 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
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 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  PALE BASTARD 'Pale Bastard' INDEPENDENT Casting aside the overshadowing Welsh 'core' scene for a second, Stoner Metal crew Pale Bastard prove that there is more to the Welsh Metal scene than tight jeans, breakdowns and the occasional sheep-shag (yes it's an outdated joke, but it's still funny). Having crafted their self-titled debut album with such finesse, it's difficult to see where they can improve before their next outing, but there is always room for improvement right? However, it goes without saying that this is an album that any Stoner Metaller will be proud of, with grooves as thick and choking as the Welsh coal mines and riveting riffs laying down the red carpet for the ballsy atmosphere to take charge, Pale Bastard are certainly primed, tipped and ready to explode upon the British Metal scene with a brutal arsenal at their disposal. Download This: "Spider Blood" - click to play For Fans of: Orange Goblin, Fu Manchu, Kyuss [7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  LELAHELL 'Alif' METAL AGE PRODS. Four years have eclipsed since the debut album by Algerian Death Metallers Lelahell saw daylight, since then there has been a few members leave and thus has left frontman Lelahel taking command. Taking over bass duties and recruiting Hannes Grossmann on drums as guest, the Algerian outfit unleash their second album 'Alif' which offers more of the infatuating style of Death Metal presented on their debut 'Al Insane... The (Re)Birth of Abderrahmane' albeit with Black Metal influences dotted here and there. It's been some time coming but 'Alif' delivers without fail, offering a slaughtering barrage of tight-ass riffs, menacing bass-lines and gut-rotten vocals along with crystal-clear production. 'Alif' may well be the album to set the Algerian Metal scene alight and bring much-earned attention to this part of the world, Lelahell are flying the flag for Algeria. Download This: "The Fifth" For Fans of: Aborted, Unleashed, Behemoth [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  TURBYNE 'Origins & Endings' INDEPENDENT Just for a second, think about the fact that Scotland has other metal bands. You know, other metal bands than that Pirate Metal band (you know who). Bands like Turbyne whose recent Bloodstock appearance was a statement of intent, a statement to prove that there is a truly active scene north of the border. Harking back to their debut album 'Origins & Endings' it's clear the band wanted to avoid being shackled down as just another flashy Melodic Metal band, determined to add some grit and attitude to the mix and the result is one of beauty. Sure members have come and gone since then (2015), but the formula will remain the same, this might be 'Turbyne Metal' but whatever it is, it's a breath of fresh air. Think Cypher 16 meets Scar Symmetry meets Iron Maiden, a metal concoction that will leave you drooling for more, the origin of Turbyne is Dumfries, Scotland, but the ending is nowhere to be seen. Download This: "The Fate Of A Dying World" For Fans of: Scar Symmetry, Iron Maiden, Cypher 16. [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  OBZIDIAN 'Obliteration Process' ROCKSECTOR 17 years in and now four albums down, things cannot get any rosier for Obzidian could they? Well unless you count their amazing set at Bloodstock showcasing material from their latest album 'Obliteration Process', their tight-ass combination of Progressive Thrash and Death Metal is so sublime you'd have thought this band would have graced the bigger stages by now. Since 2012 they've been in a sturdy 2 year-album cycle, having had a rocky start in the beginning and 9 years between their debut and follow-up. But with this effort the Staffordshire outfit have clearly shed that past off and emerged with a glistening and sparkling sound, one that will bleed the ears of whomever checks this brilliant outfit out. Thundering drums, crunchy riffs, venomous vocals and a ballistic bass-line come together to leave you totally battered. Download This: "They Led The Fall" - Click to listen For Fans of: Malefice, Gojira, DevilDriver [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  NARSARAKH 'Thy Doomsday Lord Enthroned' INDEPENDENT Brunei's Narsarakh are a leading beacon in their national scene, 9 years in and their debut album comes out with a dank, dark and filthy sound, one that is as extreme as the Asian Metal scene itself. 'Thy Doomsday Lord Enthroned' takes the best from the Atmospheric, Black and Death Metal styles, through the use of harmonious keyboards, gritty vocals and riffs, this quintet are proving themselves to be capable of delivering a melting pot of sounds... a lot more than the initial one-man project did. Expect to flit from the rawest of raw sounds in the Black Metal dominion to the majestic of majestic sounds a Death Metal band could throw up, granted it's no groundbreaker in terms of 'it's been done before', but it's a solid enough release to get heads turning in the South-East Asian Metal regions. Narsarakh are flying the flag for the Bruneian Metal scene. Download This: "Storms Of The Nine Kingdoms" For Fans of: Demonic Resurrection, Behemoth, Unleashed [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  SRD 'Smrti Sel' ON PAROLE A one to watch in the Black Metal world, Srd are a Slovenian quintet who formed from the ashes of Terrorfront (project of Goran Slekovec) and with their debut album only just released last year, a year or so since the band's inception, this is one band that will rock the very foundations of the greats. Bands like Watain, Immortal, etc., will befall to the swagger and menace Srd deliver, their debut album 'Smrti Sel' is sung in mostly the Slovene language, but does have some English songs in the mix. It's amazing how such a South Slavic language can be utilised with Black Metal