THE CASKET Zombified (Earblast Records 2021, ER023)

I have to congratulate THE CASKET for being the Malaysian band with the most elaborate Zombie-themed band in the country, couldn’t think of any other more prevalent than them as yet. As for the music itself, in short this is still in the ‘’you know it thus you will expect it’’ kind of old school death Metal entrapped in the 90s, veering more towards the build-up heaviness of mid-tempo horrors rather than speed or blast-beat. The feel-good kind of death Metal, if that is ever permitted in the death Metal dictionary. And by dear zombie, “Zombified” clearly is much more better in every aspect than its predecessor “Rise The Undead” which I am fortunate enough to get the opportunity to review it a certain while ago. Which is good, isn’t it? Why shouldn’t it. THE CASKET aim and purpose is as clear as an abandoned ruins after a zombie rampage, so clear that I will take the audacity of not explaining it further. No confusion is necessary. The theme is proudly declared, so is the music. That niche is yours THE CASKET, held it firmly. That (un)comfortable zone is proudly yours. Another congratulation is due for being loyal to the cause you have always believe in. Time and again in the long process it will pay its due as witnessed so many times before. You will also get a nice sticker and a button badge with the cd, rather than depart with your money for some questionable and curious purchase, “Zombified” is a safe bet if you know what’s on the plate.

www.facebook.com/thedeadcasket

earblastrecords@gmail.com

 

KILATUS The Return And Darkness It Shall Be (Evil Dead Production EDP089, 2021)

The album, and even the song-titles might give you the assumption of being slightly unimaginative and more than obvious adherence to the band’s influences and admiration, but please; just leave your prejudgment there and dive into it before making any conclusion. Sure, KILATUS offers nothing but the tested and tried European black Metal epiphanies, yet they know how to do it quite well I have to say. You know what’s being served on the plate, and you know how to consume it, thus there will be nothing you could complaint about. The songwriting is solid, always reminds you of a certain song or certain band here and there, but still, you will hear them until the very end. The third song (unsurprisingly bearing the album title) demonstrate this with confidence and without even an ounce of guilt. I highly regard the instrumentalization throughout the album, they are obviously well prepared. KILATUS is blazing through the soundscapes that shaped what the band is, tracks like “Kilatus Barzakh” for example seems like being taken out straight from “Panzer Division Marduk”, while “Thy Light After Several Thunder” clearly reminds you that KILATUS originates from this part of the world’s extreme Metal scene. I could go song by song and going on dropping names, but I leave it to your listening pleasure right there. As being stressed earlier, nothing at fault if you know what you listen, for these are no sloppy, half-arsed homages.

evildeadproduction@yahoo.com

facebook.com/SandakanWarDemons

 

 

VRYKOLAKAS “Unleashing Vrykolakas Upon Mankind” (EGP005)

VRYKOLAKAS is nothing new in the Singapore extreme underground Metal scenery. The fact that they have existed since 1991 is well documented, and the transition from a black death Metal act to the present brutal death Metal guise will not go unnoticed. And it is also a fact that their black death moments are short-lived, discovering brutal death Metal is their chosen path. This, ”Unleashing Vrykolakas Upon Mankind”, is the second full-length effort, recorded way back in 2006. Due to several circumstances it was only released in 2013 on cassette tape by Atomik Nuclear Desolation Productions, Chile. What I have here however, is the 2020 re-release on tape and CD by East Gothic Productions (EGP), the wrinkled old goat of Malaysian underground bastion since 1993 which has resurrected into life again recently. As the first track commence, it is all apparent of its brutal death lunacy. And it is also all apparent where their brutal death qibla’ is. VRYKOLAKAS nods towards the US brutal death legacy, more on this side of NY’s rather than Florida’s (as expected). I will not drop names, you know the usual suspects. Yet, as the proceeding continues, you will notice that VRYKOLAKAS didn’t intend to limit this album to just that.  As they go about throughout the whole 8 compositions, VRYKOLAKAS knowingly injected various elements into their music, wherever the songs allow them to. There are some breaks and parts which will remind you of certain influences as well, a welcoming trait that avoid Unleashing Vrykolakas Upon Mankind” turning into an endless barrage of brutality within the same spectre. Listen to the opening of ”Upcoming Sandstorm Devastation”, and don’t tell me you couldn’t find even an ounce of reminiscing a certain UK death Metal legends. The brooding, punishing of a crawler “Doom Upon Mankind” ends it all up fittingly. ”Unleashing Vrykolakas Upon Mankind” really deserves this revamped, revisited re-release, I suspect the initial release didn’t do them quite the justice they deserved, hopefully this EGP effort will rectify that in some sort. This will stand as one of the better brutal death Metal album to come out from Singapore, the way it holds ground since getting recorded way back in 2006 backs it up. Still brutally relevant. Choose either the tape or the CD, or might as well get both. The way EGP represented them smells awfully 1993 too, the way they did it back then; with ethics and stylization that I still holds high until today.

facebook.com/vrykobrutaldeath

facebook.com/eastgothicprod

SICKNESS "Necrosymphonies of Necropsy"

SICKNESS "Necrosymphonies of Necropsy" (Grundar Productions)

