Band: MASSIVE ASSAULT

Country: Holland

Title: Death Strike

Label: F.D.A. Rekotz

Year: 2012

Style: Death Metal

Review:

From the Netherlands we have a killer, Swedish sounding metal band by the moniker of Massive Assault doing exactly that, assaulting the underground with their brand of Death Metal.  Formed back in 2001 Massive Assault have been slowly, but surely making their way across the world with technical buzz-saw brutality and grim riffs of a metal style that reminds me of the old school days of Entombed and Dismember.  Other influences can be heard in their most recent offering "Death Strike".  From the start "Death Strike" unleashes that killer brutality and production that made so many earlier awesome metal bands from Sweden hit the top of the map.  Nothing lets up and the technical ability of Massive Assault keep the Thrash/Death/Hardcore elements interesting throughout the ten tracks delivered from this release.  They give out 36 minutes of pure old school metal that could bring a smile to a Priest in the Metal Underground with a bottle of liquor hanging out of his mouth!  "Death Strike" delivers start to finish and fans of old school Death Metal won't be disappointed at all.  Tracks like "Cycle of Violence" and "Dismal Life" have such a buzzing sound to the production that a metal fan can't help but slam their head across the room with a fucking sledgehammer in the other hand!  Either way Massive Assault deliver an unrelenting old school brutality that hasn't been heard of since the days of Sweden being born into the Metal Underground in the old days!  Fans will certainly enjoy "Death Strike" and hopefully another offering is in the works for their next gift to the underground.

Reviewed by Lex Luther

Rating: 8/10

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Band: MHONOS

Country: France

Title: Humiliati

Label: Le Crepuscule du Soir

Year: 2012

Style: Ritual Ambient Doom

Review:

Started as a one man project in 2009, Mhonos evolved into a 6 piece band that is now starting to print its mark on the Ambient Doom scene and unlike the majority of such bands they play live also. After listening to their first track from this album (from the total of 3) I've paused the audition and searched for a live recording on YouTube and I was lucky to find a live gig (18 minutes long) where the atmosphere, for my surprise, didn't difer much from the one on the disc, and that is an achievemnt in my books. Why? Simply because Mhonos are all about the atmospheres: ritualistic, minimalistic, drone inspired Ambient Doom atmospheres made by percussions, basses and haunting low tuned vocals. The whole albums feels like a return to the depressive, horrifying Dark Ages and the use of Latin language adds on top of that. Hypnotic, tortured, apocalyptic, claustrophobic... Sick!

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9/10

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Band: MYSTAGOG

Country: Hungary

Title: ...of Old

Label: Neverheard Distro

Year: 2011

Style: Black Metal

Review:

It seems Neverheard is building a reputation of digging out old Hungarian gems in the Extreme Metal. Mystagog is not really an old band (they were formed in 2006), but it seems they have already split up even if this album, their debut, released in 2011, is their only release and the two guys behind this moniker are well known to followers of Hungarian Black Metal: Grave, known from Spuolus and Thy Funeral, and Angmar from the Hungarian flag bearers of raw Black Metal Witchcraft. Anyway, this CD contains 8 tracks recorded in old-school conditions so you'll know you'll only get some rough, organic sounds on it. They play some fast and quite minimalist Black Metal with good Old-school Norwegian-like atmosphere surrounding the whole. I think Thrash Black Metal fans would enjoy this more than the nowadays Black Metallers, and I did too, but I have to admit I hate the drumming on this release. If you forward to any part of the CD you'll find the same rhythm, nothing changes, nothing at all! The guitars part is not so varied also, so the elements that made me enjoy this release were the cruel, dark and cold vocals and the overall atmosphere proper to this type of music.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 6.5/10

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Band: NOCTURNAL TORMENT

Country: USA

Title: They Come at Night

Label: Deathgasm Records

Year: 2012

Style: Death Metal

Review:

