Satan's Host
By the Hands of the Devil
2011 Moribund Records
With the news that Harry Conklin had rejoined the band, I have to say that I was not exactly sure what to expect. Would Satan's Host go back to the heavy metal sounds of the debut? Or would Harry have to learn to sing in a black metal voice? As it turns out, neither of these ended up as the answer. Satan's Host 2011 sounds like a classic heavy metal band with a traditional sounding singer, but with black/death metal tuning and distortion. What that means is that this incarnation of the band has a sound that you've probably never heard before. On first listen, it may take your ears a song or so to adjust to what you're hearing. In fact, you're going to want to actively listen to this album, rather than put it on as background music for whatever you're doing. The opening song, the title track, kind of sticks out in my opinion, as it's the most black/death styled song on the album. Is this better than "Metal From Hell"? I'd have to say it's not. But that album is a true underground occult metal masterpiece that gains more of a cult following every year. So really, a comparison is unfair. It's like comparing the original Mercyful Fate releases to the ones they did after they reformed so many years later. It just can't be done, due to the high regard the originals are held in. But the simple fact remains that this album by Satan's Host is most likely the sleeper hit of the year and should not be overlooked.
Necrophagia
Deathtrip 69
2011 Season of Mist
It has been one long, Long, LONG time since Killjoy and crew unleashed "Harvest Ritual Vol. 1" on us. But finally, here's "Deathtrip 69" to serve as followup to that album of unbridled insanity. I'm not sure how many copies will have the special "bloodpack" packaging, so you might want to get this sooner than later if odd collectibles are your thing. I just hope mine doesn't dry up like the one Slayer did years ago. Lyrically, "Deathtrip 69" is a very loosely based concept album inspired by everyone's favorite psycho, Charles Manson. Killjoy's vocals are as savage as ever, and where "Harvest Ritual Vol. 1" acted as a gore-encrusted bludgeon, "Deathtrip 69" is more of a rusty blade. It has a little more finesse, but the cuts it leaves are a lot more damaging and painful than being hit over the head multiple times. Really, the only thing that's missing here would be if they'd included a cover of one of Charlie's songs. Remember, he was working with The Beach Boys at one point. That would have really put this over the top, but I suppose you can't have everything. One thing I really do need to point out is that every Necrophagia album has a different sound and slightly different style, but is still instantly recognizable as Necrophagia. As ever, you'll need a shower or twelve to try to get the stench of Necrophagia's music off of yourself. Even a good scouring with a wire-bristled brush might not do the trick.
Ribspreader
The Van Murders
2011 Vic Records
If the opening riff of the first track of this album, "The Beginning of Their End," doesn't get your head banging and neck snapping, then you're just not into death metal. The ever-prolific riff-master Rogga Johansson is back yet again, this time with songs that form the tale of two charming fellows, The Cleaner and Mr. Filth. These two delightful characters travel around the country in their van, picking up women... and then take their time carving them up on the putrid mattress in their vehicle that always seems to have a strange, unfamiliar odor emanating from it. Our two heroes have all kinds of nasty adventures, and end up with the hilarious problem of what to do with all the bodies when they're done. As is the case with virtually all of Rogga's different projects, Ribspreader of course is chock full of the old Swedish vibe from the early 1990s. "The Van Murders" is yet another testament to the fact that while the glory days were twenty years ago, the style and sound from that time are still full of vitality and can easily get the blood pumping and the body thrashing, regardless of whether the band in question is from that era or from the new breed keeping it alive.
Satan's Host
