Review by JD on July 22, 2013.

Japan has been known for trying to do things just a little different than the rest of the world usually does, unblinkingly putting it in their own sort of spin on practically everything. A four piece outfit hailing from the always expanding Metropolis of Tokyo is such a band, redefining a style of extreme metal into their own concept.

Death/Doom outfit based in Tokyo Coffins is an act that certainly makes me sit up and take a very close look at them. I am intrigued with the musical landscape of Japan and this surprising act hits the top of my list. Heavy, ponderous riffs and acid vocals that are growling explosions of pure viciousness – Coffins certainly puts the term ‘Heavy’ back into Heavy Metal, to the tenth power and even beyond.

Out of the nine tracks that are on the album, I seem to gravitate to a couple in particular. One is the bulldozer like song 'The Colossal Hole' that proves that you can be so brutally heavy and yet have this sense of melody as well. The other track is the rather disturbingly harsh 'No Saviour' because of its strong Death Metal hook and intense Doom Metal breaks leaves you wanting more even as it is fading off at the end.

This album just might land on my top ten this year. I have never come across such a ultra-heavy album that holds such brutal combination of caustic lyrics and barbaric riffing that seems never to leave my playlist. With Coffins on a very smart label now, I think the next release just might vault them higher than they ever thought they might achieve. Doom/Death just might have new emperors to be the ones to beat.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 10
Production: 9
Originality 9.5
Overall: 9.5

Rating: 9.4 out of 10

Review by Roslyn G on June 30, 2013.

Coffins, the Death/Doom Metal kings are back with their new EP, "The Fleshlands". This is the bands fourth LP with an expected North American release date of July 9th, 2013. The metal kings will numb fans to the bone as they dominate the metal world with their memorizing riffs and terrorizing vocals.

Looking at the album cover makes one cringe and the title is less than appetizing. It is not long before the metal kings take listeners to hell. The first track, ‘Here Comes Perdition’ begins with a creepy, sinister instrumental that awakens listeners in hell, and drags them deeper with heavy guitar riffs and demonic vocals that chills the bone. The second track, ‘Hellbringer’ does not short change listeners and begins with a devilish scream that reminds listeners that hell is real, followed by swift percussion, and the electric guitar riffs that swallow the album down and deeper into hell. The album is dark and sinister, with a feeling of never-ending torment that at times is very numbing. The guitar riffs vary and do not fade into the same steady riffs, but include variations of elements through the album. As the album progresses, the feeling of being tormented and chased deeper into hell is prevalent.

The sounds on the album complement each other very well, from the deep, demonic vocals, to the crisp percussion, straight through to the varying guitar riffs. The album ends with the track, ‘Tormentopia,’ that gets inside your head and ‘torments’ you. The harsh, heavy, demonic sound of Coffins is not for everyone, but for those who dare to listen can expect one hell of a ride.

Conclusion. "The Fleshlands" will definitely surpass any previous album from Coffins, and if you like your music heavy, loud, and want to bang your head for days-this album is for you. And you just may have a few sleepless nights as well.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 8
Production: 8
Originality: 8
Overall: 8

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by Felix on May 28, 2023.

Not only in terms of heavy metal, Eastern Europe stood in the shadow of the western half of the continent for a long time. But after the fall of the Iron Curtain, it became more and more evident that the metal scenes of the eastern countries also have a lot of interesting bands to discover. Death Karma joins the ranks of original groups from the east. Inter alia because of personnel overlaps, their musical preference lies in close proximity to that of Cult of Fire. The full-length also demonstrates once again that Master´s Hammer had a big influence on the Czech and Slovak scene. In particular the aura of “The History…” equals that of their masterpieces “Ritual” and “The Jilemnice Occultist”. For example, listen to the short straightforward parts of the opener. They sound like a forgotten recording of the Czech forefathers.

The production unites keyboards and guitars in order to shine with a very dense and intensive sound. It is based on the mighty instrumentation which leads to a powerful and thrilling experience of horror. With these requirements, the burial rituals develop their full effect in an irresistible manner. One has hardly any chance to escape the funeral atmosphere, because the musical implementation reeks of the smell of death without interruption. It is not that kind of rottenness that (Swedish) death metal bands evoke. Nevertheless, the songs seem to be the soundtrack of a funeral which takes place on a grey day in November. This does not mean that the music itself is dreary or monotonous. The group does not suffer from a lack of ideas. Do not be confused by the fact that the band has recorded only six songs. The musicians have integrated a lot of fantastic breaks so that the album does not show any deficiencies. The surprising effervescent keyboard line of the fifth track, which occurs after 58 seconds, illustrates the unexpected twists of the compositions perfectly. By the way, this piece is a very well designed instrumental.

Death Karma takes us on a trip around the world. They want to make us familiar with the special characteristics of different cultures in dealing with death. Countries like India or Mexico are represented. But I have to admit that the compositional approach of the single tracks stays more or less the same during the entire album. I am fine with this, because the constant emanation of transience matches very well with the concept of this full-length. And I do not want to hide that the band has involved rarely surfacing oriental or Indian sound sequences. All in all, the quality of the songwriting is admirably high. Only the third track needs three minutes in order to reach the amazing level of the remaining songs. This is just a minor flaw in view of the highlights such as “China – Hanging Coffins”. It leaves no questions unanswered while offering powerful and captivating guitar lines, unleashed drumming and atmospheric keyboard sounds. The majestic overall impression is the result of the stylish arrangements of harsh sections and mystic interludes. The latter ones are characterised by spheric keyboards which reveal a surreal aura. They stress the mysterious feeling of entering a new dimension.

Of course, you are free to dislike the outcome that the band presents. You can reject its lyrical content as well as the music itself. But you will not have the right to call this album insubstantial, half-baked or uninspired. It is an outstanding work in its own way. The only question is whether you like the combination of keyboards with extreme metal. I guess that no supporter of the black / death genre will deny that the sinister flair of “The History…” hits the mark. Hopefully, its second part will be published before I die. I am curious to see what comes next; Australia? Luxembourg? The Fiji Islands? However, I want to be buried in Germany. But from my side, this project definitely has no priority.

Rating: 9.2 out of 10