CRIMSON DARKNESS 'The Devourer Of All' Southampton Atmospherically-charged Black Metal band Crimson Darkness return with their second blazing of Vampiric Metal, their second album 'The Devourer Of All' comes after a twelve-year wait since their debut and what a wait it was, sounding similar to Cradle Of Filth but also Darkthrone, Crimson Darkness plague their seaside city with eternal darkness and Gothic-tinged imagery, so much for the saints of Southampton when these lads are clearly Lord Dracula's brothers. 'The Devourer Of All' is a solid reminded of how romantic Black Metal can be, an essential for any Black Metal fan's collection. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON SHIELD OF WINGS 'Solarium' As heavenly as soaring angels above the stratosphere, Shield Of Wings make their debut count in emphatic and sonic style, with real power and passion driving the album forward, this is clearly the American's answer to the successful Dutch band Within Temptation, majestic melodic vocals in the female form collide with deep male vocals to add such a contrast it rivals the ying-yang theorem. Fast-paced drums, symphonic orchestral-like keyboard tunes and magic-laden guitars all combine to create the perfect audio storm. This is Illinois' finest hour but for Shield Of Wings, this is just the beginning of something far more epic. [10] RHYS STEVENSON CRESCENT LAMENT 'The Forgotten Winter' + 'Crescent Lament' Firing up the Oriental side of things is Melodic Black / Gothic Metal sextet Crescent Lament from Taiwan, with their two 2008 releases, 'The Forgotten Winter' (EP) and 'Crescent Lament' (demo) taking the form of a little touch of melancholic's to form the basis of 'Oriental Dark Metal', whilst the music itself plays well and is composed cleverly, the vocals on the male side could be a little less harsh so that it contrasts with the melodic female vocals, but overall 'The Forgotten Winter' EP is a decent release. As for their self-titled demo which was released prior to the EP, the melodic music is very smooth but the drums and guitars are a little rough and unclear, at the same time the vocals seem ok but do not carry such a burdening negative sound unlike the EP. Overall two decent releases from which the band can use as a foundation to get better on. [6.5] + [7] RHYS STEVENSON NAPOLEON SKULLFUKK 'Swollen & Torture Metal' DYNAMIC ARTS Oulu-based Death Metal merchants Napoleon Skullfukk remorse their seven year career with a tasty compilation of their best works, 'Swollen & Torture Metal' features extremely deadly riffs, cascading drum beats and perhaps Grindcore vocals instead of classified Death Metal, whether this is a new adaptation of the subgenre remains a mystery, but essentially this release is guarenteed to kick off moshpits, break necks and chaos emphatic oblivious turn-outs, 'Swollen & Torture Metal' is a compilation of the sickest music you'll find in the Finnish Metal scene [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON LOLITA KOMPLEX
'Le Cabinet Des Marionettes' ECHOZONE Austrian Visual Kei-inspired Gothic Metal / Rock sextet Lolita Komplex emerge out of the darkened corners of Vienna where once great Mozart reigned with classical music, whereas today Lolita Komplex reign with classical Gothic Metal infused Gothic Rock with the Visual Kei image to complement a growing trend in European Visual Kei bands, musically they sound similar to bands like Siousxie & The Banshees whilst adding Moi Dix Mois influences into their music, creating a dynamic sound, sensational dual vocals combined by two talented vocalists and four musicians to back up the potential genre they have mustered, essentially Austrian Visual Kei / Schwarz Metal. What makes this band all the more impressive is them singing in English and Japanese, even with their Austrian accent. But no matter how many times it takes to become acquainted to the band's sound, it always seems everything is in the right order, so much so this could be Austrian Gothic Metal album of 2011. [10] RHYS STEVENSON
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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 DROWLICH 'Benighted Illumination' Whirling and twisting the cold bitterness of the frostbitten landscape of Finland is newcomers Drowlich with their debut demo 'Benighted Illumination' released last year, although it is a two-track release, it has the feeling of a full EP, majestic and spine-chilling atmospheric music encompassed by soft Black Metal vocals and a sense of darkness prowls the room with enticing consequences, essentially a feast for the ears. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON ECHIDNA 'Manifests Of Human Existence' Solid Greek Metal from Echidna's debut full-length album 'Manifests Of Human Existence' comes in a unique style, essentially due to the fact they have incorporated traditional Greek musical influences to further make the sound their own unique production, whilst the vocals are not the clearest, the overall effort is a decent one, the drums are ruthless and the guitars are youthless, meaning it's mature sounding, such 'Manifests Of Human Existence' should not be ignored. [8] RHYS STEVENSON MASSIVE SLAVERY 'Global Enslavement' MAPLE METAL Quebec based Melodic Death Metal / Metalcore mob Massive Slavery are the next export from this French speaking region of Canada, with their exhilarating debut album 'Global Enslavement' released last year, this is an essential album for any fan of either genre, sounding a slower-paced band unlike The Dead Lay Waiting from England it is heavy as well as brutally apt in that the riffs and vocals are both luscious and complex, this is a total new breed of Metal, a tale of 'Global Enslavement'. [9] RHYS STEVENSON KLINIKA 'Безглузда опора сучасників Сонц&' SATANARSA Ukrainian Gothic Metal trio Klinika spawn out darkness in their premier album 'Безглузда опора сучасників Сонц&' released last year, captivating the essence of the Ukrainian language the Kiev group channel their music through a field of despair, sorrowful lairs and Eastern European atmospheric catacombs, all leaving the audible pieces beckoning on themselves within an abrupt abhorrent alteration in musical composition. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON SOLARWARD
'As The Sky Stares Down' MORE HATE PRODS Nature-infused Melodic Black Metallers Solarward emerge from the wooded forests of Minsk to conjure up their debut album 'As The Sky Stares Down' which was released in 2009, it sees near-raw vocals and Cradle Of Filth style musical compositions with added nature influences such as wolves baying at the moon, this in turn with many other noises creates a natural atmosphere to it and in it's own way makes this band unique, so much so Solarward are flying the flag for the Belarusian Metal scene. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON RAUNCHY 'Confusion Bay' NUCLEAR BLAST Heading back in time we come across one of Denmark's most loved Melodic Death/Metalcore/Industrial Metal bands ever Raunchy, their 2004 full-length release 'Confusion Bay' collects a myriad of influences and somewhat pins the band under the 'Modern/Hybrid Metal' genre umbrella terms. Full-on sensational riffs, harmonious melodies and extreme brutality land their second album in the Danish Metal hall of fame. Limited to 2000 copies, this CD is a must have for any Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore or Industrial Metal fan. Raunchy take you on a journey unlike any other to their dreamland of the 'Confusion Bay'. [9] RHYS STEVENSON GOD DETHRONED 'Passiondale' METAL BLADE The grandeur of Dutch Blackened Death Metal is God Dethroned, the next wave of unholy destruction comes with their 2009 concept album 'Passiondale'. Recreating the horrors experienced within World War 1 the Dutch quartet devours the atmosphere with a solid performance of cataclysmic musical compositions and exhilarating vocal differentiations. For the boys from Beilen, this is perhaps more than an extreme version of a history lesson but more so one of their best productions ever. Eclipsing their final year in existence, this album is by far one for any metal fan's collection, a true testament to military history. We know it as Passiondale, history knows it as Passchendaele. [10] RHYS STEVENSON FETAL DECAY 'You Have No Choice' SFC Words are mere discriminatory for this half-decent attempt by Russia's Fetal Decay, the Brutal Deathsters conjure up a gut-rotting performance of flesh-stinking songs with a seasoned side deliverance. 'You Have No Choice' is their 2011 release and is a solid example of 50/50 results, for the good section the drums and guitars deliver prosperity, but the vocals are dire and soulless, maybe Fetal Decay want to sound out that 'You Have No Choice' but to like this album, dream on. [5] RHYS STEVENSON NEMESIS 'Forever In Metal' A hidden gem in the Channel Islands is Guernsey's Power Metallers Nemesis, with a chaotic array of adventurous compositions and traditional Channel Island vocals. Their 2011 full-length crashes on the shore of mainland England with a flurry of power, brutality and luscious sound from this quartet. For many the idea of metal being in the Channel islands may daunt, but as Nemesis have correctly proven, the Channel Islands will always be 'Forever In Metal'. [9] RHYS STEVENSON ILLUMINANDI
'In Via' MOCNERAMIE Arising from the Polish woodlands is Gothic Metal septet Illuminandi with their debut full-length release 'In Via', aligning both the Polish and English languages with the darkness of the Polish countryside, the Christianity themed band rejuvenate the Gothic appearance of churches and ignite the banishment of demons. For their long-awaited debut-album is a certain reminder of pure prosperity, a signal that the Polish Gothic Metal vein is delivering beauty and darkness. [8] RHYS STEVENSON |
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