AGRESIVA 'Eternal Foe' Revolution, that is the only word to describe the Spanish onslaught brought on by the emphatic debut album 'Eternal Foe' by Madrid Thrashers Agresiva. Corroded by a bountiful load of riffs, grizzly vocals and neck-snapping drumming, 'Eternal Foe' sees the clashing of 80's style Thrash with the tenor of American Power Metal. Just like a horde of bulls on a rampage and the free-flowing attacking style displayed by Real Madrid, Agresiva set the tone for the expectations of Spanish Power Thrash Metal. From start to finish, a non-stop delivery of powerful vocals, brain-smashing riffs and quick-footed drumming is what is to be expected. Is this Spanish Metal album of the year? Might as well be! [10] RHYS STEVENSON HYBRIS 'Instinto' LEYENDA Hybris return with their fourth offering of Spanish influenced Melodic Power Metal in the form of 'Instinto', this is a truly remarkable album for the Canary Islanders. With over an hours worth of majestic vocals, technical drumming and melodic riffs to capture the atmosphere of being in paradise, or so the listener should be. Whilst this may prove tricky for the non-Spanish speakers, the music instead does the talking, cruising from the deepest depths to the highest heights in metal music, Hybris certainly do not fail to impress with this release, in the tune of crossing Sonata Arctica with Amberian Dawn, this is a pure classic example of exceptional musicianship, it will be interesting to see what album number five brings. [8] RHYS STEVENSON HULDRE 'Intet Menneskebarn' No joke, this is proper Eurovision material, no wait let's not stoop that low for a release that is a mish-mash of Eluveitie, Aperion and Arkona. Collectively playing a violin, guitar, bass, drum, a flute and a hurdy-gurdy is sextet Huldre from Denmark. Delivering their Danish myth-laden debut album 'Intet Menneskebarn' in a classical way, it won't take long before the major labels start sniffing this album out. Fuelled by the classics of Danish folklore and tales, this is a truly remarkable album and is sure to get the European Metal scene wake-up call, or at least could act as a wake-up call for anyone. Bouncy music mix with a tongue-twister of Danish lyrics and traditional Folk Metal vocals and result in a definitive piece of music. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON DUBLIN DEATH PATROL 'Death Sentence' MASCOT For a band name which could provoke the Irish and Northern Irish, the septet from California, Dublin Death Patrol return with a vengeance with their face-melting second effort 'Death Sentence', quite literally one song down and you'll be signing your death warrant for enduring a luxury seldom ever done, simply classic Heavy Thrash Metal. Featuring the masterminds Steve Souza and Chuck Billy, they lead a valiant group of musicians on a quest to deliver epic sounds, and they have done. Scintillating riffs merge with brutal drumming and skull-crunching vocals and it is this sound that could shape the band forever, now if this album does not get in the top 20 on the billboard, I shall eat my speakers. [10] RHYS STEVENSON ADJUST THE SUN
'Devouring Worlds' So the debut album from Adjust The Sun is practically Scar Symmetry but adjusted to a different style. Strapping progressive elements to the embodiment of Melodic Death Metal and ending up with a unique sound in that both gender vocals come together, the guitars riff it out to the max and the drummer provides a technical level of musicianship, such is an apt description of the German's debut album 'Devouring Worlds', think of Gojira mixing with Scar Symmetry and you'll get the idea of what this sounds like. For the sextet this is a promising start but the only problem is keeping it up, only time will tell, but for now and especially 2012, witness the birth of a new force in the German Metal scene. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON
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LAHANNYA 'Dystopia' KABUKI A bit of a reprisal comes into play with Lahannya's latest offering 'Dystopia', the multi-national quartet deliver a Gothic-twisted emphasis on the whole Alternative Metal division, with joyous melodies and erotic vocals coalescing together to shed new light on the sounds of modern music. Long gone are the days of London being a reputed Gothic area but the music continues to flourish and rule the night and with Lahannya firmly now set in stone and on the road to achieve much more, nothing will stop this foursome from reviving the old roots of Gothic/Alternative music. 'Dystopia' is for fans of Evanescence, The Cyan Velvet Project, Velcra and Domina Noctis. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON BELLIGERENT INTENT 'Seven Are They' Perhaps this could be a signature soundtrack to a world war two film, or it could be something dark that's lurking in Australia's backyard; a dead body perhaps? But whatever fans can make of Belligerent Intent's debut album 'Seven Are They', it is guaranteed a smacking of rough and grizzly Black / Death Metal. Blistering drums are perhaps the best section of the band's debut, but as an overall production it can be easily linked to other bands such as The Furor or Behemoth. Next thing we will know is that there is a sharp rise of hearing loss in the Melbourne area, or it could be the screeching of the Melbourne Formula 1 Grand Prix (we think). [8] RHYS STEVENSON KLYNT 'Of Klynt & Man' Hard to make anything of this one, well technically that's a lie, this is Austrian quintet Klynt and their debut release 'Of Klynt & Man', now when claiming to be Power / Thrash Metal, it would be assumed to be fast, with melodic vocals and heavy vocals in tandem, however what Klynt have done have gone the opposite, heavy vocals, melodic music and medium pace. Like the fable of Midas, Klynt are on that path but are a fair distance away from making any epic sounds as-of-yet, but with this release under their belt, it can only get better for the lads, one band to keep an eye out for. [7] RHYS STEVENSON WHITECHAPEL 'Whitechapel' METAL BLADE Within the myriad and factory-processed Deathcore bands that seem to have come out of nowhere, lies a diamond amongst the fakes and it is this diamond that is in fact Whitechapel. The American juggernauts assault the fourth outing in sensational style, with a breakdown after blastbeat smack-in-the-face reception, the self-titled album by the heavy-weight titans is a clear sign of how Deathcore 'should be done'. This without a doubt has to be the best album they have ever released and will prove a real hard act to follow on from. For fans of Resist The Thought and The Black Dahlia Murder amongst many other elite Deathcore acts. [8] RHYS STEVENSON CATACOMBS
'Catacombs' Somewhat easy to compare when speaking of Catacombs, the closest you can pinhole them to is Wintersun, minus the chill factor. However, Australia's Catacombs and their debut self-titled EP is not without any deviations; subtle breakdowns emerge here and there whilst retaining the melodic overture found on 'The Fallen'. Sure it's not a 100% production and generally no first release is, but the Melbourne lads do have a sense of musical direction and with this EP under wraps, they could break into the international scene, with hints of Amon Amarth and the slow Melodic doom-feel in the shadows, Catacombs are a decent band with a decent release. [7] RHYS STEVENSON GMA - Vol77 - Emporer (Tribute), Kraanium, Gone Til Winter, Not Above Evil, Butcher Babies24/5/2012 VARIOUS ARTISTS 'In Honour of Icon E - A Tribute To Emporer' CANDLELIGHT In a similar form of a guard of honour, sixteen bands have come together from many nations to salute Norwegian Black Metal lords Emporer in emphatic style. With the most notable bands being the likes of Helheim, Taake, Horna, Necrodeath and Svartlav, this is a goblet-raised toast to one of the finest Norwegian Black Metal bands ever to walk the earth. From the darkened abyss to the most Satanic corners of the heathen mountains, this is sure to be a well-spoken of release and is sure to captivate many Metal fans alike let alone the Black Metal die-hards. This as far as one is concerned, sees this as probably the Black Metal album of the year, sure it's handicapped due to the compilation backdrop, but regardless it is a fitting release and has its place on the history of metal firmly stuck. [8] RHYS STEVENSON KRAANIUM 'Post Mortal Coital Fixation' COMATOSE Gross and sickening come to mind with Norway's Kraanium and their gore-fest 'Post Mortal Coital Fixation', which is theit third vomiting to date. Oozing with song titles so disturbing and twisted they dwarf all of the Saw films entirely. After all this is their third release and a perfectly crafted one too, unlike most Brutal Death bands (who grunt more than growl), Kraanium seem to conjure up a winning stratagem and unleash a face-melter, so powerful enough it may need to come with a warning for imminent underwear-shittng. Easily an album anyone should own, 'Post Mortal Coital Fixation' is definitely for fans of Fitcage, Deathbound and Cattle Decapitation. [7] RHYS STEVENSON GONE TIL WINTER 'The First Season' Harmonious and superbly melodic is a statement summing up Gone Til Winter's 2011 release 'The First Season'. Hailing from Manchester, the quintet of three males and two females usher in a new sense of Melodic Metal with Power Metal influences, similar to that of Tainted Grace and not unlike Evanescence, this is perhaps the breath of fresh air needed to clear the storms of the Midlands. Heavenly vocals gifting a creditable production of which from start to finish displays sensational riffs, magical melodies and ultimately delivers the total package in eight tracks. From start to finish this is a rollercoaster album and yet still young and fresh, they could go far. [8] RHYS STEVENSON _ NOT ABOVE EVIL 'The Transcendental Signified' There must be a trait with most Manchester bands that it's all about the darkened side of Metal music, as Not Above Evil certainly cast a shadow over the metropolitan city with their murderous combination of Melodic Black Metal and Death Metal style drumming. Similar to Hecate Enthroned, Not Above Evil are not really Christian Metal as the band name somewhat suggests, but if they were, sins would be plenty. Forging a striking sound with enough power to blow holes in any studio, this Mancunian quartet are ill-fated to make waves with the extraordinate sound of massacre all-round, with their 2011 release 'The Transcendental Signified', resistance is well and truly futile. [8] RHYS STEVENSON BUTCHER BABIES
'Butcher Babies' Hollywood is known for its drama, its glamour and laid-back atmosphere, but when five American musicians unleash a torrent of bloody hell upon the Los Angeles Metal scene, even the SWAT department shit bricks. This is Butcher Babies, comprising of two girls and three guys and a thousand ton weight in the form some of the sickest Heavy Thrash Metal on todays radar. With vocals provided by Heidi and Carla, from which give this four track release enough balls to make any wrestler look pansy, Butcher Babies are on course not to murder younglings, but to rob you of your hearing, you have been warned, be prepared for this titanic storm. [8] RHYS STEVENSON 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 SHADOWICON 'Empire In Ruins' November 2011 saw the sensational debut album of Slovenian Symphonic Power Metal sextet ShadowIcon, with an array of enchanting sounds to summon the listener into another world via the delightful sounds of the keyboards to the pleasurable and softening vocals of Ana Prijatelj, whilst musically the band sound like a cross of old Nightwish and Within Temptation, ShadowIcon are indeed a band on their own accord, in that they have their own 'dramatis persona' about them. 'Empire In Ruins' the debut album in its own rights sounds similar to that of fellow countrymen Aperion's debut album 'Act Of Hybris'; the latter would make it seem apparent Slovenian women have the right vocals for symphonic music, hark 'Empire In Ruins' is without a doubt Slovenian Metal album of the year. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON NORDHEIM 'Lost In The North' 2010 gave birth to Nordheim's debut album 'Lost In The North', with a collision of 'troll' metal and Black Metal, the result is a Korpiklaani / Turisas style release, fast paced, extreme in vocals and drumming and eccentric riffs catapult the listener into a forty-two minute onslaught of Metal music from Quebec in Canada. Unlike most Black / Folk Metal albums in the style of Vikings, Trolls et al, 'Lost In The North' brings in the darkness found within Canadian Black Metal and does well to twist the music into a cascading, whipping storm of cold north water and majestic sounds, the listener will truly get 'Lost In The