 THE NOTHING 'War Of Memories' INDEPENDENT If you want a face-punching slab of metal designed to leave you stunned, then check out The Nothing and their debut album 'War Of Memories'. Mixing a delicate balance of Metalcore and Melodic Death Metal (in the Gothenburg vein), Argentina's The Nothing show their contemporaries that there is more to their country than just football and red wine, in fact 'War Of Memories' might be seen as slightly political given the nature of the Falklands, nether-the-less the album is a force to be reckoned with and will certainly appeal to those who are fans of the Gothenburg Melodic Death Metal and American Metalcore styles. Download This:- "Broken Silence" - click to listen For Fans of: Scar Symmetry, The Agonist, Arch Enemy [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  CHAOS REMAINS 'Roots' INDEPENDENT Can you get any tighter than this? Austria might not spring to mind at first for the whole Melodic Death Metal / Metalcore crossover genre, more-so the dominating Black Metal sector. But when bands like Chaos Remains arise from the snow-laden streets of Vienna, with a calculative onslaught of technical riffs, unrelenting drumming and vocals so brutal that they cause seismic tremors in the Alps, you cannot help but keep your ears turned on to 'Roots'', the debut EP by this 10-legged machine. High hopes are placed on this outfit, for 2017 will be their year that they explode onto the wider European Metal circuit with a bright future ahead of them. Download This: "Marionette Of Media" - Click to listen For Fans of: The Dead Lay Waiting, Bleeding Through, Arch Enemy [8] RHYS STEVENSON  SMALLMAN 'Inner Oceans' INDEPENDENT Taking inspiration from Balkan folklore and latching it onto an ethereal mixture of Folk, Progressive and Sludge Metal, Bulgaria's Smallman are a tough nut to crack. Delivering their latest offering in the shape of their first ever EP 'Inner Oceans', you could argue that they wallow in the Post-Metal and Shoegaze genres too as their rather atmospheric sounds encapsulate your senses and leave them in complete suspension. So if you love to listen to something rather calm and pleasant, then 'Inner Oceans' should be your next purchase. Download This: "Fenix" - Click to listen For Fans of: Ethereal Music, Metal [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  KORIJENJE VJEČNOSTI 'Poglavlje Prvo' INDEPENDENT Korijenje Vječnosti means 'Roots of Eternity' in Croatian, now just because they sing about Croatian patriotism amongst other topics, does not mean that they're far right supporters. Arguably Korijenje Vječnosti are Croatia's answer to England's Winterfylleth as their style of Black Metal is so raw, thick and blazingly chaotic, moreover since they sing about nature, eternity and mysticism one can definitely separate them from the common subjects found within Black Metal. 'Poglavlje Prvo' is the debut album by this quintet and whilst sung mostly in Croatian but for one song "Panzer IV", it certainly adds a Slavic feel to the music. There are good hopes for this Croatian horde as they brandish the music of what one could call 'The New Wave of Croatian Black Metal'. Download This: "Vatra Koja Vječno Gori" - click to listen For Fans of: Carpathian Forest, Winterfylleth, Burzum [8] RHYS STEVENSON  MELTDOWN 'MeltDown' INDEPENDENT Fresh from the city streets of Prague, the Czech sextet Meltdown muster all their might together to unleash a horrific slab of Melodic Death Metal, tinged with various other elements along the way all of which combined amass to one decent listening. Stamping their ground with their debut self-titled demo, they are set on course for great things and are sure to gain attention of the record labels in the coming year. If they keep this formula together and use it on their first EP and first album then they will be laughing all the way to the bank, because I have never heard such a strong demo like this before. MetalGate, Napalm, Spinefarm, are you listening? MeltDown are the Czech Republic's newest, hottest property. Download This: "I Am Unbowed" - Click to listen For Fans of: Scar Symmetry, Children Of Bodom, Wintersun [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  PREVAIL 'War Will Reign' INDEPENDENT Are we staring at the latest hot property to emerge from Denmark? F*ck yes! Stamping their authority down with forceful reckoning in-tow, this Modern Metal machine bolts together the funk of Groove Metal with the unforgiving brutality of Death Metal to craft a sound that will blast your skin off before crushing your bones to ashes. 'War Will Reign' is Prevail's debut album and it's an absolute belter, seriously this is some menacing sh*t. Topping this extraordinary sound is some rather slick and smooth melodies that just top it off all so nicely, so why not sit back, sip a cup of tea or down a stein of beer and enjoy one of the finest releases of the Danish Metal scene in 2016. You dirty animal you. Download This: "Face What Remains" - Click to listen For Fans of: Amon Amarth, Dagoba, Illdisposed [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  CONCEIVED BY HATE 'Death & Beyond' SATANATH Four years has passed since the debut album by Conceived By Hate dropped, and now the Death / Thrash Metal horde from El Salvador drop their second album with a mighty explosion. Their music is solidly bolted in the old-school style and so should garner much appeal from those who are fans of bands like Destruction, Sepultura and Holy Moses. 'Death & Beyond' is a 46-minute romp with no second spent being wasted faffing around, no no this is no poseur material, this is the real deal. For a band who comes from a scene with very little media coverage or anything in the ways of a metal music industry, this is a solid release that connoisseurs of exotic metal should also invest time in instigating. Download This: "The Underdog" - Click to listen For Fans of: Above mentioned bands. [8] RHYS STEVENSON  DEVIL MAY 'Novus' INDEPENDENT For a band who just started out in 2015, their first EP 'Novus' is a juicy and cumbersome release, through the well-executed sound of Melodic Groove Metal comes this tight-knit unit from Wales, set to brush aside their nation's overshadowed Metalcore tagging. 