ANCKORA 'Открой мне дверь' (Open The Door For Me) LIFE MUSIC Russian Cyber Metal bands are always promising, not only do they lash together electrodes of industrial music along with synthesizers and the beautiful dark side of the Russian language, but bands like Anckora make it sexy time. Deep in the cold and bitter backstreets of downtown Moscow, Anckora emerge with their new album 'Открой мне дверь' (Open The Door For Me), showing a shift from Symphonic Gothic Metal to Electro 'Cyber' Metal, whilst continuing to mix their mother tongue with the musical shift. 'Открой мне дверь' (Open The Door For Me) is one for those who love the futuristic elements of electronic trance and the harsh bitter sounds of industrial laden with brutal metal foundations that compute this release as one of Russia's most exciting releases this year. Download This: "Врата рая" For Fans of: Nine Inch Nails, Breach The Void, The Kovenant, Gothminister [8] RHYS STEVENSON NOTHING MORE TO EAT 'Nothing More To Eat' For a quick 25 minute outburst of Death Metal and Grindcore, look no further than Finnish band Nothing More To Eat and their delicious self titled release, featuring a whole host of humorous and totally bonkers songs, this is extreme comedy central like never before. 'Nothing More To Eat' gleams with fourteen tracks of outrageous lyrics and barmy music, the two when together sum up as a frenzy like production. Sure this is nothing as grandeur as fellow countrymen Deathbound, but this isn't Brutal Death Metal either, this is simply fast music with heavy vocals that crushes and destroys anything that opposes it, devouring the senses until there quite literally is 'Nothing More To Eat'. Download This: "Death From Below" For Fans of: Deathbound, Fitcage, Goresoerd, Tengkorak. [7] RHYS STEVENSON BODRAGAZ 'Symphony' Eighteen years down the road and Colorado's Bodragaz have still got the power, their seventh full length 'Symphony' ironically does deliver symphonic-like Progressive Metal. However unlike most albums in this genre, 'Symphony' does not feature any whopping 7 minute plus songs, whether that is a good or bad thing remains debatable, but what is hard to debate is the level of excellence shown on this release, if this was a bird of prey it would be a peregrine falcon, swooping down each symphonic element as it glides over the sensational riffs, pecks at the electric vocals unleashed on this release and watches over the drums as all elements come together and deliver a spectacular release. 'Symphony' is an album that will appeal to almost any Progressive Metal fan and is sure to become a legend in the state of Colorado, if not beyond. Download This: "I Found You" For Fans of: Dream Theater, The Devin Townsend Project, Myrath [8] RHYS STEVENSON FALL OF PANTHEON 'The Shadow Envelops All' Easily one of Denmark's most promising extreme metal acts to emerge out of the abyss in the last few years, the five Danes wield together a sound that will get bands like Hail of Bullets (NL) wetting their pants, this sound resonates on their second 'The Shadow Envelops All' from which belts out drum sequences at a blistering pace whilst the riffs shred metal like bullets that are fired from an AK-47 and the vocals emit a brutal force that is reported to have swayed the Øresund Bridge so much that engineers are worried that anymore brutal force and it will collapse, perhaps then it will be made out of Lego or perhaps Fall Of Pantheon will make the Swedish Death metal scene shudder in fear. This year music belongs to Denmark, they already won the Eurovision and now they might as well have one best underground unsigned Death Metal band of the year. Download This: "Inner Dystopia" For Fans of: By The Patient, Narakam, Scarab, Unleashed [9] RHYS STEVENSON TENOCHTITLAN 'Сотворение Мира' BADMOODMAN Usually when singing about topics that are not related to the country you are from it is always less authentic, such is the case of Tenochtitlan of whom delves into the past histories of the Mayan, Aztec and Inca civilizations. Whilst the Russian lot are expanding their horizons beyond paganism and bard folk numbers, it is more so worrying that they decided to sing in Russian about South American people, who knows they may be cursing? Even so considering 'Сотворение Мира' is the band's fourth major outing, the integrity of it's existence is considerably questionable; this is about the release in general that seems to at one point offer something different and on the other copy every other Doom Metal band wallowing in the snow-laden lands of the Russian Federation. Tenochtitlan's 'Сотворение Мира' may be a unique journey, but it's a bumpy one sadly. Download This: "Sokol I Zmej" [6] RHYS STEVENSON SKARTHIA 'Retaliate' If the NHS wasn't screwed, it is now. Tracing back all those whiplash cases has left doctors pointing at the same cause, the ground-cracking sound of Skarthia and their apocalyptic powerhouse 'Retaliate'. Spewing out a plethora of cosmic elements that merge together to form a musical combustion of melodic angelic vocals, murderous riffs, solid drumming sequences and gut wrenching male vocals. 'Retaliate' from start to finish unleashes a whitewash torrent of groove-laden melodic death metal that would make bands like Devildriver perk ears up. Skarthia may be relatively new on the block, but the sound is their own and with Bloodstock in their sights, there is no reason why they should not go through. The time has come for Skarthia to 'Retaliate' against the over produced 'core' scene in England, if you want cranial corrupting music and slit-throat vocals then Skarthia is for you, if you don't then you don't know true metal. Download This: "Drill" For Fans of: Devildriver, The Agonist, Lamb Of God, Machine Head. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON NATHICANA '2012 Demo' London in the last year or so has renewed itself as a breeding ground for some top notch bands, joining this fresh wave of grit is Nathicana, a West London force that produces enough brutality to sink a thousand ships, let alone cause havoc for those traveling towards Uxbridge due to the sensational force exerted on the band's premier demo. The '2012 Demo' purges out a raw and bitter sound that eclipses the earliest days of Behemoth whilst adding an experimental stance to the formula, pretty much like a Subway where you put what you want on it and what you want is a delicious slice of extremity, with Nathicana you get that and much more. Make no mistake, Nathicana are a force to be reckoned with and as 2013 opens new doors, who knows what this band will do next. Download This: "Entity" [8] RHYS STEVENSON ABSKE FIDES 'Abske Fides' SOLITUDE PRODS Suicide is perhaps an understatement after hearing this offering by Brazil's Abske Fides, their self titled debut comes nine years after their formation and it most probably will take that time for listeners to regain their lives. Seriously, what is here is on one hand a decent effort but on the other hand a total calamity that could drive listeners to enjoy opera. Not much else can be said about this release except if you're looking for eccentric and outstanding Doom Metal, look elsewhere; ideally the underground because 'Abske Fides' is worse than the Black Plague. But if you're up for listening to music that can only be worse than listening to flatulence on low audio wave, then go right ahead. [3] RHYS STEVENSON ETERNAL HELCARAXE 'Against All Odds' ABYSS Marking their debut album release last year and tenth anniversary this year, Ireland's Eternal Helcaraxe show a thing or two with their thunderous sound found on 'Against All Odds', unrelenting Black Metal slices and bleeds the atmosphere as if torture was a passionate hobby, or at the very least the soundtrack to the wishful film Saw 8. 'Against All Odds' features eight songs that are authenticated to unleash a battering of convincing Black Metal, whilst inevitably justifying why Eternal Helcaraxe ride alongside bands like Cruachan as masters of True Irish Black Metal. Whilst not being as pronounce as one would have hoped for, the band outperform the expectations on level of brutality and 'Against All Odds' sum up a masterpiece that will power them forward even more. Download This: "We Assist Death" For Fans of: Cruachan, Winterfylleth, Hecate Enthroned [8] RHYS STEVENSON HI-GH
