Page 33 - Metal Hammer Issue 334 - UK (May 2020)

NEW NOISE ROUND-UP
“I DON’T THINK we have to speak
IN SHORT about these issues, but for me there
SOUNDS LIKE: were a lot of personal reasons to do so,”
An emotional divulges Controversial frontman Jonas
maelstrom of Langhammer. “I’d seen a lot of
unflinching documentaries about the Church – with
tech-death with
a subtle dash of many of them doing highly questionable
symphonic BM things. It’s not about faith itself –
FOR FANS OF: everyone should be allowed to believe in
Whitechapel, whatever they want. But we’ve reached
The Black Dahlia a point in humanity where we do need
Murder, to address what’s going on. And these
Dismember
tracks highlight those issues.”
LISTEN TO: Taking lyrical aim at societal ills like
Revelation religious manipulation, suppression of
freedom and poverty via intricately
woven narratives, Controversial are the
epitome of that in-your-face moniker.
Sophomore album Revelation – which
sounds like the spawn of The Black
Dahlia Murder and early Whitechapel
E-L-R
Arcane post-metallers are here to
kick down the doors of perception
WORDS: ALEX DELLER
SWISS TRIO E-L-R occupy
IN SHORT a dreamlike realm that mixes crushing
SOUNDS LIKE: gloom with transformative beauty, so
CONTROVERSIAL: PRESS/SASCHASCHROEDER. E-L-R: PRESS.
Huge hymnal it’s unsurprising when singer/guitarist
soundscapes S.M. outlines influences that range
carved from from esoteric art and literature to the
surging,
FX-laden thrum natural world. “We share a fascination
for the space between the lines – the
FOR FANS OF: things that you can’t see or are hard
Amenra,
Spotlights, to put into words,” she says. “We’re
Oranssi Pazuzu drawn to ancient myths, natural forces,
LISTEN TO: reveries, hedonism, feelings. We have
Ambrosia a strong attachment to nature and its
energy, probably also because we live
in Switzerland and are surrounded
by majestic mountains, deep forests
and clean lakes.”
conceived while listening to Sweden’s
Dismember – marries bowel-trembling
gutturals and tech-death blasts with
virtuosic soloing for an album that, in
the eyes of the vocalist, was more akin
to a personal journey. Or, dare we say,
an emotional catharsis?
“That’s very fitting as we’d planned
on calling the album that, but Machine
Head beat us to it!” laughs guitarist Emil
Richters. “Extreme music needs some
With its persistent, immersive
thrum, debut album Mænad possesses
a strangely ritualistic quality – fitting,
perhaps, for an endeavour named after
the hedonistic followers of Greek god
Dionysus. S.M., however, views things
differently. “We wouldn’t define it as
a ‘ritual’ – more like being roused from
a burning kiss,” she says. “Our focus is
getting lost in our rehearsal sessions
and weaving panoramic soundscapes.”
Despite this talk of getting lost, the
band sound remarkably sure-footed
and purposeful, but S.M. explains the
band are definitely still learning. “Last
year taught us a lot and we were thrown
into cold water countless times,” she
says. “But our bond gets stronger, and
we’re eager to explore the unknown
sides of this pact.”
MÆNAD IS OUT NOW VIA
PROPHECY PRODUCTIONS
emotion for balance and to engage
people,” ponders Jonas. “When it comes
to music, I need something I can really
relate to.” And with first single Tales Of
A Shattered Youth’s haunted exploration
of traumas past, there’s plenty for
listeners to find solace in. On Revelation,
Controversial transform hidden turmoil
into a recipe for continued success.
REVELATION IS OUT NOW
IN THE KNOW
What your favourite
bands are listening to
GOD COMPLEX
“THEY ARE THE UK’s answer
to what heavy music and what
hardcore music needs and wants
right now. I think that every
vocalist right now should be
looking at Harry, because he has
every voice under the sun, and can
do absolutely anything that he puts
his mind to vocally.
Their live show is
insane. You should go
and watch them at
any possible chance
that you get.”
ERIK
BICKERSTAFFE
(LOATHE)
METALHAMMER.COM 33