 SARMAT 'RS-28' INDEPENDENT It's easy to say that whenever a black / death metal band emerges out of the Polish underground, first comparisons with that band are usually drawn from either Behemoth or Vesania, for trio Sarmat they seem to straddle the two with their finely balanced blend of blitzkrieg black metal and death metal destruction. From the off we're treated to a ferocious onslaught of menacing riffs, thunderous drums and vocals harsh enough to make your ears bleed inside out. Sarmat takes it's name from the aptly named "Weapon of Ultimate Destruction", the Russian super-heavy intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) RS-28 SARMAT (also known as SATAN 2). Naturally this pretty much summarises the band's debut album "RS-28", not just musically in the sense that it's cataclysmic but also lyrically as they heavily lean on military terms, war and destruction. Sarmat are one to watch, watch this space. Download this: "Seeds of Uncertainty" For fans of: Behemoth, Vesania, Eastern Front, Vader 'RS-28' is out now via an independent release [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  THE IRIDIUM EXPERIMENT 'Hero.Villain.Victim' INDEPENDENT It goes without saying that within planet metal, a vast swathe of the African continent tends to be forgotten to a larger extent except for a number of metal bands... just not enough to reach the number of fingers on your hand. It therefore comes as no surprise that the South African metal scene is largely disconnected from the rest of the world, but it's bands like The Iridium Experiment who carry the scene forward. This 10-legged leviathan might not exactly bring something totally fresh to the table, they do however bring something that will grab attention from further afield no doubt. Their debut EP ''Hero.Villain.Victim'' is poised within the progressive metalcore sound but with aspects of modern metal dabbled here and there. What could make the sound that bit more in your face would be some heavier synths, maybe a bass drop here and there, not suggesting they should walk down the lines of Asking Alexandria or The Browning, but for the style implemented here it may well become complementary. Otherwise a solid effort that will grab attention across the African continent and beyond. Download this: "Losing My Mind" For fans of: Cypher16, Monuments, Miss May I 'Hero.Villain.Victim' is out now via an independent release [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  SABHANKRA 'Death To Traitors' SATURNAL It's no secret that the Turkish extreme metal scene is one not to be taken lightly, just ask veterans Sabhankra who have been crafting unnerving music for over 20 years. Now the quartet have delivered a solid reminder of why the aforementioned is truthful, this reminder comes courtesy of their new album "Death To Traitors", a solid romp that samples sounds from the melodic black, death and thrash metal libraries whilst adding their own authentic flavour to the mix. If you're seeking metal that you could meditate or pray to, then Sabhankra is your answer, for this quartet have conjured up sounds that puts the mind at ease, whilst ironically making your limbs yearn to mosh. "Death To Traitors" may well be the most extreme release Sabhankra has put out to date. Download this: "Burn Down Their Halls" For fans of: Keep Of Kalessin, Aradin Azun, Damaar 'Death To Traitors' is out now via Saturnal Records [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  KHANDRA 'All Occupied By Sole Death' SEASON OF MIST / UNDERGROUND ACTIVITIES Whilst the country of Belarus is facing a barrage of criticism and unrelenting negative media coverage, it is then perhaps a welcome relief to see it's very own black metallers Khandra deliver their debut album 'All Occupied By Sole Death'. This album stamps it's authority from the off and epitomises the very nature of the new wave of black metal we are experiencing, sure it carries the classic black metal drums and riffs, but the raw intensity presented is so compelling it's almost as if it's a work of literature, with each song being a page that enthrals the listener into wanting to hear and learn more. Perhaps Khandra is the band to lead the Belarusian metal scene on the international stage, arguably they are now the flag-bearers, as for their debut album, well it's going to be rather tricky to do any better than this... no wonder Season of Mist took interest! Download this: "Nothing But Immortality For Aye" For fans of: Winterfylleth, Blaze Of Perdition, Mgła 'All Occupied By Sole Death' is out now via Season Of Mist - Underground Activities [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  HAGEL 'Veneration Of The Black Light' PERSONAL Not much is known about the period of activity between 1995-2000, but come 2014 and it seemed that Hagel were back on the scene... fast forward to 2021 and the Mexican black / doom metal quintet deliver their debut album 'Veneration Of The Black Light'. Whether it was worth the wait is anyone's guess, but the truth of the matter is whilst the album is great to listen to and no doubt they have some good talent in their ranks, it's too cliche for most parts. Sure there are far worse records out there and as said their talent is not questionable, the album just lacks that 'wow' factor that would leave one yearning for more. The predictability of how each song goes is almost hard to ignore and barely features anything that would gain vast attention outside Mexico, but with finesse and a re-evaluation of their music, they could easily knock on Europe's door... but this album most likely won't do that. Download this: "Blindness" For fans of: Black / Doom Metal... 'Veneration Of The Black Light' is out now via Personal Records [6.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  UNFATHOMABLE RUINATION 'Decennium Ruinae' WILLOWTIP If you ever needed living proof that the British extreme metal scene is alive, well and downright dirty, then you would only need to tune into the new EP by London technical / brutal death metal architects Unfathomable Ruination. 'Decennium Ruinae' is a 4-track slam-a-thon that gets you smashing your head in no time; by embracing the unconventional time signatures, gut-rotten vocals and drumming sequences that rival that of a pneumatic drill, you'll be consumed by the total musical armageddon this quintet have to offer. 'Decennium Ruinae' roughly translates from Latin to 'decades destroyed' in English, but just as the Romans raided and pillaged England so to will Unfathomable Ruination raid and pillage your mind. Download this: "Disciples Of Pestilence" For fans of: Suffocation, Necrophagist, Spawn Of Possession 'Decennium Ruinae' is out now via Willowtip Records [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  TORTUGA 'Flying Dutchman' INDEPENDENT Pirate Metal? No this is not another Alestorm coming to sink your ship, no this what Captain Jack Sparrow would probably be listening to whilst piloting the Black Pearl... to Tortuga? Echoing the early days of the German heavy metal band Running Wild, Tortuga has taken the classic heavy metal sound, sprinkled it with steampunk elements and a dabble of medieval rock. If you're after something quirky and something that gets you drinking till 'why is the rum gone', then Tortuga's latest effort 'Flying Dutchman' is for you. Who'd have thought that they would be on album number 9 and only pay their port charges in kegs of rum now?!?!?! The 'Flying Dutchman' is a treasure to behold... just don't leave it at the Davy Jones's locker. Download this: "Rackham's Revenge" For fans of: Running Wild, Nightcreepers, Subway To Sally 'Flying Dutchman' is out now via an independent release [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  BRILLIANT COLDNESS 'The Ultimate Dream. Plan B: Disposal Of Humanity" DEAD CENTER PRODS With the new album by the Ukrainian technical death metallers Brilliant Coldness, there is unrelenting fury and brutality right from the off. 'The Ultimate Dream. Plan B: Disposal Of Humanity" is the band's 3rd album and marks a change in personnel since their preceding release "Poisoned Reality", with 3 musicians coming and going. Nonetheless, the barrage of brutality exhibited on the album cannot be questioned or challenged, it simply has you hooked from the first note to the very last drum beat, the technicality is infatuating and the power is uncompromising. It would take something rather special for this quintet to upstage this album because it simply blasts anything in it's way to smithereens. You would call it technical death metal, they call it 'academic death metal'... let the examinations begin. Download this: "The Crown Of Darkness' For fans of: Necrophagist, Morbid Angel, Cryptopsy 'The Ultimate Dream. Plan B: Disposal Of Humanity" is out via Dead Center Productions. [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  NOTHING NOBLE 'Modern Dismay' PRIME COLLECTIVE There must be something in the water in Denmark, because they always somehow manage to export scintillating modern metal and metalcore factions. Stepping up to the plate and bestowing their infectious blend of progressive metalcore is Nothing Noble, their 2nd album 'Modern Dismay' arguably positions itself away from the 7-string djent whoring that is found within some progressive metalcore bands. There is no nonsense on this album and is certified to take you on a thunderous, raucous yet blazing ride across groovy riffs and ground-shaking drums. Harmoniously put together, the album could easily lend itself to metal yoga for it's spiritual and soulful blend of majestic wizardry and energetic vocals. The new wave of Danecore is upon us.... Download this: "Black Earth" For fans of: Architects, Killswitch Engage, Jinjer 'Modern Dismay' is out 6th August via Prime Collective. [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  VARANG NORD
'Pārķiuņa Uomurs' SLIPTRICK 'Pārķiuņa Uomurs' is the 3rd album by the Latvian Viking folk metal tribe Varang Nord, what is striking about the album is that it is not in the style you would expect... the music is not in the same vein as Skyforger per se, far from it... in fact it's become their own sound. Varang Nord on this album sing in the Latgalian language, which is a regional and historic language; which in itself is helping protect the language and is not too far-a-cry from what New Zealand's Alien Weaponry did with the Maori language. Naturally you would associate Latvian folk metal with the pagan metal sound, so to have a band like Varang Nord opt to sing about the Nordic culture, history and surrounding nature is something rather refreshing... and for that reason, 'Pārķiuņa Uomurs' could well be a contender for 'Latvian metal album of the year'. Download this: "Svietņeica" For fans of: Turisas, Metsatoll, Tyr. 'Pārķiuņa Uomurs' is out now via Sliptrick Records [9/10] RHYS STEVENSON
