YGGDRASSIL 'All Shall Burn' ART GATES It's true that the Vikings did land in Spain, so this is perhaps where Yggdrassil get their inspiration from as a band... although the thought of a Norseman eating paella is quite an amusing one, jokes aside this Spanish quintet are perfectly able to slap down their own branded form of Melodic Death Metal with Viking (of course) influences in tow. 5 years down the line and their debut album 'All Shall Burn' is born, what comes with it is a ferocious onslaught of fast-paced metal flirting with less pacey metal; a generous mixture of songs leaning towards both sides of the Melodic Death Metal sound. It is this effort that will certainly gain them some credible attention from the masses, thankfully they've avoided becoming Amon Amarth version 2. Download This: "The Horde Above All" - click to listen For Fans of: Amon Amarth, Scar Symmetry, Skálmöld [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON AS LIONS 'Selfish Age' BETTER NOISE Nothing says British than a reference to patriotism, well it's certain that these lions roar and they do so with such a ferocious feel to their music that it echoes the anthemic beats of Queen, metallic heaviness of Bullet For My Valentine and modern feel of Avenged Sevenfold. As Lions burst out of the ashes laid down by former moniker Rise To Remain and with the transition unleash a highly promising metal-cross-rock EP called 'Selfish Age'; what Dickinson manages to do, Worsnop didn't. They've clearly done their homework with this effort because it ticks all the boxes that metal and rock fans would want, a record worth opening the pit up for. As Lions are the modern Iron Maiden and join the likes of Asking Alexandria, BFMV and BMTH as leaders of the modern wave of British Metal. Download This: "The Suffering" For Fans of: Avenged Sevenfold, 5FDP, BFMV [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON CROSSBONES 'WWIII' NADIR MUSIC When you come to think of Albania, you're thoughts turn to the double-headed black eagle, the Balkan history and it's Mediterranean climate and yet in-between all of that is a small, vibrant metal scene spurred on by veterans such as Crossbones. This quartet are one of the earliest pioneers of the Albanian Metal scene and have just dropped their second album 'WWIII', exactly two decades after their debut album 'Days Of Rage'. Their effortless grinding together of Heavy Metal rhythms and Thrash Metal aggression remain unchallenged throughout and provide a delightful listen in it's wake, it's an honourable milestone for their national scene and is one that gives them automatic right to be flying the flag for the Albanian Metal scene. Download This: "Gjallë" For Fans of: Metallica, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath [8] RHYS STEVENSON BEHEADED 'Beast Incarnate' UNIQUE LEADER Brutal Death Metal with Technical Metal elements dotted around, yup this is Beheaded as you would expect them. They have not lost their magic touch despite the five-year gap between their new album 'Beast Incarnate' and their fourth album 'Never to Dawn', in fact you might need some life insurance instated before indulging in this face-f*cking slab of fortified metallic cranial pulverisation. Whilst the vocals might not be as prominent as the music itself, the raw feeling certainly adds to the dynamics presented herewith... 'Beast Incarnate' is like an orgy gone insane, seriously you're sex would be spiced up when screwing to the sounds emanating from this beast-of-an-album. Prepare for the ultimate anal penetration. Download This: "Crossing The House Of Knives" For fans of: Suffocation, Prostitute Disfigurement, Gorguts [8] RHYS STEVENSON DAEDRIC TALES 'The Divine Menace' INDEPENDENT Taking their lyrical influence from the 'Elder Scroll' game series one begins to ponder why they decided to go down that chosen path, but when mixed with Symphonic Power Metal it makes more sense to indulge in the fantasy world. Austria's Daedric Tales are no newcomers to the scene despite 'The Divine Menace' being their debut album, they've been beating around the Alps for nearly a decade and yet this effort presented is a delightful one. Despite all their efforts, this album will probably become ignored by the labels as it lacks that final piece to make it an album that would leave people gob-smacked, despite this though the album is a decent piece of musicianship that should appeal to many metal fans worldwide. Download This: "Planes Of Oblivion" For Fans of: Epica, Edenbridge, Amberian Dawn [8] RHYS STEVENSON ANALEPSY 'Atrocities From Beyond' VOMIT YOUR SHIRT | RISING NEMESIS This is what you would call filthy-rotten Brutal Death Metal, the kind that would grapple hold of your bollocks and crush them to death by means of corkscrew castration. Sure to the unintelligible the vocals are prime pig squeals and low-fi guttural emittance, but behind the gut-wrenching vocals lies a pulverising mixture of unrelenting drums, barbaric riffs and overall loudness designed to keep your neighbours sweating in their sleep. 'Atrocities From Beyond' is the Portuguese quartet's second album and it's destined to be one of the heaviest metal releases of 2017, it's so metal it cannot be unleashed on the festival circuit without prior warning. Download This: "Ferocious Aftermath" - Click to listen For Fans of: Obituary, Nile, Suffocation [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON SILENT KNIGHT 'The Angel Reborn' INDEPENDENT Built in the style of German Power Metal, Australia's Silent Knight opt for practicality over technicality which (let's be honest) at times can become too much to comprehend and thus sometimes its good to break it down to basics and that's what Silent Knight do... good ol' fashioned Heavy / Power Metal. Dropping their latest EP 'The Angel Reborn', this ensemble from down under create music in the vein of Helloween and give it a dosing of Maiden-esque atmospherics, leaving the EP to enthral whomever listens to it. Silent Knight are perhaps a gem from down under yet to be discovered by the global masses, but damn they do deserve some form of attention - this EP cannot go unnoticed. Download This: "The Ravens Return (Live)" - Click to listen For Fans of: Helloween, Iron Maiden, Rage [8] RHYS STEVENSON HEAVENLESS 'Whocantbenamed' INDEPENDENT Brazil has a long history of extreme metal, but never has one heard a band quite like Heavenless who seem to want to strap together Deathcore elements with Death / Thrash Metal, weird right? Not as odd as their debut album title mind, if 'Whocantbenamed' is a subtle reference to Voldemort from Harry Potter then I'd love to see how they manage to perform their magic in front of the muggles. Either way the vocals are brutal but unrecognisable and yet that has a degrading effect on the album, the overall release is a decent one. Crunchy riffs lead the charge whilst the thunderous drums and thick bass supplement the onslaught perfectly, what more could you want? A Quidditch match? on your broom. Download This: "Soothsayer" - Click to listen For Fans of: Sepultura (early), Deathchain, Whitechapel [7] RHYS STEVENSON AETERNAM 'Ruins Of Empires' INDEPENDENT If truth be told, Aeternam are the bastard sons of Scarab (Egypt) and Myrath (Tunisia), by mixing together the brutality of Death Metal with the Arabic influences in the Symphonic and Folk Metal forms, this Moroccan-Canadian unit are priming themselves to become a force to be reckoned with. Their third album 'Ruins Of Empires' could be seen as the crusader soundtrack of the metal world, spewing out hatred against those who turn on each other for the sake of religion. Ultimately this album is enough to give this band fullest attention from all corners of planet metal. As for the Canadian Metal scene, well, this album will need something extra-special to surpass this album, because to be quite frank it's hard to see anything bettering this for sometime. Download This: "Fallen Is The Simulacrum Of Bel" - Click to listen For Fans of: Nervecell, Scarab, Myrath, Divine Disorder [9] RHYS STEVENSON DEGOTTEN
'Hexentrost' BLACKSTORM 666 Chile has a sparkling history when it comes to Extreme Metal as it's metal scene is laden with it throughout the years, one of it's latest editions Degotten are determined to carry on the legacy through their debut album 'Hexentrost'. This four-piece leviathan spew out Black / Thrash Metal in a grim but pacey form and thus deliver a neck-breaking, raucous onslaught of raw riffs, battering drums and vicious vocals. For those who drool over the underground extreme metal sounds, this is for you as the album is a non-stop roller-coaster of Blackened Thrash and Thrashed-up Black Metal; it takes two. Whilst it might not be groundbreaking by any means, it certainly will have listeners glued for a considerable amount of time. Download This: "Oath Of War" - Click to listen For Fans of: Toxic Holocaust, Skeletonwitch, Aura Noir [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON
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RANTERIO 'Agonía' INDEPENDENT Ranterío's debut album pays homage to the Groove Metal style as it ticks all the boxes required to befit that style, moreover it's signed it's own disclaimer as an album that will give Ranterío attention from overseas. The language barrier might pose an issue as they sing in Spanish, but by letting the music do the talking it's evident Ranterío have done their homework. Gritty riffs lead the forward charge whilst the drums provide the artillery fire, the bass is as heavy as Argentinian red wine and the vocals are as slick as Lionel Messi's dribbling... what more could you want? Ranterío are set to become a band to keep an eye on as they aim to break-out of the Argentinian Metal scene with ease and being trouble-free. Download This: "Odio" - Click to listen For Fans of: 5 Finger Death Punch, Black Stone Cherry, Pantera [8] RHYS STEVENSON CERNUNNOS 'Leaves Of Blood' INDEPENDENT Skiltron and now Cernunnos, some might think why on earth is an Argentinian Metal band playing Folk Metal in the Celtic style? It's a valid question, but one plausible explanation is the vast Irish community that resides in Argentina and thus generations back might have hailed from the Emerald island. But accounting for Cernunnos' impressive take on the Celtic Metal style, it's clear that this sextet are set on scoring their own sound by wallowing through Heavy Metal, Melodic Metal and Melodic Death Metal and almost successfully becoming Argentina's answer to Eluveitie. 'Leaves Of Blood' is certainly an album that will enthral listeners for hours, but is also one that could easily carry this musically-sound lot across the Atlantic into Europe. Download This: "Birth Of Galatia" - Click to listen For fans of: Skiltron, Eluveitie, Waylander [8] RHYS STEVENSON INSULTERS 'Metal Still Means Danger' UNHOLY PROPHECIES Grim and bleak in every aspect, you would think that Insulters have been rampaging around for a very long time given the maturity of their Blackened Thrash assault style, you'd be wrong. Having only been beating around the bush for nine years, Catalonia's Insulters make their welcomed return with album number two, called 'Metal Still Means Danger'. Whilst the album title might not exactly tie in with the chosen metal genre, it does still ring true when contested as a fact - metal is a brutal genre that probably wouldn't appeal to the sheep in the pop music world, that is those who follow pop music en mass and are afraid of deviating away from commercialism. 