CENTURIES OF TORMENT 'Centuries Of Torment' Even for Indonesia's standards, this is near appalling, first off the vocals are hardly recognisable and the music itself is very basic and standard of the Death / Thrash Metal combo, sure the solo's are fairly unique but the overall production is disappointing. So for Centuries Of Torment's debut album, it can be perceived as a decent album but with no real unique value on it. However, having said that, the album itself will please fans of Thrash Metal in the Slayer style, whilst appealing to fans of Death Metal in the Suffocation style, sadly it's just a case of sounding like every other band in their own sub-genre. [5] RHYS STEVENSON SANGUINE GLACIALIS 'Dancing With A Hanged Man' Finally god forbid a band that has a unique sound and is sure to stir some attention in the global media and music industry, this is Sanguine Glacialis and their emphatic-sounding debut album 'Dancing With A Hanged Man', built upon a solid foundation of classic Melodic Death Metal whilst covering it with Gothic Metal vocals, visualisation and atmosphere, the sort of album that has The Birthday Massacre mixed with Silent Descent - basically combining two worlds together result in this lust-laden album, a beauty and the beast translated into music. 'Dancing With A Hanged Man' is one of those albums that is dubbed a gem and why? Because you cannot place a valuation on their emphatic music, simply put. [8] RHYS STEVENSON DICTATOR 'Stay Brutal Baby' MORE HATE PRODS. Purging out the dark side of the Russian Federation and exploiting the crevasses amongst the Siberian tundra is trio Dictator with their god-smiting third album 'Stay Brutal Baby', conventionally playing old-school Black Metal with Industrial and gothic influences, this is perhaps the darker version of Aborym or even so a whole unique sound on it's own. Commanding vocals are the main weapon in this catalogue of dark musical mass and are supported by rhythmetic riffs and precise percussion, both mixing together to produce a spectacular creation of experimental metal. Call it what you like, the truth remains it's godly music and it is this sort of band that wallows in the Russian underground yet does not get considerable exposure, what we think is that their message to every band is to 'Stay Brutal Baby'. [10] RHYS STEVENSON BLACK SHADOW '…Сквозь Чёрное Пламя Молоха…' MORE HATE PRODS. It's always special when a band sings in their native language and Black Shadow are no exception, mixing raw Black Metal with their Russian language to concoct something so destructive, it took four bottles of vodka just to wake the listener up from the audio onslaught they have just been through. Sure the band uses a drum machine, but who is going to know (oops)? '…Сквозь Чёрное Пламя Молоха…' marks their eighth Satanic ritual and it never gets any tiring, not even after thirty-six minutes of total chaos, so for the record '…Сквозь Чёрное Пламя Молоха…' is for fans of Black Metal, the Russian language and Satanic music, oh and by the way Satan, whose your daddy? Black Shadow of course. [7] RHYS STEVENSON SLAUGHTER BRUTE 'Systematic Transmutations' MORE HATE PRODS. Just when Brutal Death Metal wasn't tricky enough, Slaughter Brute have added more technical possibilities to the already complex genre, as proven with their sophomore face-punching piece of musical architecture, the Ukrainians deliver 'Systematic Transmutations' in a simple way, mixing traditional Suffocation with the modern Vader and enveloping the sound into something that is beyond this world, chaotic and yet ironically brutal. 'Systematic Transmutations' is by far the greatest Brutal Death Metal album from the Ukraine to date and as for Slaughter Brute, well their time has come to storm around Europe and deliver a taste of Eastern Europe. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON SOLARWARD 'How To Survive A Rainout' MORE HATE PRODS. Making their welcomed return is Belarus' own Solarward and their second album 'How To Survive A Rainout', bringing back with them their unique dark natural sound of Melodic Black Metal and this time a sort of concept album, only sort of because the songs are loosely related to the album's title and so with that bring a sentimental military feel to the atmosphere, which something for the quintet maybe a revelation, but what is certain is that they have delivered another noteworthy slice of music that befits the lack of different bands in the Eastern European bloc. Nonetheless this is perhaps the album to change the course direction of the band forever, emphatic riffs, shrieking vocals and heavenly melodies in the style of Cradle Of Filth, are the threat here and will never be eradicated. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON ENTHYMION 'Arcana Of Apocalypse' MORE HATE PRODS. The endless similar-sounding bands of the Black Metal genre never end and here is another example, Enthymion. Playing drums at over 1000bpm (exaggeration), shrieking like a god damn banshee and playing riffs that are far too familiar for Black Metal diehards and yet when the Polish five-piece make their awaited debut with 'Arcana Of Apocalypse', it can't be helped but to notice how similar they sound to bands like Infernal War, yet even so the fact the band is no longer existing perhaps stopped their embarassment from escalating, ultimately it is not the most unique of Black Metal albums but it cannot be shunned as a nothing. [5] RHYS STEVENSON MLEKRA '0105' MORE HATE PRODS. Unconventional and too basic it would seem when talking about the debut album by Ukrainian Black metal duo Mlekra, their first outing '0105' demonstrates you have to go as fast as you can and shriek as loud as you can just to prove your brutal, well what can be said, what 'cant' be said. For a band signed to a prolific Russian label, one was expecting much more than what has been delivered, sure it cannot be passed off as a 'you suck so get lost' album because ironically it keeps the old traditions of the blastbeat and dark atmosphere alive, just not on a great level of presence, it will be interesting to see where the duo go on from here. [4] RHYS STEVENSON Темноврат 'Грань Бесконечности' MORE HATE PRODS. Somewhat of a mini-album this can be called, five tracks equating to 50 minutes of solid Russian Pagan Black Metal. Spewing out the duo's debut album 'Грань Бесконечности' is Темноврат, for those non-Russian speakers best use Google translation or hire a personal translator, but for those who enjoy experiencing a new culture, the aforementioned becomes an option, anyhow the ambience is there and there seems to be little vocals, all the more for making the album darker, or so it would seem. the album in question does not really excite or depress the listener so much that they cannot walk without crying, in fact the album for it is actually becomes one of those easily 'overdone' albums, but still a good album debut. [5] RHYS STEVENSON _ GRACE DISGRACED
'Enthrallment Traced' MORE HATE PRODS. Smashing through the barriers of the Russian Federation fortress is Technical Death Metallers Grace Disgraced and their emphatic debut album 'Enthrallment Traced', featuring vocals so harsh that it makes raw vodka seem like purified water and the music provided a sense of brutal power. Beat after beat, the quartet immerse the listener in tight time signatures and complex drummers whilst the vocals deliver guttural sounds so immense it's contagious. If this were to be an army, Europe is f*cked, the immense power delivered on this album is far more explosive than any atomic explosion and is sure to leave the album in the position to finish of the listener, who will be left for dead, simply slaughter music. [7] RHYS STEVENSON
0 Comments
GENUINE RELIEF 'Behind The Smile' METALGATE Billed as possibly the best answer from the Czech Metal scene in the Black / Death Metal vein, Genuine Relief may sound a cliché to the previous statement, but make no mistake. With drums so heavy and fast it makes the Skoda car look weak, smashing the norm with evil riffs and grizzly vocals on their debut album 'Behind The Smile', it is likely that this band will see attention across Europe and perhaps beyond. With a bleak atmosphere drawn up from the pits of hell and the music crafted so finely it would appear similar to the final product of a gold smith, it's heavy, shiny and most importantly 100% metal, Genuine Relief are a band to watch and ideally prepare to be mesmerised by. [8] RHYS STEVENSON MARIONETTE 'Nerve' 'Nerve' marks the return of the Swedish sextet Marionette but with a new drummer and vocalist in their ranks, whilst conventionally not as lively as 'Enemies', the third opus produces a darker and far more atmospheric sound to their organic style of playing. With Alexander Andersson bringing in his Black Metal influences, Marionette are darker than ever. Taking on board the Gothenburg sound and adapting it to a trance-laden slice of cutting edge Melodic Death Metal, 'Nerve' is an album with a total sound shift and has redirected the band's emphasis on the whole Visual Kei visage. But don't be fooled, the album still delivers that unique sound pioneered by Aron, Mikael, Anton and Linus and has only been maximised by the two new recruits, with 'Nerve' finally on the table, Marionette are arming themselves to take the world by storm. With Marionette, not only do you get a six-piece machine, but you get a full-on punch that will crush your soul and you're very last 'Nerve'. [9] RHYS STEVENSON LIVEEVIL '3 Altering' METALGATE '3 Altering' is the third outing by Czech Electro-Gothic Metallers Liveevil, following their 2009 sensation 'Unique Constellation' it was always going to be a tricky task to summon up something far greater than itself, yet Liveevil have managed to pull it off, returning with their electronic backdrop and deep male vocals, the quartet once again captivate the minds of the listener with their Eisbrecher / Rammstein - style sound and twist it to deliver a cracker of an album. However, at some points the music sounds a little repetitious and thus loses fluiditiy, but despite that the album itself combines elements in the far-side of the music genres concerned. '3 Altering' is an album with a load of electronic beats, gothic influence and industrial cores, but it is not ground breaking, or is it? [8] RHYS STEVENSON MILOS MEIER 'DRUMMING SYNDROME - DRUM SHOW' METALGATE In the 2012 release of Miloš Meier's 'Drumming Syndrome' DVD, the Czech drumming maestro takes the viewers on a whirlwind journey through the drummers life of how he came to play drums, who he has met and played with and more importantly acts as a platform for budding drummers to cotton on to how the legend plays and what tips the lad has. Featuring three live videos of his sets in the Czech settlements of Olomouc, Ostrana and Hronov as well as a live studio video at the akropolis and also special features like music videos, other live shows with the bands he plays in: Stroy, Dymytry and Noid, topped off with a documentary all about the man himself. For budding drummers and also fans of Czech Metal music, this is a superb DVD to watch and be educated by, experience the force of a Czech drumming wizard and be infected by the 'Drumming Syndrome'. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON MINDREAPER 'Human Edge (... To The Abyss)' Unfortunately this is not Melodic Thrash Metal as there is meant to be keyboards present, instead what we have here is an example of Thrash Metal slowed down and sped up within reason. But for Germany's Mindreaper, of whose debut album 'Human Edge (... To The Abyss) came after eleven years of the band's existence is a little disappointing, as was Germany in the world cup, you could say the quintet scored an own goal and you'd be right, the guitars are too over processed, the drums are fine (no errors present) and the vocals remain true, but overall the album lacks an element of class and so the wait for the album was a little wasted, but not a total failure, just nothing spectacular. [4.5] RHYS STEVENSON OBLIVION MACHINE 'Unnatural & Wrong' / 'Zero-Gravity' / 'Starfield' MOLOT Russia was always known for exceptional Extreme Metal, but when one band by the name of Oblivion Machine come on the block, many could not believe what they were hearing, so starting with their debut album back in 2008, 'Unnatural & Wrong' isnt the greatest of sounds, not least because the vocals are hardly present, the guitars are quiet and the drums are the only section to give the release any life in it. However it is fast paced and acts as a promising catalyst for the later releases. 'Unnatural & Wrong' is not the best of starts but the band can only progress from there, in the end it is an album that isn't a total failure, but isn't a great album either. Coming into 2011 and the band's third album 'Zero-Gravity' wipes the floor with their debut album, there is far more presence on the album and perhaps its the female vocals that they are missing as they add that extra level of movement to the release, a truly grand mix of electronic sounds with the harshness of Death Metal and Industrial Metal. With sounds similar to that of fellow country-men Xe-None and Illidiance, Oblivion Machine with 'Zero-Gravity' have clearly found their sound that will suit them forever. Sensational riffs and danceable drumming come together and are topped with some really evil vocals of which leaves the album as possibly the turning point in the bands existance. 2012 came into view and the next release by Oblivion Machine took shape, this time in the form of their first ever EP called 'Starfield'. Continuing the new sound of electronic death metal with the heavenly female vocals, this is a promising release and platform for the new sound to be fully exploited on. 'Starfield' is a thirty-six minute, six track opus for which achieves to captivate the listener in excellent form. Not much else can be said about this release only that it will provide Oblivion Machine with a brutal from of assault, the cyberstorm as we know it has only just begun. [4] + [7.5] + [8] RHYS STEVENSON BLOOD & BRUTALITY 'Sick Of It All' / 'The Blood & The Brutality' BLOOD & BRUTALITY Hailing from Alabama, USA, Blood & Brutality serve up their unique twist on Death / Thrash Metal with playing Thrash Metal music and near-enough Death Metal vocals. However their sophomore album 'Sick Of It All' shows what the band is capable of doing, by lashing together some of the fastest drumming they could muster with a load of grizzly riffs and spine-chilling vocals, sure this is nothing new but it gives to be old-school and ideally happy playing what they want to play. Armed with a feast of songs to keep the listener hooked, 'Sick Of It All' proves to be one of those releases that no matter how many times you listen to it, you cannot deny it is practically old school and so therefore retains its place in metal history. Coming into 2011 and the band go a little more on the raw side but still retain that recognisable sound established on 'Sick Of It All', or you would think. With the music now changing at different speeds from the middle-of-the-road speed to neck breaking Thrash Metal style, the sort of speed that suggests the drummer is battery operated, Duracell probably. Whether you like it or hate it, listeners cannot deny that 'The Blood & The Brutality' is probably the band's best album. It mixes the Slayer Thrash Metal sound with the Death Metal vocals devised in the Swedish lands. it is this sensational combination that gives the album it's highly recognisable tune and is sure to please many listeners alike across the globe, old hat people may say, we say metal to the bone, 'The Blood & The Brutality' of the state of Alabama. [7] + [8] RHYS STEVENSON PASSION OF DEATH 'Passion of Death' BLOOD & BRUTALITY Well there is not much to go by on this release only that is was released this year, the band comes from Alabama, the drummer is the owner of Blood & Brutality Records and that this band play Death / Thrash Metal. Ok so 'Passion of Death' is pretty much a low-budget recording but the music still delivers in its raw form over the course of five tracks and it is these five tracks that ultimately suggest that the band are on to something unique, with agility on the forefront of the drumming department and the cutting-edge riffs carving their way through the silent atmosphere, 'Passion of Death' is a decent enough solid start from the duo. [6] RHYS STEVENSON WOLFSHEAD 'Promo 2012' Dragging out the original sounds of Heavy Metal when it was born and adding a modern stance on it with guttural vocals is Finnish quartet Wolfshead and their debut promo, their first ever release in their 2nd year of activity. Dubbed 'Traditional Heavy Metal', the quartet from Oulu do not fail to impress with their Iron Maiden-esque style of playing and yet they manage to cut themselves some slack and deliver music that comes from the heart. With their 2012 promo, listeners can here vocals so melodramatic they make mood swings look appalling, as for the music itself, it's similar to a sweet shop, designed to make anyone high off their tits. None the less, this band will go far and this promo won't go unnoticed. [7] RHYS STEVENSON NARBARION
'Les Ailes Noires' Usually French Black Metal is as bad as a drunk downing his own pee, but when Narbarion, a one-man project led by Lourdes musician Morkhor comes into the limelight with his debut demo 'Les Ailes Noires', this is a reprieval that was a long-time coming. Mixing the harsh raw sounds of Black Metal with ambient sounds like crows and running water, this is a truly atmospheric release. Naturally all of the songs are sung in French, but that does not withdraw the music from being sensational, in fact it adds a level of uniqueness to the final product. 'Les Ailes Noires' is a demo for any Black Metal fan and is sure to light the path to greater releases, in the veins of Burzum and Blut Aus Nord, Narbarion is a name that will eventually be on everyone's tongues, you won't find music like this anywhere else. [8] RHYS STEVENSON [T.3.R] 'Романтика 21 века' GRAVITATOR Russia is usually dogged by the mass-populated Slavic and Pagan Metal bands. But below the depths of the darkness are bands that are far darker than one can conceive. Enter [T.3.R.] and their sophomore album 'Романтика 21 века'; this eclectic mix of electronic music and Industrial Gothic Metal in the styles of Deathstars, Rammstein and Gothminister enable the Russian quintet to deliver an almighty blow in extreme proportions. Exclusively sung in their native language, this is a prime example of what is being missed in the main arena. Give due their low external popularity; this is perhaps the album to swing the pendulum the other way and without a doubt one band to keep an eye on. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON https://www.facebook.com/pages/T3R/356705331031612 BURNING DOWN PARIS 'Burning Down Paris' Somewhat inadvertently trying to avoid the escapade of being cornered as a typical Deathcore band is beyond anything easy as Burning Down Paris try to prove, however the general style of the genre is evidently there, now how can one segregate their self-titled EP from the myriad of groups in the wilderness of the Deathcore dungeons is one question too many. In accordance to absolution in perfection, they would full more under the Death Metal/Hardcore (with add-ons) category, sure the release is not nothing new but the credit remains imminent, they stick to the norms and don't follow the wrong path, closest comparison would be the likes of Whitechapel and Ease of Disgust. [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON _THE FIFTH HORSEMAN 'Apocalypse' The Fifth Horseman could be the next big threat, after all the Technical Deathcore masochists conjure a ballistic mix of insane riffs, gut-rotten vocals and unthinkable electronic music to give the overall production a real sense of experimentation. 'Apocalypse' offers something unique from song to song with a magnitude of different sounds, resulting in a combination of The Browning, Asking Alexandria and Whitechapel. Emphatic blastbeats, mentally-scarring breakdowns and catastrophic compositions, The Fifth Horseman emerge as natural successors in the Surrey Metal scene and are sure to be catching eyes by some labels far and wide. [8] RHYS STEVENSON MYRA 'Godspeed' EUROPEAN LABEL GROUP Melodic Death Metal generally needs three factors: melodic music, deep vocals and precise pace changing, however Germany's Myra have found a fourth element, that being speed. 2010 saw the release of their second effort 'Godspeed', a truly remarkable piece of musical engineering, so powerful it makes Rammstein weak on the knees. Futuristic electronics combine with eccentric riffing and elementary melodies to conceive what could be billed as the next band to smash through the barriers of the generic Melodic Death Metal curse and into higher levels, with comparisons drawn from the likes of Scar Symmetry, Soilwork and Sonic Syndicate, Myra are a tyrant in disguise. [10] RHYS STEVENSON SHAKE WELL BEFORE
'Goliath' Italian Metalcore/Hardcore quintet Shake Well Before ignite the fire with their blood-thirsty EP 'Goliath', chock-full of vocals and music brutal enough to make anyone nauseous and cause them to soil their pants. Heavy and furious are two words that can barely describe it, sounding not unlike Parkway Drive or Lamb Of God, Shake Well Before setup a sound that will blast walls apart with no effort whatsoever. The letdown is the repetitious riffs, somewhat a little basic at times, but overall this is an effort many should not turn away from checking out. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON BLOODLINE SERIES 1, 2 & 3 Compilation WHATEVER NEXT / ROCK MATRIX So unleashing the ultimate smackdown of Metal is the Bloodline Series, spanning from series 1 to 3 and delivering a feast-for-your-ears exhibition of some of the finest talent that's found in the Bandquest competition. Bands all over the country are found on this remarkable series as well as a rainbow-array of Music genres, from your breakneck Thrash Metal to spine-chilling Black Metal and from your gut-wrenching Death Metal to your soul-soothing Heavy Metal. But the bands on the compilations are not all unsigned, per se Sanctorum from Colchester are signed to Auburn Fox Records, but let's face it this is a grand vehicle for those unsigned to show what they can do and hope to gain a name for themselves, from Southend hopefuls Merciless Fail to ex-Essex University student band Dismanibus, let alone forgetting The Furious Horde are to play Metalcamp in Slovenia this year! What you hear here is not just a collection of songs, but a true monument to the beautiful side of the British Metal scene, nay the winner of the Bandquest competition gets to play at the Bloodstock Open Air festival this year. For all metal fans, getting these compilations will be money worth investing in as there is the likelihood you will be hearing bands who in years to come are going to be big, let alone huge in their local scenes. Summing up the three compilations without delving into insane lengths of paragraphs will be a tad tricky, however the best way to sum them up? Let the listener decide, let the rollercoaster begin and let Heavy Metal once again spew out fresh sounds. As Jimi Hendrix put it "Music doesn't lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music", so for the bands involved in the compilations and he Bandquest competition, they are not just producing music, they are making the changes to the British music scene and with this next wave of British Metal, nothing is going to stop them from re-establishing the United Kingdom as a major player in the Global Metal music scene. The compilations and t-shirts supporting Bandquest can be purchased from the Darkstore website individually (CDs and t-shirts priced accordingly), but can be bought altogether at any Bandquest event for £12 (3 CDs, 1 Bandquest t-shirt and 1 copy of the Altascope magazine), check out the Unified Sounds FB group for details on upcoming heats in London, Kent, Essex, Sussex, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. [10] + [10] + [10] RHYS STEVENSON SCARRED BY BEAUTY 'Sutra' MIGHTY MUSIC Well it would seem almost imperfect not to call Scarred By Beauty a band of whom features ex-Hatesphere vocalist Jon Albrechtsen a threat to Danish Metal. Their debut 2011 album 'Sutra' carries enough gusto and whim to separate the virtuous from the down-right dirty. This is Hardcore-meets-Thrash metal = Thrashcore territory and should not be dismissed as another petty 'core' genre. With riffs as sharp as blades and drumming as hard-hitting as a knock-out migraine, Scarred By Beauty are set to take Europe by storm and set ablaze the roaming fields of Copenhagen. [8] RHYS STEVENSON _ MORPHING INTO PRIMAL 'Principios De Autodestruccion' INDEPENDENT (RELEASED VIA XTREEM MUSIC) Certainly not what you would expect from a Melodic Death Metal, pummelling drums only equate to half of the miscategorising of Spain's Morphing Into Primal, with more emphasis on Death Metal being as clear as crystal, the quartet seem to know what they are doing, sure the language barrier may prove an issue for those non-Spanish speakers, but the music deals with that in sensational form. Or make the latter stages a brief moment, for the album does offer melodic death metal in the 'Gothenburg style'; nay they are not a cloned Dark Tranquillity, but a version of the Swedes. Sure there is nothing new exhibited from this group but don’t dismiss them that easily, they are due to bring something new to the Spanish Metal scene and with this effort, they can only excel. [7] RHYS STEVENSON STALWART 'Manifest Of Refusal' PRC MUSIC There is something about Russian Metal that seems to have that spine-tingling effect and Stalwart's fourth outing is no exception. ''Manifest Of Refusal' conjures up the prolific sound of blazing drums and ear-shredding riffs, both brutal enough to leave listeners with hearing problems. If carnage was evident in music, this sums it right to the bone. A futile example of speed and intricate technicality posted on an apocalyptical sound echoing to the crossing of Behemoth-meets-Gojira style Death/Thrash. If you thought that the Russians were only good for Pagan or Slavic Folk Metal, you'd be mistaken, prepare to be disembowlled, as this is shortlisted for Russian Metal album of the year. [9] RHYS STEVENSON MASS HYPNOSIS
'Sanctimonious' GEENGER RECORDS Carrying on from the well-received 'Dis4nimation' which was released back in 2010, Croatian Melodic Death quintet Mass Hypnosis return with their follow-up 'Sanctimonious', at first it seems like another cliché-loaded Melodic Death album, but the tides soon change into the sounds of Hail Of Bullets, In Flames and The Dead Lay Waiting; a culmination of Melodic death Metal, with breakdowns and thrashing drums here and there. There is a new sound with this band and although the lyric topics are on verge of controversy, the imminent result is a futile explosion of Modern Metal. Comparing to their debut album, there is more orchestration present here and this gives a greater brutal experience. 'Sanctimonious' is to take this Croatian bunch into further fields across Europe and are certainly ones to watch out for. [8] RHYS STEVENSON GRAVETY 'Into The Grave' SOURCE OF DELUGE Smackdown and let rip to the sounds of Heavy Thrash Metal, or one should say the debut album 'Into The Grave' released by Gravety. The German quintet lash together a unique sound that reflects the glorified Oktoberfest in its prime, sensational riffs and menacing drumming all adding flavour to the mind-blowing vocals that cascade and scale the volume levels like no tomorrow. 'Into The Grave' is a strong starting point and it is highly promising that this band are to get a name for themselves across Europe. Finally the missing component to the Heavy Thrash Metal vein has come, the anxiety can now dissipate. [8] RHYS STEVENSON SPECTRAL 'Gateway To Death' CCP You know, it seems to be that when German musicians adopt Viking Black Metal as their chosen music genre, they seem to nail it perfectly, however taking Spectral's fifth offering 'Gateway To Death' into account, they do more than just nail it, they obliterate it. Blasting out blastbeats like no tomorrow and utilising a chaotic vocal range, the quintet are in no doubt amateurs in producing quality music and as such are not even remotely reluctant to go the extra mile, not much could be said about the German cars, but that's Industrial Metal surely? Spectral are amongst the elite of Viking Black Metal bands who do more than shriek, they totally mean it. [7] RHYS STEVENSON RAVENTALE 'Bringer of Heartsore' SOLITUDE As if the Ukrainians were going to let Russia steal the spotlight with the factory of doom pumping out disturbing Metal music day-in, day-out. Fat chance, as Raventale's fifth album saw light in 2011 it brought a majestic sound to it, one of which is totally different to conventional Black / Doom Metal albums, that said the melancholy and misery still resides in the most darkened atmospheres one could muster in such a musical genre, but with 'Bringer of Heartsore' being perhaps the best release by the one-man project, nothing can deter anyone from not calling this a work of art. Blistering drums acting as a forerunner to the rawest guitars heard, even the distortion is enough to create a double atmosphere, but with that in mind 'Bringer of Heartsore' is definitely one to have in anyone's collection. [9] RHYS STEVENSON TEARS OF MANKIND 'Memoria' SOLITUDE Can't even begin to explain what this is about, it fails to even create anything but percussive noise, even if the rudimentary beginning of 'Memoria' is particularly unwelcoming, the album for which is number four for the Russian one-man project Tears Of Mankind is absolutely abysmal. The drums appear out of sync to the guitars and the vocals don't even resemble anything like Gothic Metal, given due that its meant to Melodic Gothic / Doom Metal, it more resembles a successful Metal version of Justin Bieber with accessorized corpse paint, sad to say this is perhaps the worst attempt to date. [2] RHYS STEVENSON STORM OF ASHES
'Trial By Fire' Post-humourously, this is a good solid demo release, Storm of Ashes wield together the epic sounds of Thrash Metal with the ballsy GMN - Vol73 - Motionless In White, Rise To Remain, Zoltar Speaks, Mave Infinitum, Affliction9/3/2012 MOTIONLESS IN WHITE 'Creatures' FEARLESS It was only a matter of time before a new genre crossed the ever-expanding chasm of Metalcore, this fell to the dark genre of Gothic Metal and thus spawned a new sound, capitalised by American sextet Motionless In White. 'Creatures' their debut album, released in 2010, delivers that sound that fits the 'Gothcore' tag in completeness. With the atmospheric synths delivering a spine-chilling blow of insane melodies and the rest of the music encasing the listener with a powerful smackdown of straight-edge Metalcore, Motionless In White are due to take the world by storm, by delivering a unique twist and captivating ears everywhere, the old Gothic renaissance has been brought back to life. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON RISE TO REMAIN 'City of Vultures' EMI Hailing from a metal bloodline, Austin Dickinson and his unholy compatriots in Rise To Remain smash out the of London Metal scene with a belter, collaborating the harsh heavy sounds of Metalcore with the flowing elegancy of Melodic Metal. It would seem apparent that the album itself has a story to itself, for each song has a build-up and an anti-climax, but even so with the guitar virtuoso being present and the soul-soothing vocals adding the third dimension to this magnificent debut, 'City of Vultures' is perhaps the sentimental sound to be attached to Rise To Remain forever. 'City of Vultures' is one solid proof that British Metalcore has only just begun, let the battle commence. [9] RHYS STEVENSON ZOLTAR SPEAKS 'Treatment' There just seems to be a trend amongst South-West English metal bands, one trend unnoticed. But that trend is heavily hinted with Zoltar Speaks, most bands in Somerset are near breaking-point, breaking the underground barrier. With their four track EP 'Treatment' released last year, this is a prime example of pure Melodic Heavy Metal, with the vocals nearly reminiscent of vocalists such as Amy Lee and Avril Lavigne and the music itself taking influence from Iron Maiden at its peak, Zoltar Speaks are the voice of Somerset. 'Treatment' delivers a powerful knock-out punch with each song and offers no way of forgiving mercy, not even a respite from complete audio annihilation. [8] RHYS STEVENSON MARE INFINITUM 'Sea Of Infinity' SOLITUDE PRODS. Calm and depression may not always work together, but when applied to the Russian two-man band Mare Infinitum, it does. The Atmospheric Doom / Death Metal duo create a world full of enchantment, mystic and sensational sounds, all of which amount to their debut album 'Sea Of Infinity', burdening a hefty 55 minutes worth of music in five tracks, so much for keeping one entertained. Mare Infinitum are like most Russian Doom Metal bands and so therefore the cliché of the genre becomes the norm, in one way there lies nothing relatively new with the album, but it offers some respite in that it in places has an upbeat side, but lacks the final panache. [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON AFFLICTION
'Eyes Of Horror' SALUTE Darkened sadness drapes the misery and despair with the sounds of Doom / Death Metal project Affliction, operated by one Satanic Tony, of whom owns Salute Records, delivers an almighty blow to the heart with this six track demo, with raw vocals at the forefront and sensational music acting as a foundation for perhaps the most evil music created by Satanic Tony, this is one demo most underground Metal fans should have in their collection. Subtle and mesmerising goes the compositions, although not powerful enough to spark competition from the Russians, it does however send a clear message of desirable hate and sufferable pain. [7] RHYS STEVENSON VALBORG 'Barbarian' ZEITGEISTER MUSIC When Progressive Doom and Death Metal come together, one would assume it would be slow, heavy and not repetitious in anyway, but this is beyond utter belief, the fact that German trio Valborg have done exactly that does not leave a lasting impression on the band, whilst the vocals do offer some deep notes from time to time, the riffs are monotonous and the whole 'Death Metal' part of their shaming fourth album 'Barbarian' seems to be non-existent, whilst the given level of enthusiasm and effort lays there, the final product is one level short of becoming disturbingly non-metal, more or less shambolic. [2] RHYS STEVENSON NAILGUN 'Paindustry' 2011 saw the rising of a new Heavy Thrash band, and not a doom and gloom of another copycat release, no, this is Germany's Nailgun with a heart of steel and music of atomic characteristics, the vocals explode on the speakers from the release 'Paindustry' like no tomorrow whilst the music delves into the most percussive of methods and unleashes a cascading blast of neck-snapping Thrash and gut-wrenching Heavy Metal, thus giving a migraine to any pop music listener. They only thought Germany had Rammstein in metal, fikken nein, Nailgun ist die neue scheiss!! [8] RHYS STEVENSON OWL 'Owl' ZEITGEISTER MUSIC Catastrophe is a word not even beginning to describe the self-titled album by Germany's Death Metal duo Owl, for starters two of the tracks are insanely long, in fact hardly any listener would stick half an hour to one track that sounds