For the fans of ultimate brutality and guttural madness Nocturnal Torment is right up your alley, and mine..."They Come at Night" is a sickness released to mangle the human race with sledgehammers and guns that won't quit!  Blasting sickness, brutal riffs that cut your heart out and a production that maintains heaviness from start to finish, Nocturnal Torment are awesome with the metal they display.  I get to hear a lot of brutal metal each day and some of it is just the typical bullshit, but others, like this band, have a bit more to add than just the regular crap that floats through the underground.  I can see that Nocturnal Torment is influenced by the old school days with a definite touch of modern technicality and even a Slayer type element in their style as well.  All of this adds up to a most sickening technical release that is not boring at all.  Now for those who don't know, Nocturnal Torment's members have been around for a long time.  I think that the band Termination started off back in 1988 or 1989 and from the ashes arose this band, so old school is certainly a product of the band's imagination.  This adds to the potential of a killer piece of brutality that turned out as "They Come at Night" and hopefully more to come.  Nine tracks at 50 minutes of brutality garners enough sickness to go around.  With tracks like "Alternative Reality" and "Sweet Decay" the heaviness and old school sickness is never ending in my opinion.  So for those of you from the early days of metal, like myself, then checking out Nocturnal Torment would be a fresh start for the day! 

Reviewed by Lex Luther

Rating: 8/10

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Band: NON OPUS DEI

Country: Poland

Title: The Quintesence

Label: Pagan Records

Year: 2006

Style: Black Metal

Review:

Non Opus Dei is a quite productive band from the Polish scene. They have released 6 full-length albums during their career which extends on a period of 15 years now, so it was nice of them to send me their latest 3 works for review, this way I can get a better idea of what's the band all about. 

"The Quintessence" is their 4 release, second one out on Pagan Records, presenting the listener 13 tracks totaling almost 50 minutes of quite melodic but still aggressive Black Metal. The vocals remind me of Lux Occulta's main type of vocals with a hint of Czech Avenger's primitive touch. The guitar work is interesting, exploring all kinds of territories and inspiring an avantgarde feel. The rhythm section is expertly crafted ranging from mid-pace to fast rhythms, and all in all the album has a good flow. Without bringing any groundbreaking elements to the scene "The Quintessence" is interesting, catchy, evil and offers a very entertaining 50 minutes audition, and the good, clean production only adds on top of the whole. Recommended to fans of avantgarde, flexible Black Metal, and for me, being a supporter of Avenger and Lux Occulta's music this will be welcome to hit my player multiple times from now on.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8.5/10

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Band: NON OPUS DEI

Country: Poland

Title: Constant Flow

Label: Empire Records

Year: 2007

Style: Black Metal

Review:

Non Opus Dei's fifth album and the first one after they left Pagan Records for Empire Records, "Constant Flow" contains 8 tracks in a bit more than 35 minutes. The biggest difference from "The Quintessence" is their bigger inclination towards the Avantgarde side of Black Metal. Also the compositions became more aggressive and darker than the ones on "The Quintessence", and even if this opus is titled "Constant Flow" the music on it actually flows much more disturbed than its predecessor, there are multiple breaks, rhythm changes, insane melodies on guitars, much more variety on vocals which as on the previous album are all over the place adding on brutality, and the drums and bass lines are very progressive. As a listener I like "The Quintessence" better, but as a musician I appreciate this one more for its courage of having no limits on composition. A twisted, insane, disturbed album.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8/10

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Band: NON OPUS DEI

Country: Poland

Title: Eternal Circle

Label: Witching Hour Productions

Year: 2007

Style: Black Metal

Review:

And finally the latest album from this Polish band, "Eternal Circle" is a bit of a disappointment for me after listening to their previous 2 albums. I really thought (hoped) that they would come up with a mix between "The Quintessence" and "Constant Flow", that would have been a perfect release for my ears, but instead they chose to follow the Polish trend nowadays, that "play it as fast as possible" Metal trend lead by Behemoth and the likes. In fact the first thing that came to my mind after hitting the play button was Behemoth... Such a shame since they showed real talent and potential in developing a highly entertaining Avantgarde Black Metal on their previous releases. The rhythms on this one narrowed to fast and ultra-fast, there are less or no sensitive variations and unfortunately if they will continue the same way they will loose their original touch. Of course these guys show again their high technical skills, the vocal keeps his own line, but that's not enough these days. "The Quintessence" remains their quintessence for my tastes...