'Metal Still Means Danger' is definitely a solid album and whilst consisting of raspy vocals and low-tuned guitars, it still packs a punch. Download This: "Forged In Hell's Fire" For fans of: Absu, Deströyer 666, Carpathian Forest [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON DEVIL GONE PUBLIC 'Smokehound' INDEPENDENT For a band who has had the blessing of Brian Johnson (AC/DC) being their mentor, later split-up and then reformed, some surely were going to question the band's odds at a successful comeback. Well the answer is in the form of 'Smokehound', the band's debut album which comes glazed over with Southern Metal grit and brutally tantalising grooves, infectious enough to make you want to renew your life insurance. Devil Gone Public may hail from Florida, but their music is no Disney fairytale and the alligators cannot even chomp through this heavy sh*t. Instead your met with a sound with such force, not even the hurricanes can muster such heavy brutality, but one thing is for sure, Devil Gone Public could easily push themselves to be the next export out of the United States. Download This: "Poison The Well" - Click to listen For Fans of: Rage Against The Machine, 5 Finger Death Punch, Mastodon [8] RHYS STEVENSON SLITEN6IX 'Hiraeth' INDEPENDENT Bolting together the grim and dank nature of Black Metal with the violence and abhorrent embodiment of Hardcore, Sliten6ix shed their Deathcore skin and emerge as a newfound entity, one with a horrific mauling in their vision, this comes in the form of their debut EP 'Hiraeth'. A thick, distorted mish-mash of shrieking, chaotic riffing, hellish drumming and an atmosphere so heavy it makes your last hangover seem weak compared to this beastly release. Sliten6ix are a force to be reckoned with and given this effort, they are sure to garner some wider attention, not to mention support bands like Denmark's Hexis in their wake. Sliten6ix are flying the flag for the Cambodian Metal scene. Download This: "Lesser Than The None" - Click to listen For Fans of: Hexis, She Must Burn, Black Metal / Hardcore [8] RHYS STEVENSON EXENEMY 'The Choir Of The Martyrs' INDEPENDENT Exenemy are perhaps the East Asian Power Metal band we've all been waiting for, hailing from Bangladesh this majestic sextet dive in the deep end and amass a sound that's of the Sonata Arctica league. Dropping their highly impressive debut album 'The Choir Of The Martyrs', the Bengal boys of down-town Dhaka don't hold anything back and thus have served up a rather infectious, if not outstanding metal release that will take something special to succeed. Exenemy have the potential to go far with this effort and yet we might just see them make Wacken Open Air someday; they are that good. This Saudi-Bangladeshi outfit (keyboardist Mashuq Haque is Saudi Arabian) are riding high on the tides of euphoria and are clearly the one to watch from this part of the world for 2017. Download This: "Victory Serenade" - Click to listen For Fans of: Sonata Arctica, Powerwolf, Sabaton [9] RHYS STEVENSON SHADOW OF INTENT 'Primordial' INDEPENDENT Deathcore is one of those genres that either one you love or hate, and two either is too damn cliche for it to make a statement or is seismically groundbreaking when produced. Suffice to say Shadow Of Intent have waltzed away from the cliche trap with their melodic, flashy onslaught of technical riffs, harmonious melodies and brutal underbelly. Considering 'Primordial' is the American trio's debut album, this is sure to get them noticed and snapped up by a label at some point in 2017, simply because the music that has come out of their mixing pot is a breathe of fresh air. There are no generic breakdowns and the brutality and melodic nature have been balanced so finely, it remains to be seen where they go on from here - the next album will have a lot of expectation riding on it. Download This: "The Shaping Sickness" - Click to listen For Fans of: Whitechapel, Rings Of Saturn, Fleshgod Apocalypse [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON THE EXILED MARTYR 'Stagnant Waters Breed Life' INDEPENDENT There's something breathing in the Arizonan desert, it's enraged with fury and inflamed by the streets of down-town Phoenix and it's ready to slay your soul, it simply has to be The Exiled Martyr. Here is a quintet with enough sensationalism in their music to cause a major blackout, by bolting together the flattering technicality of Progressive Metal with the monstrosity that embodies the Melodic Death / Metalcore crossover genre, the result is a magical masterpiece. 'Stagnant Waters Breed Life' is this band's debut album and it's one tight motherf*cker, deploying a mixture of clean, djent and melodic riffs at regular intervals in-between the drumming chaos and vocal assault, The Exiled Martyr have enough potential to gain considerable attention across the United States. Download This: "The Illuminist" - Click to listen For Fans of: The Black Dahlia Murder, Unearth, After The Burial [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON IONIC BOND 'Amavashya Lore' INDEPENDENT When you think of metal scenes in Asia, Bangladesh is one of many that you don't tend to think of and thus sadly doesn't gain a great deal of attention. But when bands like Ionic Bond enter the fray, you cannot deny that the scene is buzzing with talent as this twelve-legged leviathan of Modern Melodic Death Metal comes blazing out of the studio with their debut album 'Amavashya Lore', a twelve-track onslaught of pure inspiration, determination and above all passion for metal music. By mixing Modern Melodic Death Metal with Neo-Classical and Folk influences, perhaps it's the bands music that is the ionic bond between these two dynamic styles of metal music. Either way their debut album is groundbreaking and should hopefully serve as a platform for them to leap from into the wider, deeper pits of planet metal. Plus their Eluveitie cover is f*cking epic! Download This: "Crush The Iron Dome" - Click to listen For Fans of: Eluveitie, Children of Bodom, early-In Flames [8] RHYS STEVENSON BEYOND FORGIVENESS
'The Ferryman's Shore' INDEPENDENT Gothic Folk Metallers Beyond Forgiveness unleash a 30 minute or so debut EP that flourishes as it passes, 'The Ferryman's Shore' takes you on a journey through delinquent harmonies, graceful symphonies and gritty angelic vocals that all entwine to make a sound that ticks all the boxes of being epic. To many this might be a sound that is too cliche within the 'female-fronted' (that tag should be dumped) symphonic metal world, but it works, and with that in mind Beyond Forgiveness certainly know their craft as they deploy the whole beauty and the beast aesthetic with heavenly female vocals crashing against bearish, grizzly vocals. All in all this EP is a delight to listen to, it might not be the best the band can offer, but it's a positive start. Download This: "Perserverance" - Click to listen For Fans of: Midnattsol, Lyriel, Epica [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON FRISSON 'Exit Denied' INDEPENDENT When listening to the debut album release by Frisson, you would have to make your choice on what genre they are because they seem to wander through numerous styles, from Death Metal and Hardcore to elements of Black Metal and Thrash Metal... so let's call it extreme metal. 'Exit Denied' is a raw and brutal release that will appeal to a wide range of tastes, in fact it's a decent release from a scene that lacks in exposure... it's not easy hailing from Kosovo. Wherever the future takes these lads, one thing is for certain, they are flying the flag for the Kosovar Metal scene. For the record, Frisson is French for shivering and shivering is what you will do when finishing listening to 'Exit Denied'. Download This: "Madness" - Click to listen For fans of: Extreme Metal [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON SECTASYS 'Brotherhood Of Chaos' INDEPENDENT Without a doubt one of the tightest, most extreme metal bands to emerge out of the South American continent. Hailing from Venezuela is Sectasys, a Blackened Death trio of whom have summoned the darkest curses known to man to magic up 'Brotherhood Of Chaos', an album designed for those who love their metal to be fast and heavy, not weak and pathetic. From start to finish, this album is unrelenting in every aspect and as the chaos pursues, so does the thirst for more from this band. Think early Behemoth come cascading down into Immortal whilst simultaneously flirting with Carpathian Forest, well, you get the idea... complete chaotic carnage with enough brutality to crush your mind to pieces. Download This: "Destroyers Of Humanity" - Click to listen For Fans of: Behemoth, Carpathian Forest, early-God Dethroned [8] RHYS STEVENSON LIBERTAD O MUERTE 'En Carne Viva' INDEPENDENT Modern Metalcore meets Modern Melodic Death Metal once again as Libertad O Muerte drop their second album 'En Carne Viva', one year after their debut saw light. Exclusively singing in Spanish, this quintet from Uruguay hold nothing back when it comes to music creativity and it shows on their latest effort, it's none of that flashy stuff nor is it swishy, in fact this album is completely brutal and demands your immediate attention. If you think you've heard Melodic Death/ / Metalcore in it's entirety, think again for Libertad O Muerte feed their style with some groove elements as well to keep it bouncing along tickety-boo. 'En Carne Viva' is a delight to listen to, may they make more albums like this. Download This: "Divide Y Conquistarás" - Click to listen For Fans of: Mnemic, The Agonist, Scar Symmetry [8] RHYS STEVENSON NOVARIUM 'Omicron' INDEPENDENT With most Gothic Metal bands you tend to expect the vocals to be a battle between male growls and female harmonics, however Novarium seem to want to discard the whole 'beauty and the beast' aesthetic, and instead use the power of the music generated as a menacing sound to battle against the female vocals - quite an interesting take if one is being honest. This American quintet are challenging convention with their debut effort 'Omicron' (n.b. 15th letter of the Greek alphabet), taking a delicate balance of Nightwish style symphonies and slotting in influences from Evanescence, Lacuna Coil and Within Temptation along the way. To most this might seem another one of those cliche Gothic Metal releases, but this is a breath of fresh air, don't believe me? Check it out for yourself. I call this Modern Gothic Metal. Download This: "The Unworthy" - Click to listen For Fans of: Nightwish, Lacuna Coil, Evanescence, Within Temptation. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON EX ANIMO 'Neverday' INDEPENDENT If you turn your attention towards Eastern Europe, in specific the broader Doom / Dark Metal movement that seems to be rather a craze in this part of the world, you will find bands like Ex Animo taking the initiative to constantly reinvent this already overdone crossover genre. 