Band: MAJESTIC DOWNFALL
Country: Mexico
Title: The Blood Dance
Label: My Kingdom Music
Year: 2011
Style: Doom Death Metal
Review:
Majestic Downfall has been bringing the depressing punch of Doom/Death Metal since 2006. We all know that Mexico is home to some of the most horrific brutality in metal for several years, as well as many other things! The style of Doom/Death that spews from Majestic Downfall is very heavy, depressing, and at times can be emotional when you really get into the record. Anyway, with the most recent opus, "The Blood Dance", the band has stayed to their roots. From the ashes comes an album of old school mentality added with the elements of today's more modern style of metal. Either way this is a great Doom/Death record and being a one man project doesn't hinder the potential at all. Tracks like "From Black to Dead" and "Dimension Plague" really deliver the goods as far as the technical depression goes. This is great for the hardcore fans of Doom/Death Metal and Majestic Downfall keeps to the tradition that is for sure. There a total of 8 songs giving over an hour of playing time, plenty of heaviness for the metalheads!
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 8/10
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Band: MESSENGER
Country: Germany
Title: See You in Hell
Label: Massacre Records
Year: 2011
Style: Heavy Metal
Review:
Germany's Messenger has been around since 1990, 22 years already since their formation. In that time Messenger has released their brand of metal in a classy yet Folk sounding in certain areas like the title track "See You in Hell". I feel a lot of influence from the early 80's, but I also feel the more modern, almost Black Metal Folk Style element in the music. Maybe its the bud I smoke or something, but either way I like what the band can do. The old school Heavy Metal touch is nostalgic at times. All the tracks carry that old school feeling. I believe that "Dr. Stein" is a bonus track with the digipack release. Tracks like "See You in Hell" and "Alien Autopsy" bring out the 16 year old guy in me and the music is balls out man! this may not be my first choice of genre in metal, but good is good and I respect the talent of this band all the way through. Messenger will certainly appeal to the majority of metalheads in the world and with "See You in Hell" there is no telling where this band can go in the future.
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 8/10
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Band: MOLOKEN
Country: Sweden
Title: Rural
Label: Discouraged Records
Year: 2011
Style: Atmospheric Sludge Metal
Review:
In 2007 Moloken was born into the underground as a side project from a member of The Pookie Syndrome. Their first release garnered some damn good reviews, the same will happen for "Rural" which is the band's second full-length offering. I have to admit that I like the term "Atmospheric Sludge" describing the band's supposed genre of music. This goes along great with the darkened fantasy worlds and tales of the bizarre! Depression, darkness, death, freak thoughts and much more add so well with the almost gloomy approach Moloken has turned towards. 7 tracks of doom, sludge, and power with a playing time of 52 minutes. I am reminded of the old days of Carnage or even Entombed with the feelings of dark and groove laden metal. Sludge? Awesome description. Old school feelings of metal added with modern content and influence, Moloken is a killer band with so many directions to go through. I love the depressing tunnel that I go through when "Rural" is playing on my stereo. For fans of darkness, no empathy, and beautiful slow sickness will love Moloken's release. Check out tracks like "Waltz of Despair" or the 16 minute track entitled "ULV", a song that has every element of metal mixed in! One of many tracks that do not get boring as time goes on, so fans of this great heavy stuff should check out Moloken's release "Rural. Well worth the time for hardcore fans of the genre...
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 9/10
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Band: MORBID ANGEL
Country: USA
Title: Illud Divinum Insanus – The Remixes
Label: Season of Mist
Year: 2012
Style: Dark Electro Industrial Death Metal
Review:
Morbid Angel got for remixed his the worst album for Season of Mist That was in summary good idea, controversal – but, as I told, good. We can hear „I’m morbid” (and not only) in different versions. This stuff is a collection of 2 CDs (01:16:58 and 01:15:09) of dark electro, techno and industrial metal, EBM and other untypical electronic sounds. Sth like as e.g. Scorngrain, Depeche Mode and The Prodigy with darkwave soup with metal mushrooms. Some stricte death metal pieces was little polish by electro „accesories” some is absolutely new stuff with old tittle... However „Illud Divinum Insanus – The Remixes” is really interesting experiment, original album was ugly and bad, after remixed we can hear more better stuff. In my opinion the best are the stricte electronic remixes as electro/darkwave tracks than industrial metal versions. I suppose, orthodox fan of Morbid Angel and old school death metal willn’t like this album, but we will see. Artists who remixed Morbid Angel of this album: Laibach, Cevin Key/Hiwatt Marchall, Brain Leisure, The Toxic Avenger, Malakwa, Synapscape, Punish Yourself Vs. Sonic Area, Hiv+, Micropoint, John Lord Fonda, Evil Activities, Mixhell, Black Lung, Mondkopf, Xytras, Toxic Engine, Ahnst Anders, Nachtmahr, Tim Skold, Black Strobe, Chris Pohl, Project Pitchfork, Treponem Pal, Fixhead, DJ Ruffneck, Igorrr, Tamtrum, Tek-One, Adrian, The Horrorist.
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 8/10
Band: MURMUR
Country: USA
Title: Mainlining the Lugubrious
Label: Inferna Profundus Records
Year: 2010
Style: Black Metal
Review:
I like this band's name mostly because it reminds me of Disastrous Murmur, a band I still like a lot from their '90's days. US based Murmur's music have nothing in common with the Austrian's work, they are focusing on the Experimental side of Black Metal mostly playing with twisted, horror-filled atmospheres. Their sound could also be named as necro, meaning raw, organic, almost rehearsal like type of sound. Fast Black Metal riffs are being mixed with slow Dark Ambient atmospheres and I'd say the whole album is a bit hard to follow so I'd recommend it only to the ones of you into underground, brutal Black Metal but who are also open to some twisted Dark sounds as well. This is definitely not the usual Black Metal release we're used to nowadays, so thumbs up for these 2 guys for trying something else.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10
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Band: MY BLACK LIGHT
Country: Italy
Title: Human Maze
Label: Massacre Records
Year: 2010
Style: Gothic Metal
Review:
My Black Light comes from the land of Italy and they have a style similar to the Gothic metal that the underground has these days. The soaring beautiful voice of Monica Primo really adds to the atmosphere of the classy metal they make...A mixture of solid grooves and elements of Death Metal and also some other, almost, thrashy influences as well. The other added Keyboards/Piano and Gothic trends adds well to the music. My Black Light delivers the mainstream possibilities of metal and their most recent release "Human Maze" will add to the shining star. There a total of 11 tracks with a playing time of 44:54. I also have an extra track titled "Unbreak My Heart" which is a cover of Toni Braxton's original song which she recorded for her second album entitled "Secrets" in 1996. Something I didn't expect considering the heaviness of the band, but either way the cover track and the rest of the album are awesome. Fans of bands such as Sirenia and others like them will certainly enjoy this release. Check out tracks like "Inner World" and "A Lie for Eternity" these tracks, and others show how powerful the vocals can really get with this woman! Let us not forget the brutal but also powerful vocals of Rodolfo Coda Bertetto.
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 8/10
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Band: MY HIDDEN PHOBIA
Country: Italy
Title: My Hidden Phobia
Label: WormHoleDeath Records
Year: 2011
Style: Metalcore
Review:
Metalcore, absolutely not my fave type of music, i get bored by it in an instant, but still I won't blame it for anything, evolution is what anyone and everything needs. Since I think I can only count about a dozen Metalcore bands I've listened carefully I cannot comment objectively about this release so I'll just stick to what I like about these guys' music: the guitars, it seems the guitarists are both fans of Heavy Metal and American Power Metal a la Pantera which in my books is a great thing. Also I like the vocalist's tone, but I'd better fit him in a Glam Metal band, he would do well. That's about it, I don't think that many kids into Metalcore are reading Pest Webzine anyway.
Reviewed (?) by Adrian
Rating: - / 10
Contact:
Band: MYSTIC PROPHECY
Country: Germany
Title: Ravenlord
Label: Massacre Records
Year: 2011
Style: Power Speed Thrash Metal
Review:
Mystic Prophecy has been around awhile, since 2000 I believe...During this time Mystic Prophecy has garnered attention throughout the Metal Underground with six previous full-length releases and a compilation as well, now number seven has come to light. 10 tracks equaling 40 minutes of Power Metal mixed with thrash Metal and a bit of influence from the Death Metal genre in certain parts of the release. "RavenLord" is a good, strong release with polished production and a clean sound that gives off the anger and passion that comes from Mystic Prophecy's earlier records. From the start this release is heavy and in your face. As time goes on the album gets better and heavier with each track! Songs that caught my attention are "Die Now" and "Damned Tonight". All the songs are heavy and powerful with every lyric and note that is played. I really enjoyed the hammer on the head from this album and hopefully so will the rest of the Metal World. 10 songs that have a playing time of just over 40 minutes, plenty of metal to bang your fucking head to that is for sure...
