Band: MECHANICAL GOD CREATION
Country: Italy
Title: Artifact Of Annihilation
Label: WormHoleDeath Records
Year: 2013
Style: Technical Death Metal
Review:
Perfect name for a Technical Death Metal band with the mention that MGC are adding also a fair slice of melody to the pot as well. This is their second album and although I haven't listened to the first one I can say they are really mature and solid as a band. The 11 tracks included on this opus are very tight, curdled and at the same time complex and technical to a point where the guitar leads combined with the pounding drums are reaching insanity. Luciana, the female growler of MGC, does a very good job just being natural, I felt no trace of her trying more than she can, and she can really growl, her vocals are versatile and emanate emotions, nice job. Also the backing male growler does a good job by only interferring when needed. The guitars work is awesome and I can say it's the real highlight of this band although I like Luciana's vocals a lot, too. An album that deserves your attention if you're into technical yet melodic type of Death Metal.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10
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Band: MESRINE / SPOSA IN ALTO MARE
Country: Canada / Italy
Title: Grinders
Label: Grindfather Productions
Year: 2012
Style: Grindcore / Punk Grind
Review:
Opening this split are the highly active Grinders from Canada, Mesrine. Not that technical as one could expect from an Extreme Metal band from Quebec, Mesrine are not bad either, not that fast & brutal & nothing else band, we're treated with some catchy and quite varied guitar riffs, powerful bass lines and insane drumming, plus 2 grinding vocal tones. Very old-school but still fresh sounding, I like this band. Next are Sposa In Alto Mare, a Punk & Grind band from Italy. Simple riffs (combination of Punk and Grind riffs), fast drumming to blastbeats, punkish attitude, almost comprehensive vocals, ironic, funny lyrics I suppose. Well, all SIAM side is just for fun I guess, not really serious music; it's good for a couple of spins but it gets boring fast.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10 6/10
Contact:
Band: MUNRUTHEL
Country: Ukraine
Title: Epoch of Aquarius
Label: Svarga Music / Gardarika Muzikk
Year: 2012
Style: Folk Pagan Metal
Reviews:
„Epoch of Aquarius” is a reissue (2006 by Svarga Music and Gardarika Muzikk ) old Munruthel album from 2006. First version of this album sold out and and the new version was refreshed and completed by two covers taken from the contrare worlds: Dead Can Dance’s „Black Moon” (in CD edition) and Burzum’s „Tomhet” (in digiCD edition). „Epoch of Aquarious” is a pathetic (in the good version of this word) and technical mix of black metal, symphony black metal and folk influences. Munruthel is a known person of ukrainian pagan metal scene (he played in Nokturnal Mortum, Astrofaes, Lucifugum and Thundercraft). „Epoch of Aquarius” is just a combination the best part of ukrainian pagan/black metal with prog/folk elements. That’s good, that this material was re-released.
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 8.5/10
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Band: NAILGUN
Country: Germany
Title: New World Chaos
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2012
Style: Heavy Thrash Metal
Review:
I was honestly expecting a new Metalcore/Deathcore album from a band with such a name, but I''m glad I was wrong, German based Nailgun are a kick-ass combination of Heavy and Thrash Metal meaning the combination considered as the perfect balance between soft and extreme Metal. Nailgun actually combine more genres than that, they also add some Power Metal influences and a Progressive Metal direction to the whole, all these enveloped in a Dark Metal atmosphere and a Traditional Doom feeling at times, to name a few bands this album might lead your thoughts to would be too little, this is an explosion of influences and expressions and it's nice they managed to capture them all into a compact, solid release that will captivate your interest. This is Nailgun's second album and it shows the band's maturity, but it also lacks a bit of catchy moments, after a couple of spins you'll only remember the composition's complexity and maybe the sombre tone of the vocals and it's a pity since these guys are really good musicians. Recommended!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10
Contact:
Band: NEROCAPRA
Country: Italy
Title: Vox Inferi
Label: F.O.A.D. Records
Year: 2011
Style: Death Metal
Review:
Nerocapra means "black goat" but I still remember my first meeting with this band's music when I always used to call them Necrocapra, somehow this name seemed more natural for me. The band's debut album is made of 13 tracks totaling a bit more than 40 minutes of old-school, simplistic, mid-tempo to fast Death Metal. The good, old-school Hard Rock-like guitar solos are a good touch of originality although I'm notr sure they intended the solos to have such a "light" influence. Unfortunately the recordings are raw, demo-like, and give the impression of unfinished material, a more powerful drums tone and a more professional mastering would have given this album a more darker atmosphere. The music is ok but I like the old-school hoarse vocals more than anything on the album. Don't think Nerocapra will break any charts with "Vox Inferi" but old-school maniacs will most probably enjoy the raw sound and primitive structures (still complex rhythm changes are involved a lot).
