 BLACKDRAWN 'Blackdrawn' BD MUSIC Now you might well have thought that because of Greece's demoralizing and brutal economic downfall that the quality of metal would deplete as a result; not to mention quality of gear and services available, well, you would be mistaken. Enter Blackdrawn, the new kids on the block who come armed with their rather unforgiving blend of mystical keyboard elements, technical groove riffery, blazing drums and not to mention vocals so gritty they would embed in your soul for eternity. Eloquently expressed, the self-debut album by this Greek unit lashes together the aforementioned Groove / Tech combination with elements of Nordic Melodic Death Metal, conjuring up what could be accepted as part of the 'new wave of Modern Metal'. Already set to perform as support to Arch Enemy in November, Blackdrawn are the Greek Metal band you never saw coming. Simply magical. Download This: "What I Am" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Soilwork, In Flames, DevilDriver [9.5] RHYS STEVENSON  STORM 'Storm's A Brewin' ' TIN IDOL PRODS. Granted the USA has a gargantuan range of metal bands stretching across from the Atlantic to Pacific West, but ever thought of Hawaiian Metal? Well emerging from the secluded island archipegalo is the female-fronted Gothic Metal band Storm with their infectious debut album 'Storm's A Brewin' '. Borrowing properties from the Doom Metal and Symphonic Metal styles, this quintet certainly have ambition on their mind as proven with this effort, despite lacking something that would make this album extra special; no idea what it is, but it's lacking something, Storm certainly are looking the real deal when it comes down to initiative and original-thinking throughout constructing these hallowing and spine-chilling songs. With this album, Storm are leading the Hawaiian Metal scene to greater recognition. Download This: "Angel Eyes" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Evanescence, Lacuna Coil, Paradise Lost [8] RHYS STEVENSON  ORDO CAPER 'Promo 2015' ONLY DEATH'S REAL. Costa Rica in recent years has been enjoying a flourishing of metal bands emerging from the pits of the underground to more continental and international recognition. The latest to make this move is Death Metal duo Ordo Caper of whose 2015 promo exhibits more of the old-school Death Metal style, rather than the polished-off kind you find all too common these days. What also makes this release all the more interesting is one of the songs 'Igbodu', simply because trying to google what it means and not getting anywhere demands more curiosity to be given. The only immediate downside to this promo (and what can you expect?) is that at times the vocals override the music too much, the drums fade too much and thus you're left quite unsure of what to make of the promo holistically. Download This: "Red Moon Ritual" - Get the promo from the band via their Facebook here For Fans of: Morbid Angel, Old-School Death Metal [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON  ARES 'Divine Creation' SLEASZY RIDER We've already ascertained that the Japanese Metal scene is built upon breaking the rules, saying no to taboo issues in context with metal music itself, and supporting that notion with their second album 'Divine Creation', is the trio Ares. This is not Melodic Death Metal as you know it, there is much more going on to even demand it's own genre from which can be called 'Modern Apocalyptic Metal'. Seriously there are elements of Symphonic Metal, Power Metal and Metalcore that all combine together to create a sound that is sensationally mind-blowing, one that inevitably demanded a record label deal and one that will catapult Ares higher in the Asian, if not the Japanese Metal scene. Granted the production might well have helped, despite it possibly being naff, sometimes the bad things are actually ironically good. Keep this band in your line of sight, they are sure to make waves. Download This: "New Created Sky" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Fleshgod Apocalypse, Arch Enemy, Demonic Resurrection, 'Modern Metal' [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  DRAUGÛL 'Chronicles Untold' PESTTANZ KLANGSCHMIEDE Be honest it's always fascinating when a solo project or a band focuses on singing about topics totally unrelated to where they are from. So when Sweden-based project Draugûl divulges in Nordic mythology and Tolkien-related subjects, immediately the thought of Swedish musicians comes to mind, except that this project has its roots in