Band: ABROGATION

Country: Germany

Title: Tief Schwartz Blutig Rot

Label: Medusa Productions

Year: 2011

Style: Melodic Death Metal

Review:

Abrogation comes from Germany and was formed in 1995. So far they have released 4 full-length albums, one, their second, was out on Nuclear Blast in 2002, but it seems that was a one-album deal only as the next one was self-released. This one I'm listening to now is their fifth effort consisting of 13 tracks with a total duration of 53 minutes. I like the fact they are using German language for their lyrics, it sounds very cold and fierceful, but the combination with their Melodic Death Metal based on Heavy riffs, seems to be too forced at times. The guitar riffs and solos are great, very fresh sounding and catchy, and the addition of semi-acoustic leads is quite a good idea giving their music a medieval touch. I would have liked the rhythm section to be more powerful, more active (like on the 4th track for example), as on some parts of this CD I feel something's missing. Although not aggressive or brutal enough this is a good album that will appeal not only to Death Metal followers, the tracks are complex enough so you won't be bored.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7.5/10

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Band: AMORPHIS

Country: Finland

Title: The Beginning of Times

Label: Nuclear Blast

Year: 2011

Style: Progressive Folk Metal

Review:

I haven't a contact with Amorphis' stuff many years, then more I am pleasantly surprised after listening to "The Beginning of Times". Finland is not Scandinavia, but a lot of scandinavian voices and sounds I can hear on this album. "The Beginning of Times" is a centering beetween melodic flow, growly vocals, progressive motifs, fast, fury and folk influences. I'm very positive surprised! Amorphis returned to the old climate of the past but not heated the old soup, this is very fresh material inspired a lot by folk, mithology and Kalevala. Album is dynamic, powerfully and caresses for my folkmetal's ear and some melodic motifs are interesting supplement.

Reviewed by Vilcin

Rating: 9/10

Band: AMUN KAR

Country: Chile

Title: Knights of the Southern Cross

Label: Pagan Forces Records

Year: 2011

Style: Black Metal

Review:

A side project of Lord Blasphemous Tyrannus from Tirano, Amun Kar plays raw Black Metal with quite good heavy guitar riffs and old-school attitude. This EP contains only 2 tracks recorded back in 2007, so I have no idea why they were released only after 4 years. The music is recorded live at a gig or more probably at the rehearsal place as I hear no audience at all. Despite the bad sound, the music is very good, especially for the guitar riffs, although the drums and vocals are not inferior either. This is much better than a lot of Black Metal releases with extremely polished sound, so I can only hope I'll have the chance to listen to a new release (better recorded, of course) as soon as possible. Recommended!

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7/10

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Band: ANGEL OF DAMNATION

Country: Germany

Title: Carnal Philosophy

Label: Kneel Before The Masters Throne Records

Year: 2011

Style: Doom Metal

Review:

Well, I like this album a lot, but I don't know if you'll agree with me. This is Angel Of Damnation's debut album, a 6 tracks effort in 37 minutes of playing '70's influenced Doom Metal. The compositions are quite simple and the recording is also rehearsal-like but quite good I should add, and also this kind of sound fits perfectly with the music they play, it gives the impression you're listening to a genuine '70's band that plays music a la Black Sabbath, Pentagram or Saint Vitus, but it's so organic that you can clearly hear the mistakes they do, so I think that's something you should know, you're not getting a polished sounding band here. The lyrics are very offensive, especially for religious people. The track "I'll Drink From the Chalice of Blood" is by far my fave track from this album and also one of my faves this year, a groovy, heavy Doom Metal excellent for a good party.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7/10

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Band: BETRAYER F.T.M.

Country: Colombia

Title: No Life Till Fury

Label: Violent Records

Year: 2010

Style: Thrash Metal

Review:

Betrayer F.T.M. (I don't know where the F.T.M. cames from, maybe Fast Thrash Metal?) was formed in 2005 and released an EP before this album, and a demo after the release of "No Life Till Fury". I think you can easily guess they play a fast form of Thrash Metal, the '80's way without any pretentious elements. This album, composed of 9 tracks and lasting for 32 minutes, sounds like recorded in a hurry although crystal clear. The compositions are a bit too simplistic, with good but overused '80's riffs, fast rhythm section (the drums sound like they are programmed, too synthetic at times, but I like the bass action though), and a vocalist that at times seems to take this a bit too much as a joke. Honestly I wasn't so impressed by any of their compositions and maybe the cause is the vocal part because the riffs and solos are pretty entertaining.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 6/10

