Rick Eaglestone

Daevar – Delirious Rites

Daevar – Delirious Rites
The Lasting Dose Records
Release Date: 27/01/23
Running Time: 32:55
Review by Rick Eaglestone
9/10

Do you ever seen an album cover and then are immediately drawn to it? Well, this is the case with this German heavy doom debut album “Delirious Rites” by Daevar.

Album opener ‘Slowshine’ laden with hypnotic waves perfectly sets the tone for the record, and already I know this going to score big and when this feeling continues into follow up track ‘Bloody Fingers’ I am already looking at the pre order options! The guitars and bass are punchy with songs inspired by the work of political philosopher Thomas Hobbes and quotations from Iranian psychedelic rock anthems from the 70’s and as Pardis Latifi’s vocals entrance me once more for my highlight track ‘Leila’ I am already looking at the track listing and wanting more, especially with “Draconian Times” era guitar tones.

Fortunately, the album contains two more tracks. The longest of the album ‘Leviathan’ has some wonderful exalting melodies and also feature guest vocals from Jan Oberg (Grin / Earth Ship) and the final one ‘Yellow Queen’, which also has a great accompanying video which is well worth checking out as it fits the albums aesthetic album perfectly.

I have been completely swept off my feet. This album is Deliriously Delectable

‘Yellow Queen’ Official Video

TRACKLISTING:
01. Slowshine
02. Bloody Fingers
03. Leila
04. Leviathan
05. Yellow Queen

LINE-UP:
Pardis Latifi – Bass Guitar & Vocals
Moritz Ermen Bausch – Drums
Caspar Orfgen – Guitars
Guest Vocals on Leviathan by Jan Oberg (Grin / Earth Ship)

LINKS:

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Rick Eaglestone and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

Uburen – Usurp The Throne

Uburen – Usurp The Throne
Dusktone
Release Date: 20/01/23
Running Time: 34:11
Review by Rick Eaglestone
6/10

Norwegian Black / Viking metal band follow up 2019’s “And The Mountains Weep” with eight brand new tracks united by a vision of God as a being who deceives through false prophecies, collectively entitled “Usurp The Throne”. Album opener ‘En Dod Manns Drom’ Serves a great slow building introduction to the album leading into the fury of “Harken Now” Wonderfully.

Highlight track ‘When The River Breaks’ still maintains a level of aggression, but many other styles are introduced, which gives this almost a storytelling feel to it. Whereas the album’s title track ‘Usurp The Throne’ is very much deep rooted in Black Metal with its frostbitten guitar tones and nature which makes for a formidable pairing.

As the record moves on into ‘Defiance Towards Futility’, the album seems to continue into the raw black metal which personally is never a bad thing although I did think ‘Bring Forth Ragnarök’ might have had a bit more of a Viking Metal sound to it but as previously mentioned the album has firmly grasped its claw into the aforementioned Black Metal style. ‘None Is Forgotten’ is again another confirmation of this but the final track does serve as a reprieve, and I get my wish because ‘As Sorrow Turns To Hate” has more of the soundscapes I had envisioned. Overall enjoyable but I would’ve like to seen a bit more balance in styles.

‘Usurp The Throne’ Official Audio

TRACKLISTING:
01. En Dod Manns Drom
02. Harken Now
03. When The River Breaks
04. Usurp The Throne
05. Defiance Towards Futility
06. Bring Forth Ragnarök
07. None Is Forgotten
08. As Sorrow Turns To Hate

LINE-UP:
Ask Kjetilson – Vocals, Guitars
Bior Kjetilson – Vocals, Bass, Vocals
Wrage Steinarson – Drums

LINKS:

Deicide – Once Upon The Cross / Serpents Of The Light

Once Upon The Cross _ Serpents Of The Light Album Cover Art

Deicide – Once Upon The Cross / Serpents Of The Light
Cherry Red Records
Release Date: 20/01/23
Running Time: 58:48
Review by Rick Eaglestone
8/10

Deicide unleash another unholy alliance with “Once Upon The Cross” and “Serpents Of Light. Where to even begin, title track to CD1 1995’s ‘Once Upon The Cross’ even now with a lot more in their discography, still remains my all-time favourite Deicide track – which considering it contains the bass heavy ‘When Satan Rules His World’, which again is still one of my go-to tracks.

Admittedly it has been while since I had revisited the album in its full form, put everything that drew me in initially still manages to hold my attention and I had forgotten just how good the combination of ‘They Are the Children of Underworld’ and ‘Behind the Light Thou Shall Rise’ truly are. I used to be intimidated by Mr Benton in the early days and as the album closes, I almost get that feeling once again.

Following on from this CD2 is 1997’s “Serpents of the Light” which not only contains artistically a more upfront blasphemous approach, but a more urgent and angrier output, take for instance title track ‘Serpents of the Light’ which feels like the previous album speed up and the solos on this particular track are great.

This was an album for some reason I neglected at the time of its release so tracks like ‘Slave to the Cross’ and ‘Creatures of Habit’ feel like brand new tracks and it’s almost like I’m discovering the band for the first time. By the time I get to the final offering ‘Father Baker’s’, with its unrelenting fury and hypnotic solos I am firmly positioned to hit repent – sorry repeat on this album.

Another baptism of blasphemy.

‘Once Upon The Cross’ Official Audio

TRACKLISTING:

CD1 – Once Upon The Cross
01. Once Upon The Cross
02. Christ Denied
03. When Satan Rules His World
04. Kill The Christian
05. Trick Or Betrayed
06. They Are The Children Of The Underworld
07. Behind The Light Thou Shall Rise
08. To Be Dead
09. Confessional Rape

CD2 – Serpents Of The Light
01. Serpents Of The Light
02. Bastard of Christ
03. Blame It On God
04. This Is Hell We’re In
05. I Am No One
06. Slave To The Cross
07. Creatures Of Habit
08. Believe The Lie
09. The Truth Above
10. Father Baker’s

LINE-UP:
Glen Benton – Bass, Vocals
Eric Hoffman – Guitar
Brian Hoffman – Guitar
Steve Asheim – Drums

LINKS:

Rick’s Top 10 of 2022

Rick’s Top 10 of 2022
By Rick Eaglestone

He’s a man of few words, but here’s Rick Eaglestone’s run down of his favourite albums of 2022.

10. Cairns – Keening

https://www.facebook.com/cairnstheband

09. Darkher – The Buried Storm

https://www.facebook.com/DARKHERMUSIC

08. An Abstract Illusion – Woe

https://www.facebook.com/anabstractillusion

07. As The World Dies – Agonist

https://www.facebook.com/BrumDeathMetal

06. Abduction – Black Blood

https://www.facebook.com/abduction616

05. The Antichrist Imperium – Volume III: Satan In His Original Glory

https://www.facebook.com/theantichristimperium

04. Firtan – Marter

https://www.facebook.com/Firtanofficial

03. Count Vornok – Guided by the Light of Felrisian’s Staff

https://countvornok.bandcamp.com/

02. Grima – Frostbitten

https://www.facebook.com/grimablackmetal

01. Blood Countess – Occulta Tenebris

https://www.facebook.com/BloodCountessOfficial

Legendarium – Death’s Hand In Yours

Legendarium – Death’s Hand In Yours
Self-Released
Release Date: 09/12/22
Running Time: 35:00
Review by Rick Eaglestone
6/10

Veering through genre’s left and right Netherland’s own Legendarium return with new album “Deaths Hand In Yours”. Immediately laden with throwback solos, the album is off to great start with title track ‘Death’s Hand In Yours’ which tumbles into the medieval realm with ‘Arcane Magics of Ancient Origin’ which has great atmospheric parts with a differing vocal style to the album’s opener.

My highlight track comes in the form of old school Thrash ‘The Demonic’ delivers in every way and more than gives the devil his due, the guttural vocal tones and solos that also run through it accompanying fury of the drum patters just make this a solid track. As the album ventures on, differing styles creep in ‘Caelador, Destroyer’ has the attitude of early Misfits, which is followed by shadows of Venom on ‘…And All Shall Perish’ and there is even unexpected jazz in the bagging area that sneaks into ‘Black Magic / Touch of Evil’.

Forging on, the album builds up momentum with ‘Killing Fields’ then there is even a slight dabble into the world of Prog on ‘Angrippa’ before the rabbit hole of early punk gets a revisit with ‘Immortal’. Finally, the album concludes with ‘The Ritual of the Thousand Skulls’ that has nice Bluesy Doom element to it and just as you think the track is over it breaks into ‘Skulls’ by the Misfits, which I thought was a great touch.

A great album for the cold frost of winter.

