Abortification - Promo 2008
Bogrit - Kantot Ki Gadan
Claustrophobia - 2Thousand-Hate
Consumed - Demo
Cruel Criminal - Souldrain Enslavement
Dead Bodies Coprophilia - Human Feces Adoration
Disdained - We All Reek
Eviscerated - Rotten to the core
Extollo Noctis - Promo 2008
Facial Bite Wound - Ode To Emo
Frostmoon Eclipse - Another Face of Hell
Hyperion Blast - Forecasters of the Armageddon
Inbreeding Sick - Promo 2008
Infernal Scourge - Infernal Folklore
Intra Tenebrae - Alone and Insignifiant
Land Of Hate - Gener(H)ate
Liquid Skull - Abscessive Autopsy
Mithridatic - Dawn of Bitterness
Necro Nihilist Nausea - Six Feet Over Your Body
Noctem - God among slaves
Nofuck - Existenzminimum
Northdark - Fuck Your God
Pain Penitentiary - Organ Pit
Palingenesys - Burdening the Dead
Prayer Of The Dying - Structures of a Dying Matter
Self Mutilation - Promo 2008
Spermoclimax - Kapros
Vibrator Failure - Rectors Rectum Racoon
Warnament - Executional Order
Zora - Gore
Zora - U.V.A.
Band: ABORTIFICATION
Country: Finland
Title: Promo 2008
Label: Misery Records
Year: 2008
Style: Slamming Guttural Death Metal
Review:
What can I say? I'm glad I have the chance to review this promo. Abortification seems to be yet another great export of the Finnish brutal death metal scene. They have just started out, this is their first attempt, but one can clearly see a huge potential in these 4 very young guys. They have here 3 tracks of brutal, mostly mid-tempo slamming death metal with gutural vocals, but the bad part of it it's the duration, only a bit less than 8 minutes... So there's not much to review, but at least I got a clue of what path they want to follow for the future. The sound isn't the best around, but the music captured my attention so much that I've listened this demo numerous times: mid-tempo combined with fast rhythms, a lot of groove, good execution and composition (although on some places something is still missing), ultra guttural vocals, catchy riffs and a powerful rhythm section. Abortification will have for sure a huge impact with their upcoming material. Try checking this band out if you're into brutal death metal, you won't loose your time.
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Band: BOGRIT
Country: Philippines
Title: Kantot Ki Gadan
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Raw Gore Grind
Review:
Bogrit is a duo from The Philippines labelling their music raw gore grind. Raw it is for sure and I bet my balls that only the innitiated would have the guts and solid ears to resist to even an EP made by these sickos. I don't really know if the promo I got from them is named "Kantot Ki Gadan" or what that means in their language, but anyway, I'm makin' a review on their music. I have here 10 tracks, 8 of them home-recorded with awful, raw, disturbing sound, one I think in their rehearsal room and one again in studio, but with a slightly better approach on sound. The tempo is mostly fast to hyper-fast and even slow sometimes, using machine-drums, quite simple and chaotic guitars, no bass at all, ultra-guttural, deep vocals, not powerful but rather cavern-like. It's a band definitely not recommended to all of you, but only to the most sick and mad underground gore grind collectors. From all these 10 tracks the one that catched my attention the most was the second one where you can actually hear some attempts on creating good riffs, and also some tracks have movie cuts as intros which is a good thing in my opinion, and I think they should go more on that road. The rehearsal track has real drums in it (I think) and sounds pretty good. Another hint for them, hehe.
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Band: CLAUSTROPHOBIA
Country: Italy
Title: 2Thousand-Hate
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Thrash Death
Review:
Debut demo of this Italian thrash death metal band, "2Thousand-Hate" present us 5 powerful tracks, not original at all, but well crafted so that if you're into this old-school Thrash Death Metal with Death and Hardcore influences, you won't get bored. I think the drums are made on coputer, or if not they have a weak sound which is not that good for such a band. The drum composition is good and requires good skills to be performed, that's for sure, but their sound have no power to sustain the killer guitars-vocals combination. They should work on it more on future releases. About the guitars, they are not sophisticated at all, but manage to produce some good, memorable rhythms, especially on the fourth track, "Leviathan". The highlight of this band seems to be the vocalist, Niccolo. Awesome voice, not using growls, but instead understandable vocals filled with force and power. I think I'm repeating myself a lot about this "power" thing, but that's all such a band needs and I think Claustrophobia can aquire that if they work more on the sound quality of future releases. The last track of this demo is a Sepultura cover, "Territory", which I don't like at although it has a correct execution. Guess why I don't like it...the sound again...too soft. Anyway, I think seeing this band live would be a great experience.
