Acephalix/Deathless Master/Southern Lord Records/2012 CD Review

  Acephalix  are  a  band  from  San  Francisco, California  that  has  had  their  previous  album  reviewed  in  this  zine  with  a  musical  style  that  combines  crust/punk  with  death  metal  cd  this  is  a  review  of  their  2012  album  "Deathless  Master"  which  was  released  by  Southern  Lord  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  a  good  amount  of  blast  beats  being  thrown  into  the  music,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  is  coming  out  of  the  guitars.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  crust/punk  with  death  metal  mixed  in  with  a  good  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  dark  and  melodic  sounding  death  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  are  mostly  deep  death  metal growls  with  some  high  pitched  screams  and  spoken  word  parts  being  thrown  in  at  times,  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  evil  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  dark,  raw  and  heavy  sound  to  it.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  album  from  Acephalix  that  is  more  death  metal  influenced  then  there  last  recordings  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  enjoy  this  one  as  well.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Deathless  Master"  "Raw  Life"  and  "The  Hunger".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

  

Dissecting Table/Industrial Document 1988/1991/Steinklang/2011 Double CD Review

  Dissecting  Table  are  a  band  from  Japan  that  plays  a  mixture  of  harsh  noise/industrial/noisecore  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2011  double  cd  compilation  "Industrial  Document  1988/91"  which  was  released  by  Stenklang.

  Percussion  which  is  used  instead  of  drums  bring  a  more  mechanical  and  tribal  feeling  to  the  music,  while the  synths,  sampler  and  seqeuncer  bring  the  dark  ambient,  harsh  noise  and  industrial  sounds  to  the  recording  which  in  addition  sound  more  experiemental  and  evil  sounding  on  the  second  disc,  as  for  the  bass  playing  it  has  a  very  dark  sound  with  some  primitive  riffing.

  Rhythm  guitars  on  this  recording  when  they  are  utilized  which  is  mostly  on  the  first  disc  are  very  primitive  sounding  noise/grind/industrial  riffs  that  alternate  between  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  riffing  and  there  are  no  guitar  solos  or  leads  present  on  this  recording.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  noisecore/industrial  screams  with  a  brief  use  of  Gregorian  and  tribal  chanting  being  used  on  a  couple  of  songs  with  the  second  disc  utilizing  some  deep  death  metal  growls  and  they  sound  better  on  the  second  disc,  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark,  hateful and  violent  themes,  as  for  the  production  both  cd's  where  recorded  live  with  a  3  year  time  span  between  each  one  and  they  have  a  very,  dark,  raw  and  primitive  sound  to  them  while  the  one  from  1991  is  better  produced  than  the  one  in  1988.

  In  my  opinion  Dissecting  Table  are  a  very  great  sounding  harsh  noise/death  industrial/noisecore  hybrid  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  style  of  music,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED TRACKS  ON  CD  1  "Silent  Violence"  "Rotation  Of The  Conflict"  "Psychic  Noise"  and  "Control  Matter" ,  RECOMMENDED  Tracks  On  Cd  2  "Road  To  Death"  "Death  March"  "Murder  Music"  and  "humanism  1".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

Megascavenger Interview

1. Can you tell us a little bit about the band for those that have never heard of you before?

- It's basically a project where I can work with some of my own fave vocalists or musicians. Most songs have guests on growls or lead guitars, and its something I've wanted to do for quite a while really. For people that don't know of me before, I play in bands like Paganizer, Ribspreader, Demiurg and The Grotesquery (with Kam Lee from Massacre)

2. How would you describe your musical sound?

- Really basic and rotten death metal, brutal but still groovy and catchy. Not melodic and not technical, just heavy and built for headbanging.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

- Nothing new at all, its basically horror stories ne them based on real life or fictional stuff. Its the classic topic that goes hand in hand with this sort of music really.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?

- I've had the name for years, since back in the mid/late 90s. I only used it for a demo in ´97 or something like that and now with this project I though it would be cool to use again. I really like the word, and in a way I'm a scavenger gathering up all these people to work with on these songs.

5. Has the band had any opportunities to do any live shows, if so what are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?

- This is only a project, not meant for live performances. would be rather impossible to get all these guests to get on stage with me really.

6. When can we expect a full length from the band?

- I don't know, its already written and recorded, and mixed and mastered. But I don't know when or even if it'll be released. I'm hoping sometime early next year at least.

7. On a worldwide level how has your music been received by death metal fans?

- Megascavenger has had a handful of reviews so far, almost all of them really good.

8. What is going on with the other band projects these days?

- The Grotesquery, with Kam Lee, will release the second album next month. And in a couple of months the fourth Revolting album will be out as well. Paganizer has been doing shows in Europe to support the album from last year "Into the catacombs". Also there's plans for a fourth and final Demiurg album. Time will tell if it'll happen or not.

9. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?

- To be honest I don't think there will be anymore Megascavenger albums. This is a project I did for my own amusement, and I got to work with lots of great musicians, but to make it all happen once again with new guests, I don't think that's going to happen.

10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

- Massacre is a band that's been a huge thing for me, but I listen to lots of different music. everything from old rock and country to industrial music.

11. Outside of music what are some of your interests?

- I like to drink beer. And to hang out with my dog and my girlfriend. Did I mention I like to drink beer too?

12. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

- No not really.

 

Elizabeth/Where Vultures Land/Throatruiner Records/2012 EP Review

  Elizabeth  are  a  band  from  Switzerland  that  plays  a  mixture  of  crust/grind  and  post  hardcore  and  this  is  a review  of  their  2012  EP  "Where  Vultures  End"  which  was  released  by  Throatruiner  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  some  blast  beats  being  thrown  into  the  music  at  times,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  strong,  powerful  and  heavy  sound  with  riffs  that  dominate  throughout  the  recording.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  crust/grind  with  post  hardcore  and  there  are  little  to  no  guitar  solos  or  leads  present  on  this  recording.

  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  high  pitched  grindcore/screamo  screams  and  deep  hardcore  style  growls  with  some  clean  singing  being  used  at  times,  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  hateful  themes,  as  for  the  productio  it  has  a  very  dark,  raw,  heavy and  primitive  sound  to  it.

  In  my  opinion  Elizabeth  are  a  very  good  sounding  crust/grind/screamo/post  hardcore  hybrid  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  style,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Darkness"  "Sailors  Grave"  and  "Rising  Kingdom".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.