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 9/10
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Band: NAPALM DEATH
Country: United Kingdom
Title: Utilitarian
Label: Century Media Records
Year: 2012
Style: Death Metal
I was a big fan of Napalm Death when I was young... New album is still old, good Napalm Death, I’m so glad. „Utilitarian” include: short tracks (two minuts and some seconds), some old school sounds crossed with doom, grind core and crust-punk influences, known and characteristic Barney’s vocal, involved lyrics and parody of battle and ns-black metal in „Fall of Their Swords”, cover stylized on „Scum” and „From Enslavement to Obliteration” albums... „Utilitarian” stuff is a kind of continuation these first LPs – but in XXI century reality. Good material.
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 9/10
Band: OBSEQUIAE
Country: USA
Title: Suspended in the Brume of Eos
Label: Bindrune Recordings
Year: 2011
Style: Melodic Dark Metal
Review:
From Minneapolis, Minnesota comes a Melodically Darkened Metal band Obsequiae, and darkness is where it is at with this band. August 4, 2011 "Suspended in the Brume of Eos" was given to the metal fans and I must say this is some really cool stuff here. Right from the start the vocalist is angry, but settled throughout the release. I can hear, and feel the aggressiveness in the music. Music is great when you can feel the band's passion in their styleof playing you know? Anyway, Obsequiae gives us everything that a dark album should have - atmosphere, darkened melody, and harsh vocals that can bring it all together. Obsequiae does exactly that...Brings the element of Dark Metal insde the mind along with the Atmosphere going on around me when I listen to the album. Maybe this sounds crazy but it is what it is and I like this record. Obsequiae has 12 tracks adding up to 41 minutes of pure classy dark metal. This is great stuff for those that can appreciate this sort of style. Tracks like "In the White Fields" and the title tracks itself, "Suspended in the Brume of Eos" show what the band is made of. This release reminds me of Cathedral's first release "Forest of Equilibrium" in some uncanny way, oh well. Check them out people, Obsequiae is worth the time!
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 9/10
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Band: OVERKILL
Country: USA
Title: The Electric Age
Label: Nuclear Blast
Year: 2012
Style: Thrash Groove Metal
Review:
Overkill is a good „metal vine” – the older the better. .”The Electric Age” kick ass very succesfully !!! Powerfully american, melodic old school thrash with groove and heavy metal influences with a lot of good and very good guitar solos. This material is puted just between Hirax, old Metallica from „Kill’em All” times and Judas Priest (higher, characteristic vocal) – so old school fan will be satisfacted. Me too. Absolutely GREAT material !!!
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 10/10
Band: PERVERSITY
Country: Slovakia
Title: Ablaze
Label: Lavadome Productions
Year: 2011
Style: Brutal Death Metal
Review:
This is most probably one of the oldest Extreme Metal bands in Slovakia but I have to admit I'm not familiar with their music. From it's name you're right when you think this band is 100% Death Metal, and that's what they are, a combination of American style old-school Death Metal with quite a lot of elements from the nowadays Brutal Death Metal. At times their music is full-on raging fast, but at times they even throw in some doomy, slow parts still keeping their brutality. The compositions are tight, and seem to be curdled enough, and the band tries pretty much to be as technical as possible through lots of rhythm breaks that not all the time seem to fit the overall atmosphere, I mean some of these breaks don't bring anything good, they only stop the tracks' flow. But all in all Perversity is a band that can satisfy both the old-school followers and the new generation of Death Metallers. Unfortunately I didn't remain with anything after listening to this 4th album of Perversity...