North'. [7] RHYS STEVENSON DYNABYTE '2kx' Aggressive and erotic spring to mind when listening to Dynabyte's 2010 album '2kx', the Italian Industrial Gothic Metal trio mix the aesthetics and visual look of Industrial Goth aka rivethead with the hardness of Industrial Metal. With screaming vocals tearing apart the surrounding room like a bulldozer demolishing wooden buildings and music to solve the hunger of all rivetheads, Goths and Metalheads, this is another reason and symbol of proof that Dynabyte are the next big Industrial Music act in Italy's chambers, alongside fellow countrymen Neon:Synthesis and Helalyn Flowers, fans of Rammstein, Ruoska and Velcra will love this. [7] RHYS STEVENSON RAVENSCRY 'One Way Out' WORMHOLE DEATH Italy's answer to the globally known Evanescence has come around, with their debut album 'One Way Out' shining the way to absolute brilliance, Italian Melodic / Alternative Metal quintet Ravenscry do not fail to disappoint, with vocals in the style of Amy Lee being clear as day and music in the style of Lacuna Coil, this could be the band Italy has been waiting for to unleash sheer beauty and power upon the global metal music world. Leaving the listener spine-chilled and the atmosphere adapted to pure majestic feelings, Ravenscry are flying the Italian flag in the Alternative Metal vein. [10] RHYS STEVENSON ABSINTHE
'La F’ee Verte' GREEN FAIRY All-female Hard Rock / Heavy Metal trio Absinthe from the USA unleash a belter with their EP 'La F’ee Verte', with an attitude for rock and roll clearly imminent and a striking force of true 1970's style rock music, this is perhaps one band that shouldn't be dismissed as beyond their sell by date, for music always lives on. With guitars blazing fire like no tomorrow and heavenly vocals backed up by sensational drumming, this is one EP that fans of Iron Maiden, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin ought to like, Absinthe are more than just female rockers, they are bad-ass ladies. [8] RHYS STEVENSON THE BROWNING 'Burn This World' EARACHE Considered one of the next big bands to embrace to storm of colliding electronic music and metal together, The Browning install their hard drive force of complex Extreme / Hybrid Metal or Technical Electro-Deathcore, but essentially a sickening mix of Deathcore, Trance Music, EBM, Technical Metal and Cyber Metal. The fact being their debut album 'Burn This World' is one that cannot be genre-pinned, simply because of its multi-sound offering and it's tasty repertoire of brain-bashing breakdowns, energetic electronic EBM and all round sonic blasting. The Browning may be compared to bands like Design The Skyline, but even so both bands are leading a metal revolution, The Browning just taking it one step further, make or break for this band and genre is set to stay, love it or hate it, the perfect poker hand has been dealt, its time to 'Burn This World'. [10] RHYS STEVENSON KOZAKS OF METALLISHTAN 'Kozaks Of Metallishtan' Once in a while you get a band that breaks all guidelines, rules and totally wrecks conformity, this time it falls grace to the Finnish Metal scene, or so to speak the land of Metallishtan of which is located in modern day Russia. The trio of musical leaders bring a totally new idea to the Metal music world and as such bring out a totally unique sound. 'Kozaks Of Metallishtan' is the band's self-titled debut release and has a collection of Russian-tinged Soviet propaganda and digs at Sweden in the purest and comical form. None the less, the Metallishtani's will be immersed by the revolution and with this music, it spells the rebirth of the once forgotten nation. Kozaks Of Metallishtan is for fans of Rammstein and System of a Down, but for the band itself, Kozaks Of Metallishtan is a one of a kind, one band that will drive forward and bring a whole new level of Metal to the masses. [10] RHYS STEVENSON WINTERCOLD 'Lost Wolf' SATANICA Swedish one-man project Wintercold returns with another assault of Gothic-tinged Doom Metal, this time the full-length release in question is 'Lost Wolf', amassing a rather eclectic and sometimes shoddy mix of excellent and downright disappointing tracks. Some of the major highlights include 'Psychopath' with its quick beat and somewhat funky approach to the musical style. Nonetheless this is another fine example of the Swedish musical magician Satanic Tony; his project Wintercold is rumbling around the underground and with this latest release, things can only get darker, more intricate and most importantly heavier. [7] RHYS STEVENSON HELLARISE 'Human Disgrace' All female Brazilian Death / Thrash group Hellarise shed light in 2010 with their debut demo 'Human Disgrace', dragging up a fast blazing arrangement of songs fuelled by Amazonian wood and tribal heritage, this band mix a bit of Sepultura with feisty feminine creativity. For this debut effort from Brazil's underground, this is a good attempt at making brutal music. None the less, Hellarise could have gone better on production but with that in mind, the overall product is more than a general death / thrashes release, this is a demo with enough guts on it to over-throw any Ronaldinho or Pele. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON HAMEREX
'Rites Of Passage' Yorkshire boys Hamerex waiver their next assault of classic Heavy metal with their latest release 'Rites Of Passage', with a cascade of riffs and drumming to entice the most frantic of mosh-pits, Hamerex are igniting the old traditions and bringing them to the masses as a trophy of the evolution of Metal music. 'Rites Of Passage' brings a whole new stance on the meaning of original and traditional, this is by far one of the most impressive rejuvenations of old style metal to be unleashed, a sheer class of absolute proportions. For fans of Iron Maiden, Kaine, Van Halen. [8] RHYS STEVENSON RABENWOLF 'Aus alten Zeiten' German Pagan Metal octet Rabenwolf make their long awaited debut album speak for itself, 'Aus alten Zeiten' (For Old Times) is entirely in their native language and as such complements the traditional German folk music sound to the bone. Whilst not as brutal as Russian band Arkona, Rabenwolf exert a force that seems to illuminate the forests of Bavaria with a sense of beer-fests and grand banquets, all of which simmer in their music as an apt mode of conveying old by-gone times. Rabenwolf are set to become Germany's next biggest export, but also possibly one of those bands that Nuclear Blast may keep an eye on. [10] RHYS STEVENSON DEVARIEM 'Peace Was Never An Option' Arising from the grounds of Lubeck is latest Teutonic Thrashers Devariem with their feisty and fury-loaded debut EP 'Peace Was Never An Option', collectively delivering a fluid flow of blastbeats and heart-stabbing vocals to cause anyone a hyperactive heart attack. Whilst conventionally not the newest version of Holy Moses, Devariem however bring the same brain-punching sound experienced by the latter, none the less the riffs and beats on this release are certified to leave listeners with more than a headache and more than whiplash, as far as Devariem are concerned 'Peace Was Never An Option'. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON EXCOMMUNICATED 'Skeleton Key' UW RECORDS Unholy Black / Death Metal quartet Excommunicated arise from the altar with their blistering paced debut album 'Skeleton Key', musically sounding along the lines of Behemoth with the anti-Christianity level of Gorgoroth, this mind-blowing album carries a death warrant on it's audio waves in the form of ravenous riffs, bear-mauling blastbeats and venomous vocals, all in all coming together as a sacrilegious blast of 'Dark Religious Metal' - of which is best way to describe the band, a major threat to the existence of the Christian faith and the ruling presence of the Vatican City, without a doubt the perfect soundtrack to Dan Brown's novel 'The Da Vinci Code', just don't expect any repentance from these four cardinals of Louisiana. [9] RHYS STEVENSON KILLGASM 'Bloodbath Of Satanic Vengeance' UW RECORDS American Black Metal / Pornogrinders Killgasm shed blood and sexual innuendo's in the most Satanic form yet with their catastrophic debut album 'Bloodbath Of Satanic Vengeance', featuring a fast and spit-in-your-face attitude in each song, the trio from California sum up the soundtrack for a real Hardcore porn movie. So much for BDSM being erotic and sex being dirty, these bad boys emit a sound that curses any sound made from the bondage of a big woman so to speak, powering drums into speeding and riffing into overdrive, this is perhaps one of the darkest releases from California, a certain 'Bloodbath Of Satanic Vengeance' has been created. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON SLIME IN THE CURRENT