'Loud Frequences On Planet Jupiter' LA RIOT SURVIVOR Spunk usually is associated with the white, sticky stuff that Rammstein spurt out when rubbing their microphones on stage too much, however in Italy it refers to the music genre that HI-GH have dreamed up. Abbreviated for Speed Metal and Punk, the four-piece from Rome deliver justice on their debut demo 'Loud Frequences On Planet Jupiter' released last year. Furiously paced drums power the rest of the band forward at a hundred M.P.H, whilst the overall sound is raw and gritty the satisfaction is well out of reach. Sure it is a classic 'flip the bird' release aimed at politics and rioting, but the overall productiono is one left to be desired, but that is what makes it great. 'Loud Frequences On Planet Jupiter' and HI-GH do not conform to rules and instead smash out a sound that will make you soil your pants. Download This: "You're Going Down" For Fans of: The Sex Pistols, Motorhead, The Ramones, Judas Priest [7] RHYS STEVENSON
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HERIDA 'Ghost Of The Sun' Rowdiness comes in three stages, one: silent build-ups, two: breaking point and three: total havoc, Herida sit on breaking point and fail to break, but that's the ingenious blueprints behind their 2012 release 'Ghost Of The Sun', a groove metal marathon that jitters and jives from song to song in abhorrent fashion. It's hard what to make of these lads at times on the album but the general ideology is that they use a groove music foundation to add classic heavy metal vocals on top, just like a cheesecake the band and release features a solid background sound and a smooth and tasty foreground that leaves the listener wanting more music to their ears. Download This: "Burnin' Tree" For Fans of: Lamb of God, Iron Maiden, Battle Beast [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON DRAGONLANCE 'Edge Of Darkness' Dragonlance returned once again to deliver their first ever single back in 2005, it is evident that they have changed their tune and gone for a more Heavy / Power Metal approach that emulates the melodic trickery that bands like Sonata Arctica induce and the vocals reminiscent of Bruce Dickinson in his higher vocal range; sure this may be a cliche but it is the best one to use. 'Edge Of Darkness' can be seen as a turning point for the band as they coalesce their nominal sound that will see them progress unto delivering their all important debut album. The only downside is that the level of clarity needs to be upsurged and some guitar solo's need to be less technical as they tend to over ride the song indefinitely, not only do the guitar solo's tend to hog the limelight, the keyboard elements do the exact same thing, where will they go now from here? Download This: "Edge Of Darkness" For Fans of: Sonata Arctica, Italian Power Metal. [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON IRON KINGDOM 'Gates Of Eternity' It seems noticeable that Canada in recent years has reverted back to the classic sounds of early Heavy Metal, Iron Kingdom on the other use the same sound but twist to add their own ballsy electrifying feel to their music. 'Gates Of Eternity' the second album by the four piece stalwarts pieces together the classic Iron Maiden-esque infrastructure but amplifies the sound through a number of different values, such as having a female drummer who makes musicians like Lars Ulrich seem past their sell by date as the backdrop is as heavy as the hangover from an all nighter. As for the guitars and vocals, the sensationalism riding on every note and lyric is enough to send any die hard metal fan into mass headbanging. The ultimate question from the truly successful album 'Gates Of Eternity' is whether can Iron Kingdom follow in the footsteps of modern bands like Kobra & The Lotus? Well why the f**k not? Download This: "Chains Of Solitude" For fans of: Kaine, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Kobra & The Lotus. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON DRAGONLANCE 'Returning Of The King' Now this is the sound that works best for the Japanese Power Metal troupe Dragonlance, finding that delicate balance the quartet consequently dropped their third demo 'Returning Of The King' back in 2007 and with it summoning a musical identity that will power them out of the Japanese islands. 'Returning Of The King' ticks all the boxes expected from a Power Metal release and more, in fact on this release there is that majestic adventurous feeling experienced when listening to European veterans, that sort of Power Metal that sends shivers down your spine. The truth is that this demo is exactly what Dragonlance should stick to, it is this sound that separates them from the rest of their countrymen. Think along the lines of Children of Bodom's icy keyboard elements and Dragonforce's plethora of complex solo's and you get the idea, as for Dragonlance this is the time to capitalize on this development and exploit it further. Download This: "Returning Of The King" For Fans of: Children of Bodom, Sonata Arctica, Dragonforce [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON FOR THE IMPERIUM 'Hail The Monsters' WARNER MUSIC FINLAND If the Finnish music industry was an operations management model it would be mass production, spewing out acidic flames of metal like no tomorrow, uprising and emerging out of the frozen furnace of Helsinki is For The Imperium. Armed with their mindf**king elemental matrix of avant-garde metal, pop rock and mimicked electronic elements, the overall sound can somewhat be summed up as 'Finnish Modern Metal'; a threat to their Nordic neighbors. 'Hail The Monsters' is an algorithmic musical puzzle that does not cut corners in order to impress, it simply reinforces the inevitable fact that For The Imperium is Finland's answer to Denmark's megalithic trio of Mnemic, Raunchy and Hatesphere. Fueled through the unrelenting masterminds that are For The Imperium, 'Hail The Monsters' is the sound of Finnish Metal 2013 and will impress metal fans across the globe, the Modern Metal style belongs to For The Imperium this year. Download This: "Northern Rampage [Muscles And Gasoline]" For Fans of: Raunchy, Dead By April, Waltari, Mnemic [9] RHYS STEVENSON DRAGONLANCE 'Knight The Wanderer' + 'Master Of Lance' Thankfully Dragonlance stuck to a similar sound demonstrated on their previous effort as their second single 'Knight The Wanderer' creates an atmosphere that is nearly exactly same experienced when listening to 'Returning Of The King', except 'Knight The Wanderer' carries a little less promise, sad to say it is not totally positive as at times the band seem to have lost the direction they want to go in. 'Knight The Wanderer' is a decent release granted, but at times it is questionable whether the release itself has 100% thought gone into it as the guitar solo overload once again makes an unwelcomed visit. Given due it is a good sound but in the end, the band have lost it on this release, lost it completely. However their 2009 demo 'Master Of Lance' gets back to basics and summons that sound that suits the band, the sound that makes t [5] RHYS STEVENSON AN APPLE A DAY 'Fall Of Thera' Blasting the abyss apart on the European continent is Luxembourg murderers An Apple A Day, the dentist's ultimate nightmare. Drawing up the blueprints for their debut EP 'Fall Of Thera' last year, the Deathcore / Death Metal wizards smashed the faces of the posers apart with a skull-crunching explosion of guttural Teutonic force that makes any earthquake look pitiful. 'Fall Of Thera' is designed to give bands like Whitechapel a wake up call to say the USA is no longer the best Deathcore producing nation anymore and as An Apple A Day course themselves through 2013, they may as well become the best ever heaviest metal band to emerge from the Benelux in years. Luxembourg and An Apple A Day may be small, but the punch they pack is harder than any delivered by a WWF champion. Download This: "Thera" For Fans of: Resist The Thought, Whitechapel, Buried In Verona [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON DRAGONLANCE 'Chapter Of Skyland' It is finally here, no not an album but the first major release by Dragonforce. Released in 2011, the premier EP 'Chapter Of Skyland' kicks off with an instrumental intro that circulates medieval chanting and has stark similarities with sections of the Epcot tune in Disney, rather odd no? In fact, this is perhaps the best ever release the band has ever done, even eclipsing the demo 'Return of the King' by miles. 'Chapter Of Skyland' employs that winning Power Metal formula demonstrated on the said demo and amplifies it to a whole new level. Sure the eccentric solo's are still there but they fit more majestically in the songs than their predecessors. 'Chapter Of Skyland' is without any doubt a release fit for global appreciation, with harmonies caressing the sharpness of the riffs, the powerful ballad like vocals and spine-chilling elements produced from the keyboard and drums coming all together, 'Chapter Of Skyland' is their best effort ever. Download This: "Definitions Of Honor" For Fans of: Children of Bodom, Sonata Arctica, Dragonforce [9] RHYS STEVENSON LUCIEN SARTI 'Lucien Sarti' Hailing from Suffolk, Lucien Sarti are a fresh faced Death / Thrash Metal quartet from the depths of Ipswich. Their self titled debut EP explores the more darker side to this crossover style, inducing guttural grit in the vocals and snappy riffs that are placed just right so that the vocals simply ride on the waves. Sure it is not as fast as some would expect, the drums aren't exactly Slayer speed but the vocals do deal justice in the form of some rather neat Death Metal. 'Lucien Sarti' is a good start but there is a way to go before it gets national attention; besides the band's potential of winning Metal 2 The Masses: East Anglia. Overall there are three tracks of good solid metal, but don't expect anything 100% special, not that perfection always works with rough bands, Lucien Sarti are simply lining themselves up to put old style metal back in the frontline. Download This: "1066 Lament" For Fans of: Carnal Forge, Sepultura [7] RHYS STEVENSON DRAGONLANCE
'The Seven Serpents' 2012 saw the latest release by Dragonlance drop, 'The Seven Serpents' the band's fifth demo takes the nominal sound they developed once again and take it to greater levels, but still no debut album (what on earth are they playing at???) Anyhow, 'The Seven Serpents' is that classic Power Metal release, full of heavenly powerful vocals and elegant music, again it's three tracks so the special feeling does not explode totally but the retaining of their sound does. 'The Seven Serpents' could be the last release this band ever does, but who knows what they will throw up in 2013? As for the release itself, it is sure to appeal to many Power Metal fans and is sure to set off a new trend in the Japanese Metal scene. Download This: "The Seven Serpents" For Fans of: Children of Bodom, Sonata Arctica, Dragonforce [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON OMAAF 'Ethnospheric Decay' Well this is rather different, mixing Progressive Metal elements with the sheer brutal force found within the Grindcore music vein, that is is exactly what OMAAF (Of Men and Angel's Flesh) has done on their debut 2012 EP 'Ethnospheric Decay', complex and tight riffs align the rest of the music to follow in scintillating fashion, in the end it's effectively djent grind - maybe a pioneering crossover genre? What 'Ethnospheric Decay' features is a 20 minute mauling of some of the craziest extreme metal you would find from the American plains of Alabama, it's so brutal even the tornadoes would be scared to touch down anywhere near the streets of where this band comes from. Download This: "Architecture" [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON ENRAGER 'Will Kill' Emerging from the windswept lands of Catalonia, Spain, is quintet Enrager with their premier EP 'Will Kill' which was released last year and comes as another exciting release from this autonomous province. What you have hear is the general sound of the Heavy Metal infrastructure but of course with Mediterranean influences and this can be heard in the guitar solo's, especially on 'Freedom Winds', sadly the solo seems a little too long but for those who love solo's, then this is one to check out. If you like bands like Iron Maiden then you will be bound to love and enjoy 'Will Kill', songs like Kings Of Road can be likened to '2 Minutes To Midnight' and so therefore this release is a modern example that old school metal is not dying. Download This: "Kings Of Road" [7] RHYS STEVENSON MINORITY SOUND 'The Explorer' METALGATE Czech Electro-Industrial outfit Minority Sound make their welcomed return with their second album 'The Explorer', featuring more of their technically challenging cyber metal and more of their complex rhythms in tow. 'The Explorer' carries forward their signature sound once again influenced by and compared to the likes of Gothminister and Breach The Void; as Minority Sound now seem to have divulged into a more modern metal approach and included harsh vocals that would resonate from bands like Mnemic. It is notably heavier than their previous effort 'Analysis' and as 'The Explorer' sounds off across the European continent, the feeling that this band will explode further afield and become one of the Czech Republic's next greatest exports is vastly becoming a reality. With their synthesizer back drops and carnage-like production, Minority Sound has developed the Majority Sound. Download This: "Binary Child" [8] RHYS STEVENSON TWO NECK NOOSE 'Two Neck Noose' There is a subtle sound of sensational music being emitted from Michigan and it spells death. Two Neck Noose are a Groove / Thrash mob with enough balls to make a Superbowl look like a state fair, seriously this music has enough grit to smash everyone's face in tenfold and that comes from their excruciatingly painful debut self-titled EP, lashing together the groove elements of DevilDriver and Lamb of God with the epochal elevation of mesmerizing Thrash Metal in the brutal kind. This is a band that will make waves in the times ahead and are sure to garner some attention from both sides of the Atlantic with their atomic bomb of insane metal music. Download This: "Cyclical" [9] RHYS STEVENSON O.H. 'Justice' One might need brain surgery after dissecting the debut album by Bulgarian masochistic metallers O.H., their album 'Justice' is a totalitarian blast of fist-punching metal that takes the form of Groove / Death / Thrash Metal, effectively a cocktail for some rather nasty and grueling sounds that would scare anyone to death. Technical at many parts of each song and then that is followed up by segments of tantalizing brutality, somewhat not unlike Slipknot at some points ('psychosocial can be compared to O.H.'s song 'For Life' for example), but on the other hand far from Slipknot, it is one of those albums that has everything but the kitchen sink thrown in and so what you end up with is a furious piece of musicianship that is sure to boost this band's popularity. Download This: "For Life" [8] RHYS STEVENSON AZOEMIA 'Forced To Devour' What is this music, no seriously what is this thing called music? It is practically a Death Metal instrumental, the vocals are an abomination and frankly do not even reach a decent level. The music itself is a brutal cast iron ingot that resembles the solidarity of the production, but the vocals, well you would find Justin Bieber singing much better than this. It is a shame to say but Azoemia's 'Forced To Devour' is one nothing special and two a sheer shock to the Spanish metal scene, if this lot are to get anywhere in future they must work on the vocals, otherwise they will become a disappointment in the international metal scene. Death Metal you're at least meant to hear some of the words, all one can hear is muffled microphone. [4.5] RHYS STEVENSON ANIME TORMENT 'Deathwish' CECEK No doubt this band is sick, Czech Death Metal warriors Anime Torment made their explosive start heard all around as they dropped their debut album 'Deathwish' last year. Full of the magic stuff one would expect of a Death Metal band, this is a sheer force of brutality that cannot be ignored easily. Frenzy drumming is just the start of it as the riffs role off the production line like no tomorrow and the vocals deliver that almighty blast that no atomic bomb could equate to. Simply put, Anime Torment are sure to conquer Europe in the times ahead and with number one firmly under their belt, number two should be as easy as pie for the five-piece. The question is, will this lot finally push the Czech Metal scene even more forward than the older bands? Download This: "Lovers" [8] RHYS STEVENSON SYRUS 'E-Race-D' This is a post-humorous review seeing as Syrus split up this year. 2012 was the last year of releases by the Austrian Thrashers and their last release was their second demo 'E-Race-D', basically it's a generic Thrash metal album with nothing too special about it. it does what it was designed to do and that was create a musical atmosphere for fans to wreak havoc in, but also what 'E-Race-D' does is it offers an insight into the band's short lived history. Perhaps they should have called it 'Erased' instead, for the obvious reasons stated. [5.5] RHYS STEVENSON TATIANA'S NIOVI 'Breath Of Light' RAVENHEART MUSIC Making her welcomed return with her band is Greek singer and musical maestro Tatiana Manolidou of whom has dropped the latest release from which contains the band's newest works, entitled 'Breath Of Light' this symphonic melodic journey twists and turns at every corner as the album winds its way through the angelic heavens of Tatiana's vocals and the sensational dramatics experienced from the outburst of delinquent music. Much like Tarja Turunen, Tatiana Manolidou carves through the night with a piercing display of powerful rock / metal ballads and sensational music, given Greece is going through tough economical times, this is a soundtrack that would lighten up anyone's mood, regardless if they like metal or rock music, or not. Download This: "Ring Of Darkness" [8] RHYS STEVENSON EFFLORESCE