Malta. Geographical differences aside, Draugûl revels in the Epic Viking Metal style and broods it well with the third full-length album 'Chronicles Untold', but it's stuff we've heard before in other forms and as a result the project probably cannot escape being compared to similar bard-like bands. Putting that notion aside, 'Chronicles Untold' does what it intends to do and does so gracefully, there is no doubt it will capture the attention of Folk Metal addicts, but for the broader metal-listener it might fall short of anything interesting. In short, the album is decent but definitely not groundbreaking nor incomparable. Buy the album here: Draugûl - Chronicles Untold For Fans of: Windir, Watain, Faun [7] RHYS STEVENSON  AGE OF DUST 'Messenger In A Soulless World' INDEPENDENT As far as Operatic Metal goes, this is a new chapter in the genre and without a doubt the small-but-strong Catalan Metal scene. Unleashing their majestic and energetic masterpiece 'Messenger In A Soulless World', is trio Age Of Dust. Drawing the beauty, elegance and dramatics from musical scores like 'The Phantom of the Opera', Age of Dust are positioning themselves as Spain's answer to Sweden's long-running Therion. With 50 minutes of pure lively 'beauty and the beast' serenades rampaging throughout, you would be silly to knock off 'Messenger In A Soulless World' as just another Symphonic Metal album. High hopes are expected of this group and there next outings will be closely watched with interest, what with a choir providing background substance this could develop into something rather interesting to say the least. Download This: "No Shade Of Grey" - click here to listen For Fans of: Therion, Epica, Lacuna Coil [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  LUCIFERUM PENIS '15 Years of Silence and Rituals' SALUTE For a band who has been going 15 years, you'd have thought that by now their sound would have been refined, matured and tolerable. Unfortunately Luciferum Penis have not followed that pattern, instead what you are faced with when listening to their monumental '15 Years of Silence and Rituals' compilation, is in short a waste of air. There is very little redeemable quality on this release and despite it's obvious kvlt status, it fails to capture any real imagination and lacks that convincing element. However for those who associate themselves with the more extreme, underground variant of Black Metal, this is an absolute diamond. But for the all-round metal listener, yeah, this doesn't hold interest on all of the songs, in fact the best one of the lot is 'Tenebris Irae' and to think that this one of the few acceptable songs on the compilation says something about the entire release right? Download This: "Tenebris Irae" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Satanic Warmaster, Behexen, Horna [5.5] RHYS STEVENSON  LOST IN PAIN 'Plague Inc.' NOISEWORKS If you seek classic Heavy Metal from the Benelux region, then look no further than Luxembourg's Lost In Pain. This quartet deliver a glorious splattering of Modern Heavy Metal with Old-School influences floating around in the background. Their second album 'Plague Inc.' builds upon their successful self-titled debut album and shows that they are a match for anyone, however they choose to build upon this effort will ultimately determine on whether they keep their feng shui intact. With the eccentricity of the riffs, power behind the drums, gritty vocals and unbelievably electric atmosphere, Lost In Pain's 'Plague Inc.' is a solid contender for Luxembourg Metal release of the year, they certainly would do well in the UK that's for sure. Download This: "Gone" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Steel Panther, Iron Maiden, Sister Sin [8] RHYS STEVENSON  SIROLL! 'Més llenya' BLOOD FIRE DEATH Now you probably would not have imagined Metallic Hardcore having a musical relationship with the Spanish language right? Well Siroll! have done exactly that and make their next sermon 'Més llenya' more brutal than being gored at The Running of the Bulls. But please refrain from using the term Spanishcore because one it sounds slightly silly and two it makes the band seem seclusive just because they're singing in their native tongue. 'Més llenya' comes loaded with riffs after juicy riffs, menacing vocals and drums so agile, Lionel Messi has been made redundant. If there was to be a cheeky tongue-in-cheek track it would be '902' because lets face it, it starts off with a phone ringing, it's random, weird and perhaps should not have been, or should it? You decide. Download This: "902" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Hatebreed, Converge, All Pigs Must Die [7] RHYS STEVENSON  CEREBRAL ABSCESS