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Band: CONSUMED
Country: USA
Title: Demo
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Slamming Brutal Death Metal
Review:
Wow, this is a one-man-band, and a good one I might say. Chris, the man behind Consumed does a very brutal and at the same time technical job here. 3 tracks lasting for a bit more than 10 minutes, but although it's strange, these 3 tracks let you space to make yourselves an idea of what he wants. The music is mid-paced to fast slaming brutal death metal with fast drum-machine, very technical guitars (Chris knows how to handle the aggressive, ultra fast riffs and leads), guttural vocals, catchy rhythms, all that a fan of this genre would need. The sound of these tracks is a pretty good one, and although it is nothing special here there's plenty of reasons one should check out this band (or project?). I also tasted the good film cuts at the beginning of the second and third track. This one can reach higher levels for sure.
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Band: CRUEL CRIMINAL
Country: Italy
Title: Souldrain Enslavement
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Technical Death Black
Review:
To be honest when I got this album I thought Cruel Criminal is a new emerging Italian and, but it seems I was wrong, wrong big time, as they were formed back in 1994, so they have almost 15 years of existence now. God dammit, I've never heard of them. Maybe because they were focused more on their domestic scene and to make themselves a name inthere. Well, this is their debut album, after some demos and promos released before and i have to admit it is a pretty good piece of metal. Cruel Criminal is a technical blend of old-school death metal with some black and thrash elements. Very good instrumentists, very aggressive music, mostly fast (the drums are the leading piece in intensity), good evilish atmosphere, good vocals, both growls and black metal shrieks, melodic elements (exactly the right amount), correctly fitted guitar solos, but they are still missing something to be a revelation in the worldwide scene and I cannot figure it out what. Anyway, adding the clean, powerful sound, you get a very good album, recommended to all of you into death black spiced with technical elements. Hope they'll make it to get a good label deal as they deserve to be listened more. Unfortunatelly this album is limited to 500 copies from which only 200 are for sale... Don't know why.
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Band: DEAD BODIES COPROPHILIA
Country: Italy
Title: Human Feces Adoration
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Porn Gore Grind
Review:
How can I describe to you this sound? Just think at a combination of: old bad tape, earthquakes, dying, mad massive animals, disgust, merciful. Again, as in Bogrit's case, this band is only recommended to the sickest collectors out there. The sound is almost non understandable at all, the guitars are almost inexistent, but I think the highlight (if I may call it this way) of DBC are the vocals. I can't remember last time I've heard such animal-like distorted vocals and to be honest I like 'em. The EP is 6 tracks and lasts for less then 6 minutes, but it's enough to scare you. Don't really understand the porn part of their style definition, but it might be something from the lyrics, who knows? Hopefully they'll have a better overall sound on the next release to hear some riffs too. But the vocals rule the whole thing, yet again.
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Band: DISDAINED
Country: Serbia
Title: We All Reek
Label: Filthy Records
Year: 2008
Style: Brutal Technical Death Metal
Review:
Young band from Serbia formed in December 2006 strongly influenced by the american brutal death metal hordes lead by Suffocation or Deeds Of Flesh. Disdained will release this year their first official album, "We All Reek", and this one is the advance for it. 2 studio recorded tracks and a videoclip you should definitely check. This is a very good quintet with high class instrumental skills and a vocal that ranges from brutal death metal vocals to guttural ones or high-pitched screams. The instrumental part is mostly fast, but it's so well composed it makes you want more: insane drummings, technical guitar riffs, tight composition. The videoclip also is of very good quality, very enjoyable. Can't wait for the album to be released. Be sure not to miss this band as it has good chances to break some bones in the European metal scene! I mean it!