'Shades Of Fate' + 'Coma Ghosts' INDEPENDENT / GENERATION PROG Take a step back in time to 2009 and the first release by Bavarian Progressive Metallers Effloresce had taken shape, this is the EP 'Shades Of Fate' and it totals out at 30 minutes with around 10 minutes a song so for those who love their metal to take them on a lengthy adventurous journey, this instantly is one for you. You know if you had to make a long car or train journey this EP may as well cover most of it, simply not only due to the length of the songs but more so the fact you have the urge to replay them, they are that good. Sumptuous female vocals take the EP to greater heights whilst the music itself provides a solid background for the listener to enjoy. Overall a solid start to the band's career and the next release, which coincidentally was released last year is their debut album entitled 'Coma Ghosts'. 'Coma Ghosts' is in essence a doubled version of the 'Shades Of Fate' EP whereby there are now six songs and on average just below 10 minutes each, so again another essential to listen to on long journeys. What makes this album more impressive than the EP is the greater assertiveness in their music, for example the vocals are more sharper, the music is more direct with a greater sense of ebb and flo and overall the entire release is an emphatic journey through the complex minds of these German musicians, sure the band have now found their signature style, the only downside is that some fans may be a little put off by the song lengths, however for those that wait the time waiting is well worth it, simply put if this band does not get major international attention within the next year or so I will eat my speakers. Download These: "Sear" + "Crib" [7] + [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON ONDFØDT 'I' Finnish Raw Black Metal duo Ondfødt make their first move by delivering their premier EP simply entitled 'I', from the start the explosion of bitterly raw riffs gets the music well and truly underway, whilst the drums and vocals alongside the riffs conjure up a cold and bleak atmosphere. Sure it is another one of those releases that sounds like every other Raw Black Metal release but in fact there is a major difference, this is there own unique sound and what one means by that is that it is very heard to pinpoint what influences are exactly involved. However, 'I' does prime itself up as a feasible debut and shall allow the duo to build upon this shriekingly epic release. Just don't expect any mercy from this lot, there is no mercy in this music. Download This: "Verlden Er Min Slakteri' [8] RHYS STEVENSON DAGOBA 'Post Mortem Nihil Est' EARMUSIC It might as well be accepted that France is going through its own metal revolution and it is fair to say that when bands like Dagoba release total chaotic hell through their music, the result is a mass brawl amongst many fans alike. Simply put, the band wielded radioactive metal to deliver their post-apocalyptic album 'Post Mortem Nihil Est', producing a futile and technological music revolution as to say the groove elements resonate within the similar sounds of Pantera, whilst the industrial elements spit out the total envisage one would want to hear from the modern metal era. What 'Post Mortem Nihil Est' has that defines Dagoba as perhaps a leader in the French metal scene is the constant brutality that explodes at every algorithmic riff and technical drumming pattern. When songs like 'Kiss Me Kraken' spew out a sound that eclipses the very industrialist sound behind lords like Rob Zombie, it is insurmountably evident that Dagoba have delivered what can be persevered as not only their best album to date, but more so potentially French Metal album of the year. 'Post Mortem Nihil Est' is out 14th June via earMUSIC For fans of: Pantera, Breach The Void, Rob Zombie, Noein, The Defiled [9] RHYS STEVENSON TIME GRID 'Life' Emerging from the Swiss and French border is the joint effort between six musicians under the moniker Time Grid and combining female and male vocals with two keyboards the rest that is expected, it is almost an advanced and updated version of Il Divo. However the debut album 'Life' features more than operatic style progressive metal, the male vocals at times are on the same par as Michael Crawford and so as a result the song 'Me' may as well be put in the same ball park as the Phantom of The Opera and that means to say that 'Life' is a myriad of different elements coming together to explode as one and shed a sound that can be likened to bands like Nightwish, Therio, Avantasia and those along the lines of the Neo-Classical, Symphonic and Operatic Metal styles. Thus 'Life' is an album that shall gain attention as a promising debut by this international group. Download This: 'Me' [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON UBUREN 'Sons of the Dying Gods' The soundtrack of gregarious darkness and evil has surfaced in the form of the debut release by Norway's Viking / Black metal trio Uburen. 'Sons of the Dying Gods' bleeds out traditional ass-tight riffs and shrieking vocals that would make wolf sex sound like silence, lets face it Uburen are amongst the same string of Norwegian BM bands but with an additional twist, besides the obvious Folk Metal elements inserted here and there, the overall sound is one that should gain considerable attention as the band do it their own way and not to any conventional playing style. But there again it is likely some extreme metal fans will find a riff taken here and there but will acknowledge that 'Sons of the Dying Gods' is a great release to launch your band's career from. Download This: "Sea Of Deceit' [8] RHYS STEVENSON LARCENY 'My Fall' SAOR How can it be that a band develops an angelic, soft-flowing atmosphere through the use of keyboard melodies and heavenly female vocals, and as a result can be compared to the elegant flow and sound of a stream or a gushing river? Whilst imploding it with harsh brutal vocals that would make any Alpine wolf run a mile at the shear power the vocals create. Simple, the sophomore album by Germany's Larceny, 'My Fall' is a total epic release, not just from the intertwining vocal arranages but from the sincere precision placed on each element that makes each song uniquely different in their own rights and the album a musical masterpiece, from this release it is evident that Larceny deserve a lot more to come there way and are sure to make tracks in the year ahead as listeners come round to grasp what could be German Metal album of the year. Download This: "Love! You! Dead!" [10] RHYS STEVENSON RULE 'Rule' There are too many bands doing the same or similar thing these-days and Massachusetts' Rule does not escape this trap, the Hard Rock / Heavy Metal outfit conjures up their debut EP and it just about sounds similar to every band trying to emanate the bygone sound, even if the solo's deal the release justice the whole EP sounds too much like other releases, on the other hand it offers fans and music listeners another chance to experience that all essential Iron Maiden-esque, 80's rock and metal sound. But be warned, there is nothing too unique here except the band provides their own twist on the music style, shame it's already been done before. Overall expect no compromising riffs or set ways through the music, just ballsy ballistic rock 'n' roll / Heavy metal. Download This: "Clining To