It has to be said, I like the simple things in life; you know like, irony…I have a thing for irony, I’m easily amused! The concept of being run over by an ambulance for example tickles me, or a vegan with aggressive hay fever (even the plants are fed up of you..) so when an intense, post-hardcore black metal band called HEXIS comes along, I had to chuckle…Hexis if you didn’t know derives from a Latin term meaning stable disposition…so the two naturally go hand in hand… (I’m calm…I’m calm…I’m calm…I’M GOING TO BURN DOWN THAT FUCKING CHURCH!) But all jokes aside, since their formation in Copenhagen in 2010, they’ve been pretty busy! They’ve already released 4 split singles, 2 full length albums and this; “XII” (featuring Filip Andersen on vocals, Victor on both bass and guitar, and Tommaso on drums) is their 4th EP…not bad for seven years! Let’s compose ourselves and check it out…

We open up with the brutally brief “Derelictus” and as its name suggests it lays waste to all before it with little to no remorse…leaving the listener a hollow, abandoned shell, empty of reason. A real bullet point of a track at just over a minute in length, it hits hard and fast with a flurry of furious riffs coupled with raspy, hellish vocals and pummelling percussion and, just like the onslaught of a winter storm, it’s over as soon as it starts, a ferocious introduction  this…we follow up with “Nefarius” and it utilises a slower introduction, allowing the listener to compose themselves if only momentarily…it’s brooding and really rather wicked in tone which again, befits its name, before we’re subject to yet more horrifyingly fast black-metal riffs and percussion…

The rest of the EP continues in a similar fashion pretty much…”Famelicus” slots directly in behind and plays with a morbid sense of desperation…equally unrelenting, and with the cries of “Nothing is sacred”…you feel there is a hunger for purpose…it hammers home a sense of suffering, while “Miseria” flows through with smooth continuation…another short one at two minutes, it soon bursts into life with pent up demonic rage, before closing track “Sacrificium” ends things on a very dramatic, almost cinematic note…the whole track comes across as grand, epic and climatic and rounds things off very well…inspired by the likes of CELESTE and THOU…you can hear where the influences of sludge and hardcore have combined with their Danish/Scandinavian black metal roots and it’s created a wall of noise that’s certainly not to be scoffed at…at just five tracks, it’s worth enduring the intensity to get through this beastly little EP…which gives you just over a quarter of an hour to go burn down that church. [5]

Apposite to the current situation regarding Womanby Street and the threats to South Wales' live music scene, it's only right that I focus my attention closer to home and remind everyone exactly why we need to stand up not only for our venues, but for the local bands that ply their trade within them. If you're a regular punter at FUEL rock bar and if you pay attention to local metal there is no doubt you have heard of CHAOS TRIGGER...for several years now they have been honing their craft having tried out numerous line-up changes but things are finally looking strong and steady for the Merthyr-based quintet...with performances at BLOODSTOCK festival and support slots with EXODUS under their belt, they look to hit the ground running with their brand new album "Degenerate Matter", hoping to bring Welsh metal out of the mines and into the minds of many...

We begin with "Skineaters" and as it's title suggests, it's rather chilling...at under two minutes it's essentially another case of the tried and tested intro spot, but it's effective here in the way it's very cold and machine-like; like something out of a Sci-Fi movie it drones on, heartless, non-organic...you can't help but picture yourself quietly stalking the decks of the Nostromo desperately trying to avoid being eaten by a Xenomorph while this plays...unsettling stuff, but my god it calls your bluff. When first track proper "Binary" kicks in, it really does kick in! It kicks your fucking teeth in! After a brief drum-fill the listener is subject to a battering-ram of riffs and raw power...the aggression here is such a swivel in tone it's all the more impressive with it's GOJIRA-esque brutality... (that bass!)

There's a smooth transition into "Rust" which allows the listener very little time to recover here and the continuation is on point, slightly slower in tempo but no less lacerating;  there's more melody in the guitar work and over all it's a touch more methodical throughout it's near six-minute run time but where it lacks pace, with sheer weight it still pummels you. The same can be said for "Gluttonizer", with it's doom-metal inspired introduction, while "Fucking Machines" with it's djent qualities finds itself slotted somewhere between the likes of CHIMAIRA and MESHUGGAH in overall sound.

