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
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January 2013
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