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7/10

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Band: NUCLEAR SALVATION

Country: Sweden

Title: The Beginning of the End

Label: Skinforge Records

Year: 2011

Style: Thrash Metal

Review:

One of the many things I love about my hobby in metal is the ability to review every and any metal band out in the Metal World no matter how obscure the band is.  I love it all when it comes to being involved with metal and the review i am doing now is added to that love.  Nuclear Salvation is a brutal thrash metal band from the land of Sweden who began not too long ago in 2011 with the release of "The Beginning of the End".  A speed ridden release with elements of Thrash and old school death influence, but the obvious is the Thrash metal element in this offering.  This isn't bad at all with the speed riffs from start to finish and remnants of Slayer and early style speed/thrash metal along with that hardcore mix.  "The Beginning of the End" spews out eight tracks of interesting Thrash Metal that kicks ass with a hammer and nails to the brain.  I really don't know too much about these guys except that they are currently on tour and killing the fans with their old school style of thrash.  A old school style with a modern edge on production makes this a release that is well worth hearing on a daily basis with nothing to complain about.  Nuclear Salvation delivers their brand of Thrash Metal in a way that reminds me of the days when there were only two or three metal labels eating up the unknown bands and putting out killer riffs!  No sub-genres, no added bullshit, just a killer style of Thrash with no exceptions.  Nuclear Salvation has potential and hopefully will continue to blast out the riffs and the speedy brutality that makes "The Beginning of the End" so awesome to listen to!  Cheers on this one! 

Reviewed by Lex Luther

Rating: 9/10

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Band: OBSIDIAN SEA

Country: Bulgaria

Title: Between Two Deserts

Label: Solitude Productions

Year: 2012

Style: Doom Metal

Review:

I've heard and reviewed quite a lot of Bulgarian bands lately but this is the first time I have the chance to review a Traditional Doom Metal band. Being a two piece band, I don't know if they perform live too, so I'm not sure if this is a real band or a studio project. Anyway, this is Obsidian Sea's debut album, a 9 tracks effort that portrays an act full of potential and respect for their segment of the scene. The band pays a tribute to the masters of the genre without becoming a copycat so this album is very entertaining, recommended to all fans of the genre. There are some really good tracks inhere like there are some average and dull ones, but their honesty and potential are undoubted. The instrumental part, especially the guitar riffs, is spot on, the vocals, clean and old-school, are ok but a backing vocals part won't hurt them a bit, the lyrics are fitting the music perfectly, so all in all "Between Two Deserts" is a success. Keep an eye on these guys!

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8.5/10

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Band: PANKREATITE NECRO HEMORAGICA / PILE OF MAGGOT INFESTED VISCERA / SHATTER DEAD

Country: Brazil / USA / Brazil

Title: A Necro Dead Pile

Label: Sonoros Records

Year: 2011

Style: Gore Grind / Gore Grind / Grindcore

Review:

I love getting music on all kind of audio physical formats, some I've never seen before or at least not the typical CD, even if releasing such an original material means more money invested and not everyone has the financial means to do so. But Sonoros Records found a way to be interesting and still keeping it kind of cheap: they released this 3 way split on slim miniCDR so it looks quite nice and funny when you look at it. It's when you start playing it when the funny part instantly disappears being replaced by horror, violence and disgust.