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10
Contact:
Band: PTAHIL
Country: USA
Title: For His Satanic Majesty’s Glory
Label: Wraith Productions
Year: 2011
Style: Doom Black Metal
Review:
Putting Fort Wayne, Indiana on the map as far as Black Metal goes, Ptahil has done exactly that. What we have here is an angry, hateful, evil spewing element of metal being played in the style of almost an 80's feel of rock music or something to that effect. It all goes together well though, maybe my ears are just playing games with me. Ptahil has an odd, or original way of playing Black Metal. All of the evil is there for the taking - the screechy and mean vocals, the raw and primitive sounding saws for guitars, and blasting beats to add to the mayhem. Satanic Gnosticism is the lyrical content, something to the effect of religious practices and the early Christians (I think). Either way the music speaks for itself, evil and blackened metal. Ptahil has delivered a hell of a release here and the hardcore fanatics of Black Metal will enjoy the lack of symphonics and electric atmospheres! Nothing but primitive, raw, and Dark! Tracks like "The Great Satan" and the title track of the record show the definite potential for a sickening future Black Metal release from Ptahil!
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 8/10
Contact:
Band: RAVENTALE
Country: Ukraine
Title: Bringer of Heartsore
Label: Solitude Productions
Year: 2011
Style: Doom Black Metal
Review:
BadMoodMan Music brings about a band from the Ukraine, Raventale, a band of talented atmospheric blend and feel. "Bringer of Heartsore" delivers the goods in a Doom Metal way, let us also add the darkness and feelings of influential Black metal from Norway almost 20 years ago! What stands out is the doom and gloom of death metal without the blasting technical spots they have. Doom is coming from all directions and it stays throughout the release. Raventale seems to have taken a page from the early days of My Dying Bride and Cathedral mixed with a bit of Katatonia here and there. It all mixes well to give that unfounded darkness that metalheads always love to be in. There are a total of 8 tracks giving around 40 minutes of music. Plenty of time to get into the darkness, doom, and blackness coming from Raventale. With all of that comes a great band with full potential, Raventale gives us tracks like "Anything is Void", the first track on the record. Another one I like is "The Last Afterglow Burned"...This track has a bit of everything including some good Black Metal trimmings and some old school metal parts from various genres of metal! Awesome stuff here for the fans.
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 8/10
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Band: RHETRA
Country: Italy
Title: Ego Sum mors vestra
Label: Heder Music
Year: 2012
Style: Black Metal
Review:
A new duo from Italy playing Black Metal, well, they are so many nowadays that it's rare to find something out of the ordinary about them. But Rethra has as highlight a girl doing the vocals, so after reading their line-up I became curious and honestly I was pleasantly surprised by Sophia's vocals. Normally you would expect a girl to do some melodic, soft kind of vocals, but not here, Sophia has one of the most aggressive type of vocals I've heard in Black Metal, she's really wicked. Unfortunately the sound on this CD is so chaotic that you will have a hard time distinguishing the instruments. Too bad because this band has a lot of potential. This sound is more suitable for a demo, not for an album, it's beyond chaotic and brings down their work, or at least it bored me to death. If you think you can handle such a sound give this band a try, I prefer waiting for a next release with hopefully a better recording. To sum it up, Rhetra is a fast, extremely aggressive Black Metal band that has potential but didn't succeed in proving anything with this album.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6/10
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Band: RISING DARK
Country: Italy
Title: Apocalyptic
Label: SG Records
Year: 2011
Style: Thrash Metal
Review:
In 2005 Italy unleashed, yet, another interesting metal band by the moniker of RISING DARK. Well, since that time Rising Dark has delivered a hell of a technical piece of work added with the brutality that they need to keep their style of metal happening. "Apocalyptic" is a cool and collected assembly of technical prowess with angry, but clean vocals and a feeling of Death/Thrashing mad talent! The love for Mythology just adds to the potential of where this band can go in the future. There are 8 songs that give everything to the metalheads - Brutality, technicality, anger, intelligence, and above all...A Melodic sense of touch. If that doesn't make any sense then the hell with you because Rising Dark are not a dime a dozen band. Now I am not saying that they are going to change the world or anything like that, but the music they do jam will certainly get the attention of any fan of Death/Thrash Metal genre. Take tracks like "This is War" and "The Bofoid" both of which show the diversity in the band's style of play. I like it and hopefully the rest of the metal world will like "Apocalyptic" as well. I bet the next material they record blows the shit out of the critics, I bet...
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 8/10
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Band: RITUAL NECROMANCY
Country: USA
Title: Oath of the Abyss
Label: Dark Descent Records
Year: 2011
Style: Death Metal
Review:
When I first heard Ritual Necromancy I thought I was listening to a band hailing from another part of the world like Australia or Norway. These fucking guys come from Portland, Oregon in the United States and you would never be able to tell by the sickness and darkness they spew forth! "Oath of the Abyss" is your brutal piece of sickness mixed with the Swedish buzz saws of yesteryear, and the permanent darkness of Black Metal from the old days! Holy Shit is what came from my mouth...Now maybe people agree, maybe not but who gives a fuck anyway...Ritual Necromancy has delivered one hell of a release with "Oath of the Abyss". Everything from old school is in this record. As time goes on the occult makes a show, the myth of time, and legends of death. All of this added with the musical sickness of this band makes for a great listen. Ritual Necromancy has only been around since 2009, I felt like I put on an album from 1990 or something like that! Whatever they do to make metal like this, I hope they never quit... Dark Descent Records are probably proud of these guys. The whole record is awesome, but to give a taste of potential check out tracks like "Cacophonic Dementia" and "Accretion", that is just to start with. The whole album jams and there is no way a person will not listen to this record a million times over. For fans of the old school way of Death Metal, and fans of the Black Metal days will fuck themselves silly while jamming "Oath of the Abyss". This guys are fucking awesome, well worth the support... 10/10 no matter what people think. Just getting that old school sound brings back a lot of fun memories. 8 tracks total with a little over 37 minutes of jam time. Take a hammer and crush your skull...
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 10/10
Contact:
Band: SACRIMONY
Country: Poland
Title: ...and Abyss he Created
Label: Le Crépuscule du Soir Productions
Year: 2011
Style: Funeral Doom Metal
Review:
Sacrimony is a one-man Doom, well...Funeral Doom Metal project from Poland; This man's name is Marcin. While I respect and appreciate his talents as a musician I just can't seem to get myself into this style of Doom. Maybe its because I am completely old school in my "metal thinking" and enjoy the roar of buzz-saw guitars and guttural hatred rather than the ultimate method of psychological emotion from Funeral Doom! Or...Maybe I just don't get it...Far from that I believe this person is extremely talented and will make his fans very happy with his debut release of depressive Doom. Sacrimony delivers an orchestral sense and style throughout each track and the Doom and gloom is there, but it just doesn't make me want to keep hearing the record. There are a total of 5 songs with a playing time of 49 minutes. This brings the tracks to about 15 minutes in length, another is 12 minutes in length, and of course the remaining tracks are long as well. Boring is the word that comes to mind for me, but remember something...I have a taste for sickness, brutality, and extreme movements. I love certain Doom Metal bands like early Paradise Lost and Cathedral's first release, "Forest of Equilibrium", but unfortunately Sacrimony didn't take me to the same places as the above-mentioned bands. Doesn't matter though because for what this man does in his music makes him very talented and full of potential for his true fans. So for those into the hardcore deep of Funeral Doom Metal and others like it should enjoy the emotional mourning and depression this album will give.
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 7/10
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Band: SEMARGL
Country: Ukraine
Title: Satanic Pop Metal
Label: Twilight Vertrieb
Year: 2012
Style: Extreme Melodic Metal
This is just nine inch nail for casket for only one and trv lackers, heh... Semargl from Ukraine is a humorous mix of gothic/electro, melodic black metal and disco. This band was founded in Kiev (Ukraine) in 1997. „Satanic Pop Metal” released this year was supported by single „Tak, Kurwa” in 2011 (means oficially „Yes, Bitch” and unoficially „Yes, yes of course !!!”). This is just great parody and alternative music for cars, for parties etc. Just „pink” metal in black fashions, heh... However if you have true-TRV colleagues you have to show them !!!!!! (and take them photo and send us for share, heh...). Bottoms up !!!
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 7/10
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Band: SUICIDAL MADNESS / SOMBRE CROISADE
Country: France / France
Title: Molasar Dream's
Label: Mortis Humanae Productions
Year: 2012
Style: Depressive Black Metal / Black Metal
Review:
This is a conceptual split composed and released by a group of friends, common friends of Molasar, ex drummer of P.H.T.O., who commited suicide last year. I guess that's where the split title comes from , too. Alrinack and Malsain are members of all three bands: P.H.T.O., Suicidal Madness and Sombre Croisade, and I guess thay wanted to pay an homage to their lost friend. Nice of them.
