Sifting Through Bandcamp – February 2015
Monday, 23rd February 2015
With this column going strong for a year now, it’s been fun to seek out new and interesting bands with some free time on Bandcamp. It’s one thing to have music hand-delivered to you, but going out and finding it on your own has its own thrills and excitement. That’s what keeps it such an interesting column to write. This month we feature Aetherian, Infinite Earths, Inhumatus, Northland, Skinslip, Tanagra, Tyranize, and the Elemental Nightmares compilation series.
Aetherian – Tales of Our Times
Release Date – January 2015
Location – Greece
Style – Melodic death metal with hints of doom
Sorrow-filled melodic death metal is something that one can never have too much of. Aetherian specialize in atmospheric melodies throughout Tales of Our Times, the type that will no doubt cause some frothing at the mouth for Omnium Gatherum and Insomnium fans. There’s also a doomy aspect of it that will give it some appeal to fans of Daylight Dies and Woccon. But enough comparisons, Aetherian has sprinkled gorgeous, somber melodies that will entice you from start to finish. But they can kick things up a notch too, as seen with the thrashier approach to parts of “For Those About to Fall.” A certain hit for any fan of the bands mentioned.
Infinite Earths – Spiral from Spacetime
Release Date – February 2014
Location – Florida, USA
Style – Progressive black/death metal
A bit behind the times with this one as it came out a year ago, but thought it worth mentioning as it’s quite an enjoyable romp. Taking an interesting progressive template of using black and death metal alongside some space-y/trippy moments, Infinite Earths have stumbled onto an approach that feels decidedly unique. There’s spiraling death/black riffs to be heard (see “When the World was Infringed Upon”), but they combine with more atmospheric segments that have an almost psychedelic vibe (see “Compliance & Complacency”). The band isn’t afraid of applying some solid clean vocals in on occasion to spice things up either. This should be a band more people have taken notice of over the last year!
Inhumatus – Terran Genocide
Release Date – January 2015
Location – New York, USA
Style – A smorgasbord of death metal
Utica-based death metallers Inhumatus provide a thoroughly intriguing debut with Terran Genocide. Taking bits and pieces of varied forms of extreme metal and effectively blending them together into a coherent picture is often not an easy task. Yet across the three songs here (which all go above the 7 minute mark) provide elements of progressive and melodic tendencies (complete with some acoustics) alongside a brutal death metal template with even some black and thrash on the side. There’s some downright visceral riffs at times, catchy grooves, and yet some more introspective moments such as the opening to “Existence Denied” integrate themselves without diluting the menace that surrounds it. These guys are onto something here.
Northland – Downfall and Rebirth
Release Date – January 2015
Location – Spain
Style – Folk/death metal
Falling in line with the likes of Eluveitie, Ensiferum, and the rest of the gang, Northland provides some high caliber folk metal on their second album, Downfall and Rebirth. Utilizing instruments such as the flute, bodhran, and jaw harp in addition to the usual metal flavorings, Northland has an invigorating and authentic feel (which has been abandoned by a number of bands as the genre has expanded). There is a good blend of clean and growled vocals, and the band avoids the hokier aspects that folk metal can delve into. Some highlights include the epic chorus of “Whispers in the Wind” and the acoustic opening to “Together We Die.”
Skinslip – Detachment
Release Date – December 2014
Location – California, USA
Style – Sludgy, doomy hardcore
Talk about calling it like it is. Skinslip’s Detachment opens with a track called “Trudge.” With a thoroughly thick and doom-like procession, you will be trudging through that track. The remaining three tracks following suit, providing a completely grimy and dirty approach that is practically guaranteed to peel some paint off the walls. One highlight, “Golgotha” opens with a militaristic march that slowly grows over the course of the song before closing out with an ominous dirge with a guitar tone that is absolutely killer. If you are looking for some slow, crawl under your skin type of stuff, check these guys out!
Tanagra – None of This is Real
Release Date – February 2015
Location – Oregon, USA
Style – US power metal
With power metal seeming to have a bit of a resurgence here in the States, it is getting easier to come across some old school goodness for those willing to take a look. Tanagra is a yet another proud example of this (Visigoth being another in recent memory), and holds the traditional metal flag proud for all to see. Full of fun and driving riffs, rich melodies, and triumphant vocals, there’s much to enjoy about Tanagra’s first offering. The sound keeps an older feel to it production-wise (giving it a nice retro flavor), but clear enough to hear everything the band is offering without cause for alarm. A nice introduction to a band that should be finding some greater success soon.
Tyranize – Remnants of Society
Release Date – September 2014
Location – New York, USA
Style – Brutal death metal
One can’t help but think of fellow upstaters Skinless when listening to Tyranize’s Remnants of Society. Groovy as hell brutal death metal done completely right, even by modern standards, is what you’ll find here. The production gives a monstrous heft to the album, really putting the weight on the riffs to give them a thick and burly tone. Massive death metal breakdowns, occasional bouts of blasting speed and technical flair, and guttural roars round this one out. Some may say that brutal death has had its day, but when it’s arranged this well, there’s definitely a bit of gas left in the tank.
Various Artists – Elemental Nightmares
Release Date – Late 2014 (Varied)
Location – Sweden
Styles – Various
When we last visited the Elemental Nightmares compilation, only one of the seven splits had been released. Here we are at the beginning of 2015 and the remainder have now been released (and forma a very cool picture when placed properly). While all seven are worth (re)visiting, let’s mention a few highlights. III features a new track from perpetually underrated Swedish melodic death metal band Eventide (let’s hope a new full-length is down the road) as well as a real ripper from Eternal Helcaraxe. V opens with a pummeling death metal track from Kaos Vortex, which is followed up by some epic melodic death courtesy of Eternal Storm. An intriguing concept; support this one so we can see more like this in the future!
