WINTER HAZE 'Silent Deception' UK DIVISION Last year Italian Symphonic Power Metallers Winter Haze unleashed their first ever EP 'Silent Deception' as the sucessor to their debut album 'The Storm Within', how apt is it then this year they have been going for 10 years. 'Silent Deception' carries on that much beloved sound of theirs, the majestic layering of female power metal vocals on electronic symphonic elements and adding pinches of melodies along the line, this is what Winter Haze is all about, creating a musical sound that defines their own thoughts and they have done it once again. 'Silent Deception' is an EP that should garner them more attention across the European continent, if you love angelic vocals, epic symphonies, powerful drums and guitars, then 'Silent Deception' by Winter Haze is for you. Download This: "Cross The Sea" For Fans of: Within Temptation, Epica, Nightwish [8] RHYS STEVENSON ARISE 'Don't Worry Be Happy!' + Live DVD' Japan is not usually known for Thrash Metal and so when quartet Arise make their long awaited debut the response is astounding, 'Don't Worry Be Happy!' features a plethora of tracks that explicitly demonstrates the burly ferociousness of the Japanese Thrash Metal scene. 'Don't Worry Be Happy!' delivers the classic style Thrash Metal, fast and heavily brutal and something that Slayer fans will be pissing themselves over for the foreseeable future. However for Arise they are an interesting bunch, this is a unique style of Thrash that plucks in Hardcore influences and yet does not fully reach either side, so you could call it crossover Thrash, whatever you call it the fact remains that Arise are an absolute gem. Download This: "Bitch's Trap" For Fans of: Slayer, Nuclear Assault, Agnostic Front As for the DVD, it features live footage of the band's two songs 'Life Domination' and 'No More Pain', it also features various shots and photos of the Japanese lands, the countryside, downtown Tokyo and bizarrely a rollercoaster and various shots of a car race going on a windy road through the mountains. With special effects like the photos and videos changing color intermittently, it is the perfect accompaniment to the album 'Don't Worry Be Happy!'. [8] + [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON F**KHAMMER 'Hammered To F**k' GRINDSCENE Yeah well wait for the vocalist to reach the recording studio and then the band can begin the real recording, let's face it F**khammer (asterisks are there for obvious reasons) aren't exactly anything special nor are they really going to go far, come on their style of Sludgey Crust / Death Metal is as poor as Justin Bieber belittling a tog. Their demo 'Hammered To F**k' may well have music on it, but it is no way anything good, if the lads stopped drowning themselves in the pub and actually thought about this, they would nail it. The guitars and drums are perhaps the only best thing about this release. [3.5] RHYS STEVENSON CITADEL BESIEGED 'Creation / Damnation' Last year saw the second album by Indiana's Citadel Besieged being released, 'Creation / Damnation' carries on more of the classic heavy metal the band laid out on their debut album, this time some of the songs have a much slower presence, such an example is the song 'Between The Shadows And The Dawn' where the fast pacy rhythms of a general heavy metal song become slowed down and thus adding a darker and sadder atmosphere to the affray. 'Creation / Damnation' is one of those releases that will appeal to any heavy metal fan, whether you prefer the fast pacey speed of Iron Maiden or the doom-like depressive sounds of Black Sabbath, Citadel Besieged's 'Creation / Damnation' had something for everyone. Download This: 'Between The Shadows And The Dawn' For Fans of: Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath [8] RHYS STEVENSON WINTERCOLD 'Mors Solum Inceptum Est' NIHIL INTERIT The latest album by one-man Gothic / Doom Metal project Wintercold has finally dropped, 'Mors Solum Inceptum Est' is the product of mastermind musician Satanic Tony (who also owns Salute Records), the Swedish musician has summoned once again the best of his musical abilities to unleash a blackened torrent of depression and Gothic atmospheric music. Sure 'Mors Solum Inceptum Est' is as raw as previous releases, but that adds to the whole doom effect and as the album progresses, listeners will fall further and further into the unknown as the album is intended to do. 'Mors Solum Inceptum Est' is certainly an acquired taste and is not for anyone who wants clean production, not for the faint of heart either. Download This: "The Dragon's Breath" For Fans of: Black Sabbath, Tiamat, Celtic Frost [8] RHYS STEVENSON F.O.B. 'Reap What You Sow' METALGATE There is a storm brewing over the Czech Republic and it isn't pretty either, perhaps the floods in Central Europe were down to the sheer magnitude F.O.B. exerts with their epic mix of Death / Thrash Metal and an equated balance of harsh and soft melodic vocals. In fact their 2013 album 'Reap What You Sow' should earn them international attention and possibly GMA's Czech album of the year. This is how Death / Thrash Metal should sound, technically trippy drums, machete-sharp riffs and punch-in-your-face vocals that will make you spew blood until you choke on your own bloody spit. 'Reap What You Sow' is by far one of the best albums to emerge out of the Czech Extreme Metal scene and with this effort now in the open, F.O.B. deserve nothing more than to be asked to play major European Metal festivals, let the apocalypse commence. Download This: "Missed Violence" For Fans of: HateSphere, Scarred In Beauty, Legion of The Damned [10] RHYS STEVENSON NADIR 'Exitus' Let's be honest Hungary is not a country you would associate with Deathcore, Death Metal yes, but Deathcore? Ah who cares, Nadir are a ten-legged machine of whom unleashed torrential hell with their fifth full length 'Exitus' released last year. Menacing riffs grapple the intense vocals that lead this album forward to mass apocalyptic proportions whilst the drumming serves as a warning sign to those weak hearted people that 'Exitus' is only for those that can withstand an atomic explosion of pure Hungarian Death Metal / Deathcore. For a band that has nearly been around 10 years, it's about time they exploded on the international scene and rock the apple cart of over-produced American Deathcore. Nadir are flying the flag for the Hungarian Metal scene. Download This: "Plunderers Of The Earth" For Fans of: Job For A Cowboy, Bring Me The Horizon, Unleashed, [9] RHYS STEVENSON WRATH OF FENRIR 'Wrath Of Fenrir' On the battlefields of the land down under, a tribal group paved the way for the darkness and folk bards to make their mark, that group is Wrath of Fenrir. Hailing from Western Australia, the quartet battle their way onto the scene with their war-torn variation of the already popular Black / Folk Metal. Their self-titled 2012 EP delivers what is expected of such a band, bouncy and flamboyant music and vocals during the folk sections, shifting into the bitterly cold shrieking Black Metal vocals, almost as if this band is bipolar (it happens). The great thing about this release is that one listen and you're hooked, sure it does not reach the same level as the Eastern European lot, heck it's not even in the same ball park, but it serves well as a piece of Australian Extreme Metal. Download This: "Wolfshead" For Fans of: Ancient Rites, The Furor, Winterfylleth, Arkona [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON MOSFET 'Deathlike Trash 'N' Roll' REFUSED At first listener's will be confounded to what music style Mosfet is aiming for... and by the end of the listening session they still will be confounded. After all the band's second album 'Deathlike Trash 'N' Roll' is hardly convincing enough to even reckoned as a serious metal album, all-in-jest. The truth is, the Austrian's second album seriously shifts music style too often and too quick. With that in mind, they aim for a mixture of Death / Thrash Metal with Rock 'N' Roll, unfortunately it seems they went the wrong way about it. I wouldn't say avoid it at all costs, just be wary it is a release that seems more rushed than someone running for the bus, if they got their organization right it would sound better, much better. Download This: "A Rowdy's Warfare" For Fans of: F**k knows? [5] RHYS STEVENSON TORANAGA
'Righteous Retribution' 25 years. One word: impressive. Toranga have been pillaging the countryside for the past quarter century and as they prepare to unleash their latest release 'Righteous Retribution' it is evident why. Producing the distinctive classic hard rock / heavy metal matrix that was laid out by the gods themselves, Toranaga summon up a sound that makes them stand out from the rest of the classic metal armada. However much has changed and as two new guitarists join the ranks, what could Toranaga conjure up next? Well given their upcoming album 'Righteous Retribution' carries on their chosen sound with a sharper focus and more aggressive attitude, they may as well become a band that sadly never made it, had they not signed to Chrysalis they may well be gods now, wait they are gods in their own right and so here is to another decade or so to Toranaga! For Fans of: Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Metallica 'Righteous Retribution' is out 2nd September 2013 [8] RHYS STEVENSON
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THE ORDER OF CHAOS 'Sexwitch' Marking their welcomed return is Canadian five-piece The Order of Chaos, with their new EP 'Sexwitch' out in the wilds of planet metal it is clear that they are carrying on with their ill-fated epic metal. Once again they layer funky Heavy Thrash Metal music with a mix of grizzly and harmonic Power Metal vocals. What sets this lot once again apart from the plethora of metal bands who play this specific style of metal is that they have elements of funk here and there, this can be experienced roughly 3/4 of the way through the song 'Victim Of Circumstance'. Now all in all if you thought Canadian syrup was a sweet and potentially sickening experience if consumed en mass, then those who cant bare it stay clear of The Order of Chaos, for this lot will give your daily dosage an acidic twang. Download This: "Victim Of Circumstance" [8] RHYS STEVENSON OVERLOAD 'Blood For Blood' Sometimes the good old ways cut it, sometimes its best to go back to basics and sometimes its meant to be a classic. These all apply to the debut album by Kentucky Thrash maniacs Overload, 'Blood For Blood' eliminates all the fancy stuff implored by modern bands and erects the classic sounds of 80's metal and rock influences from the same era, so imagine the whole classic Motorhead meets early Slayer scenario and then add in pinches of grit and burly attitude that together enable 'Blood For Blood' to be a timeless classic. Sure some will think it's the basic common Heavy / Thrash Metal that every band seems to produce, but as said they aren't in the modern vein. 'Blood For Blood' is a classic album, underground and original. Download This: "Widow's Peak" For Fans of: Motorhead, AC/DC, Slayer, Alice Cooper [8] RHYS STEVENSON BREAK THE BOUNDARIES 'Masks' It takes a lot to escape the trap of being lauded as a generic Metalcore band, something that seems to be catching a lot on these days. Once in a while you will get a band who defies that logic, this time its Break The Boundaries. The Croydon buccaneers serve up a grizzly slice of bone-crunching Metalcore that snaps in elements from different music areas, from the vocals diversifying in as far as moving from grit to clean to almost an echoing whisper, but that is just the forefront of their EP 'Masks', the backdrop is a grueling explosion of glass-shattering drums and senses-confounding riffs that merge together to wipe that silly smirk off your face. Call them what you like, call them 'just another Metalcore' band, but behind the 'Masks' are five gentlemen that bowl more balls out than you can deliver in a mosh-pit, make no mistake about it, these guys are going far. Download This: 'Masks' For Fans of: Skindred, Bring Me The Horizon, Despite My Deepest Fear, The Dead Lay Waiting [9] RHYS STEVENSON DESPERATE SPINSTERS 'Sexless Restless And Cruel' Sadly this Wisconsin lot seem to have split-up, but it is uncertain whether that is true or not, but what is true is that the sole release by Desperate Spinsters, their EP 'Sexless Restless And Cruel' is a sexy Crossover Thrash laden release that has enough anger and sounds on it to make it a party piece. Armed with a plethora of samples and erratic time signatures, this is a release that you either love it or hate it or are simply left speechless by it, I feel the latter. 