'Promo 2015' PUTRESCENCE Low-fi recording, gritty, ballsy and downright dirty is what springs to mind when indulging in the the 2015 promo by Russian Brutal Death horde Cerebral Abscess. You can imagine it, extremely guttural sounds, noises, you get the idea. That is just the vocals, the guitars are so thick they seem almost non-apparent and the drums are so low it is as if they were in a recording studio the size of a football pitch. Despite this, the track called 'Exterpation Of The Brain' does have its merits in that it stays true to the designated genre, it just does not warrant any re-listening. It falls short of being called music but does not fall short of being noise, it just falls on it's knees and has very few qualities worth noting. Bit of luck this is a promotional demo right? Download the promo here For Fans of: Brutal Death Metal, Russian Gore Metal, 'noise?' [5] RHYS STEVENSON
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 BEYOND CHRONICLES 'Shatter' INDEPENDENT High hopes have been placed on the French outfit known as Beyond Chronicles, well with their premier EP 'Shatter' carrying such a convincing sound that in basketball-terms would be considered a slam-dunk, you would have to be stupid to write this group off. Never has French Melodic Death Metal been so exciting, from the rhythmic architecture providing the basis for the guitars, vocals and bass to unleash themselves upon to the slight hint of Modern Metal creeping in, 'Shatter' is a release that will shake the very foundations of the European Metal circuit. Essentially 'Shatter' is as rich in fresh potential for success as much as Sèvres goaded the world of porcelain, Beyond Chronicles are one band to watch for the future, no mistake about it they will go far and will gain acclaimed attention from across Europe. Download this: "Born To Die" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Marionette, Deals Death, Sight Of Emptiness [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  LA HORDE 'Dystopie' FANTAI'ZIC PRODS. Comme-ci comme-ça, or like this like that. That is what springs to mind when pouring over La Horde's second album 'Dystopie', this French unit explore the various avenues of Thrash, Punk and Hardcore to muster up a violent, abrasive and unruly splattering of Thrashcore; but with more Hardcore than Thrash. Bolting together their sound with the romance of the French language is like dressing up a female Black Metal fan in a pink flowery dress, one is brutal and the other elegant. But despite this conflicting analogy (think black rose), 'Dystopie' is a full-on stomping album that would appeal to any fan of old-school Hardcore and modern-Thrash; it is what it says it is, a take-on what life will be like if humanity keeps heading down the yellow-brick road, except La Horde will lead the horde. 'Dystopie' is a decent enough release, it is not groundbreaking or cutting edge, but it will do for now. Download This: "Chan Chan" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Hatebreed, Scarred By Beauty, Skreamer 'Dystopie' is out 5th October via Fantai'zic Productions and all major online outlets [7] RHYS STEVENSON  INVOKER 'Aeon' NON SERVIAM Germany has a long history with producing some of the finest Black / Death Metal acts and Invoker continue that legacy by returning with their second offering 'Aeon'. Whilst the vocals continue the raw sound that distinguishes them from titans of said genre like Behemoth and Vesania, Invoker tend to drag in more brutal and atmospheric influences to the mix, resulting in a fast and furious yet cumbersome presentation. Whilst 'Aeon' might not exactly be the release to drag them out of the underground shadows, it does however poise itself as a decent listen for those who prefer the more exquisite strains of Black / Death Metal. With two instrumentals, a total listening duration of 45 minutes and an eight minute epic, this album will guarantee anyone who peers into it, a listen they will never forget. Download This (when out): "In The Womb Of Arrogance" For Fans of: Dissection, Bolt Thrower, Hypocrisy 'Aeon' is out 30th October via Non Serviam Records in both physical and digital formats [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  FORKLIFT ELEVATOR 'Borderline' INDEPENDENT Despite the crazy band name, Italian wielders of Groove / Thrash Metal Forklift Elevator deal justice with their debut album 'Borderline'. Whether that's a remark about their music style being borderline or their band name remains to be seen, but the problem that is presented with their debut album is the quality delivered. Naturally self-produced albums are a little risky in terms of whether it will be successful or not, Forklift Elevator just avoided that trap, just. 