Cvinger "Monastery of the Fallen"

Here's a black metal band from  Slovenia called Cvinger.  As English is not their native language it's difficult to tell if the band want to use the v in their name as a u as in kvlt.  There's definitely nothing commercial about Cvinger's music and it is highly likely they will have a cult following but both of these are simply due to the nature of their music.


A creepy atmosphere is created at the fore of the album on the track "Chapter 1 - Into The Depths of Arcane Sanctuary"  but the music  on "Monastery of The Fallen" is largely generic black metal although the vocals are slightly clearer than most of the genre but the guitars sound like angry bumblebees and there are choral parts that would make the Mormon Tabernacle Choir proud.    Simply having a song entitled "Blaspherion" makes it apparent that Cvinger's blasphemy is an important ingredient in this band's  black metal.  Chants end "Among The Crucified"  and proceedings are kicked off with what sounds like a church choir.   It's nigh impossible not to wonder if a group of monks were brought in to chant on "Chapter 3: Amen" because the song does sound like it was recorded at a monastery.


Applause is deserved for the Cvinger's willingness to experiment with quieter moments however at the end of the dark night, however there's almost nothing other than location that separates Cvinger from the rest of the face painted corpse.  "Monastery of The Fallen" will still appeal to fans of generic black metal who need to be as corpse-rotting cult as humanly possible.

2/5

The album is available on CD for 10 euro and "Monastery of the Fallen" can be heard at Cvinger's bandcamp site.

Cvinger on Facebook

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Hosoi Bros - Snorlokk 7"

Hosoi Bros are back with a vengeance with two songs committed to 300 7 inches vinyl. Instead of doing a Peter Jackson and playing around with a big budget in a fantasy world created by some dead dude who had way too much spare time Hosoi Bros chose to invent terrifying and creepy creatures of their own that would have made Ronnie James Dio weep(with tears of joy) such as the Wine Witch and now the Snorlokk.

The title song, Snorlokk is based on super fearless fast early Maiden meets Motorhead style riffing accompanied with raw vocals coupled with shouting of the title before some super fast guitar soloing that is almost possible not to notice. Yngwie Malmsteen if by any chance you're reading this, there's no way this solo would be considered guitar wanking unlike a certain somebody elses. "Amber Lamps" is equally down, dirty and raucous but not as fast. I love the cartoon cover with the image of the band, who have clearly been cursed into transforming into Sunn o))) under a crescent moon. These bros rule and need to put out a full-length soonish.

I've already posted the video to this single but I'm going to embed it because often a great video can take your attention away from the song.

4/5







Hosoi Bros on bandcamp

Hosoi Bros on facebook






Small takeover on facebook

Absolute Monarchs "1"

Absolute Monarchs “1” -2012  
(Good to die)

 If I had to sum up the music of Absolute Monarchs on “1” in a single word it would be noisy but the use of a solitary word is no good so I’ll go for four words and go thick on the adjectives.  Absolute Monarch’s sound is blisteringly heavy indie pop but really that doesn’t do the band justice or describe their music really as it could be a lot of bands and cover a broad spectrum of music.  The standard reviewer’s crutch of describing one band’s music to a number of bands always comes in handy.    Using this technique for Absolute Monarchs leads down the path of describing them as The Pixies and Fugazi colliding on a trampoline after drinking a dozen energy drinks whilst covered by a slight umbrella of Helmet.

The band definitely have a pop sensibility but expertly mess it up by letting small doses of their noisy side shimmer with bursts of distorted guitar and yelled vocals on the opening track “Attack”.  The melodic “To Hell, Lets Masquarade” is one of the band’s more accessible songs and will cause pant wetting in Pixies fans.  “Bad Taste” has sandpaper rough vocals and it’s the absolute hook-laden melodic wall of sound that pulls the listener in.  The rhythm section blusters relentlessly in “Killing The Old”.  “Sharp” sounds like Fugazi.  As does “Hide it Well” but there’s also crushingly heavier side to it that brings Helmet to mind.


This is an impressive debut album. I imagine that live these guys and girls transform their onlookers into
a monolithic writhing beast.  Oh yeah, some guy called This album is coming out in April in both vinyl and CD so whatever you’re format you’re into it may pay to buy two copies as one is likely to wear out.


4/5


Absolute Monarchs on bandcamp


Absolute Monarchs on facebook

Absolute Monarchs on  myspace