'Sexless Restless And Cruel' decimates anything that is caught in the path of it's audio destruction, simply put it is a release everyone should own, it's classic, funny and 666% metal. Now where is the beer barrel... Download This: 'An Orgy Of Death Starring You & Me' For Fans of: Zimmers Hole, Strapping Young Lad, Slayer [8] RHYS STEVENSON REALITY DEFORMED 'Promo' It is always interested when the first promo or demo first sees daylight as this paves the way usually the path that the band is going to take, in Reality Deformed's case, it is not looking good. What we have here is a fairly decent attempt at Black Metal as it builds up a bleak atmosphere and bitter feel to the music, but regarding the vocals, well... listening to a cat fight in your back garden is more entertaining, seriously if the duo from The Netherlands want to improve, then the vocals need to have more presence, be more sharp, be more noticed than being smothered by the excessive guitar playing. Other than that, the drums are probably the only best thing about this release, but given credit it could have been a lot, lot, worse. [4.5] RHYS STEVENSON THEOPSYA 'Tales Of An Angel' A classic case of beauty and the beast right here, well you can say that, but the honorable truth is that Theopsya, France's angelic symphonic Gothic / power metal group emit such a delicate sound on their debut EP 'Tales Of An Angel' released 2 years ago, that they could easily be dubbed as the 'product of merging Nightwish with Within Temptation'. 'Tales Of An Angel' features a whole host of songs that carry such darkened emotions and Gothic beauty that resulted in Toulouse being splattered by black paint as to match the feeling this release delivers. With the sensational vocals being matched by a virtuoso-like performance on the guitars and a solid drumming backdrop finalizing the phenomenal atmosphere developed, Theopsya may be a hidden gem that deserves a lot of attention. Download This: "Blood & Sand" For Fans of: Nightwish (Tarja era), Within Temptation, Lacuna Coil, Macbeth [8] RHYS STEVENSON BLACK DEMON 'Demons of War, Demons of Darkness' There are times where one thinks, just because you can play an instrument or sing, does not mean you are good enough to be in a metal band, this is somewhat the case for Black Demon, in particular their 2012 demo 'Demons of War, Demons of Darkness', the guitars are solid and the drums perfect, the vocals are left to be desired, they are far from the clean crispness you would expect from the Heavy Metal genre, in fact the vocals are so gritty, tarmac companies could use them to make new roads. It has nothing to do with the Spanish accent, the vocals are just awful. Just imagine you are listening to an instrumental if you come across the demo, it is the best option for you. Download This: "Hell of Steel" [5.5] RHYS STEVENSON RED DESCENDING 'Kingdoms' + 'Burned To Death DVD' Ten years down the line and Australian Melodic Death mob Red Descending are still going strong, firing on all cylinders and showing great sharp determination to make themselves stand out, this is evident on their latest album release 'Kingdoms' which dropped 2 years ago, featuring low-tune drums and bitterly sharp riffs that sit nicely in the background whilst in the forefront, the vocals let rip on a magnitude frequency that was reported to have shook the entire city of Perth to their knees. 'Kingdoms' is a harmonious piece of music that will garner attention from across the land and sea, sadly though it needs to be pushed out more and with that in mind, the true voice of Australian Melodic Death metal has spoken through a mixture of angelic female vocals and gritty male vocals. For their supporting DVD 'Burned To Death' which was released last year, features footage from their 'Kingdoms' CD launch back on 19th Auugust 2011 and also a video clip of the song 'Burned To Death' which was filmed 4 months later in December. From what can be seen, the live footage shows a burgeoning crowd in a relatively small venue but with various shots of the band at different angles and an entertained crowd, the mood was visually powerful and emphatic. But like most live footage, you would have to be there to experience the sheer beauty and power behind the live performance. With the occasional mosh-pit ensuing at every haphazard riff, it was clear that the band had the crowd going throughout the night. [7.5] + [8] RHYS STEVENSON DARK VISION 'Ingrowth' 2012 marked the hallowed return of Greece's very own Black / Death lords Dark Vision, coveted in darkened misery and eternal furious anger, their latest EP 'Ingrowth' produces a sound that will kick your teeth in, so much so you wish weren't born. Soul crushing vocals smash your brain apart like wearing away rock from acid rain, whilst the riffs and solemn drumming finish you off bit by bit. 'Ingrowth' is a release not for the faint of heart, nor for the pathetic weak either. That means, if you listen to soft metal bands, this is toxic poison to you, this release is only for the true believes of the dark side of metal, end of. Download This: "Pain Redirected" [8] RHYS STEVENSON HAEMIC
'Fields of Sanguine' At times international projects work, at others they don't, but what is unique about this quartet who hail from the USA, Hungary and Taiwan respectively is that they have never met and yet have the expertise to deliver the album 'Fields of Sanguine', a futile explosion of symphonic elements that caress the grim sounds of Black Metal and Death Metal in such a way that it makes it all coalesce into indescribable noise. If you're into your extreme metal and love a whole plethora of metal elements coming together from various aspects of the metal genre, then Haemic's 'Fields of Sanguine' is for you, think Cradle of Filth mixed with Dimmu Borgir and Strapping Young Lad. You get the idea. Download This: "Stellar Meltdown" For Fans of: Dimmu Borgir, Strapping Young Lad, Shade Empire, Cradle of Filth [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON CAPTAIN ZORX STIMMUNGSATTACKE 'The Maps Of The Ancient Sea Kings' From time to time you come across a band that is completely crackpot that they should give up music and become comedians, such is the case of German 'Disco Metal' band Captain Zorx Stimmungsattacke and their album 'The Maps Of The Ancient Sea Kings'. Playing rock / metal in the style of Tenacious D, this unbelievable quartet are perhaps as wacky as Albert Einstein's hair. From the start to the very end, each song has it's own tongue-in cheek element and variation of music, thus begging the question are they System of A Down in disguise? Whoever the band is influenced by, it is a rarity and almost certainly a hidden gem in the underground German music scene. Download: "Roter Alarm" (for the yodeling :p) [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON VICTORIANS - ARISTOCRATS' SYMPHONY 'Revival' Taking Poland by storm, Neo-Classical / Symphonic Power Metal quartet Victorians - Aristocrats' Symphony delivered their debut album 'Revival' last year and with it comes perhaps what could be perceived as the next big Polish metal export and Poland's long awaited answer to Nightwish, delivering soprano style vocals on a bed of mellow and emotional music that resounds throughout the entire album, resulting in a deluge of operatic sounds and beautiful symphonies that will get heads turning. 'Revival' is a solid start to the band's career and is sure to power them to greater European recognition as one of the most exciting new metal bands from Poland to emerge in the last five years. Download This: "Voice Of Eternal Love" [10] RHYS STEVENSON DO NOT DREAM 'Eiszeit' Sensational and indescribable are two different things but can interlink when specifically referring to music, so when Germany's Do Not Dream drop their fourth album 'Eiszeit' like a bomb exploding over Berlin, the shrapnel that shoots from it carries the sound of Melodic Black / Gothic Metal and twists it in such a way that the band develop their own sound. By utilizing soft female vocals against rough male vocals and amounting that on top of the delicacies produced by the unique background melodies from the keyboard and dramatic drops emitted across the songs such as 'Schlaflied'. However the language barrier may prove a little difficult for some, but coincidentally it offers metalheads a chance to buff up their German whilst enjoying some rather special metal music. Download This: "Polarlicht" [8] RHYS STEVENSON SPIDKILZ 'Balance Of Terror' INFERNO / LA RIOT SURVIVOR The debut album by Italian Speed Thrashers Spidkilz has finally dropped, 'Balance Of Terror' takes it's time to get started but once it does, the flood gates of Italian renaissance and agile supremacy take over, whitewashing the atmosphere in a combination of American Thrash Metal like Nuclear Assault and Speed Metal in the vein of Judas Priest. Sure the sound is at times non-original and the creativity a little stuck, but the overall reception of the album is well perceived as a solid piece of musicianship that should please many Thrashers alike. Loaded with 46 minutes of irresistible riffs, cut-throat vocals and ballistic drumming, this is truly The Italian Job. Download This: "Motorhome" [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON SINFLOWER 'Evil Cure' It comes with great anticipation that finally Italy's Power Thrash crackpots Sinflower spurt out their debut album last year and with it comes a mid-paced yet a technically crafty deviated style of metal. What is heard on 'Evil Cure' is eccentric solo's and riffs accompanied by a solid drum pattern and vocals that at first raise questions on whether it is Power Metal or Thrash Metal inspired, however the salient point behind 'Evil Cure' is that it combines high-pitched vocals with gritty, ballsy low vocals that stab you in the brain so hard it would make murder look like a recreational event. However, the only little bit that lacks from this release is a secure atmosphere, because on some songs it tends to be bleak and not entirely apparent, this drags the integrity a few levels down. Download This: "Just Alive" [7] RHYS STEVENSON FINGERNAILS 'Alles Verboten' HIGH ROLLER / LA RIOT SURVIVOR For a band that formed thirty years ago and then went on a hiatus or split in 1990, only to re-emerge fourteen years later in 2004, their 2012 album 'Alles Verboten' shows exempt power and passion whilst almost certainly indicating they are far from finished and still have the musicianship to deliver a bombshell without warning. 'Alles Verboten' features erotic riffs that would make any bloke have a hard on instantaneously, whilst the vocals and riffs together would bode well whilst driving down a long straight road, like route 66 for instance. Now whilst the Italian quartet wallow in between playing Thrash Metal to Hard Rock to Punk influences, the epic sound that they extrude is total finesse and an essential to anyone's collection of whom indulges in Hard Rock / Heavy Metal. Download This: "Fun Addiction" [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON TBC 'The Rise' STF 2012 saw the return of Austrian Gothic Metal quintet TBC with their next installment 'The Rise', delivering once again their beloved sound of female and male vocals which guide the rest of the music to form erotic and sensational songs. There again the album switches between the romance found within the German language and the power within the English language, whilst at the same time displaying a vast improvement from their debut album '28 Days'. Songs like 'Gnade' can draw similarities to bands like Subway To Sally of whom explode with emphatic power and emphatically constructed music. Throughout 'The Rise', the keyboard provide that atmospheric ambiance experienced in Gothic films like Dracula, it