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
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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 ELBERETH 'Itzalitako Izarren Lurraldea' GAUEKO ARIMAK Basque Country's very own Thrash Metal band Elbereth make their third album come to life with epic riffing from three guitarists (one vocalist), a bassist and sensational drumming skills from (obviously) the drummer. Uniquely singing in their native Basque language, you cannot dub them Spanish for obvious reasons, however you can call them a breath of fresh air for the Basque Metal scene, whilst the language barrier maybe a tad challenging, the overall reception of this album is a beautiful one, utilizing the modern Thrash sound and basing it on Metallica style vocals and percussion, 'Itzalitako Izarren Lurraldea' is one album that any Thrash Metal fan should have in their collection, simply inspirational. [8] RHYS STEVENSON EYE BEYOND SIGHT 'The Sun & The Flood' MASSACRE / EDGE There seems to be at times, albums that come out with basic compositions that have already been worked out and at other times there seems to be total copying going on, but when you take Eye Beyond Sight into account and their sophomore album 'The Sun & The Flood', you clearly get the feeling the drumming is a little too basic at times and yet the vocals and riffs do the killing. As for the Slovakian quintet, the Groove-laden-Thrash Metal sound they somewhat achieve is good enough for recognition but it's songs like 'From Stars To Scum' that deliver the almighty blow, that alongside the technical intro to 'That Hurts' and so the overall perception is that this band can deliver the right composition but some songs let them down, referring back to 'That Hurts, this would appeal highly to fans of Lamb of God as it kicks in that 'walk with me in hell' power of brutality, overall this album has thrills and spills, a roller-coaster in disguise. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON CNOC AN TURSA 'The Giants Of Auld' CANDLELIGHT Deep within the caverns of the hallowed cairngorms arises four musicians with the ambition to revive ancient Scottish folklore, henceforth the quartet Cnoc An Tursa conjure up a potion that druids will forever envy, 'The Giants Of Auld' delivers a solid display of Black Metal, laced with Folk Metal elements and little bits of Celtic influence all the while, whilst most songs on their debit album are of the fast and catchy guild, there are some pure Folk metal elements to trip the atmosphere into two seperate halves, none the less 'The Giants Of Auld' is an album that will see Cnoc An Tursa explode onto the international scene and are sure to gain themselves a host of new fans, powering forward the ancient Scottish traditions, 'The Giants Of Auld' is for fans of Winterfylleth, Ancient Rites and Kyrgyzstan band Darkestrah. 'The Giants Of Auld' will be a great start to 2013 and is sure to be an instantaneous hit. 'The Giants Of Auld' is out via Candlelight on 25th February 2013. [9] RHYS STEVENSON PERCEPTION OF DARKNESS 'Shades & Shadows' + 'Beyond Wonderland' Two releases, one eclectic sound, the mixing of Industrial Metal in the vein of Deathstars, The Kovenant and the Blackened Gothic Metal feel of Aborym and Gothminister, starting off with the album 'Shades & Shadows', what is to be expected is what is not actually given, instead Perception Of Darkness' effort exceeds expectations, this is a band with a sound they know they want to create, a sound that has not been developed before and so when you take into account their demo as well 'Beyond Wonderland', both releases deal the band the righteous justice and in fact highlight the utmost reason to why this band deserve to be signed, weaving together synthetic elements with the harsh brutality of Industrial Black Metal and topping it off with some very harmonious vocals, no wonder Perception of Darkness is Sweden's newest hot property. [8] + [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON MORPHESIA 'Black Metal Demo 2012' Credit is always due to those who take upon music on their own accord and especially when it's their first ever demo, for Californian one-man black metal project Morphesia, it's more than producing music, it's producing a distinct sound, what with the furious outrageous blastbeats caressing the grim shrieking and the raw atmosphere and the feeling of a bitter frostbite, no wonder this could be the dawning of a new threat to dislodge the false monstrosities that thrive within the metal society, true to it's word and title, this is 'Black Metal' and this is the revolution that Morphesia is pioneering, and you thought California was terrified by earthquakes? This is far worse than an earthquake, this is a goddamn apocalyptic storm. [7] RHYS STEVENSON SCHYSMA 'Imperfect Dichothomy' In perfect tune for an explosive start to Schysma's career, as the Italian quintet deliver an emphatic display of intricately weaved melodies and razor-sharp Progressive Metal that is as elegant as the creativity of the once-was Italian renaissance composers, much like the modernized version of Rossini in terms of the power and level of complexity induced on the band's debut EP 'Imperfect Dichothomy'. Crafted in the vision of lashing electronic elements to the well-cemented Progressive Metal body and in doing so ends up creating a sound that can be described as good as crossing Rammstein with Dream Theater, in fact one word to sum up the whole release would be 'unbeatable. Schysma are definitely going places in 2013; a band to watch. [8] RHYS STEVENSON TEODASIA 'Upwards' Making their debut album speak one more word than a fairytale story is Italian female-fronted metal band Teodasia with their luscious production 'Upwards' which binds together sexy symphonies, four melodic maestro's and a ton of epic, fantasy metal. Playing music in the combined style of Within Temptation - cross - Epica and layering it with their own twist of powerful ballads, booming musical compositions and an artwork to match the dramatics of the overall masterpiece. Delving into the finer details and you find the true passion that Italian Gothic Metal bands seem to have, and so moving into 2013 it is time for Teodasia to move 'Upwards' into the heavens, for this is the 'Symphoratic metal' (Symphonic Operatic) band the Italian Metal scene has been longing for. [9] RHYS STEVENSON ANTHIRYA 'Promo Demo 2012' From the island that brought the well known Sicilian pizza comes a new tasty slice of music in the form of newbies Anthirya and their premier 2012 demo, whilst Italy has a renowned sense of producing sensational Gothic Metal acts, none have come as soothing as this new quintet, weaving together intricate ballads with operatic oomph and delicate musical compositions that would leave classical artists like Rossini raving for more. Mixing together sensational operatic vocals with a solid and formidable backbone sound, Anthirya delivers their own unique style with influences coming from Nightwish and Within Temptation, but will also appeal to fans of Therion. [8] RHYS STEVENSON THE APPROACH & THE EXECUTION 'The Blood March' If 'The Blood March' was to be a soundtrack to a film, the film would make an international gross profit of $0, there is nothing wrong with the band, just the style of music, melodic power / death metal? The two are so far apart that daylight shines in between them and so as The Approach & The Execution released their debut last year, it beckons the question of whether it was a right decision to do so at all. Just as ill-felt when a tornado tears through a city, killing hundreds, the same is applied to this album, the senses are left in a coma and consequently they need rehabilitation, if only soundproof ear plugs were available, job done. [2] RHYS STEVENSON FORLORN PATH
'Intifada' New Jersey mob Forlorn Path made their second attempt at delivering the awe inspiring EP they so crave with enough gusto to blow hurricanes backwards, just. The brutality and pace on 'Intifada' is enough to match the power of a thousand rampaging bulls but only sissy bulls as the final detail on the EP is one to drag the whole release down, in short the vocals need vast improvement. As for the music itself, it's clean and crisp edge gives Forlorn Path that sound needed to develop torture at all levels, even so it's on restriction due to the disease it brings. [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON |
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