ELBERETH 'Itzalitako Izarren Lurraldea' GAUEKO ARIMAK Basque Country's very own Thrash Metal band Elbereth make their third album come to life with epic riffing from three guitarists (one vocalist), a bassist and sensational drumming skills from (obviously) the drummer. Uniquely singing in their native Basque language, you cannot dub them Spanish for obvious reasons, however you can call them a breath of fresh air for the Basque Metal scene, whilst the language barrier maybe a tad challenging, the overall reception of this album is a beautiful one, utilizing the modern Thrash sound and basing it on Metallica style vocals and percussion, 'Itzalitako Izarren Lurraldea' is one album that any Thrash Metal fan should have in their collection, simply inspirational. [8] RHYS STEVENSON EYE BEYOND SIGHT 'The Sun & The Flood' MASSACRE / EDGE There seems to be at times, albums that come out with basic compositions that have already been worked out and at other times there seems to be total copying going on, but when you take Eye Beyond Sight into account and their sophomore album 'The Sun & The Flood', you clearly get the feeling the drumming is a little too basic at times and yet the vocals and riffs do the killing. As for the Slovakian quintet, the Groove-laden-Thrash Metal sound they somewhat achieve is good enough for recognition but it's songs like 'From Stars To Scum' that deliver the almighty blow, that alongside the technical intro to 'That Hurts' and so the overall perception is that this band can deliver the right composition but some songs let them down, referring back to 'That Hurts, this would appeal highly to fans of Lamb of God as it kicks in that 'walk with me in hell' power of brutality, overall this album has thrills and spills, a roller-coaster in disguise. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON CNOC AN TURSA 'The Giants Of Auld' CANDLELIGHT Deep within the caverns of the hallowed cairngorms arises four musicians with the ambition to revive ancient Scottish folklore, henceforth the quartet Cnoc An Tursa conjure up a potion that druids will forever envy, 'The Giants Of Auld' delivers a solid display of Black Metal, laced with Folk Metal elements and little bits of Celtic influence all the while, whilst most songs on their debit album are of the fast and catchy guild, there are some pure Folk metal elements to trip the atmosphere into two seperate halves, none the less 'The Giants Of Auld' is an album that will see Cnoc An Tursa explode onto the international scene and are sure to gain themselves a host of new fans, powering forward the ancient Scottish traditions, 'The Giants Of Auld' is for fans of Winterfylleth, Ancient Rites and Kyrgyzstan band Darkestrah. 'The Giants Of Auld' will be a great start to 2013 and is sure to be an instantaneous hit. 'The Giants Of Auld' is out via Candlelight on 25th February 2013. [9] RHYS STEVENSON PERCEPTION OF DARKNESS 'Shades & Shadows' + 'Beyond Wonderland' Two releases, one eclectic sound, the mixing of Industrial Metal in the vein of Deathstars, The Kovenant and the Blackened Gothic Metal feel of Aborym and Gothminister, starting off with the album 'Shades & Shadows', what is to be expected is what is not actually given, instead Perception Of Darkness' effort exceeds expectations, this is a band with a sound they know they want to create, a sound that has not been developed before and so when you take into account their demo as well 'Beyond Wonderland', both releases deal the band the righteous justice and in fact highlight the utmost reason to why this band deserve to be signed, weaving together synthetic elements with the harsh brutality of Industrial Black Metal and topping it off with some very harmonious vocals, no wonder Perception of Darkness is Sweden's newest hot property. [8] + [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON MORPHESIA 'Black Metal Demo 2012' Credit is always due to those who take upon music on their own accord and especially when it's their first ever demo, for Californian one-man black metal project Morphesia, it's more than producing music, it's producing a distinct sound, what with the furious outrageous blastbeats caressing the grim shrieking and the raw atmosphere and the feeling of a bitter frostbite, no wonder this could be the dawning of a new threat to dislodge the false monstrosities that thrive within the metal society, true to it's word and title, this is 'Black Metal' and this is the revolution that Morphesia is pioneering, and you thought California was terrified by earthquakes? This is far worse than an earthquake, this is a goddamn apocalyptic storm. [7] RHYS STEVENSON SCHYSMA 'Imperfect Dichothomy' In perfect tune for an explosive start