'Novus' means new in Latin and for sure Devil May are new to the scene, their sound might not be completely new but their compositions certainly are something to behold. Here is a band destined to make a statement in the UK and if they're to enter BOA's Metal To The Masses this year, here's hoping they win their respective heat because this heavy sh*t will go down bloody well at BOA. Download This: "Severed" - Click to listen For Fans of: DevilDriver, Devil You Know, Lamb Of God [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  LAMENTATIONS 'Echoes In The Wind' INDEPENDENT Over recent years the South-East region of Asia has become a hotbed for sensational talent and by honing onto the Singaporean Metal scene, there seems to be a huge swathe of bands following in their leaders steps, that band being Impiety. Hailing from the 'Lion City', this Progressive Death Metal unit certainly know the difference from true progressive metal and the over-followed djent movement. 'Echoes In The Wind' is the duo's premier album and whilst it leans more towards the Progressive side of the Progressive Death Metal sound, and in doing so doesn't quite contest Gojira, it does however offer itself as an enjoyable listen. By combining a folkloric feel to it through storytelling and using native influences, Lamentations are certainly an exciting duo to keep an eye on. Download This: "Rivers Of Past" - click to listen For Fans of: Gojira, Ne Obliviscaris, Dream Theater [8] RHYS STEVENSON  CULT OF LILITH
'Arkanum' INDEPENDENT Iceland has seen a constant output of metal from the extreme styles over the last two decades and newcomers Cult Of Lilith are no exception. Technical Death Metal at it's most centralist point, that being a fine balance between tricky, complicated riffs and full-on Death Metal. 'Arkanum' is the band's debut EP and echoes a lot of the old wizardry used by other bands in the same style. Granted it's nothing new and probably won't surprise anyone, but it does do the job that the band set out to do and presents itself as a breath of fresh air for those craving Technical Death metal of yesteryear, simply mesmerising. Download This: "Night Hag" - Click to listen For Fans of: Cryptopsy, Spawn Of Possession, Gorguts [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON
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 DEVILDRIVER 'Trust No One' NAPALM Even with half of the original line-up no longer playing a part of DevilDriver's future, the formula devised by Fefara and co. since day one, which involves infusing unstoppable groove elements with their mesmerizing slice of Melodic Death Metal, carries on cooking some serious material, which in the drug world would equate to a well-deserved snort of meth. But if these guys were to break bad, it would not be on this new album, in fact 'Trust No One' is so damn good, it's criminal! Fans of DevilDriver will not be disappointed (when have they?) as this album will set their summers up nice and proper, what with the music demanding imminent headbanging and the artwork graphically representing the cliche 'a wolf in sheep's clothing', to 'Trust No One' is to acknowledge the dark truth that everyone, even yourself, has a dark side (not a Star Wars reference by the way). All in all, one word can sum up this entire album... 'Fuck!' Download This: "Bad Deeds" For Fans of: Pantera, Lamb of God, Chimaira 'Trust No One' is out now via Napalm Records [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  SUBLIMINAL FEAR 'Escape From Leviathan' INVERSE In this day and age of modern machinery, technical developments and cybernetic nexus', the whole movement of Modern Metal takes centre stage as it expresses a forward thinking notion rather than reflecting on the 'has been and done' sounds of early metal genres. Leading the new wave of Italian Modern Metal is Subliminal Fear with their infectious blend of Melodic Death Metal, Groove Metal and Electro Metal, following a sprinkling of Industrial and Progressive Metal influences. So imagine it, a full-on heavy blow to your cranium as the imminent result of switching on 'Escape From Leviathan', the third album by this sensational quintet. Connect yourself with the world of digital reality and let the matrix of this band's music surge through your ears, down your spinal cord before shooting up into your brain like a lightning strike from the skies. Soar into the upper echelons of Modern Metal with Subliminal Fear's 'Escape From Leviathan' and embrace what could be called the renaissance period of Italian Metal. Download This: "Nexus" For Fans of: Amaranthe, Sybreed, Mnemic, Scar Symmetry 'Escape From Leviathan' is out now via Inverse Records [9] RHYS STEVENSON  EPIDEMIA 'Leprocomio' SATANATH The exploitation of South American Metal continues with Ecuador throwing their next band out to the international press. Ok so it has been ten years since Epidemia dropped their debut album 'Mutilador De Cuerpos', but they've had a line-up change and two-year hiatus so it's excusable. But they've come back in style with their filthy-rotten second album 'Leprocomio' which compromises of epic blastbeats, chunky riffs, stomach-churning vocals and a raw production sound that epitomizes the lesser equipped underground metal scenes in terms of the quality of equipment and studios available. 