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Band: EVISCERATED
Country: Spain
Title: Rotten to the core
Label: Self-released
Year: 2005
Style: Brutal Death Metal
Review:
Eviscerated started sometime in 2005, but activated under a different moniker until December 2006. This is their debut demo, but unfortunatelly it has only 2 tracks and lasts only a bit more than 4 minutes, so there's not at all enough playing time to enjoy it, and that because they have horror flicks cuts introducing each track. From what I hear this is a brutal mid-tempo death gore metal band (with some fast rhythms included also) with deep, guttural vocals. The sound is good for a first effort, but a bit more work on execution would have been better. I like the fact they have recorded real drums. The mastermind behind Eviscerated is Carlos, guitarist and vocalist; I hope he'll work more in the future as 2 tracks in almost 2 years is not sufficient at all for a band that wants to make it... And this is their only demo... Record a new one, guys!
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Band: EXTOLLO NOCTIS
Country: New Zealand
Title: Promo 2008
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Black Metal
Review:
Extollo Noctis is a one-man project from New Zealand of the person named Marcus Handley. I think is the first ever release from this country that I have the chance to review.
I have here 3 tracks that compose this Promo. I don't really know if it's an official release, but as I have received it I'm reviewing it. It's aggressive black metal, mostly fast, with rough sound, recorded at home I think, with drum-machine, of course. I don't like the intro, it's a slow display of guitars and drums, but although it has less than a minute it's a bit boring and too simplistic, plus it has some mistakes in execution. The next track, "Depopulation", follows with a faster rhythm and although the guitars are again simplistic, they manage to create a bit of atmosphere, and the track becomes quite good, but, and there's a "but" here too, some themes I think are becoming overused sometimes. The third track "The Eerie Dark of Night" begins very well, with some very good structured guitar riffs, but (again) it falls into mediocrity when Marcus inserts an attempt to do a guitar solo which fails badly.
Overall what should I say, there are some good ideas, Marcus should work more on his tracks and at the moment just keep it simple and straigth-forward as the fast parts are executed well. Recommended to those of you into raw underground black metal.
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Band: FACIAL BITE WOUND
Country: USA
Title: Ode to Emo
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Industrial Punk Grind
Review:
With such a label for their music as Industrial Punk Grind I think I got you confused big time, haha. But FBW is exactly that, a combination of punk attitude and sound, grind rhythms and madness, and industrial elements all over. The sound is pure filth unfortunatelly. I would have enjoyed a lot such an interesting combination, but the sound doesn't allow that. It's frustrating to hear it with no mastering at all, but that's how it is, hope the twis floridian duo will work more on this aspect on future releases. The problem is at times the sound is crystal clear, but it shortly becomes a mess, hope this is not how they wanted it to be. In stead I like their ideas of industrial madness and total chaos combined with ground breaking grind parts and technlogic inserts. 5 tracks, almost 12 minutes, not boring at all, but recommended only to those of you with strong ears and opened to strange experiments. Hope to get a better recorded material from these guys soon to really enjoy it.
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Band: FROSTMOON ECLIPSE
Country: Italy
Title: Another Face of Hell
Label: Iso666 Releases / War Flagellation Prod.
Year: 2007
Style: Black Metal
Review:
Now this is a good release! Frostmoon Eclipse is an already known name in the black metal underground especially for their experiments in the acoustic, ambient field. This album comes after two years of acoustic try-outs and was conceived in one year and a half. What can I say, we're dealing with a grim black metal band influenced by the Norse scene, but with plenty of groove in it, plenty of acoustic, extremely catchy parts, great atmosphere, simple execution, yet quite complex when you take it as a whole. This is a ot-to-miss product for all black metalheads out there. It has a good sound, good production, excellent atmosphere, so why miss it?
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Band: HYPERION BLAST
Country: USA
Title: Forecasters of the Armageddon
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Stoner Doom Metal
Review:
I think this band was formed in 2007, but on their myspace profile (which is their official site as well, I guess) there's nothing to ensure us of that, so I'll take this for granted. This one here is their 4 tracks debut Demo, a display of good quality stoner metal combined with hardcore and doom metal, all in exactly one second more than 10 minutes, haha. Their music really makes you bang your head without even know it, but again, as many other now emerging underground metal bands, they ahve the same sound problem. The vocals are somehow too in the back of the instrumental part. Those are powerful vocals, they should be more in front, to lead the whole thing. But here basically the guitars are doing more than half of the job. Not to forget the rhythm section, pretty simple but effective. Good band, hope to hear a better recorded material soon.