‘Death’s Hand In Yours’ Official Audio

TRACKLISTING:
01. Death’s Hand In Yours
02. Arcane Magics of Ancient Origin
03. The Demonic
04. Caelador, Destroyer
05. …And All Shall Perish
06. Black Magic/Touch of Evil
07. Killing Fields
08. Angrippa
09. Immortal
10. The Ritual of the Thousand Skulls

LINE-UP:
Laurence Kerbov – Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards.
Stefano Vaccari – Drums.
Jared Archon – Saxophone.

LINKS:

Jessie May – Money Hacks for Metalheads and New Millennials: The Revised and Expanded Second Edition

Jessie May – Money Hacks for Metalheads and New Millennials: The Revised and Expanded Second Edition
Self-Published
Release Date: 02/12/22
Review by Rick Eaglestone
6/10

After many years as a musician and blogger, author Jessie May put together her money hacks book back in 2020. Two years on the revised and expanded version goes even more in depth and investigates the world of savings and reflects her and her husband’s life as parents and the juggle of family life alongside being in the band Turkey Vulture.

This felt like a book of two sides, Side A – not a conventional personal finance book by any means (and to be fair it doesn’t profess to be). The advice given in the first part is not only practical but provides easy steps to implement, such as keeping an eye on your credit score and cashback bank accounts.

Side B was where the book focused more on the music side, with some great relatable anecdotes alongside discussing budgeting for gigs/festivals, things for bands to consider such as PR/Labels, tour budgets, use of sites such a Kickstarter, Patreon & Indiegogo – one point with this was one simple piece of advice that really amused was “Don’t do a Wintersun”

Also included in the part were the interview segments with musicians such as FOH Engineer and Drummer Jeramie King – who has worked with artists such as Sepultura, Venom INC & Death Angel, I found these parts particularly interesting

Overall, the book was a great, concise, almost pocket guide to providing money hacks for both metalheads & new millennials alike.

Plugging through savings, one riff at a time.

LINKS:

Deströyer 666 – Never Surrender

Deströyer 666 – Never Surrender
Season of Mist
Release Date: 02/12/22
Running Time: 40:09
Review by Rick Eaglestone
8/10

Australia’s favourite Black Thrash trio return with their new release “Never Surrender.”

Opening with the title track ‘No Surrender’ its snarling start and building riff sets the tone for the entire album, which is followed in turn by the maniacal shrill of ‘Andraste.’

Lined up like the twins of evil are the collective highlight tracks ‘Guillotine’ and ‘Pitch Black Night’ not only is it a great pairing, but they are unapologetically laden with glorious solos.

Continuing the crusade into the unholy lands are where ‘Mirror’s Edge’ and ‘Grave Raiders’ are unleased and quite honestly as the album continues my highlight track selection keeps changing as quickly as the pace of the release.

All that remains is one last unholy trinity starting with ‘Savage Rights’ ‘Rather Death’ and finally the mostly almost doom laden ‘Batavia’s Graveyard’, which has some great soundscapes and even silkier guitar tones, and even though its aesthetic differs from other tracks it’s still comfortable with its position and slower demeanour.

A beautiful blend of blasphemy!

‘Never Surrender’ Official Music Video

TRACKLISTING:
01. Never Surrender
02. Andraste
03. Guillotine
04. Pitch Black Night
05. Mirror’s Edge
06. Grave Raiders
07. Savage Rights
08. Rather Death
09. Batavia’s Graveyard

LINE-UP:
R.C. Vocals/Bass
Keith K Warslut – Vocals/Guitar
Perracide– Bass

LINKS:

Napalm Ted – Pestilential Pursuit EP

Napalm Ted – Pestilential Pursuit EP
Self-Released
Release Date: 02/12/22
Running Time: 12:49
Review by Rick Eaglestone
6/10

From the morbid wastelands of North Finland are the trio of Ted’s that make the grinding death trio, Napalm Ted, who now return with their newest EP “Pestilential Pursuit”

Mastered by legendary Dan Swanö and with lyrics provided by the unofficial fourth member Brain Ted, the EP is made up of five tracks, heavy epics with two extreme vocal styles which come in at a grand total of just under 13 minutes

No nonsense opening and personal highlight, ‘Skeletal Lake’ kicks off proceedings with a great opening riff that leads into the maniacal dual vocals. Shades of Slayer’s “No Remorse” is “Purgatorium”

The EP continues at a furious pace into “White Riot” and the short, piercing track “The Rot”, concluding with “Flesh Prison.” The horror thematic that runs through are particularly gritty.

As jagged as a chainsaw blade.

‘Skeletal Lake’ Official Audio

TRACKLISTING:
01. Skeletal Lane
02. Purgatorium
03. White Riot
04. The Rot
05. Flesh Prison

LINE-UP:
Gravy Ted – Guitar/Vocals
Han Ted – Drums/Vocals/Noises
Ted Nugget – Bass

LINKS:

Dark Matter – The Rectory

Dark Matter – The Rectory
Wormholedeath
Release Date: 25/11/22
Running Time: 49:03
Review by Rick Eaglestone
6/10

Tying together personal stories and experiences, Dark Matter’s newest release “The Rectory” also poses questions as well as warnings to its prospective listener.

The album opens with a real groove, but the lyrics have a dark side cloaked in between some doomy undertones, and this is followed by an early highlight for me, ‘The Healer’ as there is no hiding the 70’s occult influence that radiates throughout the track’s entirety. It is slow, brooding and solo laden and I swear if you listen close enough you can hear the swirling smoke trying to burst through the speakers. This is paired wonderfully with ‘The Great Divide’, and this combination has been my favourite part of the album.

Title track ‘The Rectory’ feeds off the album aesthetic, has wonderful melodies and is almost ethereal and I really would not have minded it being at this pace, even at nearly 13 minutes but underneath the tempo changes is a real injection of Black Sabbath although never losing its progressive rock heart.

Concluding with one final multi-influenced piece, ‘Evil Remains’ (Part II of Down In The Valley) has some great mystic wanderings and really encapsulates the overall subject matter.

‘The Children Of Tomorrow’ Official Video

TRACKLISTING:
01. The Children of Tomorrow
02. The Healer
03. The Great Divide
04. The Rectory
05. Evil Remains (Down In The Valley, Pt.2)

LINE-UP:
Dave Gilbert – Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Keys, Drums
Alex Perry – Rhythm and Lead Guitar
Gary Aubert – Bass

LINKS:

Exciter – Kill After Kill (Re-issue)

Exciter – Kill After Kill (Re-issue)
Cherry Red Records
Release Date: 18/11/22
Running Time: 37:56
Review by Rick Eaglestone
7/10

Thirty years after its original release Canadian Speed Metal pioneers Exciter’s 1992 classic “Kill After Kill” sees itself getting a revamp, ready for the old faithful to reminisce over and for a whole new generation of fans to discover. In this case I’m the latter, although I could even qualify with the earlier statement too although even though at that point, as I had only been a few years into my Metal journey.

I can immediately tell you that 12-year-old me would have absolutely lost it on opening track ‘Rain Of Terror’ it’s a full of blasting drums, shrilling vocals and solo’s galore!! Onwards onto ‘No Life No Future’ The change of pace for ‘Cold Blooded Murder’ still manages to keep your head nodding at a steady pace and then makes you text your parental life giver and ask them if they still have your original jacket with the glass eye & bullet belt. This pace continues for the start of ‘Smashin ‘Em Down’ which does pick up speed and has some great guitar parts.

Doomier elements engulf ‘Shadow Of The Cross’, which blend into almost a ballad and as much as I enjoyed full on assault tracks this has to be my highlight track as for the most part it did remind me of Mercyful Fate. It is then back to business as usual with ‘Dog Eat Dog’. ‘Anger, Hate & Destruction’ has all the elements that feel it would be a big live favourite, which is paired with ‘The Second Coming’ and although this is literally my introduction to the band (I have subsequently made up for this and explored more of their work) and my gut is these are potentially the biggest tracks of “Kill After Kill”

The album concludes with a live version of ‘Born To Kill’ which I particularly enjoyed as it gave me a good indication of how the band performed at the time of album’s original release. A great choice for reissue.

TRACKLISTING:
01. Rain Of Terror
02. No Life No Future
03. Cold Blooded Murder
04. Smashin’ ‘Em Down
05. Shadow Of The Cross
06. Dog Eat Dog
07. Anger, Hate & Destruction
08. The Second Coming
09. Born To Kill (Live)

LINE-UP:
Dan Beehler – Vocals, Drums
John Ricci – Guitars
David Ledden – Bass

LINKS: