DYSANGELIUM
'Maniachrist'

Usually the underground is brimming with talent, but lately the Czech Metal scene has become a shadowy figure in the darkness, but with the faint sound of brutal blastbeats coursing throughout the whispers of the Bohemian forest comes an assault that slaughters everything in it's path, 'Maniachrist' signals the oncoming of Dysangelium, a ten-legged Death Metal machine, grinding its ay through the churning and crunching processes to produce what could be poised as the next big Czech Metal band, slamming music hits the surroundings at colossal speed and slays every living thing that comes into contact with this megalithic beast.

Download This: "Whitechapel"

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

REPUBLIC / THE PROTOCOLS OF THE ELDERS OF ZION
'Meditation Music Volume One'
WINTER SOLACE

They say patience is a virtue, but perhaps patience is overrated at times, especially when two-track albums like 'Meditation Music Volume One' come into the foreground, not much is known behind this release only except that it seems to be a split between Republic and The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, what we have here are two ambient tracks that deliver a whopping thirty-four minutes of pure ambiance, bizarre some may say, but for those who have patience it can be rewarding. Built coincidentally as an excellent method for drifting the listener to sleep on long journeys, this release calms the nerves and chills the soul, but how the artists managed to pull this one off is a question that needs answering.

Download N/A

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

ENTER THE PRIMATES
'We Are The Apocalypse'

Germany in recent times has started spewing out a host of electronicore bands, but when Stuttgart's Enter The Primates smash the atmosphere with their mass murder-of-a-debut album 'We Are The Apocalypse', it is evident that this algorithmic sextet are destined to rise to the ranks of Asking Alexandria, Motionless In White and Enter Shikari, slapping together electronic trance music and a brutal mauling of tectonic Metalcore, Enter The Primates are the breath of fresh air that the German Metal scene has been long awaiting for. Gun-trigger drums drive this beast-of-a-machine forward and has enough brutality to knock over the Berlin wall in the powerful form of the atomic bomb, but be warned this music is not for the faint of heart and may result in a health warning as it is very danceable.

Download This: "Outsourced"

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

DYST
'Judges & Butchers'
ACUITY MUSIC

The debut album by Dyst is upon the masses, 'Judges & Butchers' comes out bursting in flames as the Norwegian Metalcore mob entomb the listener in a solid punching wall of sound, sadly this is nothing new and at times the vocals sound a little forced, verging onto Bring Me The Horizon style Metalcore with the body of a Hardcore outfit, given due it is a credible release and will serve the band well, but for now it is merely a common-Metalcore release, until the lads find that little niche in the over-saturated music genre market, the stagnation of the band will start to seep in. 'Judges & Butchers' will appeal to fans of Fei Comodo, Bring Me The Horizon and similar bands.

Download This: "Crossbearer"

[5.5] RHYS STEVENSON

SHAPE MY CLARITY
'Chameleon Mirror'

It's always intriguing when bands make their own genre tags up, yet when Germany's Shape My Clarity emerge on the scene to deliver their debut album 'Chameleon Mirror', the genre 'Neon Metal' may elude many people. simply put it's Electronic Metalcore in the style of Asking Alexandria and also takes in influences from In Flames and Bullet For My Valentine, so expect an explosion of mind-blowing vocals, razor-sharp riffs and ballistic drumming sequences and then on top of that comes the technical and electric atmosphere disposed by these promising lads. 'Chameleon Mirror' is the sound of the underground and may well become the pivotal point for Shape My Clarity for whom are the rave metal juggernaut the world has been waiting for.

Download This: "Asking Way"

'Chameleon Mirror' is out 22nd February 2013 via the band themselves.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

CHARIOTS OF THE GODS
'Tides of War'

Billed as a one to watch band for 2013, Canada's Chariots of the Gods acclerate out the starting blocks like horses on meth, powering forward to that supersonic sound they so long craved to deliver and as the bands debut album 'Tides of War' drops onto the masses, it is clearly evident why they are feared to smash the industry in half, lashing together a generous and onerous mix of Lamb of God, Children of Bodom and In Flames influences into a cooking pot for the result end to become one of the most epic sounding albums from the Canadian Metal scene since the days of Strapping Young Lad. 'Tides of War' spews out brutal speed, ferocious musical compositions and more balls than you'll ever grow in your life.

Download This: "Blind Assassin"

'Tides of War' is out now via the band themselves

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

ENVINYA
'Inner Silence'
MASSACRE

REFLECTION IN EXILE
'The Insufferable Darkness'

Showering the county of Durham with their blackened onslaught of Blackened Death Metal is the five-piece armada Reflection In Exile and their latest beastly EP 'The Insufferable Darkness', this release explodes in various directions with the scent of spilled blood that carries the DNA of Behemoth and early God Dethroned, but what impresses most is the unrelenting speed of this man machine, there is no way anyone can windmill at the same speed of the performed rhythm and on that note the vocals add an extra-dimension by fluctuating from guttural growls to murderous screams. If this is to be the sound of the British Extreme Metal vein, then A&E better be prepared for an upsurge of whiplash cases, this musical virus is infectious.

Download This: "Astray From The Light"

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

AHAKAY N' BROR
'The Berbers Kriegers'
SALUTE

It is always interesting where Black Metal ends up and sometimes where it ends up can be in an area dogged with oppression against metal entirely, such is the case of Ahakay N' Bror of whom hail from Morocco, their sole demo 'The Berbers Kriegers' which originates from way back in 2007 still carries a level of difference with it, making it stand out from the rest of the overly saturated Black Metal underground, whether it be the raw atmosphere shed or the grueling vocals that penetrate the hearing senses so much so it almost becomes a murder story. However, given due that this band hail from Morocco is not a major point, but rather an acknowledgement that this duo are possibly the darkest metal band you'll ever find in this country.

Download This: "The Call Of Judgement"

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

DHISHTI
'Decease'
SALUTE

What a better way to spend around an hour than to listen to what can be seen as one of the most atmospheric Black Metal releases from the Asian continent, enter the debut album 'Decease' by Sri Lankan quintet Dhishti, the album itself was released back in 2010 and features just four tracks, so if you lack patience this album is not for you, however the wait is a rewarding slow and sorrowful outburst of melancholy and depression, at least to say that 'Decease' sounds like it was recorded in the harsh woodlands of central Sri Lanka as it delivers a soothing natural sound and yet extrudes the fuzzy sounds of pure underground Black Metal, which at times is purely tectonic to say the least.

Download This: "Raging Flames Score The Battle Field"

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

NECRODAEMON
'Decapitando A Los Cerdos Cristianos'
SALUTE

If there ever was a time when a band mixed a foreign language, a solid fast-flowing metal sound and an atmosphere to spark of mass murder it was in 2011, as Chilean Black/Death trio Necrodaemon summoned and spewed out their sophomore demo 'Decapitando A Los Cerdos Cristianos' of which naturally is in Spanish and employs a brutal onslaught of old school style metal and yet manages to conjure up a slight modern stance in that the drums are clear as crystal, black crystal that is. 'Decapitando A Los Cerdos Cristianos' is one of those demos that does not need an atmosphere to support it as the music supports itself without any remorse or mercy and it is that fact that gives Necrodaemon their inaugural recognition.

