energii. Pánové řežou do živého a nenudil jsem se ani chvilku. Naopak, kapelu jsem neznal a najednou jsem přišel domů a přemýšlel jsem, co budu večer poslouchat. Asi tušíte, jak to dopadlo. Ano, tohle EP má v sobě něco morbidně přitažlivého, možná děsivého a mocného. Pro mě osobně se jedná o velké překvapení a pevně doufám v to, že kapela brzy vydá i dlouhohrající album. MASS STRANGULATION mě přenesli na místa, na kterých se stalo něco zlého, ošklivého, násilného. Kolem se vznáší pach smrti a ve sklepě je připravena další oběť. Ještě před několika hodinami elegantní a usměvavý pán má ve tváři bestiální výraz. Jeho oči žhnou, do těla se mi zadírá další riff, další úder bicích, umírám v šílených křečích. Moje kosti jednou najdou zakopané na zahradě v mělkém hrobě a můj vrah bude poskytovat rozhovory a napíšou o něm knihu. Svět je někdy pěkně hnusné místo. Za mě nelze jinak, než vám novou nahrávku doporučit. Hoří totiž zevnitř a na povrchu je chladná a temná jako ruka mrtvoly. Starý, prašivý, temný a chladný death metal, který je nasáklý zkaženou krví! Zlo číhá ve stínu! 

Asphyx says:

It was only a few kilometers. You walked home from work every day. You looked back and looked forward to running a bath at home. The ordinary life of an ordinary girl. The days passed and your dreams slowly came true. You met him for the first time when he came to your workplace. He wasn't particularly handsome, but he always smiled and had something different about him than the others. He charmed you. It made you feel good. Once he picked you up from work and you were happy you didn't have to walk. But his gaze changed and you became his next victim in a row. Darkness engulfed you.

Imagine a small house in the woods. Beneath it, a cellar and a tortured girl in chains. Yes, death metal, the real, pure, true, and authentic kind, is often about horrible things. Italian band MASS STRANGULATION chose serial killers as the main theme of their lyrics. Their music could easily be the soundtrack to the heinous acts committed over many years by the elegant gentleman from the beginning of today's review. At first, I approached the EP cautiously, but all three songs immediately cut into my brain and guts like a freshly sharpened scalpel. Yes, that's exactly how I, an old dog, like it. Listen to it in the cold, in complete darkness, and most importantly, very loudly! 


Every time I watch a documentary about serial killers, I am fascinated and often pained by the atmosphere, the evil that suddenly creeps around me like poisonous snakes. Hopelessness. Fear. Pain and suffering. Italian obscurantists have managed to literally cram all of this into their new EP, "The Red Tip Massacre". The new release has an honest, massive, and very clear sound, which also contains that ancient patina that all fans of deadly metal love so much. The cover art is terrifying, thematic, and definitely memorable. Most importantly, the music is really well written, with the necessary drive, pressure, and energy. These guys really hit the mark, and I wasn't bored for a moment. On the contrary, I didn't know the band, and suddenly I came home and wondered what I would listen to that evening. You can probably guess how it turned out. Yes, this EP has something morbidly attractive, perhaps frightening and powerful about it. For me personally, it's a big surprise, and I sincerely hope that the band will release a full-length album soon. MASS STRANGULATION transported me to places where something evil, ugly, violent had happened. The smell of death hangs in the air, and another victim lies waiting in the basement. Just a few hours ago, an elegant and smiling gentleman now has a beastly expression on his face. His eyes are burning, another riff pierces my body, another drum beat, I die in crazy convulsions. My bones will one day be found buried in a shallow grave in the garden, and my murderer will give interviews and they will write a book about him. The world is sometimes a pretty nasty place. I can't help but recommend this new recording to you. It burns from the inside and is cold and dark on the surface, like the hand of a corpse. Old, mangy, dark, and cold death metal, soaked in rotten blood! Evil lurks in the shadows!


tracklist:
01. Psychotic Murder 
02. Caliber 38 
03. The Red Tip Massacre

A few questions - interview with death metal band from Italy - MASS STRANGULATION.


A few questions - interview with death metal band from Italy - MASS STRANGULATION.

Answered Roberto (bass), thank you!

Ave, can you introduce your band to our readers? – When was it founded and what style of music do you play etc.?

(Roberto) Hello, and thank you for this interview!

Mass Strangulation was formed in 2007 in Campobasso, southern Italy. From the outset, our intention was to compose original songs inspired by the legendary European death metal scene of the early 1990s. After putting together five tracks and just as we were about to record them, the guitarist and drummer at the time left us, leaving me and Francesco with a handful of songs and nothing else, so we mothballed the band.

In 2022, over a few beers, we decided to revive the group, and immediately contacted Marco and Jacopo on guitars and Pino on drums. We began composing new songs, completely discarding those from 15 years earlier, and after choosing three, we recorded and released them as an EP, “The Red Tip Massacre”, our official debut.


Where and under what conditions were you recording the new album? Who was in charge of sound, production and mastering?

(Roberto) ‘The Red Tip Massacre’ had a somewhat complicated gestation. The drums were recorded at Landscape Studio by Gianluca Vergalito, the guitars and bass were recorded at Samnite Studio by Marco Alfieri, our guitarist, while the vocals were recorded, also at Samnite Studio, by Giuseppe, the singer of Sakahiter, in which Marco, Pino and I also play. When everything was ready, we entrusted it to the skilled hands of Stefano Morabito, mastermind of 16th Cellar Studio in Rome, who took care of the mixing and mastering.

How many copies were released and which medium was used for this new edition (CD, digital, vinyl, cassette)?

(Roberto) The EP was released on CD and tape, in a very limited edition! To be honest, I can't tell you exactly how many copies Sign Of Evil Production printed, simply because its owner, immediately after sending us the CDs and tapes, just... disappeared! We haven't heard from him since, so we have no idea how many copies he put on the market, let alone how many he sold…


Who is the author of the lyrics and how were they created and about what do the lyrics deal with?

(Roberto) We don't like things to be conventional, so I can tell you, without any problems or embarrassment, that we don't write the lyrics, but Valeria, who is Francesco's partner, our singer.

You may wonder why we made this choice... Well, it's easy to explain... While we were busy composing songs in the rehearsal room, one day she came up with three lyrics that simply left us speechless, so we decided that from then on she would take care of them. She is also a psychologist, so she is able to tackle the themes we deal with from three very particular points of view: that of someone who is passionate about the issues analysed, that of a woman and that of a doctor.

The themes deal with serial killers and brutal murders, with one peculiarity: they are all Italian murderers! We wanted to distinguish ourselves a little from the usual themes addressed by death metal bands, while remaining in a similar field that would go well with the sound of our songs, and here we are...

Who created the logo of the band, and who took care of the graphics and the website? What about you and social networks? Do you consider these things important?

(Roberto) The logo is the work of Roberto Toderico, a dear friend of mine, whom many will surely know as the creator of numerous logos and covers for bands of a certain calibre such as Asphix, Sodom, Artillery, Pestilence, Severe Torture, as well as artwork for festivals such as Party.San.

The cover, on the other hand, features a drawing by Mario Uggeri, an old Italian illustrator, depicting the Circeo massacre carried out by Angelo Izzo, who is also the protagonist of the story told in the EP's title track.

The rest of the CD artwork is my work, while the website is still under construction.

Being an old man, I literally hate social networks, but luckily Marco and Jacopo are younger and take care of them. I realise how important they can be nowadays, even though I consider them absolutely ephemeral compared to the old means of communication such as magazines, fanzines, radio, etc., and that is exactly why I cannot tolerate the fact that today, instead of moving forward on the basis of their real value and the effort they put into composing and promoting their music with live performances, bands have to worry about constantly posting content on social media to make people aware of their existence. It's a stupid way to approach music, and it's a product of the stupidity of today's times, as well as, in my humble opinion, the antithesis of the original philosophy and lifestyle of metal...


Which label did you choose for releasing your album and why this label? Are you satisfied by how your label represents you and takés care about you?

(Roberto) As I mentioned earlier, ‘The Red Tip Massacre’ was released in February 2025 by Sign Of Evil Productions, a small Polish label that mainly deals with extreme underground metal. It was Viktor, the owner, who contacted us immediately after we uploaded our EP to the main streaming platforms, waiting for a label interested in releasing it. At first, we enthusiastically accepted his proposal for two reasons: we had an important live show in Rome supporting Cancer coming up, so we were in a bit of a hurry to release the EP, and also because he seemed like a very active and proactive guy, so much so that from the very first contacts we were also talking about possible dates in Poland to promote the CD. Unfortunately, as I mentioned before, after sending us the material, he disappeared, and we still have no contact with him, so I can already tell you that we will definitely be looking for a new label for the release of the full album…

Which bands do you idolise and where do you get your inspiration?

(Roberto) If you've had a chance to listen to the three tracks on the EP, you'll have noticed that our main inspiration comes from the Swedish death metal scene, so leading names such as Entombed, Dismember and Unleashed, without forgetting other European bands such as Bolt Thrower, or a few American bands, although the latter influence is undoubtedly less significant than the others…


Did you send your record to some Labels - which are the labels? How was the response?

(Roberto) As already mentioned, everything was done very quickly, so as far as the EP is concerned, the only real contact we had was with Sing Of Evil Production. We will definitely be sending out some promos soon to start looking around in anticipation of the first full album, which we would like to release by the end of 2026.

How many gigs have you played? Which type of gigs do you prefer, whether it's (clubs or festivals) and which of your performances would you consider as the best?

(Roberto) I'll tell you that despite the long break from 2007 to 2022, and despite only having one EP to our credit, since we got back into action we've been asked to play around here in southern Italy, and at the moment we've already played a good number of live shows, many of them with bands of old friends who are also active in the underground scene, such as Taxidermia or Mauled, just to name a couple.

Personally, I like both situations. I like small live clubs because the performance takes on a wilder form, with people pogoing on top of you, while I like festivals because they are generally better organised, the stages are bigger, you meet people, you see old friends again...

Of the dates we've played so far, the one supporting Cancer in Rome is definitely the one that left us with the best memories, both because of the calibre of John Walker's band and because there were so many people there, they were moshing like crazy under the stage and we had a really great time...

What about your plans for the future? What do you want to achieve with the band?

(Roberto) We are currently working on the full-length album. We have five complete tracks and a series of riffs that will make up the remaining three, after which we will begin pre-production and plan to start recording in late summer, so that we can release the album by the end of the year, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

What we want right now is to play as much as possible, because live performances are what we do best, as confirmed by the feedback and compliments we have received.

On stage, we are able to unleash our wildest side...

How and where can your fans contact you? Can you provide some contact information?

(Roberto) Despite myself, we are on all the major social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, and on digital platforms such as Spotify and Bandcamp, but I prefer people to stop and talk to us before and after our live shows. Face-to-face contact is always the best way to communicate...

Thanx for the interview.

(Roberto) Thank you for giving us this space and greetings to your readers. If we happen to be in your area, come and say hello and rock out in front of the stage during our performance, you won't regret it!





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pondělí 2. února 2026

News! - SCEPTOCRYPT - Album Preview : “This Odometer Syndrome” out 13.01.2026

 

SCEPTOCRYPT - Album Preview : “This Odometer Syndrome” out 13.01.2026

https://sceptocrypt.com/2026/01/12/album-preview-this-odometer-syndrome-out-13-01-2026/

And here it lands! “This Odometer Syndrome” a preview single from the full album Sceptocrypt is working on.

This preview put together in 2025 by Pawel (vocals), Malcolm (guitars & backing vocals) & Skyler (bass, FX & drums), the final product will include new vocal takes, new drum takes and additional samples (thanks to new bandmembers Mark on drums & Jacek on samples who both have been contributing heavily to shape the new Sceptocrypt beast.
If you like what you hear, expect more ferocious vocals, more hard-hitting drums, more modems & telephones, and a hell lot of industrial noize!

But maybe you keen to catch on how “This Odometer Syndrome” – and more songs from this upcoming album – sound with a full line-up?
Then come check us live at our two festival appearances, Dark Clouds over Camden (06.02.26, London) and Grim Reaper (09.02.26, Malta). More info at www.sceptocrypt.com/live-shows

Now to the song concept.
Do you recognize the voice of the opening sample? A vicious man that was ousted by his own! Manipulation is always followed by tribulation.

In “This Odometer Sydnrome” we start off with a speech by Zee Man who cannot Schpeak Zenglish himself, to then put him in a corner as we introduce the line “Stay calm and listen to Sceptocrypt”.
Moving on, we look at nowadays’ society being so tech-dependent, as we reflect on all the wrongs that could occur if we forget the human touch.

Lyrics penned back in 1999 by ex-vocalist Conrad Borg and current guitarist Malcolm Callus, it has been revisited by Malcolm & Pawel in 2025.

When all is said and done, stay calm and listen to Sceptocrypt!




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Recenze/review - CONCRETE - Absent Mortality (2026)


CONCRETE - Absent Mortality
CD 2026, Rebirth the Metal Productions

for english please scroll down

Pokaždé, když jsem jej potkal, tak jsem měl divný pocit. Vždycky se usmíval, byl velmi dobře oblečený a působil jako takový spořádaný soused. Každého zdravil, prohodil pár slov. U žen byl oblíbený, protože měl hezkou tvář a působil velmi elegantně. Když jste se ale podívali do jeho očí, viděli jste jenom zlo a temnotu. Jakmile padla na město tma, měnil se v nelítostného predátora. Ve sklepě měl velkou sbírku trofejí. Bílých kostí, smějících se lebek. Zlo má někdy mnoho podob a nelze jen tak rozpoznat. CONCRETE jsou death metalová kapela z Bulharska, která to ale umí. 

Asi víte, že se o tuhle smečku zajímám skoro od jejich počátků (důkazem budiž odkazy na recenze na minulá alba, které naleznete dole pod dnešním článkem). Tahle kapela patří mezi ty, kterým jejich morbidní práci opravdu věřím. Jsou autentičtí, suroví, nekompromisní a nezapomínají ani na ostré a chladné melodie. Vítejte v ulicích, ve kterých se toulá sériový vrah. Je zrovna na lovu. 


Asi jste ve svém životě mnohokrát potkali jedince, kteří nemají žádný soucit ani morálku. Jejich srdce i duše jsou chladné jako ruce staré mrtvoly. Z nové nahrávky mám velmi podobný dojem. Kapele se povedlo na povrch vytáhnout ty nejděsivější a nejtemnější lidské myšlenky a nastavit nám zrcadlo, do kterého není hezký pohled. Spousta lidí je dnes pokřivených, zoufalých a připomínají spíše umírající démony, než živé bytosti. Líbí se mi zvuk novinky, který je masivní, surový, dobře čitelný a připomíná mi ostré žiletky, které mě řežou po celém těle. Pokud bychom se měli bavit o motivu na obalu, tak ten je samozřejmě stylový (tahle kapela měla vždy velmi pěkné obaly!). Autorem je Angel Ivanov, který odvedl skvělou práci. Pokud bychom potom měli tvorbu těchto šílených Bulharů k někomu přirovnat, volil bych jména jako BENEDICTION, MASTER, PESTILENCE, MALEVOLENT CREATION, CANNIBAL CORPSE, OBITUARY, EXHUMED. Pokud jste fanoušci podobných odrůd smrtícího kovu a tenhle styl vám již dlouhé roky koluje žilách jako mě, tak rozhodně ochutnejte. "Absent Mortality" je totiž přesně tím druhem neklidného, zajímavého a velmi dobře složeného alba, ke kterému se budu rád a často vracet. CONCRETE jsou stále ve skvělé formě a mrzí mě snad jediná věc. Ještě jsem je neviděl naživo. Musí to být masakr! Kapela totiž řeže tou správnou stranou nože a novinku nelze jinak, než jenom doporučit všem, kteří mají tento styl a pohřby do země rádi. Smrt je při poslechu velmi blízko. Ulice jsou děsivé a toulá se v nich další z šílených  predátorů. Divoký, zničující, masakrující death metal, který vás roztrhá na kusy! Album ostré jako břitva! 

Asphyx says:

Every time I met him, I had a strange feeling. He was always smiling, very well dressed, and seemed like a respectable neighbor. He greeted everyone and exchanged a few words. He was popular with women because he had a handsome face and seemed very elegant. But when you looked into his eyes, you saw only evil and darkness. As soon as darkness fell on the city, he turned into a ruthless predator. He had a large collection of trophies in his basement. White bones, laughing skulls. Evil sometimes takes many forms and cannot be easily recognized. CONCRETE is a death metal band from Bulgaria that knows how to do it. 

You probably know that I've been interested in this band almost since their inception (as evidenced by the links to reviews of previous albums, which you can find below today's article). This band is one of those whose morbid work I really believe in. They are authentic, raw, uncompromising, and they don't forget about sharp and cold melodies. Welcome to the streets where a serial killer roams. He's on the hunt right now. 


You have probably encountered many individuals in your life who have no compassion or morals. Their hearts and souls are as cold as the hands of an old corpse. I get a very similar impression from this new recording. The band has managed to bring the most terrifying and darkest human thoughts to the surface and hold up a mirror to us that is not a pretty sight. Many people today are twisted, desperate, and resemble dying demons rather than living beings. I like the sound of the new album, which is massive, raw, easy to understand, and reminds me of sharp razor blades cutting all over my body. If we were to talk about the cover art, it is, of course, stylish (this band has always had very nice covers!). It was created by Angel Ivanov, who did a great job. If we were to compare the work of these crazy Bulgarians to anyone, I would choose names like BENEDICTION, MASTER, PESTILENCE, MALEVOLENT CREATION, CANNIBAL CORPSE, OBITUARY, EXHUMED. If you are a fan of similar varieties of deadly metal and this style has been running through your veins for years, like mine, then definitely give it a listen. "Absent Mortality" is exactly the kind of restless, interesting, and very well-composed album that I will gladly and often return to. CONCRETE are still in great shape, and I regret only one thing. I haven't seen them live yet. It must be a massacre! The band cuts with the right side of the knife, and I can only recommend this new release to everyone who likes this style and burials. Death is very close when listening to this album. The streets are terrifying, and another of the mad predators roams them. Wild, destructive, massacring death metal that will tear you to pieces! An album as sharp as a razor!




about CONCRETE on DEADLY STORM ZINE:





tracklist:
01. Eminent in Suffering 
02. Midnight Demigod 
03. Fruition of Decadence 
04. Charnel Expulsion 
05. Inversion of Grace 
06. Eternity Renounced 
07. Blood Upon the Necronomicon 
08. Apex Butchery 09. Volatile Skin

neděle 1. února 2026

Recenze/review - THE CRAWLING - Live in Belfast MMXXIV (2026)


THE CRAWLING - Live in Belfast MMXXIV
CD 2026, Grindscene Records

for english please scroll down

Někde mezi smutkem, bolestí a beznadějí. V naprosté tmě a chladu. Tak jsem se cítil, když jsem kráčel temnými ulicemi našeho města a poslouchal jsem nové živé album tmářů THE CRAWLING. Kolem mě se válela krvavá mlha smíchaná se smogem. Továrna, ke které jsem směřoval, připomínala onen svět. Stačilo několik tónů, první riff, melodie a začal jsem křičet do tmy. Nejednou jsem nebyl v zimním městě na západě České republiky. Stál jsem uprostřed davu, v Belfastu a všemi póry svého těla vnímal muziku, která mi již několik let koluje v žilách.