Suicidal Madness opens this disc with the first 5 tracks, and I must say I am a bit disapointed of their side, there's nothing appealing about their music, it's dull, very simple and I think it was made in a hurry, or at least I cannot sense any emotions in it, except maybe for the vocal part, but that is also made only of pointless screams. Sorry but this has nothing appealing to me.
Sombre Croisade is made only of Alrinack and Malsain. At the moment I'm too lazy to search through the pile of CDs, but I'm pretty sure the first track on S.C.'s part, the intro, is also used on the Loup Noir's "L'âme de la steppe" CD. It is indeed one of the best and most macabre intros I've heard in a long time but that doesn't justify using it on two different releases, by two different projects... There are three other tracks here, none less than 6 minutes in length. Pretty good Black Metal but with a very poor sound. recorded in a proper studio these tracks would lead Sombre Croisade much further. If you like your Black Metal combining mid and fast tempo rhythms on a quite desperate and almost melodic layer, try this band too, you might have a good surprise.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 4/10 7/10
Contact:
Band: THE CONQUERING
Country: USA
Title: Far Beyond
Label: Mortis Humanae Productions
Year: 2011
Style: Black Metal
Review:
It's always strange when you see a band with multiple albums released and all of them selfproduced. Are they not good enough or is this for choice? Well, this is the case of the US based The Conquering, too, they have 6 full-lengths out and none of them is produced by a label, with a small exception, this latest release, out on Mortis Humanae on tape format, I guess as an addition to the self-released CD. The band plays fast paced Black Metal with some Folk / Viking insertions here and there, but I got bored really fast, not because of the overall music, but because of the horrible drumming, if you skip the CD at any point given you will hear the same mincing rhythm with little or no variations at all. There might be some of you who like their drum parts this way, but I hate it. As hard I have tried to listen carefully to the guitar parts and vocals, at some point of each track my attention is kept by this monotone drumming. On the guitar parts of the track there is quite some variation, the Viking Metal parts are a good addition also, and the vocals are quite ok for this kind of music, but that's not enough to get a good score in my books, sorry.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6/10
Contact:
Band: THE GREAT OLD ONES
Country: France
Title: Al Azif
Label: Ladlo Productions
Year: 2012
Style: Post Black Metal
Review:
Black Metal has been developed so much and in so many directions lately that some parts of it detached completely from its core, and that's the case of this music The Great Old Ones plays also, a style that is topped at the moment by bands such as Wolves In The Throne Room or Altar Of Plagues or even Agalloch and Solstafir, a fine continuation of what once Arcturus started with their Avantgarde Black Metal. Now this style hase reached a point where its composers and followers should start thinking of getting their own brand and detach once and for all from the regular Black Metal, as the music has almost nothing in common with what Black Metal once was. This would also avoid misunderstandings and unnecessary disputes.
The Great Old Ones have all required advantages on becoming a major player in this new type of Metal, at least "Al Azif", their debut album recommends them as a band with massive potential: mesmerizing atmospheres, progressive, experimental approach on this art, and they also seem to work quite a lot on their music. It's awesome to listen to a debut band that tries to offer more than an album to its followers, tries to offer them a complete experience. So yes, if you're into this Avantgarde type of Metal flown leaked from Black Metal, maek sure you don;t miss this release. Horns up for Ladlo Productions for continuing to push such names in our scene.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9.5/10
Contact:
Band: THE WAY OF PURITY
Country: USA
Title: Biteback
Label: WormHoleDeath Records
Year: 2011
Style: Melodic Death Metal / Deathcore
Review:
Definitely a band that benefits from an aggressive and professional push by their label, The Way Of Purity seems to be everywhere during the last couple of years, I'm curious if they will have the ability to profit from this on the long term.
