Asphyxiate - Self Transform From Decayed Flesh - 2013 - New Standard Elite

Art by Jonrinz Art

I interviewed Asphyxiate (HERE) before I had even heard more than one song from this album.
THIS SONG
 I had hoped that the whole album would be as brutal and addicting as that one song.  Was I right?

I must be getting good at predicting these things.  Asphyxiate have produced what they promised, a return back to the roots of Indonesian brutality that is sure to have any Brutal Death Metal fan banging their head in recognition and agreement.
"Self Transform From Decayed Flesh" would have stood above many other 2013 releases on riffage and songwriting alone.  Giving the album an extra boost is the impressive production and mastering from Josh Welshnam.  Previously known as the brains behind promising one-man band, Autonomy, he has foreshadowed here a promising career behind the controls, helping bands achieve their prime sound and brutality.
The Disgorge-esque stylings of this record are unrelentingly punishing.  The opening track, "Suffered in Vivisection" begins with a slower riff, as if to warm you up for whats to come.  The mood is undeniably set, and the second half of the song throws you into a whirlwind of fast blasting riffs under half-discernible gutturals that are enunciated just enough to make you want to read along.
The whole album is riff after riff, providing little time to rest.

Josh (Guitar, Vocals) shows how it should be done.  It is mind-blowing listening to this when you realize the guitar and vocals are coming from the same person.  He has a real knack for changing up patterns between guitar and vocal riffs.  His lack of diversity in the vocal department is saved by a few occurrences of layered vocals, and his scrupulous, punctual enunciation, going along nicely with his guitar-work.

Yogi, the man behind the drums, has obviously been doing this for a long time.  Try as you may, and I have tried, but you will not find a dull moment in his perfect drumming performance.  The drums, for me, are what make this album.

A common complaint of mine is again an issue here: I wish the bass guitar (Adi) was a little more audible.  I here it thickening up the low-end, I just cannot tell if it is doing much else.  Being able to keep up at this pace is a feat of excellence for any bassist, turn it up!

The amazing artwork, from Jonrinz Art, gives an accurate visual representation of how I feel when this album is playing: I am being melted and torn into a thousand more versions of me!  Transformed from my decayed flesh!  He has many pieces of similar detail, check them out HERE.

Jonrinz Art-Ballpoint on paper 15,5 x 23,5 inches

Asphyxiate have been around for over 10 years now.  I am overcome with sadness and surprise when I say this is my first time hearing their music!  My next step is to check out their entire back-catalogue.
For now, I am thoroughly enjoying "Self Transform From Decayed Flesh," as should you!
Purchase here:

NEW STANDARD ELITE

More art here:

JONRINZ ART

Interview with Josh (Guitarist/Vocalist) of Asphyxiate - 2013

Asphyxiate, a three-piece Brutal Death Metal band from Indonesia, have a full length album being released November 23rd, 2013.  I was lucky enough to have Josh, the band's guitarist and vocalist, answer a few questions.  Check out the interview below!





Cerebral Reviewment-  Hello and thank you for answering a few questions!  First of all, who are you and what is your role in Asphyxiate?

Josh-  hello, my name is Josh, I play guitar and am the vocalist in Asphyxiate.

CR-  I am very excited to hear “Self Transform From Decayed Flesh,” your upcoming full length!  Can you tell us anything about it?  How would you describe its sound?

J-  It feels so awesome, finally we have a new album with the new line up!  We proud to join forces with New Standard Elite.  It will sound like "heavy blasting brutality."  We play a little different style from our previous album, but it still on the same atmosphere and riffing.

CR-  Who did the art for your upcoming full length?

J-   The art is a great match for the album title, killer art done by Jonrinz Art.

CR-  How did you guys start working with Jonrinz Art?

J-  Daniel Osborn give us the idea to use Jonrinz Art; he told us that Jonrinz had a unique style.  He is a great artist.

CR-  I understand the album is mixed and mastered by Josh Welshnam (Autonomy).  How did the band get in touch with him?  Are you pleased with how everything turned out?

J-  Daniel Osborn gave us three good mixers to choose from, and as a band we finally chose Mr. Josh Welshnam to work with us.  Yes, we are pleased to work with him, he did a good job on mixing and mastering this album.

CR-  Congratulations on the recent signing to New Standard Elite Records!  What can you say about the label?

J-  Thank you, we are really proud and excited to sign with New Standard Elite, good label, pure brutality label with no trends and fads. New Standard Elite know exactly what band needs.