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10
Contact:
Band: NIGHTBRINGER
Country: USA
Title: Death and the Black Work
Label: Forever Plagued Records
Year: 2012
Style: Black Metal
Review:
Released in 2008 by Full Moon Productions, Nightbringer's debut album was recently re-released in Double CD format by Forever Plagued Records, and I guess it was a big step forward for the label since the band is now signed with Season of Mist so naturally its popularity among Black Metal fans is/will make it an easy to sell material. Nightbringer's type of Black Metal could be described as dark, occult, fast, heavy and even brutal at times, a very combination that guarantees the respect of Black Metal fanatics looking for the most aggressive and terrifying bands in this genre. Even though the keybaords are omnipresent, they are used to intensify the foggy atmosphere; the vocals are most of the times screams, but also supported by growls here and there, the guitar leads are memorable even though not particularly complex, and the riffs are good reminders of the Norwegian type of Black Metal; the only unsatisfying part would be the drums sound, a bit too muddy. This is one of those albums you'll either love or hate but it won't leave you passive, that's for sure.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10
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Band: ODIUM
Country: Germany
Title: Beautiful Violence
Label: Noisehead Records
Year: 2012
Style: Thrash Metal
Review:
With no less than 5 self-released albums underbelt I'd say it was about time for Odium to be picked up by a label and that happened with this 6th full-length. I'm sure it's not easy to do it all by yourself for 20 years (the band was formed in 1993) and still keep the Metal flame burning, chapeau. There are 8 tracks on this disc totaling almost 40 minutes of traditional Thrash Metal with quite catchy choruses, powerful rhythm section, organic sounding vocals, headbanging riffs and above all some pretty rad guitar leads and solos, a real treat for any Traditional Metal fan out there. I only think that they could have used a second vocal, a more melodic sounding one for the choruses, Ralf is doing his best but he's more fit for the rough, aggressive parts than for melodies. Maybe they could experiment more with the female vocals appearing on "A Better Part of Me", I think the combination is awesome reminding me of the '90's Doom Death scene, especially My Dying Bride and Theatre of Tradegy (isn't that weird for a Thrash Metal band?). Yes, you guessed it right, this band doesn't stick to certain boundaries, they try to experiment a lot; you'll either love this album for its boldness, or hate it because of the rough vocals. At least it's not something you hear that often, but try to listen to the whole material before making your mind.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10
Contact:
Band: OPRICH / PIAREVARIACIEN / CHUR
Country: Russia / Belarus / Ukraine
Title: Triunity
Label: Casus Belli Musica
Year: 2012
Style: Pagan Folk Metal
Review:
„Triunity” is a conceptual split of three of slavonic important pagan metal bands from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. All of them played pagan folk metal based on folk and heavy/thrash sounds without blackmetal influences. Album includes a lot of authentic folk/neofolk elements with lyrics taken from slavic myths and a lot of typical for eastern pagan metal bands way pride of to be pagan slavs. However these tree bands has his own style characteristic for country, which they come from – Russian Oprich is the most pathetic pride with neofolk elements, belarussian Piarevariacien and ukrainian Chur focus on traditional songs converted to good drive folkmetal sounds. Summary this is what I expected.
