Global Metal Apocalypse
Connect With Us
  • Home
  • News
    • Alternative Music News
    • Metal News
    • Live News & Reviews
    • Other Music News
  • Reviews
    • Alternative Music
    • Film Reviews
    • Metal >
      • Metal II
      • Metal III
  • Interviews
    • Alternative Music Interviews
    • Metal Interviews
    • Music Related Interviews
  • Metal Scenes
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • North & Central America
    • Oceania
    • South America
  • Blogging
  • Extras
    • GMA Awards
    • GMA In The Press
    • Projects
    • Testimonials
  • Contact

GMA - Vol189 - Eyes Of Gaia, Helion, Xul, Synergy Protocol, Daemona, Imperial Cult, Exalter, Speedemon, Kobold, Ashtar

17/6/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
EYES OF GAIA
'The Power Of Existence'
INDEPENDENT

As far as emphatic sounds goes, Eyes of Gaia's debut album 'The Power Of Existence' positions itself right at the pinnacle of powerful, yet epic masterpieces. Seven years have passed since their inception and so the wait for their debut album was truly worth it, featuring the noticeable Maiden-esque vocals, blistering-paced drums and heavy riff Armageddon. That said, Brazil has had a rich past in the classic heavy metal arena so it comes as no surprise that this album features such characteristics. But taking this album as a whole, it shows that Eyes of Gaia have the ability to do well and excel themselves as a metal group worldwide with their infectious take-on the classic heavy metal sound. Watch this band with interest.

Download This: "Hidden From The Light" - Click here to listen

For fans of: Iron Maiden, Dragonforce, Judas Priest, Motorhead

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

Picture
HELION
'Duat's Calling'
INDEPENDENT

If you don't have a headache before listening to Helion's debut EP, you sure will afterwards. This filthy-rotten slab of Technical Death Metal wizardry is a testament to the sub-genre as it pummels out insanely fast drums, algorithmic riffs and vocals so brutal, Deathcore just became the new pop music. 'Duat's Calling' is the first offering by this Italian quartet and by jove it offers some elements of promise, it does however take some time to kick in. The only slight downside is that there appears to be too much going on at times and thus loses focus in becoming a respected debut EP. However diligence is soon paid off with an emphatic 12 minute epic that is 'Duat's Calling: The Cosmic Collision', a supersonic song that demands utmost attention. All in all 'Duat's Calling' may not be pretty, but it certainly is not the beast.

Download This: "The Way Of Stars" - Click here to listen

For Fans of: Neuraxis, Decapitated, 'Tech Death Metal'

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

Picture
XUL
'Extinction Necromance'
INDEPENDENT

On the strength of their first EP 'Extinction Necromance', Canadian quintet Xul have their eyes on international recognition with their gritty-form of Blackened Death Metal. Maxing out at a whopping 30 minutes, this ferocious assault of blazing drums, raucous vocals and tight-as-a-nun's-arse riffs, collectively delivers a musical force to be reckoned with. Granted it is not as glorified as perhaps Behemoth or as dynamic as some of the Norwegian contingent, it does however offer a truly underground sound that would appeal to fans of Extreme Metal and ones who just like their meat, love it 100% raw. 'Extinction Necromance' is an important step for Xul, where they go now is one question, the other being can they surpass this effort with ease?

Download This: "Orbit Of Nemesis" - Click here to listen

For Fans of: Enslaved, Immortal, Behemoth

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

Picture
SYNERGY PROTOCOL
'2014 Demo'

Last year saw the first demo by Dutch Prog Metal newbies Synergy Protocol, now whilst the band is new, the musicians themselves have been around for much, much longer. However their 2014 demo exhibits much of the old Prog Metal style and thus keeps the traditional aspects alive. Granted the recording is not at it's greatest and thus needs the volume turning up, but that's ok, because what greats you is a sensual yet erotic smacking of pure, crisp metal. Lasting for 22 minutes, this three-track effort certainly ticks the right boxes as a promising of things yet-to-come. Whatever this band does next is pretty much safeguarded for the expertise driving it, let's just see how their second offering pans out before seeing them as a resurgent Dutch force.

