Aghast - A Wolf in the Kingdom of Heaven
Balfor - Pure Barbaric
Bloodhunt - The Final Betrayal
Deep Throat - Thrashing People, Music and Thoughts
Delirium X Tremens - Created from No_Thing
Dismal Fog - Downfall of the Crucified
Esclavage - Promo
Foredoom - De-constructed
Hatedotcom - Mondstorm
Hinsides - The Forthcoming of Abel 1689
Impotence Trichomonad - Demo
Jack Ketch - Demo
Kataplexy - Demo
Killed On Juarez - It Never Ends
Misanthropic Desire - Vita Servitus Est
Otargos - Kinetic Zero


Aghast
Band: AGHAST
Country: UK
Title: A Wolf in the Kingdom of Heaven
Label: Self-released
Year: 2007
Style: Thrash Death Hardcore
Review:
Formed in 2004, Aghast had some problems with free time in the first two years because of their studies, but after that they started recording, releasing and touring. Here we have their debut EP released as a continuation of their first demo. The band plays a mostly mid-tempo to fast thrash hardcore death metal that reminds me of the Italian scene. They have a lot of groove, but still keep a high intensity in their tracks. I couldn't name them brutal, because sometimes the music becomes soft (like on the third track), but certainly they are inventive. The most enjoyable elements are the strong, powerful guitar riffs and the complex drummings. Having a good sound, this EP shows us a band in search of their own style, but with good potential of finding it. For open-minded metalheads in search of something complex, a mix of many styles.
 
 
Balfor
Band: BALFOR
Country: Ukraine
Title: Pure Barbaric
Label: Self-released
Year: 2006
Style: Black Death Metal
Review:
Balfor is three pieces band from Ukraine formed back in 1997, so this is a band that went through a lot until now, but still they are not so known worldwide. Maybe that will change as they have signed with Ne-Kronos Promotions that handles the management for Allegiance, Belphegor, Devian, Hate or Keep Of Kalessin, too. This promo is introducing us their debut full-length album "Barbaric Blood", so there are 4 tracks lasting for over 22 minutes of powerful black metal spiced with a death metal feeling. The sound is very good, the band is very curdled and their music is quite catchy and interesting. I think this is one band that will have a strong word in the underground black metal scene worldwide. To give you an idea of their sound, just think of Immortal, they have the same atmosphere, same way of creating melodic but still raging riffs. Also the lyrics seem to be close to those of Immortal, but to get yourselves an idea just access their websites, they are givind this EP for free download. The album should be out this year, so if I think this EP was launched 2 years ago, their album must be even more enjoyable. Good band, good future.
 
Bloodhunt
Band: BLOODHUNT
Country: Croatia
Title: The Final Betrayal
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Thrash Death Metal
Review:
Bloodhunt comes from Croatia, and I think this is the first Croatian band I have the chance to review. The quartet was formed in early 2006 and since then they are going pretty well releasing two selfmade albums, touring through Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Germany and now signing a production deal with Croatian Hard As Hell Records. So let's see what's this band all about. This second album is composed of 7 tracks + intro and outro and it lasts for a bit more than 27 minutes. We're served here with a very entertaining modern style thrash metal with some death metal influences, mainly the Sweedish melodic death metal flavor. Except for the few but effective melodic parts Bloodhunt goes on a fast and aggressive path filled with technical guitar leads. The tracks are not monotonous at all, they have a complex base and the instrumental execution helps a lot, too. Good band, vrey good album, I'm not surprised they have signed and I'm sure we'll hear more about them in the near future. Check them out!
 
