GMA - Vol 228 - Agrona, Diatriba, Sentencia Ácida, Cryptogram, Vademekhum, Left For Red

AGRONA
'Realm Of The Fallen'
UKEM

It pays to be different and to be different you have to a formula that steps away from the generic layers found within your chosen metal genre, which is exactly what Welsh Black Metallers Agrona have done here with their debut album 'Realm Of The Fallen'. Gone is the over-reliance of fast riffs, blitzing drums and raspy vocals and in comes a rather technical yet atmospheric and heathen approach to Black Metal, with this effort Agrona might as well be thee extreme metal band the Welsh Metal scene has ever so-long been craving. Insane creativity wriggles itself through this leviathan of an album at every second and whilst the barrage continues right till the end, the feeling that Agrona will become big is ever evident.

Download This: "Storms End" - Click to listen

For Fans of: Dimmu Borgir, Necronautical, Windir

[8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON

DIATRIBA
'Mártires Del Cambio'
INDEPENDENT

It's not easy to make an album that stand's out easily, nor can it be easy to make an album that has an original sound that is void from other 'already done' sounds. However, take Venezuela's Diatriba and their new album 'Mártires Del Cambio' and you get the feeling that they're avoiding any sort of influence whatsoever, sure they're singing in Spanish but musically they straddle between Thrash, Hardcore and Speed Metal. 'Mártires Del Cambio' has a decent variation in tempo, pace and rhythm across the entire album so there is something for every thrash maniac, arguably this is one of the best albums to emerge out of Venezuela this year and will take something special to dethrone it.

Download This: "Judas" - Click to listen

For Fans of: Slayer, Biohazard, Motorhead

[7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON

SENTENCIA ÁCIDA
'Acta Est Fabula'
INDEPENDENT

If you want something to give you neck-ache and have nothing against listening to music in another language, then the second EP 'Acta Est Fabula' by Venezuelan Crossover Thrashers Sentencia Ácida is your immediate remedy. It comes laden with thick bass lines, raucous vocals and drumming so brutal it makes your last hangover seem mild. It's only around 13 minutes long, so make sure you have enough energy to rock out to this release because you'll need it, there is never a dull moment and no moment where the music becomes unrelenting. Sadly it's nothing new but it still is rather refreshing none the less.

Download This: "Crossover Is Not Over" - Click to listen

For Fans of: Slayer, Toxic Holocaust, Municipal Waste

[7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON

CRYPTOGRAM
'Ahrimanic Meditations'
INDEPENDENT

Seeing as Cryptogram hail from Uruguay, you would have thought they couldn't muster up a production that's decent enough to challenge the Nordic Black Metal scene... well you'd be wrong friend. This trio clearly know more about Black Metal than you'll ever know about the sub-genre, their debut album 'Ahrimanic Meditations' has lyrics in both English and Spanish, but over-arching all of that is their raw and atmospheric Black Metal sound which echoes the greats of Dark Funeral and Marduk; they could even become Uruguay's answer to these bands. 'Ahrimanic Meditations' is by far a solid effort that won't go unnoticed in the underground and with it should give this trio the proponent to go on further.

Download This: "The Black Gates Of Cosmic Chaos" - Click to listen

For Fans of: Satyricon, Dark Funeral, Marduk

[8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON

VADEMEKHUM
'X'
INDEPENDENT

It would be pretty fair to say that the reason why the debut album by Uruguayan Death Thrashers Vademekhum is called 'X', is that they marked their 10th anniversary as a band in 2017; although album came out this year. Casting that aside and focusing on the music is simple enough, this quintet deliver Death / Thrash Metal in such a brutal and exciting fashion, leaving you baying for more as the ferocity courses through this full-on metal release. Singing in their native Spanish; who would have thought this language could be so brutal, Vademekhum make no mistake in dropping an album that's bound to catch some attention across the South American metal scenes.

Download This: "El Otro" - Click to listen

For Fans of: DevilDriver, Dew-Scented, Torture Squad

[8/10] RHYS STEVENSON

LEFT FOR RED
'Human Complex'
INDEPENDENT

Slamming their second album on top of the table is Left For Red, now whilst the Midlands quintet primarily bask in the Groove Metal sound, their new album does have elements of Doom Metal dabbled here and there - especially on the first track 'Dancing With Misery'. By no means is this another 5FDP clone, no way, in fact Left For Red have stuck themselves in their own concocted sound. 'Human Complex' comes bristling with the fast and heavy, the slick and groovy, but above all the balls and sweat that makes a compelling metal album... compelling. Marking their ten year anniversary with this album is like when Manchester City won the Premier League by a single goal difference, it leaves you on the edge of the seat anticipated for something magical, boy does it deliver.

Download This: "Hand Of God"

For Fans of: DevilDriver, Iron Maiden, Slipknot

[8/10] RHYS STEVENSON