Horoskopus

While not as terrible as other releases that I have witnessed for a long time, this one is slightly better than that of a selected few... I can honestly suggest that this album is better than Metallica's "Lulu" (2011) collaboration... However, this, in itself, does blow junks right out of it's rear end (its ass, in case you haven't figured that out yet). I've known about Book of Black Earth for quite awhile...and I never did care for them very much. Not to mention, that I think them as humans beings, suck too... I hate they're style, their attitude...it all fucking stinks like a rotting fish carcass.

The production is pretty basic and isn't as clear as it could have been. Though, it sounds like it was recorded using a semi-small "budget". I guess these guys must've blew their money on booze or something all the time... That'll explain why the production isn't the greatest...but hey, who's perfect? Not me, that I can tell you... The band's creativity is pretty lame in terms of coming up with memorable riffs, drum patterns and techniques. I'm almost bored as can be, writing this review about this pretty lame-ass record.

The guitars do have a bit of "groove" to them with a basic sense of "style". However, it's not something that seems "inspired". It's just sounds like something that's a bit "cool", but it's like being "high" temporary, you know? It's "okay" for a brief period of time, but becomes as bad as the stench of fish guts. The strings sound like they were processed, heavily, through a damn freeware plugin to create a massive amount of "distortion". I'll understand if the band don't ever want to return doing this project, because as a concept, it's pretty boring. I'm glad Chef Ramsey doesn't criticize music, because if he did, this band would get fucked up by his words... I can almost promise you that.

I'm willing to review bands that I hate and try being fair about it, so why should these rejects be any different? The bass isn't even mixed way into the album. You can barely even tell that it's there. Sure, the guitars are so low-tuned it, that it sounds like a bass, a little, but it's clearly the guitars that are being strummed so heavily. It doesn't take a total-retard to comprehend that...right? The drums are pretty lazy and poorly designed. It sounds like the drummer had no idea of what to use to fill in some much-needed gaps in the instrumentals. Doesn't even sound exciting to me at all.

The band's artwork is a little cool...but it's nothing note-worthy. It might have some weird colours, but who's supposed to remember what kind of garbage it's based off of? Sure, a few riffs here 'n' there are alright, but those aren't influenced by anything memorable...Therefore, the riffs themselves, aren't worth remembering. These idiots must assume that they're Chuck Schuldiner or something, you know? At least he was amazing at creating ideas and structures. He wasn't a lazy musician. These guys 'n' this release, just in general, feel pretty dull. Almost all the riffs rival each other with each song. It just doesn't sound fun-filled. They even go as far as to creating musical "fillers" throughout this album. Who wants to hear that shit? Especially if it's bad. This might as well have been a demo, because as a full-length, this scum delivers itself to the morgue...and then some...

You guys, suck...

I picked up "Horoskopus" at a Best Buy a few months after seeing Book of Black Earth live, and I must say say, I was blown away. Aside from the incredible live performance these guys put on, the album performance just about matches it. 2160 starts off the record with a slow, epic doom riff, that slowly builds upon itself before climaxing and giving forth into "Death of the Sun". There is slightly less keyboard action here on "Horoskopus" I have noticed, but not to fear! It does not detract from the feel of the album, but instead contributes a raw, visceral feel, that the band only flirted with on "The Feast". The carnage and vibe of "Death of the Sun", continues for the next couple of tracks until "Cult of Dagon", the slowest of all 11 songs. One of the most atmospheric as well, one can feel the scourge of society as T.J. Cowgill bellows "There is no God!" in a tortured wail reminiscent of Satan himself.

I have heard a lot of people compare Book of Black Earth's sound mainly to that of the Swedish death metal scene, and even the Black Dahlia Murder. Seriously? I have listened to this album countless times, and what I hear is instead more of a straightforward death metal approach, mixed often with black metal, and sometimes grindcore-esque drumming. One other element of music that I have yet to see anybody pick up on, is the massive crust influence that Book of Black Earth implements. This can be be seen on such tracks as "From Heaven" and "Christ Pathogen", where in the intro of the latter, one can recall the acoustic lead in to "Drink and be Merry" by Amebix. The atmosphere of the album also can't stop me from recalling such acts as His Hero is Gone, and Axegrinder as well. Add a heavy dollop of sludgy doom metal, and voila! You have Book of Black Earth.

To anyone who is a fan of death metal, black metal, sludge/doom, grindcore, or even crust, this record will not disappoint. If you can, go see them live. It's such an amazing experience that so many bands do not live up to these days. It's just so fucking dark! Pitch black! That vibe is not lost in the record either. Standout tracks include: 2160, Death of the Sun, Horoskripture, Cult of Dagon, Funeral of Peace, From Heaven, and Christ Pathogen. Enjoy it like the evil motherfuckers you are!

Though this is only my first exposure to this young Seattle band, it's their second album, and they were formed from the remains of another band Teen Cthulhu, who I had heard before. The band is also busy touring and building a following here in the States, so it was high time to hear what all the fuss was about.

The opening track "2160" is a slow intro piece with some simple, doom laden guitars and synths. Once "Death of the Sun" cuts in, you can really get a feel for the band's stripped down style. It's fairly raw, chunky death metal with a few occasional forays into a more upbeat, melodic direction. Unfortunately, while I have no problem with such a style, I just didn't find much here that drew me in. The riffs are tolerable, the album is sufficiently brutal, but I found most of it mired down in kind of boring death metal chug/groove riffs, with some dull keyboards meant to add in 'atmosphere' but adding little. When the band opts towards an even doomier direction ala "Cult of Dagon", it somehow manages to become even less interesting.

I've heard some praise for this band so I'm assuming they must put on some sort of sick live shows, because musically there is very little here of any originality or interest. It doesn't entirely reek of the metalcore stench, but there is that little subtext with the melodeath guitar riffs which sound like a few thousand other US bands of the At the Gates/Black Dahlia Murder variety. Still, the band tastefully moves this in a more direct, simple, brutal direction, so they're not quite a knockoff.

The result? Meh.

-autothrall
http://www.fromthedustreturned.com

When I saw this album I just thought that I would have to deal with one more classic Prosthetic Records release. You know, all this modern Hardcore/Metalcore stuff is not exactly what I call "a pleasant listening experience". The good thing is that BOOK OF BLACK EARTH is not exactly what I expected to hear and I guess that’s a really good start.

The US metallers were formed in 2003. The band has already managed to have a demo, a split CD (with FALL OF THE BASTARDS) and a full-length album out. Their brand new album "Horoskopus" is their second full-length effort and as the band’s vocalist/guitarist TJ Cowgill says, it is about hidden astrological elements of the Christian church. Anyway, let’s see if their first album through Prosthetic Records will bring these guys any luck.

BOOK OF BLACK EARTH’s music is surely something interesting, mostly due to the fact that the US metallers have managed to mix many different elements, all coming from the extreme side of Metal. Their music is mostly based on a brutal Death Metal foundation, having also fragments from the US Black Metal scene, as well as some early Swedish Death Metal elements. Throughout the album, I came across parts that reminded me of NILE, others that reminded me of AT THE GATES and others that slightly reminded me of the US LEVIATHAN. The only characterization I can think of right now about this album is that this is the work that Trey Azagoth would release today if he was 20 years old. Sounds kind of glorious, huh? Well, don’t get too excited since there are some pretty negative points in this release...

First of all, the production is totally shitty. Imagine the above mentioned magnificent music dressed in a demo level production. Rotten guitar sound, ’empty’ drums and vocals that needed some extra editing before the release of the album. One more thing is that without having huge song lengths (except from the last song which is almost 10 minutes long), the album manages to "exhaust" the listener at some parts. I guess "Horoskopus" is not the record you can listen to two times in a row without getting bored. So, I try to put the positive and the negative things together and what I see is a talented band that needs some slight improvement to make us shit our pants. These guys are pretty fresh and they have a long road before them. Give them a chance and be sure that the future hides many surprises.

Originally written for Metal-Temple.Com
Yiannis D.