'Borderline' does offer crunchy riffs (especially on 'Damn Bug') and thick bass elements, but it lacks that kick force that this quintet are so capable of mustering. By adding a bit more eccentricity and / or power will give them that magical spark to ignite their career and gain much acclaimed attention. Despite this, 'Borderline' is still a valiant effort it just does not have that quality to make this unit stand out from the underground masses. Download This: "Struggle Of Life" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Five Finger Death Punch, Machine Head, Hebiimetaru [7] RHYS STEVENSON  NICROTEK 'Strange Sound From The Sky' BLACK LION PRODS. Eclectic to say the least, well what else can be said when you put industrial music, Black Metal, folk, ambient and atmospheric music into the mixing pot? Insane is another way, but however you wish to put it, it seems that Indonesian soloist Bobby Deathstars has ventured into the euphoric moment of widening the Black Metal cesspool even more. His project Nicrotek has pummeled out 9 albums this year and this is just one of them, 'Strange Sound From The Sky' explores the creative and artistic breadth of this ingenious musician. Granted to the die-hard kvlt Black Metal fans this would come across as a pile of wank, to those into electronic music the harshness of Black Metal would leave them clueless. Hence this release is designed for total musical annihilation and so for that kudos must be bestowed, what with the sound and atmosphere creating a wide landscape, where can this project go from here? Download This: "Unexpected Situation" - Click here to listen For Fans of: 'Black Metal, 'Ambient', 'Experimental music' [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  BLACK ROYAL 'The Summoning Pt. I' ARMLESS STRANGER Stoner Death Metal? If that is not another way of describing dying from a meth overdose then no idea what is, joke aside Finnish quartet Black Royal demonstrate their musicianship well through their premier EP 'The Summoning Pt. I'. Thick as the Floridian Death Metal sound and brutal as a mediocre hangover, 'The Summoning Pt. I' is a league apart from other weirdly genre-combined releases. The sad thing is that it just seems to not go anywhere, the music is good but the initiative is one that lacks that convincing element. Granted it will appeal to those who like thick, fast and ironically slow music, but there is too much going on for it to be a decent release. If the band were to hone in on their playing skills and fine tune it, then sure the outcome would be far different, but this is a learning step for the Finns, time will tell if their is any improvements. Download This: "Contagion Accident" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Melvins, Orange Goblin, Six Feet Under [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON  UNDER THE ABYSS 'A Future To Behold' VOCATION Heavy / Thrash Metal mixed with Metalcore influences? Sounds good. Sounds even better when you have the likes of Under The Abyss commandeering it. This French mob brandish their own take on the over-populated metal combination and it is this decision that makes releases like their second album 'A Future To Behold' a delightful listen. With each passing second, new elements are delivered and it is this that leaves an ever-lasting taste for more, with an eccentric approach to the compositions and an architectural foundation to build their sound on, Under The Abyss position themselves as potential contenders for 'French Metal release of the year'. This modern take on Thrash Metal is what will drive the genre forward, forward onto newer ventures and perhaps towards 'A Future To Behold'. Watch this band with interest. Download This: "Meaningless Things" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Fallen Fate, Scarred By Beauty, Evile [8] RHYS STEVENSON  CHAOS BEFORE GEA 'Khâron' BLOOD FIRE DEATH Chaos Before Gea could easily become Spain's answer to 36 Crazyfists and Norma Jean, with their latest effort 'Khâron' delivering a ballistic onslaught of insanely angry Metalcore / Nu Metal, you would wet your pants at the brutality of such a release. Not known for producing stellar Metalcore bands, this in fact could be the moment the Spanish Metal scene has been waiting for, sensational vocals lead the strike force with the riffs and drums providing substantial artillery fire. It might not be something new, but it is something epic and that is good enough for the average metal listener. it won't take long before this lot end up on the laps of the Metalcore titans, so watch this band with every passing day because they are going places they may never have thought of. Download This: "Red Lights" - Click here to listen For Fans of: 36 Crazyfists, Norma Jean, Miss May I [8] RHYS STEVENSON  ÓSSERP 'Sang I Sutge' BLOOD FIRE DEATH No matter how much effort you put into a release, it does not always guarantee a decent release. This is what has happened with Ósser's debut album 'Sang I Sutge', there is too much going on and very little in the way of organizing it, as if to suggest the band were distracted during the album making process. 'Sang I Sutge' is the debut album by the Spanish Death Metal / Grindcore contingent and despite it's thick double bass (and bass guitar) elements, gritty vocals and brutal pace, it lacks the ability to convince that this album is there best output possible. Granted Deathgrind was never meant to be pretty, tidy or neat, but there is an exception to that, that is the release has to maintain a percussive pattern and not be hit this, hit that, play this, f**k that. That is exactly what makes this album flop, it just does not convince itself let alone the listener that it is the real deal. Download This: "Heretant Enemics" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Death Metal / Grindcore [5] RHYS STEVENSON  JUSTABELI
'Cause The War Never Ends' MUTILATION Seven years since their debut album 'Hell War' emerged from the Brazilian Metal scene, Justabeli makes their hallowed return with another slab of old school 'Blackened-tinged' Death Metal. Full of thick viscous riffs that float in-between the ferocity of the drums and vocals that are so raspy they put the old Norwegian Black Metal vocalists to shame. 'Cause The War Never Ends' is true in it's words in that somewhere in the world there are skirmishes going on and so with this 'Blackened' Death metal at the helm of this release, the stage is set for another onslaught of the 'War Metal' style. The only downside is that some of the songs sound too similar to one another, thus the lack of diversity in terms of song construction hinders the album somewhat to the extent that it becomes hard to appreciate certain songs. But despite the inconsistency of song differentiation, 'Cause The War Never Ends' is a well constructed album that will appeal to many fans of Old-School Extreme Metal. Download This: "Soldiers Of Satan" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Immortal, Marduk, Morbid Angel [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON  MORNIR 'Entfesselt' INDEPENDENT Germanic Paganism is certainly nothing new, but when it comes to mixing it with metal, it's more recent than you think. Carrying on this noble style is German Pagan Metallers Mornir with their premier EP 'Entfesselt' ('Unleashed'), through the maze of adventurous riffs that ride this EP with such fluidity to the gruffness of the vocals that embody the typical German Pagan Metal sound as a whole. Singing exclusively in their native German language, this quintet have got a promising future ahead as long as they keep the oomph in their music up and on top of what they aim to achieve. Mixing the classic Pagan Metal sound with a violin is not easy, yet as you let the EP play through it's entirety, the magic behind such a crossover becomes more and more crystal clear, simply spellbinding. Download This: "Erdenblut" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Arkona, Helrunar, Wolfchant [7] RHYS STEVENSON  SIRION '2014 EP' INDEPENDENT This American lot are tipped for big things, well when you take the time to indulge in their 2014 EP you cannot escape the urge to place it on repeat for infinity, pun-intended. When you consider their concoction of Swedish Melodic Death Metal heaviness, Power Metal melodies, Modern Metal atmospherics and vision to create a unique sound, you wouldn't be wrong for calling Sirion the offspring of Scar Symmetry and Children Of Bodom. On the strength of this EP, we tip this exciting quintet for a record label deal within a year's-time. Lyrically adopting the Modern Futuristic Metal approach of singing about space, the apocalypse and artificial intelligence through some hefty cybernetic verbiage, Sirion have certainly got their act together and with their impending debut album on the cards, their next release will be closely monitored with interest. Download This: "Interstellar" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Scar Symmetry, Children Of Bodom, Wintersun [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  IN VACUO 'In Vacuo' INDEPENDENT If you ever felt insanely depressed or down, trodden and saddened, then go ahead indulge in In Vacuo's self-titled album, because this would only make you feel that much worse. 'In Vacuo' is the self-harming equivalent in the music world, it seriously lacks any kind of feeling and thus loses the intended ability to wow listeners. Despite this, the riffs are very bland, so bland you feel like stabbing your ears vigorously to save your hearing from the dreadful monstrosity herewith presented. For all the intended might, the album simply does nothing to excite or captivate and should be avoided with ease, that is, go ahead listen to it, but you will regret it. Forget going back to the basics of Black / Doom Metal, this is too bad for the basics. Download This (if you dare to): "Urpower" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Black / Doom Metal [4] RHYS STEVENSON  POWER OF GROUND 'The Butcher' SALUTE Slamming and slaughtering are just two adjectives that can be used to describe the Premier EP by Bangladesh's latest metal export Power Of Ground. 'The Butcher' EP employs a corpse-spread of Brutal Death Metal marred with some rather eccentric Technical Metal influences weaving in and out of the gory onslaught. Pig squeals and guttural vocals front this maddened release and are joined by said riffs and thumping drums. This EP is not only perfect for those who get boners over Extreme Metal, but also for those who love exotic metal, aside from this 'The Butcher' is a really good starter by this Chittagong horde, bestial at it's most extreme as well as brutally menacing. Fury, grit, gore, whoring-riffs and mathematics at their most extreme make this EP what it is, and so be prepared to face the abattoir of 'The Butcher'. Download This: "Murder Is An Art" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Psyopus, Suffocation, Severe Dementia [8] RHYS STEVENSON  DILIGENCE 'Amendment' INDEPENDENT 'Amendment' summarizes what you would expect from a Deathcore / Death Metal band, unrelenting drums, crunching riffs, bellowing vocals and an atmosphere designed to crush your senses. Enter Czech metallers Diligence with their premier EP released last year. Fronted by the sensationally talented Daniela Neumanová, this quartet emblazon their image with the perceptions of Modern Death Metal and in doing so prep themselves to become the next successful Czech Metal export. 20 minutes of unruly brutality may not seem enough, but by the time the last song closes you begin to realize it sounded longer than it actually did. It would be surprising if labels like MetalGate don't snap up this hot property, because damn this Death Metal / Deathcore combination certainly demands immediate attention. 'Amendment' is one EP any adventurous metal fan should own, forget what you love, Diligence's 'Amendment' is the real shit. Download This: "Ways Grown Obsolete" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Cerebral Bore, Arch Enemy, Whitechapel [9] RHYS STEVENSON  KILL ROBOT KILL 'Aeon Of Damnation' INDEPENDENT Deathcore is like a plague, it contaminated the world and every once in a while it needed to mutate in order to survive, sadly such mutations end up with the output more shit than your average fecal matter. Thankfully Austrian horde Kill Robot Kill avoid that pitfall and unleash a menacing onslaught of Death Metal-infused Deathcore. Whilst their debut EP 'Aeon Of Damnation' might not be the best this outfit can produce, it certainly has the force of a thousand atomic bombs and as such will pummel your face into wasted skin. Crunchy riffs lead the attack, whilst the drums send seismic shocks through the infrastructure of this formidable effort and the vocals lead the final blow to what can be perceived as the dawn of the new wave of Austrian Deathcore. Watch this band with interest at all costs. Download This: "Still The Ashes Reveal" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Whitechapel, Betraying The Martyrs, Kin Beneath Chorus [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  OVERDOZES 'E.P.' INDEPENDENT Hailing from one of the least explored metal scenes on the international stage (in terms of press coverage), Thrash