 
Deep Throat
Band: DEEP THROAT
Country: Italy
Title: Thrashin People, Music and Thoughts
Label: Fisheye Records
Year: 2008
Style: Hardcore Punk Thrash
Review:
When you're in to play old-school stuff there's no intention of originality, it's just needed to do a good record, a good pass-time for the nostalgics, and Deep Throat it's doing it great. Their combination of old school hardcore and thrash with a punkish attitude reminds of the '80's scene. They are adding funny lyrics so here we have a band that plays for fun but with style. This album comes in a very nice digipak format with lyrics, pics, info and some nice cartoons from anyone who knows Italian. It's their debut album and already they are moving fast: formed last year, an EP is released a few months later, and now already an album. They seem to focus a lot on lyrics, social statements filled with irony (just check out their song-tiles and you'll get it). As for music we are served with 15 short tracks  + one hidden (half an hour) of fast music with good ideas influenced by early Suicidal Tendencies and D.R.I. If you're into this kind of music give it a try, Deep Throat are doing very well their stuff, you'll get what you were looking for.
 
 
Delirium X Tremens
Band: DELIRIUM X TREMENS
Country: Italy
Title: Created from No_Thing
Label: Punishment 18 Rec.
Year: 2007
Style: Death Metal
Review:
This is one hard-working band, I tell you. For some reason I'm subscribed to their newsletter and almost every week I get their news which is pretty neat for an underground band. Although they were formed ten years ago, in 1998, I think they had no luck to reach higher grounds yet, but hopefully they will because of this attitude (just check out how many reviews they have) and they are not a bad band at all. But also it's a pity in 10 years they have only released one MCD, back in 2003, and this debut album, in 2007. Talking about their music, they could be labelled as technical mid-tempo death metal, but they also have some thrash and even some industrial influences here and there. This album is composed by 11 tracks plus a hidden one at the end, with a good sound and a quite entertaining music. The multiple rhythm changes and guitar breaks makes it a not so easy to digest material, but that's its charm. They have even added some acoustic parts, some clean vocals, some atmospheric parts, so here we have a complex product that really deserves to be listened by as many death metalheads around.
 
 
Dismal Fog
Band: DISMAL FOG
Country: USA
Title: Downfall of the Crucified
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Death Black Metal
Review:
Parker Winans is the man behind this band which could be considered a studio project, but he's trying now to find band members in order to start playing live too. Dismal Fog is death metal band with many elements of sympho black metal mainly on synths. These 5 tracks I have here are ranging from technical and brutal death metal parts to melodic, Sweedish-inspired ones, to epic, symphonic black metal parts. The vocalist is somehow from another movie, he's on the brutal death vein all the way and has no variations whatsoever. The guitars and keyboard lines are great, very catchy and interesting, the drums are made on computer and although they are very well done, sometimes they tend to become too synthetic. All in all I hope Parker will not give up because he has what it takes on the instruments and his ideas are pretty good, he only needs to curdle things up. The epic keyboard intros although they seem not to belong in this whole, are bringing fresh air, as the guitar solos are doing, too. So, to sum it up, Dismal Fog is a strange project, try it if you're into experiments.
 
 
Esclavage
Band: ESCLAVAGE
Country: UK
Title: Promo
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Thrash Death Metal
Review:
This is one of the top 10 UK unsigned metal bands according to The Metal Underground, so it must be something tight. Hard to find some info on this band, so unfortunately I have no idea when they started and if they released something else before this promo. The four pieces band from Leeds present us a great combination of new-school thrash metal with death metal rhythms. From the start of the first track you're assaulted by an insanely complicated music with awesome guitar leads, fast and furious drum/bass patterns, aggressive vocals and intense rhythms. The instrumental part, although being so complex, is very tight and curdled, and if we add the perfect vocals we get an awesome form of metal that will catch your attention for sure. Great band, great music, hope they'll get signed soon as they deserve more attention. Good job!
 
 
Foredoom
Band: FOREDOOM
Country: Indonesia
Title: De-constructed
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Progressive Death Hardcore
Review:
I knew Indonesia has a very strong and diversified metal scene, but this is the first band from there which focuses complex patterns and progressive ideas more than on how to make more brutal music that I have the chance to review. A nice one, too. Foredoom is a mixture of progressive death metal spiced with hardcore vocals and some groovy riffs. The whole is so tight, although diverse, that I can clearly say this is a very promising band: sick and twisted guitar leads, fast and complex drums, a very present bass-line, aggressive vocals, and a novelty, jazzy touches here and there. Although the sound is pretty good, a better mixing next time will kill. Nothing more to say, a great band, don't miss this one.
 
 
Hatedotcom
Band: HATEDOTCOM
Country: Germany
Title: Mindstorm
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Thrash Metal
Review:
Hatedotcom is a five pieces band comming from Germany, and this one is their debut EP. And that about all I know about them. They should think about doing a more informative website or Myspace profile for the future as maybe there are people interested in more info... The wabsite is just one page written in German, so I would not recommend it. Anyways, let's talk about the EP. There are 3 tracks (around 12 minutes) included, with a very good sound quality. Their music is a kind of modern and melodic thrash/death metal with some influences from the new wave of hardcore too. Skilled musicians, very tight rhythms and good compositions, a great combination to make a good name for these musicians. Catchy music, but not for the old-school followers, you just stay away. :) This first EP has the power, the emotion and interesting ideas to make Hatedotcom a great newcommer on the German scene.
 
 
Hinsides
Band: HINSIDES
Country: Norway
Title: The Forthcoming of Abell 1689
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Raw Black Metal
Review:
Although one might think this is a young band, Hinsides have been around since 2005, but this is their first demo. A three tracks demo is a bit too little for a 3 years band, but maybe they have objective reasons for that so I won't get more into it. Anyway they seem to have taken the studio recordings more serious starting this year as they are preparing an EP and a full-length album. About their music, Hinsides plays raw and hateful black metal, mostly fast tempo, with some minor old-school death metal influences (mainly in their second track) and on this demo they have used a dirty, old-school sound that gives the impression of almost a live recording. Not bad, not bad at all, the music is quite entertaining although it has no effects as keyboards or other instruments, and the guitar part is not so complex. Unfortunately this is a bit too expensive for the nowadays scene, the CD is 12 bucks, and the t-shirts are really a bit too much, $33. For the raw black metal maniacs these prices might work. For the rest of you, check out the band's myspace or website.
 
 
Band: IMPOTENCE TRICHOMONAD
Country: Japan
Title: Demo
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Gore Grind
Review:
Yeah, this is a great release that visits my player, one of the most brutal I've heard in months, so I'm happy to have the chance to review it. Impotence Trichomonad comes from Japan, but I have no info on their background, only that this is their debut demo, besides some compilations and an upcoming split with 2 Minuta Dreka. I.T. is full-on smashing brutality at its best. These three guys will make you sick during their 7 tracks (14 minutes of playing) and if not, you'll bleed anyway from that much headbanging. The sound is perfect for this kind of disgusting metal. The intro of this demo explains it all: "the following feature is one of the most violent films ever made" (films because they are using horror movie cuts at the beginning of every track), and here's what you'll get buying this CD: distorted guitars and even more distorted bass parts, sick and violent vocals and groovy but still brutal drums. They'll get signed very soon, that's certain. Good job guys, can't wait for another release.
 
 
Band: JACK KETCH
Country: USA
Title: Demo
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Deathcore
Review:
Young band from Sacramento playing brutal deathcore. This debut demo has 4 tracks (16 minutes), musicwise a blend of many styles, from hardcore to death metal, from metalcore to grindcore, a style simply called deathcore by many, or by others new wave of grindcore (I don't agree that much on the second...). It has the right amount of brutality, the right amount of groove and it's very catchy if you're into this new wave of extreme metal. They are a good band, but I really don't know what they should do to reach a higher ststus in this overpopulated style they choose. The demo it's not boring at all, you can certainly give it a try, it's free for download so you won't loose anything.
 
 
Band: KATAPLEXY
Country: USA
Title: Demo
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Death Metal
Review:
Don't know why, but I thought this as being a black metal band. I was wrong, Kataplexy is full-on brutal death metal at it's best: twisted guitar riffs, extremely good and complex rhythm section and a sick vocalist which gives a gory touch to the whole. Very good music, very catchy, with multiple rhythm breaks that makes it interesting and not boring at all. I would love to hear a better recording of their tracks because I think this band has what it takes to case a stir in their genre. If you like your death metal fast and brutal as fuck, this might give you a pleasant 12 minutes to band your head.
 
 
Band: KILLED ON JUAREZ
Country: Indonesia
Title: It Never Ends
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Thrash Metalcore
Review:
It's strange to review such a band in Pest, because they are more oriented on the metalcore side, but still this EP gives us a band that mixes so many genres that you really can't label them metalcore, thrash, deathcore or whatever. They have a bit from all the genres, even from heavy metal, so I think that although they are around since 2006 they are still searching for their own way, for the style that would better represent them. Killed on Juarez serves us here with 5 tracks (18 minutes) of catchy music but somehow without a horizon. Their tracks are very different one from another and the vocalist (black metal kind of vocals) only succeeds to blur it all. Don't get me wrong, these guys know how to handle their instruments pretty well, but I bet anything that their next album will be different. They need to find their style. If you're into an experimental kind of metal, you could try this EP. My label after listening to "It Never Ends": strange.
 
 
Band: MISANTHROPIC DESIRE
Country: Italy
Title: Vita Servitus Est
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Misanthropic Black Metal
Review:
Misanthropic Desire is a quite young Italian band formed in 2007. I have no idea if the guys played in other bands before or if this is their first attenpt, but as a debut album, self-released, I think they did a pretty good job. This is hateful black metal with many atmospheric parts created by the keyboards. The 8 tracks are lasting for more than 46 minutes, but they are not boring if you're into depressive black metal with touches of doom here and there (so you know you'll get multiple slow parts here). The sound quality is good, but there should have been a bit more work on mixing the whole and the drummer should have tried to record more times because in some parts he's overwhelmed and looses a bit of tempo. All in all this is a good product, filled with emotions, an album that would have been great if released in the mid '90's. After releasing this album the keyboardist left the band and there are no info that the band would look for a replacement, but in my opinion it their sound would loose a lot without the add of a keyboard background, because on "Vita Servitus Est" the keys and the good vocals (black metal screaming vocals with no variations but with hateful attitude) are the main attractions. They should concentrate more when recording the fast parts, but in rest I think this band is capable of delivering more, even better tunes. Horns up for the attitude and for not following the trends.
"Vita ..." is released in a profi format (glossy covers including pics and lyrics) by the band, but they are still in search of a label to release it. Check them out.
 
 
Band: OTARGOS
Country: France
Title: Kinetic Zero
Label: Rupture Music
Year: 2007
Style: Black Metal
Review:
This quartet from Bordeaux was formed back in 2001 and since then they have released a demo by themselves, a MCD on Deadsun Records a re-edition of both on one single CD and a full-length album on Rupture Records. This one is their second album, released in 2007, and in the meantime they are preparing the release of the third that will be a special release with a DVD as bonus. Now talking about "Kinetic Zero", this is a great release with high quality sound and production (the drums sound could habe been better, though), the first 1000 copies come in digipak format. Otargos, as they clearly state in their bio, is not trying to be the most brutal or the fastest band around, and they are not, they have the right amount of brutality, aggression and force to make this album a very enjoyable one, and the best thing is they are creating a great atmosphere that shows devotion to this genre. This is a black metal release that will catch many metalheads if it's promoted well. "Kinetic Zero" is: catchy and melodic (the right amount) guitars, mid-tempo to fast rhythms, great vocal lines (including some clean vocals, too) and overall a cold and very captivating atmosphere. Although they are not using keyboards, the guitars are doing a great job wrapping the whole with an evil aura. This band needs to be promoted more as it has all it's necessary to break into the worldwide black metal scene. Highly recommended!
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