ALBUM REVIEW: Psalmtanic - Psalmtanic Verses

PSALMTANIC (Norway)
"Psalmtanic Verses"
(Daarlig Selskap)
Release date: March 31st 2020
Genre: Black metal, death metal, progressive metal, post metal

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Bergen is located on the south-western coast of Norway, and is the country's second largest city. Most Norwegians think of rain and lousy weather whenever they hear the name, but any dedicated metalhead that walks this globe knows that Bergen has spawned numerous bands that evolved into greats within the genre. Immortal, Borknagar and Enslaved all had their beginnings here, as well as Audrey Horne, Taake and Wardruna, just to mention a few.

In addition to their musical endeavours in the progressive metal quintet Nautilus, Eirik Ramsøy and Matt Weigand have formed their own nucleus of a band, with the intention to further ideas that most likely would not fit into Nautilus' way of artistry. Under the name PSALMTANIC, they have solidified their collective musical visions on four tracks that make up their debut album "Psalmtanic Verses", due for release on March 31st.

According to the band themselves, the album's concept is "to take the most grim and dreary bits from The Book of Psalms and dress them up as metal". Fittingly enough for a bible oriented theme, these four compositions are all rooted within the blacker realms of heavy metal, but also branch out into diverse other subgenres such as progressive and death metal.

To begin with, "Stille! Stille! Jesus Lider" ("Silence! Silence! Jesus Suffers!") starts off as a traditional black metal affair with fast chords and blastbeats. That is, until the harsh vocals mark their presence, and the guitars and drums turn this pitch black picture into a progressive sonic landscape filled with clear, sparkling details. The drum sound is perfect, and the guitars are never excessively distorted, which allows every note to be heard.

Contrasts are many on "Psalmtanic Verses" and appear quickly. Just a minute into the opening track a collage of delayed clean guitars create an atmosphere that would seem unthinkable during the blasting intro, and it already becomes evident that despite the blackened nature of the music, this is going to be a varied and colorful album with a lot of things happening.

"In the Bleak Midwinter" continues the atmospheric element in a way that Coldplay and U2 find favorable, and mixed with cold, genuine Norwegian grimness it becomes the world's blackest pop song.

The atmospheric element becomes a recurring feature on PSALMTANIC's debut. The ten minute long "Jeg Går i Fare Hvor jeg Går" ("I Go in Danger Wheverer I Go") is no exception, with more delayed clean guitars and a slightly chaotic (structurally, of course) drum pattern in a wet, roomy ambience. The verse section is more traditional and yet again a glorious contrast to the almost hypnotizing middle section that also showcases the duo's progressive abilities with a slightly more technical approach.

"Naglet til et Kors på Jorden" ("Nailed to a Cross on Earth") was released as a single already in April last year, and it is another ten minute journey that serves as conclusion to PSALMTANIC's debut album.

What is most impressive about PSALMTANIC is their ability to create little musical journeys that cause at least this listener to find himself lost in dreamlike soundscapes, and at the same time retain presence enough to notice every little detail.

Good music is the kind that gets the listener emotionally involved. I could go on and on, but what's the point?

★★★★★★★★★★

Tracklist:
1. Stille! Stille! Jesus Lider!
2. In the Bleak Midwinter
3. Jeg Går i Fare Hvor Jeg Går
4. Naglet til et Kors på Jorden*

*Added to the Subterranean Noise - 2020 playlist on Spotify.

LINE UP:
Eirik Ramsøy - guitars, bass and vocals
Matt Weigand - guitars, drums, keyboards and backing vocals

ALBUM REVIEW: Eulogy - Memento Mori

EULOGY (Wales)
"Memento Mori"
(One Eyed Toad Records)
Release date: February 21st 2020
Genre: Hard rock, heavy rock

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Heavy rock is probably not the first thing that comes to mind whenever Wales is mentioned, unless you're a die hard Budgie fan, of course. Cardiff based EULOGY is a power trio formed in early 2017, and released their three track debut EP "Back to Life" already in December the same year. After their debut, EULOGY have been streamed no less than 200.000 times on Spotify, which itself should be an indication of success, and they spent 2018 on stages within and beyond the Welsh borders. A new track, "Blood Red Skies" was released in November 2019 as a teaser from their then upcoming sophomore EP "Memento Mori", which has now been out for almost a month on One Eyed Toad Records.

