GMA - Vol77 - Emporer (Tribute), Kraanium, Gone Til Winter, Not Above Evil, Butcher Babies24/05/2012  VARIOUS ARTISTS 'In Honour of Icon E - A Tribute To Emporer' CANDLELIGHT In a similar form of a guard of honour, sixteen bands have come together from many nations to salute Norwegian Black Metal lords Emporer in emphatic style. With the most notable bands being the likes of Helheim, Taake, Horna, Necrodeath and Svartlav, this is a goblet-raised toast to one of the finest Norwegian Black Metal bands ever to walk the earth. From the darkened abyss to the most Satanic corners of the heathen mountains, this is sure to be a well-spoken of release and is sure to captivate many Metal fans alike let alone the Black Metal die-hards. This as far as one is concerned, sees this as probably the Black Metal album of the year, sure it's handicapped due to the compilation backdrop, but regardless it is a fitting release and has its place on the history of metal firmly stuck. [8] RHYS STEVENSON  KRAANIUM 'Post Mortal Coital Fixation' COMATOSE Gross and sickening come to mind with Norway's Kraanium and their gore-fest 'Post Mortal Coital Fixation', which is theit third vomiting to date. Oozing with song titles so disturbing and twisted they dwarf all of the Saw films entirely. After all this is their third release and a perfectly crafted one too, unlike most Brutal Death bands (who grunt more than growl), Kraanium seem to conjure up a winning stratagem and unleash a face-melter, so powerful enough it may need to come with a warning for imminent underwear-shittng. Easily an album anyone should own, 'Post Mortal Coital Fixation' is definitely for fans of Fitcage, Deathbound and Cattle Decapitation. [7] RHYS STEVENSON  GONE TIL WINTER 'The First Season' Harmonious and superbly melodic is a statement summing up Gone Til Winter's 2011 release 'The First Season'. Hailing from Manchester, the quintet of three males and two females usher in a new sense of Melodic Metal with Power Metal influences, similar to that of Tainted Grace and not unlike Evanescence, this is perhaps the breath of fresh air needed to clear the storms of the Midlands. Heavenly vocals gifting a creditable production of which from start to finish displays sensational riffs, magical melodies and ultimately delivers the total package in eight tracks. From start to finish this is a rollercoaster album and yet still young and fresh, they could go far. [8] RHYS STEVENSON  NOT ABOVE EVIL 'The Transcendental Signified' There must be a trait with most Manchester bands that it's all about the darkened side of Metal music, as Not Above Evil certainly cast a shadow over the metropolitan city with their murderous combination of Melodic Black Metal and Death Metal style drumming. Similar to Hecate Enthroned, Not Above Evil are not really Christian Metal as the band name somewhat suggests, but if they were, sins would be plenty. Forging a striking sound with enough power to blow holes in any studio, this Mancunian quartet are ill-fated to make waves with the extraordinate sound of massacre all-round, with their 2011 release 'The Transcendental Signified', resistance is well and truly futile. [8] RHYS STEVENSON  BUTCHER BABIES 'Butcher Babies' Hollywood is known for its drama, its glamour and laid-back atmosphere, but when five American musicians unleash a torrent of bloody hell upon the Los Angeles Metal scene, even the SWAT department shit bricks. This is Butcher Babies, comprising of two girls and three guys and a thousand ton weight in the form some of the sickest Heavy Thrash Metal on todays radar. With vocals provided by Heidi and Carla, from which give this four track release enough balls to make any wrestler look pansy, Butcher Babies are on course not to murder younglings, but to rob you of your hearing, you have been warned, be prepared for this titanic storm. [8] RHYS STEVENSON Add Comment  KAINE Kaine / Kaine EP True Metal can only be applied to those of the NWOBHM stature, so when modern triplet (was quartet) Kaine crafted the perfect riposte for bringing back the traditional sounds of Heavy Metal, they failed to acknowledge that this was to be the best collection of sounds heard in Heavy Metal for years. Capturing the foundation of Iron Maiden in their peak-moment and covering it with Thrash Metal elements, this is perhaps the band England has been waiting for to keep the old guard alive. With their debut self-titled album unleashing six tracks of improved Metal since their first EP release, Kaine is sure set to prove that the 'core' genres are nowhere near as classic as True British Heavy Metal. [8] / [7]  WITHIN TEMPTATION 'The Unforgiving' ROADRUNNER The fifth all-rounder of Dutch Symphonic Gothic Metal veterans Within Temptation carries more power and beauty than a Nijmegen flower show. Bringing more melodic vocals to the affray and magnificently timed musical notes, this is by far the quintet's best release yet. With vocals echoing in the decibel bar on-par with sopranos, Within Temptation are sure to continue to provide such delinquent and entrancing releases. 