Antigama - Stop The Chaos

Antigama / Psychofagist - 9 Psalms of An Antimusic to Come

Black Horizon - The Choice

Band: ABRASIVE

Country: Germany

Title: The Birth... Born in Sodom

Label: MDD

Year: 2011

Style: Brutal Death Metal

Review:

Abrasive has been around since 1999 and this is their fifth full length, a 12 tracks effort lasting for 37 minutes. Abrasive is Brutal Death Metal with a hint of Grindcore especially on vocals and drums, but unfortunately they didn't manage to wow me on this fifth album. The drums are the problem here; although recorded live, which is a remarcable and honorable choice, their sound isn't as fat and aggressive as this music requires, it's more suitable for a "grind for fun" band than for a serious Death Metal act like Abrasive gives the impression to be. The guitars reminded me a lot of good old Broken Hope except for the very fast parts, almost nonexistent here. With a better production this band could deliver some Brutal Old School Death Metal to be remembered but unfortunately on this album the drums' sound capture the attention too much. On the other hand I like the fact they kept the old-school American Death Metal grooves in their rhythms and that makes it more interesting than simple riffing.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 6.5/10

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Band: ANTIGAMA

Country: Poland

Title: Stop The Chaos

Label: Selfmadegod Records 

Year: 2012

Style: Death Metal Grindcore

Review:

5 + 1 absolutety kicking ass tracks! 15 minutes of intelligent, murderous music carnage. Relentless war against irregularities of this World... Some psychodelic influences in death metal/grindcore wall of sound. Short review – short material – but killer EP !!! And the last, sixth track is a specyfic type of catharsis – this is the neofolk/postrock/psychodelic bigger outro. No questions, big respect!

Reviewed by Vilcin

Rating: 9/10

Bands: ANTIGAMA / PSYCHOFAGIST

Country: Poland / Italy

Title: 9 Psalms of An Antimusic to Come

Label: Subordinate

Year: 2012

Style: Psychodelic Death Grind

Review:

This music grown in insane brains !!! Polish Antigama walked beetween thrash (played with pauses), death metal, grindcore, psycho-death-jazz and ambient at the end of his part of this short album. Just four amazing, kicking ass tracks, not for everybody. Italian Psychofagist present here explosive mix of psychodelic noizz, death grind jazz and other industrial schizo-sounds based on grindcore, old school punk and hardcore. 100% ill and make sick split – but kicking ass too !!! This is real antimusic, crazy and schizophrenic, but absolutely great for „insane in the mad brain” music maniacs.

Reviewed by Vilcin

Rating: 8.5/10

Band: BLACK HORIZON

Country: France

Title: The Choice

Label: Pervade Productions

Year: 2010

Style: Heavy Metal

Review:

On the cover of this promotional copy I got there's a big mention that this album was mixed and mastered by Achim Koehler (Primal Fear, Edguy). Well, that doesn't interest me at all, but some of you might be moved by such a name. I care more about the compositions and power of expression the band has, of course production plays an important role but I would never buy an album only for the name of its producer. Anyway, Black Horizon is around since '91 but only managed to release this album, their debut one, in 2010... a painful road I think, but also a fact that shows dedication and honesty in their chosen path. Heavy Metal is the name of the game, but the melodic type of vocals are making this a step closer to Progressive Metal. This is a very complex album, with varied tracks, it has it all to satisfy any type of Classic Heavy Metallers out there. The guitar riffs and leads range from classic structures to intricate, progressive ones, the solos are fantastic, the bass makes a powerful mark on the overall sound and the vocals are impressive by managing to sound right and to the spot without pushing it too much. Recommended!

