Enthauptung – Buffalo Black Metal

 

  



A dark and aggressive blend of misery and nostalgia, Enthauptung (German for decapitation) are Western New York’s best black metal band.  Atmospheric, foreboding, but not overly abrasive, Enthauptung have been performing in the region the past few years creating some of the most memorable live experiences for metal fans.  The band self-released two EPs, Paths Forgotten (2013) and A Forming Void (2014), subsequent full-length, Adirondack (2015), and are currently working on their second album.

Initially influenced by U.S. black metal bands like Ash Borer and Wolves in the Throne Room, Enthauptung’s new material also includes dissonant, intense, aggressive elements influenced by bands like Goreguts and Ulcerate, to contrast the melody and atmosphere.  They want to take atmospheric, melodic U.S. style black metal and make it more unpredictable, utilizing repetition, yet not lingering on the same idea for 5 minutes.

When experiencing live music, everyone has their own interpretation of what they see and hear, but Enthauptung wants to create a shared experience.  The band uses stage props, burns candles and incense, trying to hit as many senses as they can to give you more of a distinct memorable performance.  They even create full experiences like the dimly-lit black metal show at the abandoned grain silos in Buffalo, during the start of winter 2015.  An unforgettable event for everyone who attended.

Enthauptung are currently writing new material, focusing on the concept of the album as a whole, as well as the individual songs.  The new recording will be uncomfortable, straying away from predictability.  Familiar elements will hit harder, staying aggressive while blending their trademark sound.  While the band welcomes label support, they have plans to release the new album themselves.  NYC fans can catch Enthauptung performing live in Brooklyn, this July at Lucky 13.



One of the most anticipated hardcore punk releases last year, Break the Seal 7” (2016) by Buffalo/Syracuse’s Pissing Match.

Short, fast, hardcore punk, Pissing Match is legitimately pissed off and they tell you exactly why.  Singling out the fakes and frauds in hardcore and punk, Pissing Match is not afraid to point the finger at just about anyone.

With straightforward, catchy lyrics like, “I can’t get a job/without pissing in a cup/and I’m not pissing in a cup,” “fuck your image/fuck your fashion/fuck your shitty zine/and fuck your shitty scene” and, “your perceived social status in a dead-end town/makes you the perfect candidate for a party clown,” Pissing Match point out painfully obvious truths and expose the façades and pettiness of the social scene.

Jaded and pissed off at everything, Pissing Match keeps it old school and fast.  Break the Seal lives up to the hype.  Finally available as a co-release between Pissing Match and Feral Kid Records.

Cain – Buffalo Death Thrash

 

 

Cain are arguably the hardest working band in Buffalo.  Their self-described death thrash is a throwback to the glory days of speed metal.  Totally d.i.y. since their inception, with numerous tours already accomplished, Cain love what they do and are passionate about the music they make.

Formed in 2010, Cain performed a lot in Buffalo and nearby cities like Rochester, New York City, and Philadelphia.  They did partial tours with Hellcannon and Sacrificial Blood, and had already completed a 9-day tour by 2013.  While continuing to play locally, the band toured the east coast for two weeks in 2015 and did a 10-day tour of the Midwest and Canada in 2016.  On top of their touring and work ethic, Cain also hosted local d.i.y. shows for over three years at their basement space, The Lair.

Cain has two vinyl releases, The Ravaging LP (2015) and Unholy Triumvirate 7” split with Maximum Oversatan (2015).  The Ravaging is self-released by the band, and Unholy Triumvirate is co-released by Cain, Maximum Oversatan, and Contaminated Tones record label.

Cain are currently finishing up their second full length album at Rotten Metal Recording with Joe Leising.  Fans can expect longer more progressive pieces, a couple songs over 6-7 minutes, and even a 13-minute epic titled, “Into Abyss.” Revolving around space centralized themes, there will be death metal and progressive elements, not just thrash metal.

            With a lot already accomplished totally on their own, Cain are looking for avenues to take their band to the next level, whether it be record label, management support, or other channels of promotion.  You can check out Cain performing this summer at Buffalo Metal Fest and Vile Records Open Air Fest.

            Peace of Mind is a hardcore band from Südthüringen (South Thuringia), Germany.  Peace of Mind (2016) and Gaze into an Abyss (2016) are released by Powertrip Records, German hardcore label.

            Peace of Mind focuses on straightforward song arrangements with tight grooves and breakdowns just unpredictable enough to be that much heavier.  Their guitar tone is nearly perfect with impeccable crunch, especially on the palm muting.  The vocals have a unique sound distinguishing them from other hardcore vocals.  Lyrics deal with capitalism and greed, questioning faith in humanity, and overcoming oppression.

            Peace of Mind is available on clear marble or black vinyl and Gaze into an Abyss is available on green, yellow, or black vinyl.

            There’s no way out of reality.  No Escape (2014) by Cold Reality from Hungary.  You can’t escape from here.

            Cold Reality structures tight hardcore compositions with plenty of grooves and breakdowns.  The hardcore vocals are tough with lyrics about friendship, relationship struggles, and overcoming personal obstacles.

            No Escape 7” is co-released by Dead End Records and Powertrip Records and available on white or black vinyl.

            Alpha Hopper are weird spaced out punk from Buffalo, New York.  Last Chance Power Drive (2016) is a great release by this unique, original band.

Alpha Hopper’s female fronted vocals are cleaner and off-pitch but there are also harder moments with more screaming vocals.  The riffs are catchy, syncopated and often bass-focused, with the bass prominent in the mix.  It all sounds weird enough to be spaced out.

            Last Chance Power Drive is released by Radical Empathy and limited to 300 copies on smoky blue vinyl.

 

If you listen to some of the newer bands in hardcore today, you’d think that hardcore is about punching people in the face and being negative.  Eat Me Fresh from Czech Republic are a refreshing reminder of what hardcore is really about.  Young people with a positive message, expressing themselves and having a good time.

Eat Me Fresh have got some serious groove.  Songs have unpredictable arrangements and nice change-ups that keep the tension and intensity going.  The hardcore style vocals are spot on, and hook you in right away.  Their lyrics deal with overcoming the internal and external pressures and struggles we each face every day.

            Eat Me Fresh are one of the newer, younger bands in hardcore that remind us that hardcore is about being young, having fun, and expressing ourselves with a positive message.  Facing the Truth (2016) is available on white-black splatter or black vinyl at Powertrip Records in Germany.

Stockholm kings of speed Massgrav split with Kronofogden from Hudiksvall.  A super-fast Swedish hardcore punk assault.  Massgrav brings their signature sound of blastbeat infused hardcore punk while Kronofogden hits you with fast, crusty, hardcore punk.  There are plenty of d-beats and both bands deliver unique, original sounding vocals.

            Kronofogden/Massgrav Split 7” EP (2016) is released by Blindead Productions in Sweden and is available on red or black vinyl.

Crepitation from Manchester, England are arguably one of the best slam bands in brutal death metal today.  The Violence of the Slams (2016) is their highly anticipated full-length after the underground success of their EPs, North-West Slam Fest (2007) and Glasgow Smash (2013).

The music features a ton of blast beats and gravity rolls with ridiculous grooves and tough breakdowns.  Crepitation have a tongue-in-cheek, humorous take on death metal lyrics.  With a dual vocal assault, these guys experiment with unusual vocal techniques creating some really extreme sounds.  Crepitation definitely have their own unique style compared to your average run-of-the-mill slam bands.

            The Violence of the Slams is available on clear, yellow, or black vinyl from Morbid Generation Records in Germany.

            Mad at the World are a hardcore band from Paris, France.  Domination (2015) is released by BDHW Records (Beatdown Hardwear), hardcore label from Leipzig, Germany.

The song arrangements here are more complex than most hardcore bands and reminiscent of death metal.  Dark metallic riffs and plenty of hardcore grooves with really killer hardcore vocals.  Including beautiful cover art (Morbid Angel anyone?!), the record even has eight tracks like a death metal album.

            If you’re a fan of hardcore, be sure to check out BDHW Records.  The label features a ton of great hardcore bands you might not know about.  Mad at the World are definitely one of the best hardcore bands currently active in Europe.

This fucking rules.  Noise-grind insanity from Malaysia, SMG, split 7” with Repulsione from Italy, and co-released by Grind Block Records, Audio Lesion Records, NHDIYST Records, Nuclear Alcoholocaust Records, and Jennifer Grind Records.

The SMG (Selfmadegod) side is furious, noise-grind madness.  The Repulsione side delivers manic European grinding powerviolence.  Both of these bands have been active in the underground for over ten years.  With sick cover art and d.i.y. as fuck, this release is highly recommended for noise freaks everywhere.

From Grey……To Black (2013) sounds like Agathocles lost their drummer, got super high, left a drum machine on repeat, and played the same riffs over and over and over again.  This is one of their experimental albums, not really grindcore.  The vocals are still your usual Agathocles sound though.  For fans of bands experimenting and not giving a fuck what you think.

From Grey……To Black comes in grey swirl vinyl and is limited to 315 hand-numbered copies.  It is released by Cold-Coffein-Addict Records and Vulgar Records in Germany.

            Agathocles are a grindcore band from Belgium active since 1985.  They call their music mincecore and have a prolific catalogue of literally hundreds of releases.  Last summer Agathocles toured the U.S. for the first time, performing dates in the north-east.

Nethergrave – Buffalo Death Metal

Buffalo’s newest death metal band, Nethergrave, doesn’t care about egos or trying to fit into a certain sub-genre.  They play the music they want to hear.  Just death metal.  Fast, angry, and relentless as possible.

While not necessarily trying to stick to a brutal, technical, or black metal sound, Nethergrave are more focused on being as extreme as possible.  Influenced by bands like Cannibal Corpse, Decapitated, Dying Fetus, Morbid Angel, and Suffocation, you get the idea.

Favoring a less-is-more approach, there are no nine-minute death ballads here. Nethergrave’s songs are the perfect length, just enough time to beat the listener into submission.

Nethergrave released the three song demo, Out of Skin, last May and have plans to record new material by the end of the year.  You can stream or purchase, Out of Skin, at the Nethergrave Bandcamp and be sure to catch them live this summer at Buffalo Metal Fest.

            Hearing about an Ed Gein release is always a welcome surprise.  This one comes in the form of a double 7”, Smoked (2016).  Five ripping new tracks on two discs from Syracuse, New York grind-hardcore veterans.

Ed Gein have been sporadically active during their 15 year existence, performing mostly in Syracuse and other north-eastern cities.  Revered in the extreme music community, they play a unique blend of hardcore and grindcore delivered with intense urgency.  With song titles like “Build A Wall Around D.C.,” Ed Gein are certainly keeping up with the times on Smoked.

The special d.i.y. packaging is designed and hand-screened by bassist/vocalist, Aaron Jenkins.  Smoked is available via mail order from Hex Records on black or clear vinyl.  Go fast!