Metal unit Overdozes aim to please with their premier 2015 EP. Despite it's epic pace-shifting Thrash Metal sound, the Thai quartet immerse their sound in raw, DIY atmospherics and end up giving possibly a nostalgic feeling to veteran metalheads, reminiscing of the 80's Thrash Metal fury. Whilst this is nothing new, the raw sound and almost-apparent lack of respect for the guidelines to making a groundbreaking release, make this EP a release anyone should own, because it simply has enough oomph to make anyone headbang incessantly. Their EP might well just become Thai Metal release of the year; watch this band with interest. Download This: "Goat Divinity" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Nuclear Assault, Sodom, Slayer [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  INSURRECTION 'Catatonic' BIG BAD WOLF Insurrection's debut EP 'Catatonic' takes its time to kick into full swing, and yet when it does it becomes clear that some elements are missing. It lacks that convincing punch to make it a stellar release, but that's what EP's are for right? Granted the unrelenting pace the drummer sets is matched by the guttural velocity of the vocals and the uncompromising riffs, but the atmosphere is as boring as watching paint dry. Hence the atmosphere is one of the major substances this EP lacks in, the other pitfall is when you take on too many sub-genres and fluff it, which in Insurrection's case is Melodic Death / Thrash; there is too much going on for the band to formulate a sound that will define this band, but despite this the effort is there and if the Dutch quartet play their cards right, they could make a buzz on the continent if not the Benelux. It's not the best of starts for the band, but they have potential. Download This: "Apotheosis" - Click here to listen For fans of: The Arcane Order, The Haunted, Malefice [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON  THUNDERSTEEL 'The Exorcism' TMINA If not the most exciting metal act of 2015 to emerge from the Serbian Metal scene. That is what comes to mind when listening to Thundersteel's debut album 'The Exorcism'. By mixing together the hallowing sounds of Speed Metal in the style of Sabaton and Judas Priest, with the emphatic slow melodies and majestic sounds of Iron Maiden, this quartet set the bar higher in the Heavy / Speed Metal arena. 'The Exorcism' has given Thundersteel a solid platform to walk upon, not only because of their imminent label deal, but because this effort will perk the ears of Europe up, it has the potential to push Thundersteel onto the conveyor belt for the likes of Bloodstock and beyond. In addition we could be looking at a sharp contender for Serbian Metal release of the year as well, keep an eye on this lot. Download This: "Past Time Lords" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Sabaton, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest [8] RHYS STEVENSON  ELVELLON
'Spellbound' INDEPENDENT With the Symphonic Metal movement having gained rapid momentum over the last two decades and since it's first emergence in 1990, the need for bands to distance themselves from the established-household names has become paramount. Elvellon manage to escape this entrapment, just. Granted they have not included any Power Metal, nor any cliche elements that seem to have been exhausted these days, but the similarity between them and the likes of Turunen-era Nightwish cannot be mistaken, not that is a bad thing, it just means that 'Spellbound' has given the band a decent platform to stand on. With 'Spellbound' being the band's debut EP, we can expect a lot more from this German quintet and here's hoping they become a successful metal export, because they certainly have the vision and musicianship to do so without anything holding them back. Swishing symphonies and angelic vocals combined with thunderous drumming and savage riffs, if you're ravenous for some 'Dramatic Symphonic Metal' then 'Spellbound' is for you. Download This: "Born From Hope" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Turunen-Era Nightwish, Delia, Within Temptation [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  SOULLINE 'Welcome My Sun' SEO When you take the time to search the globe for mesmerizing talent and end up checking a band that not only is signed, has performed at Wacken and toured with well respected metal bands and yet has very little recognition outside of their native country, you begin think to yourself 'something is wrong here'. Rest assured, SoulLine's fourth studio album is an absolute bone-crunching slab of Melodic Death Metal; with Metalcore influences dotted here and there. Having been around for 15 years, it's remarkable to think that this band has not grabbed the attention they evidently deserve and yet still put out releases that would probably result in the world's press smothering them. 