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9/10

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Band: BRUTALCORE / GORE OBSESSED

Country: Turkey / Holland

Title: 2 Bone Chilling Shockers

Label: Extreminal Productions

Year: 2010

Style: Death Metal / Death Metal

Review:

Gory Death Metal split presented by the Turkish Extreminal Productions, "2 Bone Chilling Shockers", although featuring 2 bands, lasts for only 15 minutes, a bit low on fuel for any hungry Death Metal maniacs out there. Brutalcore from Turkey opens this split with their old-school type of Brutal Death Metal mostly fast played, with multiple catchy riffs, although overused by now, gurgling uncomprehensive vocals, and programmed drums that in some parts sound good enough and in others quite annoying. I like Brutalcore's the guitar work a lot, and I must say that the vocals, although monotone, sound pretty spot on for this music. Gore Obsessed comes from Holland and displays an even more synthetic kind of Death Metal, the guitars sound like they're almost made on PC too, and the drum machine is even more "vitrual" than in Brutalcore's case. Not much variation on riffs either. Really minimalist Death Metal with use of movie cuts at the beginning of each track. Although it has an old-school American Death Metal feeling to it I'm a bit disapointed of how synthetic it all sounds.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 6.5/10  5.5/10

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Band: CONQUERROR

Country: Poland

Title: First Strike

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2011

Style: Industrial Black Metal

Review:

If you're a constant reader of my reviews you should know I pretty much hate Industrial and almost all virtual/futuristic elements in my metal, that's why I warn you about this release even before starting to review it, it won't be a positive review.

Debut demo of Conquerror, "First Strike" is made of 3 tracks (10 minutes) of extremely synthetic Industrial Black Metal, I can't see anything organic inhere, and although there are some interesting ideas from time to time, they are excessively overused and repeated so that they become boring after a short while. I've heard this style on a few US bands already, but this is the first time I listen to a European band sounding like computer meets steel factory meets Darth Vader. Not my cup of tea, that's why I won't rate it.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: -/10

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Band: DRAWERS

Country: France

Title: All is One

Label: Slow Burn Records

Year: 2011

Style: Sludge Stoner Metal

Review:

12 tracks totaling 52 minutes of some damn good Metal right here.  Drawers takes out the bullshit and adds the early, old school versions of metal mixed with a deathcore of sound!  It is really cool how these guys can take the metal and make it feel any emotion they want during the record.  So much doom, yet speedy brutality put altogether to make a Southern Sounding 80's style rock album with Death/Hardcore elements and all over it.  I love it.  From Hatebreed to early Korn, to Death Metal to Hard Core to Death Core to whatever else comes about!  What else can I say but to listen to the record yourself and see what you think about it.  I like it.  Many types and levels of metal on this release and Drawers is worth the skull crushing time it takes to hear the album.  Check out tracks like "Caput Mortem Ocean" and "Purple Ride".  Good shit right here! 

Reviewed by Lex Luther

Rating: 9/10

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Band: DYONISIS

Country: UK

Title: Intoxicated

Label: Singed Records

Year: 2011

Style: Ethereal Rock

Review:

"Intoxicated" is a well picked title for this release being that when I listen to it I go into a trance, almost a drunken dream like state when this is in the background.  I haven't had the distinction of hearing Dyonisis before, but better late than never right?  I respect and listen to all forms of music, and Dyonisis is a bit different than the usual female fronted bands I am used to hearing.  I am not taking anything away from bands like Nightwish, Leaves Eyes, or Sirenia but Dyonisis has a different style almost...I can't put my finger on it but it stands out when I hear the vocals.  Anyway, "Intoxicated" delivers a feeling of ambient trance like sounds and makes the passion come out very much.  There are sad feelings that make their way through the music and also many other emotional thoughts as well.  Maybe it is the harmonies!  11 tracks totaling about an hour (give or take a few minutes here and there).  Fans of harmony sorrow and emotional thought in music will like this release.  The female vocals just soar through a person! 

Reviewed by Lex Luther

Rating: 9/10

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Band: EMBRIONAL

Country: Poland

Title: Absolutely Anti-Human Behaviors

Label: Old Temple Productions

Year: 2012

Style: Death Metal

Review:

Embrional is a band hailing from Poland that delivers brutality all the way since 2003. "Absolutely Anti-Human Behaviors" is an 11 track sickness playing almost 40 minutes of pure Thrashing Death Metal with an obvious nod to the early Black/Death Metal trade days. From the start this is a very violent feeling release without anything except a fucking skullhammer hitting your head a thousand times. Embrional does not let up at all during the songs and it seems early old school metal such as Napalm Death and Suffocation rears its ugly head toward influence, maybe even a bit of Black Metal and definitely Thrash as well. This all mixes in to give the fans an angry sounding, hard-hitting piece of brutality which many will enjoy. I know I have to widen my variety as far as reviews go and how I rate them but unfortunately this will not be the band to start doing this with! (Sorry Adrian! I'm trying) As I believe he will agree with me, most fans will certainly love the blasting technical sickness unleashed by Embrional. All 11 tracks give out the brutality fans love in this style of music, but there are always a couple of songs that will stand out such as "Possessed by Evil" and "The Last Step to Nothingness", both tracks show the full potential of the band. On top of that there are also two instrumentals on this release which also give the idea that Embrional are not just your typical brutal metal band. So for the sickness and brutality played in their technical style fans should really get off on "Absolutely Anti-Human Behaviors" indeed. Well worth the time to check them out.

Reviewed by Lex Luther

Rating: 9/10

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Band: EXTINCT GODS

Country: Poland

Title: Wartribe

Label: Let Them Come Productions

Year: 2011

Style: Death Metal

Review:

10 years after their foundation Extinction Gods release their debut album, and this is quite a regular practice nowadays in the underground for a band to release less material and play live as much as possible. Well, except for the hordes of Black Metal one man projects who release countless CDs per year.

The first thing that captures your attention in Extincts Gods' music is their extensive use of guitar leads and solos, a highlight I do enjoy a lot. Their melodic guitar leads and solos are mixed perfectly with razor-sharp riffs and even some Progressive Death Metal patterns here and there. The sound is very clean, every instrument is intelligible, so from this point of view this release is polished to perfection. The vocalist doeas also a good job by alternating growls with screaming parts, and it fits quite well Extinct Gods' groovy style of Death Metal. Although its fine playing I somehow missed that primitive dirty Death Metal sound, this release is more suitable for the "mainstream" Extreme Metal followers than the underground ones, so I guess this band has big hopes for their music. If you're into Melodic Death Metal mixed with a bit of groove give Extinct Gods a try.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8.5/10

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Band: FLYING

Country: Ukraine

Title: Graceful Murder

Label: Metal Scrap Records

Year: 2012

Style: Melodic Death Metal

Review:

Initially released by Moon Records in 2010, "Graceful Murder" takes a step up with this re-release on Metal Scrap Records, an opening to the Western market as well. The band is around since 1998 and released 3 albums prior to this one but still they are little known abroad. maybe this 4th official opus will change that. "Graceful Murder" is composed of 8 tracks totaling 43 minutes of '90's type Melodic Death Metal, the one filled with intricate guitar solos and catchy leads rather than based on brutality and aggression. Some very good musicians creating a very entertaining piece of Metal that will please not only Death Metal followers, Flying deserves your attention if you like your Death Metal with lots of emotions and mood swings but also enjoy a fair share of technical abilities display. Ah, and I don't want to forget the perfect production and CD booklet artwork, professional work 100%.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9/10

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Band: GLOOM

Country: Spain

Title: ...Bless You All

Label: Cristal Eyes

Year: 2012

Style: Death Metal

Review:

Gloom is a long time running band from Spain that although formed in 2002 is still looking for a label (I think) as both their debut album from 2009 and this new EP are selfreleased. "...Bless You All" has an extremely fat sound, so fat that at the end you feel like you had a huge concrete chunk taken off your back. So yes, we have established this EP has a brutal sound, but the music is not less brutal at all, we're dealing here with an atmospheric type of Dark Death Metal with influences from the nowadays Brutal Death Metal scene, but also from Black Metal territories. There's a good share of technical abilities but they manage to keep the whole mature sounding, very curdled, entertaining and catchy. I have to admit I like this band a lot and the only bad element I can think of are the Black Metal type of backing vocals that sound like a Dani Filth gone horribly wrong. I wouldn't say to eliminate those types of vocals but to do something about them to sound less forced and more natural. Other than that this is an damn excellent band in my books!

Later edit: The EP is released by Crystal Eyes Records, so not a self-released CD as I've mentioned in my review.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9/10

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Band: GOREGAST

Country: Germany

Title: Desechos Humanos

Label: F.D.A. Rekotz

Year: 2011

Style: Death Grind

Review:

Well, if sickness and brutality reign today then Goregast will be the first to start the destruction. Goregast, used to be known as "Distress", has been churning out the sickness since 2004 and things are only getting more brutal. "Desechos Humanos" is a pure piece of sickness with technical edge and angry velocity as far as metal goes. Yes, there are many fucking Death Metal bands in the Metal Underground, but there are ways to tell who kicks ass and who sucks. Goregast kicks ass because they keep the old school style and influence throughout the release and also have a modern production and almost polished sound with this release. I don't have to get into much more with this because Goregast are self-explanatory, they play brutal death metal with a technical vein inside and I like it. Fans of Necrony or Defloration should enjoy "Desechos Humanos" very much. There are ten tracks and probably 30 or so minutes of brutal metal with Goregast. A good release for the hardcore fans of Death Metal and hopefully some more material to come soon. A couple of tracks I liked were "Honor the Dead" and "Nice Guy Next Door". 

Reviewed by Lex Luther

Rating: 7/10

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Band: HATE SQUAD

Country: Germany

Title: Katharsis

Label: Massacre Records

Year: 2011

Style: Thrash Metal

Review:

Hate Squad has been unleashing their brutality since around 1993 starting in Germany.  Dealing with the topics of hate, deception, and just plain everyday bullshit in life with the metal to go behind it.  "Katharsis" is no exception when it comes to Thrash and brutality.  Hate Squad take no prisoners and continue to crush the skulls of metalheads everywhere with this release.  This the band's sixth full-length release and it does not disappoint.  If you happen to grab the digipak then you will be lucky enough to get two bonus tracks.  13 songs totaling 49 minutes of pure hatred, aggression, and power heavy Hate Squad!  "Katharsis" is a blend of that old time hardcore/thrash metal we all love, not to mention the angered vocal style as well.  I enjoyed the whole release, but as always I always find a couple of tracks that stick out, songs like the title track itself, "Katharsis" churns out the brand of technical brutality that we have come to love with these guys!  A couple of other songs like "Vicious Assault" and "Kill" bring out the "beer muscles" if you know what I mean.  One good listen to this and you won't have a fucking head on your shoulders anymore!  Fans of Hate Squad will certainly get off with "Katharsis". 

Reviewed by Lex Luther

Rating: 9/10

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Band: HATESKOR

Country: Spain

Title: Paint My Fear

Label: Noisehead Records

Year: 2011

Style: Melodic Death Metal

Review:

Hateskor are relatively new to the Metal underground, formed in 2010, Hateskor have finally released "Paint my Fear" which is a Melodic/technical adventure chosen as a path.  Distinct vocals and a hungry metal sound mixed with a good production bring Hateskor to the top of the underground.  Naturally, the ability the have will bring them to greater heights with each new release, but for now...This is damn good. I also hear a mixture of Black Metal influence and Power metal, along with the atmospheric background in the music.  Another thing going for Hateskor is the fact that the legend himself, James Murphy, mastered this release.  Melodic Metal at its best, Hateskor delivers the goods in nine full tracks with a playing time of 48 minutes, so there is plenty of metal to get into.  I must say that new fans will probably have to listen to "Paint my Fear" a few times before they "get it" but rest assure it will happen.  For fans of Melodic Death Metal with added elements of Blackened Metal and technical atmosphere will love this.  So if you want a good idea then check out tracks like "Ten Days, Ten Nights" or "Tears of Fire" and you won't be disappointed...

Reviewed by Lex Luther

Rating: 8/10

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Band: HORRID

Country: Italy

Title: The Final Massacre

Label: Blasphemous Art Records / Black Tears of Death

Year: 2011

Style: Death Metal

Review:

I was surprised to get in my mail a new Horrid album since I haven't heard of this cool Italian band in a long time, but this is not actually a full new album but a re-release of two of their EPs, "Blasphemic Creatures" from '99 and "Awaiting for the Truth" from '96, plus 4 new tracks and an intro, so rather than calling it a new album I would say it's a new EP.

Anyway, if you haven't had the chance to get these two EPs at their time now it's a good chance to grab them if you're into Old School Swedish Death Metal, the one baptized by Unleashed, Entombed or Dismember back in the '90's, and so are the new tracks, nothing changed, the same intensity, the same rotten sound, but with a better, more solid and powerful production. Although the new tracks have a cleaner sound the two remaining Horrid masters (yes, they remained only 2 from the original line-up, Max and Belfagor) manage to create inspires exactly what it should: death, putrefaction, crypts, graves and spider webs. Horrid still keeps its music worthy of its band name, horrid! No need for me to recommend this, you already know what you have to do...

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9/10

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Band: HYPNOS

Country: Czech Republic

Title: Heretic Commando The Rise Of New Antikrist 

Label: Einheit Produktionen

Year: 2012

Style: Death Metal

Review:

This album is thirthy five divided to thhirthy five. 35 minutes and 35 seconds of interesting death metal’s sounds. A lot of solo guitars, a lot of interesting drum-drives... Some atmospheric doom influences, some black sounds... Great growles! This is very engaging album, first time I try to make my job with listening to this material but I had to stop workin’, sat and just listened to. „Heretic Commando  The Rise Of New Antikrist” is a piece of intelligent, interesting death metal. It is not surprising for me – two members of  legendary (and split-up now) Krabathor could not record bad material.

Reviewed by Vilcin

Rating: 9/10

Band: IMBER LUMINIS

Country: Belgium

Title: Life as a Burden

Label: Le Crépuscule du Soir Productions

Year: 2011

Style: Depressive Black Metal

Review:

One man band from Belgium, Imber Luminis released this debut album 4 years after Deha, the man behind it, started to work under this moniker. There are only 4 tracks featured here, but the total length of this album is a bit more than an hour, so we're dealing here with some very long tracks, maybe a bit too long. Typical Depressive Black Metal, slow, based on melodic guitar leads and simple rhythm section, plus the desperate vocals that sound more like laments than Black Metal vocals, but this is all typical for this genre, and unfortunately Imber Luminis doesn't deliver anything out of the ordinary. It's not a bad album, actually it's better than 75% of the rest of one man bands playing this music, but except for the good, suitable desperate atmospheres there's nothing to catch my interest.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7/10

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Band: IMBRUE

Country: Spain

Title: Cado Datur Verbs

Label: Necromance Records

Year: 2004

Style: Brutal Death Metal

Review:

Holy crap this is an old CD, more exactly a 2004 album released by this Spanish band that appears to be still active but never released anything else since then. Unfortunately this album has nothing to stand out in the nowadays so overpopulated Brutal Death scene. Yes, it has its fair share of instrumental technical display but the whole seems not to be curdled, so that the overall impression is that they created tracks and then cut them to bits and pieces so that noone would ever understand a thing from it, some parts of it are good to great, but some parts only manage to ruin all the flow. Yes, they proved to be talented musicians, but unfortunately failed to prove they are talented composers... I had a hard time giving this album a complete listen but who knows, some of you might even enjoy it.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 6/10

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Band: INFERION

Country: USA

Title: The Desolate

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2012

Style: Black Metal

Review:

Inferion is a Black Metal band from Miami, Florida. After different releases like (Give to the Ground, The Cursed Path and Firewar) and line-up changes (now they are only two members), they release this album "The Desolate”. First of all I want to say that the mix and master is well done with the right choice of sound. The genre is old-style Black Metal like Darkthrone , Burzum and first Dimmu borgir with a small influence of Death Metal.  There is nothing new in this album. Everything is something that I have already heard but well played. The voice is nice with an aggressive growl and all instruments sound well even if the drum is a drum machine.  Interesting is that the founder (Nick Reyes) while joining the Army, never left the passion to continue to work on this album, also he did the final mix and master in 2011. Personally I have found the tracks a little boring because they are similar each other and too much monotone.  Finally if you want to listen to something classic, cold and raw Black Metal, Inferion is the band for you.

Reviewed by Rob Gore

Rating: 6.5/10

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Band: KATHARSIS 666

Country: Poland

Title: Total Beast

Label: Moon Records / Dark Ritual

Year: 2009

Style: Black Metal

Review:

For a one man band Katharsis 666 certainly sounds like a full line-up combo... Oh, wait, this demo was actually recorded with a full line-up in 2006, and released in 2009 when the band is mentioned as a one man project. Anyway, what we get here are 6 tracks of ultra fast, ferocious Black Metal, plus intro and a cover of Darkthrone's "Vatican in Flames". The whole is a whirlwind of fast riffs, a bit too repetitive for my tastes, possessed drums, vomiting vocals, and above all some very tasty old-school guitar riffs here and there that give this release a sick flavour. I have to admit I didn't like it at first but it grew on me like a filthy weed. This demo will make a great item in any underground Black Metal fanatics out there. Sick!

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9/10

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Band: KRV

Country: Bosnia & Herzegovina

Title: Ograma

Label: Northern Horde Records

Year: 2010

Style: Black Metal

Review:

Krv comes from a world far away which would be Bosnia.  Krv also plays a style of raw Black Metal that is definitely primitive and cold as the older Black Metal bands have done.  Obviously influence has to come from somewhere, but again this has all been done before.  Simple Black Metal with a raw and evil edge to it, Krv does a good job at handling the darkness they create.  Besides that Krv add nothing fresh to the overcrowded genre of Black Metal and do not stand out as anything extraordinary with "Ograma".  They do sing the tracks in their native tongue and that brings out the situation that Bosnia is involved in Politically, but I'm afraid people might not understand that being they don't speak the same language as Krv.  Nothing bad here at all, but nothing fresh either.  According to Metal-Archives Krv means "blood" in Serbian. That is as far as I traveled in the world of Bosnian Black Metal so far!  fans of the old school Black Metal scene should appreciate Krv for the lack of modern music technology crap they DIDN'T use but that is it.  "Ograma" is filed under the "already been done 1000 times" folder of my musical sections.  From what I understand Krv has split up and the members are involved in other projects like Odar and Silent Kingdom.  So if you like your Black Metal unpolished and  old school then check out Krv, but I would suggest sticking to the originals of the Black Metal scene if you want something special to come out of your metal experience.

Reviewed by Lex Luther

Rating: 5/10

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Band: LEGIONS OF WAR

Country: Sweden

Title: Riding with the Blitz

Label: L.O.W. Productions

Year: 2011

Style: Black Thrash Metal

Review:

Sweden is the home of so many damn underground metal legends that its hard to keep up with these days.  Upon that, there are also many up and coming metal bands as well and I have to say that Legions of War is one of them.  "Riding with the Blitz" is a small promo sample of the band's potential.  Thrash/Black/ and at times a hint of Death metal shines as the tracks play throughout my garage!  lots of different influences are on this release.  It reminds me of either Warpath or even Merciless, the Swedish Death/Thrash metal band.  Either way the metal coming from Legions of War is brutal, dark, fast, and technical.  Though only two tracks came on this promo, but it is a great taste of what the future holds for fans of this metal potential!  Not much more has to be said about this except a person should be shot if they don't give it a listen... (Bad joke)  The two tracks are as follows, "Riding with the Blitz" and "Shellshock".  Two full tracks of technical metal added with the Thrash and Blackened pieces of metal that we all love so damn much!  Fans of old school metal will also get into this as well, but whatever the case Legions of War has a future in the Metal Underground of the world! 

Reviewed by Lex Luther

Rating: 8/10

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