Full Length Review: Genocide Pact "Genocide Pact" (Relapse Records) by Corban Skipwith

Band: Genocide Pact

Location: Washington, D.C.

Country: USA

Genre: Death metal

Full Length: Genocide Pact

Format: Digital, vinyl, CD

Label: Relapse Records

Release date: December 3, 2021

In my never ending quest for great music, I’ve come across this! Get ready for me to introduce

Genocide Pact -Genocide Pact

So, this is the latest album by the band coming out in December of this year featuring eight of the most grueling metal tracks you’ll hear all year!

If I had to describe these tracks I would have to create my own sub-genre and call this ‘Deathened Sludge Metal’

To me this album has a combination of the slow, methodical pacing of Sludge Metal alongside the Heavy, Unforgiving and ruthless instrumentation of Death Metal.

What I really love about this album is the pacing of it all, it’s all so well-tuned and mastered that it’s just a pleasure to listen to on the mixing side of things, it’s nicely polished (in a good way) and it sounds like they put the effort in to make thing album as crisp as possible upon release.

As I stated above this album (to me at least) share’s a lot of similarities with Sludge and Death Metal and I think although most Death Metal albums don’t incorporate the ‘slower’ pacing I feel the combination works really well here and allows the band to work with so many great ideas and styles that otherwise wouldn’t be open to them had they stayed the traditional route.

I like how at any given moment the album can switch its style and tempo up to suit the song for song narrative presented. Most albums wouldn’t have that level of freedom to just change things up on a whim but because this band has opened itself up to new waves and possibilities it makes for a great sound and an overall great listening experience!

The vocals on this album are great too! The singer really is going out his way to share that soul crushing death growls that at times is border-lining Grindcore territory with just how brutal and diabolical the depth of his grows can go, truly a work of art!

I would highly recommend this album to anyone who’s not only a decorated Metal fan but also someone who's looking for that ‘next new fusion’ of sounds because I have to tell you, although unlucky it works like a charm here! –Corban Skipwith

Lineup:

Tim Mullaney: Guitars, vocals

Demir Soyer: Guitars

Mike Nolan: Bass

Connor Donegan: Drums

Track list:

1. Led To Extinction

2. Perverse Dominion

3. Fossilized Future

4. Mutilated Vision

5. Deprive / Degrade

6. Purged Flesh

7. Barbaric Regression

8. Industrial Obedience

Single Review: Chainsaw Disfigurement "Harvesting Organs" (Misanthropik Records) by Corban Skipwith

Band: Chainsaw Disfigurement

Location: Lansing, Michigan

Country: USA

Genre: Brutal death metal

Single: Harvesting Organs

Format: Digital track

Label: Misanthropik Records

Release date: November 11, 2021

You know every now and then you come across a single that just rocks you to your very soul! A track that is so vile, so disgusting so utterly morbid that you can’t help but crawl into your skin! This my friends is that song

Chainsaw Disfigurement -HARVESTING ORGANS

So this was a track release this year and features the talents of none other than Misanthropik Torment’s very own Kire Nahtaivel on vocals and Vlad Nodtveidt on guitar, bass and drum programming!

I have to say as far as metal goes this is a match made in heaven! Because what you end up getting is a perfect blend of Grind Core and Death Metal bringing out the best of both worlds!

You’ve got those heavy guitar riffs bashing and shaking the base of the track alongside those remarkable drum patterns and let’s not forget the amazing vocal efforts! Erik sounds more despicable and gruesome than he ever has beforehand! If I didn’t read up on it I’d have no idea he was even on the vocals!

Overall, great work by both people. I can’t wait to hear more from these two! –Corban Skipwith

Lineup:

Erik Leviathan: Vocals

Vlad Nodtveidt: Guitar, bass, drum programming

Seven Inch Review: The New Breed "Blue Collar Blues" (Subprofit Records) by Devin Joseph Meaney

Band: The New Breed

Country: Canada

Genre: Punk

Seven Inch: Blue Collar Blues

Format: Vinyl, streaming

Label: Subprofit Records

Release date: 2000

Returning to Atlantic Canada Punk, I came across “Blue Collar Blues” by The New Breed. Blue Collar Blues is a 7” vinyl released by Subprofit Records.

This vinyl was recorded in 1999 and was released in the year 2000. Featuring Brian Whalen on bass, Chris Meagher on drums, Dave Robertson on guitar, and Jon Stevens on vocals, this Halifax foursome hit hard with this release, and I’m glad it is still getting some play in recent years. With pounding drums, tight vocalizations, catchy bass, and well played guitar riffs, The New Breed managed to snag a new fan. And if at all possible, I would like to help spread their sound even further. Fans of Bad Religion and Pennywise along with other punk acts are sure to enjoy the hell out of this.

Recorded at Deep Nine with design and layout by Dave Robertson. The vinyl had four tracks, but a bonus track from the same recording session is available on YouTube. -Devin Joseph Meaney

Track list:

1. We Believe

2. Never Give In

3. Wasted Youth

4. Blue Collar Blues

5. The Times (Bonus song...not on the 7" but recorded during the same session)

Demo Review: Sawbelly "Insulted" (Independent) by Devin Joseph Meaney

Band: Sawbelly

Location: Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia

Country: Canada

Genre: Punk

Demo: Insulted

Format: Cassette, streaming

Label: Independent

Release date: 1994

While browsing YouTube I stumbled across an account called “Atlantic Canada Punk”. As I love punk-rock, this came as a welcome discovery. And as I live in Atlantic Canada, the find was all the more pleasing. After browsing a few different bands, I came to a group called “Sawbelly”. There was an upload of their 1994 demo “Insulted”…and I can say without a doubt that this is some seriously gnarly punk-rock!

I don’t know if these guys are still around, but they hailed from Annapolis Valley. Featuring 13 tracks, this demo provides the listener with a blast of underground awesomeness and manages to bring on feelings of times past. (Although I was four years old when this demo came out…I too was involved with the punk scene years ago).

Again, I don’t know much about these guys but I sincerely suggest checking them out for yourselves. Fans of punk-rock and other forms of lo-fi abrasiveness are sure to dig the offerings provided by Sawbelly…or at the very least I did. Also, I will continue to check up on the Atlantic Canada Punk account. There are some seriously driving uploads available here, and it will be fun to immerse myself in the history of Atlantic Canada’s punk scene.

So what are you waiting for? Check out Sawbelly…and check out Atlantic Canada Punk! -Devin Joseph Meaney

Track list:

1. All Systems Go

2. Not Today

3. Jubilee

4. Purple Sid

5. Think

6. Fresh Vegetables

7. Peggy's Love Song

8. Cooler

9. Fly Girl

10. Mary

11. Unknown Track

12. Egg Raid On Mojo (Beastie Boys cover)

13. Unknown Track

Full Length Review: Redemptor "Agonia" (Selfmadegod Records) by Corban Skipwith

Band: Redemptor

Location: Kraków

Country: Poland

Genre: Technical atmospheric death metal

Full Length: Agonia

Format: Digital album

Label: Selfmadegod Records

Release date: December 3, 2021

What a way to start my review week than with this killer of an album!

Agonia by Redemptor

So this full-length album dropped only three days ago and contains nine new tracks! This is my first time (as is the norm) with me and I have to say they left quite the impression!

Firstly, I think their combination of sounds is quite unique! They bring a certain blend of Death Metal that’s infused with such elements as

-Technical

-Atmospheric

-Symphonic

-Groove and Ambient it’s been a while since I’ve heard Death Metal take such a creative leap in sound, production, and style! For me the last band I really paid attention to in the Death Metal scene that gave me these many interesting switch-ups was ‘Arch Enemy’ and in comparison, they blow them out the water at least as far as creativity is concerned.

Interestingly enough, this album chooses to ‘Sprinkle’ its ‘Indulgences’ of Symphonic and Atmosphere rather than drown in it which is a very unique approach.

Because if we go back and use Arch Enemy as an example most tracks (going back to their debut album) has that level of grand, emotional, theatrical feel to them while on this album you have the stand out tracks like ‘Aurora’, ‘Les Ruines De Pompei’ and the intro to the first track ‘Tectonic Plates’ which all give those goosebump feels of symphonic greatness but it’s really too and far between which for me I’ll be honest feels a bit scattered.

I understand if they were going for a more ‘Less Is more’ approach making you anticipate for when you’ll hear that level of grandness next and I respect that if it was what they were trying to do but for me I just wish they incorporated more of that aesthetic within the album because when they bring it THEY BRING IT HARD!

Look, regardless of my personal gripes, this is a fantastic album that showcases how far you can push and evolve the very ‘Meat and Potato’s’ sub-genre of ‘Death Metal’ and turn it into something artistic and interesting!

I highly recommend everyone go check this out and just support the band! Great work guys! –Corban Skipwith

Lineup:

Michał Xaay Loranc: Vocals

Daniel Kesler: Guitar, vocals

Hubert Więcek: Guitar

Kamil Stadnicki: Bass

Daniel Rutkowski: Drums

Track list:

1. Tectonic Plates

2. Potion of the Skies

3. Tar

4. Further from Ordeal

5. Excursus Ignis

6. Aurora

7. Debris

8. Wounds Unhealed

9. Les Ruines De Pompei

Full Length Review: Amyl and the Sniffers "Comfort To Me" (Rough Trade Records) by Dave Wolff

Band: Amyl and the Sniffers

Location: Melbourne

Country: Australia

Genre: Punk

Full Length: Comfort To Me

Format: Digital album, black vinyl

Label: Rough Trade Records

Release date: September 10, 2021

After stumbling upon this band by chance while surfing the web, I'm now learning a little about Australian punk. Amyl and the Sniffers formed in Balaclava, Melbourne, in 2016 and were nominated for many awards by ARIA Music Awards, Australian Music Prize, and National Live Music Awards, among others. Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus can move over, because I suspect Amyl and the Sniffers have the potential to redefine female independence and strength, playing up sexual angles without overt tastelessness.

When the time comes a band or an artist comes along to turn the mass perception on its head. Crawling from the punk movement to fight their way to the validation of winning awards and receiving press kudos for their accomplishments, Amyl and the Sniffers rely on little more than their pub rock/garage band vitality. They strike one, at least from my point of view, as being able to transplace and overturn today’s concepts of class and trash by choosing self-expression over becoming a marketing tool or a label honey.

A fuckload of coverage has been given them since they started, including recognition from Happy Mag who observed Amyl and the Sniffers in The 15 Australian female artists changing the game right now”. Citing everyone from AC/DC to Minor Threat to Cardi B to Dolly Parton as having fueled their drive to write and perform, Amyl and the Sniffers show much in common with classic punk from Iggy to Wendy O and display sufficient pop credibility to turn what is reviled about punk into an advantage.

"Comfort To Me" is the band's latest full-length release following a series of singles, EPs and their self-titled debut full-length from 2019. Frontwoman Amy Taylor has personified grrl power, which has been associated with punk since the late 80s/early 90s, from their debut EP "Giddy Up" (2016). Turning traditional perceptions of women against themselves, she aspires to be a beautiful freak, to find her own fulfillment, to let go of mediocrity and boredom, and to establish herself as a woman and a human. By inspiring others to discover themselves and live before they grow old, she benefits her listeners as much as she does herself.

With each single, EP, and album the band arrived a bit closer to becoming iconic figures like the Blackhearts and the Plasmatics. Their assertiveness grew as Taylor’s commentaries on the expectations associated with becoming successful in popular music grew more pronounced and acerbic. Or maybe she’s not spitting additional amounts of venom at her intended targets as much as keeping a clear head and refusing to be swayed by environments the band is becoming part of as their coverage and popularity increases. AC/DC managed to keep their street cred all these years just by being honest about what they were doing. Showing similar disregard for what is easily accepted by the masses, Amyl and the Sniffers make no secret of where they’re from and hold on to their roots.

On “Freaks to the Front”, “Security”, “Hertz”, “No More Tears”, “Maggot” and “Don’t Fence Me In” the band maintain the excitement of punk’s past glories while Taylor sneers, snarls, yelps, barks, squeals, shouts, yells and screams almost to the point of losing her voice. Her range of emotions, from vulnerability to belligerence, is as engaging as the music written, and it all comes from her own personality. She knows what she wants, and that she can be seductive and sexually appealing without being a victim of label demands or tabloid scandal proves she’s doing her part to unravel and rebuild the image of women in pop. You’d better watch out, if this band represents the new age of warrior women in the music industry many of you may end up out of a job. –Dave Wolff

Lineup:

Amy Taylor: Vocals

Dec Martens: Guitar

Fergus Romer: Bass

Bryce Wilson: Drums

Track list:

1. Guided by Angels

2. Freaks to the Front

3. Choices

4. Security

5. Hertz

6. No More Tears

7. Maggot

8. Capital

9. Don't Fence Me In

10. Knifey

11. Don't Need A Cunt (Like You To Love Me)

12. Laughing

13. Snakes

Full Length Review: Black Blood of the Earth 'Bleak Light, Fervent Dark" (Art of the Night Productions) by Corban Skipwith

Band: Black Blood of the Earth

Location: Toruń

Country: Poland

Genre: Doom/death metal

Full Length: Bleak Light, Fervent Dark

Format: Digital album, jewel case CD with 12-page booklet

Label: Art of the Night Productions

Release date: November 12, 2021

The concept of ‘darkness’ is such an interesting one because you can get so many different definitions, answers and styles of what is the essence of darkness.

On today’s album review we look at the more ‘depressing’ and ‘mentally anguishing’ perspectives! I introduce you to

-Bleak Light, Fervent Dark by Black Blood of the Earth

So this is the debut album by the Polish Doom/Gothic Metal band featuring a 7 track lineup. Something I want to bring up that I find fascinating is in the bio description where the band reads

‘Black Blood of the Earth is a formation devoted to what is negative and painful. It is meant to be a wicked reflection in black depths of human nature, a miasma of loneliness and slow decay, a cold gaze towards the infinity’

I don’t know about you guys but that’s some pretty impactful words and the album in question does represent that narrative completely.

What I love about this album is that instead of going the more ‘obvious’ path shall we say with being extremely loud and abrasive they chose to utilize a more ‘subtle’ approach to the despair and let the listener wallow in the filth and decay that is their fragile, flawed existence.

Production-wise this reminds me a lot of bands like HIM, The 69 Eyes, Type O Negative as well as some DOOM elements such as Sabbath and Trouble.

I really appreciate the lingering of insecurity and doubt on this thing, this album really gets to the bottom of your soul and can make you think the worst about yourself (which doesn’t sound like a pleasant time I know) but the fact that they were able to execute such a mental and emotional blow is unreal.

All the tracks on here are cunningly catchy and banging giving the illusion of polished tracks when really they are just throwing 7 sonic knives into the heart of listeners and relishing in the agony.

I’ll say this much, if you’ve got fragile self-esteem then this isn’t the record for you, this is for those who believe they can handle the depressing wave thrown at them and want to experience a ‘journey’ rather than just a regular album. It’s right where it’s meant to be on all fronts and I can’t think of a more personally invasive album to have come out in the last few years! –Corban Skipwith

Lineup:

Michał Sieroń: Vocals, bass, acoustic guitar

Marcin Witek: Guitar

Adam Walczak: Guitar

Track list:

1. Cold Daylight

2. Grey Cobweb Veil

3. The Fog Descends

4. The Dying Sun

5. October

6. Dusk and Decay

7. Drowning

Full Length Review: Skat Injector "Bled Under A Burning Sky" (Slime City Records) by Corban Skipwith

Band: Skat Injector

Location: London

Country: UK

Genre: Speedcore

Full Length: Bled Under A Burning Sky

Format: Compact disc, digital album

Label: Slime City Records

Release date: December 1, 2021

Do you ever wonder what it would sound like if wolf girl combined with ghost mane well how long do you have to wait because this album is the perfect example of went to extreme sounds do it right together.

-Bled Under A Burning Sky by Skat Injector

And this is the latest 10 track well technically 23 include the 10 instrumental versions of new material by the band Skat Injector. And to be honest I have no idea what kind of riders gonna be in for but I’m glad I took the trip.

See you on the surface a lot of people in the state this album for your everyday noise experimental project. But when you dive deep into it it’s a whole lot more.

For example they know how to set up Atmosphere in a pretty dark like that see you there not afraid to take the music to that Darcy in inappropriate place that most bands don’t want to do, take it to extremes that other artists are too scared to go and in that boundary-pushing comes a level of greatness.

When it comes to the atmosphere I kind of get a hint of Godspeed You Black Emperor with its post-apocalyptic aesthetic and that ‘doomed’ sense of hopeless and despair that suffocates each and every track. But then as the tracks move forward that’s when we get the psychopathic worlds to collide of ‘Ghostmane’ and ‘Machine Girl’.

Ghostmane in that growling, deep vocal style combined with the screaming and aching over those more heavy metal/black metal-inspired instrumentation.

And then we have Machine Girl in the overload of noise, experimental, electronic combinations that prove fatally irresistible in this kind of setting.

All in all, this definitely won’t be one for everyone but will definitely attract the more ‘hardcore’ of the listeners who love to listen to that next big thing who just couldn’t care less about breaking every rule previously set before it!