The first band on this split is P.N.H., playing 7 short and fast Gore Grind tracks, only one passing over 2 minutes of playing time, the rest being around and less than 1 minute long. Fast Gore Grind, that's what P.N.H. is all about. The recordings are rehearsal type but quite ok, but the music could have been a bit more. Next is P.O.M.I.V. from USA with 9 tracks of fast and violent Gore Grind with the difference that they have included no samples, and also beside the guttural vocals there is also a screaming, quite funny vocal on the background. They seem to be the most mature band on this split being formed in 2003, but their music lacks of originality, it's enjoyable but there's nothing to stick to your mind after you listen to it, maybe only the hint of old-school. Shatter Dead present us 14 very short tracks (I guess none of them are more than 1 minutes in length) on the Grindcore path, but the low recording level makes it quite hard to follow. Nothing that catched my interest on this band, sorry.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 6/10  6.5/10  4/10

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Band: REALMBUILDER

Country: USA

Title: Fortifications of the Pale Architect

Label: I Hate Records

Year: 2011

Style: Heavy Doom Metal

Review:

I'm talking about old-school on a lot of reviews nowadays but talking about old-school when you talk about Realmbuilder is an understatement, these guys are like taken out from the end '70's - beginning of the '80's. This is their second album, but the first one I have a chance to listen, a 7 tracks effort lasting for 40 minutes. Its simple, almost primitive recording is something not so used nowadays, that's for sure, and the music is not far from this as well. Realmbuilder sounds like Manilla Road gone way doomier borrowing also an epic touch from Cirith Ungol (mainly on lyrics). It's not the best album out there, there are small mistakes in executions, some parts seem like too empty, there should have been more guitar solos (they show they're capable of such solos on a couple of tracks), and the whole should have been more curdled, but the overall result is nothing we're used to nowadays and if they keep on working on the same path they will get lots of followers. This album is recommended to old-school Hard'n'Heavy and Doom fans out there.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7/10

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Band: REINO ERMITANO

Country: Peru

Title: Veneracion del Fuego

Label: I Hate Records

Year: 2012

Style: Doom Metal

Review:

Definitely one of the best Doom Metal releases I've had the chance to listen to this year! "Veneracion del Fuego", the fourth album of these Peruvians has them all: down-tuned intelligent bass and guitar riffs, great, varied drumming, old-school guitar solos (although I would have liked more of them), psychedelic guitar leads here and there, a comprehensive good female voice, and an overall fantastic '70's atmosphere but on a more metallic, actual construction. It was an absolute pleasure listening to this album even though their lyrics are in Spanish and I don't understand much of them. This is clearly not that kind of band that sticks together 2 riffs and pretend they are Doom, Reino Ermitano really make good, varied music and I guess this particular album will become a classic in Spanish sung Doom Metal music soon enough. Strongly recommended!

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9.5/10

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Band: SADISTIK FOREST

Country: Finland

Title: Death, Doom, Radiation

Label: Violent Journey Records

Year: 2012

Style: Death Metal

Review:

Sadistik Forest hails from Finland, a land well known for brutality, sickness, Black Metal bands, and pure evil all the way around in a metal sense!  Sadistik Forest has released "Death, Doom, Radiation" which is a very brutal and modern release.  This band begins with brutality and ends with brutality with nothing in between.  Nothing fancy happening here except for the ten tracks of unforgiving technical sickness coming from the band.  Guttural madness with violent and extreme metal riffs takes Sadistik Forest to the underground with force.  I love the way the brutal and extreme nature of this release just never quits with reminders of the times when Death Metal was just Death Metal without the many sub-genres that spawned after those days.  Influences from the old school days are apparent throughout the release, but this makes the experience that much better, for me anyway!  "Death, Doom, Radiation" is a journey through the typical brutality that a Death Metal band can produce, but this isn't run of the mill at all.  Technicality, bizarre Slayer type riffs, and pure guttural madness added with a solid sounding production make Sadistik Forest something awesome to check out, especially for fans of brutality like this release.  There are nine tracks totaling 32 minutes of sickness so if you're a fan of brutality without all the added modern technology and background then Sadistik Forest is your ticket! 

