A gem brightly shining through the mirk underground. The complex structures and furious advances, the fluency of their long-form compositions are perfectly encapsulated throughout the duration of Mutatis Mutandis. Still, what separates Mutatis Mutandis is the level of craftsmanship that Kevel have put into this work. Traveling further towards outer space, Kevel brilliantly fit their hazy psych-rock movements, altering the weight of their sludge core to deliver stunning moments of overwhelming grandeur in “Cosmic Domination” and “Utopia Planitia”. The incorporation of a vocalist was another missing piece that Kevel have addressed, able to increase the inherent angst and unpredictability of “The Apophatic ” or awaken the mystical essence of psychedelic overture moments like “Terraforming”. The ethereal weavings of progressive sludge crush against the eerie blackened sense in opener “Of Being”, the lead guitars constantly moving through dissonant means while drums erratically switch the narrative from majestically ceremonial to full-blown chaos. And as they have based their core and foundations on much of the genre’s principles, they are constantly looking to expand further. Kevel approach post-metal as an ever-expanding jigsaw puzzle. Kevel – Mutatis, Mutandis (I, Voidhanger) Megaton Sword – Blood Hails Steel – Steel Hails Fire by Dying Victims Productions Megaton Sword – Blood Hails Steel – Steel Hails Fire by Dying Victims Productions 18. Thanks to their pure and simple understanding of the genre and its influences, Megaton Sword have created one of the best (epic) heavy metal releases in recent years. While it’s meaty riffs, galloping rhythms, nifty songwriting, gruff vocal delivery, and grandiose atmosphere carry a certain vintage patina, the music here is all the better for it.
But it is also an album that sounds equally strong in today’s metal scene. In this context, Blood Hails Steel – Steel Hails Fire is an instant classic, as it could have existed along with the defining works of those pioneers during the heyday of the genre, and be counted as a proper gem. Discographies of (proto) epic heavy metal stalwarts like Saxon, Manilla Road, and Manowar were a special pleasure of mine at the time, with their huge riffs and over-the-top delivery providing gateways for the exploration of the broader universe of metal. Listening to Swiss quartet Megaton Sword’s full-length debut for the first time brought me back to my early forays in metal music when each record was a small new world unto itself just waiting to be discovered. Megaton Sword – Blood Hails Steel (Dying Victims Productions) – Spyros StasisĮndless Wound by Black Curse 19. It is exactly that quality that makes tracks like “Finality I Behold” sound truly damned and evil, instead of simply cliché and rehashed. With a similarly apt attitude, they drop the pace, giving birth to moments of towering majesty in the interlude “Lifeless Sanctum”, carrying on this monstrous form in the second half of the title track.Įndless Wound they tick all the boxes for old school black/death, what shines through is the attitude and deep appreciation of the style. Yet, Black Curse does not possess a singular gear, and soon, they bend this chaotic structure, awakening a deeply dissonant and disturbing interlude. The fast pace leaves nothing standing in its path as blast beats and double bass merge with the frenzied riffage for a devastating assault. It is a tempest from the past that greets you as the sharp guitar feedback erupts into a venomous onslaught of war metal grandeur in “Charnel Rift”. The result of this meeting was Malibis, which soon evolved into Black Curse and release debut record That was the time when the lines between black and death metal were blurred, both reveling in an evil spirited nature. In 2015 members of acclaimed acts Primitive Man, Khemmis, and Blood Incantation discussed their love for the early days of extreme metal. Black Curse – Endless Wound (Sepulchral Voice)
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