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Band: BURN MY SHADOWS

Country: Germany

Title: Havoc

Label: Einheit Produktionen

Year: 2010

Style: Black Death Metal

Review:

For some reason this band's name made me a bit reluctant on listening to their music, I was expecting either a very melodic, Gothic-like music, or a metalcore influenced one, but I'm glad I was wrong. Burn My Shadows is a pretty aggressive Black Death Metal band, very melodic indeed, but with a fat, full metallic sound, so I pretty much enjoyed their work on this debut album. 9 tracks totalizing more than an hour of melodic extreme metal composed and executed with good taste. A modern sounding music that keeps or better said builds on the melodic extreme metal lines started in the second part of the '90's in Europe, a fine ballanced release that has more too few or too many of anything. If you like your metal with heavy as hell guitar riffs, a bit of groove, a lot of epic, melodic parts and an opressing overall atmosphere then Burn My Shadows is your thing, I'm surprised this is their debut album only.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9.5/10

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Band: CENTURION

Country: Poland

Title: Serve No One

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2011

Style: Death Metal

Review:

"Serve No One" is a classic brutal sound's carnage! Short, fast tracks, grinding drums, typical but very good growl and some simple solo guitars. This is a quintesence of grind-death style. Ex-Plock (today: Warsaw) grinders recorded really killer material, ten merciless tracks came from the better side of Hell. One rhytmes, one way, one sound massacre - oh, wait, one sword/blood blast in "Cut the thorat", short drum-bass dialog in "Under the Black Banner". I heard similar material a lot of times from all the world, but this album is kicking ass. "Thy Portal" is the best song of this CD - this track, great sounds like Bolt Thrower. Other tracks, as I wrote: nihil novi, but... great. 

Reviewed by Vilcin

Rating: 8/10 

Band: CULT OF ERINYES

Country: Belgium

Title: A Place to Call My Unknown

Label: Les Acteurs de l'Ombre Productions

Year: 2011

Style: Black Metal

Review:

Regarding the extreme metal I'm mostly familiar with Belgium for its Death Metal scene, so it's a nice surprise to get to review a Black Metal band from these lands also. Cult Of Erinyes is a new act on the Belgian scene, founded in 2009 it released an EP one year later and this debut full-length album this year. "A Place to Call My Unknown" is a 9 tracks effort (47 minutes long) presenting us a Black Metal band that tries to experiment as much as possible and still keep a heavy, opressing sound to their music. the experimental part is not so obvious as they would have probably liked it to be, but the resulting music is quite catchy and well executed, ranging from mid-tempo heavy parts to fast and aggressive ones. One thing is for sure, they all work as crazy on their instruments and leave their own trace, so you can listen to a versatile vocalist, a drummer that likes to travel as much as he can on his drum-kit, a bassist that has some very significant additions to the general band's sound, and a guitarist (is he the bassist as well?) that likes to keep it as repetitive as possible and so creating a heavy, dense atmosphere, but still adding experimental guitar leads and solos here and there. So yes, overall "A Place to Call My Unknown" is a deep experience, crowded with interesting parts. A very promising debut album, and a band to definitely keep an eye on.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9/10

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Band: DARK FURY

Country: Poland

Title: Saligia

Label: Lower Silesian Stronghold

Year: 2010

Style: Black Metal

Review:

This Polish band is presented as NS Black Metal, but honestly I see no NS elements, at least not on this release. "Saligia" is the band's 6th album and is by no means NS oriented, I'd say it's a deep anti-christian release with blasphemic lyrics and attitude. The music is very good mid-tempo to fast aggressive Black Metal with occasional melodic guitar leads, but still the general impression is of a brutal Black Metal band with cold atmospheres. Good sound, mature compositions, no boring parts, an album that I openly recommend to all old-school ('90's type) Black Metal followers who like their music aggressive but with a fair share of organic melody and technical parts. 

