This is easily one of, if not the best, album I have got my mitts on this reviewing period and if you like black metal there is no reason you will not get this too as it is completely free to you. Let me explain. Misantrof Antirecords does exactly what it suggests. Run by Daniel Vrangsinn who plays bass with amongst many others Carpathian Forest this is a label with a difference, allowing anyone to download artists work completely gratis whilst allowing the bands to keep their own rights. It may seem crazy but it works and when you are a black metal band from, of all places, Turkey it certainly helps you gain some recognition and get your music out there without having to deal with any demands of sales figures from a bigger label. No doubt it has already helped the group get its music out there more than when their previous two albums were released on DJ Club and Raven Music both of whom strike as bargain basement or self-release outfits in essence.
I caught Episode 13 at the Infernal Damnation festival this year and was instantly impressed with both music and performance. Playing this I was instantly struck by both the maturity of the sound and the depth of grim atmospheric passion behind it. This is proper grown up black metal and not for hangers on looking for the next big thing.
‘Ars Morendi’ slowly creeps in with the fetid essence of the tomb about it, revolting and crepuscular guitar chords gleam away in the gloom and as the door of the vaults slowly opens singer Ozan’s cadaverous vocals ooze out. Rage is enforced and the track gallops off clad in hideous rasp and grating guitar sound. Everything about this says anti, not just the label but anti life and anti everything you hold dear to your heart as well. I have just gone to the group’s MySpace and their motto is ‘Anti Human – Anti Religion’ so I rest my case. Having said that the melody shines through and although hideous it is easily accessible. ‘Physical Comatose & Mental Overdose’ has a maddened and suicidal feel to it as you may expect, it is all about building up atmosphere which it does even before the drums batter in and pitch you headlong into the abyss of the track. Then comes a massive swaggering groove as the track veers in another direction spurred on by the ever present wretched rasps. There is plenty going on here, you can follow it into the very mouth of madness and beyond as it twists and turns into labyrinthine folds.
There is plenty of venom and spite behind the lyrical bite. It is worth mentioning here that it is no mere musical download you get for free from the label but the full ghastly artwork from US artists Seraph + Splendor all the booklet notes and lyrics and even the central stickers for the CD itself, so you can basically bootleg your own complete package. ‘Ultimate Sterilization’ no doubt goes out to the human race and the crunching guitar chords sound like a vice tightening over the balls and wringing the essence of life right out of them. Finishing off with ‘Spread His Word’ the album lurches and spews away in a torrent of blasts and really smashes things into oblivion as the vocal howls chase the music to the very end.
So if you have read this far no doubt you want the link to download this, so fill your boots before death does indeed reclaim the earth.
http://episode13.misantrof.net
http://www.myspace.com/episode13
