Axis of Time, Faceless and Descending, & Frosthammer

May 7, 2010

CHRIS

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Axis of Time - Pulling Worlds Apart

Release Date:  April 27, 2010
Band Self Released

TRACK LISTING: 1. A Prelude to Entropy, 2. This Wretched Life, 3. Pulling Worlds Apart, 4. Pure as Ash, 5. The Walking Dead    -    Total playing time: 23:28

The younger generation still has some punch, my friends.

Joliet, Illinois’ Axis of Time takes the sensibilities of Iron Maiden, Death and early In Flames and mixes some of the speedy rhetoric of good metalcore to find the hybrid of a modern-era sound that sits nicely with some older fogies like me. All under the age of twenty, the members of Axis of Time make me smile to think the metal world might be in capable hands. The band’s first demo effort, Pulling Worlds Apart, reads like a hard-hitting lullaby of despair, world destruction, and general bleakness.

“A Prelude to Entropy” opens the CD with a vengeance, direct and well-polished, predicting a world’s end. Five tracks of to-the-point “thrashcore” leave you secure in the knowledge that you’ve just experienced the next generation of metal, and it’s a good start for sure. The title track has a mid-section worthy of sincere notice, creating a nice shift in pace.

As a whole the demo is a fresh step in the right direction and you certainly won’t be disappointed in the simplistic, yet relevant sound the guys have. The production is fine throughout, and the musicianship is sharp and void of sloppiness or being rushed. Lyrically the band is mature and relevant without sounding inane or boring; the life-experiences and real-world experiences are nice touch. With a handful of gigs under their collective belts, the guys have the start most bands might kill for if they can build on it accordingly.

Check out Axis of Time at their site - I think you might like the old-school sound that can mix nicely in your metalcore drink should you require such a combination.

Frosthammer - Winter’s Embrace

Release Date:  March 5, 2010
Band Self Released

TRACK LISTING: 1. In Silence, 2. Into the Perpetual Darkness, 3. Lost in a Forest of Ice, 4. Shadows, 5. The Biting Cold of Winter's Embrace, 6. Where the Northern Wind doth Blow (A Viking Saga) I. An Ode to the Northern Night Sky II. Quest for Vinland   -    Total playing time: 27:00

Canada’s Frosthammer is a very stylish black metal outfit that might capture the ear of many a black metal fan in the coming months.

This trio is on its second demo release, this one titled Winter’s Embrace and I think you might want to watch out for these guys. Somewhat primitive (like their contemporaries) the rawness and talent are evident throughout. The minute this started pouring out of my speakers I knew something very good was in the making. For a demo the production is as “kvlt” as it gets while still being enjoyable and discernable with a nice mix of the instruments. There’s no boom-box sound here.

The tracks are cold black metal the way it should be heard, and while they’re no Vinterland or Darkthrone just yet these guys might just take you by surprise. Especially good is the opener “In Silence”, though the rest of the demo fares just fine as well. It’s dim and haunting metal like the Swedes are famous for creating. A mesh of Bathory’s Blood Fire Death and a splash of Hammerheart with some early ‘90’s black metal fit the perfect mold here.

Check them out when you can at their site and support the underground!    

Faceless and Descending - Endless Reign of Suffering

Release Date:  June, 2009
Beneath the Fog Productions (order here)

TRACK LISTING: 1. Bones and Dust, 2. Thy Virulent Maw, 3. Denial Through Mockery, 4. The Endless Reign of Suffering, 5. Scourge, 6. Vitriolic, 7. Mutilation and the Devine, 8. Beneath Waes of Flesh, 9. Fastened onto that Which Clings to the Stars    -    Total playing time: 42:00

Nevada’s Faceless and Descending is a one-man black metal outfit that is manned by Carlos from Breath of Sorrows, a blackened band that is about as raw as it gets for a U.S. outfit. While Breath of Sorrows is more along the Silencer or Bethlehem brands of black metal, Faceless and Descending opts for a more straight-ahead black metal feel, one we’re pretty settled into these days. 

When the intro to Endless Reign of Suffering drips into play I immediately think This is going to be primitive and pedestrian, but when the “Bones and Dust” kicks in you’re treated to a pretty good dark assault, if somewhat typical and predictable. There’s a light Burzum feel to the music in its atmosphere and delivery; if you desire a bleak ambience in your black metal then this might impress you. It’s a good effort, but as I said a bit predictable and primitive. In short, we’ve heard it a hundred times, but if you enjoy the type of black metal it offers than have at it. “Thy Virtulent Maw” and the title track are really good moments on the CD. The production is decent with some good bass and low end as well.

Far from being dismissed completely it’s simply your typical black metal style that’s quite decent but overdone nowadays.

Order Pulling Worlds Apart from the band through their myspace page (click on link above).

DOWNLOAD Winter's Embrace FREE:  FROSTHAMMER'S WEBSITE

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