Greyember – Blooming In Antarctica 9/10
Greyember is the blackened death metal project of Melbourne-based multi-instrumentalist Rick Grimm. Blooming In Antarctica is the debut release of epic sonic proportions.
Grey Ember is a mid-tempo assault on the senses that combines all the elements of modern extreme music to create something that stands unique. Blooming In Antarctica and its opening double kicks set the tone for a relentless display of aggression that takes modern black metal, death metal, doom and overall extreme metal and makes its thick and cloying with atmosphere. ‘’Madness “with its myriad of Dynamic twist and turns is mind-boggling heavy with excellent solos and rhythm section that pummels the senses. “Reflections’’ complete with blast beats, female vocals and sombre spoken word is offset by the fury of the riffing and exemplary guitar work, the harsh vocals reflecting isolation and loneliness, so bloody heavy and melodic in equal measure.
Blooming In Antarctica is far too brief at only three tracks but is refreshing for it. A release that is so damn heavy and vibrant in equal measure. This is a pure physical reaction and incredible headbanging stuff. It is technical and flashy, the raw intensity burns brightly. Greyember have created a piece of art that demands repeated listening and a desire to hear what happens next! Highly recommended.
Unholy Impurity – Occulus Mortis 8/10
Italy’s Unholy Impurity revel in the art of Old school Black metal. Since their formation in 2104 Occulus Mortis is only their third release yet in captures their darkened hearts dripping in the occult and those of the left-hand path
From chaotic blasts beats, the frantic tremolo riffing, and Erkitui frayed vocals Occulus Mortis stands proud in its utter unforgiving assault. Whether it be straight speed or slower sections the intensity never drops. Its not all one dimensional though, there are some hidden subtleties including group vocals and an atmosphere that remains throughout the whole record, the slower section as on the superior and aptly titled ’The Oldest Ones” are haunting and the highlight ‘’Ancient Stones of Death”. Production is suitably raw, giving an authenticity to a style that continues to grow and become infinitely darker and heavier with time. ‘’Sos Rajos’’ and ‘Requiem “are more examples of pure original black metal fury and bleakness whilst “’Black magic ‘’ burns with an old school thrash /speed intensity.
Unholy Impurity have crafted a pure black metal record that covers ancient mysteries and anti-cosmic spirituality, the combination of native and English language vocals adds another layer of depth and sense of history to an album that hails the old ones whilst blazing its own path.
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