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8/10

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Band: DIABOLICAL

Country: Sweden

Title: Ars Vitae

Label: Abyss Records

Year: 2011

Style: Black Death Metal

Review:

Diabolical are back after 3 years since the nrelease of their third studio album, although this new CD seems to be only one intended to let the people know they are still alive. "Ars Vitae" is composed of 4 new tracks, 9 live ones and as bonus, their debut EP from 2000, Deserts of Desolation, so you can't call it a real live album either, it's more of a compilation of 70 minutes of Black Death Metal made by Diabolical. The 4 new tracks sound very good, dark, epic and catchy, so I'm sure their fans won't be disapointed. The live part has a very polished, studio-touched sound so if it wasn't for the public screaming at the beginnings and endings of the songs I wouldn't have said this is a live recording. The 2000 EP is remastered, but it still has that raw feeling and the music is slightly different, more inclined onto a technical Thrash Death Metal rather than the Black Death they are playing now. A good release for their fans, I can't see anything wrong with it.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9/10

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Band: FAMINE

Country: USA

Title: Famine

Label: Worthless Endeavors

Year: 2011

Style: Black Metal

Review:

The first thing that strikes your attention is the exceptional quality of this LP, a heavy as hell piece of vinyl containing as bonus a poster and a link + password to download the whole material online if you'd like, but I wouldn't recommend that since Famine's music is much, much more frightening on disc than on PC. Anyway, this is Famine's debut album re-released, as it was originally released in 2007, but now it has some more tracks and it's remastered. What we get here talking about the music is 8 tracks of intense, horrifying, chaotic Black Metal, one of the most horrendous I've heard in a long time, filled with multiple layers of technical guitar riffs and leads, vicious vocals, and an overall atmosphere that's simply frightening. The occasional piano + keys + violin insertions are absolutely delicious and add a lot on to the heavy, sinister atmosphere this release has. I'm really impressed. Great release, but if you're looking for melodic, easy Black Metal look somewhere else.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 10/10

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Band: HEIMDALLS WACHT

Country: Germany

Title: Nichtorte

Label: Det Germanske Folket

Year: 2010

Style: Pagan Black Metal

Review:

4th album of this German Pagan Black Metal band, "Nichtorte" is composed of 12 tracks and it's total playing time exceeds one full hour, so if you're into this band's music you have quite a lot to listen to inhere.

This is my first meeting with Heimdalls Wacht's music so I can't say if there are any differences between "Nichtorte" and their previous works, but on this CD I can say we're treated with some good quality Pagan Black Metal ranging from fast, aggressive parts to mid-tempo ones, with the benefit of a very good vocal line that ranges from Black Metal shrieks to Folk Metal clean vocal male choirs. There are some Ambient, synth based parts, too, but also some old-school Black Metal parts, so after all this you can easily immagine we're dealing with a complex release, highly enjoyable to a point where the low sound quality becomes annoying; annoying for a release that would deserve a perfect sound.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8/10

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Band: IMBER LUMINIS

Country: Belgium

Title: Life as Burden

Label: Le Crepuscule du Soir

Year: 2011

Style: Depressive Doom Metal

Review:

The label clearly mentions this is not Depressive Black Metal, and I agree with them, there is no Black Metal here except the typical desperate screams we hear in all DBM releases. Imber Luminis is a one man project founded in 2009 and this is its debut album, a 5 tracks release lasting for more than 1 hour. I like it's presentation: slim, digi-sleeve A5 format limited to only 100 copies, so only a few of you will have the chance of getting it. Regarding the music on it, although the drums work is extremely minimalist, the compositions are surprisingly good, presenting a heavy depressive atmosphere closely related to nature. An Atmospheric Depressive Doomy Metal based on semi-acoustic guitar leads, low-tuned guitar riffs, simplistic drums and bass lines, desperate, crying shrieks and occasional supporting background clean vocals. 4 original tracks and 1 bonus cover of Grimlair's "Suicidal Crisis" that's the most "aggressive" part of this album. Definitely not a boring opus, I liked it.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8/10

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Band: LEGIO MORTIS

Country: Germany

Title: The Human Creation And The Devil's Contribution

Label: MDD

Year: 2011

Style: Dark Death Metal

Review:

I've come across this band's name multiple times along the years, but never had the chance (or the curiosity?) to check out their music, and that's maybe a negative effect of our overpopulated scene nowadays, but here I am listening to their 4th studio album, a 13 tracks effort lasting for a bit more than an hour. Legio Mortis was formed back in 1995 but was never a well-known name and that's because they have worked with small labels that couldn't push them higher than they are now. Maybe this will change soon, they deserve it after so many years on the barricades. "The Human Creation..." presents us a cold and cruel Dark Metal with Death Metal influences and with a sound that seems to be right from the middle of the '90's (the major cause for this is the keyboard tone, very old-school if I may say so). Legio Mortis sounds very curdled, managing to create some pretty dark atmospheres but still keeping their music intense and aggressive as hell. There are some "less brutal" tracks also, but that's welcome as it spices and intricates a bit their music. The band doesn't sound like any other I have listened to recently and that's great, they build their own distinctive sound, I could name as similar (but still, not quite) bands old Agathodaimon and Graveworm. As a bonus, they have included a cover of Paradise Lost's "Pity the Sadness" (does anyone remember "Shades of God"? Oh, goodie...), and also on their "Life Denied" track there's the special guest appearance of Liv Kristine who sounds enchanting as ever. Good thinkin'.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8.5/10

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Band: MERCILESS TERROR

Country: UK

Title: Perpetual Devastation

Label: Bad News Records

Year: 2011

Style: Thrash Death Metal

Review:

Debut EP for this Uk band founded in 2009, "Perpetual Devastation" is a 6 tracks EP totalizing almost 20 minutes of playing time. Merciless Terror present us a strange music, an extreme combination of old-school with new-school: '90's Death Metal guitar riffs, '80's Thrash Metal rhythm section, influences from the nowadays metalcore scene, especially on the overall atmosphere, it feels like Obituary are trying to go Metalcore but doesn't succeed that well and they remain old-school. An interesting approach, and even if I don't enjoy that much the new "core" movement this "rusty old" presentation and feeling made me like this band quite a lot. The vocalist is versatile enough to range from John Tardy like vocals, to deep growls, to metalcore screams and even some pig squeals, great job! Definitely a band to keep an eye on, I will, for sure, I haven't heard any other band with such compositions!

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8/10

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Band: MOLOCH

Country: Ukraine

Title: Illusionen eines verlorenen Lebens

Label: Glorious North Productions

Year: 2011

Style: Ambient Black Metal

Review:

Already the 6th Moloch release for this year, "Illusionen eines verlorenen Lebens" is also the 8th full-length album of this productive one-man-band from Ukraine; 8 tracks, more than 50 minutes from which 1 track, the last one, is 22 minutes long. What I like about this project is the persistence on following the same path, that combination of Dark Ambient tracks with Black Metal ones, so in that concern this is a pretty coherent music, but after listening to this new album I still think the guy needs a bit more work on the Black Metal parts that are too simplistic (raw, rehearsal sounding, repetitive, mid-tempo and not at all flawless) and fail on rising to the Ambient parts of the album standards. The Ambient parts are minimalistic as well, but they at least manage to create a good, dark and cold atmosphere, meditative I would say. All in all if it weren't for the raw Black Metal parts I think I would be bored by the Ambient ones as well, so in conclusion this seems to be a balanced album.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7/10

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Band: MORBID ANGEL

Country: USA

Title: Illud Divinum Insanus

Label: Season of Mist

Year: 2011

Style: Death Metal (?)

Review:

Oh, my gods... I have waiting for this album long, long time and I’m disgusted. Is this Morbid Angel??? I can’t believe... This album is a chaotic collection of a lot of tracks, which taken from different stories. „Illud Divinum Insanus” is completely unsuccessful fake of Samael, Diabolos Rising and uncessful combination of american death metal with core influences. Bad vocal, bad drums, boring guitars... WTF??? I remember pink pentagram on David’s latex t-shirt but in the past these facts weren’t influenced MA’s sounds. Contemporary  Fall of legend, unsuccesful experience. „Plastic fantastic” with stupid title of tracks. The world is ending... Fortunately we can listen to debut album of Nader Sadek, this band will be a good succesor of just deads Morbid Angel...

Reviewed by Vilcin

Rating: 1,5/10

Band: MORBID TENDENCY

Country: Israel

Title: ...Bleeding Demos...

Label: Wings of Destruction

Year: 2010

Style: Death Metal

Review:

One man project of Alex, who's also involved in the Israeli Black'n'Roll band Promiscuity, recently reviewed in Pest Webzine as well. With Morbid Tendency Alex is trying to bring back the '90's Death Metal sounds and his music is heavily influenced by the American Bay Area masters. Despite the quite synthetic sound (especially on bass and drums) on this tape, the music is varied, well composed, aggressive and features some very good and catchy guitar riffs. "...Bleeding Demos..." actually features Morbid Tendency's 2008 demo "The Old Adam" and 3 new tracks that should make the 2010 demo. The difference between these two sets of tracks is the sound, on the later one it's a bit more low tunned, a sound that's usually called a necro sound, but unfortunately the drum programs are even more synthetic. the guy has real potential on guitar playing and composing (solid riffs and great American old-school style solos) and has a very good, dark voice, but he must improve his bass and drums sound on the next release. This is a pro tape limited to 500 copies and more than half are already sold-out, so hurry up if you want to get one.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7/10

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Band: NADER SADEK

Country: USA

Title: In The Flesh

Label: Season of Mist

Year: 2011

Style: Death Metal

Review:

Debut album of ex. Morbid Angel’s member Steve Tucker is just better than the newest Morbid Angel’s CD. This is paradox, that „the copy” is much better than „the original”, but this is true! „In The Flesh” is very similar to the old Morbid Angel’s sounds. This album is deliberate, consistent and technically perfect. This is not typical death metal carnage, this is psychodelic, uneasy in the receipt - but great material. „In the Flesh” contains a lot of solo guitars taken from intelligent brain, a lot of fantastic drum sounds (but it is nothing strange – drummer of Cryptopsy is a king!!!), very good growl and some electronic intros. Blasphemer, gitarist of Nader Sadek, „only simply blackmetaller” is really better than Trey on MA’s newest CD !!! This is just half a hour material – but this is very good half a hour, which I’ll be listen to long, long time. Respect !!!

Reviewed by Vilcin

Rating: 9/10

Band: NOCTEM

Country: Spain

Title: Oblivion

Label: Rising Records

Year: 2011

Style: Black Death Metal

Review:

I've just read my review of Noctem's 2007 demo, "God Among Slaves" and I have to tell you the truth I am pleased and honored they still keep Pest Webzine's opinion as important since we had the chance to review their debut album also, and now this new effort, an 11 tracks full-length lasting for almost an hour of extreme. Back in 2008 I was impressed by their music and potential, and now I'm impressed by their preofessional approach on everything and the fact they keep fighting to get out there. After a great album out on Noisehead Records from Austria they are giving a try with the UK based Rising Records. The compositions on this album are so well-thought and calculated that it gives you the impression they spent an eternity in the studio. Anyway, the music is going for a modern approach now, appealing more and more to the Extreme Metal followers that are only interested in what's above the underground, in perfect releases, underground fans will considere this as too polished, but I totally understand this band, they put so much efforts in their music, they deserve more attention. fast rhythms, blastbeats all over, intricate Black Death guitar riffs, melodic riffs and solos, angry vocals, some epic atmospheres, and above all, a powerful sounding extreme metal music. This album is very enjoyable, but I only hope they will keep the same style and won't get more modern than this.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9.5/10

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Band: OBLIVIONIZED

Country: UK

Title: Abhorrent Evolution

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2010

Style: Brutal Death Grind

Review:

Young band from England, formed in 2008, Oblivionized is presenting here their debut EP, actually their debut release as far as I know. At first listening of these 4 tracks featured here I thinght this is just sensless brutality, but I must admit I kind of started to enjoy it after a while, I discovered all the chaos inhere has a common ground and the whole is, or at least it seems, pretty much organized and well calculated. Basically this is extremely technical, ultra-fast brutal Death Grind, the new way of doing it, it has nothing to do with the old-school. From start to finish you're overwhelmed by the intensity this music is playing, and the only thing that will make me leave this aside and wait for a new Oblivionized release is the pretty poor sound quality, as such music deserves, actually needs a crystal-clear sound and mastering. If you're into the most intense music around in the extreme metal field, I suggest you give these guys a try, they have a great potential.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7.5/10

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Band: OGEN

Country: Italy

Title: Black Metal Unbound

Label: Kolony Records

Year: 2011

Style: Atmospheric Black Metal

Review:

It always amazes me when I come across newly founded bands that, without a demo under belt, sign good deals with proffessional labels, and that's the case of Ogen, too. The project was founded last year and "Black Metal Unbound" is their debut release. Lucky guys, but now let's see why they were signed so fast. The EP contains 5 tracks lasting for 24 minutes, and the music Ogen proposes us here is an Atmospheric, Epic Black Metal very well executed, with catchy guitar leads, versatile vocal lines, cold atmospheres, and powerful rhythm section. The tracks are mostly melodic, but still containing a fair dose of aggression, fast rhythms, so to sum it up we're dealing here with a fairly technical cold and epic Black Metal that really deserved to be produced by a label. I think we'll hear more from this band in the future (well, if they keep on playing/recording...)

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8.5/10

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Band: PLACE OF SKULLS

Country: USA

Title: As a Dog Returns

Label: Giddy Up!

Year: 2010

Style: Doom Metal

Review:

Place Of Skulls is a project or side-band of Victor Griffin, also member of the legendary Pentagram, so it benefits from an exceptional publicity amongst the Doom Metal fans. "As a Dog Returns" seems to be a very deep and personal release for Victor as it is filled with Jesus related lyrics and I guess stories about his faith in God. I review all sort of satanic material so I shouldn't have anything against this White Metal either, and I really don't, it's the first time when I "face" such a Jesus-filled music and for my surprise I don't care, I care more about the actual compositions. "As a Dog Returns" is a top-notch traditional Doom Metal release with occasional Bluesy Rock parts, exceptional guitar work, groovy rhythms and Victor's awesome vocal timbre. A solid release that I'm sure doesn't disapoint any Place Of Skulls fans that were waiting for 4 years to have this. The mood surrounding this release is transmitted to the listener from the beginning til the end. Recommended to all Doom Metal followers.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9.5/10

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Band: PROMISCUITY

Country: Israel

Title: Infernal Rock N' Roll

Label: Israhellbanger Records

Year: 2011

Style: Speed Black Metal

Review:

From Israel we're treated (or threatened?) with a 666% underground and old-school sounding trio called Promiscuity. This is their debut demo, a 3 tracks effort into 12 minutes of playing a raw, fast, simple and catchy form of old-school Black Metal, just immagine a combination of Motorhead, Venom and Hellhammer played with a (good) rehearsal sound quality, unpolished, organic and totally honest. If you're into the '80's form of Black Metal and you like Lemmy, you might just have found a band that will satisfy your needs. Too bad there are only 3 tracks here, but it's great more and more such bands appear every month here and there. Ah, and another thing, this demo is released on tape, so it's even more inaccesible to the masses, I guess only the true fanatics will get their hands on this. Nice.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8/10

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Band: SECRETS SHE KEPT

Country: USA

Title: La Fin Absolue du Monde

Label: Metal Messiah

Year: 2010

Style: Death Metal

Review:

It seems this band was a Black Metal one before releasing this second album, but they are certainly not Black Metal at the moment, that is for sure. Well, if I think of the fact Necrol from Kult Ov Azazel is the lead vocalist inhere it has some Black Metal touches on the vocal part indeed, although combined with growls here and there, and also on a few guitar riffs there's that dark feeling, but that's about it when it comes to Black Metal influences. Secrets She Kept is a combination of Brutal Death Metal with the new wave of Thrash Metal, the polished, almost core-ish one on one hand and the old-school Slayer-ish one on the other. The music, except for the horrible opening track (metalcore influenced all the way), is good, fast and brutal with some interesting twists and turns, and above all it is very dynamic and not monotonous, and that's good. It seems they are still struggling to find their own identity as a band, but they certainly have the skills to do it, so let's wait and see, I hope they won't turn deathcore...

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7/10

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Band: SHATTERED HOPE

Country: Greece

Title: Absence

Label: Solitude Productions

Year: 2010

Style: Atmospheric Doom Death

Review:

My second meeting with this Greek band after the review of their 2009 demo, "Absence" is Shattered Hope's debut album, a fine reward for the band as it's released on one of the most respected Doom Metal labels around nowadays, Solitude Productions.

"Absence" is a 7 tracks effort clocking more than an hour of atmospheric, epic Doom Death Metal. The music keeps the same line as on the demo, influenced by My Dying Bride or Saturnus (they even invited Saturnus' vocalist to feature on this release), but it is a bit more complex, has a crystal clear sound, and overall a heavier and more melodic atmosphere, so yes, they have progressed, this is a very enjoyable album packed with slow guitar riffs, many melodic leads, epic keyboards, growling and clean vocals, violins, and quite complex rhythm section (as much as this style allows). Recommended for fans of '90's Doom Death Metal!

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8.5/10

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Band: SOUNDER

Country: Brazil

Title: Praise be to Death

Label: Metal Inquisition Records

Year: 2010

Style: Thrash Metal

Review:

When you're involved in writing a metal webzine you're stuffed every single day by new releases, bands, labels, news, etc., and that makes it a bit hard to still keep your desire to browse the net for different stuff, for labels outside of your collaborators' ring, and that's why I have only recently found out that the guys at No Colours started a new label focused on Traditional and Thrash Metal only, and boy that was a good news for me. They have proven fantastic abilities to find Black Metal gems and promote them, so I'm sure they won't fail in this field also.

Sounder presents us here their second full-length album that's also the second release on Metal Inquisition, after their "Evil Sides" EP from 2010. The 10 tracks featured here are lasting for a bit more than 30 minutes and I have to tell you listening to this half an hour effort was a great pleasure. The band is full-on old-school organic Thrash Metal, fast, catchy, technical, honest and filled with headbanger-friendly riffs. The insertion of some mid-paced and even doomy parts in rhythm is also welcome as it keeps the album varied, but the highlight of this album is for sure the old-school, traditional atmosphere surrounding everything. Also I should mention the good lyrics, the great guitar solos, and the hoarse, evil vocals. Killer release!

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9.5/10

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Band: SPHERE

Country: Poland

Title: Homo Hereticus

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2011

Style: Death Metal

Review:

Homo Hereticus is a one of more interesting newest materials from Polish deathmetal underground. Sphere still looking for oficial label to release this album, I hope they'll find good editor ASAP because this material is really great. 12 killer tracks, after listening to I haven't questions. Great, deathmetal sounds with some intros, interesting changing of rhytmes, fantastic riffs, great growl and a lot of power. Fury, rage - but still progress! This guys know, what is up. Album was recorded in one of the best Polish studios - ZED, and it is sounds. The band don't hide Sphere's point of view and this  is reflected in lyrics. Summary: great, technical deathmetal from Polish underground - to take immediate.

Reviewed by Vilcin

Rating: 9/10  

Band: THE TARDS

Country: USA

Title: Guillotine

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2010

Style: Heavy Thrash Metal

Review:

Started as a Punk Rock band, The Tards got oriented towards Thrash Metal in 2008 and soon released their debut album that seems to have had a quite good success back in 2008. "Guillotine" is their second opus, an album that captures your attention firstly through Keegan's vocals that sound like a younger and angrier Lemmy (Motorhead), but of course that's not all you should look for in their music. The guitarist really does his job very well, combining '80's riffs with an actual sound, the bassist makes his presence a very intense and up-front one, and the drummer doesn't make any compromises when it comes to comming up with some groovy rhythms, and still keeps it simple and effective (well, simple most of the time, except when he's not involving in some crazy progressive beats). The only, but still a major flaw of this album is the fact that the tracks are very long (none less then 4:30 min) and so they are very good in composition, they lack in keeping the attention high throughout the whole album. I think if they start reducing the length of their tracks these guys will have a bright future ahead.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8/10

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Band: TIRANO

Country: Chile

Title: Hate Sanctified

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2010

Style: Black Metal

Review:

I've had the chance to review Tirano's debut demo last year, and a few months back here it is again, Tirano released its debut EP containing 7 tracks from which 3 are the ones composing the last year demo, so I you missed that one, no problem, you have it here, too. And that includes the cover version of Carnaza's "Death Signal". What I have noticed on this new release is that Lord Blasphemous Tyrannus slowed down tempo on the new tracks and instead of being fast old-school Black Metal as on the demo they are slow to mid-tempo rhythmed. Tyrannus keeps its raw, primitive ways of recording and composing so I would suggest this release only to the ones of you used to the very beginnings of Black Metal as this is not based on technical abilities, crystal clear sound or a perfect production, this is plain and simple underground Black Metal with raw sound and compositions.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7/10 

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Band: TORMENTA

Country: Maldives

Title: Tormented Souls

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2010

Style: Thrash Metal

Review:

It seems Today I get to review only old-school stuff, and I cannot say that bothers me, not at all.

Tormenta may be the first Maldives band I get to review in Pest Webzine, so I was pretty curious to hear a band from a region that's so exotic for me (and I guess not only for me). The band was formed in 2008 and this one if their debut release. I liked a lot what I've heard on this, especially the guitars work, very precise, complex, groovy and catchy as hell, complementing perfectly the raw, aggressive rhythm section. The only part I'm not too happy about is the vocal line, a bit too monotonous for such great compositions, sounding a bit like Max Cavalera's "Chaos AD" days. Anyway, I'm absolutely hooked by the great guitar riffs and solos, and I would recommend this band if only for that feature of their music. Thrashers, give this band a chance, they deserve it.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7/10

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Band: TORTURE THRONE

Country: France

Title: Thy Serpent's Cult

Label: Odir Productions

Year: 2011

Style: Death Metal

Review:

By this band's name I thought I would review a Black Metal act, then by this demo's intro I thought this is going to be a Doom Metal CD, but I was wrong both times, of course, haha. Torture Throne is an Old-School Death Metal act from France (there are some really killer such bands over there nowadays) founded in 2009. "Thy Serpent's Cult" seems to be released by the band in 2010 and picked up by a new label called Odir Productions this year. The French quartet plays a European type of Death Metal heavily influenced by the '90's Swedish and Finnish scenes. Torture Throne means heavy and low tunned guitar riffs, killer melodic and sharp guitar solos, mid-tempo to fast rhythm section, and hoarse growling vocals, I have to admit I deeply enjoyed their music, it reminded me of the scene from the beginning of the '90's, so I recommend you check out this upcoming brutal monster from France's underground.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8/10

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Band: UNGOD

Country: Germany

Title: Cloaked in Eternal Darkness

Label: Kneel Before The Masters Throne Records

Year: 2011

Style: Black Metal

Review:

Holy crap! This is Ungod's second album after a waiting of 17 years since the release of their debut full-length, and we're not dealing here with a band that was mostly inactive during these years. Ok, they had a 6 years break between 2002 and 2008, but still managed to release in during the rest of their career a few demos, EPs and splits, so they were there, in the underground. And underground they are now, too, and I guess that's how they want to remain as the raw, primitive and honest old-school Black Metal attitude is characteristic for this new opus. Fast rhythms, abrasive vocals, raw production, cold and evil vocals, repetitive, but good guitar riffs, nothing for the new wave of Black Metal followers, but a good offering for the ones of you into how this style used to sound almost 2 decades ago.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8/10

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Band: VINTAGE FLESH

Country: USA

Title: Hour of the Night Gaunts

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2010

Style: Horror Black Metal

Review:

Second album of this horror trio from New England, "Hour of the Night Gaunts" is a 13 tracks effort lasting for more than an hour, an hour of theatrical, honest and expressive Metal. I love this CD, it's one of the most enjoyable piece of ugly metal I've listened to this year. Although it lacks of a bass player and having an underground, unpolished sound, the band manages to create a very horrifying, creepy music: versatile vocals ranging from clean vox, to Black Metal shrieks, to operatic male parts, and even some background growls, melodic semi-acoustic guitar lines, cold and sharp guitar riffs and slow to mid-tempo drums (adding some fast rhythms here and there, too). The atmosphere these guys manage to create reminded me of the Dannish Exekrator, or the Japanese Sigh. Killer band with a lot of potential, they should be signed right away. The band is now known as Inverticrux.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9/10

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Band: VRANOROD

Country: Serbia

Title: Vranorod

Label: Le Crepuscule du Soir

Year: 2010

Style: Depressive Rock

Review:

Now I don't understand why a label like Le Crepuscule du Soir who has some quite good acts on their roster would sign and release such a band as Vranorod is. It seems they were once a Black Metal band, but now they have nothing to do with this style, actually I have a really hard time describing what happens on this second full-length album of these Serbians. Don't let yourselves be fooled by the front cover of this release, the music on it has nothing to do with mountains, mists, ravens or forests, this is only an attampt to create a Brit-Pop influenced Depressive (???) Electro Rock and the addition of flute, violin or Folkish clean vocals here and there don't save the real problem which is the lack of a proper sound and ability to create the music they want. Why spending so much money on releasing such an amateurish release? The only track that has a hint of good composition would be the 8th, a combination of acoustic guitar on the first part with electro on the final part of the track, but again, it's too simplistic to capture the attention. Definitely an album that I won't play ever again.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 2/10

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