CR-  Do you guys have any big plans in the future for touring?

J-  Maybe we will make a little promo album tour. We hope so.

CR-  Who are some of your biggest influences?

J-  Suffocation, Decrepit Birth (old), Deeds of Flesh (old).

CR-  Who are some other bands from Indonesia that we should check out?

J-  Check out Carnivored, Injury Deepen, that's it for now, to many to list bro.

CR-  Thanks a lot!

J-  You're welcome brother. Thank you for taking your time interviewing us.

ASPHYXIATE

PREVIEW OF "Self Transform From Decayed Flesh" HERE

NEW STANDARD ELITE RECORDS

Interview with Arvin Palma of Tortured Palm Art - 2012

You buy a disgusting, graphic, beautifully detailed and gory t-shirt from your favorite brutal death metal band.  You proudly wear the shirt to school/church and you are surprised at the lack of questions you get about it.  People are too thrown off or possibly offended to look past what they perceive as gross and offensive.  The art itself is under appreciated.  This is brutal death metal.  The art that goes along with it is beautiful and full of passion and hard work.  This is the first interview in a series of artist interviews with the purpose to further expose these artists and show what they do.  Please share!

Arvin Palma is a 22 year old Filipino who creates art under the name Tortured Palm Art.



"I do Artworks.  T-shirt designs, Logo, Cover art.. as long as you trust me.. I will do my best!"

——————————————————————————————————————


Cerebral Reviewment-  Hello Arvin, thanks for taking the time to talk with me!  Could you please tell everyone a brief history of you and how you got into drawing?

Arvin Palma-  FIRST OF ALL, GOOD DAY CEREBRAL REVIEWMENT!  I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THIS INTERVIEW.  AS I REMEMBERED SINCE I WAS A KID I ALREADY DREW BUT IT WAS ONLY FOR FUN.  I WAS 6 WHEN I STARTED DRAWING CURVES AND LINES TO FORM SOMETHING FROM MY MIND.  NOW MY WORKS ARE WAY DIFFERENT.  IT’S NOW RELATED TO MY KIND OF MUSIC AND THAT’S BRUTAL DEATH METAL.  AND THAT’S HOW I STARTED UNTIL TODAY. HOPE TO DO MORE SICK BRUTAL ARTWORKS AND IMPROVE MY SKILLS. ‘COZ IM STILL LEARNING.




The Gurchick Tree

CR-  Have you always done brutal/gore art?

AP-  TO BE HONEST I WAS JUST A YEAR OR TWO DOING ARTWORKS THAT’S WHY I ALWAYS GRAB EVERY OPPORTUNITY I GOT IF SOMEBODY WILL HIT ME UP FOR A DESIGN OR SOMETHING.  I ALSO DRAW SATANIC ARTWORKS.  I’M A FREELANCE ARTIST I DO ONLY BLACK AND WHITE I DO LOGOS AS WELL.

CR-  What are some things that influence you while drawing?

AP-  ABSOLUTELY YES! METAL MUSIC!  BRUTAL, DEATH, GRIND, BLACK AND THRASH!  AND ALSO SEEING THE WORKS OF MY FAVORITE ARTIST SUCH AS MIKE MAJEWSKI, MARK RIDDICK AND CHRIS MOYEN! THEY ARE MY INFLUENCES. ESPECIALLY, IN BLACK AND WHITE ART DEPARMENT.

CR-  What is some of your favorite music to draw to?

AP-  MOSTLY I DRAW ARTWORKS FOR BRUTAL BANDS WHEN I WAS STARTING.  BUT NOW I DO SOME DARK AND SATANIC ARTWORKS.  I’M NOT CHOOSY, AS LONG AS WE GET ALONG WELL AND THEY ARE INTERESTED WITH MY WORKS.  AND WE WORK SMOOTH.



Sevared Records




CR-  In your opinion, can brutal art ever go too far or be too gross?

AP-  FOR SOME PEOPLE THIS KIND OF ART IS NOT ART AND THEY WILL JUST SAYS IT’S GROSS!  NASTY!  BUT FOR THOSE WHO REALLY APPRECIATE ART THESE KIND OF WORKS ARE AWESOME.  MOSTLY MY PATRONIZERS ARE MY FRIENDS AND THE BANDS LOCAL AND FOREIGN.  OH!  MY MOM IS ONE OF MY GREAT FANS ALSO. LOL

CR-  What is a favorite piece of yours?

