Band: ABSTRACT SPIRIT

Country: Russia

Title: Tragedy and Weeds

Label: Solitude Productions

Year: 2009

Style: Funeral Doom Metal

Review:

Abstract Spirit was formed back in 2006 as a trio and remained a trio until now, that's great for a band, to keep its line-up unchanged for 4 years. This one is their second album to date, a an album that lasts for almost 70 minutes containing 6 tracks, almost all of them being at least 10 minutes long. The music we're getting on it is a slow, heavy Funeral Doom that tends to get boring from time to time, it is simply not complex or inventive enough to keep the attention focused on it. I found myself thinking on countless other things while listening to this album, and that not in a good way, literally forgetting I'm listening to an album... Maybe that's only me, but I've had my share of Funeral Doom until now and haven't had this feeling yet. The only thing that might capture the listener's attention is the key work, but the guitars, drums and vocals (only growls, no voariations whatsoever) are too simple and monotonous.

Reviewed by Adrian

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Band: ANGEL'S DECAY / OBSCURE

Country: Slovakia / Poland

Title: Campaign Against religions

Label: Akne Prod.

Year: 2009

Style: Death Metal / Death Metal

Review:

There are little or no info at all on these two bands on the net, so it was quite hard to understand where they are coming from and what's their purpose. It seems both bands are active and signed with Slovakian Akne Productions. "Campaign..." is a Split CD containing 2 tracks from each band and lasting for almost 20 minutes, so you get plenty of music. It's presented in my favourite format for a CD, A5 :) I'm a fan of CDs in this format, too bad there's no booklet. 

Slovakian Angel's Decay is a brutal, quite technical kind of '90's Death Metal with fat sound, mostly fast rhythms, and quite memorable guitar riffs and melodic leads here and there, all presented with a good sound that allows you to follow any instrument. 

Obscure walks on Old-School Death Metal paths as well, but their sound is rawer, more primitive and demo-sounding. That's not a bad thing for their music, it gives you the impression you're listening to an old recording. My fave part about Obscure, the vocals, really interesting and almost so original as the Asphyx/Morgoth ones, very good job. Except for the sound and vocals there are not so many differences between the two bands.

I have enjoyed this release a lot and I recommend it to Old-School Death Metal followers. Can't wait for any new release from these bands.

Reviewed by Adrian

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Band: BLOOD AND DISASTER

Country: Colombia

Title: Terras de Destruccion y Adoracion al Demonio

Label: Orion Prod.

Year: 2010

Style: Black Metal

Review:

One of my favourite underground labels lately, portugal's Orion Prod. recently unleashed some new Black Metal demons of Latin backgrounds. Blood And Disaster hails from Colombia and this is their debut album, although I would say this is an EP rather than a full-length, it lasts for less than 20 minutes. Anyway, they can call it however they like, it's their work. Blood And Disaster is a raw Satanic Black Metal band with lyrics in Spanish language. Fast, aggressive, blasphemic, Blood And Disaster is the typical underground Black Metal horde trying to sound as evil as possible. In their case this is not laughable at all, they seem to be pretty good instrumentists, with good ideas, old-school Thrashy attitude and full of energy. At some point the rhythms are getting so super-fast that you wonder how the drummer would play that live, and since there's a live track included as a bonus you can get that, well, he can't. He is fast, indeed, but too fast sometimes and he looses pace.

Anyway, if you're into Underground uncompromising Black Metal give this a chance, but be quick, it's handnumbered and limited to 300 copies.

Reviewed by Adrian

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Band: DARKSEED

Country: Germany

Title: Poison Awaits

Label: Massacre Records

Year: 2010

Style: Gothic Metal

Review:

Sixth studio album for this German band that soom will reach 20 years of activity, a great achievement for any Metal band, good for them. Actually this is a long-waited come-back for the band as the previous full-length was released 5 years ago, in 2005, so its fans should be extremely happy by now. In the meantime the band broke-up and came back only now, with a new vocalist, Herald Winkler, the guy who handled drums in the band before taking on the mic. "Poison Awaits" is a 12 tracks album lasting for almost one hour of great Gothic Metal the way it was supposed to sound! Although the first 2 tracks put me asleep and I started to think why I chose to review this, the third one, "Poison Awaits" flamed my attention; an extremely catchy music based on metallic guitar riffs (that keep it kind of old-school, powerful and proud), memorable synths, clean vocals and a standard, template rhythms structure with good chorus. I'm not fan of this genre, I listen to it only from time to time, I'm also not a follower of this segment of the metal scene, so from my profane point of view I can say I have enjoyed parts of this album, and was bored by other, fewer indeed, parts. The overall impression is good, I can have this spin in my CD player while taking a trip.

Reviewed by Adrian

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Band: DECREPIT BIRTH

Country: USA

Title: Polarity

Label: Nuclear Blast

Year: 2010

Style: Technical Death Metal

Review:

This is an album that sorts out Today, that's why I chose to review it now.

Decrepit Birth came a long way since their formation, in 2001. I remember them being a promising act in the underground and causing a good amount of respect after the release of their 2 albums under the Unique Leader Records' wings, in 2003 ("...and Time Begins") and 2008 ("Diminishing Between Worlds"). Now here we have their third full-length and at the same time their debut release on Nuclear Blast, containing 11 tracks, lasting for almost 40 minutes. Although Decrepit Birth's music is top-notch, it still lacks something, maybe because when you hear Nuclear Blast your expectations are higher then ever, you always expect to hear the next big thing around. With the massive amount of Technical Brutal Death Metal bands that's out there nowadays it's almost impossible to come out with something that beats them all. Decrepit Birth's album is great, but not awesome, it has all the necessary ingredients to be loved by any Tech Death Metal fan, but at the end it gives you the impression that something's missing. Again, maybe my expectations are too high when it comes to a NB release... 

Here's what "Polarity" is all about: mostly fast rhythms, melodic guitar leads and impresive guitar solos all over, comprehensive Death Metal vocals, m changes and breaks, keyboard backgrounds (that sort of atmospheric, weird type of keys Nocturnus used), blasting, ultra fast drums and a bass line that supports perfectly the guitar work. All in all a very good work, an album that will be enjoyed by all Tech Death Metal fans, but not a new gem of this style.

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Band: FILE OF GHOSTS

Country: Finland

Title: The Nest of Death

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2010

Style: Death Metal

Review:

This is File Of Ghosts' second release to date and I'm glad Sami sent it for a review because I liked the first one, too. I must say, this second release doesn't disapoint me, I still like Sami's honest approach on his music, maybe too honest. He openly admits that this is Lo-Fi music, which at some extent is, but it seems that this statement gives some reviewers the "balls" to trash this as it is the worst music on earth. And that's wrong, I've heard countless projects/bands worse than this, countless! At least inhere we get a comprehensive, quite complex and diverse guitar work, pretty much into old-school Death Metal. Ok, I have a problem with the drum programming again, it sounds too synthetic especially when the rhythms are getting fast and ultra-fast, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying this guy's ideas. 5 tracks, almost 20 minutes, '90's enthousiasm combined with a modern indus feeling and a home-made presentation. Give this a try, you might like it. 

Reviewed by Adrian

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Band: HEMORAGY

Country: France

Title: HeadBang Till Death

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2010

Style: Heavy Thrash Metal

Review:

By its name and "look" you might be tempted to say you're dealing with a Death Grind band, but no, Hemoragy comes from France and plays an old-school type of Heavy Thrash Metal. This one is their third album, all of them being self-released. What can I say, just Google this album and you'll get more results with the game they have released rather than with the album, haha. Let me explain this: the album has 10 tracks and as a bonus, an online game that's both easy to play and entertaining (I'm not a games addict at all, but I gave this one a try and after my second attempt I came 4th place all-times, so I liked it, hahaha). As a band, Hemoragy seems to come straight out of the '80's, it's not fast, nor brutal, nor extremely technical as the nowadays Thrash bands, but it has the right amount of them all, and so this album, although you might feel like me at first: after 2-3 tracks I started thinking I'm going to be bored, but after a bit more time and tracks I started enjoying it and strange enough at the end of these 10 tracks I wanted more, and that's great, it means their music just grew on me as tracks went by. "HeadBand Till Death" is that beer-friendly music you like to have played at your fave bar for some serious headbanging. Don't know why they are still unsigned, I would certainly sign them at once. Give them a chance. 

Reviewed by Adrian

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Band: IMMORTAL DIVINATION

Country: USA

Title: From The Abyssmal Depths

Label: Self production

Year: 2008

Style: Technical Death Metal 

Review: 

I must say that I don't like bands which are unknown, but talking about thousands of fans and things like "fastest death metal in the world”. A band biography should have a realistic objective content, telling facts and truths not arrogant or self advertising bubbles. Sadly here we have such a negative example, they talk much, blow much hot air, but they are more then normal, unspectacular and nothing amazing.

Okay they can play their instruments, but any own note or something like that you will not find. They just sound like another death metal band without spirit, senseless blasting, screaming and so on, that's often not enough. That the biography is from 2008 shows that perfectly and unsurprisingly they are split up. There are thousands of bands like this one, in my opinion we don't need more.

Reviewed by Robert

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Band: IN CONSPECTU MORTIS

Country: Germany

Title: Gebet und Verderben

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2009

Style: Black Metal

Review:

In Conspectu Mortis was founded in 2007 and this is their debut album, a 0 minutes release containing 8 Black Metal tracks that will make your day for sure if you're a Black Metal follower. The compositions are not monotonous at all, very aggressive and dark as all such releases should sound like, proud and professional. A very good band with talented musicians creating 100% Black Metal music without influences or additions, just pure and straight in your face honest Black Metal. Mostly mid-tempo, the rhythms are sometimes fast, but the overall impression is that of a very fat and powerful sounding metal. I have enjoyed it a lot, you should check out this band, too! Don't know why they are still unsigned, though...but they are doing just fine by themselves, too, this album has a great, professional production.

Reviewed by Adrian

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Band: KALPA

Country: South Korea

Title: The Path of the Eternal Years

Label: Dope Music / Tragic Serenade

Year: 2002

Style: Black Metal

Review:

Not sure why the guys at Misanthropic Art sent me this CD to review as it is dated 2002! So there are almost 10 years since this album was released... Anyway, it seems M.A. is distributing this and there are still some copies available, so if you're interested you know where to get it from.

Kalpa is a South Korean one-man-band started in 1996, a band that it seems is still active, although having no new release out since 2002. Musicwise Kalpa is pretty standard Black Metal without compromises, without influences from other genres. Mid-tempo to fast Black Metal with some good, entertaining guitar leads, good sound, and although pretty linear, not boring at all. 4 long tracks totalizing a bit more than 35 minutes, a jurney through pure and honest Black Metal. The only thing I hate about this are the lyrics; written in poor English, they seem like a combination of the grimmest, the most evil words found in the dictionary, and nothing more. I think it would have been much, much better if the lyrics were in their native language...

From the production point of view this is a top release, so have no worries if you decide to order it, you have a nice surprise.

Reviewed by Adrian

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Band: MAMMUTANT

Country: Germany

Title: Atomizer

Label: Massacre Records

Year: 2010

Style: Industrial Death Metal

Review:

Well, well, well, this must me one of the worst Massacre Records signing ever! If this (respectable so far) German label starts signing bands only for their looks then we should brace ourselves for some crappy music from now on. Mammutant has indeed an original image in the scene (going on the GWAR / Lordi style) and there's nothing wrong with that, it's great that such bands appear from time to time, but the story they created behind their image is simply idiotic, any 5 years old kid could come up with such a weak-ass story, read it on their website and you'll get why I'm saying this. The music on "Atomizer" is mostly simple and boring, the only thing I liked about it was the vocal part, old-school comprehensive Paul Speckman-like type of vocals. The keyboards give that out-of-this-world feeling indeed, but the rest of the instruments are only doing an average job, nothing spactacular, nothing out of the ordinary. The guitar riffs may seem great (aggressive and powerful) at the begining of this album, but after a while they get boring...

These guys should go back to Xorgosh, the planet they say they are from, they won't distroy anyone with this music on our planet...

Reviewed by Adrian

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Band: MASTABAH

Country: Poland

Title: Quintesence of Evil

Label: Wyrm Records

Year: 2010

Style: Brutal Death Metal

Review:

Mastabah was formed in 2004 and since then they have released a promo CD and an EP. Now it's time for their debut album, an album that's actually considered an EP by their label and a full-length by the band, so take it as you want to. It's composed by 9 tracks lasting for about 32 minutes, half an hour of Brutal Death Metal built on multiple combination of rhythms, from mid-tempo to ultra-fast. Mastabah's kind of Death Metal is actually respecting their country's tradition in this genre meaning that it is powerful, technical, aggressive and comprehensive, but the different thing, maybe I could even name it original (?) is the drumming part; if you're not a fan of drum-machine stay away from this release! Mastabah has a real drummer, it seems they haven't used drum-machine on this release, but the way triggers on drums are used makes this part of their music even more synthetic than drum-machine. I don't like it, this part of their music ruins it all for me, even though the guitar work is very good, the vocals are perfect for this genre and the bassist has a very aggressive attitude making from his instrument a front line one as well. But still I can't get over the drums part, it's ultra-fast rhythmed, but its sound is not something I look into my Brutal Death Metal. Try it yourselves, maybe you'll appreciate it better than me.

Reviewed by Adrian

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Band: PSI-KOTICA

Country: Portugal

Title: The Lords of Lies

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2010

Style: Industrial Gothic Metal

Review:

Although not in an "usual" musical category for Pest Webzine, I'm glad I had the chance to listen to this release. Industrial Gothic Metal is little or even close to zero when it comes to being presented in my zine, but that doesn't mean I'm against it. Now why I'm so glad I gave this a listen? Because it's soooo strange, sooo weird and (I think) original... 70% from that originality comes from its production, very raw and dirty, close to the old-school Death Metal I'm more used to, or if you want, close to a Sludge Doom Metal band's sound. This makes their music heavier and less shiny then a regular Gothic band, but still I would not recommend this to anyone before listening to at least one track on their Myspace before buying it. These 3 guys are pretty good when it comes to musical ideas, their music is catchy and quite memorable so after 1 listening you remain with at least one line of theirs stuck in your head. Their music sound is surprisingly less synthetic then I expected, except for some drums parts here and there the rest is quite "organic" and honest. Ok, all this is great for a demo, but I don't know if it will be the same feeling when released as a full-length CD... One other thing, the cover artwork is stupid, don't let yourselves be fooled by it, this is not a joke band. My fave track on this Demo, the last one, is the only one I would like to listen with a modern, profi sound.

Reviewed by Adrian

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Band: RE 123+

Country: Belarus

Title: Magi

Label: Bad Moon Man Music

Year: 2010

Style: Drone Metal

Review:

I have to admit I'm not a follower of this genre and I have almost to no experience in this field, but since I have received this album I have to review it. This is the debut album of this Belarussian quartet, a demonstration of their experimental attitude without limits. Most of the almost 50 minutes of playing are instrumental, quite monotonous and linear, but that's how this genre is. But as soon as the vocals kick in the music becomes contemplative, almost Bizantine sounding; that happens only on the first track, and the other two are again instrumental experiments with repetitive, monotonous sounds. I found it interesting, but have to admit this is not my cup of tea, so cannot say it's good or bad. Try it yourselves before you buy it. 

Reviewed by Adrian

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Band: REVEREND KILL

Country: Canada

Title: His Blood, Our Victory

Label: MercyKill Records / Painkiller Records / Apollon Records

Year: 2008

Style: Melodic Death Metal

Review:

Reverend Kill is a Canadian band founded in 2004. "His Blood, Our Victory" is their second album, a release that's at least strange from the production point of view, and I say this thinking of who really released it... On the net you can find it release independently by the band, or by Painkiller Records or by Mercykill Records (maybe this is their own label?), but I got it from Apollon Records who, at least on my copy, seems to be the producer... Well, Painkiller is a division of Apollon, but even knowing that you expect each one to have their own identity...

Anyway, regarding the music on this album we're threated with 9 tracks lasting for almost 40 minutes. The compositions are structured on melodic Death Metal with strong Heavy Metal elements especially on guitars; melodic, catchy guitar leads and solos and strong guitar riffs, all supported by a Swiss-clock rhythm section. The aggressive touch is brought by the Death Metal type of growls, comprehensive enough. All in all this is a good Swedish type of Death Metal release, too bad this genre was exhausted a few years ago, but if you enjoy that music give Reverend Kill a try, they are entertaining enough and their music won't bore you. 

Reviewed by Adrian

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Band: REX SATANACHIA

Country: Denmark

Title: First Legion of Hell

Label: Grom Records

Year: 2008

Style: Black Metal

Review:

Now this is what I call a good Black Metal release! Rex Satanachia is a Danish duo formed back in but this is their one and only release so far, a 6 tracks EP lasting for almost 20 minutes. Too bad it's so short because it sounds devastating, it sounds exactly how a proud Black metal album should: fast, uncompromising rhythms, aggressive and interesting guitars, double sets of vocals (screams and growls) plus occasional clean vox and backing screams, and an extremely intense rhythm section with ultra-fast drums all over. Besides being so fast, Rex Satanachia really presents its music with a menacing, threatening atmosphere that's perfect for this kind of music. 

Flawless release recommended to anyone of you into Black Metal! 