Download This: "La Puta Madre De Jesus"

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

DARK PHANTOM
'Beta'
SALUTE

Iraq in recent years has started to produce rock and metal bands at a slow pace but that is totally understandable, but for what they lack in band numbers they make up in quality and Dark Phantom are no exception, the Hard Rock / Heavy Metal ensemble weave their own unique style of guitar-driven sounds and end up creating their epic number 'Beta' released this year. What can be expected is clear Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and the classic rock sounds coming together with the underground atmosphere of a war-torn Iraq and in the end provides a vehicle for these chaps to voice their opinion. Whether you dislike or like the music, the message is clear, Dark Phantom are a gem hidden in a country laden with sand.

Download This: "Stifle Me"

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

INHEPSIE
'Obédience'
BRENNUS

France generally does not have a well known reputation for delivering Gothic Metal bands, let alone Atmospheric Gothic Metal bands, until 2012 saw the third album by Inhepsie being born. 'Obédience' is exclusively sung in French and adds that beauty and the beast feeling to it with the dramatics being drawn from the elegance of the keyboards and soothing sounds of pounding drums, slowed down guitars and bellowing female vocals, even more so this album and band cry out Within Temptation from start to finish, but with that they add their own unique twist on it and it is that twist that makes Inhepsie one of France's most promising yet not well known metal bands.

Download This: "Arkana"

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

ARTISFICTION
'Artisfiction'

South Wales has Skindred, North Wales has Artisfiction, but what makes these new lads so special? It boils down to the influences, NIN, Jay Z and Underoath are perhaps the most notable sounds that spring out of their self-titled debut EP, but its the clever way that this quartet layered brutal metal vocals and guitar riffs on a funk / hip-hop laden foundation, so imagine a heavier Linkin Park but with more bass, in fact this band are that good, they are sure to explode over the UK and European music scenes in 2013. Expect no mercy from these guys. Artisfiction experimented the right way and on their self-titled EP there is something for everyone, it is brutal, rhythmic, funky and 100% crazy, especially with the first song 'Get 'em to the butchers' where there are some epic clean and growling vocal exchanges but also that Skindred, Linkin Park and SOAD atmosphere that gives the EP a good starting position and that power to prove why Artisfiction are poised to be the most spoke of Welsh band in 2013.

Download This: "Get 'em to the butchers"

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

AWAKEN SOLACE
'In Nightfall's Embrace'

Is this the new Nightwish? It would seem that way when Australia's Awaken Solace get down to business on delivering a powerful and almighty explosion of Symphonic Power Metal in it's most emphatic form imaginable, armed with a torrent of sensational songs that speak sincere beauty and majestic elemental ability, the band's debut album ‘In Nightfall’s Embrace’ released last year should get the major metal labels jaws dropping, this is by far the best Symphonic Metal band in modern times from this part of the world and ‘In Nightfall’s Embrace’ has enough evidence to quash any questions against this claim. 2013 is sure to prove an interesting year for the highly-promising quintet and as they power forward, Europe can you hear it? Australia is calling.

Download This: "The Slaying of Shallow's Queen"

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

AQME
'Epithète, Dominion, Epitaphe'
AT (H)OME

Veteran French Heavy Metal / Hard Rock quartet AqME make their welcomed return with their latest album 'Epithète, Dominion, Epitaphe' (Epithet, Dominion, Epitaph) and another lush selection of French songs, so although the music itself does the talking, the language barrier may be a little bad with the exception of 'My English Is Pretty Bad' and 'Marking Armageddon', but even so those learning French at school or college may adhere to this band and learn a thing or two, none the less the magicians of guitar-driven music do not fail to deliver an album that will live on for years to come and as 2013 draws in, what this French band will bring out next will only be interesting, seeing as this album is the very definition of perfection.

Download This: "Luxe Assassin"

[9.5] RHYS STEVENSON

LOFOFORA
'Monstre Ordinaire'
AT (H)OME

One of France's most legendary rock bands made their ninth album come to light in 2011 with a full on explosion of Hardcore Punk that is so heavy and hard hitting, your last hangover would seem like a social drinking session, however 'Monstre Ordinaire' (Ordinary Monster) drops in the bands 22nd year of existence and with that in mind it is clear to see why they are still going, the beauty of this album is enough to make any romantic moment seem more than it is, 'Monstre Ordinaire' brings to the table classic rock vocals and skull-smashing music that when both mixed, serves up as a total testament to the band's career, they may be the 'Monstre Ordinaire' but they are certainly the phantom of the opera, a classic musical novel.

Download this: "Ma Folie"

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

BLACKBOMB.A
'Enemies Of The State'
AT (H)OME

Exploding on the French Hardcore scene is lethal weapon operators Blackbomb.A and their latest nuclear bomb named 'Enemies Of The State', at first it sounds like an elaborate political rally soundtrack but don't let the musical propaganda fool you, this band mean business and by weaving their own resistance-is-futile style of music, they demolish anything in their way via the means of brutal Hardcore Punk with Metalcore influences, just minus the emo look. Blackbomb.A are heavier than the last sex you ever had and are sure to make your next lot of sex a whole lot more faster and more brutal as the drums pound and grind whilst the guitars slash and slit and the vocals crush and empower the 'Enemies Of The State', simply put this is the real deal, 100% of chaotic music.

Download This: "We Don't Care"

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

SLEEPPERS
'Keep Focus'
AT (H)OME

French Hardcore / Garage Rock mob Sleeppers emerge out of the underground to shed light on their debut album 'Keep Focus', loaded with influences ranging from the rockers Fugazi, Pink Floyd, Therapy? and AC/DC to the more mtallic sounds of Slayer and Sepultura, this is a band with a rather eclectic mix of influences and yet whilst utilising them all at once they somehow make it work and what you end up with is an album full of absolute gusto and no fault whatsoever. With the extensive range of influences comes the range of songs produced and so therefore there is something for everyone on this album, a ton of sounds made into one album that does what it says it does and tends to 'Keep Focus' as Sleeppers become the new kids on the block.

Download This: "The Box"

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

SORTILEGUS / VEIA
'Consecutio Temporum' Split release
OGRE

Here comes one of Italy's underground split releases, 'Consecutio Temporum', a collaborative effort created by Raw Black Metal one man project Veia and Black Metal one man project Sortilegus, the result is a mindblowing explosion of hellish shrieks and bitter music, firstly the split release kicks off with two songs by Veia and instantly it is proven why this split release is deserved a spot in any Black Metal fans collection, pushing through the atmosphere is a rallying sound of crushing riffs, sensational drumming and raspy shrieking vocals, leaving a bitter aftermath for the other half to close on, Sortilegus matches his number one by lashing out some lavish and yet highly entertaining Black Metal, elaborating on the atmosphere set out by Veia in the first half, Sortilegus carries on the same feeling and in doing so wraps up the split album very nicely, concluding that this split release is an essential piece to own simply because it is underground Italian black metal at its very finest.

Download This: "Culla D'Italia" + "Spleen"

[8.5] + [8] RHYS STEVENSON

NORPHOBIA
'Norphobia'

A word of warning, turn up the volume on your speakers because the self-titled album by Germany's Norphobia is so quiet, it would immediately question the CD on whether it has any music on it at all, but once past the volume and / or production issue, the music itself delivers a solid onslaught of Melodic Black / Death Metal and carries a real sharp attitude to it much to it's predecessors delight  as 'Into The Light' was a bit of a humdinger, but as 'Norphobia' swings into action it is clear that the band have practiced and developed themselves to a greater extent and are sure to be onto greater achievements if they carry this on.

Download This: "Blutfest"

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

NATHORG
'Beyond The Gates Of Nathorg'
MORDGRIMM / UNMERCIFUL DEATH

Nathorg could easily be the band to bring the Iranian Metal scene to the masses across the world, breaking out with their debut album 'Beyond The Gates Of Bathory', you can clearly see why these are the favorite to land themselves into the attention laps of global media, full on Blackened Death Metal at its core with hints of ambiance and anti-religious hatred, coming from a land that's heavily influenced by Islam, this is a risky yet bold-statement of rebellion. Played in the style of Belphegor and Gorgoroth, Nathorg are sure to become the next Middle Eastern metal band to grace the covers of the British metal magazines. 'Beyond The Gates Of Bathory' serves up raw vocals, insanely fast drumming and soul-freezing riffs in one whole slab of forty minutes, think you know Extreme music? Think again.

Download this: "Beyond The Gates Of Nathorg"

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

NILS COURBARON'S PROJECT
'Madness Leads To Death'

If you ever want to have an instrumental soundtrack to a thriller, sci-fi or adventure film then turn your attention to France's Nils Courbaron and his self-named project, fusing together the guitar virtuoso with the elegance of symphonic technical death metal results in a mathematical onslaught of extraordinary time signatures, lavish rhythms and the utmost feeling of being involved in a car race, that sort of adrenalin rush feeling. As for his debut EP 'Madness Leads To Death' he enlisted the help from well known artists such as Mus Elkamal from Arkan to Julien Damotte from Madonagun and even going as far as getting help from a relative of his, Malo Courbaron who plays the piano on the introduction. Whether you like or hate instrumentals, this expertly put together piece of music is one that shall not escape the clutches of the masses and is sure to drive this prodigy further to international stardom.

Download This: "Madness Leads To Death"

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

VICTORIOUS
'The Awakening'

At first it sounds like Victorious is lashing together European Power Metal with the flashing brutality of Metalcore influences, especially in comparison to Bullet For My Valentine's song 'scream aim fire', but what makes this German quintet stand out most, apart from the subtle Gothic look and the exquisite composure they muster on their sophomore album 'The Awakening', is that they craft their own sound from a myriad of influences and go ahead on full throttle, letting the brakes go and letting fly as solo upon riff and drum-kick upon vocal note slash through the net curtains that seem to blanket the German Power Metal department as to attempt prove to their European counterparts that German vocalists are not just good at Death Metal or Industrial Metal, but rather at high-note vocals too and with that in mind 'The Awakening' of this machine is sure to attract attention from major labels and leave this five piece well and truly Victorious.

Download This: "Age Of Tyranny"

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

ETERNAL ARMAGEDDON
'Her Forlorn Monsoon'
SALUTE

With an EP title that befits the climate Eternal Armageddon originate from, you could not fault them for developing a style of Black Metal that would push forward the Bangladeshi Metal scene, 'Her Forlorn Monsoon' strives to deliver the sound of the underground in sensational fashion, with a rallying sound of war-torn Black Metal leading the forefront, blistering paced drums and vocals that would frighten anyone who came under the firing line of this quartet, it is clear to see that Eternal Armageddon will drive their scene forward through a solid explosion of old-school Black Metal in the style of Immortal and Emporer whilst twisting it with the modern sounds of Watain and so this release is without a doubt an essential release in any Black Metal fans collection, there is no exception, except Eternal Armageddon are proudly flying the flag for the Bangladesh Metal scene and are one of our bands to watch in 2013.

Download This: "Over Her Necropolis"

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

PIT OF DOOM
'Atonement'

When you get a band that uses freaky artwork for an album you know it is going to be extreme, in fact this concerning 'Atonement' is barely an understatement, because what explodes out of this second attempt is a myriad of gritty Death vocals, Melodic Thrash elements and a groovy atmosphere, all of which come together to face punch every f**ker that dares criticize this music, it rides with that feeling of being punched in the stomach so hard that you practically vomit your intestines, it is that brutal. Pit of Doom are the new face of German Extreme Metal and are sure to garner a furious amount of attention with 'Atonement', if you think you know heavy music, you must be a newbie in metal, 'cause this is heavier than your last hangover.

Download this: "All Is Said"

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

EXCESSUM
'The Battle Has Begun'

If your a fan of gritty and grueling vocals, a die-hard for slamming guitars and savage drumming, then look no further, Alabama's very own Groove / Thrash newbies Excessum dot every 'i' and cross every 'T' and in doing so smothers the scene with their intricately composed debut album 'The Battle Has Begun', full of audio porn that would make your soldier arise to attention to acknowledge that 'The Battle Has Begun', but the saliant point behind this release is that it carries a mixture of speed, brutality and yet a huge resemblance of Lamb of God, just a little thrashier, none the less it is an album that slashes upon wounds with no remorse.

Download this: "War"

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

IN OTHER CLIMES
'Empty Bottles & Wasted Nights'
SPOOK

Take a bunch of French nutters, give them Hatebreed influences and a host of instruments and you produce a sublime mix of guts and ballsy composure, such is the meaning behind In Other Climes' no-nonsense Metalcore sound and even more so their second full-length of which carries a myriad of tones and feelings and yet concludes by flipping the bird. 'Empty Bottles & Wasted Nights' poses a major threat to the posers that seem to roam the underground, the ones that copy every band they can think of, In Other Climes is different, they put together their own unique slamming sound and amplify it so much, your girlfriends knickers would be blown off at volume one, it is that powerful.

Download this: "This Is Your Time"

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

NOTHING INSIDE EYES
'Not Ready Enough To Die'

Faced with the fact that San Marino is one of the smallest countries on the planet correlates to its metal scene size as the only known metal band from this country explodes on the European scene with a silent whisper, that being their debut EP 'Not Ready Enough To Die'. Forged from the ashes of Alchimia 2012, the four-piece slam down a brutal onslaught of Metalcore and Melodic Metal and its this combination that distinguises them from the rest of the European 'core' section. Nothing Inside Eyes is due to rip up the rulebook and lay down the law, this is one underrated band from a country that owes this band a lot as these chaps are flying the flag for the San Marino Metal scene.

Download this: "Forget"

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

LECTERN
'Salvific of Perhaps Lambent'

If only the vocals were actually brutal and instead of the basic Death Metal that seems to be plaguing the metal world these days, in fact Lectern's 2010 EP 'Salvific of Perhaps Lambent' delivers the underground style of Death Metal, vocals that aren't easy to decipher, slamming drumming and technical solo riffs, but the major criticism behind this release is that it fails to bring any real sincere justice to it, sure it has a fairly decent beat and savage sound, but the overall production is one left to be desired and so thus might as well be put as a slight blip in the band's existence, however it will appeal to fans of Cannibal Corpse and early Grindcore, just don't expect anything spectacular

Download this: "Disenchant The Consternated"

[5] RHYS STEVENSON

IMPURATION
'Sanctities We Raped"

Who would have thought that the Turkish Metal scene had something that was so underground and yet is as raw as red meat, not that it's advised to chew rare meat but as the latest release by Extreme Metal band Impuration bites into your senses, you will begin to realize how atmospheric and raw this release is. 'Sanctities We Raped" employs satanic-like Black / Death / Thrash metal with major punk influences, giving it that pure grizzly ambiance, one that will appeal to fans of old school metal like and those who like raw fuzzy noise, as for Impuration, they will thrive in the underground knowing they are keeping the original sounds alive.

Download this: "Depravation Of Perverted Demons"

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

OXIDIXE
'Iron Hobo'

2012 saw the up-rise of Spanish newbies Oxidixe with their classic Thrash Metal EP 'Iron Hobo', slashing through the old school style at a 100 m.p.h. the EP explodes into life and produces the 80's style of Thrash Metal that still to this day lives up to its original beauty, and Oxidixe are no exception, just like Evile they belt out songs that rip up anything in direct firing line of the sonic boom that the quintet deliver, from the ferocious shrieking vocals to the pacey riffs and drumming that supplement a release that could easily please fans of Slayer and Evile to the day metal dies, which is never. The only thing that's missing from this little epic is a pint of beer.

Download this: "Thrashmania Demon"

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

CRIMSON SHADOWS
'Glory On The Battlefield'

From time to time Canada delivers a band that whilst unsigned, deserves international attention and proves themselves to be the next big act, this time that falls upon Ontario quintet Crimson Shadows as they smash the sound barrier with their emphatic debut album 'Glory On The Battlefield', mixing together the guttural vibrant sounds of Melodic Death Metal with the heavenly and majestic elements of Power Metal to deliver what could be perceived as Canadian Album of the year. 'Glory On The Battlefield' takes the listener on a forty-six minute journey through the fields of Canada to places as high as the Rockies and as low as the mountain bears riding bareback through the cities, to put it short, expect this band to go far as they prepare for 'Glory On The Battlefield'. Fans of 3 Inches of Blood, Blackguard and Unleash The Archers will love this album to bits.

Download This: "Battle Hard"

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

MUTAGENOCIDE
'Mutagenocide'

Sadly the first track is a let down, the rest of the EP however in contrast says 'prepare for an assault', whipping together a tasty selection of Groovy Thrash Metal with Power Metal as side orders, Mutagenocide's self-titled 2012 debut EP broods a myriad of different elements that altogether produce a sound that is technically crafted and hard to comprehend, however the vocals at times let down the EP as they aren't heavy enough, but the plus point is that they add a touch of class to the release, call it new or call it old, the main point is Mutagenocide are breathing fire in the wake of pushing the Oxfordshire Metal scene forward.

Download This: "Warhead"

[6.5] RHYS STEVENSON

ASTRAL
'Mundo Perdido, Mundo Prohibido'

The truth about Astral is that they are thee Spanish metal band to watch in 2013, for their debut EP 'Mundo Perdido, Mundo Prohibido' delivers the high power metal vocals found in bands like Sonata Arctica but with that comes the agile and sharpness of the Progressive Metal music that fans of bands like Myrath would love. 'Mundo Perdido, Mundo Prohibido' even though in the Spanish language, delivers a full on blast of emphatic sounding tunes that will get any mosh pit to shift a few gears up into overdrive, but with that comes the beauty of the choice of language, 'Mundo Perdido, Mundo Prohibido' deploys elegant music by perhaps the best Progressive Power Metal band Spain has ever seen.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

SIRENS
'Spore'
IMMINENCE

Modern Metal quintet Sirens weave together a soul-soothing yet brutal sound of djent, ambient electronic music and metalcore-like vocals, yet they seem to mold the entire load of sounds into one cataclysmic explosion that shall rock the entire metal world off its axis. Spewing out the atmosphere of galactic proportions, the boys from Indiana slash through the web of the underground and are sure to explode on the main circuit sometime soon, sure some may laden this band as another prog metal band but listening closely and there is much more going on than just the chugging sound of a guitar being played, Sirens is a viral 'Spore' that is sure to infect the global metal scene with their own variation of modern metal.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

WILL WALLNER  / VIVIEN VAIN
'Will Wallner / Vivien Vain'

So the side-project to White Wizzard is born and by jove does it kick off in electrifying style, enter Will Wallner accompanied by the illustrious Vivien Vain delivering the fiery raging vocals. The duo from L.A. California make their 3 year wait for a debut come to a close as they unleash the Hard Rock / Heavy Metal belter 'Will Wallner / Vivien Vain', featuring all the classy elements from bands such as Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Van Halen and more, this is simply a breathtaking album full of the old classic sounds with a modern emphasis. Harmonious vocals surrounded by some crafty and technical guitar work and backed up by some insane drumming; this is an album with everything chucked in and is sure to get some well-deserved attention.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

INVASIVE
'Murder... Death... Kill'

Returning with fists of fury is Suffolk's own Invasive and their highly-anticipated debut album 'Murder... Death... Kill', loaded with the venomous spit of a python, the Thrash laden Heavy Metal massacre bites into the wounds of the bleeding local metal scene to revive it and establish a machine that would make all operating cranes at Felixstowe look like cheap mechano. 'Murder... Death... Kill' delivers that same epic sound Slayer and Evile conjure up, it's fast, brutal and so heavy it makes Adnams closely related to pure apple juice. As for Invasive, this is the sound to power them forward and is sure to garner them attention in months to come as the 'Murder... Death... Kill' syndrome starts to kick in.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

THE FUROR
'Sermon Of Slaughter'

Blazing once again is Australia's very own Black / Death Metal armada The Furor of which nowadays is manned by the one and only Louis Rando (Impiety, ex-Nervecell, ex-Pathogen), powering through the darkened shadows of the outback, the second EP by this mastermind is 'Sermon Of Slaughter' and it blasts out a necrotic explosion of war-torn extreme metal that would serve well as the anthem to the Australian armed forces, in fact The Furor is vastly becoming an Australian underground legend, but as long as Mr. Rando keeps this band going, there is hope for Australian Extreme Metal.

Download this: "Conquest Of Carnage"

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

MALIGNANT MONSTER
'Yours In Murder'

Malignant Monster, one of Australia's underrated metal bands comes to batter the shorelines of the world with their sophomore full-length album 'Yours In Murder', it sees the five-piece machine deliver another sonic explosion of extreme drumming courtesy of drumming legend Louis Rando and his fellow merry men, as they grind and squeeze the very last ounce of blood from those caught up in direct fire from this almighty earthquake. 'Yours In Murder' delivers a bleak atmosphere, a darker sense that this is the sound of the underground and that Malignant Monster are to arise from the graveyard as zombies of the night.

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

ENTROPIA
'Black Drop in Clear Water'

French Melodic Black / Power armada Entropia make their second album as powerful as the French revolution, full of dramatic notes and elements as well as sensational outbursts by guest vocalist Marie Rouyer; just a shame she is not a full time member, as the emphatic dramatic vocals on 'Le Horla' is what makes the album what it is, an eclectic mix of Power Metal riffs, female vocals and atmosphere alongside the brutal display from the drummer and main vocals. This is a band that clearly demonstrates the extreme side of mixing genres together and as such 'Black Drop in Clear Water' brings two worlds colliding together.

Download this: 'Le Horla'

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

PANZERHUND
'First Bite'

2012 saw the premier EP by Polish Heavy Metal mob Panzerhund arise from the graves, entitled 'First Bite' the EP looked at first to be related to Egyptology, but as soon as the music kicks in its far from it. Mixing a host of songs in the Polish and English languages gives that two-dimensional sound to it, sure the music itself is nothing new and is merely a testament to the very original and classic Iron Maiden character, it is worthy of a place in anyone's collection and is sure to appeal to fans of modern Heavy Metal such as Black Label Society and Black Stone Cherry, as soon as you receive the 'First Bite' from this five-piece, you'll be hooked forever.

Download this: 'All We Need'

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

EVISCERATE CARNAGE
'The Art Of Pathology'
ABYSSUS

Featuring Dale Linsdell (Merciless Terror) on vocal duties, Nottingham Brutal Death Metal slam boys Eviscerate Carnage deliver an expulsion of gore-laden filth colloquially known as 'The Art Of Pathology', their debut EP of which comes loaded with machine-gun trigger drumming and gritty vocals, leaving a bitter sour taste in the aftermath of what can be billed as the most extreme album from the Nottinghamshire Metal scene. As for Eviscerate Carnage, this is their year and 2013 is sure to serve up a massive onslaught of pure necrophiliac gore metal, let the game begin.