drags up that foundation from which spouts the classic beauty and the beast duet between Steve and Natascha, almost resonating with the operatic sensations felt when watching 'The Phantom of the Opera'. Download This: "Crystal Bride" [9] RHYS STEVENSON BENEATH THE TIDES 'A New Beginning' SPEARJUSTICE Australia in recent years seems to be a massive hotspot for everything Metalcore and as listeners will find out, Canberra cowboys Beneath The Tides are no exception. Exploding with a relentless force of Metalcore that comes laden with Melodic Death Metal influences taken from the Gothenburg guild. The five-piece outfit have assembled a remarkable debut album called 'A New Beginning', that should see the lads crawl under the skin of the international metal scene, ripening to erupt as an acidic blister that will burn the Metalcore scene and will scald everything in their way. As for the album itself, listeners can expect a futile and frantic fist punching onslaught, packed full with a tasty selection of In Flames melodies and Lamb Of God brutality that will have the most hardcore kids crying for their mummies. Slaying riffs, spine-shagging vocals and grizzly drumming sequences, this the post-apocalyptic Metalcore album of the decade. Download This: "Medicate Me" [10] RHYS STEVENSON CROWNLESS 'Dark Evolution' There is definitely a love affair going on between Spanish metal musicians and the Gothic Metal and Power Metal styles, even when the two merge together. However when bands like Crownless make their debut album become a living reality, the result is that the music often captivates the listeners mind and drags them into a emotional state of being calmed, relaxed and somewhat sensual. 'Dark Evolution', the band's debut album saw daylight in 2011 and has been a springboard for the band to carry on their ravenous sound of elegant Gothic Power Metal. From the first to last song, listeners will be taken on a journey that is inspired by the likes of Within Temptation, Sirenia and Nightwish, whilst being entranced by this bands 'Dark Evolution'. Download This: "Ravens In The Storm" [8] RHYS STEVENSON RUM
'Birbant' Beer is considered a gift from the gods, so what a better way to celebrate it than to sing about it? That's exactly what the Polish Slavic Metal band Rum is all about, mixing Eastern European and Slavic style Folk metal with the lyrical topics of drinking and the Slavic culture. 'Birbant' the band's debut album features some of the greatest party folk songs one would want to hear, given though it is sang in Polish the album itself has an element of class on its own. Weaving the classical sounds of metal music with instruments including an accordion, mandolin, flutes and a hurdy-gurdy;, this is a truly ethnic and culture-attached band and album. What makes 'Birbant' stand out from the rest of the Slavic Metal movement is that it has a real upbeat feel to it, one that would get anyone downing the nearest barrel of beer in a jiffy. Download This: "Piwo!" [8] RHYS STEVENSON STORMBANE 'Tortured in the Arms of Salvation' + 'Abyssus Abyssum Invocat' Australia has a long and dark history and that may well be the reason behind the influx of Black Metal and Thrash Metal bands that roam the vast continent / country, that said when bands like Stormbane emerge on the scene, it cannot be helped by saying that this is what true underground black / thrash metal sounds like, speaking on terms of their debut 2009 demo 'Tortured in the Arms of Salvation, it is evidently clear that the utilization of atmosphere over production adds a synthetic raw dimension to it. In fact the demo itself is so raw, many die hard black metal fans would masturbate over the eccentricity that reaps every single note on every single song on the demo, but at times it takes a real hard attempt to decipher what or where each musical instrument comes in, its raw for sure but a bit too raw (is that even possible?) Moving forward to the 2010 premier EP 'Abyssus Abyssum Invocat' and instantaneously the production level has dramatically increased whilst retaining that authentic raw buzzing sound that makes the EP sound so lush, its like eating a chocolate cake covered in everything that contains sugar, simply put its so delicious that it would make you physically sick, but that's the great thing about this release, it blasts the whole room with the sonic menacing sound of blastbeats, tight riffs and apocalyptic shrieking, if only there was more songs on the EP; you just cannot get enough of this band. [5] + [7] RHYS STEVENSON IMMANENT 'In Acedia' France of late seems to be bringing more and more female-fronted metal bands out, is this a challenge for the rest of Western Europe? Maybe, but when Prog Metal outfit Immanent step into the limelight, heads bow in shame, well almost. The premier EP 'In Acedia' starts off with some promising music until the vocals kick in and there goes the question, are there any vocals? At times it becomes hard to to tell whether there are even any lyrics! It's like a bottle of French wine, fine on the outside but once the sipping has passed and the drinker is into the bottle it is questionable whether it is nice tasting or not, overall the album cannot be totally decried as it does offer a unique style, whether that specific style will catch on is another question. One element that does however offer some brilliance is the piano compositions, which adds a sorrowful sound to the mix, that aligned with the guitar and drum compositions makes the release justifiable. Download This: "Seclusion" [6] RHYS STEVENSON WORKSHOP 'Made Love To The Dragon' EMI MUSIC (INDIA) / DEMONSTEALER Comedy metallers Workshop make their utmost welcomed return in delivering their second album 'Made Love To The Dragon', what comes this time is another truck load of heavy metal songs that have so much tongue-in-cheek, it makes Comedy Central look like a cabaret act, especially when comparing to the song 'Gajanand Dhige' which explicitly sings about a guy having a fat bottom and issues surrounding the said body part, of course this does not stop the band entering rudimentary territory in relation to the