Pandemonium - Monuments Of Tragedy

PANDEMONIUM returned with a new full-length album after 10 years of downtime. New line-up consisting of remaining founder Thomas Ahlgren (Deranged, ex-End), his fellow from Deranged Johan Bergström (Resonance Cascade, Visceral Bleeding) on vocals, Johan Aldgård (Faithful Darkness, Nonexist) on bass and Jacob Blecher (Yggdrasil) on drums recorded and released "Monuments of Tragedy" through black Lodge Records on August 30th, 2019. The only thing there is left to say is: PANDEMONIUM are finally back. Sweden's coveted metal phenomena known for their dazzling compositions of enthralling harmonies in a perfect blend with light-speed rhythms are risen from the slumber and ready to conquer with an earth-shattering new album that will far surpass any expectations. The return sets to rectify their long absence for the past and future fans! Fans of Dimmu Borgir, Behemoth, Emperor, Cradle of Filth and Carach Angren should not miss this one.

Patricide - Capitis Capri Sancti

A piece of history re-recorded and re-imagined. PATRICIDE was founded in 1993 and literally existed only a moment since the band's activity falls in the years '93 -'94. They recorded a demo, which unfortunately was never released and then they disappeared. This year brings reactivation of the original line-up (Mantas and Baron (Elegis, ProFanatism) and release of archival material in the form of full-length album called "Capitis Capri Sancti" through Mara Productions on July 20, 2019. It consists of five original but newly recorded compositions, three new songs and a cover of Sacrilegium (Sacrilegium was Baron's band before PATRICIDE was created in 1992 with no official demo released; not a Sacrilegium from Wejherowo, Pomerania that exists till this day). PATRICIDE offers death metal that will take you back to 90's, backed will powerful and selective sound, vocals in Polish and topped off with unique melodies and full on attitude.

Infected Rain - Endorphin

INFECTED RAIN popped on my radar because of a poster with the dates for Swallow The Sun tour next year. Not knowing anything about the band I decided to give it a listen and got immediately pulled in into the whirlpool of their musical madness. Coming from Moldova, INFECTED RAIN brings a mix of styles in what can be called modern metal with warped time signatures, Lena's vocals screaming, growling, cooing, whispering haunting promises of a better future blended with violently psychotic sections and awry elements supported by dangerously groovy riffs, and mesmerizing passages in between. Their latest album called "Endorphin" came out on October 18th, 2019 through Napalm Records and it's ready to attack with claws showing and teeth bared. They'll be playing around here soon enough, and I do not plan on missing their performance.

Hello all.

First off, I would just like to apologize for my month-plus absence from MetalBite. As cheesy as it sounds, the death of Neil Peart hit me way harder than I thought possible. I've basically been in mourning and listening to all the Rush. (Studio albums, live albums, bootlegs, etc.) But, a few days ago, I sensed it was time to dive back into areas cold and misanthropic. So here we go.

My stepfather is Swedish, and highly Swedish at that. One thing that always fascinated me was whenever he would talk about the differences between Finland and all the other corners of Scandinavia. From cultural activities to the language itself, he always talked about how Finland sometimes seemed like its own civilization.

Although not quite as renowned or popular as the scenes in say, Norway or Sweden, Finland has birthed several classic black metal acts. And every band sounds unique. (You know how you can very easily pinpoint the "Swedish" sound? Or "TNBM?" Good luck trying that with Finland bands.)

Anyway, we are looking at early chapters from three different Finnish masters, the first of which is BEHERIT.

If you feel the need to subject yourself to a primitive, neanderthal-esque, blasphemous beating, look to BEHERIT; one of history's chief architects of primal black metal chaos. (Although I suppose I could very easily been talking about ARCHGOAT.) So it's back to 1990 for their legendary "The Oath of Black Blood". One thing that is especially cool to hear is that, even amidst the distorted, nonstop heretical hammering (which so frequently invites the ARCHGOAT comparisons)... you can hear the beginnings of the exploration of stranger soundscapes (electronic or otherwise) that would characterize the band as the decade progressed.

Speaking of ARCHGOAT...

Another Finnish founding father of unholy filth (you're welcome) would undoubtedly have to be ARCHGOAT. Formed in 1989, they were barely a whisper above the underground before they went on hiatus in 1993. Ever since reforming in 2004, they have been slowly building a fervent following, thanks in no small part to the tireless efforts of labels like Debemur Morti and Hells Headbangers.

I invite you to enjoy their debut EP, "Angelcunt (Tales of Desecration)". Released in 1993 (not long before the band disappeared), the black metal contained in these 14 minutes is not QUITE as primitive as one would expect. Does it just clobber you continuously for those 14 minutes? DUH. But there is some nice soloing in there, and an almost doom-metal feel at times. Honestly, it reminds me very much of Golgotha-era Incantation.

We will close out this installment with a band that was the first (and for many, still the best) Finland act that made themselves well-known on a worldwide scale...

France's Osmose Productions label, although continuing to spew forth black/death records from the underground, pretty much had a monopoly on BM bands in the early 1990s; bands that would go on to become classic artists from the genre's golden age. Immortal, Enslaved, Marduk and Absu are among the many bands that Osmose unleashed onto the world. (Other bands that have released albums on the label include Blasphemy, Thornspawn and Urgehal.)

So yes, we are going back to yet ANOTHER classic debut from the early 90s. This time it's IMPALED NAZARENE, with the mysteriously-titled "Tol Cormpt Zorz Norz Norz" (1992). (One metal site has it translated as "You Shall All Be Numbered Six Six Six," which is entirely possible.) And although they have enough "traditional" black metal elements to be labeled as such, they definitely made the sound their own. Their debut is this wonderfully chaotic clusterfuck of black metal, punk, and even some traditional hard rock passages. The band's confrontational, anti-everything, warped-sense-of-humor lyrical sensibilities were present from the get-go (song titles here include 'Impure Orgies,' 'Goat Perversion' and 'The Art of God (Symmetry of Penis).')

Thanks for reading. Hopefully the next break won't be nearly as long.

Jeff

Previous BMR can be found here.