Band: NECROVEN
Country: Spain
Title: Worship of Humiliation
Label: Memento Mori
Year: 2012
Style: Death Metal
Review:
After releasing two demos in 2012, this one man band finally mixed it all together in a full-length production, which is surprisingly good, considering that everything, from the recording and the post-processing was done by the same man (J.R). It is a pure death metal production, oldschool death metal to be precise, very clean, not too chaotic, everything is done very direct and concise. The quality of the record is not one of the best, sounds a little like Burzum (in what quality is concerned), maybe not really that bad, but I honestly would pay a ticket to this guy’s concert (clearly wanting to see if he can play all the instruments at once).
I’d recommend this record to all those die hard death metal fans. It really is worth a listen.
Reviewed by Diana
Rating: 8/10
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Band: NIGHTFALL
Country: Greece
Title: Casiopeia
Label: Metal Blade Records
Year: 2013
Style: Gothic Death Doom Black Metal
Review:
Nightfall from Greece still keeps high level !!! Album „Casiopeia” is a very good a continuation of the previous disc „Astron Black and the Thirty Tyrants” from 2010. This album, like a good movie, growing slowly but surely, revealing its secrets not right away. „Casiopeia” is perfect in every detail: technical doom, death and some black/gothic elements are very important pieces of the music puzzle. As before, Nightfall goes back to the theme of the ancient world in his lyrics, without forgetting the various historical artifacts. The perfect combination of power, pathos, melodic, great growl, great riffs. I am thrilled with this material!
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 9/10
Band: NIGROMANTIA
Country: Hungary
Title: Inherited Burden
Label: Noisehead Records
Year: 2012
Style: Melodic Death Metal
Review:
First of all, it came as a big surprise to find out that these guys are Hungarian, because their sound is very Swedish like. I have to say that I really enjoyed this album, haven’t heard something melodic and good in a long time, and the mastering really flatters the songs. There are two things that I have some negative commentaries on, and that is that on some parts I thought that they were copying Opeth, most obvious in the song "Fallout”, and the other thing is that they tend to over do it with the solos, sometimes less is better, in my opinion. Anyhow, the album is still good.
Review/ed by Diana
Rating: 8/10
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Band: OBSCURITY
Country: Germany
Title: Obscurity
Label: Trollzorn Records
Year: 2012
Style: Pagan Viking Metal
Review:
The sixth Obscurity album offers 11 tracks totaling 50 minutes of German sung Pagan Metal. This language fits perfectly with any type of Black or Pagan Metal, at least that's my opinion, it's sharp words are only increasing the intensity and the music gets to be more minacing. Obscurity are definitely a mature band and that's shown in their catchy tunes, you'll be able to remember at least a tiny thing from all the tracks featured on this album, and the most important thing, all tracks have cotinuity even though they range from mid-tempo to fast paced rhythms the melodic guitar leads create an epic atmosphere and nothing feels out of place. Not a groundbreaking release (it brings nothing new to the table), but one that will satisfy all Pagan Metallers and especially the fans of old school Swedish Pagan/Viking Metal.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10
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Band: PAGANFIRE / INTERMENT
Country: Philippines / Philippines
Title: The Oath of Termination
Label: Kampf Records
Year: 2008
Style: Thrash Metal / Thrash Metal
Review:
Old split tape again from Kampf Records, released in 2007 in limited edition of 200 copies. Opening act are Paganfire, if you're heavily into the Underground you should have definitely heard about them so far, they are hyper-active trying to get themselves everywhere and that's what should every band do to promote themselves and their work. Their part is made of 3 of their own tracks plus a cover of Dark Angel's Merciless Death; fast, chaotic and very energetic Thrash Metal with rehearsal/live-like recording quality, if you like extreme aggression and total chaos in your Thrash Metal and you're not pretentious about the sound quality this might be the right choice, I'll have to say pass although I quite like both the sound and the composition on the third track.
Interment is not the Swedish Death Metal band but a Thrash Metal act from the Philippines. Fast and chaotic Thrash Metal like in Paganfire's case, the same sound quality, but the vocals are reminders of the Black Metal shrieks, and the guitar solos are better, reminding me of the '90's US (Florida) Death Metal type of solos. With a better recording this band will be a wicked, awesome revelation of the Philippines scene.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6/10 7.5/10
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Band: PAGANIZER
Country: Sweden
Title: Carve; Stillborn Revelations and Revel in Human Filth
Label: Vic Records
Year: 2012
Style: Death Thrash Metal
Review:
This compilation includes two albums and three other tracks, produced a bit different. Carve was some side project of Paganizer, having more or less the same lineup. After reading some reviews of this compilation, most of them suggest that it is better not to listen to it in one sitting, but I disagree, I found it great. It is very entertaining (maybe that’s not really the best word to describe it), it keeps you awake and thinking what you’ll be hearing next, and if you haven’t listened to Paganizer it will definitely catch your attention. The fact is that if you’ll search for Stillborn Revelations or Revel in Human Filth, you won’t find them under the Paganizer name, because they are both albums released under the name of Carve, but as I said before, Carve is basically Paganizer, but not many people know that. Both these albums are very similar, which shows that the band had their direction clearly figured out, and being as since 2000 there’s been an explosion of bands, keeping a straight musical direction is a thing that has to be appreciated in a band.
Reviewed by Diana
Rating: 9/10
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Band: PAROXSIHZEM
Country: Canada
Title: Paroxsihzem
Label: Dark Descent Records
Year: 2012
Style: Black Death Metal
Review
This is the first full lenght production of canadian black/death metal band after 2 demos, one of them also called „Paroxsihzem”. It includes songs from that demo, but with 7 songs on the record, I wouldn’t actually call it a „full-lenght”. Personally, I found it extremely hard to digest what is going on on this record, so I appreciate the fact that they just put 7 songs on the album and not 10, because 3 more would have been way too much. I didn’t like it, not my kind of black/death metal, too chaotic, it just didn’t speak to me on any level. Too bad, canadian bands are usually pretty damn good.
Reviewed by Diana
Rating: 5/10
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Band: PERCIVAL SCHUTTENBACH
Country: Poland
Title: Postrzyzyny
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2012
Style: Folk Metal
Review:
„Postrzyzyny” is a old slavonic folk custom taken from pagan’s times. It was a ritual hair cutting for yourg boys, when stayed admitted to the male community. „Postrzyzyny” is a extra-EP (6 tracks) trailer of „Svantevith” full length album of Percival Schuttenbach (folkmetal fans still waiting for this album). EP „Postrzyzyny” is a untypical extract of Percival Schuttenbach way of folkmetal from 1997 to 2012. 1st, 2nd and 3rd tracks are kind of „inverse of roots”. Members of PS are heathens or heathen culture supporters but they grew up in the city, not in village – that is why their „roots” music is old school metal from 80th and 90th. These tracks are tribute to „golden age of old school metal sounds” with folkmetal influences and pagan lyrics. The other three are neo-folk or folk songs, which was one of the many side branches Percival Schuttenbach music-making. "Rodzanice" songs was originally intended for ... Eurovision 2009 (they tried to be a Polish Lordi, heh), "Buba" song is a echoes of split up project Troll Schuttenbach (Zywiolak + Percival crew in one). This album is interesting CD for collectors too.
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 8,5/10
Band: PRIME EVIL
Country: USA
Title: Evilution
Label: Inferno Records
Year: 2012
Style: Thrash Death Metal
Review:
I was honestly not expecting a Thrash Death Metal release from the French Inferno Records, but here we get from them a legend of the US underground, Prime Evil, a band that has a pretty solid name although they have only managed to release a few demos at the end of the '80's - beginning of the '90's. Their name seems familiar to me too, but I don't recall listening to any of their materials so far. Anyway, after a pretty long dead period for the band they are now back and I think this EP prefaces an upcoming, first for the band, full-length, and they surely deserve that. They sound extremely powerful and seem able to cope with the nowadays overpopulated Extreme Metal scene. Although the sound is not perfect, it is good enough to capture their capacity of creating excellent tracks, an explosion of fast and brutal pounding old-school Thrash Death executed skillfully. If this EP would have been released back in the first part of the '90's Prime Evil would have been a World known act by now, but it's never too late and I hope they will proove that. Recommended!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10
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Band: PROFANAL
Country: Italy
Title: Black Chaos
Label: Iron Tyrant
Year: 2012
Style: Death Metal
Review:
Finally a debut album from this Italian band that managed to create themselves a strong name in the old-school Death Metal underground scene during the years with their raw and bestial type of music and of course due to the fact they are lead by a girl that has such a cryptic voice it's impossible to tell her to go for clean type of vocals. 9 tracks, a bit more than half an hour of Swedish (Sunlight Studio) type of Death Metal with lots of influences from other types of Death Metal, from the US based (solos), Dutch (vocals, although you can compare Rosy's tones with some UK and also Swedish bands, too) and Finnish (the oppressive atmosphere). Primitive, relentless, obscure, demonic and crushing fat sounding, that's how I would describe Profanal's music. Excellent!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9.5/10
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Band: PROMISCUITY
Country: Israel
Title: Infernal Rock'n'Roll
Label: Israhellbanger Records
Year: 2011
Style: Black Thrash Metal
Review:
I don't know if Israhellbanger was owned by one of the Promiscuity members but unfortunately the label is now closed (and it was such a good promise for the underground...) so if you think on ordering this tape you can try contacting the band. Promiscuity plays simple, primitive Thrash Black Metal highly influenced by early Venom and with a good dose of humor from what I can understand. Catchy music, raw and organic sound, nice tape packaging, but too little challenging even for unpretentious listeners.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6.5/10
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Band: RAWAGE
Country: Finland
Title: Triumph of Sin
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2012
Style: Black Thrash Death Metal
Review:
Rawage is a finnish band and they have release this new EP the "Triumph of Sin” formed of three tracks. Musically Rawage is influenced by black, death metal and especially thrash metal.
These tracks are a punch in the face but in a good way. I have appreciated a lot the technique , the construction, and the recording of the songs in their complexity. Unfortunately (for me ?) I have listened only three tracks but I can’t wait to have a full album of them because I love a lot their style and how they manage every song. You feel the adrenaline of these guys.
Keep it up Rawage.
Reviewed by Rob Gore
Rating: 8/10
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Band: REIN
Country: France
Title: Rein
Label: Atavism Records
Year: 2012
Style: Black Metal
Review:
I don't know why but I had no high expectations from this demo. I'm glad I was wrong, this demo is very interesting, quite different from what I've listened to lately in this Black Metal area. Cold, razor-sharp but also quite melodic guitar riffs, brutal vocals, excellent bass lines and very good drums lines, Rein manage to create a mesmerizing atmosphere on this demo but that's also due to their technical skills, this is no average band, that's for sure. I'd recommend this demo to underground BM followers only because of its raw sound, but if the band will use a profi studio for their next release I'm sure we'll have a huge surprise. Thumbs up!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10
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Band: SABIENDAS
Country: Germany
Title: Restored to Life
Label: Bret Hard Records
Year: 2013
Style: Death Metal
Review:
It took these guys (and girl, the bassist and founder of the band is a lady) almost 7 years to release their debut album, but this is such a great debut that you'll be forced to say it was all worth the waiting. Sabiendas plays an old-school type of Death Metal but the sound is fresh and actual, crystal clear and at the same time powerful. The riffs are among the best I've heard in a long time, the vocals are very good, too, the rhythms are varied and entertaining, and the whole atmosphere demands respect. Extremely solid debut album from a highly mature band, recommended!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9.5/10
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Band: SARJAN HASSAN / NADIMAC
Country: Malaysia / Serbia
Title: Battlefield Mosh
Label: Stay Pure Records
Year: 2010
Style: Crossover Thrash Metal
Review:
Punk, Hardcore and (Thrash) Metal, all three genres have a meeting point in this split CD. Sarjan Hassan opens this split with 5 fast and short Punk Hardcore tracks with Thrash Metal influences. Simple compositions, nothing fancy, but not bad, actually quite engaging and entertaining, maybe also because none of the tracks are more than 2 minutes in length. Nadimac is more Thrash Metal oriented but they still have a fair dose of Punk added to their music especially in attitude. Very fast paced tracks sung in Serbian and recorded live during one of their gigs; it seems these tracks are also featured on the band's DVD; Even if the tracks are recorded live one cannot complain about the sound. To sum it up: a good dose of underground old-school FasThrash Punk Metal.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6/10 7/10
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Band: SARRATUM
Country: Holland
Title: Flagellation of a Saint
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2011
Style: Black Metal
Review:
So far this was a one man band but Martin Ciaparra from Prayer Of The Dying recently joined so I guess we can consider Sarratum as a duo from now on. This is its second full-length made of 11 tracks totaling an hour of raw Black Metal. I have to admit the first impression was of a band with too simplistic and overused structures, but it kind of built on me. Sarrum, the founder of this band, adds some interesting melodic leads here and there without diminishing the overall aggressive impression, the track "The Moon" for example is a fine example of not sticking it exclusively to what the Norwegians were doing a couple of decades ago. The sound is raw as hell, especially on vocals and honestly it gave me the impression of an unfinished work, but if you think you can handle it I suggest you check this band out.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10
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Band: SULPHUR AEON
Country: Germany
Title: Swallowed By The Ocean’s Tide
Label: Imperium Productions
Year: 2013
Style: Death Metal
Review:
I just love this album. I can’t really categorize it as death metal, but as a sort of a blackened death metal, due to the evil vocals and some melodic parts. I enjoyed this album so much, that I can’t even pick a favourite song, they’re all really good, very well structured, you can really feel the music. I honestly wish these guys will get the recognition they deserve one day, cause they are worth it. The artwork for this album is also really good, it really captures the theme of the record. There isn’t anything more to say, you just have to listen to this masterpiece.
Reviewed by Diana
Rating: 10/10
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Band: SYN:DROM
Country: Sweden
Title: Iconoclasm
Label: ViciSolum Productions
Year: 2013
Style: Death Metal
Review:
This is SYN:DROM’s second album, released in February 2013 and I can really say that I liked it. It isn’t just death metal, they combine it with some black metal riffs and vocals, thus creating some blackened death songs, which really go well with the other songs. There’s one song in particular that caught my attention, "Iconoclastic View”, it reminds me of Behemoth for some reason. It really stands out, because it has more melodical influences and it is different from the rest of the album. They also released a video from this album, for the song "Black Dawn”, which can be viewed in the link below.
Reviewed by Diana
Rating: 9/10
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Band: TROLLECH
Country: Czech Republic
Title: Vnitrni tma
Label: Ketzer Records
Year: 2012
Style: Pagan Black Metal
Review:
Trollech is a black metal band formed in 1999 in Czech (they have already a history) with 6 full lengths album released, Vnitrni tma: being their latest. First of all you can appreciate that Trollech knows what they do. In fact the album is well recorded and well played. There is nothing original only the Czech language or some little parts. It’s like they have taken a path and don’t want to change, using an existing formula well, but for me means that they trust in what they create because the combinations of classic guitar, solos and symphonic parts keeps me think that they have worked and thought a lot to find the right structure in all songs. The album, I repeat, is well played in all parts. I can’t evaluate this product under 8 and I am sure thanks to their experience they are very good in a live show.
Reviewed by Rob Gore
Rating: 8/10
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Band: VOIVOD
Country: Canada
Title: Target Earth
Label: Century Media Records
Year: 2013
Style: Progressive metal
Review:
First track, tittle „Target Earth” is starting with very interesting sounds, but the further the more exaggerated. This album, in my opinion of course, is an example of that better is the enemy of the good. Voivod crossed the thin line between playing a progressive sounds and litlte music „schizophrenia”. A large number of interesting ideas (some of them inspired by etno sounds too) in effects got lost in the chaos. However, the individual pieces are really good.
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 7.5/10
Band: WINTERMOON
Country: France
Title: Autarky
Label: Unlight Order Productions
Year: 2012
Style: Black Metal
Review:
This appears to be a young French band so I really don't understand why would they choose such a band name since there are and were many others already using Wintermoon like moniker. Oh well, it's not that easy to be original nowadays... This EP is made of 3 of their own tracks, an Immortal cover and an instrumental as closing title, and Immortal seems to be their major influence although I wouldn't consider Wintermoon as a copycat, they have some pretty diverse guitar riffs that may sparkle your interest, the rhythms are mostly fast but mid-tempo parts are also inserted here and there. Unfortunately the vocals have a low volume that can be disturbing and actually the whole mastering is a bit too raw, definitely not what their music requires (just listen to the first track and try to get anything from that chaos). By their third track they become quite interesting and speaking for myself I would like to hear more of those heavy and catchy guitar leads. A duo that needs more work but that managed to release a good EP under precarious conditions I suppose. Get it only if you're able to ignore the unnecessary raw sound.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10
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Band: YANSEN / PAKISS / DIE NEBELKRAHE
Country: Germany / Germany / Germany
Title: Triumvirat
Label: Sturmglanz Black Metal Manufaktur
Year: 2012
Style: Black Metal / Black Death / Black Metal
Review:
It's always nice to get a pack from Sturmglanz, they tend to avoid traditional / standard formats for their releases and this new release is released as a digipack, too. Anyway, we're dealing here with a meeting of 3 one-man-bands from Germany, all hailing from Berlin, and except for Yansen, the other two are at their debut release here which is cool. Yansen opens up the battle with its mid-tempo to fast Black Metal with a few, scarce Folk influences, definitely less than on its previous releases. It sounds good, the compositions are interesting and the shamanic voice makes them more interesting but I say this will appeal more to Pagan Metal followers than to Black Metal ones. Pakiss is another interesting project from Berlin, but this time we're dealing with a much more aggressive music. Diversified and quite cathcy, without limitations to simple riffs or similar rhythm patterns, Pakiss's music is a nice surprise, I have enjoyed the two tracks featured here, excellent stuff right on my alley, watch out for its debut album to be released by Sturmglanz. Nebelkrahe (as listed on the cover) had to change its name due to a legal dispute with the Nebelkrahe band from Munich and is now Die Nebelkrahe. Fast, traditional Black Metal with less interesting parts than the two other bands but quite honest sounding and not amateurish at all. The acousit parts are a good addition to its music and the overall impression is of a call to battle or a description of some epic events. Ending this CD is a cover of Arkona's track "Rus", good but less atmospheric than the original.
A very good release by Sturmglanz presenting 3 of its upcoming releases. Recommended to any underground Black Metal followers.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10 8.5/10 7/10
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Band: YATTAI
Country: France
Title: Fast Music Means Love
Label: multiple
Year: 2013
Style: Grindcore
Review:
Ridiculos album title and cover artwork, I'd absolutely ignore it if browsing a mailorder, but the music on it is all that matters and in this case the music is top notch, a combination of traditional Grindcore with the new Thrashcore or Powerviolence genres. Most of the time fast paced, "Fast Music Means Love" has its fair share of groove and what matters the most it's quite intricate and well crafted, not just nonsense brutality. While enjoying these faster than allowed rhythms you'll be also able to taste some sick combinations and even lots of rhythm changes so even if the music flows naturally, you won't ever expect the next riff or rhythm. Fans of fast music, especially Grinders should definitely check out this album if they haven't yet.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10
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Band: ZIPPO
Country: Italy
Title: Maktub
Label: Subsound Records
Year: 2011
Style: Progressive Sludge Metal
Review:
Luxurious new release from Subsound, this third Zippo album is released as a digipack format (or better said lancing pack - just learned recently that this is different than digipack) with a huge 24 pages booklet that opens into a real poster including the lyrics on one side and the full cover artwork on the other. Music-wise this is experimental, progressive and psychedelic Sludge Metal, very well crafted, complex and mesmerizing. It is too modern for my taste, but if you're into Sludge Metal and/or Post Metal you will enjoy this album for sure, their highlights are a good variety of rhythms and riffs, crystal-clear recording, catchy atmospheres and a a honest, organic approach, nothing on this release is synthetic.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10
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