After their success with "Back to Life", the lads in EULOGY wanted to explore a darker and heavier sound on their next release. Whereas the debut had a melodic, energetic and feelgood vibe, the four tracks on "Memento Mori" sure are darker around the edges. Mike Williams' guitars are heavier and more fierce, have quite an amount of low-end, and with Neil Thomas providing the even deeper frequencies with his bass he creates an almost impenetrable wall of powerchord oriented riffs.

The opening track "Cross to Bare" introduces the darker side of EULOGY. In terms of composition it is a fairly straight forward tune, but the genre in which this Welsh power trio operates there has never been focus on anything else but energy and power, something this track suffers no shortage from. Thomas' vocals have a raw Blackie Lawness-ish feel that to this listener fits really well.

"You'll Die Alone" is another track that was released as a single, and with its emphasis on melody and vast quantities of catchy hooks it is what many would probably call a perfect choice for a single. The lyrical theme on "Corvid" is based around the final moments before death, just before the soul's departure of the soul. Tempowise it is faster and balances on the edge between heavy rock and metal.

"Blood Red Skies" was mentioned further up in the article, and also contains the ingredients that make up a natural choice for a single. The riffs are once again more melodic than on the non-single tracks, and the song sounds overall a bit 80's inspired.

EULOGY have been set for touring throughout 2020 to support their most recent release, so if you get the chance to catch them somewhere along their trek across Great Britain, be sure to pay them a visit.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Tracklist:
1. Cross To Bare*
2. You'll Die Alone
3. Corvid
4. Blood Red Skies*

*Added to the Subterranean Noise - 2020 playlist on Spotify.

LINE UP:
Neil Thomas - bass and vocals
Mike Williams - guitars
Darran Goodwin - drums

ALBUM REVIEW: Silent Agreement - From the Amusement Park

SILENT AGREEMENT (Germany)
"From the Amusement Park"
(Independent)
Release date: February 16th 2020
Genre: Hard rock, stoner rock, grunge rock

Links:
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SILENT AGREEMENT are a foursome of musicians that since their live debut in 2018 have made quite an impact on their local hard rock scene in Germany. Their performances have given the band a reputation of being a very energetic live act, and after having achieved this highly valued merit the band entered the studio to record the EP that we're having a closer look at today.

Very little information was given to me about the band themselves, apart from links and production info, but we'll focus on the main feature itself; the music.

SILENT AGREEMENT's first addition to their discography is an EP that sounds like the band has found a lot of inspiration from their genre's 70's era. Albeit their expression is a dirty and unpolished one, "From the Amusement Park" has received a modern and powerful production treatment.

The three tracks on the band's first studio effort are loaded with riffs that often prove that less is more. For instance, the riff that is the basis of the opening track "Solid" is far from the most innovative of riffs, but serves in all its simplicity as a powerful momentum that gives the track a heavy, almost stoner-like drive. Simple, but effective.

"Dream World" and "Judas" are more upbeat than the opening track, and the introductory riff on the former is a treat you don't want to miss. The chorus is one that stays in the back of your head long after you played it, and the instrumental middle section is a curious little anti climax in a song like this. "Judas" has a bit of a funky approach that comes as a bit of a surprise, but nevertheless an interesting feature on a track that concludes the nearly twelve minutes of music on SILENT AGREEMENT's debut EP.

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Tracklist:
1. Solid*
2. Dream World*
3. Judas

*Added to the Subterranean Noise - 2020 playlist on Spotify.

