Fange - Pantocrator (2021)

This new album from Fange is a bit less overtly industrial than their EP Poigne, but on the two long, bleak and atmospheric songs that make up Pantocrator we hear Fange at their most Godfleshian. And the result is really fine. Excellent stuff again from the sludge-death-industrial French band.

The BC page.

 

Fange - Poigne (EP 2020)

Quickly following the release of their excellent last album Pudeur (that I reviewed HERE), Fange released an EP called Poigne. This EP digs deeper the industrial sound introduced in Pudeur (with a drum machine instead of a drummer). In Poigne Fange's sound is definitely closer to Auther & Punisher or NIN than to Entombed. Maybe not everybody will like it, but that's fine with me, especially since the result is really convincing.

The BC page.

 

 

Fange - Pudeur (2020)

Pudeur is the first Fange album that I really find interesting, so far I felt their "blackened sludge Entombedcore" was ok but a bit generic. But on Pudeur they replaced the drummer by a drum machine and the industrial element it brings really adds a dimension to their sound, making it even more inhuman and bleak while keeping their dirty and heavy side. Recommended! (as well as the 4 tracks, called Poigne, they just did and which continue in the same direction)

The Bandcamp page.

Necrodancer - Void (2017)

Void is the first album from the new band Necrodancer (with members that are or were in Daggers or Verdun). While the "funeral grunge" tag they use isn't to be taken too seriously it's true that their dark and melodic hardcore metal avoid sounding like another generic hardcore/metal band. But what is the most striking is their ability at writing memorable and catchy songs with hooks and grooves. And after seeing them live the other day (their second concert as Necrodancer) I can add they're also really good as a live band. Recommended stuff!

The BC page.

Violent Magic Orchestra - Catastrophic Anonymous (2016)

Violent Magic Orchestra is a very weird beast, don't get fooled by the fact their album Catastrophic Anonymous was released (in december 2016) by Throatruiner Records, it's completely different stuff. it's a band composed by the impredictable Japanese collective Vampilia, the French techno producer Paul Régimbeau (Mondkopf), and noise musician Pete Swanson (ex-Yellow Swans), with also vocal contributions by Chip King (The Body) and Attila Csihar (Mayhem, Sunno)))). The result could be loosely described as some kind of industrial black metal, with somewhat baroque melodic orchestration (coming from Vampilia I suppose). Most tracks are both really good and surprising  and it's a very interesting and enjoyable album. An exemple of a successfull collaboration and an excellently mastered first album (first together, not a first for each of them of course, all are experienced musicians). I hope they'll make some music together again. Recommended stuff!

The Bandcamp page.

Vuyvr-Eiskalt (2013)

Vuyvr is a band from Switzerland, featuring membres from Knut, Impure Wilhelmina, Elisabeth and Rorcal. considering this lin-up it's not surprising, first that Vuyvr music is good, and secondly that their black metal is not strictly traditionnal. on their new record, Eiskalt, the basis is raw and blastbeating black metal, ferocious and intense. and to this agressivity they add some epicness and melody, in a way that remins a bit Emperor (but rawer and without keyboards..), but also some post-hardcore elements making their sound bridging the gap between old school and modern black metal. merciless blast beats and subtility? a meeting of black metal and modern hardcore? intense and uncompromising music? you'll understand easily why this release is a collaboration between Blastbeat mailmurder productions and Thoatruiner records.

you can have this release (come on, you must have this release!) eiter as a digital free download, or on vinyl (the more aggressive song on the A side, and the most melodic / atmospheric ones on the B side).

check it on the Bandcamp page. highly recommended!