Band: ABORIORTH

Country: Spain

Title: Anchorite

Label: BlackSeed Productions

Year: 2012

Style: Black Metal

Review:

Although it's made of only 2 tracks this new Aboriorth EP reaches almost half an hour of playing time. I gues this was released to promote an upcoming release of a new album that would be Aboriorth's third full-length. The music is Black Metal, raw sounding but quite melodic and easy to digest, a combination of slow, tormenting passages with other devastating, aggressive parts, I like it. The guitar work is also quite successful, beside the traditional fast riffs you'll find some Thrashy ones and also some modern riffs used by nowadays Post Black Metal bands, repetitive but atmospheric. The vocals are not versatile enough but they fit well this music emphasizing the overall depressive atmospheres, and the drumming is quite good, complex and powerful, nothing to complain about. A good act, a good EP, and a good tase of things to come.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8/10

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Band: ABYSME

Country: USA

Title: Strange Rites

Label: Hellthrasher Productions

Year: 2012

Style: Death Metal

Review:

Every Hellthrasher release is a delight for all old-school (mostly Death) Metallers with their excellent cover artworks and ancient music. Abysme is no exception from this rule. They are a young band but they sound like a Death Metal from the beginning of the '90's. This is their debut album, composed of 10 tracks totaling almost 35 minutes. The music is fast rhythmed old-school Death Metal with fat riffs, pounding drums, heavy bass lines and growling vocals, and although I think the mastering could have been better. As a debut, this album impresses with is fat sound and heavy atmospheres, and its a good display of potential, but some work on diversity and catchyness is still due for Abysme's next effort.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7/10

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Band: ADVENT OF BEDLAM

Country: Costa Rica

Title: Flesh over God

Label: Envenomed Records

Year: 2012

Style: Death Metal

Review:

I'm not very familiar with the metal scene from Costa Rica, but these guys seem to be quite established over there. This is their second effort to date, an 8 tracks album totaling 35 minutes. Musicwise it is a combination of Modern Death Metal with Brutal Death Metal, Technical Death Metal and a touch of Black Metal especially in the atmosphere (caused mostly by the thin production). The multiple rhythm changes, although well executed, are breaking the natural flow of the compositions and after a while the music becomes tiring, you find yourself always judging their ideas instead of just enjoying the whole thing. Definitely talented musicians but the album is too mathematical and intricate to be memorable.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7/10

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Band: ALOGIA

Country: Serbia

Title: Price o snovima

Label: Power Music

Year: 2012

Style: Progressive Power Metal

Review:

Alogia is one of  Sebianin metal legendary bands. New material is a quite good balance beetween heavy and power metal and progressive rock/hard’n’heavy. Some tracks are really brillant, some of them are just typical melodic heavy/hard rock sounds. This album has two face – diamond and commercial. I suppose that Alogia would like to connect „radio tracks way” and „true magic of melodic metal way” in one. They just did it! Part of „Price o snovima” just kicks heavy metal maniacs asses similar to early Iron Maiden, early Helloween, other part of this stuff kicks power metal maniacs asses as Blind Guardian or Dragonforce. Other tracks are just thin border beetween hard’n’heavy and better poprock drive. However: I would like to hear in typical radiostations Alogia as „commercial music”. Big respect from my mind for all tracks in serbian language. Some of tracks included delicate ethnic inclusions too.

Reviewed by Vilcin

Rating: 8/10

Band: AMILY

Country: Ukraine

Title: To All in Graves

Label: Solitude Productions

Year: 2012

Style: Doom Death Metal

Review:

Debut album for a band that seems to be founded in 2006 but that haven't released anything until now. Quite a lot of work for an album, don't you think? Amily is a two-piece band from Ukraine that uses multiple guest musicians on their recordings. This album may be cathegorized as Doom Death Metal with Gothic Metal influences and after giving it a couple of spins I can say it is well done, interesting and catchy to a point. I really hate the guitar tone (extremely synthetic, like computer generated midi sounds...) but the vocals, the excellent keyboards work and the general atmospheres make up for this. I'm not bored by it, but I'm not satisfied either, they still have a long way to go before being able to create something memorable.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 6.5/10

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Band: BANE

Country: Serbia

Title: The Acausal Fire

Label: Abyss Records

Year: 2012

Style: Black Death Metal

Review:

„The Acausal Fire” was surprised me by very „western” sound (means: metal which is playing in Western Europe). This stuff is a good mix beetween  atmospheric black (which is turned on to progressive black) and fast, technical death metal. I’m impressed when I focus attention on the drums, Marko Gacnik, the drummer, just must be a „octopus man”, heh... Great stuff, this is well played black death with „no frills”.