'The Unforgiving' is yet a testament to the extraordinary vocals of Sharon den Adel - by far making any Dutch singer seem obsolete, so you thought Evanescence was going to win the best vocals in Female metal? Think again, Within Temptation are here to leave a print on Metal music and are exceptionally capable of showing mainstream music that Metal is becoming even-more popular and diverse. [10] RHYS STEVENSON  PROFEEL 'Utrip' It seems to be a common practise amongst most Eastern-European Metal bands in that they find the interesting balance of using their native language with the ever-ready embodiment of Metal music, such is the case with Profeel and their album release 'Utrip', mixing Slovenian with the funky throw-down of Groove / Thrash Metal. Whilst it sounds rather strange, it does not fail to excite and as such provides a unique and honourable experience. With an array of ten tracks to drool over, the hunger for more is clearly experienced by this band's performance; let's just hope they don't eat the speakers. Profeel is setting new horizons and are sure to make a decent impact upon the Slovenian Metal scene. [7] RHYS STEVENSON  MNEMIC 'Passenger' NUCLEAR BLAST It just seems a correlation between Denmark and the lust for Industrial-tinged Metalcore, well certainly for Raunchy and Hatesphere the industrial influences bite the bullet, but riding the nuclear rocket is Mnemic, the finest Modern Metal band Scandinavia has seen since the birth of Metal. Here is their third outing, 'Passenger' and its soul-destroying blast of futuristic cyber metal-meshed 'Industrial Metalcore'. With a fistful pummelling of double-kick drumming to immortalise any sound for millenniums to come and riffs and vocals to blast any clothes off a rock chick, 'Passenger' is by far Mnemic's best album to date and is an absolute treasure in the Danish Metal scene. Mnemic with their experimental side and their own Metal foundation giving them leverage, are sure to lead the assault by storm. [8] RHYS STEVENSON  THE KOVENANT 'In Times Before The Light' HAMMERHEART The classic release by the Norwegian duo The Kovenant signifies the tone of the Norwegian Black Metal scene, with added Industrial influences in the sound and image. Re-released in 2002, 'In Times Before The Light' is perhaps the last Black Metal rooted album they released, but whilst the symphonies add another dark dimension to their already astrological atheist stature, the beauty resides in the absolute majestic thunderous drumming found on tracks like 'from the storm of the shadows'. For the underground veterans of Norwegian Symphonic / Industrial Black Metal, their next adventure is one to wait for, since 'In Times Before The Light' they changed to Cyber Black Metal and so with that as their current genre, The Kovenant are waiting in the shadows for the right time to re-strike. [8] RHYS STEVENSON  RAVENLAND 'And A Crow Brings Me Back' FREE MIND / RAVENHEART As dark and mysterious as the forests of the South American continent, the 2009 debut album release by Brazilian Gothic Metal quintet (now sextet) Ravenland. 'And A Crow Brings Me Back' utilises much of the Bauhaus / Poisonblack sound, but whilst their lies no real feminine feel to the release, the male vocals dominate as well as accentuate the supporting music into complete overdrive, this is perhaps a cliché when referring to the politeness of the Brazilians of which is deemed better than most Europeans, but whilst the music conveys a shadowy message, the overall release is one of question and somewhat confounding. [7] RHYS STEVENSON  ONLY FATE REMAINS 'Breathe' RAVENHEART This is the storm that the Netherlands has long been waiting for, a force to be reckoned with and one to knock the Dutch Metal scene into full throttle, this of course is the Gothic Metal quintet Only Fate Remains and their absolutely outstanding and beautifully crafted debut album 'Breathe'. With clear background symphonies and vocals in the style of Within Temptation, it seems to be that this Amsterdam five-piece have what it takes to dethrone Within Temptation cleanly. It has darkness, it has timed notes, it has erotic-covered atmosphere and a sense of being rooted in the rock sense with the Clan Of Xymox, none the less 'Breathe' is definitely Dutch Metal album of the year. [10] RHYS STEVENSON  WEEPING SILENCE 'Theatre Of Life' RAVENHEART 2011 marks the return of Malta's most loved Gothic Doom Metal band Weeping Silence, who unleash their sophomore album 'Theatre Of Life' to the masses and in sensational style, with heavenly vocals guiding the band to the perfect tune, the keyboard notes add a more darker Gothic feel to the music, whilst the drums and guitars follow lead, but in all seriousness, it would seem the Doom Metal is not really present, that ironically is a good thing, for the style of music Weeping Silence demonstrate on 'Theatre Of Life', it would be awful to marry it up with any more Doom Metal, but as it is, this is definitely Maltese Metal album of the year. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  SILENT OPERA 'Immortal Beauty' RAVENHEART As beautiful as the sopranos of ancient Rome and as majestic as long-gone Pavarotti, the Italian Symphonic Metal outfit Silent Opera make their notes count with their dramatic and theatrical debut album 'Immortal Beauty', featuring operatic vocals powerful enough to challenge Therion to a duel, but yet the vocals are so heavenly, the listener is easily captivated by the soft, soothing sounds of the music and vocals. The outfits depicted in the album release signify the elegancy of the Italian renaissance and at that the music delivers the final touches. Symphonies flow like a cascading waterfall and the stage provides the perfect dramatic setting, Silent Opera is due to take Europe by storm. [10] RHYS STEVENSON  FALLEN FATE 'The Virus Has Spread' With clear influences of Lamb Of God and Thrash-neck speed influence of Slayer, English Thrash crackpots Fallen Fate explode onto the scene with their insanely blitzing debut album 'The Virus Has Spread'. Fast, brutal and sensationally bombastic, the quartet from County Durham bring out the mentally challenging and pummelling sound of Thrash riffs in quick succession whilst whipping in solo's found in such Lamb Of God tracks i.e. 'walk with me in hell', the guitar intro is similar to that of Fallen Fate's 'Origin of Sin' solo. With breakdowns also in the wing, this is potentially the new style to craze the underground into complete overdrive, hail the Thrashcore; this is because 'The Virus Has Spread'. [8] RHYS STEVENSON  CRESCENT LAMENT 'Behind The Lethal Deceit' Eclipsing the moonlight on dark nights is the sounds of Crescent Lament's debut album 'Behind The Lethal Deceit', sounding extremely superior to their previous two releases (demo and EP), the Taiwanese septet immerse the listener with anguish amongst all darkened emotions. Captivated by the soul-soothing vocals of Muer Chou and intricacy from the backdrop musicians of which comprises of the usual guitarists, bassist, drummer and keyboardist as well as a special appearance by violinist Heven Chang. This debut delicacy of pure Taiwanese musicianship’s and heavenly feminine melodies is surely to change the direction of the swinging pendulum; Crescent Lament is set to take the world by storm. [10] RHYS STEVENSON  ANKOR 'My Own Angel' STF Catalonian Heavy Power Metal sextet Ankor make their return extra special, that being in reference to their majestic and all-so intricate sophomore album 'My Own Angel'. From raging waterfalls in the mountains to desert racing in the plains of Spain, Ankor will take you on a magical journey that not even Disney could conjur up, providing the perfect accompiment to the El Clásico experienced in Spanish football. Dynamic vocals arising from the depths of the abyss collide with graceful music from the heavens to produce a beautiful piece of exciting music, without a doubt 'My Own Angel' is Spanish Metal album of the year. [10] RHYS STEVENSON  DARKMOON 'Wounds' STF Firing on all cylinders is Swiss mosh-bombardiers Darkmoon with their third album assault, 'Wounds' deploys the combined sound of Black and Death Metal to such an extent, this is perhaps a toned down version of Behemoth, but whilst that may sound apt, the music is just as brutal as rottweilers savaging a gang of chickens, ruthlessly and brutally. For the quintet from Hölstein this is perhaps the pivotal moment in their existence, rallying a futile blast of unimaginable proportions. Darkmoon is without a doubt, Switzerland's most kept secret until now, the evil has just turned nasty. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  ASGAIA 'Trinegra' STF Battling their way through the forests and wilderness of the Melodic Death minefield, Germany's Asgaia offer a unique twist on the common genre with some ambiance and coldness in their music, similar to that of Latvia's Preternatural. Mystical and eclectic best suit this quintet's third album 'Trinegra', by diverging away from the rules of the genre and adding their own unique sound to the affray. Pummelling drums encase the atmospheric in a shroud of bizarreness and almost near sci-fi embodiment. Asgaia are sure to become a storm in the German Metal scene and with this effort, they are ready to smother Europe, watch this band at all costs. [10] RHYS STEVENSON  ELIZIUM 'Relief By The Sun' STF In their 20th year of existence, the underground yet-long-serving Gothic Doom quintet Elizium make their sophomore album somewhat worth the wait, by far not the greatest Gothic Doom release yet it has a persona to it in relation to the atmosphere produced - such that depression easily seeps in. For the Dutch quintet this is another step, but for the listener this may well be the last step before untolled suicide. Whilst conventionally short in length to most Doom Metal albums, 'Relief By The Sun' has a darkened feel instead, but lacks creativity here and there, ideally this release is for those Gothic Doom diehards, but not necessarily the average metal fan, just don't expect the release to make tracks. [3.5] RHYS STEVENSON  ABSTRACT SPIRIT 'Horror Vacui' SOLITUDE PRODS. Without going into to much detail, not being a fan of Funeral Doom or Doom Metal as is, this has to be the most depressive album from Russia yet, talk about suicidal tendencies, this release would make even the most hardcore person cry in sorrow, so much so this release by Abstract Spirit is one of impending doom, depression and sadness enough to make you die inside. [7] RHYS STEVENSON  HEAVY LORD 'Balls To All' SOLITUDE PRODS Without much to say about this recording, this is not even music, the downside of this record is that sadly enough Stoner and Doom Metal do not work well together, so with that in mind I find Heavy Lord although their intentions and musicianship is respected, it is not one to be noticed well, a wildcard as it is, listen with caution. [1] RHYS STEVENSON  FUNERAL 'To Mourn Is A Virtue' SOLITUDE PRODS Norwegian Dark Metal veterans return with their 6th album in their 20 year existence and unleash another sorrowful torrent of Gothic, Doom, Death and Funeral Doom Metal aka Dark Metal in the form of the 69 minute opus 'To Mourn Is A Virtue', essentially one for those Doom fans, with depression seeping out like water from a blister Funeral are Norway's dark depressive secret. [8] RHYS STEVENSON  RAUNCHY 'Confusion Bay' NUCLEAR BLAST Heading back in time we come across one of Denmark's most loved Melodic Death/Metalcore/Industrial Metal bands ever Raunchy, their 2004 full-length release 'Confusion Bay' collects a myriad of influences and somewhat pins the band under the 'Modern/Hybrid Metal' genre umbrella terms. Full-on sensational riffs, harmonious melodies and extreme brutality land their second album in the Danish Metal hall of fame. Limited to 2000 copies, this CD is a must have for any Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore or Industrial Metal fan. Raunchy take you on a journey unlike any other to their dreamland of the 'Confusion Bay'. [9] RHYS STEVENSON  GOD DETHRONED 'Passiondale' METAL BLADE The grandeur of Dutch Blackened Death Metal is God Dethroned, the next wave of unholy destruction comes with their 2009 concept album 'Passiondale'. Recreating the horrors experienced within World War 1 the Dutch quartet devours the atmosphere with a solid performance of cataclysmic musical compositions and exhilarating vocal differentiations. For the boys from Beilen, this is perhaps more than an extreme version of a history lesson but more so one of their best productions ever. Eclipsing their final year in existence, this album is by far one for any metal fan's collection, a true testament to military history. We know it as Passiondale, history knows it as Passchendaele. [10] RHYS STEVENSON  FETAL DECAY 'You Have No Choice' SFC Words are mere discriminatory for this half-decent attempt by Russia's Fetal Decay, the Brutal Deathsters conjure up a gut-rotting performance of flesh-stinking songs with a seasoned side deliverance. 'You Have No Choice' is their 2011 release and is a solid example of 50/50 results, for the good section the drums and guitars deliver prosperity, but the vocals are dire and soulless, maybe Fetal Decay want to sound out that 'You Have No Choice' but to like this album, dream on. [5] RHYS STEVENSON  NEMESIS 'Forever In Metal' A hidden gem in the Channel Islands is Guernsey's Power Metallers Nemesis, with a chaotic array of adventurous compositions and traditional Channel Island vocals. Their 2011 full-length crashes on the shore of mainland England with a flurry of power, brutality and luscious sound from this quartet. For many the idea of metal being in the Channel islands may daunt, but as Nemesis have correctly proven, the Channel Islands will always be 'Forever In Metal'. [9] RHYS STEVENSON  ILLUMINANDI 'In Via' MOCNERAMIE Arising from the Polish woodlands is Gothic Metal septet Illuminandi with their debut full-length release 'In Via', aligning both the Polish and English languages with the darkness of the Polish countryside, the Christianity themed band rejuvenate the Gothic appearance of churches and ignite the banishment of demons. For their long-awaited debut-album is a certain reminder of pure prosperity, a signal that the Polish Gothic Metal vein is delivering beauty and darkness. [8] RHYS STEVENSON | 2013
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