For Those About Squawk: Waldo Pecks on Anarkhon and Contrarian

What’s up? It’s your old boy Waldo here, to inform you about some new and upcoming releases—good, bad or otherwise. Remember, I’m not an elitist, you just have terrible taste.

Anarkhon is releasing the crazily titled Phantasmagorical Personification of the Death Temple. (Takes deep breath) Phew. Rasped out old-school Lovecreafitan death metal from Sao Paulo Brazil. Called “abyssal” by some, this is an insidious affair, there’s some death/death doom here, some atmospheric parts, some plodding riffs into some blackened death. That enough of a description for you? This feels cavernous, swirls and eddies of evil abound, almost enough to summon The Thing That Should Not Be himself. One reviewer wrote “enigmatic riff possessed with the majesty of arcane knowledge, every rotted atmosphere and bludgeoning riff on point.” Indeed. 7 Fucking Pecks.

I’ve been hearing the name Contrarian for a bit now, and I was anxious to check out their new one Sage of Shekhina on Willowtip Records. Before I start, I have to say that this birdbrain thinks that the label rarely misses the mark. I’m sorry to say, that this time, the mark has been thrown out. This is technical, progressive death, and wow, it sounds like a heavier jazz record. The bass is noodling around while the drummer is trying to show off every lick he’s ever learned. The vocals and guitar are the most intelligible and do have some riff and coherence here and there. Before anyone says, “well, I LIKE progressive death,” you don’t. The backing band feels like 10 of the same records were thrown down the stairs while playing at the same time. Not for me. 4 Fucking Pecks, only for being able to play their instruments.

Waldo Out!