Download this: "Anaerobic Decomposition Of Organic Matter"

[8] RHYSTEVENSON

AXE CANE
'Axe Cane'
NOISE-A-THON

Fresh from the outback and ready to surf up their debut EP is Perth's very own newbies of Melodic Heavy Metal and Melodic Hard Rock, Axe Cane and their self-titled release. Axe Cane deliver no-bulls**t music along with a menacing vocal range and have that same tenor found with bands like AC/DC and Airbourne, just a little grittier and heavier. This quartet take no hostages in delivering a solid display of the old school of metal and rock and yet manage to glorify it with the modern influences of guitar-driven music and as their self-titled EP acts as a path for them to go by, this is a band to watch out for in 2013 as they are sure to make tracks across the globe.

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

SANITY'S RAGE
'You Are What You Swallow'

You could not fault Sanity's Rage for delivering their debut album 'You Are What You Swallow' to the masses six years late, the wait was worth it. Released last year, Belgium's Thrash newbies deliver a smack-down whimsical sound of typical European Thrash Metal, with neck-snapping rhythms that explode like an iceberg being detonated, splattering the sensationalism found on this release all over the place. In fact this is perhaps the best Belgian Thrash Metal album for some time, and as 2013 rolls in, what the band brings to the masses in the next year will be interesting, this is certainly a band you'll want to watch.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

TALESIEN
'El Silencio'
FALCATRUADA

For all the music on the third album 'El Silencio', there seems to be at places a lack of vocals and thus relying on the music to magic something up, even so the latest effort by Galician sextet Talesien is one of embracing sounds and delinquent Spanish lyrics, leaning towards an enriching atmosphere that would work well in the Colosseum in Rome, it's that sort of arena metal that devours the senses and it's 'El Silencio' that will appeal to any fan of Progressive Power Metal, ranging from the full on metal epics to slower paced numbers, the questions beckons on where will this lot go next?

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

BY THE PATIENT
'Premonitions'
DEATHBOUND

Here come five culprits for demolishing the Lego brick wall that was separating the Danish extreme metal scene from the rest of the world, perhaps By The Patient were having 'Premonitions', but what ever it was their sophomore album smashes through the amateurism level some bands pose as these days and delivers a warhead-of-an-album, exploding the modern Death Metal sound into a blast so powerful and fast it would leave blood splatters across the walls, murdering and pillaging every living thing that came into contact with the deadly disease of this band's emphatic talent. If you thought the 'core' genres were rad, think again, 'Premonitions' is more rad than sleeping with Megan Fox.

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

SANCTUS NOSFERATU
'Samca'

Six years down the line from the band's debut demo and the debut album 'Samca' is born, violently. Welcoming to the international scene is Sanctus Nosferatu who hail from the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal, spewing out a dark and tropical form of Blackened Death Metal, with Morticia leading the frontline as the female variant of Poland's Nergal, the quintet battle through the album at such a sensational level of brutality and shock, this could be the album to lift the Azores metal scene to greater heights. For fans of melodic and harsh vocals and pummeling Blackened Death Metal, Sanctus Nosferatu and the album 'Samca' are essential to anyone's music collection.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

TORMENT
'The Damage Is Done'
EBM

How many times do you play a CD and hear the same style as every other band in the same genre, Torment nearly fall into that category if not for their melodies rescuing the uninspiring Thrash Metal the band has opted to play, the vocals are far too heavy for the genre and it has more of a Heavy Speed Metal presence than anything else, sure the drums deliver a solid performance, but the guitar solo's let it down as they are too all over the place, full marks for producing a second album, but as for Torment 'The Damage Is Done' and so sorting out the wreckage will be painful.

[5.5] RHYS STEVENSON

ILISS
'Immunision'

Post-humorous review of Iliss' only EP 'Immunision' as the band split up on October 9th 2012, hailing from the wilderness of Australia, Iliss deliver extreme Gothic metal with a ton of progressive elements and vocals that make Madonna look worse than Justin Bieber. Fronted by one of the hottest women in Australian Metal history, Iliss smother the atmosphere in a delinquent sound of extreme vocals and a rocking beat that runs so hard and fast, any sandstorm in the outback is simply outclassed by this band's extraordinary sound, sad to say this band had potential, but now is a sunken ship off of Melbourne harbor.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

ANWAR
'Ehrfurcht'

Very seldom does a band release a demo in the same year as their formation and it sounds good, welcoming to the German Metal scene is Black Metal quintet Anwar and their sensational debut demo 'Ehrfurcht', even if you cannot understand German, it has a delightful sound to it, one of atmospheric disturbances and beautiful sounds, but underlying that beauty is the darkness of the lyrics, relating to depression and paganism, but in turn adds another dimension to it and escalates the release to greater heights, in fact this demo displays a solid sound and is sure to get labels sniffing these guys all over.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

LA DAMA OSCURA
'El Rumor Del Miedo'
MOLUSCO PRODS

At the start when the the sounds of big ben began to ring aloud, it seemed like the next thing that was going to come out was political banter, instead what came out was total heavy metal banter, axes at the ready and the vocals warming up, for the sophomore album 'El Rumor Del Miedo' by Spanish Heavy Metal maniacs La Dama Oscura is of sensational proportions as it drops epic riff after epic melody and leaves a delightful after-sound echoing around the atmosphere. For it's bloody cover, the blood runs wild through this band as they deliver sounds that will please those fans of Iron Maiden and symphonic / melodic heavy metal.

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

CULT OF DIONYSIS
'Behind The Mask' + 'Alchemy'
METALCULT

Delivering their latest material last year is highly promising since Virginia's Gothic Thrash stalwarts Cult Of Dionysis embrace the darkness and serve up a delinquent and elegant show piece that is sure to push them forward in 2013. Their latest single 'Behind The Mask' embellishes the foundation of solidfied sounds and adds meaningful brutality to the assault herewith playing. It is hard and heavy hitting, heavier than being knocked out by a professional boxer and is sure to appeal to those who like their metal red hot. As for the quartet's debut album 'Alchemy', you would have to be wearing anti-stain pants, simply because this will make you s*** loads, riff after riff the lads slaughter every living thing in a 50 mile radius, leaving nothing left in their wake, now who said atomic bombs were powerful?

[7] + [8] RHYS STEVENSON

ABRIOSIS
'Vessel'

Arch Enemy better get ready to shift over, as in come Canadian stormers Abriosis and their lavish branded blend of Progressive Technical Death Metal, 2012 saw the birth of their second EP 'Vessel' and by far was this a mammoth born, furious brutality rides on every second throughout this exquisite release. Fans of bands like Gorguts, Gojira and Mortad will take a liking to this band as they are sure to power their way through 2013 without any resistance and are ready enough to take up arms and assault the world with their emphatic sound as 2013 undoubtedly belongs to these promising Canadians.

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

Dogma
'Ethnic-Methnic'

It is always nice to come across band's who stay close to their national heritage and Armenia's Dogma is no exception, mixing together a Caucasian atmosphere with the Armenian language and traditional ethnic/folk elements, this is a truly authentic and organic sound. 'Ethnic-Methnic' their 2009 album features an element of class that cannot be found anywhere else, an element of class in that the beauty of the production and layered sounds are enough to whip the listener into the heart of downtown Yerevan. Progressive Metal meets traditional Caucasian / Armenian sounds in this release that is the band's key to playing at Eurovision 2013.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

IMPADE
'Hope Denied'

Bulgarian Hard Rock / Heavy Metal quartet Impade make their mark with their debut album 'Hope Denied' by developing the classic sounds of the 80's to a newer more Doom Metal laden approach. Kicking off with a spoken track, the albums leads the way through a maze of spirals as the sound and lyrics devour the mind until the listener is left senseless, sure the sound is nothing new and the album features emphatic riffs, but it still rides as a modern oldie and is sure to appeal to many Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath fans. In fact this album has the middle finger up all the way and is more than likely to have been the major factor in a power shortage in Sofia.

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

MANDRAGORA NEGRA
'Sueños De Realidad'
HEAVEN MUSIK

The label name says it all! Mandragora Negra's 'Sueños De Realidad' is without a doubt heaven music, the Basque Country quintet deliver an emphatic sound to their debut album, even if they sing in Spanish! Before listening to the album, make sure you have adequate protection as this is designed to smash your brains to bits, heavier than Iron Maiden and bordering onto Power Metal, this band has it all: high pitch vocals, rib-ripping riffs, blitz-like drumming and epic elements emitted from the keyboardist, in fact Mandragora Negra may as well be another band to watch in 2013, for this band are sure to explode on the European circuit with maximum effect!

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

WITHIN DESTRUCTION
'From The Depths'
NOISEHEAD

Possibly the most extreme metal album ever to come out of the Slovenian Metal scene, 'From The Depths' by Extreme Brutal Death Metal mob Within Destruction delivers a headache through bullet-speed drumming and technical song constructions that twist and turn at every second, from the explosive sound of a gunshot riding on the drums on 'King Of Serpents' found halfway through to the combined influences and relative sounds of Strapping Young Lad, God Dethroned, Cannibal Corpse and Gorguts. Engineered by an armada of musical mathematicians, the composite result is similar to that of an off-the-scale earthquake and with that in mind, Within Destruction are destined to slaughter Europe with their own blend of technical and brutal metal, 'From The Depths' arises an eight-legged machine that's capable of a mass hearing slaughter.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

SANDRAUDIGA
'The Hollow Nation'
BORN OF CHAOS

If you want insanity in a bottle and the genie in a collective of five people, look no further than Pennsylvania's Sandraudiga and their Born of Chaos debut 'The Hollow Nation', it features the grizzliest Melodic Death Metal the USA has to offer, catastrophic sounds ignite the futile resistance met on all ten tracks and as a direct effect of this, leaves the listener wanting lots more. Sure it does not have the majestic melodies that the European sector delivers, but it delivers melodic brutality in one whole foul swoop. As solid and extreme as the SWAT division, this quintet are in safe hands of the 'The Hollow Nation', the United States of America.

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

CHINGA!
'Relentless Culinary Assault'
BORN OF CHAOS

As if next week's spinal surgery was not worrying enough, save the surgery and just damage your spine even more to the monstrous sound of 'Relentless Culinary Assault', the debut full-length from Pennsylvanian grind thrash maniacs Chinga! Fitted with a solid frame and coveted with bouncy beats to get the pit opened, the snappy riffs add an extra dimensional stance to this bizarre and eccentric release, mixing together guttural growling and illusive slick Thrash Metal, the trio demolish amp after amp as they make their way to explode on the scene as the new kids of extreme metal. Forget the golden days, this is the modern age and with Chinga! on the assault course, nothing will stop them.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

TACERE
'At  World's End'
GRASSBAY

Veteran Progressive/Gothic Power Metal quintet Tacere make their welcomed return with their second full-length 'At  World's End', delivering sensational sounds and an increased level of beauty and power, coursing through the intricate ballads performed by vocalists Taiya and Karri Knuutila, this is an album of two halves, the epic and the powerful. The epic half relating to the booming vocals and emphatic compositions herewith heard and the powerful half relating to the sensationalism of the melodies from the keyboardist as 'At  World's End' steers the course of Tacere to a brighter and interesting future.

Download this: "Drowning In Myself"

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

ANIMA SACRA
'Rastros De Luz'

Even if the Spanish language sounds romantic and powerful in normal conversations, when it is used by Spain's Heavy Power Metal mercenaries Anima Sacra it notches up at least a hundred amperes, operatic and majestic vocals power the band's latest album 'Rastros De Luz' to epic levels, so much so it could be compared to an energetic form of the flamenco dance, ripping riffs across the dance floor like no tomorrow. Sure the language barrier would be a challenge for those non-Spanish speakers, but in the end the music does the talking and so what will come in the future will be very interesting.

Download this: "Huellas De Adán"

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

INNER FEAR
'First Born Fear'

What happens when you get a group of musicians from two of the darkest metal scenes in Europe? A mass armada of Czech and Latvian sounds that emphasis the true darkness of these two nations, that said with Inner Fear releasing their fourth album 'First Born Fear', it is no wonder that this could be the best line-up of all time, featuring Czech drumming legend Marthus (Cradle of Filth), Paranormal enthusiast Serg (Preternatural), bass boomer Serhio (ex-Neglected Fields) and the talented vampiress Vic Anselmo alongside the shredder Khopec. What Inner Fear have brought here is the next stage in dark metal, an album that will bode well with lovers of anything Gothic, an album that will deliver your 'First Born Fear'.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

It all boils down to Spain's ever increasing feud amongst it's autonomous provinces and so they always 'Feel The Power' that one province called Catalonia are brewing up, that said this is also the title of the debut demo by Sofire, the Heavy Metal newbies produce their first ever release and it's more of a testimonial to the already established classic metal scene, sure fans of Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath will love this sort of stuff, but it's nothing new and only really serves as a release and a sign that classic heavy metal will never die.

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

WHALES & AURORA
'The Shipwreck'

Post-Metal with Doom and Sludge Metal influences bode well in Italy when quartet Whales & Aurora release their debut album 'The Shipwreck' which sees songs as long as any political debate, for forty odd minutes, the atmosphere shifts from bleak to bleaker and as a result takes the listener on a journey south into the frozen lands of Antarctica where 'The Shipwreck' can be found, iced over from the bitterness of the elements found on this grim album release, all that can be said is if you want a Shakespearean tragedy in one release, you've find it.

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

NEKROSUN
'The Grace Of Oxymoron'

Just like the Italian composers of times bygone, Nekrosun deliver their second opus with a breathtaking atmosphere to compliment it, soprano style vocals merge with technical drumming and riffing to deliver a powerful display of Progressive Metal, that is mixed with so many influential styles, it would take Albert Einstein to decode the precise encryption the album leaves as an impression on the listener's verdict, moreover this album 'The Grace Of Oxymoron' exhibits some of the most explosive vocals ever heard in the Progressive Metal music department and with that in tow, 'The Grace Of Oxymoron' is Progressive Metal album of the year.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

HANG THE TRAITOR
'Hunt For Blood'

For any debut EP to make any lasting impression it has to be sharp, different and totally unique in as far as it outperforms in it's genre field, as for Hang The Traitor's debut EP 'Hunt For Blood', sadly it does not cut it, the drums are too repetitious and whilst the guitars offer some respite in as far as the eccentricity of the riffs and solo's add a cutting edge to the release, the vocals drag the entire release down due to it's lack of clarity and it's feeling of being semi-done, that said for the Portuguese quintet, it's only due to improve and with the improvement comes the recognition, but for now the 'Hunt For Blood' continues, until the blood is found Hang The Traitor aren't going to escape from the guillotine for this release.

