Hell Awaits is a column by Kim Kelly and Andy O'Connor that shines a light on extreme and underground metal. This time, Kim shares new music from Rippikoulu, Derketa, Wrought Iron, and more. Welcome to Hell.
Rippikoulu: Ulvaja
For many years, Rippikoulu existed only as a memory. The Valkeakoski death/doom cadre formed in 1990, and made their mark as the first Finnish death metal band to sing entirely in their native tongue. The band managed to release two slavishly praised recordings in 1992 and 1993, but by the end of 1995, guitarist Marko Henriksson was dead, and Rippikoulu was no more. All fans were left with was a pair of demos, with 1993’s masterful Musta Seremonia capturing the most acclaim. That remained the case until earlier this year, when Svart announced that they’d be releasing an EP’s worth of brand-new material from the reformed quartet. It’s not uncommon to see a band return with a slightly new direction following a 20-odd year hiatus, and this new EP makes clear that these old doom dogs have picked up a few new tricks. Ulvaja is far more ethereal and refined than Rippikoulu’s previous output. Gone are the hulking death metal riffs and guttural roars; now, there’s more of a traditional funeral doom atmosphere about the EP’s three mournful movements, augmented by weepy keyboards and ghostly female vocals. The heaviness and oppressive fog is still there, and the updated production values render Ulvaja a huge, encompassing listen.
Derketa: “Troops of Doom” (Sepultura cover)
Derketa is another band currently enjoying resurrected life. These Pittsburgh-based death metal pioneers have been hard at work on new material since 2012’s excellent comeback effort In Death We Meet, and snuck a new 7” out under most of our noses with little fanfare last month. The two-song Darkness Fades Life EP was released by Mind Cure Records, and as one may expect to happen when a release of this caliber is limited to only 300 copies, the record is already awfully scarce. It’s worth tracking down though, as these two tunes are top-shelf vintage death metal fury, shot through with mean, gritty solos and crowned by vocalist Sharon Bascovsky’s hellish roar. Luckily, we’re streaming the Steel City institution’s brilliantly heavy take on early Sepultura classic “Troops of Doom” right here.
Wrought Iron: “White Death”
Speaking of Pittsburgh, another one of its bastard progeny is about to release a vicious new full-length. Wrought Iron’s abrasive, relentless take on European-influenced black metal is confrontational and surprisingly technical—less Deathspell Omega than Funeral Mist. It also verges upon death metal at times, with great swaths of guttural vocals gurgling rancidly beneath frenetic guitars. Bassist Brooks Chriswell has done time in gory deathgrinders Circle of Dead Children, which adds some context for the low-end’s chunkier grooves. Shifts in tonality aside, Wrought Iron always bring it back around to speedy aggression, aided by versatile vocalist Kenny Snyder’s high-register shriek and hypnotic marching riffs, like the centerpiece on “White Death”. Grimoire released Rejoice and Transcend on June 24, and it’s recommended you grab one while the hellfire’s hot.
Drowned: “Letzer Teilbarer Strahl"
German death metal has never commanded the same cultural cachet as the Swedish or Floridian varieties, but between Necros Christos’ upcoming Nine Graves EP and the miraculous return of Drowned, that just might change soon. It’s been eight long years since the sporadically active Berlin trio released the much-worshipped and near-perfect Viscera Terrae EP, but the wait has finally ended: Sepulchral Voice will be releasing a new full-length, Idola Specus, on July 25. Despite the waning of the classic lineup and addition of new members G. ST and T.E. (both of experimental death cult Essenz) to the vision of original member Tlmnn (ex-Necros Christos), Idola Specus finds Drowned sounding utterly revitalized, and more bloodthirsty than ever before. ““Letzer Teilbarer Strahl” showcases the dark, murky death metal tones we’ve come to expect, ramping up the intensity tenfold.
Wreck of the Hesperus: “A Terminal Dirge”
Ireland’s most abjectly miserable doom merchants Wreck of the Hesperus have been largely silent since the release of 2011’s Light Rotting Out, but thanks to the efforts of Irish label Fort Evil Fruit, the volume levels have been slowly rising. Unconventional arrangements, unbearable tension, squealing feedback and uncomfortable drones have long been staples of the WOTH sound, and this latest release is positively drenched in them. Long Streak of Misery collects the band’s non-album material (including songs from splits with Mourning Beloveth and De Novissimis), slaps it onto a run of 100 ultra-limited cassettes, and dares you to argue. The previously unreleased slog of “A Terminal Dirge” is rich in painful noise and subterranean rumbles, dragging itself along like a soldier with his legs shot out from under him. It revels in its own wretchedness, and invites you to do the same.
Barrow Wight: “Rock Into Mordor”
Barrow Wight began its short life as a Venom cover band and hasn’t diverged much from that original path. However, instead of mirroring the Geordie legends’ lyrical penchant for sex and Satan, this Canadian group have sold their souls to Tolkien. Their joyfully primitive scrapings distill the knuckle-dragging best of Hellhammer, Amebix, and, of course, Venom into one powerfully nerdy package crammed with hoary old punk riffs, thrumming basslines, clanging metalpunk leads, and one of the best Cronos impersonators this side of Middle Earth.
“To our knowledge there are very few Tolkien themed Speed metal bands that sound like Venom (the best band on earth or the 80's at least),” the band itself explains in their bio. “Now we are left with a Venom-charged, reverb-fueled, black brew from Bara-Dur. One does not simply walk into Mordor, he rocks into Mordor!” Look for their new EP Power from the East from Heavy Chains.