The slight thrash-metal elements of "Snakes In Suits" inject a flurry of life into the album musically, and so too on tracks like "Release The Hounds"; the increased tempo giving the record momentum going forward, before we round it all off with "Use Of Weapons"...after trolling you with a gentle opening segment, it abruptly rips into more of the ferocious, unforgiving metal we've become accustomed to over the course of these eleven songs. While musically, instrumentally the band are solid, from the drumming of Jay Roberts, to the guitar work of Paul Cremin and I've already touched upon the impressive weight of Bradley Kaler's bass playing; vocally...in reality it's, a little too monotone...front-man Ben Jones does an incredible job as a heavy/death metal vocalist don't get me wrong, he kills it, but he doesn't change his approach at all throughout this record and it get's to a point where you can't help but crave a little more diversity. Yes this is purposefully heavy but SOME clean vocals aren't going to damage your product, and will prevent tracks from coming across as one dimensional at times. For the most part this is a strong release mind you and while there is room for improvement, they have their finger firmly on the trigger and they certainly aren't firing blanks. [6]

If I may cast aside any lingering grudges with those frog-eyed fiends across the channel after this weeks closing Six Nations game (20 mins extra time? In a game of rugby?! You've got to be joking mate! Wales had that win!!) we once again return to France via WORMHOLE DEATH records, to explore some more European extremities. Let me introduce you to ALTERED SHADE...formed in 2012, these brutes from Bordeaux offer-up a mixture of death-infused thrash, inspired by the likes of CARCASS and CANNIBAL CORPSE, with a touch of modern influence akin to heavyweights like LAMB OF GOD...and with that they've recently dropped their debut album; "The Path Of Souls"...let us follow.

We somewhat appropriately open the album with "The Dark Gift Of Life" and there's no messing around here...from the very first note we're crushed against a wall of sonic intensity and it simply refuses to let up, from Edwin's guttural vocals through Rudy and Romain's relentless riff-work...it's melodic but oh so equally menacing; we really have witnessed the birth of a demon...a solid introduction. "Frozen Griefs" picks up immediately afterwards and here even more so you can feel the strong influence that thrash has had on the band. It's tempo, it's structure and delivery, even down to the solo, this is a great throwback to that classic, defining era from which thrash blossomed like the thorniest of roses.

"The Engraved Path" begins suspiciously calm and really reinforces a sense of evil, the sinister intentions that filter through your sub-conscience, you know something wretched has crawled out of hell to deliver this track personally and it doesn't disappoint; combining an old-school metal vibe with darker, devilish undertones, you'll find this track engraved in your psyche, while both contrasting and complimentary, "Meanders" does exactly that as it initially flows gently through your speakers. Granted it picks up, but, it shows there's more musical depth in the five-piece than you'd assume. "Lord Vlad" hits you like a stake through the heart with it's brutal, blood thirsty, Dracula-inspired story telling, before we finish up on "The Shadow Of Forgotten"...a brief instrumental closing outro of sorts, rounding things off nicely.

Altered Shade have shown here on this debut that they are more than ready to step out of the shadows and make a name for themselves in an ever diverse world of metal, with not only an abundance of genre's to choose from, but fresh new scenes to tap into across the globe. Home is where the heart is, and if your heart belongs to all things heavy in music it doesn't matter what nationality you are; fuck the yellow brick road, follow the path of souls. [7]

If somebody were to ask you, “What are the first things that spring to mind if when you think about Russia?” what would you say? Vodka? Rocky IV? Whatever you pick, I highly doubt your answer would be death metal…but a recently reformed 3-piece band by the name of TACIT FURY hope to add that to your list of go-to answers. With their brand new album; “A Social Berserker”, this Moscow based trio take no prisoners with their relentlessness and sonic savagery.

Opening track “Lacerated, Strangled, Impaled” more or less speaks for itself in terms of its brutality, setting the tone for the album as a whole. Meaty riffs, a barrage of drums and some intense, visceral vocals, It’s as though CHIMAIRA got even heavier and added some extra heavy for shits and giggles; impressive stuff.

“Run While You Can” continues with the callousness and cold blooded aggression that comes with such fierce, unforgiving metal, pummelling the listener into near submission, while “Release The Lions” is a hard, thrashing, animal of a song. There’s barely a moments respite and it’s clear that this is the Russian’s aim; it’s a hostile takeover of the senses, equally alluring and alarming at the same time.

“Ferocity Unleashed” needs little explanation really; it’s hard hitting, heavy and on the verge of bludgeoning the listener, with its near demonic vocal display and unstable blast-beat drumming, before “War Against All Living” ends things accordingly. It’s actually the most accessible the album has been, in places sounding like an angry AMON AMARTH, including some impressive melodic guitar work at the end of the song. It’s out of the blue but more than welcomed.

Ultimately, if you’re a fan of your ear drums being tortured (in a good way), and like your music to have little or no remorse for its consequences on your ability to hear, odds on you will appreciate Tacit Fury, especially if you’re already a fan of the likes of DEATH and such. If not, it’s still worth noting that Russia isn't particularly famous for its heavy music scene, so on that basis alone, this three piece deserves maybe more respect than most. Give them a listen; don’t be so anti-social…even if it does mean going berserk. [6.5]


You can purchase "A Social Berserker" via this link: http://tacitfury.bandcamp.com/ 


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