[5] RHYS STEVENSON

DIONYSUS
'Hymn To The Dying'
SALUTE

Pakistan, a country with one of the smallest metal scenes in the Indian sub-continent, could not apprehend to the storm that was brewing during the recording phase of 'Hymn To The Dying', the first EP released by Blackened Doomsters Dionysus, it's starts off with a melancholic atmospheric feel and as soon as the shrieks engage in full combat, the instantaneous feeling of total oppression becomes a reality through the means of some rather bleak and cold sounds that are sure to appeal to fans of My Dying Bride, Bathory, Agalloch and Katatonia. Standing tall alongside Black Warrant, of whom are Pakistan's oldest known metal band, Dionysus are sure to drive this scene forward with an EP that ranks as Pakistani Metal release of the year 2012.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

MORTUARY
'Tank Destroyer'
SATANATH RECORDS

Military style metal has always been a sensitive topic especially when incorporating political and/or religious propaganda and so therefore a release directed at the battlefield arises, the third demo by Russian Death Metal mob Mortuary takes no hostages, it's destroys them. 'Tank Destroyer' is a tribute to the modern warfare and oversees a myriad of military-related songs from which escalate the potency of the music in question, for fans of Hails Of Bullets and Eastern Front, Mortuary deliver razor-sharp riffs, mortar fire drumming and commander-like vocals, from which the result is a demo that shapes up to be a piece of modern art.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

INHUMANITY
'Torture Of Consciousness'
SATANATH RECORDS

A blast from the cold east is what delivers the 'Torture Of Consciousness' as a debut EP by Humanity. Slamming Brutal Death Metal awaits in the shadows on album number two as the trio from the Ukraine devise a set of songs to unleash merry hell upon the masses. Whilst the technical riffing offers a tasty lick or two and the drums keeping air drummers moving with double bass drumming going faster than a leopard in hunting mode, the only downside is the vocals of which appear to be merely nothing more than generic grunting and growling, if there are any words there they must be in some dialect unknown to mankind, that said they could have busted up the microphones.

[6] RHYS STEVENSON

EXEGUTOR
'Dive Sessions'
SATANATH RECORDS

Grindcore is back at it's best as Belarusian quartet Exegutor smash all physical barriers in delivering their emphatic debut EP 'Dive Sessions', thunderous double kicks enrage the EP with slick speed and brutality and thus leaves the guitars and vocals to pick up the final pieces to deliver what is seen as Belarusian Metal album of the year. 'Dive Sessions' takes everything from the classic Grindcore sound and pounds it until the only trace left is the blurring of audio as one song merges neatly into the next, so if you want a fifteen minute audiobook, you need not to look any further beyond the 'Dive Sessions', of which is for fans of Fitcage, Suffocation, Deathbound and Anaal Nathrakh.

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

VISTERY
'Sinister Prophecy'
SATANATH RECORDS

Quintet Vistery from Belarus make no mistake in delivering their sophomore album 'Sinister Prophecy' to a standard worthy of total gratification, playing the old school style of Death Metal in a modern age is just as risky as wearing 1970's flares in a metal music club, but Vistery manage to bring the old sound back without little difficulty, except the vocals are a little too rough even for those who indulge in Cannibal Corpse, even so the matrix of layered sounds on this album is so cleverly done it would take forever just to dissect each part and so from the Eastern bloc comes a 'Sinister Prophecy' called Vistery.

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

RHOVANION
'Land Of The Wild'

What do you get when you mix Heidevolk with Eluveitie? A Folk Metal storm that is sure to cause chaos across the waves as out of the fabled woods comes Dutch septet Rhovanion with their gallant debut EP 'Land Of The Wild'. Throughout the sound shifts and changes as different Folk music elements weave in and out and thus carry the melodies of Eluveitie and the traditionalism of Heidevolk. What could be the next big metal band to come flying out of the gates of historic Gelderland, Rhovanion are a band to watch and with 'Land Of The Wild' now available to the masses, the next release will almost certainly seal a record label deal.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

TRINITY SITE
'Ex Inferis'

Billed as possibly the next big hit in Germany, Melodic Death Metal mob Trinity Site release their debut album 'Ex Inferis' in emphatic style with cutting-edge riffs, harmonious melodies and a fist of fury, burning as bright as the sun as these lads are sure to gain some considerable notice. Fuelled by a chemical formula that seems to produce some of the finest compositions heard on the album, 'Ex Inferis' takes the listener on a roller-coaster ride of elegant solos, ground-punching brutality and total apocalyptic explosions of technically crafted music, without a doubt the Scar Symmetry of tomorrow.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

GEBRECHLICHKEIT
'Glanz Und Elend'
ASATRU KLANGWERKE

Darkness spread across the whole of Lower Saxony and gave birth to one-man project Gebrechlichkeit's third album 'Glanz Und Elend', which sees a display of generic underground Black Metal, the stereotypical drumming pattern and level of raw production, what saves this album from complete despair is the uniqueness of it in that it is in the German language and thus makes it different from other one-man BM projects. Other than that it is your average underground Black Metal album, nothing more and nothing less.

[6.5] RHYS STEVENSON

MARCHOSIAS
'Above The Throne Of God'

Romanian Experimentalists Marchosias make no mercy available when delivering their premier EP 'Above The Throne Of God', lunging straight into whipping Black Metal with Folk Metal influences and some other influences here and there, but it's the music itself that grants Marchosias the next Romanian metal band to watch, perhaps even eclipsing legends Negura Bunget, 'Above The Throne Of God' powers out five tracks that are in the style of Emporer, Marduk and Moonspell and yet gives the quintet an almighty boost to go beyond mere influences, in fact they are one level higher, one level 'Above The Throne Of God'.

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

TAIFA
'Despertando El Silencio'
AVISPA

Balearic Islanders Taifa make their welcomed return to deliver number three, their third album 'Despertando El Silencio' which sees the Spanish-language musicians once again mix flamenco elements with Progressive Heavy Metal, improving their sound and serving as a perfect accompaniment to any romantic meal or soundtrack to dancing, even so their seems to be a little subtle hint of Moroccan influences here and there, however that is best left to the listener to decipher, whilst flirting with the music herewith that signals another successful outing by Taifa and also signalling that there is more to come.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

SOUL TORTURE
'The Reign Of War'

Coming from a country that is generally peaceful until attacked, Israel's Soul Torture are a creation of genius, playing in the European Melodic Death Metal style with vocals as grizzly as Angela Gossow of Arch Enemy, it's a damn shame that Alexandra Monsonego left the band, she will be a hard member to replace as it's evidently clear on the band's debut EP 'The Reign Of War' that she has a unique style of vocals and that alongside the elegance of the riffs, technical performance on the drums and the overall emphatic atmosphere, all in all conjure up to become Israel Metal album of the year 2012, no contest.

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

STRANGULIATORIUS
'Demo 2012'

Now if you want your music underground, raw and totally classic, then look no further than Lithuanian Thrash Metal quartet Stranguliatorius and their 2012 demo which delivers eight tracks of neck-breaking Thrash Metal, so sharp that health and safety had to put a restraining order on the speakers being put up past 13, in fact Stranguliatorius would appeal to fans of Slayer and at the same time those fans of Hardcore Punk music, as it seems that there is a bit of both going on at the same time, whatever is happening it's good and it's about to assault the rest of the European continent.

