Band: FOE
Country: Poland
Title: Madness
Label: Let Them Come Productions
Year: 2010
Style: Thrash Death Metal
Review:
Formed from the ashes of an old Polish band named Alkoholica (founded in '84), FOE released their debut album, "Madness", in 2010. Here there are 10 tracks in a bit less than 40 minutes, written and performed by two men even though in the meantime the band gathered a full line-up. Unfortunately the music presented by FOE is too filled of clichees, all riffs are simple and overused by many, many bands before, the sound is too soft and the lack of power that such a release would need is affecting the overall result badly. This is a combination of old-school Thrash and Death Metal, but I don't think it will attract many followers unless Alkoholica was a really popular band back in the days and there are still some nostalgics out there that know their tracks and would like to have this CD in their collection just for bragging. But in nowadays standards, even for old-school Death Metal, this album lacks a lot of things in all compartments. Sorry, not my type at all.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 5/10
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Band: FUNERUS
Country: USA
Title: Reduced to Sludge
Label: Ibex Moon Records
Year: 2011
Style: Black Thrash Metal
Review:
Funerus is an awesome Black Thrash Metal band with, as the name of the release suggests, a lot of fucking sludge and heaviness. "Reduced to Sludge" is the entitled release and I have to say that this a good album. 1990 is a long time in the past, and since that time Funerus has released a slew of thrashy metal mixed with so many elements of the old school thrash era, this is what makes Funerus so interesting to listen to because they have a lot of everything as far as metal goes. Production is raw, but heavy and the release itself kick ass from the start of "Behind the Door" to "Leatherface" down to "E. Histolytica". 11 total tracks with a playing time of over 33 minutes of metal. Fans of old school metal in general, especially Thrash and Death Metal will enjoy this release from Funerus. The Metal Underground has been waiting over 8 fucking years for this and it is not disappointing, neither is the fact that Dan Swano of Dark Funeral, Opeth, and Hail of Bullets fame mixed and mastered this primo release. Not much more needs to be said, just listen to "Reduced in Sludge" and the rest is history!
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 9/10
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Band: FUROR GALLICO
Country: Italy
Title: Furor Gallico
Label: Massacre Records
Year: 2010
Style: Folk Metal
Review:
58 minutes of old time Folk Metal is what we have here with Furor Gallico. I have no knowledge or any idea about this genre of metal, but I understand it is loved throughout the underground. Where do I begin? I almost felt like I was back in the 1880's during the Old West with Billy the Kid and others when music was still being played with the flute and harmonica! This style mixed with the low tuned vocals and ferocity of the technical, but evil guitar attack brought about a change in my thinking. I hear so many different types of influence and genres in this release. "Furor Gallico" is a darkened approach with such a non-mainstream attack that I couldn't stop listening to this. As time went on Furor Gallico churned out Melody, Evil, Darkness, Folk, and utter metal in many areas. This is not my type of "metal" but I certainly respect the talent and potential of Furor Gallico. I bet fans of ?Hellveto ?will run out and grab this release! So for fans of Folk Metal style and hardened Black Metal influence, Furor Gallico will wet your whistle. Very strange, but interesting music here. Check out tracks like "The Gods Have Returned" and "Venti De Imboli".
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 8/10
Contact:
Band: GOLDEN RESURRECTION
Country: Sweden
Title: Man with a Mission
Label: Liljegren Records
Year: 2011
Style: Melodic Metal
Review:
Well, Golden Resurrection is certainly flying through the world right now. A second release garnering much attention overseas as well as in the US and so far things are quite awesome. Anyway, Golden Resurrection are a Melodic Metal band, but which metal? Symphonic maybe? Either way it all fits together pretty well for the band. Vocals are a clean uncanny Bruce Dickinson/Somebody else type of approach. All of this comes with a very polished production on top of it. Mainstream is written all over this release and that ain't so bad. We are talking about a band who has a vocalist/guitarist doing live sets on television in front of like 2 million people! Golden Resurrection are a polished product with all the trimmings of symphonic and progressive metal technique mixed with keyboards and Iron Maiden vocals. Mixing all of that comes a pretty cool effort with "Man With a Mission". Check out tracks like "Man With a Mission", "Flaming Youth", and "Golden Times". These are the more popular tracks from the band as I am told. So for fans of progressive technical Melodic Metal madness with a symphonic approach, check out Golden Resurrection's newest offering "Man With a Mission".
