New reviews of the VALGRIND tape have appeared!
By the way, the tape is still available on the webshop :
https://nihilistic-webzine-distro.fr/We ... nihilisticOr on bandcamp:
http://nihilisticholocaustrecs.bandcamp.comReviews:
CANADIAN ASSAULT Webzine
I must confess I do not know a whole about this Italian band, besides hearing their name from time to time over the years, and yes, there has been years passed indeed. As despite this being a re-release of this bands debut album, originally released in 2012 on CD, they had started way back in 1996 and had no less than 4 demos out on tape and that disc at that point in time. I am not sure what happened in the ten years between their last demo and this debut full-length. But there is an intro, followed by two decent but quite standard deathrash songs, which again were okay yet quite standard and forgettable quite honestly. Then the third track post intro, entitled “Dark Dressed Shepard” kicks in and suddenly the sound on the guitars is more brutal, more straight up good death metal. The riffs and song structuring suddenly possess more dynamic quality, variation and even feature some cool, brief guitar solos that really spice things up. What a turn around from those first couple songs, which left me a bit listless as a listener and wondering how this band was around for 16 years already at that point, then suddenly before I can write anything down the quality in nearly every aspect goes up a level. That was a pleasant surprise! Maybe the band thought let’s keep expectations low to start and then turn it up and hit them hard and don’t look back? Maybe they just put every song they wrote during that decade and just suddenly got way better? The growled vocals are solid, deep and decipherable and pretty classic sounding. I would say both the vocals are music remind me a lot to early to mid ‘90s Floridian death metal (excluding those couple early songs) that is catchy, heavy and features some really nice individual and collective performances in the playing and construction of these tracks. I don’t know what the two albums and ep released after “Morning Will Come…” sound like, but it feels like the band were starting to really find their sound and identity on this enjoyable release. I will have to check out some of their later works one day, but until then check out this unearthed hour long diamond in the rough. - Dale
METAL REVOLUTION Webzine
Valgrind are veterans of an extreme metal scene, formed from the ashes of the 1993 blackened-death metal act, Necrospell. These Italians have been very active and productive since the very foundation of the band, always true to their roots and their trademark old-school death metal sound. Nevertheless, Morning Will Come No More is their first full-length, originally released in 2012 on Godeater Records.
The elements of black metal can still be heard on their latest album Morning Will Come No More, but they’re not predominant as earlier in their career. The album clocks at app. 57 minutes, which makes it a long record, having in mind that we are dealing with a death metal release. However, I don’t think that the length of this record do any damage, actually I was very entertained throughout the whole album.
The album kicks off with the short instrumental track titled “Seven Horns” which is most recognisable for its horn’s/alarm sounds. It is a short prelude for what is to come next, a sonic assault with second track “Fifth Nightmare” (listen below). The track begins with explosive blast beats, a buzzsaw guitars and the dissonant harmonies.
“Quest For Immortality” and “Dark Age” are two instrumental tracks that at first doesn’t fit into the context of the album, but after a few spins I think they serve the album well, adding diversity to this otherwise brutal album.
While listening to this record for a second time I noticed that tracks like the aforementioned “Codex Armageddon” and “Capes Of Desolation” have almost the same exact beginning?! I don’t know if its done deliberately or not, but I wish they didn’t repeat themselves as much as the case is here.
As far as production goes, I think I can say that is it done fantastically. Those Italian veterans really know how to produce awesome old school death metal album. The guitars are crushing, the drums are booming, punchy and the visceral, the riffs are monstrous and obscure while the gutteral vocals fit very well in this sound-chaos of the instruments.
To sum it up even further; Morning Will Come No More is a very good release which I really enjoyed. Esp. recommended for worshipers of Death, Immolation, Morbid Angel, Pestilence etc.
VOICES FROM THE DARKSIDE Webzine:
VALGRIND was originally founded in 1993 but broke up in 2003 just to reunite in 2008. Since then the two full lengths “Morning Will Come No More" (2012) and "Speech Of The Flame" (2016) as well as the EP "Seal Of Phobos" (2017) have been released. "Morning Will Come No More" (2012) was initially released in 2012 on CD, but have been sold out for years and now Nihilistic Holocaust released this sought after release on a pro printed black tape, with color cover, limited to 300 copies. VALGRIND definitely sound different than normal Death Metal bands. Of course the base is true old school Death but VALGRIND offers a variety of dark melodies in utmost twisted format and accumulatively almost 60 minutes of Death Metal delivered in the traditional way, with killer riffs, atmospheres, obscurity, skills and a knowledge for real compositions which makes it a classic, slightly technically inspired, yet completely uncompromising Death Metal release in pure culture. Stylistically, it sounds like a brew of the second album of DEATH "Leprosy", some BRUTALITY, the most flesh-filled riffs of mid-old MORBID ANGEL, the first IMMOLATION album (mostly for the style of drums), old PESTILENCE (re-incarnation of Patrick Mameli school of vocal delivery and guitar wizardry!), perhaps very old NILE and also some old MALEVOLENT CREATION and DEMOLITION HAMMER. Here, some of these songs were composed in the 90s for the band’s first demos, then reworked later for the album’s completion. Talking about this release and making comparison to old legends it’s comparatively easy, but that won’t do them real justice, as after a few listenings from top to bottom, you will get the feeling that this is truly an underground old school Death Metal masterpiece. It is not only the music and the songs; it is the general aura of this album. It feels like it was released back in 1995 or something. The songs themselves are perfect in construction with no modern exaggerations, and technicalities, unnecessary for the style they chose to play! Of course this doesn’t take away the wrath someone would imagine when thinking of old school brutality. The riffs are monstrous, followed by mid tempo drumbeats, and that, along with the fat bass guitar and the outrageous vocals, make it, almost unbearable not to start head-banging from the first minute. It is an album full of energy that takes you in its vortex. The whole thing gets even better with some melodic interludes used here and some other creepy stuff, like ‘Dark Age’, and let’s not forget about the crisp, natural production that takes their ferocity to a new level with its raw and edgy aspect. Lyrically it talks about something apocalyptical rushing towards earth, expressed through its diseased and claustrophobic melodies. No doubt, this album needs an in-depth listening to be understood in all its diversity. It is truly a must check for every old schoolers and of course for everyone who wants to revisit the essence of old school barbarity.
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