Vathek - Aborted Origins Review // Independent Release

Out of one of Canada's lesser talked about areas, comes the Death Metal band, Vathek. Formed in Winnipeg, Manatoba, Vathek have been creating a name for themselves opening for some of the biggest hitters on the road these days. After releasing the debut EP Apocalyptic Pandemic in 2013 and sharing the stage with the likes of Skeletonwitch, Kataklysm, and Aborted, Vathek got working on their first full length release, Aborted Origins.

The first thing to note is the mix of influences throughout this album, the speed and lyrical content similar to Grindcore. Blitzing guitar work and melodic undertones from Thrash Metal. Most prominently though is the chugging and blasting of Old School Death Metal. Instrumentally, Vathek take on a sound very similar to Cannibal Corpse in a lot of sections. "Martial Ingestion" is the perfect instance of this, throughout the majority of the song, the guitar work goes from chugging consistent riffs to small tapping sections. While songs like "Exsanguination Asphyxiation" and "Gratification From Despair" are much more fast paced throughout and take on a much more aggressive, pit-inducing form.

The use of snippets is also used throughout, music like those familiar with Kataklysm's use in almost all their albums. One is found is the heavily Grindcore influenced "Syphilis Shotgun" (originally from the debut EP), which literally just details what it's like to have syphilis in the most gruesome, Metal way possible. While guitar solos are far and few between on Aborted Origins, "Syphilis Shotgun" has a quick little piece near the end of the song, giving the listener just a little nibble at what could be on album number 2. 

From beginning to end, Aborted Origins is a hard hitting, no joke Death Metal album. The songs range from the absurd (see the aforementioned "Syphilis Shotgun") to absolutely destructive. Vathek don't hold back from dabbling into Grindcore, Thrash Metal and Brutal Death Metal throughout and try to push the boundaries of what's possible on this album. If Vathek continue to explore and expand their sound going into their next album, the next big Canadian Death Metal band could very well be on the way. Don't hold back, Aborted Origins is definitely worth a listen.

9/10

Ontario Death Fest 2017: Serene Molestation

        Two words i never thought I would be typing side by side, even while being a Metal journalist, are "serene" and molestation", but here we are today to continue out coverage of this years Ontario Death Fest with the Brutal Death Metal band, Serene Molestation. Older underground Metal fans in the Toronto area might know these guys, the last release from the band was in 2014 and anyone who may not have been paying attention (or who only follows what they see on Facebook, which for bands could be a whole rant in itself about how Facebook is stupid) may have missed that in June, Serene Molestation announced their new EP and released a new track entitled "Mongoloid Meatmarket". With the new EP on its way, and from what I can tell mostly recorded, it seems like Ontario Death Fest couldn't have come at a better time for the band, so why not take a look at what the band has to offer and what you can expect on the first night of Ontario Death Fest.

        Right of the bat, although advertised as Brutal Death Metal (which generally implies constant cookie monster gutterals) Serene Molestation take on a much more Old School Death Metal vibe, much more along the lines of Cannibal Corpse. Listening through the bands last full release, "We're Flesh Obsessed", it became very obvious, very quickly, just what the lyrics would be about, in case the name didn't give away the sexual prowess enough already. With such holiday favourites as "The Cunt of Monte Fisto" and "In Your Mom We Thrust", Serene Molestation focus on (and I kind of cant believe I'm saying this) very believable imagery. Between the literal act of "pushing someone's shit in" in "Brown Eye for the Straight Guy" to the sadistic intentions behind "Stranger in a Strange Hand" the band has a very strong level of imagery behind it's lyrics that make some of it almost believe able from a "Memoire of Charles Manson" kind of view.

        Luckily enough, the actual music isn't too bad either, the aforementioned "Brown Eye for the Straight Guy" is a Death Metal monster, following the KISS rule of "Keep It Simple, Stupid", the songs aren't overly technical and the riffs trade in jaw dropping technicality and overly difficult riffs for more headbang friendly simple and catchy ones. The new song "Mongoloid Meatmarket" is much of the same idea, meaning you can expect the band will stick close to home and stay within their comfort zone with the new EP. Luckily old fans of the band will more than likely have a chance to check out some new tunes from the band and maybe, if ready in time even get the new EP at Ontario Death Fest on October 6th at Coalition in Toronto.

BLEED - "The Hatred Inside" - Review

               What do we have here, Horror Metal? Well this sounds familiar being a fan of Death Metal, what’s the difference? Well for starters, this isn’t Death Metal, it’s more of a Melodic Thrash style with Cannibal Corpse style lyrics except a bit more frightening and real. See from the beginning, where Cannibal Corpse display the act of killing and kind of try way to hard and make it funny, Bleed put you in the conscience of the killer. Almost make you feel bad, you can picture it all happening, but you can’t do anything about it.

                Queue our bass intro to Canadian band Bleed’s album “The Hatred Inside,” the build up of the title song instrumental can almost make you feel the build of the hatred of a killer. The real opening track “Deceiver” gets us started off kindly, pushing you right off the cliff into the mind of a man who knows he should be locked away. The real pleasure of this album is it demonstrates every instrument, all instruments are audible at all times without making the sound overwhelming and on top of that you have the narrative of vocalist Robert Kreed to take you on a story through this man’s mind and pain. This song is also the home off a sweet bass solo, the kind of bass solo that will make every bassist.... in their pants.