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 MECHANIK WAR III 'Divine Annihilation' INDEPENDENT As raw and rusty as a combustion engine, Mechanik War III bellow out thick black smoke with their latest effort 'Divine Annihilation', this black smoke is full of chunky bass lines, harmonised vocals, ravaging riffs and drums so menacing, it churns your stomach endlessly. By bazooka, who'd have thought that cyber industrial Metal could take on such a militaristic and futuristic sound and image? Because this is exactly what the American quartet Mechanik War III have done, their latest effort 'Divine Annihilation' was designed to 'divinely annihilate' your eardrums whilst serving itself as the ideal soundtrack to a full-out nuclear war; if the next war is to be dominated by machines and cyber warfare, then this album will be the radio broadcast. Fear Factory eat your heart out, the next generation of cyber industrial metal bands is upon us with Mechanik War III. For fans of: Deathstars, Fear Factory, Sybreed Download This: "At War With The Nazarene" - click to listen ''Divine Annihilation' is out now via an independent release. [7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  SEMI-CIVIL 'Cult Of Masses' INDEPENDENT Breathing in elements of Whitechapel, Monuments and Emmure, it's hard to really ignore Semi-Civil despite their underwhelming underground status... granted they've only just dropped their debut single 'Cult Of Masses'; and probably are very new to the scene, but this stuff just blows! Whether you like your progressive metalcore / deathcore factions cliche or not, Semi-Civil have brought both aspects to the table - classic formulaic rhythms and vocals meeting unsuspecting time signatures and the unnerving style of breakdown - let the background synths rip your veins to shreds. The solo part though, in a strange way glides over nicely the rhythmic downtempo riffs and allow for the vocals to make a rampant return. It's early days, but if Semi-Civil keep on building their sound up and produce songs in this style, then give it a year or two and they'll nail a label deal. Download it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW9QvK5XUtw For fans of: Monuments, Whitechapel & Emmure. 'Cult Of Masses' is out now via an independent release [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  GRANDE FOX 'Empty Nest' INDEPENDENT Greek psychedelic / stoner rock metal outfit Grande Fox return to deliver their 2nd effort in 'Empty Nest', which at it's core is a foot tapping soundtrack to your next drinking session... Jack Daniels at the ready! Riffs dominate the album like no tomorrow and leave no taste untested; there's the downright dirty and then there's the sexily snazzy, both oozing so much sensuality it's almost 'musica erotica'. What's really amazing is that the band clearly has no rulebooks for their own branded style of music... the album flits from the mesmerising sounds of Muse to the gritty notes of Black Stone Cherry, whilst simultaneously flirting with the heaviness of Van Halen and AC/DC... all the more of a reason to make 'Empty Nest' your next listening adventure. Download This: "Brutal Colors" - click to listen For fans of: Muse, Van Halen, Black Stone Cherry, Corey Taylor 'Empty Nest' is out now via an independent release. [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  SYMBTOMY 'Demo #1' INDEPENDENT Sometimes it's good to go back to where something began, back to the golden days, back to the bare basics. This is exactly what the Czech-British trio Symbtomy have done, here you will not find any flashy insane guitar solo's, nor anything that deviates from the old school death metal sound. Instead, you'll be greeted with the finesse that once emanated from within the 90's era of death metal - straight edge guttural gut-wrenching vocals, blazing and savage riffs, and thunderous drumming that made the Swedish style of death metal so formidable. 'Demo #1' is a tour-de-force and a spectacle to behold, it's a brilliant start from the trio in Symbtomy and provides a foundation for more of that good stuff to built on. Check the demo out here:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrTIldYmBK0 For fans of: Unleashed, Entombed and Dismember 'Demo #1' is out now via an independent release [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  BLOODY SKIES 'Demo' INDEPENDENT Not much is known about Bloody Skies, the melodic black / doom / death metal duo from Albania, other than they formed in 1995 and have just released their debut demo... it has taken a very long time for them to emerge out of the shadows but alas here they are. What is quite refreshing about their sound, is that they've incorporated elements of traditional Albanian music and as such, made their own unique blended style. The demo, is exceptionally raw (at least the start and then reaches a more polished sound), thereby sticking true to the path of honing ones craft. The downside naturally is that you have to crank up your speakers to hear it (be warned it gets louder), just a minor inconvenience for the brilliant musicianship presented herewith, sure it's not going to break ground and become an overnight sensation, but it will do well to satisfy those seeking true underground extreme metal. Download This: "Why Care At All" - click to listen For fans of: My Dying Bride, Woods Of Ypres, Catamenia 'Demo' is out now via an independent release [7/10] RHYS STEVENSON  ILDARUNI 'Beyond Unseen Gateways' BLACK LION RECORDS Shamanic yet grandiose sermons await on the debut album by Armenian pagan black metal conjurers Ildaruni. 'Beyond Unseen Gateways' takes the genre to a lands unexplored with the blending of Armenian folklore and the utilisation of musical scales found within that part of Western Asia. The quintet have delivered an album that is a thorough romp through their homeland, skirting the modern Yerevan and diving head-first into the ancient pasts of extinct cities such as Ani (now in modern Turkey), one that should be embraced both lyrically and musically. This is not nationalism, this is bringing to the fore a folklore that seemingly is forgotten by the world, nay lest it be known that Armenia is considered one of the oldest countries in the world. The new wave of Armenian metal is upon us as Ildaruni alongside The Adana Project become flag-bearers of the Armenian metal scene. Download This: "Exalted Birth" - click to listen For fans of: Kroda, Ruins Of Faith, Melechesh 'Beyond Unseen Gateways' is out via Black Lion Records [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  INDIGNACION 'Amuyta Lakharu' INDEPENDENT Often when people read the genre death metal / grindcore, they think of blast-beats galore and rampaging riffs, however if you ask Bolivian outfit Indignacion about this, they'll respond with 'we will dictate the pace OK?', just take for example their second album 'Amuyta Lakharu', it is so unorthodox and so unpredictable that you cannot headbang to it; well you can try, but be prepared for severe neck-ache from the ever-changing pace of the music. Featuring what could be called radio clips, the album addresses environmentalism, the current COVID pandemic and humanity's destruction of planet earth and could arguably seen as a protest soundtrack, but whether that is or is not the case one thing is for sure, the album is very well put together.... open the pit up. Check out the album here:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vLYfcYaiU8 For fans of: Napalm Death, Gorguts, Psyopus 'Amuyta Lakharu' is out via an independent release [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  BESTIA ATER 'Anno Bestia Chrysallis' INDEPENDENT Legends of the Bulgarian metal scene come together to form Bestia Ater, a bestial death metal band who are full of ferocity and resilience, so much so their debut album 'Anno Bestia Chrysallis' arguably pays homage to the immeasurable seriousness of the Bulgarian extreme metal scene. Very much tuned to the Gothenburg / old school death metal sound, 'Anno Bestia Chrysallis' takes death metal back to it's roots and has no flashy guitar solo's, no fancy elements, just pure filthy rotten guttural vocals, precise percussion and riffs designed to shred your senses to pieces. You have been warned, prepare your hearing for total annihilation at the hands of this leviathan called Bestia Ater... open the pit up. Download This: "Haures" - click to listen For fans of: Unleashed, Obituary, Morbid Angel 'Anno Bestia Chrysallis' is now out via an independent release [7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  DENGEL 'Promised 重啓.應许' INDEPENDENT / MORT PRODUCTIONS Stamping their authority on the gothic metal style with their own unique take on the genre, is Chinese sextet Dengel. Their debut album comes 14 years after the band's debut EP and the wait could well be justified, the sensational balance between the oriental flavours in both the music and lyrics, as well as the full force of darkness bestowed on each song, ultimately positions Dengel in a league of their own. This is a refreshing take on the overtly saturated gothic metal style and ultimately paves the way for 'Oriental Gothic Metal' to be born, the various elements found scattered across the entirety of the album is enough to satisfy everyone's tastes - there are elements of symphonic metal, melodic metal, HIM's 'love metal' and of course classic Chinese music... Dengel are flying the flag for the Chinese metal scene. Download This: "Wandering Soul" - click to listen For fans of: Within Temptation, HIM, Lacuna Coil 'Promised 重啓.應许' is out digitally via an independent release / physically via Mort Productions. [9/10] RHYS STEVENSON  TROBEROTH
'Fallen Angel' GRIMMDISTRIBUTION If you're searching for something that goes beyond breakneck speed, has the thunderous sound of a volcanic explosion and enough power to keep your brain charged for 24 hours, then look no further than Troberoth and their 2nd album 'Fallen Angel'. The Costa Rican quartet have busted guts and sweat profusely to deliver an album that puts the greats like Slayer and Metallica to shame, it comes laden with machine gun-like drums, vocals so brutal they make your last hangover rather pitiful and riffs so barbaric, they make the dark ages look tame. Overall this album is the perfect example of how modern thrash metal should be done, it does not get any better than this... the album may be called 'Fallen Angel', but Troberoth is the 'Rising Devil' of the Costa Rican metal scene... open the pit up. Download This: "My Will Is Gone" - click to listen For fans of: Power Trip, Vektor, Gama Bomb 'Fallen Angel' is out now via GrimmDistribution [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  ZARRAZA 'Rotten Remains' INDEPENDENT 'Rotten Remains' is the third EP by Kazakh Groove Metal maestros and the last release to have bassist Evgeny Hablack on-board; he helped out with the band's debut album 'Necroshiva' before being recruited full-time. None the less, the output on this EP is raucous, riveting and relentless right throughout. To think they come from Kazakhstan would bewilder some, not just for geographical reasoning, but the finesse and quality exhibited here, you would easily imagine them to be from the USA or Europe - a testament to how far the Kazakh Metal scene has come. Even more so this is a form of Groove Metal beyond your expectations, it has elements of Thrash Metal, Metalcore, it's almost as if DevilDriver had a fling with 5FDP and gave birth to Zarraza. If this EP is not a statement of intent from this quartet, then I don't know what is. Download This: "wRRong Song" - Click to listen For Fans of: DevilDriver, modern Sepultura, 5FDP [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  LANDMINE 'Pioneer's Destiny' INDEPENDENT Landmine's debut EP 'Reject The Destiny' was an almighty surprise four years and now they've delivered an even bigger surprise in their debut album 'Pioneer's Destiny'. The South Korean Heavy / Power Metal unit exercise their limbs and flex their muscles with greater oomph and attitude with this effort, coursing throughout the album is a ferocious onslaught of whipping riffs, blazing drums, cracking basslines and veracious vocals, culminating together to deliver the ultimate listening experience you will never hear elsewhere. They may have taken a step back from leaning more towards full-on Power Metal and taken a delicate balance of Iron Maiden vs. Sonata Arctica in their repertoire, but this quintet have found their sound and with it, put themselves in prime position to be the metal band to put the South Korean Metal scene on the global stage. Download This: "Slow Fading Yesterday" For fans of: Iron Maiden, Sonata Arctica, Powerwolf [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  FLAT EARTH SOCIETY 'Friends Are Temporary, Ego Is Forever' ART GATES RECORDS For a band who has only been going since 2018, you would have thought with their debut album that their following was pan-European if not international, well it won't be long before this comes to fruition. This quintet have mustered together a wide-range of sounds that clearly simmer throughout the album like a smothering of BBQ sauce sinking into a rack of ribs; both leaving you savouring for more. 'Friends Are Temporary, Ego Is Forever' by Spanish Progressive Metalcore troupe Flat Earth Society is nothing to be choked at, for it will choke you with the constant barrage of cranial-crunching vocals, barbaric drumming and down-right dirty riffs. Rest assured you will have a flat head through headbanging, let alone a flat earth society. Download This: "CC Chain" For fans of: Asking Alexandria, Periphery, Slipknot 'Friends Are Temporary, Ego Is Forever' is out now. [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  THE A.X.E. PROJECT 'Future.Imperfect' ART GATES RECORDS You would think that for a band who has been going 18 years would have nailed out a perfect sound, well in the case of The A.X.E. Project, you would be half right. Despite 'Future.Imperfect' being their third album and full of juicy riffs, ambience and darkened sorrow, the vocals are a tad engulfed by the music itself at times; not to mention the fact that the new female vocals just don't cut it in two thirds of the album, there is no real power present and often relies on the male vocals to back them up. Having said that, there are a few tracks (such as 'The Great Beyond') which are perfectly balanced and so the Bulgarian quintet should harness those from now on, otherwise like the album suggests, their future will become imperfect. Download This: 'The Great Beyond' For fans Of: Dark Gothic Metal... basically. 