NAMI 'Fragile Alignments' SEASON OF MIST Signalling a seismic wave of destruction is Andorran Progressive Metal quintet Nami with their 2010 debut album 'Fragile Alignments', hailing from a small country the band does no mistakes in making it sound big and brutal. Death Metal style vocals cover the Progressive Metal beats to finalise as a dual genre production, with riffs bleeding every spot on the human ear and drums supplementing a beat for the vocals to curse words upon, this is without a doubt one album for any metal fan to have. A true work of Andorran musicianship in which leads to Nami flying the flag for the Andorran Metal scene. [8] RHYS STEVENSON NIFLHEIM 'Personae' Mixing a traditional Celtic rock sound to their music is French Symphonic Heavy Metal sextet Niflheim with their sophomore album 'Personae', sounding a little similar to Finns Apocalyptica, the four men and two women present in this intricate assembly all bring a different level of beauty to the music, from the calming female vocals to the adventurous sound of the violin and to the glorified Metal sound, this is without a doubt a band for the future. With a vocal range exceeding the range of French champagne, Niflheim is one of the French Metal scenes hidden gems. [10] RHYS STEVENSON CIRCLE OF RAGE 'Rage In D-Minor' Breaking the limit of decibels emitted from speakers during musical transition is Hardcore Punk bad boys Circle The Rage from Kent, mixing the attitude of The Who and bringing a in-your-face spitting attitude, this is a sound defining blaspheming anger at everything, a true punk signature of an album. Fisting the masses with a sharp blast of brain-raping riffs, spine-snapping beats and ball-blazing vocals, this is anarchy in the UK without a doubt. Perhaps one of the next Hardcore bands to kick up s*** in the underground and dump s*** on every poser. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON LORD IMPALER 'Admire The Cosmos Black' As raw as the unholy nights of the Balkan forests comes Greek Black Metal trio Lord Impaler with their debut album 'Admire The Cosmos Black' released this year and of which marks the first major release in their 13 years of existence. With clear and imminent influences from the Norwegian Black Metal scene, Lord Impaler do not fail to impress with this release, with an eruption of raspy and shrieking vocals that are scary enough to freeze wolves on the spot and the guitars and drums working in tandem to create a dynamic atmosphere, this is perhaps the darkest hour in the Greek Metal scene. Essentially, Lord Impaler is one band any Black Metal fan should have in their collection as it is simply a work of genius. [9] RHYS STEVENSON OURFAMOUS DEAD
'I Am Man' Yorkshire mob Ourfamous Dead make their standing in the ever-growing combination of criss-crossing electronic music with Metal with their debut EP 'I Am Man' released this year, whilst automatically considered as a more funked up Enter Shikari, the quintet do no more but totally wreck the record with songs containing a heavy load of sweat and balls, enough to breakdown any stagnate crowd and ignite the moshpits and raves into overdrive. Being included in the freshly created wave of 'Electronicore' as dubbed by themselves, Ourfamous Dead are sure winners to be noticed by Kerrang and with one release down, nothing is going to stop them now, you have been warned. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON
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FADING CIRCLES 'Cyber Whirlwind' Although based in Romania, the Hungarian trio Fading Circles make their imminent return with their Progressive / Power Metal tune in the shape of their sophomore full-length 'Cyber Whirlwind'. Whilst the music itself has a tendency to shift speed slightly, the solo's do the talking and in this add a certain level of magic to the album. Whilst not conventionally fast like Sonata Arctica, Fading Circles tone down the speed and add a atmospheric feel to it, casting a mysticism shadow over the listener, but leaving them stumped to what has just happened, simply due to the clear fact that the music itself saddles within the Progressive Metal vein but the vocals sit in the Power Metal side and so therefore two genres collide, providing an unique experience. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON INSINNERATOR 'Stalagmite Of Ice' Making their debut is Texan Thrash Metal moguls Insinnerator and their debut album 'Stalagmite Of Ice', with their balls of fury sound and easy-to-recognize 'cowboy' accent. But don't let that y'all be put off, for this quartet bring in as much Slayer influence as Calgary has for beef. Fast, slick, sick and mesmerizingly beautiful, Insinnerator is the new breed of Texan Thrash, scintillating any previous releases with a stroke of neat musicianship. Guaranteed for a make-shift moshpit and wall of death, the four Americans know their Thrash inside and out and were born to be insane Thrashers. Just don't wince at the album or when the band stabs you with a 'Stalagmite Of Ice'. [9] RHYS STEVENSON SYNTHETIC BREED 'Perpetual Motion Machine' SYMBIOTIC Cybernetics spring to mind with Synthetic Breed's sophomore album 'Perpetual Motion Machine', the Australian Cyber / Industrial Death Metal trio (now quartet) exert a force of brutal heaviness with glorious funk tunes in a parallel motion of fury-laden dance grooves. Whilst not as heavy as fellow countrymen The Berzerker, the industrial parts can be likened to that of Swiss band Breach The Void. What could make the sound much more appertaining would be synthesizers, adding a further industrial feel to it and a sense of atmosphere. None the less this is one album to captivate fans and music critics alike, a true blend of brutal music with body-moving pulsation. [8] RHYS STEVENSON LOSNA 'Wild Hallucinations' Fourteen years have eclipsed since Brazil's Crossover Thrashers Losna came up with their return statement, yet they return with their sophomore album 'Wild Hallucinations' with a little disappointment setting in, the thrash stance seems to have depleted, but none the less this is a release with a bowlful of guts and strategic brutality on all levels. With the bass guitar clearly heard, it adds a sense of raw music to it, adding a new level of customized harshness. With Losna 'Wild Hallucinations' is a fair decent attempt, but some minor changes are needed, the music needs a little more Sepultura in it. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON NOCTURN DEAMBULATION
'The Grand Opening' French Death Metal newbies Nocturn Deambulation implore their own stance on the metal genre with a circus and surgical procedure-based debut album entitled 'The Grand Opening', so much for the merry go round as this album takes the listener on a windy maze of ferocious drumming, exquisite vocals and phantasmagoria in lieu of their ravenous riffs. Whilst the band immerse themselves within the repertoire of la cirque d'hiver, this is perhaps an entirely new sound on it's own. Majestically sounding and essentially brutal, 'The Grand Opening' is without a doubt French Death Metal album of the year 2011. [10] RHYS STEVENSON GMN - Vol33 - Acid Rain, Betraying The Martyrs, Derelict Earth, Eradikal Insane, Existance13/8/2011 ACID RAIN 'Shallow Paradise' Returning with their third album is Argentina's Progressive Metal novices Acid Rain, 'Shallow Paradise' features a cleverly weaved sound of high falsetto vocals, fast drumming and melodic atmospheric music. This marks a turning point in their nine year career, a milestone of bridging Progressive Metal with classical, melodic and Power Metal elements. A truly remarkable work of lust, sleaze and pure South American musicianship, Acid Rain are certain to cause a storm in the underground and with this album under their belt, all that's left is to ask for more. [8] RHYS STEVENSON BETRAYING THE MARTYRS 'Breathe New Life' 'LISTENABLE' French massacre mob Betraying The Martyrs unleash intense chaos with their heavy-TNT album 'Breathe New Life', a ballistic mix of insane riffs, breakdowns and cataclysmic drumming encased by gritty and clean vocals. With a fist-punching atmospheric blast-out as the basic focal point on this album, this really is a hearing-aid murderer. Betraying The Martyrs are vastly becoming the next big band from France and definitely one of the latest heaviest bands from the French Metal scene,; watch this band at all costs. RHYS STEVENSON [8] DERELICT EARTH 'And So Fell The Last Leaves...' One of genre debating here, for France's one-man project Derelict Earth has Death Metal vocals, with near Black Metal (or if you're lucky to hear it) drumming and well out of sync guitar playing, whilst the atmosphere on the 2011 album 'And So Fell The Last Leaves...' is one of nature, little depression and solitude, the overall product could be a bit more enthusiastic, without hitting crudeness, the album seems to be whacked together without any constant patterns, almost as anything will do. But a decent attempt in the end, hopefully the third album will be a shade better. [4.5] RHYS STEVENSON ERADIKAL INSANE 'The Dementia Process' For the new boys of Marseille, their debut EP 'The Dementia Process' is one carrying a health and safety warning, for the brutality and extreme heaviness in terms of the breakdowns and painful riffs ex-cruciate any pain with your hearing to its maximum level. The French Death Metal / Metalcore quintet blast themselves with enough explosive to demolish any recording studio in ten seconds. Whilst the overall production carries a powerful presence, the true essence lies not with croissants or Marseille football club, but rather with the cranial-crushing of brutal metal in its extreme form. Eradikal Insane is a band to watch in the French metal scene, a real promising act. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON EXISTANCE