song 'Naagin Ki Nazar' which talks about a guys jewels, or so it would seem, but who cares, whether your sober or pissed out beyond belief, the songs are guaranteed to make anyone smile and laugh, therefore it begs the question of whether metal music and comedy can actually work so much so that Workshop could appear at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival? What also makes the release that extra special is that the songs seem to circulate around the city of Mumbai (Bombay) and has a personal connection to the city, whether that be true or not it certainly feels to it and so when Workshop 'Made Love To The Dragon', they found their inner fire and hot spice. Download This: "Naagin Ki Nazar" For Fans of: System of a Down, Iron Maiden, Zimmers Hole [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON RECTIFIED SPIRIT 'Rectified Spirit' Heavy Metal being mixed with Metalcore may seem a little daunting and impractical at first, but once it gets into full swing it can be a sensational experience, something which Indian metal mob Rectified Spirit seem to have conquered upon releasing their debut self-titled album last year. What we have here is Iron Maiden-esque vocals and music being weaved into your traditional Metalcore sound, knife-edge riffs coalescing in and out the emphatic double bass drumming and truncated musical composition that slashes every ear that gets caught in this extraordinary musical blast of post-apocalyptic metal. 'Rectified Spirit' may well be the next step in adding a new algorithm to the already complex metalcore matrix, let alone building a sound that separates this band from the clones. Download This: "Bloodrush" [8] RHYS STEVENSON IMMINENCE 'Return To Helios' WE ARE TRIUMPHANT Could this be the next biggest Swedish metal export? Imminence explode on the international scene with their post-apocalyptic explosion of Metalcore infused Modern Metal, echoing comparisons to Denmark's Scarred By Beauty and England's The Defiled as well as the likes of Caliban and Parkway Drive. From start to finish, the Swedish armada's second EP 'Return To Helios' spits fire at every note produced and is certified to melt faces across the European Metal scene, the vocals alone set the tone for the almighty face-punching onslaught that soon follows courtesy of the ballistic drumming and razor-sharp riffs that provide the solid infrastructure that is Imminence, even so when the melodic sections cut across the insane multitude of elements pieced together, the band and respective EP still maintain that hardcore backdrop, proving why Imminence are rightfully poised to take Europe by storm in 2013. 'Return To Helios' is out 7th May via We Are Triumphant Records [10] RHYS STEVENSON WINTTERNAL 'The Monologue' On the tropical island of Madeira (a Portuguese autonomous province) comes the Melodic Death / Groove outfit Wintternal and their exciting debut EP 'The Monologue', as soon as the music kicks in it is clear this lot mean business, furious and exhilarating is an understatement in describing 'The Monologue', this EP has the power to kick your teeth in, beat the living daylights out of the pathetic individuals destroying our planet and the firepower to make an atomic bomb look like a pitiful grenade, with that comes the sensational melodies that keep this release in the overdrive region before taking it back to the origin of the music, 'The Monologue' atmosphere. On the other hand though it is nothing new, but it at leasts offers the band a way forward and the Madeira Metal scene a glimmering chance of being exploited, taking clear groove influences from Lamb of God and melodic death metal influences from bands like Trivium or In Flames, the rest is waiting to be argued upon. Download This: "The Sword Of Damocles" [7] RHYS STEVENSON T.A.N.K 'Spasms Of Upheaval' SYMBOL MUZIK In recent years the French Metal scene has seen a deluge of fresh and exciting underground bands that have the mettle to prove that they are on the path to gaining international recognition, such a band is Melodic Death / Thrash quintet T.A.N.K (Think of A New Kind) and their sophomore album 'Spasms Of Upheaval', what comes out of this megalithic album is a torrential barrage of differential sounds that emit from the same source, the talented musicians. Layering an aggressive melodic style on top of a percussive thrash element and Scar Symmetry style vocals, 'Spasms Of Upheaval' is the sound that will make T.A.N.K stand out from the rest of their fellow countrymen, now if T.A.N.K was to be compared to Gojira, then the former is a whole league above the latter, with no exception. Download This: "Through The Disgrace" [8] RHYS STEVENSON FURTHER DIMENSION 'They Live' BRENNUS At first the sophomore album by French Heavy Proggers Further Dimension seemed to be slacking all over the place, but in fact it is simply the opposite, some of the solos on here start off well but go completely overboard and therefore render the songs they are situated in as questionable. 'They Live' came out last year and delivers once more that technical math rock / djent feel that surges through the center of the band's infrastructure. Granted the level of extreme music is there in context with the level of aggression that spews out of the speakers from which one can be seduced by the mastery represented here, but as said things can be overdone and at times 'They Live' seems a little too pushed to be a great follow up from the band's debut album 'The Monolith Effect' two years ago, however in an overall perspective the album is certified for fans of djent and progressive metal. Download This: "Dualitude" [7] RHYS STEVENSON UNBOWED 'Unbowed' Emerging fresh on the Canadian Metal scene is the twelve-legged melodic black / death metal machine Unbowed of whom have just released their debut self-titled EP. What makes the band ever so promising given the evidence herewith is the delinquent melodies that develop a dark and disturbing atmosphere for the rest of the band to poise upon and unleash a barrage of sincere compositions that spew out comparisons between Vesperia, Hecate Enthroned and Cradle of Filth, the latter only adhering to the keyboard and drum elements. 'Unbowed' is sure to get the band some deserved attention from global media outlets and at the same time propel themselves forward to delivering that all important god-smiting debut album. Download This: "March Of The Giants" [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON EMPHASIS