'Future.Imperfect' is out 20th March, 2020 [6.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  BORN IN EXILE 'Transcendence' ART GATES RECORDS Catalonia (sorry Spain) has had a long history of providing some top-notch metal bands and Born In Exile are no exception, their own unique twist on the Melodic Progressive Metal blend brings together lashings of Metalcore and Heavy Metal, which culminate in a blistering wall of sound designed to rip the flesh off your bones. 'Transcendence' is this quintet's second album and damn does it brutalise in epic fashion, honestly if your looking for your next successful Melodic Progressive Metal act then Born In Exile should be your first port of call. Vocals fluctuating from the realm of Bruce Dickinson to that of James LaBrie and before you say it, yes they are female vocals... so what?!?!? Kris Vega has enough power to match her band-mates and deliver arguably one of the most exciting yet ambitious Spanish Metal releases this year so far. Download This: "Herd Of Deception" For fans of: Battle Beast, Dream Theater, Iron Maiden 'Transcendence' is out 6th March, 2020 [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  MERIAL 'Hatecraft' INDEPENDENT Let's be honest, you do not need flashy riffs or bamboozling drumming to sound epic when playing Black or Death Metal, sometimes all you need is a good old raw feeling and that's what Merial are all about. This Death / Black metal trio from Armenia hone is on the old-school style with aplomb and without a doubt craft a sound that's orgasmic to the ears. Granted it's been done before countless times, but if you're going to be the next band to play a certain way... do a bloody good job of it. Ploughing through 'Hatecraft' and you are treated to mid to fast pace bestiality on all fronts: drums, vocals and guitars, proving the point that the Armenian Metal scene is extreme at the very core. Download This: "Dead Sea" - https://merial.bandcamp.com/track/dead-sea For fans of: Satyricon, Carpathian Forest, Dissection [7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  ORINOCO 'What A Relief' INDEPENDENT Deathcore, one of those metal genres that divides peoples opinions more than a virus replicates itself. But that does not mean it's a genre that cannot be bent to suit your own taste, just ask Illinois natives Orinoco as their latest EP 'What A Relief' draws in Sludge and Doom Metal elements into the mix. No there are none of those cheesy breakdown, riff-riff, breakdown cliche patterns thank the lord, but what you do get is a splattering of refreshing Deathcore that resonates in the same realm as The Browning; experimental and yet damn right filthy at it's very core. It might be high time for Orinoco to turn to the record labels for potential signing because with their new EP 'What A Relief' being a blazing marathon, record labels would be drooling at their feet because of. Download This: "Sheets" For Fans of: The Browning, early-Whitechapel, Black Tongue 'What A Relief' is out via an Independent release on 1st March. [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  WRATHFUL 'Open Chest' INDEPENDENT It's only taken 8 years for the Venezuelan Death Metal outfit Wrathful to deliver their first release, their debut album 'Open Chest' spews out raucously raw old and modern-school Death Metal with low-fi vocals, distorted riffs and solid drums. Whether you're into the faster or slow style of Death Metal, tis album has a song that will tickle your fancy for it has a wide range of different compositions. With every second passing, it's menacing nature only grows in stature and positions itself to take your soul completely. That said, it's by no means a ground-breaking album nor is it a run of the mill release, it does the job well, is flawless and thus cannot be disregarded as such. Download This: "The Eve" For Fans of: Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel, Suffocation [7/10] RHYS STEVENSON  REDUCED TO ASHES 'Aversion To Light' INDEPENDENT Reduced To Ashes are a Melodic Death / Metalcore outfit from North Macedonia and they have dropped their debut album 'Aversion To Light', to summarise the album in one word would be to call it 'sick'. The constant flitting between melodies and dirty chugging is so smooth, it rivals that of a calm lake, effortlessly drifting across the surface in spectacular fashion. 'Aversion To Light' could be the album to put the North Macedonian Metal scene firmly on the map and show the world that a promising band in Reduced To Ashes exists. Unrelenting pace, juicy riffs, blood-curdling vocals and a sweet-as production, 'Aversion To Light' should be your next listen because it deserves the attention, there are no excuses. Download This: "Lament" - click to listen For fans of: early In Flames, Bleeding Through, Spoil Engine [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  THE QUANTUM POSSESSION
'Descent Into Darkness' INDEPENDENT Like most Central and South American Deathcore bands, there is more emphasis on the high-pitch end of the growling spectrum instead of the down-right dirty end. Just ask Mexican cartel The Quantum Possession whose second album 'Descent Into Darkness' is disgustingly brutal it's almost criminal. Deploying Deathcore in the middle and slapping elements of Death Metal, Technical Metal and Melodic Metal on top, The Quantum Possession defy the rule of logic in spectacular fashion and as a result create an album designed to smash your cranium with immense pressure. The vocals might need some work though in terms of purification and making it sound less raw, otherwise this album kills and is designed to leave your ears bleeding profusely... Download This: "Shall Last Forever" - click to listen For fans of: Whitechapel, Oceano, Latin Deathcore [7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  NAFRAT 'Abnegation' BRUTAL INFECTION Singapore has a long standing history within the extreme metal community, it has been producing top notch bands for the past two decades. One of it's exports Nafrat re-emerge fresh from their 10 year slumber with their second unforgivable slice of no-bullsh*t Death Metal in the form of their new album 'Abnegation'. By taking elements from the old-school faculty and bolting on modern elements, the Singaporean quartet remind listeners as to why the South-East Asian Metal scenes are as brutal as they are. Demanding your attention at every passing second, this album will sit well with those well and truly seasoned with the genre, but moreover would provide a platform for those getting into Death Metal to explore it further. 'Abnegation' is one Death Metal album for the ages, gripping, tense and outright ferocious. Download This: "Iconoclasts" - click to listen For Fans of: Cannibal Corpse, Modern Death Metal, Rudra [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  MORS SUBITA 'Into The Pitch Black' INVERSE Just like being smacked in the head with a metal pole, Mors Subita's third effort 'Into The Pitch Black' comes slamming down on to your senses and leaves you left for dead. The strong opening track 'As Humanity Weeps' sets the tone for the album and arguably is the strongest track on the album. Throughout the album this Finnish outfit romp throughout. Bolting together the Modern Metal sound (with Industrial in tow) with the underlying current of Melodic Death / Thrash Metal, Mors Subita once again prove themselves to be the dark horse of the Finnish Metal scene. 'Into The Pitch Black' is loaded with aggression, slick swift elements, an electric atmosphere and a sound that is potent enough to leave you in a coma. For a band who has been going 19 years, they aren't giving up just yet not by a long shot as demonstrated on this album; if Scar Symmetry and In Flames are up your street, then Mors Subita is the mansion at the end of the road. Download This: 'As Humanity Weeps' For Fans of: Scar Symmetry, In Flames, Asylum 8 [9/10] RHYS STEVENSON  ASTRAY VALLEY 'Unneth' WORMHOLEDEATH Modern Metal seems to be the in-thing of late, it seems that the metal style cannot be shaken off and has arguably become the best thing since Nu Metal (was Nu Metal good though?). Escaping the claws of generic sounds is Spanish quartet Astray Valley, whose latest album 'Unneath' is laden with so much aggression you wouldn't know how to mosh to it. This quartet are young and full of energy, however they are also set to become the next successful Spanish Metal export having already hooked up with the likes of The Agonist for example. By lashing together elements from Metalcore, Alternative Metal, Melodic Metal and Groove Metal, Astray Valley are destined to go places with this rather unique and disturbing sound. 'Unneth' is one album that every fan of hard, abrasive metal should have, it's got more brutality in it than the Saw franchise ever delivered. Download This: "Waters Of Skylah" For Fans of: Butcher Babies, In This Moment, Jinjer [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  ACEFALO 'Sin Piedad' INDEPENDENT Sometimes the old ways are the best ways and Argentina's Acefalo have demonstrated this very well through their debut album 'Sin Piedad'. By harnessing the old-school Thrash Metal style and adding a side serving of grit and sweat, this quintet deliver a sound that echoes the early days of Slayer; full-on fast-paced Thrash that leaves your neck aching for days to come. Singing in their native Spanish, Acefalo know how to create an infectious sound that will make Thrash diehards weak at their knees; through the unrelenting drum-thumping, riff barrage and vocal onslaught. Granted it's nothing new, but it's worthy of utmost attention and once again, sometimes the old ways are the best ways. If you're seeking thunderous Thrash Metal then Acefalo will provide you with the best fix available. Download This: "Apostoles De La Crueldad 1" - click to listen For Fans of: Slayer, Machine Head, Nuclear Assault [7/10] RHYS STEVENSON  BLOODSHED 'Scoundrel' U-ORIES Could you blame Vietnam's Bloodshed for using pig squeals in their gruelling and gritty form of Death Metal? Not really, seeing as the extreme forms of metal out in the Far East are ultimately in their own league. Digesting their debut EP 'Scoundrel' is like sinking your teeth into a gourmet burger, its full of flavour and warrants finishing to enjoy the full array of ingredients. It comes together lashed with a sizeable dollop of unintelligible vocals, thick riffs and battering drums, overarching all of this is an innate sense of aiming to craft a signature sound and whilst it's evident Bloodshed tries their best, the result is merely a cry for help or raising the white flag to surrender the generic pig-squealing Death Metal formula. Download This: "Scoundrel" - click to listen For Fans of: Prostitute Disfigurement, Suffocation, Visceral Bleeding [5.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  KRUMMHOLZ 'Rooted In Despair' INDEPENDENT It's rare to find Black Metal in Sub-Sahara Africa let alone Atmospheric Black Metal, but Uganda-based trio Krummholz aim to change that and having released their debut EP 'Rooted In Despair', it would seem they've found their sound to march on with. Full of magical harmonies and riveting metal elements, this is one EP any metal fan should have in their collection because it's sound is so mesmerizing, it puts the Scandi-bands to shame. 'Rooted In Despair' comes in a 20-minute two-track onslaught that is almost guaranteed to keep you awake whilst listening to it. It would be fair to say that with this EP now in the wider world, that the dawn of 'True African Black Metal' is upon us, it's majestic sound is enough to satisfy anyone's musical thirsts. Download This: "To Father Worlds in the Bones of Ancient Solitude" - click the link For fans of: Windir, Winterfylleth, Carach Angren [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  ARTEMIS BLADE 'As Above… So Below' INDEPENDENT It's always fascinating whenever a band splits only for some of the members to form a new band, because at times they'll carry forward influences on from their previous outfit to their new one. Australian Melodic Death stalwarts Artemis Blade have done just that with their debut album 'As Above… So Below', having been a Thrash Metal band in The Blackened Beneath beforehand, it's clear some of these elements have seeped into their new music. Despite this the vocals are inhaled mostly but are savage enough to keep your attention from swaying away and if that's not enough, the three guitars, bass and drums will staple your ears to the speakers so hard that it won't be the staples that'll make your ear bleed, but the sharpness of Artemis Blade carving right through your senses. Download This: "The Fall" - click to listen For fans of: Silent Descent, Scar Symmetry, In Flames [7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  ASYLUM 'Domination' GSD PRODUCTIONS Prior to slaughtering the Wacken faithful this year by winning the Metal Battle Caribbean heats, Surinamese Groove / Metalcore outfit Asylum dropped their debut EP 'Domination'... and f**k does it kick some ass. Creating such a glowing effort in a relatively small metal scene is not easy, but Asylum have done just that, presenting a release that's guaranteed to smack a few jaws hard. Having been around six years, the wait for this release was worth it as the quintet summon every fighting spirit within their grasp to present metal so attention-grabbing, you would be a bloody-minded fool to ignore this promising outfit. Sure for some it's stripped bare and has no flashy riffs or trickery that the likes of Lamb of God might wield, but 'Domination' is one hell of a ride... free at that. Download This: "Dis Na Mi Kondre" - click to listen For Fans of: Lamb Of God, Fear Factory, DevilDriver [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  AOHEN '失魂 (Lost Souls)' INDEPENDENT It goes without saying that the Asian Extreme Metal scene is by far the best to have ever existed and Taiwan's Aohen make that point loud and clear. Dropping their latest demo '失魂 (Lost Souls)' this year, the Doom / Death Metal stalwarts waste no time in delivering such raw and energetic music, yeah sure it's a demo and yeah their fifth demo in a row, but who cares? '失魂 (Lost Souls)' is a two-track dynamic force that exhibits thick distortion, raw vocals and riffs so fluid they make your urine seem viscous. With some dabbling in Black Metal along the way, this quartet know how to hone their craft and whilst it might not be groundbreaking, it certainly adds up for a refreshing listen. Download This: "失魂 Lost Souls" - click to listen For Fans of: Myrkur, Amorphis, My Dying Bride [7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  BURST
'You Must Die' INDEPENDENT It's always amazing to find bands from the most far flung lands and yet to discover their music to be as professionally done as you would find in the leading metal scenes. Entering the fray are Burst, a Death / Grind band from the Pacific island of New Caledonia whose debut album 'You Must Die' is a tour de force. All across the fourteen tracks, listeners are subjected to a barrage of double bass drums, thick and heavily distorted guitars, topped by some rather neat and brutal vocals. With songs exclusively in French and English (although it depends if you call it audible), this outfit are sure to garner attention from outside of the French island dependency. If you're digging and looking for something exotic, then Burst's 'You Must Die' is your first port of call. Download This: "Bastard Extravagansa" - click to listen For Fans of: Deathbound, Carcass, Cattle Decapitation [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  TALBOT 'Magnetism' INDEPENDENT Light a bong and chill out to the thick distorted sounds of Talbot and their third album 'Magnetism', for the Russian-Estonian duo this is a well put together effort that puts you at ease, through it's ethereal and atmospherically charged sound, this is an album worth of a double listen. The finely balanced mix of Stoner and Doom Metal is clear as daylight and has left no room for error, the vocals in fact are split between growling and clean styles and are both engulfed by the thickened sound produce by the guitars and drums. Estonia rarely gets a look in for metal bands albeit Metsatoll as their best export, but for those metalheads willing to explore, Talbot is a prime example of what keeps the underground ticking. Their latest effort 'Magnetism' will surely gather some fan attention from outside of Estonia. Download This: "Infra" - Click to listen For fans of: Huntress, Kyuss, Electric Wizard [7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  AFTERLIFE SYMPHONY 'Lympha' REVALVE Italian quintet Afterlife Symphony return with their third effort 'Lympha' and they deliver what you would expect, in that there is a lot going on throughout this album that is very typical of the Symphonic Metal style. That does not mean that it follows the same pattern as Nightwish, no in fact the album draws in elements from the Gothic and Melodic Metal styles and yet retains a sort of operatic feel. It's the sort of music that you could expect in a fantasy film like the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, full of suspense and fluctuating atmospherics at every turn. However, even though 'Lympha' might not set the world alight it will certainly strike a chord or two with fans of Symphonic Metal and bands with female vocals. Afterlife Symphony certainly seem to have found the sound that will carry them forward, here's hoping they can build on this and not fall backwards. Download This: "XXI" For Fans of: Within Temptation, Epica, Therion [7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  STORM 'Zodiac' TIN IDOL PRODS Hawaiian Gothic / Power Metallers Storm deliver their third opus 'Zodiac' and it continues the bands exotically-charged style of metal that befits the laid back nature of theirsurroundings; even though Hawaii is nowhere near the US mainland (Hawaii is closer to Kiribati, is there a scene there?). 'Zodiac' delivers a punch with Sandy once again leading the front-line with her Suzi Quatro-esque style of rock / metal vocals, whilst the music as a whole delivers an Iron Maiden like sound, thunderous and unrelenting in every aspect. Sticking to the theme of the zodiac signs, each song depicts the traits of each sign and so what does Storm say about you? There is a song on this album for everyone as there is so much variation both lyrically and musically, it's like a Chinese buffet in that where do you start? But one thing is for sure, you will feel contented after gorging on this awesome effort. Download This: "Aquarius" (or your own sign) For Fans of: Iron Maiden, School of Rock enthusiasts, Suzi Quatro, Battle Beast [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  AWRIZIS 'Dreadful Reflection' METALGATE It's amazing what a few member changes can do to a band's productive output, in Awrizis's case it's not for the better. Having switch members in the vocals, drums, and guitars department, the anticipation of how this Czech unit would fare was steadily building since their debut album back in 2013. The new album 'Dreadful Reflection' might as well be a direct attack upon themselves, because whilst the music is a decent effort, the overall finesse is as entertaining as yawning your head off. The aggression that once was a musical threat now seems to have gone on holiday; but returns on some songs, at times the music is rather cliche but somehow delivers a respectable pulverising blow, but overall the album is nothing new, nothing special and as said a decent effort... it just flopped at the change of members. Download This: "Burn The Flame" For Fans of: 5 Finger Death Punch, DevilDriver, Lamb of God [5.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  VANFREJD 'I' INDEPENDENT Hailing from the Åland Islands, an archipegalo off of the Finnish coast is what could be argued as the one-man project Vanfrejd; although one cannot be sure as the info on the band/project is as useful as a dead battery. However, the debut album by this Black Metal entity is a strikingly good one, for the lack of physical presence the album justifies the band/project's existence. 'I' delivers the classic rampaging riffs, raucous vocals and blazing drums that we've all come to know from the generic Black Metal style. It will definitely please those die-hard fans of Black Metal, but for the wider metal music followers it might not be their cup of tea. All in all it's a decent effort but until Vanfrejd becomes more active socially it more than likely will be confined to history as an undiscovered release. Download This: "Tomhet" - Click to listen For Fans of: Mayhem, Immortal, Finnish Black Metal [7/10] RHYS STEVENSON  PSICOSIS 'Toska' INDEPENDENT OK so it has taken ten years for Psicosis from Nicaragua to release their debut album, it's always an eyebrow raiser when a band takes that long before releasing a major release but damn the wait was worth it. Combining the Spanish language with the unmistakable brutal heavy force of Groove / Thrash Metal, this ten-legged beast have done justice to the long wait. Clunking bass and riffs meet Latin influences and are jointly crowned with vocals of Sepultura elk, and drums so tightly precise that you wonder if the drummer is a mathematician at heart. 'Toska' is one album that will certainly gain considerable attention across the Central American Metal scenes and reinvigorate the whole Latin Metal style. Download This: "Dominacion" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Sepultura, Brujeria, Ill Nino [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  ABSENTATION 'Ascending To Desolate' INDEPENDENT Whilst the war and conflict ensues on the streets of Damascus, Syria, a thriving underground metal scene takes place an Daesh in their music. Absentation are a Death Metal duo and are arguably one of the most exciting metal bands to emerge from the Middle East. Their debut album 'Ascending To Desolate' is a full on Death Metal-epic, with nods to the old-school style with some modern bits thrown in here and there, the slight downside is the production - over exerted and thus somewhat ruins the album, but overall it packs a furious punch that will leave you with piss-sodden pants. They hold much promise in these dire times and can be seen as a band being picked to play Wacken in the next few years. Absentation are flying the flag for the Syrian Metal scene. Download This: "Absent-nations" - click to listen For Fans of: Napalm Death, Cannibal Corpse, Suffocation [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  CROW BLACK SKY 'Sidereal Light - Volume One' INDEPENDENT When it comes to the South African Metal scene, in specific the extreme side of it, there are numerous bands who know how to smash out a brutalising and powerful opus. Just ask the Melodic Black / Death Metal trio Crow Black Sky whose second album 'Sidereal Light - Volume One' is a tour-de-force. Sure it has been eight years since their debut, but the craftwork that has gone into the album is enriching and rewarding as a result. If Winterfylleth were a South African band they would be called Crow Black Sky, the ferocity and atmosphere conjured up is beautiful (can Black Metal be beautiful?). However some might not have the patience to listen to four tracks that on average last over eight minutes long, but the patience is worthwhile and for those who will take up the challenge, rest assured they will not be let down. Download This: "Lightless, Lifeless" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Winterfylleth, Shade Empire, Wildernessking [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  ATROFIA 'Programado Para El Caos' INDEPENDENT If you fancy a bounce on your chair like a pogo stick, a bop of the head or a jiggle then look no further than Cartoon Network. if you fancy a chance to ruin your chair, fling your head around or act like a thing possessed, then tune into Atrofia's highly anticipated debut album 'Programado Para El Caos'. It comes loaded with insanely fast Thrash Metal, mixed with the Spanish language and a feeling that the drummer is tanked up on red bull. Seriously this album is a romping marathon of which is hard to keep up with, especially when air drumming or doing the air guitar. It seems that this Panamanian outfit have their craft sussed out, for every second it does not disappoint and leaves you quenching for more. Think Panama is only famous for the canal? Think again. Atrofia is set to place Panama's metal scene on the world stage. Download This: "Et Gran Final" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Slayer, Kreator, Holy Moses [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  WASP STING DANGER
'Wasp Sting Danger' INDEPENDENT Ever been stung by a wasp? Ever been prodded by the wasp's pointed arse? South Korean Crossover Thrash / Hardcore merchants Wasp Sting Danger are here to warn you of the consequences of being violated by the wasps through their own brand of humour, human nature and barminess. Dropping their debut EP, this quintet know how to belt out a song or two, songs that ultimately will leave your hearing impaired, senses rearranged and genitals with a massive hard on. It's not often a South Korean Metal band garners attention outside of Asia, but damn if they carry on with this style of metal and their attitude, attention will come their way in the form of a label signing, if not festival slots overseas... this music is the absolute nuts! It's the dogs bollocks.... ever seen bollocks stung by a wasp... let's not go there. For Fans of: Brujeria, Corrosion of Conformity, Municipal Waste Download This: "Hate You" - Click to listen [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  DUSK OF DELUSION 'Funfair' FANTAI'ZIC To be inspired by established bands is one thing, but to try and emulate their sound is a no-no. Regrettably it seems France's Dusk Of Delusion have fallen into that trap, their debut effort 'Unfair' is predictable at it's best and sure whilst it carries the hallmarks of Slipknot and Korn as the bands that spring to mind imminently, the sound is too much of a likeness to said bands albeit the snippets of audio dialogue which somehow (no idea how) deters the attention away from the mimicking going on. In fact, there is far too much Corey Taylor going on here and this is what will leave the album undetected because said vocals, said artist, are established, period. Unless Dusk Of Delusion come up with a new formula for future releases they will always remain in second gear, welcome to the 'funfair'? Horror show more like. Download This: "Casanova" For Fans of: Slipknot, Drowning Pool, Korn, Stone Sour. [4/10] RHYS STEVENSON  PRIMORDIAL 'Exile Amongst The Ruins' METAL BLADE Although they have been going for a vast number of years, Ireland's treasured sons Primordial have not lost any of their unrelenting energy that makes their albums all so great. Four years on since their previous album and the Celtic / Black Metal crew drop their new effort 'Exile Amongst The Ruins' with a ferocious onslaught of folk-laden beats, aggressive and enchanting vocals, and riffs so refreshing, so striking, that they take you by surprise. Now, some might be turned off by the length of the songs but for those who are bold and brave enough to vanquish the thirst for something extraordinary, the experience is rewarding in every aspect. Drafting in Doom Metal elements one some of their songs once again, Primordial drive into the ground the stake of which establishes them as one of the greatest Irish Metal bands of all time; it would take something spectacular to unseat this enchanting release. Download This: "Where Lie The Gods" For Fans of: Winterfylleth, Cruachan, Cnoc An Tursa, Skyclad 'Exile Amongst The Ruins' is out 30th March via Metal Blade Records [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  FRANCIS 'A Million Years Of Loneliness' SLIPTRICK Moldova might be a small country in the far flung corner of Europe, but it's metal scene is ramping and shaping up to be one that can challenge the Western elite. Entering into the fray is Francis with their Modern Metalcore / Melodic Death entwined sound, a sound that will capture the attention of many across the continent and into the global metal community. 'A Million Years Of Loneliness' is the group's new album and it comes fitted with an explosive form of musical armageddon as it twists and turns into a multitude of pitches, rhythms and atmospherics that will leave you jaw-dropped. Judging by this album it seems that Francis are set on creating their own definitive sound and aren't easy to pigeon-hole, thus making them probably the most exciting modern metal band to emerge in 2018... watch this space with sincere intent. Download This: "Nothing Changed" For Fans of: Arch Enemy, Dead By April, Nightwish 'A Million Years Of Loneliness' is out 27th March via Sliptrick Records [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  AUGURY 'Illusive Golden Age' THE ARTISAN ERA Nine years have passed since Augury dropped their second album and it is not really for the better, their latest effort 'Illusive Golden Age' musically is fine, vocals are OK (they are hard to understand for Death Metal standards), but overall? The expectation fell short of 'oh my god'. The album does well to stand on it's own two but it lacks the ability to shift out of third gear into fourth, and whilst it flits between the two genres it lacks organization is rather all over the place despite admitting the music is fine; production wise it's fine, but piecing together it lacks organization. I just wasted time on listening to this arguably decent effort, I just wish it could have sounded better... Download This: "Carrion Tide" For Fans of: Progressive Death Metal, Canadian Tech Metal, 'wtf' metal 'Illusive Golden Age' is out 30th March via The Artisan Era [6/10] RHYS STEVENSON  BARBARIAN PROPHECIES 'Origin' BASE RECORD PRODS / HECATOMBE Heavy Black / Death Metal crew Barbarian Prophecies return with their fourth album 'Origin' and armed with a new vocalist, this is probably the strongest effort they have ever made. A non-stop thundering of raucous riffs, vomiting vocals and destruction drums pave the way for this album to lay waste on your senses with a sense of gratification at the very end. The funny thing is you would not think the vocals were female, such a brutal demonic force resides within Chousa's vocals, so much so they can easily challenge even the most guttural-singing of Death Metal vocalists. This effort shall create waves across the wider Spanish Metal scene, but even so it will strike a chord in the extreme metal community, this is an album to cherish. Download This: "Path Of The Soul" For Fans of: Behemoth, Death, Deicide 'Origin' is out 26th March via Base Record Productions / Hecatombe Records [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  KILLIBRIUM 'Purge' INDEPENDENT Upon hearing the debut EP by Death Metallers Killibrium, it's evident that the quartet know their craft extremely well and are perfectly capable of unleashing an unfathomable amount of extremity on the unsuspecting wider metal community. 'Purge' is a prime example of modern Death Metal should be done, no nonsense, no wishy-washy elements, just a straight and unchallenged stream of sheer ferocity marred by ballistic drumming, tight-arse riffs and vocals so brutal, they make your last shitting episode whimper at the gravity of this tantalisingly unmissable slice of Indian Death Metal. Honestly, if they are not snapped up in the next two years by a record label I shall question the activity of the metal music industry, Killibrium set to become the next big export from India. Download This: "Purge" For Fans of: Suffocation, Aborted, Behemoth 'Purge' is out now via an independent release [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  LAST DAYS OF EDEN 'Chrysalis' PRIDE & JOY MUSIC If Eluveitie, Within Temptation and Sonata Arctica had a threesome, Last Days Of Eden would be the offspring. Folk Metal, Symphonic Metal and Power Metal all come together into a mixing pot to produce something rather magical, something refreshing and something that should be in your music collection. 'Chrysalis' is the third album by this Spanish septet, and boy does it deliver a sound that is astoundingly beautiful. Whilst the folk metal elements float vividly in the background and the guitars and vocals take control on most songs, the delicate balance of all three genres make this album a joy to listen to. With this effort as solid as it is, it's no doubt that their live persona will match the likes of Epica, they certainly have this album nailed on the spot and whilst the Symphonic Metal genre may be overloaded with female-fronted bands, Last Days Of Eden have proven they are more than capable of holding their own. Download This: "Dead Man's Tale" For Fans of: Sonata Arctica, Epica, Eluveitie, Within Temptation 'Chrysalis' is out now via Pride & Joy Music [9/10] RHYS STEVENSON  DEAD OF NIGHT 'The Evolving Science Of Self' PRIDE & JOY MUSIC So what can you call Dead Of Night's music? Well it could be Symphonic Metal, it could be Gothic Metal, but let's go with 'Symphonic Cinematic Metal'. Set to release their fourth album in four years since their inception, Dead Of Night are a force to reckon with and are set to become the UK's long awaited answer to Nightwish. 'The Evolving Science Of Self' has the sort of sound you'd imagine hearing on a Disney soundtrack, 'Frozen' for example, because it's majestic and cinematic atmosphere lifts your senses high up in euphoria as the keyboard elements battle for supremacy against Briony's infatuating vocals, the guitars and drums content to take back seat, but the overall composition sits right in front of you as arguable one of the finest unsigned Symphonic Metal releases Europe has ever seen. Dead Of Night are destined to set planet metal alight. Download This: "Set The Night On Fire" For Fans of: Nightwish, Within Temptation, Ravenia, Epica 'The Evolving Science Of Self' is out now via Pride & Joy Music [9/10] RHYS STEVENSON  VALE OF AMONITION 'Those Of Tartarean Ancestry' INDEPENDENT Being a metal band in a country where the scene rests on your shoulders is a heavy burden to have, but it is something that Vale Of Amonition have taken in their stride. Unleashing their sound of True African Doom Metal once again with their second album 'Those Of Tartarean Ancestry', the Ugandan duo have served up something that can be considered a romantic affair with the occult, the dark side of myth and homage to Black Sabbath's Doom Metal pioneering. The magical side to this album and the duo's music is they tell stories through their music, the atmosphere providing a dank, dark, eerie and unnerving feeling and through the guitar distortion, harmonious and deep vocals and the entrancing pace of the drums, Vale Of Amonition have once again delivered a masterpiece opus, one that will delight Doom Metal fans everywhere. Download This: "The Most Of Merry Funerals" - Click to listen For Fans of: Black Sabbath, Huntress, Ghost [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  CARTAGENA
'Roma Delenda Est' INDEPENDENT Since Myrath stepped out into the wider world of metal music, Tunisia has been spewing out bands left, right and centre. The latest export to emerge Cartagena, is no ordinary Symphonic Metal band, this is a band who wants to take you on a journey back to the Roman Empire times and the invasion of Tunisia; band name refers to the then capital of the Carthaginian civilization (now Tunis). By mixing together the traditional sounds of Tunisia and the wider Arabic world with Symphonic Metal, Cartagena deliver a stellar debut album that will give them the proponents to lay waste at the festivals they are playing at this year. 'Roma Delenda Est' is an album everyone should own because it is finely balanced, between traditional music and metal music it straddles the two perfectly. Cartagena are flying the flag for the Tunisian Metal scene. Download this: "Motherland" - Click to listen For fans of: Myrath, Persona, Orphaned Land [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  THICKET 'Tides Of Pestilence' INDEPENDENT Drawing your attention away from Disneyland and into the realm of the sun-baked streets of Orlando, Floridian Groove Thrashers Thicket mean no harm when unleashing their third EP 'Tides Of Pestilence'... just the average bloodshed is to be expected. Laden with enough potency to spark off a mass brawl at your local venue, 'Tides Of Pestilence' comes loaded with radiant riffs, gritty vocals and unrelenting drumming. As prickly and sharp as their moniker suggests, this fearsome Floridian foursome are one of the latest hidden gems to be unearthed and thrust into the limelight, if you like your metal to be down and dirty then Thicket are your band. Download This: "Unleash The Beast" - Click to listen For Fans of: Slayer, Municipal Waste, Ektomorf [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  HEISENBERG 'The Empire Business' AMPUTATED VEIN There are bands who will indulge and in film and TV culture, for example the Ned Flanders Metal band Okilly Dokilly and Star Wars metal band Galactic Empire, however, with one of New York's latest and hottest properties you would only have to realise that you're not in danger and that they "are" the danger. If this does not trigger any brain cells to click, then perhaps when you hear this trio's new EP 'The Empire Business', you would have to prepare yourselves for they are the guys who knock hard. Enter Heisenberg, the Breaking Bad addicts armed with more meth than Jesse could muster and more brutality than Gus Fring's death, by bolting the Brutal Death Metal and Hardcore genres together this leviathan of insanity conjure up a release that's sure to get social media buzzing (literally). Download This: "No Lives Matter" - Click to listen For Fans of: early-Whitechapel, Suffocation, Prostitute Disfigurement [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  VINTERSEA 'The Gravity Of Fall' INDEPENDENT Despite how Nordic their name sounds, Vintersea hail from the Pacific state of Oregon and they come armed with a sound that is sure to get record label antennae twitching. Formed from the ashes of their previous moniker Asterion, this quintet replaced their ex-bassist with Duncan McCue and with this line-up are certainly solid throughout the entirety of their debut album 'The Gravity Of Fall'. By constructing a sound that consists of a finely balanced mix of Progressive and Melodic Death Metal, this is a strong step towards international exposure. Don't let their vocalist fool you, she is no angel when it comes to her death growls; echoing comparisons with the likes of Angela Gossow. Vintersea as a whole are a band to watch, they are sure to go far. Download This: "Skies Set Ablaze" - Click to listen For Fans of: The Agonist, Arch Enemy, Scar Symmetry [8] RHYS STEVENSON  ENDLIGHT 'Darker Than Dreams' INDEPENDENT Endlight are not your run of the mill Symphonic Metal band, not by a mile. The Colorado outfit amass a myriad of elements that entwine into something rather sonically captivating, that it is simply hard to switch the music off. 'Darker Than Dreams' is this sextet's first EP and it follows off the heels of their debut album 'The Treacherous Fall', since then they've a change in both the male and female vocal duties and so thus providing a fresh take on Endlight's direction. For those with enough spare time on their hands, their three-track EP is worth the listen even though two tracks last out for around eight minutes. By using the flute as the backdrop for the Folk Metal side and traditional metal instruments for the Melodic Death Metal side, Endlight look set to develop their own sound. Download This: "Frost On The Wind" - Click to listen For Fans of: Eluveitie, Scar Symmetry, Wintersun [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  IRRA'S ONE 'Breaking Out' INDEPENDENT Another interesting outfit to emerge out of the Sunshine state aka Florida, Irra's One have dropped their debut EP 'Breaking Out' with an interesting take on Thrash Metal by using that metal style as a foundation and bringing in Hardcore influences to add some extra beef to their already bullish sound. Clean and mauling vocals lead the charge whilst the crackling riffs and distant drums add rumbles of thunder as this quartet produces a release that spits fire and demands attention at all costs. They might have only just started out, but if they can refine the production, bring more emphasis to the drums and guitars, then we could have a really exciting export on our hands. Download This: "Shipwrecked" - Click to listen For Fans of: Hatebreed, Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies [7] RHYS STEVENSON  DARK HAVEN 'Dark Haven' INDEPENDENT Melodic Death metal comes in more shades than 50 shades of black, sometimes erotic but at the best of times the genre is binding and constricts your senses with expert precision. So when bands like Dark Haven dabble in this fragile of genres, they use the core embodiment to their advantage and sprinkle elements of Modern Metal, Metalcore and a dash of Thrash Metal, carving out a sound that will appeal to a wide range of metalheads. 'Dark Haven' is the band's second album and comes out after seven years since their debut, it might well be a long time but it's truly worth the wait. Echoing the early days of In Flames and having dollops of The Haunted and Mnemic in their locker, Dark Haven are that shadowy band lurking in the depths of down-town California. Download This: "The Seven Gods" - Click to listen For Fans of: early-In Flames, Omnium Gatherum, The Haunted [8] RHYS STEVENSON  AT REST 'The Perversion Of Morality' INDEPENDENT It's nice for once to hear a Deathcore band that isn't all about how br00tal they can sound and how many breakdowns they can fit in between verses. New Jersey's At Rest certainly echo the early days of The Black Dahlia Murder and employ a Melodic Death Metal overtone to coat their gruelling style of masochistic Deathcore. Seeming to have made a comeback from the grave, this trio (presumably was quintet) have dusted themselves off and have delivered a polished jewel that certainly packs a punch. What is missing here and could add a haunting feeling is a keyboardist, especially during the breakdowns and interludes in the songs themselves. Other than that this is a solid EP that should not be taken lightly at all. Download This: "Undressed For Death" - Click to listen For Fans of: Born Of Osiris, The Black Dahlia Murder, Veil Of Maya [8] RHYS STEVENSON  DREAMING DEAD 'Funeral Twilight' HAMMERHEART Gloominess and horrors aside, Dreaming Dead are coming for your souls with their devilishly epic new album 'Funeral Twilight' which sees the Californian quartet mash together element of Black Metal with a solidified Melodic Death Metal base. Through the barbaric nature of their sound and the viciousness of their lead vocalist Elizabeth Schall, Dreaming Dead are treading on new territory as we know it and with this effort it was evidently clear as to why they were snapped up by Hammerheart. If you think you know Melodic Death Metal, then you've not done your homework for this outfit defy all what you would expect and instead re-write the rulebook, heck what bloody rulebook? 'Funeral Twilight' is not for the faint of heart, but is for those who love the darker side of metal. Download This: "No Masters, No Slaves" - Click to listen For Fans of: Once Human, Arch Enemy (Gossow-era), The Agonist (Gluz-era) [8] RHYS STEVENSON  HANAL PIXAN 'U k'aayo'ob K'ujo'ob' INDEPENDENT Whenever a band sings about their culture or sings in their own native language or an indigenous language, there is a sense of uniqueness surrounding the band's music output. Belizean Black / Doom Metallers Hanal Pixan are no exception, they sing in the local Yucatec Maya language of which descends from the Ancient Maya civilization and is spoken in the Yucatan Peninsula and Belize. The trio's debut album 'U k'aayo'ob K'ujo'ob' sounds like a tribal ritual of the bestial nature, and the language sits well with the extremity of Black Metal, there's no beleaguering shrieking vocals nor any desire to play as fast as possible. In fact it could be said that Hanal Pixan are leading the Belizean Metal scene to newer heights with their pioneering sound of Mayan Metal. Download This: "Máasewal" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Mayhem, Vale Of Amonition, Bestial Black Metal. [8] RHYS STEVENSON  PESTIFER
'Execration Diatribes' LAVADOME PRODS. Menacing at every second, that is how Death Metal should be right? Not exactly, you see Portugal's Pestifer do more than just unleash a brutalising splattering of Death Metal, they drive it through your pitiful brain and deep into your thalamus rendering your muscular self completely useless... well they do say Death Metal is not for the weak (just ask Suffocation). Anyway 'Execration Diatribes' is the long-awaited debut album by this trio and comes eight years after their well-received premier demo 'Brutal Eruption of Chaos'. It's laden from beginning to end with seismic drums, horrifically-executed vocals and bludgeoning riffs, leaving the listener in complete suspense and trying to understand what the hell has just ripped their cranial structure apart... gee it's heavy stuff all right. Download This: "Dark Dimensions" For Fans of: Acrania, Unleashed, Modern Death Metal. [8] RHYS STEVENSON  FRISSON 'Exit Denied' INDEPENDENT When listening to the debut album release by Frisson, you would have to make your choice on what genre they are because they seem to wander through numerous styles, from Death Metal and Hardcore to elements of Black Metal and Thrash Metal... so let's call it extreme metal. 'Exit Denied' is a raw and brutal release that will appeal to a wide range of tastes, in fact it's a decent release from a scene that lacks in exposure... it's not easy hailing from Kosovo. Wherever the future takes these lads, one thing is for certain, they are flying the flag for the Kosovar Metal scene. For the record, Frisson is French for shivering and shivering is what you will do when finishing listening to 'Exit Denied'. Download This: "Madness" - Click to listen For fans of: Extreme Metal [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  SECTASYS 'Brotherhood Of Chaos' INDEPENDENT Without a doubt one of the tightest, most extreme metal bands to emerge out of the South American continent. Hailing from Venezuela is Sectasys, a Blackened Death trio of whom have summoned the darkest curses known to man to magic up 'Brotherhood Of Chaos', an album designed for those who love their metal to be fast and heavy, not weak and pathetic. From start to finish, this album is unrelenting in every aspect and as the chaos pursues, so does the thirst for more from this band. Think early Behemoth come cascading down into Immortal whilst simultaneously flirting with Carpathian Forest, well, you get the idea... complete chaotic carnage with enough brutality to crush your mind to pieces. Download This: "Destroyers Of Humanity" - Click to listen For Fans of: Behemoth, Carpathian Forest, early-God Dethroned [8] RHYS STEVENSON  LIBERTAD O MUERTE 'En Carne Viva' INDEPENDENT Modern Metalcore meets Modern Melodic Death Metal once again as Libertad O Muerte drop their second album 'En Carne Viva', one year after their debut saw light. Exclusively singing in Spanish, this quintet from Uruguay hold nothing back when it comes to music creativity and it shows on their latest effort, it's none of that flashy stuff nor is it swishy, in fact this album is completely brutal and demands your immediate attention. If you think you've heard Melodic Death/ / Metalcore in it's entirety, think again for Libertad O Muerte feed their style with some groove elements as well to keep it bouncing along tickety-boo. 'En Carne Viva' is a delight to listen to, may they make more albums like this. Download This: "Divide Y Conquistarás" - Click to listen For Fans of: Mnemic, The Agonist, Scar Symmetry [8] RHYS STEVENSON  NOVARIUM 'Omicron' INDEPENDENT With most Gothic Metal bands you tend to expect the vocals to be a battle between male growls and female harmonics, however Novarium seem to want to discard the whole 'beauty and the beast' aesthetic, and instead use the power of the music generated as a menacing sound to battle against the female vocals - quite an interesting take if one is being honest. This American quintet are challenging convention with their debut effort 'Omicron' (n.b. 15th letter of the Greek alphabet), taking a delicate balance of Nightwish style symphonies and slotting in influences from Evanescence, Lacuna Coil and Within Temptation along the way. To most this might seem another one of those cliche Gothic Metal releases, but this is a breath of fresh air, don't believe me? Check it out for yourself. I call this Modern Gothic Metal. Download This: "The Unworthy" - Click to listen For Fans of: Nightwish, Lacuna Coil, Evanescence, Within Temptation. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  EX ANIMO 'Neverday' INDEPENDENT If you turn your attention towards Eastern Europe, in specific the broader Doom / Dark Metal movement that seems to be rather a craze in this part of the world, you will find bands like Ex Animo taking the initiative to constantly reinvent this already overdone crossover genre. 12 years may well be a shockingly long time between their debut album and their second album 'Neverday', but the Ukrainian quintet have pulled out all the stops on this effort and whilst sticking 'mostly' to their guns. They've ventured into other styles of metal including Symphonic Metal and Gothic Metal at the foremost periphery. Just don't expect a lot of growling to take centre stage, instead let the atmospherics do the talking because boy, it's terrific, it's hounding and it's going to consume your senses. Download This: "Shattered Universe" - Click to listen For Fans of: Moonspell, Poisonblack, Paradise Lost [8] RHYS STEVENSON  EDGEFLAME 'Liberate Then Separate' INDEPENDENT This is more of a political statement in vendetta form rather than a Thrash Metal album, well when you consider Edgeflame to wallow in the 80's Thrash Metal sound, it fits. Mixing Speed and Heavy Metal as well and you have the complete package. For Turkey's Edgeflame, 'Liberate Then Separate' is more about making music and enjoying it rather than seeking something new and or to be superstars, it's a statement of intent that there is evident unrest within Turkish society - not to suggest that the middle finger should be raised at the state of modern Turkey, or at least ironically that is what Edgeflame seem to suggest. Instead it's a gentle nod to a much wider global issue. Download This: "Sledgehammer Of Time" - Click to listen For Fans of: Evile, Pantera, Testament [7] RHYS STEVENSON  NAWATHER 'Wasted Years' M&O MUSIC Ever since Myrath exploded onto the global stage with their unique style of Oriental Progressive Metal, fellow Tunisian metalheads have adopted similar styles with their music, Nawather are no exception. They aren't trying to be clones of Myrath, no way, instead they add a bit more grit and another take on the flourishing Oriental Progressive Metal style and this is clear with their debut album 'Wasted Years'. By mixing growling male vocals with clean female vocals, Nawather add an extra dimension to create their own sound - through the use of a Qanûn, rather than synthetically create the 'Arabic' vibes via keyboard; not that there's anything wrong with that, either way is something special. But it's fair to say that Nawather, Myrath and Persona are leading the 'New Wave of Tunisian Metal'. For Fans of: Myrath, Persona, Orphaned Land Download This: "Defnouna" - Click to listen [8] RHYS STEVENSON  INTRICATED 'The Vortex Of Fatal Depravity' PERMEATED If seismic activity was detected underneath the buzzing streets of Bangkok, you cannot blame mother nature for it, no not this time... the culprits would be Intricated. By unleashing a torrential, gruelling and disgusting slab of Slam / Brutal Death Metal, Thailand's Intricated are sickening enough to make you vomit and then some. When you consider 'The Vortex Of Fatal Depravity' is the band's debut album after 9 years since their inception, it certainly was worth the wait as the pig squeals, low-fi blastbeats and thick distorted riffs set destined course for pummelling your senses. The funny thing is though, Brutal Death Metal is so fixed on a particular formula it's hard to create anything musically different without treading over the same blueprints, either way 'The Vortex Of Fatal Depravity' is a heavy-hitting release. Download This: "Represent Existence" - click to listen For Fans of: Katalepsy, Suffocation, Dying Fetus [7] RHYS STEVENSON  OMNIFARIUM 'Vitiate' INDEPENDENT There was once a time where most people would have never thought of any metal music scenes happening in The Caribbean, nowadays the island nations and dependencies are embracing this global phenomena and it's bands like Omnifarium who are spurring it on. Having unleashed their first demo 3 years ago, the time had come for them to drop their debut EP and boy what a beast it is. Vitiate borrows influence from Old-School Death Metal as well as the Floridian Death Metal style, so mid-pace drums, chunky riffs and mauling vocals all combine to deliver a harmonised music onslaught. Omnifarium have not vitiated the Death Metal scene, no in fact they've pushed themselves right into the mix of it all, but also positioned themselves to be flying the flag for the Puerto Rican Metal scene. Download This: "Thorns Of Abomination" - Click to listen For Fans of: Shadows Fall, Suffocation, Morbid Angel  FROZEN GATE
'Behind The Dark Ice' INDEPENDENT Perhaps it might be apt that Frozen Gate does indeed hail from the city of Winterthur in northern Switzerland, because this horde of ice warriors have sculptured a rather bitter, brutal and atmospheric style of Symphonic Black Metal. 'Behind The Dark Ice' is a new edition to the whole 'Winter Metal' theme that bands like Wintersun, Wintersoul and Immortal Soul seem to use, in fact truth be told Frozen Gate are the bastard sons of Wintersun and Dimmu Borgir. On one hand you have the icy symphonies and on the other hand the fast-paced brutality combined with an almost adventurous undertone. It is early days no doubt, but Frozen Gate might yet just prove to be the Black Metal band to reignite the Swiss Metal scene and potentially befit themselves as an up-and-coming force in the underground. Download This: "Illuminate My Way" - Click to listen For Fans of: Behemoth, Wintersun, Dimmu Borgir [9] RHYS STEVENSON  EPPING FOREST 'Lebabvoid' UNEXPLODED Eight to nine years have passed since Epping Forest delivered their unrelenting monstrosity known as 'Everblasting Struggle', and now the Portuguese Blackened Death maestros unveil their latest effort 'Lebabvoid'. What comes with it is a slapping of harmonious riffs, gritty vocals and an atmosphere that's very much akin to that of Behemoth kind. Dealing with the Sumerian myth this time round, this quartet amass together a sound that puts their debut album to rest, surpassing their first effort with ease and satisfaction. It might not be the prettiest release from the Blackened Death Metal style, nor was it intended to be, but it's certainly another successful release from the Portuguese Metal scene. Not for the faint-of-heart. Download This: "Demise: Twelve Times twelve Sars" For Fans of: Behemoth, Melechesh, Carpathian Forest 'Lebabvoid' will be out via Unexploded Records (date TBA) [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  INFERNO 'Genética Humana' NECROMANCE Spanish conquistadors Inferno finally drop their debut album eight years after their inception, by mixing Speed and Thrash Metal together and singing in their own native Spanish language, it's pretty safe to say that Inferno are your average run of the mill Spanish Speed / Thrash Metal band. Sure it's not easy being critical on an album which is not in the English language, but at times despite the effort it simply lacks that knack to ignite into a really epic release. Whether it's the fact they're from Ceuta, a Spanish city bordering Morocco or the fact it's taken so long for them to muster anything substantial up, the fact remains Inferno have found themselves in a rut, and sadly might remain there. Download This: "Cultura Del Egoismo" For Fans of: Slayer, Sodom, Gama Bomb 'Genética Humana' is now out via Necromance Records [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON  AMBIVALENCE 'Hyena's Breath' PRC MUSIC Veterans of Ukrainian Death Metal Ambivalence make it four with their fourth album to date, the 'Hyena's Breath' must be rancid and vile as this music because the music is as rotten and sickening as a 'Hyena's Breath', see what was done there? The four-piece from Lviv explore the avenues of Groove Metal, Technical Metal and Death Metal to take the best of all three genres to create something rather brutal, something insanely non-understandable but moreover something delightful to listen to. Sadly this is the only release vocalist Dmytro Pliska will ever do, question is who did the drums? Line-up disputes aside, this is one for the ages and will surely be counted as the best album Ambivalence have ever mustered. Download This: "Swallowers" For Fans of: Aborted, Gorgasm, Spawn Of Possession 'Hyena's Breath' is out now via PRC Music [8] RHYS STEVENSON  AKOMA 'Revangels' MASSACRE Denmark's Akoma have been knocking around since 2004 and have finally dropped their debut album in the shape of 'Revangels', a majestic journey across the Danish lands, drifting under and over the Øresund Bridge and ending up in Silkeborg where the music emanated. The quintet's second EP 'The Other Side' laid the foundations for 'Revangels' to be built upon, upwards they went with it and thus as they became signed, 'Revangels' became their Massacre Records-debut. Distancing themselves from the overused comparison between Nightwish and their chosen genre, Symphonic Metal, Akoma branch out and embrace elements from the Gothic Metal, Alternative Metal and Operatic Metal styles. This album is highly captivating and is one certainly guaranteed to bring 'hygge' to the home, Akoma are flying the flag for the Danish Metal scene. Download This: "Hands Of Greed" For Fans of: Evanescence, Within Temptation, Xandria 'Revangels' is out 27th January via Massacre Records [9] RHYS STEVENSON  VICTORIUS 'Heart Of The Phoenix' MASSACRE Take out some health insurance, for your neck won't survive the ferocious onslaught that Victorius have laid out for you. Emerging out of the phoenix's ashes, Germany's Victorius are no strangers to the Power Metal vernacular and it's evident on their fourth album 'Heart Of The Phoenix', soaringly powerful vocals come colliding with emphatic riffs and thunderstruck drumming as the ten-legged leviathan lets rip with another juicy slab of true Power Metal. Join Victorius on a magical adventure as they aim to caress your mind and soul with such delinquent music that is almost Disney-esque, the sort of music that would give Germany their win at Eurovision 2017. Conchita Wurst might have begun to 'rise like a phoenix', but Victorius have come from the 'Heart Of The Phoenix'! Download This: "End Of The Rainbow" For Fans of: Sabaton, Sonata Arctica, Gloryhammer 'Heart Of The Phoenix' is out now via Massacre Records [9] RHYS STEVENSON  AFTERTIME 'The Fall Of Light' INDEPENDENT After five years of activity, you'd have thought AfterTime would have ironed out all the imperfections along the way, well that is true to a certain extent. Take their debut EP, the music is great, the vocals sublime, the atmosphere spot on... what is wrong? The production. Sure it can't be helped, but for a first-time effort it's pretty decent. No doubt their debut album will be finely tuned, that is not to say 'The Fall Of Light' is a disaster by any means, it just needs cleaning up a bit. Funnily enough AfterTime manage to escape the shackles of the Nightwish 'Symphonic Metal' comparison and wander their own path, what the future will hold will be interesting for this American quintet. Download This: "The Final Act" - Click to listen For Fans of: Within Temptation, Liv Kristine, Therion [7] RHYS STEVENSON  EX ANIMO 'Neverday' METAL SCRAP It's been twelve years since Ex Animo released their debut album and since then there has been a slew of members coming and going, yet they manage to deliver their next instalment in their career in the shape of 'Neverday', a dark, gloomy slab of Doomed Gothic Metal. But don't expect a host of thick, chunky riffs or depressing atmospherics, ironically the Ukrainian five-piece succeed in injecting an element of life or indeed positivity into the sound - almost the opposite to what Doom Metal is all about. Moreover they've seemed to find a vocalist in Yulia Zhukova who is more dynamic than her predecessor Anna Beliakova. Whether they will go one to search for album number three remains a question to be answered, but for now 'Neverday' stands strong as a productive release coming out of the Ukrainian Metal scene. Download This: "Aeons Of Sadness" - Click to listen For Fans of: My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost, Draconian [8] RHYS STEVENSON  SATRIAS 'Doomsday Prophecy' ENVENOMED MUSIC Resistance is futile when it comes to Satrias' second album 'Doomsday Prophecy', just like the title suggests this Ukrainian ensemble want to send a message of foreseeable destruction, some would misconstrue this as a political statement but those true to metal will know this is not the case. Here is a band who execute modern Melodic Death Metal with ease and relative comfort, there is little slack in their craft and as the album raucously plays, one can but imagine Satrias coming to conquer Europe with their musical arsenal. It's simple but effective and whilst at times might leave you wondering how they can move on from this, the answer is clearer than the question - they evolve. Overall 'Doomsday Prophecy' is a solid nod to the Melodic Death Metal style. Download This: "V Age" - Click to listen For Fans of: In Flames, Omnium Gatherum, Dark Tranquillity [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  DEAD EDITION 'Network Failure' INDEPENDENT Get your funky groove on and smash those heads, because Dead Edition are coming to wreak havoc on your mind and body with their premier EP 'Network Failure'. Consisting of unrelenting vocals, flesh-searing riffs, bone-crushing drumming and an atmosphere so brutal, not even a mass murderer could stomach the monstrous chaos laid here before to bear witness. For a band with only three members, they sure know how to make their sound much louder and pronounced than you would imagine, in fact they make it sound like they're a five-piece band with the sheer energy displayed. 'Network Failure' should be enough to give the Ukrainian trio some attention, but they've set the bar high for themselves to succeed this EP with their future potential debut album... watch this space. Download This: "Crowdsoul" - Click to listen For Fans of: DevilDriver, 5FDP, Lamb of God [8] RHYS STEVENSON  KREIGEN