of absolute nothing, the only decent track on this release is 'Spell Of The Ignis Fatuus That Lead To The Impalpable Altar Of Beasts'; the latter being long in the song title, but whilst the song offers some credit to the release, the overall impression is bleak, in fact in all fairness this is an absolute mockery of Death Metal; it would be interesting to see how the musicians learnt to play... [2] RHYS STEVENSON THE MORNINGSIDE 'Treelogia: The Album As It Is Not' BADMOODMAN The first EP and third release by Russian Melodic Death / Doom Metal quartet The Morningside is one with antiquity to it, with an elaborate ever-changing atmosphere being the main focal point of their release 'Treelogia: The Album As It Is Not'; whilst the songs topple over the ten minute mark, it does leave the listener in anxiety of what's to come and what does come is soon to be dismissed as a general long track. However, the EP strangely coherently divides the norm from the common in that the songs are melodically slow and not just slow, unlike most Doom Metal releases, released in only a thousand copies; this is one release all Melodic Death / Doom Metal fans ought to own. [6] RHYS STEVENSON COMATOSE VIGIL
'Fuimus, Non Sumus...' SOLITUDE PRODS. My death be thy worry of the Christ in 2011, for the darkness shrouding one's ears is of despair and sheer depression, as the Russian Funeral Doomsters Comatose Vigil unleash hell with their sophomore album, with three tracks amounting to twenty-odd minutes each and having the atmospherically-charged ambience expected in such a genre, without considering it murder on recording, 'Fuimus, Non Sumus...' does not shy away from making stomachs churn unwillingly. Closely sounding to that of Suicidal Black Metal, this is without any doubt Russia's darkest and most depressive release to date and one for not the faint of heart. [8] RHYS STEVENSON GMN - Vol63 - Emerald Night, Изморозь (Izmoroz), Twilight, Disconnected Brain, Corpse Fauna29/12/2011 EMERALD NIGHT 'Зеркало Троллей' GRAILIGHT Emblazoned on the Russian Metal scene like a light-bearer is Emerald Night with their third album 'Зеркало Троллей', the Symphonic Melodic Black Metal quartet deliver a sonic blast of Russian language-infused tracks that are so powerful, the nuclear weaponry that is present in today's world is now considered obsolete. Whilst the general listener may fall short of understanding the lyrics, the music does well in supplying a backdrop to keep the listener occupied, with a massacre of tricky riffs to savour the insane drumming and ear-smashing vocals, Emerald Night are a truly underground band waiting to give the all-out assault. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON IZMOROZ (Изморозь) 'Отморозь' GRAILIGHT It just seems apparent that most Eastern European Black Metal bands will use Paganism for their lyric topics and include Slavonic style music, easily Pagan Black Metal, but for Russia's Izmoroz it is more than that. Mixing their native Russian language with the sounds of Paganism and Slavonic folklore, this is perhaps the most influential album for Russian Pagan Metal bands to follow as an example, with vocals evil enough to make yourself soil your pants and music fast and brutal enough to send all the bodybuilders running in tutu's, Izmoroz is leading the Russian Pagan Metal scene to newer dimensions. [8] RHYS STEVENSON TWILIGHT 'Awaiting The Sunrise' GRAILIGHT The debut album from Russian Symphonic Black / Melodic Death Metal quintet Twilight is now a reality, sounding similar to that of fellow countrymen Arcane Grail. The Vologda-based five-piece mould together the blistering pace of Black Metal with the melodic symphonies found within metal and the sister Metal genre of Death Metal to produce an album worthy of a Grammy award. Thunderous double-bass drumming is only the foundation for a harmonic yet mentally brutal production and is only the signal for an eight-track onslaught, 'Awaiting The Sunrise' is perhaps the most heaviest album released in Russian Metal history; a true work of honour. [9] RHYS STEVENSON DISCONNECTED BRAIN 'Descent Into Hell' Slaying their way into the limelight and into newcomers corner is French Thrashers Disconnected Brain with their debut album 'Descent Into Hell', sounding similar to that of Slayer and Metallica, the riffs are romping around the release like no tomorrow whilst the solo's are clean and crisp, somewhat bringing classic styles to the modern sound of European Thrash Metal. 'Descent Into Hell' is a 'thrashin' good album and with a taste for Pantera clearly detectable, this is without a doubt French Metal album of the year and with this effort, Disconnected Brain is only going to get better. [7] RHYS STEVENSON _ CORPSE FAUNA
'Gore Gallery' Arising from the pits of Essex is Death Metal / Grindcore quintet Corpse Fauna, this five-piece simmer out the gravel from the grit and repeatedly smash the listener into brick walls with their debut demo 'Gore Gallery'. Whilst the production isn’t the most wonderful and at times sounds completely non-existent, the demo is a fair attempt at kick-starting the band's career, of course all bands don’t sound their best on their first demo, but Corpse Fauna are sure to make an impression as time goes on, with the double bass and guitars adding a raw atmosphere to it, the only way is forward, the only way is Essex. [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON AMBEHR 'Amber Dreamland' GRAILIGHT Armenian Power Folk Metal quintet Ambehr return with their fourth masterpiece and this time it is in English rather than the traditional Armenian, with this release the closest to fantasy it can get is the release itself, majestic, full-of-melody and fast paced music, enough to get any party started. Whilst their previous albums were in their native tongue of Armenian, this release does not differ regardless of the language change, everything is perfect, the truth is that Ambehr are leading the Armenian Metal scene and will continue to do so. [9] RHYS STEVENSON ARTANIA 'Ночь оденет тебе свой венец' GRAILIGHT So mixing the Russian language with the extreme sounds of Symphonic Black Metal and pure gothic imagery and darkness is Artania with their debut album 'Ночь оденет тебе свой венец' (Night Shall Crown Ye), whilst not sounding similar to Dimmu Borgir, Artania do offer their own unique sound, one similar to that of Cradle of Filth, but none the less the album is full of beauty, darkness and extreme music, a total revelation in the Russian Black Metal scene and exceptionally, Russian Metal album of the year. [10] RHYS STEVENSON GREY HEAVEN FALL '...Grey Heaven Fall' GRAILIGHT Russian Symphonic Black / Death Metal sextet Grey Heaven Fall come out of the shadows with their self-titled debut album of which is frenetically fast, insanely magical and such a pleasure to listen to, with an armament of heavy yet swift tracks to entrance the listener into complete oblivious senselessness, this is perhaps the best Symphonic Metal album this year, none the less '...Grey Heaven Fall' is one of those albums that fans of Illidiance, Shturm, and Tristwood will enjoy, a classic release that signals an oncoming slaughter by this band. [8] RHYS STEVENSON SKYFALL 'Bestiarium Pool' GRAILIGHT Twelve years wait and Skyfall finally release their long-awaited debut album 'Bestiarium Pool', the Russian Melodic Black Metal band carefully crafts the album into absolute perfection with precision and correct tuning, the Russian quintet sing in both Russian and English and whilst that does not affect the music itself, the listener may switch between singing and just listening, with raw vocals at the reins, spine-chilling melodies creeping down the human spine and riffs that are so hard, diamonds are obsolete, resistance is futile. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON KARTIKEYA
'Mahayuga' GRAILIGHT This is the next step in the evolution of Metal music, Black Death Metal mixing traditional Indian musical sounds by a Russian band!!!! Kartikeya return with their mystics and religious faiths in form of their sophomore album 'Mahayuga', bringing more cultural aspects on the Indian religion of Hinduism and Indian philosophy, this is a truly remarkable and ground-breaking album. Sensational vocals aided by brutally heavy drumming and chaotic riffing, this is the new way forward; a collaboration of multiple cultures into one. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON FOURTH AUTUMN 'Mock The Weak' RISING Deep from within the Welsh valleys arises a Black / Death metal band of four musicians of whom come together to unleash their debut album 'Mock The Weak'. Fourth Autumn are ready to unleash the darkness onto the masses in fierce style, whilst not exactly sounding similar to that of Polish titans Behemoth, the clear swinging-beat of Black Metal emphasises the extreme mentality of the quartet and yet manages to stab the atmosphere with insanity and spectacular intricacy, none the less this is a beacon of hope for the Welsh Metal scene which seems to of late been dominated by the common genre of Metalcore, or any 'core' genre. Fourth Autumn are set to take the UK Metal scene by storm and show how evil the dragons of the west really can be. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON FROM THE DEPTH 'Back To Life' RISING Adventure and magical sorcery come to mind with the Italian Power Metal ensemble From The Depth's debut album 'Back To Life', with a constant stream of majestic keyboard strokes to add a level of discovery to the affray, uniquely this is a band who somehow mix European Power Metal; with its neck-breaking pace and decibel-smashing solos, with the embodiment of Disney magic, one would assume they had just come from a fairy tale with the gallant feel in their music. 'Back To Life' is surely a solid reminder that the Italian's are passionate about fast and powerful metal and From The Depth is no exception, without a doubt power metal album of the year 2011. [10] RHYS STEVENSON VINTERBLOT 'Nether Collapse' RISING Uprising Italian Viking / Death Metal quintet Vinterblot make the first move with their debut album 'Nether Collapse' being released next year, it sees the new signing of Rising Records unleash a horrid and eccentric mix of cutting-edge Death Metal and Viking Metal melodies / lyrics. How odd it is that a band from a country with no Viking relation whatsoever, manages to deliver the same level of brutality as per se Tyr from the Faroe Islands. With an armament of ten tracks to batter your brains and mosh your body to, Vinterblot are only just getting started and are far from shying away just yet, the journey for them has just begun. [8] RHYS STEVENSON _4 ARM 'Submission For Liberty' RISING 2011 saw Australia's 4 Arm release their third album in absolute... what the? It would seem that the Groove Metal, crossed with Thrash Metal and Metalcore went AWOL. Whilst the attempt is there, the tunes are near out of sync, the Metalcore style vocals are not there, and whilst this is a poser copy of Lamb Of God, the guitars only offer little light for this quartet. With most of the songs sounding similar in more ways than one and with no sense of change of tune, this may be a shooting in the foot for the Australian band. [3.5] RHYS STEVENSON THE SULLEN ROUTE
'Apocalyclinic' SOLITUDE PRODS. Typical Russian Doom / Death Metal, none the less The Sullen Route offer their version of the common sound and nationality combination with their second album in two years, 'Apocalyclinic' delivers a reasonably paced period of depressing yet neatly organised Doom Metal. But just like most Doom / Death Metal bands, the music is slow, heavy and full of depressive dark atmosphere, but take hats off to the Russian quintet for keeping the old style alive, almost certainly one of those releases that even when you're drunk out of your mind, it still captivates somehow. [6] RHYS STEVENSON |
© 2011-2022
|