Band: ICETHRONE
Country: Italy
Title: See You In Valhall
Label: Black Tears of Death
Year: 2012
Style: Viking Death Metal
Review:
Don't know why these guys chose to sing about vikings since they are from Italy, but who cares, there are countless such bands praising other's cultures nowadays. Their label, Black Tears, describes their music as being strongly influenced by Amon Amarth, Dismember and Hypocrisy. In a very reduced way I would agree with a comparison with the old, primitive Amon Amarth, but I found no links whatsoever with Dismember or Hypocrisy. The band seems to have some good ideas in what concerns the compositions, quite a few interesting parts here and there, but the production is very weak even for an incipient type of Death Metal band, it offers their music no power to fully express their views, and also the whole seems to be recorded in a hurry, at least the awful guitar solos that sound like taken from a totally different record, a childish one. The only things I liked on this album were some atmospheric guitar leads (yes, they have a bit of a Viking touch), the few fast old-school simple Death Metal rhythms and the fact that the vocal is trying his best. Except for that this is a mediocre release that would have deserved a bit more time in composition phase and a better recording.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6/10
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Band: INNZMOUTH
Country: Syria/USA
Title: Lovecraft's Dreams
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2012
Style: Funeral Doom Metal
Review:
Made of members of Gorthang from Poland and Vintage Flesh from USA (well, Reverend John Hex is not a member of Vintage Flesh anymore), Innzmouth started as a band (or project, name it how you want) in 2010 and released a single before this debut album. Their music is a slow, funeral Doom Metal with heavy, oppressive atmospheres, and although it follows the monotone, repetitive path typical to this genre, it has an old-school Doomm Death atmosphere surrounding it. The weird guitar leads supporting the slow riffs can be labelled as experimental and unfortunately I don't actually get their role other than bringing a mental hospital feeling to the whole. I like the fact the compositions have a lot of diverse and unexpected turns so it doesn't get boring, but if you're into Funeral Doom you should know that the riffs are very simplistic and the leads are nothing you would expect from such a band. The low, guttural tones of the vocals, supported by whispers are spot on, liked them a lot. Oppressive, psycho Funeral Doom, that's how I would label this release.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10
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Band: INTESTINAL
Country: Sweden
Title: The Rottening
Label: Hellthrasher Productions
Year: 2012
Style: Death Metal
Review:
Is it still possible to find an available name for your band that's both simple and Death metal-ish? Well, Intestinal found it 4 years ago. The Swedish combo reached its second album, both released on Polish labels. "The Rottening" sounds exactly how its title is: rotten, so we're treated with a combination of old-school Swedish Death Metal with the first wave of American Death Metal, meaning killer stabs of groovy mid-paced Death with fast, Punk-influenced rhythms. The whole is very tight, mature and straight forward as it should be, the sound is perfect, and the compositions are not monotone at all, there are quite a few variations even though the band doesn't break any boundaries. The only thing missing are some more guitar solos here and there. It's quite hard to find hooks in your music if you don't spice it with guitar solos, but Intestinal's music is really cool and catchy so you'll be surprised to remember parts of their music even after some time since you listened it.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10
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Band: KENAZ
Country: Canada
Title: Résurgence Nordique
Label: Tour de Garde
Year: 2011
Style: Pagan Black Metal
Review:
Kenaz is a Black Metal outfit formed in Canada around 2002, and Black Metal seems to be an understatement when it comes to "Resurgence Nordique". This is the band's debut full-length, if i am correct, and it is a dark, cold, and primitive piece of work. There is a definite element of old school influence from the old days of Dark Throne and Burzum besides others of that era. The Pagan sign hangs above our heads and in the end there is Hate and Terror to be seen and heard! Kenaz unleashes the anger and hatred that this world so deserves to hear, and to me it is a damn good job. "Resurgence Nordique" is a raw blend of Blackness and cold thoughts all mixed into one darkened element of metal. I also heard some influence of brutal Death Metal in areas of the release which makes this that more interesting to get into for myself anyway. Kenaz will give the fans what they want with this release, a cold and raw teaching into the aspects of what this world is really made of - HATE and ANGER! One thing I found interesting was the fact that they didn't make their songs too long in playing time, and they also have a total of 14 tracks on this release. 45 minutes of Black Metal to the skull like a fucking hammer, fans will be happy with the outcome, I enjoyed it. If you want an idea of what to get into then check out tracks like "The Fury of the Northern Resurgence" or "Primal Instinct" which are tracks 4 and 5 on the release. ( I translated the titles of these two songs to English). Anyway, Black Metal fans...Go and check out Kenaz, I think you'll like it.
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 8/10
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Band: KOLAC
Country: Serbia
Title: ...No God
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2009
Style: Black Metal
Review:
A few months ago I reviewed Kolac's debut album, "Bastard Son id Dead", and now they sent an EP, but this is not a new EP, it's actually their second demo from 2009, so this is a first for a band to send their older works for review rather than a new one. Anyway, the 6 tracks presented here are a bit less interesting than their debut album, meaning they are fast Black Metal but with monotone, repetitive and very simplictic guitar riffs that indicate a band that's not mature yet. The riffs are too generic, you may have heard these riffs on countless other debutant bands and there's really not much to enjoy except for the rotten vocals. At least this demo shows that the band has improved on their 2011 album and hopefully it will continue to improve. As an advice try to get their album rather than this demo.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 5.5/10
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Band: KREATOR
Country: Germany
Title: Phantom Antichrist
Label: Nuclear Blast
Year: 2012
Style: Thrash Metal
Review:
Kreator needs no introduction into the Metal underground because they have been delivering the speed and brutality of Thrash Metal since as early as 1984. "Phantom Antichrist" takes Kreator's fans on a journey through through the known territory of Thrash Metal's finest corners, and these tracks are no exception. I don't care what people say because Kreator's releases have always had something that was interesting no matter what direction they went in. No selling out and no commercial mainstream shit can be the moniker for Kreator. "Phantom Antichrist" is a solid piece of angry metal that keeps on going from start to finish in the only way Kreator can give it. Politics, war, and human nature of violence are the ways of lyrical content added with the elements of the finest delivering of polished Thrash one can ask for. First the melodic intro, then the passion of madness begins with the title track of the release. Other tracks like "Death to the World" and "United in Hate" which show the band's lighter side of potential really take things up a notch, but don't let that fool you, the serious Thrash Madness comes in on each track taking it to that awesome level. The ending comes in with "Until our Paths Cross Again" which, again, starts off with a bit of melodic pleasure and then goes straight into what Kreator does best, THRASH! All ten tracks deliver the goods for Kreator's biggest fans, including myself, and there is more than enough playing time with at least 45 minutes in length on this release. "Phantom Antichrist" is another great release from Kreator that expands the potential of what some of these old school metal bands can do, and that is jam some killer metal in a modern way with that old school feeling still in the background. Kreator kicks major ass with this one and hopefully other fans will agree with on this one!
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 9/10
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Band: LOCUS NEMINIS
Country: Austria
Title: Weltenwanderung
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2012
Style: Atmospheric Black Metal
Review:
It was about time for Austria to bring something new on the Black Metal battlefields, so after I recently discovered the excellent Eschaton, now it's time for a new name, Locus Neminis. This is their debut album, and album that although selfreleased is so professional on both looks and sound that it makes you wonder if there's any more need for labels. If this bands manages to secure themselves a good distribution deal and put all their efforts in promoting their music I don't think they would need a label. So what we get here is an excellend digipack release that surprised me on how spot on is the cover artwork, it portrays perfectly what's inside meaning Atmospheric, dreamy but very fast and brutal Black Metal, a cosmic escape, a total detachment from this World. Of course the keyboards are playing an important role inhere, and the other instruments keep the link with traditional Black Metal tight. The vocals are ferocious as hell, they make you feel like the vocalist will rip your flesh sooner than later, and here the cold German language used in their lyrics is a huge cause for this as well. Excellent release from an excellent band, highly recommended, don't miss it!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 10/10
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Band: MORHANA
Country: Poland
Title: Morhana
Label: selfreleased
Year: 2011
Style: Folk Metal
Review:
Morhana is a young but known folkmetal band. EP called just „Morhana” is a good sample of the band possibility. This material include three tracks – melodic, powerfully folkmetal with a lot of celtic folk influences and some old school heavy metal sounds. The last track is a metal ballads based on songwriter’s folk flow. Lyrics are based on slavic folklore and mythology. If you like Cruachan, Alestorm, Korpiklaani, Eluveitie, Judas Priest – this is material for you!
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 8/10
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Band: REVEREND JOHN HEX
Country: USA
Title: Spider Gates Cemetary
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2012
Style: Horror Soundtracks
Review:
Founding member of Vintage Flesh and now member of Innzmouth whoms latest release I have just reviewed, Reverend John Hex started also this project intended to develop only haunting, horror, dark, creepy atmospheres. This is not metal, it's rather a Horror Ambient music made by keyboards, synths and guitars (slow, oppressive Doomy guitar riffs). The perfect music for any independent Ghosts or Zombies inspired movie, Reverend John Hex manages to keep your attention high during these almost 30 minutes by using very simple and repetative structures typical to Funeral Doom. I think the perfect format for such a release would have been vynil. Doom Metal and Funeral Doom followers will love this release!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10
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Band: SANCTUS DAEMONEON
Country: Denmark
Title: Nothingless Nothingness
Label: Dunkelkunst
Year: 2009
Style: Doom Black Metal
Review:
Sanctus Daemoneon is a band I haven't heard before this review. They formed in Denmark back in 2006 and have released an EP and two-full-length releases. This review is about the EP release entitled "Nothingless Nothingness". This a primitive sounding Doom Metal, almost Black Metal type of style coming from Sanctus. There is some Funeral Doom background with a bit of symphonic touches as well. This is a brand of doom and gloom metal with a twisted feeling of suicidal happiness that is totally unique in the way this ep sounds. There is nothing here short of ambient or evil such as tracks like, well...All of the tracks are completely dominated by an atmosphere of Nihilistic war and total degradation of human life! All Blackened Gloom in an influence coming from Black Metal from the doom part of style. Sanctus Daemoneon will make the fans of Doom Metal very happy, but i just can't see many others besides the hardest of Doom Metal fans wanting this particular release. That isn't bad at all, but this isn't a release made for the masses, this is something true to the band because they know what they want to play and they don't care who likes it! No selling out on this band! Anyway, this is an ep with five tracks total and a playing time of over 26 minutes in length. So if you are a fan of the most suicidal primitive type of Doom Metal with atmospheres full of depressing and suicidal content then check out Sanctus Daemoneon and i am sure that within the time this starts and finishes you will be holding a gun to your head with tears coming out of your eyes!
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 7/10
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Band: SATANIKA
Country: Italy
Title: Satanikattack
Label: Austral Holocaust
Year: 2011
Style: Black Thrash Metal
Review:
These Thrash Black Metal bands are becoming more and more cult in the nowadays scene and Satanika's "Satanikattack" prooves it by being released on three different formats by three different labels: CD out on Austral Holocaust, vynil out on Iron Shield and tape out on Heavy Hammer. I have here the CD version, the one that has a really puerile cover artwork (the vynil one has a better artwork). Satanika's music is a fast, nuclear Thrash Metal assault spiced with Black Metal type of vocals, very enjoyable, surrounded by a dusty, honest old school atmosphere. Being a fan of old-school myself I can say I like a lot what Satanika's doing here although I would have liked real drums instead of programmings. The riffs are very catchy, the solos are well worked and the vocals give a well deserved evil spirit to the whole, so all in all I would recommend this to fans of dirty, old-school Black Thrash Metal.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10
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Band: SEKTARISM
Country: France
Title: Le Son des Stigmates
Label: Zanjeer Zani / Daemon Worship / Necrocosm
Year: 2012
Style: Funeral Doom Metal
Review:
From it's cover and booklet artwork (all minimalist and in black/white) I was sure I was about to listen to a sick, disturbing act, and I was right 100%. Sektarism's music is based on simple, slow paced drums, morbid guitar riffs which most of the time are substituted by simple but horrifying distortions, and mad, insane screams and moanings all over. That's about it, a hateful and painful release that feels like it's an epitaph or better said a damnation on the World. Organic recordings, apocalyptic atmospheres, hate, disgust, a real Satanic ritual imposing fear and respect. Awesome! Digipack limited to 999 copies, act fast and don't miss it!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10
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Band: SICULICIDIUM
Country: Romania
Title: A rothado viragok szinuket vesztik
Label: Sun & Moon Records
Year: 2012
Style: Black Metal
Review:
When you're a Black Metal fan from anywhere around the World you automatically think of Negura Bunget, and you're right, that's the only band that managed to break the borders and become a well respected name in this genre. I would compare Siculicidium to Satanochio and that not because of the music but because of their hidden, anonymous attitude, and I think it would be about time for this band to get out and perform some live gigs as well, they do have the right requirements to establish their name in the old-school, raw, underground Black Metal territories. Anyway, this is Siculicidium latest release, a 7 tracks EP lasting for a bit less than half an hour. Musicwise, if you're familiar with their previous works, they haven't changed, it's still that sick, creepy and raw Black Metal a la Darkthrone, and by releasing this EP in digipack format on Sun & Moon Records they will certainly attract some more attention. To sum it up "A rothado viragok szinuket vesztik" is recommended to Norwegian raw Black Metal followers all the way.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10
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Band: SIMULACRUM
Country: Finland
Title: The Master and the Simulacrum
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2012
Style: Progressive Metal
Review:
Simulacrum is a band from Finland and they are pretty interesting to say the least. This is their first full-length offering, for fans of progressive metal, this will get your attention. The polished production and the technical style of metal is very good. I am reminded a little bit of old school thrashers Toxik when I hear this release, although, they sound nothing alike. Simulacrum delivers a brand of the most progressive sounding metal I have heard in awhile and the vocals fit well with the music. Everything is polished on this release, Simulacrum are destined to be in the underground for long time. Simulacrum has taken their demos and promos, put them together, and released "The Master and the Simulacrum" to the world. Tracks such as the title track, "Battle Within", and "Autumn Rain" show the Melodic side of the band as well as the aforementioned technical and progressive path Simulacrum has chosen to take. Lots of different elements in the music and influences coming out of the past. For fans of this style of metal, Simulacrum will certainly get your attention. There are eight tracks totaling 49 minutes of playing time. Fans of other bands like "Dogs Hate Monet" and "Ventral Metaphor" might get into this release. Simulacrum is an interesting band with a lot of potential for the future.
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 8/10
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Band: SKIRMISH
Country: Finland
Title: Through the Abacinated Eyes
Label: Violent Journey Records
Year: 2011
Style: Thrash Death Metal
Review:
Skirmish was founded in 2005 and in 2011 it was finally time for their debut album to be released after a few selfproduced EPs. What they are offering here is a very solid, mature and professional album, a powerful slab of Modern Thrash Death Metal that gives the impression everything is at its own place, that everything is thoroughly calculated and executed. The general atmosphere is an aggressive, energetic one sprinkled with some nice guitar solos and a few excellent melodic parts (I would have liked more of them). A very good release with only 1 fault, you can't remember a certain track or element from it after the audition but that maybe requires some more time, so we'll have to wait and see if the next album will bring some memorable tracks too.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10
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Band: SOULDRAINER
Country: Sweden
Title: Heaven's Gate
Label: ViciSolum Productions
Year: 2011
Style: Melodic Death Metal
Review:
Sweden has been breeding metal bands for a very long time and Souldrainer happens to be one of those bands. "Heaven's Gate" is the title to the most recent release from Souldrainer, and also the band's sophomore release. Souldrainer take a ride through the old school sounding, and feeling of metal mixed with an edge of Power Metal mixed with their Melodic style of Death metal. These guys have a very dark look on life lyrically speaking as pain and misery seem to be the topics of choice. The lyrics also mix well with the brooding power stemming throughout "Heaven's gate". The production is similar to that of the great bands of the day such as Entombed and Dismember with that buzz-saw guitar sound with the added vocals of an angry, but realistic feeling of metal. What does this mean? Who the hell knows, I just know that when I hear this release I feel the old days mixed with the modern touch of potential. Souldrainer is a killer sounding band with great songs to get into, fans of old school metal and more modern metal will like "Heaven's gate". There are twelve tracks totaling 50 minutes of solid metal and I believe track number 13 is a bonus track entitled "Tools Of Torture El Parador". Worth checking out if you love metal old and new...
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 9/10
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Band: SWIATOGOR / WOJNAR
Country: Poland / Poland
Title: Tym, co z Ziemi Lecha
Label: Eastside
Year: 2012
Style: Pagan Folk Metal / Neofolk
Review:
This split („For those who from the land of Lech”, Land of Lech is a old, legendary name of Poland) is remastered material from the beginning of XXI century and just released official. Swiatogor upgraded your old demo-album „Pan Polaci Ziem Pomorskich” („Master of Pommeranian Lands”) a lot of parts of tracks was completely re-recorded) and legendary Polish neofolk one-man project Wojnar found old, forgotten records from 2001 – this part of split is called „W kregu narodzin i smierci” („In the circle of Birth and Death”). Indeed, renewal of these tracks was a very good idea. The new face of this material is still young and fresh. Swiatogor is a very potentially pagan/folkmetal band and It’s pity that this band is just only studio project band, but life is butal... But we will see. Good atmospheric „drive”, very interesting combination of fast pagan/black and slowly/melancholic neofolk, intelligent lyrics based on slavic mythology and early medieval times - e.g. one of songs is about little forgotten in official history „pagan reaction war” in the year 1037. Wojnar’s part is a old material, which was uncovered especially for this split. His atmospheric acoustic guitar sounds, recitation and electronic background are great supplement for Swiatogor’s stuff. The last track is a cover of controversal (but legendary) Polish black/pagan band Graveland – „The Celtic Winter”.
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 8.5/10, 8/10
Band: SWRAB
Country: Czech Republic
Title: Pochybna Autopsia
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2010
Style: Grind
Review:
Although from 2010, I think thsi is Swrab's latest offering, a 12 tracks demo totaling less than 20 minutes of happy sounding Grind. There's not enough power in this recording and there are not enough fast parts to make it brutal as I like my Grindcore but I think this band makes it all for fun, as many other nowadays Grind bands are making their music for, they rely on the live gigs intensity and care less for the studio recordings. Since the lyrics are all in Czech I couldn't understand a thing, but the good things about this demo are the good, comprehensive sound and the multiple ideas they keep in their compositions making this CD entertaining and not boring at all. If you're a fan of Obscene Fest this might just be your cup of tea.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10
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Band: THE DAY OF THE BEAST
Country: USA
Title: Relentless Demonic Intrusion
Label: Canonical Hours
Year: 2012
Style: Thrash Black Metal
Review:
The Day of the Beast is a fresh sounding band that adds elements of Thrash Metal, Black metal, and Death Metal along with some other pieces of influence from the old school days all wrapped up into one killer release at a time! The best part about these guys is that they come from Virginia Beach, Virginia in the U.S. At a time where the movement of metal is filled with killer bands, but also some very fucking horrible bands The Day of the Beast comes out on top with their brand of metal. "Relentless Demonic Intrusion" is a release that dedicates itself to the old days of when metal was still a snail mail, tape trading business that was virtually unknown to the mainstream metal audience. This release takes you back to when there was just Thrash/Death/Black Metal without all of the sub-genres that came with it later on. The Day of the Beast is relentless on this brutal piece of metal, they start off hard and it end it even harder. The brutality mixed with the Thrash concept and even darkened Black metal parts just keep reigning throughout the release. I can't say too much more because this release speaks for itself. "Relentless Demonic Intrusion" is an all out plethora of metal without all the added bullshit bands like to use these days. Modern is not the word here, but primitive production with spewing screams of Blackened Metal with brutal vocals and war torn lyrical content. I love this release and any other fan of metal will love this release too! There are nine tracks total that give a killer feeling all the way through, check out tracks like "Unknown Kadath" and "Torch this Place" and you'll see what I mean about this band. Just a killer bunch of songs that stay old school from start to finish with all the elements of early style Black/Death/Thrash Metal without anything else! This is the first band that ever scored a perfect 10 for a review!
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 10/10
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Band: THOUSAND YEAR WAR
Country: USA
Title: Tyrants and Men
Label: Abyss Records
Year: 2011
Style: Melodic Death Metal
Review:
Melodic Death Metal band Thousand Year War reaches out from the cold lands of Haines, Alaska to deliver a most exciting release "Tyrants and Men" to the metal world. From the start of this release the band unleash some angry riffs that just pummel you throughout the tracks. The anger at society and the political crruption seem to bring out the passion and crunching metal from Thousand Year War. Elements of early style thrash metal and even death metal stand out in influence. There is also that modern touch with the good production behind it that makes Thouisand Year War a great band to get into. Fans of Hatesphere or Detonation can relate to this band very easily. The emotion of head stomping anger is all over "Tyrants and Men" and nothing stops until the end. Sure there are a lot of bands playing the same style and manner as Thousand Year War, but the way these guys play brings out the likeness for me, and I like how they sound. Maybe this isn't the most original release, but the band can play their style very fucking well! Nothing about this release is boring at all, everything from each track makes a person want to go outside and kick sombody's ass! There are ten tracks totaling 40 minutes of Melodic tyranny and fans of the Melodic Death metal genre should enjoy this release very much. All the tracks are worthy of listen, but a couple did catch my attention like "Defiance" and "Open Casket" (not the Death song in 1988 from "Leprosy") Each track has a hard hitting metal madness with speed and ability. A great band to get into for the fans.
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 9/10
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Band: URUGIA / HOLOCAUST STORM / STRAZNICA
Country: Poland / Poland / Poland
Title: Krew / Zgnilizna / Othala
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2012
Style: Black Metal / Raw Black Metal / Pagan Metal Neofolk
Review:
„Krew – Zgnilizna – Othala” is a 3 part’s split of very deep black/pagan underground from Poland. Three bands, which members are good friends, made this material from 2010 to 2012. Urugia is a one man project, inspired by e.g. Venom, Bathory and colombian Masacre. „Krew” is just a dirty, old school black metal with small pieces of melodic solo guitars, similar to earlier black metal sounds. Title „Krew” (means: „Blood” in Polish) was given, because lyrics are very bloody - this info I got from Necroangel from Urugia. Holocaust Storm and „Zgnilizna” („The Rot”) is really raw black metal with noise and dark ambient influences very similar to stuff recorded on cassettes at the beginning of trv black metal underground stage... However lyrics are very interesting, based on dark history of II World War, some of them based on authentic lyrics of prisoners of concentrate camps... Now Holocaust Storm is a one man project too. Staznica and „Othala” is a duet project which compile neofolk sounds with melodic pagan black pieces with slavic and scandinavian pagan lyrics. This part of split is the most musically diverse. Summary: just deeply underground, potentially interesting.
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 8/10, 7.5/10, 8/10
Band: VERATRUM
Country: Italy
Title: Sentieri Dimenticati
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2012
Style: Black Death Metal
Review:
Debut album of this Italian combo founded in 2008, "Sentieri Dimenticati" is a 10 tracks effort totaling a bit more than 35 minutes of mid-tempo to fast paced Death Metal with Black Metal influences. The production is very good, and I'd say this is a quite enjoyable album although the vocal patterns are a bit dry with flowing along the instrumental path, with not so much individuality. The instrumental part on the other hand is pretty nicely built: aggressive and energetic. There are also some symphonic parts and even some Thrash Metal influenced guitar solos that spice a bit the whole, but the overall impression is that Veratrium really has the abilities to do something better, to compose tracks that will stick to your memory, but they didn't succeed here. What I have enjoyed mostly on this album are the guitar solos, the fast and brutal parts and the melodic, oriental-like melodic parts.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10
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Band: VISCERAL THRONE
Country: USA
Title: Omnipotent Asperity
Label: Brutal Bands
Year: 2012
Style: Brutal Death Metal
Review:
If you are a hardcore fan of complete sickness and brutality like myself then maybe a band "Rotted Rebirth" might ring a bell in the fucked up minds of some brutal fans. They began their descent into Death Metal sickness back in 2005 out in Indiana and made some waves, but unfortunately split up afterwards. Well, now we have Visceral Throne, a band risen from the old days of Rotting Rebirth and making some type of brutal impact throughout the underground of metal. "Omnipotent Asperity" made its way onto the circuit May 22nd, 2012 and definitely made the attention of my sick mind. Visceral Throne have a similar feeling as the old ways of early Suffocation or even a bit like Devourment. There are other obvious influences to the music but who gives a fuck, Visceral Throne play a sick style of brutality and sickness that just can't be ignored! What we have here is 28 minutes of pure sickening metal with that twist of burning slow brutality that has made so many other killer Brutal Metal bands alive. Visceral Throne have also retrieved a style that touches on modern ways and riffs mixed along with the obvious old school metal influences that have brought the good style out of these guys! "Omnipotent Asperity" may not be the most original or groundbreaking release from a death metal band of today, but as far as I am concerned it doesn't matter as long they can make what they do sound brutal, sick, guttural, and especially interesting enough to last through every track on the release. Eight tracks total with good brutality here, tracks like "Epitaph" and "Unknown" are slamming pieces of sickness with a twisted sense of technicality in that Death Metal way. Definitely worth the time to check out...
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 8/10
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Band: WYKKED WYTCH
Country: USA
Title: The Ultimate Deception
Label: Goomba Music
Year: 2012
Style: Black Gothic Metal
Review:
Wykked Wytch present a 45 minute mess of an album with their 5th full length "The Ultimate Deception" The band play a mess of fake black metal with modern death metal elements and even moments of mall core chug fail. The vocals are done in that horrible core style where it sounds like a cat has its balls stuck in a vice grip. The sweep picking melodies on this are also not smart, clever or technical like intended but just annoying. There really aren't many postive things to mention about this bar one or two moments of actual good modern death metal with a blackened edge. These can be found across the album but really can't save this disjointed mess. The best example of this can be found at the end of the first song with an actual good riff and fantastic lead playing. Wykked Wytch are trying to much with this, crossing styles and influences etc but really don't pull it, off below average and avoidable.
Reviewed by Dan Alderson
Rating: 3/10
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