Immortal Dominion - Birth (Self-Financed, '98)

Rating: 9/10
Tracks: Canyon Curse, Animated Adrenaline, Brighter Days, I Won't Kill You, Demon Voices

It seems Immortal Dominion are being marketed as hardcore according to the press clips included with their bio. Now, there are elements of hardcore here, but I would definitely peg this as death metal. Immortal Dominion are far too brutal to be shelved alongside bands like Earth Crisis and Strife and the like. They remind me somewhat of Human Remains due to the vocal approach and sometimes bizarre arrangements. dead horse comes to mind as well. Suffice to say, there is some superb musicianship running amok and causing major damage here. Immortal Dominion are capable of a full-on, destructive onslaught of epic proportions as well as moments of pure mood and atmosphere. "Demon Voices" starts off with such a moment and then escalates to a blasting session that would make the most fiendish of black metallers envious. There is far too much groove here for black metal purists, though. "Canyon Curse" kicks Birth off with a blast. "Animated Adrenaline" continues to tear it up with a venomous groove. "I Won't Kill You" finds ID at their most hardcore, although it still drips death...

Spiteful vocals, insane drums, swirling, chugging guitars and bass just completely fuck you up on this one. The CD's one downfall is the tune "Brighter Days." It is some sort of power ballad that sticks out like an extra finger. Have to knock a full point off for that one... it is the only flaw on an otherwise wonderful release. Birth gives Pyrexia's System of the Animal a run for the money as one of the most vicious slabs of hardcore-crusted death metal to ever see the light of day. - Al Kikuras

Check out the Immortal Dominion web page for more info.

Primordial - A Journey's End (Misanthropy, '98)

Rating: 7/10
Tracks: Graven Idol, Dark Song, Autumn's Ablaze, Journey's End, Solitary Mourner, Bitter Harvest, On Mistear Dierneach

Primordial's music is reportedly influenced by traditional irish melodies. There is a lot of experimentation here, but it is when they are playing more straightforward passages that I am most interested and convinced. The overall feel is very dark and melancholy.

I don't particularly care for the clean vocals on the release. This seems to be very much a big thing in black metal lately, and while I can appreciate the experimental spirit of it all, to be honest, most of these guys can't sing a lick. Unfortunately, the vocalist of Primordial is no exception. There are times when the emotion in his voice does manage to convey the mood nicely, reminding me a bit of David Bowie at times, but on the most part his forced vibrato just sounds presumptuous.

There are some exceptional moments on here. "Dark Song," despite the vocals, is well played with some very nice guitar overlayed on percussion. "Autumn's Ablaze" finds the clean vocals at their most tolerable. Hell, even enjoyable in the first sections of the tune. The playing on this track is excellent, varying from metal-bashing passages to melodic bass breaks, but once again the voice comes in and grates. "Bitter Harvest" is my favorite track on the album, as it features traditional Black Metal style vocals that I wish were much more prevalent on the release. Primordial is capable of impressive things and pull a number of them off on A Journey's End.

In all, this is a release that presents a lot of great ideas, but onfortunately they are marred by a voice that I really cannot stand. The title track is completely destroyed. "Solitary Mourner" brings Jim Morrison to mind and as far as I am concerned that is not a good thing. The music is impressive, as are the ideas, but the vocals just smack me in the face and I cannot overlook them and have to take a full point-and-half off as a result.

Primordial give Bethlehem a run for their money when it comes to dark and depressing, but they are not quite as successful. A Journey's End is a release that fans of folk-flavored black metal will eat up, but I prefer the streamroller approach so it doesn't exactly mash my potatoes. - Al Kikuras

Nasty Disaster - Metal Retardation (Self-Financed, '97)

Rating: 10/10
Tracks: Declaration of True Metal (Intro), Fighting For Metal, Metal Inquisition, Heavy Metal Rules The World, Play Some Fuckin' Metal, Metal Head, Metal Famine, Sluts of Metal, Full Metal Jacket. Bonus Track: Play Some Heavy Metal

You really have to love metal to appreciate the glory to be found within these 10 tracks. It must flow through your veins. It must be what you eat and breathe and hail. You must fly the banner of true metal at all times to know the joy of Nasty Disaster.

Sure, they are a spoof band, but you know that unless they fit the profile above and then some, they wouldn't take the time or have the passion to carry it off this well and this completely. Non-metal fans just will not get it... true metal fans will find their fists and heads banging, voice cracking as you strain to hit the high notes, singing every word along with Master Herman VonRull. Within a week, you will know all of the words!! You will gather up all of your friends that had long hair back in high school (and they STILL should have long hair, damnit!). Excitedly, you will sit them down in a room with no explanation. You will slap this sucker in the stereo, crank it to 10 (or 11) and sit back and absolutely REVEL in the fucking GLORY OF TRUE HEAVY METAL.

Every single one of the songs on Metal Retardation is an absolute metal ANTHEM. Nasty Disaster have tapped into the river of molten sludge running through the hearts of all the true metal maniacs around the world and have drawn forth 10 hymns to the Gods that will bring a smile to your face every time you hear, nay, even THINK of them.

The songs are catchy, the production perfect for what they are trying to accomplish, the vocals are priceless, the lyrics ingenious, even the electronic drums cannot take away from this absolute piece of perfection...

All Hail Nasty Disaster!! - Al Kikuras

For more information, email Nasty Disaster or write to:

Nasty Disaster Fan Club
P.O. Box 120-504
East Haven, CT 06512

Tapes are $5, CDs are $7.

Morpheus Descends - The Horror of the Truth (Angel Dust Records, '97)

Rating: 9/10
Tracks: Begging For Possession, Valley of the Undead War, The Horror of the Truth

This is death metal at its purest, most basic form. No bullshit, no fucking around. Morpheus Descends hail from the Incantation school of mayhem, although they are a little less chaotic, but no less brutal. Stands to reason, as guitarist Rob Yench is now playing bass for Incantation, and vocalist/guitarist Tom Stevens (formerly of Nokturnel) will be handling vocals for them on a leg of their current tour while Daniel plays a few shows with his other group, Chasm.

The production on The Horror of the Truth is not as crisp as Morpheus Descends' last effort, Chronicles of the Shadowed Ones, but the material is much stronger. The three songs on this release are all top-notch grinders in the old-school vein. The opening track, "Begging For Possession," could very well serve as the audio definition of death metal. Deep vocals, ample blasts, chugging double bass... this is the genuine article.

You will not find any surprises on The Horror of the Truth, and those that are not into the tradtional approach should stay far away, but this is the stuff death-metal purists dream of. Come forth and revel in what death metal is all about. Morpheus Descends serve it up 200 proof. - Al Kikuras