On the 25th day of the 12th month of 2012, the Six-Tongued Hellgoat was summoned to rise from the ashes and bring darkness to this place called POPdose. Join him in his quest.
Ritual Thrust into the Profane Maw of Churning Filth
Album: Audrey Horne, Youngblood
Label: Napalm
Release: January 25, 2013
Genre: Heavy Metal
Rating: 9/10
On one hand it’s surprising the Hellgoat has never heard of these guys before. Then again, when you name yourself after a character from Twin Peaks and have an album cover like the one above, you scream out Metalcore, which of course can be avoided like the plague. However, this is no Metalcore. This is pure heavy metal / hard rock at its finest.
This quartet from Norway create some blistering rock ‘n’ roll mixed with incredible melodies and hooks that keep coming for days. After just the first listen the Hellgoat was singing along to “Youngblood” which could be a deep cut from a Journey record. “There Goes A Lady” would have been the best tune on the newest Van Halen record with much of that credit due to some fantastic harmony vocals (well, maybe it should be a Chickenfoot song then).
The production on the record is perfect, giving every tune a fist pumping arena ready feel to it. And don’t let the Journey or Van Halen references make it seem like they are totally derivative either. Tracks like “Pretty Little Sunshine” and “The King Is Dead” sound very original. If you like no bullshit heavy metal or hard rock, Audrey Horne should work for you.
Most Hellacious Moment: “Youngblood” taking the Hellgoat way back to when he was just a young Kid.
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Somnolent Regurgitation of the Scrolls of Proselytism
(The Hellgoat wishes to convert you to the ways of the metal. But he prefers to let the press release and bio do most of the talking on these nefarious black circles.)
Album: Sonic Reign, Monument In Black
Label: Apostasy Records
Release: February 1, 2013
Genre: Black Metal
Press: Welcome to your grimmest death. Monument in Black from German Black Metal stalwarts Sonic Reign will be released by Apostasy Records on February 1, 2013. Sonic Reign follows up 2006’s Raw Dark Pure (reissued in 2007 by Metal Blade) with driving muscular grooves and feral force again reminiscent of Satyricon. . Also recommended for fans of Dark Fortress and Secrets of the Moon.
Hellgoat’s take, 8/10: “Again reminiscent of Satyricon” would indicate they haven’t changed a thing about their music in the seven year gap between records. Hey, if it works, it works.
Album: Unburied, Murder 101
Label: Selfmadegod
Release: January 15, 2013
Genre: Death Metal
Press: Birthed from Hell in the year 1994 by Matt Pike-the main songwriter/lyricist for the band, the Unburied lineup is rounded out by Mark Riddick (Fetid Zombie, Macabra, Grave Wax) and Brian Forman (Fetid Zombie, Grave Wax). Hemorrhaging with eleven tracks the vile trio’s gore-filled, zombie apocalypse-ready death metal mayhem, including nine original tracks as well as covers of GG Allin’s ”Witchburner” and Integrity’s ”Abraxas Annihilation,” Murder 101 is indisputably the most potent Unburied output to date.
Hellgoat’s take, 1/10: The Hellgoat never listened to their debut LP, Slut Decapitator, but if this boring by-the-numbers album is their most potent album then that one must be the worst album ever made.
Album: Vorum, Poisoned Void
Label: Dark Descent Records/Woodcut Records
Release: January 25, 2013
Genre: Death Metal
Press: On January 25th, 2013 Dark Descent Records and Woodcut Records will unleash Poisoned Void, the debut full-length from Finnish death metal four-piece Vorum.
One of the most devastating bands in Finland’s underground death metal scene, Vorum blend uncompromising aggression and a hauntingly murky atmosphere with moments of earth-swallowing death/doom for an album that will crush skulls and send children screaming out of the room in fright.
Hellgoat’s take, 6/10: Engaging at times, standard at others, at least Vorum has some potential.
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