to create something so dramatic, so grim, so dark that you will be sweating in fear as the music sends blackened shocks down your spine and the suspense makes your hair stand on end. Download This: "Kupa Trpljenja" - Click to listen For Fans of: Eastern Front, Immortal, Carpathian Forest [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  LYNCHPIN 'Millennial Holocaust' DEAD SEA RECORDS CARIBBEAN This is no Pirates Of The Caribbean story, there is no black pearl, no dead man's chest, only some rather brutalising metal bellowing out, spewing across the sandy beaches and wind-swept palm trees of Trinidad & Tobago. The passage of course refers to Lynchpin, who after Wacken hit the studio to deliver their second EP 'Millennial Holocaust' and by steel drums did they deliver. OK enough with the puns. Lynchpin don't take no nonsense, this EP demonstrates that as they unleash a torrential flood of Progressive, Death, Nu Metal and Metalcore altogether in one solid package. There is never a dull moment on this EP, the metal does not slow down, nor does it go stale. If you're looking for something exotic, something brutal, something metal as f*ck, you've come to the right review. Lynchpin are flying the flag for the Trinidadian Metal scene. Download This: "Graves Of A Thousand Unknown" For Fans of: Meshuggah, Machine Head, Necrophagist [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  EMPHASIS 'Soul Transfer' RED RIVET Estonian Symphonic Prog Metallers Emphasis return with their second offering in the form of 'Soul Transfer', featuring a lengthy journey across soaring melodies, harmonious symphonies and beautifully orchestrated pieces, this is a step up from their debut album and with a new drummer at the helm (Stanislav Lint), the future looks bright for the quintet. The album thunders along for a whopping 73 minutes, but what makes it worth the lengthy wait is that the instrumentals included break the songs up; ingenious. 'Soul Transfer' carries on the soft yet powerful style of metal Emphasis have created, it's almost in Within Temptation territory. Given the evident planning that has gone into this album, it won't be long before Emphasis grace the rest of the Europe with their infectious masterpiece. Download This: "Leviathans" For Fans of: Within Temptation, Dream Theater, Tarja-era Nightwish [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  MOTÖR MILITIA 'World In Flames' INDEPENDENT Seven years have passed since Bahraini Thrashers Motör Militia released an album and now they present to the world, the 'World In Flames'. With three new members in the line-up including a new vocalist, this album is by far the best material they've ever released. Thrash Metal is the staple sound of this band, but on this album they manage throw in the occasional Middle Eastern vibe on the guitars. Otherwise the album is a neck-snapping work of magic, from start to finish there is the unrelenting surge of power coursing through each and every song. It's hard to see Motör Militia turning back after this, it's an album worthy of international recognition and could very well prove to be thee album to expose the Bahraini Metal scene to the world. 'World In Flames' arguably is one of the finest Thrash albums to be released for the last few years and reassures Motör Militia that they are flying the flag for the Bahraini Metal scene. Download This: "Reckoning" For Fans of: Holy Moses, Suicidal Tendencies, Evile [9/10] RHYS STEVENSON  NECNON MORTUSS
'Válečné Konflikty 20. Století' INDEPENDENT The Czech Metal scene does seem to be slightly secluded from the rest of Europe, but it's bands like Necnon Mortuss who keep the underground thriving. Sure it's been six years since their second album, but was the wait worth it? Kind of. 'Válečné Konflikty 20. Století' is a decent enough effort but it just does not make the cut, there is something missing, that something is deviation, most of the songs seem to have a similar pattern in the music and this is what drags the album through the dirt. Props go to singing in their native tongue, but the album itself fails to shift out of third gear. Despite this, the album is a decent effort but falls short of being excellent, it's not terrible but it's not sensational either. Download This: "Karpatsko-Dukelská Operace" For Fans of: Cannibal Corpse, Vesania, Aborted [6/10] 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  X.KERNEL 'Face The Truth' CIMMERIAN SHADE 'Face The Truth' is the debut album by the Ukrainian Cyber Melodic Death / Metalcore outfit X.Kernel and boy does it captivate throughout the entire album. By lacing a industrial / cyber style of music on the keyboards with the sheer magnitude of the Melodic Death Metal / Metalcore crossover sound, the quintet X.Kernel have clearly demonstrated that they're not adverse to challenging the conventional norms and in doing so have delivered an album that is worthy of international recognition. If they can maintain this futuristic sounding style of metal they've constructed, they may well just become The Ukraine's latest successful export after their fellow countrymen Jinjer secured a deal with Napalm Records, one can imagine the likes of Nuclear Blast being interested in this one. Imagine Sybreed being mixed with Asking Alexandria and Scar Symmetry and you get the idea, cyber metal flirting with heavenly melodic death metal and brutally-tinged Metalcore. Download This: 'Kingdom Of Pain' [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  BEHATED REIGN 'Encounters Of The Worst Kind' INDEPENDENT It's no secret that South America has had a relatively low-key history in terms of metal exports, except for Brazil's Sepultura and Nervochaos, Argentina's Skiltron and to an extent Colombia's Eshtadur. Venezuela on the other hand doesn't throw up any successful metal exports, until perhaps now where Behated Reign are the juggernaut this scene has been waiting for. Their debut album 'Encounters Of The Worst Kind' embraces the