The Dying Planet Weeps (Everlasting Spew Records) – Engulf‘s first full-length – is the solo project of Hal Microutsicos (Blasphemous.) The opening track benefits from a dissonant throb, rather than following the course most death metal takes in pummeling you with a head-first assault.
Last year we brought the news of the forthcoming soundtrack to the new Doom Eternal game, coming in a few weeks on 3/20/2020 from Bethesda Games. Composer Mick Gordon recruited a who’s who of metal singers from across genres via open call. Now Gordon has shared a behind the scenes featurette on the creation of the music, which also features a teaser of gameplay as well. The video includes prominent cameos from Tony Campos of Static-X and Asesino, James Dorton of Black Crown Initiate, Lindsay Rae of The Anchor, Wesley Meritt of The World I Knew, Natalie Kahan of Wildspeaker, Sven De Caluwe of Aborted, and Nature G. Ganganbaigal of Tengger Calvary, who passed away a few months after recording this. Other artists from bands participating in the soundtrack included Frontierer, Immortal Bird, Vault Dweller, Sectioned, and many more! Watch the clip now!
Well, I was certainly not expecting this radical stylistic lane change from Aborted! Twenty-three years into a storied Death Metal career and suddenly they decided to throw out the old recipe book. Who am I fucking kidding? No, Aborted hasn’t decided to abandon what got them to the dance. You want to know what TerrorVision (Century Media) sounds like? Imagine what an Aborted record sounds like in 2018. Done.Continue reading
Belgian death metal outfit, Aborted, are back in a big way with their ninth full length entitled, Retrogore (Century Media). All of the typical elements are there from previous albums like the movie samples at either beginning or endings of songs, thunderous drum work, Sven (De Caulwe) being Sven, etc. Based off of the album title and some of the samples used, it appears they wanted to stick to some old classics (one of my favorite samples coming from ‘Re-Animator’; see tack ‘Forged for Decreptude’). Being a huge horror fan, this only scores more points for me.
Outside of the samples, there were quite a few guests on Retrogore as well. The first is on the track called ‘Divine Impediment’ and features guest vocals from Cattle Decapitation‘s own Travis Ryan. The mixture of Sven’s deep growls and high-pitched screeches with what seems like only Travis can do vocally makes for one of the more memorable tracks on the album. The very next track, ‘Coven of Ignorance’ also features guest vocals from Dave Davidson of Revocation fame. Again, the contrast of the two vocal patterns tossed over some chugging and riffing is simply pleasant. Towards the end of the track, we also get a quick sample from a ‘House M.D.’ episode from Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) himself. If you simply cannot get enough guest vocalists, then you will find ‘The Mephitic Conundrum’ to be a great track as well. Jason Keyser from Origin/ex-Skinless hops on the mic for sections throughout the song. Literally, three songs in a row have guest vocalists and it may be the best stretch on the album.
As a whole, I found that I could listen to Retrogore from front to back without even thinking of pressing the skip button. There were certainly tracks I may have liked more than others, but even my least favorite track was still a solid track. Each track told its own story and stood out in its own way which helped keep the album fresh which is not the easiest to do in the death metal world nowadays. While previous releases from Aborted kind of fall into a dark void after a handful of listens, I find that this latest record will be hanging around for quite some time.
8.0/10
TIM LEDIN
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Los Angeles Death Metal emissaries Annihilated are preparing to drop their brutal début manifesto, XIII Steps To Ruination from Unique Leader Records on October 28th (next Tuesday). Featuring former members of Abysmal Dawn, Grotesque, Excretion, and Arkaik the band may be new, but has the pedigree of hardened musical killers. Ghost Cult is proud to partner with Earsplit PR to bring you this great new band!
Listen to ‘Global Enslavement’ now!
Official Press Release:
California-based extreme death metal perpetrators, Annihilated — who features within its ranks, current and former members of Abysmal Dawn, Grotesque, Excretion, and Arkaik — will spread their sonic sickness across the lands this Fall with the release of debut full-length, XIII Steps To Ruination.
Set for official unleashing via brutality powerhouse, Unique Leader Records, later this Fall, Annihilated’s XIII Steps To Ruination was produced by drummer Scott Fuller (Abysmal Dawn) and boasts eleven pounding, methodically-crafted tales of torment bedecked in hailstorm riff sequences, homicidal blasts, maniacal vocal onslaughts, and strategically composed percussive syncopation all fueled, conceptually, by political/corporate disgust and societal revulsion. As an added bonus, XIII Steps To Ruination features guest appearances by Sven De Caluwe (Aborted), Monte Pittman (Prong), Peter Truax (Vesterian, Eyes Of Fire) and Eric Stobel (Plaguereaper, P.O.R.).
Comments Fuller of Annihilated’s union with Unique Leader: “We are psyched to be a part of the Unique Leader family. With such a notable roster of brutal death metal bands and awesome releases, we feel right at home.”
XIII Steps To Ruination Track Listing:
1. Global Enslavement
2. Eyes In The Sky
3. This Fear I Speak Of
4. XIII Steps To Ruination
5. Eradication Profits
6. Divide Distract Deceive
7. For The Ignorant
8. Wastelands
9. Creations Of Man
10. Throne Of Eternity
11. Putrifacation
Annihilated was forged in 2008 by guitarists Eric Matranga and Robert Fimbres shortly following the demise of Los Angeles’ Excretion. Intent on composing music with a purpose, Annihilated stands resolutely against the prevalent “sheep mentality” of society in favor of rational thought, questioning the motives of government and news media outlets though debilitating auditory domination.
XIII Steps To Ruination will see release via Unique Leader Records on October 28th, 2014 North America, October 31st,2014 in Europe and November 3rd, 2014 in the UK. Preorder your copy today at THIS LOCATION.
https://www.facebook.com/Annihilatetheworld
http://www.uniqueleader.com
http://www.facebook.com/UniqueLeaderRecords