                “Murder Baby” a few song down from where we started takes a different idea, the instrumentals are more of a Slayer style, speedy Thrash Metal but with a more Gwar mixed with Rob Zombie style of lyrics and vocals. The chorus is literally just “fuck and kill and hate and rape and plant the seeds of Murder Baby.” The idea of listing exactly what horrors this thing breeds is more of a Gwar thing, but come on it’s called “Murder Baby” tell me that doesn’t sound like a Rob Zombie kind of song. Honorable mention, the next song “Xombimind” sounds a lot like Slipknot’s “Before I Forget” instrumentally.

                From Canada, we have Bleed and their album “The Hatred Inside,” this is an album of horror, and slight hilarity if you have a fucked up mind in songs like “Murder Baby.” They don’t stray away from showing off their influences and they write some awesome in depth and intriguing lyrics, it’s definitely an album and Thrash fan should have in their collection.

4/5

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Beware The Light's "The Light, The Hope, The Very End" EP Review

     5 Piece German Melodic Death Metal/Deathcore band Beware the Light have released their new EP "The Light, The Hope, The Very End" through Bandcamp on April 21st, 2014. The EP consists of 5 incredibly writen songs (4 new and one remastered) that keep you glued to the music from front to back. With different sounds from different bands all the way through the album like The Black Dahlia Murder, Job For A Cowboy and Cannibal Corpse it is near impossible for any Death Metal fan not to enjoy at least part of this album!

     "The Reaping" kicks off the album with a very "out at sea" sounding intro (seriously listen to the song to understand what the hell im talking about). Not to mention the incredible bas during the intro. As soon as the vocals and instrumentals begin you cant help but headbang after a perfectly timed "LET THE REAPING BEGIN." After vocal changes from low to high growls almost as often as Trevor from The Black Dahlia Muder, the band goes into an incredibly heavy "breakdown" part (I know what people thing of breakdowns but trust me, this is some Sepultura shit right here). After some incredibly heavy instrumentals and a bit of vocals the song finishs, fastest 3:30 minutes you'll sit through. Not a whole lot to say about this besides the fact that it's perfect for fronting this album.

     "Psychosis" jumps right into it, with blistering dual guitars that gradually get slower and heavier as the vocals kick in, just to jump back into the blistering part they started with. after about 40 seconds of the song the guitars jump into a sweet guitar part not many bands use, just to be followed by a soft melodic section with more cool bass (props for giving the bass attention). The bridge comes just soon enough for you to not get bored with the slow part followed by a "uhhaa" that many death metal bands use. The vocals go to a higher deathcore vocal style and drop back into a low growl, very Job For A Cowboy-ish. The song outs with a 5 second "breakdown" section that lead to a squeeling guitar and jump right into the next song.

     "Misanthropic Traits" prepare, Dying Fetus have entered the building with this awesome heavy squeely into, that surprisingly ends with a sweet 2 second bass solo before jumping back into the chaos. With incredible (incredible to someone who likes death metal) vocals over blistering guitar parts leading to a slower galopping part with more killer vocals then blends in one of the guitars doing alternatting high notes that are audioble but not the centre of attention really helps keep you glued to this song. The song leads to an insanely heavy breakdown section, but not before to long before jumping in and out from breakdown to their main riff of the song and back into breakdown thats just gonna make you wanna punch shit its so heavy! and with this the song closes out. I must add I love the title of the song.

     "Regret Nothing" is the remastered song of the album that was released originally back in July of 2013 through Bandcamp. the intro vocals show a very deathcore side to the vocalist while the instrumentals sound like their own version of Cannibal Corpse's "Evisceration Plague." This section slows down for the majority of the song but makes the riff itself feel so much heavier. At about 1:30 the band guitars go into a tapping "Death In Fire" riff before going into a small clean vocal section and jumping back into the earsplitting death metal vocals. With the vocals clear intention that you SHOULD BE MOSHING NOW by yelling "GO!" and some incredibly killer instrumentals that make you want to mosh anyways before jumping back into the tapping riff this song is clear it would be a killer song to be in the pit for! After some more clean vocals there is a "this is how we do.." and queue the Chris Barnes style pig squeel "...IIIIIIIIIIIIIT!!!" to close out the song.

     "The Light, The Hope, The Very End" the title track is set to close out the album and with another slow introduction you start to question whats coming. With a clean tapping riff over a distorted rythem section the song gradually gets more and more heavy before the vocals kick in and both guitars end up being distorded again. If the album has held your attention this far you're gonna be here until the end because this song jumps around enough to keep you guessing but not so much that it gets annoying like some bands tend to do. Being a deathcore band this track clearly will have breakdowns still but they are so short that by the time they bug you (if you don't like them that is) they're over. jumping back into a standerd riff for a few bars prepare yourself for the killer drumming you may have been waiting for with vocals over top, followed by the vocalist growling "REPENT!" that drops into a section that i have no idea what to classify it as, is it a breakdown? Or is it just a normal section? I have no idea but it closes out the album pretty damn well nonetheless!

     overall 20 minues of pure death metal/deathcore ecstasy any true melo death or deathcore fan can benefit from listening to this. Absolutely killer overall 9/10 and i cant wait to see what else comes from this band!

P.S. Sorry for any mistake!! Plus i know i normall post on Thursdays but there has been so much this week with a new album that im reviewing tomorrow (Saturday April 26th) and brand new Slayer FINALLY! this is late but still its done so i hope you enjoyed it!