Určitě to znáte. Člověk se stane fanouškem nějaké kapely postupně. Nejdříve jen tak nesměle ochutná, stráví s jejich hudbou několik večerů, kráčí s ní ulicemi nebo jen tak, po lesních pěšinách. O THE CRAWLING jsem již psal (odkazy na recenze najdete dole pod dnešním článkem). Pánové do mě zasekli svůj ostrý dráp a už mě nikdy nepustili. O živých záznamech moc nepíšu, zde ale udělám výjimku. Nové album totiž hoří zevnitř, i když je doomově mrazivé i death metalové surové. 


Když jsem "Live in Belfast MMXXIV" poslouchal, tak jsem byl opravdu na koncertě. Mezi fanoušky stály i pradávné stíny mých kamarádů, kteří již nejsou mezi námi. Mívám to takhle pokaždé. Podobné akce si neskutečně užívám, navíc THE CRAWLING patří mezi smečky, které jsou velmi opravdové, ryzí, autentické. Zkrátka a dobře, jejich hudbu jim věřím, neskutečně si ji užívám, stala se i mojí součástí. Líbí se mi zvuk, který je takový, jaký jej můžete na živém vystoupení opravdu zažít. Připadá mí (snad se nemýlím), že nebyl nijak zbytečně upravovaný. Řekni mi kamaráde, v jakém rytmu tepe tvoje srdce, ptal jsem se sám sebe, když jsem neustále přidával hlasitost. Všechno ostatní šlo stranou. Vracel jsem se domů a pokaždé se těšil, až si sednu, zapnu znovu play a otevřu si nějakou dobrou knihu. Tyhle chvíle jsou pro mě velmi důležité, nutné, abych se nezbláznil v současném podivném světě. Jako asi každý se potřebuji zastavit, zpomalit a srovnat si myšlenky. Tohle album je pro tyto vzácné a nebál bych se napsat terapeutické chvíle více než vhodné. Skladby se valí kupředu jako lavina z kamení, starých kostí a děsivých vzpomínek. Jsem jenom já a tahle nahrávka. Nic kolem mě neexistuje. Jsi fanoušek třeba takových NOVEMBER´S DOOM, MY DYING BRIDE, DRACONIAN, KATATONIA, OFFICIUM TRISTE, EVOKEN, SENTENCED, BOLT THROWER, ENTOMBED? Posloucháš dávno hudbu hlavně srdcem? Potom je tahle deska určena i pro tebe. Někde mezi smutkem, bolestí a beznadějí. V naprosté tmě a chladu. Tak jsem se cítil, když jsem kráčel temnými ulicemi našeho města a poslouchal jsem nové živé album tmářů THE CRAWLING. A teď mě prosím už nechte být, má slova stejně nestačí, lepší je jen tak sedět, být, existovat a poslouchat. Děkuji. Dokonalá esence smutku, chladu, tmy a beznaděje, která se vám dostane do podvědomí! Koncert, který se stal pro mě niterným obřadem! 


Asphyx says:

Somewhere between sadness, pain, and despair. In complete darkness and cold. That's how I felt as I walked through the dark streets of our city listening to the new live album by THE CRAWLING. A bloody fog mixed with smog swirled around me. The factory I was heading for resembled that world. A few notes, the first riff, the melody, and I started screaming into the darkness. Suddenly, I was no longer in a winter town in the west of the Czech Republic. I was standing in the middle of a crowd in Belfast, feeling the music that had been flowing through my veins for several years with every pore of my body.

I'm sure you know the feeling. You gradually become a fan of a band. At first, you just tentatively sample their music, spend a few evenings with it, walk the streets or forest paths with it. I've already written about THE CRAWLING (you can find links to reviews below today's article). These guys dug their sharp claws into me and never let go. I don't write much about live recordings, but I'll make an exception here. The new album burns from within, even though it's doom-like and death metal raw. 


When I listened to "Live in Belfast MMXXIV", I really felt like I was at the concert. Among the fans were the ancient shadows of my friends who are no longer with us. I always feel this way. I enjoy events like this immensely, and THE CRAWLING is one of those bands that is very genuine, pure, and authentic. In short, I believe in their music, I enjoy it immensely, and it has become a part of me. I like the sound, which is just like what you would experience at a live performance. It seems to me (I hope I'm not mistaken) that it hasn't been unnecessarily edited. Tell me, my friend, what rhythm does your heart beat to, I asked myself as I kept turning up the volume. Everything else faded into the background. I would come home and look forward to sitting down, turning on the player again, and opening a good book. These moments are very important to me, necessary for me not to go crazy in today's strange world. Like everyone else, I need to stop, slow down, and gather my thoughts. This album is more than suitable for these precious and, I would dare say, therapeutic moments. The songs roll forward like an avalanche of rocks, old bones, and terrifying memories. It's just me and this recording. Nothing else exists around me. Are you a fan of bands such as NOVEMBER'S DOOM, MY DYING BRIDE, DRACONIAN, KATATONIA, OFFICIUM TRISTE, EVOKEN, SENTENCED, BOLT THROWER, ENTOMBED? Have you been listening to music mainly with your heart for a long time? Then this album is for you. Somewhere between sadness, pain, and despair. In complete darkness and cold. That's how I felt when I walked through the dark streets of our city listening to the new live album by THE CRAWLING. And now, please leave me alone, my words are not enough anyway, it's better to just sit, be, exist, and listen. Thank you. The perfect essence of sadness, cold, darkness, and despair that will get into your subconscious! A concert that became an inner ritual for me!


about THE CRAWLING on DEADLY STORM ZINE:




Track Listing:
1. Intro
2. March of the Worm
3. Sparrow
4. Thy Nazarene
5. The Right to Crawl
6. Another Vulture
7. An Immaculate Deception
8. Bound to the Negative
9. Wolves and the Hideous White
10. Rancid Harmony
11. Outro

band:
Bass / Vocals: Adrien Crozet
Guitar / Vocals: Andy Clarke
Drums: Gary Beattie



pátek 30. ledna 2026

Recenze/review - TOTAL ANNIHILATION - Mountains Of Madness (2026)


TOTAL ANNIHILATION - Mountains Of Madness
CD 2026, Testimony Records

for english please scroll down

Vrcholky hor jsou zahalené do zvláštně těžké mlhy. Má barvu zkažené krve. Pokaždé, když se přiblížím, tak slyším nářek nemrtvých. Alespoň si myslím, že jsou to lidé, kteří se zde kdysi ztratili, zahynuli ve skalách. Ale třeba se pletu. Je to tu děsivé, šílené, cítím všemi póry svého těla velkou bolest, jakoby mě něco trhalo zevnitř. Bojím se a přesto vstupuji dovnitř. Umírám a znovu se rodím, v nekonečném cyklu. TOTAL ANNIHILATION, death thrash metaloví maniaci ze Švýcarska se volně inspirovali dílem H.P. Lovercrafta (konkrétně kosmickou novelou "At the Mountains of Madness" z roku 1936. 

Možná a nebo právě proto mám pokaždé, když zapnu play na svém přehrávači pocit, že jsem najednou na úpatí horského masívu. Dívám se nahoru a netuším, co mě čeká. Postupně přidávám hlasitost, řvu do tmy. Děsím se každého stínu, užívám si velmi propracované melodie a nápady, ztrácím se v mlze, jsem tu jen já a muzika a děsivé hory plné zvrácených příběhů. 


Potkává se zde taková ta temná a surová death metalová živočišnost s thrash metalovou naléhavostí a ostrostí. Vše je činěno velmi inteligentně, smečka z Basileje umí napsat opravdu dobré skladby, které se mi ihned (ano, stalo se tak již během několika počátečních poslechů) zadřely hluboko pod kůži i do podvědomí. Jako bychom byli spolu s kapelou stejné krve a vyrůstali jsme na podobných vzorech. Skvělé je i to, že si pánové dali velký pozor na zvuk. Ten je masivní, divoký, působí syrově a zároveň vyniknou jednotlivé silné melodie. Novinka má spád, drive, působí jako lavina, která se utrhne pokaždé, když zapnu play a přidám hlasitost na samou hranu slyšitelnosti. "Mountains Of Madness" je ale také albem, které má v sobě něco tajemného, zvláštního, neklidného. Všichni moc dobře víme, že zlo nikdy nespí, že je všude přítomné a jenom čeká v pozadí, aby mohlo zaútočit. Čest těm, kteří jej dokáží pojmenovat, definovat a zničit. Mám rád kapely, které mě donutí přemýšlet, které mi nedají svoji hudbu zadarmo. TOTAL ANNIHILATION si se mnou nejdřív hráli jako šelma se svojí kořistí. Postupně mě pevně sevřeli pavučinami své hudby, abych se nakonec ztratil v jejich světě. Pokaždé, když potkám kapelu, která má talent, která umí hrát, má zajímavé texty a nápady, tak vidím světlo na konci tunelu. Svět je a vždycky býval podivné místo k žití. Vím to já, kapela a věděl to i H. P. Lovercraft. Někdy si říkám (čím dál častěji), že hudba je něčím tak silným, že na to má slova ani nestačí. Myslím si, že není moc co řešit. Švýcaři vydali album, u kterého shoříte na popel a strhne vás do hlubiny. Vynikající záležitost, to vám klidně podepíšu vlastní krví! Thrash death metal, který nastavuje zrcadlo samotnému zlu! Na kost ohlodaná, velmi propracovaná a sofistikovaná nahrávka, která vás strhne do laviny! 

Asphyx says:

The mountain peaks are shrouded in a strangely heavy fog. It is the color of spoiled blood. Every time I get closer, I hear the wails of the undead. At least, I think they are people who once got lost here, who perished in the rocks. But maybe I'm wrong. It's scary here, crazy, I feel great pain in every pore of my body, as if something were tearing me apart from the inside. I'm afraid, and yet I go inside. I die and am reborn, in an endless cycle. TOTAL ANNIHILATION, death thrash metal maniacs from Switzerland, were loosely inspired by the work of H.P. Lovecraft (specifically the cosmic novel "At the Mountains of Madness" from 1936). 

Maybe that's why, or perhaps precisely because of that, every time I press play on my player, I feel like I'm suddenly at the foot of a mountain range. I look up and have no idea what awaits me. I gradually turn up the volume and scream into the darkness. I am terrified of every shadow, I enjoy the very elaborate melodies and ideas, I lose myself in the fog, it's just me and the music and the terrifying mountains full of twisted stories. 


It combines dark and raw death metal animalism with thrash metal urgency and sharpness. Everything is done very intelligently, the Basel-based band knows how to write really good songs that immediately (yes, it happened during the first few listens) got under my skin and into my subconscious. It's as if we were of the same blood as the band and grew up on similar influences. It's also great that the guys paid close attention to the sound. It's massive, wild, raw, and at the same time, the individual strong melodies stand out. The new album has momentum, drive, and feels like an avalanche that breaks loose every time I press play and turn the volume up to the very edge of audibility. But "Mountains Of Madness" is also an album that has something mysterious, strange, and unsettling about it. We all know very well that evil never sleeps, that it is omnipresent and just waiting in the background to attack. Honor to those who can name it, define it, and destroy it. I like bands that make me think, that don't give me their music for free. At first, TOTAL ANNIHILATION played with me like a beast with its prey. Gradually, they wrapped me tightly in the cobwebs of their music, until I was finally lost in their world. Every time I meet a band that has talent, that can play, that has interesting lyrics and ideas, I see the light at the end of the tunnel. The world is and always has been a strange place to live. I know it, the band knows it, and H. P. Lovecraft knew it too. Sometimes I think (more and more often) that music is something so powerful that words are not enough to describe it. I don't think there's much to discuss. The Swiss have released an album that will burn you to ashes and drag you into the depths. It's excellent, I'll gladly sign that with my own blood! Thrash death metal that holds up a mirror to evil itself! A bone-gnawing, highly polished and sophisticated recording that will sweep you away in an avalanche!


TRACKLIST
01. The Art of Torture
02. Mountains of Madness
03. Illusion
04. Chokehold
05. Choose the Day
06. Age of Mental Suicide
07. Nyctophobia
08. Beneath the Cross
09. Invisible Conflagration
10. Lost Forever
11. Hate Remains

LINE-UP
Daniel Altwegg – Vocals
Nicolas Stelz – Guitars
Jürgen Schmid – Guitars
Michael Lautenschläger – Drums
Niklaus Denger – Bass


čtvrtek 29. ledna 2026

Recenze/review - SHINE - Wrathcult (2026)


SHINE - Wrathcult
CD 2026, Dark Descent Records

for english please scroll down

Sleduješ hejno krkavců, jak se pomalu snáší k zemi. Někteří usednou na hromady mrtvol a dají se do díla. Pokaždé nejdříve vyklovou oči, jakoby nechtěli, aby se na ně mrtví bojovníci dívali. Probodnutí, s useknutou hlavou, zohavení, s děsivými výrazy na tváři. Ve jménu jediné pravé víry jich zemřelo několik tisíc. Stojím tu jako vítěz a přesto mě mrazí v zádech. Zlo provází lidstvo odnepaměti. Zavřu starodávný spis, setřu z něj prach a protože potřebuji uklidnit svoji rozdrásanou mysl, pustím si nové album polských maniaků SHINE.

Jedná se o Tomasze Dobrzenieckého z Hazael, který je členem polského podsvětí již od devadesátých let minulého století a má za sebou spoustu skvělých nahrávek. SHINE vznikli za pandemie covidu a letos vtrhli na scénu jako smečka zuřivých vikingů. Ano, na tomto albu se potkávají vlivy slovanské, severské i germánské mytologie. Deska je plná starodávných příběhů, které jsou v podání Tomasze a jeho věrných velmi uvěřitelné a autentické. Vítejte na bojištích, na kterých byly prolity řeky krve. 


Líbí se mi celkový koncept, nápady, texty je vyloženě radost studovat. Velmi zajímavá je ale hlavně hudba, která je volně inspirována kapelami typu EMPEROR, BATHORY, MORBID ANGEL, DISMEMBER, ENTOMBED. Samozřejmě, moje přirovnání berte s rezervou. SHINE mají spoustu svých vlastních nápadů, ale pravdou je, že stín těchto legend se vznáší v pozadí po celou dobu poslechu jako tiché svědomí. Jinak se jedná o velmi vznešené, majestátní skladby, které v sobě mají velkou porci chladu, tlaku, temnoty a pradávné energie. Vše zní, jakoby opravdu bylo složeno na starých pohřebištích. V dobách, kdy se křesťanství teprve rodilo a začínalo mít svůj vliv. Tenkrát byli lidé více ovlivnění přírodou i vyššími silami, které nejsou rozhodně z našeho světa. Pojďme si promluvit i o formálních věcech. Zvuk je skvělý, dobře čitelný a živočišný zároveň. Řeže mě a pálí, chladí zároveň. Pod produkcí je podepsán Heinrich (Filip Hałucha). Nutno rovnou dodat, že odvedl skvělou práci (ostatně jako vždy). Na novince jakoby platila starodávná pravidla. Vše je ohlodané na kost, syrové a zemité. Za sebe mohu nové album "Wrathcult" jenom doporučit. Má v sobě totiž absolutně všechno. Skvělé motivy, silné příběhy a takovou tu zvláštní, neklidnou a zároveň velmi přitažlivou atmosféru. Myslím si, že by bylo velmi zajímavé vidět a slyšet tuhle smečku naživo. Snad se mi to někdy poštěstí. Zatím si budu číst knihy jako Bestiariusz Słowiański, Mitologia Słowiańska od J. Bobrowského a M. Wrony a Słowiańska Czarownica (Slovanský bestiář, Slovanská mytologie, Slovanská čarodějnice) a užívat si hudbu, které již koluje i v mých žilách. Chladná a temná black death metalová zuřivost z dávných časů! Mocné, majestátní a syrové album, které uctívá krvavé kořeny! 

Asphyx says:

You watch a flock of ravens slowly descend to the ground. Some settle on piles of corpses and set to work. Each time, they peck out the eyes first, as if they don't want the dead warriors to look at them. Pierced, decapitated, mutilated, with terrifying expressions on their faces. Several thousand have died in the name of the one true faith. I stand here as the victor, and yet I feel a chill down my spine. Evil has accompanied humanity since time immemorial. I close the ancient scroll, wipe the dust from it, and because I need to calm my troubled mind, I put on the new album by Polish maniacs SHINE.

This is Tomasz Dobrzeniecki from Hazael, who has been a member of the Polish underground since the 1990s and has many great recordings to his credit. SHINE was formed during the COVID pandemic and burst onto the scene this year like a pack of raging Vikings. Yes, this album combines influences from Slavic, Norse, and Germanic mythology. The record is full of ancient stories, which are very believable and authentic in the rendition of Tomasz and his faithful followers. Welcome to the battlefields where rivers of blood have been shed. 


I like the overall concept, the ideas, and the lyrics are a real joy to study. But what's really interesting is the music, which is loosely inspired by bands like EMPEROR, BATHORY, MORBID ANGEL, DISMEMBER, and ENTOMBED. Of course, take my comparison with a grain of salt. SHINE have a lot of their own ideas, but the truth is that the shadow of these legends hovers in the background throughout the entire listening experience like a silent conscience. Otherwise, these are very noble, majestic compositions that contain a large dose of coldness, pressure, darkness, and ancient energy. Everything sounds as if it were really composed in ancient burial grounds. In times when Christianity was just emerging and beginning to exert its influence. Back then, people were more influenced by nature and higher powers that are definitely not of this world. Let's talk about the formal aspects as well. The sound is great, clear and animalistic at the same time. It cuts and burns me, and cools me at the same time. Heinrich (Filip Hałucha) is credited with the production. It must be said right away that he did a great job (as always, in fact). The new album seems to follow ancient rules. Everything is stripped down to the bone, raw and earthy. I can only recommend the new album "Wrathcult". It has absolutely everything. Great themes, powerful stories, and a strange, restless, yet very appealing atmosphere. I think it would be very interesting to see and hear this band live. Maybe I'll get lucky someday. For now, I'll read books like Bestiariusz Słowiański, Mitologia Słowiańska by J. Bobrowski and M. Wrona, and Słowiańska Czarownica (Slavic Bestiary, Slavic Mythology, Slavic Witch) and enjoy the music that already flows through my veins. Cold and dark black death metal fury from ancient times! A powerful, majestic, and raw album that honors its bloody roots!




Wrathcult Tracklist:
1. Ancient Chaos
2. The Lamb Against the Wolf
3. Kneel Before the Serpent
4. Oddajcie co moje
5. The Cult of Oak
6. The Horror of the Night
7. Witch's Prophecies
8. Wrath of the Hammer
9. The Necklace With Runes
10. Ancient Spirit

SHINE is:
Marek Krajcer-vocals
Tomasz Dobrzeniecki -guitars
Mateusz Waśkiewicz- guitars
Wojciech Gąsiorowski-bass
Paweł Duda- drums

Album art by Tomasz Dobrzeniecki




středa 28. ledna 2026

Recenze/review - BLOOD OF THE WOLF - V: Indomitable (2025)


BLOOD OF THE WOLF - V: Indomitable
CD 2025, Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

for english please scroll down

Mučili mě dlouhé hodiny v temných a chladných sklepích. Pálili mě rozžhaveným železem, natahovali k prasknutí. Trápili mě hladem i žízní. Vysmívali se mi, ponižovali. Ve jménu jediné pravé víry mi zničili celý život. Nikdy jsem své názory neodvolal. Teď tu sedím a čekám na poslední soud. Venku staví hranici ze dřeva. Dělníci se smějí sprostým vtipům. Už  přichází krvelačný dav. Kněží mají zlé pohledy a jedovaté jazyky. Protivil jste se jediné pravé víře a nepřiznal jsem existenci boha. Odpovím jednoznačně. Nikdy jsem jej neviděl, zato Satana potkávám na každém kroku.

Ještě než moje nohy olízne první plamen a do těla se mi zakousne šílená nekonečná bolest, zařvu do davu slova prokletí. Poslouchám zrovna nové album "V: Indomitable" od black death metalových maniaků BLOOD OF THE WOLF z Chicaga a hudba se mi postupně spojuje s popsaným děsivým snem. Vítejte v záhrobí, tohle je album pro všechny prokleté, pro fanoušky, kteří uctívají poctivou prašivou a krvavou práci. Riffy jsou ostré jako břitva, bicí zabíjejí a vokál je nasáklý starodávnými chorobami. Obřad pro vyvolávání temných sil může začít. 


Při poslechu mám opravdu pocit, jakoby mě někdo obvinil z kacířství a zavřel mě do staré plesnivé kobky. Ven můžu jen v případě, když mě chce inkvizice mučit. Moje víra v pravdu je stále silná, při poslechu téhle nahrávky ještě pevnější, než kdy dřív. Jsem alergický na lži a přetvářku dnešního světa a jako takový si desku opravdu užívám. Má v sobě totiž opravdu vše, co dokáže vyloudit spokojený úsměv na tváři starého metalového psa, který hlídá vstup do podsvětí již skoro třicet pět let. Chladný a špinavý black metal se zde potkává se surovým kovem smrti. Činěno to jest s elegancí a zkušenostmi starých mistrů v oboru. Opravdu masivní a divoký je zvuk, lebka na obalu je také vyvedena velmi stylově. Po formální stránce je vše v nejlepším pořádku a vy si tak můžete užít jednotlivé skvěle napsané nápady, které v sobě mají takovou tu prastarou morbiditu a feeling. BLOOD OF THE WOLF se s tím nepářou, jdou rovnou na věc, útočí napřímo. Působí jako jezdci apokalypsy, kteří se vrátili, aby se pomstili za všechno zlo a špínu, které jsou lidé jako čeleď schopni. Pokud máte ve své sbírce kapely jako ANGELCORPSE, MARDUK, BELPHEGOR, GOD DETHRONED, SPEARHEAD, staré BEHEMOTH, VADER a rádi se k jejich deskám stále vracíte, bude se vám určitě líbit i tahle mrtvolná nahrávka. Osobně se mi líbí nejen tlak a energie, které dokáže kapela svojí hudbou vytvořit a které vás strhnou do hlubiny, ale také to, jak jsou jednotlivé nápady napsány, složeny. Každý poslech je pro mě opravdu mým soukromým obřadem, rituálem, při kterém se vaří svěcená voda smíchaná s krví a kříže se obracejí směrem dolů. "V: Indomitable" je doslova povinností pro všechny pravověrné fanoušky stylu. A nejen pro ně. Tahle smečka je ryzí, opravdová, reálná a autentická. Nové album se mi zadřelo hluboko pod kůži i do podvědomí. A tenhle proces je nezvratný. Mučili mě dlouhé hodiny v temných a chladných sklepích. Pálili mě rozžhaveným železem, natahovali k prasknutí. Trápili mě hladem i žízní. Vysmívali se mi, ponižovali. Ve jménu jediné pravé víry mi zničili celý život. Nikdy neodvolám! Blasfemický, divoký a syrový black death metalový rituál pro vyvolávání temných sil! Budete upáleni zaživa!

Asphyx says:

They tortured me for hours in dark, cold cellars. They burned me with red-hot iron, stretched me until I was about to break. They tormented me with hunger and thirst. They mocked me, humiliated me. In the name of the one true faith, they destroyed my whole life. I never recanted my beliefs. Now I sit here and wait for the Last Judgment. Outside, they are building a wooden stake. The workers laugh at crude jokes. The bloodthirsty crowd is already approaching. The priests have evil looks and venomous tongues. You opposed the one true faith and did not acknowledge the existence of God. My answer is clear. I have never seen Him, but I encounter Satan at every turn.

Before the first flame licks my feet and insane, endless pain bites into my body, I shout words of damnation to the crowd. I'm listening to the new album "V: Indomitable" by black death metal maniacs BLOOD OF THE WOLF from Chicago, and the music gradually merges with the terrifying dream I described. Welcome to the afterlife, this is an album for all the damned, for fans who worship honest, mangy, and bloody work. The riffs are razor sharp, the drums are killer, and the vocals are steeped in ancient diseases. The ritual to summon the dark forces can begin.


When I listen to it, I really feel as if someone has accused me of heresy and locked me in an old moldy dungeon. I can only leave when the Inquisition wants to torture me. My belief in the truth is still strong, and listening to this recording makes it even stronger than ever. I am allergic to the lies and hypocrisy of today's world, and as such, I really enjoy this album. It has everything that can bring a satisfied smile to the face of an old metalhead who has been guarding the entrance to the underworld for almost thirty-five years. Cold and dirty black metal meets raw death metal here. This is done with the elegance and experience of old masters in the field. The sound is truly massive and wild, and the skull on the cover is also very stylishly done. Formally, everything is in perfect order, so you can enjoy the individual, brilliantly written ideas that have that ancient morbidity and feeling. BLOOD OF THE WOLF doesn't mess around, they get straight to the point and attack head-on. They act like the horsemen of the apocalypse who have returned to take revenge for all the evil and filth that humans are capable of. If you have bands like ANGELCORPSE, MARDUK, BELPHEGOR, GOD DETHRONED, SPEARHEAD, old BEHEMOTH, VADER in your collection and you like to return to their albums, you will definitely like this corpse-like recording. Personally, I like not only the pressure and energy that the band creates with their music, which pulls you into the depths, but also how the individual ideas are written and composed. Every listen is truly my own private ceremony, a ritual in which holy water mixed with blood is boiled and crosses are turned upside down. "V: Indomitable" is literally a must for all true fans of the genre. And not only for them. This pack is pure, real, genuine, and authentic. The new album has gotten deep under my skin and into my subconscious. And this process is irreversible. They tortured me for hours in dark and cold cellars. They burned me with red-hot iron, stretched me to the point of breaking. They tormented me with hunger and thirst. They mocked me, humiliated me. In the name of the one true faith, they destroyed my whole life. I will never recant! A blasphemous, wild, and raw black death metal ritual for summoning dark forces! You will be burned alive! 


tracklist:
01. Tempest Of Purifying Fire 
02. Extinction Eclipse 
03. Glory To The Gods Of War 
04. Oath Of Supremacy 
05. Assembled To Annihilate 
06. Baptized In Fire And Combat 
07. Flesh For The Warfather 
08. Indomitable



úterý 27. ledna 2026

Recenze/review - UPON THE ALTAR - Profanation's Vapor (2025)


UPON THE ALTAR - Profanation's Vapor
EP 2025, Godz ov War Productions

for english please scroll down

Od začátku to byl velmi podivný pohřeb. Z pozůstalých nepřišel nikdo, půda byla zmrzlá a navíc jsem měl neodbytný pocit, že se mnou mrtví rozmlouvá. Šeptal samá zlá a nenávistná slova. Snažil se mě přesvědčit, že ještě žije. Z rakve se ozývalo škrábání, syčení, tlukot. Pokračoval jsem dál, znal jsem totiž historii tohohle prokletého bastarda. Ublížil tolika lidem, že mi bylo úplně jedno, jestli má v sobě ještě kousek života. Poslední lopata a oddychl jsem si. Hotovo. Jenže to nebyla pravda, i nadále mě chodil mučit ve snech. Jako bych pohřbil samotného ďábla.

S poslechem loňského EP polských tmářů UPON THE ALTAR to mám nastavené hodně podobně. Pokaždé, když zapnu play, tak cítím ve svém pokoji síru. Z reproduktorů ke mě ztéká zkažená krev a v kostech se usadí nejen chlad, ale také neodbytný strach ze smrti. Pánové jsou zpět a opět působí jako samotní zplozenci pekla. 


Nálada novinky je velmi zlá, nenávistná, blasfemická. Připomíná mi atmosféru znesvěcených kostelů, ve kterých někoho zabili a nebo znásilnili. Poláci nám opět nastavují zrcadlo a pohled do něj není vůbec hezký. Na povrch vyplavou všechny hnusné a ohavné myšlenky, které máme po staletí zafixovány v našich genech. Žádné kompromisy, žádné zbytečnosti. Jenom rouhání, tak lze nové EP také popsat. Těch příměrů mě napadá samozřejmě velké množství a je to také důkaz, že se mi nahrávka dostala do hlavy i do podvědomí. Mraky byly zase jednou nízko a měly barvu hnisu a špíny. Dotýkaly se skoro země a ten pohřbený bastard znovu vylézá z hrobu. Nelze zabít, zničit, dokonce ani spálit. Nezbývá jediné, stát se jeho další obětí v řadě. Někdo je zlý i po smrti. Zůstane po něm krvavý otisk, stejně jako po téhle smečce. Pánové na to jdou velmi podobně jako kapely typu ASSAFOR, TEMPLE NIGHTSIDE, DIOCLETIAN, TEITANBLOOD, MORBOSIDAD, DIABOLIC, DEAD CONGREGATION, IGNIVOMOUS, INCANTATION, DISMA, mají absolutně zabijácký zvuk, stylově děsivý motiv na obalu, ale hlavně velkou spoustu černých a smrtících nápadů. UPON THE ALTAR jsou stále ve skvělé formě a doslova zabíjejí svojí hudbou. "Profanation's Vapor" je nahrávkou, která se bude hrát ještě dlouhé roky na pohřbech prokletých. Kříže  jsou znovu obrácený směrem dolů a ve svěcené vodě se objevila vařící se krev. Kněz má rozeklaný jazyk a připomíná ještěra ze starých časů. Následuje další riff, úder bicích, řev bestie. Poláci vás opět strhnou do hlubiny a zničí vás. Hnisavě nenávistný, temný a spalující black death metal, u kterého vylézají z hrobů všichni prokletí! Absolutní inferno! 

Asphyx says:

It was a very strange funeral from the start. None of the bereaved came, the ground was frozen, and on top of that, I had the persistent feeling that the dead man was talking to me. He whispered evil and hateful words. He tried to convince me that he was still alive. There were scratching, hissing, and banging noises coming from the coffin. I continued, because I knew the history of this cursed bastard. He had hurt so many people that I didn't care if there was still a bit of life left in him. One last shovel and I breathed a sigh of relief. Done. But that wasn't true, he continued to torment me in my dreams. It was as if I had buried the devil himself.

Listening to last year's EP by Polish obscurantists UPON THE ALTAR, I feel much the same way. Every time I press play, I smell sulfur in my room. Rotten blood flows from the speakers, and not only coldness settles in my bones, but also an insistent fear of death. The gentlemen are back, and once again they seem like the spawn of hell itself. 


The mood of the new album is very evil, hateful, blasphemous. It reminds me of the atmosphere of desecrated churches where someone was killed or raped. The Poles are once again holding up a mirror to us, and the view in it is not pretty at all. All the ugly and abominable thoughts that have been fixed in our genes for centuries come to the surface. No compromises, no nonsense. Just blasphemy, that's how the new EP can be described. Of course, I can think of a lot of comparisons, and that's also proof that the recording got into my head and subconscious. The clouds were low again and the color of pus and dirt. They almost touched the ground, and the buried bastard is climbing out of his grave again. He cannot be killed, destroyed, or even burned. There is nothing left to do but become his next victim. Some people are evil even after death. They leave behind a bloody mark, just like this pack. These guys are very similar to bands such as ASSAFOR, TEMPLE NIGHTSIDE, DIOCLETIAN, TEITANBLOOD, MORBOSIDAD, DIABOLIC, DEAD CONGREGATION, IGNIVOMOUS, INCANTATION, and DISMA. They have an absolutely killer sound, a stylistically terrifying cover design, but above all, a whole lot of dark and deadly ideas. UPON THE ALTAR are still in great shape and literally kill with their music. "Profanation's Vapor" is a recording that will be played for years to come at the funerals of the damned. The crosses are once again turned upside down and boiling blood has appeared in the holy water. The priest has a forked tongue and resembles a lizard from ancient times. Another riff follows, a drum beat, the roar of a beast. The Poles will once again drag you into the depths and destroy you. Purulent, hateful, dark, and scorching black death metal that will bring all the damned out of their graves! An absolute inferno!



about UPON THE ALTAR on DEADLY STORM ZINE:



tracklist:
1. Intro
2. Profanation's Vapor 
3. Dominatio In Excelsis 
4. Reign Awaits 
5. Havoc Wreaked 
6. Tenebrous Harbinger 

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