'Leprocomio' however stands on it's own two as a decent and respectable slab of gore-rotten Death Metal, whilst it is in the Spanish language this should not deter die-hard Death Metallers from sinking their teeth into this decent effort. Download This: "Agonistes En El Inframundo" - Click to listen For Fans of: Obituary, Cannibal Corpse, Dying Fetus 'Leprocomio' is out now via Satanath Records [8] RHYS STEVENSON  HECKTIC 'Crossroads' INDEPENDENT Whatever the lads in Hecktic were drinking when they recorded their premier EP 'Crossroads', it certainly helped them craft a good start to their career. Rest assured you will not fall asleep from boredom with this effort, there are twists and turns at every unsuspecting moment. Take for example their song 'Kill The Core', there's a section where some Balkan influences creep in on the guitar playing and whilst throughout they shred, growl and give the drumkit mechanical pain, Hecktic's focus never slips, never. For the Bulgarian Metal scene, which tends to be ignored by the West, 'Crossroads' is the rallying cry for all musicians within said scene to support Hecktic in becoming a force to be reckoned with. If Testament and Machine Head were to ever have any offspring, Hecktic would be their first. Download This: "Kill The Core" - Click to listen For Fans of: Testament, Machine Head, Sylosis [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  SOULCRUSHER 'Death Rides Tonight' INDEPENDENT Along with Brazil and to a certain extent Argentina, Chile is one of the most successful and vibrant metal scenes on the South American continent and it's latest offering, Soulcrusher, aim to point out that the underground is sometimes the best place to stay. Their second demo released this year, 'Death Rides Tonight', is a slick mix of old-school Thrash Metal with Black Metal vocals, so you know none of the fancy stuff, no polished sound, just simply a pure DIY sound emerging from this quartet's musical unity. Embrace it's unrelenting speed, raw ferocity and sharp atmospherics as 'Death Rides Tonight' offers itself as an excellent example of what lo-fi metal is all about. Think Slayer meets Carpathian Forest, yeah you get the idea, so unless you're a fan of the extreme side of metal, best to stay away. As for 'Death Rides Tonight' as a whole, quite frankly one of the songs should be featured on a metal compilation called "Now that's what I call underground". Download This: "Madness" - Click to listen For Fans of: Slayer, Carpathian Forest, Deströyer 666 [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  IMPUNITY 'Raíz Ennegrecida' INDEPENDENT It comes to something when Colombians sing about socio-political issues and bid for freedom, it seems that the correlation between anger against oppression and a country's level of corruption is becoming more and more evident. But for the trio known as Impunity, metal is more than just music, it is in fact a vehicle to deliver a personal statement and some. In this case anger, discontent, injustice and flipping the middle finger to a fragile and unstable system; no wonder Colombian Metal music is extremely underground. Five years have passed since their inception and the wait for their first album release has been worth it, hands down. 'Raíz Ennegrecida' is around 20 minutes long, so for some it's more of an EP, but what the hell, this music is as brutal as someone smashing your head against a brick wall, with the sole exception being that no blood will be lost because of the music. Download this: 'Títere En Utilería' - Click to listen For Fans of: Destruction, Deathchain, Slayer [7] RHYS STEVENSON  INCEPTION 'The True Face Behind The Smile' INDEPENDENT Make it past the first track and you will be listening to the proper music by Costa Rica's Inception, sure this stuff is nothing and new and has been recycled by more bands than pop musicians have copped off one another, albeit for those using autotune. 'The True Face Behind The Smile' is Inception's debut album and as you would expect from a band indulging in Old-School Heavy Metal, it's full of melodicism, harmonics and upbeat atmospherics, nothing more. Granted for those who love this style of metal, they will not grow bored of it but for the average metalhead it might fail to keep their attention. Kudos for them standing up and defending a style that is on the fading away path, because the old styles are becoming weighted down by the ever-growing modern styles of metal. It might necessarily propel them to international recognition, but heck the album is worth investigating. Download This: "Another Chance" - Click to listen For Fans of: Diamond Head, Heaven & Hell, Black Sabbath [8] RHYS STEVENSON  PORKO DIO 'Unrest' INDEPENDENT Two EP's in and Croatian Death Grinders Porko Dio demonstrate that they're focused on creating music designed to make you cry for your mummy. It's fast, it's brutal and it's sickening to think that this music doesn't come with a health warning, let alone parental guidance giving it's violent nature. Violent nature?!?!? This is full-on metal bitches, and do you think that Porko Dio want their music restricted? Hell no. By letting their insanity be unleashed upon their music, their versatility outwits the likes of Luka Modric, their creativity demands great attention and of course they demand in return utmost respect for dropping an EP so potent, not even sniffing sulphur dioxide is as brutal as this. Whether the title of the EP is a political statement describing Europe and it's migrant crisis is one big question, but the answer probably lies within the unruliness of their music. Download This: "More Than Ourselves" - Click to listen For Fans of: Deathbound, Napalm Death, Carcass [8] RHYS STEVENSON  OROBAS 'Arise In Impurity' SYMBOL OF DOMINATION PROD. Another slice of bestial Blackened Death Metal is here with Bangladesh's Orobas stepping up to take the bullet. Armed with their debut EP just one year after their formation, Orobas waste no time in constructing a decent first-time effort to kick their career off with. 'Arise In Impurity' is the band's premier EP and whilst the music predominantly resides within the old-school Black Metal style, the vocals remain firmly rooted in the Death Metal style. Aside from the main three tracks and intro, Orobas have included a cover of Venom's 'Black Metal', which isn't half bad except cover's are too common these days and it makes as a poor excuse just to release the EP instead of recording another song in its place. 'Arise In Impurity' may not be innovative or anything new, but it certainly is a decent listen if your up for checking it out that is. Download This: "Bad Blood Hunter" - Click to listen For Fans of: Impiety, Bestial Warlust, Arallu [7] RHYS STEVENSON  ALCOR
'焦土之上 (On The Scorched Earth)' MORT PROD. What with flying, rocket-propelled llamas on the artwork of their debut album, you would instantly think that the music is going to be just as (or possibly more) insane as the artwork as a result. Well you'd be correct to think that assumption, by using their native Mandarin language in their lyrics and bolting it onto old-school Thrash Metal, the result is a chaotic, explosive-yet-entertaining work of art. I am of course referring to Alcor's debut album '焦土之上 (On The Scorched Earth)'. Chinese Metal has come a long way since it's founder Tang Dynasty made it's debut, it's gotten heavier, darker, faster, basically it's become its own powerhouse and is one scene that is set to lock horns with the West. Musically it's nothing new but taking an overall perspective, there is something that makes this album distinguishable and its not the language difference, whatever it is here's hoping Alcor use it to their advantage all the time. Download This: "秩序與混亂 Order & Chaos" - Click to listen For Fans of: Slayer, Metallica, Anthrax [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  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  AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED 'Arc' RELAPSE Starting a chain of four EP's linked together, Grindcore veterans Agoraphobic Nosebleed waste no time in setting the musical express in motion. 'Arc' emblazons the very sound that the American quartet set out to create, master and guide into leaving a lasting legacy. Featuring three tracks of extremely hard hitting vocals, thick bass elements and sensational drum programming, this is one EP that will tickle the sense of those who like their music tantalizingly brutal and uncompromising. With each EP in this four-piece series representing each member of the band, you would not want to guess who came up with this soul-destroying epic, place your bets at the door and prepare your brain for mass, imminent carnage. Agoraphobic Nosebleed once again deliver what they do best, decently engineered music. Download This: "Deathbed" For Fans of: Pig Destroyer, Anal Cunt, Jesus of Nazareth 'Arc' is out 22nd January via Relapse Records [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  WOLFHORDE 'Towards The Gate Of North' INVERSE Fifteen years it took for Finnish Pagan Metallers Wolfhorde to drop their debut album and despite all their best efforts it sounds as generic as they come, albeit it is rather decent. 'Towards The Gate Of North' delves into the over-explored Viking mythology and corresponding world and realistically speaking reconstitutes what has already been done. Sure it's bouncy and energetic elements colliding with much slower and deep sounds give the atmosphere electric dynamics, it just does not cast itself off as a groundbreaking or completely exciting release. Authentic to it's creators, this release features traditional instruments native to Finland that otherwise would seem unnatural when singing about Vikings (lets face it were Vikings in Finland?). Other than that the album is one for those fans of Pagan / Folk Metal, just raise those horns and drink from them simultaneously. Download This: "Death-Long Due" For Fans of: Eluveitie, Korpiklaani, Arkona 'Towards The Gate Of North' is out 22nd January via Inverse Records [7] RHYS STEVENSON  INFERNAL TENEBRA 'As Nations Fall' MASSACRE Infernal Tenebra are without a shadow of doubt the finest metal band to ever emerge out of the Croatian Metal scene. Unleashing their fourth masterpiece 'As Nations Fall', the quartet hold nothing back when it comes to creating music that not will only enthrall those who endeavor to listen to it, but ultimately crush their soul to minuscule pieces. Unrelenting Death / Thrash Metal roams throughout the album's veins and pumps it with endless energy, gritty vocals, thumping bass and emphatically ascending and descending atmospherics. Put it like this, Infernal Tenebra are going places and if you are not willing to follow them and or check out their beautiful masterpiece called 'As Nations Fall', then you might as well stop listening to metal music right now! Download This: "Legally Insane" For Fans of: Persefone, Opeth, Be'lakor 'As Nations Fall' is out 22nd January via Massacre Records [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  LIKE ANIMALS 'Feral' INDEPENDENT Get your groove on and hit the dance floor, Like Animals' latest offering 'Feral' dishes out some rather tasty riffs, crunchy bass, thumping drums and harmonic vocals, coming together to deliver a sound that would quench anyone's thirst for something unique. Math Rock clashes with Melodic Metal on their EP which in turn sends out sounds so gracefully heavy that it would take you days to recover from this epic music onslaught. Whilst they might not be as mathematically creative as perhaps their Mathcore counterparts, their timed groovy riffs set par for the course and essentially could push the band into the uniquely created genre called 'Funked-up Math Rock. Seriously there is not one second where you will get bored as the band always seem to drag out the unexpected on each song, now that is really 'Feral' for you. Download This: "The Lion's Share" For Fans of: Psyopus, 'Math Rock' 'Feral' is out 22nd January via an Independent release [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  ONE MORNING LEFT 'Metalcore Superstars' IMMINENCE It is apparent that the 'electronicore' or Electronic Hardcore Music movement has gained momentum over the last decade or so and with One Morning Left delivering a thousand-voltage-loaded third album, this barrage will never end anytime soon. 'Metalcore Superstars' is the latest cyber-assault by Finnish Trojan armada One Morning Left and whilst some metal fans may turn their nose up at the suggestion of the band being 'scene' or 'emo' influenced, open-minded metalheads may well cum in their pants or shit on their thong. Metal needs to evolve and this latest development certainly will become a staple evolving sound as it drags in and rolls up the wide array of electronic music styles. Granted it's unlikely bands like One Morning Left would dabble in club music but it's certainly not out of anyone's reach. Focusing back on the album, 'Metalcore Superstars' has already nominated itself as an automatic contender for 'Finnish Metal release of the year'. Download This: "¡Derailed!" For Fans of: Eskimo Callboy, I See Stars, The Browning 'Metalcore Superstars' is out 22nd January via Imminence Records [9] RHYS STEVENSON  ECLIPSE 'Clandestine Resurrection' INDEPENDENT Eclipse are one of India's hidden metal gems having remained steadfast and head-strong for over a decade in the North-East, where metal music appears to be very few and far between. Dragging together the very essential elements of Heavy Metal and throwing in some Power Metal sounds, Eclipse deal justice to their elongated wait for a debut album to surface. 'Clandestine Resurrection' is a well-crafted release that will quench the thirst of those who revel in enjoying classic Heavy Metal; even with a twist. Granted it's nothing new but for the Indian Metal scene it is rather refreshing, with this effort you could imagine some record labels knocking at this band's door but sadly it might become a short-lived career, who knows? Majestic, elegant and unforgettably electric, 'Clandestine Resurrection' is a treasure to behold. Download This: "Rise Of The Dead" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Sonata Arctica, Iron Maiden, Freedom Call [8] RHYS STEVENSON  SOREM 'Legion Ov Tengger Land' WIZARD Black Metal has always enjoyed thriving success in the Far East, the latest addition to the underground cult movement is bestial trio Sorem hailing from Indonesia. 'Legion Ov Tengger Land' is their debut album and it comes laden with sickening, cursing and abrasive music that is designed to plague your soul with dark and disturbing thoughts. To think that Thrash Metal dominates the scene gives bands like Sorem the ultimate chance to make a name for themselves, maybe not so internationally nor nationally but certainly locally. Thick and raw Black Metal is the sermon-bearer on this one and for those brave enough to sell their soul to the horde known as Sorem, you will be richly rewarded as 'Legion Ov Tengger Land' is a true testament to the ever defiant Indonesian Metal scene. Download This: "Sorem" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Emperor, Impiety, Immortal [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  GIRLZEROTH 'Kingdom Warrior' PLATD The debut album by Death Metal horde Girlzeroth leaves sadly a lot to be desired, falling short of being dubbed 'uninspiring Grindcore with Death Metal influence', 'Kingdom Warrior' is an album that certainly is capable of creating a division among those who listen to it let alone their homogeneous Indonesian Metal scene. Despite its lack of ability to convince, the album does however deliver a decent smacking of tight riffs, unrecognizable vocals, brutal drumming and sensational speed, all in all coming together to create a sound that so many other bands in said style produce. For the seasoned underground Death Metal lover this might just be the cherry on the cake, but for the general metalhead it may well allow them to ask questions about the integrity of the album. Download This: "Samaruk Gantend" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Cannibal Corpse, Deathbound, 'Underground Death Metal' [7] RHYS STEVENSON  PADRA 'Hezartooye Tanafor' INDEPENDENT Hailing from Iran, Padra are not only unique in that they sing solely in the Farsi language, but also because they are sure to become another successful Iranian music export. Their debut album 'Hezartooye Tanafor' exhibits sections of both old-school and modern Thrash Metal, that when combined as a whole really make the album worth listening to. For those who want crunchy riffs tarnished with attitude, joined alongside by blistering drums and ballsy vocals, Padra may well just be that band who would fulfill that criteria. From the start to the very finish, 'Hezartooye Tanafor' is a truly remarkable album to behold and is sure to propel Padra out of the Iranian Metal scene and into the wider international scene if not the Middle East. Download This: "Shabe Mordegane Zende" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Gama Bomb, Evile, Acrassicauda [8] RHYS STEVENSON  GEIST OF TRINITY
'Chains' INDEPENDENT Wallowing in Japan's heavily burgeoning metal scene is Melodic Death / Metalcore outfit Geist Of Trinity, who have emerged out of the shadows to drop their debut album 'Chains' and boy does this album rock the socks off you. With as much versatility across the album as a ninja army high on meth, the bar is set for other bands in the said sub-genre to match this emphatic effort. Blasting drums provide the spine of this release for the crushing riffs and volatile vocals to rest upon and form the flesh and tendons, of which are pulled and tightened by this musical group. Sure it too nine years for this album to emerge out of this highly successful metal nation, but it is evident the wait was well and truly worth it. They might not explode massively on the international circuit, but with 'Chains' leading their path to success they will become a sharp sounding beacon from the far flung nation of Japan. Download This: "Violent Demise" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Scar Symmetry, Mnemic, The Dead Lay Waiting [8] RHYS STEVENSON  AGHARTI 'Change' WORMHOLEDEATH It's not often that you come across a band that totally obliterates everything in it's path, well Agharti's debut album 'Change' certainly ticks all the boxes for "album you must own". The Croatian sextet weave together a face-melting concoction of emphatic melodies, romantic beauty-and-the-beast style vocals, knife-edge riffs and hollow drumming, producing a sound that is sure to push their name across the European continent. With hints of Evanescence, Within Temptation and Sirenia coursing throughout the album, you would be silly to ignore this beautiful red rose. Agharti have poised themselves as one of Croatia's hottest properties and with this effort, are sure to catapult them into the limelight, this is their finest hour. Download This: "End Of Your Domination" For Fans of: Evanescence, Sirenia, Within Temptation, [9] RHYS STEVENSON  ALL THIS FILTH 'Programmed To Suffer' Australian new kids on the block All This Filth dropped their debut demo last year and with it comes a skull-smashing lump of gritty Death / Thrash Metal laden with Groove Metal elements. Seriously this release punches your face in so hard you will eat yourself to death. 