Armour - Armour
Blooddawn - Funeral for a Despised IconBlooddawn - The Enlightment
Burial Invocation - Rituals of the Grotesque
Cathedral - The Guessing Game
Disfigured Dead - Visions of Death
Dozelimit - Construction of the Highest Architechture
Elsewhere - Then Nothing
End Name - Dreams of a Cyclops
From The Sunset, Forest And Grief - ...empty, cold & forgotten...
Gravespawn - Praetorian Maleficus
Inferno - Black Devotion
Kerasphorus - Cloven Hooves at the Holocaust Dawn
Manica - Endless Aggression
Ruins - Front the Final Foes
Samath - Triumph in Hatred
Ufomammut - Eve
Vetus Obscurum - Blood Revelations
Vomitor - Devil's Poison
Band: ARMOUR
Country: Finland
Title: Armour
Label: Hell’s Headbangers/Primitive Reaction
Year: 2010/2009
Style: Heavy Metal
Review:
The year is 2006 and all I have ever heard from the Werewolf camp is raw & primitive Black Metal. All of a sudden, it seems, Armour appears and the scene is divided. Some welcome Armour but others are skeptic of the idea of a "black metal heavy metal band”. I have to admit that I was amongst the skeptics, barely gave the "Sonichouse Tape” any chance and didn’t pay any attention to the band until I stumbled upon this promo I received from Hell’s Headbangers.
The year is now 2010 and I have before me the full length debut of Armour. Looking over the songtitles it is easy to dismiss Armour if you are so inclined, song titles like "Sex Demon” and "Satan’s Knights” might make the most misanthropic of us loose their cool but that seems to be just a part of the game Armour play. Armour play the game of O.T.T. or Over The Top as some might say. In my opinion they take the rather typical image of the 1980’s Heavy Metal band (musically as well as in a way image-wise) and beef it up a bit and the result is rather astounding. True to the form Heavy Metal. Perhaps I’m just saying this because I didn’t really expect much of this album, in my mind I was ready to reject this album because of preconceived prejudice that proved groundless.
In short: What we have here is classic Heavy Metal that will appeal to anyone who likes beer, girls and the Devil himself. This is the Finnish reincarnation of W.A.S.P. quarter of a century after "The Last Command”.
Reviewed by Eyvindur
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Band: BLOODDAWN
Country: England
Title: Funeral for a Despised Icon
Label: Panzerfaust Productions
Style: Black War Metal
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This is Blooddawn's 2nd cd. Blooddawn hail from England's mighty black metal underground scene. The band consists of Donn {Teutoburg Forest} on vocal duties and Paul {all instruments, lyrics}. Blooddawn play a very chaotic and heavy style of black metal mixing in elements of newer Marduk but also adding alot of war/black metal to their attack. The guitars while noisy and harsh also have some varied speeds ranging from heavier mid-paced riffs to all-out whirlwinds of insanity. The drums are done in precisely the same ranges as the guitars and fit perfectly within Blooddawn's brutal blackend yet unique sound and approach. Fans of no holds barred brutal black metal will enjoy Blooddawn's sound. Not the most original band out today but they play with precise and alot of heart and intensity that will appeal to fans of this genre.
Reviewed by Patrick
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Band: BLOODDAWN
Country: England
Title: The Enlightment
Label: Panzerfaust Music
Year: 2009
Style: Black War Metal
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Blooddawn's newest cd "The Enlightment" picks up right where "Funeral for a Despised Icon" left off. 6 tracks of violent black/chaotic metal that is as close to war metal as you can get. The music is written and played once again by Paul who does a fantastic job of creating some violent uncompromising blackness. But paul has enough writing ability to keep the music violent but also enough difference within each track to keep the band from becoming a clone or second-rate blackend war metal band. Donn {from Teutoburg Forest} handles the all the vocals and like Paul Donn has a few different vocal patterns {a deeper growl/gruff voice and the more insane black metal shrieks} to keep the listeners attention throughout each song. Fans of the newer Marduk and older blackend war metal bands will love Blooddawn's brutal, chaotic sound.
Reviewed by Patrick
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Band: BURIAL INVOCATION
Country: Turkey
Title: Rituals of the Grotesque
Label: Dark Descent
Year: 2010
Style: Death Metal
Review:
In my review of Disfigured Death I pretty much gave up on the band because they had too much of the nineties in them. Now I’m holding in my hands the debut release of Burial Invocation, a band that worships the days when Bolt Thrower were in their prime and my reactions are exactly the opposite.
Burial Invocation manage to hold their own through the whole mini-album. Sure, the beginning of "Through the Void of Obscurity” sounds like it was cloned from a Bolt Thrower album but no harm, no foul, the band adds their own touch to the whole thing that manages to steer this clear away from becoming just another retro-death metal release.
Turkey’s Burial Invocation brings us death metal like I like it! No "400 beats per minute”, no The Great Kat moves on the guitars, just genuine old fashioned Death Metal that’s bound to get everyone rolling!
Reviewed by Eyvindur
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Band: CATHEDRAL
Country: UK
Title: The Guessing Game
Label: Nuclear Blast
Year: 2010
Style: Doom Metal
Review:
Finally after five years, Cathedral are set to release officially their new album "The Guessing Game" on Nuclear Blast Records. Being one of my favorite all time bands, the wait for this one has been extremely difficult but finally i have a copy here to share my thoughts on. The first thing is this is a 2CD set, not a single that was originally posted on various websites. Its a little odd that decided to take this route as the album would have fitting nicely onto a single disc if they have had removed a couple of time-wasting moments that this epic album has but its a minor complaint as this is classic Cathedral. How it stands up against the other Cathedral output will come down to personal taste and nothing more but here is my take on it. The album features more of the great artwork of long-time collaborator Dave Patchett so you know this is Cathedral right from the get go. The Guessing Game sees the band in familiar territory but with a few surprise moments thrown in there that add to their already eccentric musical approach. The first real track after the intro is "Funeral of Dreams" and it has all the elements that makes this band tick. Bruising Stoner meets Psychedelic Doom sections, mellotrons, strange Progressive Rock time changes and Lee Dorrian’s distinctive vocals which sound better on this album than ever before. Where most Cathedral albums kick off with a real heavy track, "Funeral Of Dreams" while being heavy sees the mood in a very 70's occult rock vibe much like 70's bands like Black Widow. It is a strong way to open the album but things get cranked up a notch for the next track "Painting in the Dark" which is more straight ahead rocking much like songs from "The Carnival Bizarre" era of the band. "Death Of An Anarchist" brings in a much slower groove to the Doom table, more mellotron is featured and shows more of the band's appreciation for 70's heavy prog music. Next up in the title track "The Guessing Game", it is a instrumental featuring even more mellotron and although it is a great piece of music, it also seems to be oddly placed in the running order of the album. Next is pure classic Cathedral, "Edwige’s Eyes" is the most Sabbathian track on the album and also one of the catchiest tunes on The Guessing Game. Its a stomping bruiser of a track with a riff that wouldn't have sounded out of place on any of Sabbath's mid 70's albums. It also has a infectious hook and its just as good as any Cathedral song written to date, solid Stoner Doom for all of its 7 minutes and a major highlight. Disc one ends with "Cats, Incense, Candles & Wine" and this shows Cathedral at their quirky best, heavy but full of progy influences. The band has been one to take the occasional musical risk and this song is another one of those but with Lee Dorrian nailing the vocals with such precision and Gaz Jennings playing at what sounds like his musical peak, it all works. This finishes up disc one which may not be as instantly satisfying as the material on "The Garden Of Unearthly Delights" but after a few spins, it quickly cements itself in your braincells and therefore begs for another spin. Disc Two kicks off with "One Dimensional People" where drummer Brian Dixon steals everybody's thunder with a massive sound but this turns out to be one of those time wasting tracks i mentioned earlier and didn't leave a lasting impression on me. The following track however is magic, "Casket Chasers" is a more up-tempo burner that by Cathedral standards is pretty straight-forward but it rocks totally. "La Noche Del Buque Maldito (aka Ghost Ship Of The Blind Dead" is next up. It begins very weird and Psychedelic before pushing on the gas pedal to what is one of the most up-beat tracks the band has ever produced. A good track but one of the surprises i mentioned earlier, it comes at you without warning but once you get over the initial shock, it is a pretty cool tune. That leads into "The Running Man" with more Progressive indulgences mixed with raw Stoner Doom riffing and a great vocal performance from Dorrian. That takes you to the most Doom track on the album called "Requiem For The Voiceless". Here Dorrian explores a animal-rights theme to the lyrics which is something i don't think they have ever done before. Its a heavy-laden Doom groove that is one of the longest tracks on the album at almost 10 minutes. The length of songs on disc two and the material within give the second disc a more experimental vibe compared to the first which is more straight-forward overall. The final track is interesting and funny at the same time, its called "Journey Into Jade" where Dorrian incorporates the names of previous albums into the lyrics. It is a lyrical account of the bands history set to music and while it would be a cheesy exercise for most bands, Cathedral get away with it leaving you with what is a very enjoyable tune. He also asks the public questions like "Will our vinyl be rare and collectible?". Indeed i guess time will tell on that one Lee!! The overall vibe of "Journey Into Jade" is one of pure fun which is pretty rare for a band of this genre to attempt such a song but once again it works. The album ends with a bonus track but its another filler moment and then after 80 minutes its all over. The production by Warren Riker is a bit cleaner than the last few albums especially in the sound of Jennings which is a little low in the mix at times. The bass and drum sound is great though and Dorrian's vocals are his best to date. Cathedral are still very innovative and still play with a element of freshness that which shows they have no shortage of musical ideas. The album plays out almost like a best of Cathedral album as far sounds and genres are concerned. They cover almost everything the band has done in the past from the Psychedelic Stoner Doom of "Edwige’s Eyes" to the way out "Cats, Incense, Candles and Wine" to total Doom in "Requiem for the Voiceless". Where the band goes from here on is anyone's guess but they have produced a impressive album that was worth waiting 5 years for, i just hope its not another 5 years for the next installment. This rates in third place as my favorite Cathedral album behind the debut and "The Garden Of Unearthly Delights" but it is real close in quality to those two. Its only the overall length of the 2CD set and a couple of filler's that stop the album from being the best thing they have ever done. Cathedral fans will still want to buy the album as soon as possible and with a possible US tour on the horizon, the next year or two could be the most exciting in the bands career. Due for release in the US on April 20th.
Reviewed by Ed
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Band: DISFIGURED DEAD
Country: USA
Title: Visions of Death
Label: Hell’s Headbangers
Year: 2010
Style: Death Metal
Review:
Late eighties and early nineties Metal ov Death, that pretty much sums up what Disfigured Dead are about. When I put this on I was immediately reminded of Death’s magnum opus "Scream Bloody Gore” and what would you know, those three words begin the description of Disfigured Dead on the info sheet HH provided me with.
This is in no way a bad album or a bad band, they don’t lie to you one bit and deliver just what they promise: Good Death Metal in the vein of bands like Death, Autopsy, Repulsion and Cannibal Corpse. The Cannibal Corpse comparison must be in regards to CC’s "Eaten Back to Life” era.
Sometimes it’s great when young guys get together and do a "in the vein of” band, sometimes it isn’t. I’m still trying to figure out where Disfigured Dead fit, I guess they fit best after a couple of beers.
Reviewed by Eyvindur
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Band: DOZELIMIT
Country: Russia
Title: Construction of the Highest Architechture
Label: R.A.I.G
Year: 2009
Style: Expiremental Ambient Doom
Contact:
This is a very myserious and interesting band from the realms of the Russian underground. Their are no band pics, or even band members names the members go by no.1 and no.2 but the important part of any band is the music itself and Dozelimit create a very interesting mix of unique expirmental music/sounds and a dark ambient atmosphere within the music. Another aspect I enjoyed/respect from the band is that their are no vocals just entire instrumental songs. The band has created a unique and mesmerizing cd of dark ambient/expiremental music. Fans of these genres should defintly give Dozelmit a chance!!
Reviewed by Patrick
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Band: ELSEWHERE
Country: Italy
Title: Then Nothing
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2009
Style: Doom Dark Metal
Review:
This is a fairly unknown/new band coming from the growing Italian metal scene. Then Nothing EP contains 3 epic and dark songs. The band seems to mainly be influenced by doom both the traditional and also death/doom from the early 90's seem to be huge influences on the members. You will also hear some early prog metal influence in the guitar sound and tone which mixes nicely with the doom sound to give elsewhere a epic, and layered with flawless music that the listener will not soon forget. Fans of early progressive metal and doom/dark metal will not want to miss out on elsewhere. I see this band being big one day.
Reviewed by Patrick
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Band: END NAME
Country: Russia
Title: Dreams of a Cyclops
Label: R.A.I.G.
Year: 2009
Style: Instrumental Sludge Doom
Review:
End Name has created one of the most unique and impressive releases to be heard in a long, long time. End Name come out of the mighty Russian doom metal scene but to label the band as a pure doom metal act would be a mistake. The 6 songs on "Dreams of a Cyclops" is a diverse, heavy guitar driven journey. The main influence heard througout the songs is sludge and traditional doom but the band also seems to be expirementing with harsh noise and dark atmospheres compliments of well arranged keyboards that fit within End Name's already well layered and heavy sound. Another aspect of this bands originality is that each song is completly instrumental at first I wasn't sure about these styles of music being blended together in a completly instrumental but the band pulls it off triumpantly and I think adding vocals would take away from the bands amazing sound and execution of the songs. Fans of heavy guitar driven rock/doom mixed with harsh atmosphere should defintly check out End Name for a wild journey.
Reviewed by Patrick
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Band: FROM THE SUNSET, FOREST AND GRIEF
Country: Mexico
Title: ...empty, cold & forgotten...
Label: Naturmacht Productions
Year: 2009
Style: Ambient Black Metal
Review:
From The Sunsert, Forest And Grief (FTSFAG) is a one-man-band from Mexico started back in 2002. Don't know what Daniel, the one behind this moniker, did all these years with his project, but the fact is that his first, and probably the only so far, release is this 6 tracks debut album released last year on the German label Naturmacht Productions.
Musicwise FTSFAG is a quite minimalist combination of slow to mid-tempo Doom Black with Ambient keyboard backgrounds. It's a bit too simple and minimalist for my tastes, something like the Ambient Black Metal bands used to do at the beginings of this combination, in the end '90's, that type of repeated guitar riffs mixed with melodic, up-front keyboard lines and desperate Black Metal screams. The good thing is that the depressive, hopeless atmosphere such releases should have is there, Daniel knows how to express miserable feelings to the audience, but still I think he can improve his compositions.
If you're into Depressive Ambient Black Metal give this release a try, you might like it.
Reviewed by Adrian
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Band: GRAVESPAWN
Country: USA
Title: Praetorian Maleficus
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2009
Style: Black Metal
Review:
In the age of "experimental" or "modern" black metal it is refreshing to see {and hear!} that some bands such as California's Gravespawn have not forgotten the cold, dreadful and just plain ugly roots of black metal. The band plays the barbaric uncompromising black metal with the raspy vile shrieks and chaotic guitar and drum patterns. With this being said the members of Gravespawn are extremly talented and the songs on "Praetorian Maleficus" are extremly tight and well-executed. Fans of the straight-forward brutal black metal will worship Gravespawn defintly worth your money!
Reviewed by Patrick
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Band: INFERNO
Country: Czech Republic
Title: Black Devotion
Label: Agonia Records
Year: 2009
Style: Black Metal
Review:
The owners of Agonia Records have a great metal knowledge when it comes to releasing old-school brutal black metal and the Czech Republic's Inferno is no exception! This is Inferno's 4th release of ripping blasphemous black metal. The band blazes through 11 tracks of violent blasting black metal with razor sharp guitar riffs and ice cold solo's. The vocals are the classic harsh scream/screechy style and are done amazingly well. Fans of {old} Gorgoroth, Marduk, with touches of {old} Dark Throne will love and be begging for more of Inferno's sick, violent sound.
Reviewed by Patrick
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Band: KERASPHORUS
Country: USA
Title: Cloven Hooves at the Holocaust Dawn
Label: Nuclear War Now!
Year: 2010
Style: Death Metal
Review:
Insane speed. Instant Death. Total destruction. That is pretty much given when you combine Helmkamp & Reed. However, the added ingredient, Wolaniuk, seems to be able to contain the chaos the follows the two and the outcome, Kerasphorus, offers us some of the best USDM I have heard since Blood Storm released "The Atlantean Wardragon”.
Blackened death. Order in chaos. This mini-album is a must for all fans of chaotechnical blackenedeath.
Reviewed by Eyvindur
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Band: MANICA
Country: Holland
Title: Endless Aggression
Label: Ziekte NL
Year: 2009
Style: Depressive Ambient
Review:
What we have here is a minimalist Ambient project started in 2008 by N. this is its debut album, a 13 tracks release lasting for almost 45 minutes. "Endless Aggression" is a long jurney through cold, dark and fearful soundscapes, a release filled with desperation and grief, it gives you the feeling you're living, for 45 minutes, in a mental hospital, so just imagine the sounds you can here there and the feelings such a jurney can provoke. Insanity in its purest form! Stay away if you're not used to such sounds or if you think you can't handle it!
One observation though, the tracks are ending too abrupt, like their ending is cut off, and that's something I've heard on other Ziekte releases, too. Is this a trick or a mistake? Also I don't know why the second track, "Psychotic Pain" is identical to the fourth, "Fear"... But overall this is a release that leaves scars on your mind after a listening. Recommended!
Reviewed by Adrian
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Band: RUINS
Country: Tasmania
Title: Front the Final Foes
Label: Debemur Morti
Year: 2009
Style: Black Metal
Review:
Two bands bands come straight to my mind when I listen to Ruins. The first one is Usurper who blew us away with "Diabolosis”. The vocals, the general rhythm, it’s too much to deny. Second in line are Satyricon with the Black n’ Roll. Ruins brings the best elements of both bands together and vomits one of the best albums I’ve heard from OZ in a long time.
I could go on and try to keep you away from the album but here’s the short and sweet version: Black n’ roll, for the most part mid-paced seems to be what Ruins is about. As such it should go well down into the people that prefer the roll over the black, beers over swords and leather jackets more than cloaks.
Reviewed by Eyvindur
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Band: SAMATH
Country: Holland
Title: Triumph in Hatred
Label: Folter Records
Year: 2009
Style: Black Metal
Review:
Now this is my kind of black metal! Sammath was created back in black metal's glory days {1994 to be exact} by Jan Kruitwagen {guitarist} the band has quite an impressive back catalog under their metal belts. Triumph in Hatred is Sammath's newest release. The band and espically their music really embodies the cold, ugly sound of the early 90's European black metal movement. The band also unleashes some insane, fast and furious black metal before mixing back to the more mid-paced evil sounds. Sammath have created and released some of the best black metal to be heard in sometime. Black metal purist who enjoy the primitive, stripped down sound of black metal will love Sammath.
Reviewed by Patrick
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Band: UFOMAMMUT
Country: Italy
Title: Eve
Label: Supernatural Cat
Year: 2010
Style: Psychedelic Stoner Doom
Review:
Confession time, i wanted to be the first at reviewing this album but those dudes at The Obelisk website beat me to it once again, damn you guys are on top of everything. If you want proof that 2010 is indeed the year of Doom, just pick up a copy of the new Ufomammut album "Eve" which is due for a release in May. This is their fifth full-length, the album was recorded at Locomotore Studio in Rome by Lorenzo Stecconi, who worked previously with the band on Idolum. The album consists of a single 45-minute track that is made up of five parts and is described as "a homage to the first Woman on Earth, Eve and her rebellion against her creator for bringing knowledge to Man". In the context of one gigantic piece of work, this is maybe the greatest Doom epic ever recorded. It is very rare when you hear such a long composition of Doom that is so seamless and constructed in such a flawless way. Even though the album is made up of five different tracks, there is no gaps between songs so it flows like one continues long song. Trying to pick highlights is virtually impossible, the whole album is epic killer material from start to finish but there is some moments that stand out. The opening of the album is one of those, it is simply like a bomb going off in the musical sense. Thunderous, rumbling and extremely un-nerving to the maximum levels of sonic exploration. The opening section shall we call it is simply titled "I" and it contains everything from ambient pieces to noises and samples along with layered guitar that is among some of the grimmest, heaviest sounds ever recorded by the band. There is chanting vocals and when it comes towards the end of the track, the distortion level is increased cranking up the track to a bombastic peak. When it moves into "II" and it is hard to spot seeing as the album is so seamless, you are greeted with drones and organ that build up a repetitive but mesmerizing atmosphere. The song increases in intensity when the real heavy riffing comes in at about the halfway point in the track. When "III" kicks in with what is the shortest section on the album, the mood changes a little. This track is one monster riff without too much in the way of experimental noises and therefore stands out as being one of the heaviest moments on "Eve". "IV" continues the album like the previous track never actually finished. There is guitar feedback with the vocals jumping from left to right creating a swirling, psychedelic effect. This leads into the final part of the album "V" where you get a little break and by now you will need one. The piece starts with guitar work similar to how the album started before it builds into another repetitive, heavy section that this band are true masters of producing. It builds to a terrifying level of heaviness that is capped off with samples and feedback. When the album finally winds down, it leaves you breathless. While Ufommamut have always been about sonic exploration and experimentation, on this album they not only nail the style but they have also taken it to a whole new level. I have always thought they are a great band but one that always had the potential to be even better and with "Eve", they have achieved just that. This is their best album yet and one of the best Doom albums ever produced, without question.
Reviewed by Ed
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Band: VETUS OBSCURUM
Country: USA
Title: Blood Revelations
Label: Debemur Morti Productions
Year: 2009
Style: Black Metal
Review:
Fast. Melancholic. Emotional. Would you expect anything else that melancholy from Numinas, the mastermind behind the infamous Krohm? The man who is responsible for masterpieces like "Crown of the Ancients” and "The Haunting Presence”.
Unlike Krohm, Vetus Obscurum keep a pretty fast pace going presenting quality Black Metal pretty much through the whole release. They never slow completely down but hold themselves back a little bit every now and again and drop down to some mid-paced epicness that are rather reminiscent of Krohm at it’s best. Not surprising, indeed, if one considers who’s behind the band.
The dual vocal duties also add immensely to the album and create a rather dark atmosphere at time that in some way remind me of Shining, for some reason I have yet to fathom.
Exceptional winter music.
Reviewed by Eyvindur
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Band: VOMITOR
Country: Australia
Title: Devil’s Poison
Label: Hell’s Headbangers
Year: 2010
Style: Death Metal
Review:
Armed with the meanest of logos & the meanest of looks, Vomitor have descended once again to challenge listeners and slay unbelievers!
Taking more than a little from their fellow countrymen and comrades in Spear of Longinus, this album is even more chaotic and raw as "Bleeding the Priest” although in my opinion nowhere near as brutal. There’s a little bit of edge lost and a little bit of Vomitor’s very own identity and in way they sound like a polished version of early (Domni Satnasi) SoL if that can be imagined.
The high point here clearly is Saga of the Rage, oh and of course Neutron Hammer which is one of the best songs ever recorded.
Reviewed by Eyvindur
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