Reviewed by Lex Luther

Rating: 9/10

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Band: SECTORIAL

Country: Ukraine

Title: Erase and Reborn the Humanity

Label: Metal Scrap Records

Year: 2012

Style: Thrash Grind Metal

Review:

An interesting new name coming our of Ukraine but this time not what we're used to, Black Metal, but a strange combination of Thrash Metal and Grind. Sectorial are around since 2000 but this is the first time I've heard of them and "Erase and Reborn the Humanity" is also their debut album. Fast, very aggressive, intense that's how their music sounds inhere. Definitely nothing new, but the addition of traditional instruments here and there is a novelty and from my point of view they should develop this element, they should add more Folkloric touches to their music, now that would be something really out of the ordinary and could stir a lot of interest. Their compositions and execution are not bad at all, also the production is great, so I guess traditional Grindcore fans will enjoy it a lot, but what I'm looking for is a more developed mix of Grind and Folk, and I really hope they do that on their next release. Thumbs up for having the guts to try something like this on this debut album.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8/10

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Band: STEPHAN FORTE

Country:  France

Title: The Shadows Compendium

Label: Pias France

Year: 2011

Style: Shred Progressive Metal

Review: 

Stéphan Forté of Prog Power band Adagio should need no introduction to most prog power fans and shred guitar players, giving the likes of John Pertucci and Michael Romeo  a run for their money. The Shadows Compendium is a 45 minute shred/prog joy ride with Stéphan's unique style displayed. The backing music to his solo album is very prog like and sometimes goes into late Nevemore territory with low b tuned heavy riffs. This should be obvious giving his work with Adagio, some nice piano overtones are also used to add to the progressive aspects of the music. There is even one or two moments where Eastern harmony is incorporated which left me scratching my head wonder what had just happened (In a good way). This is easily recommendable to all fans of Shred and Instrumental music. Especially if you play guitar like myself. However you don't have to be a guitar player to get into this. As I said earlier it is full of Adagio moments as you would expect. Recommended.

Reviewed by Dan Alderson

Rating: 8/10

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Band: STORY OF JADE

Country: Italy

Title: The Damned Next Door

Label: WormHoleDeath Records

Year: 2011

Style: Heavy Thrash Metal

Review:

Italy has a strong Horror inspired metal scene pioneered by bands like Death SS or Cadaveria, so it's not a surprise having to deal with a new emerging band walking on the same path. Story Of Jade are a Horror inspired Heavy Thrash Metal band from Florence (such a metal productive town Florence is lately...) that released their debut album last year. "The Damned Next Door" is a 10 tracks effort lasting for a bit more than 40 minutes. Their music is a combination of Heavy Metal guitar leads and solos with Thrash Metal riffs and aggressive Thrash Metal vocals. There are loads and loads of killer riffs on this release and overall it's very enjoyable, but the only problem in my opinion is the multiple breaks on songs, and some rhythm changes seem a bit uninspired so the complete release is only flowing undisturbed like half of the time, the rest is all crazy gimmicks. As a general impression after listening to this debut release I would say Story Of Jade has an awesome potential to become one of the leading forces in Italian Metal, but it's all up to them. I recommend this if you think you'd love a combination of Alice Cooper, WASP, Megadeth, Exodus with the new wave of Thrash Metal all spiced by Horror themes, some more serious, some funnier.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8/10

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Band: SYMBIOSIS / WINTERBLOOD

Country: Italy / Italy

Title: Contemplando la rotazione degli astri attorno ad un punto immobile

Label: Black Death Prod.

Year: 2012

Style: Dark Ambient

Review:

A 70 minutes split between two one man projects from Italy. Symbiosis is a new name inhere and its 3 tracks are a portrait of dark, heavy nights on the highest mountains, so we're dealing of course with Dark Ambient. Repetitive structures and meditative atmospheres, Symbiosis' music feels like the time stands still and you're to face your gloomiest thoughts. I have reviewed Winterblood's music before so in a way I knew what to expect: sombre, cold Dark Ambient music with elements reminding of Burzum. Even though both projects are Dark Ambient I wouldn't say they sound the same, their music is totally different but the moods they create could be compared. Excellent music for meditation and thoughts purification.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8/10  8.5/10

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Band: TARANTULO

Country: Russia

Title: Tarantulo

Label: Metal Scrap Records

Year: 2012

Style: Groove Hardcore Thrash Metal

Review:

An excellent debut release for this Russian band, new to my ears, Tarantulo. Combining the best of Hardcore and Groove Thrash Metal with multiple other influences (from Black Sabbath to Rage Against The Machine, to Sepultura, to Metallica, you can hear their mark all over), Tarantulo managed to release a strong, powerful album filled with emotions, good technical displays, and above all a mature, straight-forward composition. The riffs are so fat you can't stop bobbing your head, the drums are so groovy they make you dance, and the vocals are so hateful you wouldn't like to be nowhere near this guy. Their only problem is the use of poor English in their lyrics, but except for that this release is damn spot on, recommended for old-schoolers into Hardcore Thrash. Kick ass!

