 BLOODSTREAM 'Steam Of Blood' INDEPENDENT Consider Bloodstream to be one of your rather unconventional Thrash Metal bands and that their latest offering 'Steam Of Blood' isn't completely Thrash Metal, funny right? Well, there are a lot of influences roaming around on this release from said metal genre to Heavy Metal and with dashes of Hardcore elements (especially in the vocals). That said, despite the decent effort in delivering a respectable album, it does not carry the hallmarks of a groundbreaking release and thus sadly will just sit as another Thrash-like metal album. Props though go to the band for creating a valiant effort, it certainly would appeal to those who are fans of the slower kind of Thrash Metal, but for the average metalhead it might not grab their immediate attention. Without being crude or detrimental, there isn't a lot of differences between each song and thus hinders the release's potential. Download This: "Jester" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Evil Scarecrow, Evile, Gama Bomb [7] RHYS STEVENSON  CIRITH GORGOR 'Visions Of Exalted Lucifer' HAMMERHEART Celebrating their 20th anniversary, the Dutch Black Metal veterans Cirith Gorgor start the party off well with their sixth album-to-date 'Visions Of Exalted Lucifer'. What is expected of the album is what you get, a fully fledged onslaught of barbaric vocals, murderous riffs, emphatic drumming and the uncompromising atmosphere of which demands you to sacrifice your soul to. As far as Dutch Black Metal goes, these guys know what it takes to lead the battle front-line with axes at the ready, this is clear on 'Visions Of Exalted Lucifer' as there is no point on the album where interest and focus becomes lost. In fact, what we have here could pose itself as an early contender for 'Dutch Metal release of the year', it's devilish nature giving its masters something to drink and celebrate to. If this release does not herald a new wave of Black Metal in The Netherlands, I shall eat my speakers. Download This: "Into The Nameless Void" For Fans of: Enthroned, Trelldom, Taake, Gorgoroth 'Visions Of Exalted Lucifer' is out 15th February via Hammerheart Records [8] RHYS STEVENSON  THE INFERNAL SEA 'The Great Mortality' CACOPHONOUS British Black Metal is enjoying a huge comeback, with the likes of Winterfylleth, Eastern Front, Cnoc An Tursa and others leading the way, it's the likes of The Infernal Sea who are following the readily laid path. Coming out of their bunker to unleash their long-awaited and highly-anticipated second album 'The Great Mortality', this horde from the Fens hold nothing back in releasing a horrific wall of sound that was inevitably designed to blast a gaping whole in your head, let alone your ears. Adventuring out of your comfort zone is not always easy, yet when The Infernal Sea incorporate Dutch words into the song 'Pestmeester', you get the feeling that they're seeking their own signature sound (not by using a different language mind). Having already laid down the law at Bloodstock, The Infernal Sea have once again proven that they're the real McCoy, accept no substitutes. Download This: "Plague Herald" For Fans of: Bal-Sagoth, Mayhem, Immortal 'The Great Mortality' is out 19th February via Cacophonous Records [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE 'King' NUCLEAR BLAST The pioneers of Classical Death Metal Fleshgod Apocalypse have once again masterminded the blueprints for a truly magical chapter in their career, this time 'King' is the album to be spewed out of the darkened corridors found within the Teatro Morlacchi. This extremely eccentric release bolsters acute-mathematical drumming, thunderous riffs, an atmosphere to satisfy the greats of classical times bygone and vocals to match the operatic nature of Pavarotti and bloodshed of the Romans. It cannot be denied that Fleshgod Apocalypse are in an element of their own, have devised a signature sound and ultimately are on the path to becoming equally successful as Lacuna Coil and other Italian Metal greats. Imagine Vivaldi, Puccini, Rossini, Palestrina and Monteverdi clashing head on with Technical Death Metal, inevitably the offspring would be Fleshgod Apocalypse, in fact what if the current line-up are the said composers reincarnated? After all metal music does use classical elements! The five gentleman of Perugia are to be rightfully crowned collectively, the 'King' of Classical Death Metal. Download This: "The Fool" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Classical Music, Septicflesh, Neuraxis 'King' is out now via Nuclear Blast [10] RHYS STEVENSON  UNBORN SUFFER 'Nihilist' SELFMADEGOD Blood-soaked and gut-wrenched is what springs to mind when assessing the latest slab of Brutal Death Metal / Grindcore from Polish stalwarts Unborn Suffer. 