This EP contains only 3 tracks, but since the band sounds so mature and curdled, these tracks can help you build a perfect idea on what's the band all about. On one hand I'm impressed by their ability to combine the nowadays so popular Deathcore with traditional Melodic Death Metal elements and I'm sure this will appeal to both young metal lads and old-schoolers. The production on this EP is so tight that at some point it makes you feel you're in a small closed space being bitten by invisible, ferocius wolves (correlation with the cover artwork). Great guitar work on both aggressive and melodic parts, spot on brutal female vocals, a Swiss clock precise rhythm section, and above all very expressive when it comes to the emotions transmitted, this is what TWOP is all about. I don't like Deathcore that much, but this band is a blast!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 10/10
Contact:
Band: VALINOR
Country: Poland
Title: Hidden Beauty
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2006
Style: Melodic Black Metal
Review:
Holy crap, this is a 6 years old release, why these guys sent it for a review it's out of my understanding, but why they never released anything new since then it's even stranger if the band is still active and seeks promotion. Anyway, talking about the music on it, "Hidden Beauty" is described as a Melodic Black Metal band, but I'd say they are rather a Heavy Power Metal band with Black Metal types of vocals, the instrumental part is too soft to be considered Black Metal. The rhythm section is a bit too liniar for my taste, but I like the guitar work (especially the leads) which although it brings nothing new to the scene, it has a nice flowing and it's catchy enough to make you interested in what's next. All in all this is a nice listening but I have no idea if you can still find the album anywhere or if the band is working on a followup.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10
Contact:
Band: VINTUNDRA
Country: Germany
Title: Urnacht
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2011
Style: Viking Death Metal
Review:
It's not often nowadays to get across a new band that starts its career with an actual demo, it seems all bands are directly starting with EPs or even full-lengths nowadays. Vintundra released their first material as a demo and they did good as the sound is definitely not fit for an official EP or LP. 4 long tracks totaling almost 25 minutes present us a band that's trying to find its way, but so far this is only a vapid try. Strange Death Metal compositions that are not very appealing, mixed with quite long and boring acoustic parts, not much to be attracted by. But there's a good side of Vintundra also, the fact they recorded this at their rehearsal place (I think), means they are interested in showing their real potential and abilities, not cosmetize them with different softwares. The last track shows real guts and aggression, it's my fave on this demo and I hope they will keep experimenting in that direction, and also the vocalist shows he might be into some variation in tone which might prove a good result.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 5/10
Contact:
Band: VOLTURE
Country: USA
Title: Shocking its Prey
Label: Heavy Artillery Records
Year: 2011
Style: Heavy Metal
Review:
From Richmond, Virginia Volture, a Power Metal outfit, delivers a six song release entitled "Shocking its Prey". There are definite influences from the early 80's Bay Area Thrash Metal scene and also some older Power Metal elements in throughout this as well. The vocals are clean and remind me of the band "Toxik" from the old days. I even heard an uncanny similarity to Iron Maiden or Judas Priest unless my hearing is fucked up. Either way Volture does a hell of a job knocking out these tracks and delivering the goods. This never gets boring to me, and while everyone knows I love sickness and brutality, I have to admit Volture will be playing in my stereo a few times before I decide to change the station if you know what I mean! Good technical moshing metal is what Volture delivers. Check out tracks like "Heavy Metal Machine" and "Heathens Revenge". This release has a lot going for it and I really hope something more starts coming out of the woodwork from Volture. So if you're a fan of old school metal with a modern edge and polished vocals then check out Volture, hopefully you will hear what I hear...Good fucking metal from start to finish.
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 8/10
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Band: WOLFHOWL
Country: Greece
Title: My Return to the Mountains
Label: Azermedoth Records
Year: 2012
Style: Black Metal
Review:
Wolfhowl is a one man band from Greece established in 2009, and this is its debut release, a 3 tracks EP totaling almost 20 minutes. As a debut release I have to say it disapointed me. First I would have named it a demo because the production is not that great. Than I don't like the synthetic sound used on guitars, at times it becomes really annoying, maybe because of the minimalist arrangements, meaning repetitive, very basic kind of riffs. Faethon's vocals are quite good on the other hand, too bad that's the only notable element in Wolfhowl's music. At least it doesn't have a dirty, uncomprehensive sound, so you can distinguish the instruments quite easily. If you're into very minimalist, simple played Black Metal, maybe Wolfhowl might be a good choice, but I wasn't able to understand this EP's purpose.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 5/10
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