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Band: INBREEDING SICK
Country: Colombia
Title: Promo 2008
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Guttural Death Metal
Review:
Brutal death metal band from Colombia, Inbreeding Sick, are presenting here 2 tracks taken from their upcoming debul full-length. Technically this is their second demo CD since their formation, back in 2004. The other discographic achievements of this band are a split with the Italian Bomberos and some appearances on compilations, but despite all that they have a quite good name in the brutal death metal underground, which is great, it means they can truly promote the band.
Musically speaking Inbreeding Sick is a low-guttural vocal fronted deaath metal band with very fast rhythms, distorted guitars, drum-machine (unfortunatelly in some parts those are really distrubing)and strong bass lines. The compositions are really solid and monstruous, if i may say so. In their music brutal means brutal and fast means fast, so a very sincere band. I like it. Be sure to check out their debut album for some filthy, bad-ass brutal death metal. Ah, this promo CD also includes a videoclip for the track "Inbreeding Sick" with scenes taken from concerts and two bloody bitches lustfully kissing during all the clip. :) I think one of them is on the CD cover as well...
Contact:
Band: INFERNAL SCOURGE
Country: USA/Bahrain
Title: Infernal Folklore
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Melodic Black Metal
Review:
This is a project of Malek Arthas Hijazi, an american that now lives in Bahrain, started in 2004. At first he created neoclassical music, then he started experimenting and added lots of black metal influences to his music. I have here 3 advanced songs from what will be his first album, "Infernal Folklore", 3 songs from which one is 16 minutes and another 20 minutes long! The best part is the tracks are not boring at all, with frequent tempo changes (passing through slow, mid and fast tempo), interesting ideas and captivating atmosphere. The keyboards are playing a big role in Infernal Scourge's music, creating an epic, dark musical jurney. The vocals are aggressive (plus some clean vocals here and there), in the back of all instrumentation, the drum-machine follows mostly a fast tempo, and the guitars, although most of the time into the black metal space, have some incursions into the death metal fields. "The Wrath of God ..." is an excellent piece of epic black metal, and although it lasts for a bit more than 20 minutes, it's very well structured and executed. Good job, Malek.
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Band: INTRA TENEBRAE
Country: UK
Title: Alone and Insignifiant
Label: Svartgalgh Records
Year: 2008
Style: Misanthropic Raw Black Metal
Review:
I don't know when this project was started, but I know it's meant to be one of the rawest around. I've listened to some tracks on their myspace profile before and all of them are recorded live at the rehearsal room with raw, unmastered sound. What I have here is an upcoming EP of Intra Tenebrae, but it's composed by only one song, the title track, a song lasting for over 23 minutes. This one starts pretty bad, hilarious I would say, as the initial vomited vocals are only succeeding to induce an impression of childish approach. So it continues, with slow, very simple and boring riffs/drummings but arond the 9th minute the track becomes aggressive, fast and quite enjoyable if you're an old-school raw black metal maniac. It goes ahead with another slow, uninspired part, and oh so simple, but it ends fast and furious. I like the fact that although risking to have multiple mistakes, the EP has live recorded drums, not drum-machine. My suggestion would be to use less of those slow parts or to work on them, and concentrate more on the aggressive ones which are pretty neat, excepting the sound. Maybe I'm not that much into that style, but you always have their myspace profile to taste it.
