/r/RABM/

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Ancient Oak - "Huldufólk" (2013)

ANCIENT OAK "Huldufólk"

Year: 2013
Genre: Instrumental Black/Pagan Metal, Blackened Crust
Country: Russia

Track List:
  1. Intro
  2. The First Step
  3. Your Fear & Troubles
  4. Dreams
  5. Cognition
  6. Enlightenment
bandcamp

And finally, one more thing I wanted to review on here - a cassette from the Moscow-based one-man anarcho-black/pagan metal project Ancient Oak, which was released almost two years ago, but made available for straming on bandcamp only recently. "Huldufólk" is entirely instrumental, just like the rest of Ancient Oak's discography (except for "Den Siste Bastion", which featured some really weak vocal work, without which it'd be much better). Instrumental black metal isn't the easiest thing to make insteresting for a listener, but "Huldufólk" manages to be interesting, even if the quality of production is a little bit flaved. The follow-up release for "Huldufólk", titled "Fight The Beast", isn't available online yet, but it can be purchased on CD from the label (Eerie Torture).

2009-2015

So, today is the 6th anniversary of this blog. I started it on 29 September 2009, initially as an offshoot of the "Anarchist Black Metal" last.fm group which I created several months earlier that year. Back then I couldn't have hoped for it to gain the levels of popularity it enjoys by now, but it happened, thanks for all of those who were with me during these years.

The idea of starting something like this blog came to me even earlier, circa 2007, when I was looking for a thing that's nowadays called the "RABM scene" and realized that there wasn't anything like that back then. After a lot of research, the only thing I could find was the "Black Metal Anarchists" group on Myspace, which had surprisingly many members but not a lot of content. This made me believe there was at least some demand for anarcho-BM, while there was almost no supply at all back then (yes, I knew about Iskra and a handful of early blackened crust bands, but that was all).

After I started this blog, it was amazing for me to find out how many people interested in RABM there actually are. I was receiving band/album suggestions on almost daily basis, and pretty quickly it came to the point when I barely could find some free time to review all of them. While only a minority of these bands were "RABM" in strict sense, it was great to see how many black metal fans and artists are trying to challenge the genre's "fascist" reputation. Nowadays, I think "RABM" is already a pretty widely accepted genre definition which is used in a lot of places other than this blog (only 5 years ago, it was used almost exclusively on here), and it even has Wikipedia articles in 4 languages. Probably not the most reliable indication of success, but it still makes me proud of what I've done over these 6 years.

And now here comes the sad part. As you probably have noticed, there isn't as much activity on thing blog as it was before. There are many reasons for that, but it's mostly because I have less and less faith in the "red" and "anarchist" side of things as days pass by. Those who followed my blog during the last couple of years probably remember my observations on how the positions of many self-proclaimed "red"/"anarchist" organizations have changed to something I don't support at all, including stuff which made me feel like like this poster on Revleft who has quit his organization after they took a position of support for Taliban. I also have noticed that even the "radical" leftist positions nowadays seem to be limited to the support for identity politics and some weak form of social democracy, and that many self-proclaimed "anarchists" or "socialists" are essentially indistinguishable from the mainstream US-style liberals. Sorry, but that's something I didn't sign up for at all. Additionally, there's increasingly toxic atmosphere in the Western anarchist scene, more or less accurately described in an anonymous article titled "Things That Anarchists Say to Me in Private But Never Repeat Publicly". If that's really what anarchism is nowadays, then I don't think I want to be a part of it anymore, nor I feel welcome in such a movement anymore.

Of course, I don't regret anything I've done for the RABM scene, and I still think it's important to help its further development, but I no longer want to be someone that does it, for the reasons I've partially described above. Fortunately I've found people who agreed to continue my job with the "Anarchist Black Metal" VK group, and while I have some problems with doing the same for this blog, I think it's safe to assume that my personal mission with RABM is close to being complete. I probably still would post on here in the future, but only on special occasions, leaving most of the job of reviewing new RABM releases to someone else. As for the broken download links in my posts, most of them have been fixed by now (except maybe in the entries about some obscure releases that aren't that essential to the RABM scene). And finally, thanks again for everyone who supported what I was doing over these years, and stay tuned!

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Australasia - "Notturno" (2015)

AUSTRALASIA "Notturno"

Year: 2015
Genre: Instrumental Post-Metal
Country: Italy

Track List:

  1. Nebula
  2. Eden
  3. Kern
  4. Creature
  5. Invisible
  6. Haxo
  7. Amnesia
  8. Lumen
  9. Notturno
DOWNLOAD

A bit off-topic on here, but this is good music, and its creator apparently reads this blog. I don't think it counts as black metal, but the definitely is significant influence of atmospheric BM, and I'd recommend it mostly to those of my readers who are into post-black metal / blackgaze. The album is almost completely instrumental, although there are some voice samples. The general mood of the album is pretty accurately reflected by the cover artwork, I think.

bandcamp


Haglaz Fest III @ AZ Mülheim, Germany

Until not so long ago, I didn't know there are any RABM festivals in Germany. Turned out there's one, which is going to be held for the 3rd time already: Haglaz Fest III, 16/17 October 2015, AZ Mülheim/Ruhr. Line-up:

Unru [black metal, Bielefeld]
http://unru.bandcamp.com/

Schattenlicht [black metal, Wien]
http://schattenlicht.bandcamp.com/

Paramnesia [black metal, Strasbourg]
http://paramnesiaxpa.bandcamp.com/

Shever [doom, Switzerland]
http://shever.bandcamp.com/

Beltez [black metal]
https://www.facebook.com/Beltez

Urmorth [black metal, Schloss Holte]
https://www.facebook.com/Urmorth

Groll [doom]
http://groll.bandcamp.com/

Elurra [black metal, Mülheim]
http://elurrabeltza.bandcamp.com/

Farson [post black metal, Göttingen]
https://farsonofficial.bandcamp.com/

Victims Of Classwar [dark crust, Leipzig]

https://victimsofclasswar.bandcamp.com/


facebook

Friday, September 25, 2015

Insane Attitude - "Swarming in Decadence" (2015)

INSANE ATTITUDE "Swarming in Decadence"

Year: 2015
Genre: Old School Death Metal
Country: Italy

Track List:
  1. Violent convulsion
  2. A.P.A.B. (All Posers Are Bastards)
  3. Psychotic hangover
DOWNLOAD

Another old school death metal band whose members read and appreciate my blog, this time it's from Italy. They describe their style as "raw old school death metal with some thrash and hardcore influences", which I think is pretty accurate. This particular demo doesn't have political lyrics, but their debut 2008 demo did. They're also are good friends with Ü and Deiezione HC (local far-left wing hardcore band), and take part in anarcho/benefit gigs in social centers.

facebook / youtube

Tombroad - "The Rebel Witches" (2015)

TOMBROAD "The Rebel Witches"

Year: 2015
Genre: Black/Death Metal, Crust
Country: Chile

Track List:
  1. Rebel witches
  2. Términus
  3. Crush the elite!
  4. Orbis
bandcamp

A short demo tape from one of my readers in Chile. A mix of old school death and black metal with a healthy dose of punk, influenced by Venom, Hellhammer and Discharge, with lyrics containing social criticism. All the physical copies of the tape are sold out (traded / sent to zines & labels).

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Anarchists United - "The Repression Chapters" (2015)

ANARCHISTS UNITED "The Repression Chapters"

Year: 2015
Genre: Black/Thrash Metal
Country: USA

Track List:
  1. Stand
  2. Genetically Modified to Experience Agony
  3. Chaos In Fucking Corruption
  4. Left for Dead
  5. Your Lungs Inherit Ashes
  6. Opposition In Our Grasp
  7. Reign of the Corpse-Spawn
bandcamp

Another interesting find from our VK group - a NY-based blackened thrash metal band with an intriguing name and "driving lyrics about issues we face in this world today" (a quote from their bandcamp page). Pretty raw and aggressive stuff, comparable to Infernal Stronghold or Nachzehrer. Like in case with other albums I posted recently without the bands' permission, I'll post only the bandcamp link with streamable tracks, not a direct download link.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Mass Hypnosia - "Attempt To Assassinate" (2010)

MASS HYPNOSIA "Attempt To Assassinate"

Year: 2010
Genre: Death/Thrash Metal
Country: Philippines

Track List:
  1. Attempt to Assassinate
  2. Warface
  3. Traumatic Violence
  4. Stench of Cremation
  5. Fascist
  6. Psychopathic Colony
  7. Tears from the Sky
  8. Kill for the Blood
  9. Asleep or Dead
  10. Denial of Life (Death cover)
DOWNLOAD

The members of this thrash/death band seem to be the real veterans of the metal underground in the Philippines - they're playing metal for about 20 years by now. This particular incarnation of Mass Hypnosia was started in 2009 and released the first full-length album in 2010. Here it is, recommended for those who miss the spirit of late 80's and early 90's thrash metal with a heavy focus on political and societal issues in the lyrics. The band also sent me a promo of their upcoming album "No Mercy For Victory", which you can check out here.

official page

Deafest - "Runoff" (2015)

DEAFEST "Runoff"

Year: 2015
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Country: USA

Track List:
  1. Headwaters
  2. A Creek Split By Rocks
  3. Sculpting Canyons
bandcamp

A new EP from Deafest, a nature-inspired atmospheric BM project from Colorado led by Chase, the organizer of the Black Metal Alliance's Crushing Intolerance Anti-NSBM series of compilations. Like their earlier releases, which were also featured on this blog (but by other editors), this EP is fully instrumental. Turns out they also released a split EP w/ Sinding in February, of which I didn't knew about...

Dawn Ray'd - "A Thorn, A Blight" (2015)

DAWN RAY'D "A Thorn, A Blight"

Year: 2015
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Country: UK

Track List:
  1. Black Cloth
  2. Cauldron Of Rebirth
  3. Strident Voices
  4. At The Still Point
  5. A Colony Of Fevers
  6. Darken the Door
bandcamp

The Anarchist Black Metal group, which I mentioned in my previous entry, is doing very good recently. During the last month it became one of my main sources for new music, especially because most of the stuff I receive by email nowadays is not relevant to the topic of this blog at all. This album was also found there, and judging from the band's interview, they explicitly identify themselves as anarchists. Recommended for those who appreciates atmospheric BM with violin. I'm posting this without the band's permission, so there won't be a direct download link, but the whole EP is streamable off bandcamp anyway.

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Lou Quinse - s/t (2013)

LOU QUINSE "Lou Quinse EP 2008 (2013 reissue)"

Year: 2013
Genre: Black/Folk Metal
Country: Italy

Track List:
  1. Seguida (Per passar lou Rhone / Laou)
  2. Para lo lop
  3. Calant de Villlafranca
  4. Ai vist lo lop
  5. Seguida de boreias a tres temps
  6. Lo pal
bandcamp

An excellent find, thanks to our Anarchist Black Metal VK group: a folk/black metal band who plays traditional folk songs in Occitan language (the only such band I know of) and has connections to the DIY punk/hardcore scene in Turin. Hopefully it'd be OK to post this EP here without the band's permission because "Lou Quinse support free download, copyleft and free information".

"Lou Quinse, It literally means “The Fifteen” in the Francoprovençal dialect, was born in 2006. The meaning of the name does not stop there. The Fifteen is also the number of the Devil in the tarot cards and with this name the Devil is known and called in the French-provençal and Occitan valleys. “Devilish” heavy metal meets a tradition which has never suffered dogma and impositions."

"In 2008 Lou Quinse record their first ep. 5 tracks of Occitan Folk Metal which mixed up alps tradition with extreme music, become a masterpiece with songs like "Calant de Villafranca"and "Para lo lop". Five years later the devil return with a deluxe vinyl edition, remastered by Tino Paratore and a brand new song, "Lo Pal", occitan extreme version of the antifascist catalan anthem by Luis Llach "L'estaca"." 

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

V/A - "Resistance: Anti​-​NSBM compilation vol.3" (2015)

V/A "Resistance: Anti-NSBM compilation vol.3"


Year: 2015
Genre: various
Country: various

Track List:
  1. D.O.C. - Riposa in Pace, Lurido Verme
  2. Antlers - To The Throats
  3. Ancient Emblem - Ancient Emblem
  4. Stellar Descent - Lost (Excerpt)
  5. Årsta - Fall Of Iriy
  6. Slaughterday - Slaves to the Artificial God
  7. Marginal - More Violence
  8. Neverchrist - Acao, Reacao, Renegacao
  9. Repressione - Distintivo
  10. Nuit Noire - My Pretty Lunar Blade
  11. Iprit - Последний поезд
  12. Elurra - Die Jagt
  13. Ancst - Spark
  14. Alda - In The Wake Of An Iron Wind
  15. Abismus - Black Chant
  16. Anti-freeze - World Struggle
  17. Abyssal - Landscapes
  18. Bonjour Tristesse - Lifeforce
  19. Wildspeaker - Power Lines
  20. Rütäbägä - Survival
  21. Vow Of Thorns - Forest Dweller
  22. Morbid Blood - I Still Have Faith
  23. Leper - Wild And Free
  24. Disterror - Gilgamesh
  25. Thränenkind - This Story Of Permanence
  26. Fortress Black - Dead Heart
  27. Profecium - Esteros De Sangre
  28. Kvltyst - Zweifel
  29. Crown of Asteria - Stag Head Wounded in Looming Spirit
  30. Искра Жизни - Театр абсурда
  31. Puna Terrori - The Storm Of T34
  32. Dark Mass - Cursed Blood of The Fallen Kings
  33. L'Isola Di Semo - J
bandcamp

The 3rd installment in the "Resistance" series of compilations by The Dark Skies Above Us collective is finally out! As always, it features a lot of RABM-friendly black metal and blackened crust bands, some of which were featured on this blog before, and some weren't. All the revenues from this sampler will go to the Caravana 43 project.

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Permafrost - "Transitory" (2015)

PERMAFROST "Transitory"

Year: 2015
Genre: Atmospheric Black/Doom Metal
Country: USA

Track List:
  1. Oak
  2. Collapse
  3. Nausea
bandcamp

Permafrost (not to be confused with several other BM bands under the same name) are a 3-piece black/doom metal band from Alexandria, Virginia. They have no apprarent connection to RABM but decided to share their debut full-length CD with me anyway, and I must say it's quite good. Actually it was released in January, but I forgot to post it back then :( The album is called "Transitory" and consists of 3 long tracks. The mastering was done by Nikita Kamprad of Der Weg Einer Freiheit, another very good atmospheric BM band which shares at least some of our anti-NSBM sentiment. A bit more detailed review of "Transitory" can be found here.