Unholy Conspiracy Deathwork - 'UC DEATH Compilation'
Album Review
"U C DEATH" is a compilation featuring extreme music created by the four different bands. These bands are: Ichor (Blackened Death Metal), Stellar Master Elite (Black/Doom), Der Rote Milan (Black Metal) and Massacre The Wasteland (Crushing Death Grind).
I am about to dive head-first into Germany’s underground metal scene, and I have to say that I’m rather excited to listen to the sound of the German underground! Black Metal, Death Metal and Death Grind are all honoured here on this compilation which was released on 22nd May 2020. Hailing from Germany, Unholy Conspiracy Deathwork is a circle of underground bands whom worship extreme music and this ten-track compilation album comprises four of Germany’s finest extreme metal bands that have each compiled two to three songs for this release.
The first band is ‘Der Rote Milan’. which translates to ‘Red Milan’. The opening track is ‘Schinderhanneslied’ which pays homage to a German Robin Hood figure. Much of Der Rote Milan’s songs explore the subject matter of the Thirty-Year War (1618-1648) which claimed over 8 million people which included 20% of the German population. The song opens with a slow and melodic guitar riff before bursting into drums which keep a stomping beat, building up to explosive double bass/blast beats. The lyrics are rasping and intense and the whole song drops a key, giving a d-tuning affect as the vocals kick in. The drumming patterns frequently change as the song progresses. This is one killer opening tack and sets the tone nicely for the rest to follow.
The next band is ‘Ichor’ with the song ‘When Worlds Collide’. Straight away the guitar and accompanying blast -beats filled my speakers and the hairs on my neck stood up! The melody completes with the second guitar playing a high noted riff. The vocals are strong and pointy, then gravely with a hint of menace. This band shows heavy does not mean fast playing.
Next up is ‘Stellar Master Elite’ with ‘Freewill Decrypted’. The guttural vocals blew me away, the range of octaves that contort into different wales and bleghs is diverse and fits right into with the driving riff of the song. There’s a lot going on in this song and it stands out as one of the bands finest.
Finally, ‘Massacre the Wasteland’ complete the four-band line-up with their first track ‘Prelude of the End of Existence’. This the shortest song on the album and definitely packs a lot into its one minute 13 seconds. It opens with what sounds like a police radio transmition which abruptly ends as the whole band kick in with what I call the three Fs: fast, furious and ferocious. This band reminds me of early Deicide.
If you’re a fan of extreme metal, then you’ve got to go and check out the German Underground scene and there is no better introduction than ‘UC Death’. I can only hope this release will be followed up with a tour once all this Covid crap is over! As a music fan who looks for specific stand out bands in subgenres, I have to say this compilation album ticked all my boxes and hopefully it will tick yours too.
Keep your ear to the underground!
Unholy Conspiracy Deathwork- UC DEATH Bands are:
Ichor (Blackened Death Metal) with latest releases “Hadal Ascending” (full length) and “When Worlds Collide” (digital single)
Stellar Master Elite (Black/Doom) with latest releases “Hologram Temple” (full length) and “Hologram Temple: Ominous” (EP)
Der Rote Milan (Black Metal) with latest releases “Moritat” (full length) and “SINIS” (EP)
Massacre The Wasteland (Crushing Death Grind) with the release World Collapse Countdown
Check out these links on-line for more information on UC Death and the bands featured.
https://unholyconspiracydeathwork.bandcamp.com/album/ucdeath
https://open.spotify.com/user/9x5cb4c0d6y8b88b6noa3t61d?si=zPhKs1SQR7y-