Contact:
Band: LAND OF HATE
Country: Italy
Title: Gener(H)ate
Label: Self-released
Year: 2007
Style: Thrash Death
Review:
Land Of Hate is an Italian band formed in 2005 with the aim of creating massive thrash death metal in the old school way, without any compromises or "new" touches. They ahve already released a MCD before this one, which I don't know how was received, but normally a second release should be a step forward for any band, from all points of view. For my shame, I've never heard of the band before I got this CD although they have received numerous reviews and interviews during those 3 years of existence and are distributed by multiple labels all over the world. Well, I'm glad I have the chance to know them now. As I was saying "Gener(H)ate" is their second MCD, a 5 tracks effort that lasts for a bit more than 16 minutes. It is massive thrash death what we're dealing with here, powerful music with lots of enjoyable rhythms, nothing spectacular but quite catchy if you're into the 90's thrash death movement. The tempo is fast and aggressive overall, the sound is a pretty good one, the music is not boring at all, so here are the ingredients you should keep in mind and give this band a listen. The MCD will be licenced and distributed in many countries so there's a big chance you'll find it in your local mailorder. As a conclusion, good job, Land Of Hate.
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Band: LIQUID SKULL
Country: USA
Title: Abscessive Autopsy
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Old School Death
Review:
I never, never did long, filled with many unnecessary metaphors and shit, I just said what I thought of a material or another and believe me, I've done hundreds, maybe thousands of 'em along the years. This has nothing to do with the review, just felt I should make a little confession here, haha.
Now back to this demo, it has 4 tracks and lasts for just a little less than 15 minutes, but the best thing is that is you listen to it more times you don't get bored and every time you find new things that passed unobserved the previous times. That's great! Liquid Skull's music takes me back to the early '90's releases, both American and European (mostly Swedish) death metal stuff. I would say it's a combination of old school Unleashed/Dismember/Autopsy with strange vocals, not deep growls as we're used to nowadays, but rather evilish ones a la old school black thrash scene. They are not a band that tries to be nor the sickest nor the most technical around, they keep their focus on the old-school feeling and so creating some quite catchy riffs/rhythms. This demo has a good sound, maybe not the most powerful one that such a band deserves, but definitely one that allows you to make yourself a honest opinion on what they can do. I give them the thumb up for sure.
Contact:
Band: MITHRIDATIC
Country: France
Title: Dawn of Bitterness
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Black Death Metal
Review:
Mithridatic, what a strange name, and pretty hard to memorize, at least for me. Eh, whatta hell, who cares?
The band was formed at the end of 2006 as a Black Death quintet. This is their first effort, a 4 tracks demo that lasts for almost 24 minutes, so quite some long tracks. Its sound is not perfect, but it allows you to make yourselves an idea of this band. About the music, hmmm, what to say, it's great! Very, very technical, very brutal, very complex, filled with good ideas, supported by an awesome vocal part! Can I say more? This is simply a great band! Everyone of these 5 guys are great on their instruments: groundbreaking blasting drums supported by a strong bass line, insane guitar riffs, and extremely complex vocals, all this to raise chaos. Their intensity made me think of Belphegor, but Mithridatic (man, I have to look up to write their name) is reaching more styles and one can hear even insertions of deathcore. Strongly recommended to all of you!
Contact:
Band: NECRO NIHILIST NAUSEA
Country: Italy
Title: Six Feet Over Your Body
Label: Self-released
Year: 2007
Style: Electro Industrial Death Metal
Review:
One of the strangest musical projects I had the chance to listen to in a long time, NNN come from Italy, and it's a two pieces project formed just one year ago. They settled to play industrial electro death metal which at first sight I never thought would captivate me so much, especially because I'm not such a good friend of industrial music. But what they did on this almost half an hour demo it's absolutely great, it's art! Don't want to say big words on them, but this CD it's perfect for my tastes. It is based on lots of horror flicks cuts spiced with many, many effects, fast, brutal death metal parts (the growling vocals are few and almost in the background), atmospheric keyboard backgrounds, and the impression they create is of pute terror and desperation. Cold, fear, dark, insanity, those are the words that come to my mind when listening these 6 tracks. There are no guitars except the very distorted bass lines here and there. Awesome stuff, I cannot wait for a new release of these guys. You should check them out too, only to listen to something new and interesting.
Contact:
Band: NOCTEM
Country: Spain
Title: God Among Slaves
Label: Self-released
Year: 2007
Style: Black Death Metal
Review:
Man, I'm surprised how come a band like that doesn't get a label deal and they have to release their stuff by themselves. The only explaination would be that they are too picky when it comes to signing and they want something to really take them more levels up.
