RIFF REWIND (16/5/2013): Hessian - "Manegarmr"

Well it has been nearly two years since founding Editor Steve Howe left the blog, and with over 4443 articles published over the last 6 years, even the most ardent supporter of The Sludgelord, will not have read every one.   A couple of years back I had the idea over the weeks and months that have since turned into years to present a retrospective rundown of the top reviews, free downloads, bands to check out, live reviews, interviews and much more as a tribute to what Steve started, what we continue to do and what we strive to achieve in future.

New and old followers may have missed a few albums over the years, so I’m going to make amends by trying to reactivate what I original intended to do, painstakingly delving through the archives and refreshing old articles to bring them up to date in line with our new and improved format, representing old articles in the hope of attracting new fans to awesome albums we have covered over the years. 

Therefore, as we enter the third week in May 2017, we rewind to 16th May 2013 and an album by Belgium’sHessian, entitled, "Manégarmr".  This ominous metal/hardcore band would slightly revamp the band's moniker to Hessian A.D.as the band explained at the time.  "Due to legal reasons, we have been forced to change the band's name to HESSIAN A.D. on American territory. This, however, only covers U.S. territory; we will still continue to play under the old HESSIAN flag in all other parts of the world. Sadly this change is completely beyond our control and it's not very much to our liking. But, rest assured, we will continue to give this band and this music our all. Thank you all for your support."

Source http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/hessian-changes-name-to-hessian-a-d-for-american-market/#YJYoXblj1T14QQRH.99

You can dib into the album below.

By: Matt Fitton

Album Type:  Full Length

Date Released: 13/5/2013

Label:Southern Lord

Southern Lord keeps expanding its roster of talented and fast-paced groups, and the latest addition is Belgium's Hessian. They play a furious blend of metallic hardcore, laced with some black metal influence. Their debut record is 'Manegarmr', and it both shreds and kills in equally violent measure.

“Manegamr” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Ascension
2. Serpent’s Whisper
3. Mourn The World of Man
4. Plague Monger
5. Father of Greed
6. Vamacara
7. Swallowing Nails
8. Hollow Eyes
9. Manegarmr
10. Mother of Light

The Review:

Southern Lordkeeps expanding its roster of talented and fast-paced groups, and the latest addition is Belgium's Hessian. They play a furious blend of metallic hardcore, laced with some black metal influence. Their debut record is 'Manegarmr', and it both shreds and kills in equally violent measure.  Any album that starts with feedback is a plus for me. It's most definitely not just noise, and it has a justifiable place in heavy music. That said, 'Ascension' opens with feedback. Right before erupting into a cacophony of BM drumming and righteous hardcore fury. If this is a statement of intent for the album, then I'm sold.

Turns out it was. And I am.

'Serpent's Whisper' has some oddly timed and discordant riffs sewn within its structure that only enhance the mood. At its heart though is more of that virulent hardcore noise, so pure in its hatred that you cannot ignore it. This whole fucking thing is an absolute rager!!  I adored the layered and levelled riffs, they pound you into submission. This is the audio equivalent of a knee to the face.

Now, a special portion of this review will be dedicated to 'Mourn The World Of Man'. Bear with me, because I'm going to get positively pornographic over this bad boy. This is another contender for track of the year, every aspect of it is glorious to behold.  Aggressive vocals, heavy in the mid pace where it needs to be, but the real magic is found within the second half. There is this droning riff that escalates rhythmically, and then descends into madness with a DM taste. This thing is pure and absolute FILTH and I loved it. It sets the pulse racing, and you'll do that thing with your head and face where it looks like you're nodding in agreement.

'Swallowing Nails' is an absolute winner of a track title. The BM weighs heavier here than some other parts of the LP, but the riffs are still vicious and quite straight forward in their tradition. The breakdowns are immense, and you'll feel that the nails are in your ears rather than your throat.

'Hollow Eyes' is more of the same, all Slayer speed and Nails ferocity. This thing could incite a riot. It's so evil that haunted houses should be built upon it by accident, leading to some kind of bloodbath. And maybe better property planning.

This exercise in insanity winds down with 'Mother of Light', a colossal monument to sheer brute force. The eerie effect in the background perfectly complements the progressing heaviness of the riff in the foreground. It rolls on, devoid of relent or compassion. Which is nice.

Southern Lordkeeps signing these bands and making a name for itself. By no means was Hessiana gamble, but a certified slam dunk.   Armed with 'Manegarmr', you'd be a fool to bet against them. Check it out the moment it becomes available in your area.

