Band: MARTYRVORE
Country: USA
Title: Obliteration
Label: Die Todesrune Records
Year: 2014
Style: Death Metal

Review:
After more than a decade since their foundation Martyrvore manage to release their debut full-length album although in the meantime they were active releasing various splits, compilations and EPs, except for the 2008-2013 period when they were silent. This album is made of an impressive amount of 19 tracks totaling 40 minutes of dark, brutal and putrefying Death Metal typical for this Spanish label (it especially reminds me of the US based Blaspherian), a horryfing assault on your senses with a small dose of melody, but in this case it's a rotten, cemetery-born, sad and desolate melody to enhance the genral atmosphere. The technical part isn't that impressive, it's based on overused patterns all the way, but the execution and especially the atmosphere these guys manage to create is amazing, exactly what you'd expect from a death-inspired Death Metal band if I may say so. 
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/pages/Martyrvore/213663915379832
www.deathrune-records.com

Band: M.D.K. / EXPURGO
Country: Brazil / Brazil
Title: Sicko Brothers Tasting and Eating Corpses
Label: Rotten Foetus Records
Year: 2011
Style: Gore Grind / Grindcore

Review:
A not so recent split from Rotten Foetus here featuring 2 Grind-related bands from Brazil. Opening are the M.D.K. trio with 12 tracks of GoreGrind I couldn't get into at all; this music has nothing to offer to me, it's more childish and laughable than disgusting and horrifying as it's probably intended to be, the technical execution is as chaotic and unprofessional as possible, plus the multiple layers of vocals (except for a few, really few hardcore screams here and there) are awful, not to mention the horribly programed drums. M.D.K. is not at all my type of band. 
Expurgo is not a new name here, I am familiar with their intensive, aggressive and brutal as fuck Grindcore with two types of vocals, catchy guitar riffs, real drumer and although the shit is recorded live they can actually transmit brutality without ever falling ridiculous. Huge difference between the two bands, and after spinning this CD for a few times I can say I like Expurgo's ultra-fast and animalic type of Grindcore more and more. 
A sick split nonetheless, recommended only if you have a solid Gore and Grind background.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 2/10   7.5/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/expurgo
www.rottenfoetus.com.br

Band: MORZHOL
Country: France
Title: MMXI
Label: Projekt'Ill Productions 
Year: 2014
Style: Black Metal

Review:
According to Metal Archives this band recently split up, and that's a shame since they just managed to release their debut album, this one I'm spinning rhing now. MMXI is made of one 1 track clocking almost 45 minutes of raw, putrid, and extreme Black Metal with obvious old-school Death metal influences all over. Although the sound is quite unpolished, all the intruments are clear enough to offer a perfect audition, actually I can even praise this production for the way it blends with this rancid music. The long composition is like multiple tracks without pauses, so probably the lyrics are what made this trio present everything under a single track; multiple layers of vocals, mostly comprehensive screams, a very inicisive and pronounced bass line, interesting and never boring guitar riffs and leads, US Death Metal styled solos, and good drumming, that's what you'll find on this debut album. They seem pretty dedicated to this music, so I don't think the band split will drive them away from Black Metal. Anyway, it's a shame for Morzhol.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10

Contact:
www.projektill.fr

Band: NEBULA VII
Country: Russia
Title: Dawn Of A New Era
Label: Kadaath Records / Area 51
Year: 2014
Style: Space Drone Ambient

Review:
Nebula VII is a one man project from Russia founded probably around 2010 when it started releasing loads of stuff including Splits, Singles, EPs and albums. This one seems to be the only official release in 2014, but I'm not completely sure; it's made of 3 tracks + intro + outro + a bonus, a Drone version of a previously released track, although if you ask me I have no idea what is the difference between the intro/outro and the "normal" tracks, they all are Space Ambient soundscapes without vocals (except for some radio-station interceptions), I can only understand the difference between these and the last track, the bonus one, that's clearly something different. I've recently seen a very nice video on YouTube called something like the planet's music, and made entirely of sounds captured around the planets. Well, if you know that video, or happen to find it, Nebula VII's music is smething similar, maybe a bit more "melodic" and synth-driven, but it gives you the same open-space feeling, the same image of the vast universe, and I would say it's calm and relaxing and at the same time unsettling and quite scarry. A different release than I'm used to nowadays, but I'm glad I had the chance to taste it. 
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: -/10

Contact:
www.nebulavii.pbk-cm.ru
www.pbk-cm.ru

Band: NEROCAPRA
Country: Italy
Title: Mefisto Manna
Label: Justified Violence Records / Warhell Records
Year: 2014
Style: Black Death Metal

Review:
Here's the new, second album of the Italian Primitive Metallers Nerocapra, an album featuring 8 tracks in a bit more than half an hour of playing time and released as digipack including an 8 pages booklet with all lyrics printed. Mirco's band is now a duo with him on guitars and vocals, and Beppe Mondini on drums, but the music is getting better and better. This new album benefits of a good sound quality and although the music is primitive as they advertise it, it's a successful combination of Black, Thrash and Death Metal highlighted by catchy and memorable guitar riffs, excellent solos, groovy drums and versatile vocals. I like this type of retro Metal more than what's on the market nowadays, as it seems most bands think old-school also means bad recording quality; Nerocapra's sound is organic to the bone, but crystal-clear, too. No track on this album has hit-potential, but the overall impression is very good, I could and probably will listen to this album a lot.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/nero.capra
www.facebook.com/JustifiedViolenceRecords
www.facebook.com/warhellrecords

Band: ODIUM
Country: Germany
Title: The Science of Dying
Label: NoiseHead Records
Year: 2014
Style: Thrash Metal

Review:
After 21 years of activity here's Odium's 7th full-length album, second under the Austrian label NoiseHead Records, and it's nice to see the band picking a pace of 1 album once every 2 years, hopefully in the meantime they are also hitting the scenes hard. The Science of Dying features 9 tracks in 41 minutes of Thrash Metal; fast-paced, aggressive as hell, intelligently crafted, and quite catchy, with lots of subtle influences from Power, Heavy and even Industrial Metal making it all highly interesting. Some tracks are like a slice of Slayer while other are epic and melodic, and some weird like the Dutch Pyogenesys were, and there are plenty of hooks on both the instrumental part and the vocal part (just check the track War with its childern choir). I wasn't expecting such a versatile, such a complex and at the same time simple and effective album from this band, I'm very impressed by their ability to explore new territories. I'd recommend this to every Thrash Metal fan who's looking for something new and fresh at the same time.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10

Contact:
www.odium-metal.de
www.noiseheadrecords.com

Band: ORDER TO RUIN
Country: Germany
Title: The Path to Atrocity
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2014
Style: Melodic Death Metal

Review:
A few months after I've reviewed their second album, here I have their third opus... Two albums released in 2014 is a bit odd, it means they are extremely productive but usually this also means a loss in compositions' quality. Fortunately enough this is not the case for Order to Ruin, they managed to deliver another good Melodic Death Metal release highlighted by the way the two guitarists manage to get along and at the same time involve the listener. They are using a drum machine but I must admit that even if I usually hate this, in this case it wasn't annoying, or at least not enough to ruin the overall experience. The Path of Atrocity is primarly Melodic Death Metal but it also has multiple Groove, Heavy and Thrash Metal influences so it sounds fresh and doesn't exactly follow the Gothemburg patterns; I've also felt some Black Metal influences at times. Not sure if they play live, but on CD Order to Ruin sounds excellent, probably they should think about finding a drummer, too. 
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/OrderToRuin

Band: PASSION FOR SORROW
Country: Czech Republic
Title: Rotting Immortality
Label: WormHoleDeath
Year: 2014
Style: Gothic Death Metal

Review:
I'm usually very intrigued by this mix between Gothic and Death Metal, it can breed beautiful, beautiful things, and the same happened when I received this CD. Unfortunately I was let down almost immediately, this band, or better said this album is far from what I consider a good release; the drums are awfully synthetic, I feel like listening to a video game soundtrack rather than Metal music, the vocals doesn't sound natural either, and the guitar riffs are uninspired and dull. If it wasn't for a few violin parts and especially their mix with acoustic guitars, the nice clean vocals and a few guitar leads this would have been a total waste of time. Sorry to be so harsh but I don't like this release one bit... As technical details: it was released by WHD as CD with 8 pages booklet including the lyrics and it actually has a nice cover and booklet artwork, too bad that's not enough.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 4/10

Contact:
www.passionforsorrow.com
www.wormholedeath.com

Band: PORTA INFERI
Country: Czech Republic
Title: Out of the Difference
Label: PIN Records
Year: 2014
Style: Progressive Power Metal

Review:
The reviews session from Today was amazing, I was blessed to listen to a lot of great releases, some surprised me and some I was expecting to be good. In Porta Inferi's case I didn't know what to expect since it's the first time I come across their music although they are active since 2006. This is their second studio album and I think it's self-released since PIN Records has only one band under contract, them, and PIN might mean Porta Inferi N...something Records. Anyway, the album is released as professional as possible with 8 pages booklet featuring the lyrics, and a nice cover artwork; featuring 12 tracks, it lasts for almost 45 minutes. The music featured here is some great quality Progressive Power Metal ranging from melodic hard Rock-like tracks to challenging Progressive Metal ones to epic and aggressive at the same time Power Metal. Norman Power's vocals are fantastic, I bet the guy can sing the phone book and still sound interesting, Mirek's keyboards are an excellent addition to the whole at times even leading the other instruments, the guitars are delivering juicy and catchy riffs, leads and solos all the time, that it's a real pleasure following them, and the rhythm section is spot on, too. I can't imagine why anyone into Progressive, Epic, Heavy and Power Metal wouldn't like this album, so I highly recommend it.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9.5/10

Contact:
www.portainferi.com

Band: PULVIS ET UMBRA
Country: Italy
Title: Implosion of Pain
Label: Pavement Entertainment
Year: 2014
Style: Thrash Death Metal

Review:
The legendary label Pavement Music is back and here they secured the deal with Italian Pulvis et Umbra, currently a one-man-band with Damiano Premoli behind all instruments and vocals, after many years (the band was formed in 2001) with line-up troubles. I have also reviewed Pulvis et Umbra's previous release, their debut album from 2012, but that was a massive disapointment as the sound quality, mix and master were horrible or even non-existent. Implosion of Pain features 10 tracks in 35 minutes of playing time, but this time everything seems to be better, even its general concept and delivery. I still hate the synthetic sound of the drum-machine, but I think that's the point, to give the music a certain Industrial touch; the same goes for the vocals that to me seem like inhaled vocals and I don't think inhaled vocals will ever have any power on live situations, they even sound funny instead of being manly and aggressive, but this is my opinion only. Damiano came up with some pretty rad guitar riffs touching Progressive Metal territories at times, also the compositions are not boring at all and they always keep your attention high. A general conclusion would be: Damiano acts better by himself rather than having a full line-up to back up his ideas, but at the same time I'm sure if he'd use a real (good) drumer and a good vocal Pulvis et Umbra would reach higher quality standards, he should focus on his guitar as that's what he does best.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/pulvisetumbraofficial
www.pavementmusic.com

Band: PURPLE NAIL
Country: Sweden
Title: Embrace the Dark
Label: WormHoleDeath
Year: 2014
Style: Gothic Metal

Review:
Young band from Sweden who apparently decided to follow a Gothic Rock / Metal path, Purple Nail is a female-fronted act and this is their debut album. Counting 11 tracks and 50 minutes of playing, Embrace the Dark presents us a band that seems to rely heavily on the vocals of Lady Crow and that's about it; the instrumental part, except for the bass lines which are very pawerful and well-crafted, impressive I'd say, the guitars, keyboards and the drums are quite dull and lack of any originality whatsoever. The production is excellent, I have nothing to argue about it, the presentation (cover, booklet) is rafined as well, and all in all the music is not bad, but not something to impress either; on the other hand the female vocalist (reminding me of Xandria's vocals, and especially of a US band called Rain Fell Within) and the bassist are excellent. What can I say, a promising band that hasn't reached half of its potential here.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6/10

Contact:
www.thepurplenail.com
www.wormholedeath.com

Band: REPULSOR
Country: Poland
Title: Trapped in a Nightmare
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2013
Style: Thrash Metal