12 years may well be a shockingly long time between their debut album and their second album 'Neverday', but the Ukrainian quintet have pulled out all the stops on this effort and whilst sticking 'mostly' to their guns. They've ventured into other styles of metal including Symphonic Metal and Gothic Metal at the foremost periphery. Just don't expect a lot of growling to take centre stage, instead let the atmospherics do the talking because boy, it's terrific, it's hounding and it's going to consume your senses. Download This: "Shattered Universe" - Click to listen For Fans of: Moonspell, Poisonblack, Paradise Lost [8] RHYS STEVENSON EDGEFLAME 'Liberate Then Separate' INDEPENDENT This is more of a political statement in vendetta form rather than a Thrash Metal album, well when you consider Edgeflame to wallow in the 80's Thrash Metal sound, it fits. Mixing Speed and Heavy Metal as well and you have the complete package. For Turkey's Edgeflame, 'Liberate Then Separate' is more about making music and enjoying it rather than seeking something new and or to be superstars, it's a statement of intent that there is evident unrest within Turkish society - not to suggest that the middle finger should be raised at the state of modern Turkey, or at least ironically that is what Edgeflame seem to suggest. Instead it's a gentle nod to a much wider global issue. Download This: "Sledgehammer Of Time" - Click to listen For Fans of: Evile, Pantera, Testament [7] RHYS STEVENSON NAWATHER 'Wasted Years' M&O MUSIC Ever since Myrath exploded onto the global stage with their unique style of Oriental Progressive Metal, fellow Tunisian metalheads have adopted similar styles with their music, Nawather are no exception. They aren't trying to be clones of Myrath, no way, instead they add a bit more grit and another take on the flourishing Oriental Progressive Metal style and this is clear with their debut album 'Wasted Years'. By mixing growling male vocals with clean female vocals, Nawather add an extra dimension to create their own sound - through the use of a Qanûn, rather than synthetically create the 'Arabic' vibes via keyboard; not that there's anything wrong with that, either way is something special. But it's fair to say that Nawather, Myrath and Persona are leading the 'New Wave of Tunisian Metal'. For Fans of: Myrath, Persona, Orphaned Land Download This: "Defnouna" - Click to listen [8] RHYS STEVENSON INTRICATED 'The Vortex Of Fatal Depravity' PERMEATED If seismic activity was detected underneath the buzzing streets of Bangkok, you cannot blame mother nature for it, no not this time... the culprits would be Intricated. By unleashing a torrential, gruelling and disgusting slab of Slam / Brutal Death Metal, Thailand's Intricated are sickening enough to make you vomit and then some. When you consider 'The Vortex Of Fatal Depravity' is the band's debut album after 9 years since their inception, it certainly was worth the wait as the pig squeals, low-fi blastbeats and thick distorted riffs set destined course for pummelling your senses. The funny thing is though, Brutal Death Metal is so fixed on a particular formula it's hard to create anything musically different without treading over the same blueprints, either way 'The Vortex Of Fatal Depravity' is a heavy-hitting release. Download This: "Represent Existence" - click to listen For Fans of: Katalepsy, Suffocation, Dying Fetus [7] RHYS STEVENSON OMNIFARIUM 'Vitiate' INDEPENDENT There was once a time where most people would have never thought of any metal music scenes happening in The Caribbean, nowadays the island nations and dependencies are embracing this global phenomena and it's bands like Omnifarium who are spurring it on. Having unleashed their first demo 3 years ago, the time had come for them to drop their debut EP and boy what a beast it is. Vitiate borrows influence from Old-School Death Metal as well as the Floridian Death Metal style, so mid-pace drums, chunky riffs and mauling vocals all combine to deliver a harmonised music onslaught. Omnifarium have not vitiated the Death Metal scene, no in fact they've pushed themselves right into the mix of it all, but also positioned themselves to be flying the flag for the Puerto Rican Metal scene. Download This: "Thorns Of Abomination" - Click to listen For Fans of: Shadows Fall, Suffocation, Morbid Angel FROZEN GATE
'Behind The Dark Ice' INDEPENDENT Perhaps it might be apt that Frozen Gate does indeed hail from the city of Winterthur in northern Switzerland, because this horde of ice warriors have sculptured a rather bitter, brutal and atmospheric style of Symphonic Black Metal. 'Behind The Dark Ice' is a new edition to the whole 'Winter Metal' theme that bands like Wintersun, Wintersoul and Immortal Soul seem to use, in fact truth be told Frozen Gate are the bastard sons of Wintersun and Dimmu Borgir. On one hand you have the icy symphonies and on the other hand the fast-paced brutality combined with an almost adventurous undertone. It is early days no doubt, but Frozen Gate might yet just prove to be the Black Metal band to reignite the Swiss Metal scene and potentially befit themselves as an up-and-coming force in the underground. Download This: "Illuminate My Way" - Click to listen For Fans of: Behemoth, Wintersun, Dimmu Borgir [9] RHYS STEVENSON TBOPTPIAS 'Caucasian Flagellation' INDEPENDENT Potentially hailing from Barbados, Tboptpias are veiled in secrecy and there's very little information about who is in the band, whether they are from Barbados or indeed if it's a legit band (think Rhanawa vs. Oriksha Shakpana). Either way 'Caucasian Flagellation' is a very interesting release as it binds together influences from both the Black and Death Metal genres and thus somehow develops it's own sound for Tboptpias to experiment with. With the raw and low-fi production adding a crisp and underground feel to it, this debut EP is one for the ages and will surely appeal to those who indulge in extreme metal from exotic locations... that is if they are from Barbados; we know Conrad are. Download This: "Cholera" - Click to listen For Fans of: Cannibal Corpse, Vader, Impiety [7] RHYS STEVENSON MEMORIAM 'Ravaged Approach' INDEPENDENT Cyprus does not exactly spring to mind when you think of metal music, yet this island nation in the Mediterranean has a bustling metal scene, full of hidden gems that will get your moshing before you book flights to this sunny and hot place. Memoriam so happens to be one of these gems, this ten-legged Melodic Death outfit certainly know how to deliver a cranial-crunching release, 'Ravaged Approach' is the bands debut EP and it gives generous nods to the whole modern style with Gothenburg elements in tow. 2017 could be Memoriam's year because this sort of sound will do well around Europe as Melodic Death Metal seems to be in demand of late, watch this band with vigorous interest. Download This: "Sated Bull" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Arch Enemy, Amon Amarth, Scar Symmetry [8] RHYS STEVENSON CHEPANG 'Lathi Charge' INDEPENDENT Now based in the USA, Nepalese Grindcore merchants Chepang drop their self-titled EP with such force that you cannot just simply ignore it. Come on the band features two drummers for heaven's sake, and yet at times you can distinguish this easily from the forethought of them having just the one. Singing exclusively in their native Nepali, Chepang know their stuff as they bolt political and social lyrics with the grizzly sound of thunderous drums, tight riffs and vocals so thick that they're hard to understand - what more can you expect? Chepang take their name from the indigenous Tibeto-Burman tribe and the EP title comes from the Indian Media expression for 'baton charge'... yeah imagine being hit by a baton, that's what this EP will do to you. Download This: "Bidwa Ko Charam Sukha" - Click to listen For Fans of: Napalm Death, Tengkorak, Multinational Corporations [8] RHYS STEVENSON SILENT TORTURE 'Your Creation' INDEPENDENT Revelling in the shadows of Old-School Death Metal, New Zealanders Silent Torture keep the style alive with their debut EP 'Your Creation'. With muffled growls at the helm, this ten-legged leviathan of bestiality slams down on the table an EP that spits vulgarity, hate and abhorrence. Whilst the core of the EP glimmers with the old-school sound, there's some parts which nick elements from the Modern Death Metal style and thus if you like, keeping both camps happy. 'Your Creation' might not be unique in any shape or form, but it's certainly a delightful blast to unleash upon your neighbours - unless their elderly and then in which case may the zimmer frame moshpit commence (joke). Download This: "Blasphemy" - Click to listen For Fans of: Napalm Death, Morbid Angel, Obituary [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON LUCIFUGE ROFOCALE 'Serpent Insurrection' BLACKENDEATH For the uneducated, Lucifuge Rofocale according to the Grand Grimoire, is the demon in charge of Hell's government by order of Lucifer. In the metal world they are a truly decent Black Metal outfit from the darkened pits of Nicaragua. This time round the trio come armed with their latest offering of demonic and bestial sermons in the form of their premier EP 'Serpent Insurrection'. Traditional Black Metal riffs course throughout whilst there's a delicate whiff of True Norwegian Black Metal in the atmospherics department, both aided by raucous vocals and riveting drumming. Overall a solid EP release that will definitely appeal to the Black Metal loyalists and those passionate about metal from exotic lands alike. Download This: "Luciferic Enslavement" - Click to listen For Fans of: Immortal, Carpathian Forest, Taake [8] RHYS STEVENSON LUCID NIGHTMARE 'Lucid Nightmare' INDEPENDENT Northern Ireland is one of those metal scenes that despite having a wealth of talent, rarely sees any of it's offspring fledge outside of it's lands if only for a few bands, Gama Bomb for example. So when the attention turns towards the underground and bands like Lucid Nightmare deliver their first effort, eyebrows are raised, because when you listen to their debut self-titled effort, not only is it raw and delicious, it's true to the underground sound. 'Lucid Nightmare' is a release that whilst evidently lacks the ability to convince that the band is the real deal, it does come as a consolatory pleasant listen, one that borrows influences from Black Metal, Thrash Metal and Heavy Metal without straying into either one too far. 2017 should have high hopes for this quintet, they're clearly onto something. For Fans of: Toxic Holocaust, Slayer, Venom Download This: "Hidden Victims" - Click to listen [7] RHYS STEVENSON COMMUNAL GRAVE 'Solace in Violencia' ENFORCER The members who make up the Pakistani Extreme Metal band Communal Grave have come out from their own communal grave (ha-ha... no), well the previous incarnation split back in 2011 before a new visage emerged just last year (2015) and with it they set on delivering a solid 'welcome back' release. The result? A powerful punch-in-the-face courtesy of their rather ironical debut album 'Solace in Violencia' which eventually came after 10 years since their inception. By throwing Melodic Death and Thrash Metal into the mixing pot, this Karachi-based horde have conjured up a release that is sure to draw some attention their way as its potency is second to none... it's sheer magnificence is untouchable. For Fans of: Scar Symmetry, Kreator, The Haunted Download This: "Pull The Trigger" - Click to listen [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON RAGE MOB 'Unforeseen Disaster' INDEPENDENT Done in the traditional style of South American Thrash Metal, Rage Mob's first ever demo 'Unforeseen Disaster' is laden with chugging riffs, headbanging vocals and Teutonic drums, but even more impressive is the variety of style on this demo. From the fast to the slick, 'Unforeseen Disaster' is a demo that should be heralded by the Paraguayan Metal scene as one of the finest releases seen this year. By taking the Groove influence from Sepultura and adding the brutality of Slayer, this quartet are set to embark on something remarkable in the years-to-come. Sticking to true 80's Thrash lyrics, the band dives head-first into social issues, violent unrest and humanity's demise, how more fitting can this be? Download This: "Ritual Of Violence" - Click to listen For Fans of: Slayer, Sepultura, Evile [8] RHYS STEVENSON APU RUMI 'Puka Yaku' INDEPENDENT The self-proclaimed 'Andean Folk Metal' sextet known as Apu Rumi have stamped their mark on the Peruvian Metal scene with their ethnic take on the Power / Folk Metal style. By releasing their debut album 'Puka Yaku', which is entirely in the Quechua language; thus becoming the first metal band to do so, they've effectively created a new style of Folk Metal. Quechua so happens to be the native language of the Incas and so thus making this album and band rather authentic to Peruvian culture. Immerse yourself in infectious melodies, thunderous drums and riffs, harmonious and Amazonian atmospherics but also traditional Inca folk music. 'Puka Yaku' is a truly unique and mesmerising release that will set the trend for Peruvian Folk Metal in years to come. Download This: "Tanta Qarwa" - Click to listen For fans of: Mägo de Oz, Skiltron, Angra [8] RHYS STEVENSON EXITUS
'Rot 'Em All' INDEPENDENT Hailing from The Philippines, the Extreme Metal trio Exitus bind together elements from Black Metal, Death Metal and Thrash Metal to once again conjure up another demo, 'Rot 'Em All'. Yet whilst it's only taken a year to unleash this beast, it's 15 years since the band's inception and so it makes you question what on earth have they been doing all this time? Sleeping under rocks? No idea. But the demo itself is not bad, it's not great, but it does well to pass the time. None the less Exitus will have their fair share of attention across the South-East Asian Metal scenes, but for the wider world? Questionable but certainly not wishful thinking. Download This: "This Metal Lust" - Click to listen For Fans of: Toxic Holocaust, Carpathian Forest, Immortal [7] RHYS STEVENSON THE NOTHING 'War Of Memories' INDEPENDENT If you want a face-punching slab of metal designed to leave you stunned, then check out The Nothing and their debut album 'War Of Memories'. Mixing a delicate balance of Metalcore and Melodic Death Metal (in the Gothenburg vein), Argentina's The Nothing show their contemporaries that there is more to their country than just football and red wine, in fact 'War Of Memories' might be seen as slightly political given the nature of the Falklands, nether-the-less the album is a force to be reckoned with and will certainly appeal to those who are fans of the Gothenburg Melodic Death Metal and American Metalcore styles. Download This:- "Broken Silence" - click to listen For Fans of: Scar Symmetry, The Agonist, Arch Enemy [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON CHAOS REMAINS 'Roots' INDEPENDENT Can you get any tighter than this? Austria might not spring to mind at first for the whole Melodic Death Metal / Metalcore crossover genre, more-so the dominating Black Metal sector. But when bands like Chaos Remains arise from the snow-laden streets of Vienna, with a calculative onslaught of technical riffs, unrelenting drumming and vocals so brutal that they cause seismic tremors in the Alps, you cannot help but keep your ears turned on to 'Roots'', the debut EP by this 10-legged machine. High hopes are placed on this outfit, for 2017 will be their year that they explode onto the wider European Metal circuit with a bright future ahead of them. Download This: "Marionette Of Media" - Click to listen For Fans of: The Dead Lay Waiting, Bleeding Through, Arch Enemy [8] RHYS STEVENSON SMALLMAN 'Inner Oceans' INDEPENDENT Taking inspiration from Balkan folklore and latching it onto an ethereal mixture of Folk, Progressive and Sludge Metal, Bulgaria's Smallman are a tough nut to crack. Delivering their latest offering in the shape of their first ever EP 'Inner Oceans', you could argue that they wallow in the Post-Metal and Shoegaze genres too as their rather atmospheric sounds encapsulate your senses and leave them in complete suspension. So if you love to listen to something rather calm and pleasant, then 'Inner Oceans' should be your next purchase. Download This: "Fenix" - Click to listen For Fans of: Ethereal Music, Metal [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON KORIJENJE VJEČNOSTI 'Poglavlje Prvo' INDEPENDENT Korijenje Vječnosti means 'Roots of Eternity' in Croatian, now just because they sing about Croatian patriotism amongst other topics, does not mean that they're far right supporters. Arguably Korijenje Vječnosti are Croatia's answer to England's Winterfylleth as their style of Black Metal is so raw, thick and blazingly chaotic, moreover since they sing about nature, eternity and mysticism one can definitely separate them from the common subjects found within Black Metal. 'Poglavlje Prvo' is the debut album by this quintet and whilst sung mostly in Croatian but for one song "Panzer IV", it certainly adds a Slavic feel to the music. There are good hopes for this Croatian horde as they brandish the music of what one could call 'The New Wave of Croatian Black Metal'. Download This: "Vatra Koja Vječno Gori" - click to listen For Fans of: Carpathian Forest, Winterfylleth, Burzum [8] RHYS STEVENSON MELTDOWN 'MeltDown' INDEPENDENT Fresh from the city streets of Prague, the Czech sextet Meltdown muster all their might together to unleash a horrific slab of Melodic Death Metal, tinged with various other elements along the way all of which combined amass to one decent listening. Stamping their ground with their debut self-titled demo, they are set on course for great things and are sure to gain attention of the record labels in the coming year. If they keep this formula together and use it on their first EP and first album then they will be laughing all the way to the bank, because I have never heard such a strong demo like this before. MetalGate, Napalm, Spinefarm, are you listening? MeltDown are the Czech Republic's newest, hottest property. Download This: "I Am Unbowed" - Click to listen For Fans of: Scar Symmetry, Children Of Bodom, Wintersun [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON PREVAIL 'War Will Reign' INDEPENDENT Are we staring at the latest hot property to emerge from Denmark? F*ck yes! Stamping their authority down with forceful reckoning in-tow, this Modern Metal machine bolts together the funk of Groove Metal with the unforgiving brutality of Death Metal to craft a sound that will blast your skin off before crushing your bones to ashes. 'War Will Reign' is Prevail's debut album and it's an absolute belter, seriously this is some menacing sh*t. Topping this extraordinary sound is some rather slick and smooth melodies that just top it off all so nicely, so why not sit back, sip a cup of tea or down a stein of beer and enjoy one of the finest releases of the Danish Metal scene in 2016. You dirty animal you. Download This: "Face What Remains" - Click to listen For Fans of: Amon Amarth, Dagoba, Illdisposed [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON CONCEIVED BY HATE 'Death & Beyond' SATANATH Four years has passed since the debut album by Conceived By Hate dropped, and now the Death / Thrash Metal horde from El Salvador drop their second album with a mighty explosion. Their music is solidly bolted in the old-school style and so should garner much appeal from those who are fans of bands like Destruction, Sepultura and Holy Moses. 'Death & Beyond' is a 46-minute romp with no second spent being wasted faffing around, no no this is no poseur material, this is the real deal. For a band who comes from a scene with very little media coverage or anything in the ways of a metal music industry, this is a solid release that connoisseurs of exotic metal should also invest time in instigating. Download This: "The Underdog" - Click to listen For Fans of: Above mentioned bands. [8] RHYS STEVENSON DEVIL MAY 'Novus' INDEPENDENT For a band who just started out in 2015, their first EP 'Novus' is a juicy and cumbersome release, through the well-executed sound of Melodic Groove Metal comes this tight-knit unit from Wales, set to brush aside their nation's overshadowed Metalcore tagging. 'Novus' means new in Latin and for sure Devil May are new to the scene, their sound might not be completely new but their compositions certainly are something to behold. Here is a band destined to make a statement in the UK and if they're to enter BOA's Metal To The Masses this year, here's hoping they win their respective heat because this heavy sh*t will go down bloody well at BOA. Download This: "Severed" - Click to listen For Fans of: DevilDriver, Devil You Know, Lamb Of God [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON LAMENTATIONS 'Echoes In The Wind' INDEPENDENT Over recent years the South-East region of Asia has become a hotbed for sensational talent and by honing onto the Singaporean Metal scene, there seems to be a huge swathe of bands following in their leaders steps, that band being Impiety. Hailing from the 'Lion City', this Progressive Death Metal unit certainly know the difference from true progressive metal and the over-followed djent movement. 'Echoes In The Wind' is the duo's premier album and whilst it leans more towards the Progressive side of the Progressive Death Metal sound, and in doing so doesn't quite contest Gojira, it does however offer itself as an enjoyable listen. By combining a folkloric feel to it through storytelling and using native influences, Lamentations are certainly an exciting duo to keep an eye on. Download This: "Rivers Of Past" - click to listen For Fans of: Gojira, Ne Obliviscaris, Dream Theater [8] RHYS STEVENSON CULT OF LILITH
'Arkanum' INDEPENDENT Iceland has seen a constant output of metal from the extreme styles over the last two decades and newcomers Cult Of Lilith are no exception. Technical Death Metal at it's most centralist point, that being a fine balance between tricky, complicated riffs and full-on Death Metal. 'Arkanum' is the band's debut EP and echoes a lot of the old wizardry used by other bands in the same style. Granted it's nothing new and probably won't surprise anyone, but it does do the job that the band set out to do and presents itself as a breath of fresh air for those craving Technical Death metal of yesteryear, simply mesmerising. Download This: "Night Hag" - Click to listen For Fans of: Cryptopsy, Spawn Of Possession, Gorguts [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON HARMASAR 'Din Pământ' INDEPENDENT Nothing says truly authentic than metal music being sung in your own national language, welcoming to the fore is Moldovan Pagan Metallers Harmasar with their debut album 'Din Pământ'. The five-piece ensemble are a bunch of jolly chaps, who with this effort clearly wallow down the same path as their fellow Pagan and traditional Folk Metal contemporaries, with their compositions of uplifting and soul-blessing sound of traditional folk metal. Expect to be on your feet, dancing away wherever you may be when listening or let's say 'indulging' in this epic masterpiece, in fact this music would certainly go down well in front of a camp fire. 'Din Pământ' certainly should be in your music collection as it's demanding attention will certainly prevent you from turning a blind eye, give it a year and Harmasar will be snapped up by a label. Harmasar are flying the flag for the Moldovan Metal scene. Download This: "Tapae" - Click to listen For Fans of: Ensiferum, Korpiklaani and Litvintroll [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON SONS OF CAIN 'Seven' INDEPENDENT The Channel Islands rarely get a look-in when it comes to metal music, yet here are some thriving island scenes with enough talent to be knocking on the UK-mainland door. Guernsey's Sons Of Cain are a prime example whose debut album ''Seven'' would be a blessing when listened live, who knows maybe at next years Bloodstock? Saddled between classic Hard Rock and the NWOBHM sounds, Sons Of Cain know their craft well and are well and truly capable of amassing a number of songs with such bounce and beauty, that it mimics the happiness of the Guernsey Islanders. 'Seven' is a concept album and comes off the backbone of a former cover band, not bad for a group of musicians from one of the more isolated yet inhabited parts of the UK no? Download This: "Magic Man" - Click to listen For Fans of: Iron Maiden, Van Halen, AC/DC [7/10] RHYS STEVENSON VENDETTA INC. 'Blight' INDEPENDENT Lashing together the funk of Groove Metal and grittiness of Metalcore (in the vocals department), you'd begin to think that you're mistaken for checking out the Vendetta Inc. syndicate, well you would be mistaken. This band is heavier than your last hangover and has far more passion than your last shag in bed, truth be told Hungary's Vendetta Inc. are set on making a statement and with their debut effort 'Blight' leading the way, there is nothing that'll stop this quartet from crushing planet metal under their ballistic weight. It was never designed to be pretty, but that's what it is and boy it's pretty as f**k - this is the real deal and you better believe it. Brutally heavy, slick in composition and precise at every second, Vendetta Inc. may well just be Hungary's answer to Lamb Of God. Download This: "Wretched Mind" - Click to listen For Fans of: Lamb Of God, DevilDriver, 5FDP [7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON TEARS OF REGRET 'The Darkness Prophecy' DEPRESSIVE ILLUSIONS The Jordan / Iraq-based horde known as Tears Of Regret might have just become the most exciting underground act to emerge from the Middle East. Coming together are musicians of Iraqi, Jordanian, Russian and Emirati backgrounds to create and unleash a sound that is both hallowing, bone-chilling and raw to the core. 'The Darkness Prophecy' is this band's debut album and it's potent enough to make your ears bleed inside out, spewing out stark comparisons with Darkthrone, Dimmu Borgir and to a certain extent Septic Flesh. Ultimately the album should be a tasty treat for those who indulge in extreme metal and or metal from exotic locations. As for the album, it's bombastic, raw and unsuspecting nature is one that will be tough to beat. Download This: "Time Ignorant" - Click to listen For Fans of: Middle Eastern Black Metal, Darkthrone, Immortal [7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON LANDMINE 'Reject The Destiny' INDEPENDENT It's early days, but you could probably consider Landmine as South Korea's answer to Sonata Arctica, their epic vocals leading the charge whilst the music itself delivers a crossover mix of Heavy Metal and Power Metal. Why on earth is the South Korean Metal scene largely ignored remains a mystery, given treasures like Landmine are waiting to be discovered by western metal media (cough like us). 'Reject The Destiny' is the quartet's premier EP and is a sure sign that much more is to come, for a first-time effort it's pretty solid and thus Landmine should be the next band you should check out. 20 minutes of beautifully-crafted Heavy Power Metal surges through your speakers and into your ears, just be sure to avoid wetting your pants at the amazing nature of this band. Download This: "After Love" For Fans of: Sonata Arctica, Iron Maiden, Helloween [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON BLAAKYUM 'Line Of Fear' INDEPENDENT Firstly Acrassicauda from Iraq, then Motor Militia from Bahrain and now Blaakyum from The Lebanon, who'd have thought Thrash Metal would touch the hearts of the Middle Eastern folk? Additionally the Arabian vibe flows throughout the band's second album 'Line Of Fear', echoing comparisons with Tunisia's Myrath and Israel's Orphaned Land in the Oriental Metal department. Truth be told this Lebanese five-piece are ready to smash Europe to bits. One can see the likes of Nuclear Blast snapping this lot up, after all, there are times where you can question the European Metal scenes' level of creativity and when Blaakyum have nothing to lose, they go head-on and immerse themselves in originality, giving them the reason as to why they are the flag-bearers of Lebanese Metal. Download This: "Baal-Adon" For Fans of: Motor Militia, Myrath, Orphaned Land [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON SLEEPERS' GUILT 'Kilesa' INDEPENDENT Think you know Melodic Death Metal? Feel you've heard enough flouncy melodies and brutal riffs to keep your sanity in check? You must be f*cking joking. Luxembourg's Sleepers' Guilt don't dish-out that kind of bullsh*t, instead they're capable of smashing your senses into a thousand pieces and then some. 'Kilesa' serves as the quintet's premier album and is one album destined to gain attention far and wide, it's infectious hooks and almost entrancing ability to captivate is paramount, in fact 'Kilesa' may as well be a sharp contender for Luxembourg Metal release of the year as this is probably the strongest album to come out of this country all year. With nearly 80 minutes worth of solid Modern Melodic Death Metal at the helm, this is one album that is certain to quench the thirst of most metalheads. Download This: "Supernova" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Arch Enemy, In Flames, Deals Death [7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON BLIND SAVIOUR 'The Master Plan' INDEPENDENT Malta is one of those metal scenes who seems to struggle at times in gaining any international attention, but when you have bands like Blind Saviour emerge on the scene and drop a scorching album such as 'The Master Plan', you know the band means business. 'The Master Plan' is a riotous slab of Power Metal that rampages at a canter whilst whipping up vocals so heavenly, even the angels have started a moshpit. Make no mistake they're not your sappy power metal cohorts, not even when their vocalist is female, of whom does a stellar job at unleashing a voice so emphatic, guys should feel ashamed. Perhaps next year will be Blind Saviours year with this effort firmly underneath their belts, waiting to unleash it upon the European masses... and perhaps beyond. Download This: "The Day After" - Click to listen For Fans of: Twilight Force, Kobra & The Lotus, Sonata Arctica [8] RHYS STEVENSON MINDAHEAD 'Reflections' REVALVE Modern Metallers MindAhead take no prisoners with their algorithmic approach to music construction, by lashing together elements of Progressive, Melodic, Technical and Death Metal, this Italian sextet are preparing to launch themselves into the unknown. 'Reflections' may be a unique album, it may be a damn good one also, but the truth is it's going to push MindAhead into the spotlight. Such an experimental yet eclectic band and album should bode well in the future because truth be told, this sort of music is what metal needs; to open up and explore new avenues. Ultimately if you thought Modern Metal was about the groove, the riffs, the heaviness, then you're mistaken... stare into your own 'Reflections' and see that the truth is found deep within... the desire to invent, inspire and above all, reflect... Download This: "Emerald Green Eyes" For Fans of: Amaranthe, Nightwish, Epica [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON TRALLERY
'Spiritless' ART GATES Hailing from the Balearic Islands, Thrashers Trallery hold nothing back in attempting to better their debut album, the result? Completely filthy Thrash Metal designed to split your spine in two. 'Spiritless' is a reckless and relentless ride through pacey riffs, brutal drums and vocals so vicious that you'll need life insurance to pass this orgasmic musical spectacular. 'Spiritless' gleams with breakneck Thrash Metal designed to conjure up any moshpit at such short notice, moreover Trallery seem to understand how to create your own unique sound as they wallow in between the ferocity of Slayer and the precision of Metallica whilst giving a slight nod to the Teutonic sound. Ah this album is cool, there's hardly anything worth scrutinizing about... it's not long enough. Download This: "Evil Pride" For Fans of: Savage Messiah, Evile, Slayer, Metallica [8] RHYS STEVENSON NIGHTMARE A.D. 'Corruptors' YAB MOUNG Even in the smallest countries across the world, there is bound to be a metal band or indeed someone listening to metal music awaiting discovery. Take for example Cambodian Thrashers Nightmare A.D. who have just released their debut EP 'Corruptors', the title does not need much explanation as does not their own views on society as a whole in this mainly-Buddhist nation. By unleashing a chaotic mix of breakneck Thrash Metal with flash riffs giving the sound added harmony and Hardcore lacing it with spicy attitude, the 'Corruptors' EP is a good sign of things to come and yet its production sound is crystal clear, something most people would not envisage happening in a country like Cambodia... yet did anyone foresee metal arising? Clearly Nightmare A.D. have their visions in check, they are sure to go far. Download This: "Dissent Surge" - Click to listen For Fans of: Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies, Nuclear Assault [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON NARSARAKH 'Prevail' INDEPENDENT If you're craving for some raw Death Metal, something laden with thick distorted riffs, muffled growling and an atmosphere as gritty as a bullet storm, look no further than Narsarakh's premier demo 'Prevai'. Hailing from Brunei, this four-piece machine waste no time in crafting a sound so underground it gives a solid nod to the early days of extreme underground metal. 'Prevail' offers a 15-minute journey from which one can experience incomprehensible lyrics, pounding drums and guitars so Black Metal-esque, you'd begin to wonder what genre exactly this Bruneian outfit can be included in. It's the sort of raw sound that would provide itself as the perfect accompaniment to a seance or candlelit event, it's atmosphere as bleak as night and the music as nasty as death itself. For Fans of: Murder Squad, Carpathian Forest, early-Cannibal Corpse Download This: "Malevolent Coronation" [7] RHYS STEVENSON RADTSKAFFEN 'Worldwide Anarchy' INDEPENDENT Get your dancing shoes in, switch on the disco lights and get that groove on, for the debut EP by Denmark's Groove / Thrash stalwarts Radtskaffen will have you sweating through your clothes like it's Saturday Night Fever. From the ultra funky 'Deus Lo Vult' to the full-on face-melting 'Oblivion', the 'Worldwide Anarchy' EP will keep you amused for a long time, just be sure to pay your dues at the end for wanting more. For a band fresh on the scene, they certainly have enough potential to go far, just as long as they harness the sound they've developed on this EP. The music won't be hard to sing to, but pronouncing the band name probably will be the sole challenge, after all it's Danish for... Download This: "Deus Lo Vult' - Click to listen For Fans of: Metallica, Sworn Amongst, Soulfly [7] RHYS STEVENSON QAF 'Muthalath Al A'asarem - The Triangle Of Esraam' INDEPENDENT Very little is known about Qaf, a project run by two Egyptians who indulge in Oriental Black Metal, singing about Arabic and Persian Myth. That said, their premier EP 'Muthalath Al A'asarem - The Triangle Of Esraam' is a bitter and raw slice of Black Metal that encases you in a blazing atmosphere. Exclusively singing in their native Arabic, Qaf go full-pelt with this EP and as a result clearly demonstrate that they know how to put together a winning release off the bat. Whilst this might not appeal to Black Metal aficionados, those who crave the darker side of metal will certainly wet themselves at the almighty sound here produced. 'Muthalath Al A'asarem - The Triangle Of Esraam' is a statement of intent, that ordinary people will not be put down by Conservative figures, it's a punch in the face for all metal elitists. Download This: "Al Qassam W Al Qurbaan (The Oath and the Offering)" - Click to listen For Fans of: Arallu, Melechesh, Borknagar [7] RHYS STEVENSON THE PERFECT MASS 'World On Fire' SALUTE It seems that ever since Arctic Spirits made headway as Greenland's first metal band (known at least), the genre has come in leaps and bounds on this remote island of ice. The latest export from these barren lands is the one-man project The Perfect Mass, masterminded by Kunuk Groenvold the interesting mix of Black Metal, Melodic Metal, Death Metal and classic Heavy Metal certainly demands attention and at the very least, respect. What makes 'World On Fire', the debut album by The Perfect Mass so special, is it's unique and intricate combination of raw production, unrelenting power cruising through the vocals and music, but also it's unchallenged nature at creating a sound symbolic to this project, one that hopefully will echo across planet metal with positive results. Download This: "Faith" - Click to listen For Fans of: Carpathian Forest, God Dethroned, King Diamond [7] RHYS STEVENSON DARK PHANTOM 'Nation Of Dogs' SALUTE Underneath the whole blanketing of ISIS / ISIL-related news is a burgeoning and establishment defying metal scene brooding on Iraqi sands. The latest addition to this awesome scene is Dark Phantom's debut album 'Nation Of Dogs', a bellied-up smacking of gritty Heavy / Thrash Metal that would be sure to keep you entertained for ages. By mixing growling and almost Arab-like (traditional singing) vocals together, Dark Phantom embrace the Oriental Metal style with open arms and as a result connect with the heritage more than they did on their premier EP. 