'Programmed To Suffer' literally speaks of what is wrong with the world, that everyone is told what to f**king do and so we suffer by being programmed as robots. Well from this release, as pissed off as it is, All This Filth provide the soundtrack to keep you sane and rid you of anger. Ballistic drumming supplements the disgusting riffs that course through and underneath the sickening vocals and vulgar atmosphere. You have been warned, this is not a release to f**k around with. Download This: "Two Faced" For Fans of: Chimaira, Machine Head, DevilDriver [8] RHYS STEVENSON  SEVENTH SIN 'When Reality Ends' So thirteen years after the band's inception, Seventh Sin unleash their premier album and to a slightly negative note in that it doesn't escape the clutches of the generic Gothic Metal album trap. Granted 'When Reality Ends' is a decent release, but it's nothing new the sound. At times the album gets so slow, you could easily fall asleep, whether that is a good thing or a bad thing depends upon your perception. Seventh Sin however have delivered a decent enough album, just not one to have the potential of a label deal, but take in the moment because it certainly is one album that speaks volumes, literally. Download This: "Silent Tears" For Fans of: Delain, Lacuna Coil, "European Gothic Metal" [7] RHYS STEVENSON  PYRAH 'Where Am I?' The sad thing about Pyrah's debut album 'Where Am I?' is that it flits about too much, that is it is a rather unconventional and unforgiving style of Progressive Metal. At times it seems lost and whilst the vocals deliver an angelic presence, the music needs harnessing and not being let run riot. Make of it what you will, but even the harsh vocals totally ruin the album - especially when placed next to clean vocals. 'Where Am I?' may well be a decent enough effort, but it just does not cut it and would make any die-hard Progressive Metal fan weep in their sleep. It seems too basic and lacks that convincing element that otherwise might have given it more credibility. Download This: "Reflection" For Fans of: "who knows?", Progressive Metal, "basic music" [4.5] RHYS STEVENSON  SUOTANA 'Forgotten Soil Of This Land' There is much more to Lapland than just Santa Claus, reindeer, Lordi and the Arctic Circle. Arising from the snow-covered lands of Northern Finland are a sextet by the name of Suotana. Nine years since their inception and finally their premier demo see's the harsh light, 'Forgotten Soil Of This Land' promises to take you on a whirlwind journey through and across the mountains with the sounds of Melodic Black / Death Metal ringing all around. For those who are into that style of metal, be prepared to be blasted with an atmosphere so cold, vocals so bitter, riffs so sharp, keyboard elements so chilling and drumming so powerful, that adding these all together sums up to make a release worthy of a record label deal. Download This: "The Reason" For Fans of: Hecate Enthroned, Keep of Kalessin, "Arctic Metal" [8] RHYS STEVENSON  DRATHOTH 'Demo 2014' It's not often you find a Black Metal band in the Middle East that delivers such a fantastic sound and yet slips in a raw and thick atmosphere, so thick it would choke your airways. Fresh from the sand dunes of The Lebanon, the one-man project Drathoth which is lead by musician Eddy Ferekh, delivers a rather grizzly yet mesmerizing sound that ought to appeal to many fans of the more Atmospheric Black Metal style. 'Demo 2014' features three tracks of some rather calming yet aggressive music that lasts for 20 minutes. So if you want something that sends chills up your spine, makes you calm and has something for you to listen to when going into town, Drathoth's 'Demo 2014' is for you. Download This: "As The Moon Rises" For Fans of: Atmospheric Black Metal [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  MANDRÁGORA 'First Attack' INKAS NOIZE Forget Llamas and Alpaca's for one moment, because Peru have a new addition to the Metal music family, well relatively new. Dropping their first ever EP, Heavy Metallers Mandrágora deliver a jaw-smacking punch of classic Iron Maiden-esque metal with female vocals so crushing, it's enough to make you pee your pants. With two tracks leading the charge, it is a fairly short EP, but what it lacks in length it makes up for quality. Now let's say they were likened to footballers, they would have Lionel Messi's elegance, David Luiz's powerful striking ability and an atmosphere equivalent to that of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Mandrágora are flying the flag for the Peruvian Metal scene with this enjoyable-to-the-full release. Download This: "Snakebite" For Fans of: Doro, Iron Maiden, Saxon [8] RHYS STEVENSON  LEVANIA 'Renascentis' WORMHOLEDEATH The love affair between Italians and Gothic Metal is always destined to produce some rather magical music and bands, Levania sit firmly within that notion. Making their welcomed return with their second album 'Renascentis', the female-fronted quintet do not fail to impress with their unique concoction of angelic and beastly vocals, dramatic atmosphere and breathtaking musical elements. If you're a Gothic Metal fan, then you have no reason to not own this release because it simply puts Lacuna Coil to shame. 