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9/10

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Band: THE FORSAKEN

Country: Sweden

Title: Beyond Redemption

Label: Massacre Records

Year: 2012

Style: Melodic Death Thrash Metal

Review:

True Swedish steel never rust !!! The Forsaken impelled to wait for a new album since 2006, but this stuff is kicking ass accurately and precisely. Fast, angry but precisious and positive typical swedish metal. From time to time this guys put some climate influences and a lot of really great solo guitars. Stuff without a lot of experiments – just pure thrash/death (more death than thrash) with some melodic drive with good proportions. Quintessential Swedish playing metal. 

Reviewed by Vilcin

Rating: 8/10

Band: THE PROPHECY 23

Country: Germany

Title: Green Machine Laser Beam

Label: Massacre Records

Year: 2012

Style: Thrash Metal

Review:

Holy shit!  Today is the day of underground thrash metal that kicks fucking major ass and needs to be heard!  The Prophecy 23 is a killer Thrash Metal band hailing from Germany.  Formed in 2002, These guys began with the cover songs from early metal bands like Metallica and Slayer, but moved on to making their own waves in the Metal Underground.  What has come out of this stage is a major ass kicking Thrash release by name of "Green Machine Laser Beam".  The ways of society and political madness make the lyrical content usual, but the way they jam is awesome.  Old school influence from Thrash and even Death metal bands from the days of early metal help make the modern production and approach that more interesting to get into.  The prophecy 23 unleash a speed style of guttural screams and technical madness mixed with polished potential and this alone keeps this release at the top of the underground.  Death/Thrash  antics bring the talent of this band to many fans and hopefully we will hear more from The Prophecy 23 in the future.  Check out tracks like "Don't Step Back" which delivers a hardcore/Thrash element to the music, not to mention the brutality of the Death Metal influence as well.  Other tracks like "We are the Pit Police" and "No Followers, No Leaders" leave an awesome style of thrash metal and hardcore influence all the way through!  This all comes to make a decent release and an interesting listen when it comes to "Green Machine Laser Beam". This isn't a run-of-the-mill metal release, this is a technical prowess with modern edge and old school elements mixed with the Death Metal styles of yesteryear.  The Prophecy 23 is a definite killer band that deserves to be thrown into the mainstream mix of the Metal Underground, if there is such a thing!  Either way, this kicks fucking ass and should be heard! 

Reviewed by Lex Luther

Rating: 9/10

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Band: THE WAY OF PURITY

Country: ?

Title: A Passage Through the Purity of Pain - DVD

Label: WormHoleDeath

Year: 2010

Style: Short Movie

Review:

Ok, when I first review their work, the "Biteback" EP a few months ago, I thought they were from the US, but after seeing this movie I'm 100% sure they are either from Eastern Europe or from either Germany or Italy as their accents are so strong to a point where their English speaking becomes funny. Anyway, this DVD is a half an hour movie, a fantasy thriller about the conception of their debut album, "Crosscore", of course having as soundtracks the music from this album. I thought the movie was abit too static, the expectation moments are falling into moments of boredome and basically the only things I liked here were: the soundtrack, the hot nacked chick playing the main character, the awesome landscapes they filmed in and the tough band's look, a mix between Ukrainian rackets and army special forces. I didn't understand what's this cross worshiping all about in such a band (everywhere you look there's a christian cross), and also regarding the actual DVD I didn't understand why there's no extra stuff beside the movie. Maybe you'll like it better, I only appreciate their idea of releasing such a movie, pretty original nowadays.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 6/10