'Nation Of Dogs' clearly is a slight dig at religion, but let's not go there, in fact we can say that Dark Phantom's new effort is one that most metalheads will find intriguing. Acrassicauda might have escaped Iraq, but Dark Phantom still breathes the dusty air, spewing out some rather blindingly-decent songs as a result, rest assured we will see more of this lot in years to come. Download This: "Judgement Call" - Click to listen For Fans of: Holy Moses, Sepultura, Death Angel [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON LUST OF A DYING BREED 'Cat Of Nine Tails' INDEPENDENT In our quest to cover at least one metal band from each metal scene in existence, our attention turns towards Kenyan Death Metal / Deathcore stalwarts Lust Of A Dying Breed of whose 2012 EP 'Cat of Nine Tails' is the main critiquing point. Whilst as you can imagine there is very little in the way of decent production, clarity or refined elements, it's made up of determination, aggression and dedicate to the metal music art. 'Cat Of Nine Tails' is a delinquent romp through the slowly-but-steadily emerging 'Africacore' movement (if we can call it so), expect nothing else but a splattering of gutturally-rotten vocals, menacing riffs and double bass drums so brutal you would need clean underwear after the unexpected spontaneous poop. Lust Of A Dying Breed might not be the finest Deathcore / Death Metal outfits around, but they're flying the flag for the Kenyan Metal scene, long may they continue. Download This: "Fearless" - Click to listen For Fans of: Cannibal Corpse, Jungle Party, early-Whitechapel [7] RHYS STEVENSON SHAMBLES 'Realm Of Darkness Shrine' INDEPENDENT It's taken 19 years for the first debut album by Thailand's Shambles to drop, now you'd think given the lengthy duration the band would have packed in by now... clearly they haven't. Sadly those years culminating in the underground Death Metal scene have not enabled the vocals to have wondrous prominence on the release, instead they're largely low-fi and lack any real punch. Ironically the drums and thick riffs deliver the punch voided by the vocals, 'Realm Of Darkness Shrine' may well be the band's debut album but it's one that will probably get minimal attention outside of the South-East Asian Metal communities if not for a very select handful of passionate extreme metalheads, that or those thirsty for metal from the more exotic lands. However, 'Realm Of Darkness Shrine' live is probably different story and one can imagine the carnage this album would cause when unleashed on the unsuspecting (or suspecting) masses. Download This: "Bitter Abysmal Depths" For Fans of: Morbid Angel, Death, Cannibal Corpse 'Realm Of Darkness Shrine' is out 15th November via an Independent release [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON MAYLA 'Possession Of The Wretched' INDEPENDENT Truth be told, the whole Deathcore is generally dominated by the Americans and Russians, but in between the two power-houses are bands like Mayla who are standing up for their national metal scene. Hailing from Latvia, this quintet hold nothing back with their debut album as they go balls-to-the-wall and unleash a horrific belter that is guaranteed to make even the most ardent 'core fan piss their pants. By strapping together influences from the Deathcore, Death Metal and Groove Metal styles, Mayla conjure up a sound destined to attract attention from the likes of Metal Blade Records and Nuclear Blast. Preternatural's Sergey Baidikov guest vocals on 'Obsessive Putrification', helping Mayla to come out the Latvian underground with such unrelenting force, that they are ready to take on the European masses and lay down the law with their own crushing style of Death-laden Deathcore. Whilst listening to the album, toilet paper is advised. Download This: "Lick The Dust" - click to listen For Fans of: Whitechapel, Ease Of Disgust, Livarkahil [8] RHYS STEVENSON CHASING THE RISE
'Chapters' INDEPENDENT Leading the Metalcore style in their home nation of Lithuania, Chasing The Rise are certainly capable of delivering music heavy enough to challenge their American cousins. This was proven on their premier EP 'The Dawn' and even more so now on their follow-up EP 'Chapters', a cataclysmic concoction of Melodic Metal, Metalcore and technical riffage. If you like, they dabble in the trending Modern Metal style and yet whilst not fully embracing the style, remain to the sound they devised since their inception. There is no question that 'Chapters' is a delightful romp through five tracks of energised, electric and pulsating modern metalcore. They are set for big things, so come 2017 expect them to be touring on your doorstep. European festivals are certainly on the table for this lot. Download This: "Maybe It's Just Me" - Click to listen For Fans of: Bring Me The Horizon, Bleeding Through, Architects [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON NARGAROTH 'Era Of Threnody' INTER ARMA PRODUCTIONS German Black Metal has a history of delivering robust and spine-chilling efforts, Nargaroth on the other hand somehow missed the robust aspect, with Ash's latest effort 'Era Of Threnody' seeming to at times fall apart at the seams on some songs, despite the obvious effort to sound epic and adventurous. However in an ironical sense it's this stray into the Epic Black Metal field that gives the album a truly insane feeling of euphoria, in that Nargaroth have decided to go ahead with this shift without any element of prudence. But also delivering a truly authentic and respectable album regardless of its lack of robustness. Sure sometimes its harder to deliver greater creative input; two heads are better than one, however with this effort Nargaroth seem to have defied that logic overall with the exception of said robustness. Download This:- 'Whither Goest Thou' - Click to listen For Fans of: Immortal, Carpathian Forest, German Black Metal [7] RHYS STEVENSON SHE MUST BURN 'Grimoire' ARTERY RECORDINGS Arguably one of the UK's most promising Metal bands found within the genre-bending category, by lashing together elements of Melodic Metal, Deathcore and Black Metal, She Must Burn have stepped up a level from their debut EP 'Under The Shadows' and seemingly abandoning their gothic-tinged caricature. Some would argue this is a Melodic Deathcore album and therefore easily comparable to most Deathcore releases, but in truth it's more the opposite, She Must Burn have crafted their own sound to stand out from the flooded sub-genre. However the slight downside is that there needs to be more keyboard / female vocals present as this really worked on their debut EP – this is the sole element that lacks in this album and would make one feel that it is this element they need to retain. Download This: 'A False Heaven' - Click to listen For Fans of: Abigail Williams, Motionless In White, Cradle Of Filth [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON PERSEFONE 'Aathma' VICISOLUM PRODUCTIONS Hailing from Andorra (and now some people are frantically googling or using an atlas to find out where this country is, little hint – it's landlocked between Spain and France, nestled in the Pyranees), Persefone have conjured up their best effort to date with the sensational layering of melodic death metal and progressive metal presented herewith. 'Aathma' is the sextet's 5th album and the first to feature their new recruits in the form of Sergi Verdeguer (drums) and Filipe Baldaia (guitars); both members from another Andorra band called Nami, the result? A face-punching effort that'll guarantee to leave you totally pulverised from your inside out. Leading the Andorran Metal scene, Persefone are arguably poising themselves as the underrated underdogs of the Progressive / Melodic Death Metal style, with 'Aathma' easily considered as their finest effort, it's about time they got the recognition they deserve. Download This:- "No Faced Mindless" - Click to listen For Fans of: Opeth, Gojira, Amon Amarth [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON BANDOLIRIUM 'Bandolirium' INDEPENDENT Tango Metal? Well with Latin Metal and Flamenco Metal already in existence then sure why not deliver this unsuspecting genre? Argentina's Bandolirium – a one-man project – do no more than stick to instrumental music with Latin American vibes, salsa and tango vibes throughout whilst the core Progressive Metal sound provides the perfect foundation for this rather unusual and inventive sound to be delivered across. Whether the debut album will perk up interest from across the pond remains to be seen, but it surely will do down well in the South American Metal scene and tango music scene consequently. So it's evident to say that Bandolirium are the undisputed pioneers of Tango Metal. May this journey continue... Download This:- 'Impulso' - Click here to listen For Fans of: Breed 77, Ill Nino, Instrumental Metal [8] RHYS STEVENSON APOLOGETH 'type: HUMAN - status: INCOMPATIBLE' INDEPENDENT Forming part of a trilogy, the first album by Belarusian Groove / Death Metal horde Apologeth wields ultimate promise as the guttural rhythmic onslaught that comes with it is so epic, it's almost a solid guarantee that Apologeth are the metal band to place Belarus on the map. Their low-key growling underlines the sharpened guitar riffs and supports the drums with a solidified foundation. If this was to make you wet yourself, then that's a certificate worth issuing because this album carries all the hallmarks of a band who knows what they're aiming for. How they will top this effort remains to be seen, but if this is what we can expect from the rest of the trilogy, then fresh underwear will be needed each time. Download This: "Human Zoo" - Click to listen For fans of: DevilDriver, Gojira, Lamb Of God [8] RHYS STEVENSON SAILLE 'Gnosis' CODE666 RECORDS Four albums in and Belgium's Saille are showing no signs of slowing down, in fact the Symphonic Black Metal outfit have arguably unleashed their most powerfully potent offering to date. With guest appearances by Niki Dierickx (female vocals) and Dries Gaerdelen (keyboards) giving the album a certain dimension, it might be worthwhile for Saille to keep this guest influence in check on subsequent albums since it works like a treat. Other than that, the album itself is far more effective and demanding than their Norwegian brothers in Dimmu Borgir, sure there is a gulf between the two in terms of success and how long they have been around, however Saille certainly seem to have kept true to themselves and have not strayed onto the commercialism path. Download This:- "Magnum Opus" - Click to listen For fans of: Carach Angren, Dimmu Borgir, Emperor [8] RHYS STEVENSON DESMOTERION D.T.N. INDEPENDENT Hardcore Thrashers Desmoterion are no strangers to the Venezuelan Metal scene having been around nearly 10 years but have only just this year dropped their debut album. The wait was clearly worth it as their debut