Grotesque Bliss - Grotesque Bliss 9.5/10
Australia’s Grotesque Bliss is vocalist / bassist Bjorn (Temple Nightside Grave Upheaval) guitarist Chris Burton, (Paramæcium, Cryptal Darkness, The Eternal) drummer Matthew Southcombe, (Internecine Excoriation), Without a doubt one of the greatest trios to pursue the depths of epic doom death. With such a legendary line-up, hopes were high, their 2024 demo did not disappoint, it was a revelation and it is now available physically from Iron Bonehead Productions.
From the Opening title track it is apparent that Grotesque Bliss are masters of their craft, each riff progresses to the next in an un hurried inexorable climax that is both harmonious and simply heavy, it is balanced by percussion that is both tempered and aggressive , when the double kicks roar they do so to enhance the effect . ‘’ Bringeth Death to Life’’ incorporates the most painful of blast beats each snare hit a stabbing wound and then it gets heavier, there are doom bands and then there are Doom bands , the music and themes inseparable to each other ”God Of the Godless” is an accusatory turmoil filled denouement, aggressive and defiant. Closer ‘’ Slipping Through the Cracks of Grief’’ could quite be the heaviest track conceptually and musically, it is a measured reflection of pain and loss, that is constructed so beautifully its crescendo built around passages that are dark and then even darker, it makes the following epic interpretation of My Dying Brides classic “” I am the Bloody Earth ‘’ light in comparison
Grotesque Bliss is so good it can leave you lost for words in places with its execution and sheer weight. This is not a debut but an awakening, listen to ‘Sanguine Bebimus ‘for its might alone. Superb
Gallic Hammer - Echoes of Ancestral Battles 8/10
Katurix is the creator and mastermind of Galic Hammer, Epic one-man black metal, That echoes the origins of Norwegian black infuses it with majesty, grandeur and power most evident to the new album Echoes of Ancestral Battles.
From the beginnings of the intro Ceremony (In the Heart of Sacred Woods) with its clean guitar ”Winter Moon’’ is immediately identifiable as pure second wave black metal , yet it has more, the subtleties of the keyboards help build the track before the tremolo and the blasting kick right in. There is the disquiet of’’ Taiga ‘’and its distinct pagan influences, offset by the pure second wave fury that is’’ Fall of the Warrior King.’ ‘’ “Echoes of Ancestral Battles’’ begins with a pure old school metal riff updated to fit the Gallic Hammer ethic and its growing progression is melodic memorable and powerful, the vocals are suitably icy a narrative to the story being told within. The fact that Katurix uses many vocals styles adds the epic symphonic scale of the album that is closed out by the rousing ‘’Fall of the Warrior King” conjuring epic pagan themes and a Viking metal. The guitar work is excellent, and the solos are an integral part of the music.
Echoes of Ancestral Battles has got a lot of surprises that are more than just a tribute to old school black metal. It has a modern sense of style and production (with a touch of the dungeon synth) that summons landscapes and conflict, both soaring and aggressive, earthen, and ethereal. Gallic Hammer has created something both imaginative and heavy, Recommended!
Comments