Noctem comes from Spain, it was founded in 2001 and since then they have remained at the status of Demo or EP band. That's a shame... They have one demo out, one live MCD and this debut official MCD. Talking about the latest one I can say it has a lot of good points in its favour. The music really creates an atmosphere that reminds me of the old Cradle Of Filth/Hecate Enthroned albums, but on thrash/death basis. They have really good skills on instruments and the tracks are structured the way it gives you an impression of tightness, of well-tought and extremely well rehearsed compositions. There are even some female chorus but they don't diminish at all the whole aggressivity of this product. Or the keyboard background, barely notable, but so important. A band with high potential, the only thing that I would change is the pronounciation and I would give it a more powerful sound. Definitely recommended!
Contact:
Band: NOFUCK
Country: Italy
Title: Existenzminimum
Label: Self-released
Year: 2007
Style: Thrash Metal
Review:
Nofuck comes from Italy and was formed back in 1997, so they are not a young band as I thought (for my shame). Nofuck is a pretty experienced four pieces band with 5 official released up until now. This one is their sixth effort, a thrash metal assault, very fast and aggressive, with a punkish attitude attached, a very powerful music that would have deserved a more powerful sound, especially on drums. This music is meant to go live better than on CD, I bet their concerts are filled with rage. To me it reminded of the old Machine Head or even old Pantera, so you know what to expect from them. The best thing here, in my opinion, although the group is a pretty curdeled one, are the guitar riffs and the old-school voice, though not exploited at its full potential. I think these guys are capable of doing better, but I'm not saying this is a weak album, they just need a stronger production. If you're into the '80's or even '90's dirty thrash metal scene, Nofuck will be a good band to look for.
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Band: NORTHDARK
Country: Russia
Title: Fuck Your God
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Fast Black Metal
Review:
Northdark comes from Russia and was started out by S.N., a former member of Cerber, back in 1999. In 2008 he's joined by Hostis on drums and the first tracks are recorded. So here we have a first demo containing 5 tracks of extremely fast, uncompromising black metal with anti-christian themes in lyrics. Brutality found a good place to throne in Northdark, as these two guys are so angry on everything, their music is a continuous assault on your eardrums, but it has it's slow parts too, like in the fourth track. Don't know how much inspired are those passages, honestly I prefer the fast, demonic ones. The bass has a weird, quite shitty sound, so that should be perfected on their next release, but the rest is exactly in the tone it should be, raw, dirty sound that allows you to get into the atmosphere. A project that has potential in the underground black metal, hope they will resolve their sound problems and the instrumental execution will be better on the next release (on this one there are a lot of mistakes in handling the guitars).
Contact:
Band: PAIN PENITENTIARY
Country: UK
Title: Organ Pit
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Death Metal
Review:
To be honest when I got this CD I thought I will have to review a joke band because of the crappy (in my opinion) cover artwork and logo. Those are just childish and a band like Pain Penitentiary deserves a lot better, that's for sure. I have no background info about this band and their Myspace profile doesn't help much either, so I will stick to this demo CD. The trio beging its material with a quite generic mid-tempo intro that doesn't give you much clues on what to expect from them, but from the second track on the serious business begins: fast, brutal death metal with double vocals, blasting drums and interesting, catchy guitar riffs and some solos here and there. There are some drum grooves too, but all in all this is a standard brutal death metal material correctly executed and enjoyable. "Don't judge a book by it's cover", this is a serious band with good potential, too bad there are only 16 minutes of playing inhere. A CD that will certainly hit my player again. Keep on doing your thing guys, this is the right way.
Contact:
Band: PALINGENESYS
Country: Italy
Title: Burdening the Dead
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Technical Death Metal
Review:
Strange name, weak logo, never heard of them: all ingredients for me to expect at most an average band. But once again the saying "don't judge a book by its cover" proves to be true, and I'm glad of it. Palingenesys is yet another virtuoso technical death metal band with good ideas. The fact that makes them a promising band except the damn insane guitarists is the brutality they play every track and the thing that drags them down are the vocals, old-school US thrash death with little or no link with the instrumental part, and their volume is mixed too loud. The drums are programmed if I'm not mistaking, or their mixing was not that successful, so that's another minus, but if their drummer can cope with such rhythms, well, this is a great band. They have the necessary skills to do better, but this album only proves us that they are great instrumentists, without being curdled and tight as it should be. The highlights of this band are the two guitarists, Nicolo and Stefano, they can create both "bangable" riffs and very technical, crazy rhythms. The seventh track brings a more enjoyable vocal part, more evil than forced to growl, and I think that suits them better.