'Renascentis' guarantees you dramatic twists and turns at every second, it may be early to say but this is definitely a contender for Italian Metal album of the year, simply because when you listen to it, you cannot find the words to befit the emotions experienced, this is Levania's time to break into the global metal arena with their striking Epic Gothic Metal sound. Download This: "An Icy Embrace" For Fans of: Lacuna Coil, Elis, Sara Lee, Within Temptation [9] RHYS STEVENSON  AERANEA 'As The Sun Died' It always seems to amaze that when bands who employ the Gothic / Doom Metal style, they tend to place the Doom Metal elements as the atmosphere and the Gothic Metal elements at the forefront. However Aeranea have taken a slightly different approach, they've mixed both together so that they do not remain fixed to one duty. 'As The Sun Died' is the premier album by this German unit and instantly gives a lot of promise for the band's time ahead, with Christina Vogt's calming vocals easing the sharpness of the riffs and drums, this is a release that ought to give Aeranea that push needed in order to break out into the European scene. One evident difference is that the songs aren't insanely long unlike other Gothic Doom contemporaries, moreover there is definitely high hopes for this band, watch with interest. Download This: "Prayers Die" For Fans of: My Dying Bridge, Flowing Tears, To Cast A Shadow [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  MASSIVE DEMOLITION
'Ritual Inferno' Word of warning, turn up the volume before indulging in Massive Demolition's second demo. The recording quality is not what you would expect, albeit you probably would as their second release 'Ritual Inferno' is actually a demo. Sparking off their chosen style of Thrash Metal, the German quartet do not dice with fate or intellectual instinct, instead with their demo they take off the handbrake and let the classics of Thrash Metal spew out like an over-flowing blood-bath, the downside to this is that it sounds too generic for it to be unique and thus whilst there is a level of effort and creativity residing in the release, it is nowhere near enough to be considered groundbreaking, just a decent enough release. Download This: "Chemical Abuse" For Fans of: German 'Teutonic' Thrash Metal [6] RHYS STEVENSON  INSAIN 'Enlightening The Unknown' KAOTOXIN Brutal Death Metal just received a fatal kick in the bollocks, courtesy of French masochists Insain and their murderously powerful, last ever release 'Enlightening The Unknown'. Sad to say no more mass murders will be committed by this tight unit, however upon indulging in their forthcoming EP 'Enlightening The Unknown', the sense is that they wanted to go out on a high and boy have they done just that. Forget about any headbanging, it's far too fast for that and forget about the moshpit, it's too brutal for that, maybe go with a wall of death, no wait it's too metal for that. You heard it here, Insain are too metal for a wall of death, so sit back and let the French wizards conjure up their final magic trick and leave you for dead as we label 'Enlightening The Unknown' as the ultimate slammer of 2014. Download This: "Beyond The Stellar Remnants" For Fans of: Deathbound, Aborted, 'Absurdly fast Death Metal' 'Enlightening The Unknown' is out 11 March 2014 via Kaotoxin Records [9] RHYS STEVENSON  MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS 'Jamat-al-Maut' You can or cannot expect it, Multinational Corporations are a duo from Lahore, Pakistan. Formed in early 2011, they play a mix of Grindcore and Death Metal fused with punk influences. "Jamat-al-maut" is the second release from this hailing duo. With a straightforward approach on the music, "Jamat-al-maut" has a lot to offer through crushing guitar riffs, sonic bass distortions and punishing guitar melodies. As you can expect from a Grind release, the drums are simple yet varied with endless blasts and feelings. Yes the drums are programmed, but this does nott ruin the sound at all. The credit obviously goes to Sheraz (Dionysus, Flaw). Hassan (Foreskin) deserves special attention for what he has done with the vocals. The use of guttural death grunts and screeching vocals (with whispers on 'Penniless Pride') interchange accordingly, solidifying the sounds. The lyrics cover social hype and disorders with all their (the band) mental aggression exposed. The release lasts around 13 minutes (8 songs). "Jamat-al-maut" is a solid release with only a few notable production blunders (as the album closes without any trails). Counting that as a minor, it’s an honest recommendation to go through the release in it's entirety. Download These: "Salaab" & "Penniless Pride" For Fans of: Napalm Death, Grindcore. [8.5] SOMBRE ORACLE  WHITECHAPEL 'Our Endless War' METAL BLADE They've done it once and they've done it again, the monstrosity known as Whitechapel have delivered another serving of their own style of Deathcore that is so brutal, you will crap yourself, period. Wallowing in what can be perceived as a cranial bludgeoning, the sextet's forthcoming album 'Our Endless War' delivers all what they stand for and a bit on the side. You know if this was to be played at full whack on a car stereo, the whole block would hear it and it would certainly trigger off a few earthquakes in the process. Fuelled by Bozeman's exceptional talent at producing verses in a tongue-twister style as seen just passed the 1:16 mark on 'The Saw Is The Law', the whole of 'Our Endless War' will certainly challenge the title of 'Deathcore album of the year' and we would not discount them as being seminal pioneers of Groovy Deathcore, just don't forget your earplugs on the way in to a future Whitechapel concert, especially if you're into the emotional side of Deathcore. Whitechapel don't do emotional Deathcore, they do Deathcore how it should be done. Listen to this: "Mono" For Fans of: Lamb of God, Chelsea Grin, Thy Art Is Murder 'Our Endless War' is out 29th April via Metal Blade Records [9] RHYS STEVENSON  PORTRAIT 'Crossroads' METAL BLADE You have got to love and admire classic Heavy Metal when it comes in different styles, powers and of course nationalities. But hang on, Swedish Heavy Metal? No it's not another Ghost album, it is in fact Portrait's their third album 'Crossroads' which comes three years after 'Crimen Laesae Majestatis Divinae'. Whilst 'Crossroads' is not all that special, it does offer listeners that nostalgic feeling of 1980's Heavy Metal, you know in the style of Dio? Of course, it does have it's best parts and one of these is the near Iron Maiden-esque vocals that are marred by the Van Halen style drumming and guitar playing; these are all evident on "In Time" and yet the whole album whiffs of near perfection. Sure it is a decent release but it lacks that convincing edge that would have made it a strapping album, but nonetheless it is sure to captivate those who prefer the classic style of Heavy Metal. Listen to this: "Black Easter" For Fans of: Dio, Iron Maiden, Van Halen 'Crossroads' is out 29th April via Metal Blade Records [7] RHYS STEVENSON  CODE OF NELSON'S FOLLY 'Beergasm' When a band creates their own style of metal music such as Alestorm's 'Pirate Metal', the result that usually follows is that bands develop their own variant of the genre. One such band is Croatia's Code of Nelson's Folly, their sound features Pirate Metal mixed with faint traditional folk elements, this is most notable on the song 'Captain's Pride' which comes from their EP 'Beergasm'. Moreover on the same release is their cover of Alestorm's song 'Keelhauled', this cover amplifies the almost guttural klapa singing demonstrated herewith, in fact overall Code of Nelson's Folly will not fall short of being a fad and instead will stand as possibly Croatia's first Pirate Metal band, although it would be more interesting if they did include more traditional folk elements. Download This: "Captain's Pride" For Fans of: Alestorm, Korpiklaani, Turisas. [8] RHYS STEVENSON  THE DAY WILL COME 'Life Before Our Eyes' It's all well creating your own music just as long as it gives your band a unique sound, however for The Day Will Come it seems they have failed to do so. Their latest EP 'Life Before Our Eyes' just sounds so generic it hurts, granted the band injects interesting elements at certain points throughout the release, but the overall impression is that this sits in the corner with the rest of 'This is Metallic Hardcore and we have no idea what we want to do' releases. The riffs are chunky and really good, but the drumming is so boring that it drags the EP down onto it's knees begging for mercy and the vocals fail to save it from a miserable death, as these are generic hardcore and it just makes the overall EP uninspiring, there is room for improvement and here's hoping The Day Will Come actually find it. Download This: "Delusions" For Fans of: Metallic Hardcore. [5] RHYS STEVENSON  KLAYMORE 'It's Alive' Klaymore are a classic Heavy Metal band hailing from the 'the steel city' of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 2012, they released their second album 'It's Alive' and whilst it has been two years since the release, the music is of the timeless guild. Think of the Iron Maiden heavy metal style and you begin to realize what Klaymore are aiming for. Juicy riffs guide this sensational work of art through a myriad of sounds to arrive alongside the eccentric solo's and are backed up by an array of venomous vocals and demolition drumming. Make no mistake, Klaymore may not be well known outside the United States, but with their music the way it is, that could change within the new few years. This could mark the next wave of American Heavy Metal. Download This: "Matriarch" For Fans of: Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Led Zeppelin [8] RHYS STEVENSON  BURNING CROSS 'End Of Illusion' Black Metal is very popular amongst the underground metal scene in Germany and Burning Cross from the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern region are no exception. 2013 saw the quartet unleash another battering of hell in the form of their second album 'End Of Illusion', now there are some who might confuse them with NSBM due to the war and anti-religious lyrics found herewith on the album, but in essence they are a true underground Black Metal band. 'End Of Illusion' expresses raw and rough vocals that slice your throat so bad, you would be dead before you could begin to taste the blood. Moreover, the raw sounds emitted from the guitars and drums just amplifies the sound, maxing it out as a true darkened masterpiece. Infernal hails never sounded so great. Download This: "Stirb Aufrecht" For Fans of: Eastern Front, Hail Of Bullets, Mayhem [8] RHYS STEVENSON  AMONG THE PREY 'My Demons' Fresh from the Finnish tundra comes a new Melodic Death Metal / Metalcore outfit known as Among The Prey. This exquisite duo wields together chunky riffs, riveting drums and murderous vocals that sum up together as a musical apocalypse. Their premier demo 'My Demons' delivers promise all round and whilst it might not necessarily be anything unique in terms of breaking out of the crowded metal genres aforementioned, it certainly offers a tasty treat that most metal fans will be able to indulge in. Guaranteed it is early days for the two-piece, but they are sure to cause a stir amongst the Nordics as their self-branded style of metal will certainly turn a few heads and simultaneously score a few prestige gigs in the future. Download This: "My Demons" For Fans of: The Dead Lay Waiting, Deals Death, Sonic Syndicate [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  VOIGHT KAMPFF
'More Human Than Human' ROBOT BLEU The thing is, with Thrash Metal you know it's going to be fast and sometimes this leads to near-absolute predictability being thrown into the works. However, France's Voight Kampff explore a totally different style of Thrash Metal that ought to be called their own. Take into account their debut album released two years ago, it drafts in elements from the Groove, Thrash and Industrial metal styles and in doing so develops a unique strain of 'Post-Metal'. More uniquely, this quintet exclusively sing about Blade Runner and thus automatically both the lyric topic and music tie together perfectly. They may call it Thrash Metal, but we call this the 'Post-Modern Metal' juggernaut planet metal has been waiting for. Download This: "Emotional Response" For Fans of: The Kovenant, Slayer, Sepultura [8] RHYS STEVENSON |
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