Jump to content

Black Harvest "Attrition"


MacabreEternal

Recommended Posts

The first thing obvious once the quick picked strings of the intro subside is that there's an energy, a raw freshly unrestrained emotion to this sound.  As "Denial" jars and jolts its way through a varied and pacy five and a half minutes it is as instant on the senses as that first coffee of the morning or first beer of the weekend on a Friday night.  It's immediate without being overly accessible, memorable without being predictable and varied without being confusing.

 

Once "Solace" plonks you the roller coaster ride of its riffs and melodies you are soon yelling for more with your arms in the air as Kish's vocals provide that perfect blackened death narrative to proceedings.  There's so much flow to this track embracing the progressive tendencies of the performer whilst still showing the technical edge of their ability without it ever becoming boring or showy.

 

As the track closes in an almost psychedelic haze you are soon hauled back into the frenzied tremolo sound of the opening to "Hecatomb".   Showing an eloquence for pace, track four sees an acoustic interlude.  As the mid-track on the EP I at first found "Dawn" a little odd but as I have made repeat listens to the release it has grown on me significantly.  It offers a brief yet appropriate reprise for what's to come.

 

Both "Capture" and "Attrition" are strong finishers to the mini-release format Black Harvest have employed this time around.  The former track bleeds in nicely after the acoustic interlude with its underlying dark choral tones building the track perfectly as it gathers pace.  The same choral vocals return to haunt the end throes of the track setting up nicely the acoustic intro of the title track.

"Attrition" is as a track is as angry and punishing as the definition of the word would suggest, it explores a lot of territory during its whirlwind four minutes fifty four seconds and leaves you with an echoing groan the track comes to an end. Within six tracks Black Harvest present a sustained and enthralling attack of technical death metal with a blackened edge that your gonna keep revisiting.  Over too soon yet somehow still so fitting in its length, it marks the next stage in the progression of the artists' journey brilliantly.

Thanks to FatherA for the super advance copy of the release, much appreciated.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

While I trust the integrity of MacabreEternal 100% because he's a great guy and I respect him highly, isn't writing reviews for people you know kind of like your wife asking if her butt looks big in this dress? You have to choose your words very carefully...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

30 minutes ago, Requiem said:

While I trust the integrity of MacabreEternal 100% because he's a great guy and I respect him highly, isn't writing reviews for people you know kind of like your wife asking if her butt looks big in this dress? You have to choose your words very carefully...

I'm willing to bet that if he didn't think the music was up to snuff, he just wouldn't bother writing a review of it. I wasn't expecting one, and I'm grateful. 

29 minutes ago, natassja7 said:

I guess us other peasants have to wait for our copy :D 

So do I! :) I'm still working with the mastering house on the final final final version.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, FatherAlabaster said:

I'm willing to bet that if he didn't think the music was up to snuff, he just wouldn't bother writing a review of it. I wasn't expecting one, and I'm grateful. 

So do I! :) I'm still working with the mastering house on the final final final version.

Joking mate ;) but you know I'll have one when you're ready, if you need my details again let me know.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, natassja7 said:

Joking mate ;) but you know I'll have one when you're ready, if you need my details again let me know.

Cheers Nat. It's looking like digital only for the time being, I'll let you know if I'm able to make CDs.

17 minutes ago, GorboGorboze said:

Thanks Macabre, and congratulations Alabaster, I'm excited to hear it. Is the painting of the woman pulling her skull form her head associated with this album? Just wondering.

I've considered it, but I think I'm sticking with the cover photo that I posted in the BH thread.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, Requiem said:

While I trust the integrity of MacabreEternal 100% because he's a great guy and I respect him highly, isn't writing reviews for people you know kind of like your wife asking if her butt looks big in this dress? You have to choose your words very carefully...

Ha ha Kish's ass fits into anything!

Trust me, if it wasn't up to much there'd still have been a review, constructively detailing how it fell short.  Thankfully no such requirement was needed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, FatherAlabaster said:

Cheers Nat. It's looking like digital only for the time being, I'll let you know if I'm able to make CDs.

