CD Review: Mournful Congregation - The June frost

Mournful Congregation

The June Frost
Weird Truth Productions
2009

Mournful Congregation are certainly one of, if not Australia's best doom/death metal band. Their music is slow, yet aggressive and emotional. I recently got into these guy thanks to a friend of mine, and just this year, they've released their third full length album titled The June Frost.

The June Frost is considered to be their best work sofar, from what I've heard from other fans of this band, and after hearing some of their earlier stuff, including the double album "The Dawning Of Mournful Hymns" (which is also excellent), I'd be incline to agree. This band has grown heaps, and they certainly do keep getting better, with this album, it's 8 songs of pure metal doom.

"White Cold Wrath Burnt Frozen Blood" is one of my favourite tracks from the album, and the longest at 17 mins. Part of it includes an awesome harmonized melody with acoustic guitar and the usual deep vocals that are featured on this album. This is the doom I'd been waiting for, but hadn't realised yet. It doesn't get much better than this song. Some side guitar that reminds me a little of Opeth pops up here aswell, which sees this song off to an end. Very thought inducing and emotional playing here, as it is with the rest of this album.

The album is very diverse in it's style of doom, with a few instrumental pieces. The title song of the album, "The June Frost" is one of those instrumentals which features solos playing over an acoustic guitar, which pretty much proves that this band can do more than one thing for an entire album, which is rarely seen in some bands these days. It's a curious song that seems to use mainly major sounding scales and chords, yet it invokes the same feeling on despair as the other songs on this record. The contrast between this type of playing and the slow doom of the other songs is quite interesting in itself.

This is a very impressive album, with many interesting and well written musical ideas. The mixture of heavy and soft is pulled of with amazing precision. The production of the album is also spotless. It sounds absolutely awesome! What I find to be the most interesting thing about this band, is after some 15 years of being around, they only just did their debut live performance this year. It's definitely a great time to get into this band, with an European tour supporting Mourning Beloveth coming up this April to follow-up this album's release.

The June Frost will mark a very important spot for Australian metal, with much recognition following in it's wake. Definitely an album worth buying, and Mournful Congregation are definitely a band worth seeing live (keep an eye out for a live review coming soon).

Mournful Congregation - The June Frost
Solemn Strikes The Funeral Chime
Descent Of The Flames
White Cold Wrath Burnt Frozen Blood
The June Frost
A Slow March To The Burial
The Februar Winds
Suicide Chior
The Wreath

Playing Time: 60 mins

www.myspace.com/mournfulcongregation

CD Review: Futility

Futility

Futility
Unsigned
2009

Futility are one of Australia's premier Doom metal bands, and this year they released their debut self titled album, which includes a full listing of 6 reasonablylengthed songs. Futility hail from Canberra and are doing their best to mark their own section in the Australian metal community. In my opinion Futility are yet to meet their peak, but that doesn't mean that this album isn't good, infact it's quite the opposite. This album will likely be one of my most played Australian albums throughout 2009, and I can see this band being one of few I follow that keep getting better.

Futility released their album alongside Ironwood at the show in Canberra, which was a blast. Their live performance is pretty spot on, and the new album reflects that perfectly. What you hear on record is what you get live, which can be the aim of many bands, but also the downfall of many more. One of the most difficult objectives for a band.

Futility is full of solid riffing, flawless drumming and brutal vocals. The power behind some of these songs is just awesome, the intro to "My Sickness" makes me want to headbang like crazy, which, might I add, can be quite rare for me. They've got an original twist to their music which I can't put my finger on, butsome of their songs remind me of a few European bands, like Katatonia meets October Tide with a slice of In Mourning on the side. But since I hate comparing bands to others, I'll just say that as far as I can tell, Futility's sound is their own.

The production on this album is great. For another 2009 independent release from Australia's (often unappreciated) metal scene, these guys have done a great job on bringing the quality back to our metal! The performance on this album is absolutely flawless, it's not overdone with production, and as a result you get a nice raw sound. This really is how the band sounds live, which is a great accomplishment.

As many are probably aware, Katatonia's Brave Murder Day album has added a pretty decent influence to the community of decent doom metal bands we have around today, and Futility are no exception to that. Infact, this album even includes a cover of "Murder", from that very album of Katatonia's. Some may say this is a fatal mistake, to include another bands song on their own album, but I think it's awesome! It's always interesting to hear other bands interpretations of some of my favourite songs ever (which Murder fits into), and Futility have done a great job of recording this song.

Those who have no hope in the Australian metal scene, give this band a listen and see if you still feel the same after hearing it. And anyone else who is into decent metal, give Futility a go. This album has not disappointed me at all!

Futility - Futility
Track Listing
...Failed
Saline Oasis
My Sickness
Fallen
Nothing
Murder (Katatonia Cover)

Playing Time: 43:35

Check them out here:
www.myspace.com/futilitycanberra

Review of the Futility launch show:
Click Here

Cd Review: Ironwood :Fire:Water:Ash:

Ironwood

:Fire:Water:Ash:
Unsigned
2009

Ironwood's debut album, :Fire:Water:Ash:, is most likely one of 2009s best unsigned releases by far. These four awesome musicians from Sydney have yet again outdone themselves with this release. Since hearing their debut EP I have been waiting anxiously for this album to come into the light, and I must say, it's certainly refreshing to hear something so different to everything else that I hear these days.

:Fire:Water:Ash: is THE album to get if you're into metal with a twist like this. The music drifts through heavy and softer sections flawlessly, often flicking between both in one song. It caters to just about every musical need you may have. Some of the vocals on this album are very different from what I'm used to hearing from other bands, particularly the low sung ones. The Raven Song, and Tide Of Memory both contain beautifully sung harmonies, another of the many vocal techniques you'll hear throughout this album.

The bass is still as impressive as it was on the EP. Henry plays it much like a 'real' guitar (for the elitists), often with complicated bass lines. A few bass solos pop up here and there also (Like a bass should be played), which are quite impressive, particularly when the bass is usually forgotten by the listeners, and poorly played by the musician. Ironwood proudly bring the bass back towards the listeners attention with this. The guitars are also very well played, with many switches between electric and acoustic, and rightfully so. The musicianship on this record stands out really well, and you can really tell that these guys enjoy what they do, and have done for a long time.

Jarnvidr Gallows, a 12 minute epic, holds one of my favourite Ironwood moments towards the end of the song, with a half sung, whispered vocal line along a guitar part that'll send shivers down your spine. Audio clips are used cleverly all through this album also, with sounds of rain, birds, and other ambient noises popping up all over the place. River of Fire was known as "Yggr" on the EP, and it has returned with great triumph. This was my favourite song off that recording, and sounds heaps better with the new production. The second longest song on this epic album, and possibly the most epic.

The production as a whole is great, everything is flawless and sounds awesome, and the artwork is definitely something else to behold. For an independent release, it can't get much better than this, particularly with an Australian band. Ironwood is definitely worth checking out if you haven't already. :Fire:Water:Ash: is out now and worth every penny!!!

Track Listing:
Önd Ascending
The Oncoming Storm
The Raven Song
Jarvindr Gallows
The Serpent Seeks It's Tail
Tide Of Memory
Love In Death
River Of Fire
Eihwaz Descending

Playing time: 70:35

Available from:
http://www.ironwoodsound.com.au/

www.myspace.com/ironwoodband

Metaholic review of the :Fire:Water:Ash: launch show.

Amon Amarth - Twilight Of The Thunder God CD Review

Amon Amarth are back with a powerful new album, Twilight Of The Thunder God. The bands 7th studio album was recorded at Fascination Street Studio in Örebro, Sweden, and was produced by Jen Borgen. The album features Johan Hegg on vocals, Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Söderberg on guitars, Ted Lundström on bass and Fredrik Andersson on drums. the album also features a few high profile guests including Lars Göran Petrov of Entombed doing some vocals on the track "Guardians of Asgaard", Roope Latvala of Children of Bodom adding some guitars on the title track and Apocalyptica adding some cellos on "Live for the Kill".