Line up:
Roman Erken - vocals
Michael Enders - guitar
Lukas Krenzer - bass
Ben Mathe - drums

DEMO REVIEW: BS Bone - Inside Insanity

BS BONE (Italy)
"Inside Insanity"
(Independent)
Release date: October 31st 2019
Genre: Hard rock, stoner rock, punk rock, grunge rock

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From the Molise region in southern Italy comes a three piece ensemble that has played together since 2017. The nucleus of what was to later become BS BONE took shape after Vyper (bass/vocals) and Steve Grind (guitar) decided they wanted to blast the dust from their amps, and started working on riffs with the intention of creating new, original material.

Eventually, BS BONE became a reality after the addition of drummer Leo, and the band recorded a four track demo during the summer of 2019. This very demo is today's subject for review here on the Subterranean Noise blog, so let's have a look, shall we?

"I Don't Give a Fuck" is the welcoming title of the opening track, and it starts off nicely with a riff that has a raw, dirty and catchy Motörheadish drive. The rhythm section joins the game with an almost funky, midtempo groove that immediately sends this listener's thoughts back to Rage Against the Machine in their early days. A good, consistent choice for an opening track, and it holds nothing back on showing the attitude that these three Italian dudes have.

"99 Lions in a Cage" takes the band in a slightly different direction. The guitars seem very inspired by Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters and even Iron Maiden. More melodic than the opener, but an interesting track that proves that BS BONE in terms of style certainly appear quite versatile.

This writer's personal favorite is "Dysfunctional Souls", a furious little bastard of a track that brings the band back into their punky raw mode, making "99 Lions in a Cage" seem like a ballad in comparison. A suitable reference could be Suicidal Tendencies, and their "Join the Army" album from 1987.

The demo concludes with the slightly heavier "Rant", filled to the brink with powerful riffs and pounding drums. A wah-wah seasoned chorus riff gives this closing track a Black Sabbath/Kyuss type of vibe, thus making it a worthy ending of BS BONE's first introduction.

The only thing I am struggling with are the vocals. They very quickly get rather tiresome, and (for this writer's personal taste) put quite a damper on the material overall. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to hearing how these songs, and hopefully many more, will sound in a cleaner production. That being said, "Inside Insanity" sounds fairly decent for a demo. It was recorded and produced by the band themselves, and I would say they did a good job shaping it into the product it became.

★★★★★★☆☆☆☆

Tracklist:
1. I Don't Give a Fuck
2. 99 Lions in a Cage*
3. Dysfunctional Souls*
4. Rant

*Added to the Subterranean Noise - 2019 playlist on Spotify.

LINE UP:
Vyper - bass and lead vocals
Steve Grind - guitars
Leo - drums and backing vocals

ALBUM REVIEW: Battering Ram - Battering Ram

BATTERING RAM (Sweden)
"Battering Ram"
(Independent)
Release date: January 24th 2020
Genre: Hard rock, modern heavy rock

Links:
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BATTERING RAM is a Swedish four piece constellation that wholeheartedly fulfill the promise that their band name makes. That being said, I am sure it's already apparent what we're having to do with here, but let's have a closer look anyway, shall we?

Formed in late 2017, the band consists of Johan, Jonas, Jocke and Tony, who have made it their collective mission to create rock music that makes you feel good. As the name clearly indicates their art is of the hard hitting kind, and the nine tracks that make up their self titled debut are all melodic and powerful hard rock anthems with a punch that makes a fist to the face feel like a goddamn cottonball.

BATTERING RAM at times sound like a hybrid of Mustasch, Anvil, Anthrax and Volbeat with a dash of Mötley Crue and Poison. In other words, it has all the ingredients that make you want to move. It's difficult to pick favorites, but "Taking My Time", the groovy "Stronger Forever" and "Chase the Fire" are just a few selections from this 41 minute bulldozer of a hard rock album.

"Battering Ram" is far from being a complex record, and very often that's exactly what the doctor ordered. The production on the album is fairly loud, but then again, that's the only way to play it!

Now, do yourself a favor and check out BATTERING RAM while I go and crack a beer.