'Existance' Hailing from France is Heavy Metal quartet Existance with their debut self-titled album, whilst they play Heavy Metal it is not as emphatic as Iron Maiden, even so whilst this is a decent listen, it is not one of those that would be renowned for anything new or unique. However for the crew from Clermont-de-l'Oise, this is just the beginning, the only way is up. Overall this is not a disappointing album but it's not an exciting one either, a few tweaks are needed here and there. [5] RHYS STEVENSON GMN - Vol22 - Shadowthrone / Funebre / Assur, Godspell, Bloodland, Sammsara, Devoid Of Fate10/7/2011 SHADOWTHRONE / FUNEBRE / ASSUR 'Forever On The Dark Side' NEVERHEARD Somewhat of a revelation with three Hungarian bands on one CD split, Black Metal band Shadowthrone, Black Metal one-man project Funebre and one-man Pagan Metal project Assur come together to unleash a spine-tingling selection of raw Black Metal in it's most evil form, enough to churn your stomach from the vocalist's stifling array of shrieks and screams. With Shadowthrone it's a slow percussive choice but whilst the guitars add ambiance, there feels to be something missing. As for Funebre it is similar but on a general basis the production is there, the musical composition is creepy and yet the atmosphere is the same, whilst with Assur, it is a rather disappointing musical production, simply put because the music seems to have little drive for perfection. All in all a decent split, just the odd disappointment here and there, but certainly a true underground Black Metal recording. [7] + [8] + [6.5] GODSPELL 'No Noise Can Mute Us Now' Words escape on this one, whilst the vocals do Death Metal some justice, the music itself from the guitars and drums is dire, seriously without being crude the Swiss boys Godspell might as well spend more time on making watches, sure there is worse but this is a disappointing release, this being their debut EP 'No Noise Can Mute Us Now' which was released last year , none the less a fair attempt at the beginning, the only way is to improve, whether the production of this EP was to blame remains a question, but for now it remains to be seen if this is a good release or not. [4] RHYS STEVENSON BLOODLAND 'Buried Alive' German Death Metal new boys Bloodland caused chaotic eruptions with their incandescent debut demo 'Buried Alive' released last year. Riffs and blastbeats intertwine with each other whilst the vocals are a bit hard to understand, but that adds to the brutality of the growling, essentially a demo for those who prefer Death Metal to be raw, under-recorded and unclean, overall a decent attempt but no real criticism is needed, only that to say it is not a perfect release either, however a sound warning must be issued. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON SAMMSARA '...With Damage' Emerging with their debut full-length album is French Atmospheric Gothic Metal newcomers Sammsara, elaborating a darkened sense of being immersed in shadows with the majestic sound of French Metal, Sammsara certify a promise to take the listener to a never before heard place, one full of mystery, questions and blackness. Whilst the females take the beauty of the Gothic Metal to new levels, the deep male vocals add a little downside to it, but the music itself patches that up, '...With Damage' is one of those releases that soothes the soul and is not to be shunned upon. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON DEVOID OF FATE