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating:
Contact:
Band: HELL:ON
Country: Ukraine
Title: Re:Born
Label: Metal Scrap Records
Year: 2011
Style: Groove Thrash Metal
Review:
Thrash Metal/Crossover metal with touches of Hardcore and old school sounds. Hell:On is a Brutal foray into the Thrash Metal genre with added spice. From the start Hell:On gives out a feeling of technical and progressive metal with fury and anger that brings the shit to the table! The Metal just flows throughout the EP. I haven't had the pleasure of hearing this band before, but better late then never. "In the Shadow of Emptiness" gives shear power and precision, I love it and so will the rest of the underground! This EP can be downloaded for free from their Myspace Page as well. There are 4 tracks totaling 16 to 17 minutes of pure anger. Not much more needs to be said considering this can be found by anyone who goes to their page. I will leave you with this - Kick ass metal right here!
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 9/10
Contact:
Band: I AM HUNGER
Country: Sweden
Title: Odium
Label: Snapping Fingers Snapping Necks
Year: 2011
Style: Progressive Metal
Review:
I am Hunger is an Alternative/Progressive Metal band, more so on the heavier side though. Some elements of early Hardcore and heavy metal from the early days mixed with the nu style. I am Hunger are technical and heavy in their approach and this release ?isn't so bad either! From the start the metal comes out in your face and at you the whole time. I don't know too much more about these guys except for being from Sweden and this being their debut album. There are 12 tracks and this gives at least a half hour of heaviness from I am Hunger. Fans will take interest in this band pretty quick as they are definite mainstream material on this side of metal. Songs like "Vultures" and "Death Row" bring out the anger and madness from the band added with the technical side. Things will get better with each release and I am Hunger are on their fucking way!
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 8/10
Contact:
Band: ILIUM
Country: Australia
Title: Genetic Memory
Label: Escape Music
Year: 2011
Style: Power Metal
Review:
A Melodic Metal effort all the way, Ilium is a standard edition to the helm of bands bringing about the old style of Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath as well as other influences in their music. "Genetic Memory" is an old school effort, but this isn't the band's first time around the block...This is record number 5 and the style is pretty cool. Each track is paced with a Judas Priest feel and even Power metal seems to rear its head at times during the release. Ilium is continuing on their path of delivering an old school assault and bringing a lot of old memories back from the old days! Fans of early metal like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, and others will eat this record up. Songs like "Littoria" and "Irrinja" which happens to clock in at just over 11 and a half minutes long, are great samples of technical Melodic patterns with awesome vocals to add to the mix of metal. Old school all the way here so check out "Genetic Memory" when you feel like hitting back the past of metal.
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 8/10
Contact:
Band: INCEST IN HEAVEN
Country: Greece
Title: Misbegotten
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2011
Style: Black Death Metal
Review:
Debut demo for this Greek combo, a 4 tracks effort totaling 22 minutes. I can say it's a good debut that manages to present to the listener all their instrumental skills and compositional ideas. The band is more on the Death Metal side and only spice it a bit with Black Metal influences, but unfortunately the production is not even half as good as they are. The sound is too synthetic and soft for their aggressive, intricate, chaotic but still melodic, atmospheric and intelligent music. Based on excellent guitar riffs and leads, Incest In Heaven's music also displays some very present bass lines, fast and fresh drumming, and a versative vocal, all these make me say this is a real promise for the Greek underground Today. I hope their next release will have a better, more powerful production. Check this band out!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10
Contact:
Band: ION VEIN
Country: USA
Title: Ion Vein
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2011
Style: Progressive Heavy Power Metal
Review:
A most talented Progressive style Metal band right from the heart of my hometown Chicago. Elements of other influential metal genres are all over this little opus. Power Metal and the 80's style feel of the old days when metal went from that Glam crap to the more progressive style of Manowar or something to that effect. Lyrically speaking the band takes a form of fantasy and rides with it, goes right with the music when put together. Vocals are angry, yet tamed to flow so well with the background of heaviness in guitar that is delivered. I like this little package I have and currently speaking the band hasn't made a sound in the underground since 2003 with their last full-length effort entitled "Reigning Memories" and from what I understand this was a solid album, I honestly haven't had the chance to hear their earlier recordings, YET!
So for fans of the heavier style of Progressive Power Metal with a boost then check out Ion Vein and the three song demo with these tracks - "Enough", "Love/Hate" and "Anger Inside". Definetly a step toward the light of the underground for these guys! Awesome metal here, right from good old fucking Chicago!
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 9/10
Contact:
Band: K.A
Country: France
Title: Gestation...
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2011
Style: Thrash Metal
Review:
These guys are around since '95 and released 4 studio albums to date, but all of them selfproduced, so it's either they are not searching for a label or they have only been unlucky so far. "Gestation..." is their latest work, a 5 tracks EP totaling 18 minutes of playing. I would label this Modern Thrash Metal although they seem confortanble enough adding old-school touches and also some, few indeed, Death Metal influences. Brutal vocals, fast rhythm section, good melodic guitar solos and quite brutal riffs, but the problem is the sound that makes the music a bit monotonous at times. I think the guitars could have used a different sound, less low tuned and more metallic sounding. The guys have really good instrumental skills, but the sound made it a bit boring for me. Try it out yourselves and form your own opinion.
Reviewed by Adrian
Ratiung: 7/10
Contact:
Band: KRIGERE WOLF
Country: Italy
Title: The Ancient Culture to Kill
Label: Armed God Records
Year: 2012
Style: Black Death Metal
Review:
Krigere Wolf is another band new to my ears; Black metal mixed well with 80's style metal from the old school days of Celtic Frost, Bathory, and even Venom. Elements of Thrash Metal are all over the release and mixed well with everything ? in style. When you put it all together you get Krigere Wolf's opus which will please fans of many genres. From the start Krigere Wolf throws down on all forms of influence. Thrash/Black Metal/Death/Hardcore and for kicks...80's style metal! Throughout the whole album I never get bored or uninterested. I want to keep jamming this disc and fuck something up! All humor aside, Krigere Wolf has the balls and the brutality to crush the underground metalheads! There are 7 tracks totaling 38 minutes of pure audio hatred right here, and as far as I know Italy has really been unleashing some sickness and brutality lately! Well, obviously longer than that, but most recently the influx of metal bands I get from Italy is expanding. So if you are a fan of old school metal like Venom and Bathory, but still like to get down with DRI, Baphomet, and Dark Throne then check out Krigere Wolf's opus, "The Ancient Culture to Kill". It will crush your skull!
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 8/10
Contact:
Band: LAPIS LAZULI
Country: Sweden
Title: A Justified Loss
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2011
Style: Symphonic Gothic Metal
Review:
Holy crap, this is Lapis Lazuli's third full-length album in only 2 years! That means either that it is a pretty productive band or that they are only making up for the time lost between 2005 and 2011 when they had some line-up problems and were even broke up for some time. I have no idea what Lapis Lazuli means but I find it quite funny sounding. "A Justified Loss" is a 9 tracks effort totaling 44 minutes of Symphonic Gothic Metal, the new type, a la Epica or Sirenia, based on enchanting and intricate keyboard arrangements. I can see this band going far, they have what it takes to break into the Symphonic Metal scene without problems. I also like Frida's voice, very melodic, but natural enough not to make the listener she's pushing it. Even though the keyboards parts are the most important element, the guitars and rhythm section keep their contribution high on the Metal part of Lapis Lazuli, and the only thing I'm not too fond of is the drums' sound, that's too synthetic for my taste, but once that fixed we'll deal with a real winner here. Other points of interest on this album: the excellent guitar solos and the support male vocals by the key player, Timo. I guess we'll hear more about this band in the future, they only need a good label to push them forward.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10
Contact:
Band: LEGIONS OF CROWS
Country: UK
Title: Stab Me
Label: Funeral Rain Records
Year: 2011
Style: Doom Black Metal
Review:
Legion of Crows is a two man world hating, Christian bashing band that has the most hated attitude towards the world and everything in it. This makes for an interesting release as far as "Stab Me" is concerned. From the start it is obvious that the influence comes from the early days of Black metal and Doom Metal mixed with the screeching vocal attack and an adversity towards human life. This is pure hatred spewing forth such a depressing, but hard hitting heaviness with "Stab Me". There are a total of 8 tracks adding just over 51 minutes in playing time. Elements of old school Doom and Black Metal take this release through the paths of sickening thoughts and groove laden mixture. Fans of Blackened Doom Metal added to Black Metal in a primitive way will enjoy the brutal down-slope of depressing metal from Legions of Crows. "Stab Me" is for the true hearts of hated man and human vile that slithers through the cracks everyday. Enjoy the sickness!
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 9/10
Contact:
Band: LIVARKAHIL
Country: France
Title: Signs of Decay
Label: Listenable Records
Year: 2011
Style: Death Metal Hardcore
Review:
Livarkahil is a brutal Deathcore band hailing from France. Actually they were described as Death metal/Hardcore just to get it right! Anyway, from the start brutality and technical sickness is what these guys are about. Hardcore is written all over this release and it adds to the already heavy and primitive, yet polished tracks! Add all of that together and you get "Signs of Decay". An album of technical proficiency and groove heaviness with speed. Livarkahil delivers something of a concept album on "Religious Autocracy" from what the archives say...11 tracks total with a playing time that is approximately 1 second short of being 46 minutes in length. Plenty of brutality and blasting sickness to go around. Fans of the technical brutality in metal such as Behemoth and Aborted will slam their heads with a fucking sledgehammer after hearing this release. So if you want a slice of sickness to go with that brutality then check out Livarkahil's release "Signs of Decay"...
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 9/10
Contact:
www.listenable.net
Band: LUCTUS HYDRA / BEELZEBUTH / TIRANO
Country: Chile / Chile / Chile
Title: The Beginning of Hate
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2012
Style: Black Metal
Review:
Well...What we have here is a total putrid smell of hatred towards humanity and everything in it with this angry piece of hell! Let us get into this one - Luctus Hydra has a funeral feel to the music added together with the vocals of Satan or one of his henchman. Pure Black Metal attitude with the most depressing state of mind and the best feelings of detriment and torture along with the opus! Originally this band was mostly, if not all female during the start of the band. Now I believe she is the vocalist of this well tuned darkness!
Next comes Beelzebuth, another darkened Black Metal act with a faster tune than Luctus Hydra. As lethal as the aforementioned band, Beelzebuth is a dark, evil sounding Black Metal band with hints of early thrash metal and death metal at the helm, but the darkness in melody and angry vocals take this band to the height of hate within the Black Metal world and the punishment that comes with hearing this split is well worth the pain of hearing it again!
Last, but not least we have Tirano, formed in 2007, Tirano has come above the underground to unleash their brand of hatred and evil upon the Metal world. 3 more tracks of early style Black Metal mixed with Death Metal throughout the band's history so far. Tirano remind me of the early style days when Celtic Frost, Possessed, and Venom were making their mark on the world. Tirano brings more brutality and sickness in their style of Black Metal than the first two bands, but never the less the Black Metal is rampant throughout the tracks. Great for fans of Blackened Death Metal of the day!
That is it, all three bands are the eventful future of Black Metal and they are well on their way to dominating the darkest and most evil scene known the Metal Underground of the world, BLACK FUCKING METAL! 10/10 for this 3 way split! All the WAY
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Band: MALISON ROGUE
Country: Sweden
Title: Malison Rogue
Label: Inner Wound Recordings
Year: 2011
Style: Heavy Power Metal
Review:
It seems I'm dealing with debut albums only Today, but that's good, it's for sure I've never heard of the bands before and there might be some nice surprises for me during this "review session". Malison Rogue is a new name to my ears, their label, Inner Wound Recordings, labels them as a combination of Iron Maiden, Queensryche and Fates Warning and I have to agree with this, so if you're a fan of any of the abovementioned bands you should definitely give these guys a try. Melodic Power Heavy Metal driven by an excellent vocalist, killer lead guitar hooks, traditional Power Metal guitar riffs with a hint of Progressive here and there, this album is a real force. I have only one complaint when it comes to Malison Rogue, the overall production, even if they have worked with Mats Leven (ex. Yngvie Malmsteen, Therion) feels a bit empty on some tracks, don't know if that's how they planned it, but I don't like that. But the overall impression is great, I kindly recommend you give this band a listen.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9.5/10
Contact:
Band: MANIPULATOR
Country: France
Title: Unearthed
Label: Soulseller Records
Year: 2012
Style: Death Metal
Review:
I'm not sure if this is an EP, a demo or an album, but the latest is likely to be possible since 8 of the 12 tracks presented here are actually the ones that compose Manipulator's demo from 2009, Unearthed. So the ones of you who already know about this band and its music should know that they get only 4 new tracks. Manipulator comes from France and they attack us with an old-school European type of Death Metal, a combination of the German and Dutch scene from the early '90's. Unfortunately the sound is horrible, although it is destined to keep the feeling from those years it fails big time in bringing a curdled product to the listener. Music wise Manipulator is not bad at all, if you're into the European type of Death Metal, a combination of mid-tempo and fast rhythmed one with occasional doomy passages, then you should check this band out, if not for this release, at least for a preview of what they are capable of. Dirty, cavernous, low-tuned, and aggressive musicfor nostalgics.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10
Contact:
Band: MARE INFINITUM
Country: Russia
Title: Sea of Infinity
Label: Solitude Productions
Year: 2011
Style: Atmospheric Doom Death Metal
Review:
From Russia comes an Atmospheric Doom Metal band; "Sea of Infinity" is the name of the release by this band. Atmospheric is an understatement, as well as very ambient and symphonic in some ways. Lots of the added luxuries of having a newer style Doom metal band at the helm. The vocals are brutal and mix well with the more depressing slower parts of the music, and mixes well in general with the rest of the music. There are a total of 5 tracks totaling 54 minutes of playing time. That puts the length of one song at 14 minutes in length, and the other song clocks in at just over 12 minutes of length in play time! Either way the good thing about this is that no matter how doom ridden times get on "Sea of Infinity" things are kept at a steady pace as to try and not lose to much interest in the longer tracks. Fans of Doom Metal from the newer style metal these days will certainly enjoy the depressing and progressive nature of this release from Mare Infinitum.
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 7/10
Contact:
Band: MASTER’S HAMMER
Country: Czech Republic
Title: Vracejte Konve na Misto
Label: self released
Year: 2012
Style: Black Metal
Review:
Czech’s blackmetal veterans are back! New album included technical black with a lot of czech’s spirits and a lot of folk elements. All lyrics in Czech language of course and some melodic motifs, typical for metal bands from slavic lands, still characteristic vocal. Some humorous elements, untypical for „TRV black”, but typical for Master’s Hammer – and this is great. Some track includes thrash and jazz elements, good idea for inteligents listeners. Summary: 45 minutes of professional metal drive!
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 9.5/10
Band: MIDNIGHT STORM
Country: Italy
Title: Downfall
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2011
Style: Power Metal
Review:
If I could describe Midnight Storm I would say Power Metal, Melodic Power Metal to be exact. Downfall is a clean record with a polished production and very clean vocals. It all bodes well together if this style is your poison. There are times where Midnight Storm actually get a bit heavy and mix up the groove laden tunes during the record. Midnight Storm is a good band and they play their style of metal exceptionally well. Fans of good Power Metal bands like Manowar and Magna Mater should enjoy the album. So for you metalheads not into the brutal death metal thing or the Black Metal evil, you should check out Midnight Storm and the release entitled Downfall for that Power Metal taste.
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 8/10
Contact:
Band: MOLOCH LETALIS
Country: Poland
Title: Arkana chaosu
Label: Moon Records / Akne Productions / Dark Ritual
Year: 2009
Style: Black Death Metal
Review:
A split release between three labels, Moloch Letalis' latest offering, although now a bit old (dated 2009), is a compilation of track taken from their demos, so you have a rough idea of what you'll get here, rough, old-school type of Black Death Metal. This is my first enoucunter with the band and I have to admit it is a pleasant one, Moloch Letalis' music is honest, disgusting, raw and violent, but at the same time complex and catchy, it reminds me a bit of the Czech masters Avenger. The sound and execution are so organic you'll be under the impression this is recorded live in their rehearsal space, but nonetheless it has a good quality and presents no impediments to enjoy this piece of blasphemic old-school Black Death Metal. Recommended!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10
Contact:
Band: MORTA SKULD
Country: USA
Title: Through the Eyes of Death
Label: Relapse Records
Year: 2011
Style: Death Metal
Review:
Morta Skuld is a band that came about back in 1989 and has since risen from the ashes of the Metal Underground. These 12 tracks I am listening to come from back in the days of early metal creations. Morta Skuld began their career as a 4 piece playing shows with fellow metalheads Viogression. So what this is a compilation of Morta Skuld's earlier demo recordings that in the band's words, "Never seen the light of day." ?"Gory Departure", the band's first 4 song demo is on this release along with others that most metalheads haven't had the chance to jam to yet. I have to say that hearing all of this old school brutality makes me miss being 15 years old again and tape trading through fucking snail mail!!!! The Valley of Metal Death is where Morta Skuld stands these days and never will I ever stop listening to these guys! Listen to tracks like "Feast From Within" or "Sacrificial Rite" these fucking songs bring out the old school heaviness and brutality without all the added bullshit of today. nothing but buzz-saws and sickening growls. Morta Skuld will hopefully be recording some new material very soon for the world hasn't heard the end of Morta Skuld yet.
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 9/10
Contact:
Band: MUNRUTHEL
Country: Ukraine
Title: The Dark Saga
Label: Blazing Productions
Year: 2011
Style: Pagan Neofolk Dark Ambient
Review:
Munruthel, the ex. keyboard player of Nokturnal Mortum, after 6 years of silence released the new album. „The Dark Saga” is a nostalgy trip across the ancient Slavic lands, old god’s times, dark cult rituals etc. This album has two music faces – neofolk’s one, with „delight” electronic stylized on folk instruments, and the second – more dark and ambient with a lot deep, slow and dark ambient motifs. Munruthel mixed time of pride and glory with time of total doom of pagan times... Some elements based on traditional ukrainian sounds and medieval folk inspirations, e.g. the best (in my opinion) track on this album, called „And The Story Has Begun” is a great sample of contemporary neofolk sounds – slavic’s hurdy gurdy flow with medieval beat. In summary „The Dark Saga” is really great conceptual monolith. This is not typical „dark ambient gudron”, this is real neofolk/ambient taken from the ancients/medievals souls. Quite great album!
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 9/10
Band: MYSTICAL FULLMOON
Country: Italy
Title: Scoring a Liminal Phase
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2011
Style: Black Metal
Review:
If you're into Black Metal for a long time it's almost impossible you don't know this band, they were quite active and respected in the end of the '90's, but afterwards their either broke up or just took a long hiatus from recording new material. "Scoring a Liminal Phase - Ten Strategies for Postmodern Mysticism" is their come-back release and curious enough, their debut album as well. Another curious fact is they released this full-length by themselves although I think there wouldn't be any problem at all to find a suitable label to support this venture, so my only guess for this is that they wanted to do everything as they wanted and planned. In this case they have succeeded to release a professional CD, don't think a label would have done much better, maybe only on the promotional side of it. Anyway, on this album, Mystical Fullmoon are trying to explore new territories in Black Metal, I'd say a more Atmospheric approach of Black Metal, spiced with melancholic, quite depressive elements, and also futuristic hints, but still keeping it cold and brutal. Very mature compositions, interesting enough to capture your attention and keep it tight until the end, the 10 tracks presented here are totaling more than 70 minutes, but it's like a jurney through other, very different, worlds. If I add the fact that on three of the tracks the strings section of the Bulgarian National Radio Orchestra is featured, you'll get the essential idea of how much effort they put in this release. Really an original spew of Modern (or Postmodern better said) Black Metal. Recommended!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10
Contact:
Band: NEFESH
Country: Italy
Title: Shades and Lights
Label: Necrotorture Agency
Year: 2011
Style: Progressive Metal
Review:
Debut album of this Italian band that used to play Progressive Death Metal in their early days, but on "Shades and Lights", a 13 tracks effort totaling 1 hour of playing, Nefesh turned the page and chose to tone it down a bit. What we get here is a very experimental type of Progressive Metal enriched with coutless influences from Power Metal, Symphonic Metal, and remains of their Death Metal roots as well. The whole is presented under a very melodic, majestic veil, and it's obvious Nefesh really have some courage to experiment, to include as many different rhythms and tones they are able to. Some guitar solos inhere are really enchanting especially when they are supported by background keyboards and even violins effects, but don't get me wrong, this album still keeps its metalic edge, and some tracks are really aggressive. The vocalist is very versatile and that's a good thing especially for the music they are making, but some vocal parts, the aggressive ones, are not that good unfortunately, it's obvious he's struggling to be that aggressive, when his voice is more suited for the softer parts. Good debut album.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10
Contact:
Band: NEFTARAKA
Country: Malaysia
Title: Morts
Label: Eldritch Lunar Miasma Records
Year: 2012
Style: Black Metal
Review:
As far as I know Neftaraka are one of the oldest Black Metal bands in Malaysia, and quite a respected and well-known underground bands ever to emerge from this country although they have only one full-length album out prior to this one. Their popularity comes from the numerous split releases they have been involved in and that's a good thing, it means they really care about their work and are always looking for new ways to share it with the listeners. "Morts" is composed of 8 tracks totaling 42 minutes of fast, aggressive and very cold Black Metal, old-school Black Metal. Still there are some parts where the rhythms become more melodic, more mid-tempo and from my point of view that's for the best because it avoids boredomNothing new or out of the ordinary here, but we get a band that's honest in what they do and they are quite good instrumentists as well. The sound could have been better, but all in all it fits the old-school approach quite well.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10
Contact:
Band: NEIGE ET NOIRCEUR
Country: Canada
Title: Hymnes de la Montagne Noire
Label: Sepulchral Productions
Year: 2011
Style: Ambient Black Metal
Review:
On November 22, 2011 Neige et Noirceur released their third full-length effort entitled " Hymnes de la Montagne Noire". it is an Ambient/Atmospheric and very drone type of Doom Metal added with the evil of Black Metal as well. So for those that don't what the title says it is simple..."Snow and Darkness - Hymns of the Black Mountain"...? A definite path into the darkest mind of Black/Doom Metal from Canada. Now this release has abandoned a lot of the Ambient style according to man with the plan. This in itself is why the style of this release is so dark and primitive. 6 tracks total giving over 46 minutes of darkened mystery on the occult. Plenty of Doom and gloom to satisfy even the hardest fan of Doom these days. Spiritus is the man with the plan behind this Blackened Outfit and what a fine job that is!!! Anyway, check out songs like "Hymn 5 - The Road to Black Mountain" and "Hymn I - The Grim Reaper Leads the Way". Now remember these titles are translated to English, the original release's titles are written in French. So fans of the Undergrounds Blackened Doom Metal style added to a Black Metal element...Check out Neige et Noirceur and see what you feel after you hear it...
Reviewed by Lex Luther
Rating: 8/10
Contact:
Band: NEPTRECUS
Country: France
Title: Neptrecus
Label: Mortis Humanae Productions
Year: 2011
Style: Black Metal
Review:
New band from France founded last year, Neptrecus are a bit different from the major part of the underground Black Metal bands comming from these lands by the simple fact they are playing a traditional form of Black Metal with little or no hints of depressive elements. By its length this could have been easily presented as an EP, but the raw sound recommends it as a demo, so fair play to these lads. What we have here is, as said earlier, traditional Black Metal with epic parts (not so inspired I must add), and as highlight I would mention the guitar solos and melodic leads. Their music is not curdled enough and this demo's compositions couldn't stand tall as a whole, but given the fact they are such a young band and this is their debut demo they are really showing potential, they show interesting ideas, now the challenge is to keep experimenting and building this band as a monolith. Ah, and of course they should try working with real drums in studio or if the ones on this demo are real, which I strongly doubt, they should find a less synthetic sound.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10
Contact:
Band: NIGHTS AMORE
Country: Sweden
Title: Subscribers of Death
Label: Immortal Frost Productions
Year: 2010
Style: Dark Ambient
Review:
At first I thought this is a very strange name for a Black Metal band, and fortunately this is not a Black Metal band but a Dark Ambient one man project from Sweden. This is Nights Amore's debut album, a 9 tracks effore totaling a bit more than an hour. Depressive, emotional and insightful, that's how I would describe the music on this album, filled with enchanting piano parts, melancholic keyboards, atmospheric sounds and, I think, movies and TV news cuts that are quite expressive and help a lot to the overall feelings inspired by this release. Too bad there is no text on the booklet to describe the author's intentions and ideas. Usually I get bored quickly by Ambient releases using repetitive sounds over and over again, but here is not the case, the music on "Subscribers of Death" is very complex and colourful. I recommed this to all of you in search for some good quality depressive Ambient releases, don't miss this album!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10
Contact:
Band: PHOTOPHOBIA
Country: Finland / Italy
Title: Humana Fragilitas
Label: Immortal Frost Productions
Year: 2010
Style: Depressive Black Metal
Review:
First off, I really hate this album's cover artwork displaying photos of dead kids. How imbecil you have to be to pick on dead kids just to show you're fuckin' evil? If this is the band's choice, fuck them, if this is the choice of an artist they hired, fuck him! They need to grow up.
Ok, we started on the wrong foot with this band, so let's see what they have to offer music wise. Almost nothing... Except for the somehow stunning atmospheres, and the good, desperate vocal tones, the instruments are too repetitive and really come up with nothing but this intoxicating, dark atmosphere. A bit more complexity is mandatory even for a Depressive Black Metal band, otherwise their music becomes annoying after short while. Again, the atmospheres they manage to create are spot on for this type of music, but from there they should start to build more on compositions rather than to repeat the same riffs and beats over and over again.
If you're into Depressive Black Metal you might give this a try, you might like it more than I do.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6/10
Contact:
Band: RELIKT
Country: Poland
Title: Into Dusted Land
Label: self related
Year: 2010
Style: Death Metal
Review:
„Into Dusted Land” is a three track demo (intro plus two great pieces) of one of the best new Warsaw’s death metal bands. Band was formed in 2009 but some of members are veterans of Polish death and black metal scene (from Kataxu, Neuronia, etc.). This demo is pure, very technical, classical death metal, include bonus video too. Absolutely kick ass !!!
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 9/10