A Tempered Heart - Loneliness and Mournful Lights
AK-11 - Once upon a Time in Europa
Anihilated - iDeviant
Apokefale - Tempus Est Nihil
Asa-Noir - Fall of the Idols
Basilisk - End of Catastrophe
Bleeding Utopia - Darkest Potency
Clouds Taste Satanic - To Sleep Beyond the Earth
Cruelty's Heart / Frostwork - Beyond Bloodied Banners Far and Haunted Winters Graven
Crypt of Silence - Beyond Shades
Damokis - Grinding Mother Whore
Dead Samaritan - The Devil Tunes
Desecration - Cemetery Sickness
Disgrace and Terror - The Final Sentence
Drift of Genes - Perverted Memories
Expose Your Hate - Indoctrination of Hate
Exult - Edge
Eyes of Verona - Ex-Voto
From the Vastland - Temple of Daevas
Grai - Mlada
Horn of the Rhino - Summoning Deliverance
Inflikted - Inflikted
Insight After Doomsday - The Way to Nihilism
Iter Pactum - Ritual
Killchain - Where Is Your Saviour
Luna - Ashes to Ashes
Nemost - As the Ocean Burns
Oltretomba - The Death - Schierati con la morte
Predatory Violence - Marked for Death
Raggradarh - Oris
Rainover - Transcending the Blue and Drifting into Rebirth
Raventale - Memoires
Running Death - The Call of Extinction
Stormnatt - Omega Therion
Svartstorm - Scars Instead of Wings
Tetrarchate - Symposium of the Tetrarchs
The Kendolls - Diablo Gringo
Vindorn - Hrana
Virus - A New Strain of an Old Disease
Winter Deluge - As the Earth Fades into Obscurity
Band: A TEMPERED HEART
Country: Spain
Title: Loneliness and Mournful Lights
Label: Art Gates Records
Year: 2014
Style: Gothic Metal
Review:
This quartet from Barcelona is around since 2006 and this is their second full-length album to date, a 12 tracks effort totaling 50 minutes of Gothic Metal. Based mainly on clean male vocals to be the leading element of their music, A Tempered Heart also add a growling backing vocal from time to time and that emphasizes the emotions they try to transmit, so kudos for this choice, but also for the choice of doubling the main vocals, the same band member taking care of all these elements (so of course on live gigs it's another story). Regarding the instrumental part we're dealing with a traditional melodic Gothic Metal, a mix of UK and Finnish influences, with very good melodic guitar leads, powerful riffs, precise rhythm section, and heavy use of keyboards both as leading instrument and in the backgrounds, too. It's an easy listening album, quite classy I'd say, but it's still nothing to be on top of this genre, an album that if you're into this kind of music you'll enjoy for sure, but it won't make a change on the scene. I'd also say it may have an advantage nowadays, at least more than if released a decade ago when we were overwhelmed by such bands, now Gothic Metal seems a more aired scene.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10
Contact:
www.reverbnation.com/atemperedheart
www.artgatesrecords.com
Band: AK-11
Country: Australia
Title: Once upon a Time in Europa
Label: Self-released
Year: 2014
Style: Black Metal
Review:
Most probably this band is made of Russian natives, or at least one of them, the lyricist is, since the lyrics of their debut album are, from what I can understand, completely in Russian language. Also the album title is a clear reference to Europe and it's troubled past. Anyway, AK-11 is a trio formed in Melbourne in 2011, a group that seems to follow the path opened by the second wave of Black Metal bands, especially by the Swedish bands. Fast and aggressive rhythms spiced by good technical and even somehow melodic guitar leads, ferocious vocal lines, incisive bass lines, and an overall cold and piercing atmosphere, that's what you should expect from this band, and especially from these 10 tracks listed inhere. Although it's not a ground-breaking release, this is damn well composed and executed, and I'd say fans of Marduk will enjoy it a lot. I can't help not noticing the excellent cover artwork by Joachim Luetke who previously worked for bands like Dimmu Borgir, Rage, Kreator, Arch Enemy, and also the proof of professionalism and determination from the band while deciding to hire Alan Douches for mastering the material. Impressive.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10
Contact:
www.facebook.com/AK11band
Band: ANIHILATED
Country: UK
Title: iDeviant
Label: Killer Metal Records
Year: 2013
Style: Thrash Metal
Review:
Ipswich based Anihilated were formed back in 1981 (!!!) and functioned until 1990 when something made them stop their activity only to reunite in 2008 and since then they are storming the Thrash Metal scene. This is their 4th album to date, an 11 tracks effort clocking 46 minutes, and I was certainly not expecting such a brutal, wicked and unrelenting piece of music. Yes, it's old-school to the bone, but it's crafted from that substance that only gets better in time, so their fast-paced, highly catchy and entertaining Thrash Metal is something to look up to. The vocalist sounds like a mixture of Mille Petrozza and Tom Araya, the guitarists are simple but at the same time complex and extremely varied (amazing!) and manage to deliver memorable tunes, and the rhythm section is as tight and powerful as possible, the drummer even adventures into Death Metal territories at times, and the bass lines are so heavy you'll be able to follow them without problems for the whole time if you want. Adding a ballad-like track, although some may say it's an outdated practice, is such a classy move from them. This masterpiece was released in 2013 but as far as I know this quartet of maniacs are already working on their fifth opus, if you're not familiar with their music yet make sure to take your time and at least spin a few tracks on YouTube to make your mind. Also make sure you pay a bit of attention to their lyrics' strong message.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9.5/10
Contact:
www.anihilated.com
www.killermetalrecords.de
Band: APOKEFALE
Country: Russia
Title: Tempus Est Nihil
Label: Goat Curse Diaboli / Tribulation / Infinite Fog / Domestic Genocide
Year: 2014
Style: Black Death Metal
Review:
Amazing release! Probably this is the first Triple Digipack CD (!!!) release I review; it looks so classy I would buy it even without knowing the band: it's a digipack with cardboard covers and glossy booklet included too, not to forget the awesome graphic work. I think this band found the perfect way to celebrate their more than a decade long activity so far, this release features all three albums of Apokefale, plus some bonus material made of tracks never recorded or never released before. It's also an excellent way to see their evolution, and my conclusion on their music is: they are continuously searching to improve and modernize their sound but still keeping their Black and Death Metal influences high. The band's music has a lot of groove and it's pretty complex so that labelling it strictly Black Death Metal would be incomplete, they are gathering and delivering influences from a vast area of Metal. These guys are certainly doing exactly what they like, I don't think they are following any trends, so their music is not particularly catchy, but very interesting and would fit well in your collection if you're looking for progressive and/or strange things. If you have a chance to buy this album don't miss it, this band deserves more attention and this release is defilitely a collectors' item!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: -/10
Contact:
www.vk.com/apokefaleband
Band: ASA-NOIR
Country: Finland
Title: Fall of the Idols
Label: WormHoleDeath Records
Year: 2014
Style: Symphonic Melodic Death Metal
Review:
10 years after their foundation Asa-Noir are attacking the Metal scene with their debut album out on WormHoleDeath, an album that impresses through professionalism and clear ideas, these guys know exactly what they want to accomplish and where they want to reach, and this album is the first step in this endeavor. This debut album reminded me of Romanian Interitus Dei, a lot, to me this music is close to a more (much more) symphonic Interitus Dei. This is a Symphonic Melodic Death Metal with excellent atmospheric keyboards creating an enchanting background, interesting and very catchy guitar work, comprehensive vocals, powerful rhythm section, and a very entertaining overall atmosphere creating a real fairytale for the listener to jump in. The third track, The Cosmogenic Process, or at least its beginning reminds me of some other track I've heard before, but I can't remember which one or at least which band, it's such a frustrating feeling... Anyway, I have enjoyed this debut album a lot and I'm sure it will bring the band to new heights in this over-crowded scene, I'd like to see them succeed.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10
Contact:
www.asanoir.com
www.wormholedeath.com
Band: BASILISK
Country: Japan
Title: End of Catastrophe
Label: Weird Truth Productions
Year: 2013
Style: Black Death Metal
Review:
I remember this band from their debut demo back in the end of the '90's, I have reviewed their demo back then in some magazine, but unfortunately I don't remember how they used to sound like. This is their debut album released after more than 15 years of activity, 15 years sprinkled with lots of line-up changes, probably the main cause of this lack of activity on discographic level. This is a 10 tracks effort clocking 45 minutes of Black Thrash Death Metal highlighted by hoarse but comprehensive vocal singing in Japanese, by an intense rhythm section with some highly impressive bass lines, technical and at times melodic guitar work supported by atmospheric keyboard backgrounds from time to time, but the production is not as professional as this alboum would have deserved. It sounds different that what we're used to here in Europe, it's quite original, and that's why I would recommend you to give it a try, you might enjoy it a lot or on the contrary, hate it.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10
Contact:
www14.ocn.ne.jp/~basilisk
www.weirdtruth.jp
Band: BLEEDING UTOPIA
Country: Sweden
Title: Darkest Potency
Label: Bleeding Music Records
Year: 2014
Style: Melodic Death Metal
Review:
Not sure why they decided to continue on their own (assuming Bleeding Music is their own label though), but Bleeding Utopia certainly didn't lower their standards, and I'd say this new album is more mature and solid than their previous work. Darkest Potency is made of 9 tracks totaling 41 minutes of Melodic Death Metal in the best Swedish tradition, with excellent production, catchy choruses all over, solid rhythm section, melodic guitar leads and powerful riffs, heavy and hoarse but at the same time comprehensive growls, this is a very good album that will hopefully get the exposure and respect it deserves. The band is now a trio made of David, the vocalist, and Andreas and Joakim, the two guitarists, but they have guests on drums and bass on this material, speaking for myself I felt this album is missing nothing at all, it's as good as it gets in this genre, the only problem is that almost all has been already said in it and Bleeding Utopia are bringing nothing new to the table, not their fault. If you're into Melodic Death Metal make sure you don't miss this release!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10
Contact:
www.bleedingutopia.com
Band: CLOUDS TASTE SATANIC
Country: USA
Title: To Sleep Beyond the Earth
Label: Self-released
Year: 2014
Style: Doom Metal
Review:
It's not everyday I come across an instrumental band, and that's exactly what CTS is, a quartet deciding to strike the Metal scene without a lead vocal, or better said without any vocals at all. For a genre like Doom Metal that doesn't offer so many variables to choose from anyway, departing without a vocal seems to be a bold move, but after spinning this disc for a few times already I'd say it's a good one. The album is made of 2 long tracks (each one clocking more than 20 minutes) of quite simple, repetitive, hypnotic traditional Doom Metal without too much extra souce on the sides, this is how this genre was programmed back in its days, and kudos for these guys for choosing to deliver such a pure Doom record, I'm sure fanatics will love it, but speaking for myself I kind of missed a few more extra touches like the church bells in order to aggravate the overall atmosphere, I missed the evil, Satanic feeling in their music. Since it's a debut album I'd say it's a good start and promising for the future so feel free to give them a listen when you have a chance.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10
Contact:
www.facebook.com/CloudsTasteSatanic
Band: CRUELTY'S HEART / FROSTWORK
Country: International / UK
Title: Beyond Bloodied Banners Far and Haunted Winters Graven
Label: UKEM Records
Year: 2014
Style: Pagan Black Metal / Epic Black Metal
Review:
Chris Newby is doing a very good job with his UKEM Records, a label devoted to bring out the best of nowadays British Underground Extreme Metal, and so far so good, he managed to release some cool stuff, don't hesitate to check his catalogue.
This split opens with the Danish/British quartet Cruelty's Heart, and this is the first time I hear about them although they are around since 2009 and have a full-length album released in 2012. Their music is a technical, very well produced Black Metal with Pagan orientation, catchy and well executed; fast, pounding drums, incisive bass lines, impressive guitar work on riffs, leads and solos, piercing vocals and an overall entertaining atmosphere, so we're not dealing with a straight-forward Black Metal band, they have more diversity and they seem to be determined to put atmosphere on the first place.
Next is a one man band from UK lead by Dagon. Again an act that has released a full-length album in 2012, and this split is the followup, Frostwork's side of this split being made of 8 titles into mid-tempo to fast paced Black Metal made by quite repetitive guitar riffs, cold and desperate shrieks, synthetic but not so annoying drum machine and not impressive bass lines. The impressive part starts with the 5th track, an instrumental acoustic tracks that's the perfect soundscape for the split's cover artwork, a track highlighted also by a fierce, viking-like voice and lots of dark whispers; then the following track is one of the coldest I've heard this year, that guitar riff is simply freezing cold and damn catchy. Than more acoustic work, and more freezing cold riffs with a distinctive epic atmosphere; I have to admit that after a few spins I liked it a lot, even if I'm not fully convinced by that drum-machine.
Good split, good bands, recommended.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10 8/10
Contact:
www.facebook.com/CrueltysHeart
www.facebook.com/frostworkofficial
www.ukemrecords.co.uk
Band: CRYPT OF SILENCE
Country: Ukraine
Title: Beyond Shades
Label: Solitude Productions
Year: 2014
Style: Doom Death Metal
Review:This is the debut album from a band that seems more into the '90's type of Doom Death rather than the nowadays polished type. Beyond Shades offers only 4 tracks, but their total playing time is 50 minutes, so none of the featured titles clocks less than 11 minutes, pretty unsurprising for this genre. The label, and I guess the band too, take pride in the band's refusal to use keyboards or other effects in order to increase the atmosphere, and that's fine with me, but the problem is the sound on this release is too raw and unpolished in order to be something to stand out from the crowd of similar bands; ok, the album offers some pretty rad and catchy guitar leads and solos, but that's about it, the rest is quite mediocre and at least for me it failed to capture the attention for a complete track although I'm already at the third complete audition. Fans of old-school, organic Doom Death Metal (slow, sorrowful, oppressing, lead by guttural vocals) might enjoy this.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6/10
Contact:
www.facebook.com/CryptOfSilence
www.solitude-prod.com
Band: DAMOKIS
Country: Malaysia
Title: Grinding Mother Whore
Label: Grundar Production
Year: 2012
Style: Brutal Death Grind
Review:
Although the band was founded almost 20 years ago, they managed to release their debut album, this one I'm reviewing here, only in 2012. This 17 tracks full-length lasting for half an hour, crowns the band's career so far, and judging solely by their music I'd say they preferred playing live than recording stuff. Their music doesn't sound like the most polished around, and it seems to be recorded in a who-gives-a-shit mode meaning the quality is quite low and unpretentious, but in the end I guess fans of this genre aren't necessarily looking for good quality recordings but to brutality and shock factor. Unfortunately apart some fast and brutal parts I have expected much more brutality from a release with such an offensive cover, and instead I got something that sounds like a Punk Hardcore band is trying to go Death Grind, the result is disapointing, there's simply not enough power and brutality for this to be a successful album. On the other hand this is much more diverse and compelx than most similar releases it's not full speed and chaos, it has its dark moments also, and the movie intros are a good element in adding more diversity. All in all not an album I would recommend someone who wants to get into this genre.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 5/10
Contact:
www.facebook.com/jbgrinder
www.grundar.com
Band: DEAD SAMARITAN
Country: Finland
Title: The Devil Tunes
Label: Self-released
Year: 2014
Style: Thrash Death Metal
Review:
After a debut album out on Casket Music in 2012, the Finns from Dead Samaritan decided to go ahead by themselves and release the followup on their own efforts. The band was founded back in 2001 and I'm still surprised they are so little known keeping in mind they have a female vocalist and usually female fronted bands have much more success than "normal" bands. I guess it was only bad luck and a poor discography, but it seems they have finally decided to giving it all and 2 albums in 3 years is not bad at all. They are playing a pretty solid combination of Thrash and Death Metal, the '90's European style with hints of melody here and there and with good technical display. Although it brings nothing new to the table and they can't be named as innovative in any way, the music is tight, mature and nice flowing, you'll enjoy it for sure, but I still feel there's something missing in order to make it more memorable, maybe more guitar leads and solos. The music is all good but after a while you feel you've overheard everything and it stops being interesting, but by all means, if you're into Thrash Death Metal, especially if you like a raw and brutal female vocal in your Metal, give this band a try, it might be right up your alley. I very much like their professionalism and also the excellent cover artwork (simple and effective, will stick to your mind).
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10
Contact:
www.deadsamaritan.com
Band: DESECRATION
Country: UK
Title: Cemetery Sickness
Label: Metal Age Productions
Year: 2014
Style: Death Metal
Review:
The pride and joy of Welsh Death Metal, Desecration, are back with a new album 6 years after the release of the previous full-length, Forensix, so probably that title was like a premonition it would take that long for a new official opus. In good Desecration tradition Cemetery Sickness is clocking around 30 minutes although it features 11 tracks, and I think this is the perfect duration for this genre, the tracks are short and to the point, without any unnecessary additions, and the band keeps it all interesting and entertaining; growling vocals supported by vicious shrieks from time to time, solid, mid-tempo to fast paced rhythm section, catchy guitar riffs with plenty of grooves, old-school attitude, disgusting lyrics about cemetery sickness, the perfect choice for traditional Death Metal fanatics. Although it brings nothing new or nothing out of the ordinary, it's clear these guys have the experience on their side, and from my point of view this is definitely one of the best traditional Death Metal releases of the year.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9.5/10
Contact:
www.desecration.co.uk
www.metalage.sk
Band: DISGRACE AND TERROR
Country: Brazil
Title: The Final Sentence
Label: Distro Rock Records
Year: 2013
Style: Thrash Death Metal
Review:
Second full-length album from Brazilian Thrash Death Metal act Disgrace and Terror, a trio founded back in 2001. 11 tracks, 48 minutes of mostly fast paced aggressive and old-school Thrash Death Metal with not such a good sound quality but played with extreme passion and devotion, you can actually feel how much they like to play this type of music and that makes their music more incisive. Delivering what I would call Thrash Metal with Death Metal influences (mostly in part of the drumming and vocals lines) highlighted by the energy it emanates, short and fast guitar solos, growling vocals, intelligent guitar leads and catchy riffs. Fanatics of old-school Thrash Metal will love it.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10
Contact:
www.facebook.com/pages/Disgrace-and-Terror/168353629878168
www.distrorockrecords.com.br
Band: DRIFT OF GENES
Country: Ukraine
Title: Perverted Memories
Label: Eclectic Productions
Year: 2014
Style: Brutal Death Metal
Review:
Both the label and band are hailing from a very troubled region nowadays, Donetsk, where even keeping up their regular activities is an act of courage. Drift of Genes are a young duo formed in 2008, and this is their third full-length album, and second out on Eclectic Productions; 10 tracks totaling 36 minutes of fast paced (how else?) Brutal Death Metal highlighted by the technical but at the same time catchy guitar work (loads of groovy and meaty riffs supported by occasional entertaining leads). The ultra-low tuned vocals are not bad at all either, and the drums, although programmed, are not annoying as would have thought, they are actually spot on and quite natural sounding too, and if I throw on top of that a varied range of rhythms and structures to make the whole diverse and entertaining/unpredictable, you'd be able to easily guess I like the album more than others in this genre so I recommend it to you too. It's not a ground-breaking album or anything like that, but it's a mature and solid release made by serious musicians, if you're into Brutal Death Metal don't miss it.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10
Contact:
www.facebook.com/driftofgenes
www.eclectic.net.ua
Band: EXPOSE YOUR HATE
Country: Brazil
Title: Indoctrination of Hate
Label: Black Hole Productions
Year: 2014
Style: Death Grind
Review:
Let the punishment begin! And so it does on this new album from Brazilian sickos Expose Your Hate, their second album to date, released almost 10 years (!) after their debut was. 17 new tracks ranging anywhere from 1 minute to 4 and a half minutes in length and all bearing the same mark: speed and destruction. So as you preobably imagine by now we're dealing here with a band that's in for raising as much chaos as possible and their fast paced, heavy and expressive Death Grind, supported by social themes in their lyrics and by a good level of composition and execution, will probably satisfy a large chunk of the genre fanatics; old-school, Punk influenced guitar work, prominent bass lines, unrelenting drumming, double vocals (hoarse vocals supported by demented screams), and a couple of short guitar solos (that I loved), that's what you'll get from this new EYH album. Unfortunately it's notthing innovative or impressive enough to stand out from the rest, it's just good.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10
Contact:
www.exposeyourhate.com.br
www.blackholeprods.com
Band: EXULT
Country: Russia
Title: Edge
Label: Noizr
Year: 2014
Style: Progressive Metal
Review:
Russian duo made of ex Beheaded Zombie members, a band we've featured before inhere. Guitarist Dmitry and drummer Vladimir are now exploring the Progressive side of Metal more than Beheaded Zombie would have allowed probably. The new project is all made of experimental sonic geometric figures, meaning they have no boundaries when it comes to the territories they try to explore but even if we're treated with very complex, constantly shifting and varied structures, there is still a core of this music, a catchy core of Progressive Metal that so far made me listen to this debut album 4 times and I'm still discovering and enjoying new elements in it. Fans of Progressive Death Metal will love this album, too, as these guys' Death Metal background seems to be still heavily present in their compositions and yet still delivering an easy listening material. The two musicians they asked to join as guests did a solid job, too: the bass lines are very heavy and incisive, and the vocals are giving this music a perfect path. I'm pleasantly surprised by this material and recommend it to you too.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10
Contact:
www.exult.noizr.com
www.noizr.com
Band: EYES OF VERONA
Country: France
Title: Ex-Voto
Label: Inspur Music
Year: 2014
Style: Alternative Music
Review:
Again not a genre we usually fit inhere and not something I or any of Pest's writers are specialists in, but but saying a few words on it is the least I can do since I received this disc. Eyes of Verona are a young band founded in 2012 and this is their debut album made of 12 tracks totaling 35 minutes of Alternative Rock music with intense Electro influences. Nice music, I can see it fitting well in any large audience festivals in Europe or any general music TV programs without problems, the girl's voice is soft and enchanting but she also gets energetic at times perfectly supported by a complex instrumental part following intelligent compositions. Will spin it in my car, I think it will be a good option for a long trip.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: -/10
Contact:
www.eyesofverona.com
www.inspurmusic.com
Band: FROM THE VASTLAND
Country: Iran
Title: Temple of Daevas
Label: Non Serviam Records
Year: 2014
Style: Black Metal
Review:
Sina, the only man behind this moniker, is back with his third full-length album, an 8 tracks effort clocking 45 minutes of Black Metal. I have reviewed From the Vastland's debut album but since then it seems Sina improved a lot especially in recording quality; if on the first album I hated the drum-machine he used, on this one I have doubts if he used real drums or a very good program, but either way the result is excellent, way better than before. The album is full of interesting riffs, catchy mid-tempo to fast paced rhythms, heavy and involving atmospheres, clear and entertaining leads, to sum it up it's a very good release for fans of traditional (second wave of) Black Metal with that specific cold and dark melodic touch. It's not a groundbreaking album, but it's definitely one that will offer a good audition time to anyone into traditional Black Metal, the production is very good and after spinning it a few times I have these words in mind: this is a fair Black Metal album.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10
Contact:
www.fromthevastland.com
www.non-serviam-records.com
Band: GRAI
Country: Russia
Title: Mlada
Label: Noizgate Records / Rough Trade
Year: 2014
Style: Melodic Folk Metal
Review:
Third album of Russian (from Tatarstan) Grai, supported by two singles which was released earlier in this year, brings with it a lot of very melodic folk sounds. "Mlada" is not typical russian folkmetal's pathos and "pride and imperial glory", "Mlada" is just great composed folkmetal's bomb of sounds. Gitarist of Grai, Ruzveld, said in interviewes, that this album will be a very diversed -from powerfully, fast riffs to moody/contemplative tracks. He has right, "Mlada" is a really great compilation of melodic folk motifs and female vocals great connected with guitar riffs and male growles. Lyrics based on russian myths and legends and slavic heathenism. Some of tracks blur the border between folkmetal and folkrock. I'm waiting for Grai's tour in Europe and I can't wait!
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 9/10
Band: HORN OF THE RHINO
Country: Spain
Title: Summoning Deliverance
Label: Doomentia Records
Year: 2014
Style: Sludge Doom Thrash Metal
Review:
Whoa, this must be one of the heaviest records of the year! Horn of the Rhino, or better known as simply Rhino, are back with their 4th studio album to date, an hour featuring 10 tracks, an assault on all your senses. The ten tracks are so different and at the same time so impressively curdled that you can't but notice how mature these guys' music is and how confortable are they in switching from an influence to another and still keep the same feeling. When you hear Sludge Doom you think of slow paced, heavy as fuck rhythms, and that's applicable in Rhino's case, too, but they are also throwing in a lot of Thrash Metal and even a few Death Metal elements, and that makes this album unique and interesting. Using old-school, traditional patterns they still manage to sound fresh and entertaining to a wider type of audience, what Rhino delivered here is no short of a real masterpiece, an album that's both intense and heavy, and of course catchy as hell. Make sure you don't miss the hidden track listed as the 66th (!) on this record, an acoustic, relaxing and still tense closure to a great release.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 10/10
Contact:
www.hornoftherhino.bandcamp.com
www.doomentia.com
Band: INFLIKTED
Country: Sweden
Title: Inflikted
Label: WormHoleDeath
Year: 2014
Style: Thrash Metal
Review:
Swedish quartet Inflikted are debuting with a 10 tracks studio album totaling an hour of old-school Thrash Metal heavily influenced by Punk but also by Hard'n'Heavy if you ask me. We're getting a solid dose of mostly fast paced Punk Thrash Metal crefted by some seriously skilled musicians; they manage to mix all those '80's influences and deliver them in a fresh form, and I have to admit it's not ofte nowdays I get to hear such a Thrash Metal in its incipient form. The faults of this album, in my point of view, are the dry and too simplistic production (although I know it's what this genre asks for, you'd expect something different nowadays) and the lack of ideas here and there (there are a couple of tracks that are simply boring), but all in all I'd say Inflikted's debut is a promising one and we might hear good things about them in the future.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10
Contact:
www.inflikted.eu
www.wormholedeath.com
Band: INSIGHT AFTER DOOMSDAY
Country: Spain
Title: The Way to Nihilism
Label: Art Gates Records
Year: 2014
Style: Metalcore
Review:
Probably in their beginnings Insight After Doomsday were a Melodic Death Metal band (as they keep stating they are now, too), but with this third aflums of theirs they are distancing themselves a lot from this area and diving more and more in Metalcore waters. The band was formed in 2010 and released 2 albums before this one, curious enough with the same name, "Aware", one in 2010 and the other in 2013. So after 2 x Aware, the band is back this 13 tracks totaling 54 minutes and having as guest on one of them Soilwork's vocalist, Bjorn. Since it's not a genre I'm particularly informed about, I'd resume myself in saying that this album is pretty varied, have a great production, and has a heavy dose of Electro Alternative influences, and a small dose of Melodic Death Metal (the new, melodic and modern type, a la Soilwork), too. Sounds like a pretty solid release, probably kids will love it.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: -/10
Contact:
www.facebook.com/insightafterdoomsday
www.artgatesrecords.com
Band: ITER PACTUM
Country: Norway
Title: Ritual
Label: Cold Raw Records
Year: 2014
Style: Black Metal
Review:
Iter Pactum is a new one man band founded this year, but a band that has already (at the moment I'm writing this review) released 3 EPs and this debut full-length album, so we're dealing with a highly productive act here. This album deserves an extra point from me for recording the drums live, and prbably one for a few good ideas on guitars (being them riffs or leads, some are worth your time), also from what I managed to understand the guitar riffs on the background are interesting too, but that's about it. I wouldn't name full-length album a material recorded in such poor conditions, this is a rehearsal demo at most (with the obvious rehearsal mistakes included, of course)! At times the music is so chaotic and clumsy that you're thinking the guy had no idea what's next so he just improvised. Then the vocals: when he tried the high pitched screams he sounds like a choking rooster, and I'm not exagerrating in any way! It's fucking awful, it makes you laugh instead of expressing anything remotely dark. This is the proof that Norwegians can suck at Black Metal, too.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 3/10
Contact:
www.iterpactum.bandcamp.com
www.coldrawrecords.com
Band: KILLCHAIN
Country: Slovakia
Title: Where Is Your Saviour
Label: Metal Age Productions
Year: 2013
Style: Death Metal
Review:
Killchain is a Slovak band founded back in 2005 and this is their third full-length album to date, an 11 tracks effort totaling half an hour of intense, fast paced, and brutal Death Grind with occasional Deathcore influences here and there. Maybe hardcore fans of this genre will find inhere much more than I did, but during the audition, around the 6th or 7th track, I found myself wondering if I'm still listening to the first track, and that means the whole album is pretty monotonous. The production is amazingly professional, everything is loud and clear so you'll be able to enjoy each and every part of this sonic abuse, but the problem, as I said earlier, is the lack of diversity, the lack of ideas. Apart from that they all seem to have good skills as musicians, the vocalists are supporting well one another, the energy and brutality emanated by the music is the right amount for fanatics of this genre, so all in all I wouldn't know if to recommend it or not. What I enjoyed the most was the excellent production.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6.5/10
Contact:
www.facebook.com/killchainmetal
www.metalage.com
Band: LUNA
Country: Ukraine
Title: Ashes to Ashes
Label: Solitude Productions
Year: 2014
Style: Symphonic Funeral Doom Death Metal
Review:
The guitarist from Amily (also signed with Solitude Productions) decided to start this one-man-band last year and after coming up with one track he concluded this deal with the label and the album is out, consisting of that same track. Weird, isn't it? Yes, but the track is 57 minutes long... The music is a combination of mid-paced Doom Death Metal with Gothic Doom and depressing, heavy Funeral Doom, it differs from part to part so I don't understand why this guy, DeMort, decided to release it all as 1 track. The music is mostly instrumental, or at least that's what the label states, but I gave this disc 2 complete spins and didn't hear the vocals, or I was so immersed in it that I didn't notice them (??)... The music flows naturally and the album seems as a solid piece of melodic and symphonic Doom Metal, the only complaints I have are about the over-stretching of some parts and their too intense repetition, the lack of more incisive vocals and the fact that it could have been an album made of multiple tracks, the music suggests that.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10