Review of Various Artists - Metal Ostentation - Volume II

First, I don’t like compilations. One (or more) CD, too many tracks and usually about 4 actually worth listening to. Second, I hate compilation CDs featuring demos and unsigned bands, not since the early Death is Just the Beginning days have I actually discovered a band worth listening to on any compilation. Third, I hate obscure foreign compilations that generally consist of bands you or I will never hear from again. This is one of those compilations.

Portugal’s Sound Riot Records has decided to pull together 19 worthless bands displaying their generally demo based wares. I say 19 because somehow, the excellent Arsis ended up on this compilation with “Elegant and Perverse” and it basically puts every single track on this album to shame, even in its primal demo state. Lets check out the other nameless and wholly forgetful offerings shall we?

1. Eternal Silence “Deirotic” One of the few signed acts on this compilation. Frilly and overly synth laced melodic black metal from Norway with good musicianship and character but nothing that will garner them attention.

2. Vanadyum “Industrial Scorn” Demo. Should be renamed “Industrial sized pile of guitarless shit”. Worst production ever, even for a Portuguese black metal demo. The dual male/female screeches make it even more unlistenable.

3. Abiura “I Join the Endless Line”. Taken from a split 7”. Competent but totally faceless black/death metal from Italy; that fact alone should be enough.

4. Arsis “Elegant and Perverse”. Demo. ‘Nuff said.

5. Funeral Feast “The Last Bloodshed” Demo. Hopefully their last recorded effort also. Banal corpse paint toting black metal with some meaningless death metal leanings.

6. Suffocated Art “Nocturnal Massacre”. Demo. Primal but ineffective brutal/technical German Death metal.

7. Abash “Destroyed”. Demo. Groovy and guttural grind/death from the Netherlands with some potential should they get into a decent studio. Sounds a little like a down-tuned version of the UK’s Korpse.

8. Lost Souls Cry “Entering Dimension Horror”. Demo. One man Dutch project with decent production but a dismally paced progressive black metal visage.

9. Antarctica “Eternal Infernal” Demo. Pretty solid offering with sort of a classic Swedish death metal tone mixed with a brazen black metal approach, one of the best tracks on the CD.

10. Vesen “Swastikrist”. Demo. Futile primal black/thrash metal. Ugh.

11. The Prophecy “The Pride of Creation”. Taken from the album Afterlife. A strangely delivered concoction of black/death metal with a really odd synth approach that sounds like fairies playing a keyboard.

12. Melancholic Demise “The Otherside”. Demo. The CD’s lone Goth metal offering, been done before and lots better, but it displays the well tread trademarks of the genre.
13. Maple Cross “The Chosen People”. Demo. A decent thrash/hardcore amalgamation from Finland, good solid production and song writing, but the vocalist needs to be dropped in the North Sea.

14. Monster Works “(!?)”. Taken from the “Rogue” album. UK band’s attempt to sound like 3 Inches of Blood, but not half as good.

15. Priapis “Day In, Day Out”. Demo. Just Ugh. Not even worth describing.

16. Gaschamber “Raped to Death”. Demo. Slayer worship. No, absolute Slayer cloning from the US. Come on guys, that's not even remotely cool.

17. Litham “Empire of Ibliss” Taken from Dhal Ennar album. Shoddily rendered Dark ethnic metal from Algeria. Probably appeal to fans of Orphaned Land maybe Melechesh but without the polish.

18. Woland “Bullet”. Demo. Dear Christ who gave these Russian apes instruments……?

19. Tommermenn “Sorte Menn” taken from Tommermenn EP. A strangely catchy mix of Rammstein and death ‘n’ roll; a sort of Stompbox on steroids, crunchy, head banging track that is the one band on this compilation I may possibly seek out.

20. Rushmoon "Lost in Space" Ye gads.....

There you go Metal Constipation Volume 2; 15 tracks of drivel, 5 tracks worth checking out, hardly a sound musical investment.

Hold on to your horses kids I’ve also got Volume 5 to review.

Whoopee.

Release Details

Various Artists

Metal Ostentation - Volume II

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