Review by Vladimir on January 1, 2023.

I’ll admit that I am not a huge fan of stoner/doom metal nor sludge/stoner/doom metal, although for some years I’ve been a big fan of Conan from the UK, famous for playing such style of music, inspired by themes of sci-fi, fantasy, and “sword and sorcery” as well. Going back to my first time hearing this band back in 2018 when Existential Void Guardian was released, I was actually amazed by their style and sound which they dubbed “Caveman battle doom”, and upon hearing their earlier albums I got instantly hooked, especially with Blood Eagle. Conan has become my go-to band whenever I needed some escape from reality while imagining a very violent fantasy world of sword and sorcery that was crafted by talented visionaries such as Ken Kelly, Boris Vallejo, Frank Frazetta etc., so it was a big surprise for me when I saw that they released their fifth full-length album Evidence Of Immortality on August 19th 2022. Caveman battle doom legends came back to once again penetrate armors with spears and swords, chop heads with battle axes, crush skulls with war hammers and grind shields with blood and iron. Does Evidence Of Immortality bring back the action we craved for?

Slow, downtuned, heavy distorted riffs with a very dirty/fuzzy guitar tone, shouting vocals by Jon Davis and guttural vocals by Chris Fielding make an epic return to the battlefield for this new album. All tracks possessing such familiar traits that have always been a part of their signature style, with rocking drums that switch to blast beats on 'Levitation Hoax' and d-beat on 'Ritual Of Anonymity'. Tracks 'Ritual Of Anonymity' and 'Righteous Alliance' have quite a bit of catchiness to their riffs which will make you bang your head in sync, even though 'Righteous Alliance' is the shortest track on the album it still does its best to get your attention. The final track 'Grief Sequence' is the longest and definitely a more atmospheric sounding song and is also the only instrumental track on the album, with added synthesizers by David Perry who was also present on the Conan vs. Slomatics split album. The song is quite repetitive on the first half but it decides to switch things on the other half with an added guitar melody and some actual progression, with a very crystal echoing synth noise that wraps up the entire album. The sound production, as always, keeps things the way they’re supposed to be for Conan, dirty and fuzzy guitar tone, distorted bass and both vocals were once again wonderfully produced, mixed and mastered by Chris Fielding. Another great trait of this album besides its tracks is the bloody artwork by Tony Roberts, which fits quite well with Conan’s music and the rest of their discography.

Evidence Of Immortality may not be their best album nor does it want to take that rightful crown which belongs to their earlier works such as Monnos and Blood Eagle, but it is still an awesome album for Conan fans that doesn’t break its promise in delivering caveman battle doom riffs and bloody action. This band will obviously never let go of what they do best and their fans are certainly not asking for it, it is obvious that there is a strong connection between the band and its fans that will be an everlasting union of love and passion for many years to come.

Rating: 8.1 out of 10

Review by Vladimir on January 12, 2023.

Serbian black metal underground has somewhat been very troubled for many years, due to many older bands not releasing any new material and disappearing with or without a word of goodbye. The other issue is that many of these bands have lived in the shadows of well known and successful names like May Result and The Stone for example, thus have not been as successful in gaining enough attention or support from local or worldwide fans. On the other hand, we have Angelgoat, who is still going strong after 20 years since its formation. Although the band was on hold between 2008 and 2015, Unholy Carnager is here to keep the primitive oldschool energy of goat worship and blasphemy, without ever attempting to sound as polished as possible to reach a wider audience. The topic of today's discussion will be Angelgoat's second full-length album "Primitive Goat Worship", released via Grom Records.

The album title sends a strong message that perfectly describes its sound and atmosphere, it is as primitive and blasphemous as it gets. When it comes to the sound production and musical direction, it's pure 90's black metal with the likes of classic Scandinavian bands, plenty of catchy tremolo and mid tempo riffs to be found on tracks like "Pentagram Ritual Massacre", "Sabbath 666", "Primitive Goat Worship" and "Unholy Horn Impalement", with standard lyrical themes of Satanism, Occultism, Desecration and Anti-Christianity. There are probably only a few songs with moments that leave a lot to be desired, due to riffs and drums occasionally sounding a bit out of rhythm. Another small issue I have is the vocal production, the overall screaming vocal style is okay but they sound too distant and pushed way back from the music, which is somewhat of an unfair treatment where vocals usually play an integral part in the black metal genre. These are very minor nitpicks that don't ruin the album as a whole and no one should hesitate to give it a listen despite the flaws mentioned.

Primitive Goat Worship does not fail to deliver what it promised, it is a release made by a very enthusiastic enjoyer of oldschool black metal, who after all these years managed to stay pure and primitive at the same time. Unholy Carnager brought Angelgoat back on its feet, or "hooves" in this case, with new fans like myself discovering this band and supporting the unholy legions of Serbian black metal. Večna slava Satani!

Rating: 8.1 out of 10

Review by Vladimir on January 12, 2023.