This yet another solid release for Amon Amarth, with 10 tracks of pure metal glory. Twilight Of The Thunder God, the title track, and the first song on the CD, is a great start for this record, with all the classic Amon Amarth style we've come to know and love. If you couldn't guess, they're still pushing the viking themes, which is great. They day they stop doing that is the day we'll mourn the loss of Amon Amarth, but if this album is any indication of the bands end, it's not for a very long time.

Highlights for me include Guardians of Asgard, Varyags of Miklagaard, The Hero, Live for the Kill and Embrace The Endless Ocean. The album also came with a live DVD that contains footage of the bands entire Summer Breeze 2007 show, which included a set of 13 songs, including Valhall Awaits Me, Asator, The Pursuit of Vikings, Fate Of Norns, and so forth. A great addition to an already awesome package.

The production on this album is really good, an improvement even on With Oden On our Side. The guitars are nice and heavy, and everything is in good balance with each other and sounds great. Jens has really outdone himself this time around. If you're a fan, or haven't heard this band before, get this album and give it a good listen, because it's bloody great! Worth it even just for the live DVD.

Twilight Of The Thunder God is now out through Metal Blade.

CD Review: Sword Toward Self - Dissolution Mantras

Sword Toward Self hail from the innards of one of Australia's best cities, Sydney. The band features Dan Nahum (Ironwood, Bleakwood) on drums, Phil Brown (Ironwood) on guitars & vocal duties and Henry Lauer (Ironwood, Intorment Black) on bass. The band takes influences from such artists as Meshuggah, Emperor, Pestilence, Axis of Advance and Suffocation to produce an epic EP titled Dissolution Mantras.

The EP comes in at just under 17 minutes, and is pure metal glory! Full of solid riffs, epic solos and precise drumming, this is a great start for Sword Toward Self. The first track, which is named Sword Toward Self, is a great example of the awesomeness this band is capable of. The first half is a covenant of awesome riffs and melodies, and it then take an unexpected, although not necessarily bad, turn and continues into a nice acoustic section with clean singing vocals and a bass solo, which all fit together quite nicely.
The bass is great to hear, since it's doing more than just play root notes. The inclusions of the mini solo in the self titles track was a great showcase of the talent that Henry posesses. Even on the faster, tromo picked parts you can hear the bass play every note along with the guitar.

The other two songs, Regress/Regret and Iridescent Wings of the Ungods, continue with the heaviness at more epic levels with more kickarse riffs and awe inspiring fills. This is definitely an great CD to headbang to, and an excellent start for Sword Toward Self. the musicianship on this EP really grabs you to the point where you can tell that these guys have been playing for a long time, and take their music seriously.

Do yourself a favour and give these guys a listen, buy the CD from them, it's definitely worth it. Check them out at these following sites:
http://www.myspace.com/swordtowardself
http://www.swordtowardself.com.au

Ironwood - Debut EP Review

Ironwood are a self acclaimed progressive folk metal band from Sydney, Australia. I picked up a copy of their debut self-titled EP featuring the three songs Yggr, The Tree and Song Of The Danes. This 24 minute EP is a great starting point for Ironwood, with Yggr starting out on a softer note, with rain and thunder sounds under some clean guitar (is it more metal of me to actually have listened to this during a real storm here too? I sh!t you not) and progressing into some nice aggressive metal. It's sometimes a hard thing to go from soft to heavy so smoothly, but these guys have the transition working perfectly, and with the sound they have it makes it a very enjoyable listen.
Track two, The Tree is a wonderful 'ballad' so to speak, since it is all clean instruments. Although the next song, Song Of The Danes, returns to the aggressive heavy sound of the previous song in full force. But this song is not without it's softer moments aswell, with a nice break about 2 mins in. This song includes the most awesome solo you'll hear on this cd, although I can't help but think it was too short.

The vocals themselves are something I haven't heard much before, and in relation to the music, it's f!cking awesome. The bass guitar does more than play root notes here aswell, I can actually hear some technicality within the rhythm section. Something that more bassists should do way more often. It has a sort-of Steve Harris galloping sound to it, and although this band doesn't sound much like Iron Maiden, it does kind of remind me of them (which is a good thing). But, if you're after full-on comparisons here, you're not going to get any. I honestly can't think of any other band I've heard that sounds like them. A feat very little accomplished in the metal scene these days.

Basically, this EP works as an introduction to the band, a great intorduction that is. after listening to it all through, I can't wait for more. The production isn't that of 'professional' quality, and by that I mean it's not over-produced, which is no bother for me. Everything was still understandable and sounded great to my ears. The nordic themes give it some extra credit points for me aswell, as it's a subject I enjoy thoroughly (enter epic lightning bolt here). Basically, this is a band that everyone should give a listen at some point, I hear very good things about their live show aswell. Other reviews that I have read only act as support to my statements that this band is destined for something good in the near future.

Check them out now! And keep an eye out for an album sometime soon.
http://www.myspace.com/ironwoodband

http://www.ironwoodsound.com.au

Collections

Here is a list of both my Opeth and Katatonia collections. I'll be updating periodically with pictures of the collections in their entirety and close-ups of anything requested. Enjoy!
Added to the end is a list of some other rarities I may have scored, aswell as what I am after.


Opeth
Orchid UK Original (No logo)
Orchid Thai PROMO CD
Orchid Displeased LP
Orchid DLP Pic Disc
Orchid Purple DLP
Orchid Cassette
Orchid Candlelight Tin
Morningrise UK Original (No logo)
Morningrise Re-release
Morningrise 2006 Japan
Morningrise Cassette
Morningrise Candlelight Tin
Morningrise DLP Pic Disc
Morningrise DLP Pic Disc TEST PRESS (1 of 5)
Morningrise 2008 Grey Vinyl
My Arms Your Hearse UK Original (No logo, stickered)
My Arms Your Hearse USA Original
My Arms Your Hearse Candlelight Tin
My Arms Your Hearse Cassette
My Arms Your Hearse DLP Pic Disc
My Arms Your Hearse 2008 Blue vinyl
Still Life Original Peaceville
Still Life Slipcase CD
Still Life PROMO CD
Still Life re-release digi
Still Life 2008 2cd edition
Still Life Cassette
Still Life Original DLP
Still Life Re-Release DLP (601/2000)
Blackwater Park PROMO
Blackwater Park Kotch Blue PROMO CD (Signed by Mike and Mendez)
Blackwater Park CD UK
Blackwater Park CD Aus
Blackwater Park LTD 2cd
Blackwater Park digi
Blackwater Park Legacy Edition
Blackwater Park Legacy Edition PROMO
Blackwater Park cassette
Blackwater Park 2008 180grm Vinyl
Still Day Beneath The Sun 7" Vinyl Black
Still Day Beneath The Sun 7" Vinyl Grey
Deliverance PROMO CD
Deliverance Aus Cd
Deliverance UK Cd signed
Deliverance Kotch/MFN
Deliverance Music For Nations digi
Deliverance Metal Mind digi
Deliverance 2008 180grm
Deliverance Pic Disc
Damnation CD
Damnation Metal Mind digi
Damnation PROMO CD
Damnation 1st edition vinyl
Damnation 2008 180grm Kotch/MFN DLP
Damnation Cassette
Lamentations DVD
Ghost Reveries 1st release CD
Ghost Reveries 2cd digi (AUS release)
Ghost Reveries 2cd digi (US release)
Ghost Reveries DLP
Ghost Reveries Cassette
Ghost Reveries slimline case acetate promo
Selections from Ghost Reveries Promo (signed by 4 band members)
The Roundhouse Tapes Cd
The Roundhouse Tapes Japanese Cd
The Roundhouse Tapes DVD PAL
The Roundhouse Tapes DVD Jewel case NTSC
The Roundhouse Tapes 2cd promo with case
The Roundhouse Tapes 2cd promo in plastic sleeves
The Candlelight Years
Collectors Edition slipcase 5CD box
Watershed CD
Watershed LTD 2cd
Watershed DLP w/cd
Watershed radio sampler w/fully signed booklet
Porcelain Heart promo (Signed by Fred, Per, Mike & Mendez)
Mellotron Heart promo (Signed by Fred, Per, Mike & Mendez)
Burden Promo Signed by Fred & Per
Live at th Royal Albert Hall 3LP 2DVD Box
Heritage Collector's Edition CD
The Devil's Orchard (Signed by Mike, Mendez and Fred)

Other Opeth bits:
Fredrik Åkesson pick (2)
Fredrik Åkesson pick Dunlop Ultex logo
Watershed booklet SIGNED (framed with poster)
Ghost Reveries Booklet SIGNED
Still Life shirt
Old logo shirt
'06 tour shirt
band pic shirt
'08 watershed shirt (Stockholm stamp on back)
Opeth logo zip hoodie
MAYH zip Hoodie
4 assorted badges
metal pin
metal pendant
Deliverance poster
Large Orange text Watershed Tour poster for Sydney show
Die cut Watershed Australian Tour poster
Ghost Reveries UK poster


Katatonia
Jhva Elohim Meth MCD
Jhva Elohim Meth Blue Vinyl
Jhva Elohim Meth split cassette with Hades
Dance Of December Souls Peaceville Re-Issue digi
Dance Of December Souls Black Lodge re-issue digi
Dance Of December Souls Black Lodge Jewel
Dance Of December Souls Mystic Empire Digi
Dance Of December Souls Cassette
For Funerals to Come purple logo cd
For Funerals to Come cassette
For Funerals to Come Pic Disc
Brave Murder Day Avantgarde original
Brave Murder Day / For Funerals to Come CM
Brave Murder Day / For Funerals to Come PROMO
Brave Murder Day digi
Brave Murder Day cassette
Brave Murder Day LTD pic disc
Sounds of Decay
Saw You Drown LTD Blue Vinyl
Saw You Drown MCD
Discouraged Ones 1st edition CD
Discouraged Ones / Brave Murder Day 2cd
Discouraged Ones Avantgarde
Discouraged Ones 2006( ?) Peaceville Digipack
Tonight's Decision slipcase CD
Tonight's Decision Digi re-release
Tonight's Decision 2008 vinyl
Tonight's Decision 2008 vinyl
Tonight's Decision cassette
Tonight's Music single
Teargas EP
Last Fair Deal Gone Down 2001 Digi (folds out to form a +)
Last Fair Deal Gone Down 2004 Digi re-release
Last Fair Deal Gone Down 2008 vinyl
Viva Emptiness original CD
Viva Emptiness re-release digi
Brave Yester Days 2cd digi
Brave Yester Days 2cd jewel
Black Sessions box
December Songs 2LP
December Songs LTD Tin
The Great Gold Distance slipcase
The Great Gold Distance slipcase
The Great Gold Distance 2cd edition
The Great Gold Distance box set
The Great Gold Distance promo
The Great Gold Distance 2LP Red Vinyl
The Great Gold Distance 2LP Red Vinyl
My Twin Single
My Twin Single
My Twin Promo DVD
Deliberation Single
July Single
Live Consternation
Night is the New Day (Swedish Edition)
Night is the New Day Jewel Case (+ Signed booklet)
Night is the New Day full album promo
Night is the New Day - Day & Then the Shade 2 track UK promo Signed by Daniel & Sodomizer
Night is the New Day - Forsaker 2 track UK promo
The Longest Year MCD
The Longest Year full promo
The Longest Year 2 track promo

Old Russian Flexi Bootlegs:
Tomb of Insomnia
In Silence Enshrined
Without God
12
Murder
Teargas
This Punishment
Gone

Katatonia bits:
Brave Murder Day shirt
My Twin shirt
Signed Night is the New Day promo postcard


Related:
Bloodbath:
Breeding Death promo
Breeding Death CD (original?)
Breeding Death 12" Pic Disc
Breeding Death re-issue gate-fold vinyl. Black with etched side.
Resurrection Through Carnage promo
Resurrection Through Carnage CD (original?)
Resurrection Through Carnage LTD pic disc
Resurrection Through Carnage / Breeding Death CD
Nightmares Made Flesh 2008 Century Media
Nightmares Made Flesh promo
Unblessing the Purity CD
Unblessing the Purity LP
Wacken Carnage Digi CD/DVD
The Fathomless Mastery CD
The Fathomless Mastery LP
Mock The Cross T-Shirt