'Monolith' The oncoming storm that many may wither at, this is the new breed of Melodic Death Metal, Finnish Metallers Devoid The Fate return with their sixth demo release 'Monolith', with a controversial introductory speech track on the song 'The Storm' to savor anyone who dares agree with it. Musically the drums are tight and riffs progressive, but whilst the overall beat is more melodic than Death Metal style it is classified as one demo that ought to be in anyone's collection, a real solid concrete mix of grit, heavy brutality and unjust composition levels, a classic a heart waiting to be released to the masses. [9] RHYS STEVENSON GRÁ 'Helfärd' UNEXPLODED Sifting through the mass production of Scandinavian Black Metal is Sweden's Grá with their raw BM debut EP 'Helfärd', now whilst the lyrics are in Swedish, there is a great deal of rawness here and especially with the raspy vocals surrounding the ferocious atmospheric fuzz of the down-tuned guitars and beat-perfect drumming - all in all a traditional raw black metal release worthy of recognition in anyone's books. [7] RHYS STEVENSON PULMONARY FIBROSIS 'Interstitial Lung Diseases' LAST HOUSE ON THE RIGHT Simply noise, no musical effort, a limitless torrent of noise, no vocals just gurgling and the only saviour being the drums and guitars, but that is not enough for France's 12 year old band Pulmonary Fibrosis and their second album 'Interstitial Lung Diseases', perhaps they should have just stuck to medical science and not musicianship. [2] RHYS STEVENSON ORPHEUS 'Bleed The Way' ROCKSTAR Fresh from the streets of Melbourne is Australian Melodic Death Metal surfers Orpheus with their highly-anticipated debut album 'Bleed The Way', caressing the melodic force that Swede's Scar Symmetry exhibit, Orpheus are the latest metal band to bore the brunt of the Melodic Death Metal vein and in doing so do it spot-on, essentially the melodies waft around the atmosphere as if dancing and so alarm all listening, Orpheus means business. [10] RHYS STEVENSON THE RUSTLING OF LEAVES
'Reverence & Meanness' SATANARSA The debut from Ukrainian one-man project The Rustling Of Leaves alleviates all misconception about the Ukrainian Black Metal aesthetics, especially as this is an instrumental - a bizarre one for Black Metal but essentially still has hard and evil as your average BM band. The debut album 'Reverence & Meanness' born in 2009 qualifies as one of those albums where the listener is left asking questions, whether that be a good things rests with the listener, just don't bank on this project doing anything spectacular. [6] RHYS STEVENSON HEADCHARGER 'The End Starts Here' XIII BIS Sounding off is French Metalcore mob Headcharger with their latest album 'The End Starts Here', whilst sounding more like hardcore than metalcore, the brutality still resides, with fourteen tracks of solid metal in blistering speed. Straight from Caen this French quintet are interesting as the music sounds near similar with every track, but essentially one record for those who like metalcore on the hardcore side, not the best album, but not the worst either. [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON HELIOSS 'Confessions' French duo Helioss excite and devise a darkened blast of Symphonic Black Metal smothered with parts of Death Metal to create a dynamic musical composition, namely their debut 2010 EP 'Confessions', which sounds similar to Singapore's Kalodin but with a more atmospheric approach, whilst some of the EP is fairly decent, parts lack musical structure, tracks like 'falling' are excellent, with that as a backbone, Helioss can get better. Overall this is not a bad first attempt. [7] RHYS STEVENSON ABDUCTION 'Height's Shivers' Perhaps one of the worst debut EP's from the French Metal scene, Abduction the Parisian quartet more-so resemble a group of budding musicians than actual recording artists, with their debut EP 'Height's Shivers' released in 2010, this is perhaps a mockery to the Black / Death Metal genre and as such has no place in the history of metal, back to the drawing board for this lot. [2] RHYS STEVENSON ADAMANTRA 'Promo 2011' Sending cold air from Helsinki is Progressive Power Metal ensemble Adamantra with their 2011 promotional, elaborating the best of Finnish Power Metal with a dose of progressive riffs and beats, the Finnish quartet exhibit the Power Metal of Sonata Arctica and add progressive music to it to deliver a solid performance of sensational solos and unimaginable vocal notes, essentially one band to keep any eye on, Adamantra are to make a break and release the next of Finnish heavy metal. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON KEVIN RIDLEY
'Flying In The Face Of Logic' BLAST Kevin Ridley from legendary Folk Metallers Skyclad goes solo with his first debut album 'Flying In The Face Of Logic', the Geordie musician takes his traditional Durham-cross-Northumberland folk music and rolls it around rock music to develop a unique sound of country folk metal, whether Johnny Cash is an influence it is near unclear, but what is clear is Kevin Ridley is defending the faith of true English folk music and with 'Flying In The Face Of Logic' as a influential release, this could be the beginning of something big. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON |
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