FRANTIC AMBER
'Wrath Of Judgement'

Gothic in visualization, Melodic Death Metal in sound, Sweden's all-female newcomers Frantic Amber revolt in the underground with beautiful extremities and insane brutal force, their debut EP 'Wrath Of Judgement' released in 2010 is slower and more heavier than Scar Symmetry and Arch Enemy put together, slick riffs, gritty vocals and riotous drumming sizzle altogether on this juicy debut, Frantic Amber are not your average Gothic-tinged Swedish girls, they are five Angela Gossow's, only heavier.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

ILL NINO
'Dead New World'
VICTORY

Latin Metal veterans Ill Nino return with the blast of Latino fury and heavy metal balls, immaculate compositions on their latest and 2010 album 'Dead New World', weaving their way between Latino-influenced Nu Metal and Metalcore, sounding like a crossover of Sepultura and Lamb Of God, with an array of bandmembers of different nationalities, the influences differ from song to song, but keeping to a nu metalcore approach, this is a funky album with so much riding on it in terms of legacy, fuelled by their signing with Victory Records, Ill Nino excite the latest fan generation from the bright 'Dead New World'.

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

DR. ACULA
'Slander'
VICTORY

American 'Party Metal' / Deathcore mob Dr. Acula return with their highly anticipated fourth album, chock-full of intense breakdowns, funky gruel vocals and suspense on every second of the album, for the seven lads from New York, this is an album strong and brutal enough to rip holes in the streets and assimilate the problems of American life, to turn it into one roller-coaster of  funky Deathcore and potentially experimental metal, but this is one release for the 'wtf' category, having said that, 'Party Metal' might just become a new genre.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

SISTER SIN
'True Sound Of The Underground'
VICTORY

Swedish Hard Rock / Heavy Metal quartet Sister Sin make it three with their 2010 album 'True Sound Of The Underground', essentially the chic version of Iron Maiden, but with more sweat, blood and girl power, with an array of songs in the fury vein as well as rock ballads, this is Sweden's answer to Canada's Kobra & The Lotus, by far better and more glamorous, potentially an album to motorbike to. Bring on the Harley Davidson's zooming along Swedish countryside roads and the blasting of Sister Sin.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

EXILIA
'My Own Army'
AFM

Italian Nu Metal quartet Exilia eroded hearing and lightened hearts in 2009 with their fourth full-length album taking life, whilst 'My Own Army' is clearly not as heavy as previous albums, the grunge elements are still there, what with Masha's voice enchanting and the other three members providing a musical supplement, these songs are not to be snuffed at, this is a more easy listening album but at the same time, 'My Own Army' has its own unique sound to it, one of melody, riot, softness and heaviness, a pivotal release in the end.

[6.5] RHYS STEVENSON

SACRED MOTHER TONGUE
'The Ruin Of Man'
TRASCEND

This Northampton crew slithered themselves through the underground chambers to unleash the filth of Metalcore and ever-rotting flesh of Melodic Death Metal, to formulate their 2009 debut full-length release 'The Ruin Of Man'. Rebellious riffs encased a skin of articulate blastbeats and dual-tone vocals, this quartet are another living proof of the sexy and erotic result of combining these two genres together, for Sacred Mother Tongue 'The Ruin Of Man' has not yet begun, for the poseurs however it has.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

EXILIA
'Stop Playing God'
GUN

Back in 2004, Exilia upgraded their level of musical composition with their meaningful single 'Stop Playing God', highlighting the dangers and problems of being too big about things, but in Exilia's case it's more of a rebellious track and with that the spirit of Masha (vocalist) is extended beyond all extremity, a solid release by Italy's favourite Nu Metal group. Bring on the noise, for Exilia will bring their own buzz.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

DESDEMONIA
'Existence'

Hailing from the land of Luxembourg in Western Europe is Death Metal novices Desdemonia, with their third full-length 'Existence' aligning the terrors and darkness found within such an extreme type of music. Whilst the recording itself is a bit high-pitched, lowering the clarity of the music produced, the riffs exhilarate the drumming into complete coalition state. For the quartet this is a worthy piece of material, but not one that will change much in the Luxembourg Metal scene. For fans of Unleashed, Mass Hypnosis and Beneath.

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

A DARK PLACE
'Suffering'
DEZLANIC

On the other end of the Death Metal scale, this is perhaps the rawest form of Death Metal, whilst the recording itself is slightly poor, the vocals are not-audibly clear and so relies on the music to add back-up. For the Melbourne quartet this is not perhaps the best of possible debut's but certainly is not the worst, for percussive levels it exceeds expectations but indefinitely is one album for the fans of The Berzerker in their early days. Some would say A Dark Place need to see the wizard of oz, but that would be an awful pun, one that would leave people in A Dark Place 'Suffering'.

[6.5] RHYS STEVENSON

GUTTED
'Mankind Carries The Seeds Of Hell'
SOULFLESH COLLECTOR

Blasting their way through the chasms of hell is Hungarian Death grinders Gutted with their sensational blitz of riff-infused blastbeats and gut-rotting vocals, all in sync with their third brutal assault 'Mankind Carries The Seeds Of Hell'. It comes with a warning, not for the faint of heart, for this record is by far one of Hungary's heaviest to date, served up on a plate of gormandizing flesh and sumptuous cannibalism-in-destroying-hearing kind of fantasy, all for the greater good. Without a doubt this album is in the top ten of Hungary's best Metal albums in 2010.

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

CONRAD
'Oseaan Kroniek'

Unknown to the general Metal world, Kadeem Ward aka by his Folk Metal project Conrad, released his second demo last year to the masses. Hailing from Barbados, the one-man project takes the traditions of Barbadian folklore and the widespread lust of Folk Metal. Whilst the vocals and music is not crisp clear, that in fact adds to its unique being. A true sign that the Caribbean Metal scene is ever growing and that it is promising. Conrad is flying the flag for the Barbadian Metal scene. Forget steel drum bands and realize, Heavy Metal has now a new region.

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

EXILIA
'Naked'
MYPLACE

Italian Nu Metal group Exilia went acoustic for their 2010 EP 'Naked', featuring an array of their heavy metal material being toned down into acoustic songs whilst retaining the Exilia song. Whilst not grunge-laden, this EP is not unlike their song 'your rain', whereby it features soft musical compositions and a more relaxed feel about the music. Certainly a rarity amongst many metal bands, but this is what Exilia is, a rarity, a unique sound, 'Naked' they may be soft and acoustic, but overall hard, heavy, glamorous and totally cool.

DEATHBOUND
'We Deserve Much More'
DYNAMIC ARTS

With a fistful of Finnish fury, the trio from Tampere and Oulu eradicated all hearing with their 2007 full-length album, whilst straddled between the Brutal Death Metal and Death/Grindcore combo, they exact their genre tagging with a blazing array of beats, riffs and short, snappy songs. Unlike most conventional Grindcore bands, Deathbound differentiate their songs sounds and so keep their albums balanced, and 2007's 'We Deserve Much More' was no anomaly. Fire up the machines, cause' Deathbound will take anyone for a ride.

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

GORESOERD
'Tüdruk Ja Surm'
NAILBOARD

Estonian quintet Goresoerd excavated another disembowelment of epic proportion with their 2010 full-length offering 'Tüdruk Ja Surm', collecting a sensational array of deathgrind in their native Estonian language whilst captivating a cold and eerie atmosphere, one only rivalled by the Baltic winter. Goresoerd are not unlike Finland's Deathbound, only less heavy and not singing in English. Maybe Estonia's best deathgrind band, but one to watch out for.

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

MONUMENTAL TORMENT
'Element Of Chaos'
SFC

So much for insane music, Russia's Monumental Torment went overboard with their debut album 'Element Of Chaos', with a mesmerizing result of cerebral asphyxiation in ten tracks, the Technical Brutal Death Metal duo elaborate the brutality foreseen by Russia's greatest and devour any opposing problems, leaving an album as heavy as excrement left by a communion of bears. It does exactly what it says on the album, it delivers the 'Element Of Chaos' in the most extreme method of monumental torment.

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON