Band: MACABRUM
Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Title: Epoch
Label: selfreleased
Year: 2010
Style: Black Metal
Review:
This is one of the strangest releases I've listened to lately, Macabrum is a duo from Bosnia and Herzegovina formed last year and this is their first effort. In the presentation sheet they say they have the purpose to create atmospheric and depressive Black Metal, but if so they certainly failed with this release. the music is a combination of Black Metal (on vocals and pace) with Hard Rock riffs and leads and that's most probably from the equipment they use not adapted for Black Metal at all. The lyrics and vocals are pretty good, but the guitar tone is simply blocking this band on expressing what they want and state...
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6/10
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Band: MASSEMORD
Country: Poland
Title: Notes of Antihate Profound
Label: Pagan Records
Year: 2010
Style: Black Metal
Review:
A quite known name in the Polish Black Metal scene, Massemord released 3 albums so far, and last year they have inked a deal with Pagan Records. "Notes of Antihate Profound" is the first release out on Pagan Records, an EP composed of 2 tracks, lasting for around 10 minutes. Their music is new to me and unfortunately I can't say that after listening to this EP for a few times I'm surprised or attracted at all by it, to me it sounds a bit dull. Don't get me wrong here, the band plays its Black Metal with the right attitude, the sound is crystal-clear, the drummer is insane and the vocals are very good too, but somehow the guitar work failed to catch my interest, the riffs and leads types used are present in countless other releases and I'm a bit overfed by this type of Black Metal, but maybe it's my problem here so I suggest you check them out and see if you agree with my opinion or if this is just the type of band for your taste. I say pass.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6/10
Contact:
Band: MASSEMORD
Country: Poland
Title: The Madness Tongue Devouring Juices of Livid Hope
Label: Pagan Records
Year: 2010
Style: Black Metal
Review:
And this is Massemord's debut album on Pagan Records and their 4th to date. Although it has only 1 track featured, the album lasts for 35 minutes, so we're dealing with a quite interesting concept behind it all. The music on it is much more experimental and expressive. Although this time the guitars are built on one repetitive, everlasting riff, I can understand their purpose and totally agree, so even if at first sight this might be a boring work, it is actually very entertaining, dark, destructive and vicious. The drums have a primitive, raw sound in contradiction with the rest and especially with the sci-fi keyboard backgrounds. Yes, this album totally captured my interest and so I would like to recommend it to you, too.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10
Contact:
Band: MOLOCH / TOMHET
Country: Ukraine / Canada
Title: Where Winds Forever Cry
Label: Glorious North Productions
Year: 2011
Style: Ambient / Ambient
Review:
I have just reviewed a Moloch release 3 months ago and back then I was surprised by how many releases this project has to date (more than 60) since its foundation in 2002. I did also say that I would prefer a full Dark Ambient release rather than their Ambient Black Metal side, so here I got it, thier side of this split CD is completely keys performed, but unfortunately for me I couldn't get into it. Their 3 tracks presented here are really minimalist, with a cold and dark atmosphere, indeed, but with no real stand alone points, little or no variations, nothing to stand tall in their music. Well maybe the 3rd track is better, it has a certain epic fashioned aura, but the first 2 passed beside me like they were never there. Maybe this is the result of releasing so much stuff in such a short period of time...
Tomhet is a first meet for me, a one man project started in 2004, which releases so far 16 records, from demos to full-lengths. Its side contains 5 tracks and although it has the same (correct, I would say) dark atmosphere around it, is presented in a more varied shape and form, even some background guitar riffs can be heard here and there, but the general impression after listening their side of the split is that Tomhet has a good potential in creating very interesting Dark Ambient music, the guy behind this moniker tries to explore more sounds and although there's nothing innovative here, the music is entertaining and keeps you wondering what's next. Good work.
This split CDR comes with professional production and crystal clear sound, so if you're into this genre you might give it a try.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 5/10 7.5/10
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Band: MOVIMENTO D'AVANGUARDIA ERMETICO
Country: Italy
Title: Stelle senza luce
Label: Kunsthauch
Year: 2010
Style: Avangarde Black Metal
Review:
As its name suggests it, we're dealing here with a pretty avangarge oriented project that is building its compositions on Black Metal grounds but tries to come with something new. Up to a certain level they manage to create something different and quite catchy mixing Ambient with mid-tempo Black Metal and semi acoustic parts and even some alternative influences on guitars. It's clear they want to create something unique, but they haven;t succeeded on this album, the Black Metal riffs, although pretty good and entertaining, are pretty dull, the vocal part is horrible, at least for my taste, it's that kind of grim wanna be throaty hoarse type of uncomprehensive vocals that doesn't inspire any emotions overall, even if it has it's good parts (on screams and clean narrative vocal parts). What I like about this band and their debut album here is the fact they keep it as organic as they can using real drums (or at least they sound like real) and powerful, present bass lines. The sound is pretty raw but good enough and the overall atmosphere can be described as melancholic. There's a good potential in M.A.E., but they are not there yet. The last track is great!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6.5/10
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Band: NEKROHOLOCAUST
Country: Philippines
Title: Demo 2011
Label: Undergrind Syndicate
Year: 2011
Style: Brutal Death Grind
Review:
Although this band was founded in 2004 they started being active in the scene only last year and since then they managed to release 2 demos, including this one. Demo 2011 has 3 tracks totalizing 17 minutes of gurgling Brutal Death Grind, but unfortunately the sound is absolutely horrible, you can barely hear the instrumental part because of the vocal sound that's too high. I think they recorded the instruments live at the rehearsal place and added the vocals at home using a headset, as the vocals, in a normal situation, wouldn't have such a high volume. The music is brutal adding a bit of slam on drums, but as I said, I can barely listen to this recording, it's too chaotic. Too bad, maybe next time they will record in better conditions, or even better, re-record these tracks in better conditions as they seem to be pretty active in the underground and that means they are passionate on what they do.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 4/10
Contact:
Band: NETHERBIRD
Country: Sweden
Title: Monument Black Colossal
Label: Scarecrow
Year: 2010
Style: Melodic Gothic Black Metal
Review:
When I first started reading the info sheets the label released for this album I had to admit I was at least amused by the fact that one of the selling points listed is the fact that the band has 95k+ friends on Myspace and 3k+ friends on Facebook. Oh, common, this is really nothing to brag about, there are soooooo many shitty bands out there with hurdreds of thousands of friends on Myspace and the maximum allowed on Facebook, that is really not a selling point.
Regarding the music on this 9 tracks (38 minutes) album of Netherbird, I can say it's very good, and their combination of Gothic and Melodic (Black) Metal with a Horror atmosphere surrounding it, plus the vocal types, reminded me of the earlier Cradle Of Filth albums, and I certainly do not say this because the drummer invited to be a part of this album is none other than Adrian Erlandsson who now plays with Paradise Lost and At The Gates, but was also a member of CoF in their early days. The piano use on this record is a major mark on the band's music, but the guitars are also contributing to the overall melodic atmosphere of "Monument Black Colossal". Naming this Black Metal would be a mistake, but you cannot label it as Gothic Metal either, so I would say this is Melodic Metal with strong Gothic and a few Black Metal influences. Very good for the ones of you in search for some theatrical vampire-like melodies in your metal.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10
Contact:
Band: NOCTURNAL DEPRESSION
Country: France
Title: Nostalgia
Label: Sun & Moon Records
Year: 2007/2010
Style: Depressive Black Metal
Review:
Formed in 2004, Nocturnal Depression really worked their way in the European Underground Black Metal scene so far, they have released materials constantly, each year, and now I think they are the most well-known name in Sun & Moon's stable. The material I have here was first released in 2006 by Whispering Night Prod., then in 2007 by Winterreich Records, and then it was picked by Sun & Moon who exhausted the first print, so in 2010 decided to re-release it with new recording and mastering sessions.
This is my first encounter with the band's music although I was familiar with this name before. From what I can hear here we're dealing with some deeply raw, unpolished semi-acoustic depressive music with some Black Metal influences (some guitar riffs here and there and the vocals take inspiration from the Black Metal field), but the compositions are too minimalist and repetitive. I remember in the '90's I used to review a lot of such materials, and this one is no better when it comes to the original side. The good point on this is that the sound although unprofessional or better said unpolished is not disturbing at all, you won't be forced to turn the volume down, and the atmosphere; although they use such primitive sounds and arrangements they manage to create a depressive, dark atmosphere, so thumbs up for that. Best part on this CD, and I think the reason why it is so popular in sales, the 5th track, "Nostalgia", a real anthem of the Underground Black Metal.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6/10
Contact:
Band: NOCTURNAL DEPRESSION
Country: France
Title: Four Seasons to a Depression
Label: Sun & Moon Records
Year: 2006 / 2007 / 2010
Style: Depressive Black Metal
Review:
This material is a demo released in 2006 by Eisiger Mond Productions, in 2007 on CD by Sun & Moon Records, and last year again on tape by Night Birds Records and on CD by Sun & Moon, and I think it's still going strong, especially nowadays when DBM is so requested everywhere.
What surprises me regarding this band is how they manage to create such a thick and deep depressive atmosphere in their music using such primitive means, and I'm referring here to their minimalist and repetitive song structures and their raw, unpolished sound. Despite all this their music is really majestic, it manages perfectly to grab the listeners' attention, and that should all bands be about, especially the underground bands that, in theory, are all playing for passion. I am recommending this release to all of you simply because of the passion invested in it, but this doesn't mean you won't like the tracks if you're into DBM, on the contrary.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10
Contact:
Band: OUIJA
Country: Spain
Title: Adversary
Label: Xtreem Music
Year: 2010
Style: Black Metal
Review:
Formerly on Relapse with whom they have released their debut album in 1997, Ouija are back, this time signed by another important name in the extreme metal scene, Xtreem Music. This EP is only their second official release since their foundation in 1995, but it seems they are pretty determined to come back for good this time. 4 tracks lasting for 20 minutes, and a Melodic Black Metal genre, that's what Ouija offers us on "Adversary". The music tempo is mostly fast, the guitar work reminds me of the '90's Swedish Black Metal bands, and the vocal part is quite good but not mastered properly. A good release that brings nothing new to the table, but offers a honest, technical and aggressive Black Metal (with a few Pagan influences) that maniacs of this genre will appreciate for sure.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10
Contact:
Band: OUR DIABOLICAL EMBRACE
Country: Canada
Title: Immortal Night Laments
Label: Hypnotic Dirge Records
Year: 2010
Style: Gothic Black Metal
Review:
It's doesn't get so often an Underground band admits and even promotes the fact they are influenced by Cradle Of Filth, although I don't see the reason. The '90's "trv black metal" campaign anti CoF had deeper effects than expected, that's for sure. Our Diabolical Embrace is the Canadian project of Skog, the owner of Hypnotic Dirge Records, so it's natural he released his own project on his label. This is its debut EP, a 5 tracks EP lasting for half an hour and stricty limited to only 40 copies. The first 4 tracks are composed for this EP, but the last one is a bonus, a track from Skog's previous project, A Dark Fantasy. The CoF influences kick in from the start especially on keyboards and vocals style, and here I mean old CoF when they were just rising. The keyboards part is the best on this EP, very catchy, but the vocals, although good strangled-like screams, are a bit monotonous without variations. The guitar work is simple and seems to be not so important in ODE's music. The drums, on the other hand, are the worst part and not because they are programmed, but their sound kinda ruins the work Skog did on keys. Being a debut release it can be considered normal for any band to experiment, so I hope he will choose a better studio next time, or at least choose to work more on the mixing and mastering part of the release. All in all we get an EP that will appeal to old CoF followers, with plenty of interesting things on it, but with a bad sound.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6.5/10
Contact:
Band: OVERLORD
Country: Canada
Title: Back Into The Dragon's Lair
Label: Heaven & Hell Records
Year: 2010
Style: Heavy Metal
Review:
Founded back in 1984, it seems this Canadian band is still active. That would be great for them, but not so great when it comes to their discography because they have only released a few demos and two Best Of... compilations, including this one I am reviewing right now. This one it seems contains all their demo tracks so the material featured is very different from track to track. There are some good ones, but there are also some very simple, uninspired ones that shouldn't have been included on this release. The music is mostly simple Hard'n'Heavy, but there are some psychedelic influences, too, so quite an antagonic release; the vocalist tries both the Heavy Metal way and the Psychedelic one, but in my opinion, if the band is still active, he should stick with the later one as his Heavy Metal screams are absolutely horrible.
A release that follows some years of an average band's history, nothing more. I usually like what H&H Records are releasing within their Lost Relics series, but I would have to ignore this one (excepting some tracks).
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 5/10
Contact:
Band: RAVENTALE
Country: Ukraine
Title: After
Label: BadMoodMan Music
Year: 2010
Style: Depressive Black Metal
Review:
Already the fourth album of this Ukrainian one-man-project started in 2005, "After" offers us 5 tracks into around 35 minutes of Doomy, depressive Black Metal. Actually I won't say Black Metal is the main genre here, it's more an influence on Astaroth's music, because what's different than on its previous release is that the Doom Metal became more significant in its music, the acoustic and semi-acoustic parts are used more, and there are more and more melodic, Doom guitar riffs on this one, so I guess he will loose all the Black Metal part on the next opus. Other than that the album is quite good, varied, offers a heavy and dark atmosphere and it doesn't seem to be composed in a rush. Raventale fans out there should be ok with this release.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10
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Band: ROBERTO DELIRA I KOMPANY
Country: Poland
Title: Zabobon
Label: Karrot Kommando
Year: 2010
Style: Folk Punkrock Metal
Review:
Roberto Delira is a leader of known Polish folkmetal band, called Zywiolak, but at the beggining he played in split-up band Ich Trole. Roberto Delira i Kompany band (the name is a game word: Roberto Delira & Co but „Kompany” means „Friends” in Polish, use in short version: r.D&K too) is attempt to back to Ich Trole atmosphere. This is very untipical folkmetal style, based on scandinavian (like Hedningarna or Hoven Droven) and Tuva’s folklore (like Huun Huur Tu) connect with Slavic folklore, metal and some punkrock sounds. „Zabobon” EP is de facto a professional relase demo of the new project of Delira. This CD included samples of Roberto’s opportunities from songs about pagan tradition and faith (first track „Jarowit Jarylo”, these are names of Slavic god of Sun) to old inn’s atmosphere songs a la Korpiklaani (in track „O jednej wiesniaczce” – Song about redneck woman). In summary: „Zabobon” (mean: Superstition) EP is a very short but very interesting material so I’m waiting for full lenght album. And just one thing: „Delira” is a game word too, mean: delirium tremens (in unofficial Polish) or, in unoficial Polish too, the man, who play on hurdy-gurdy.
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 8/10
Contact:
Band: SARKOM
Country: Norway
Title: Exit Terra
Label: Folter Records
Year: 2010
Style: Black Metal
Review:
Sarkom was founded in 2002 and so far they have released 2 albums, a demo and two EPs. the latest EP, "Exit Terra", out on Folter Records contains only 2 tracks, but the total playing time is more than 10 minutes, so quite long tracks. They are doing an untypical sort of Black Metal especially because of the vocals, comprehensive screams full of wrath supported by narrative clean vox at times, but also the instrumental part is very interesting, melodic but still very aggressive , with catchy structures. I'm sorry this EP has only 2 tracks and I think you'll be too after listening to it. Gathering members from bands like Pantheon I, Trollfest, Koldbrann or 1349, I think Sarkom doesn't have enough recognition in the Black Metal scene as they would deserve. Recommended!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10
Contact:
Band: SCEPTIC MIND
Country: Russia
Title: The Beginning
Label: Solitude Productions
Year: 2010
Style: Funeral Doom Metal
Review:
Sceptic Mind is another Russian band marching on Funeral Doom Metal paths. One might think Russia is starting to resemble more and more with what Finland used to be in the '90's, a nest of depressive, slow paced Gothic Doom Death bands, so it's interesting to follow it, to see where this boom of such bands will lead to.
"The Beginning" is not actually the beginning for Sceptic Mind's discographic career, it's actually their second full-length, but it's their first released on a professional label, the first one was self-released. The album is composed of only 3 tracks, but it lasts for more than an hour. The base of this release is obviously Funeral Doom, but the beauty of it is that the Russian duo experiments a lot with keys, effects and a vast palette of sounds and effects, without distancing themselves from the sadness this genre is based on. If you're into Funeral Doom don't miss this one, it really brings some interesting ideas to the table, without being a groundbreaking project though.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10
Contact:
Band: SICULICIDIUM
Country: Romania
Title: Utolsó Vágta az Univerzumban
Label: Sun & Moon Records
Year: 2009
Style: Black Metal
Review:
I think this one is only the second Romanian band I am reviewing in Pest webzine since the "new face" and new website. I really don't know if this band is a studio project or a live act too, but from what I've recently heard they have disbanded. If this isn't true, well, my fault for trusting rumours.
Siculicidium was formed in 2003 and released a demo, a split and an EP before this debut album, "Utolsó Vágta az Univerzumban". I have never listened to their music so this is a first encounter. The band roots its music in the old-school raw Black Metal territories, the closest example I can think of right now would be Mayhem, but the Transylvanian horde also ads lots of acoustic and semi-acoustic elements in their music making it quite interesting and enjoyable for the old-schoolers. The vocal type does ads a lot on the overall aggressive and decadent atmosphere, but at one point it becomes a bit dull. Still I'd say the vocals are the main trademark for this band, the element that separates them from the countless other bands. I have nothing else to argue on their compositions, we're getting an Old-School Black Metal with melodic touches but even some other influences from other, alternative genres (just listen to the 4th track's guitar work), with good atmospheres, and correct execution (ad an organic sound to this and you have the image).
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10
Contact:
Band: SIGN OF THE JAKAL
Country: Italy
Title: The Beyond
Label: Heavy Artillery Records
Year: 2011
Style: Speed Heavy Metal
Review:
Looking at them and listening to their music you can bet these Italians are not from this age and time but from 30 years back, but that only means they are playing an Old-School Heavy Metal with some Speed Metal spiced all over. "The Beyond" is their second EP out on Heavy Artillery Records, a 5 tracks effort lasting for 20 minutes of extremely entertaining and catchy traditional metal music. They have managed to get the best out of the '80's and present us a material that contains plenty of catchy riffs, leads, solos, plus a female vocal that keeps it metal although adding some melodic touches, but her voice is mad as hell, although she could need some more work on English pronounciation. I like a lot this album and this is what I'm going to listen for the rest of the day. I would love to see them live sometime.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10
Contact:
Band: SUBLIME EYES
Country: Norway
Title: Dawn of the Defiant
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2010
Style: Melodic Death Metal
Review:
Sublime Eyes come from Stavanger, Norway, a band formed in 2007 that managed to release their debut demo the next year and their debut album, this one I have here, in 2010. They are still unsigned but this album has a professional touch that shows they aim high. 12 tracks, almost 40 minutes of Melodic Death Metal, that's what we get here. I must admit the first tracks were a bit dull or that's how they seemed to me, but the album grew on me track by track, I like when this happens. To explain this, the first tracks seemed a bit monotonous, with nothing special to show, but over the album I started discovering more and more interesting parts. Their music is based on melodic but at the same time groove-infused guitar riffs, they are not brutal, nor aggressive, more on the path Dark Tranquility or Arch Enemy opened some years ago. I also like the fact that the two guitarists are getting along very well in Sublime Eyes' music, and that alothough I'm sure they would have wanted the best sound and production there is, the final mastering (not the perfect one) gives their music a not so polished and cosmetized feel. Their music doesn't have the strength to break into the high levels of this genre yet, but the potential is there and as this is their first attempt I think it's fair enough to say the final result is a good one. I only hope they'll keep working on this path and don't switch to a deathcore thing in the near future, there's a very thin line between the two...
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10
Contact:
Band: SUIDAKRA
Country: Germany
Title: Book of Dowth
Label: AFM
Year: 2011
Style: Melodic Folk Black Death Metal
Review:
This album is just a great combination beetween all the best metal’s experiences. Celtic folk motifs, a lot of melodic guitar similar to NWOBHM but playing more hard, fast drum as a machine gut, good black/death voice in German accuracy’s good work. Track „Biróg’s Oaks” is a perfect pagan metal dirve with very good female vocal. „Mag mell” is a beauty metal ballads with ancients whispers. These folk influences are the same power of this album as fast, killing riffs, balance is just perfect! This album contains a lot of progressive and symphonic sounds too. Great, great, great !!! Short but concrete and on – as my review.
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 9/10
Band: TANATOSSIS
Country: Spain
Title: The Darkest Reflections
Label: Xtreem Music
Year: 2010
Style: Thrash Metal
Review:
Although this band was founded in 1996 and this album is their third to date, I was not familiar with their name or music until now. Maybe that's because the first two albums were released by themselves and had lyrics in Spanish only so I guess they chose to promote their material only within Spanish speaking territories. This new album is the first one released on Xtreem Music and also the first one in English so it seems they are aiming to get recognition all over the place now.
The album starts with an oriental-influenced intro that made me think I'll have to review a quite interesting combination during the 11 tracks listed here, almost an hour of playing. Well, I was wrong, the following tracks are 100% Thrash Metal based on old-school guitar riffs without the nowadays impulse to discover new territories. There are some Speed parts here and there, but the major part of the album is pretty mid-tempo, quite melodic and a bit aggressive, but none of them enough to raise this band from the big amount of similar bands nowadays. After listening to these tracks I feel they miss a bit more aggression.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6.5/10
Contact:
Band: TEMPLE ABBATOIR
Country: Spain
Title: Sacrilege & Savagery
Label: Nyarlathotep Records
Year: 2010
Style: Black Metal
Review:
This is Temple Abbatoir's debut album out on Nyarlathotep Records as CD, Nigra Mors as tap and Satanica Productions as CD-R. Although the band was formed in 2006, they ahve only managed to release one demo before this debut album, a demo also reviewed in Pest Webzine in 2009. I liked that demo a lot so I was curious to see how the followup will sound like. Well I'm not disapointed by these 8 tracks, not disapointed at all. Fast, vicious and very aggressive compositions with good sound and catchy structures Scandinavian influenced, a band that's working well its way up the Black Metal ladder. But here are the things that could have been batter: the vocals type for this kind of music would have been better if they were raw, aggressive, not desperate sounding like they are, the tracks would have been better if a bit shorten than they are (there are some very good guitar riffs that once repeated multiple times become dull), and the drum machine, although not the disturbing kind, sounds a bit synthetic. My comments sound harsh, but this is a really good release, there's enough to feast your ears on if you're a Black Metal follower that's why I recommend this band.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10
Contact:
Band: THE FOETAL MIND
Country: France
Title: The Grand Contradiction
Label: Hypnotic Dirge Records
Year: 2010
Style: Doom Black Metal
Review:
Hypnotic Dirge Records slowly but shurely establishes a powerful name in the underground movement by having this talent of discovening interesting bands and projects, and The Foetal Mind is a band that makes no compromise to that rule.
Black Metal is a bit too much to label this second full-length album of the French The Foetal Mind, so a post Black Metal with strong Doom atmospheres label would fit this better. Their music is not offensive in any way, it's based more on the dreamy, meditative side of music and that's mainly because this album is on the major part instrumental, the vocals playing a less important or better said less present role. There's a good understanding between instruments, and the compositions are catchy, places somewhere between dark and light, but there seems to be no connection between them, or it doesn't sound like there is one, and I would have liked a more in depth conceptual basis for such a music. The sensation is like you're having a dream, someone wakes you up, then you're starting another dream, then you're up again, so you don't have enough time to finish any of the 11 dreams presented by The Foetal Mind here. A big promise for the future, The Foetal Mind, although composed by young musicians displays good potential on The Grand Contradiction, so we'll have to wait and see if their music becomes more curdled and mature.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10
Contact:
Band: THE MURDER INDUSTRY
Country: Spain
Title: Death Motivation
Label: Xtreem Music
Year: 2010
Style: Brutal Death Metal
Review:
The Murder Industry is a Spanish band formed in 2003, a band that only succeeded to release its first official material only in 2009, the "Man Devour the Man" demo, so I guess either they had serious line-up problems or they were inactive for some time. Anyway, I have here their debut album, an 8 tracks effort lasting for a bit more than 40 minutes. The Murder Industry is Brutal Death Metal, the right kind of Brutal Death Metal I would say, a band that doesn't overuse anything, so the material on this album is well balanced, extremely brutal, technical, dark and sick, but on the other hand is predictable and lacks originality. If you're in search for a solid standard Brutal Death band, don't hesitate to give The Murder Industry a try, their sound rips everything from start to finish, but if you're looking for original stuff look elsewhere.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10
Contact:
Band: UNQUADIUM
Country: Poland
Title: Materia Prima
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2010
Style: Melodic Death Metal
Review:
„Materia Prima” is a first official album of Warsaw’s death metal group called Unquadium. The name is taken from periodic table, this is one of unnamed elements. This name and CD’s tittle – Materia Prima /primal matter/ is a reference to two things: first of all – lyrics which that appear on this CD. These are not „satan and blood and a lot of skulls and broken bones”, these are ideal proportions between philosophy and technical thinking. It is also associated with the group’s leader, Ziemowit, who is an employee of the Warsaw University /in science/. The music itself establishing a strong to the Swedish melodic death metal like In Flames (from 90th) with thrash (In song „V-Ray”) and metalcore influences (In track „Battle”). All tracks from „Materia Prima” (three of all are meterial taken from previous demo „System Distortion”) are, on the one hand - the very good monolith, on the other hand - the structure od tracks is broken, but without extreme, slowdown occurring at about 2 / 3 to 3 / 4 of each piece. In conclusion: good, technical and melodic death metal, Polish version of stainless Swedish steel, intelligent bass, good drive and 40 minutes of music, which often comes back to my CD player.
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 8,5/10
Contact:
Band: URGEHAL
Country: Norway
Title: Death is Complete
Label: Folter Records
Year: 2010
Style: Black Metal
Review:
This new URGEHAL EP was released, I think and hope, only for their truest die-hard followers as the first of the two tracks presented here is a bit... hmm, how to put this gently, jam-session sounding. Nefas is drumming on the first track but he'd better stick with his guitars and vocals in my opinion. "Death is Complete" track is a primitive, extremely simple structured track and if it wasn't for Nefas' vicious vocals this would have been a total fiasco, regardless the fact they want to show they can be even rawer than everything else they did until now. "Beyond the nightmare", the second track is great, expressing the right amount of that fuck-off, extremely aggressive attitude and atmosphere Urgehal used their fans with, the exact contrary of the first track, but still keeping that raw sound.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10
Contact:
Band: VRANI VOLOSA
Country: Bulgaria
Title: Heresy / Epec
Label: Corvus Records
Year: 2010
Style: Pagan Metal
Review:
I've heard a lot about this Bulgarian band but never had a chance to review one of their releases. This one I'm listening right now is their second full-length, a 10 tracks release lasting for more than an hour. Pagan Metal it is, but a quite original and interesting breed I must ad. This is not the aggressive type of Pagan Metal, but rather an experimental kind filled with influences from lots of genres, more from the alternative / rock scene than from the Extreme Metal one, but that's fine, I guess they are more interested in showcasing their lyrical concept than on making headbanging music. And that's why there are lots of acoustic parts on the album and the vocals (main vocals, secondary vocals and choirs) are all on the clean side. I admit I would have liked to hear more Bulgarian folklore influenced tracks (like the 4th track, Sun) on this album as the most part of it makes me think of a British act, but overall the music is great, quite varied compositions, never boring, and taking benefit of some exceptional male vocals, and getting its metal springs from the rhythm section (the drummer seems to be fond of both the Extreme Metal playing and the more groovier techniques). Definitely an album that needs more exposure out there, I'm glad for the guys this album got picked up by Einheit Productions for licensing it the Western part of Europe.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9.5/10
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Band: WOLFCHANT
Country: Germany
Title: Call of the Black Winds
Label: Massacre Records
Year: 2011
Style: Pagan Metal
Review:
First of all I want to mention that I am being very tough on Massacre Records releases for the simple fact that this label is one of the bes one around and they should release only the best out there, or at least that's my impression on this German label. This mention is valid for all the other reviews of this label's releases, not only for Wolfchant, but I tought I should mention it now.
It's quite a long time since I have had the chance to listen/review a band with medieval influences in their music so I was glad to listen to Wolfchant's latest release, their fourth album. I've heard good things about this band in the past, and being signed with Massacre should only be a confirmation of their potential and abilities. This album is composed of 11 tracks and its total timing is almost an hour. Here's how would I characterize this album: top notch instrumental execution, fantastic guitar skills and performance (on leads and solos), crystal clear sound, fast epic music, but with a major fault, the music becomes a bit monotonous at times and that may be because the guitarists are using standard type, emotionless guitar riffs and the keyboards, although creating a good atmosphere, are not used enough. The combination of hoarse Black Metal vocals with clean vocals and occasional growlings is a win especially for the clean part. All in all this is a good album for Moonsorrow, Ensiferum or Turisas followers out there.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10
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Band: ZOMBIEFICATION
Country: Mexico
Title: Midnight Stench
Label: Chaos Records
Year: 2011
Style: Death Metal
Review:
If you miss the old-school Swedish Death Metal (I'm not referring to the melodic one here), this Mexican band could be a breath of fraught, fetid air just right for your needs. Although a duo, these guys have managed to get some special guests that not only not ruined their perfect Swedish sound, but even added their valuable support on this 11 tracks debut album. It's hard to imagine they are from Mexico, though, they have captured the exact atmosphere and feeling bands like Entombed, Unleashed or Dismember used to have back in the days. For me, as an "old-schooler" this is an absolutely enjoyable release, but I can also agree that there is not enough variation and catchy parts for this album to become an instant hit on the metal market. However, the production, the cover artwork, the sound, and concept behind "Midnight Stench" recommends this to all Old-School Death Metallers out there.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10
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Band: CRANIAL SCHISM / REVER / MAKATTOPSY / REKTAL TUSE
Country: Indonesia / Indonesia / Turkey / Turkey
Title: 4 Ways of Eastern Brutality
Label: Extreminal Productions
Year: 2010
Style: Brutal Death Grind
Review:
4 ways split between 2 bands from Indonesia and 2 bands from Turkey, an underground release originated by Extreminal Productions, limited to 100 copies, so I think they'll run out of copies pretty soon.
Cranial Schism appeared in our Blitz Quitz section too, don't forget to check them out there. the band plays fast Brutal Death Metal with guttural vocals, pretty technical guitar work, brutal rhythm section and some groove here and there. Good stuff, two violent tracks with the main point of interest constituted by the the guitarist (or guitarists?) who's mixing old-school leads and solos with new fashioned riffs. I only hope they won't turn deathcore or even worse,, metalcore, in the future.
Rever present here 2 short tracks of low-tuned Brutal Death but unfortunately I couldn't get into their music at all; the drum-machine is too synthetic and that bothers me, maybe Dicky should think of a real vocalist or at least of a decent drums program. The guitars are also too simplistic, and the vocals, although the idea of adding a 2 low grunts duo, could have been more varied.
I have never heard of Makkatopsy from Turkey. What can I say about their music is that although they use that kind of vocals I'm starting to get bored by more and more every day, their instrumental part is very interesting, varied and technical so that the two tracks presented here are really good. The guitarist uses some really good Brutal Death Metal riffs that were the exact thing I needed from such a band.
Rektal Tuse are straigth on Grindcore, fast, aggressive, disgusting Grindcore. I like the fact they alternate the fast parts with some slower ones, the atmosphere resulting is quite groovy. Also the crunchy, old-school type guitar tone is something to be mentioned here.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6.5/10, 5/10, 7/10, 7.5/10
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