 

Band info: Bandcamp || Facebook 

ALBUM REVIEW: Let It Die - "The Liar & The Saint"

By: Chris Wilson

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 17/11/2016

Label: Independent

“The Liar & the Saint” can be summed as follows; if you have any kind of interest in grindcore / extreme metal / death metal / hardcore whatever you want to call it, you cannot afford to miss out on this. Don't even debate investing in this. Just get it. This is a Future classic.

 

“The Liar & The Saint” DD//LP track listing:

1). Release

2). One Hundred Days

3). Punish

4). Take All The Heads of The People, And Hang Them Up Before The Lord Against The Sun

5). Dysphoria

6). Oderint Dum Metuant

7). Pathetic

8). Soul Deceiver

9). Choke

10). The Last Monument

11). Heaven And The Eternity Of Tears (Part I)

12). Heaven And The Eternity Of Tears (Part II)

The Review:

So I recently went to see Wormrot. Having been impressed with their recorded output I was looking forward to it, but not expecting much. In the event they handed my ass to me. I now fully understand and appreciate this magnificent force of brutalising destruction and consequently went back to their albums with a newfound appreciation.

It had been a while since I encountered an act which came close to the first time I saw Nasum, or heard Pig Destroyer. It would be unreasonable to expect to see such acts every few years. Two days later I saw Let It Die who pretty much stood up to Wormrot. That I had encountered another act with that same sense of reckless aggression, that understands the need to go all out with no consideration for melody, but instead the focus on pure adrenaline. That an act can be almost mindlessly and needlessly brutal to give you hope for the genre. So I thought it would be advisable to purchase their latest album, “The Liar & The Saint”.

This particular form of grind is interspersed with groove orientated riffs, giving it some much needed variety. Speed and noise is all well and good, but mixing it up proves more effective as displayed to great effect in the appropriately named “Punish”, which features Weekend Nachos John Hoffman, as if further endorsement were needed.

Highlights include “Soul Deceiver” and “Oderint Dum Metuant” which starts with a nice doomy sludge intro before flying off into discordant crust and then a stomping Nasum/ Nailshybrid section. The ending is simply aural destruction. Elsewhere there is plenty of dischordant tremolo picking, blast beats, all out noise and general riotousness.

In places it comes across like a death metal inflected Rotten Sound with slight hints of acts such as Nails. The dynamics shift nicely between speeds so it never gets repetitive and the more chunky sections give an oppressive sense of disgust and sludgy nihilism when needed.

“The Liar & the Saint”can be summed as follows; if you have any kind of interest in grindcore / extreme metal / death metal / hardcore whatever you want to call it, you cannot afford to miss out on this. Don't even debate investing in this. Just get it. This is a Future classic.

“The Liar & The Saint”is available here

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Gatecreeper - "Sonoran Deprivation"

By: Rick Ahmed

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 07/10/2016

Label: Relapse Records

When they use melodies they're more creepy than pretty. They seem to only be there to allow you to catch your breath before they sit on your chest and start punching you in the face again

“Sonoran Deprivation” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Craving Flesh
2. Sterilizing
3. Desperation
4. Rotting As One
5. Stronghold
6. Patriarchal Grip
7. Lost Forever
8. Flamethrower
9. Grotesque Operations

The Review:

"In defence of hm-2 death metal"  Frankly I find it a little dismissive to reduce this new wave of death metal to nothing more than a type of distortion pedal produced in the early 80's. Gatecreeperdoes have that buzzsaw tone, they also conjure the spirit of the 90's, but they add much more of a doom metal vibe to it. At the same time the composition of these songs reminds one of traditional hardcore, the fat is stripped; the goal is simple, brutality.

When they use melodies they're more creepy than pretty. They seem to only be there to allow you to catch your breath before they sit on your chest and start punching you in the face again. The vocals are harsh barked death grunts that sit perfectly in the mix so as to compliment the crunching chugs rather than overpower them.  Also, the cover art is a breathtaking oil painting of what appears to be some sort of intergalactic horizon which also wins them some points in the "cool shit I'd like to display on my record rack" category. 

Anybody into extreme music should be able to enjoy the simple brutality and groove this album offers, I'd also recommend it to fans of; Nails, Trap Them, Obituary, Entombed, Kataklysm, Harm's Way.

“Sonoran Deprivation” is available here

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook