Cursed Ruin - Goat Urine

You know, the black metal scene in the last couple of years has really disappointed me. Very few bands are actually putting out records that sound like black metal. I don't need blast beats and so much distortion it makes the record horrible. Plus, I'm a very firm believe that black metal sounds a shit load better with low-fi production that can set a scene of Satan filled destruction and horror. Cursed Ruin seems to have figured that out in their 2010 demo, "Goat Urine", great title by the way. Haling from Jacksonville, FL, where the black metal scene seems to be raving and growing more and more over the years, they fit right at home with this release.

Dwelling deep inside the dark hallways of a haunted mansion, you can feel the wind brush upon your neck as it whips in from the cracked window in the kitchen. As the pictures on the wall start to shake, you get this overwhelming sense that something is about to happen and you don't like what it could be. The smells of burning flesh as screams from Hell below fill the air you breath, you hear loud drums from the servants that are coming to take you prisoner. The way this demo has really low-fi production, it's able to set atmospheres and turns your surroundings into dark, twisted images very quickly. You can picture the demons flying high in the midnight sky as lightning strikes down and it pours with no sign of letting up. "Goat Urine" is a four track demo snapping over the length of eighteen minutes, the perfect length for your mind to start playing tricks on your until you bash your own skull in with anything that's in reach. Cursed Ruin seems to have went way back with the influences on this release, looking more in the direction of "Transilvanian Hunger"/"Under A Funeral Moon" era of Darkthrone and even elements that "Grom" by the almighty Behemoth gave us. "Necro-Pedophile Priest", the forth track on the demo, might be my favorite on the record. It has this drum beat that never quits, the vocal work reminds me of some voodoo chant that you would find deep in the south of Louisiana and the distortion is just perfection to what Cursed Ruin are bringing to the table.

I won't sit here and tell you that this is the best black metal record to ever exist or it blows everything out of the water, blah blah blah. I will tell you though that it's a decent record filled with haunting tempos, great and I mean great vocal work to creep the hell out of you and it's filled with four solid tracks that are nothing but pure black metal. "Goat Urine" is what black metal's suppose to sound like, that's just a fact.

1) Cross Nailer

2) Cacophony Of Pure Black Emotion

3) Forest of Thornes

4) Necro-Pedophile Priest

Download the record here

Wu Lyf - Go Tell Fire To The Mountain

In a world where everyone thinks they can sing, everyone thinks they can be huge rock stars, Wu Lyf, also known as World Unite! Lucifer Youth Foundation, will make you think we're all rock stars already. A four piece that is crushing everything in England, Wu Lyf seem to be on top of the world with their debut full-length "Go Tell Fire To The Mountains", as they should be. Wu Lyf has the same aura about them as some black metal bands, only because they have tried to hide who they really are, rejecting almost every interview and doing nearly zero press. In a world where we love and are obsessed with the unknown, Wu Lyf are playing the card rather well I would say. Playing a style that they like to call "Heavy Pop", it's pretty much pop but with more structure and huge sections that will make you feel magical.

For the longest time I've dreamed about what it would be like if certain bands never split-up, if certain members of great bands never died and if pop music would ever have the heart it did back when it was first created. Tribal drum lines, glorious piano playing and the voice of the unknown king of pop Ellery Roberts, are all you need for a record to be solid. Imagine a church filled from front to back with souls that were all lining up to go to hell, nothing can save them except three things: God, of course, each would have to pray for hours on end while they are lashed in the back, or you could simply listen to "Go Tell Fire To The Mountains". The pure strength and overwhelming eruption that this record has is off the charts. Spanning through ten tracks in a little over forty-nine minutes, you get the sense that Wu Lyf are on a road that not many bands will ever get to experience. Tracks like "Cave Song", "We Bros" and "Spitting Blood", they have the uptempo beats with killer bass lines, throw in some great piano sections and the pitches that Ellery Roberts can hit, pure insanity. Pictures of third world countries flash across my mind, sadness hits me heavy but a split second later, I get overwhelmed with joy. "Go Tell Fire To The Mountains" is a journey all in itself, no bars to hold you back, no tracks that will let you down and you can remember every word to each song. In a way this record is filled with number one hits that most need and better hear. "Dirt", the seventh track, has those tribal drum beats mixed with that church organ feel to provide nothing but images of an empty field where people are praising the God they believe in. This might be jumping the barrier way too quick but I have a feeling Wu Lyf are going to be huge. I'm not talking modern day huge, I'm talking huge in the sense of a cult following like we haven't seen since The Clash or the Smashing Pumpkins. Even though they don't play the same genre of music, Wu Lyf has the power to take over this world if they wanted to. What I'm trying to say is that it's sort of like Joe Strummer's soul came back and created Wu Lyf, it's just that simple.

"Go Tell Fire To The Mountains" is a record that has quickly made it into my top favorite releases so far of 2011. This record and the "Mount Moriah" record are both very, very high on the list so do yourself a favor and check out this record. Incredible from the beginning and it will not let you down. If it does, let me know and we'll get together so I can slap some sense into you.

1) L Y F

2) Cave Song

3) Such A Sad Puppy Song

4) Summas Bliss

5) We Bros

 6) Spitting Blood

 7) Dirt

8) Concrete Gold

9) 14 Crowns For Me & Your Friends

10) Heavy Pop

Download the record here

Sepultura - Kairos

Well, it's been nearly 15 years since I last enjoyed anything Sepultura, good thing that "Kairos" proves to me that these guys still have the madness they had back when "Roots" and "Beneath The Remains" were released. 2011 has been a iffy year for metal, if you ask me. Some bands are releasing better records than they ever have but others, well, we all know how that goes, don't we? Sepultura has been long overdue for a great record that will blow you away like the classics did back in the 1980's and early '90s. "Kairos" brings back that fire that was lit under your ass a decade and a half ago, its makes you feel like Thrash/Death is finally being seen in the light it should of been for years now. Not to mention, they pay tribute to Ministry and Prodigy on this record, if that doesn't make you wanna pick this record up, I'm not sure what will. Sepultura - The one band that can make me want to kill innocent people but also weep like a newborn if they release shitty records.

"Kaios" provides you with fifteen tracks spanning over fifty-three minutes and forty-four seconds. The deluxe edition has two extra tracks and guess what! You guys are in luck because the record below has those extra two tracks. In normal Sepultura style, they start a record out making you question if this piece of shit will be any good. "Spectrum", the first track, has a build that will prepare you for the greatest ride of 2011. The whole record is filled with those thrash vocals that grab you by your balls until you scream like a tiny girl that just got her cookies stolen from her by the older brother. Thrash vocals mixed with those classic death metal riffs and drum patterns that we loved from older Sepultura are all making a huge comeback on this record. Also, Derrick Green, at times, sounds just like Chuck Billy from Testament, which is a great thing if you ask me. One word: SOLOS! This record is filled with them and it's a good thing because if I hear one more horrible solo on a Sepultura record, I'm will set my whole city on fire while I piss on old ladies. What I enjoy the most about this record is that it's unforgiving on all levels. I'm not the type to headbang or whatnot but the way "Kaitos" feeds me full of nothing but non-stop riffs and thrash beats, the more I enjoy being alive and the more I enjoy being a person who loves metal. The track "Dialog" seems to bring that spoken word element to the table which is something I've enjoyed in other records but it's nice to see Sepultura doing some new-ish things on a record. About half way through this record you'll start to feel the burning sensation that comes from the tracks. "Born Strong" is the one track on the record that gives you a ton of melody but still pushes those barriers of thrash and death in a heavy way. Honestly, you could actually split this records up if you wanted to.The first half of the record is more straight death tracks and the second half is mainly straight thrash tracls, except a few. "Structure Violence (Azzes)", the fourteenth track on the record has a more "Roots" feel to it but with samples playing in the background while Derrick lets out some screams. Probably my least favorite track on the record but only because it has that industrial feel and we all know how shitty industrial is when thrash or death bands try to do it.