'Nihilist' is the 5th studio album from this horde and it serves well as an acceptable bout of noise, there are lyrics somewhere (or you could just pig squeal) but what is definitely found is unlimited ferocity being channeled through the drums, guitars and vocals. Despite the appraise, it's nothing new this style and yet it does serve as a delightful listen for those who prefer their Death Metal to beyond brutal let alone recognition. Slam all you want because 'Nihilist' is an album that should be taken seriously, this is not for the weak-minded nor the faint hearted, this is for those who prefer murders of a Sunday morning and necrophilia as their occupation. Yeah, it's not pretty that's for sure. Download This: "Vain In Cage" For Fans of: Cannibal Corpse, Napalm Death, Dying Fetus 'Nihilist' is out 19th February via Selfmadegod Records [7] RHYS STEVENSON  DELAIN 'Lunar Prelude' NAPALM Whilst we wait for the next full-length to come out of the Delain music factory, their tickling teaser EP 'Lunar Prelude' gives something for listeners to indulge in something rather musically succulent. Debuting two new songs in the form of the anthemic 'Suckerpunch' and erotically-charged 'Turn The Lights Out'. Charmed with select live recordings, the latest offering by the Dutch Symphonic Metal raconteurs will certainly not go amiss by fans and press alike. With dynamics at every second changing the course of the EP, it's riveting, sensational, and ready to be unleashed upon the arenas around the world. The EP will leave an after-taste and desire for more from this colorful bunch, make no judgement and make no mistake, Delain are in their prime-time, this is their time and with this effort making such a buzz, Delain are ready to join the elite. Download This: "Suckerpunch" - Click here to listen For fans of: Within Temptation, Tarja-era Nightwish, Evanescence 'Lunar Prelude' is out 19th February via Napalm Records [8] RHYS STEVENSON  REVENIENCE 'Daedalum' SLIPTRICK Arising from the darkest depths of the Italian underground metal scene is the fresh-faced Revenience with their premier album 'Daedalum', exploding into life with a vast array of elements combining to create a dramatic style of Symphonic Gothic Metal. I can be said that once again the love affair between Italy and Gothic-based Metal is ever growing and on Valentines Day, this release would bode those romantic evenings with a luscious blessing, just be ready with that bottle of pinot grigio. 'Daedalum' offers a lot to the metal community as it draws in influences from Doom Metal, Atmospheric Metal and naturally the beauty and the beast battle from which pivots around the Gothic Metal infrastructure. There's the fast and rampant 'A Maze' and then the slow and emotional 'Lone Island', providing a wide breadth of music to satisfy anyone who listens to this album. Download This: "Shamble" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Lacuna Coil, Within Temptation, Evanescence 'Daedalum' is out now via Sliptrick Records [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  MERCY ISLE 'Storm' INDEPENDENT International bands are hard to run at best of times, let alone when they're on different continents. However the American-Dutch contingent Mercy Isle don't care about physical boundaries, in fact their latest effort 'Storm' drags together the best Melodic and Gothic Metal sounds from their respective surroundings and by doing so, enables them to create such a dynamic EP that should get some music industry personnel perking their ears up. Full of dramatic twists and turns, 'Storm' is one of those EP's that is destined to pull a number of heartstrings upon listening to it. Immerse yourself in a world full of chunky bass lines, harmonic vocals, crunchy riffs and ballsy drumming, collectively forming an atmosphere as thunderous as their premier EP title suggests. Download This: "Uncaged" - Click here to listen For fans of: WinterStorm, Within Temptation, Xandria [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  PAIN EMOTION 'As The Light Fades Through The Smoke' INDEPENDENT In musical form this could easily depict the dark days during the conflicts against the indigenous Berber tribe and the Moors who inhabited the southern Iberian peninsula. Especially since it features such a bleak and chilling atmosphere that could easily be used at a funeral or indeed as music to a war film soundtrack. Stretching out for 27 minutes over two tracks makes it more worthwhile listening to and in fact it's quite calming and arousing. 'As The Light Fades Through The Smoke' after all is the second demo by Moroccan one-man project Pain Emotion and given the band name it is clear that the nature of the music certainly depicts that holistically. One for the records, this is certainly one of the darkest releases to arise out of this sandy, North African nation. Download This: "Bright Light, Bless Me" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Xasthur, Austere, Forgotten Tomb [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  DRAMATIC MORALS
'Feel Good Factory' INDEPENDENT Hailing from Hungary, Progressive Metalcore outfit Dramatic Morals come out of the studio wasted having spent all brutality in recording an EP that is sure to gain much deserved attention from across Europe. Progressive without being Djent minded and Metalcore-based without using breakdowns after breakdowns like as if nothing else existed, that is how you can best sum up their effort 'Feel Good Factory'. Perhaps that's where they were, in a 'Feel Good Factory' because this EP will certainly make you happy if not give you a surprising erection. Hungary of late has suffered a setback in successful exports, so perhaps its the likes of Dramatic Morals who are set to rekindle the Magyar fire. There is hardly anything wrong with this EP and so this is why you should check them out and if you're a label, sign them. 2016 is sure to be this quintet's year, mark my words. Download This: "My Destiny" - Click here to listen For Fans of: No Consequence, Northlane, After The Burial [8] RHYS STEVENSON
