This week’s Heavy Music HQ reviews include releases from Ancient Death, Dormant Ordeal, Exterminatus, Gama Bomb, I Am Your God, Laurenne/Louhimo, Lik, Melvins 1983, Russ Ballard, Sick ‘N Beautiful, Svnth and Tribunal.
The ratings are on a 5-star scale.
Ancient Death – Ego Dissolution (Profound Lore)
It only took Ancient Death five days to record a stellar debut album in Ego Dissolution. Their cosmic death metal has echoes of what bands like Death and Morbid Angel were doing in the late 1990’s, or what more current groups like Tomb Mold and Sweven are cooking up. There’s no shortage of ear-splitting guitar solos, especially extended sections of them on the title track and “Breaking The Barriers Of Hope.”
Songs like “Journey To The Inner Soul” and “Violet Light Decays” dive into progressive realms with atmospheric-driven interludes. They reign in the abstract spaciness that was on their 2022 EP Sacred Vessel, letting it coexist with the masterful musicianship.
Rating: 4
(Dan Marsicano)
Dormant Ordeal – Tooth And Nail (Willowtip)
Dormant Ordeal‘s Tooth And Nail is an absolute triumph, a blistering masterwork that cements their reputation as one of death metal’s most sensational acts. Following their previous album The Grand Scheme Of Things — an utterly brilliant display of technical savagery and overwhelming atmospheric depth — this new release is a stunning follow-up that takes everything fans loved and amplifies it to breathtaking heights.
This Polish duo have outdone themselves, weaving a dark, blackened tapestry around their piercing death metal foundation, creating an intoxicating blend that’s as punishing as it is mesmerizing. Tooth And Nail is an unyielding barrage of technical mastery and raw emotion. The atmosphere is grand, lifting the genre to new emotional peaks, while the riffs and drumming hit with surreal brutality. Compared to The Grand Scheme Of Things, this album feels even more confident and expansive, with pristine production that makes every element shine. Dormant Ordeal have delivered a flawless evolution.
Rating: 4.5
(Arash Khosronejad)
Exterminatus – Echoes From A Distant Star Part I (Self)
The Canadian tech death quintet Exterminatus take their time between albums. After a five-year span from their 2013 debut Veni Vidi Vici and Laniakea, nearly seven years have elapsed between that one and their latest effort,
There’s more subtlety than you may expect from an album of this genre, along with plenty of pummeling riffs, crushing drums and brutality. The musicianship is impressive, with changes in tempo helping add diversity to lengthier tracks like “Primordial Sea” and “New Theia.” After seven songs of sci-fi related lyrics, Exterminatus change things up, closing with a cover of Falco’s ’80s hit “Rock Me Amadeus.” Their death metal take on a pop staple is interesting and certainly unique. Echoes From A Distant Star Part I is a quality death metal album, and hopefully it won’t take another seven years for Part II.
Rating: 3.5
(Chad Bowar)
Gama Bomb – Necronomicon Automaton (Prosthetic)
When recording 2023’s Bats, veteran thrashers Gama Bomb had some leftover material that hadn’t been finished. They revisited a few of those songs, adding the necessary parts to create the four song EP Necronomicon Automaton.
It flies by in just over 12 minutes, a flurry of blazing riffs and Philly Byrne’s distinctive vocals. To nobody’s surprise, they fit right in with what the band was doing on Bats. “Intror The Deceiver” is the record’s strongest track, with a killer guitar solo and a lot of catchiness. “Necropanzer” is melodic and dramatic, with both spoken word and piercing falsetto. Finishing a couple more songs to beef up the run time would have been even better, but thrash fans will find plenty of enjoy with Necronomicon Automaton.
Rating: 3
(Chad Bowar)
I Am Your God – Δ (Trinity) (Out Of Line)
I Am Your God have been going between metalcore and melodic death metal their whole career, but with Δ (Trinity), the latter becomes the prevalent sound of choice. There are still metalcore specialties like springy choruses and melodic breakdowns, but unlike their last two albums, Δ treats them as more of a special treat.
An edgier take comes with screams that occasionally get screechy and rapid drumming. Not even the use of piano in multiple songs or dual guitar harmonies tapers down I Am Your God’s bottomless endurance. This comes at the cost of standout catchy parts, though “Part Of The Ocean” and “Pyre Of Fears” put in a valiant effort to make up for it.
Rating: 3
(Dan Marsicano)
Laurenne/Louhimo – Falling Through Stars (Frontiers)
After releasing material with their main bands, Battle Beast’s Noora Louhimo and Smackbound’s Netta Laurenne have reunited for the second Laurenne/Louhimo album, Falling Through Stars.
It’s a bit more diverse than 2021’s The Reckoning. There are plenty of radio-friendly hard rock/traditional metal songs like the title track and “To The Dark.” They change things up with the mellow acoustic number “All For Sale,” the ballad “Loud And Clear” and the bluesy/groovy/proggy “Rotten Gold.” Laurenne and Louhimo’s voices complement each other very well, with the best moments when they are harmonizing, and Falling Through Stars is another fruitful collaboration.
Rating: 3.5
(Chad Bowar)
Lik – Necro (Metal Blade)
All the pieces have come together for Lik on their fourth album, Necro. This Swedish death metal outfit have found their place in the genre, with ten songs in a succinct order that goes from blistering corruption to haunting loneliness. “Worms Inside,” “Shred Into Pieces” and “The Stockholm Massacre” fit into the first option, while “Fields Of Death” captures the isolation of death in a war-torn battlefield.
This is death metal though, so it’s not just war that is discussed but sickening pleasures of the flesh. Closer “Rotten Inferno” brings out a murderer with a taste for acts of deviance on his victims, further creepified by the slowest tempos they’ve done in their career so far. It ends Necro on a disgusting note, one that has major draw for those not squeamish.
Rating: 3.5
(Dan Marsicano)
Melvins 1983 – Thunderball (Ipecac)
The Melvins have had a lot of different lineups and configurations over the years. Melvins 1983 includes original drummer Mike Dillard with Buzz Osborne on vocals, guitar and bass. Thunderball is their latest release, which also brings aboard Ni Maitres and Void Manes.
The first two songs are brief. “King Of Rome” is groovy, old-school goodness while “Vomit Of Clarity” is a two minute interlude. The record’s other three tracks are lengthy, between 8 and 11 minutes long. That leaves much more room for exploration, which Melvins 1983 take full advantage of. “Short Hair With A Wig” is sparse and deliberate, with “Victory For The Pyramids” moving at a brisker pace before a mid-song slowdown into doomy riffs and a spacey vibe. The groovy “Venus Blood” with extended instrumental sections concludes the proceedings. Thunderball has some notable moments along with some less exciting sections, but any version of the Melvins is interesting.
Rating: 3
(Chad Bowar)
Russ Ballard – Songs From The Warehouse/The Hits Rewired (Frontiers)
Along with fronting Argent, Russ Ballard wrote a string of hits for numerous artists in the ’70s and ’80s ranging from KISS to Rainbow to Santana. He also released numerous solo albums over the years. His impressive songwriting canon is collected in the double album Songs From The Warehouse/The Hits Rewired.
The first album is all new material, with Ballard’s songwriting chops as sharp as ever. The Hits Rewired is new recordings of classic songs written or performed by Ballard. His most recognizable songs are included, such as “Since You’ve Been Gone,” “God Gave Rock And Roll To You,” “New York Groove,” “You Can Do Magic” and “I Know There’s Something Going On,” which was a big solo hit for Frida from Abba. It’s interesting to hear songs made popular by other artists being done by the guy who wrote them, and at age 79 Ballard still sounds great.
Rating: 3.5
(Chad Bowar)
Sick N’ Beautiful – Horror Vacui (BLKIIBLK)
Having thematic roots in horror, sci-fi and the supernatural while boasting an eye-catching image and artwork, Italian metal/hard rock outfit Sick N’ Beautiful clearly don’t do small scale. Horror Vacui is their fourth album, bristling with songs from a band whose live show would surely lend the material another dimension. Led by the charismatic Herma Sick, the group packs a tangible swagger from pounding opener “(Human Is) Overrated” onwards, momentum that’s maintained by the industrialized groove of “My Wounds.”
Their influences are often readily apparent; “Death Police” references In This Moment and Rob Zombie. Sometimes the results can be overly derivative, sacrificing a degree of unique personality in the process. For instance, there’s a fair whiff of Rammstein and Nine Inch Nails apparent in “Septem Maleficas” and “Railride.” Sometimes it gels though, such as standout “Hate Manifesto’s fusion of Alice Cooper’s arena-sized theatrics and Lacuna Coil’s pop-metal sheen. There’s a little filler and a few forgettable tracks to be found. But overall Horror Vacui offers hooks, blistering solos and considerable energy, which should be sufficient to score them new converts.
Rating: 3
(Brendan Crabb)
Svnth – Pink Noise Youth (These Hands Melt)
After a five year gap filled with lineup changes and a return to a more traditional song writing, Italian black metal bringers Svnth have returned with their fourth studio album Pink Noise Youth. Favoring a more experimental approach than their 2020 release Spring In Blue, each track offers something a little different.
From the classic hard rock feeling of “Exhale” to the Ghost-like “Elephant,” each song showcases the ways in which Svnth have expanded their style. The only thing that is a constant in Pink Noise Youth is the use of an electric Sitar, an instrument not all that common in the metal scene but it manages to be a solid background instrument without being too obnoxious. Though Pink Noise Youth is a departure from their usual work, this style suits them and would be interesting if they build off of this going forward.
Rating: 4
(Dalton Husher)
Tribunal – In Penitence And Ruin (20 Buck Spin)
Tribunal’s mournful gothic doom metal on In Penitence And Ruin is elevated by a pair of accomplished vocalists. Bassist/cellist Soren Mourne and guitarist Etienne Flinn (with additional vocals from Rory Say) get equal billing, with splendid harmonizing on “The Penitent” and “…And The Thorn-Choked Flowers Grow.”
Mourne’s cello gives off a splash of color that permeates through the album’s stark, gray atmosphere. Tribunal have many ways to keep their music engaging, even as the tempos don’t deviate much for 50 minutes. There aren’t spikes or major revelations besides the dramatic flair of the piano/cello instrumental “Ruin.” In Penitence And Ruin has Tribunal in a dreary mood, which is where they do their best work.
Rating: 3.5
(Dan Marsicano)
