Reviews: SAT372
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As you can see, today we’re premiering a song from a new album, Nocturnal Dominion of Death, by the veteran Singaporean death-dealers Vrykolakas. It’s the second song from the album to be revealed so far. Together, those two tracks bring to mind the boxing terminology for the “one-two punch”, the devastating combination of blows that leaves an opponent sprawled on the canvas.
So let’s take up the first punch first.
“Foretaste the Divine Wrath” inflicts brutish beatings galore and rumbles the guts, but the swarming riffage is also poisonous and lethally vicious, and the vocals are monstrous.
It’s undeniably evil music, and the kind that gets hearts racing, but it becomes even more interesting when a reptilian guitar solo slithers through, radiating suffering, followed by an even more dismal interlude before the diabolical punishment resumes, accented by additional striking solo work.
That’s the first jab, though it lands a lot harder than a jab. Now for the right-cross, or the uppercut. Fittingly named “Bilateral Venomous Assault“, it’s the one that leaves you flat on your back, wondering what the hell just happened and where you are.
Of course, the song isn’t just one devastating punch but a sequence of different precisely timed maulings and mind-bending mutations. It begins with the kind of pounding drums and lead-weighted bass-rumbling that does feel like a heavyweight battering, soon joined by slashing and blaring chords, voracious growls, and maddened howls.
At this point you might have your fists up in a defensive crouch, but that won’t help. The filth-toned riffing furiously jabs, swarms, and throbs, while the rhythm section continue their vicious battering and deliver punishing body blows.
A feeling of lethal madness blooms in the music, augmented by the beastly come-for-your-throat vocals, but it also proves to be surprising — disorienting and dazzling the listener with eerie soloing, elegantly dancing organ keys, and buzzing fretwork that carries the melody forward in more dismal tones. And near the end, it kicks you while you’re down, because mercy is a foreign term to this hydra-headed pugilist.
To leave our boxing analogy behind, Vrykolakas have created an album that’s ruthlessly punishing and venomous, but also adventurous and frequently head-spinning, as if these veteran executioners would find themselves bored if they had just re-treaded what they were recording and listening to decades ago.
Speaking of which, Vrykolakas will be 33 years old this year. Nocturnal Dominion of Death is their fifth full-length. It will be co-released on April 21st through the unholy union of Satanath Records (Georgia), Iron Blood and Death Corporation (Mexico), Paragon Records (US), and Futhark Records (Canada). They predict it will be seductive to worshippers of Immolation, Incantaton, Grave, Seance, Funebre, Phlegethon, and other notorious American and European death metal entities spawned in the ’90s.
The album features strikingly hellish cover art by Armaada Art. It’s available for pre-order in a CD edition with a 12-page booklet, as well as digitally.
https://www.nocleansinging.com/2024/04/15/an-ncs-premiere-vrykolakas-bilateral-venomous-assault/
I think I made an observation in another earlier review of having a band from a region I don’t frequently get to hear too much from. So I can now add VRYKOLAKAS to my list. Hailing from Singapore they give us their latest release “Nocturnal Dominion Of Death”. Color me impressed because they have a powerful slightly War Metal approach with some Floridian Death Metal base to their sound. I mention the Florida scene because I hear a bit of OBITUARY and early MASSACRE in their songs. Especially vocalist Andi does a quite good Kam Lee impression at times. Having started as far back as 1999 and a slew of releases they have developed their sound over the years. You will hear the aforementioned bands, but they do bring some good songwriting skills to the picture. Songs have plenty of those dynamics you look for and with some very mild use of keyboards for some added nuance. I was listening to OBSCURIAL recently who are from the Kuala Lumpur region and they have a similar approach. I won’t go into too much and let the songs speak for themselves and allow you dear reader to broaden your musical scope to other regions that deserve your attention. They definitely have the attitude and sound to impress. Now all I gotta do is get there to see them live.
https://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/review/vrykolakas-nocturnal-dominion-of-death/
Singapore's death metal maniacs return with a brand new release of furious and relentless old school death metal.The guitars are played with a much faster guitar pace in the new songs.The guitarist does write and perform some well executed guitar passages and writes some memorable solo's entertwined into the songs.The drumming is top notch with some chaotic fast drums that are done with power.The drummer does slow to a more controlled drum pace in a few of the songs to give each song a nice mix.The vocals are heavy old school death metal growls that are done with powerful growls.Nocturnal Dominion Of Death is another great release from Singapore's Vrykolakas.
https://wintertormentwebzine.blogspot.com/2024/03/vrykolakas-nocturnal-dominion-of-death.html
Vrykolakas will be 33 years old this year. To celebrate, they’ll be releasing their fifth full-length, Nocturnal Dominion of Death. The first single, “Foretaste the Divine Wrath“, is the next selection in today’s roundup.
The song inflicts brutish beatings galore and rumbles the guts, but the swarming riffage is also poisonous and lethally vicious, and the vocals are monstrous. Evil music, and the kind that gets hearts racing, but it gets even more interesting when a reptilian guitar solo slithers through, radiating suffering, followed by an even more dismal interlude before the diabolical punishment resumes, accented by additional striking solo work.
Nocturnal Dominion of Death will be co-released by Iron Blood and Death Corporation (Mexico), Satanath Records (Georgia), Paragon Records (US), and Futhark Records (Canada) on April 21st.
Vrykolakas brings chaos with their fifth album.
Entitled Nocturnal Dominion Of Death, it comes to life thanks to Andy (vocals), Khairil (guitar/vocals) and Edi (drums), who dedicate it to the Singaporean and international scene.
From the very first seconds of Darkness Consumes the Soul, the band takes us back to the 90s Death Metal scene with thick but catchy riffs, later complemented by solid vocal parts. Loyal listeners will notice a welcome improvement in the mix, conducive to devastation and bloody leads, which continues on the thick Ascension of the Knowledge, with its relentless rhythm punctuated by a few jerky parts framing the surges of rage. The howls darken towards the final, which leads into Foretaste the Divine Wrath, where blast leads the charge of raw Old School sonorities interrupted only by the occasional, very slightly calmer part. The harmonics sow chaos again into the violent waves, and then it’s on to The Forbidden Hope for Death that the musicians relentlessly stomp us, retaining that heady groovy edge while adding a touch of technicality from time to time. Hind’s Vengeance at Uhud kicks off with a foghorn to lead us into the heart of battle, closely followed by warrior choirs accompanying the bellicose riffs that lead to a more soaring finale, but the atmosphere remains heavy on Convenants Leading to Sa’ir, the next track, which this time relies on more modern patterns. Effective moshparts follow naturally in this aggressive climate, then Bilateral Venomous Assault immediately takes over with motivating and devastating riffs that regularly catch fire. A more melodic, disquieting touch appears shortly after the middle of the track, then it’s with the lively From Hellfire Comes the Spawn that the infernal trio unleash all their remaining firepower, whether with their savage double kick, volcanic vociferations or furious riffs.
It’s impossible not to be aware of Vrykolakas‘ evolution. With a thicker and more powerful mix than on previous albums, Nocturnal Dominion Of Death becomes a veritable eruption of Old School fury worthy of the monuments of the 90s!
https://actainfernalis.com/2024/04/05/review-2156-vrykolakas-nocturnal-dominion-of-death-english/