Melodic Death Metal sound with ease and comes dabbled with elements of Black Metal (in the riff department), it's a tour-de-force that will sure garner the band attention across planet metal. Having been in a previous incarnation in the form of Beheaded (2012-2015), the 2015-present ensemble Behated Reign are sure to knock on the doors of opportunity with this irresistible effort. Download This: 'Insanis' [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  AK-47 'AK-47' INDEPENDENT Latino Thrash Metal is one thing you could call the sound devised by AK-47, or you could call it raw Thrash Metal, whatever you decide to call it, their debut demo is one of promise. Hailing from Uruguay this quintet play Thrash Metal and sing in their native Spanish language giving it that original and authentic feeling. Sure the demo itself is only two tracks long, but it's a solid effort which leaves much anticipation for their debut EP or album. Despite the demo having a low-budget artwork design, the sound certainly is not low-budget, far from it. Thunderous drums lead the backline whilst the riffs rampage on, all whilst the vocals polish off the tracks with enough headbanging opportunities to give you conclusive whiplash. Download This: 'Amos De La Guerra' [7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  CRUSHEM 'OBS' INDEPENDENT There are times where it's best to stick to the 'already done' and then of course there are the times where originality should take centre stage. However and somehow Turkey's Crushem seem to have gotten themselves stuck in the middle, their debut EP 'OBS' delivers a modern approach to the Death / Groove Metal crossover genre, but some of the components are nothing new and so the EP unfortunately lands itself in the 'been there, done it' basket. There are moments where the EP could swing into more favourable territory but these are too rare for the EP to be considered an interesting listen and rather just something to pass the time of day. With the correct vision and aptitude, Crushem could craft something much more memorable rather than something just to be in existence. Download This: 'Trial' [6/10] RHYS STEVENSON  ORCHID SWORD '大躍進' INDEPENDENT Could this be the birth of 'Orientalcore' or Oriental Metalcore? Well Taiwan's Orchid Sword certainly seem to want to embrace the westernised Metalcore style with the basic breakdowns and chugging riffs that you would expect, but draft in oriental sounds by using a keyboard; it might sound more impressive with traditional instruments, a er-hu per se. However, the other aspect that makes this band and their debut album ' 大躍進' evidently oriental is the language choice, embracing their traditional Taiwanese they have created a truly unique and authentic sound that should get some attention from overseas – this stuff usually gets some form of international attention. Taking an overall aspect this album is something magical that will propel Orchid Sword into the limelight, here cometh the pioneers of Orientalcore. Download This: 'Empty 6' [7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  APOCRIFO MANIFESTO 'Manifiesto' INDEPENDENT Hailing from Argentina, Heavy Groove Metallers Apocrifo Manifesto make their debut EP 'Manifiesto' a little basic and unadventurous despite using their native Spanish as language of choice. The EP is too casual for it to be taken completely seriously but does offer glimmer of hope at various points of something special to come. But for the time being it is a decent effort, it is hoped they will build on this effort and come up with something more striking. The atmosphere is just not as potent as it could be, the vocals are OK, the guitars are what you expect and the drums, well simple as they can be. Download This: 'Alpha-Omega' [5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  BLUNT SHOVEL 'Get In The Ground' GOATSOUND Now this is what you call some brutally heavy sh*t, seriously the debut album by Australia's Blunt Shovel is savage enough to rip the skin and muscle from your face. The unrelenting concoction of Death Metal-infused Metalcore is menacing enough to leave your underwear stained. 'Get In The Ground' is their debut album and it will certainly keep you occupied just as long as you can keep headbanging or air guitar playing, because it demands your immediate attention and does not let go without a fight. Fire and fury underpins this unforgiving release and it's final strike is the unrelenting ability to never stop. Download This: 'Tongue Hung Pinata' [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  ANOMALIE 'Visions' ART OF PROPAGANDA Austria has always had a success story at nurturing the Black Metal scene and yet despite the slight lack of bands expanding beyond borders, it still has a thriving and enticing scene. Dropping their third album is Atmospheric / Post-Black Metal ensemble Anomalie, 'Visions' definitely brings the chills down your spine with an icy, Alpine breeze that is almost impossible to resist. To be fair it's the kind of Atmospheric Black Metal you could fall asleep to, sure it's similar to bands like Winterfylleth and Fen, but it works and will certainly appeal to the wider metal music fan and not just those enticed by Black Metal as a whole. Anomalie are a band to keep tabs on as this effort shall certainly turn heads. Download This: 'Vision VI: White Forest' [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  DEMOCRATUS 'Starting Again' INDEPENDENT The Welsh are always regarded as singers when they speak, but when they let open the gates of hell for metal music to enter into their lives, their true singing abilities kick into being. Back after a 2 or so year plunge into the abyss with line-up changes and what not is South Welsh crew Democratus with their slick streamlined slab of Melodic Death Metal, successfully demonstrated on their aptly named EP 'Starting Again'; it would be cool if they crafted a song in the Welsh language, but for now let the EP strike a chord in the underground for it will serve as a building block for the next few years or so. Whilst at times the EP breaks into Thrash territory especially on 'Furious Horde' (but retaining the core Melodic Death sound), it does evade the shackles of the generic formulas so many other Melodeath bands have used over the years and thus giving the EP a greater meaning to it's existence. Download This: "Furious Horde" For Fans of: Scar Symmetry, Bloodshot Dawn, At The Gates [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  THEOPSYA
'Endless' INDEPENDENT 6 years may seem a long while, in the case of France's Theopsya it certainly is seeing as they've had a line-up change and apparent hiatus during the period between their debut EP 'Tales Of An Angel' and their long-anticipated debut album 'Endless'. The magic has never gone away and with this effort they have shown they are more than ready to let rip on the world once more, hopefully with their newfound sound of glistening melodies and thunderous riffs they can rack up the attention worldwide. 'Endless' is a huge testament to the Melodic / Symphonic Goth Metal crossover and never stops entertaining throughout. Whatever Theopsya have planned next it it sure to be anticipated with high expectations because simply put, 'Endless' is a sumptuous piece of musicianship that is certain to tingle many ears alike. Download This: "Emerald Heart" For Fans of: Nightwish, Epica, Within Temptation [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  THE NOTHING 'War Of Memories' INDEPENDENT If you want a face-punching slab of metal designed to leave you stunned, then check out The Nothing and their debut album 'War Of Memories'. Mixing a delicate balance of Metalcore and Melodic Death Metal (in the Gothenburg vein), Argentina's The Nothing show their contemporaries that there is more to their country than just football and red wine, in fact 'War Of Memories' might be seen as slightly political given the nature of the Falklands, nether-the-less the album is a force to be reckoned with and will certainly appeal to those who are fans of the Gothenburg Melodic Death Metal and American Metalcore styles. Download This:- "Broken Silence" - click to listen For Fans of: Scar Symmetry, The Agonist, Arch Enemy [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  CHAOS REMAINS 'Roots' INDEPENDENT Can you get any tighter than this? Austria might not spring to mind at first for the whole Melodic Death Metal / Metalcore crossover genre, more-so the dominating Black Metal sector. But when bands like Chaos Remains arise from the snow-laden streets of Vienna, with a calculative onslaught of technical riffs, unrelenting drumming and vocals so brutal that they cause seismic tremors in the Alps, you cannot help but keep your ears turned on to 'Roots'', the debut EP by this 10-legged machine. High hopes are placed on this outfit, for 2017 will be their year that they explode onto the wider European Metal circuit with a bright future ahead of them. Download This: "Marionette Of Media" - Click to listen For Fans of: The Dead Lay Waiting, Bleeding Through, Arch Enemy [8] RHYS STEVENSON  SMALLMAN 'Inner Oceans' INDEPENDENT Taking inspiration from Balkan folklore and latching it onto an ethereal mixture of Folk, Progressive and Sludge Metal, Bulgaria's Smallman are a tough nut to crack. Delivering their latest offering in the shape of their first ever EP 'Inner Oceans', you could argue that they wallow in the Post-Metal and Shoegaze genres too as their rather atmospheric sounds encapsulate your senses and leave them in complete suspension. So if you love to listen to something rather calm and pleasant, then 'Inner Oceans' should be your next purchase. Download This: "Fenix" - Click to listen For Fans of: Ethereal Music, Metal [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  KORIJENJE VJEČNOSTI 'Poglavlje Prvo' INDEPENDENT Korijenje Vječnosti means 'Roots of Eternity' in Croatian, now just because they sing about Croatian patriotism amongst other topics, does not mean that they're far right supporters. Arguably Korijenje Vječnosti are Croatia's answer to England's Winterfylleth as their style of Black Metal is so raw, thick and blazingly chaotic, moreover since they sing about nature, eternity and mysticism one can definitely separate them from the common subjects found within Black Metal. 'Poglavlje Prvo' is the debut album by this quintet and whilst sung mostly in Croatian but for one song "Panzer IV", it certainly adds a Slavic feel to the music. There are good hopes for this Croatian horde as they brandish the music of what one could call 'The New Wave of Croatian Black Metal'. Download This: "Vatra Koja Vječno Gori" - click to listen For Fans of: Carpathian Forest, Winterfylleth, Burzum [8] RHYS STEVENSON  MELTDOWN 'MeltDown' INDEPENDENT Fresh from the city streets of Prague, the Czech sextet Meltdown muster all their might together to unleash a horrific slab of Melodic Death Metal, tinged with various other elements along the way all of which combined amass to one decent listening. Stamping their ground with their debut self-titled demo, they are set on course for great things and are sure to gain attention of the record labels in the coming year. If they keep this formula together and use it on their first EP and first album then they will be laughing all the way to the bank, because I have never heard such a strong demo like this before. MetalGate, Napalm, Spinefarm, are you listening? MeltDown are the Czech Republic's newest, hottest property. Download This: "I Am Unbowed" - Click to listen For Fans of: Scar Symmetry, Children Of Bodom, Wintersun [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  PREVAIL 'War Will Reign' INDEPENDENT Are we staring at the latest hot property to emerge from Denmark? F*ck yes! Stamping their authority down with forceful reckoning in-tow, this Modern Metal machine bolts together the funk of Groove Metal with the unforgiving brutality of Death Metal to craft a sound that will blast your skin off before crushing your bones to ashes. 'War Will Reign' is Prevail's debut album and it's an absolute belter, seriously this is some menacing sh*t. Topping this extraordinary sound is some rather slick and smooth melodies that just top it off all so nicely, so why not sit back, sip a cup of tea or down a stein of beer and enjoy one of the finest releases of the Danish Metal scene in 2016. You dirty animal you. Download This: "Face What Remains" - Click to listen For Fans of: Amon Amarth, Dagoba, Illdisposed [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  CONCEIVED BY HATE 'Death & Beyond' SATANATH Four years has passed since the debut album by Conceived By Hate dropped, and now the Death / Thrash Metal horde from El Salvador drop their second album with a mighty explosion. Their music is solidly bolted in the old-school style and so should garner much appeal from those who are fans of bands like Destruction, Sepultura and Holy Moses. 'Death & Beyond' is a 46-minute romp with no second spent being wasted faffing around, no no this is no poseur material, this is the real deal. For a band who comes from a scene with very little media coverage or anything in the ways of a metal music industry, this is a solid release that connoisseurs of exotic metal should also invest time in instigating. Download This: "The Underdog" - Click to listen For Fans of: Above mentioned bands. [8] RHYS STEVENSON  DEVIL MAY 'Novus' INDEPENDENT For a band who just started out in 2015, their first EP 'Novus' is a juicy and cumbersome release, through the well-executed sound of Melodic Groove Metal comes this tight-knit unit from Wales, set to brush aside their nation's overshadowed Metalcore tagging. 'Novus' means new in Latin and for sure Devil May are new to the scene, their sound might not be completely new but their compositions certainly are something to behold. Here is a band destined to make a statement in the UK and if they're to enter BOA's Metal To The Masses this year, here's hoping they win their respective heat because this heavy sh*t will go down bloody well at BOA. Download This: "Severed" - Click to listen For Fans of: DevilDriver, Devil You Know, Lamb Of God [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  LAMENTATIONS 'Echoes In The Wind' INDEPENDENT Over recent years the South-East region of Asia has become a hotbed for sensational talent and by honing onto the Singaporean Metal scene, there seems to be a huge swathe of bands following in their leaders steps, that band being Impiety. Hailing from the 'Lion City', this Progressive Death Metal unit certainly know the difference from true progressive metal and the over-followed djent movement. 'Echoes In The Wind' is the duo's premier album and whilst it leans more towards the Progressive side of the Progressive Death Metal sound, and in doing so doesn't quite contest Gojira, it does however offer itself as an enjoyable listen. By combining a folkloric feel to it through storytelling and using native influences, Lamentations are certainly an exciting duo to keep an eye on. Download This: "Rivers Of Past" - click to listen For Fans of: Gojira, Ne Obliviscaris, Dream Theater [8] RHYS STEVENSON  CULT OF LILITH
'Arkanum' INDEPENDENT Iceland has seen a constant output of metal from the extreme styles over the last two decades and newcomers Cult Of Lilith are no exception. Technical Death Metal at it's most centralist point, that being a fine balance between tricky, complicated riffs and full-on Death Metal. 'Arkanum' is the band's debut EP and echoes a lot of the old wizardry used by other bands in the same style. Granted it's nothing new and probably won't surprise anyone, but it does do the job that the band set out to do and presents itself as a breath of fresh air for those craving Technical Death metal of yesteryear, simply mesmerising. Download This: "Night Hag" - Click to listen For Fans of: Cryptopsy, Spawn Of Possession, Gorguts [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  NIGHTMARE A.D. 'Corruptors' YAB MOUNG Even in the smallest countries across the world, there is bound to be a metal band or indeed someone listening to metal music awaiting discovery. Take for example Cambodian Thrashers Nightmare A.D. who have just released their debut EP 'Corruptors', the title does not need much explanation as does not their own views on society as a whole in this mainly-Buddhist nation. By unleashing a chaotic mix of breakneck Thrash Metal with flash riffs giving the sound added harmony and Hardcore lacing it with spicy attitude, the 'Corruptors' EP is a good sign of things to come and yet its production sound is crystal clear, something most people would not envisage happening in a country like Cambodia... yet did anyone foresee metal arising? Clearly Nightmare A.D. have their visions in check, they are sure to go far. Download This: "Dissent Surge" - Click to listen For Fans of: Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies, Nuclear Assault [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  NARSARAKH 'Prevail' INDEPENDENT If you're craving for some raw Death Metal, something laden with thick distorted riffs, muffled growling and an atmosphere as gritty as a bullet storm, look no further than Narsarakh's premier demo 'Prevai'. Hailing from Brunei, this four-piece machine waste no time in crafting a sound so underground it gives a solid nod to the early days of extreme underground metal. 