GMN - Vol76 - Silent Descent, Core In China Comp, Ihsahn, Mask of Virtue, Absence Of Light20/05/2012  SILENT DESCENT 'Mind Games' RISING RECORDS It's here, the follow-up to the nuclear blast that was 'Duplicity', the Rising Records debut album by Kent's Trance Metal wizards Silent Descent. The septet who hail from the town of Dartford utilise a delicate balance of Trance Music with European style Melodic Death Metal. Whilst conventionally differentiating their sound entirely from the rest of the 'Trance Army' such as: Enter Shikari, Asking Alexandria, Blood Stain Child etc, the septet have ruthlessly returned to max-out their sound with enough power and gusto to cause a ripple-effect across the Thames estuary. If pioneering a subgenre was meant to come from sheer experimentation, then it has certainly fallen for Silent Descent. This album captures the trance magic from the arsenal known as 'Kipster', the firing of skin-cutting riffs from Tom Callahan and Jaco Oxley, whilst being embezzled by the magnitude of the thunderous drumming by Jerry Sadowski and the ultimate armour piercing warhead devised by vocal architect Tom Watling, let alone the intertwining by Paul Hurrell and Jimmy Huang to altogether deliver what is perhaps already perceived as the album of the year in the UK Metal scene. RHYS STEVENSON [10]  CORE IN CHINA ROCK IN CHINA As ancient as their forefathers, the Chinese Metal and Rock scenes are ones that are not fully researched into and as such are left underground, what this free online compilation has done (which is downloadable from this page) is dug out a myriad of bands from the Metalcore, Deathcore, Nintendocore, Hardcore and Screamo sub-genres and presented this to the masses. The compilation took five months to compile and represent the areas of Beijing, Wuhan, Changsha, Taipei, Hong Kong, Baou and Guangzhou. It has been released via Rock In China's web page and is worth downloading, For a country like China to have an underground scene of epic proportions is a testament to the unformidable power of the internet, from the very first Heavy Metal band Tang Dynasty to tomorrow's Chinese musicians, this is a compilation any Metal fan should download and support. From New Tanks slamming Deathcore (which is brutal enough to make you look a right softy), to Meat Sucks' beautiful ballad-tinged hardcore sensation. You'd be asking for more than a Chinese takeaway, this compilation covers many tastes and not just one. Noodlecore some people call it, but Nintendocore is a crossing of Nintendo music and Deathcore/Metalcore; quite apt for a console that is ironically Japanese. But take no assumptions, download it and let your ears do the deciding, China has spoken, the bands are ready, are you? Let the audio assault begin.... RHYS STEVENSON (8.5)  IHSAHN 'Eremita' CANDLELIGHT One would confuse this with easy listening, or perhaps pure sensational imagination. This is after all Ihsahn's latest offering 'Eremita', a cleverly constructed assault of Extreme Progressive Metal with enough riffs to leave you barking for more. 'Eremita' marks Ihsahn's fourth outing and possibly his most impressive in the existence of the project. It’s fast, its heavy, its Norwegian and it’s insane, Ihsahn is taking Extreme Metal to a third dimension and in doing so, lashing it with a furious smacking of Black Metal-tinged Prog Metal. Who said innovation and experimentation was disastrous? [7] RHYS STEVENSON  MASK OF VIRTUE 'In This World' RISING RECORDS Another band using the electronic music wildcard, but there is something unique about Mask Of Virtue, whether it's the fact they use melodic vocals and down-right brutal hardcore as a backdrop or the fact they are poised to the take the UK scene by storm. Whilst not as prolific (yet) as Hertfordshire band Enter Shikari, the Yorkshire quintet are not far behind from copping onto that sound, but at the sound they are currently at, they should stick. This is after hearing their debut album 'In This World', a harmonious composition of some of the sickest riffs, danceable beats and soul-destroying vocals. From start to finish, this is a non-stop roller-coaster of 'electronicore' at its absolute finest. Naturally sounding as Enter Shikari's successor, this is the 'electronicore' band the UK has been waiting for, next stop... global domination. [9] RHYS STEVENSON  ABSENCE OF LIGHT 'Vyom Chakra' Unknown territories often hold a gem or two within their repertoire, Kenya is no exception. With the EP 'Vyom Chakra' free to download, it is worth taking a peek. This is Absence Of Light's debut release and is full of brutalising Extreme Metal from all aspects: sensational blastbeats, erratic riff changing and gut-wrenching vocals, coming from a country where Metal music is very underground this is essentially a taste of what can be done here. In the sounds of bands like Strapping Young Lad at its best, it is hard to state what this Kenyan band sound like, one would simply say 'check it out for yourself', but without any resilience whatsoever, this has to be the starting point for the Kenyan Metal scene. [8] RHYS STEVENSON Add Comment  ONE WITHOUT 'Sweet Relief' Hailing from the centre of the Gothenburg Metal storm system, Swedish Gothic Metalcore quintet One Without storm out of the darkness with their all-so beautiful melodies and earthquake-rhythmetic beats in the form of their sophomore album 'Sweet Relief'. The Metalcore part stems from the source that seems to be the same as where fellow countrymen Sonic Syndicate have doused themselves in whereas the Gothic Metal part is in the style of the Italian maestros Lacuna Coil. None the less this is not Motionless In White mark 2, but more so a band in their own rights and sounds. Without a doubt this is the Swedish Metal album of the year 2011. [10] RHYS STEVENSON  SENTENCED TO BURN 'We Represent' No prisoners and no prayers are welcome with the debut EP of Hardcore crew Sentenced To Burn, the quintet from the State of Brunei Darussalam (in South-East Asia) give no reason to why people should shy away from their music, full of breakdown and rib-snapping riffs, this is Hardcore beyond all belief. Drawing clear influences from the American Hardcore scene and especially Hatebreed, Sentenced To Burn are truly bringing metal to the masses with 'We Represent', simply put you would have to be totally insane not to check them out. Balls, sweat, brutality, masculinity, just about everything including the kitchen sink has been injected into this release, forget Hatebreed 'cause this is the new s***! The band may as well be caught saying 'We Represent' Brunei Darussalam, because they are flying the flag for their Metal scene. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  INFLUENCE 'Where Does Your Way Lead To?' Without compromise and without any signs of respite, this is the brutal melodic storm the Polish Metal scene has been waiting for, clad in business suits and corporate like CEO's, the Technical / Melodic Death Metal quartet Influence shed noise on their debut EP 'Where Does Your Way Lead To?' Fast paced percussion encased by the viral sounds of outrageous riffs and solos and dogged by some of the harshest vocals heard this year, Influence are exactly what the band name says, an influence to the next generation of Metal bands, think twice before dismissing them as another average Melodic Metal band, you'd be a fool to do so, so in the end fans know where the bands way leads to, but 'Where Does Your Way Lead To?' [9] RHYS STEVENSON  MITIGATE 'A New Day' Austrian Symphonic / Melodic Death Metal trio Mitigate return once again with swords raised high and in triumph of unleashing their second album 'A New Day' to the masses. Much goes by the basic drumming but more attention is drawn to the vocals of which give two contrasting feelings, one of majestic feeling and the other of being slaughtered, whilst conventionally the music has some progressive elements to it - especially in the symphonies, but even so the latter is a just reflection of 'Dimmu Borgir-like' symphonic metal. Mitigate for who they are, have created a separate sound regardless of the common drum sounds, rest assured it can only get better. [7] RHYS STEVENSON  LIVARKAHIL 'Signs Of Decay' LISTENABLE Parisian Deathcore slammers Livarkahil commit double genocide with their emphatically grave-raping sophomore album 'Signs Of Decay'. Fisting in a smacking of brain-crushing Death Metal in its most extreme form whilst the gritty gravel of Hardcore digs down into the skull's chambers to unleash a torrential flooding of blood and sweat in an outrageous style. With smack-down breakdowns and vocals to give any emo a migraine, 'Signs Of Decay' is the most unforgivable Deathcore production this year, take no mercy, take no cowardice, Livarkahil have only just begun the humanity slaughtering. [10] RHYS STEVENSON   LUMINESCENCE 'Eradicate The King' South East Essex quartet (was quintet) Luminescence shed light with their debut demo release 'Eradicate The King', whilst conventionally not the generic breakdown-smothered, screamo emo-tinged metalcore craze that seems to be gracing the music scene these-days, Luminescence focus more on the metal and less of the 'core'; with trance music in tow, with a more darker version than their Yorkshire rivals Asking Alexandria. Although the first attempt is in three solid strikes of furious embroiled metalcore, the overall feel is of being impaled by 1000 spikes whilst being electrocuted, all thats missing is a little more trance - synth, however for a premier romp this is a well crafted piece of discography, one with meaning and ripe metal as well as mentally-challenging solo's, as for Luminescence, they are certainly flying the flag for the Essex Metal scene. [9] RHYS STEVENSON  ALCHIMIA 2012 'Another Star Is Approaching The Sun' Reborn from the ashes of Alchimia, Alchimia 2012 shifted from Death Metal / Grindcore to the more brutal and furious sound of Metalcore. The quartet from San Marino is one band that is brimming with uniqueness and individuality as they are one of few active bands from the Principality, but also are one band who presents a deeper sound to the Metalcore tune. With their 2010 release 'Another Star Is Approaching The Sun', the quartet bring a mind-crushing blow to the soul in twelve tracks, resulting in the listener questioning 'what the f***k just happened?’ Alchimia 2012 is flying the flag for the Sammarinese Metal scene. [8] RHYS STEVENSON  LYNCHPIN 'Six String Demo' Trinidadian Groovy Deathcore band Lynchpin unleash this two track taster of their latest works, whilst conventionally not the clearest of vocals, the band none the less gives a great blasting of brutally-infused Extreme Metal. Coming from one of the smallest Metal scenes in the Caribbean, the quartet do not fall short of expectations and instead deliver a sonic pounding that can be heard all over the Atlantic. Ever thought the Caribbean was a place just for steel bands? Lynchpin has proven this wrong and is flying the flag for the Trinidadian metal scene. [8] RHYS STEVENSON  CIRCLE OF RAGE 'Problem. Reaction. Solution' English Hardcore Punk bitches Circle Of Rage unleash a murdering assault of 'Sex Pistol-meets-old school hardcore' songs, whilst conventionally not politically correct, although the latter would forbid it, the quintet give it as best as a shot that they can give. With clear Thrash Metal influences entering the affray - in the style of Metallica and Heavy Metal sounds from Motorhead per se, not to mention the clear The Clash / The Horrors style vocals, Circle Of Rage are sure to wipe that silly smile of your face, simply put Hardcore Punk will never be the same again. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  EDAIN 'Through Thought & Time' 2009 saw the first audio wave from Edain take form, the Czech Progressive Death Metal quintet came together in Brno to form a heavy onslaught of sensational riffs, gut-rotting vocals and ear-sensitive drumming. Whilst the band immediately goes into fifth gear in terms of audio sound and beat, the missing element is more so the level of audio that the vocals give, more so in detail the vocals could be more front-running. None the less with two songs over nine minutes long, there is plenty of time to enjoy the magnificent debut that Edain has made; 'Through Thought & Time' is without a doubt Czech Metal album of the year 2011. [9] RHYS STEVENSON  NAMI 'Fragile Alignments' SEASON OF MIST Signalling a seismic wave of destruction is Andorran Progressive Metal quintet Nami with their 2010 debut album 'Fragile Alignments', hailing from a small country the band does no mistakes in making it sound big and brutal. Death Metal style vocals cover the Progressive Metal beats to finalise as a dual genre production, with riffs bleeding every spot on the human ear and drums supplementing a beat for the vocals to curse words upon, this is without a doubt one album for any metal fan to have. A true work of Andorran musicianship in which leads to Nami flying the flag for the Andorran Metal scene. [8] RHYS STEVENSON  NIFLHEIM 'Personae' Mixing a traditional Celtic rock sound to their music is French Symphonic Heavy Metal sextet Niflheim with their sophomore album 'Personae', sounding a little similar to Finns Apocalyptica, the four men and two women present in this intricate assembly all bring a different level of beauty to the music, from the calming female vocals to the adventurous sound of the violin and to the glorified Metal sound, this is without a doubt a band for the future. With a vocal range exceeding the range of French champagne, Niflheim is one of the French Metal scenes hidden gems. [10] RHYS STEVENSON  CIRCLE OF RAGE 'Rage In D-Minor' Breaking the limit of decibels emitted from speakers during musical transition is Hardcore Punk bad boys Circle The Rage from Kent, mixing the attitude of The Who and bringing a in-your-face spitting attitude, this is a sound defining blaspheming anger at everything, a true punk signature of an album. Fisting the masses with a sharp blast of brain-raping riffs, spine-snapping beats and ball-blazing vocals, this is anarchy in the UK without a doubt. Perhaps one of the next Hardcore bands to kick up s*** in the underground and dump s*** on every poser. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  LORD IMPALER 'Admire The Cosmos Black' As raw as the unholy nights of the Balkan forests comes Greek Black Metal trio Lord Impaler with their debut album 'Admire The Cosmos Black' released this year and of which marks the first major release in their 13 years of existence. With clear and imminent influences from the Norwegian Black Metal scene, Lord Impaler do not fail to impress with this release, with an eruption of raspy and shrieking vocals that are scary enough to freeze wolves on the spot and the guitars and drums working in tandem to create a dynamic atmosphere, this is perhaps the darkest hour in the Greek Metal scene. Essentially, Lord Impaler is one band any Black Metal fan should have in their collection as it is simply a work of genius. [9] RHYS STEVENSON  OURFAMOUS DEAD 'I Am Man' Yorkshire mob Ourfamous Dead make their standing in the ever-growing combination of criss-crossing electronic music with Metal with their debut EP 'I Am Man' released this year, whilst automatically considered as a more funked up Enter Shikari, the quintet do no more but totally wreck the record with songs containing a heavy load of sweat and balls, enough to breakdown any stagnate crowd and ignite the moshpits and raves into overdrive. Being included in the freshly created wave of 'Electronicore' as dubbed by themselves, Ourfamous Dead are sure winners to be noticed by Kerrang and with one release down, nothing is going to stop them now, you have been warned. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON | 2013
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