'Pissed On Resurrectine' UW RECORDS Cold and heartless sums up this Black Metal trio from Louisiana, diving into the darkest depths of war and anti-Christianity and emerging under the title of Slime In The Current. For a Black Metal album that was the band's debut and unleashed in 2009, Pissed On Resurrectine' sits in the raw vein, due to the evident guitar distortion and inaudible vocals conveying what sounds like words but at most times are misleading. This is not one of the best releases that has graced metal's darkest genre, but certainly not the worst either. In total respect the band combines an atmospheric discharge rather than speed and heaviness, so essentially 'Pissed On Resurrectine' can be dubbed 'Raw Ambient Black Metal'. [6] RHYS STEVENSON GHOST 'Opus Eponymous' RISE ABOVE Highly acclaimed Swedish Heavy Metal sextet Ghost make their paranormal purposes known with their debut album 'Opus Eponymous' released last year to sensational acclaim. For a band who focuses on Satanism as the core lyrical content and yet implores a Halloween stance to their music and dress code, the boys from Stockholm drag out the darkness from the graveyards and awaken the spirits surrounding the alter, cursing the main vicar of the band into eternal gloom and despair. Ghost may not be the Iron Maiden, but almost certainly a pioneer of 'Halloween Metal'. No wonder this band is known all over the place, this band has so much more to offer in time to come. NEUROMA 'Extremophile' GRIND SCENE Nucleating their empowerment on the masses is the latest Liverpudlian scallywags Neuroma who detonate a brutally bone-crushing blast wave of mental Death Metal. It is fast, insane and charismatically brain-squishing, with each song comes half a baker's dozen of blast-beats, rigorous riffing and a vicarious atonement in the vocal department. Here is a quintet with enough balls in the music to overthrow any other band fighting in their field, namely Cerebral Bore. Scousers they may be, but by Metal and heart terms they are five men who have started the battle of the decade. [8] RHYS STEVENSON ENGRAVED DISILLUSION 'Embers Of Existence' Somerset Melodic Death Metal newcomers Engraved Disillusion make their move with their debut album 'Embers Of Existence' now unleashed, collecting such influences from bands like The Dead Lay Waiting, Sorrow of Batavia and Wintersun, the quintet from Taunton unleash a torrent of sick riffs, harmonious melodies and unquestionable intricate musicianship. 'Embers Of Existence' is a symbol to the Somerset Metal scene that it is bursting with petals of power and is ready to assail the nationwide Metal music following. Without a doubt Engraved Disillusion are one of the next English Metal hopefuls and with this effort clearly demonstrate they have what it takes to be a well known Metal band. [9] RHYS STEVENSON POISONWOOD 'Pseudo Utopia' As majestic as the Indian Jones films and as brutal as an F5 tornado rampaging across Arkansas, American Melodic Death Metal sextet Poisonwood return with their savage slaughtering-of-an-album, in this instance their sophomore album 'Pseudo Utopia' (their second album in their two years existence). Fist-pumping a flurry of classic Melodic Death Metal tunes in the sound of the Gothenburg Metal style, but don't let that flounce you, organizing an unconformable assault of quick-paced music and a relentless ease of mass audio attacks, this is just the inaugural beginning for these bad boys. [8] RHYS STEVENSON SLAVES TO FASHION