Download This: "Puppet On A String (Live)" - Click here to listen

For fans of: Dream Theater, To-Mera, Stream Of Passion

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

Picture
DAEMONA
'Il Demone Dentro'
INDEPENDENT

Arising as the East Anglian Death Machine, Daemona have no restrictions to their versatility as demonstrated on their debut demo "Il Demone Dentro", which is Italian for 'The Demon Inside'; the title of which was evidently crafted by lead vocalist Nina Pain. Executing a solid slab of Death Metal to wet your whiskers by is not always easy, but for this quintet it was simply taken in their stride. To think they are building themselves up to take on the mighty British Death Metal scene is an understatement, with this effort they have clearly demonstrated they are capable of slaughtering the globe with their chemically-engineered potion of destruction that is, 'Il Demone Dentro'. Watch this band with interest.

Download This: "Grave Separator" - Click here for the 'live' version

For Fans of: Cerebral Bore, Cannibal Corpse, Sanctorum

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

Picture
IMPERIAL CULT
'Rise Of Yalamber'
SALUTE

India in the last two decades or so has seen a surge of metal exports. But fast forward to the last few years and it's bands like Imperial Cult who bear the honor for leading the Indian Metal scene. This Black / Death Metal outfit spew out a sound that bears the hallmark of Asian extreme metal, low and raw recordings with that added attitude that seems to have been born with the Himalayan nations. If you love your metal as raw as cow hide, as dirty as satanic sluts and as brutal as mass genocide, then you are probably reading about the right release.
'Rise Of Yalamber' being the band's debut EP offers an insight into things yet to come, here's hoping they keep this power and grimness together for the years ahead, because this band offers a lot of potential.

Download this: "Pain Of Mortals" - Click here to listen

For Fans of: Keep Of Kalessin, Necrophobic, Immortal

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

Picture
EXALTER
'Democrasodomy'
SALUTE

Ensure that you are fit and well to headbang yourself to death when listening to Exalter's debut EP 'Democrasodomy', because it is one not to be taken lightly, in fact this is some serious shit. Bangladeshi Thrash Metal tends to get overlooked on the international stage and as a result gets largely ignored, but with Exalter's effort having enough fury to blow out a platoon of tanks, the only solution is to give this band your immediate attention. With infectious riffs rampaging like a thing possessed, drums providing the solidified backdrop and unforgiving, unrelenting and ungodly lashes of Slayer-esque vocals, it would be idiotic to disregard Exalter as a force to be reckoned with. 'Democrasodomy' is a testament to the 80's Thrash Metal onslaught and serves as a honorable yet leading release in the Bangladeshi Metal scene.

Download This: "White Phosphorus Shell" - Click here to listen

For fans of: Slayer, Evile, Sepultura

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

Picture
SPEEDEMON
'First Blood'

Looking beyond Portugal's sole export Moonspell and you come across a small-yet-burgeoning metal scene, one band in particular looks set to send out their own branded form of Speed / Thrash Metal to the masses. Speedemon is a four-piece beast who roars with such ferocity, we heard them over here in the UK, and their premier EP 'Firstblood' is to blame. Now whilst to some it may appear simply as another Judas Priest-Slayer mish mash, it does offer something special in that it is totally 100% original in composition - sure influences are clear enough, but at least the riffs are not recycled, and at least they don't sound like a cloned band. For a good solid 14 minutes, it is well worth checking this EP out if you get boners over Judas Priest especially, be sure to have the tissues ready... just in case. Speedemon are flying the flag for the Portuguese Metal scene.

Download This: "Blood Runs Cold" - Click here to listen

For Fans of: Judas Priest, Slayer, 'Speed Thrash Metal'

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

Picture
KOBOLD
'Madman's Overture'

Serbia's rich Thrash Metal heritage should be something to go by when considering fresh metal bands emerging off the streets. Kobold for example exploit the very expectations you would have for a Thrash Metal EP, chaotic riffs, infectious drums and gritty vocals. 'Madman's Overture' lasts for a respectable 22 minutes, with three tracks leading the charge. So if you asked for some Thrash Metal that is designed to crush your skull into nothingness, then you are reading the right review. The first outing for these chaps certainly yields promising times ahead and whilst the music delivers a rather rewarding, yet crisp satisfaction, the expectation for something better arises as a result. Given this was recorded in their own studio, the output is sublime in every aspect.

Download This: "Madman's Overture EP" - Click here to listen

For Fans of: Suicidal Tendencies, Gama Bomb, Slayer

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

Picture
ASHTAR
'Ilmasaari'
CZAR OF CRICKETS PRODUCTIONS

Upon listening to Ashtar's debut album 'Ilmasaari', you start to think to yourself 'where do i begin in thinking what my thoughts of this release are?', because simply put it is a thought-invoking and dank album that demands complete attention to it. This Finnish-Swiss duo pair up the depressive atmospherics of Doom Metal, the thick sounds of Sludge Metal with the embodiment of Black Metal to create a sound that is almost as if Sun O))), Kylesa and Woods Of Ypres had a threesome and produced offspring in the form of Ashtar. However whilst 'Ilmasaari' may not be in the ranks of awesome, it certainly has the potential to prick a few ears up and is sure to gain some attention across Europe, for now at least.