album 'D.T.N.' is laden with brutality, ferocity and creativity, sure some would acquit this album as nothing but generic Crossover Thrash, but in truth there is something special going on. Venezuela might not be known on the international stage for having a metal scene, but it's bands like Desmoterion who are ideally aiming to change that with their Spanish-tinged metal music. For those who do not know Spanish, the band is basically singing about socio-political issues, not drugs or gang-related verbiage, this is not Narcos nor Breaking Bad in metal-form but perhaps speed in huge doses. Download This:- "Pandemia" - Click to listen For Fans of: Slayer, Biohazard, Metallica [9] RHYS STEVENSON ASCENDANT 'A Thousand Echoes' INDEPENDENT Featuring a line-up consisting of multiple nationalities including Emirati and Syrian, Ascendant are a truly multinational Power Metal band. They make this known throughout their debut album 'A Thousand Echoes' with clean and traditional Arabic vocals flowing throughout, sure the music doesn't touch any Arabic or Middle Eastern elements; which would really help their cause, however in the end their album does strike the perfect note. In some respect they don't remain bolted to the Power Metal style, this is evident on the track 'Morning Light' as they stray into Melodic Metal thanks to guest vocals by Lindsay Schoolcraft (Cradle of Filth). All in all the album is relatively decent with promise riding on it, it will be interesting to see where this outfit go next. Download This:- "Fog Of War" - Click to listen For Fans of:- Sonata Arctica, Sabaton, Persona [8] RHYS STEVENSON CARNAC 'Times Undone' INDEPENDENT Extreme Metal band Carnac are wasting no time in conjuring up a debut album worthy of a label release, signed to Sliptrick Records, this Turkish quintet lash together classic Melodic Death Metal with Progressive and Black Metal influences to deliver a chaotic and unrelenting surge of savage metal music. By cleverly mixing these different metal elements in a set way, Carnac have seemingly mastered the formula for delivering what easily could be dubbed Extreme Metal. Sure they will need to keep on the ball after this album to stand any chance of scoring major gigs across Europe, but with this effort it should not be a problem. 'Times Undone' should be in your CD collection for it wields together the likes of Carpathian Forest, early-Behemoth and Gojira to create it's own signature tune. Download this:- "The Lantern" - Click to listen For fans of: Ihsahn, Gojira, Strapping Young Lad [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON NUCLEAR WARFARE
'Devastation Upon The Battlefield' INDEPENDENT The Thai Metal scene is one that somehow is secluded from the rest of the world, despite it having a plethora of insane and imaginative metal bands – Nuclear Warfare are no exception with their neck-breaking Thrash Metal arsenal. Dropping their debut album 'Devastation Upon The Battlefield', this quartet stick true to the South-East Asian style of Thrash Metal; with Indonesia leading the way. However as a group they certainly know how to deliver a brutal and unrelenting sound that should ultimately be utilized again for their next release. No nonsense Thrash Metal is their game, Nuclear Warfare is their name, they certainly are a band to watch. Download This:- "War Command" - Click to listen For Fans of: Oracle, Slayer, Thrash Metal [8] RHYS STEVENSON EVIL REBORN 'Throne Of Insanity' SATANATH Stamping their authority hard in their own backyard, Venezuela's Death Metal newbies Evil Reborn have issued a statement of intent with the release of their debut album 'Throne Of Insanity'. Designed to keep you dancing on your toes like a metalhead doing ballet, this filthy-rotten slab of musical creativity will certainly keep you hooked from start to finish. By throwing modern Death Metal vocals, bone-crunching riffs, trailblazing drums and ballsy bass elements into the mixing pot, what comes out of this magical music transformation is a menacing, unrelenting and uncompromising cocktail that will certainly knock you out in one fatal punch. Forget those who think Death Metal is all about double bass drums and growling, Evil Reborn have devised a new rulebook... their own rulebook, so bloody study it! There are no excuses. Download This: "Possessed Angels" - Click to listen For Fans of: Aborted, Prostitute Disfigurement, Abhorrent Decimation 'Throne Of Insanity' is out now via Satanath Records [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON WHISPERED 'Metsutan - Songs Of The Void' REDHOUSE FMP / INVERSE Funny isn't it how Babymetal emerge on the scene and most metalheads freak out, Whispered gain attention outside of Finland and no one bats an eyelid. The self-proclaimed purveyors of 'Samurai Metal' carve out their third offering with such precise ninja-skill, the shamanic powers the members herewith possess must ultimately be accounted for as influencers on this dramatic release. By mixing together Power Metal harmonics with epic melodic death metal, and sprinkling it with Japanese music sounds, Whispered have arguably developed their own sound that could well become inspirational for bands further down the line. 'Metsutan - Songs Of The Void' is an anthemic album that will certainly go down in metal history as one of those albums that defied logic, defined a music genre created from the love of anime and manga and also brought some folk metal influences into the affray. Simply magical. Download This: "Strike!" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Children of Bodom, Grailknights, Wintersun 'Metsutan - Songs Of The Void' is now out via Redhouse FMP / Inverse Records [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON ENTHEAN 'Priests Of Annihilation' INDEPENDENT Whenever a band decides to create a new style or attempt to place a new derivative on an existing genre it can go one of two ways. Either it's successful and a new movement is born, or it can fall gracefully and be lost in metal history. So when you take South Carolina's Enthean into account, they sit precisely (and in a contradictory sense) between the two, sure mixing Technical Metal with Black Metal and dabbing it with Death Metal and Symphonic Metal influences might sound epic, but when actually hearing it, damn that sound is the nuts. 'Priests Of Annihilation' may well be this band's debut album, but in order for them to garner any greater attention they must harness this sound and refine it a bit. At times there seems there is too much going on, but overall it's a solid effort that should spark off a movement for the newfound Technical Black Metal caricature. Download This: "Dysthanasia" - click to listen For Fans of: Abigail Williams, Gorguts, Dimmu Borgir [7] RHYS STEVENSON OLD CORPSE ROAD 'Of Campfires & Evening Mists' CACOPHONOUS REC. British Black Metal is in a newfound renaissance period with it establishing it's own sound and outlook, leading this epic shift are a handful of bands and one of them, Old Corpse Road, are preserving traditional British folklore without touching the topic of nationalism. Some might confuse folkloric metal bands with the nationalist movement, but not OCR who like Winterfylleth use a far more historical approach. OCR's second album 'Of Campfires & Evening Mists' is a tale that even the most religious druids and bards would adorn to, let alone the Old Corpse Road taking it's name from the actual area where corpses were taken for burial, grim huh? 'Of Campfires & Evening Mists' is a treasure to behold and is an album that will appeal to all fans of Extreme Metal. Full of atmosphere, chilling elements and beautiful sounds, you will be blessed by enduring this album in it's entirety. Download This: "Herne Of Windsor Forest" For Fans of: Cnoc An Tursa, Winterfylleth, Fyrdsmann [8] RHYS STEVENSON ELDERBLOOD 'Messiah' OSMOSE PRODS. If anyone has worked out why the Ukrainian Metal scene is so damn good at producing Extreme Metal, then please let us know because Elderblood may well have just snatched 'Ukrainian Metal release of the year' with their latest effort. 'Messiah' is the band's second album and it carries on their infectiously sexy blend of Symphonic Black Metal and bleak atmospherics in such a way, BDSM will become inferior to this constricting release. Prepare your ears for some serious puncturing as the blitzing of the drums, rampaging of the raucous riffs and vomiting of the venomous vocals smash your senses to pieces. 'Messiah' is a fantastic work of art to behold, one that will give the band their well earned international recognition as not only a band to watch but also Ukraine's answer to Dimmu Borgir. Download This: "Devil In The Flesh" For fans of: Khors, Dimmu Borgir, Shade Empire [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON DEAD LABEL 'Throne Of Bones' NUERRA Dead Label are a band you should not take lightly, in fact they're positioning themselves as one of the most exciting metal bands to emerge out of Ireland since Waylander and Cruachan made waves. Mixing together a sharp array of metal styles from Thrash Metal to Death Metal and Metalcore to Prog Metal, this enables the cauldron to brew a sound that most would describe as apocalyptic, and we'd agree with them. 'Throne Of Bones' is the trio's second offering and it does well to punch you f*cking hard in the face with very little remorse, in fact if you tried to resist it's magic you might as well defect to listening to teen pop as a source of comfort, because Dead Label as said are not a band that should be taken lightly, because their music is certainly on the heavy side. Download This: "Exhume The Venom" For Fans of: Machine Head, Threat Signal, Skreamer [8] RHYS STEVENSON SOULS OF DIOTIMA 'The Sorceress Reveals - Atlantis' ROCKSHOTS Diotima was a female philosopher and just like her, the band Souls Of Diotima are full of elegance, grace and wisdom when it comes to making music. Their third album carries on their dramatically theatrical sound and instils a fast and romantic atmosphere, which becomes guided by the virtuosic nature of the guitarists as they lead the charge. Truth be told, the Italians have got the knack for creating epic dramas and as such when relayed through metal, emphatically rivals the likes of Therion and Apocalyptica for musical suspense. 'The Sorceress Reveals - Atlantis' may well be the band's third album, but it's sincere maturity might as well make the album the band's tenth because it's well refined, polished and enjoyable. In fact it's a great album to keep you awake by, because there is not one second which makes the album dull, it's full of goodness. Download This: "Tears Of Fury" For Fans of: Therion, Theatres Des Vampires, Fleshgod Apocalypse 'The Sorceress Reveals - Atlantis' is out 10th June via Rockshots Music [8] RHYS STEVENSON OBSOLETENOVA 'Oracle Demo 2016' BRUTALREIGN PRODS. Here comes another band from China's ever-strengthening Extreme Metal scene, hailing from Guangdong Province is Obsoletenova, a three-piece Technical Brutal Death Metal ensemble whose mish-mash of flash riffs, pulverising drums and epic pig squeals coalesces together to deliver a sound that's heavy enough to leave your bones crushed to dust. This may well be a demo, but damn the 'Oracle Demo 2016' certainly carries a punch and then some, in fact I would be shocked if they aren't invited to play outside of China within a year from now because this material would make even the most sick bands like Nile and Suffocation weak at the knees. Having released their 2016 demo which sold out immediately, clearly Obsoletenova are on to something and have considerable attention, good enough to make them a band to watch this year. Download This: "Absolutely Solitary Monarchy Is Terminated Under The Slam!!" - Click to listen For Fans of: Suffocation, Nile, Fleshgod Apocalypse [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON CHERNODEATH
