Harakiri For The Sky - With Autumn I'll Surrender (Single, AOP Records)
"A brilliant first offering of new music from one of today's most important bands"."
With about three months before the release of their upcoming album, Scorched Earth, Austrian post-black metal titans Harakiri For The Sky have come forth to give the extreme music community a taste of their exciting, albeit bleak in nature, new opus.
Revered by many metal fans as one of the most important bands in the scene today, thanks in large part to their expertly crafted work that conjures deep emotions and reflections in any listener, "With Autumn I'll Surrender" is another testament to their mastery of music and feelings.
Clocking in around eight and a half minutes in length, the track is so drenched in texture and passion that each moment is its own unique experience. With vocals and all instruments handled by the enigmatic J.J. and M.S. respectively, the song is a wall of sound drawing elements of progressive music, grunge, and black metal, all backing J.J.'s howling voice.
Already succeeding in painting vivid pictures through just the song itself, the accompanying music video takes it one step further by telling the heartbreaking story of an artist reflecting on a particularly tragic day of his life.
As the premier single sets a new standard of excellence for Harakiri For The Sky, the metal world now waits with anticipation for what else Scorched Earth will contain.
Melted Bodies - The Inevitable Fork (Independent)
"A testament to the twisted corridors of extreme music - a shot of brutality with a beautiful chaser."
Since its earliest years, the word 'dangerous' has come to mind when discussing rock 'n' roll, a trait very much applicable to extreme forms of music. Yet, while a band's image and lyrical content can easily qualify for this term, the music itself doing so is a feat any band should be proud to achieve in their career.
So then should the metal community stand and applaud Melted Bodies and their embodiment of chaos unleashed entitled The Inevitable Fork. Fusing together a mind bending hybrid of industrial influenced grindcore, the album certainly tips a hat to bands such as Devo and Oingo Boingo, as heard in tracks such as "Liars", but the furious instrumentation unquestionably draws influence from Napalm Death and Frontline Assembly.
What makes the album dangerous is its paralyzing twists and turns combined with razor sharp riffs and beats, and intoxicating synth work. All the while, vocalist Andy Hamm's seemingly limitless voice ranges from somber on "State Of Mind", to hellishly operatic on "Bloodlines" and "Splitting". Hamm's impressive pipes are sure to catapult him into the hall of greats alongside legends such as Mike Patton, Devin Townsend, and Travis Ryan.
While a hurricane of carnage for a good portion of the album, some more leftfield tracks include the shoegaze infused "The Avalanche", the indie tinted "Talk Some More About It". Not forgetting also the multiple short, dreamscape tracks that give a little bit of breathing room in between the heavy hitters.
Unapologetic in its blend of elements from beyond metal, The Inevitable Fork is essential listening for fans of Ministry, Aesthetic Perfection and any listener looking for an album to knock their heads loose from their necks. Having garnered much praise in their nearly ten year career, expect huge things to come from Melted Bodies.
Advanced copies courtesy of Secret Service PR
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