Download This: "She Was A Witch" - Click here to listen

For Fans of: Kylesa, Woods Of Ypres, Katatonia, Sun O)))

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON
0 Comments

    If you enjoy reading this content, please consider a donation

    Donate

    Metal III

    3rd Chronicles of Metal Music Reviews

    © 2011-2022
    Global Metal Apocalypse


    

    Archives

    May 2021
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    April 2019
    December 2018
    August 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    September 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013

    Categories

    All
    Afghanistan
    Åland Islands
    Albania
    Algeria
    Alternative
    Ambiant
    Andorra
    Argentina
    Armenia
    Atmospheric
    Australia
    Austria
    Avant Garde
    Azerbaijan
    Bahrain
    Balearic Islands
    Bangladesh
    Barbados
    Basque Country
    Belarus
    Belgium
    Belize
    Black
    Bolivia
    Bosnia-Herzegovina
    Brazil
    Brunei
    Brutal
    Bulgaria
    Cambodia
    Canada
    Catalonia
    Celtic
    Channel Islands
    Chile
    China
    Christian
    Colombia
    Comedy
    Compilation
    Costa Rica
    Croatia
    Crossover
    Crust Punk
    Cuba
    Cyber
    Cyprus
    Czech Republic
    Dance
    Dark
    Death
    Deathcore
    Denmark
    Depressive
    Djent
    Dominican Republic
    Doom
    Drone
    Ecuador
    Egypt
    EHM
    Electro
    Electronicore
    El Salvador
    England
    Epic
    Estonia
    Experimental
    Extreme
    Faroe Islands
    Film Score
    Finland
    Flamenco
    Folk
    France
    Georgia
    Germany
    Glam
    Goregrind
    Gothic
    Greece
    Greenland
    Grindcore
    Groove
    Grunge
    Guatemala
    Guernsey
    Hardcore
    Hard Rock
    Hawaii
    Heavy
    Hong Kong
    Hungary
    Iceland
    Incan
    India
    Indonesia
    Industrial
    Instrumental
    International
    Iran
    Iraq
    Ireland
    Israel
    Italy
    Japan
    Jersey
    Jordan
    Kazakhstan
    Kenya
    Kosovo
    Kuwait
    Kyrgyzstan
    Lapland
    Latin
    Latvia
    Lebanon
    Lithuania
    Live
    Luxembourg
    Macedonia (FYROM)
    Madeira
    Malaysia
    Malta
    Math
    Mauritius
    Mayan
    Melodic
    Melodic Death
    Metalcore
    Mexico
    Middle Eastern
    Modern
    Moldova
    Morocco
    Neo Classical
    Neo-Classical
    Nepal
    Netherlands
    Neue Deutsche Härte
    New Caledonia
    New Zealand
    Nicaragua
    Northern Ireland
    North Macedonia
    Norway
    Nsbm
    Nu
    Old School
    Old-School
    Oman
    Operatic
    Orchestral
    Oriental
    Pagan
    Pakistan
    Panama
    Papua New Guinea
    Paraguay
    Parody Metal
    Peru
    Pirate
    Poland
    Pop Metal
    Portugal
    Post Hardcore
    Post Metal
    Post Metalcore
    Power
    Progressive
    Psychedelia
    Puerto Rico
    Punk
    Qatar
    Quebec
    Raw Black
    Romania
    Russia
    Samurai
    Saudi Arabia
    Scotland
    Serbia
    Shoegaze
    Singapore
    Slam
    Slovakia
    Slovenia
    Sludge
    Soundtrack
    South Africa
    Southern
    South Korea
    Space
    Spain
    Speed
    Sri Lanka
    Stoner
    Suriname
    Svalbard
    Sweden
    Switzerland
    Symphonic
    Syria
    Taiwan
    Tango
    Technical
    Thailand
    The Azores
    The Philippines
    Thrash
    Thrashcore
    Trance
    Trinidad & Tobago
    Tunisia
    Turkey
    UAE
    Uganda
    UK
    Ukraine
    Uruguay
    Usa
    Venezuela
    Vietnam
    Viking
    Visual Kei
    Wales

    RSS Feed