'Artistic Differences' HANDS OF BLUE Possibly the next big Progressive Metal band to emerge from Europe, essentially Slaves To Fashion make their feelings heard with their debut 2011 album 'Artistic Differences', with clear Queen and Kasabian influences on the rock side, the Norwegian quartet deliver a tasty outburst of soul-soothing music with a radio-friendly atmosphere riding on it, somewhat similar to A-Ha and their song 'the living daylights', even so Slaves To Fashion bring the beauty of chilling out to the masses on this release, this is probably the Norwegian album of the year 2011. [10] RHYS STEVENSON GMN - Vol38 - Calcined, Frosthammer / Demorian / Ancient Warlord, Ashen Reign, Barbarian Prophecies29/8/2011 CALCINED 'Thwarted' Like an avalanche that failed to go off, Calcined are perhaps one of the least musically apt bands from Switzerland, well, in fact they implement a sector of Brutal Death Metal into the ranks, collectively the music itself is good but the vocals lack clarity and are often grunted rather than growled. This being their debut EP 'Thwarted', the blastbeats, riffs and composure is sublime, the audio inserts in relation to the additional recordings are fairly decent, the vocals could be adapted but none the less their debut EP is not a complete failure, but the Swiss quartet are heading in the right direction, eventually the sound will improve. [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON FROSTHAMMER / DEMORIAN 'Old Times Glances Upon US' SALUTE Joining forces on the 2011 split release 'Old Times Glances Upon US' is Canada's Symphonic Black Metal quartet Frosthammer and Sweden's Black Metal duo Demorian. Frosthammer deliver the signature raw sound they have always carried on their releases and this ultimately sheds an atmospheric approach of dark dankness and chaotic depression in its suicidal form. Delivering a cold blast of winter-covered Symphonic Black metal is what Frosthammer does best and on this split they do not fail to impress. On the other half Demorian bring a furious excitement of brain-crushing Black Metal, raw blast-beats simmering under a wispy audio wave of raw vocals, fast and insane drumming coalescing with mid-paced guitars to add a further dimension to their side of this split. This is perhaps two of the most darkest Black Metal bands in the underground, just be aware that they don't take weak ears on this one, a split release not for the faint of heart. [8] + [8.5] DEMORIAN / ANCIENT WARLORD 'Infernal Antichristian Incantations' SALUTE Swedish Black Metal underground tyrants Demorian hit back with another split release, this time it is with Filipino Black Metal quartet Ancient Warlord under the release title of 'Infernal Antichristian Incantations'. Demorian carry on their trademark raw black metal parameter in relation to the ear-burning received from the scintillating drumming by the Swedish duo, sadly though this is not one of their best outings, but still is a well devised sound. Moving onto the second half of this split album is the Filipino quartet Ancient Warlord with their rather unethical sound of raw guitars humming and drumming providing a foundation for cold-hearted vocals. This is perhaps one of the Philippines darkest bands and essentially brings two continents together on this release, a truly explicit result of sensational Black Metal. [7] + [8] RHYS STEVENSON ASHEN REIGN 'An Angel Burden' Fighting their way back from the studio is American Heavy Power Metal one-man band Ashen Reign, who is all done by Brent McDaniel and in a breathtaking style at that, fusing a mystical atmosphere to the backbone of his eccentric wielding of Heavy Metal to Power Metal to create a dynamic sound of which is totally unique. By far one of the best American Metal releases of this year, with soul and a sense of dedication clearly evident on his sophomore album 'An Angel Burden'. As extravagant as Devin Townsend of Canada, Brent McDaniel and his magical Ashen Reign are set to become legend. [10] RHYS STEVENSON BARBARIAN PROPHECIES
'Remember The Fallen' Galician Black / Death Metal novices Barbarian Prophecies devour the horrific accounts of Auschwitz on their sophomore album 'Remember The Fallen', with artwork to symbolise this and sounds to mimic the negativity of the brutality experienced at such concentration camps. Fast, insanely brutal and despairingly dark, this is Spain's darkest side and inevitably one of the Spanish Metal scene's darkest album releases. The band however is not associated with the NSBM movement and should not be judged as such. For their second attempt at a mass metal break out, they have gone and done the right thing, kept it extreme and brain-challenging. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON 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 |
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