SKINNING (PT) - Slaves of Insanity [2016] - CD review by NPH - Rate 8/10

SKINNING
COUNTRY: PORTUGAL
GENRE: DEATH METAL



SKINNING - "SLAVES OF INSANITY" - CD - 2016

01. In the Name of the Whisper
02. Torture Slave
03. Raped in the Casket
04. Contagious upon Us
05. Embrace the Insanity
06. Cumgoodesscum
07. Revenge over the Cross
08. Human Vulture

RECORDING LINEUP:
Vítor Lopes - Vocals and Guitars
Luis Barroso - Drums
Nuno Ribeiro - Bass

SKINNING* - Slaves of Insanity - 2016 - Raising Legends
Genre: Death Black Metal

*Skinning ( the act of skin removal )
"(...) I choose you, to be my Slave,
You will realize, all my wishes
I will chain you.
In my Torture Chamber"  Torture Slave - Slaves of Insanity

Are you ready for total mayhem, chaos and destruction? This is what the new SKINNING album is all about! "Slaves of Insanity" is the new demolishing death metal piece by this band that was forged in December 2011 in Guimarães (Portugal). The band was formed originally by Luís Barroso (Skinning, Daemogorgon, ex-Hacksaw, etc.) and Vítor Lopes (Skinning and PosMortiis).

"Slaves of Insanity" is the second full length of this death metal torturing demons, a natural step forwards from their debut "Cerebral Mutilation" showing an improved merciless death metal machine influenced by bands such as  Vader, Krisiun, Decapitated, Morbid Angel, Deicide, etc.
The new slashing work which cover art was illustrated by Portuguese impressive artist Pedro - Lordigan, was produced by André Matos (Heavenwood, Web, etc.) and mixed by Bruno Silva (Secrecy, Sonneillon, etc.) and it is one of the Raising Legends label best offers for the past year of 2016!

"In the Name of the Whisper" track which originated the twisted/sick music video by Guilherme Henriques (Belphegor, Hideous Divinity, etc.) ignites a bloody killing spree and there is no escape from it! Expect nothing but chainsaws tearing flesh from bone, heavy artillery raids in a merciless death metal massacre!
One after the other, the fast vicious tracks keep on coming, SKINNING slaughtering sound will keep you captive to this piece of torturing art! Versatile brutal drums, heart-slashing bass, strongly aggressive vocals and virulent guitar-work are already a trademark sound for this young Portuguese band, making them one of the best in their genre in their homeland!
With "Contagious upon Us", the albums longest track with 5 minutes :) , the band slows down the killing rate and enters an epidemic groove that contrasts with the short track frenetic rhythm of the whole album.

"Slaves of Insanity" is in all its length a death metal torturing piece of flesh hacking art! SKINNING are becoming one of the best Iberian death metal expressions this days, their sound, so brutally fast is an authentic meat-grinder of demonical proportions! Expect no softness here, this is death metal right in-your-face!
"Slaves of Insanity" deviant extreme music will make you hunger for the bands future endeavours! Bestial Brutality and Aggression awaits you, I am sure... and that is always something worth waiting for if you are a death metal fanatic!

RüPä - NeKronos Promotion HELL


RATE: 8/10


"In the Name of the Whisper" - Official Videoclip:
https://youtu.be/2QqU07JG-kc



"Raped in the Casket" - Official Videoclip
https://youtu.be/HupTfMXUmtw




For further information on SKINNING check:
OFFICIAL FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SkinningMetal/
YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6ixm0g4IfYdqpU1sL6Yseg

BOOKING: raisinglegendsrecords@gmail.com
LABEL:  http://www.facebook.com/raisinglegends

WORMWOOD (SWE) - Ghostlands [2017] - CD review by NPH - Rate 10/10

WORMWOOD
COUNTRY: SWEDEN
GENRE: ATMOSPHERIC MELODIC BLACK METAL


Cover Artwork: Mario Polzin of Moornebheym

WORMWOOD - "Ghostlands - Wounds From a Bleeding Earth" - CD - 2017

01. Gjallarhornet
02. The Universe is Dying
03. Under Hennes Vingslag
04. Godless Serenade
05. Oceans
06. Silverdimmans Återsken
07. Tidh ok Ödhe
08. Beneath Ravens and Bones
09. The Windmill
10. What We Lost in the Mist
11. The Boneless One
12. To Worship

Total Playing time: 58:55

RECORDING LINEUP:
Nine - Vocals
Rydsheim - Guitar
Nox - Guitar
Borka - Bass
Johtun - Drums

Featuring artists on the album:
Nephente (Netherbird, RIKET) - Vocals
Martin Björklund (Månegarm, Mercury X) - Fiddle
Alexandra "Lalla" Moqvist - Vocals

WORMWOOD - Ghostlands - Wounds From a Bleeding Earth - 2017 - Non Serviam Records
Genre: Atmospheric Melodic Black Metal

From the frozen northlands of Sweden rises the ultimate Atmospheric Melodic Black Metal band by the name of Wormwood, a new horde of mighty heathen warriors arise to set a mark on today's day's saturated extreme metal universe!
It's still hard for me to believe that "Ghostlands - Wounds From a Bleeding Earth" is only the bands debut full length album! Pure Scandinavian art with such elaborated and majestic details is beyond impressive to say the least! An album that will hook you up since the very first listening, so addictive that will force you to listen to it again and again! Without any doubts one of the best offers of the genre for 2017, unveiling a promising future for such a young band!

The Band:
Forged in the heathen flames of Rydsheim (Sweden) in 2014, Wormwood emerge with an innovative atmospheric and melodic black metal with all the right dose of folk, rock and experimental music, all to create a very own dynamic sound! Wormwood members past include bands like Åskfödd, Withershin, Riket, etc, yet never before they created such a rock solid folk/heathen sound!
Back in 2015 the band has recorded their debut EP "The Void – Stories From the Whispering Well", a mix of folk, black metal and rock n' roll! Not yet fulfilled, the band has reshaped their sound for their debut full length, creating an outstanding atmospheric black/folk metal piece of art!
Wormwood creatively relentless sound will surely please adepts of bands such as Månegarm, Thyrfing, Borknagar, Kampfar, Enslaved, etc!

The Album:
"Ghostlands - Wounds From a Bleeding Earth" is one of those albums that shall keep you captive to each track since the very first listening, the whole album is an ethereal blend of genres from black metal, folk and rock, all well balanced and with an overwhelming atmospheric background! "Ghostlands ..." is allot more than just another extreme metal album, it's in fact so well conceived and addictive that quickly shall make you embark on an enriching musical journey from which you shall not forget about!

Deeper into the Album:
"Ghostlands ..." has been recorded at Wing Studios by the Swedish extreme metal wizard Sverker Widgren (Demonical, Diabolical, Centinex, etc...) the final result is impressive and enhances the performers talent to the maximum!
Wormwood have found within their musical alchemy the right dose and proportion for each of this album songs finding with it the right balance to keep the listeners captive to the whole piece!
This epic journey starts with the crescent folkish atmospheric intro "Gjallarhornet" that will leads to "The Universe is Dying", a tune with such a timeless melody that's impossible to be indifferent to! On tracks like "Under Hennes Vingslag" or "Oceans" the band dares deeper and combines some experimental elements into their already organic metal fusion, moments of clarity I must say! "Godless Serenade" has been the choice for this album's epic music video, shot far above the Arctic Circle, it's homage to the Scandinavian natural wonders, the song carries a deeply strong epic aura.
Among other tracks there are two memorable folk hymns with such a catchy melody that shall get stuck on your ears, they are "Silverdimmans Återsken" that connects with "Tidh ok Ödhe". Easy to find yourself singing along with such delightful songs... sublime intense tracks like these ones give me shivers on my spine... PRICELESS!!! The fiddle melody by Martin Björklund (Månegarm, Mercury X) and the enchanting female guest vocals by Alexandra "Lalla" Moqvist make all the difference!
One after the other, each track has a very special and contagious positive vibe, melodic folk metal with all the right dose of heaviness and blackness! Tracks like "What We Lost in the Mist" or the ending "To Worship" will let no one indifferent to such epic might and lore!

Conclusion:
"Ghostlands - Wounds From a Bleeding Earth" is in all it's length a monumental journey across ethereal landscapes of sound and Scandinavian folk tales and legends, so well conceived that risks to become a extreme metal legend itself!
This epic folk masterpiece is powered with such positive energy that easily bewitches you within such graceful haunting themes, one after the other! This is an extreme metal musical experience of which you need to be part to witness such timeless splendour!
Wormwood's darkly dramatic and yet so addictively intense and unique musical mix has elevated this album into one of the best pieces of the genre! Bone-crushing riffs, dramatic keys over a breathtaking sound scenario make "Ghostlands ..." a highly recommended album not to be missed at all!

