ROADHOG - Dreamstealer (2015)

Roadhog Strike: Give Me My Dreams Back!

I can only be proud of Polish nowaday scene. I mean, the newborn crews that execute classic metal form: Thermit, Repulsor or Młot na Czarownice to name just a few, my beloved ones. And as of now, another group called Roadhog joins the team with a great impact. The first mention about the band has been noticed by me in the newest invaluable Pure Metal magazine. Thus I decided to check the thing out in short order. My copy has been released by Thrashing Madness, without a cover Salem’s Wych from the first version done by Stormspell Records, however three bonus tracks took their snuggery on the back of the machine luckily.

Before writing some wise words about musical offer, there’s a need to point out fantastic front-cover painted by J. Kurczak. This legendary person made a nice invitation to the kingdom of Roadhog. And the first song “Liar” doesn’t disillusion me, as it bursts me asunder without any mercy, bringing first-class heavy metal to the stage. Decorated by razor sharp riffs with super melodic lines in the chorus, it makes a demolishing opening! But “Dreamstealer” doesn’t contain of fast killers only. No, there are mid-paced compositions and two of them are the highlights here, and if you’re gonna wake me up at midnight, I will shout brazenly: “Poison Man” and “Dead of the Night”! Both are absolutely one of the best songs I have listened to in this year. And one digression, that’s true that the album has really powerful sound with such a desirable ancient touch produced by patronal hand of Olof Wikstrand from Swedish Enforcer. This band, widely known as one of the most promising crews in the genre, wouldn’t wait any longer to take these songs to their set-list. And with no fear I can put this splendid duo next to such Enforcer hits like “Katana” or “Undying Evil”. Pemo, who is responsible for music and lyrics, has a really astounding talent for creating such catchy parts, he smartly avoids creating banal sounds or making my pancreas to produce insulin. “Dreamstealer” has no fillers, no weak songs or redundant keyboards passages. The music is straight-forward and to the bone, to my heart, with a creed smelted in “Roadhog” song: “Hear the pounding metal sound / coming from the underground / feel the heavy guitar scream / it’s a nightmare it’s a dream!".  

Names, names… Yes, label sheet gives one direction to the Veto, Tyrant or Stormwitch areas, but I don’t entirely agree with that. For me it’s a far-fetched simplification. And to put it briefly Judas Priest (acceleration and sound motility), Heavy Load (melody lines) or archaic Running Wild come to my mind, bringing really gorgeous yet explosive mixture still kept in old heavy metal dimension. Because of they come from Poland and sing in English, there is an exigency to cock the ears towards Krzysiek ‘Lawless’ effort. When the band tortures in a fast way, Krzysiek spits the words absolutely implicitly and outright, the problem is when Roadhog started to reduce a gear, just take a listen to “On the Witches Path” and this too audible Polish accent. It sounds quadrate-like a bit, yet during many meetings with relentless bonnet I just got used to it. For sure his voice and the timbre are good and well-done for such sonic collision.

Thrashing Madness did a good job once again. The booklet looks really impressive with many pictures, one interview and a short bio of the band. But, as compared to such re-edition of Repulsor, some spelling errors and typos didn’t disappear unfortunately. But this edition contains of one real treasure and even if two tracks are known from the main schedule, “Cry Baby” kicks my heavy metal ass. It sounds like Pemo did an archeological work at Rolf Kasparek’s home and found a forgotten exchequer. This song sticks to my brain and cannot leave. And this paralyzing guitar lead… I’ve just been catapulted into the “Gates to Purgatory” magical times.

Summing all the things up, the case of band’s name should be explained. The musicians do not attach importance or any ideology to it. Road hog is a reckless driver who obstructs or intimidates others. So, can you feel it? With speed, take no prisoners and no mercy attitude they assassinate on your glandula suprarenalis. Follow them or be crashed. There’s no other way. But now I can’t imagine Zakopianka route. Is it possible to put there another machine, this machine? This may get messy. All drivers, you have to be warned…

And the last thing on the end: if I’m not wrong and my auditory meatus is free from cerumen, I can hear some similarities to some part of Rotting Christ song “King of a Stellar War” during 2:20-2:32 in “On the Witches Path”…  

92/100

-Tlacaxipehualiztli

(written in July, 2015)      

MŁOT NA CZAROWNICE - Popioły wiar (2015)

Of Burning Stakes and Freedom

The hammer felt steeply on my cranium. Totally unexpectedly, in spite of I’m not a witch at all. By a miracle I guess, I found the band’s profile and fired “Za złamany krzyż” song. And something has moved forward: a fast payment, not a fucking download, and modestly yet neatly done digipak with convincing cover art landed before my eyes. Released in an independent way (yes, sad and standard thing here in Poland…), this debut album isn’t a work of the rookies as the musicians have been torturing the instruments in the band called Fantasmagoria since 1999. Now with Polish name Młot na Czarownice (in English: ‘Hammer for the Witches’), they hope for a better future, even if the general concept isn’t anything new on the metal scene. The band’s name comes from Malleus Maleficarum written by Dominican Heinrich Kramer and published in 1487 for the first time. Maybe not every song is connected with this subject, although the verminous presence of the Holy Inquisition is perceptible almost all the time. Hence it is impossible to find any names of the local Pionki parish-priests that support the band on the back cover I guess…   

Anyway, the vocalist Dawid spits the venom in Polish on the whole. Indeed, the bold step. But for sure it is added value to the overall mark. Dawid sings in the middle range, he doesn’t irritate, and with success doses tension and intensity of the own lyrics, no matter if the softer sounds are concerned (“Horyzonty niespełnienia” or “Przedwiosenny świt”) or the harder stuff hits ears. Musically the band tries to explore the heavy metal area beyond the shadow of a doubt, however I can be burnt at the Kramer’s stake if there are not heard hard-rock and thrash influences, especially in “Młot na czarownice”, “Za złamany krzyż” or “Psy ogrodnika” with Polish Kat’s mark here and there. Howsoever the opening track may you mislead. It is not a fast and the shortest one in a family, but the main riff is a… pure melodic Sweden played a slower way. Fat chance? Not really, just take a listen to a fragment at 1:28 too. The thing good for “Slaughter of the Souls” album! Then the next one is a proof the musicians are pretty gifted to show some variety in the heavy structures: thrashing-like licks and acoustic calmness in the middle. Good that the band doesn’t let me yawn when they throw some sand into my face in oriental-like “Czas zastygłych istnień”, fast killers like “Fantasmagoria” or the title song are mixed with aforementioned quasi-ballads decorated by beautiful and as calm as a millpond beginnings…

Exactly, the “Przedwiosenny świt” track. It’s perfect, believe me, with its overall atmosphere, mind crushing bass lines and phenomenal ending. But! This track is the beginning of the most exciting part of the album. Next-to-last is “Psy ogrodnika” with a really good portion of Dawid’s lyrics, maintained mostly in not so fast pace, bursts out with killing riffs and catchy chorus parts. And the last one, called “Nija”. After all these fruitful meetings with “Popioły wiar” I must admit: this is the best song here. It contains of all the elements the band should be proud of. Spectacular, dreamy introduction blossomy (yes, this is the adequate word) by splendid melodies, like a ballad from the best well-known crews, it possess my senses and keep them tightly. Then it turns into fast heavy metal avalanche giving paralyzing guitar lead that splits the air after mysterious Dawid’s declamation. Yep, really fine closing shot that left me speechless.

And if this shapely conglomerate is served in a good and interesting way, lyrics are the salt of the main course. They are neither stupid nor about proud dragon warriors. And… it’s enough. All right, maybe the general band’s concept has been predetermined earlier, although the author isn’t going to take a short cut. To put it briefly, one searches in vain for such words like ‘inquisition’, ‘church’ or even Heinrich Kramer, yet it is very clear that Dawid doesn’t want to put a copy of Malleus Maleficarum on the bookshelf as essential reading for young seminarists. Mostly the lyrics are for individual insight, yet I have impression that for Dawid the human stainless freedom, both spiritual and carnal, is the most important.  

The releasing date isn’t random. The first of June couldn’t be better. My dear caring parents, leave the plastic shitty world you only know and buy your offsprings a real music, the age here is of no avail. Why can’t you start with this album? The Pionki district should be proud of this quintet that inculcates the only right musical form. Yes, it has been rooted deeply in the ancient times, yet the guys used vivacious nowaday colors to paint it all. Their foot-bridge between the epochs is very comfortable, without any holdbacks, making the final result nothing less than good. The future looks pretty promising for them, I hope they find finally a good label to promote MNC’s name and infect the minds of heavy metal worshippers. Ah, and one more thing on the end. I saw one review (probably the first one…) of this album and read about not so good and too raw production wise. What a nonsense! Raw? These sounds are complete contrary: they breathe organically, strongly with no any artificial moments, showing slashing Dominik’s bass parts as well. Demontażownia headquarters did a really good job!

And if the football team from Pionki has ‘powder’ in its name, then MNC is Schwerer Gustav. Maybe not with a nuclear flurry yet, but musicians made my mouth waters. As of now, I look forward to the hammer strike number two.

90/100

-Tlacaxipehualiztli

(written in July, 2015)

DESECRATION OF VIRGIN 6 (2002)

2002, 76/A4, printed , English, interviews: BARBATOS, DEKAPITATOR, THE CHASM, FARSCAPE, METAL KING, MYRDDRAAL, INCINERATE, PEST, MORBOSIDAD, CLANDESTINE BLAZE, NAUSEOUS SURGERY, KAT, STOS, FLAME, LAMENT, DESASTER, BREAK THE SILENCE, ARIA, BLOODHAMMER, TRANSGRESSOR, LEVIFER, PENTACLE, DESTRUKTOR, HADEZ, UNHOLY ARCHANGEL, MISBEHAVIOUR, ANAL VOMIT, HIRAX, GOATVOMIT, GENOCIDIO.

Virgin with the number six and the best King Wolle’s work so far beyond the shadow of a doubt. With the biggest amount of pages filled by true metal only. I’m not surprised as the editor has been faithful to his convictions and beliefs since the very beginning. And if the opening Japanese Barbatos is just ok, the next one Dekapitator seems to be best chat in whole desecrated virgin’s family due to veeery long and interesting (!) answers of Wes, everything can be read in the same breath, believe me. With no time to rest another great intie strikes my eyes, namely Mr. Corchado and The Chasm. And I could mention here Clandestine Blaze, Desaster (did they give a laconic and boring intie anytime???) asked by Peruvian guest Roy Elgueara from Anal Vomit. Then heavy metal glares proudly amongst pages: the Russian Aria done by Johann Jurtaikin – simply great talk with Владимир Холстинин, in addition it was like a flashing point for me to enter the kingdom of this amazing band. If some guests are given, it is a need to mention another one Bart Gabriel who provided really good chats with two Polish legends Kat and Stos, besides the Malaysian Break the Silence and Hirax – yep, these interviews pumped a fresh blood into the desecrated flesh.

Well, looking through the content it’s quite easy to state that everything has just superior quality as compared to the previous works, maybe the English itself didn’t turn into decidedly better. For sure the reviews of the underground press became longer and more informative closing up in 28 pieces. The musical side is richer as well with 155 as the whole number including Ancient Cult releases naturally. In addition King served three live reports and showed one newsletter concerning exotic (as always) and totally underground bands done by Gorehound. And summing all the things up: this zine really kicked my ass delivering many sense desecrating whiles. Unfortunately this is my last adventure with the virgin’s flesh, as somehow I missed the final shot of King, impossible to get it now, I guess…    

9,3/10

-Tlacaxipehualiztli

(written in June, 2015)      

DESECRATION OF VIRGIN 5 (2001)

May 2001, 72/A4, printed, English, interviews: BASILISK, MASACRE, AGATUS, AMON, REVENGE, KAAMOS, QUEIRON, DIABOLICAL, MANIAC BUTCHER, MANIPULATED SLAVES, CADAVER INCUBADOR, RANDOM VIOLENCE, EMBALMED SOULS, EXCARNATED, GOATSEMEN, DECAYED, SANCTIMONY, DENIAL OF GOD, BEAST PETRIFY, INVOCATION, IMPIETY, THRONEUM, WITCHTRAP, APOCALYPTIC RAIDS, VOMITOR, SABBAT, BLACK WITCHERY, SARCOMA, MORTUARY DRAPE, GREAT VAST FOREST, INFERNAL, BLASPHEMY.

And here we ride with another beautiful virgin that praises the good fuckin’ pure metal decorated mostly by exotic scenes. To put it briefly, written way better as compared to the number four. Not only because of more pages included and better English, but reading is simply smoother. Of course King didn’t avoid boring and lame chats with questions much longer than answers (Black Witchery, Revenge, Blasphemy, as always, by the way…), or very short ones (Queiron, Amon). But luckily the rest is maintained on good decent level. The best ones? For sure Agatus (with really intelligent answers), Kaamos, Cadaver Incubador (done by Hugues Vallot from Eternal Fire zine), Decayed, Sabbat (with total dedication of Gezol), Goatsemen, Sarcoma (done again by Hugues) and Colombian Infernal once again. The King’s questions seem to be more well-thought-out and finished up, but it’s a natural progress as this is fifth issue by now. The whole sparkles with good quality pictures, layout typical for this zine didn’t disappoint. King didn’t forget to write something about live journeys. Yes, finally, as he did it in a truly enthusiastic way. The whole closes three exotic scene reports: one short from Medellin and two describing South-East Asia bands done by Rainer ‘Gorehound’ Schmidt.

Reviews. The overall amount is 187 of music and 17 pieces of underground press, some of them in complex form finally, especially when it comes to a journey into ancient cult recordings. Yes, really great reading! Well, maybe virgin isn’t on top form this time, next issue will show the power bringing the best one so far.  

8/10

-Tlacxipehualiztli

(written in June, 2015)         

DESECRATION OF VIRGIN 4 (2000)

2000, 56/A4, printed, English, interviews: POSTHUMOUS, MANATARK, FORNICATION, MENTAL HORROR, ZOLTAR, NEGURA BUNGET, NECROFLESH, ABHORRENCE, SECRETS OF THE MOON, GOSPEL OF THE HORNS, EMBALMED SOULS, LETHAL CURSE, ESCHATOS, MYSTERIAL, HORNAGEST, HOMICIDE, INFERNAL, DESTRUKTOR, TORTURE SQUAD, BLACK ANGEL, UNPURE, KRABATHOR, HIRILORN, ZEMIAL, ROK.

If the previous press King’s attack into the bastions of the underground made a permanent state of erection, the four is rather some kind of disappointment, creating an atmosphere of strange exolution.  Although King managed to provide 56 pages this time, nothing has been changed. Luckily? All right, let’s start with the Posthumous interview as it is pretty good opener, Gustavo gave full-informative and interesting answers. But when I want to sum all the things up, something is missing here. That’s true there are good chats (Negura Bunget, all the Aussie bands, Secrets of the Moon, Infernal, Zemial or astonishingly comprehensive Peruvian Black Angel as opposed to their music). And what is more, the whole is desecrated (or better to write: desecrated?) by Rok in a really fine way, and yes, this Australian son of metal, possessed by ‘k’ letter, should write another dictionary (fukk, diktionary) with his claiming on the start that ‘k’ is more aggressive than ‘c’. Ah, never mind. And… that’s all. Mostly, due to standard questions or laconic answers, or both these things together, the interviews are just ok and nothing more than that. Some of them very short (like Necroflesh with four questions…), or with orgy of printing and spelling errors (Hornagest chat and ‘let’s try to write a demo title the right way…’).

White and black are the only rightful hues. King knows it and doesn’t change anything. However layout and cut’n’paste method seems to be more chaotic. Let’s take five first inties on the plate: King serves five different fonts. If the reviews are concerned, I’m accustomed to read it, yet some of them pretend to be more thought-out shit. But there is wrong way in choosing Mr. Hurricane to write words on music. Simply it’s a waste of paper as his poor considerations on it don’t fit to the desecrated virgin style. One side is bad, but King provides something new to his kingdom, attacking my eyes with new section called Ancient Cult. To put it briefly: really great idea as I always love to read anything on old, not seldom forgotten, piece of ancient hot metal.  What a pleasant feeling reading all these items coming from South and Latin America mostly. In addition pretty vast report from Malaysia revealing both old and newer exhalements from the region. Unfortunately the latter report that comes from Portugal is given in a much poorer way.

Well, this issue brings many conflicting emotions. The whole is bigger than the previous ones with total amount of 210 reviews of music and 18 of underground papers and it’s good, because the virgin grows up. But reading it is like a rollercoaster journey. Luckily this ‘case’ will be improved a bit in the next King’s offers.      

7/10

-Tlacaxipehualiztli

(written in June, 2015