Overall, the record is great, really enjoyable with tons of thrash/death stuff that the old school Sepultura fans will dig but also might help new fans into the older records. If you dig anything Sepultura, check out the record but I can't stress it enough, if you dig the older classics from the band, do yourself a favor and check this monster out.

1) Spectrum

2) Kairos

3) Relentless

4)2011

5) Just One Fix (Ministry Cover)

6) Dialog

7) Mask

8) 1433

9) Seethe

10) Born Strong

11) Embrace The Storm

12) 5772

13) No One Will Stand

14) Structure Violence (Azzes)

15) 4648

16) Firestarter (Prodigy Cover

17) Point Of No Return (Bonus Track)

Download the record here

Mount Moriah - Mount Moriah

Today, on the 24th of June in the year 2011, something graced my ears that made my heart melt in ways that I never thought were possible. Giving me chills that soared up my spine, making me smile in a way that I haven't done in years and just bringing the warmth of the sun right into my heart. Mount Moriah's self-titled debut record, "Mount Moriah". Heather McEntire, also of Bellafea, is back with a new project that includes guitarist Jenks Miller of Horseback, bringing you that down south North Carolina folk, alternative country and gospel sounds. 

The voice of Heather McEntire is the reason this record takes off so fast and just grabs a hold of your spirit in so many different way. It reminds you of those country records your mother or grandmother would play while you ran around the house in your underwear. I might be hitting some pretty heavy spots here but I would go as far to compare this angel of a woman to country voices such as Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette. It's not the fact that Heather hits incredible notes with her voice, it's the fact that this woman has the type of voice that could move mountains if she wanted to. I could sing praises about her voice all day long but we'll move on for now. You'll get eight tracks spanning over thirty four minutes, the shortest track being two minutes and thirty-three seconds but the longest being a graceful six minutes and ten seconds. The tempo of the record is solid from beginning to end, no fillers here track wise, just good ol' soul music. "Mound Moriah" is the type of record that any country family or person would put on while sitting around a campfire, sitting on your front porch or even just laying down for a rest. While you listen to this record you just get this overwhelming sense that no matter what could happen, nothing will take what you hold dear to your heart. From the drumming on "Lament" to the amazing bass line on "Social Wedding Rings", "Mount Moriah" is filled with zero boring moments, in my opinion. Lyric wise, you get the since that Heather is singing about some past experiences that she has overcame in her life. The crazy part and as corny as it sounds, the lyrics will literally speak right to you, as if they were written just for your ears. The atmosphere that "Mount Moriah" sets is something of a western feel, you can picture the cowboys riding by as Heather and Jenks sit on the side of a saloon, just signing for the people that pass by them.

Record of the year material? Yes, very much so, in my opinion. As of right now, "Mount Moriah" is my favorite record of 2011 and it's going to be insanely hard to beat because I'm literally addicted to this record like I've never been addicted to something before. Mount Moriah are just making tracks that they love, filled with tons of heart, emotion and good aura. No complaints from me about this record. One word: Perfection!

1) Only Way Out

2) Social Wedding Rings

3) Plane

4) Lament

5) Old Gowns

6) The Reckoning

7) We Don't Need Much

8) Hail, Lightning

Download the record here

Ocoai - The Electric Hand

Being stuck in a forest for weeks upon weeks with no worldly food, no tap water from a dirty river and no real shelter. Eating plants and insects, drinking the creek water so I don’t get dehydrated and sleeping underneath fallen trees so that the rain doesn’t soak me. Ocoai’s sophomore release “The Electric Hand” sets these kind of images into your mind with no problem at all. After they released their debut record “Breatherman” back in 2008, I was nothing but ecstatic to hear a brand new thriller from these guys. Progressive/Sludge/Post-Metal/Rock with a tear drop of orgasmic color, that is what Ocoai plays and it’s all instrumental. In my eyes, nothing is better than an instrumental record, nothing! Hailing from Tennessee, let’s see what these guys have to offer. Let’s see if they can take you to unknown lands that bring nothing but beautiuful waterfalls and bright green grass.