RüPä - NeKronos Promotion HELL


RATE: 10/10


"Ghostlands - Wounds From a Bleeding Earth" - Album Teaser:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEUThDuFUfQ



"Godless Serenade" - Official Videoclip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hToVOjiLGEM




MORE INFORMATION ON WORMWOOD AT:
Official Site: http://www.wormwood-official.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/WormwoodSWE/
Youtbe Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/officialwormwood
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WormwoodSWE
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wormwoodofficial/

Contact: OfficialWormwood@gmail.com

FENRIS - ...en doodenakkers tot den horizon [2016] - Album - Review by NPH - Rate 8,5/10

FENRIS
COUNTRY: HOLLAND
GENRE: VIKING BLACK DEATH METAL

FENRIS - "...EN DOODENAKKERS TOT DEN HORIZON" - CD - 2016

ALBUM TRACKLIST:
1. Echo of the Machine
2. Black Ashes
3. Ruined
4. Zielenstrijd
5. 834
6. Fenris
7. Doodenakkers
8. Descend

RECORDING LINEUP:
Gilbert: Vocals
Bas: Guitars
Rick: Drums
Chris: Bass
Joris: Guitars

FENRIS - “...en doodenakkers tot den horizon” - Album - 2016 - Labels: Snakebite records and Rockinc Entertainment
Genre: Viking Black Death Metal
 
"(...)This wolf will never rest
Vengeance will come to them....finally
I am Fenris...the quintessence of wolves
FENRIS!!

My mouth for centuries, opened by the sword
The spirit I possess…will rule eternally
Now is Ragnarok! (...)" FENRIS - “...en doodenakkers tot den horizon”

Eleven Long and cold winters have passed since the release of the last album "Ordeal" by the Dutch Viking black death metal warriors Fenris! Now the time has come... In September 2016 the band will be releasing their third full length by the title of “...en doodenakkers tot den horizon” ("...and fields of death 'till the horizon" [ENG]). It is time for the Viking Wolf to arise once again and unleash bloodshed and Ragnarök itself!
For those who don't know the band yet, let me tell you that Fenris (the only band with the registered name) have been born in Holland back in '97 and ever since have a history of combining thunderous Viking metal with scorching black/death metal. A reference in the local underground scene, Fenris combines blindingly fast extreme music with a more atmospheric, always dynamic and melodic metal!
As you should expect the band main lyrical theme and inspiration comes out from their strong roots in Nordic and Germanic Mythology as well as those times peoples hopes, beliefs, wars and hardships! Fenris lyrics are not only in English but also in their mother tongue which provides the band even a stronger identity!
Graphically inspired by the album theme the matching cover art done by Tim Blom reveals a field of death that extends itself till the horizon line!

The new album “...en doodenakkers tot den horizon” is in many ways more direct, fast and darker than it's predecessor "Ordeal" which was quite more atmospheric and melodic! This new album reveals a renewed black death metal formula, updated and more mature in many aspects!
The new songs fit perfectly on each other. Fenris surely have forged here a new fearsome Viking weapon of epic proportions!
The crescendo introduction "Echo of the machine" introduces the listeners to what is to come... a truly old fashioned epic bloodshed in a merciless Viking black death metal form! Faster and with more complex structures the band has developed their sound into a darker form of extreme metal fusion where black metal slower elements combine with death metal virulent brutality! Faster ear ravaging tracks like "Black Ashes" blend perfectly with slower apocalyptic decadent tracks like "Ruined". Hard to pick highlights on this album but yet tracks like "Zielenstrijd", "834" and "Fenris" are true battle hymns that put you right back into the times of the frenetic Viking raids... curious that 834 was the year when the early Danish Viking raids started over Dutch cities! Dorestad (now called "Wijk bij Duurstede") alone was known to be plundered five years in a row! "Doodenakkers" and "Descent" end up the album with greatly balanced tracks where furious rhythms and blasts combine in perfection with slower but powerful dark elements!

“...en doodenakkers tot den horizon” is without a doubt the most mature band release to the date. The old school musical structures are of the finest quality and the blend of extreme metal music is in fact an impressive work of art!
The album sounds quite "old school" still with loads of thunderous low end, face-bursting attacks and gut-wrenching vocals by Gilbert. The drum work done by Rick is about perfect, impressive top quality to say the least! The overall guitar work by Bas and Joris is damn ear catching with some acoustic elements here and there. Yet what impress me the most are the dynamic variations from the melodic to the virulent fast which are a precious constant on this album! Chris bass work is also relevant, giving the sound the right pounding balance!

In all “...en doodenakkers tot den horizon” album is a must for any demanding black death metal adept, a great piece for fans of bands such as Dissection, Enslaved, Satyricon, Immortal, Taake, Kampfar, Sear Bliss as well as many others! Fenris forged since their early years an own identity and ever since they developed their sound, improving their extreme metal music into a perfect blend of black and death metal, a proof of that is the new album which has enriching fresh elements, yet always keeping the old-school vibe and aggression into! A great extreme metal piece with heathen aura and Viking spirit!