'Demo-lition Thrash' INDEPENDENT Chernodeath hail from Guatemala, yeah you can picture it now, second-hand instruments and low-fi studio's, but let's not forget that the passion is 101% real. Dropping their first demo, the three-piece Thrashers get it perfect on the guitars and drums, but the vocals need far more presence. Generally speaking however it's a pretty decent attempt for a band from a country whose crime rate is beyond astronomical. No wonder metal thrives in the underground here as a means of dealing with societal pressure, poor justice and high corruption levels. Chernodeath certainly have earned the right to carry the flag for the Guatemalan Metal scene. As for the demo, well we only hope they sort the vocal issue out but also carry on believing in metal music. Download This: "Cujo Terror" - Click to listen For Fans of: Raw Thrash Metal, Slayer [7] RHYS STEVENSON DEVILDRIVER 'Trust No One' NAPALM Even with half of the original line-up no longer playing a part of DevilDriver's future, the formula devised by Fefara and co. since day one, which involves infusing unstoppable groove elements with their mesmerizing slice of Melodic Death Metal, carries on cooking some serious material, which in the drug world would equate to a well-deserved snort of meth. But if these guys were to break bad, it would not be on this new album, in fact 'Trust No One' is so damn good, it's criminal! Fans of DevilDriver will not be disappointed (when have they?) as this album will set their summers up nice and proper, what with the music demanding imminent headbanging and the artwork graphically representing the cliche 'a wolf in sheep's clothing', to 'Trust No One' is to acknowledge the dark truth that everyone, even yourself, has a dark side (not a Star Wars reference by the way). All in all, one word can sum up this entire album... 'Fuck!' Download This: "Bad Deeds" For Fans of: Pantera, Lamb of God, Chimaira 'Trust No One' is out now via Napalm Records [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON SUBLIMINAL FEAR 'Escape From Leviathan' INVERSE In this day and age of modern machinery, technical developments and cybernetic nexus', the whole movement of Modern Metal takes centre stage as it expresses a forward thinking notion rather than reflecting on the 'has been and done' sounds of early metal genres. Leading the new wave of Italian Modern Metal is Subliminal Fear with their infectious blend of Melodic Death Metal, Groove Metal and Electro Metal, following a sprinkling of Industrial and Progressive Metal influences. So imagine it, a full-on heavy blow to your cranium as the imminent result of switching on 'Escape From Leviathan', the third album by this sensational quintet. Connect yourself with the world of digital reality and let the matrix of this band's music surge through your ears, down your spinal cord before shooting up into your brain like a lightning strike from the skies. Soar into the upper echelons of Modern Metal with Subliminal Fear's 'Escape From Leviathan' and embrace what could be called the renaissance period of Italian Metal. Download This: "Nexus" For Fans of: Amaranthe, Sybreed, Mnemic, Scar Symmetry 'Escape From Leviathan' is out now via Inverse Records [9] RHYS STEVENSON EPIDEMIA 'Leprocomio' SATANATH The exploitation of South American Metal continues with Ecuador throwing their next band out to the international press. Ok so it has been ten years since Epidemia dropped their debut album 'Mutilador De Cuerpos', but they've had a line-up change and two-year hiatus so it's excusable. But they've come back in style with their filthy-rotten second album 'Leprocomio' which compromises of epic blastbeats, chunky riffs, stomach-churning vocals and a raw production sound that epitomizes the lesser equipped underground metal scenes in terms of the quality of equipment and studios available. 'Leprocomio' however stands on it's own two as a decent and respectable slab of gore-rotten Death Metal, whilst it is in the Spanish language this should not deter die-hard Death Metallers from sinking their teeth into this decent effort. Download This: "Agonistes En El Inframundo" - Click to listen For Fans of: Obituary, Cannibal Corpse, Dying Fetus 'Leprocomio' is out now via Satanath Records [8] RHYS STEVENSON HECKTIC 'Crossroads' INDEPENDENT Whatever the lads in Hecktic were drinking when they recorded their premier EP 'Crossroads', it certainly helped them craft a good start to their career. Rest assured you will not fall asleep from boredom with this effort, there are twists and turns at every unsuspecting moment. Take for example their song 'Kill The Core', there's a section where some Balkan influences creep in on the guitar playing and whilst throughout they shred, growl and give the drumkit mechanical pain, Hecktic's focus never slips, never. For the Bulgarian Metal scene, which tends to be ignored by the West, 'Crossroads' is the rallying cry for all musicians within said scene to support Hecktic in becoming a force to be reckoned with. If Testament and Machine Head were to ever have any offspring, Hecktic would be their first. Download This: "Kill The Core" - Click to listen For Fans of: Testament, Machine Head, Sylosis [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON SOULCRUSHER 'Death Rides Tonight' INDEPENDENT Along with Brazil and to a certain extent Argentina, Chile is one of the most successful and vibrant metal scenes on the South American continent and it's latest offering, Soulcrusher, aim to point out that the underground is sometimes the best place to stay. Their second demo released this year, 'Death Rides Tonight', is a slick mix of old-school Thrash Metal with Black Metal vocals, so you know none of the fancy stuff, no polished sound, just simply a pure DIY sound emerging from this quartet's musical unity. Embrace it's unrelenting speed, raw ferocity and sharp atmospherics as 'Death Rides Tonight' offers itself as an excellent example of what lo-fi metal is all about. Think Slayer meets Carpathian Forest, yeah you get the idea, so unless you're a fan of the extreme side of metal, best to stay away. As for 'Death Rides Tonight' as a whole, quite frankly one of the songs should be featured on a metal compilation called "Now that's what I call underground". Download This: "Madness" - Click to listen For Fans of: Slayer, Carpathian Forest, Deströyer 666 [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON IMPUNITY 'Raíz Ennegrecida' INDEPENDENT It comes to something when Colombians sing about socio-political issues and bid for freedom, it seems that the correlation between anger against oppression and a country's level of corruption is becoming more and more evident. But for the trio known as Impunity, metal is more than just music, it is in fact a vehicle to deliver a personal statement and some. In this case anger, discontent, injustice and flipping the middle finger to a fragile and unstable system; no wonder Colombian Metal music is extremely underground. Five years have passed since their inception and the wait for their first album release has been worth it, hands down. 'Raíz Ennegrecida' is around 20 minutes long, so for some it's more of an EP, but what the hell, this music is as brutal as someone smashing your head against a brick wall, with the sole exception being that no blood will be lost because of the music. Download this: 'Títere En Utilería' - Click to listen For Fans of: Destruction, Deathchain, Slayer [7] RHYS STEVENSON INCEPTION 'The True Face Behind The Smile' INDEPENDENT Make it past the first track and you will be listening to the proper music by Costa Rica's Inception, sure this stuff is nothing and new and has been recycled by more bands than pop musicians have copped off one another, albeit for those using autotune. 'The True Face Behind The Smile' is Inception's debut album and as you would expect from a band indulging in Old-School Heavy Metal, it's full of melodicism, harmonics and upbeat atmospherics, nothing more. Granted for those who love this style of metal, they will not grow bored of it but for the average metalhead it might fail to keep their attention. Kudos for them standing up and defending a style that is on the fading away path, because the old styles are becoming weighted down by the ever-growing modern styles of metal. It might necessarily propel them to international recognition, but heck the album is worth investigating. Download This: "Another Chance" - Click to listen For Fans of: Diamond Head, Heaven & Hell, Black Sabbath [8] RHYS STEVENSON PORKO DIO 'Unrest' INDEPENDENT Two EP's in and Croatian Death Grinders Porko Dio demonstrate that they're focused on creating music designed to make you cry for your mummy. It's fast, it's brutal and it's sickening to think that this music doesn't come with a health warning, let alone parental guidance giving it's violent nature. Violent nature?!?!? This is full-on metal bitches, and do you think that Porko Dio want their music restricted? Hell no. By letting their insanity be unleashed upon their music, their versatility outwits the likes of Luka Modric, their creativity demands great attention and of course they demand in return utmost respect for dropping an EP so potent, not even sniffing sulphur dioxide is as brutal as this. Whether the title of the EP is a political statement describing Europe and it's migrant crisis is one big question, but the answer probably lies within the unruliness of their music. Download This: "More Than Ourselves" - Click to listen For Fans of: Deathbound, Napalm Death, Carcass [8] RHYS STEVENSON OROBAS 'Arise In Impurity' SYMBOL OF DOMINATION PROD. Another slice of bestial Blackened Death Metal is here with Bangladesh's Orobas stepping up to take the bullet. Armed with their debut EP just one year after their formation, Orobas waste no time in constructing a decent first-time effort to kick their career off with. 'Arise In Impurity' is the band's premier EP and whilst the music predominantly resides within the old-school Black Metal style, the vocals remain firmly rooted in the Death Metal style. Aside from the main three tracks and intro, Orobas have included a cover of Venom's 'Black Metal', which isn't half bad except cover's are too common these days and it makes as a poor excuse just to release the EP instead of recording another song in its place. 'Arise In Impurity' may not be innovative or anything new, but it certainly is a decent listen if your up for checking it out that is. Download This: "Bad Blood Hunter" - Click to listen For Fans of: Impiety, Bestial Warlust, Arallu [7] RHYS STEVENSON ALCOR
'焦土之上 (On The Scorched Earth)' MORT PROD. What with flying, rocket-propelled llamas on the artwork of their debut album, you would instantly think that the music is going to be just as (or possibly more) insane as the artwork as a result. Well you'd be correct to think that assumption, by using their native Mandarin language in their lyrics and bolting it onto old-school Thrash Metal, the result is a chaotic, explosive-yet-entertaining work of art. I am of course referring to Alcor's debut album '焦土之上 (On The Scorched Earth)'. Chinese Metal has come a long way since it's founder Tang Dynasty made it's debut, it's gotten heavier, darker, faster, basically it's become its own powerhouse and is one scene that is set to lock horns with the West. Musically it's nothing new but taking an overall perspective, there is something that makes this album distinguishable and its not the language difference, whatever it is here's hoping Alcor use it to their advantage all the time. Download This: "秩序與混亂 Order & Chaos" - Click to listen For Fans of: Slayer, Metallica, Anthrax [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON |
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