to Schysma's career, as the Italian quintet deliver an emphatic display of intricately weaved melodies and razor-sharp Progressive Metal that is as elegant as the creativity of the once-was Italian renaissance composers, much like the modernized version of Rossini in terms of the power and level of complexity induced on the band's debut EP 'Imperfect Dichothomy'. Crafted in the vision of lashing electronic elements to the well-cemented Progressive Metal body and in doing so ends up creating a sound that can be described as good as crossing Rammstein with Dream Theater, in fact one word to sum up the whole release would be 'unbeatable. Schysma are definitely going places in 2013; a band to watch. [8] RHYS STEVENSON TEODASIA 'Upwards' Making their debut album speak one more word than a fairytale story is Italian female-fronted metal band Teodasia with their luscious production 'Upwards' which binds together sexy symphonies, four melodic maestro's and a ton of epic, fantasy metal. Playing music in the combined style of Within Temptation - cross - Epica and layering it with their own twist of powerful ballads, booming musical compositions and an artwork to match the dramatics of the overall masterpiece. Delving into the finer details and you find the true passion that Italian Gothic Metal bands seem to have, and so moving into 2013 it is time for Teodasia to move 'Upwards' into the heavens, for this is the 'Symphoratic metal' (Symphonic Operatic) band the Italian Metal scene has been longing for. [9] RHYS STEVENSON ANTHIRYA 'Promo Demo 2012' From the island that brought the well known Sicilian pizza comes a new tasty slice of music in the form of newbies Anthirya and their premier 2012 demo, whilst Italy has a renowned sense of producing sensational Gothic Metal acts, none have come as soothing as this new quintet, weaving together intricate ballads with operatic oomph and delicate musical compositions that would leave classical artists like Rossini raving for more. Mixing together sensational operatic vocals with a solid and formidable backbone sound, Anthirya delivers their own unique style with influences coming from Nightwish and Within Temptation, but will also appeal to fans of Therion. [8] RHYS STEVENSON THE APPROACH & THE EXECUTION 'The Blood March' If 'The Blood March' was to be a soundtrack to a film, the film would make an international gross profit of $0, there is nothing wrong with the band, just the style of music, melodic power / death metal? The two are so far apart that daylight shines in between them and so as The Approach & The Execution released their debut last year, it beckons the question of whether it was a right decision to do so at all. Just as ill-felt when a tornado tears through a city, killing hundreds, the same is applied to this album, the senses are left in a coma and consequently they need rehabilitation, if only soundproof ear plugs were available, job done. [2] RHYS STEVENSON FORLORN PATH
'Intifada' New Jersey mob Forlorn Path made their second attempt at delivering the awe inspiring EP they so crave with enough gusto to blow hurricanes backwards, just. The brutality and pace on 'Intifada' is enough to match the power of a thousand rampaging bulls but only sissy bulls as the final detail on the EP is one to drag the whole release down, in short the vocals need vast improvement. As for the music itself, it's clean and crisp edge gives Forlorn Path that sound needed to develop torture at all levels, even so it's on restriction due to the disease it brings. [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON
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GUTFED 'The Reign Of Pure Madness & Contagious Perversion' MORBID GENERATION If this was the music to put anyone into solidarity confinement, then the main protagonists Gutfed must have delivered some outdated kebabs, that said the Turkish Brutal Death / Grindcore trio dish up a juicy selection of pig squeal vocals amongst gore-laden audio clips, whether the screaming was from pure sadomasochistic torture or from the seductive nature of this debut album remains disputed, as for 'The Reign Of Pure Madness & Contagious Perversion' it contains technically orchestrated drumming that would make any natural reflex seem like a basic action, that alongside cutting-edge riffs and vocals that spit venom, this is Turkey's most darkest, extreme and yet goriest time. [8] RHYS STEVENSON BLACK BLOOD STIGMATA '2012 Demo' If the Amish community in the USA ever caught a whiff of this, all hell would let loose. Simply because the 2012 demo by Ohio's Black / Death Metal newbies Black Blood Stigmata is of anti-religious traits, whilst conventionally the music is nothing new, it is a well conceived demo, the sound and quality is there and it is sure to improve in time, but to be bitten by a cold and harsh wind from a band that is only two members is an outstanding factor, none the less the demo delivers a raw atmosphere that is sure to please fans of Darkthrone. As for the band, they are sure to go further in times ahead, as long as they keep the correct chemistry flowing. [7] RHYS STEVENSON DISTILLERY 'Omens Of Our Purgatory' Possibly the next metal band from Greece to explode onto the global scene with great intentions raging around their very existence, this is Death Metal and it's come in the form of Distillery, the latest ten-legged beast to emerge from the depths of the acropolis. Unleashing their fury in their second demo 'Omens Of Our Purgatory', the five-piece ensemble decimate a sonic explosion of brutal and gut-wrenching Death Metal, and yet seem to have the impact of a jet engine fire up, blasting the listener into total oblivion with a fist of powerful proportions, just don't expect this band to die away, this is new real deal. [9] RHYS STEVENSON TRANSGRESION '...De Sangre Y Represion' Well when you mix the Spanish language with the fast, slick sounds of Speed Thrash Metal, the result is evidently grand, and Transgresion's debut demo is no exception, this is perhaps the sound to expose the Puerto Rican Metal scene to the masses, '...De Sangre Y Represion' delivers the heavy, harsh brutality of Metallica and is chained up to the fast, slick gliding delivered by Motorhead, mixing a modern sound to the affray, Transgresion are a band with enough talent to sink a ship and with '...De Sangre Y Represion' now firmly out in the wild, there is no reason why this band either should not receive a great deal of attention or more importantly get signed, no reason whatsoever. [10] RHYS STEVENSON DELIVERANCE 'Hallowed Rites' Two years, two demo's, one name, Deliverance. The traditionalists of Finnish Heavy Metal clamber onto the band wagon with their Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Alice Cooper and Judas Priest influence sound, whilst it's nothing generally new, the major aesthetics are there for it to be a well made demo, even Santa Claus could not make toy's even better and he's been doing it since these lads were little rockers. Smothering their classic sound with the lyrical forms that Alice Cooper knows all to well about, Deliverance are pushing the old style to the new front and in doing so are keeping the roots of metal truly alive. Dubbing their music AOR (Anti-christ oriented rock) and developing the atmosphere to blast gaping holes in the Lapland landscape, Finnish metal has it's firm 'Hallowed Rites' established in the very core of the NWOFHM movement. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON ANTHOLOGIES 'Alpha' Apparently Italian winters are so harsh that they turn everyone into Gothic musicians and bring despair into their emotions, but when music is bestowed upon the fortunate five, Anthologies come out of the darkness like a pack of wolves on their first hunt. Just like the killing stage, the music brings an atmosphere of bleak despair, darkness and undisputed bitterness, that said the debut EP 'Alpha' is a classic in this style of metal, it extracts the weaknesses and patches it up with a fresher, modern approach to the established sound, with 'Alpha' now firmly out in the wilds, much is expected from this band in the next few years to come. [7] RHYS STEVENSON HELL CITY 'Demons To Rest' FAKTO Women when singing in the Heavy Metal / Hard Rock style seem to bring that sexy edge to the music genre, even so when Belgian quintet Hell City pluck out the right notes to produce their debut album, the inaugural fact is that the musical product is far sweeter than the luxurious chocolates that Belgium is famed for. 'Demons To Rest' delivers that sonic streak that lights up every major road in Europe as to emanate the beauty of route 66. With elements that will entice fans of the older style of Metallica and Iron Maiden, Hell City are destined to make themselves known and valiant musicians of the New Wave of Belgian Heavy Metal movement. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON WOOD OF LIGHT 'Feelikescaping' LOST SOUND Brimming melancholy and yet there seems to be a lack of taming going on, as if the wild hyenas got their first whiff of methanol, that implied to the debut album by Italian Prog novices Wood of Light says that this is a release that has gone overboard, sure 'Feelikescaping' produces this powerful element of high-noted singing and sharp-edge music, but the overall product is one left to be desired, well, not entirely desired, but more so one with question marks all over the place. Songs like 'Free Body of a Lifer's Soul' delivers the face-melting feeling that is expected whereas the song previous to that 'Mr lone star' is the exact example that drags the album down to below standards of what is expected. Even so songs like 'The Man Who Knows His Fate' and 'R.gregory's Perception' are on the same wavelength as Finnish band H.I.M, with the slow and emotionally charged composition, but in the end 'Feelikescaping' is still a questionable album. [5.5] RHYS STEVENSON APOCALYPTIC SALVATION 'Skulls' Collector' These Italian stalwarts should be releasing an album by now, their third demo carries the right music constructed for an album, face-smashing and iron-bent Death / Thrash Metal pummels the surrounding silence with a fist so sharp, any cookery knife would become degraded to simply a basic letter opener. Apocalyptic Salvation sends furious agility and heavy brutality down one channel and that is enough to spark off any moshpit into complete over-drive. The third demo 'Skulls' Collector' belts out four tracks of solidarity and complexity, together which would make AC Milan look like the San Marino national football team, if only the drumming on this release was the heartbeat of the Italian national football team, imagine the goal rate. [8] RHYS STEVENSON WAKING THEO
'Reborn' Prepare for the almighty storm on 13th February 2013 as Yorkshire's Thrashcore specialists Waking Theo make their welcomed return with their upcoming EP 'Reborn', pumped out with three tracks that carry a health warning as to say 'get the morphine ready, this is going to sting you like a bitch', weaving together a musical blockade with guns firing as the Thrash Metal delivers the elegant beauty and agile musicianship whilst the Metalcore links together a truckload of brutality and hard-hitting heaviness. This is the soundtrack to get the Thrashcore movement of it's knees, ram over the plethora of metalcore and deathcore styles and instate a new sound that will send earthquakes rippling down every street in the hallowed city of Leeds and derail trains at Harrogate, since the departure of their original vocalist, the sound has improved and Waking Theo are 'Reborn', designed for fans of Sylosis, Architects, Bleed From Within and August Burns Red, this is the new shit, this is Waking Theo. [9] RHYS STEVENSON ECLIPTIC CIRCLE 'Imperfection Of Our Past' Modern German Metal bands seem to utilize that slick sound of speed and ferocity and occasionally get the mixed balance just right, Ecliptic Circle are on that path but seem to trip up on their debut EP 'Imperfection Of Our Past', whilst the Melodic Death Metal newbies demonstrate cataclysmic composition, the overall sound is borderline to total perfection, playing the metal style in a similar way to fellow countrymen Myra, the quintet seem to know how to create the perfect storm, just not that total devastating blow. [7] RHYS STEVENSON EVIL SCARECROW 'Sixty-Six Minutes Past Six' It may be two years ago that Evil Scarecrow released total horror with their second outing 'Sixty-Six Minutes Past Six', but the long-lasting after effects are still infecting the British Metal scene, as the quintet are amidst making their third album, their second one delivers a complete new style of Black Metal - cross - Thrash Metal and yet offers that distinct tongue-in-cheek plethora of witty lyrics and a god-smiting steampunk / vampiric image. Given due the Nottingham-based five piece are a breath of fresh air and are sure to drive forward to become a nationally established band, just don't bank on them turning into Worzel Gummidge anytime soon. [8] RHYS STEVENSON SISTER SIN 'Now And Forever' VICTORY Blazing back with the fist of fury, are Swedish quartet Sister Sin and their ballsy new anthemic release 'Now And Forever', with clear sounds of Judas Priest, Twisted Sister and the 80's prime rock scene riding on a host of emphatic tunes, this is Sister Sin's finest work to date. Such a fitting landmark resides in 2012 being their tenth year of existence and it could not come any sooner. Suited for those long treks across the roaming lands, this is the sort of music the Harley-Davidson clan would blast out at a rate of knots, fuelled by the never-exhausted Swedish rock and metal scene, this is the new face of Nordic Heavy Metal, for 'Now And Forever' Sister Sin will be on the lips of every passionate rock and metal fan (and they say rock 'n' roll is dead?). [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON LORD FIST 'Spark For The Night' It's quite hysterical to think Lord Fist play Heavy Metal differently to fellow countrymen Lordi and yet both are tarnished with the same style of metal, however ironic Lord Fist take into account the ethical values of the original Heavy Metal sound and add their own majestic touch to it with lyrics pertaining to folklore, fantasy and above all sword fights. Hailing from Finland, Lord Fist emerge with their debut demo 'Spark For The Night' with guitars blazing hot from the ferocity of the riffs delivered on their first outing and yet the rest of the music and vocals follow suit in delivering an all round display of what this lot can do, if your a fan of the classic sounds, then this release is for you as Lord Fist continue the NWOFHM alive. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON MORTOR 'Shoot 'Em Up' Proving themselves to be an exuberant emerging force from Quebec, Canada, quintet Mortor make their welcomed return with a face-smasher. 'Shoot 'Em Up' delivers fourteen tracks of technically-challenging songs of which devour the human senses into total disrepair, utilizing complex patterns to produce a tantalizing piece of musician craftsmanship, the lads are definitely hot property and with this effort now under their belt, there will be many eyes paying attention to this lot. 'Shoot 'Em Up' traps the very essence of early Sepultura, Kreator and lashes it with a dose of Morbid Angel to end up with we see as Canadian Metal album of the year, simply breathtaking and yet surprisingly, carries that after-taste of wanting for more. [10] RHYS STEVENSON DOOM SYNDICATE 'Midsummer's Fall' BORN OF CHAOS Well you cannot blame a band for experimenting with music, after all that's how it develops, but occasionally the experimentation goes horribly wrong, the same could not be said for Doom Syndicate, the Virginia quartet deliver their second album after an eight year gap and with this effort in question, the real question is was it worth it? Sure tracks like 'S(Hell)' offer the band a glimpse of underground perfection, but for the majority of the album, the clarity is below par and the variation of musical styles is worse than a women's cupboard full of shoes, if anything the band can stand proud in that they delivered something for their fans, but that's as far as it goes. [4] RHYS STEVENSON IMMORTAL EMPIRE 'The Division Of Empires (A Land Beyond A Great Vast Forest)' + 'Within The Sign Of A Bestial Moon' + 'Immortal Reign' Deep within the marshy lands of the Norfolk Broads comes a Black Metal project / trio so grim and dark that it renders Norwich's chance of being a gothic city as highly unlikely. 2011 saw the release of 'The Division Of Empires (A Land Beyond A Great Vast Forest)' with a fistful of grizzly, gruel and unholy tastes in the Black Metal movement. Armed with orchestral sounds, ambiance and insane musicianship, this is perhaps the answer to Hertfordshire's Meads of Asphodel and in turn bulks up the East Anglian Metal scene. Harmoniously backed by the delightful sounds of medieval organ sounds and layered with ideally a Black Metal-cross-Folk Metal style, this sound was to rock the county into complete darkness. Forwarding onto the modern year of 2012 and the Norfolk Black Metal maestro's once again returned to deliver their next lot of installments, 'Within The Sign Of A Bestial Moon' and 'Immortal Reign', this time 'Within The Sign Of A Bestial Moon' delivers a heavier and much improved raw sound to the production, sure it sounds a little overpowering at times, but in all seriousness it creates a dimension no other English Black Metal band has ever done, that said Immortal Empire is definitely for fans of Medieval and Raw Black Metal. 'Within The Sign Of A Bestial Moon' unleashes five tracks of pure insanity, riffs that are so fast they make running wolves slow down. Sensationally orchestrated and primed for the next release, from which emerges the upcoming 'Immortal Reign' which is even greater than previous releases, it is full on Black Metal at it's very core and is sure to gather much more wanted attention, the darkness is falling, the coldness bites, welcome to the Immortal Empire. [6] + [7] + [9] RHYS STEVENSON MY BLACK LIGHT 'Human Maze' MASSACRE There seems to be this stigma that every Italian Gothic Metal band emerges with this sense that they are the next big thing, oddly enough it's true. Enter My Black Light and their dramatic stance on the musical style, so much that it makes beauty and the beast seem realistic, with their 2011 debut album 'Human Maze' now amongst the masses, this quintet who are signed to Massacre Records are sure to lay down the law in tantalizing fashion whilst ensuring that their next release is to blow all other pre-conceived thoughts out totally, whilst they are no new Lacuna Coil, their dramatic sounds and elements are sure to appeal to any Gothic Metal fan, enter the new sound of 'Dramatic Metal'. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON CLAIRVOYANT 'Curse Of The Golden Skull' For a band who has been going five years and has released their debut EP last year, it's a wonder why they are not signed, enter Polish quintet Clairvoyant who mix historical fantasies with the melodic brutality of Heavy Power Metal to deliver an awe-inspiring slice of excellency, if this was a commercial it would dominate the prime time TV slot, it's that sort of music, full of effort, minus the attention it warrants and yet this is the sort of band and musical style to captivate the European music scene, loaded with tasty riffs, effortless composure and full-on classic sounds, 'Curse Of The Golden Skull' is the band's ticket to international recognition. [9] RHYS STEVENSON 8M/S
'Running Out The Black July' Bulgaria isn't well known for it's 'core' bands, so when 8M/S emerge on the block with their debut album 'Running Out The Black July', from the first second to the very last, a murderous assault is initiated, with truly technical riffs coveting the gut-rotten vocals and laminating the sensational overall production of this groundbreaking debut, 8M/S have epic potential to teach the mass-produced 'core' bands of the Western nations how it's properly done. From start to finish, expect you're head to get sorer and sorer from the inevitable headbanging to the cleverly executed breakdowns and riff shifting, prepare for the oncoming storm, this is not you're average storm, this is a goddamn fucking blizzard. [10] RHYS STEVENSON 1833 AD 'My Dark Symphony' Just when the Indian Metal scene was just breaking out into the international scene, 2012 witnesses the debut album from New Delhi Black Metal band 1833 AD (coincidentally the year British slavery was abolished), marching out of the Taj Mahal with a fist of fury and vocals so dark, the spices of India could be considered obsolete, for the music itself is a spicy concoction of oppressive hatred and classic Black Metal with ethnic sounds added in for the full flavour. As for the album 'My Dark Symphony', it will not go unnoticed and is sure to give the band that epic boost needed to challenge Demonic Resurrection for the crown of best Indian Metal band of all time. [8] RHYS STEVENSON ALLOS 'Spiritual Battle' Christianity to Brazil is like a plectrum is to a guitarist, essential, well at least partly as it gives the faithful teachings but more so gives the musician another religion to align with the religion called music. Enter Brazilian quintet Allos with their Progressive Power Metal battalion sound and their successful debut album 'Spiritual Battle', strap your belt tightly as the band takes you on a whirlwind journey through the mystics of the Amazon rainforest, the beautiful game of soccer and to the roots, bloody roots of this south American nation. Guided by the eccentricity on the keyboard, Allos are certain to become the next metal export to the world. [8] RHYS STEVENSON ARCHAIOS 'The Distant' DARK CANVAS RECORDS Who'd of thought that the second outing by Archaios was to be an international hit? Well we certainly did. Hailing from the Dominican Republic, this Melodic Death Metal machine battled their way into the international spotlight and as a result have produced a rather technically improvised piece of elegant musicianship, it's brutal, it's pacey and it certainly deserves to be on any metal fan's shelf, 'The Distant' delivers nine tracks of the most pulsating, spine-snapping metal that the Caribbean has ever seen, so before thinking these noble lands are all about pirates, rum and tropical beaches, just wait till the sharks come in off 'The Distant' coastline and attack your senses in the horde known as Archaios. [10] RHYS STEVENSON BEAST 'Thrash Metal Propaganda' Spain has a history of spewing out Thrash Metal bands that fail at the first hurdle, but ever seldom does a band reach the final hurdle before slipping up, Beast however took the easy way and clambered their way into the Spanish metal scene with their sophomore EP 'Thrash Metal Propaganda', taking your classic 80's Thrash Metal style apart and adding some more slower and moodier feelings to the sound, whilst not as fast as Slayer, the music could be compared to 'Creeping Death' by Metallica, however with that in mind, and taking into account the lyric topics, one can see that this nuclear production is awashed with radioactive metal, so toxic that the listener may be inclined to headbang, such is a law that guards the 'Thrash Metal Propaganda'. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON CRYPTIC AGE 'Sounds Of Infinity' Residing in one of England's most medieval counties, Cryptic Age of North Yorkshire are a tough puzzle to crack, playing under a band name you would associate with technical music and instead laying Power / Folk Metal, yet there is little bits of Folk Metal here and there; albeit the double bass drumming for which could be linked to Pagan Metal, but when taking the whole of their debut album 'Sounds Of Infinity' apart, there are bits here and there to suggest is some Folk Metal. The vocals definitely add that gallant feeling, the atmosphere is as folkloric as gathering around a druid's ceremony and the music itself does interlink at times to create something rather magical, it's one of those albums that has a high after a low and so as 'Sounds Of Infinity' pushes the band into the wider metal scene, their next release will be an interesting one. [6] RHYS STEVENSON KAINE 'Falling Through Freedom' So the time has come for the Peterborough / Essex quartet (now trio since Josh's departure) Kaine to deliver their best shot and by far has that been achieved, lacing together their unique sound of Heavy Thrash Metal (or as they call it Legendary Speed Metal) with an artwork reminiscent of the Norse mythological land of Niflheim and yet there does seem to feel a little bit like a Folk Metal atmosphere surrounding this album. Loaded with short and lengthy epics, from breakneck-Thrash to melodies encased in their Heavy Metal department, Kaine deliver 'Falling Through Freedom' with one notable arsenal, Dennis Stratton of whom is an ex-member of Iron Maiden and has considerably given this band the utmost exposure. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON METAL CAMBRA 'Metal Cambra Recopilatorio' As elegant as flamenco and as dramatic as a bull fight, Valencian octet Metal Cambra deliver their first ever compilation of their best instrumental works, fusing together Progressive Folk Metal elements with classical music in a sort of Gaelic influence and Iberian sound, thus producing an eclectic mix of different musical styles. 'Metal Cambra Recopilatorio' is without any doubt a perfect accompaniment to any dancing undertaken that comes from Spanish or Latin American background whilst also serving up as more importantly a wondrous masterpiece, from start to finish Metal Cambra keep the listener on their feet, simply one of a kind. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON NANSIS 'Exorde' War Metal makes its mark on the Swiss Alps when Nansis deliver their premier Black Metal demo to the masses in devastating form, 'Exorde' plays very much into the hands of the European theater of WW2 and exhibits a unique combination of having both French and English lyrics on the release. Cold and frostbitten, Nansis' 'Exorde' is a release without compromise and as such crucifies anyone who spits out against Black Metal. Similar to bands like Carpathian Forest and even more England's Eastern Front, Nansis explore the darkest depths of Swiss history and lashes it with the complexity of modern Black Metal. 'Exorde' delivers six tracks of what is promising and posing as possibly the next big Black Metal band out of Switzerland. [8] RHYS STEVENSON NEURAL FX 'Abreaction' The global metal scene better strap in for this one, Mexican Progressive Metal quartet Neural FX deliver an atomic bomb-of-an-album, their debut release 'Abreaction' delivers sensational vocals and majestic sounds that can only be drawn in comparison to the titans of Symphony X and Dream Theater. Harmonious vocals lead the way on this breathtaking release that you wouldn't find anywhere else, even so the guitars layer some ballistic riffs that make any taco bell chilli powder obsolete, it is that explosive, fusing traditional Mexican elements to the rapid heaviness of the Progressive Metal sound, Neural FX are to lead the Mexican Metal scene to the masses, simply outstanding. [9] RHYS STEVENSON SIN DEADLY SIN
'Fall From Heaven' From time to time there comes a band that is ideal to follow up behind another band in the same country, as for Lacuna Coil they can budge over to let Italy's new highly anticipated Gothic Metal band take charge, enter Sin Deadly Sin and their mind-blowing debut album 'Fall From Heaven', featuring heavenly angelic vocals and dark atmospheric music that acts as a blanket of illustrious beauty, Gothic ambiance and a line-up that pieces together their own musical puzzle. Amidst the whole connectivity between the romance side of the Italian culture lies a force waiting to explode upon the European Metal scene and as Sin Deadly Sin begin their ascent as the new face of Italian Metal, it will not take long before we could see the band break into the major album charts; it deserves that level of attention! [10] RHYS STEVENSON |
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