AP-  I REALLY LOVE EVERY PIECE I MADE.  BECAUSE IT’S THE FRUIT OF MY HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO BRUTAL DEATH METAL.  BUT IF I WAS TO CHOOSE MY ACES ARE THE ARTWORK FOR ATROCIOUS ABNORMALITY (STEVE GREEN OF COMATOSE MUSIC), DISFIGURED (TEXAS), AND MY VERY FIRST COVER ART SCREWROT (ISRAEL). FOR ME THOSE ARE MY BEST WORKS SO FAR!



Atrocious Abnormality






Disfigured






Screwrot




CR-  Do you have a dream band that you have always want to draw for?

AP-  OF COURSE I DO! I REALLY WANNA DO ART FOR MY FAVORITE BRUTAL BANDS: DEVOURMENT, ABOMINABLE PUTRIDITY, CONDEMNED, CEPHALOTRIPSY!

CR-  I know the Philippines has a pretty good brutal death metal scene and the brutal art going along with all the music seems to be getting better and better. More less known artists are popping up all over the place. Are there a lot of artists doing this sort of art where you are?

AP-  YEAH!  BRUTAL DEATH METAL SCENE IS RISING NOW HERE IN PHILIPPINES AND I’M VERY GLAD FOR IT!  LOTS OF SICK BANDS GETTING DISCOVERED.  THERE ARE FEW ARTISTS I KNOW HERE.  THE MOST KNOWN IS THE MIGHTY BIN BAUTISTA (BRAINDRAINED) AND MY HOMIE PRIX (PRIXTOI MADNESS ART) THEY ARE THE ONLY ARTIST I KNOW HERE.  AND ALSO ME MYSELF! HAHA!



Autonomy


CR-  Anything you would like to say to fans or aspiring artists?

AP-  I WANNA SHOUT KEEP ON WORKING ON YOUR SHIT AND NEVER STOP THE DREAM!  WORK HARD, PRACTICE, AND DEDICATION IN WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS REALLY THE KEY!  I’M NOT THAT GOOD BUT I JUST WANNA SAY THESE THINGS TO THE ARTIST OUT THERE LIKE ME.  KEEP IT BRUTAL MY FRIENDS!

LASTLY, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT INTERVIEW!  I’M VERY GLAD FOR THIS! YOU GOT MY SUPPORT MAN. THANKS AGAIN AND CHEERS!

HORNS UP!!! \M/



CR-  Thanks a lot man!

SUPPORT TORTURED PALM!

Interview with Josh Welshnam of Autonomy - 2011

I was very lucky to have Josh Welshnam, the man behind Rhode Island Brutal Death Metal project, Autonomy, sit down and answer a few questions.

Enjoy:

Cerebral Reviewment-  How old are you?


Josh Welshnam-  I’m 19 years old.


CR-  Why the name Autonomy?


J-  I chose the name Autonomy because it ties in with the idea of a one man band. Autonomy means independence and self-governing, which is how Autonomy is run, completely by me.


CR-  What first got you into this kind of music, have you always been into it?


J-  In my late High School years, I first started getting into slam bands like Devourment and Abominable Putridity.  I have been a huge metal fan basically since elementary school, and since then it has been my life.


CR-  I understand you go to school, how’s that going?

J-  Its going well man, studying Audio Production/Music Industry.  I definitely want a career in music, particularly in the metal industry.


CR-  You have said before that vocals are your passion in Autonomy, has this always been the case?

J-  Definitely. Prior to Autonomy I was the vocalist for an RI based deathcore band called “Death Haven” for about 5 years. Had a lot of good times in that band and it definitely fueled my passion for vocals.


CR-  You are not only an amazing vocalist, but your guitar/songwriting skills really stand out!  How long have you been playing?


J-  Haha I wouldn’t go that far, but I’ve been playing guitar since middle school, so approximately 6-7 years.  I’ve only been writing my own music since Autonomy came into existence.


CR-  Can you tell me about your relationship with Ossuary Industries and how it came about?



J-  I remember talking to BBB about Autonomy and sending him a demo with various tracks spanning from the debut EP “Dimensions of Mephitic Decay” to my more recent material.  He really dug it all and offered me a place in the Ossuary Industries family.  I couldn’t be happier to be a part of the label, and Brian has definitely welcomed me in and has put many great opportunities on the table for me already.


CR-  How is the search for band members going? 

J-  Terrible man haha.  Rhode Island is a baron wasteland as far as Brutal Death Metal goes.  I expect things to pick up soon though once some things fall into place for future plans.


CR-  How much time would you guess that you practice, whether it be vocals, guitar, programming, in a week?


J-  As of now I’m spending almost all of my free time writing for an upcoming split with Embalmer, Forged In Gore, and Extremely Rotten that will be released later in the Fall I believe.  So I’d say approximately anywhere between 6 and 10 hours a week depending on my schedule.


CR-  Can you tell me about what equipment you use?


J-  Since the start I’ve been using a Line 6 GX for all of my guitar tracking and Acoustica Beatcraft for all of my drum programming. Autonomy hasn’t had a live appearance yet, so no real live gear to speak of.

CR-  What are your lyrics usually about? What inspires you when writing them?


J-  My lyrics vary from song to song, but are mostly influenced by the human race and religion and how both suck haha.


“Post-Incubation Period”


Feasting on the limbs of the deceased body
Masticating on the fibers of the vital organs
I’ll devour the child inside the abdomen
Repugnant and decrepit
The mutilated remains lie in wait of further consumption
Vile surgery, invoke the darkest perversions of man
Incisions of wretched putrescence
Defiled in mind and body
Extirpation and ingestion of the viscera
Womb eviscerated
Blood congealing as the cavity is emptied
Incisions of wretched putrescence

CR-  Can you tell us any future Autonomy plans? 

J-  I’m making the transition to making Autonomy a fully functioning band as most people already know.  Definitely want to hit the stage in the New England area by next Summer, and even expand to other parts of the U.S.  I also have a full length album set for release in August 2012 through Ossuary Industries that I will start writing for later this year.  Just planning to take a short break for a month after the split CD to give my gears a rest and let the split and other releases spread around, and just do some promotion.

CR-  Thanks a lot man, good luck with everything!

J-  Thanks for the interview man keep it sick! \m/


SUPPORT OSSUARY INDUSTRIES

SUPPORT AUTONOMY

Autonomy - Demo 2011

I was very pleased with Autonomy’s first release, “Dimensions of Mephitic Decay” (REVIEW) so I have been patiently waiting for anything new from Autonomy.  Well, here it is, a two-song demo.  I love it.
The first track on here, “Atrophic Indulgences”, contains everything I loved about DoMD but with faster, tighter riffs.  Still very catchy though.  Reminds me of older Decrepit Birth but with better vocals.   The drum programming shines through here to me as being creative and actually thought out.  Taking a simple, otherwise boring riff around 1:50, and complimenting it with a steady groove that effortlessly carries us through to the next section.  The vocals, to no surprise, are right on.  A step up from DoMD as far as the vocals themselves and mixed very well, the icing on the cake.

"Renounced Posterity" is a good reference as to why I say the songwriting continuously coming from Josh Welshnam is memorable, brutal, and altogether good.
In this super over saturated genre, and even one man bands, which have become extremely common, it becomes harder and harder to stand out.  Unless, of course, you write, record, mix, master, promote, sell, package, ship, and whatever else it takes, all while being humble and positive.  Not to mention finding time to support and promote other bands.  Although, everything stated above would most likely go unnoticed if you made shitty music.  So props to Josh Welshman for grabbing his passion by the balls!  It is also notable that he is not even old enough to drink a beer.

AUTONOMY

Autonomy - Dimensions of Mephitic Decay - 2011 Sevared Records

I have not always been a fan of one man death metal bands, but this one is really good.  This is Autonomy’s first release, and it is a solid one.  It is not perfect, but it gives a glimpse of what is to come and it assures the listener that they are in good hands.  Josh Welshnam knows what he is doing.

Autonomy’s biography states that it was originally formed as a side project to practice using pro audio equipment.  Well all that practice is paying off!  This has some amazing production, decently programmed drums, and nicely recorded vocals.  Speaking of the vocals, they are very good!  You can really tell that Josh is very passionate about them and has spent tons of time practicing them.  His impressive range of low gutturals and different sounds and styles can be easily heard throughout, especially on the track "Emaciated".

My only complaint would be the drums.  When dealing with a drum machine, it takes a lot more effort and patience than one may think, especially in this genre, to keep it from going stale.  That being said, the drums here are on the verge.  This is 5 songs long and it wasn’t until near the end that the drums stood out.

Although there is always room for improvement in any band, this is exactly the kind of a debut I love hearing.  The kind that gets me excited for more and seems to foreshadow and promise a better, more precise release.  Doing so all while being a very solid and good debut for this one man Rhode Island project.  Since the release of this EP, Autonomy has released a two song demo.  The band is now signed to Ossuary Industries and a full length is in the works.

MERCH

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