'Prevail' offers a 15-minute journey from which one can experience incomprehensible lyrics, pounding drums and guitars so Black Metal-esque, you'd begin to wonder what genre exactly this Bruneian outfit can be included in. It's the sort of raw sound that would provide itself as the perfect accompaniment to a seance or candlelit event, it's atmosphere as bleak as night and the music as nasty as death itself. For Fans of: Murder Squad, Carpathian Forest, early-Cannibal Corpse Download This: "Malevolent Coronation" [7] RHYS STEVENSON  RADTSKAFFEN 'Worldwide Anarchy' INDEPENDENT Get your dancing shoes in, switch on the disco lights and get that groove on, for the debut EP by Denmark's Groove / Thrash stalwarts Radtskaffen will have you sweating through your clothes like it's Saturday Night Fever. From the ultra funky 'Deus Lo Vult' to the full-on face-melting 'Oblivion', the 'Worldwide Anarchy' EP will keep you amused for a long time, just be sure to pay your dues at the end for wanting more. For a band fresh on the scene, they certainly have enough potential to go far, just as long as they harness the sound they've developed on this EP. The music won't be hard to sing to, but pronouncing the band name probably will be the sole challenge, after all it's Danish for... Download This: "Deus Lo Vult' - Click to listen For Fans of: Metallica, Sworn Amongst, Soulfly [7] RHYS STEVENSON  QAF 'Muthalath Al A'asarem - The Triangle Of Esraam' INDEPENDENT Very little is known about Qaf, a project run by two Egyptians who indulge in Oriental Black Metal, singing about Arabic and Persian Myth. That said, their premier EP 'Muthalath Al A'asarem - The Triangle Of Esraam' is a bitter and raw slice of Black Metal that encases you in a blazing atmosphere. Exclusively singing in their native Arabic, Qaf go full-pelt with this EP and as a result clearly demonstrate that they know how to put together a winning release off the bat. Whilst this might not appeal to Black Metal aficionados, those who crave the darker side of metal will certainly wet themselves at the almighty sound here produced. 'Muthalath Al A'asarem - The Triangle Of Esraam' is a statement of intent, that ordinary people will not be put down by Conservative figures, it's a punch in the face for all metal elitists. Download This: "Al Qassam W Al Qurbaan (The Oath and the Offering)" - Click to listen For Fans of: Arallu, Melechesh, Borknagar [7] RHYS STEVENSON  THE PERFECT MASS 'World On Fire' SALUTE It seems that ever since Arctic Spirits made headway as Greenland's first metal band (known at least), the genre has come in leaps and bounds on this remote island of ice. The latest export from these barren lands is the one-man project The Perfect Mass, masterminded by Kunuk Groenvold the interesting mix of Black Metal, Melodic Metal, Death Metal and classic Heavy Metal certainly demands attention and at the very least, respect. What makes 'World On Fire', the debut album by The Perfect Mass so special, is it's unique and intricate combination of raw production, unrelenting power cruising through the vocals and music, but also it's unchallenged nature at creating a sound symbolic to this project, one that hopefully will echo across planet metal with positive results. Download This: "Faith" - Click to listen For Fans of: Carpathian Forest, God Dethroned, King Diamond [7] RHYS STEVENSON  DARK PHANTOM 'Nation Of Dogs' SALUTE Underneath the whole blanketing of ISIS / ISIL-related news is a burgeoning and establishment defying metal scene brooding on Iraqi sands. The latest addition to this awesome scene is Dark Phantom's debut album 'Nation Of Dogs', a bellied-up smacking of gritty Heavy / Thrash Metal that would be sure to keep you entertained for ages. By mixing growling and almost Arab-like (traditional singing) vocals together, Dark Phantom embrace the Oriental Metal style with open arms and as a result connect with the heritage more than they did on their premier EP. 'Nation Of Dogs' clearly is a slight dig at religion, but let's not go there, in fact we can say that Dark Phantom's new effort is one that most metalheads will find intriguing. Acrassicauda might have escaped Iraq, but Dark Phantom still breathes the dusty air, spewing out some rather blindingly-decent songs as a result, rest assured we will see more of this lot in years to come. Download This: "Judgement Call" - Click to listen For Fans of: Holy Moses, Sepultura, Death Angel [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  LUST OF A DYING BREED 'Cat Of Nine Tails' INDEPENDENT In our quest to cover at least one metal band from each metal scene in existence, our attention turns towards Kenyan Death Metal / Deathcore stalwarts Lust Of A Dying Breed of whose 2012 EP 'Cat of Nine Tails' is the main critiquing point. Whilst as you can imagine there is very little in the way of decent production, clarity or refined elements, it's made up of determination, aggression and dedicate to the metal music art. 'Cat Of Nine Tails' is a delinquent romp through the slowly-but-steadily emerging 'Africacore' movement (if we can call it so), expect nothing else but a splattering of gutturally-rotten vocals, menacing riffs and double bass drums so brutal you would need clean underwear after the unexpected spontaneous poop. Lust Of A Dying Breed might not be the finest Deathcore / Death Metal outfits around, but they're flying the flag for the Kenyan Metal scene, long may they continue. Download This: "Fearless" - Click to listen For Fans of: Cannibal Corpse, Jungle Party, early-Whitechapel [7] RHYS STEVENSON  SHAMBLES 'Realm Of Darkness Shrine' INDEPENDENT It's taken 19 years for the first debut album by Thailand's Shambles to drop, now you'd think given the lengthy duration the band would have packed in by now... clearly they haven't. Sadly those years culminating in the underground Death Metal scene have not enabled the vocals to have wondrous prominence on the release, instead they're largely low-fi and lack any real punch. Ironically the drums and thick riffs deliver the punch voided by the vocals, 'Realm Of Darkness Shrine' may well be the band's debut album but it's one that will probably get minimal attention outside of the South-East Asian Metal communities if not for a very select handful of passionate extreme metalheads, that or those thirsty for metal from the more exotic lands. However, 'Realm Of Darkness Shrine' live is probably different story and one can imagine the