Contact:
Band: PRAYER OF THE DYING
Country: Malta
Title: Structures of a Dying Matter
Label: War Flagellation Prod.
Year: 2007
Style: Black Death Metal
Review:
Another one-man band, and yet another good surprise. POTD has been around since 2006, but it has been very active releasing several tapes, slits and tapes. This is the debut album and it's already sold out. I don't know how many copies they did, but it's a shame as this should reach as many dark followers as possible. POTD is an old school black metal project run by Martin Ciappara, which after experimenting with various bands decided he would go for himself and create what he desires. And he did it, I have here POTD's debut album, a combination of many styles, but with majestic old-school black metal as basis. The album is quite complex in its 43 minutes, it ranges from furious black metal parts to atmospheric, sad and doomy parts. It's not pretentious or technical, it's more based on atmosphere, on creating tormenting feelings, so although the instrumentation is pretty simple, the mixture of all those rhythms and ideas gave me the impression I deal with a very well worked album. The vocals are raw, almost growlings (combined with some few screams and even choirs here and there), but very much in the background of all music; maybe that's how Mario wanted it to be, but I would prefer a better, more powerful sound on vocals though. A good project if you're looking for some atmospheric raw metal.
Contact:
Prayer Of The Dying
War Flagellation Prod.
Band: SELF MUTILATION
Country: USA
Title: Promo 2008
Label: Cause of Death
Year: 2008
Style: Brutal Death Metal
Review:
Self Mutilation comes from California, USA, and was formed one year ago as a trio. Now, according to their Myspace profile, their have a second guitarist, but the promo I got from them is recorded as a three-piece. This I think is the promo to their debut to be released on Cause Of Death Records. 3 tracks lasting for less than 6 minutes, but three tracks that give you the exact idea of what Self Mutilation wants to do in the future, meaning straigth to the bone brutal death metal with great technical guitar riffs (Angel Martinez really knows how to handle his guitar and he's very good when it comes to composition), fast to ultra-fast rhythm section and guttural vocals (sometimes the bassist, Andy, joins with the voice too). The sound isn't that good, but for a rehearsal (I think these tracks are recorded at the rehearsal room) is quite ok. There are some minor mistakes in execution, too. This promo reminds me of North Carolina's Malebolgia debut from five years ago meaning a great hope for the extreme death metal scene. Hope Self Mutilation will release more materials along the years and hope to hear from this band again very soon. Definitely recommended! At least check their myspace until the debut CD is out. The band has recently changed name into Entrails Gorged.
Contact:
Band: SPERMOCLIMAX
Country: Ukraine
Title: Kapros
Label: Self-released
Year: 2005
Style: Grind Gore
Review:
Spermoclimax is a Grind Gore band formed in 2005 in Ukraine. This is their first and only demo so far (strange, isn't it?), containing 8 tracks in a bit more than 11 minutes. Filthy gore grind with some Californian brutal death metal influences in guitars. It's start, although it has some pretty good rhythms and guitar riffs, it's all ruined by some squicky kind of vocals that makes you think this is nothing more than a joke band. And this not to say anything about the nose made sounds that again are just hilarious. Beside that, the guttural kinds of vocals are pretty good and in my opinion they should stick to those because they managed to create some simple, but catchy rhytms here and it's a pity not to take this serious. Hope to hear some new stuff from this band and hope they got rid of those clown like vocals.