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Band: VELOCIDAD ABSURDA

Country: Spain

Title: Inexorably Doomed to Cataclysm

Label: Hecatombe Records

Year: 2012

Style: Brutal Death Metal

Review:

Brutal Death Metal without anoying screams to ruin it all, this second opus of the Spanish Velocidad Absurda is just the way I like it, really macabre, sinister and at the same time technical, brutal and groovy. Oh joy! Even though the production is not the best possible and sometimes the music sounds a bit chaotic, the overall result is catchy, intriguing and interesting. From start to finish we're treated by unrelentless, merciless brutality and disgust so this album is not for the weak. The low tuned Death Metal grunts are seconded by pig-squeals here and there and that's not something I like, but I can pass over it especially because I think there are no real lyrics here, just grunts and grunts all the way. Although this is 100% Brutal Death Metal I think Autopsy had a great influence on these guys. Well, if there's such a category, I would recommed this release to fans of raw, organic, underground Brutal Death Metal fans out there.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8/10

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Band: VOIDWORK

Country: Belgium

Title: Horror / Forsaken

Label: Black Drone

Year: 2010

Style: Dark Ambient

Review:

Voidwork is a bit different of a band that I am used to reviewing, but I think that is why I will enjoy doing this review.  Voidwork is not your typical metal brutality, Black metal or Death Metal band.  What Xavier does is take different concepts of life's miseries.  According to the bio the concepts are things like fear, death, despair, and desolation all added together to make one hell of a haunting fucking atmosphere with ambient strikings!  I have never heard this style before and I was taken by it immediately, I have no idea why this has taken my interest but I am not fighting it.  The atmosphere is misery, sorrow, pain, hurt, loneliness, fear, and just plain suicidal sadness that never finds an ending in the path of darkness.  What can I say besides hearing what is called "Neo-Classical Fear" and desolate pathways into the human mind of madness.  I love this stuff!  The way the atmosphere stays so haunting it leaves nothing less than million of ideas to think of in a way of such drone misery in life!  Maybe I am reading this wrong, but I know how I feel when I listen to this release, and now their other releases as well.  The vocals really add to the searing sorrow and sadness that plagues this release.  Voidwork has found a new fan in me.  In my darkest hours of being alone the feeling of fear, misery, and pain all have a way of waking up at once and drowning me into the most blackened thoughts in a person's mind.  I get all of this just from hearing "Horror/Forsaken".  This is also a combination of two separate albums, according to a site,  "Horror” is a collection of songs varying in style from neo-classical to ambient and conveying a sense of foreboding and fear. "Forsaken” is a more standard dark ambient opus centred around the theme of solitude and abandonment. "Horror/Forsaken” is an eclectic CD, offering something for almost everyone.  So if you are completely open minded and want to take a break from the normal parts and pieces of the Brutal Metal Underground for a journey into self serving mind numbing madness and despair...Check out Voidwork and the works they have contributed to the world of Ambient Haunting Classical Sadness and Ambient feeling!  I fucking loved this stuff! 

Reviewed by Lex Luther

Rating: 10/10

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Band: WHEN NOTHING REMAINS

Country: Sweden

Title: As All Torn Asunder

Label: Solitude Productions

Year: 2012

Style: Doom Death Metal

Review:

This is the second time I'm starting to write a review on this CD and I don't remember why I stopped the first time, but I can get carried away by the music sometimes and just forget I have to write about it; I guess the same happened with "As All Torn Asunder", a debut album that really has that potential to leave you dreaming or meditating about something while and after listening to it. 9 tracks, 70 minutes of melodic, heavy Doom Death Metal that reminded me of the end '90's Doom Death movement, but not because of their music which is quite modern, but because of the overall atmospheres which in my head sounded like a combination of Amorphis and Empyrium. I like the fact this is not too slow to bore you but not too fast to slip out of thise genre's boundaries. At times opressing, almost depressive, at times full of hope and colours, this album is worth listening. The cover and booklet artwork is excellent, very romantic and at the same time dark.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9/10