Serbian black metal underground has somewhat been very troubled for many years, due to many older bands not releasing any new material and disappearing with or without a word of goodbye. The other issue is that many of these bands have lived in the shadows of well known and successful names like May Result and The Stone for example, thus have not been as successful in gaining enough attention or support from local or worldwide fans. On the other hand, we have Angelgoat, who is still going strong after 20 years since its formation. Although the band was on hold between 2008 and 2015, Unholy Carnager is here to keep the primitive oldschool energy of goat worship and blasphemy, without ever attempting to sound as polished as possible to reach a wider audience. The topic of today's discussion will be Angelgoat's second full-length album "Primitive Goat Worship", released via Grom Records.

The album title sends a strong message that perfectly describes its sound and atmosphere, it is as primitive and blasphemous as it gets. When it comes to the sound production and musical direction, it's pure 90's black metal with the likes of classic Scandinavian bands, plenty of catchy tremolo and mid tempo riffs to be found on tracks like "Pentagram Ritual Massacre", "Sabbath 666", "Primitive Goat Worship" and "Unholy Horn Impalement", with standard lyrical themes of Satanism, Occultism, Desecration and Anti-Christianity. There are probably only a few songs with moments that leave a lot to be desired, due to riffs and drums occasionally sounding a bit out of rhythm. Another small issue I have is the vocal production, the overall screaming vocal style is okay but they sound too distant and pushed way back from the music, which is somewhat of an unfair treatment where vocals usually play an integral part in the black metal genre. These are very minor nitpicks that don't ruin the album as a whole and no one should hesitate to give it a listen despite the flaws mentioned.

Primitive Goat Worship does not fail to deliver what it promised, it is a release made by a very enthusiastic enjoyer of oldschool black metal, who after all these years managed to stay pure and primitive at the same time. Unholy Carnager brought Angelgoat back on its feet, or "hooves" in this case, with new fans like myself discovering this band and supporting the unholy legions of Serbian black metal. Večna slava Satani!

Rating: 8.1 out of 10

Review by Dominik on December 28, 2024.

Sometimes I wonder why there are still people roaming the streets of Stockholm or Malmö, because it seems that there's a covert government initiative encouraging citizens to abandon urban life for the mossy embrace of the forest. Haven't they all packed up, moved into the woods, and taken up residence in derelict cottages, where wolves roam freely under the moonlight? It seems like the ideal setting for founding yet another black metal band. After all, how else can we explain the endless stream of acts erupting like fungal blooms from the undergrowth?

From one of these solitary retreats comes Aspernamentum (monster), a one-man band that's risen from the frostbitten ashes—or more likely, the ashes of someone else's funeral pyre—to deliver Primal Judgement Manifesto. From the very first note, it's clear that the man behind the music is neck-deep in the dark arts, channeling the spirits of Sweden's legendary black metal forebears, proving once again that this country has perfected the genre like IKEA perfected allen wrenches.

This four-track EP is a more-than-solid debut and a competent assault on your auditory nerves, though 'Vessel of Enlightenment (Black Flame Manifestation)' does fall a bit short of the quality set by its neighbors. I wish I could tell you that Aspernamentum breaks new ground here, but I can't—and that may well be the secret of Primal Judgement Manifesto. It doesn't innovate, and it doesn't care. By staying comfortably within the well-worn boundaries of the genre, it avoids falling into any pretentious traps and delivers exactly what you'd expect.

Let's break it down for clarity. Production-wise, the album embraces that harsh, frostbitten aesthetic we all pretend to love but secretly appreciate because it hides mistakes. It is raw enough to honor black metal's early roots, with tremolo riffs, blast beats, and vocals that sound like they were recorded from the depths of a charred well. But there is one standout feature: the bass. This often-overlooked, underappreciated background actor instrument takes a surprisingly prominent role, holding its own against the other instruments without being drowned out. Its commanding presence is apparent from the first track, delivering a low-end backbone that's both refreshing and slightly alarming—did someone finally read the bass player's union demands? At about 3:25, when the guitars momentarily retreat, the bass steps forward with a vengeance, proving it can be a driving force when given the spotlight. This is perhaps the advantage of a one-man project—no band politics, no egos clashing over who gets most attention.

Aspernamentum's sole member brings previous experience from other bands, and it shows in the EP's professional approach. The band is neither overindulging in endless, drawn-out efforts to create a bleak picture of a black nothingness, nor is it constantly bathing in bloodthirsty aggression. There's a clear understanding of when to unleash pure ferocity and when to pull back for atmospheric effect. The opener sets the tone for the EP's overall quality, but the real highlights are 'To Pledge Allegiance to the Void Beyond' and the closer, 'Of Condemnation, Death and the Holy Ghost'. The former kicks off with a melodic riff that feels quintessentially Swedish, supported by fast drumming and that ever-reliable bass. After a short, well-timed break, the main riff returns with renewed urgency, reaching its peak around the three-minute mark. The closer follows a similar structure, though its slower sections—punctuated by heavy double bass—add a level of intensity that sets it apart. The track fades out with some purposeless noise, which is a little anticlimactic but hardly a dealbreaker.

Primal Judgement Manifesto doesn't change the world—or even the genre—but it doesn't need to. It's a snarling, frost-covered tribute to black metal's unholy legacy, executed with the precision of someone who's spent many long nights staring into the void of a dark and desolate forest. If this is what happens when Swedes embrace hermit life, perhaps the entire population should be issued free cabins.

Rating: 79 out of 100, because this EP proves that sometimes the best way forward is to look backward–with grim determination.