Reviewed by Adrian

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Band: SATAN'S ALMIGHTY PENIS

Country: USA

Title: Pulsing Feral Spire

Label: Pagan Flames

Year: 2010

Style: Black Metal

Review:

With a name like this I admit it was hard to take this band seriously and I think a lot of you will have the same difficulties, too, but behind this stupid band name there's a pretty serious musical project started back in 1999, so it has more than a decade on the barricades which proves these 2 guys are here to stay and present their music. This one is their second full-length, an album lasting for 52 minutes, containing 9 tracks. I would label their music as Technical Black Metal mostly because the guitar work is very complex most of the times, and also the drum-work is good enough to sustain such a label. From mid-tempo to fast, from regular to psycho, this album is a solid proof they should change their name, haha. No, really, this is a good album, recommended to the ones of you into the ugliest form of Black Metal but who also enjoy a good dose of weird stuff in their metal.

Reviewed by Adrian

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Band: SPIRIT OF NIGHT

Country: Russia

Title: Autumn

Label: Desolation Prod.

Year: 2009

Style: Ambient Black Metal

Review: 

A typical underground black metal demo with ambient  parts is coming to my ear. After a long drone ambient intro, which is able to create an atmosphere carried of darkness, the second song "Feeling of Depression” starts with midtempo distorted guitar riffs. The song lives of the one riff which is combined with keys and creating indeed a depressive world. Also the vocals of the mistress Nordic is able to underline the feelings in the song. The drum is made with computer, but here it is not a problem. The only thing I would like is a better guitar quality, but as all musicians with a home studio know, it is a long way till you can reach a good guitar sound.

The demo includes six songs along despair, sorrow and other dark feelings. There is nothing new though, but you don't need to create always something new to make a nice release. This woman has the skills and artistic understanding to create a nice dark and drone atmosphere, that's the main point. Everybody who can abandon perfect studio sound for an intensive feeling, should check this project and its releases out.

Reviewed by Robert

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Band: SURTT

Country: Russia

Title: Isolation From A Reality; Value Of Subabstract Thinking

Label: Ziekte Records

Year: 2010

Style: Dark Ambient

Review:

Surtt is also the name (pseudonym) of the guy behind this project. He started his musical career back in '98 in a black metal band and continued on the same path only until 2001 when he started experimenting on dark ambient fields under the Sarmus monicker. Surtt as a project was started in 2008 and here I have its second album, a 5 tracks effort lasting for around 45 minutes. The music on it could be described as Minimalist Dark Ambient made by synths, but it also has some Black Metal touches on track 3 and 5, meaning a Black Metal type of guitar riffs and drums. Unfortunately the drum programming is so synthetic and amateur sounding that I prefer better ther Minimalist Ambient parts, although I'm not a fan of this genre. The atmosphere is good, cold, dark and sometimes even creepy so this is not an album to throw away for sure. Fans of this genre could try it and make their own opinion.

Review by Adrian

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Band: TANTALOS

Country: Germany

Title: Fiat Lux

Label: Naturmacht Prod.

Year: 2009

Style: Melodic Black Metal

Review:

Tantalos is a one-man-band started in 2008 and here I have its debut album released last year on Naturmacht Productions. The album contains 9 tracks and lasts for a bit more than 40 minutes, but to be honest if I would have taken this by its sound and mixing/mastering I wouldn't have named this an album... The mixing sucks, some instruments are crystal-clear, some are just shitty sounding, and the worst are the vocals which I can't make up my mind is they are bad or their sound... The good parts of this album are the guitar work, quite catchy and consistent, and the ambiental, melodic parts. Tantalos has some good ideas, but he tends to overuse them and repeat them more than he should. As a debut album, I would say this album (more a demo in my opinion) is a good proof that Tantalos can do better things in the future, maybe experiment more (like he did by adding violin here and there), stick to what he says on the cover: "the statement of Tantalos is simply not to set any limits". With a better recording and a better drum-machine this would have been better.

Reviewed by Adrian

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Band: TYPHON

Country: USA

Title: Eternal Scorn

Label: Nusantarajim Production

Year: 2008

Style: Black Death Metal

Review: 

Form the year 2006 on this American black death metal formation is going their way. What kind of is it? Well a fast one, the riffs and the drums are mostly blasting, but also more atmospheric parts showing sometimes their face. That's surely no low skilled wannabe stuff. The sound quality is nice. The singer can handle all spectra of black metal screaming. A nice solo part in the second song brings yet little bit fresh air in the song. 

Sadly there are just two songs, because this is really a nice release.

2009 was the release date and as I read on their myspace, the artwork as the tracklist for the first full length is ready. I think they can become someone in an the black metal underground if they yet find also an own note for recognizing them as Typhon.

Reviewed by Robert

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