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Here we have a fairly raw black/death split
between US-based bands, Black
Mass and Hellraised.
Black Mass hails from Maryland and plays very harsh and utterly aggressive
black/death metal similar to Beherit. Hellraised hailing from Virginia,
performs a slightly more thrash/death style aggression similar to
Sadus. Both bands are as equally interesting. By this, I mean both
bands aren't too particularly philosophical with their lyrics (whence
their Satanic beliefs) nor do their song structures vary from one
another all too much. Which is to say, I don't really think one is
more brutal or aggressive than the other. "Alliance of Evil"
is truely a statement of malicious intent. It's just raw death metal
aggression done without any of the more popular antidotes such as:
keyboards, half-acoustic/distorted guitars, half-clean/grunting vocals,
or some relentlessly overused Industrial-samples. Listening to this
"Alliance of Evil", I hear a lot of Bathory (R.I.P., Quorthon!)
and Celtic Frost influence. This particular release showcases both
bands on a slightly sub-par level (production-wise), but is a very
wise investment for those hardcore underground deathheads! Look out
for new albums from both bands soon... Rating: 70 Reviewed By: Thomas Mitchell |