Go check it out now (at your own desire). -Corban Skipwith

Lineup:

Zara Skumshot: Vocals, programming

Track list:

1. Graced By Searing Light

2. All Tomorrow's Genocides

3. As Predictions Realise

4. An Earth Cleansed With Flame

5. The Future Sound Of Suffering

6. Vanishes Rapidly

7. Obsidian Dawn

8. Cold Hard Deception

9. Unsustainable Devourment

10. Bled Under A Burning Sky

11. Graced By Searing Light (Instrumental)

12. All Tomorrow's Genocides (Instrumental)

13. As Predictions Realise (Instrumental)

14. An Earth Cleansed With Flame (Instrumental)

15. The Future Sound Of Suffering (Instrumental)

16. Vanishes Rapidly (Instrumental)

17. Obsidian Dawn (Instrumental)

18. Cold Hard Deception (Instrumental)

19. Unsustainable Devourment (Instrumental)

20. Bled Under A Burning Sky (Instrumental - Extended)

Single Review: Expedition "Within The Shadows" (Expedition Records) by Corban Skipwith

Band: Expedition

Location: Letterkenny Co. Donegal

Country: Ireland

Genre: Heavy/thrash metal

Single: Within The Shadows

Format: Digital, streaming

Label: Expedition Records

Release date: 2021

An ‘Expedition’ is defined as

‘A Journey Undertaken by a group of people with a particular purpose’

And on this occasion, we found a (GROUP) of (PEOPLE) whose particular purpose was to rock out as hard and as groovy as possible! So I present to you

Expedition with -Within The Shadows

So, this track catches your attention in so many ways, for example the strong ‘Thrash’ style which is representative of the early stages of the early to mid-80’s matching more with albums like

Metallica -Kill Em All

Anthrax -Fistful Of Metal

Slayer -Show No Mercy

It has that strong classic flavour to it that you just don’t see these days anymore, I wouldn’t say it’s as aggressive as what Thrash evolved into but as stated above shares a stronger resemblance to its more reckless, speed-infested early stages!

The groove on this thing is also undeniable! Just like those early Thrash albums had which was that touch of magic that just made you want to air guitar all the way to the store, work or home! It’s the kind of infectious sonic aesthetic that made you pumped up and ready to go!

Also, one thing I really love about this band is that you can hear their Irish accents coming through and that’s sick! I’m not sure why that’s so cool to me it’s just I hate when I’m listening to a band/artist who are from wherever they are and they don’t have the exciting accent to go with it, but that’s not an issue here! I can hear it strong and it makes me root for them that much more!

So, the last question remaining is. What’s the wait? The expedition is here and it’s taking all comers! Preparations? All you need is

-Passion

-Open Mind

-A Heart Full Of Metal

-A Good Night Sleep because this journey is just the beginning and it’s not stopping anytime soon!

Good work lads, love it! Keep up the good work! –Corban Skipwith

Single Review: Null Cell "Blade’s Edge" (Machine Man Records) by Corban Skipwith

Band: Null Cell

Location: Omaha, Nebraska

Country: USA

Genre: Industrial rock, EBM

Single: Blade’s Edge

From the upcoming full length "Nemesis" to be released December 31, 2021

Format: Digital

Label: Machine Man Records

Release date: November 26, 2021

SINGLE SINGLE SINGLE! READ ALL ABOUT IT IN TODAY’S EDITION OF :RELENTLESS REVIEWS WITH CORBZ

Null Cell -Blade’s Edge

In today’s news headline the artist Null Cell has released a new single, one that is beginning to turn heads.

;Oh that’s absolutely right Corban! The Nebraska native really went all out with this one, giving us more of that classic 90’s-2000’s techno vibe mixed with some of that new school Dark Electro vibes! It’s a great marvel to witness!

:Douglas, you hit the nail right on the head it really does have that spark, doesn’t it? Makes you remember about those (not so memorable times) when we’re teenagers going through our little emo phases with our hair spiked up, wearing all those bracelets and long shorts and we would just get dropped off by our parents to an underage club and dance our troubles away!

;Ha-ha, yes those sure were interesting times. None the less I love how groovy and psychedelic this track feels, what he’s giving us is a sense of thrill to counteract the boring day to day routine, a sense of sonic adventure to quench our thirst for creativity and overall deliver a mood-changing aesthetic that will be remembered for days or weeks to come!

That’s all for today's news bulletin, remember don’t be shy try this track out. Yes, you driving home from work, yes even for you lady walking her dog this track is great for everyone and I guarantee you’ll have a blast.

That was Corban and Douglas on your Relentless Music News at 6! –Corban Skipwith

Lineup:

Isabella Chains: Programming, keyboards, production, vocals, remixing

Eddie LaFlash of Decent News: Guitar soloing on “Blade's Edge”

Track list:

1. Blade's Edge

2. Blade's Edge (thrash mix)

3. The Ceremony (dub mix)