Diabolical Masquerade - Ravendusk In My Heart
Diabolical Masquerade - Ravendusk In My Heart Blue LP Signed with signed postcard
Diabolical Masquerade - The Phantom Lodge
Diabolical Masquerade - Deaths Design (signed by Anders)
October Tide - The Grey Dawn digi
October Tide - Rain Without End re-release PROMO

ISAHN - Angl 2LP Test Press

Ayreon - The Human Equation Box
Ayreon - 01011001 2CD promo
Ayreon - 01011001 2CD + DVD ltd
Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
Edge of Sanity - Crimson cassette
Candlemass 20th Anniversary Live DVD
Roadrunner United

Hard drive
Sörskogen - Mopordett i Grottan
Steel - Heavy Metal Machine (3 songs)
5gb of Opeth bootlegs

Other goodies:
Unleashed Shadows In The Deep cassette Signed
Drumstick signed by Tomas Haake (Meshuggah)


Wish List:
Opeth:
Morningrise OOP Vinyl
My Arms Your Hearse Promo (PRIORITY)
Blackwater Park OOP Vinyl
Damnation OOP Vinyl
Deliverance Single
And whatever else is missing.

Katatonia:
Dance Of December Souls Vinyl
Brave Murder Day Purple Vinyl
Discouraged Ones Vinyl
Kaatonia/Primordial split
Any other OOP CD and Vinyl that I don't have.

Bloodbath:
Nightmares Made Flesh CD and Vinyl
Resurrection Through Carnage colour vinyl
The Fathomless Mastery promo

October Tide - Rain Without End
Steel Heavy Metal Machine 7"

Unleashed - Hammer Batallion

Since their formation in 1989 by front-man, vocalist and bassist Johnny Hedlund, Swedish death metal band Unleashed have released 9 albums and one EP in total, ranging in different styles of death metal.
Since then they've come a long way in their 19 year history, after a hiatus in 1997, lasting until 2001, when they announced their return returned with the epic album Hells Unleashed (released in 1992), and then since, some of their best material was recorded and released in form of another 3 albums, the latest of which being Hammer Battalion, released in June of this year (2008, for those who have forgotten).

This album marks a high point in the career of Unleashed within the metal ranks, continuing their themes of pre-christian worlds and viking mythology, amongst others. This band is not afraid to 'talk' about some of the most controversial topics in the world today, most notably their extreme anti-christian themes, present throughout pretty much all albums, with songs from the early days such as "I Am God" from their 1993 album Across The Open Sea which boasts the lyrics "I am God, I kill people just for pleasure", amongst other, possibly more graphic subjects included in the package. Basically, they say what they want to say, and aren't afraid of saying it.
Hammer Battalion opens with such theme, in the song "The Greatest of All Lies", which speaks of 'the passion of the christ', with the themes continuing into the next song "Long Before Winters Call". " Your Children Will Burn" being the title of the third track, in which serves as a warning of the consequences of blind faith. It's obvious now that Unleashed don't care for what they'd call organized religion, blind faith and so forth, which is, on some sence what the band is all about - voicing against what they believe to be false.

Unleashed certainly are influenced by Nordic and viking culture, aswell as battle themes present in songs such as "This Day Belongs To Me", which represents a soldier in battle calling to Odin to set him free and "Warriors of Midgard". This war theme is also a constantly used topic throughout Unleashed's history as a band. Their albums also feature songs about political matters, mass genocide (see "Triumph of Genocide" on the Midvinterblot album), partying hard and... The lord of The Rings.

Hammer Battalion is a solid addition to the Unleashed discography, with all their trademarks, and more! The album promises pure death metal, no compromise, and delivers! As Johnny says in an interview regarding new material, "We feel very strongly that Hammer Battalion is likely our best album so far, so we don't see new material opting towards a major change. We don't want to walk away from Hammer Battalion's concept, at least not a lot."

Hammer Battalion is now available through SPV records. I recommend you getting yourself a copy.

http://www.myspace.com/666unleashed

unleashed.se

The One Insane:


Midvinterblot live: