Kroda - "Varulven" 2013

Kroda

"Varulven"

Purity Through Fire

2013

This album is a compilation of previously unreleased material. It contains only four songs, and lasts for circa twenty minutes. Here you can read more about it and actually listen to it for free - as it's available on Kroda's bandcamp. I may only add that the physical version (limited digipack) will be released by PTF in the beginning of November. For those who are not familiar with this band I will write few word why it's worth to have it in your collection.

And it's woth because it shows a bit different face of Kroda. The first track is played (as it's written on bandcamp) in a viking rock style, and bases on traditional nordic song. The main vocals are a female one, while the howling of Eisenslav is a bit on the second plan. In my opinion it sounds very good, and it would be interesting if a band adopted such elements on a new release. 

The rest of the material is more typical for this project. "Nemesis" is a german folk song, played on traditional ukrainian instruments (sopilka etc). If you heard "Oj na Gori..." from "Funf Jahre Kulturkampf" you can be sure that it sounds really (let's not be affraid of that word) nice. This track is also a good break between "Werwolf" and "Der Scharlachrote Tod". Both of those tracks are covers - the first one is Temnozor's, while the second one is Absurd's. It's not a big secret that Kroda knows how to play in interesting and ass-kicking way music of someone else. "Werewolf" is a bit different than the original, and moreover it's so full of energy that it looks a bit strange how only one person can make such a gehenna! The last track is like his predecessor a guts-grinding piece of brutal art, except it's a live version. And well, it just proves that Kroda is a beast on the scene!

I listen to "Varulven" whenever I can, and I am already preparing some money to buy the upcoming digipack. To everyone who is a fan of this ukrainian band or is simply interested in pagan/folk metal scene I recommend to do the same. A short, yet very good release.

Rate: 8+/10

Vladyka

Tracklist:
1. Varulven
2. Werwolf
3. Nemesis
4. Der Scharlachrote Tod (Absurd cover)

Katatonia - "Dead End Kings" (2012)

Katatonia

"Dead End Kings"

Peaceville Recs.

2012

I was waiting for this album with big misgiving, since previous album "Night Is The New Day" simply disappointed me. There were some good songs, but generally speaking it was boring and emotionless. "Dead End Kings" is a bit better, but still it's more or less the same case.

Well, let's start with something positive. First of all, the layout is really amazing! It's done in "modern" style, yet I love such weird, surreal kind of art. To be honest I bought this album without even listenning one song, just because I saw this amazing cover in a music store. 

Also a modern, clean production is something I liked. Of course it's a matter of taste, but I'm quite OK with that. You see, I hate such sound while it come to more traditional metal. But here everything highlights a bit surreal atmosphere, which is cool. The only thing that I haven't like is a sound of vocals - sometimes there are superimposed two tracks of singing, one on another, and it sounds just awful. 

 Most of the songs are being played in the style that Katatonia elaborated somewhere upon "Viva Empitness". Thanks to a new production many times they sound a bit psychedelic (like in "Hypnone"). Jonas still sings in this characteristic manner of a guy who really doesn't care about anything. It works (as always) if a song is, let's face it, emotional. If not, it's simply getting boring. 

And here's the main flaw of this release: some tracks are so emotionless that together with this clean production and monotonous vocals are making me sleepy. Maybe that was intented, but to be honest if I want to sleep I simply do it, without any boosters. For example the second track is so sweet and tiring that I am really wondering why they decided to record it. Silje Wergeland, who has sang in it, really doesn't help. In fact her vocal is just annoying. Or look on another boring track - "First Prayer". It extends and extends, but nothing really happens. The song is passing by, while I am falling into the arms of Morpheus (no, not this from Matrix).

Luckily there are some highlights. E.g. "Leathen" is a great track, full of sorrow and desperation, also an opening "The Parting" is a very strong position. Agh, if the whole album was as good as those tracks...

I could grumble like that for a long, long time but it really doesn't has any sense. Let's say that 60% of music on this album is really good. The rest is an ordinary boring stuff. If you're a fan of Katatonia, you should check it by yourself. Maybe you won't be disappointed - unlike me.

Rate: 6/10

Vladyka

Tracklist:

1. The Parting

2. The One You Are Looking For is Not Here

3. Hypnone

4. The Racing Heart

5. Buildiungs

6. Leech

7. Ambiotions

8. Undo You

9. Leathen

10. First Prayer

11. Dead Letters

Xaosis - "Mara II - Umarłe Domy" (2013)

Xaosis

"Mara II - Umarłe Domy"

Eastside

2013

This is a solo project of the polish musician, hidden under a stage-name of Xaos Oblivion. Some of you can know him from such acts like Demonic Slaughter or Abusiveness. This time he serves us 45 minutus of depressive rock with black metal influences.

Although this black metal can be heared rarely. Here and there appears typicaly black riff, and more or less that's everything. Maybe this black influences are bigger on the previous album, which I haven't listen to. But back to "Umarłe Domy", every track bases here on monotonous work of guitars and marching drums. Sometimes they are supported with electronic percussion (like e.g. in last track "Dytyramb Szatański"). This is a quite simple kind of playing, yet it can really draw you for another replay. There is also clearly heard some Xaos' influences, like new wave or a bit Katatonia-like riff (in "Zejście", as I remember). 

Over this instrumental stuff we can hear a harsh vocal. It's not a classical thing, as it sounds like a monolog of drunk desperated men. The atmosphere of negativity is enhanced even more thanks to polish lyrics, which really sounds like a babbling of suicidal drunkard. Of course rest of the world won't be impressed by them, but don't worry - even that the music will immediately change your good mood.

And few words about the production - it's a bit muck, guitars sough slightly and in general Xaos created a very good sound (though "good" is not propably the best word that can be used in this review). Of course if you are a fan of In Flames-like production you will be upset, but who gives a fuck about you. 

If you are thinking about commiting suicide, but you're affraid that you'll eventually panic and won't do it - this album will help you to make a proper decision. 

Rate: 8/10

Vladyka

Tracklist:

1. Przejście

2. Moli ścierwo i prusaki

3. Zejście

4. Czarny dom bez okien

5. Zaropiałe bagno

6. Non divina aurora

7. Dytyramb Szatański