I've considered it, but I think I'm sticking with the cover photo that I posted in the BH thread.

No tapes then?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Join Metal Forum

    joinus-home.jpg

  • Our picks

    • Whichever tier of thrash metal you consigned Sacred Reich back in the 80's/90's they still had their moments.  "Ignorance" & "Surf Nicaragura" did a great job of establishing the band, whereas "The American Way" just got a little to comfortable and accessible (the title track grates nowadays) for my ears.  A couple more records better left forgotten about and then nothing for twenty three years.  2019 alone has now seen three releases from Phil Rind and co.  A live EP, a split EP with Iron Reagan and now a full length.

      Notable addition to the ranks for the current throng of releases is former Machine Head sticksman, Dave McClean.  Love or hate Machine Head, McClean is a more than capable drummer and his presence here is felt from the off with the opening and title track kicking things off with some real gusto.  'Divide & Conquer' and 'Salvation' muddle along nicely, never quite reaching any quality that would make my balls tingle but comfortable enough.  The looming build to 'Manifest Reality' delivers a real punch when the song starts proper.  Frenzied riffs and drums with shots of lead work to hold the interest.


      There's a problem already though (I know, I am such a fucking mood hoover).  I don't like Phil's vocals.  I never had if I am being honest.  The aggression to them seems a little forced even when they are at their best on tracks like 'Manifest Reality'.  When he tries to sing it just feels weak though ('Salvation') and tracks lose real punch.  Give him a riffy number such as 'Killing Machine' and he is fine with the Reich engine (probably a poor choice of phrase) up in sixth gear.  For every thrashy riff there's a fair share of rock edged, local bar act rhythm aplenty too.

      Let's not poo-poo proceedings though, because overall I actually enjoy "Awakening".  It is stacked full of catchy riffs that are sticky on the old ears.  Whilst not as raw as perhaps the - brilliant - artwork suggests with its black and white, tattoo flash sheet style design it is enjoyable enough.  Yes, 'Death Valley' & 'Something to Believe' have no place here, saved only by Arnett and Radziwill's lead work but 'Revolution' is a fucking 80's thrash heyday throwback to the extent that if you turn the TV on during it you might catch a new episode of Cheers!

      3/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 10 replies
    • I
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/52-vltimas-something-wicked-marches-in/
      • Reputation Points

      • 3 replies

    • https://www.metalforum.com/blogs/entry/48-candlemass-the-door-to-doom/
      • Reputation Points

      • 2 replies
    • Full length number 19 from overkill certainly makes a splash in the energy stakes, I mean there's some modern thrash bands that are a good two decades younger than Overkill who can only hope to achieve the levels of spunk that New Jersey's finest produce here.  That in itself is an achievement, for a band of Overkill's stature and reputation to be able to still sound relevant four decades into their career is no mean feat.  Even in the albums weaker moments it never gets redundant and the energy levels remain high.  There's a real sense of a band in a state of some renewed vigour, helped in no small part by the addition of Jason Bittner on drums.  The former Flotsam & Jetsam skinsman is nothing short of superb throughout "The Wings of War" and seems to have squeezed a little extra out of the rest of his peers.

      The album kicks of with a great build to opening track "Last Man Standing" and for the first 4 tracks of the album the Overkill crew stomp, bash and groove their way to a solid level of consistency.  The lead work is of particular note and Blitz sounds as sneery and scathing as ever.  The album is well produced and mixed too with all parts of the thrash machine audible as the five piece hammer away at your skull with the usual blend of chugging riffs and infectious anthems.  


      There are weak moments as mentioned but they are more a victim of how good the strong tracks are.  In it's own right "Distortion" is a solid enough - if not slightly varied a journey from the last offering - but it just doesn't stand up well against a "Bat Shit Crazy" or a "Head of a Pin".  As the album draws to a close you get the increasing impression that the last few tracks are rescued really by some great solos and stomping skin work which is a shame because trimming of a couple of tracks may have made this less obvious. 

      4/5
      • Reputation Points

      • 4 replies
×
×
  • Create New...