RüPä - NeKronos Promotion HELL


RATE: 8,5/10

“...en doodenakkers tot den horizon” - Promo Clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMt6eAGPyWk



“Zielenstrijd” track from “...en doodenakkers tot den horizon”
https://soundcloud.com/fenris-band-official/zielenstrijd 




MORE ABOUT THE BANDS @ LINKS:
OFFICIAL SITE: HTTP://WWW.FENRIS.NL 
FACEBOOK PROFILE: HTTP://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/FENRISNL

BOOKING / CONTACT: INFO@FENRIS.NL

SKINNING -PT- Cerebral Mutilation [2014] - CD review by NPH - Rate 8/10

SKINNING - PORTUGAL - DEATH BLACK METAL

Here we are to present and review the debut album from the Portuguese death black metal hellions Skinning. Cerebral Mutilation is a damn brutal piece to come out from Lusitanian soils, a ferocious "in your face" piece of extreme metal, expelling non compromised and straight forwards deviant music. A band that will please fans of death black metal legends such as Vader, Krisium, Deicide, Morbid Angel, HATE, Zyklon among many others! Eleven powerful tracks will pierce your ears and make you to hunger for future endeavours of this boiling-blooded new band that has just been unleashed upon the demanding Metal world!
Skinning sure have unleashed a musical Beast that shall crush your brain with their violent death black metal demolishing art!

NeKronos Promotion HELL

Here is the Tracklist for the album:

SKINNING - "Cerebral Mutilation" - CD 2014

01. Without Glory
02. Mass Execution
03. Punishing For Spreading Lies
04. Acclaimed Blood
05. I'm Still Victorious
06. Infested Land Of Mutilated Corpses
07. Blow Me
08. Slumber Of Madness
09. Tortutred And Mutilated
10. ...In Your Face
11. Bloody Awake (Feeding The Bloodthirst)

Total playing time = 40m46s


Recording Line-up:

Vítor Lopes - Vocals and Guitars
Luis Barroso - Drums
Baal Roi - Bass

SKINNING* - Cerebral Mutilation - 2014 - Raising Legends
Genre: Death Black Metal

*Skinning ( the act of skin removal )
"Another body was found, the smell of raw flesh
decomposed corpses, eaten by the worms
the blood runs through the skin, by the open cut
the approach of your misery, it's now complete(...)"  Tortured and Mutilated - Cerebral Mutilation

Skinning is a blood-hungering band formed in December 2011 in Guimarães (Portugal) by Luis Barroso (drums) and Vitor Lopes (vocals/guitars), with the addition of Baal Roi on bass duties the band has formed their solid structure and have became stronger each day, taking part of several concerts and metal fests like SWR Barroselas. They are a strong spirited and brutal band to be followed by fans of bands such as Vader, Krisium, Deicide, Morbid Angel, HATE, Zyklon among many others.

Cerebral Mutilation is a demolishing as well as torturing piece of death black metal art. Skinning sure have put "all meat in the grinder" on this debut, in fact it's hard these days to have such coherent good quality on a bands first album, yet, and on this case Skinning sure managed to unleash a true musical Beast that hungers to devour your entrails without mercy!
Musically this album is a mirror image of the bands Apocalyptic Trio formed by Luis Barroso an already well known drummer in the Portuguese underground extreme metal scene, know for his work with bands such as Daemogorgon, Hacksaw, Koltum,  Infernal Kingdom among others, Vitor Lopes (also on PosMortiis) and Baal Roi (also on Daemogorgon). I must say that Cerebral Mutilation is in fact a work of excellence ...from the versatile brutal drums, towards the heart slashing bass, crossing the ever-present virulent guitar-work, yet if that wasn't enough, the strong aggressive vocals in a Deicide/Hate vein sure improve the magnitude of their death black metal impact!
The album production at Studio 213 by Bruno Silva proves that the Portuguese extreme metal production is getting better each day and capable of producing high quality products such as Skinning debut!

Skinning are one of the best examples of Lusitanian/Iberian death black metal and Cerebral Mutilation is a proof of that. Tracks like Without Glory, Mass Execution, Punishing For Spreading Lies, Blow me, ...In Your Face reveal the band at their be(a)st, with all their own blood and g(l)ory, in fact a truly delightful torture for the listeners ears, all with the most aggressive death black metal formula!

In all, lyrically and musically, Cerebral Mutilation is a "in your face" brutal piece of death black metal forged in the lands of Lusitania, a work not to be missed by metal-heads with a particular taste for "Poland meets U.S." extreme metal! A great debut for Skinning that will make you hunger for their future endeavours, no doubt that these guys know how to make aggressive metal in it's most extreme format, yet with the incursion of some further musical developments the bands can probably reach some elite status... something to wait for!

RüPä - NeKronos Promotion HELL


RATE: 8/10


Check out "Punished for Spreading Lies" Audio Clip @ http://youtu.be/3fyOYApUrv0



Check out the "Mass Execution" Audio Clip @ http://youtu.be/dQNZlDlXXog




For further information on SKINNING check:
OFFICIAL FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/SKINNING/307359749303706
YOUTUBE CHANNEL: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6ixm0g4IfYdqpU1sL6Yseg

BOOKING: raisinglegendsrecords@gmail.com
LABEL:  http://www.facebook.com/raisinglegends