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating summary: 8/10
Band: PREHISTORIC PIGS
Country: Italy
Title: Wormhole Generator
Label: Moonlight Records
Year: 2012
Style: Stoner Metal
Review:
Good name for a Stoner Rock/Metal band. Prehistoric Pigs are yet another new band (founded last year) releasing their debut album through Moonlight Records so it seems this label is into discovering and promoting new talent only. Based in Northern Italy (Udine) Prehistoric Pigs offer us 7 long tracks (long ones, 55 minutes of playing time) of instrumental Stoner Metal with low tuned guitar riffs, repetitive but structured on gradually ascending and descending rhythms, catchy and quite memorable, heavy as hell bass lines and good drumming. It actually sounds like a successful jam session performed by skilled musicians and is quite mesmerizing to be honest, although it has no innovative or original elements I found it hard to stop listening to it and that's what matters after all, the listener's pleasure and entertainment.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10
Contact:
Band: RISABOV
Country: Greece
Title: Rise
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2013
Style: Thrash Death Metal
Review:
Young band from Greece formed in 2008 but who managed to release their debut demo only this year even though the line-up had been stable so far. Maybe this one will unchain them and new releases will start flowing. Musicwise Risabov is a combination of odl-school Thrash and Death Metal with highlights on the good flow of Heavy Metal inspired guitar leads and leads, a dark vocal that sounds a bit unnatural and forced but fits in well with the rest of the instruments, and a good rhythm section that could have been more up front volume-wise. The compositions on the other hand are catchy, straight forward, diverse and portrait a band that works hard in the rehearsal room, a band that eager to progress. An uncompromising, honest album that probably won't break any charts but will give you almost 40 minutes of good Metal time.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10
Contact:
Band: SCENT OF DEATH
Country: Spain
Title: Of Martyrs's Agony and Hate
Label: Pathologically Explicit Recordings
Year: 2012
Style: Technical Death Metal
Review:
I know this band since the beginning of the 2000's when they released their debut EP. In the meantime they managed to unleash 2 full-length albums, this being their second, a 9 tracks effort totaling almost 40 minutes. My expectations were high since I know what were they capable of, and that even though they have recently parted ways with their drummer and vocalist. Scent Of Death is that kind of DeatH Metal band that blends in perfectly their technical skills and intricate song structures with melodic and catchy guitar solos and the end result is charming for any fans of fast, technical, brutal and still digestible Death Metal that on this album gives me the impression of a successful combination between Hate Eternal and Morbid Angel. Relentless, ruthless, oppressive, catchy, varied, well executed, that's how I can describe this bulldozer of an album. Scent Of Death reached an awesome level make sure you don't miss out on "Of Martyrs's Agony and Hate", I love it!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9.5/10
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Band: SHROUD OF THE HERETIC
Country: USA
Title: Boiled to Death
Label: Craneo Negro Records
Year: 2012
Style: Death Metal
Review:
Although I'm a fan of this genre, I think this revival of old-school, rough Death Metal is starting to get the scene a bit overcrowded by bands and I'm sure it will burst into mediocrity in short time. Fortunately Shroud Of The Heretic is one of those bands that will never get big audiences but I have to admit they sound exactly like this style should sound: raw, menacing, dark and organic, or to be more concise, the real deal. The young Portland based trio has managed to capture a heavy as shit sound on this debut EP although keeping it clear and comprehensive. The vocals are pushed in the back and used only as an enhancement of atmosphere, an inhuman addition to a horrifying soundscape. The compositions are pretty primitive although not lacking of rhythm changes, good guitar leads, solid drumming, thick bass lines and not being boring at all. Fans of cryptic, heavy and blasphemous Death Metal will certainly find this band as one that might win the test of time, especially if their upcoming full-length album will top this promising EP.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10
Contact:
Band: SILENT PATH
Country: Iran
Title: Mourner Portraits
Label: Hypnotic Dirge Records
Year: 2012
Style: Depressive Black Metal
Review:
Count de Efrit, the man behind this project, is also the mastermind behind Ekove Efrits, maybe a more known name to the public after having released 3 full-length albums so far. This new project is more on the depressive side of Black Metal, this nowadays so popular and almost anoying new sub-genre of Black Metal (anoying because there are way too many such one man bands popping out every day, and most of them with not much to prove). Anyway, this is its debut album, a 9 tracks effort totaling a bit more than 50 minutes of quite chaotic and mostly slow tempoed Depressive Black Metal with excellent potential, but an unreached potential because of the chaotic, too noisy recordings sound. You can almost feel the pain and melancholy the artist tried to express through this album, but honestly I cannot stand the noisy sound, it's too disturbing for me to get more into the atmospheres. Too bad... There are also some reviews printed in the booklet of this CD, reviews that have other thoughts than me describing this as a major hit, so it's up to you if you want to give Silent Path a chance.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6/10
Contact:
Band: SIROCCO
Country: Ireland
Title: Lambay
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2012
Style: Folk Heavy Metal
Review:
Third album coming from this Irish band, "Lambay" is made of 8 tracks totaling almost 40 minutes of playing. Sirocco describe their style as Celtic Heavy Metal and that's almost accurate as their music is based on Heavy Metal structures with a few Celtic-sounding guitar riffs here and there and that specific Celtic sound and timbre on vocals, but it also has Power Metal influences sprinkled all over. I would have liked the vocals to have a higher volume as they can barely cope with the instrumental part and that can become annoying for some. I also liked the addition of a short piano passage in the middle of this album, it supplements the overall atmosphere of this album, but on the other hand I found the Heavy Metal guitar riffs a bit too clichee and uninspired although well executed; the guitar leads compensate for that, though). I also felt like the band would have liked to add male choirs but they weren't able to for some reasons. Anyway, a solid release that won't bore you but it's definitely not the next big thing either.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10
Contact:
Band: SKON
Country: Slovakia
Title: At the End of a Journey
Label: Hexencave Productions
Year: 2010
Style: Doom Death Metal
Review:
Debut EP and so far the only release by this one man band from Slovakia, "At the End of a Journey" is made of 4 long tracks lasting for almost half an hour of '90's type of melancholic and quite depressive Doom Death Metal. Unfortunately the production is amateurish at a demo level, the vocal and guitar volume covering almost completely the rhythm section to a point where this becomes really annoying. After listening to this release a couple of times I can only say that the guy has pretty rad guitar skills and good vocal tone, but the sound doesn't do any justice here, mastering being almost non-existent. Ah, and another thing, while listening to the second track I thought the first one was repeating that's how similar they sound... Sorry to say but he needs more work before competing in the nowadays Doom Death scene.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6/10
Contact:
Band: SODOM
Country: Germany
Title: Epitome of Torture
Label: Steamhammer
Year: 2013
Style: Thrash Metal
Review:
That’s just Sodom, without any unescessary experiments, just pure thrash with rock’n’roll guitar solos. This one sentence could be completed this review so I would like to add short info that the drums sound like old school thrash fans need to, guitar’s drive give full energy for fast headbanging, Tom is screamed as a old, good times of Sodom... Just great thrash album, I feel younger after listening this stuff, heh... No need to write anything else, you have to turn it back on this disc. Forza Sodom!
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 9/10
Band: STRYNN
Country: France
Title: Decadence
Label: Mortis Humanae Productions
Year: 2013
Style: Black Metal
Review:
Young French trio founded in 2011, Strynn chose to use no bass in their music so we're dealing here with 2 guitarists and at the same time singers, and a drummer. Since it's a joint release between Le Crepuscule Du Soir and Mortis Humanae of course it's also a Black Metal release. Unfortunately the riffs are a bit dull sometimes and I know that's normal nowadays for a Black Metal band, but in this case I really think they can do better as they prove to have the ability to create some pretty catchy tunes. Now the alternation between male and female vocals is not that distinguishable like let's say in a Gothic Death Metal band, both of them have hoarse, raw shrieking vocals and while playing I really don't care who's who, they are both good. The atmospheres they manage to create without using any keyboards or bass lines is really impressive, cold, dark, haunting and almost terrifying, so I guess all in all we have a winner in Strynn, check them out!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10
Contact:
Band: SYMPTOM
Country: USA
Title: Beneath the Ossuary
Label: Craneo Negro Records
Year: 2012
Style: Doom Death Metal
Review:
This is not the band's debut album but a compilation of their first 2 EPs, Symptom and Descensus Morte, both released in 2011, totaling 10 tracks and a bit more than 50 minutes of playing, so you can also consider it as an album especially because for their cryptic, low tuned type of Doom Death Metal there not much more room for "improvement" when it comes to sound. Symptom's music reminds me of the '90's Doom Death Metal scene from Finland, extremely heavy, obscure, and versatile easily switching from crushing Crowbar-like doomy rhythms to fast and very fast pure Death Metal hysteria, from monotonous, thick sounding riffs to a sonic cage of hard hitting brutal ones supported by Swedish-like old-school guitar leads here and there. An interesting debut album from this US based project, I'm curious what the future holds for them.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10
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Band: SYNKLETOS
Country: Russia
Title: Spiritual Alchemy
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2011
Style: Melodic Doom Death Metal
Review:
Don't judge a book (or a CD in this case) by its cover; right, but I never learn... I thought Synkletos would be some sort of electro, ambient, shiny music that would bore me to death, but I was wrong. This is some sort of Melodic Doom Death Metal influenced by Heavy Power Metal and I've been listening to this album all day Today, for me it's a freakin'instant classic, one of the best releases I'had the chance to listen to this year! Spiritual Alchemy is emotional, involving, catchy, brilliantly composed, and in my books this is the perfect blend of aggressive, Doom Death Metal (with a depressive hint sometimes) with exceptional hopeful, calm and ethereal Heavy Power Metal structures. The guitars are amazing and never cease to astonish you with their technical and melodic solos and leads, the vocals appear rarely but enough to intensify the atmosphere and the same goes for the keyboards backgrounds, there only when you think the interesting parts are all done. I'm blown away by this duo and could not recommend it more to you too. Really guys, don't miss this album!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 10/10
Contact:
Band: TENEBROUS
Country: USA
Title: Opus Magnum
Label: Forever Plagued Records
Year: 2009
Style: Black Metal
Review:
Quite an old release since it was out in 2009, but it seems to be still actual for this duo as they haven't released anything else since then. This debut album is composed of 10 track totaling almost 45 minutes of fast and raw Black Metal with a pinch of melody coming from the guitar leads. There are some boring parts where I've lost interest because of the monotonous guitar riffs and sometimes even atonal song structures, but there are also some pretty good ones where the guitar riffs become more inspired and the keyboards make their way in. Except for the aggressive approach this album was not a blast for me but it was a demostration that this duo has potential. Too bad they have not released any new CD since 2009 to confirm my impression.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6/10
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Band: THE DEVILZWORK
Country: Australia
Title: Floodlights
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2010
Style: Industrial Metal
Review:
Second album made by The Devilzwork, is made of 8 tracks of disturbing Industrial Metal. Slow paced, modern sounding, well produced, "Floodlights" is sometimes atonal, sometimes very catchy and sometimes simply disturbing. Low tuned bass, heavy guitars, extreme, distorted vocals, and multiple synth additions, that's what makes from this album a hard to ignore release. I'd even compare it with the heavyness and groovy side of Doom Metal, at least some tracks are really Doomy, really destructive. Not my type of metal, for sure, but I'd still recommend it to you if you're into heavy Industrial Metal (not the commercial type).
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: -/10
Contact:
Band: THE GATES OF SLUMBER
Country: USA
Title: …The Awakening
Label: Abyss Records
Year: 2012
Style: Doom Metal
Review:
This is a re-release the band's debut album previously released by an obscure label, Final Chapter Records, back in 2004. Doom Metal is the name of the game here and more precisely traditional Doom Metal a la Black Sabbath. What I like about it is the fact that they keep the rhythms quite diversified (well, as much as this genre allows) so this is definitely not a monotonous release, but I would recommend it to die-hard Doomsters only, I don't think it has the force/ability to attrack other listeners. The sound is pretty good and rough also, the compositions are ok but without any spectacular elements, the vocals are Ozzy-like but less catchy and versatile, in the end only the guitar solos stand out from the rest, I would have loved them to be everywhere on this album, from start to finish.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10
Contact:
Band: THE WAY OF PURITY
Country: International
Title: Equate
Label: WormHoleDeath Records
Year: 2012
Style: Melodic Death Metal
Review:
One of the most controversial new names in the scene released their second opus 2 years after a well acclaimed debut album. 10 tracks in less then 40 minutes, a new effort that's even better that the first one, more melodic, more aggressive, and at the same time more balanced, the band reached their maturity with this "Equate": Death Metal guitar riffs, melodic guitar leads mixed with progressive leads, desperate, assaulting vocals supported by beautiful, warm female vocals, Swiss-clock rhythm section, heavy atmospheres and lots of Metal and not only sub-genres blended in a single unit. "Equate" is a very good release but after a couple of spins you find yourself wondering where you've listened to these riffs before. The progressive part of it makes it hard to digest, but I think the overall result is entertaining and interesting.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10
Contact:
Band: TOTENGEFLUSTER
Country: Germany
Title: Vom Seelensterben
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2013
Style: Symphonic Black Metal
Review:
It's almost unbelievable what can an unsigned band do production-wise nowadays if they really believe in their work and are devoted in making things happen for themselves. This debut album by Totengefluster comes with an impressive 20 pages booklet complete with exceptional artworks to better express their atmospheres, and if you know German language I'm sure these 10 tracks will be even more impressive and effective. Although being a trio the band managed to create some pretty deep and complex atmospheres on this album, each instrument bringing its own contribution to the final product: the vocals and keyboard work reminded me of Cradle Of Filth's versatility and expressiveness, the guitars are ranging from fast, traditional riffs to some more melodic leads, and the bass lines are very important for the whole, too. Honestly I think this album would have been brilliant at the end of the '90's but now I have no idea how many fans for this particular style of Black Metal are still out there after their fave bands betrayed them and went for more commercial goals. Anyway, I have enjoyed it and I would, of course, recommend this album if you're into Symphonic Black Metal with rich orchestrations.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10
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Band: UHRIRISTI
Country: Finland
Title: Maailma Palaa
Label: Mortis Humanae Productions
Year: 2013
Style: Black Metal
Review:
Uhriristi's debut EP really caught me by surprise and I was completely hooked by it at that time so I had big expectations from this full-length album and except for the quite weak and unpolished sound, I wasn't disapointed. Uhriristi ads to its mid-tempo to fast paced Black Metal some nice melodic touches like keyboard backgrounds and catchy guitar leads, but their highlight remains Rutto's desperate vocals, his vocals will differentiate this band from the rest in the future. The sound, as I said is unpolished, but the worst part is the snare drums sound, really annoying after a while. Anyway, if you're into Finnish Black Metal you'll certainly like this album although it has no stand out tracks like the previous EP had "Ikiuni".
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10
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Band: VINTAGE FLESH
Country: USA
Title: The Eyes That Glared at My Agonies
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2011
Style: Doom Black Metal
Review:
This is the debut album from Vintage Flesh (now known as Inverticrux) released in 2009 by the band. I have already reviewed their more recent works so I kind of knew what to expect. My extectations were confirmed, Vintage Flesh displays the same combination of Doom and Black Metal with horrific attitude, a bit more simple compositions than I was used to, a rawer recording sound, but with the same trademark vocals of Raypissed, vocals that deserve all your attention. If you'd like to hear a more extreme version of King Diamond then Vintage Flesh (and now Inverticrux, of course) is the right choice!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10
Contact:
Band: WITH BURNING CONTEMPT
Country: USA
Title: Red Visions
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2013
Style: Thrash Death Black Metal
Review:
With Burning Contempt is a new project based in Virginia, USA, founded last year by two guys who are still the whole line-up. This is their debut EP, one that you'll have trouble dating it 2013 and that's because of its direction: 100% old-school combination of Black, Thrash and even Death Metal, the primitive, '80's type, combined with a Rock'n'Roll attitude and a few such riffs as well. Red Visions is made of only 4 tracks and lasts for a bit more than 15 minutes, but that's quite enough to understand what they want and can express through their music: a rough, thrashy, aggressive, and cocky attitude. I would have liked it better with a bit more catchy and diverse riffs, but this is ok nonetheless, pluss I like the vocals a lot, the guy sounds like he can spit venom anytime while playing. If you're into the grandfathers of this genre (Celtic Frost, Venom, Hellhammer), check out this band.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10
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Band: WITHIN DESTRUCTION
Country: Slovenia
Title: From the Depths
Label: Noisehead Records
Year: 2012
Style: Melodic Death Metal
Review:
After reviewing the latest Nigromantia album and being struck by the very good production of the Noisehead Studio I was curious if this new Noisehead Records release was recorded in the same studio as it sounds tight as fuck, but it wasn't. This one is recorded in Austia, too, but in Massacre Studio. Anyway, great job! This yound Slovenian quintet released their debut album after a couple of years since their foundation it's nice to see how curdled and mature their compositions are. Their mostly fast paced Death Metal has some nice melodic leads all over the place, the vocals are versatile enough not to bore you, the drumming is Swiss-clock precise and the bass lines are very prominent, and if I add the fact that there are some tracks that have lots of memorable parts we get a kick-ass debut for a promising band. Sometimes the riffs are mediocre, a fact that can be improved in time, of course, but overall we're treated with very good quality Melodic Death Metal, go ahead and give it a try.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10
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Band: ZEPHYRA
Country: Sweden
Title: Kämpaglöd
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2013
Style: Heavy Metal
Review:
This Swedish band chose a totally different path than we were used to by Swedish bands so far, Zephyra are combining Heavy Metal with Thrash Metal and multiple melodic and even Alternative elements to create a strange hybrid, more like what the Americans (US) use to do. But although it sounds so strange it has a good flow, it's quite catchy and it might sparkle some interest. The female vocalist is their highlight displaying tonalities from raw, almost Black Metal sounding shrieks to enchanting, very feminine and melodic. The guitars are powerful and although bringing nothing new the collection of riffs and leads is successful, the rhythm section is nothing special either but right on the spot, nothing to object on execution, but unfortunately I really hate the male vocals, the pronounciation and even tonality are definitely not my cup of tea. Strange release, I would have liked it more if the sound would have beena bit more polished.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6.5/10
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