Label Spotlight: Pulverised Records

By Kevin Page. Singapore label, Pulverised Records, have been purveyors of all things extreme since 1996. Three of their most recent releases are from the old school death metal variety and all from Sweden. Now most people fall in two categories when it comes to OSDM: they either can't get enough of it or they simply can't tolerate it.

By Kevin Page.

Singapore label, Pulverised Records, have been purveyors of all things extreme since 1996. Three of their most recent releases are from the old school death metal variety and all from Sweden. Now most people fall in two categories when it comes to OSDM: they either can't get enough of it or they simply can't tolerate it. While none of these releases are going to convert the non believers, all of them are excellent examples of the genre and are sure to wet the unquenchable appetite of its fans.

Art by Ragnar Persson

With seemingly no ties to the past or its members in other projects, Bastard Grave are the newest of the bands we are discussing, but you wouldn't know it from their sound. They are definitely inspired by early Entombed, (whether they would admit to that or not) with a hardcore/grindcore vocal bark. 10 tracks of unapologetic Swedeath. What Lies Beyond is their debut album and first official release (no litany of EP's or splits before this). HM-2 lovin', bitch!

Artwork by Mattias "Flesh" Frisk

Under the Church features two thirds of the former Swedish death metal cult band, Nirvana 2002, so you can take a wild guess what to expect here (wink). After releasing a 21 minute EP last year, they are now gracing us with their debut full length album, Rabid Armageddon. Filthy, crusty, d-beat OSDM, with crushing hooks. Lots and lots of fuzzy chainsaw guitars, pick slides and rumbling bass. Plus, look at that cover art! The eyes are literally under the church, like a evil hat. Wonderfully creepy, just like the music. (note - this album is my favorite of the bunch).

I saw lots of people getting excited over the prospect of a new Wombbath album prior to its release. Frankly, I didn't share the same sentiment. I had their debut, Internal Caustic Torments, when it came out in 1993 and wasn't impressed 22 years ago. So I viewed this sudden interest as people equating a band who had released an album during death metal's original heyday with being automatically important/relevant. But I was curious and willing to keep an open mind. Guitarist Hakan Stuvemark is the sole original returning member and I presume the main songwriter on their sophomore full length, Downfall Rising. What the band have done is stepped up their game in every department. The production is totally professional with a sledgehammer to the cranium sound. The musicianship is lights years ahead of the debut (no worries, there's no technical wankery to be found). The songs are structured better with no odd transitions or overly redundant moments. Frankly, this is so much better that it sounds like an entirely new band (which mainly it is).

Majestic Downfall - ...When Dead

By Kevin Page. If you have been paying attention the past few years, you'd understand why Donald Trump is not a fan of heavy metal. I mean, how can anyone say Mexico isn't sending us their best and brightest? He'd obviously recant this statement if he had heard Majestic Downfall's 2013 release, Three and last year's split with The Slow Death.

By Kevin Page.

Artwork by Robert Høyem

If you have been paying attention the past few years, you'd understand why Donald Trump is not a fan of heavy metal. I mean, how can anyone say Mexico isn't sending us their best and brightest? He'd obviously recant this statement if he had heard Majestic Downfall's 2013 release, Three and last year's split with The Slow Death. And on that note, what has the Mexican Metal Authority (you know, the MMA, that government agency who 'decides' what metal bands are allowed to release albums across the border) have in store for us in 2015? Well, yet another 50 plus minutes of Majestic Downfall goodness, of course.

Now I'm sure there have been other bands that have released 3 albums 3 years in a row, but I challenge you to come up with any that are the sole responsibility of 1 man, and of this high quality. Frankly, I'm astounded. As good as Three was, last year's split was by far the best thing the band has ever done. I stated in my review that "Dark Lullaby" off that album was one of the best metal songs in the past decade. So to say the bar was set insanely high this time around would be a gross understatement.

Have they topped themselves yet again? Maybe, time will tell as the year goes on and I have even more time with this album. What I can say though is we have a worthy follow up to the feel and quality of last year's release. Think of this in terms of a movie sequel, it's very difficult to eclipse the original; there's a natural ceiling to just how awesome and amazing something can be. But this isn't merely a carbon copy of their past material or trying to repeat prior glories, quite the contrary.

The first thing you'll notice is the production has a less polished and much more live feel to it. It's far from raw but I can't help but think this was deliberately planned to coincide with the bands first ever live performances this year. So on that note it's a rather nice tie in. By the time the intro (and title track) "...When Dead" and the lead track "Escape My Thoughts" is through, you feel almost musically satiated with its roller coaster of death metal, doom and atmosphere. Frankly it's amazing how you can make a 15 minute song this interesting. "The Brick, the Concrete" ups the ante even more and rivals last years "Dark Lullaby" as best song of the year material. The main guitar riff and that tone, the rumbling of the bass, topped off by a great old school heavy metal/rock infused guitar solo.

I could go on and on but I think you get the point. As a reviewer you can fall into the trap of becoming numb with the amount of music you hear each and every month. That's why I genuinely appreciate when an album comes along and demands you to take notice. It's always easy to pine away for the old days and claim things were better in the 80's and 90's; Majestic Downfall has proven that metal is ageless and that regardless of time period there are always bands creating exceptional material.

Skeletal Spectre - Voodoo Dawn

Review by Justin C.

Cover art by Adam Geyer

With all the talk of how extreme and brutal metal can be, it's easy to forget that it can actually be fun. Enter Skeletal Spectre, who play straight-up, horror-themed death metal that's heavy as can be but still a blast to listen to.

Voodoo Dawn is the band's third full-length, and the second of which to feature Vanessa Nocera on vocals. Nocera is without question one of my favorite vocalists in metal. Her growls range from low and gravelly all the way up through black metal shrieks, but with enough clarity that the listener can actually make out the words. If you're curious to hear how much she can do with her voice, check out "Bone Dust." Near the end of the track, Nocera makes sounds that would cause the heads of mere mortals to turn inside out. On the final track, "The Flip-Side of Satan," we even get a bit of clean-singing Nocera, doing an evil duet with her own trademark growls. Nocera makes a lot of music that's worth digging into, including doom/death with Wooden Stake and some thrashier offerings with Howling, who's coming out with a new album in October.

Skeletal Spectre is completed by Behold the Pentagram on guitar and bass and Haunting the Beyond on drums. I'm sure they have real, human names, but in the interest of fun, we'll stick with the psuedonyms. Their buzzing guitar riffs and thundering drums bring Entombed to mind, but all you really need to know is that they play a no-frills style of death metal that's well-crafted and downright catchy, but it's done without sacrificing any of the heaviness you need and crave. (And, as a matter of fact, there is a song about ritual sacrifices on this album.) Sometimes you just need to step back from the dense and avant garde, and when I listen to this album, I drive too fast and drum on the steering wheel. What more can you ask for?

[Go to the post to view the Bandcamp player]

Impiety - Ravage & Conquer

Written by Atanamar Sunyata.

Singapore’s Impiety have been slashing away at thrashing-black-death since 1990, leaving a trail of murderously fine albums in their wake. The band’s 8th full-length album stands out from the pack thanks to particularly potent guitar work and a focus on cogent, incisive songwriting. Ravage & Conquer sports a crushing cohesion borne of ineffable battery (courtesy of Dizazter), and is graced with a fittingly gritty and articulate production.

New guitarist Nizam Aziz brings a breakneck barrage of ripping riffage, cut from the trusty mold of Seven Churches by way of Kreator, Slayer and Altars of Madness. The songs are delivered with precipitous abandon and impossible precision, matching majestic riffs to rhythmic finesse. The solos are particularly awe-inspiring, displaying an incredible economy and a flair for memorable, malicious melody.

Photo by Carmelo Española.

Shyaithan reigns over his creation with diabolical iniquity, spewing abject blasphemy amidst fervent exhortations to war against the flock of God. His ragged, rasping vocals are unrepentantly savage, inciting a desire to do exactly what the album title commands.

Ravage & Conquerr is an immediate, ridiculously enjoyable rampage and one of the best albums of the year thus far. Break out the neck brace. “Death shall strike.”

[Go to the post to view the Bandcamp player]

Morbus Chron - Sleepers in the Rift

Art by Raul Gonzales

Morbus Chron - Sleepers In The Rift is available on the Pulverised Records Bandcamp. With album art like that, what more needs to be said really? This is fuzzed-out and groovy old school death metal, channeling both the early Swedish and Floridian scenes. It is also a genuine, fun to listen to piece of aggressive death metal from Swedish youngsters as this review from Lurker's Path puts its. In this Angry Metal Guy review Sleepers In The Rift is summed up thusly:

it’s wonderfully repellant, low-fi, non-techy and makes you feel like you need to be disinfected and vaccinated. It’s underproduced, muddy, discordant and vile all the way but somehow manages to be catchy.

I believe the appropriate response to that description is a heartfelt "Ugh!".

[Go to the post to view the Bandcamp player]

Graveyard - The Altar Of Sculpted Skulls

The new EP by Spanish band Graveyard, The Altar Of Sculpted Skulls, has been released on the Pulverised Records Bandcamp. This is old school Death Metal in the vein of seminal Swedish bands such as Carnage, Dismember, and Entombed. Vicious, filthy, and raw. Yes, it isn't very original, but Graveyard do a brilliant job of capturing that Stockholm sound and feel. And the songs are killer, black diamonds in the rough as this review from No Clean Singing calls them. Here's another review from The Metal Archives.

[Go to the post to view the Bandcamp player]