Flowing as beautiful as the ocean on a cool summer day, “The Electric Hand” presents itself in a way that most records can’t. Feeding you limbs of Progressive with the melodic sections but also giving you that sludge with those deep, dirty, filthy bass lines like on the tracks “Grimpeur” and “Marchand de Sommeil”. Taking influences from Isis, Neurosis and Pelican, Ocoai seem to have found the parts to replace what they did wrong on their first record. Providing a very large canvas for you to paint almost anything on, even something so large it can scream volumes, Ocoai has finally seem to find out the way it’s done and what they love doing. As the trees blow in the wind, you can lay on a beach while staring up at the sun wondering if tomorrow will ever have the same feeling as today did. “The Electric Hand”, to me, seems to lay out short stories for each track. “Niveus Hills” paints a picture of desperation, heartache and an uncontrollable living situations where nothing ever goes the way the people want it to. Being trapped in a room with flashing lights surrounding the outside while you hear screams and yells simply begging to be let in before they get destroyed by whatever creature is out there. The more and more I think about it, I seem to be making the connection to the video game “Alan Wake”. I have no idea why but the atmospheres this record creates and literally bring to life are very similar to the ones in the video game. Dark yet wonderful places with signs of hope and encouragement. “La Main d’Electrique”, the most uptempo and monstrous track on the record when it comes to Sludge influence. As the story seems to deepen, become more bothersome in a way, “La Main d’Electrique” gives you that sense of just raw teeth on a barbwire electric fence. The closest thing I can compare “The Electric Hand” to would have to be just a mixture of some old school biker that has the longest beard you’ve ever seen, being married to a Queen of some country. They may not look like the best couple but the relationship has blossomed since day one and they get along very, very well. Ocoai does the whole Sludge/Post-Rock thing very well and if this record wasn’t the way it is, I can’t see myself even enjoying what it would of been.

If it’s possible to have emptiness yet still have hope inside your broken heart, “The Electic Hand” is probably the record for you. Mountains with snow filled tops, rivers with eagles flying over the top so they can prey on their lunch, it’s just imagery that Ocoai bring to the table and that’s exactly why I love this record, let along the band.

1) Waking Fear

2) Niveus Hills

3) Grimpeur

4) Somnium

5) La Main d'Electricque

6) Marchand de Sommeil

7) Morte Audaciter

Download the record here

Belie My Burial - Belie My Burial

*Record suggested by Joey Kidd

For the longest time, actually for the two year or so, I've avoided everything Belie My Burial. I seen the video for "Finish Him" when it was released nearly two years ago and I was just blown away on how horrible this this band was. Any track that starts with a cheesy breakdown and has that said breakdown last a whooping minute an a half, that track deserves zero respect from anyone who says they love music. I'll be honest, I would of never listened to this EP on my own but it was recommended by a friends so decided to say "fuck it" and see what all the little 14 year old girls are orgasmic vibes over.

The self-titled debut EP from Belie My Burial is far from amazing, phenomenal or even great. On the other hand though, it's listenable and not as shitty as I first thought it would be. Five tracks that span over the course of eighteen minutes, it's pretty much three real songs with an intro and outro. I'll say this, as many breakdowns as this EP has, it's not like these guys don't have the talent to make a more structured record. "Tomb of Reason", the second track on the EP, proves that with it's decent vocal work and some form of sweeps by the guitarists. This track actually surprised me the most because it's just speed, speed and more speed. Layered vocal effects play a huge part in this record, so much that it sort of makes me wonder what the vocalist would actually sound like without all of it. Belie My Burial seem to be your normal, run of the mill deathcore project that knows what they wanna do but still haven't found their placement in the scene. As much as I want to hate on this record, I really can't. I only have a few complaints about it but it's not something I'll be spinning on a regular basis. Hell, I'll be lucky if it gets played off my external HDD anytime soon. "Misery Architecture", the fourth track on the record, shows you exactly what this band can bring to the table. It has a solo, it's just over five minutes in length and only two breakdown in the whole song. I know, it's like christmas when a deathcore band uses only two breakdowns, right? Another things that bothers me about, not just this band but other deathcore bands, is that the bass pedals are triggered. Clearly, you can hear that they drummer isn't that fast nor will he ever be because he lets the triggers do all the real work. I won't take anything away from the guy, he has talent, just not on those pedals that seem to give this record it's speed.

