The Codex : Doom What Thou Wilt
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Old Yron’s 1989 EP reissue makes this obscure act’s otherwise workmanlike appeal a bit too daft to swallow, admittedly. Shame, really, because the band’s neo-classical take on the whole Maiden/NWOBHM thing could have been something great…had they been instrumental. Then again, this has always been par for the course with many Italian acts for me, but I digress…
The Hand of Doom, from Germany, also have a “difficult” vocalist in the form of Andreas Rossner, but the band’s 1979 Poisonoise double disc retrospective/collection is so vicious and relentless in its Motor City/MC5/Stooges intensity, that all is almost forgiven. It a’int quite doom, but could certainly suit yer fancy if careening, edge-of-your-seat rock power floats your boat. If not, there’s always Isen-Torr’s Mighty & Superior EP reissue, if you’re into the whole chain metal, battle metal thing. Originally released in 2003, the band’s only release features Solstice’s Rich Walker and Falcon’s’ Perry Grayson on guitars, and punts with superior pagan metal might, indeed.
Of course, there are other record labels to tend to this column, not the least of which is the legendary Rise Above Records, a personal favorite of mine. Having recently celebrated their 20th anniversary this year, the label led by Cathedral honcho Lee Dorrian has consistently released unfuckwithable material since their inception. Tis a rare instance, indeed when I don’t a enjoy Rise Above release, and—if the label’s 2K9 track record is anything to go by thus far—I don’t think that fact is going to be changing anytime soon.
Take Astra’s The Weirding debut, for example. This Californian quintet certifiably channels the essence of 1970s prog, and does so without a hint of hipster irony. Long, spacious songs, complete with lush guitar, flute, and mellotron—yes, mellotron—arrangements bury themselves deep within the listener’s head and soul, resulting in a sprawling, mammoth listen…one which begs endless repeated listens. The UK’s Diagonal moves in similar circles with their self-titled debut for Rise Above, though the collective’s similarly epic-styled songwriting lends itself more towards the jazzier end of prog (think Soft Machine or King Crimson) Diagonal’s pounding drums and jagged guitar lines easily lend themselves quite favorably to any fan of 70s psychedelic extremity.
I felt that Serpentcult’s Weight Of Light full length didn’t quite live up to the promise of the Belgian quartet’s Trident Nor Fire EP. It’s not bad, mind—when the guitars enter Celtic Frost mode, this shit kicks—it’s just missing a certain something to push it over the top, a la Sylvester Stallone. Add this to the fact that vocalist Michelle Nocon sounds like she’s hearing a completely different band in her headphones, and you have a record which confuses as often as it crushes.
Carcass guitarist Bill Steer’s Firebird project, however, have leapt bounds from their decent-but-disappointing Hot Wings effort in 2006, to deliver one HELL of an ass-shakin’, hip swingin’ statement in the form of Grand Union. Fifth time out seems to be the charm for this old school power-trio, as Grand Union echoes riff chills and blues beats from the band’s early, shitkicking efforts like Deluxe, and brings it all home in great fashion. Steer is truly a guitar hero—stepping firmly in the footsteps of idols Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer—and it certainly shows here on Grand Union. Shame that most Carcass fans will probably never hear how great this stuff is…
That being said, it looks like we’ve reach the end of yet another episode of The Codex. Thanks for checking in, as always, and—again—if any bands out there would like to submit any material to the test, please send it to:
George Pacheco
c/o The Cimmerian Codex
53 Rogers St.
South Dartmouth, MA
02748-2806
Back before you know it, and sooner than you’d like…peace out!
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