carnage this album would cause when unleashed on the unsuspecting (or suspecting) masses. Download This: "Bitter Abysmal Depths" For Fans of: Morbid Angel, Death, Cannibal Corpse 'Realm Of Darkness Shrine' is out 15th November via an Independent release [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON  MAYLA 'Possession Of The Wretched' INDEPENDENT Truth be told, the whole Deathcore is generally dominated by the Americans and Russians, but in between the two power-houses are bands like Mayla who are standing up for their national metal scene. Hailing from Latvia, this quintet hold nothing back with their debut album as they go balls-to-the-wall and unleash a horrific belter that is guaranteed to make even the most ardent 'core fan piss their pants. By strapping together influences from the Deathcore, Death Metal and Groove Metal styles, Mayla conjure up a sound destined to attract attention from the likes of Metal Blade Records and Nuclear Blast. Preternatural's Sergey Baidikov guest vocals on 'Obsessive Putrification', helping Mayla to come out the Latvian underground with such unrelenting force, that they are ready to take on the European masses and lay down the law with their own crushing style of Death-laden Deathcore. Whilst listening to the album, toilet paper is advised. Download This: "Lick The Dust" - click to listen For Fans of: Whitechapel, Ease Of Disgust, Livarkahil [8] RHYS STEVENSON  CHASING THE RISE
'Chapters' INDEPENDENT Leading the Metalcore style in their home nation of Lithuania, Chasing The Rise are certainly capable of delivering music heavy enough to challenge their American cousins. This was proven on their premier EP 'The Dawn' and even more so now on their follow-up EP 'Chapters', a cataclysmic concoction of Melodic Metal, Metalcore and technical riffage. If you like, they dabble in the trending Modern Metal style and yet whilst not fully embracing the style, remain to the sound they devised since their inception. There is no question that 'Chapters' is a delightful romp through five tracks of energised, electric and pulsating modern metalcore. They are set for big things, so come 2017 expect them to be touring on your doorstep. European festivals are certainly on the table for this lot. Download This: "Maybe It's Just Me" - Click to listen For Fans of: Bring Me The Horizon, Bleeding Through, Architects [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  NARGAROTH 'Era Of Threnody' INTER ARMA PRODUCTIONS German Black Metal has a history of delivering robust and spine-chilling efforts, Nargaroth on the other hand somehow missed the robust aspect, with Ash's latest effort 'Era Of Threnody' seeming to at times fall apart at the seams on some songs, despite the obvious effort to sound epic and adventurous. However in an ironical sense it's this stray into the Epic Black Metal field that gives the album a truly insane feeling of euphoria, in that Nargaroth have decided to go ahead with this shift without any element of prudence. But also delivering a truly authentic and respectable album regardless of its lack of robustness. Sure sometimes its harder to deliver greater creative input; two heads are better than one, however with this effort Nargaroth seem to have defied that logic overall with the exception of said robustness. Download This:- 'Whither Goest Thou' - Click to listen For Fans of: Immortal, Carpathian Forest, German Black Metal [7] RHYS STEVENSON  SHE MUST BURN 'Grimoire' ARTERY RECORDINGS Arguably one of the UK's most promising Metal bands found within the genre-bending category, by lashing together elements of Melodic Metal, Deathcore and Black Metal, She Must Burn have stepped up a level from their debut EP 'Under The Shadows' and seemingly abandoning their gothic-tinged caricature. Some would argue this is a Melodic Deathcore album and therefore easily comparable to most Deathcore releases, but in truth it's more the opposite, She Must Burn have crafted their own sound to stand out from the flooded sub-genre. However the slight downside is that there needs to be more keyboard / female vocals present as this really worked on their debut EP – this is the sole element that lacks in this album and would make one feel that it is this element they need to retain. Download This: 'A False Heaven' - Click to listen For Fans of: Abigail Williams, Motionless In White, Cradle Of Filth [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  PERSEFONE 'Aathma' VICISOLUM PRODUCTIONS Hailing from Andorra (and now some people are frantically googling or using an atlas to find out where this country is, little hint – it's landlocked between Spain and France, nestled in the Pyranees), Persefone have conjured up their best effort to date with the sensational layering of melodic death metal and progressive metal presented herewith. 'Aathma' is the sextet's 5th album and the first to feature their new recruits in the form of Sergi Verdeguer (drums) and Filipe Baldaia (guitars); both members from another Andorra band called Nami, the result? A face-punching effort that'll guarantee to leave you totally pulverised from your inside out. Leading the Andorran Metal scene, Persefone are arguably poising themselves as the underrated underdogs of the Progressive / Melodic Death Metal style, with 'Aathma' easily considered as their finest effort, it's about time they got the recognition they deserve. Download This:- "No Faced Mindless" - Click to listen For Fans of: Opeth, Gojira, Amon Amarth [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  BANDOLIRIUM 'Bandolirium' INDEPENDENT Tango Metal? Well with Latin Metal and Flamenco Metal already in existence then sure why not deliver this unsuspecting genre? Argentina's Bandolirium – a one-man project – do no more than stick to instrumental music with Latin American vibes, salsa and tango vibes throughout whilst the core Progressive Metal sound provides the perfect foundation for this rather unusual and inventive sound to be