Life" [6] RHYS STEVENSON JEWISH JUICE 'Fourth Reich' The awaited debut by Italy's darkest metal band has finally dropped last year, 'Fourth Reich' by the NSBM trio Jewish Juice wallows once again in the National Socialist and Anti-Semetic lyrical garden and plucks out six tracks that will strike fear in any listener. Underlying the political and fascist propaganda is a solid Black Metal sound, with mid-paced to full on raw atmospheric music that leaves a bitter aftertaste in the mouths of the listener whilst corroding their senses for a long time. For the open-minded this is a unique insight into the minds of those favoring right-wing ideologies and grim thoughts that otherwise on a purely social level would be spat out upon. No remorse, this is a decent and well crafted release that should not be taken as being literal as the music itself does more talking than the band's ideology. Download This: "Stalingrad" [8] RHYS STEVENSON TRUE 'Riders of Doom' Brazil's promising lads True have become true to themselves (pun intended), by releasing their debut album 'Riders of Doom' from the depths of the Amazonian rainforest, this Death / Thrash armada assault encases the silent atmosphere surrounding the listener and results in total Armageddon. What is sensational about this album is that it carries on their signature sound of dropping speed suddenly to almost narrowly escaping a Metalcore breakdown as seen on the song 'Forget In Hatred', but with a rallying of insanely paced drumming acting as the leader for the rest of the band to follow by, it is credible to acknowledge that True are one of Brazil's greatest underground metal bands going around, in fact they are the 'Riders of Doom'. Download This: "Obliteration" [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON THRASHMANIACS 'Demoshhh - Pit' DEMENCIAL Bolivian Metal is one scene that is not really promoted enough and yet when bands like Thrashmaniacs release their first ever compilation it begs the question if this band can lead the frontline to guide their scene forward. 'Demoshhh - Pit' is a seven track compilation that takes the best songs the Thrash Metal quartet has ever done, sure to the international scene it would be hard to decipher seeing as they sing in Spanish, but add a cultural value to it and you have got a release that every fan of Slayer and Evile would be immensely entranced by. 'Demoshhh - Pit' is a roller-coaster ride through neck-breaking riffs, Teutonic drumming and explosive vocals, simply put this release is a must have for Thrashers everywhere. Download This: "3:15 (Instrumental)" [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON MIDGAR
'Sombras Del Mañana' Spanish metal of late seems to be doing rather well and in 2012 one album that changed the face of Progressive Metal in this region came to life, 'Sombras Del Mañana' by Madrid-based sextet Midgar nucleated over the metal scene like a torrent of bulls hyped on crack running through the narrow streets of the fabled capital city, even more so think of 'Sombras Del Mañana' as a delicious paella, with spicy riffs, juicy beats and fresh vocals and then think of the entire package as elegant as the local flamenco class, in fact this album may as well be a damn good soundtrack to either a Spanish adventure film or elaborate dancing. It is fueled up to the top with eccentricity beyond anyone's imagination and as 2013 offers the band a new adventure, Midgar are sure to catch the eye of many. Download This: "Grítale Al Cielo" [9] RHYS STEVENSON ITERATE 'Ephemerals' What is amazing about the Indian Metal scene, is that each and every band that debuts their first ever release ends up with a slight twist on the western style of that specific genre and so now Chennai pays homage to Progressive Groove mob Iterate as they have just released their debut EP entitled 'Ephemerals', what comes from this is a brutal onslaught of riff shrapnel, ground-breaking drumming sequences and a sound that correlates to the groove elements of Lamb of God and the hard vocal style of any Progressive Hardcore band, but the vocals at times sound a little weak and not sharp enough to make the EP a fully fledged success. However, fans of the djent movement will wet themselves over the guitar note synchronization that goes on and throughout the EP. Download This: "Light The Flares" [7] RHYS STEVENSON TIME'S FORGOTTEN 'The Book Of Lost Words' How many band's decide to release an album that is designed like a book? Not many, this results in the Progressive Metal outfit Time's Forgotten to do just that for their third full-length release 'The Book Of Lost Words'. What comes inside this intricate production is pacey drumming, Power Metal style vocals and slit-throat riffs, a concoction of sensational metal music that can only be designed and carefully crafted by the Costa Rican quintet. In fact what could be clearly seen here from the photos inside the booklet, is a merging of steampunk and metalhead fashion, this resonates in the philosophical lyrics that power each song forward and allows the band to become another great export from Costa Rica. Download This: "Days Like Eternity" For Fans of: Iron Maiden, Dream Theatre and Symphony X [8] RHYS STEVENSON WRECKING TANGANYIKA 'The Witchcraft Project' Thanks to the internet, Metal music is reaching all corners of the globe, but what is this? Zambian Deathcore? Correct. Hailing all the way from the capital city Lusaka, Wrecking Tanganyika have released their debut EP 'The Witchcraft Project' and needless to say it offers a unique style of Deathcore, well actually it's a cross mix of Hardcore, Melodic Metal and Death Metal, none the less it is unique in that it incorporates traditional African rhythm, a some what ethnic style of metal music. With the snarly grizzly vocals commanding the front line and the music following behind with a pitch perfect face-punching sound, Wrecking Tanganyika are truly flying the flag for Zambian Metal. Download This: "How Long Till There's Nothing Left' For fans of: The Black Dahlia Murder, Whitechapel and Imminence Download or donate here: http://wreckingtanganyika.bandcamp.com/ [8] RHYS STEVENSON GEMINI ABYSS 'Claim Of The Planet' It seems apparent that the Polish Metal scene of late has spawned off a wave of female-fronted bands in the Power Metal, Gothic Metal and Melodic Metal musical vain. However, the second full-length album 'Claim Of The Planet' by Łódź-based Gemini Abyss features a host of heavy and deep male vocals alongside the majestic melodies flowing in the background behind the accompanying sensual female vocals. What makes 'Claim Of The Planet' a spellbinding example of powerful musicianship is the interaction between the softened smooth elements and the rough gritty masculine embodiment, the classical 'beauty and the beast' scenario with added drama and that in itself is inescapable in that it is there and cannot be ignored even if one tries to, if you want gothic literature in it's musical form, then Gemini Abyss is for you. Download This: "Land of Death" [8] RHYS STEVENSON MYOPIC EMPIRE 'Myopeia' At times Essex may as well be a rather doom-laden place, how fitting is it then that two musicians come together and form Myopic Empire, simply put a Doom Metal band. Situated in the coastal town of Southend, this outfit plunge into the deeper depths of hell and drag back up with them a sound that is thick as molasses and as gloomy as a thunderstruck atmosphere. Thus leading to the first demo being born, 'Myopeia' carries a bleak and cold feel to it whilst resonating from similarities with bands such as Black Sabbath, Electric Wizard and realistically any band circulating the Heavy / Doom Metal crossover point. The salient point behind Myopic Empire is that they are carrying on the true sound of the original variant of Doom Metal. Download This: "Biofuel" [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON LOYALIST 'Train Tracks' Take some burly Canadians, place them in a Melodic Metalcore band and you end up with Loyalist, the six-piece outfit come from out of the shadows with a fiery attitude, ballsy riffs, mind-screwing drumming and the vocals spitting acid, as they lock onto downtown Toronto to pound their latest EP 'Train Tracks' through, seriously the EP brings out an atmosphere that makes WWF look like children play-fighting, it is that brutal and yet on the other side the melodies are more imaginative than Devin Townsend in his heyday. Ingeniously the usage of auto-tune has been used perfectly here within reason and the breakdowns are of adequate quality. It's early days yet but the Canadian Metal scene will be seeing a lot more of Loyalist in the years ahead, better make that the global metal scene as the band lay fellow countryman Justin Bieber on the 'Train Tracks', and you know what happens then! Don't you? Download This: "Normandy" For Fans of: Tides of Virtue, Bury Tomorrow, As I Lay Dying [8] RHYS STEVENSON Our World In Ruins 'Meet Me In The Circle' (Single) Massachusetts in recent years has been a breeding ground for endless reckless and relenting Metalcore talent, there is no stopping the locals from having withdrawal symptoms from lack of breakdowns and the sheer face-smacking power of a good 'core' band. Cue Our Would In Ruins with their latest single 'Meet Me In The Circle, spewing out of the centre is a complex form of technical metalcore with deathcore influences here and there. Drawing similarities to that of Resist The Thought, Partway Drive and The Dead Lay Waiting, this American mob are certainly heading in the right direction and what makes the song catchier still, the auto-tune and insane riff breakdown at the very end, followed by some rather technical metalcore. Check it out here: http://ourworldinruins.bandcamp.com/track/meet-me-in-the-circle For fans of: Resist The Thought, Parkway Drive, The Dead Lay Waiting [8] RHYS STEVENSON ORDER OF 315 'Near-Birth Experience' Order of 315 are a hard one to pin down and pigeon hole into one metal genre, they seem to drag in influences from a diverse background including Korn, Five Finger Death Punch and Slipknot, that's just the surface of things, in reality the music is more complicated as heard on the band's debut album 'Near-Birth Experience', it takes in the furious force shed by Slipknot but twists it with a sort of Alternative / Nu Metal emphasis, minus the turntables. The problem is at times it can sound a little too congested as if each musician was battling to get their music in, this is heard especially on the song 'Some Like It Shot' where there is too much going on and so as a result diminishes this band's true potential at creating something unique. Download This: "Nonpoint" [6] RHYS STEVENSON DEFACED 'On The Frontline' If they call this Death Metal, then Blood On The Dance Floor might as well be Thrash Metal, this is far from Death Metal and fails to even be considered as an authentic Death Metal album! 'On The Frontline' by Swiss quintet Defaced do it well on the drums and the guitar note sequences, however the vocals are left to be desired, metal lovers might need a voice decoder just to get what the lyrics are, because they are barely there, at times it sounds like the lyrical sheets were burned or something and the band decided to use improvisation as a backup plan. Take away the vocals and you got an epic instrumental, but the vocals let the album down terribly. Now where did I leave that Swiss army knife, ah.... Download This: "Gore House" [5] RHYS STEVENSON KEVIN M BUCK
'Musick For The New Aeon' OSIRIS Shredding is a form of art coming from intricate guitar playing, musicians like Kevin M Buck know all to well what is involved and what is expected of such a performance, thus the Illinois musical maestro comes back in 2012 to deliver number three, 'Musick For The New Aeon', a majestic and entrancing journey through the mind of the American to his sensational playing oriental style guitar compositions whilst channeling it down the Heavy Progressive Metal vein and creating music that fits the lyrical themes he has chosen, notably Egypt and it's associated mythology. Bands like Nile and Egypt's Scarab will be most impressed if they heard this and as 'Musick For The New Aeon' gleefully plays, you get the sense that Kevin M Buck is in the same league as Devin Townsend, a musical genius. Download This: "Musick For The New Aeon" [8] RHYS STEVENSON STORMBANE 'Tortured in the Arms of Salvation' + 'Abyssus Abyssum Invocat' Australia has a long and dark history and that may well be the reason behind the influx of Black Metal and Thrash Metal bands that roam the vast continent / country, that said when bands like Stormbane emerge on the scene, it cannot be helped by saying that this is what true underground black / thrash metal sounds like, speaking on terms of their debut 2009 demo 'Tortured in the Arms of Salvation, it is evidently clear that the utilization of atmosphere over production adds a synthetic raw dimension to it. In fact the demo itself is so raw, many die hard black metal fans would masturbate over the eccentricity that reaps every single note on every single song on the demo, but at times it takes a real hard attempt to decipher what or where each musical instrument comes in, its raw for sure but a bit too raw (is that even possible?) Moving forward to the 2010 premier EP 'Abyssus Abyssum Invocat' and instantaneously the production level has dramatically increased whilst retaining that authentic raw buzzing sound that makes the EP sound so lush, its like eating a chocolate cake covered in everything that contains sugar, simply put its so delicious that it would make you physically sick, but that's the great thing about this release, it blasts the whole room with the sonic menacing sound of blastbeats, tight riffs and apocalyptic shrieking, if only there was more songs on the EP; you just cannot get enough of this band. [5] + [7] RHYS STEVENSON IMMANENT 'In Acedia' France of late seems to be bringing more and more female-fronted metal bands out, is this a challenge for the rest of Western Europe? Maybe, but when Prog Metal outfit Immanent step into the limelight, heads bow in shame, well almost. The premier EP 'In Acedia' starts off with some promising music until the vocals kick in and there goes the question, are there any vocals? At times it becomes hard to to tell whether there are even any lyrics! It's like a bottle of French wine, fine on the outside but once the sipping has passed and the drinker is into the bottle it is questionable whether it is nice tasting or not, overall the album cannot be totally decried as it does offer a unique style, whether that specific style will catch on is another question. One element that does however offer some brilliance is the piano compositions, which adds a sorrowful sound to the mix, that aligned with the guitar and drum compositions makes the release justifiable. Download This: "Seclusion" [6] RHYS STEVENSON WORKSHOP 'Made Love To The Dragon' EMI MUSIC (INDIA) / DEMONSTEALER Comedy metallers Workshop make their utmost welcomed return in delivering their second album 'Made Love To The Dragon', what comes this time is another truck load of heavy metal songs that have so much tongue-in-cheek, it makes Comedy Central look like a cabaret act, especially when comparing to the song 'Gajanand Dhige' which explicitly sings about a guy having a fat bottom and issues surrounding the said body part, of course this does not stop the band entering rudimentary territory in relation to the song 'Naagin Ki Nazar' which talks about a guys jewels, or so it would seem, but who cares, whether your sober or pissed out beyond belief, the songs are guaranteed to make anyone smile and laugh, therefore it begs the question of whether metal music and comedy can actually work so much so that Workshop could appear at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival? What also makes the release that extra special is that the songs seem to circulate around the city of Mumbai (Bombay) and has a personal connection to the city, whether that be true or not it certainly feels to it and so when Workshop 'Made Love To The Dragon', they found their inner fire and hot spice. Download This: "Naagin Ki Nazar" For Fans of: System of a Down, Iron Maiden, Zimmers Hole [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON RECTIFIED SPIRIT 'Rectified Spirit' Heavy Metal being mixed with Metalcore may seem a little daunting and impractical at first, but once it gets into full swing it can be a sensational experience, something which Indian metal mob Rectified Spirit seem to have conquered upon releasing their debut self-titled album last year. What we have here is Iron Maiden-esque vocals and music being weaved into your traditional Metalcore sound, knife-edge riffs coalescing in and out the emphatic double bass drumming and truncated musical composition that slashes every ear that gets caught in this extraordinary musical blast of post-apocalyptic metal. 'Rectified Spirit' may well be the next step in adding a new algorithm to the already complex metalcore matrix, let alone building a sound that separates this band from the clones. Download This: "Bloodrush" [8] RHYS STEVENSON IMMINENCE 'Return To Helios' WE ARE TRIUMPHANT Could this be the next biggest Swedish metal export? Imminence explode on the international scene with their post-apocalyptic explosion of Metalcore infused Modern Metal, echoing comparisons to Denmark's Scarred By Beauty and England's The Defiled as well as the likes of Caliban and Parkway Drive. From start to finish, the Swedish armada's second EP 'Return To Helios' spits fire at every note produced and is certified to melt faces across the European Metal scene, the vocals alone set the tone for the almighty face-punching onslaught that soon follows courtesy of the ballistic drumming and razor-sharp riffs that provide the solid infrastructure that is Imminence, even so when the melodic sections cut across the insane multitude of elements pieced together, the band and respective EP still maintain that hardcore backdrop, proving why Imminence are rightfully poised to take Europe by storm in 2013. 'Return To Helios' is out 7th May via We Are Triumphant Records [10] RHYS STEVENSON WINTTERNAL 'The Monologue' On the tropical island of Madeira (a Portuguese autonomous province) comes the Melodic Death / Groove outfit Wintternal and their exciting debut EP 'The Monologue', as soon as the music kicks in it is clear this lot mean business, furious and exhilarating is an understatement in describing 'The Monologue', this EP has the power to kick your teeth in, beat the living daylights out of the pathetic individuals destroying our planet and the firepower to make an atomic bomb look like a pitiful grenade, with that comes the sensational melodies that keep this release in the overdrive region before taking it back to the origin of the music, 'The Monologue' atmosphere. On the other hand though it is nothing new, but it at leasts offers the band a way forward and the Madeira Metal scene a glimmering chance of being exploited, taking clear groove influences from Lamb of God and melodic death metal influences from bands like Trivium or In Flames, the rest is waiting to be argued upon. Download This: "The Sword Of Damocles" [7] RHYS STEVENSON T.A.N.K 'Spasms Of Upheaval' SYMBOL MUZIK In recent years the French Metal scene has seen a deluge of fresh and exciting underground bands that have the mettle to prove that they are on the path to gaining international recognition, such a band is Melodic Death / Thrash quintet T.A.N.K (Think of A New Kind) and their sophomore album 'Spasms Of Upheaval', what comes out of this megalithic album is a torrential barrage of differential sounds that emit from the same source, the talented musicians. Layering an aggressive melodic style on top of a percussive thrash element and Scar Symmetry style vocals, 'Spasms Of Upheaval' is the sound that will make T.A.N.K stand out from the rest of their fellow countrymen, now if T.A.N.K was to be compared to Gojira, then the former is a whole league above the latter, with no exception. Download This: "Through The Disgrace" [8] RHYS STEVENSON FURTHER DIMENSION 'They Live' BRENNUS At first the sophomore album by French Heavy Proggers Further Dimension seemed to be slacking all over the place, but in fact it is simply the opposite, some of the solos on here start off well but go completely overboard and therefore render the songs they are situated in as questionable. 'They Live' came out last year and delivers once more that technical math rock / djent feel that surges through the center of the band's infrastructure. Granted the level of extreme music is there in context with the level of aggression that spews out of the speakers from which one can be seduced by the mastery represented here, but as said things can be overdone and at times 'They Live' seems a little too pushed to be a great follow up from the band's debut album 'The Monolith Effect' two years ago, however in an overall perspective the album is certified for fans of djent and progressive metal. Download This: "Dualitude" [7] RHYS STEVENSON UNBOWED 'Unbowed' Emerging fresh on the Canadian Metal scene is the twelve-legged melodic black / death metal machine Unbowed of whom have just released their debut self-titled EP. What makes the band ever so promising given the evidence herewith is the delinquent melodies that develop a dark and disturbing atmosphere for the rest of the band to poise upon and unleash a barrage of sincere compositions that spew out comparisons between Vesperia, Hecate Enthroned and Cradle of Filth, the latter only adhering to the keyboard and drum elements. 'Unbowed' is sure to get the band some deserved attention from global media outlets and at the same time propel themselves forward to delivering that all important god-smiting debut album. Download This: "March Of The Giants" [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON EMPHASIS
'Into Infinity' Estonian Metal on the international scene is not well known besides the most notable band Metsatöll, so when Symphonic Power Metal sextet Emphasis arrive on the block and deliver their debut EP 'Into Infinity' expectations run high. The result is that expectations are surpassed, delivering a sumptuous mix of elegant keyboard symphonies that enliven the release and as a result the vocals, drums and guitars cooperate to perfection, delivering a sound and powerful force that has the potential to land Emphasis in the laps of a record label deal and selection to participate in the Eurovision song contest, in fact the EP blasts similarities to the progressive elements of Opeth, the dramatic atmosphere of Within Temptation, the darkened gloominess of My Dying Bride and a modern metal style that incorporates electronic-tinged background music. All in all 'Into Infinity' has proven its worth as an excellent debut release from which Emphasis can plan an assault on Europe with their catchy lyrics and totally musical compositions. Download This: "Running Man" [9] RHYS STEVENSON OUR LAST ENEMY 'Fallen Empires' + 'Wolves Of Perigord' RIOT! ENTERTAINMENT Modern Cyber Metal right at the tips of your tongues comes from Australia's hottest new property, kicking off with their debut album which dropped 3 years ago, 'Fallen Empires' employs a solid torrential outburst of technical gothic metalcore at it's highest peak, but the funny thing about the music is that it covers a myriad of sounds and so the genre-tagging becomes almost impossible. 'Fallen Empires' delivers seventeen tracks (some clips) of some of the greatest fusion metal you can ever come across, produced by Christian Wolbers (Mnemic, Fear Factory, etc) it was always likely that Our Last Enemy would spew out an album that would sound on the same part as the Danish modern metallers and American Industrial legends. Moving onto 2012 and the sophomore release comes in the form of the band's first ever EP 'Wolves Of Perigord', this time the band deliver a far heavier explosive mix of metal music and pure angst, the clever thing that works here simply is the layering of Metalcore on top of a synthetic bed and yet employs a gothic look and a Industrial Death Metal feel, so they are not Motionless In White mixed with Strapping Young Lad, they are in fact the brutal truth that they are the kings of modern cyber metal. 'Wolves Of Perigord' spits metallic venom right at the fire that burns as a beacon of their demise, for Our Last Enemy are destined to smash the sound barrier in 2013. Download These: "Pariah BC" + "Wolves Of Perigord" For Fans of: Strapping Young Lad, Motionless In White, Mnemic [8] + [9] RHYS STEVENSON ACOLYTE 'Alta' MORDGRIMM Following a similar path to fellow Manchester Black metal band Winterfylleth, newcomers Acolyte are proving themselves to be hot property in 2013, vastly picking up notice from many across the metal music spectrum the bands debut album 'Alta' explodes in an interesting style, plucking elegant grooves that would make your grandmother dance more than gangnam style and lashing it with shrieking Black metal that would make any fight between Manchester United and Liverpool fans seem like children happy slapping, enough silly talk. Acolyte do more than play pretty music, they make the UK metal scene pretty and with 'Alta' on the horizon, days will get darker than your average black coffee. Conjuring up relating sounds to that of Enslaved and Opeth, this could be Manchester's darkest hour. For fans of: Enslaved, Opeth, Deathspell Omega 'Alta' is out 7th May 2013 via Mordgrimm Records [8] RHYS STEVENSON KAINE / OSMIUM GUILLOTINE 'Killotine' This does not always happen, but when this sort of thing does, boy can it explode more than fireworks on bonfire night. What we have here is a magnificent split or orchestration by two of Essex's finest NWOBHM bands, Kaine and Osmium Guillotine, who when they digivolve together become Killotine. Displaying their classic Heavy Metal persona, both bands dive into four cover songs, one song by both bands respectively and a cover of 'Prowler' (Iron Maiden) and N.I.B. (Black Sabbath), now whilst this is a relatively short release, it has an element of class on it that perhaps Iron Maiden or Black Sabbath couldn't muster, instead if they whiffed the release then they would applaud it, not to mention that both bands are similar in style, sound and setup, but more so attitude and so what the Killotine split does is it exemplifies why British Heavy Metal was and always will be a cultural heritage icon. Arm the masses, raise the axes, man the fortress, this is a bloody war of riffs, drum beats and insane vocals. [9] RHYS STEVENSON DRAWZZNIKK 'Wings' HEART OF STEEL Austria is not usually known for it's production of classic Heavy Metal bands, so it comes as a little bit of a surprise when 2013 delivers the debut EP 'Wings' by Drawzznikk and what immediately draws attention to this release is that there are two female vocalists commanding the frontline on this release. Seeing one female vocalist is different, but two? Just makes the EP that one bit more extra special. 'Wings' summons up the best the band can deliver, sure the vocals do not match the virtuoso states of Kobra & The Lotus or Sister Sin, but the vocals still pack a sensational range, the only let down to the EP is the weak recording of the drums, although bizarrely it adds a sort of classic rock style to it, so perhaps Drawzznikk may need to work on saddling themselves between AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath because this is Hard Rock / Heavy Metal, highway to hell! [8] RHYS STEVENSON CRYPTIK HOWLING 'Synthetic Ascension Design' Amassing a myriad of complex sounds and bolting them together can be at times a struggle for musicians, but bands like Cryptik Howling make it seem so simple. Developing an audio blast that consists of symphonic elements and melodic black metal, that covered by a Behemoth-esque visage gives this band an element of excitement not explored by past extreme metal bands. Their upcoming album 'Synthetic Ascension Design' demolishes anything living in it's path by spewing out pure Québécois darkness, taking evidential influences from bands like Cradle of Filth, Twilight Ophera and Satyricon, this is the new sound of Symphonic Extreme Metal. Double bass drumming blitzing at insane speed is just the beginning, the vocals shred you apart like a wolf desecrating the dying prey and the guitars slash open your heart to kill of any happiness you withhold, so before checking this band out, make your you have life insurance, your going to need it! 'Synthetic Ascension Design' is out 10th April 2013 [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON AETERNUM 'Through death we ascend' 2012 saw the sewers of London arise from the chaotic production that comes from the EP that Aeternum released, from start to finish the release will captivate and entertain fans of Blackened Death Metal alike, the raw sounds that kill the bleak atmosphere at the end of the release originates from the slithering through of the various compositions found on the release which are designed to eradicate any senses the listener may have left after the first song is finished, the band itself delinquently offers unique influences ranging from black metal to death metal, as the EP itself speaks wonders through and through from the first note to the last sound, but at times can sound a little bad, especially on the production level where a storm of unintelligible sound rots the very essence of music, but overall regardless of the negativeness, of which there is very minimal to remark on, leaves the positives gleaming brightly, leaving the listener swallowed up in a darkened atmosphere and the band themselves on a path of music maturity, what will come in 2013 is anyone's guess, but the music that prevails within these musicians beckons it. [6] RHYS STEVENSON HUMAN WASTE DISPOSAL UNIT 'New Beginning' The Nordic countries are one of the greatest collective power houses of metal music, no doubt, but from time to time the machine that is Finland will spew out a band that delivers a musical selection that is as sweet as their beloved confectionery. Human Waste Disposal Unit are the metallic diseases designed to deliver brutal moshing intent, how fortunate it is that their sophomore album 'New Beginning' spews out elements of Devin Townsend, Alice In Chains and Iron Maiden rolled into one sonic blast of epic Finnish metal. From the technical creativity of the Canadian mastermind Devin Townsend, the powerful vocals of Alice In Chains and the composure of Iron Maiden, comes this eight-legged metal machine, signalling a 'New Beginning' for the Finnish metal scene. Download This: "Sad Clown" [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON DUOBETIC HOMUNKULUS 'Ani Já Ani Ty Robit Něbudzeme, šedněme Do Koča, Vozit še Budzeme' ZERO BUDGET PRODS. Eight years have passed since the formation of the Czech eccentric duo Duobetic Homunkulus and come 2013 the debut album 'Ani Já Ani Ty Robit Něbudzeme, šedněme Do Koča, Vozit še Budzeme' (something in English) finally drops, with it comes an atomic explosion, as if Prague finally woke up one morning to the heavenly smell of marijuana, simply said the release is as crazy and eccentric as Devin Townsend's facial expressions - extraordinarily different. Duobetic Homunkulus deploy a progressive-tinged Technical Death sound that together armed with their native language is strangely effective in brutal context, the vocals deliver a boom after boom approach and the music finishes of the release nicely with lashings of intricate riffing and sensational drumming, but the core of the album is the happy dappy Tech Death feeling that is delivered from the keyboard melodies and everything that is not expected from a Tech Death Metal band, instead the band are simply pushing boundaries. Download This: "Když Muž se Strojem Snídá" [8] RHYS STEVENSON THE RESISTANCE 'Scars' EARMUSIC One of the most highly anticipated Death Metal albums to surface from the plethora of Swedish bands is 'Scars' by The Resistance, an instantaneous demolition of punishing and crushing riffs smother the atmosphere in so much detail that it takes the ballistic drumming and vicious vocal compositions to totally suffocate anyone who dare opposes this beast of mass proportions. Fueled by the coalescing forces that come from the four members of whom served for notable bands like The Haunted, Grave and In Flames (can anyone handle a force that epic?), The Resistance are fighting against the tidal waves of Death Metal bands that are picked out from the megalithic USA, in fact this may be Sweden's finest hour of Death Metal ever since Unleashed took their first outing and the former is sure to see more of this emphatic armada. 'Scars' is out via earMusic on 10th May 2013 [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON ASYLUM PYRE
'Fifty Years Later' MASSACRE Back in 2012 French Progressive Power Metal quintet made their welcomed return with their second offering, their sophomore full length 'Fifty Years Later'. Instantly striking the epic sound of the heavenly female vocals that seem to course throughout the metal music world, but what is amazing about the vocals applied here is that there is a sharp sense of dramatic emphasis on the singing style, that backed up by the thunderous operatic clash of the drums and guitars, interweaving together to create a sound that would be effective as the soundtrack to a modernized version of the phantom of the opera, but more importantly a sound that will carry the band forward to greater achievements in the many years ahead, that said its no longer a matter of fifty shades of grey, but more so 'Fifty Years Later'. Download This: "These Trees" [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON |
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May 2021
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