Algide - Mortifere

Angellore - Errances

Azrath XI - Ov Tentacles and Spirals

Azylya - Sweet Cerebral Destruction

Bane - The Acausal Fire

Cardiac Necropsy - Shayateen

Chaos Creation / Warnament - Arrows of Agony

Dark Salvation - Der letzte Weg

Darkest Grove - Coming of 2012

Dead Mountain Mouth - Crystalline

Death Rides A Horse - Tree of Woe

Deathstorm - As Death Awakes

Diabula Rasa - Ars Medioheavy

Digression Assassins - Heavy Waters

Do Skonu - Womb of Primeval Darkness

Final Dawn - The Crown Of The Dead Eyes

Grief Of Emerald - It All Turns to Ashes

Huldre - Intet Menneskebarn

Immolation - Kingdom of Conspiracy

Into Darkness - Into Darkness

Jizzlobber - Jizzlobber

Kali Yuga - Wrath of Durga

Karonte - Paraíso sin fe

Kashmar - Gnev

Kause 4 Konflikt - No Better Friend - No Worse Enemy

Levania - Parasynthesis

Lycanthia - Oligarchy

Mechanical God Creation - Artifact Of Annihilation

Mesrine / Sposa In Alto Mare - Grinders

Munruthel - Epoch of Aquarius

Nailgun - New World Chaos

Nerocapra - Vox Inferi

Nightbringer - Death and the Black Work

Odium - Beautiful Violence

Oprich / Piarevariacien / Chur - Triunity

Prehistoric Pigs - Wormhole Generator

Risabov - Rise

Scent Of Death - Of Martyrs's Agony and Hate

Shroud Of The Heretic - Boiled to Death

Silent Path - Mourner Portraits

Sirocco - Lambay

Skon - At the End of a Journey

Sodom - Epitome of Torture

Strynn - Decadence

Symptom - Beneath the Ossuary

Synkletos - Spiritual Alchemy

Tenebrous - Opus Magnum

The Devilzwork - Floodlights

The Gates Of Slumber - …The Awakening

Vintage Flesh - The Eyes That Glared at My Agonies

With Burning Contempt - Red Visions

Within Destruction - From the Depths

Band: ALGIDE

Country: France

Title: Mortifere

Label: Cvlminis

Year: 2013

Style: Black Metal

Review:

Young trio formed in 2011, Algide recently released this debut EP on the Russian label Cvlminis, a sub-label of Rigorism Productions. We're treated with 4 tracks of fast Black Metal defined by a good and quite complex guitar work (the leads are making this CD really worth your time), a drum machine that after a while becomes boring and even annoying, good and comprehensive bass lines, and vocals that bring nothing new but are not bad either. If you're into semi-technical Black Metal with a pinch of melody Algide's debut EP might make a good audition, I'm curious how the band will develop their sound in the future.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7/10

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Band: ANGELLORE

Country: France

Title: Errances

Label: WormHoleDeath / DreamCell 11

Year: 2012

Style: Atmospheric Doom Metal

Review:

I find this band's name to be somehow very appealing to Doom Gothic audiences hence a very suitable name for a band in these genres. Angellore come from the southern part of France and this is their first official full-length album made of 7 long tracks totaling almost 50 minutes. their music is most of the time slow paced melancholic and atmospheric Gothic Doom Metal with occasional energetic, more aggressive parts that fit perfectly with the overall concept enhancing the emotions spawned by this release. It's not a release that will shock you with its originality or boldness, but on the other hand it can keep you attention tight from start to finish, its carefully structured, emotional, natural flowing and carries multiple hooklines along the way, passages that can easily stick to your memory for long time especially if you're into this genre. I find the "beauty and the beast" vocal mix (female/male) on "I am the Agony" to be very good for Angellore's type of music, they should think of using it more although Walran has a very versatile vocal timbre and does his job successfully along the way, too. Promising debut.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8/10

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Band: ARATRON

Country: Holland

Title: The Recovery

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2013

Style: Death Metal

Review:

3 years after reviewing their debut demo I have the chance of reviewing yet another Aratron demo, still selfreleased as the first one, and still keeping that old-school flame alive. Fast paced and energetic from the start, this demo lacks a bit of variation but presents a band that will probably hurt your neck on live shows; although there are only 2 members in Aratron it seems they are still playing live gigs and that's to be praised. The riffs are somehow recycled but the combination with an excellent bass line and organic drums is quite successful, I only felt the need of a darker atmosphere during the audition but that shouldn't stop you from giving them a chance especially if you're into uncompromising fast old-school Death Metal.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: /10

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Band: ATRA VETOSUS

Country: Australia

Title: Voices from the Eternal Night

Label: Immortal Frost Productions

Year: 2013

Style: Melodic Black Metal

Review:

I've had my first encounter with Atra Vetosus last year when I reviewed their debut demo but in the meantime they have evolved from a 2 piece project to a full line-up band and that probably means they have started their live career, too. This album is made of 8 tracks totaling 50 minutes of Melodic Black Metal a la Catamenia/Graveworm very well structured, energetic but with a pinch of acoustic elements also, fast paced, atmospheric and catchy. With this debut album the band proves to be a mature and professional act that will start conquering fans of this genre at high pace. The vocal part is awesome, good improvement from the demo days, the guitar leads are enchanting, the rhythm part is solid and heavy, and the keyboards are used mostly to build and maintain the dark atmospheres. Fans of Graveworm or Catamenia will have a good surprise with this band.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9/10

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Band: AZRATH XI

Country: Italy

Title: Ov Tentacles and Spirals

Label: Punishment 18 Records

Year: 2013

Style: Death Black Metal

Review:

I can’t really say if this album is good or band, it is kind of old news. Sometimes keeping it old school is great, but this album just doesn’t stand out at all. You can listen to it as background sound, while having a cup of coffee. Besides this, the fact that they use a lot of well known Behemoth, let’s say trademarks, like "ov”, makes me think even less of the album. There’s nothing more to say about the album, it really is monotonous.

Reviewed by Diana

Rating: 6/10

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Band: AZYLYA

Country: Belgium

Title: Sweet Cerebral Destruction

Label: WormHoleDeath Records

Year: 2013

Style: Gothic Metal

Review:

Debut album from this Belgian Gothic Metal band, Sweet Cerebral Destruction is made of 10 tracks totaling almost 50 minutes of Gothic Metal. This one seems to be a concept album based on the story of a little schizophrenic girl abused by his father, quite a shocking topic for such a melodic band... Music wise Azylya are great when switching from emotional and calm parts to some more energetic and heavy moments, the female vocalist, Jamie-Lee Smit, has an awesome, warm tone that contrasts with the raw, growling vocals of Yohann, a guest musician that's also taking care of some guitar parts on this album. unfortunately I find Yohann's vocals as a bit forced and unnatural even if they are growls, but the contrast with Jamie-Lee's is successful. The instrumental part is very metallic and powerful building up the tension and the support of keyboard backgrounds is also an important factor in creating this storytale, you can almost feel the schizophrenic thoughts of that little girl. To sum it up this is a very good debut album that will surely bring Azylya in the frontlines of European Gothic Metal.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9/10

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Band: BANE

Country: Serbia

Title: The Acausal Fire

Label: Abyss Records

Year: 2012

Style: Black Death Metal

Review:

Second and possibly last album from this very good Serbian band, a revelation of the 2010's in European Black Death Metal; maybe last album because the leader, Branislav, relocated to Canada last year and the future of Bane is uncertain. "The Acausal Fire" confirms what their debut, "Chaos, Darkness & Emptiness", promised: a very tight band made of extremely talented musicians taking their time to create memorable, full of melody and dark atmospheres Black Death Metal. Except for the awful snare drums' sound everything is perfect on this new opus, and this may probably be one of the most menacing, offensive and at the same time melodic Extreme Metal album of 2012. As the tracks flow you're discovering more and more interesting and mind-blowing elements that will keep your attention tight till the end. the best thing about Bane is their versatility and courage to add multiple melodic elements and at the same time their ability to keep things energetic and aggressive. Thumbs up, excellent album!

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9/10

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Band: CARDIAC NECROPSY

Country: Singapore

Title: Shayateen

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2012

Style: Death Grind

Review:

I'm glad to have the chance of listening/reviewing this hard-working and very respected band from Singapore and now I can also see why they are so respected, this new (second) album is selfreleased in a very professional digipack format so that means they are really honest and they believe in what they do. 11 tracks, 30 minutes of playing insanely fast and technical / complex Death Grind with literally every elements you'd expect from such a band and album: insane speed mixed with dark, heavy rhythms, blastbeats all over, overflowing technical skills, brutal but still comprehensive vocals, sick rhythm changes, memorable guitar solos, or to sum it up very intelligent brutality. Fantastic Death Grind album, make sure you don't miss it!

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9.5/10

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Band: CHAOS CREATION / WARNAMENT

Country: Finland / Macedonia

Title: Arrows of Agony

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2009

Style: Thrash Metal / Thrash Metal

Review:

An old release again, so old that in fact I'm not sure if one of these bands is still active, the opening band, Chaos Creation. This is the latest release by Chaos Creation and since then only silence. The Finns are presenting here 3 tracks of pure and fast Thrash Metal, catchy and well structured, perfect for headbanging, with good recordings quality. Old-school but not rusty, not innovative but very energetinc and engaging, I have enjoyed their side of this CD very much. Warnament are an old acquaintance of ours featuring here 3 tracks that were later featured on their debut album too, one of them being live recorded during a gig. As mentioned in my review of their album, the tracks are a bit too generic and without an own path, and also the sound should have been a bit more powerful; I like their guitar leads and solos though. So this is a meeting between a traditional Thrash Metal band from Finland and an old school Thrash Metal band from Macedonia. 

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7.5/10  6/10

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Band: DARK SALVATION

Country: Liechtenstein

Title: Der letzte Weg

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2013

Style: Melodic Death Metal

Review:

This must be the first band from Liechtenstein I get to listen and review, for sure. For a country with less then 50.000 population having a couple of Metal bands is awesome, and it's nice to meet one of those bands and finding out they are actually very professional and dedicated. The band has been around since 2008 and in the meantime they have released a DVD and a full-length CD, "Der letzte Weg" being their second official full-length. The album is made of 11 tracks totaling almost 50 minutes of Melodic Death Metal. Although the sound is not as think as it should have been, the music, especially the melodic guitar leads and solos, is quite entertaining and energetic to keep your attention alive. The drums are a bit too synthetic, the riffs are quite generic and the vocals are not the versatile but as said before the guitar leads and solos are making this band an interesting find. The cover artwork and format (nice digipack) recommend this album as a good buy especially if you want to own a CD from a country that doesn't produce that much, of course.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7/10

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Band: DARKEST GROVE

Country: USA

Title: Coming of 2012

Label: Forever Plagued Records

Year: 2012

Style: Black Metal

Review:

I find this album title at least uninspired especially because I got in in 2013; I can compare this feeling with watching an old Sci-Fi movie where people are already travelling with flying cars let's say in the '90's. Anyway, this is darkest Grove's second album after a 6 years period of silence since their debut. Totaling more than 1 hour of playing this album is made of 8 tracks + outro; fast, aggressive and quite entertaining piece of music with good guitar riffs, leads and even solos, desperate vocals, old-school Norwegian like rhythm section (well most of the riffs are like that also) and above all a dark, successfully crafted atmosphere. Surprisingly good release, recommended!

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8/10

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Band: DEAD MOUNTAIN MOUTH

Country: France

Title: Crystalline

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2012

Style: Aventgarde Extreme Metal

Review:

Shit, this is a one man band? I would have never guessed it... It sounds so complex and expansive and at the same time so tight and curdled that it's a real wonder this music is composed and sung by only one person. "Crystalline" is DMM's third opus, a 7 tracks effort that lasts for an hour of avantgarde, atmospheric, melodic but also brutal, dreamy and intense, combination of Extreme Metal with Psychedelic Sludge. After the first track I really thought this will bore me to death, but the album develops and grows into a superb piece of technical yet emotional music. I don't know what else to say other than deeply recommend you this fascinating album.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9.5/10

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Band: DEATH RIDES A HORSE

Country: Denmark

Title: Tree of Woe

Label: Inferno Records

Year: 2013

Style: Heavy Stoner Doom Metal

Review:

Female fronted Danish band Death Rides A Horse recently inked a deal with French Heavy Metal defenders Inferno Records and their first offspring is this debut album that is actually a collection of two previously released EPs, "Pantokrator" from 2010 and "Tree of Woe" from 2012, plus a bonus track. DRAH's music is a combination of old-school Heavy Metal with Doom Metal and some Stoner riffs thrown on top of this. Pretty exciting for an old-school follower, just think of the '70's and the '80's Metal combined with the nowadays power of Stoner Metal, all lead by a good female vocalist so that the end result is not too dusty but not too fresh either, it's just in the middle. The start is promising although there are some parts where the whole becomes a bit dry and seems to lack direction and in my opinion they should add more of those Heavy Metal riffs and solos like the ones from the first track, that would really spice things up more.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7/10

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Band: DEATHSTORM

Country: Austria

Title: As Death Awakes

Label: I Hate Records

Year: 2013

Style: Thrash Metal

Review:

Are you sure we're in the year 2013? Maybe we are but Deathstorm are certainly not aware of that. This debut album presents us a raging Thrash Metal sung in the purest '80's way. If you're not into the '80's Speed Metal infused Thrash Metal you better skip this band, but if you're a fan of those times Deathstorm might be the perfect discovery for your next violent, alcohoolic party. The riffs, although sounding recycled (early Metallica & Kreator), are very catchy, memorable and entertaining, the sound is raw, unpolished to perfectly fit this music like a glove, the rhythm section is fast and raging all the time leaving no moments for catching your breath, and the demented (almost) comprehensive vocals kick ass. This is such an awesome release for old-school fanatics out there that I can't recommending it enough, I loved it from start to finish, it brings nothing new or innovative to the scene, but hey, this is pure fucking metal and that works just enough for me. Sick, sick, sick!

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 10/10

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Band: DIABULA RASA

Country: Italy

Title: Ars Medioheavy

Label: Moonlight Records

Year: 2013

Style: Folk Metal

Review:

My first encounter with this Italian band that was formed back in 1999 and released 3 full-length albums so far, including this one. This is a totally different kind of Folk Metal than what I was used to, and I still don't know how to describe it properly. It's an entertaining combination of medieval melodies with modern Metal and '70's (Doom) Rock and Hard'n'Heavy music with Latin (yes, very nice addition) lyrics, enchanting female vocals, supporting male vocals, simple but effective guitar riffs and catchy rhythm section, plus some epic atmospheres thrown in at the right time. This band would fit perfectly to any medieval festival and would make the delight to both traditional and more modern-minded participants. If you pass over the quite weak and uninspired beginning of this disc it will grow on you, and grow, and grow...

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9/10

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Band: DIGRESSION ASSASSINS

Country: Sweden

Title: Heavy Waters

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2013

Style: Progressive Metal

Review:

As a new band coming out of Sweden, Digression Assassins is definitely a huge hit on the scene. I would describe their music in short as Progressive Metal, an intricated, extremely complex and polyphonic mixture of basically everything you can imagine at the thin border between Rock and Metal, even Hardcore. Mesmerizing most of the times, sometimes aggressive, even violent, technical and intriguing, the 4 tracks presented on "Heavy Waters" are as close to perfection as it gets, and if I mention the production of Tom van Heesch (Rammstein) you'll know we're talking about a band with high aims. Recommended to all of you open to innovation.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9.5/10

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Band: DO SKONU

Country: Ukraine

Title: Womb of Primeval Darkness

Label: orever Plagued Records

Year: 2011

Style: Black Metal

Review:

Black Metal from Ukraine... I've immediately thought of a one man band and I wasn't wrong too much, Do Skonu is a duo with one guy handling the drums and the other all other instruments and vocals. This is their first full-lenght but in the meantime they have released a second one and a new EP this year so I'm not sure what I've listened on Womb of Primeval Darkness still copes with the band's actual style. Their music is actually very good, a successful combination of Norwegian type of Black Metal (with clever guitar riffs) with a more bestial type of Black Metal revealed by the raw but still clear and comprehensive sound and by the fierceful, menacing vocals. There is nothing new inhere but the music is well crafted, catchy and creates a gloomy, foggy, threatening atmosphere perfect for all die-hard Black Metallers out there. Much, much better then I have expected, a new CD to add to my heavy rotation.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8.5/10

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Band: FINAL DAWN

Country: Finland

Title: The Crown Of The Dead Eyes

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2012

Style: Melodic Death Metal

Review:

Final Dawn appears to be a true Underground band, they are taking things slowly, carefully and most important they keep things fresh meaning they keep releasing demos and EPs once in a while and that keeps the band active in front of their fans. That's the way to go in case you cannot find a suitable label to release your efforts. Their music is a combination of Melodic Death Metal with Black Death Metal, mostly mid-paced and that could bore some listeners, but it's quite catchy nonetheless, with an Epic Metal flavour to it. The sound is clear enough to get no complaints from listeners, the bass lines are very upfront, the vocals are ok altough they could have been a bit more versatile, the guitar riffs and especially the leads are catchy and bring all that epic flavour I was talking about earlier, and regarding the drums I have nothing to complain about either. One thing I really hate about this EP, the pronounciation of "shadows" on the "House of Shadows", always with an "s" instead of an "sh", "sadows" instead of "shadows", and the vocalist says this word so much it becomes really annoying.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7.5/10

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Band: GRIEF OF EMERALD

Country: Sweden

Title: It All Turns to Ashes

Label: Non Serviam Records

Year: 2012

Style: Symphonic Black Death Metal

Review:

Grief Of Emerald is a veteran of the Swedish Extreme Metal scene, but since they started releasing stuff only at the end of the '90's they are not considered among the influential ones. Still they made a solid name in the scene by keeping kind of a similar direction among the years, and this latest opus displays a solid and mature combo, one that knows how to create their own path. I've seen comparisons with Dimmu Borgir or Dark Funeral, but I really think Grief Of Emeral have their own style and attitude. Their combination of extreme Black Death brutality and intensity with atmospheric and melodic keyboards and guitar leads is simply brilliant. You can feel their passion, and devotion to this music, you can feel they are genuine but that's also due to their technical skills, there's no boring track on this album, there are no dead moments, you'll find yourself intrigued more and more as "It All Turns to Ashes" progresses and you'll eagerly wait for a new track to begin while devouring the current one. A really great Extreme Metal release from a band that deserves more attention!

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 10/10

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Band: HULDRE

Country: Denmark

Title: Intet Menneskebarn

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2012

Style: Folk Metal

Review:

It's fun looking at the booklet pictures of these guys and girls in Huldre naked (no worries, they are blurred enough so we can't see any goodies) in the woods expressing such a close relation to the earth, a perfect look for a Folk Metal band, then thinking of the new pics of bands like Eluveitie, Korpiklaani, or Finntroll after they got Worldwide attention, with their rich suits having nothing in common with the Folk image. Will this happen to Huldre? Because they will get big, no doubts about that... This debut album is very well structured, complex, organic sounding, catchy and interesting that it's impossible to think they won't get signed for a followup opus pretty soon. Nanna, the band's vocalist is absolutely mesmerizing, it feels like she's playing in the woods while singing traditional songs with operatic influences, but this doesn't steal the other instrumentists' merits, they manage to perfectly blend traditional tunes with Metal sounding balanced, not too heavy but not too mellow, too. Of course there are many traditional instruments thrown in the pot, and except some guitar riffs I find to be too simplistic (maybe it was by choice), everyone does their job diligently. Here's a Folk Metal band we'll hear only good things about in the future so don't miss this debut selfreleased effort.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9/10

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Band: IMMOLATION

Country: USA

Title: Kingdom of Conspiracy 

Label: Nuclear Blast

Year: 2013

Style: Death Metal

Review:

This stuff is Immolation, little boring Immolation, without any surprises. Gun machine drums, some guitar solos typical for american death metal, typical growl, a lot of death metal albums its sounds like this. „Kingdom of Conspiracy” is not bad album, but... Too typical, too similar tracks, too boring. Monolith, but not just monolith, rather: only monolith. American death metal without any else. If I would like to listen to Immolation again, I’ll take sth older. This album doesn’t kick ass.

Reviewed by Vilcin

Rating: 7/10

Band: IMMORTAL EMPIRE

Country: UK

Title: Immortal Reign

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2013

Style: Black Metal

Review:

The new EP from Immortal Empire reveals a more theatrical approach on Black Metal, the atmosphere is getting more horrifying mostly because of the keyboards lines, and also there's a bit more space for guitar leads and solos, but except that the band kept its style, too bad it also kept that unpolished sound as well. The vocal part is very good, the drums sound a bit more natural (although still insanely fast), and the overall impression is promising, this band can develop into an ugly behemoth, but they need better recordings, better mix and mastering to get in line with the big names of this genre; the talent is there.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7.5/10

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Band: IMMORTAL EMPIRE

Country: UK

Title: Within the Sign of a Bestial Moon

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2012

Style: Black Metal

Review:

I've heard this band before on a Black Metal compilation and at that time I was not impressed at all by their synthetic sound, but it seems on this new release the sound is a bit better even though the drums still sound unnatural. This is actually a compilation of 5 treacks previously released on other demos, now re-recorded. The sound is raw and unpolished and it makes it a bit hard to enjoy the music, but the compositions are good enough not to leave space for boring moments, and although they are long (4-6 minutes each), they are pretty entertaining and not monotonous. I liked the bass lines, the dark and melodic guitar leads and the vocals are good as well, so I'd recommend it if you're into raw melodic underground Black Metal.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 7/10

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Band: INTO DARKNESS

Country: Italy

Title: Into Darkness

Label: Hellthrasher Productions

Year: 2012

Style: Doom Death Metal

Review:

Suuuch a cool black / white cover artwork that if you're into old-school Death Metal you'll buy this demo only looking at it. Into Darkness if a female fronted Doomy Death Metal band from Italy that to me sounds like a successful combination of Asphyx with Master and old Paradise Lost ranging from slow, tormenting rhythms to fast, bestial attacks, and from simple, almost monotonous parts to some intricate but still old-school and primitive compositions. 4 tracks that will certainly bring this band's name up there in the nowadays revival of old-school sounding troops. I for one really love this demo, the spot on guitar leads, the puking like female vocals, the raw but comprehensive sound and the whole cryptic atmospheres they manage to create. Another hit by Hellthrasher.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9/10

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Band: JIZZLOBBER

Country: France

Title: Jizzlobber

Label: Super Strong 

Year: 2012

Style: Sludge Metal

Review:

Wow, this is much more brutal than I thought it would be, the debut EP from French Jizzlobber attacks the listener with its crushing, heavy as fuck, hammering Sludge Metal with a fair share of Stoner influences. Although I'm not a fan of those high-pitched vocals used on the opening track, Pat (voc.) displays his versatile approach starting from the second track where oddly enough he reminds me of Mike Patton (Faith No More) maybe combined with a bit of Phil Anselmo's energy... The riffs are fat as an elephant, punishing to the bone, the leads are occasionally mesmerizing, the bass lines are fantastic, the drums are perfect, what else can I add? I was honestly not expecting this CD to have such a strong impression on me. They have all required elements to be the next big thing hailing out of France.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9.5/10

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Band: KALI YUGA

Country: Germany

Title: Wrath of Durga

Label: G.U.C.

Year: 2012

Style: Melodic Death Metal

Review:

The second full-length by Kali Yuga offers us 10 tracks of Melodic Death Metal heavily influenced by the Scandinavian scene especially by Amon Amarth, In Flames and even At The Gates. Their instrumental skills are good enough to offer us some nice and catchy melodies (awesome guitar leads and solos) mixed with powerful and aggressive Metallic riffs. The vocals are very good as well, comprehensive but at the same time heavy and forceful perfectly complementing a carefully structured instrumental part. The only thing I really hate is the drums sound, synthetic as hell (of course they must be programmed...) ruining it all for me, but if you think you can cope with drum-machine you should really give this band a chance, with the right push they can become the next big thing in Melodic Death Metal. They came up with a complex yet curdled album completed with multiple memorable parts to sing in your mind hours after the audition, and that's not easy nowadays. As a conclusion I love their music, hate their drum-machine.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8/10

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Band: KARONTE

Country: Spain

Title: Paraíso sin fe

Label: Selfreleased

Year: 2012

Style: Melodic Death Metal

Review:

Holy crap, this is an almost 20 years old band! Karonte was founded in 1994 but unfortunately only managed to release 2 full-length albums so far, this one and their debut back in 2006, so we're dealing here with a not so productive outfit... Anyway, "Paraiso sin fe" is an 8 tracks effort lasting for almost 40 minutes of low-tuned traditional Death Metal with very food Melodic insertions in form of delicious guitar solos and leads, something we're not so used to anymore unfortunately. I'd say it's a combination of Swedish with Dutch Death Metal, mid-tempo, heavy as fuck, mostly simple structured but with some progressive oriented parts as well, perfect for the ones of you in search for traditional Death Metal lead by solidguitar riffs and Heavy Metal - like guitar solos. definitely not a pretentious release but one that might make it in your monthly best of tops.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8/10

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Band: KASHMAR

Country: Finland

Title: Gnev

Label: VR Label

Year: 2013

Style: Stoner Hardcore Metal

Review:

Although on their FB page Kashmar wrote they are bad musicians I think that's unnecessary auto irony, this debut album "Gnav" is proof they are not debutant musicians. "Gnav" is a mix of Stoner Metal with groovy, emotional Hardcore ranging from mid-tempo to fast rhythms with a slight hint of Grindcore; two vocalists that are screaming and growling all over the place, melodic guitar leads buit on top of an energetic rhythm section, catchy tunes and above all a tight, mature music that may please both bans of newer kind of Metal and Post-Metal and fans of old-school Hardcore. Definitely not a boring album and despite the fact I pretty much hate such screams the mastering on this album made them quite enjoyable and well blended with the instrumental part.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 8/10

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Band: KAUSE 4 KONFLIKT

Country: France

Title: No Better Friend - No Worse Enemy

Label: Built to Rock

Year: 2013

Style: Offensive WarCore

Review:

WarCore? What's this? To be honest I was pretty much curious as I enjoy a fair share of brutal Hardcore now and then and I was hoping the Core thing comes from Hardcore and not from the modern Metalcore. Luckily for me I was right, Kause 4 Konflikt plays an extremely brutal, brawl-friendly, hell-rising type of uncompromising Hardcore they chose to name WarCore. When you think of war think of the city wars between gangs then imagine what would be the perfect soundtrack for such wars and you'll be close to K4K. If this is how Hardcore sounds nowadays I should really get more of it on my daily playlists. K4K's debut album is an awesome combination of US brutal Hardcore a la Madball and aggressive Thrash (Death) Metal a la Sepultura/Slayer, spiced by some of these modern riffs used today especially in Brutal Death: angry as hell, groovy, energetic, technical, fresh, memorable, an exceptionally entertaining release. Take my advice and don't listen to it while drunk, in public, you'll fuckin' start to fight anyone around you, friend or foe! I'm sure there's no K4K gig without bloodbaths...

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9/10

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Band: LEVANIA

Country: Italy

Title: Parasynthesis

Label: WormHoleDeath Records

Year: 2012

Style: Gothic Metal

Review:

If there's such a term as Old-School Gothic Metal than Levania is a part of this genre. This debut album reminded me of the Gothic Metal used to be done at the end of the '90's and to be honest such keyboard tones could seem childish Today. When used as background supports the keyboards are really good creating a melancholic atmosphere, but when they get a bit in front and try to stand out with their own thing it becomes amateurish at least to me. The female vocals are awesome and when they get backed up by male growls they remind me of the first Liv Kristine collaborations with Theatre of Tragedy; Raven, the guitarist, is mediocre on creating riffs, but he very good when it comes to leads and solos, and actually his work might be the backbone of this band. Ligeia's vocals, as previously said, are beautiful, but she has a few moments where she's simply boring by following the instrumental lines rather than adding her own touch on music, luckily there are not many such moments. There's also a slight touch of Medieval inspired rhythms that might give the band originality in the future, but on this album they are not convincing.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 6/10

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Band: LYCANTHIA

Country: Australia

Title: Oligarchy

Label: Hypnotic Dirge Records

Year: 2013

Style: Gothic Doom Death Metal

Review:

We're already used with Hypnotic Dirge offering us quality stuff, isn't it? Well Lycanthia isn't any exception from the rule, but they are walking different paths than previously shown by HDR. Although still melancholic like the rest Lycanthia's music is a combination of Gothic, Doom and Death Metal with beauty and the best type of vocals, keyboards and violin all over the place. These guys are around since 1996 and it seems they are one of the oldest Doom Metal bands in Australia displaying a definite maturity on this second full-length album. The female vocals are awesome, there are two female vocalists (taking care of keyboards and violin too), I don't know who's the main one but she has such an enchanting voice I'd listen to this band's music only to let myself carried away by her trills. The arrangements are well thought and the violin as the main and upfront instrument plays a huge role in shaping the melancholic atmospheres that reminded me of Sins Of Thy Beloved and a bit of Theatre Of Tragedy. Of course this wouldn't have had that impact without the heavy, oppressive, doomy structures built by the rest of the instrumentists and the rough, desperate vocals of Lee Tassaker, the male vocalist of Lycanthia. The production is top notch, mastering being taken care of by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Katatonia, Soilwork, Amon Amarth), so there's no reason why I wouldn't recommend this for fans of My Dying Bride, Sins Of thy Beloved, Theatre Of Tragedy, Draconian or Tristania. Very good record.

Reviewed by Adrian

Rating: 9/10

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