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Band: WICKED SIDE

Country: Poland

Title: Welcome to The Wicked Side

Label: selfreleased

Year: 2011

Style: Heavy Metal

Review:

Wicked Side is a young traditional heavy metal band from Eastern Poland. This EP is just a  magic nostalgy and a music yourney across old school and traditional heavy metal fields with the best of hard rock influences. Sounds based deeply on Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, russian heavies classics like Aria – and really bring a piece of power to my „Metal Heards”, he, he... This stuff was recorded between August and October 2011 at iStudio in Bialystok. Five very good pure heavy metal tracks, great for live gig in metal or hardrock club, for headbanging, drink beer and good friday party with heavy metal music. Cheers!

Reviewed by Vilcin

Rating: 8/10

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Band: WYKKED WYTCH

Country: USA

Title: The Ultimate Deception

Label: Deathgasm Records

Year: 2012

Style: Death Metal

Review:

Wykked Wytch is a Black Metal band from Miami, Florida and a style of Blackened Death is what they play.  "The Ultimate Deception" is the newest offering from this band and that usual brutal Black Style is what fans get to hear.  These guys have always had a unique way of delivering their brand of brutal metal in that there are different elements of Gothic type metal added with a classic type production and almost polished sickness with that Black Metal fusion!  All of this has always made me a fan of Wykked Wytch and it seems that things haven't changed.  I am not a huge fan of the added Symphonic stuff in metal, actually I am not a fan of any type of Black metal unless it is purely primitive, cold, and raw without all the bullshit.  I guess Wykked Wytch could be the exception to this rule i have.  When I listen to this release i try and hear the metal and block out all of the other background style and this turns out to be pretty good when I do that!  Brutal Blackened Metal with a Death Metal touch and the metal is made in a progressive manner with technical edge.  All of this makes a great album.  Guttural vocals and screaming pain throughout the record is also a great add to the "The Ultimate Deception".  This band has a most brutal female vocalist that takes so many different ways of testing the vocal ability that I am impressed!  Soft to Hard, guttural to screams, clean to burning brutalness!  I can imagine that wouldn't be so easy in a band like Wykked Wytch.  Either way this band takes things to another level, symphonic or not, brutal or blackened, or purely guttural in style Wykked Wytch continues to add to the potential of being a mainstream piece of sickness within the Metal Underground and will continue to do so with tracks like "Birthing the Beast" and "Despised Existence".  Of course there was one track that caught me by total surprise and that was the cover song they made of Metallica's early days when they released "Fade to Black"  from their "Ride the Lightning" release.  This cover they made started off normal and then went into a screaming frenzy of blackness coupled with the symphonic madness of the band.  They took a ballad and turned it into a brutal mix of Metallica meets Black metal!  Still trying to get myself used to this version of the track!  None the less Wykked Wytch delivers their style of metal in a Gothic and symphonic way that should appeal to all of their hardcore fans, but might alienate newer fans looking for a new style of metal to get into.

Reviewed by Lex Luther

Rating: 6/10

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Band: ZGARD

Country: Ukraine

Title: Reclusion

Label: BadMoodMan Music

Year: 2012

Style: Atmospheric Black Metal

Review:

Atmospheric Black Metal? BMM Music is really expanding its horizons lately which is a good thing, they are capable of handling much more things than they did until now. 

Zgard is a new name to me so when I've searched the net for some info I found that it's a one man band established in 2010 and this is its second album, both of them being released in 2012. Hmm, I hope this is not another Moloch type of band, afterall they come from the same country... The music presented here is quite good, and although it has some chaotic parts the sound is quite good to sustain such a high keyboard infused music. Some parts are really catchy and I'd like some more of those: keyboard backgrounds, fast rhythms and intelligent riffs (check out the track "Eternity"). After a first listen I was quite disapointed by this release, but then it kinda grew on me to a point that now I like it. The fast parts of this album are really interesting, but the slow ones are a bit boring so after a fourth listen it seems I'm always skipping them. The cover artwork is fantastic and not because it's done by a Romanian guy (Kogaion Art), but because it really gives a good hint on what you're going to experience on this album music wise.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7/10

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