delivered across. Whether the debut album will perk up interest from across the pond remains to be seen, but it surely will do down well in the South American Metal scene and tango music scene consequently. So it's evident to say that Bandolirium are the undisputed pioneers of Tango Metal. May this journey continue... Download This:- 'Impulso' - Click here to listen For Fans of: Breed 77, Ill Nino, Instrumental Metal [8] RHYS STEVENSON  APOLOGETH 'type: HUMAN - status: INCOMPATIBLE' INDEPENDENT Forming part of a trilogy, the first album by Belarusian Groove / Death Metal horde Apologeth wields ultimate promise as the guttural rhythmic onslaught that comes with it is so epic, it's almost a solid guarantee that Apologeth are the metal band to place Belarus on the map. Their low-key growling underlines the sharpened guitar riffs and supports the drums with a solidified foundation. If this was to make you wet yourself, then that's a certificate worth issuing because this album carries all the hallmarks of a band who knows what they're aiming for. How they will top this effort remains to be seen, but if this is what we can expect from the rest of the trilogy, then fresh underwear will be needed each time. Download This: "Human Zoo" - Click to listen For fans of: DevilDriver, Gojira, Lamb Of God [8] RHYS STEVENSON  SAILLE 'Gnosis' CODE666 RECORDS Four albums in and Belgium's Saille are showing no signs of slowing down, in fact the Symphonic Black Metal outfit have arguably unleashed their most powerfully potent offering to date. With guest appearances by Niki Dierickx (female vocals) and Dries Gaerdelen (keyboards) giving the album a certain dimension, it might be worthwhile for Saille to keep this guest influence in check on subsequent albums since it works like a treat. Other than that, the album itself is far more effective and demanding than their Norwegian brothers in Dimmu Borgir, sure there is a gulf between the two in terms of success and how long they have been around, however Saille certainly seem to have kept true to themselves and have not strayed onto the commercialism path. Download This:- "Magnum Opus" - Click to listen For fans of: Carach Angren, Dimmu Borgir, Emperor [8] RHYS STEVENSON  DESMOTERION D.T.N. INDEPENDENT Hardcore Thrashers Desmoterion are no strangers to the Venezuelan Metal scene having been around nearly 10 years but have only just this year dropped their debut album. The wait was clearly worth it as their debut album 'D.T.N.' is laden with brutality, ferocity and creativity, sure some would acquit this album as nothing but generic Crossover Thrash, but in truth there is something special going on. Venezuela might not be known on the international stage for having a metal scene, but it's bands like Desmoterion who are ideally aiming to change that with their Spanish-tinged metal music. For those who do not know Spanish, the band is basically singing about socio-political issues, not drugs or gang-related verbiage, this is not Narcos nor Breaking Bad in metal-form but perhaps speed in huge doses. Download This:- "Pandemia" - Click to listen For Fans of: Slayer, Biohazard, Metallica [9] RHYS STEVENSON  ASCENDANT 'A Thousand Echoes' INDEPENDENT Featuring a line-up consisting of multiple nationalities including Emirati and Syrian, Ascendant are a truly multinational Power Metal band. They make this known throughout their debut album 'A Thousand Echoes' with clean and traditional Arabic vocals flowing throughout, sure the music doesn't touch any Arabic or Middle Eastern elements; which would really help their cause, however in the end their album does strike the perfect note. In some respect they don't remain bolted to the Power Metal style, this is evident on the track 'Morning Light' as they stray into Melodic Metal thanks to guest vocals by Lindsay Schoolcraft (Cradle of Filth). All in all the album is relatively decent with promise riding on it, it will be interesting to see where this outfit go next. Download This:- "Fog Of War" - Click to listen For Fans of:- Sonata Arctica, Sabaton, Persona [8] RHYS STEVENSON  CARNAC 'Times Undone' INDEPENDENT Extreme Metal band Carnac are wasting no time in conjuring up a debut album worthy of a label release, signed to Sliptrick Records, this Turkish quintet lash together classic Melodic Death Metal with Progressive and Black Metal influences to deliver a chaotic and unrelenting surge of savage metal music. By cleverly mixing these different metal elements in a set way, Carnac have seemingly mastered the formula for delivering what easily could be dubbed Extreme Metal. Sure they will need to keep on the ball after this album to stand any chance of scoring major gigs across Europe, but with this effort it should not be a problem. 'Times Undone' should be in your CD collection for it wields together the likes of Carpathian Forest, early-Behemoth and Gojira to create it's own signature tune. Download this:- "The Lantern" - Click to listen For fans of: Ihsahn, Gojira, Strapping Young Lad [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  NUCLEAR WARFARE
'Devastation Upon The Battlefield' INDEPENDENT The Thai Metal scene is one that somehow is secluded from the rest of the world, despite it having a plethora of insane and imaginative metal bands – Nuclear Warfare are no exception with their neck-breaking Thrash Metal arsenal. Dropping their debut album 'Devastation Upon The Battlefield', this quartet stick true to the South-East Asian style of Thrash Metal; with Indonesia leading the way. However as a group they certainly know how to deliver a brutal and unrelenting sound that should ultimately be utilized again for their next release. No nonsense Thrash Metal is their game, Nuclear Warfare is their name, they certainly are a band to watch. Download This:- "War Command" - Click to listen For Fans of: Oracle, Slayer, Thrash Metal [8] 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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