Massemord - 'A Life-Giving Power of Devastation'

Massemord

'A Life-Giving Power of Devastation'

Pagan Recs.

2013

 

 

 Massemord should be known to everybody who is interested in a polish black metal scene. The band is active since 2000 year, and recorded several materials. 'A Life-Giving...' is their fourth full-lenght album. To be honest I still don't know what I should think about their last record, and suddenly here we are another one. That's the most certain reason why I review it so late hehe.
But let's focus on music. Happily for me the album is not similar to the previous one. So we have here nine tracks lasting around five-six minutes. My first association was the second LP of Massemord - 'The Whore of Hate'. Songs are mostly ultra-furious, yet musicians always find time to go into more horrific areas. Sometimes the music can be reallu unhuman (or antihuman) - like in excellent 'We All Shall Die Miserable Death'. Extremely fast tempos are weaving with slower ones, Namtar is spitting out lyrics about fall of mankind and generally listener is put to the world of madness. Such disturbing, depressive atmosphere can inlfuence you very much.
Everything sounds as always very good - this crew is known for recording of at least good music. Yet I have a problem with this album. It lacks something, and I don't know what. This music sounds too similar to the other albums - many of similar guitar licks I heard in a bit other form on previous materials. There are of course some novelties - for example some riffs reminds me... Thrash metal. I would never suppose that this band is going to play something like that - yet it is true (listen to for example 'The Deity of Ferocity' or 'Trophy of Wasted Breath'). Luckily these are only some relishes, so Massemord still owns it's original style.
Don't get me wrong - the album is really good. Hate that is atacking listener through the music and lyrics makes me sure that 'A Life-Giving...' is recorded with authentic passion. If you, dear listener, don't know Massemord you will propably say that this album is fantastic. But if you already heard their other stuff, you will be not surprised. I am pleased though.

Rate: 8/10
Vladyka

P.S
As always there are some drum-beats in the vain of 'up-tss', 'up-tss' if you know what I mean (propably not hahaha). I am curious what Fenriz (who is critising it in every interview) would say about that ;)

Listen to band's music:

Tracklist:
1. A Devastation Giving Power of Life
2. The Deity of Ferocity
3. Towards Divine Anticlimax
4. Trophy of Wasted Breath
5. Piercing Ailing Heart of Humanity
6. We All Shall Die Miserable Death
7. A Horror To come
8. The Stoning Malignant
9. Water of Life
Total time: 48:58

'Vikings' series - short review

On 3rd of March 2013 canadian History channel premiered their new series - Vikings. The show was quite succesful, not only in States and Canada, but also in Europe (including Poland). I can't say - I've been also waiting for it, like many people interested in Viking Age. Well, I must say that in many ways I am disappointed, but there are aslo things that I admire very much. But let's start this revie from the very beginning.

First of all - the plot. For those who had never heard of Vikings, here you have an abbreviation from Wiki:

The series is inspired by the tales of the raiding, trading, and exploring Norsemen of early medieval Scandinavia. It follows the exploits of the legendary Viking chieftain Ragnar Lodbrok and his crew and family, as notably laid down in the 13th century sagas Ragnars saga Loðbrókar and Ragnarssona þáttr, as well as in Saxo Grammaticus's 12th century work Gesta Danorum. [...] The first season portrays Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) as a young Viking warrior who longs to discover civilizations across the seas. With his friend, the gifted craftsman Floki (Gustaf Skarsgård), he builds a new generation of faster longships and challenges the local ruler, Earl Haraldson (Gabriel Byrne), a man of little vision, to allow raids into unexplored North East England. He is supported by his brother Rollo (Clive Standen), who secretly covets Ragnar's wife, the shieldmaiden Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick). Ragnar succeeds in carrying out the first Viking raids into the English kingdom of Northumbria, returning with rich loot and the monk Athelstan (George Blagden) as a slave. This not only earns him the enmity of King Aelle (Ivan Kaye), but triggers a series of increasingly violent confrontations at home with the autocratic Earl, ending with Ragnar killing and succeeding him. Ragnar pledges fealty to King Horik (Donal Logue) and represents him in negotiations about a land dispute with Earl Borg from Götaland (Thorbjørn Harr), in the course of which he is seduced by the princess Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland).

Source: Wikipedia

 

The fact that screenwriter created his characters bases on many different sources is really great. Anybody who is at least a bit interested in the subject should be pleased with it. From the other side somebody who is a total layman will be also enjoy the characters - each of them have their very own personalities.
The firsts episodes (to the one when Earl's killed by Ragnar) are really great. Vikings sailing across the unknown sea, raiding english lands - all of those things makes good impression. History of Ragnar draws very quickly, and there are no signs of boredom. I am especially pleased with battle scenes - in my opinion they are done perfectly. Not only because of great acting - I mean also historical facts. There are no objections from my side here.
Right after a plot this is a great advantage of this series - it shows the real life of a norseman. Although There are some small mistakes (some og the haircuts are older than from VIII century, thing should be done in the sacred place, and not jarl's house, spitting into the bowl taken from XIII Warrior etc.), generally speaking the whole, let say, 'material' side of Vikings is damn good.
However, I have a big problem with what is presented here as 'viking' spirituality. The basic problem is that creators of this show were looking on pagan tradition through the eyes of modern (so for many - christian) man. Examples are sadly numerous, so let talk about some of them:

- Floki, after the baptism of Rollo, is upset by it and call him a traitor of the gods - Scandnavians were at that time politeists. That means that they were worshipping many gods. Maybe later, when christianity was seen as a danger for their freedom, they would react like Floki. Yet at the beginning they couldn't understand the fact that there can be only one god, who is expecting to worship him as the only one. In fact, there are written sources (carolingian) which says that viking warriors seen baptism as a kind of agreement between them and their christian overlord (when they were being hired by carolingian kings for service). They were figuratebily hailing the god of their suzerains - and that's it.

- the episode in Uppsala temple - everything here is just a fantasy of the screenwriter. From the appearance of the priests, through the whole event to the most important - meaning of the whole sacrifice. First of all - Uppsala was never any placy of pilgrimage. Secondly - their descriptions in christian chronicles seems to be very exagerrated comparing to archeological findings. I even won't recall the fact that there are no evidances of any sacrifices. The 'temple' could be just a bigger jarl's halla (although for sure there existed a certain cult of some kind, but smaller).
What also really makes me angry is when all the characters treats myths as some real dogmas. You won't believe it, but myth is something different than a dogma. Everybody could interpret it in his own way - or even not believe in it at all! So people who are sacrifising themself for good of all other people in Midgard (like one of main heroes in the movie) is just a bullcrap

- sex scenes - for example when Ragnar wants to have a threesome with a priest and Lagertha. Partly I have written an article about it (here). Having sex outside marriage was seen as one of the biggest crimes on society - so none of the self-respecting vikings would do that. This concerns also Rangar's adultery.

 

Last episodes are disappointing - not also because of mentioned mistakes, but also in my opinion the action severely slows down. It is not as dynamic as in the beginning, and in some ways it's a bit boring. I know that there are no chances in 'repairing' the spirituality of the characters. But I hope that the plot will focus on sailing, raiding, exloring and other activities that seems to be much more interesting than taking part in fictional rituals or boring scandinavian politics ;)

Eternal Helcaraxe - 'Against All Odds' (2012)

Eternal Helcaraxe

'Against All Odds'

Abyss Recs.

2012

Eternal Helcaraxe is an irish black metal horde with some pagan metal attitude. 'Against All Odds' is their debut full-lenght album (even if the guys are playing since 2003).
This introduction is not very original, but from the other side - the music that I have to describe is not very original too. But I appreciate bands like this much - if they know what they want to achieve. Eternal Helcaraxe uses old, tested patents. So we have here fast black metal riffs with some epic attitude, ultra-fast drum beats and furious, harsh vocals. Very often the music is also assisted by keyboard in the background, which creates more epic sound. But don't worry, this is not a poor version of Dimmu Borgir but a juicy metal sound in 100%.
So as you can see - we have here all of the good stuff from the 90's. And what can I say? At the beginning the album makes quite a good impression, and I was pleased with what I was listenning to. Epic music, glorious texts about proud of irish heritage and such things - it all makes a good impression. I've heard similar things quite many times, yet I still enjoy it.
From time to time the band slows down, and rarely it is weaving some non metal tunes into it's music (like acoustics). Unfortunetely regardless of that each track sounds very similar to the other ones, so at some point a listener is starting to loose contact with the music. For me it would be OK, but such kind of playing should be taken in smaller doses - half of hour is a perfect time for this. After that everything starts to sound the same. At the beginning of this review I had stated that I apreciate not very original bands if they know what they want. Eternal Helcaraxe is one of them - they understand how to create a hellish, yet a bit epic sound BUT my rating would be one point higher if their opus was a bit shorter.
I advice the band one of two ways - to complicate your music a little bit more, or simply record shorter material. Yet still the content of 'Against All Odds' is really not bad - fans of myths, metal and paganism can give it a try.

Rate: 6/10
Vladyka

A Youtube 'clip' for the track 'Invictus':

Tracklist:
1. Claim Your Place With Gods
2. One Stands Still Here
3. Invictus
4. We Assist Death
5. Shadow of the Wolf
6. As the Snow Gathers
7. Echeos Through Our Blood
8. Against All Odds (All the Battles to Come - part II)
Total time: 50:24

News from this week

News from this week. Remember to support the music you like!

Ukrainian band DRUDKH announced that on 17th January 2014 they will release a compilation called 'Eastern Frontier in Flames'. The album will contain two EPs: 'Anti-Urban' and 'Slavonic Chronicles' plus tracks from the split with Winterfylleth 'Thousands of Moons Ago / The Gates'. You can purchase this stuff via Season of Mist.

Check out band's music here.

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On the 13th of January russian funeral doom metal band EA is going to release it's new full-lenght album entitled 'A Etilla' (via Solitude Productions). First 100 copies will be released as limited digi pack.

Check out band's music here.

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FLUISTERAARS, a black metal horde from Netherlands, will release their debut album 'Dromers" on 28th of January via german label Eisenwald Tonschmiede. The album will contain 34 minutes of music, divided into three tracks.

Check band's music here.

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A danish black metal/hardcore band HEXIS is going to release their debut album called 'Abalam'. You will find there around 27 minutes of music (12 tracks). The album will be spread by Enjoyment Records.

Also: listen to the band's music here.

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Drone/doom metal band SUNN O))) will release two materials: the first 'LA Reh 012' will contain 38 minutes of music divided into two songs. It will be released on 13th of January in collaboration of Ideologic Organ and Southern Lord.
The second material, called 'Terrestrials', is a new full-lenght album. It will be released on 4th of February via Southern Lord (again) and will contain three tracks, recorded together with the guys from norwegian ULVER.

Listen to the band's music here.

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On the 1st of January there was released a vinyl version of THAW's debut album. You can purchase it on Godz ov War productions.

Listen to the band's music here.

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On the 10th of January it will be released a third full lenght album of german black/heathen metal horde WALDGEFLUSTER called 'Meine Fesseln'. It will contain 7 new tracks, and will be released via Black Blood Records.

You can listen to the band's music here. 

Summing up the 2013...

Here's my very subjective list containing my favourite albums of the last year. Those albums are really great in my opinion - I'm sure I will be enjoying them for many, many years!
By the way - I'm sure that there are propably still some great albums that I haven't listen to, but as for this moment my favs are:

Caladan Brood

'Echeos of Battle'

A very cool debut. Caladan Brood is hailing from States and playing epic/atmospheric black metal. Fans of old Summoning and epicness in music in general - this music is made particulary for You!

Read a review here (by the way - it is my first review ever done. Please be understanding).

You can also read an interview with a band here.

Carpe Noctem 

'In Terra Profugus'

Another great debut album. Carpe Noctem, an icelandic black metal band, had recorded an insane music. Pure insanity in a form of sonic landscape... Fans of extremity should appreciate much this release.

Read a review here and the interview with a band here.

 

Darkthrone

'The Underground Resistance'

Well, this band doesn't need any introduction, does it? In my opinion 'The Underground Resistance' is another good move in Darkthrone's 'career'. A very good example how the passion can e forged into a great songs.

There is no review yet - it's a bit embarrasing, but I started to listen to this album very late. Yet you can expect some of my thoughts about it soon!

Falkenbach

'Asa'

Many people were complaining that Vatyas has again recorded the same music. But since I am a great fan of Falkenbach, I must say that I feel perfectly OK with that. 'Asa' is a great album that I will be surely torturing for a very long time!

Read a review here.

Rotting Christ

'Κατά τον δαίμονα εαυτού'

Generally speaking there are two types of Rotting Christ fans - those who are spitting on the new albums and keep being kvlt and trve, and those who enjoy new stuff anyway. I defenitely belong to the latter category. In my opinion Greeks recorded great album, much better than a bit boring 'Aealo'.

Read my review here.

Summoning

'Old Mornings Dawn'

Yeah, I know that many fans are complaining about new Summoning releases. 'Too modern they are' - say ones. 'Too sweet it is' - say others. Personally I don't care. Beside a terrible intro I worship this album - and I return to it veeery often. One of the most important albums of 2013 for me.

Read my review here and the interview with whole band here.

The Flight of Sleipnir

'Saga'

Those Americans know how to create an awesome mix of doom/stoner/viking metal with some acoustic motifs. A very original piece of music, sadly I have a feeling that it's at the same time very underrated.

My review is here.

You can also read what the band have to say about their work - here. 

Daemonia Nymphe

'Psychostasia'

And now some of neofolk albums that I was enjoying in last year. 'Psychostasia' is a first of them. It's onirique, ethereal atmosphere and the lyrics based on old, greek hymns hailing ancient gods creates a fantastic music. Everyone who had never heard it - it's time to correct this mistake!

Read a review here.

Wardruna

'Runaljod - Yggdrassil'

And last but not least - Wardruna. Everybody who had heard this album knows how fantastic it is. A norse folklore, runes and shamanistic rituals - that are the key-words. 'Yggdrasil' is a great, spiritual journey through the meaning of norse runes deep into your soul (how poetic I am by the way).

Read my review here.