Reviewed by Vilcin

Rating: 8.5/10

Band: BARREN EARTH

Country: Finland

Title: The Devil’s Resolve

Label: Peaceville Records

Year: 2012

Style: Progressive Melodic Death Doom Metal

Review:

The group Barren Earth was formed in 2007 by known, famous finnish musician Olli-Pekka Laine. Album „The Devil’s Resolve” is a just nostalgic musical journey „in memory of old Amorphis”. This stuff include contains various sounds from death metal to all kinds of progressive and doom styles to play metal. However - Championship in every way! Sorrow vs power, melodic waves vs brutal tanks, death/doom vs folk/hardrock and... jazz. If you are a big fan of old Amorphis – you have to read it !!! If not – please taste it quickly too !!!

Reviewed by Vilcin

Rating: 9/10

Band: BUFFALO GRILLZ

Country: Italy

Title: Manzo Criminale

Label: Subsound Records

Year: 2012

Style: Grindcore

Review:

Hell yeah! This is one of the best Grindcore albums I've had the chance to listen lately! Formed in 2008, Buffalo Grillz is a super-group of the Italian Grind scene being formed by members from Undertakers, Dr.Gore or Tsubo, and the music offered on this new album proves their experience in this genre. We're not dealing here with a no brain display of simple brutality and chaotic riffs, everything seems to be well-thought so that the final result has both excellent technical skills and demented and infectious brutality. The perfect productions is of course a good point in their favour, you get to experience every instrument's work at maximum (if they did the music on the "Eau De Vergogn" themselves I'm fuckin' speachless...). A groovy, contagious, energetic, devastating display of excellent Grindcore, if you're into this genre don't miss this album! Ah, and especially if you're into Italian Trash (comedy) Movies, this will make your day. I LOVE IT!

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9.5/10

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Band: CAUTERIZATION

Country: Brazil

Title: Males Infestus

Label: Till You Fukkin Bleed

Year: 2011

Style: Blackened Death Metal

Review:

This trio from Brazil released their debut EP, Males Infestus, in 2011 on CD by themselves and then Till You Fukkin Bleed released it on tape. This is fast and brutal Death Metal with some Black Metal influences, pretty solid work I'd say although a second guitar would give them more power and would leave room for experimenting and adding more ideas. Maysa, the vocalist and guitarist of the band, is a beautiful girl but she also has one of the best Death Metal growling voice I've heard, there's no trace of femininity in her vocals parts and that's simply awesome, also her guitar playing, although restricted by the fact she's the only one handling this instrument in the band, sounds pretty good and she also adds a few short solos. The rhythm section is fast, uncompromising and lead by blastbeats everywhere. An excellent debut of a new rising star of the South American scene. Keep an eye on this band.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8.5/10

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Band: CLAIRVOYANT

Country: Poland

Title: Curse of the Golden Skull

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2011

Style: Heavy Metal

Review:

Founded in 2007 Crairvoyant released a demo in 2009 and an EP in 2011. The EP is in my hands now and contains 4 tracks totaling almost 25 minutes of German inspired Heavy Metal with Epic Metal influences. The tracks are a bit too long for this type of music, but these guys managed to make their compositions quite catchy so the whole EP flows naturally and undisturbed, if you're into old-school Teutonic Metal you won't be bored by their music. The guitar work (although the riffs are nothing spectacular the solos are a delight) is the highlight of this band but I can also mention the interesting combination of rough vocals with some melodic lines here and there, a fine approach. The bass and drums are quite good too and the bass really makes its mark on the 4th track, an epic tale about Conan. You can also feel a slight NWOBHM influence, especially from Iron Maiden. A fine band that has potential, I only hope they will become more productive than until now.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7.5/10

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Band: DABELYU

Country: Spain

Title: 11

Label: Art Gates Records

Year: 2012

Style: Power Thrash Metal

Review:

Debut album of this Spanish Metal band, "11" contains 11 tracks (obvious, isn't it?) of very diversified Modern Metal ranging from Thrash Metal to Groove Metal to Alternative Metal and a pinch of Power Metal and even Death Metal here and there. The production is great, the compositions are well-thought, but I guess this will appeal mostly to Spanish speaking metalheads for obvious reasons, all tracks are in Spanish and usually you have to understand the lyrics from such a band. There's a nice mix of melody and aggression throoughout the whole album and I guess this band will try to hit the mainstream pretty soon. Very strong debut album.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8.5/10

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Band: DARK CONFESSIONS

Country: Spain

Title: Insanity

Label: Art Gates Records

Year: 2012

Style: Death Metal / Deathcore

Review:

Death Metal would not be the correct label for Dark Confessions' music but I'd say a combination of Death Metal with Deathcore would give you a better idea on what's happening on this second album from the Spanish quintet. Although here and there you can find some parts when the music is not as engaging as it should be, the overall impression is of a solid and sharp product, one that can fit on the playlist for both traditional Death Metallers and the new wave of Deathcore fans. The melodic parts are also a good addition to the whole, so if you're into such a mix of different genres and you like the new type of sounds in Extreme Metal you might give these guys a try.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7.5/10

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Band: DEVIATOR

Country: Ukraine

Title: Fehu-Fohat-Fire

Label: Kundalini Records / Depressive Illusions Records

Year: 2012

Style: Black Death Metal

Review:

New release by this one man band from Ukraine. I have reviewed the best of compilation that was released in 2011 and back then I hated the drum-programmings Lord Hastner used but now I can say this part has improved a lot, the drums are still programmed but not bothering anymore, they are actually quite good. This time the problem falls on the chaotic mixing and mastering of this album, at times you loose the tracks' flow and just follow the lack of instrumental syncronization which is an awful thing for a full-length album. The compositions are quite good, raw Pagan Black Metal with some Death Metal influences here and there, but because it is mixed in such a chaotic manner I was unable to fully taste them. I like the fact the tracks are quite diversified though. If you're into raw Pagan Metal you might enjoy this.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 6/10

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Band: DOOMED

Country: Germany

Title: In My Own Abyss

Label: Solitude Productions

Year: 2012

Style: Doom Death Metal

Review:

I'm not a big fan of bands releasing multiple full-lenghts in a year, I always have the prejudice they have not worked their compositions enough and released new material only to have more titles in their bio. Working alone seems to be propitious for such acts, I guess they can develop their compositions faster without having multiple minds debating. Doomed is such an act, a one man band that released 2 full-length albums in 2012 even though it was started only in 2011. This second opus is made of 7 long tracks offering us a combination of Doom and Death Metal with melancholic atmospheres. In my opinion the main highlights of this album are definitely the haunting guitar leads although the drums and bass lines are not to be underrated also. Pierre (the man behind this moniker) also uses multiple variations on vocals so that after all we're dealing with a pretty complex record, the contrary of what I have expected. This is a good record that shows Pierre's potential in creating '90's UK Doom Death like records, but something more is needed to push this band further.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8/10

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Band: ERUPTED

Country: Sweden

Title: In the Grip of Chaos

Label: Abyss Records

Year: 2012

Style: Death Metal

Review:

Sweden again, of course. This is natural when it comes to Abyss Records, this label tries and partially succeeds to refresh this scene's Death Metal for the current fans, but sometimes they also fail, and that's the case of Erupted, too. These young Swedes are trying the old-school of Brutal Death Metal way but the production on this album is rather annoying and also they seem to have spent little time in studio recording it. Slow to mid-paced Death Metal without identity or catchiness, I'm sorry to say this but I got bored after a few tracks. Hopefully they will keep on working and release a much better followup.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 5/10

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Band: ESCARNIUM

Country: Brazil

Title: Rex Verminorum

Label: Till You Fukkin Bleed

Year: 2011

Style: Death Metal

Review:

Already an important name in the South American underground, Escarnium released this EP on both Hellthrasher Productions and Till You Fukkin Bleed in 2011 and since then they managed to release their debut album on Hellthrasher. This EP contains 7 quite long tracks totaling more than half an hour of fast and low-tuned Death Metal. Obscure, brutal and horrifying, their music is well crafted and quite catchy, fans of South American and also US styled Death metal will definitely enjoy it. The production is top-notch, I have nothing to complain about. Death Metal to the bone!

