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
1 Comment
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Metal II
2nd Chronicles of Metal Music Reviews © 2011-2022
Global Metal Apocalypse Archives
January 2013
Categories
All
|