'Therion Of Wawel' INDEPENDENT Drums? Nope. Bass? Nope. Keyboards? Nope. Guitars? Check. Vocals? Lots of? Check. How weird is it to think that a band can only work on programming, various operatic vocal styles (baritone, soprano and tenor) and a guitar and yet somehow manage to balance the unbalanced equation out, and deliver a rather interesting EP? Well just ask Kreigen who've done just that with their second EP 'Therion Of Wawel' which comes out a year after their debut EP 'Fimbulwinter Tale'. It's a very weird concept that somehow works, it might not be conventional nor what one would expect but it certainly is a standout release from the others on planet metal in 2016, if not the past decade. Either way Kreigen are more than content to work more songs for future releases in this experimental form of Symphonic Metal. Download This: "Seven Stones" - Click to listen For Fans of: Therion, Avant-Garde Metal, Gregorian [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  CHRONOLYTH 'Atrophy' INDEPENDENT / ROCKET DIST. Australian Metal is witnessing some sort of renaissance as it sheds its past deluge of Metalcore exports and swings to another position in the Extreme Metal scale. Hail the new beast from down under Chronolyth with their cranial-crushing second album 'Atrophy', by merging together the grit of Death Metal, danceable freedom of Groovy Metalcore and elegance of Melodic Metal, this five-piece assemble a sound of algorithmic proportions that is certain to leave listeners in a pile of their own crap. By challenging the conventional norms, Chronolyth have found their feng shui to unleash upon the world with. Big things are expected from this band of brothers, we could yet see them become the next hottest export from the other side of the world... Europe Chronolyth has you in their sights. Download This: "Revenants" For Fans of: DevilDriver, Lamb Of God, Killswitch Engage 'Atrophy' is out 29th April via an Independent Release / Rocket Distribution [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  LIGHTLESS MOOR 'Hymn For The Fallen' WORMHOLEDEATH Italy's Gothic / Doom Metal maestros Lightless Moor emerge out of the shadows with their second offering 'Hymn For The Fallen'. Continuing and improving their sound that they established on their debut album 'The Poem - Crying My Grief To A Feeble Dawn', this sextet clearly had vision in sight as this latest effort offers itself as the musical form to a dark poetic work, perhaps as sorrowful and touching as Shakespeare's Macbeth or Romeo & Juliet. Lurching over the hour mark, there is plenty on this album to keep listeners occupied with and unusually for a Doom-based album, none of the songs are extremely long. 'Hymn For The Fallen' is the latest example of the Italian Metal scene's love affair for Gothic and Doom Metal sounds, or let's call it 'Dark Metal'. Such beauty and dramatics have never entwined like this before. Download This: "Qualcosa Vive Attraverso" For Fans of: Draconian, Theatre Of Tragedy, Octavia Sperati 'Hymn For The Fallen' is out 9th June via Wormholedeath [8] RHYS STEVENSON  MIDNIGHT ETERNAL 'Midnight Eternal' INNER WOUND REC. This is the sort of music you would expect to hear at Disney World Florida, you know? The Fantasia of the metal world is here with New York harmonisers Midnight Eternal unleashing their infectiously delightful self-titled album. With the vocals and keyboards wallowing in the upper echelons of Power Metal and the guitars and drums providing the symphonic infrastructure for this insanely perfect debut album to glide on through. 'Midnight Eternal' comes complete with arousing dynamics, theatrically-electric atmospherics and a sound that Midnight Eternal can call their own. In fact, it might as well be said that Midnight Eternal are the United States' long-term answer to Finland's Symphonic / Power Metal powerhouse Nightwish, may this American quintet's rise to international recognition begin. Download This: "Repentance" For Fans of: Delain, Sonata Arctica, Nightwish 'Midnight Eternal' is out 29th April via Inner Wound Records [9] RHYS STEVENSON  DARKESTRAH 'Turan' OSMOSE PRODS. Considered to be the only currently active metal bands from Kyrgyzstan, Darkestrah have been residing in Germany as expatriates of late and although this means a cultural shift, it has not deterred them from unleashing albums with folk-laden Epic Black Metal as their adopted sound. 'Turan' is the quintet's latest offering and it comes brim-loaded with six tracks averaging out at eight minutes long, it does not get any less epic than that. Because the exoticness of the album cannot be ignored, it has a certain vibe to it that gives Darkestrah their own unique identity irrespective of cultural heritage. For those who prefer their Black Metal songs to be emphatic, valiant and above all adventurous, then 'Turan' is your next album purchase because seriously, not even the Black Metal greats could pull of an album as authentically outstanding as this one. Hails to the kings of the new wave of Kyrgyz Black Metal. Download This: "Erlik-Khan" For Fans of: Arbor Mortis, Arkona, Bal-Sagoth 'Turan' is out 29th April via Osmose Productions [8] RHYS STEVENSON  FORGED IN BLACK 'Fear Reflecting Fear' INDEPENDENT The boys from Southend (Sarfend to those natives of the coastal town in Essex) leave their bunker with another EP in their hands, this time 'Fear Reflecting Fear' is their latest offering and in short might as well be a cornerstone in the band's career. They never stopped chugging away this lot, in fact this EP pretty much picks up from where they left off since their last EP 'The Tide' blew away the British Metal scene. If this is what Forged In Black are going to sound like in the future, then this will surely result in them scoring a slot on the RJD stage at Bloodstock. Hell-bent on creating their own sound, which they've managed to do, satisfactory is never good enough with this lot and thus having pulled all of the stoppers out, have crafted an EP that will shake the very foundations of the Thrash Metal hall of fame with newfound vigour. Mixing Thrash Metal with elements of Speed Metal, Heavy Metal and a pinch of Power Metal in terms of Stoz's vocals is what Forged In Black does best, long may it continue. Download This: "Fear Reflecting Fear" For Fans of: Judas Priest, Helloween, Grand Magus 'Fear Reflecting Fear' is out 29th April via an Independent Release [8] RHYS STEVENSON  NEMESEA 'Uprise' NAPALM Nemesea are probably and arguably one of the most underrated Gothic Metal bands from the Dutch Metal scene, whilst their fellow countrymen Within Temptation, Delain and Epica run riot across planet metal, Nemesea are left picking up the pieces... not any more. With their latest album 'Uprise', they take the bold step and switch to an electronic-influenced sound which is already blessed with the majestic vocals of Manda Ophuis since day one. Whilst it might not appeal to some fans of Gothic Metal / Rock, it certainly will bring a new horde of fans to like the band. Nemesea are set on making a metal music revolution and boy with 'Uprise' as bloody infectious as it is, they've certainly gone the right way at setting up the blueprint for a new take on the already saturated Gothic Metal style. 'Uprise' and join Nemesea on their newfound quest for undiscovered music dynamics. Download This: "Time To Make It" For Fans of: Within Temptation, Amaranthe, Jesus On Extasy 'Uprise' is out 29th April via Napalm Records [8] RHYS STEVENSON  RAVENIA 'Beyond The Walls Of Death' INNER WOUND REC. Enter the emergence of 'Symphonic Film Score Metal', a combination of Symphonic Metal music at the very core, glazed over with elements found within film scores as dramatic as Williams' Star Wars overture or as adventurous as Two Steps From Hell. Arguably considered the successor to Apocalyptica in terms of realizing the erotic relationship between metal and classical music, Ravenia is a force to be reckoned with. Lead by the elegant Armi Päivinen and her fellow suitors of whom provide the sheer sensational dynamics as a dramatic backdrop, simply through the utilization of guitars, drums, violins, a viola, cello and a contrabass. With 'Beyond The Walls Of Death' being the debut album from the Finnish nine-piece, they could easily be snapped up to pen the score for the forthcoming 2017 film 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales'. Seriously if you're looking for something new within the Symphonic Metal style, you've found your band. Download This: "We All Died For Honor" For Fans of: Tarja-era Nightwish, Apocalyptica, Hans Zimmer 'Beyond The Walls Of Death' is out 29th April via Inner Wound Records [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  INNER BLAST 'Prophecy' NORDAVIND Ten years since their inception and four years since their debut EP, Portuguese Gothic Metallers Inner Blast finally stamp their authority on the ground with their debut album 'Prophecy'. Whilst what they're doing is not really new, it does however serve as a delightful listen, you know? It's the kind of album that sits in the middle of what's new and what's old, it's neither groundbreaking nor cliche. But it has everything covered, there are some slow ballad-style songs and then there's the bouncy, joyful songs that would almost certainly brighten your day. This may do well in the Iberian, Italian and French Metal scenes, possibly also the British, but unfortunately it lacks that snapping point that otherwise would give it greater prospects. 'Prophecy' might not be a blast, but it will have you hooked to a certain extent, that's for sure. Download This: "Darkest Hour" For Fans of: Khael, La-Ventura, Shear 'Prophecy' is out now via Nordavind Records [7] RHYS STEVENSON  DEVOLTED 'Broken Kings' INDEPENDENT Chugga-chugga goes the riffs on this insane beast-of-an-EP, 'Broken Kings' is the second EP by Dublin's Devolted and it is loaded with enough Heavy Thrashed-up Metal to make you choke on your own spit, or was that cum, or period juice? Whatever sickening description you can slap on this fine example of Irish Metal, the matter of the fact is that it will give you an orgasmic reaction so erotically disturbing, you would have put the red light district out of business. Thundering vocals come together hand-in-hand with rapid-fire riffs, dangerously violent drums and an atmosphere worthy of a pint of Guinness... or two. After indulging yourself in this release, you can easily imagine them becoming an instant hit across the Irish Sea in the UK, who doesn't love a bit of Thrash Metal right? 'Broken Kings' should belong in your collection for your journeys across the lands, it's gallant pace serving as the ideal soundtrack for said activity. Download This: "God Of Light" - Click to listen For Fans of: Savage Messiah, Gama Bomb, Evile [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  350TERIC
'Undertones' INDEPENDENT Благој Цилаков (Blagoj Cilakov) is the mastermind behind the Progressive / Djent project 350teric (Esoteric) and he has conjured up his sixth album in the project's 7-year history. 'Undertones' is the latest offering by this Macedonian virtuoso and despite it being completely instrumental, like his previous releases, the music itself talks in it's own form of lyric. With multiple music layers binding this sound together, it's no surprise that listeners would become completely entranced and attached to the wizardry displayed herewith. Majestic and mesmerizing in every aspect, this is perhaps the finest instrumental release the Balkans has ever produced across the entire music spectrum. 'Undertones' lasts a respectable 35 minutes, and so with the variation in tracks clearly evident, listeners will not be stuck for lack of interest as not only is Progressive and Djent Metal present, there are Metalcore elements here and there as well. Download This: "Autumn Limbus" - click to listen For Fans of: Progressive / Djent Metal, instrumental music, Metalcore-tinged metal [8] RHYS STEVENSON |
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