ILL CROW 'Into The Forgotten Spheres' As far as Eastern or Central European Folk Metal goes, the Pagan or Slavic feel lacks here, but also the musical creativity, it seems very dull and wishy-washy, whilst the vocals and keyboards do good for Ill Crow's second demo 'Into The Forgotten Spheres', the rest is undesirable, not exactly the worst metal album but one that needs a lot of redesigning. The demo makes Justin Bieber's music justifiable, let alone sarcastically 'alternative metal'. [4] RHYS STEVENSON CLANDESTINED 'Ruinatics' BUSDEATH Evaluating the oriental is Japanese ninja's Clandestined and their sensational blast of Death / Thrash Metal, with their 2011 sophomore album 'Ruinatics' comes a sound similar to that of Sepultura but with a pinch more of speed and rawness to complete the sound. Collectively, this release is a decent attempt at making their own sound, whilst the production could have been better, for an underground band this is a fairly ok shot at it. [7] RHYS STEVENSON DOTMA 'Sleep Paralyses' SCARLET Arising from the shadowy footsteps of fellow countrymen Amberian Dawn is Finland's latest female-fronted Power Metal exports Dotma and their signature tune of heavenly vocals, mystical guitar riffs and sensationally warped drumming to create their debut outing 'Sleep Paralyses'. With elements of Within Temptation in their closets, Dotma ex-cruciate pure bliss in a majestic wave of luscious and soul-soothing melodies, a crystal clear sign of the true power of Finnish power metal. Whilst not has heavy as Sonata Arctica, Dotma are certain to become regulars of Power Metal. [8] RHYS STEVENSON TREMOR 'South Of Sanity' Progressive Metal, fast and heavy as well as funky and... Caribbean? Trinidad & Tobago Progressive Metallers Tremor hit back with their fourth full length album 'South Of Sanity', clipping together the fast pacey speed of Iron Maiden and heaviness of traditional Prog Metallers. For a band from a region of limited metal music activity, Tremor certainly make themselves self-explanatory, with a rumble of drums, seismic wave-riffs and soul-destroying vocals, this Trinidadian bunch bring on the noise, Tremor is flying the flag for the Trinidad & Tobago Metal scene. SILENTIUM
'Amortean' DYNAMIC ARTS Finnish Gothic Metal veterans Silentium ravage the darkness of their land to deliver their fifth onslaught of spine-chilling vocals and powerful music in the form of their latest album 'Amortean' released in 2008. Whilst not as soft as fellow countrymen Vanguard, Silentium prove once again why the Finnish goth scene is one to be reckoned with, collecting orchestral chants with swift solos and blastbeats powerful enough to savor, this is one record for any Gothic Metal fan, a true work of inspiration.
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GMN-Vol7 - Ana Kefr, Who Dies In Siberian Slush, Severed Heaven, Tukkanuotta / Goresoerd, Deathbound6/6/2011 ANA KEFR 'The Burial Tree (II)' MUSE SICK Californian Death Proggers Ana Kefr emerge once again to deliver a religious, political and philosophical tinged album, this time in the morphed form of 'The Burial Tree (II)', whilst not sounding like Gojira, it has some element of bizarreness with it, while although the individual compositions have a neatly crafted structure, the whole album itself is little to be desired, but not to be shunned as a failure. The growling is deep as oceans go, but the rest of it seems to lack any completeness with it. [5.5] RHYS STEVENSON WHO DIES IN SIBERIAN SLUSH 'Вitterness Of The Years That Are Lost' SOLITUDE PRODS. Depressing springs to mind with Russian Melodeath Doomsters Who Dies In Siberian Slush (WDISS), slow and melancholy are somewhat two words to describe it, but it is not one to be knocked what with a grizzly growler on the frontline and a bombardment of sorrowful riffs and funeral-like drumming. Intuitively elaborating the darkness of a funeral with the bitterness of the Russian winter, WDISS are one of a kind, just be warned of the depressive aftermath. [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON SEVERED HEAVEN 'Incessant Darkness' Formerly known as the Melodic Gothic Metal quintet Blood Sundae, the five females from Leeds and Manchester reformed under a darker and more extreme sound, the sound of a Severed Heaven. Immaculate musical compositions covered by some of the grittiest vocals produced by a female metal vocalist, this is the feminine Hecate Enthroned with some melodies still influencing this band. Ravenous riffs and sick blastbeats come together with two-tone vocals to deliver perhaps the darkest debut by any band in the English Metal music history. 'Incessant Darkness' with its slow-to-mid-paced musicals send clear messages to the listener, don't judge the band. This is the sort of music that would work well with horror films, or even essentially ghost night trips, but overall if you think the winter nights are dark, then face Severed Heaven as they bring far more darker times, 'Incessant Darkness' is just the beginning, watch this band at all costs. [9] RHYS STEVENSON TUKKANUOTTA / GORESOERD 'TUKKANUOTTA / GORESOERD 2010 split' Two nations, similar in language and culture, two bands, similar in genre, one split album. Finnish Death Metallers Tukkanuotta joins in force with Estonian Deathgrinders Goresoerd to deliver a double-edge whammy of Baltic Metal. The first half sees the fury of the Finns deliver an outstanding blow of crisp and clean Death Metal with Finnish vocal attributes; the second half sees the elegance of the Estonians whip up a frenzy-like blast of Death Metal and Grindcore merged into one with essential native-tongue vocals. One release for Death Metal fans and fans of Finnish and Estonian Metal. [8] RHYS STEVENSON DEATHBOUND
'Non Compos Mentis' DYNAMIC ARTS Death Metal / Grindcore veterans Deathbound return with their fourth enrichment of bloody and gut-eroding music in the form of 'Non Compos Mentis', whilst not as brutal as their 'Doomsday Comfort' album, it still warrants a level of violence and hearing-aid destroying power. Quick, snappy and mind-boggling compositions are all that's exasperated on this release and in scintillating style at the same time, 'Non Compos Mentis' is a statement by Deathbound, we are not finished this brutalization. [7] RHYS STEVENSON VIZANT 'Vasilevs Vasileon Vasilevon Vasilevondon' Montenegrin Gothic Doom Metallers Vizant kicked off their musical torrent of Orthodox Christian-tinged Metal music with a long-titled album, 'Vasilevs Vasileon Vasilevon Vasilevondon' (presumably Montenegrin or Latin) features their own style of music, whilst taking the dark history surrounding their homeland, they use their native tongue to personify their music. But they aren't Christian Metal, or so at least it could be argued, but what is certain is Vizant are flying the flag for the Montenegrin Metal scene. For fans of Arkona and Moonspell. [8] RHYS STEVENSON WINDFALL 'Crush' Fresh from Tuscany, Italy, is Melodic Heavy Metal quintet Windfall with their debut 2010 EP 'Crush', laying the tradition of Heavy Metal with Italian stallion melodies and feminine words, Windfall are Italy's answer to Finland's Skyward, naturally the Italian female vocals are one of dramaticism and excitement and Francesca Tedeschi does not fail to impress, as nor do the other band-members. This true solid production from Windfall is a real glimmer of hope for greater music in years to come. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON ETERNAL DECAY 'Beyond The Ties Of Flesh' Occultists Eternal Decay immerse the surrounding atmosphere with a darkened aurora and sense of mysticism with their complex full-length debut 'Beyond The Ties Of Flesh' which saw birth in 2010. In short, Israeli Black Metal trio Eternal Decay exhibit a real sense of demoniacal controversy with in relation to their heathen homeland and in the view of their music following similar paths that of Melechesh. But for this three-piece metal band, this is probably the next Salem and so 'Beyond The Ties Of Flesh' likes the Eternal Decay of Hebrew Black Metal. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON VIZANT 'Sjene Živih' Returning with their sophomore album is Montenegro's Vizant, bringing back their traditional twist of Montenegrin linguistics and Gothic Doom Metal to revolutionize the result of their first album leaves them with the aftermath, the birth of 'Sjene Živih'. Some would opt to place them under Pagan Metal, but with Orthodox Christianity as a lyrical topic, this would not be just. For the quartet from Niksic, this is their answer to revered Russian maestro's Arkona, game on. LIKE TOMORROW
'Perfect World' 2010 saw Finnish Melodic Power Metallers Like Tomorrow unleash their fourth force of nature in form of their EP 'Perfect World', whisking the beauty of Finnish female vocals with the intricate compositions of the talented Finns on guitars and drums to develop their own unique sound to eradicate the shadowy darkness of the forefathers of Dark Metal. Bringing such emotional music and sorrowful tears to my eyes, this is one release for anyone who needs a good cry, as this world is far from being a 'Perfect World'. [10] RHYS STEVENSON CONRAD 'Oseaan Kroniek' Unknown to the general Metal world, Kadeem Ward aka by his Folk Metal project Conrad, released his second demo last year to the masses. Hailing from Barbados, the one-man project takes the traditions of Barbadian folklore and the widespread lust of Folk Metal. Whilst the vocals and music is not crisp clear, that in fact adds to its unique being. A true sign that the Caribbean Metal scene is ever growing and that it is promising. Conrad is flying the flag for the Barbadian Metal scene. Forget steel drum bands and realize, Heavy Metal has now a new region. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON EXILIA 'Naked' MYPLACE Italian Nu Metal group Exilia went acoustic for their 2010 EP 'Naked', featuring an array of their heavy metal material being toned down into acoustic songs whilst retaining the Exilia song. Whilst not grunge-laden, this EP is not unlike their song 'your rain', whereby it features soft musical compositions and a more relaxed feel about the music. Certainly a rarity amongst many metal bands, but this is what Exilia is, a rarity, a unique sound, 'Naked' they may be soft and acoustic, but overall hard, heavy, glamorous and totally cool. DEATHBOUND 'We Deserve Much More' DYNAMIC ARTS With a fistful of Finnish fury, the trio from Tampere and Oulu eradicated all hearing with their 2007 full-length album, whilst straddled between the Brutal Death Metal and Death/Grindcore combo, they exact their genre tagging with a blazing array of beats, riffs and short, snappy songs. Unlike most conventional Grindcore bands, Deathbound differentiate their songs sounds and so keep their albums balanced, and 2007's 'We Deserve Much More' was no anomaly. Fire up the machines, cause' Deathbound will take anyone for a ride. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON GORESOERD 'Tüdruk Ja Surm' NAILBOARD Estonian quintet Goresoerd excavated another disembowelment of epic proportion with their 2010 full-length offering 'Tüdruk Ja Surm', collecting a sensational array of deathgrind in their native Estonian language whilst captivating a cold and eerie atmosphere, one only rivalled by the Baltic winter. Goresoerd are not unlike Finland's Deathbound, only less heavy and not singing in English. Maybe Estonia's best deathgrind band, but one to watch out for. [7] RHYS STEVENSON MONUMENTAL TORMENT
'Element Of Chaos' SFC So much for insane music, Russia's Monumental Torment went overboard with their debut album 'Element Of Chaos', with a mesmerizing result of cerebral asphyxiation in ten tracks, the Technical Brutal Death Metal duo elaborate the brutality foreseen by Russia's greatest and devour any opposing problems, leaving an album as heavy as excrement left by a communion of bears. It does exactly what it says on the album, it delivers the 'Element Of Chaos' in the most extreme method of monumental torment. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON |
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