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

FLAMETHROWER
'A Treason Or The Truth' + 'The Keeper Of Remembrance'

Here are two releases by Croatian Heavy Metal mob Flamethrower, their 2010 debut album 'A Treason Or The Truth' and their follow-up album 'The Keeper Of Remembrance' which was released this year. 'A Treason Or The Truth' displays the classic sound that one expects from a Heavy Metal album and thus it becomes your average release, there is nothing really new on the album but it still a classic to listen to, playing Iron Maiden-esque music and implementing melodies here and there, but once again nothing really new, the same can be said for the follow-up 'The Keeper Of Remembrance', nothing new, just more Croatian Heavy Metal.

[7] + [7]

TWISTED TALES
'We Shall Be Heard'

Whence came a Melodic Death band from Serbia of whom unleashed a debut album that is so average it makes a pop album seem unusual. 'We Shall Be Heard', as given by the title already suggests that there is common music on the release, even so Serbian trio Twisted Tales seem to have gotten on the wrong end of the bandwagon and as a result deliver an album that needs some work done on it, the variety in songs is great but the song structure seems a little too repetitive at times, so whilst it's a good attempt, the reason to why 'We Shall Be Heard' is not exactly the greatest or the most differential album is evidently clear.

[5.5] RHYS STEVENSON
 

REPRESSION
'Repression'

It is as fast as you want it to go and as heavy as you want it to go, that is what pretty much sums up Repression's debut self-titled demo, mixing together Slayer-esque Thrash Metal with the early forms of Hardcore vocals and composed beats that straddle between Metallica and Slayer in order to conjure up a sound that will appeal to many metal fans, as 'Repression' delivers riff after bloody riff and it's these riffs that guide the rest of the release to the sharpener and ends up with every listener having their necks slit through a razor-sharp slash of True Finnish Thrash.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

SOULS OF DIOTIMA
'What Remains Of The Day'
REVALVE

Italy has had it's absolute fair share of delivering outstanding albums this year and Souls Of Diotima's sophomore album 'What Remains Of The Day' is no exception, delivering absolute perfection in dramatic form, by lashing together high-pitched symphonic power metal vocals and progressive metal elements, the result is a dynamic effort that comes fully loaded with beauty, elegance and total enthrallment. Taking clear influences from bands like Nightwish, Within Temptation and Sonata Arctica, this is one album to please the masses. Souls Of Diotima are going to make waves across Europe and are sure to gain some fans along the way.

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

METALSTEEL
'Steel Alive'

Deep in the depths of Europe there are countless long-going metal bands, but when Slovenian Heavy Metallers Metalsteel make their first live album come truly alive, it brings the importance of their 10 years tearing down their hometown of Medvode. Pounding drumming leads the charge as riff after riff and solo after solo cascade down the waterfall of eccentricity and in the end collides to deliver an almighty explosion of surrealism as the band manage to take the listener with them and make it feel as if the listener is there at the live concert, whatever happens next is anyone's guess, but for Metalsteel, they are becoming true Slovenian Heavy Metal legends.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

EUCLIDEAN
'Euclidean'

It would seem that the debut self-titled demo by Swiss three-piece Post-Black Metal band Euclidean is powered by the halogen collider and that the plasma reaction as a result delivers the grimmest cosmological result ever, mixing the traditional Black Metal vocals but adding lots of atmosphere, so much so it would make earth's atmosphere obsolete, whilst the demo displays a delicate balance of soothing music and aggressive vocals, the core essence of this release is the feeling the listener receives from it, the feeling of depression and the thrill to want more, in the end 'Euclidean' is such an eclectic release, it would take the scientists forever to decode.

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

LAPIS LAZULI
'A Justified Loss'

The Swedish maestro's returned last year with their third effort 'A Justified Loss' and by far have they improved, the sextet (now quintet) bring together a mixing pot of different influences ranging from Delain to Nightwish and at the same time deliver the sound that is sure to get them label attention. With very delicate female vocals playing beauty and the beast with the male vocals and the music delivering the composition expected from the phantom of the opera, dramatic metal at it's very finest and yet Lapis Lazuli are sure to push boundaries even further, making progress that is fully worked and deserved for.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

SCYTHIA
'For The Bear'

From time to time a band produces a release that carries the question of whether it befits the style of music intended, as for Scythia and their first EP 'For The Bear', the question is applied. Sure there are folk elements throught the oboe and the atmosphere, but it needs to be a little more folk than it already is, such as more instruments and the vocals need changing, they are far too Heavy Metal style and thus undermine the intended sound. Though some songs offer a happy and bard style of feeling, the overall release needs tweaking, 'For The Bear' is one of those releases that results in the listener either loving or hating it, not middle ground.

[5] RHYS STEVENSON

DISSONANCE IN DESIGN
'Neurotransmitting An Epiphany'
FIVEBYFIVE

Slamming American Technical Progressive Melodic Death Metal / Deathcore bludgers it's way through the sludge that is left from the many failing 'core' bands and thus Dissonance In Design pick up the pieces and wield an attack that is as complex as an algorithm, leaving absolute zero as a result from 'Neurotransmitting An Epiphany'. With technical riffs and drumming engaging the pattern of play and the vocals commanding the insane brutality exhilarated on this release, what could be heard here is Colorado's finest metal band ever, clear precession and built in mind for fans of Veil Of Maya, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Neuraxis and Strapping Young Lad, just don't bank on their debut album carrying any scent of mercy.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

PATH OF DESTINY
'Parasite God'

Germany's Path Of Destiny make their welcomed return with their first ever EP 'Parasite God', the Symphonic Black / Death Metal machine powers their way into the next stage of delivering the next greatest sound from the German Metal scene. Path Of Destiny should be hotly tipped to be Germany's unsigned metal band of 2012, because 'Parasite God' has everything a die-hard metal fan could ask for, brutal drumming, slick riffs and vocals so tough, it's tighter than a nun's backside. Tantalizingly complex and yet easy to follow, 'Parasite God' is the sound of the underground, fear it. As for Path Of Destiny, this should be the wake up call for them to be signed.

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

WANING
'The Human Condition'
ANTONYM

Delivering their second album is Sweden's Waning, the Progressive Black Metal outfit devour another studio in order to broadcast their message of misanthropic humanity via their new album 'The Human Condition', featuring some of the most evil shrieks ever heard and technically composed music to act as a forerunner to the band's almighty atmospheric disturbances. Providing razor-riffs of which slice through any human senses to leave a profound sense of eerieness about the album and the band in general. 'The Human Condition' is an album that will please any fan of Black Metal and fans of Watain, Ihsahn and Emporer.

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

MOSS OF MOONLIGHT
'Seed'
CASCADIAN ALLIANCE

When a duo Black / Folk Metal project originates from the USA and they consider themselves as Cascadian, it can only mean that Moss Of Moonlight have released their debut album 'Seed', mixing a host of different Folk Music elements with the classic slow sound of Black Metal to produce a truly unique experience, one that should and will captivate fans all round, similar to bands like Winterfylleth and Ancient Rites, Moss of Moonlight dig deep to find their sound that would echo across the land and seas and hopefully will plant the 'Seed' for Cascadia to become a nation.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

TEN TONNE DOZER
'Black Moon Rising'

Hailing from the Shetland Islands, the burly Southern Groove Metallers Ten Tonne Dozer make no mistake in their sophomore EP 'Black Moon Rising', producing music that would go down sumptuously with a shot of Jack Daniels and a moment of chilling out, epic riffs and sharp vocals tear down the atmosphere with a selection of four songs that come along with tactical drumming. As for Ten Tonne Dozer this is an EP that can signal the Shetland Islands Metal scene is awakening to deliver one of it's finest ever metal bands, in fact fellow islands will see the local metal scene rise in time for the 'Black Moon Rising'.

[7] RHYS STEVENSON