Overall, it's not a bad EP but it's also not the first thing I would recommend to someone who wants to start digging some deathcore. Belie My Burial just needs to have those creative juices flowing and I have a feeling the debut full-length might have some promise but I won't get my hopes up. Check out the record and tell me what you think. Do you love it? Do you hate it? Do you wanna kill me for reviewing it? Do you wanna hump my leg in joy because I did review it? Hit me up over on Facebook.

1) The Greyman

2) Tomb of Reason

3) Paper Idol

4) Misery Architecture

5) Adendum 

Download the record here

Worship - Dooom

Rejection, depression, suicidal thoughts, in-depth ways to just block out everything this world has to offer, these are the feelings I receive while listening to “Dooom” by the almighty Worship. Death seems to follow this band in more ways than one, back in 2001 their old vocalist “Fucked-up Mad Max”, also apart of Kult and Beer Vomit, killed himself by jumping off a bridge while on a trip in Canada. Worship disbanded after the tragedy but quickly come back the following year and released four splits in the span of five years. Fast-foward to 2007, “Dooom” was giving to us on a golden plate covered in anguish, sadness and overwhelming thoughts of suicide.

The way this record presents itself is similar to a very slowly rotting disease that eats away at you until you just want to hang yourself inside a very small closet. Eight tracks spanning over an hour and twelve minutes, you never feel free while listening to this record, “Dooom” makes you feel trapped inside a glass cube while being raped with regret and suffering. Prepare to battle with personal demons, inner struggles and the decision on whether you even want to live anymore. The atmosphere this record brings are some that I’ve never felt before, it reminds me of the souls I’ve lost in the past, makes me questions the choices I made up to this point in my life and even makes me question if I’m worth a shit. On the opposite side, in a very dark, twisted way this record can be beautiful, tranquil and full of hope that only the stronger souls can get in touch with.

“Through blood and thorns I wandered, freezing, aching, bound for a ruined cathedral below. All is dead, look! Only rust, and debris, and shells of stone remain, drowning in ashes, as if we had never been. Everyone I had ever known. Everyone I’d ever meet. Everyone I ever loved. Gone with the centuries, lost under a sea of ashes.”

Lyrics such as these are exactly what you will get in this grief stricken, gloom filled record. In a world were nothing matters except bringing everything around you down and escaping the heartache of the lies from the human race, Worship does that very well. Another huge plus about this record is the way it creeps and ponders around the slowness of it. The way the record just barely moves along with it’s unforgiving riffs of sorrow, vocals of despair and very, very slow drum beats, if suicide ever had an official soundtrack, “Dooom” would be it. If you think tracks likes “Dopesmoker” from Sleep, anything by Sunn O))), Earth or Bongripper are slow, think again because this record sure does pack a punch. Many like to think of Worship as Funeral Doom but they have that influence of Drone also, so maybe Funeral Drone? Either way, as much as I hate the inner struggles and battles this record gives me, I can’t seem to tear myself away from it.

Any record that makes me wanna hang myself from a tree or run into on coming traffic, that record is worthy of being played multiple times a week in my book. Worship have been releasing glorious records over the years and hopefully the next split/ep/full-length will be just as mighty as this sword is.

1) Endzeit Elegy
2) All I Ever Knew Lie Dead
3) The Altar and the Choir of the Moonkult
4) Graveyard Horizon
5) Zorn a Rust-Red Scythe
6) Devived
7) Mirror of Sorrow (Solitude Aeturnus cover)
8 ) I Am the End – Crucifixion Part II

Download the record here