★★★★★★★★★★

Tracklist:
1. Taking the Time*
2. The Sign
3. Stronger Forever
4. I Will Come Alone
5. Chase the Fire*
6. Scared For My Life
7. Coming My Way
8. Wanted Man
9. Cut In Two

*Added to the Subterranean Noise - 2020 playlist on Spotify.

LINE UP:
Johan Hallström - vocals
Jonas Edmark - guitar
Jocke Ståhl - bass
Tony Trust - drums

SINGLE REVIEW: JP2 - Hope

JP2 (USA)
"Hope"
(Indian River Music Company)
Release date: February 21st 2020
Genre: Modern heavy metal, progressive metal, melodic hard rock

Links:
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BandCamp
Instagram
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Spotify

JP2, or Javier Perez as is his real name, has been mentioned on this blog page earlier, after the release of his debut single "Walk Alone" in June last year. The track received a lot of promising feedback, including a whopping 8/10 star rating by yours truly. The track stood out as one of the absolute most memorable moments from 2019, and naturally this writer did indeed sense a slight anticipation whilst clicking on the "play" button.

From the very top of the track, "Hope" appears to be an indication that Perez himself has moved in a heavier direction from where he stood on his first single. The riffs are thicker and form a rock solid foundation underneath glimmering electronics and lead guitars that appear to be one of the things that have become typical to JP2's expression.

The chorus has a somewhat similar feel as that on "Walk Alone", although without any further comparison. Perez has evolved his ability to write functional and efficient melodies and riffs, and his voice sounds stronger and more confident on his latest single.

In many ways a very different endeavour from JP2 this time. But still, the ever so slight change of scenery only confirms the musical versatility that Javier Perez possesses, because on his most recent single he seems to feel right at home.

★★★★★★★★★☆

Tracklist:
1. Hope*

*Added to the "Subterranean Noise - 2020" playlist on Spotify

LINE UP:
Javier Perez - all instrumentation, vocals

SINGLE REVIEW: Dreamslain - He Who Rises in Force

DREAMSLAIN (Norway)
"He Who Rises In Force"
(Under the Bridge Music)
Release date:
December 13th 2019 (BandCamp)
January 31st 2020 (Streaming)

Genre: Melodic death metal, extreme metal, horror metal

Links:
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BandCamp
Instagram
Spotify
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DREAMSLAIN are a three piece band located in Tromsø, far north in Norway. This year marks the tenth anniversary since the formation of the band, when drummer Daniel Figenschou joined frontman and guitarist Igor Jakobsen to breathe new life into his previously written material. The duo remained constant until keyboardist Anna Loppacher joined in 2013, after which the trio has kept writing and producing their own material. Their efforts have resulted in a handful of singles, as well as the 2018 EP "Tales of War", and it is with their most recent single in mind that we now dive into DREAMSLAIN and their sound.

"He Who Rises in Force" is a self produced, nine minute epic track that contains all the familiar characteristics that DREAMSLAIN already have made their own on their previous endeavours. According to the band themselves, they share an affinity for Scandinavian extreme metal, and this brand new single certainly thrives very well within the same category. The track has a vast variety in tempo and structure, and doesn't feel as lengthy as it actually is.

One factor that helps DREAMSLAIN create a fairly unique sound is their use of church organ, which helps add a sinister atmosphere to the band's expression. In essence, a very dark and epic track in terms of riffs and melody, but keyboardist Loppacher and her church organ create an eerie layer of horror that indeed complements Jakobsen's guitars and Figenschou's intensive drumming.

DREAMSLAIN are said to be recording their first full length, and their two most recent singles ("Ownership Denied" and "He Who Rises in Force") are both products from these sessions.

"He Who Rises in Force" is available for a price of your own choosing on their BandCamp page, so there is no reason why you shouldn't head over there right now and check it out.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

LINE UP:
Igor Jakobsen - vocals and guitars
Anna Loppacher - keyboards, bass pedals and backing vocals
Daniel Paulsen Figenschou - drums and backing vocals