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 TAGAROT 'Veleda's Prophecy' INDEPENDENT For those not tuned into folkloric history, Veleda was a prophetic priestess of the Germanic 'Bructeri' tribe and serves as the foundation for the title of Tagarot's debut EP. 'Veleda's Prophecy' glimmers with sheer class, emphatic folk music beats and metal crunchiness, not only does it get your feet tapping it demands you to get up and dance. Letting this rip loud across the Alps would cause an imminent landslide under the sheer power delivered, through the use of traditional folk instruments alongside the basics of metal music (as expected in Folk Metal) Tagarot have developed their own sound which might as well be labelled "Alpine Folk Metal". Full of promise, it won't be too long before Tagarot build up a loyal fan base across Austria and Central Europe. The downside is that vocalist Carina Linder has left the band, so whomever takes the reigns must have the aptitude and power to succeed such a decent vocalist. Download This: "Samant" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Eluveitie, Heidevolk, Punch 'N' Judy [8] RHYS STEVENSON  SLOANWALL 'Dawn Of Light' INDEPENDENT 'Dawn Of Light' in short is a really decent Southern Metal release, the premier EP by Croatian newbies Sloanwall broods in groove-chugging riffs, a slow and smooth atmosphere and tons of blues. The funny thing is Southern Metal is such a weird metal genre that it ought to be ostracized from planet metal for being weirder than weird, despite this somewhat crazy suggestion Sloanwall certainly would not care that much as their EP is so juicy, fruit has suddenly gone out of fashion. So whilst your slowly and soothingly sipping Jack Daniels, or Jim Beam's, whip on Sloanwall's EP 'Dawn Of Light' and let the chill time commence. The music is so laid back and rocking at the same time, you would think you were in the deep southern states of America, as for the band well they are doing something right, that is for sure. Download This: "Raw Law" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Black Label Society, Hellyeah, Alabama Thunderpussy [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  PODER VIVO 'Poder Vivo' INDEPENDENT Unsurprisingly yet another interesting export has made its way out of Argentina and onto the world of metal, ok for those who are not well equipped to handle different languages or cannot understand Spanish then switch off, but for those willing to experience something different then check out Poder Vivo's self-titled EP. Brazen in glory. This EP carries all the hallmarks you would expect from a Heavy / Power Metal band: harmonic keys, bouncy drums, stratospheric vocals, erotic riffs and ballsy bass, in fact 'Poder Vivo' is already a short-listed contender for 'Argentinian Metal release of the year' and 2016 is only one month old. Perfect music to have sex to, 'Poder Vivo' is an adventure full of erotic sounds and sensations, let it in and roam your mind because after all it will be the best 30 odd minutes in your life. Download This: "Misterio Ancestral" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Sonata Arctica, 3 Inches of Blood, Battle Beast [8] RHYS STEVENSON  DEZAZTRE NATURAL 'Auto - Exterminio' INDEPENDENT Get your neck some insurance because you will need it after listening to the sensational second album by Chilean thrashers Dezaztre Natural. 'Auto - Exterminio' is a slab of unrelenting and uncompromising Thrash Metal that is designed to reap your soul and claim your body at the sheer force of the music. It is fast, it is brutal and it is so damn sexy that your girlfriend has suddenly been relegated, or perhaps this could serve up as some rather heavy-pounding sex (use your imagination and let yourself go). 'Auto - Exterminio' will certainly appertain to the Spanish-speaking world and Thrash addicts alike, whether this enables them to tap into the wider metal domain worldwide remains another question, but given the sheer velocity and strength demonstrated here, there is no reason why they can't cause a buzz globally. Download This: "Hidrodeath" - Click here to listen For fans of: Slayer, Coprofago, Pentagram Chile [9] RHYS STEVENSON  VULTURES TO CARRION 'Welcome Home' INDEPENDENT Metalcore? From Venezuela? You read that right, Venezuelan Metalcore. Emerging out of the dimmed streets of Caracas is quintet Vultures To Carrion with their debut EP 'Welcome Home'. Whilst sadly it is nothing news and flits between being interesting and just another Metalcore EP, it does offer an element of uniqueness that needs nurturing and refining. But as an effort it certainly deserves a nod, 'Welcome Home' can be acknowledged as having grit, sweat and blood and enough brutality to crush your head inside-out. Forgot the emo-tinged Metalcore sound that seems to bleeding the genre dry, Vultures To Carrion are of the old-guard and thus should be given some respect. It'll take some time before they break out of South America, but when they do Venezuelan Metalcore will have stamped it's authority on the world. Download This: "This Is My Statement" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Hatebreed, After The Burial, The Black Dahlia Murder [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  SHE MUST BURN 'She Must Burn' ARTERY REC. If not one of the most exciting EP's of 2016, certainly a dark accompaniment to the Valentines Day activities, full of emotion, melody, aggression and blissful atmospherics. 'She Must Burn' is a mixing pot of Metalcore, Black Metal, Symphonic Metal and Gothic Metal, we call their music "Atmospheric Dark Metal" (or maybe Symphonic Blackcore) as it glimmers with erotic keyboard elements, unrelenting drums, horrific vocals (afraid, be very afraid) and riffs so ice-cold, they would freeze hell over. Whoever let this band out from the deepest depths of hell are pure geniuses, as She Must Burn are set to become the latest and coldest export out of London city since The Defiled. Tapping into each members minds and constructing lyrics around and about the emotions felt, this EP is more than just music, it's a personal statement. Collectively these personal statements lead to one solid vocal scream, the scream of here comes the apocalyptic musical storm. You have been warned. Download This: "Possessed" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Motionless In White, Bleeding Through, Cradle of Filth, early Abigail Williams 'She Must Burn' EP is out now via Artery Recordings. [9] RHYS STEVENSON  BURIAL DUST 'Oshubho Ahobaan' INDEPENDENT Bestial Black Metal horde Burial Dust summon the darkest demons to aid them in creating unholy sermons of epic destruction. Hailing from the ever improving Bangladeshi Metal scene comes Burial Dust, a filthy musical collective of three metal musicians of whom bestow occultist blasphemy upon those who dare indulge in this trio's music. Raw in its production and menacing in its sound, the premier EP by Burial Dust 'Oshubho Ahobaan' (Ominous Call), will certainly get the Asian Extreme Metal followers pouring all over it, sure it's unlikely to attract considerable attention from the European faithful but this EP will certainly win some love over from the far corners of Asia. By encasing the Black Metal skeletal structure in fleshy Eastern vibes, Burial Dust herald the age of pure bestial Black Metal from the dim-lit streets of downtown Dhaka. Download This: "Where Is Your Rahmaa" - Click here to listen For fans of: Beherit, Mayhem, Von [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  GIRUGAMESH '-chimera-' GAN SHIN Japanese Metal certainly has cemented itself as it's own recognized genre, there are no musical boundaries and visual aesthetics have no limits. So when the Japanese quartet Girugamesh dropped their latest effort '-Chimera-' there was no reservations at how good it was going to be. Defying the rules and guidelines of Metalcore, Alternative and Nu Metal collectively, the Chiba boys make no mistake in delivering what could be perceived as 'Japanese Metal release of the year'. Brutally erotic riffs lead the charge on this insanely heavy beast-of-an-album whilst the trademark Visual Kei vocals provide the aggression and whilst this is happening, the drums provide such solidarity it can be compared to a wall made of diamonds. Loathe them or hate them, Girugamesh are on the road to becoming veterans of Japanese Metal and with this effort, it is evidently clear they aren't quite done yet. Download This: "Chimera" - Click here to listen For Fans of: D'espairsRay, Crossfaith, Deluhi '-Chimera-' is now out via Gan Shin Records [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  ROTTING CHRIST 'Rituals' SEASON OF MIST Having stood the test of time, Hellenic Black Metal pioneers Rotting Christ unleash the latest installment in their highly illustrious career. In relation to historical events and contrasting against how long metal has been around, it is pretty fair to say that Rotting Christ have done in metal what the Ancient Greeks done during the early forms in civilization and that is? Create a lasting legacy. As dark as Greece's history, Rotting Christ know a lot about success having played over 1,200 shows, released 12 albums and ultimately are still standing strong after 27 years activity. The ultimate question is who would follow Rotting Christ's footsteps from the Greek Metal scene? 'Rituals' is definitely not the last album from these musical geniuses, there is so much life still their emphatic sounds, songwriting and deliverance. 'Rituals' is a strong contender for 'Greek Metal release of the year'. Simply emphatically epic. Download This: "In Nomine Dei Nostri" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Samael, Satyricon, Melechesh 'Rituals' is out today via Season Of Mist [8] RHYS STEVENSON  ASGRAUW
'Krater' HIDDEN MARLY PRODS. If you love your Black Metal raw and so unpolished that it makes your ears bleed, then you will love the latest effort by Dutch underground Black Metal horde Asgrauw. Singing exclusively in their native Dutch language, Asgrauw revel in fuzz-laden atmospherics that are so chilling, soothing yet riveting. Granted it hasn't broken new ground and probably won't get much attention outside of the Benelux if not a few countries worldwide, it does however serve well as a truly authentic and enriched warring release. 'Krater' pays homage to not only volcanoes (as depicted by the artwork) but also the beauty of Black Metal, that you don't need to play at epic speed to achieve an epic sound. As for Asgrauw they march on into the unknown, but are assured that they are a beacon of light in the underground Dutch Metal scene. Download This: "Krater" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Immortal, Carpathian Forest, Urgehal [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON |
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