'Into Infinity' Estonian Metal on the international scene is not well known besides the most notable band Metsatöll, so when Symphonic Power Metal sextet Emphasis arrive on the block and deliver their debut EP 'Into Infinity' expectations run high. The result is that expectations are surpassed, delivering a sumptuous mix of elegant keyboard symphonies that enliven the release and as a result the vocals, drums and guitars cooperate to perfection, delivering a sound and powerful force that has the potential to land Emphasis in the laps of a record label deal and selection to participate in the Eurovision song contest, in fact the EP blasts similarities to the progressive elements of Opeth, the dramatic atmosphere of Within Temptation, the darkened gloominess of My Dying Bride and a modern metal style that incorporates electronic-tinged background music. All in all 'Into Infinity' has proven its worth as an excellent debut release from which Emphasis can plan an assault on Europe with their catchy lyrics and totally musical compositions. Download This: "Running Man" [9] RHYS STEVENSON OUR LAST ENEMY 'Fallen Empires' + 'Wolves Of Perigord' RIOT! ENTERTAINMENT Modern Cyber Metal right at the tips of your tongues comes from Australia's hottest new property, kicking off with their debut album which dropped 3 years ago, 'Fallen Empires' employs a solid torrential outburst of technical gothic metalcore at it's highest peak, but the funny thing about the music is that it covers a myriad of sounds and so the genre-tagging becomes almost impossible. 'Fallen Empires' delivers seventeen tracks (some clips) of some of the greatest fusion metal you can ever come across, produced by Christian Wolbers (Mnemic, Fear Factory, etc) it was always likely that Our Last Enemy would spew out an album that would sound on the same part as the Danish modern metallers and American Industrial legends. Moving onto 2012 and the sophomore release comes in the form of the band's first ever EP 'Wolves Of Perigord', this time the band deliver a far heavier explosive mix of metal music and pure angst, the clever thing that works here simply is the layering of Metalcore on top of a synthetic bed and yet employs a gothic look and a Industrial Death Metal feel, so they are not Motionless In White mixed with Strapping Young Lad, they are in fact the brutal truth that they are the kings of modern cyber metal. 'Wolves Of Perigord' spits metallic venom right at the fire that burns as a beacon of their demise, for Our Last Enemy are destined to smash the sound barrier in 2013. Download These: "Pariah BC" + "Wolves Of Perigord" For Fans of: Strapping Young Lad, Motionless In White, Mnemic [8] + [9] RHYS STEVENSON ACOLYTE 'Alta' MORDGRIMM Following a similar path to fellow Manchester Black metal band Winterfylleth, newcomers Acolyte are proving themselves to be hot property in 2013, vastly picking up notice from many across the metal music spectrum the bands debut album 'Alta' explodes in an interesting style, plucking elegant grooves that would make your grandmother dance more than gangnam style and lashing it with shrieking Black metal that would make any fight between Manchester United and Liverpool fans seem like children happy slapping, enough silly talk. Acolyte do more than play pretty music, they make the UK metal scene pretty and with 'Alta' on the horizon, days will get darker than your average black coffee. Conjuring up relating sounds to that of Enslaved and Opeth, this could be Manchester's darkest hour. For fans of: Enslaved, Opeth, Deathspell Omega 'Alta' is out 7th May 2013 via Mordgrimm Records [8] RHYS STEVENSON KAINE / OSMIUM GUILLOTINE 'Killotine' This does not always happen, but when this sort of thing does, boy can it explode more than fireworks on bonfire night. What we have here is a magnificent split or orchestration by two of Essex's finest NWOBHM bands, Kaine and Osmium Guillotine, who when they digivolve together become Killotine. Displaying their classic Heavy Metal persona, both bands dive into four cover songs, one song by both bands respectively and a cover of 'Prowler' (Iron Maiden) and N.I.B. (Black Sabbath), now whilst this is a relatively short release, it has an element of class on it that perhaps Iron Maiden or Black Sabbath couldn't muster, instead if they whiffed the release then they would applaud it, not to mention that both bands are similar in style, sound and setup, but more so attitude and so what the Killotine split does is it exemplifies why British Heavy Metal was and always will be a cultural heritage icon. Arm the masses, raise the axes, man the fortress, this is a bloody war of riffs, drum beats and insane vocals. [9] RHYS STEVENSON DRAWZZNIKK 'Wings' HEART OF STEEL Austria is not usually known for it's production of classic Heavy Metal bands, so it comes as a little bit of a surprise when 2013 delivers the debut EP 'Wings' by Drawzznikk and what immediately draws attention to this release is that there are two female vocalists commanding the frontline on this release. Seeing one female vocalist is different, but two? Just makes the EP that one bit more extra special. 