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8.5/10

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Band: HUMAN WASTE / OBSCURE

Country: Spain / Spain

Title: Split

Label: Discos Macarras

Year: 2011

Style: Technical Death Metal / Death Metal

Review:

This split is actually made of 2 re-issues, Human Waste's "Existential Nausea" demo from 1992, and Obscure's "Curse The Course" demo from 1991, so it must be a pretty cult release for Spanish maniacs although both bands remained pretty obscure for the European scene back in the '90's. Human Waste opens up with a Technical Death Metal with aggressive, extreme vocal types, good technical skills on guitars and overall a fast rhythmed type of Death Metal that's worth listening to even nowadays, the production is excellent for those times. Obscure is next with their fast and aggressive Death Metal with Thrashy atmospheres. The production is rawer and the band's music is not as interesting as Human Waste's but it's entertaining nonetheless, a good relic from the Spanish underground. The rhythm section of Obscure is the most notable aspect in their music; the band seems to be still alive and kicking although there's no new material from them since '92. If you're searching for treasures from the past don't miss this vinyl. 

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: -/10

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Band: IRON CURTAIN

Country: Spain

Title: Dirty & Fast

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2010

Style: Speed Heavy Thrash Metal

Review:

I have no idea why I have received this demo for a review, the band released an EP, a full-length and a best of compilation since 2010 when this demo was released... Anyway, "Dirty & Fast" is made of 4 tracks plus a bonus track that's actually a recording of one of their gigs. Iron Curtain's music is an old-school fashioned combination of Speed, Heavy and Thrash Metal spiced with sharp guitar solos all ove the place. Traditional '80's type of Heavy Metal Music with no intention of bringing something new or changing anything, these guys seem to enjoy a lot what they are doing.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7/10

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Band: LABURINTHOS

Country: Romania

Title: Laburinthos

Label: Avantgarde Records

Year: 2012

Style: Avantgarde Folk Metal

Review:

„Laburithos” is the mini album released by italian Avantgarde Records and the manufacturer is Hupogrammos (ex-Negura Bunget, now in Dordeduh). This is very, very, very climatic and atmospheric music, difficult to unambiguously describe... Five tracks included neofolk, progressive folkmetal, a lot of postrock, progressive rock and psychodelic sounds. This is a good complement of Dordeduh „Dar de Duh” album but from the other hand is a separate project. „Laburinthos” just reminds me of the prog-rock scene from the 70th of XX-century recorded in XXI-century... The sad music must be able to play, Laburinthos did it very well !!!

Reviewed by Vilcin

Rating: 9/10

Band: LEVIATHAN

Country: Germany

Title: The Aeons Torn

Label: Bret Hard Records

Year: 2013

Style: Progressive Melodic Death Metal

Review:

This is one of those albums you really need to listen to a few times before getting to its core. There are so many different ideas and elements thrown in this second Leviathan album that if you're into Progressive Death Metal it will make a perfect Evening audition. Their skills are displayed perfectly but besides the individual technique Leviathan has a nice bond, the tracks are curdled and well crafted so that it's almost impossible to predict the next sounds but at the same time you can also feel how natural their compositions flow. What seems unnatural is how did these guys manage to release such a complex new album after only about 1 year since they have released a great debut album. Both this album and this band are recommended, keep an eye on Leviathan, we might have a real winner here!

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 10/10

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Band: MAGICA

Country: Romania

Title: Center of the Great Unknown

Label: AFM Records

Year: 2012

Style: Melodic Heavy Power Metal

Review:

Magica’s and romanian brillant female voice – Ana Mladinovici just back from maternity leave and Magica released good, power/heavy metal stuff. „Center of the Great Unknown” almost like it is not surprising, this is just very good job with melodic heavy metal. Magica’s and female vocals in metal fans will be really satisfied (me too). Magica is recognized brand of romanian heavy metal, this album is the confirmation of this fact. A nice surprise is bonus track – new version of old Magica’s track „Daca” singing in romanian. Summary: good, interesting stuff.

Reviewed by Vilcin

Rating: 8.5/10

Band: MANIFESTOR

Country: Sweden

Title: Old Monster

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2012

Style: Thrash Death Metal

Review:

Second demo from this Swedish duo founded in 2008, "Old Monster" is an energetic display of raw and dirty Thrash Metal with occasional Death Metal influences. The highlights of this demo are the insane, very angry vocals performed by both members, at times they sound like barking dogs chasing each other and that's cool, I have to admit most of the energy this demo transmits is comming out of their throats. The instrumental part is ok but at times it only sounds like an ad-hoc improvisation and not like they were prior compositions. Recommended only to fans of intense and insane structures in brutal Thrash Metal.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7/10

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Band: MOMBU

Country: Italy

Title: Zombi

Label: Subsound Records

Year: 2012

Style: Experimental Jazz Metal

Review:

Ok, I had a couple glasses of wine, I admit it, but now I believe I'm either crazy or drunk. I have listened this album for a couple of times and I'm still not tired of it although it is far from what I usually listen to at home. A very mesmerizing experience provided by these 2 Italians, one playing the saxophone and the other drums and percussions, and one of them (don't know who) is taking care of the bass and occasional guitar lines as well, but that's about it when it comes to instruments used on this record. I was and still am hooked but this African culture inspired piece of experimental instrumental music, I wonder how it would feel to be stoned and listen to this...

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: -/10

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Band: NUCLEAR BEAST

Country: Hungary

Title: Promo 2009

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2009

Style: Punk Thrash Metal

Review:

Quite an old CD but since I've received it for a review I'll write some words about it. Nuclear Beast recently signed with Metal Or Die Records so I think they are promoting an upcoming album, might be. This demo or promo name it how you want is composed of 5 fast and old-school tracks, a combination of Punk, Thrash and some old Hardcore, it reminds me of some Romanian bands from the early '90's. I guess they are killer live, but this demo has a rehearsal type of sound, you're not able to understand everything that "happens" on it, but they sure sound like a ton of fun, too bad I don't know Hungarian language, it has some pretty nice, memorable choruses. Nothing more to add, hopefully their next release will be a studio recorded material.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 6/10

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Band: OLD CORPSE ROAD

Country: UK

Title: 'Tis Witching Hour... As Spectres we Haunt this Kingdom

Label: Godreah Records

Year: 2012

Style: Folk Black Metal

Review:

3 years after I have reviewed their debut demo, Old Corpse Road are back on my review list with their debut full-length composed of 10 tracks and lasting for almost an hour. Their music is still on the same patterns of their 2009 demo, but the production has improved a lot and I might also say their compositions are now tighter and more compact although still mixing slow Folkish Ambient parts with fast, insane Black Metal parts with sharp as a razorblade vocals. Their strongest elements are, I think, the lyrics (Celtic and Brittish folklore) and the atmospheres they manage to express them with, you can almost feel immersed in their fairytales, you can almost live them. A very good release that should not miss from any Heathen / Pagan Metal follower's collection; traditional Black Metallers might enjoy it too.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9/10

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Band: PLUTONOIAN SHORE / A TRANSYLVANIAN FUNERAL

Country: USA / USA

Title: Alchemical Manifestations

Label: Forbidden Records

Year: 2012

Style: Black Metal / Black Metal

Review:

Plutonian Shores are opening this split with 3 new tracks, 2 live recorded ones, and a cover, and this in the same year they released their second full-length, that means the band is hard-working and serious. Quite interesting Black Metal with atmospheric keyboard backgrounds, a good combination that made me replay their studio tracks for a few times, and the Rotting Christ cover (The Fifth Illusion) is really good. The sound is not the best around but it's good enough not to be bothering. The one man band A Transylvanian Funeral is next with 4 tracks that unfortunately have a worse sound. Its previous release, the "The Outsider" full-length from 2010 impressed me but the new tracks are less technical and tend to choose the raw, unpretentious side of Black Metal with (too) repetitive riffs that cannot separate a band from the mass of other acts. If you're into raw Black Metal you might like it but I prefer the 2010 album for sure.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7.5/10  6.5/10

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Band: PRIMIGENIUM

Country: Spain

Title: Faith Through Anguish

Label: BlackSeed Productions

Year: 2011

Style: Black Metal

Review:

One man band from Spain that has previously released albums on Full Moon Prod. (1997) and Drakkar Prod. (2002) and built a certain recognition in the underground, but its scarce productivity made it just another name in the wast pool of Black Metal bands. This new full-length contains 6 tracks composed during 1998-2010, most probably a compilation of the best unreleased tracks from that period. Traditional mid-tempo to fast paced Black Metal with a certain dose of despair and tormented feelings, a mix of nostalgia and depression but without falling in the DsBM pit. Good, diversified riffs, emphasis on melodic guitar leads, raw and obscure vocals and a good effort on the rhythm section, definitely not a boring album. If you're into raw but still somehow melodic Black Metal you should give this album a try.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8/10

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Band: REFUSAL

Country: Finland

Title: Grasp

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2012

Style: Death Metal

Review:

It's not often you see nowadays a band that releases 6 demos, this is a totally old-school practice and I'm totally for it. Refusal released their 6th demo to date, a 4 tracks effort totaling almost 15 minutes of old-school Death Metal. It reminded me a lot of the Dutch Gorefest and that's mostly because of the vocals, but I'd say Refusal is a combination of Gorefest, Benediction and maybe a slower version of old Napalm Death, so we're treated with mid-tempo (with some fast parts too), quite groovy, traditional European old-school Death Metal. Nowadays most fans are looking for extreme speed and/or technical skills display in their Metal that's why Refusal will have a hard time hitting the big prize, but still they do a good music, enjoyable and entertaining, I was not bored at all listening to these 4 tracks, actually I'd very much like to hear their upcoming materials, too.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7.5/10

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Band: S-CORE

Country: France

Title: Into the Deepest...

Label: Dirtys / Noisehead Records

Year: 2012

Style: Metalcore Thrash Metal

Review:

For our readers it's no news I'm not a fan of Metalcore or Deathcore but from time to time I have to listen and review such releases and for my luck the majority are not 100% pure but have influences from other genres I love. That's the case of S-Core, too, they are a Metalcore band but their music is impregnated with Thrash Metal elements, Modern Thrash Metal that is. Very good production, groovy and melodic at times compositions, nice flow, a lot of different riffs and ideas, all in all "Into the Deepest..." is a good album from a band that reaches 15 years of existence this year (2013).

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8/10

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Band: SOUTHWICKED

Country: USA

Title: Death's Crown

Label: Abyss Records

Year: 2012

Style: Death Metal

Review:

Tampa, Florida based Southwicked are a pretty new name on the Death Metal scene but having Allan west as one of the guitarists and founders will surely attract some attention. Allan's influences is obvious on this debut album, comparison with both Obituary and Six Feet Under cannot be avoided, the riffs are mostly slow to mid-paced, the solos as Obituary styled, and the overall atmosphere is a combination of SFU and Obituary, and all in all Southwicked could be recommended only to fans of the two mentioned bands. The vocals could have changed a bit the situation but they are less versatile than they should have been to bring something new, or there could have been more memorable choruses to make this album a successful one. A good release but not enough to be outstanding, and anyone would have expected more from an Allan West lead band.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7/10

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Band: STAINLESS

Country: Germany

Title: Beerquest

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2011

Style: Thrash Metal

Review:

3 tracks demo from this young German band formed in 2008, "Beerquest" only shows that the band need more work and rehearsals in order to create good tunes. The music is too simplistic, the sound is too weak and the tracks are waaay too long to be memorable. I like the guitar solos (they should keep developing them) and the kick-ass efforts of the drummer. Maybe they should try a good studio next time, a more powerfull production can only help.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 5/10

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Band: TANELORN

Country: Georgia

Title: Burden Divine

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2012

Style: Melodic Death Metal

Review:

Tanelorn was formed in 2001 in Tbilisi as „Defenders of Tanelorn” and changed name in 2006. Georgia is very exotic metal land, even for me, the more pleased I reached for tis stuff. „Burden Divine” is a very properly recorded melodic death metal with some folk and atmospheric motifs. 52:34 minues for music journey between georgian mountains and metal sounds from this interesting country. I am pleasantly surprised by melody & energy drive, good vocal, good solo guitars and unconventional compositions. Really good stuff !!!

Reviewed by Vilcin

Rating: 8,5/10

Band: THE EARTH KING

Country: Belgium

Title: Cycling Between Sun and Moon

Label: Kristallblut Records

Year: 2012

Style: Ambient Black Metal

Review:

The Earth King is a new Belgian project founded in 2011 and this is its debut album, an effort composed of 6 long tracks, a very notable debut I'd add. The core of The Earth King's music is Black Metal, but there's a long way from traditional Black Metal to where its music lays. The combination of utterly symphonic elements with ambient parts, pshychedelic add-ons and shamanic vocal patterns is absolutely gorgeous, I honestly don't remember if I've heard such music before. Even though it's not brutal or depressive, on the contrary it's quite joyful and extatic, this music really managed to transport my mind through different dimensions, and I'd have no problem labelling it World Music instead of Black Metal. Although there are different mistakes and the mastering is not as good as the compositions are, The Earth King displays an awesome potential and I can't wait for a new album. Highly recommended to Metallers seeking for unique atmospheres in their music.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8.5/10

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Band: THE HOWLING VOID

Country: USA

Title: The Womb Beyond the World

Label: Solitude Productions

Year: 2012

Style: Symphonic Funeral Doom Metal

Review:

Third album from this US based one man band "The Womb Beyond the World" is made of only 4 tracks, but their total duration is a full hour. Funeral Doom is the name of the game here, with a pinch of symphonic keyboards here and there. The whole is almost instrumental, except for a few parts where Ryan adds some low-tuned growling vocals, and even though it fits the general line of this genre, The Howling Void's structures tend to repeat so much they become boring after a while. The good guitar leads and keyboard-driven passages tend to break the monotony, but even these are repeated a bit too much. A heavy music that can definitely ruin your day if you manage to get into it. Except for the slight lack of creativity I have nothing to object about this album, try it yourselves.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7.5/10

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Band: TOVARISH

Country: USA

Title: Red Hearts in a Dead World

Label: Nefarious Industries

Year: 2012

Style: Ambient Drone Doom

Review:

If there are so many NS bands around here we have a soviet inspired band from USA. Funny isn't it? It is, but Tovarish' music is no fun whatsoever, this is the sountrack of the apocalypse, you feel like wondering around in a post-apocalyptic world hearing occasional political speeches, lots and lots of screams and horrifying sounds all layered on industial, mechanical structures. It's impressive to discover this "world", but the problem is that after a while, if you're not used to such sounds it becomes boring and monotonous. If you're into Noise, Industrial, Dark Ambient or Drone Doom you should definitely try this album, you might like it a lot.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7/10

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Band: TRAILS OF SORROW

Country: Italy

Title: Languish in Oblivion

Label: Domestic Genocide Records

Year: 2012

Style: Funeral Doom Metal

Review:

A new band from Italy formed in 2011 as a duo, Trail Of Sorrow signed with Domestic Genocide and recently released their debut album made of 10 tracks and lasting for almost an hour. There are both positive and negative aspects about it, but let's start with the negative ones: the sound is not as full as such a release would deserve, the guitars are actually synths (or at least that's how they sound, synthetic as hell), I wasn't catched by the atmosphere at all and not once I found myself lost in my thoughts and not listening to the music. The positive aspects are the quite diverse compositions, unusual for this type of music, and some good melancholic keyboard parts. Overall I found the album too synth-based for my taste, sorry.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 6/10

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Band: UPON SHADOWS

Country: Uruguay

Title: 7 Chapters (Shadows of Despair and Other Entities)

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2012

Style: Dark Metal

Review:

I have to admit I admire Tamara and Natalia for their dedication to Upon Shadows and their honest, supportive underground spirit, so receiving their new album for a review was a delight. All music and lyrics are signed by Tamara so I guess this can be also labelled as her own project, but I'm sure Natalia also brings a personal touch to the whole. This is their second album to date, both of them being selfreleased, and I can speak for this one, it's an excellent, professional job, it was released in digipack format with a professional 12 pages booklet, so it isn't a cheap work, not at all. Music-wise Upon Shadows is Dark Metal, a combination of Gothic, Black, Dark and Ambient, all of them mixed and twisted so that the final result sounds very interesting and quite hard to penetrate, not everyone will like it. The only element I don't like are the Black Metal vocals of Tamara, too Immortal-ish, simply not my cup of tea, but the excellent keyboard work, the spooky atmospheres and the overall chaotic but at the same time intriguing compositions make up for this. The drum programming is a bit too synthetic, but it doesn't bother me too much. All in all 7 Chapters is a great work, if you like your Metal mysterious and obscure don't miss it!

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8/10

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Band: XANADOO

Country: Singapore

Title: Wired Criminal

Label: Stay Pure

Year: 2010

Style: Thrash Metal

Review:

Too bad this band treats and offers its music as a joke, with a bit more seriousness it could have been a real delight for fans of early '80's Thrash Metal. Fast paced, quite catchy, headbanging friendly, their music seems like taken right from a demo released in the '80's. Wired Criminal is a compilation including their 2008 demo Blood Is Dirt, and their 2009 demo This Demo Is Shit, around 25 minutes of fast Thrash Metal. It has been some time since I've heard such pure riffs and the vocals are also perfect for this music, the problem is the lack of originality between tracks, there's not much difference from one to another so you can get bored quickly. Anyway, my general impression is that this band has potential, they only need to be more serious towards their hard work.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 6/10

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Band: YOUR TOMORROW ALONE

Country: Italy

Title: Ordinary Lives

Label: My Kingdom Music

Year: 2012

Style: Gothic Doom Metal

Review:

I had such a nice time auditioning this debut album from Your Tomorrow Alone I did it three times already and this CD will certainly visit my player again in the future too. Gothic Doom Metal inspired by the Brittish school (especially by Anathema), especially the modern one. What I like about it is the good amount of memorable parts in their music and their ability to mix the guitar leads and riff with enchanting keyboards and the very good clean vocals of Giovanni into a netural flowing whole. There is also a second vocalist in YTA, but I think Eugenio's growling vocals are too raw for this music, and I blame this on the final mastering of this CD. His vocals seem to be from a totally different release but with a better mix/master his vocals would fit quite well. Anyway, I am impressed by this band's potential and would recommend this debut to all fans of UK Gothic Doom (beware: it has nothing to do with the old Doom Death scene from UK).

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8.5/10

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Band: Various Artists

Country: Various

Title: Alliance of Black Hordes

Label: BlackSeed Productions / Mighty Hordes Productions

Year: 2011

Style: Black Metal

Review:

First of all this is an alliance of two labels, BlackSeed and Mighty Hordes, a mix of bands from these two labels meant to promote their latest releases. Let's see what we have here:

Balmog - already a great promise of the Spanish Black Metal scene, Balmog plays old-school, demonic, raw and catchy Black Metal, great job

Opvs Leviathan - Epic Black Metal; I don't like the sound on it (especially on drums), but the composition is ok, good guitar work

Kill - fast and aggressive Black Metal, not much variety in it, but as I've listened to their new album already I'd recommend it for a complete experience

Divine Codex - Fast and mystical Black Metal, good atmospheres, not so good mixing

Aboriorth - mid-tempo to fast Black Metal, weak sound but catchy, evil music

Frozen Dawn - a rawer, much more aggressive and cold version of Cradle of Filth (in their beginnings), good stuff!

Primigenium - said to be one of the oldest Black Metal bands in Spain, Primigenium plays of course old-school, raw and quite simple Black Metal, nothing more, nothing less; barely audible vocals though...

Eternal Chaos - raw and brutal Black Metal without compromises but without any special parts either

Decayed - Portuguese masters of raw Black Metal, you should know them

Lemures - slow to mid-tempo Atmospheric Black Metal with keyboard backgrounds; I don't like the vocals although I admit they are good for this genre

Salvation666 - good flowing '90's type of mysterious fast Black Metal, I like it

Esbbat - good stuff, varied, aggressive but at the same time mystical Black Metal

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: -/10

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