Architects of Disease - Open the Hearts
Astarium - Atenvx
Astarium - Heritage of Warlords
Australasia - Vertebra
Bewized - Undead Legacy
Chelation Intoxication - Dismemberment (XVIII)
Deadly Carnage - Manthe
Def/Light - Transcendevil
Demonolator - Occult Incantations of Evil
Depraved Plague - Systemic
Dulcamara - El antagonista
Edenian - Rise of the Nephilim
Elegy of Madness - Brave Dreams
Enthroning Silence - Throned upon Ashes of Dusk
Eternal Torture - Lacerate the Global Hate
Evilness - Unreachable Clarity
Fatal Cliche - Fatal Cliche
Iapethos - The Entry of the Demons
Kuth - De Ritu Gentilium
Lucid Dream - The Eleventh Illusion
Lucid Dreams - Lucid Dreams

Page 2:

Morgue - Dethroned
Morgue - Flames and Blood
Murder Rape - For Evil I Spill My Blood
Noctem - Exilium
Nyksta - Lieka Tik Sienos
Onirophagus - Prehuman
Paimonia - Disease Named Humanity
Panychida - Grief for an Idol
Prayer of the Dying - God's Failed Creation
Primal - Deathzone
Quintessence of Versatility - Reveal the Truth
Shadows Ground - Mysteria Mystica Calvus Mons
The Howling Void - Nightfall
Upyr - Altars Tunnels

 

Band: ARCHITECTS OF DISEASE

Country: Poland
Title: Open the Hearts
Label: The End of Time Records
Year: 2013
Style: Black Metal

Review:
Young band formed in late 2011 on the ashes of Iugulatus, Architects of Disease soon regrouped and in a few months entered the studio to record this debut album that seems to have been released by the band in 2012 and picked up and re-released by The End of Time Records a year later. Naming their music as Black Metal is not quite accurate, actually they are mixing all sort of extreme and dark Metal genres on a Black Metal backbone. The drummer and bass player are following mostly Black Metal patterns, the guitarists like to throw in all sorts of influences from Doom, to Doom Death, to Black Death with lots of twists, and the vocal has his own way of singing (better said screaming) with his hoarse, quite comprehensive vocal tone. All in all the album sounds pretty curdled, and although the production could have been better (clearer and more polished) that doesn't affect the audition experience; an interesting album but without much to stand out of the crowd except maybe for the last track's length, almost 16 minutes... an obsolete experiment for our times, maybe in the '90's it would have been welcomed. The good thing about this band, as a conclusion, is that they are not following any specific lines, they have the potential to come up with original things in the future.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/pages/Architect-Of-Disease/425689324215174
theendoftimerecords@gmail.com

 

 

Band: ASTARIUM
Country: Russia
Title: Atenvx
Label: Metallic Media
Year: 2013
Style: Symphonic Black Metal

Review:
And the second new material received from SiN, his fourth full-length album that continues where Wyrm of Melancholy left off, with the same Atmospheric, Symphonic type of Black Metal that's becoming like a trademark for Astarium. The guitars, the vocals, the drum-machine, basically everything improved a lot since my first encounter with this act, but the atmospheres are following the same path, that organ-sounding keyboard is what Astarium has so distinctive in regards to other bands, but I would also mention the strong, wicked Satanic feeling surrounding this music. If you're listening to Astarium's music for the first time it might seem strange, but believe me, the improvement is obvious since its first releases and I'm sure SiN will keep improving his sound (he still uses that synthetic sound he seems to fond of, but now it's very little annoying).
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10

Contact:
www.astarium.ru
www.metallic-media.blogspot.com

 

Band: AUSTRALASIA
Country: Italy
Title: Vertebra
Label: Immortal Frost Productions
Year: 2014
Style: Ambient Post Metal

Review:
Not sure why a label that started as Black Metal oriented is now moving towards Post Metal / Post Rock, I doubt is for money, but I can't be sure of that either. The problem is that sooner or later all these Post-something bands will distance themselves from the scene once promoted them (Metal) and start believing they are superior, and of course they won't give a shit on the label(s) that who previously promoted them. I hope that's not the case here with Australasia, I'm just speaking my mind.
Vertebra is made of 10 tracks of cinematic (that's the correct word), dreamy music based on instrumental structures with only minimal female vocal touches that in my humble opinion should be used much more, the girl has an excellent, catchy, calm tone that fits this music perfectly. There are few reminiscences of Metal, especially Black Metal in the guitar riffs and fast drumming, but the rest is pretty much a voyage through dreamy soundscapes, you can relax on this music while meditating or simply enjoying something beautiful. The tracks are pretty diverse so the level of boredom is at a minimum here, and the sound is top quality, so all in all Australasia and their Vertebra album could be a good choice if you're into Post Rock / Post Metal.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10

Contact:
www.australasiamusic.com
www.immortalfrostproductions.com

 

Band: BEWIZED
Country: Greece
Title: Undead Legacy
Label: Noisehead Records
Year: 2013
Style: Groove Metal Metalcore

Review:
After a debut album out on Casket Music (a label that releases tons and tons of music but I'm not sure does any promotion at all, at least outside of the UK), Bewized signed with Noisehead Records and this is their followup full-length made of 11 tracks and totaling 42 minutes of Metalcore. After the very first tracks I was annoyed by the synthetic, absolutely awful sound of the drum-machine, so if you have an allergy to cheap drum-programs like I have, avoid this album at all costs! On the other hand if you can ignore or even dig such a synthetic drum sound Bewized is a highly interesting act, they manage to successfully mix old-school Thrash Metal influences with the nowadays Metalcore and that Alternative Rock we hear in US teenage movies; their music is catchy, quite technical and there's no space for boredom during the audition. Soilwork's vocal, Bjorn, and Threat Signal's vocal Jon, are being featured on 2 tracks on this album and I guess that says a lot of the band's ambitions. Honestly I'm very impressed, this is Modern Metal at its best and these guys need more exposure. Awful drum-machine anyway. :)
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10

Contact:
www.bewizedofficial.com
www.noiseheadrecords.com

 

Band: CHELATION INTOXICATION
Country: Malaysia
Title: Dismemberment (XVIII)
Label: Grundar Productions
Year: 2013
Style: Brutal Death Metal

Review:
Debut EP from yet another Malaysian Brutal Death Metal band, probably the most popular style of Extreme Metal in that country since there are so many such bands from there. This is made of 4 tracks + intro + an Encephalopathy cover, and runs into a Slamming Brutal Death Metal with guttural vocals and occasional pig squeals, lots of movie excerpts, groovy rhythms, quite memorable guitar riffs and good diversity among the tracks. The only problem is the weak production, this music needs a blasting sound, but for a debut EP I think Chelation Intoxication did a very good job, fans of Devourment, Vulvectomy, Gutalax will posibbly enjoy this material a lot. Excellent cover and booklet artwork, too!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/chelationband
www.grundar.com

 

Band: DEADLY CARNAGE
Country: Italy
Title: Manthe
Label: ATMF
Year: 2014
Style: Post-Black Doom Metal

Review:
People will soon get tired of this Post thing in Metal, I'm sure of this; it's like musicians are tired of being considered Metal and are trying to escape this label, but at the same time they are trying to be seen, to get a name in the Metal community, in this community because the others will always reject them. It's like Death Metal bands in the '90's tried to get away releasing shitty albums but got back to their roots when they saw noone else gave a cent on their music. Anyway, I better not turn this review into a personal point of view on the whole genre and get to this particular release.
Manthe is Deadly Carnage's third full-length album to date, a 7 tracks effort totaling almost 50 minutes of quite atmospheric and emotional Black Metal with influences from different genres, Doom Metal being named by the band as the main influence although I wouldn't bet on it, I'd better name Atmospheric Metal as influence. The guitar work is the best on this release, being seconded by a powerful and quite secure rhythm section (still the sound could have been more polished) and ending with a good vocalist that (hopefully) hasn't reached his potential yet, he tries to be as versatile as possible but without much success. The major highlight of this album I'd say are the heavy, oppressive atmospheres it manages to transmit. Recommended to fans of Melodic, Atmospheric mid-tempo Black Metal.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/DeadlyCarnage
www.atmf.net

 

Band: DEF/LIGHT
Country: Ukraine
Title: Transcendevil
Label: Metal Scrap Records
Year: 2013
Style: Black Death Metal

Review:
This one seems to be a pretty old Metal band from Ukraine as they were formed in 1995 as RB and went on playing Death Metal until 2001 when they changed moniker to Def/Light which means Defilers of Light; odd names for a Black Death Metal act if you ask me, Def/Light made me think of Def Leppard instead of something brutal and offensive as their music is. But getting to their music I'd say Def/Light plays an Atmospheric and Melodic type of Black Death Metal with prominent and important keyboard lines creating and underlining an epic feeling, and the rest are pretty much straight-forward: an angry and not versatile at all vocal, heavy bass lines, intense druming and quite simple guitar riffs supported here and there by melodic leads. The sound is ok although the guitars are hard to distinguish at times between the high volume keys, bass and vocals. Interesting album that somehow took my mind to Lux Occulta. Recommended.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10

Contact:
www.vk.com/deflight
www.metalscraprecords.com

 

Band: DEMONOLATOR
Country: Canada
Title: Occult Incantations of Evil
Label: HSP Productions
Year: 2012
Style: Death Metal

Review:
As listed on Metal Archives this band is active since 1992 but have no releases except for this debut album (out 2 decades after the band's formation), pretty strange to say the least. the album is released in digipack format, but the booklet is like printed backwards (like looking at it in the mirror), I don't know if this was on purpose, but it's damn stupid; why publishing the lyrics if you can't read them? Passing over that, music-wise the album is made of only 4 tracks but their total playing time is 35 minutes. Mostly slow paced Death Metal with occasional fast passages, Demonolator's music takes you back to the beginning of the '90's; it's raw, low-tuned, unpolished and sounds like recorded in one take. The vocals are the best part of this album, through their expressiveness they manage to create a decaying, putrefying atmosphere specific only to a few bands of the '90's. If you're into '90's demo tapes this might make your day; although I'm a fan of Finnish Death Metal and this band is somehow following a similar path, I managed to dig and really enjoy it after the second spin so you might want to be patient with them too, it might pay off in the end.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10

Contact:
www.hsp-productions.com

 

Band: DEPRAVED PLAGUE
Country: UK
Title: Systemic
Label: Contagion Records
Year: 2013
Style: Death Metal

Review:
Previously released by the band in 2012, Systemic got picked up and re-released by the new and ambitious Contagion Records a year later. We're treated with 9 tracks totaling half an hour of quite technical Death Metal. The sound is raw but at the same time clear enough to offer a pleasant audition to the listeners, but at times it feels pretty dry. Back to the execution, the guitarist is the one trying the most on this release, he might seem a step ahead of the band, but that only means there's room for progress. There are no real highlights on Systematic, but traditional Death Metal fans will appreciate the band's honest and brute attitude.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10

Contact:
www.depravedplague.co.uk
www.contagionrecords.com

 

Band: DULCAMARA
Country: Spain
Title: El antagonista
Label: Art Gates Records
Year: 2014
Style: Melodic Deathcore Death Metal

Review:
Art Gates continues to bet on local bands and that's a considerable effort I hope they'll be rewarded for sooner or later. Dulcamara were founded back in 2003 and although I haven't heard about them until now they've been a really active band releasing 4 full-length album (including this one) so far. El Antagonista is made of 11 tracks into Modern, Melodic Death Metal with powerful Deathcore and Electro influences. The guitar riffs are heavy and razor-sharp like in Heavy Thrash Metal, the drums are heavy and oppressive as bulldozers, the guitar leads and solos are melodic and fresh, and the vocals sound very dedicated, very angry and expressive convincing the listener this band is professional and mature, capable of building and delivering memorable tunes. I'm really impressed how carefully constructed all this is, an album that will be very appreciated by Spanish speaking fanatics and not only.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10

Contact:
www.dulcamara.es
www.artgatesrecords.com

 

Band: EDENIAN
Country: Ukraine
Title: Rise of the Nephilim
Label: BadMoodMan Music
Year: 2013
Style: Gothic Doom Metal

Review:
I met this band's music in 2012 while reviewing their debut album and in the meantime it seems Edenian became a one-man-show since Max Molodtsov composes, writes and plays everything on this new album except for a few guitar solos and the female vocals (naturally, haha), so pretty much a one man band with guests in studio and live. I doubt he can improve Edenian's music by himself and this album is the proof, I don't feel any improvements since its debut, Winter Shades. That's a shame since the band had and by all means still has great potential and this album is a good one, but you can easily feel Edenian can be more than an average band. Well, back to this album, it features 10 tracks totaling more than 70 minutes of melancholic Gothic Doom Metal with mostly male vocals and a few additional female vocals here and there, good guitar riffs and keyboards, but without something to stand out, something to separate the band from the huge mass of other such bands. The drum programming this time is annoying...
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10

Contact:
www.edenian.bandcamp.com
www.solitude-prod.com

 

Band: ELEGY OF MADNESS
Country: Italy
Title: Brave Dreams
Label: WormHoleDeath Records
Year: 2013
Style: Gothic Progressive Metal

Review:
The first time I come across this band's name, although this is not their debut album. I guess the WormHoleDeath deal was a good choice for the band as now if you'll google Elegy Of Madness you'll find them anywhere, and frankly after listening to this album I think they clearly deserve it, they are an excellent, highly interesting outfit. This album, although a bit tough at first and hard to get into, grows on you track by track and you'll find yourself addicted by the end; it's like Susan Boyle's audition: at first you think nothing impressive will come out of it (honestly that's what I thought during the first track when I thought the vocals are way in front of the other instruments and they really are, but with a purpose), then you discover how unique it is, Elegy of Madness becomes an addictive act by the end of the last track on Brave Dreams. I have only 2 negative comments on this album: the vocals could have been a bit better mixed with the rest, and the lyrics could have been better adjusted to fit the music, but those are not deal-breakers, the album is great; recommended!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/elegyofmadness
www.wormholedeath.com

 

Band: ENTHRONING SILENCE
Country: Italy
Title: Throned upon Ashes of Dusk
Label: Dusktone
Year: 2013
Style: Depressive Black Metal

Review:
Third studio album from this Italian duo featuring also an ex-member of better known band Mortuary Drape, Throned upon Ashes of Dusk is made of 6 long tracks (totaling almost 70 minutes) of Depressive Black Metal. The compositions are really good, and although they are not technically challenging, the final results are quite entertaining and catchy, but the problem with most of the listeners might be the low quality of the recordings. Underground fans might find a lot of similarities with Burzum's earlier recordings, maybe with a strong influence from the nowadays Post-Metal scene, especially in those repetitive guitar riffs. I find it a good album, but I also think it could have been much better if recorded in a more professional manner.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10

Contact:
www.dusktone.eu

 

Band: ETERNAL TORTURE
Country: Germany
Title: Lacerate the Global Hate
Label: Noisehead Records
Year: 2013
Style: Deathcore

Review:
Noisehead seems to be specializing in Core bands lately, but I still hope they will continue releasing stuff from all genres. Anyway, these guys are from Germany and it seems they started as a Melodic Death Metal band but got bored of it after a while and are now trying the modern fashion of Deathcore. This is their second album, but after 1 spin I'd hardly give it another one, that's hoe unimpressed I was; Eternal Torture's actual music is dull, predictible and it doesn't seem to be able to reach the heights they are craving for, they are not as brutal as they should be, not as fast as they should, not catchy as they should, and hopefully this album is just a transition for the band. Weak!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 4/10

Contact:
www.eternaltorture.de

 

Band: EVILNESS
Country: France
Title: Unreachable Clarity
Label: Self-released
Year: 2013
Style: Death Metal

Review:
This band was founded almost a decade ago but they only managed to release this debut album last year. Too bad as this music was in fashion about when they started playing, they would have had a bigger impact with this album back then. Evilness plays that type of Technical Death Metal built on twin guitar riffs, melodic leads and a Swiss-clock precision on rhythm section, and at the same time gladly accepting and embracing influences from other genres as Metalcore, Thrash or even Heavy Metal. The album is made of 7 tracks plus 3 of them featured again as instrumental versions probably for fans to enjoy a bit of karaoke, not a bad idea I'd say. If you're into Melodic, Technical and polished Death Metal you might try this out, it will be a pleasant audition although it won't surprise you with anything. In my opinion a band with such technical abilities should try new horizons, not stick to old paths.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10

Contact:
www.evilness-music.com

 

Band: FATAL CLICHE
Country: Italy
Title: Fatal Cliche
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2013
Style: Symphonic Metal

Review:
Honestly after 2 tracks from this EP I wanted to take it and throw it in the garbage, I wasn't sure if this is a joke or if Fatal Cliche are a real, serious band, and let me explain why. For starters the mixing and mastering are awful, if any at all, it feels like everyone is playing a different tune, then the female vocalist's tonality switches from operatic to Power Metal like are hilarious, and to top them the keyboards are thrown so in the background of everything that I thought they really want to mock all styles using this instrument. The only reason I kept following the EP was the lead guitarist who's playing his own tune, totally detached, and he's quite awesome. Well, I kept listening and starting with the third track things are getting a better shape (and even the mixing seems better) and the band becomes a monolith, the vocalist starts to sound serious and basically they start making music (the lead guitarist is still in his own world but he's good so it doesn't matter). I hope the band chooses another studio next time in order to have a real chance, they are not bad instrumentists and these compositions are not bad, not at all, but this release emphasizes only the qualities of the keyboard player and lead guitarist, the rest are dry or annoying.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/pages/Fatal-Clichè/134151563328395

 

Band: IAPETHOS
Country: Finland
Title: The Entry of the Demons
Label: HSP Productions
Year: 2013
Style: Industrial Black Metal

Review:
If you're from Finland and if by any chance Studio BoozeFucktory, where Iapethos recorded this debut album, is a real studio (although I highly doubt it), take my advice, avoid it at any costs! The mix and master of this album is disastrous, except for deeply hating the drum-machine sound, I wasn't able to understand much from this album, the vocals are a joke, the guitars are barely hearable, and the only thing I found interesting were the dark atmospheres created by the subtle keyboard backgrounds. If you're into Industrial Black Metal and would like to buy this album you should definitely give it a listen on the net before, not to have surprises after.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 4/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/iapethos
www.hsp-productions.com

 

Band: KUTH
Country: Hungary
Title: De Ritu Gentilium
Label: Funeral Chants Productions
Year: 2013
Style: Black Metal

Review:
This seems to be already an interesting name in the Hungarian underground Black Metal scene as it was founded by two important persons in their scene, Hetonh from Fagyhamu (Black Metal) and Necrosodomy (Death Metal). Kuth took the Black Metal path and this is the first demo to present us their intentions; 4 tracks plus an intro, totaling 22 minutes of fast and uncompromising traditional Black Metal with Hungarian lyrics. Although it has nothing special and brings nothing new to the table, this first demo is well built and executed proving the band members have solid experience under-belt; enjoyable demo well worth your time if you're into Traditional Black Metal, I gave it already 3 spins and still it didn't manage to bore me. I should also mention it's fine, crystal-clear sound.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10

Contact:
www.kuth.bandcamp.com
www.funeralchants.blogspot.hu

 

Band: LUCID DREAM
Country: Italy
Title: The Eleventh Illusion
Label: Self-released
Year: 2013
Style: Hard'n'Heavy

Review:
I've just reviewed Norge Lucid Dreams' debut album and now it's time for Italian Lucid Dream's second full-length album; as the bands' names, the bands' genres are similar too, go figure, both bands play a Hard Rock influenced type of Heavy Metal; coincidence, of course. This album features 13 tracks in a bit more than 60 minutes playing time, and Lucid Dream manage to deliver a quite technical Hard'n'Heavy with important influences from '70's Hard Rock and Progressive Metal, too. Although I find the tracks to be a bit too long, I do enjoy them a lot, the raw but professional production gives them a nice shape and the band sounds honest, you can almost feel they are near you; I love the vocals, the catchy guitar riffs, the intricate bass and drums, and the fact that although at first the tracks may seem quite hard to get into, in the end I found this album highly addictive and I'll certainly give it a few more spins. Recommended!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10

Contact:
www.luciddream.it

 

Band: LUCID DREAMS
Country: Norway
Title: Lucid Dreams
Label: Rockworks Records
Year: 2013
Style: Heavy Metal

Review:
The same day I received this CD, I also received a pack from Italy's Lucid Dream, and at first I thought it was the same band but obviously it was only a coincidence. Lucid Dreams are from Norway's capital, Oslo, and this is their debut album although the band was founded back in 2007. 12 tracks, a bit more than 45 minutes playing time, released in digipack but without including a booklet with lyrics, a feature I find very important for Hard'n'Heavy music. And that's what Lucid Dreams are playing, a US type of Heavy Metal with loads of Hard Rock influences, a music so popular in the States during the Hair Metal period. The vocalist is the definite highlight of the band, he captures almost all attention from start to finish although the instrumental part is good as well, except for the keyboard parts I find way too outdated and somehow "from a different movie". I like the traditional patterns the guitars are following and those guitar leads and solos, and the acoustic passages are delicious; the drummer, as a curiosity, was also a member of Trail of Tears and Tristania. As a conclusion if you're into bands like Poison, Motley Crue, and the likes you might find Lucid Dreams' debut very good as audition while you relax or have a few beers with old-time friends.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10

Contact:
www.luciddreamsband.com
www.rockworks.no

 

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