One look, just one look at the cover and you might have guessed it right where SICKNESS adhered to inspirational-wise, haha. After so many years lurking in the underground, amassing countless of releases, I am quite positive that this is their first proper full length output ever. Thanks to the hardworking guys of Grundar Productions there has been a healthy run of releases of local acts in the grind/death territory, let's just hope that will continue as long as it takes. And while the cover might reminds you of a certain legendary act, the similarities stops there, I reckon. While there's still some reminisce they're all that miniscule. And with SICKNESS, expect nothing else than prescribed. formulaic good old grind death forte being served on your palatable plate. The only qualms I have with "Necrosymphonies..." is the seemingly weak productions for such a hard hitting musical direction. I don't know it if my ears are deceiving me as ages go by, but every time I am listening to this I always weighing in on the possibilities of a fuller, more pronounced production for it, and what it could do to the album instead. Any seasoned or conscious musicians in some of you might argue that it needs some kind of more 'layers' to the recording to make it sounds more menacing sort-of, but as a listener I know nothing but the quest for eargasm with anything I listen, and "Necrosymphonies..." falls short on that aspect. I even found their split with DAMOKIS to be more ferocious than this, that is certain. The average death grind freaks might have no issues on this, so just take it as it is. I have absolutely no question on the band's abilities, they've been doing it since some of you are still wearing diapers and suckling on momma's tits, I just think that a band with such a stature deserves a far better recording results.

www.grundar.com

ANGUISH "Abstract Decomposition"

ANGUISH "Abstract Decomposition" MCD (Foundead)

Soldiering on with perseverance intact, Malaysia's very own ANGUISH puts out another slab of brutal-concocted soundscapes with "Abstract Decomposition". This mini-album, totally financed and released by the band's own Foundead label, proves to be the most challenging and adventurous outing for them to date. "Abstract...", while still delving in the soaked brutality that the band has grown accustomed to, sees the band branching itself a bit further into the unexplored territory and tapping on the vast potentials of expanding their musical horizons. There is lots (I mean LOTS), of interesting ideas here and there scattered out through the whole program that you can surely delve deeper if you could stay a bit longer. You wouldn't call this a straight up brutal death Metal release, it is brutal death Metal that is not shying away from mingling with other outwards musical anecdotes that will either makes you dizzying or found wanting, depending on what your aural observation state is. The comfort which has been found within the brutal death Metal allegory has been molested here with copulation of twisting influences, an action that equals 'progression' for the band if you may say so. Don't be surprised, you will find varying degrees of emotions and atmospheres within. However, one massive obstacle that you are forced to endure is the lukewarm production in it. It is certainly not deserving for the material as they require a more adequate one for the trickery to get heard of effectively. There is certainly much to savour within but the production just hamper it down a bit. Which is a bit of a loss to be frank since there's so much to be dug out here. I wish the band a better production next time around, there are endless possibilities to their music, let it finally presented in the manner it really deserves. Nice presentation of the MCD in elastic 'Anguish' pouch.

magicbards@yahoo.com

SUCCUBUS "Descend Unto Gehenna"

SUCCUBUS "Descend Unto Gehenna" MCD EP (Slaughterhouse Records)

Been waiting for their next output since the demo (the vinyl with the bonus tracks is another story, by the way), here it is the MCD of Malaysian SUCCUBUS, released by Slaughterhouse Records USA. In a minimalistic digipack packaging, "Descend Unto Gehenna" belches out 5 uncompromising tracks including a decent cover of INCUBUS classic "Reanimator's Mutilation". To those still unfamiliar with the band, SUCCUBUS stands for heavily rabid early thrash infested death Metal, to which the comparison with the gritty Swedish sounds of true death Metal surfaced, and this is the explanation too as to why the band is linked with the Swedish hordes, since those kind of undiluted morbidity is what some of the acts from the ever fertile Metal landscapes have devoured and decimated us for quite some time. I can't help but comparing this to their already mentioned (and already reviewed) demo, and to me this lacks a bit of the impact of the demo itself. Do not be discreetly subjective though, this is not to be taken wholly as something negative. The demo, under several reason and circumstances, had stirred the Malaysian scene quite convincingly when it is released I might add. "Descend..." proves to be SUCCUBUS in their more thrashier bit, but the speed indicator has been cranked up a notch too. This is where the loops surfaced its relevance to me, where in more than once I find the instrumentations, notably the vocals, guitarworks and the drums patterns (especially), tend to be choking a bit for breath on keeping up with the intensity. The intention is clear, the band aims to maim you like a Panzer tank (thus the song "Panzer the Iron Grave" is the opening track for this mini album), yet some tightening on several loose ends are warranted, clearly. The productions tend to sound a bit 'safe' too, the 'uncontrolled' vibe of the demo productions hasn't lose it charms definitely. But no matter how the comparison with the demo appears to be, "Descend..." is still some of the better assault of tested and tried unrelenting old thrash smeared death Metal madness you can get from Malaysia.

bandcamp.com/SlaughterhouseRex
facebook.com/succubusdeaththrash

ANGIST "Circle Of Suffering", PATRIA "Faithless" tapes out now