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Band: VIBRATOR FAILURE
Country: Greece
Title: Rectors Rectum Racoon
Label: Self-released
Year: 2008
Style: Porn Death Metal
Review:
Vibrator Failure was created at the end of 2007, this is their first efort so far and it's pretty interesting and praiseworthy they are giving it for free. In fact they gave it for free as all the 300 copies are now all distributed, which is a great promotion for the band. Good job, guys! The band says the line-up is not stable at all and that's the reason they will not play live, and I guess Takis is the main man behind it because he's in charge of the bass, the vocals and all the effects (which are not few, I tell you). First of all this is a very enjoyable CD if you're not a fuckin' retard who only accept sad, "I kill everything", "fuck this life" kind of music, or major mainstream bands. I have read a review before from a guy that cursed his life for receiving this CD. If you're a moron and can't accept all CDs that come to you for reviews just get another job, idiot! Sorry about that, but that review really pissed me off. Those moguls of major metal zines (almost every magazine has one that's smarter than anyone else) who think they know it all should be erased. Now back to the CD, Vibrator Failure treats us with a 14 minutes dose of porn death rock with some grinding touches here and there. They know how to create funny music filled with porn movies cuts (maybe there are too many, though). The music is simple, enjoyable, with no pretentions to be the next revelation in the metal scene, they are doing it for fun and you must know it before you take a listen. I would prefer a bit more powerful sound on vocals and a more decisive approach as they seem too shy. The seventh track has even some special guest doing vocals on 3 tracks: a chick that recites something in French on the grinding "Nail-clipper Showel", a guy that does clean vocals on the rockish, groovy "Slut Certificate" and another guy invited on the hidden track "Drowning in Faggots" (the CD has 10 tracks listed, but after the 10th track ends there's a silent pause and then the 11th begins). I like this band and am waiting for some new stuff asap.
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Band: WARNAMENT
Country: Macedonia
Title: Executional Order
Label: Self-released
Year: 2007
Style: Thrash Metal
Review:
Man, what an awful vocal part this Demo has... The vocalist, I don't know, seems like he never rehearsed with the band before. He has some good vocal qualities, but he simply cannot follow the instrumental part as he should and seems he has no rhythm. At least from my point of view this ruins it all for the band. The instrumental part is very good: old-school thrash metal with memorable rhythms, well-crafted structures, tight composition and very powerful approach. I like it a lot, it's like listening to a mid eighties Bay Area thrash album, and a strong one. The mostly strong mid-tempoed Warnament's music has also some slow guitar-lead parts and even some keyboard background insertions. The ideas are all long-time used by other bands before, but still this is an enjoyable band. It seems the vocal has left the band, sorry for him, but he was not suitable for it; it's better to think this way instead of thinking he never rehearsed with the band before these recordings were made, haha. Hope the new one has more balls.
Personal fave track: "Slow and Painful Death".
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Band: ZORA
Country: Italy
Title: Gore
Label: Self-released
Year: 2007
Style: Death Metal
Review:
Man, this is the debut album of the Italian sickos from Zora, and right from the start it explodes into a whirlwind of extreme technical violence. This album will blast you away! If I said the previous MCD "U.V.A." had a good sound, this one has an extremely good one, it's great! 2 years after the release of "U.V.A." Zora unleashes an even more powerful material. The changes are notable, the band is more furious, more technical, more precise and extreme. The mixing and mastering of this album is great also, the music is extremely captivating, that makes this CD one of the top CDs I ever got from Italy (and there were plenty!). The vocals remain in the same tonality, mostly guttural with some screams to make the whole even more intense. Highly recommended to all of you! Two thumbs up!
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Band: ZORA
Country: Italy
Title: U.V.A.
Label: Malicious Intent Records
Year: 2005
Style: Death Metal
Review:
Zora comes from Italy, was formed in 2004 (I think) by two members of Glacial Fear and one of their friends, so this is a trio. After releasing one Demo CD and a Split with Traunagain, Zora released this MCD containing 6 tracks that last for a bit more than 21 minutes. 21 minutes of sheer technical brutality that will blow your mind; technical, fast guitars, blasting, violent rhythm section and great guttural vocals, that is enough to create a superb MCD. Although they choose the old-school way of death metal they are enough brutal and complex to catch the attention of the new fans as well. The presentation of the CD is professional, as much as the sound is, so no worries on this side, too. 6 tracks of unrelenting and uncompromising brutal death metal very recommended to all of you. Just check this band out, you won't regret it.
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