Review:
With such a band name, such an album title and such a cover, what music would you expect the Polish trio to offer here? If you ask me I'd say either old-school Thrash or old-school Death Metal, and indeed repulsor are an 80's Thrash Metal type of band complete with fast rhythms, simple but effective drums, horror movie cuts as track intros, and even a well-done acoustic guitar interlude. The vocals are comprehensive and fit well with this type of music, but I honestly don't like them as I see no real room for improvement there, and they lack versatility also. But the guitars I'd say are the real highlight of Repulsor, all riffs are catchy and complete with twin leads (although don't know how they manage to sustain this live) are the real deal on this EP. The drums and bass lines are also heavy and supportive, so nothing to comment there. All in all I have enjoyed this EP and think the band has a real chance to make it in the nowadays retro Thrash scene.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/Repulsorthrash

Band: SACRO SANCTUS
Country: Malta
Title: Deus Volt
Label: Metal on Metal Records
Year: 2014
Style: Heavy Doom Metal

Review:
It's not every day you come across a one-man-band playing a combination of Heavy and Doom Metal, they are usually following a Black Metal and/or Ambient path, but Albert Bell, the man behind this project, is already known in this field through his work in Forsaken and Nomad Son, some of the best Metal exports from Malta, but he's probably more known for being the main organizer behind the Malta Doom Metal Fest, so yes, they guy is extremely dedicated and honest about what he does, kudos to him. What's curious is the fact he started his musical career in the '80's with/in a Speed Metal then a Speed Thrash Metal band, so I guess age really tones you down. 
What I have here is Sacro Sanctus' debut album, a 7 tracks effort totaling almost 50 minutes of Heavy Doom Metal with a somehow epic atmosphere surrounding it all. Though this is not your typical slow Doom Metal release, it's mostly mid-paced, with occasional fast parts (especially on drums), but the atmosphere is Doomy, very suggestive, very oppressive and it reminds you of the major names of this genre. Since the release is also quite varied for this genre, I'd say it leaves the patterns aside, so all in all it's surprising to know this was done by a single person (well, actually three, as Albert also had 2 guests, but the whole concept is his), even the lyrics are impressive and they blend excellently with the cover and booklet artwork offering a part fictional, part mythical story, a concept album. Great!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/AlbertBellsSacroSanctus
www.metal-on-metal.com

Band: SARKRISTA / UNHUMAN DISEASE
Country: Germany / USA
Title: Those Who Preach Perdition
Label: Immortal Frost Productions
Year: 2014
Style: Black Metal / Black Metal

Review:
Opening this split are the German quartet Sarkrista with 2 freezing cold and at the same time quite mysterious and epic tracks. I don't like their type of drums sounding like a horde of chaotic galloping horses when they get on to faster rhythms and that's almost all the time, but I have to appreciate they are recorded live. The guitars and vocals on the other side are exquisite; the vocals are cold as the harshest Winter, and the guitar riffs are really creating an atmosphere here, so this is what I consider to be this band's highlight, they manage to create a proud and expressive Black Metal atmosphere. 
Unhuman Disease from the States is a one-man-band with 6 full-length albums underbelt. Again a fast paced and mysterious sounding Black Metal with excellent shrieks, brutal attitude, but a worse sound quality than Sarkrista's. If the drums are programed than Nocturnus Dominus, the guy behind this moniker, did an excellent job, I'm not annoyed by their sound at all, I actually consider thema bit raw. The two tracks featured here and very catchy and present us a band that would deserve more attention, the guitar riffs are quite epic and the atmosphere he manages to create is as cold and terrifying as Sarkrista's even if he's the only one in the band. 
An excellent split, recommended to fans of '90's type Norwegian Black Metal, as traditional, distant, proud and razor-sharp as possible.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10   8/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/Sarkrista
www.unhumandisease.yolasite.com
www.immortalfrostproductions.com

Band: SORGHEGARD
Country: Sweden
Title: Holocaust of the Holy
Label: Deathrune Records
Year: 2011
Style: Black Metal

Review:
Not sure if this is a re-release or the actual first print of this debut album since the cover artwork is different than the one from the first press, and also the label sent it recently for a review so I guess they are promoting it. Well, anyway, although this trio seems to have been around since 2000, this is the first time I hear their name and of course their music, too. Proud followers of the mighty Marduk, Sorghegard features 2 ex-members of Satarial and plays the purest traditional Swedish Black Metal complete with razor-sharp and comprehensive vocals, whirlwinds over whirlwinds of guitar riffs and leads, a devastating rhythm section and an overall infernal speed in delivering catchy and well-structured compositions. If you're into Swedish Black a la Marduk, Lord Belial or Satarial, Sorghegard's debut album will make a hell of a great present for the holidays although it's evil and satanic to the bone, haha. Violent and technical Black Metal (with a few Death Metal riffs sprinkled here and there) not to be missed!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/sorghegardsweden
www.deathrune-records.com

Band: STENY LDA
Country: Russia
Title: Beloe Bezmolvie
Label: Slow Burn Records
Year: 2014
Style: Atmospheric Post Metal

Review:
Second studio album from Steny Lda, 8 tracks in a bit less than an hour featuring tracks ranging from 3 minutes to 13, an escape in a world of their own, a vast, cold and somehow desolate but at the same time positive atmosphere in perfect tone with the cover and booklet pictures. The drummer and guitarists are very energic, in contrast with the calm synths, and the vocals rarely appear as distant screams, but the overall result is a very good atmospheric soundscape with its ups and downs when it comes to intensity. It's too Post for my taste, but it's definitely a professional and interesting material for fans of more modern types of Rock and Metal, actually of what comes after Rock and Metal, the Post-thing. 
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10

Contact:
www.slowburn.ru

Band: SXUPERION
Country: USA
Title: Through Cosmic Corridors
Label: Bloody Mountain Records
Year: 2014
Style: Black Death Metal

Review:
One of my favorite bands from the new wave of US Extreme Metal scene, Sxuperion, finally released their debut album, although I thought Inverted Goat Orifice, the previous material I reviewed here, was an album, too, but according to Metal Archives, it was just an EP. So this debut album is made of 8 tracks of mostly Brutal Black Death Metal, with lo-fi sound quality, but well delivered so that it creates and expresses exactly what the man behind this moniker wants, a vast and extremely brutal cosmic atmosphere, of course this with the support of the synths/keys part, too (2 tracks are fully synth/keys based). The vocals are low-tuned, distanced but still well defined, the drums are fast and devastating, the guitars are characterized by low-tuned riffs and haunting leads all over, and the overall atmosphere is of a complete disaster in the universe passing from calm but terrifying states to chaotic and brutal parts. Still an amazing band although I knew what to expect from this debut album, and probably expected a bit more, too. But if you haven't heard of Sxuperion and its music so far and you like your Black Death as atmospheric and dark as possible, don't miss this release.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10

Contact:
www.bloodymountainrecords.com

Band: THAW
Country: Poland
Title: Earth Ground
Label: Witching Hour Productions
Year: 2014
Style: Post Black Metal

Review:
Second full-length album from this young avantgarde quartet from Poland, Earth Ground features 8 tracks in 40 minutes of playing time, an expose of mysterious, freezing cold, devastating at times - mesmerizing at other, oppressive Post Black Metal of thebest quality around. It's a mixture of Ambient Drone with really modern Post Black Metal, almost Shoegaze hinting, and although some of the parts seem artificially and unnecessary stretched and other way too improvized, the overall atmosphere is constantly tense and aggressive involving the listener. Alongside Mord'A'Stigmata, Thaw prove Poland has a pretty heavy artillery in new Avantgarde Black Metal, a serious competition for the French effervescent scene.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/THAWnoise
www.witchinghour.pl

Band: THE ERSATZ
Country: France
Title: Kill The False Inside You
Label: Finisterian Dead End
Year: 2014
Style: Alternative Shock Industial

Review:
This debut album by The Ersatz features 14 tracks and clock almost an hour of Alternative Shock Industial music as they named it, or if you want a combination of Industial Metal, Goth Rock and Electro, a cross between Ministry, NIN, Marlyn Manson and even Mortiis to a point. Since this is not something I'm used to and I normally don't review such music I wouldn't know if this is pushing any boundaries or it's something that requires more polishing and/or originality, but what I head here is pretty good, I'm sure fans of both Industial and Gothic Rock will enjoy it equally. 
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: -/10

Contact:
www.the-ersatz.com
www.finisteriandeadend.com

Band: TORRENS CONSCIENTIUM
Country: Russia
Title: All Alone With The Thoughts
Label: Solitude Productions
Year: 2014
Style: Atmospheric Doom Death

Review:
I was listening to this album while reading from a book and at a certain point I fell in a lethargic state, dreamy I might say, and let myself be carried away by this music. Torrens Conscientium managed to release a great debut album here and kudos to Solitude for giving them a chance, I really think this band has potential and will soon evolve into a major name of the Doom Death scene. In the meantime this debut album is made of 7 tracks and lasts for almost 50 minutes of Atmospheric Doom Death, a perfect and relaxing mix of repetitive guitar leads with heavy guitar riffs and melodic solos, low tuned growls with a few screams here and there (although I'd like to hear more versatility on the vocals part), slow and oppressive rhythm section and a subtle but very important keyboard background. The album is very emotional, very involving and demanding, it would be a shame not to listen to it in the confort of your solitude, live I think I'd be bored to death by it. 
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/torrens.conscientium
www.solitude-prod.com

Band: TRIGGER
Country: Russia
Title: Under Hypnosis
Label: NitroAtmosfericum Records
Year: 2014
Style: Death Metal

Review:
Not sure why, but I wasn't expecting Death Metal from this band, I was thinking of a Power Metal band. Anyway, the Russian Trigger were formed 10 years ago although this is only their second full-length album, followup to their 2012 debut. To me they sound like a good mix between Six Feet Under and Debauchery, they are on the same path: groovy and oppressive guitar riffs, good leads and solos a la '90's, low-tuned but comprehensive growls, heavy bass lines and pounding drums, on a general mid-tempo rhythm with occasional fast parts. They are not particularly technical but they are delivering the good pretty well, nothing to object, and as a fan of the above-mentioned bands I also recommend this Russian quintet to like-minded maniacs, it's nothing that will blow you away, but it's definitely a good way to spend 36 minutes of your life. 
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10

Contact:
www.trigger-metal.com
www.nitroatmosfericum.ru

Band: TWILIGHT
Country: Greece
Title: ...and with the Twilight, They Return
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2014 (re-release)
Style: Black Metal

Review:
For a '90's teenager like me this album is an excellent treat and although this is a re-release of Twilight's album, I can still feel that atmosphere. The band was active between 1992 and 2002 and was a proud exponent of the Greek Black Metal scene alongside Varathron, Rotting Christ, Necromantia or Thou Art Lord, but it seems they disbanded after a gig opening for Marduk in 2002. This is their only full-length album to date and at the time it was released was quickly sold-out by the label, so this re-release will have undoubtedly it's appraisers, and even more since the band decided to feature the original cover artwork, the one they first chose for the release but was replaced by the label later on. The music on it is that organic, majestic and mystic Black Metal we all know Greece for, with ferocious vocals, original riffs, drums sounding like they were recorded in a cave, occasional majestic keys and piano parts, offering a real frightening experience to the listener. I don't want to sound nostalgic so I won't praise this album that much, but I suggest you don't miss this extraordinary piece of Greek Black Metal history, I love it. Hopefully the band got back together in 2013 to release something new, too, not only for a couple of shows and re-releases, but we'll see.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: -/10

Contact:
www.twilighthorde.weebly.com

Band: ULCEROUS PHLEGM
Country: Germany
Title: Phlegm as a Last Consequence
Label: Power It Up 
Year: 2014
Style: Death Grind

Review:
Excellent, I think I just read one of the best descriptions of a band ever, Power It Up (I guess) said about Ulcerous Phlegm: "when oldschool was young"; and by by adding something like "one of the most brutal bands at their time" you get what the band is all about in case you haven't heard about them yet (which would be pretty weird though). Ulcerous Phlegm were founded in 1989 and in the following years released 2 EPs and probably had a few other unreleased demos, too, so not a big deal of discography, but somehow they managed to capture the attention of the sickest Grinders out there in the underground. This release by Power It Up features most of their recorded stuff, from live gigs to studio sessions to the 2 EPs already released in the beginning of the '90's, and if you're into Brutal Death Grind from the '90's I suggest you don't miss this one, it's so brutal, so disgusting, so ahead of its time and at the same time so catchy and well delivered that you won't believe it, it's a real masterpiece of primitive Death Grind: ultra-low tuned guitars, bulldozer-like bass lines, vomiting vocals, excellent drumming and raw but still very clear sound quality. Ulcerous Phlegm was an awesome band and this release does them justice, brings their name back into attention, Power It Up released it in CD format with a booklet full of testimonies from other Death Gore Grind musicians like instroductions to a book, an awesome idea, a CD to buy at all costs and guard with your life! 
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: -/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/TheUlcerousPhlegm
www.power-it-up.de

Band: USURPRESS
Country: Sweden
Title: Ordained
Label: Doomentia Records
Year: 2014
Style: Death Metal

Review:
Sweden based quartet Usurpress pove once again they are a productive band on the scene, since their foundation in 2010 they have released a new material every year and this 2014 opus is their second full-length album to date. Featuring 12 tracks and totaling 40 minutes of Crusty and Sludgy Old School Death Metal, Ordained is not actually following patterns and prefer to come up with their own additions to a somehow stagnant style. Their 2012 album Trenches of the Netherworld impressed the audience through its own way of combining Death Metal and D-Beat Crust, but on this new one Usurpress offer a bit more; hell, you can even listen to an instrumental track that sounds more like a '70's Prog Rock track than Death Metal, then the stench of Sludge Doom Metal is everywhere. Fans of Retro Death Metal should check this out, it's much more than a simple copy & paste of those patterns, Usurpress prove they are not afraid to try new things, add new influences; still it's not as catchy as it's interesting but I guess they have all the time in the World to improve on that aspect, too.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10

Contact:
www.usurpress.com
www.doomentia.com

Band: WITHOUT GOD
Country: Russia
Title: Circus of Freaks
Label: Solitude Productions
Year: 2014
Style: Stoner Doom Metal

Review:
Although this is the band's second full-length album and they were formed in 2008, these Russians look very, very young to me, they all look teenagers, but that's fine, they surely know how to do their thing. And their thing is called Stoner Doom Metal; ranging from slow to mid-tempo parts, the music flows naturally from start to finish and you won't even notice when 8 tracks and 48 minutes are gone, but that's due to not overusing repetitive elements of their music, keeping it quite catchy and varied. The drums are quite groovy, the guitars and bass low-tuned but well underlined, and the vocals have huge potential. The production is raw but well defined and crystal clear to give us an excellent experience. This album will definitely please fans of old-school Doom Metal, probably not the depressive ones too. 
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/withoutgodrussia
www.solitude-prod.com

Band: ZEPHYRA
Country: Sweden
Title: Mental Absolution
Label: WormHoleDeath Records
Year: 2014
Style: Melodic Groove Metal

Review:
5 years after their foundation and after presenting themselves with a debut demo and 2 EPs, Zephyra finally release their debut album on WormHoleDeath. A melodic form of mid-tempo Groove Metal with quite important influences from Melodic Death and Heavy Metal, all lead by the good female vocalist Asa Netterbrant whose tonalities range from warm, enchanting clean vocals to vicious hoarse, Angela Gossow-like screams, both executed perfectly (!), but the combination sounds quite weird at least to me. The instrumental part is not impressive, and follows overused patterns most of the time, but the versatility of their compositions is to be appreciated, the tracks are different one from another giving the impression of a mature band. This is an album that could appreal to a large audience, especially to the ones that are not burried deep in a style or another, you know the type of metalhead that considers Metallica, Death, and Slayer are playing something similar and like their music equally.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10

Contact:
www.zephyra.se
www.wormholedeath.com

Band: ZOMBIE ATTACK
Country: Ukraine
Title: Through the Circles of Hell
Label: NitroAtmosfericum Records
Year: 2014
Style: Thrash Metal

Review:
This is the debut album of Zombie Attack, a young combo founded in 2010, and from how happy they seem from the cover's thanks list I guess this was a highly anticipated release following an EP and a Split with Violent Omen. I wouldn't say this is my favorite style, but I have to admit these guys know how to play it at good standards. Fast paced (with rare mid-tempo passages mostly used as intros) Thrash Metal with very energetic rhythm section, an impressive bass line, fast guitar riffs following '80's patterns, and a vocalist that from my point of view has no identity, nothing to impress or remain memorable; overall good execution but the compositions are not enough to remain in my memory long after the audition, and that's what I usually expect from a Thrash Metal release, but at least they are full of energy, 100% on fire. I guess this is much better live than on CD, but if you're into fast '80's Thrash you might like this better. I have to mention the excellent sound quality and great cover artwork, too.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/ZombieAttackUkraine
www.nitroatmosfericum.ru