Inner Sanctum

 

    


There comes a point in the growth of every music scene, where its artists are not only loved in their homelands, but in other countries as well. The Indian scene has well surpassed this point and this realization hit me when my fellow scribe Magne Karlsen  was talking to me about Inner Sanctum’s gig in Oslo. And now the band have released their full length titled ‘Legions Awake’ and this album totally explains why these guys are so loved. This is an album that have been awaited by fans ever since the band came out with their first EP and the wait of six years is well justified.

      The band’s thrash / death metal hybrid captures the exuberance that the band exhibits during their live shows, well in the form of music on this record. The riff writing skills of this band is one of the bests this country has to offer. The riffs are memorable, fresh, entertaining and well executed. The rhythms and riffs of tracks like ‘Wake of Destruction’, ‘March of the Wounded’ and  ‘Legions Awake’ have an almost earworm quality (in a very good way) to them. A mix of thrash metal riffs and death metal heaviness formulate the guitar work.

     The lead guitar work is tantamount to the riffs and rhythm work. Guitar solos are not exempt from this band’s skill set and they put it to good and measured use. The vocals which are weave of the tone death metal growls and the energy of thrash metal shouts. This concoction manages to raise the energy levels to a high degree and aiding to this is the drum work; it is quick and not drowned in monotonous blast beats. Some of the fills and rolls are timed and executed with technical perfection.

    Inner Sanctum have managed to rope not one, but three guitarists worthy of legendary status. How can one expect an album that features Christopher Amott (Ex- Arch Enemy), James Murphy (Ex- Death, Ex- Testament) and Dan Mongrain (Voivod) doing a solo trade-off, to not sound good? The production is flawless and the sound on the album promulgates the energy of the band. The crunchy guitar tone and the crystal clear drum tone are well suited for the band’s style of music.

‘Legions Awake’ is an album executed to perfection. It’s fresh, energetic and the writing is top notch. Inner Sanctum have nailed the perfect formula for a good metal record.

Rating: 88%

Courtesy of Metal Gallows 

Frosthelm - The Endless Winter

I love me some blackened thrash, but for whatever reason not much of it crosses my path on a regular basis.  There seems to be an endless flow of blackened folk and death, yet my penchant for Immortal and Absu is more often than not left unsatisfied.  Thankfully this drought was lifted with the arrival of The Endless Winter.  Equal parts the 80’s thrash of Exodus and melodic grimness of Taake, Frosthelm are a force to be reckoned with.

One look at this amazing, frost-bitten cover and the band name, and you wouldn’t think this was the work of a couple dudes from North Dakota.  Yet there it is.  Nevertheless, these guys can shred with the best of their Nordic brethren.  I can almost see Abbath silently nodding approval with crossed arms:  Insanely fast tremolos, wild palm-mute alternation, shrieking treble-heavy chords, and a number of excellent solos to boot.  I am pretty sure that there is some direct Bathory influence on this album as well.  The thrashier parts share some qualities with Blood Fire Death while the bigger riffs bring Hammerheart to mind (see opening to “A Storm of Teeth”).

Between the endless blastbeats, minor key variations, and shrieked vocals; there is little doubt that Frosthelm are black metal to the bone.  And yet I find myself frequently banging my head and grinning while picturing “Zetro” Souza in corpse paint.  There’s something about the thick chug patterns and cadence of the screams that manages to infuse the bay area scene into the otherwise icy riffage.  It’s a combination I never would have dreamed possible, but I think that is exactly what drew me to this album to begin with.  A closer look at the liner notes reveals further clues behind the sound.  It was recorded in L.A. and mixed and mastered by Matt Hyde (Slayer, Kreator).  Frosthelm even go so far as to call themselves “thrashened black.”

Whatever you choose to call it, you need to check it out on bandcamp pronto.  Their ability to be highly technical in the shredding and drumming while maintaining a keen ear for catchy hooks and pure mosh pit mayhem are a wonder to behold.  I can’t decide whether to wear corpse paint with board shorts or a sleeveless shirt and flowing curls with combat boots and spikes.  It’s a conundrum.  But let me worry about the fashion while you stream this monster today.  It’s “The Toxic Waltz” in a snowstorm.

Enjoyability=10
Musicianship=9
Innovation=9
Overall=9.3

 

Kaliya (Dallas)

You there, sir.  Yes, you.  Seems you could sure use a sledgehammer to the face.  Just so happens I have one for you.  This is some incredibly heavy, borderline blackish hardcore akin to Nails and Converge.  Stand in front of this sandblaster knowing that the recording was mastered by none other than Proscriptor McGovern, fellow Texan and mastermind behind Absu.  Bandcamp esta aqui.