'Wings' summons up the best the band can deliver, sure the vocals do not match the virtuoso states of Kobra & The Lotus or Sister Sin, but the vocals still pack a sensational range, the only let down to the EP is the weak recording of the drums, although bizarrely it adds a sort of classic rock style to it, so perhaps Drawzznikk may need to work on saddling themselves between AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath because this is Hard Rock / Heavy Metal, highway to hell! [8] RHYS STEVENSON CRYPTIK HOWLING 'Synthetic Ascension Design' Amassing a myriad of complex sounds and bolting them together can be at times a struggle for musicians, but bands like Cryptik Howling make it seem so simple. Developing an audio blast that consists of symphonic elements and melodic black metal, that covered by a Behemoth-esque visage gives this band an element of excitement not explored by past extreme metal bands. Their upcoming album 'Synthetic Ascension Design' demolishes anything living in it's path by spewing out pure Québécois darkness, taking evidential influences from bands like Cradle of Filth, Twilight Ophera and Satyricon, this is the new sound of Symphonic Extreme Metal. Double bass drumming blitzing at insane speed is just the beginning, the vocals shred you apart like a wolf desecrating the dying prey and the guitars slash open your heart to kill of any happiness you withhold, so before checking this band out, make your you have life insurance, your going to need it! 'Synthetic Ascension Design' is out 10th April 2013 [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON AETERNUM 'Through death we ascend' 2012 saw the sewers of London arise from the chaotic production that comes from the EP that Aeternum released, from start to finish the release will captivate and entertain fans of Blackened Death Metal alike, the raw sounds that kill the bleak atmosphere at the end of the release originates from the slithering through of the various compositions found on the release which are designed to eradicate any senses the listener may have left after the first song is finished, the band itself delinquently offers unique influences ranging from black metal to death metal, as the EP itself speaks wonders through and through from the first note to the last sound, but at times can sound a little bad, especially on the production level where a storm of unintelligible sound rots the very essence of music, but overall regardless of the negativeness, of which there is very minimal to remark on, leaves the positives gleaming brightly, leaving the listener swallowed up in a darkened atmosphere and the band themselves on a path of music maturity, what will come in 2013 is anyone's guess, but the music that prevails within these musicians beckons it. [6] RHYS STEVENSON HUMAN WASTE DISPOSAL UNIT 'New Beginning' The Nordic countries are one of the greatest collective power houses of metal music, no doubt, but from time to time the machine that is Finland will spew out a band that delivers a musical selection that is as sweet as their beloved confectionery. Human Waste Disposal Unit are the metallic diseases designed to deliver brutal moshing intent, how fortunate it is that their sophomore album 'New Beginning' spews out elements of Devin Townsend, Alice In Chains and Iron Maiden rolled into one sonic blast of epic Finnish metal. From the technical creativity of the Canadian mastermind Devin Townsend, the powerful vocals of Alice In Chains and the composure of Iron Maiden, comes this eight-legged metal machine, signalling a 'New Beginning' for the Finnish metal scene. Download This: "Sad Clown" [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON DUOBETIC HOMUNKULUS 'Ani Já Ani Ty Robit Něbudzeme, šedněme Do Koča, Vozit še Budzeme' ZERO BUDGET PRODS. Eight years have passed since the formation of the Czech eccentric duo Duobetic Homunkulus and come 2013 the debut album 'Ani Já Ani Ty Robit Něbudzeme, šedněme Do Koča, Vozit še Budzeme' (something in English) finally drops, with it comes an atomic explosion, as if Prague finally woke up one morning to the heavenly smell of marijuana, simply said the release is as crazy and eccentric as Devin Townsend's facial expressions - extraordinarily different. Duobetic Homunkulus deploy a progressive-tinged Technical Death sound that together armed with their native language is strangely effective in brutal context, the vocals deliver a boom after boom approach and the music finishes of the release nicely with lashings of intricate riffing and sensational drumming, but the core of the album is the happy dappy Tech Death feeling that is delivered from the keyboard melodies and everything that is not expected from a Tech Death Metal band, instead the band are simply pushing boundaries. Download This: "Když Muž se Strojem Snídá" [8] RHYS STEVENSON THE RESISTANCE 'Scars' EARMUSIC One of the most highly anticipated Death Metal albums to surface from the plethora of Swedish bands is 'Scars' by The Resistance, an instantaneous demolition of punishing and crushing riffs smother the atmosphere in so much detail that it takes the ballistic drumming and vicious vocal compositions to totally suffocate anyone who dare opposes this beast of mass proportions. Fueled by the coalescing forces that come from the four members of whom served for notable bands like The Haunted, Grave and In Flames (can anyone handle a force that epic?), The Resistance are fighting against the tidal waves of Death Metal bands that are picked out from the megalithic USA, in fact this may be Sweden's finest hour of Death Metal ever since Unleashed took their first outing and the former is sure to see more of this emphatic armada. 'Scars' is out via earMusic on 10th May 2013 [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON ASYLUM PYRE
'Fifty Years Later' MASSACRE Back in 2012 French Progressive Power Metal quintet made their welcomed return with their second offering, their sophomore full length 'Fifty Years Later'. Instantly striking the epic sound of the heavenly female vocals that seem to course throughout the metal music world, but what is amazing about the vocals applied here is that there is a sharp sense of dramatic emphasis on the singing style, that backed up by the thunderous operatic clash of the drums and guitars, interweaving together to create a sound that would be effective as the soundtrack to a modernized version of the phantom of the opera, but more importantly a sound that will carry the band forward to greater achievements in the many years ahead, that said its no longer a matter of fifty shades of grey, but more so 'Fifty Years Later'. Download This: "These Trees" [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON |
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