'Welcome My Sun' is a huge testament to the Melodic Death Metal / Metalcore style and for those who check them out (you really should!), the time spent will be worth every second of it. Download This: "Anvils" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Sonic Syndicate, Cursed By The Fallen, Threat Signal [9] RHYS STEVENSON  IN CAUDA VENENUM 'In Cauda Venenum' EMANATIONS If you were ever looking for something to pass the time with, or just to simply listen to Post-Black Metal that makes pop music seem even more livelier than roadkill, then check out the debut self-titled album by French duo In Cauda Venenum. Give credit though to the phenomenal length of the two tracks combined, a whopping 43 minutes of raw riffs, thick atmospherics, shrieking vocals and thunderous drums. However for the said appraisals, the album has no more redeeming qualities and as such falls as a rather uninteresting release, some people might even want to switch on the TV just to clear their heads from the damning misery exhibited here. If this is the best the French Metal scene can produce in the Post-Black Metal arena, then we might as well just give up. Download This: "Ωlpha" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Alcest, Falloch, Fen [5.5] RHYS STEVENSON  METROPOLIS CHILD 'As Dreams Make Us Live' 2014 was the year that French quartet Metropolis Child unleashed their highly Modern Metal EP 'As Dreams Make Us Live' amongst the masses. This Progressive Metal unit wield together some rather tight-arse riffs, bulldozing drums and vocals so vicious, 'savage' would be an understatement. Whilst slightly diverting away from the Dream Theater-esque Prog Metal sound, 'As Dreams Make Us Live' borrows some of that influence and bolts it onto the seemingly apparent Djent influence, without ending up like a Periphery clone. The time signatures vary greatly and thus offers a varied mix of sounds on each song (let alone the use of both English and French), all in all this is 24 minutes of your life that will be greatly rewarded. This effort gives the band high hopes of establishing themselves worldwide. Download This: "Those XII Shades" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Breach The Void, Meshuggah, 'Djent' [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  BLINDRAGE 'Blindrage' When unsigned bands come to the point where they seek to release a debut album, they aim to have a complete and fully-comprehensive line-up. Well since Italy's Blindrage swapped the vocals position twice and landed Stefano Palmonari for their debut self-titled album, the feeling that they have found their winning music algorithm is present. Mixing together the agile, free-flowing rhythms of Speed Metal with the power and majestic-stance of Heavy Metal, this quintet deliver a debut album that is certain to perk up the ears of metalheads worldwide. Whilst it might be a tad late to spark a lengthy career, Blindrage however will be seen as a model for the new wave of Italian Heavy / Speed Metal bands to look up to. This album is truly a testament to said metal genre and would appeal to many metal fans. Download This: "Fool's Cant Cry" For fans of: Judas Priest, Motorhead, Rage [8] RHYS STEVENSON  BLOODY TYRANT '水沙漣傳奇 (The Legacy Of Sun-Moon Lake)' Taiwanese Blackened Folk horde Bloody Tyrant mark themselves as the natural successor to ChthoniC with their second album '水沙漣傳奇 (The Legacy Of Sun-Moon Lake)' and ultimately delve into Taiwanese mythology whilst utilizing traditional instruments to give their sound that Oriental kick. Exclusively singing in Mandarin, this 7-track opus ought to give the band much deserved international attention and propel them onto greater heights within the global metal arena. Of course if Bloody Tyrant keep chugging away and putting out music like this, a record label deal will come along with it as this sort of music demands that level of attention. This may well be a sharp contender for Taiwanese Metal release of the year; with such ferocity and mind-blowing power, it deserves to be. Download This: "Final Battle Of Sun-Moon Lake" - Click here to listen For Fans of: ChthoniC, Ancient Rites, Tengger Cavalry [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  MYSTERION 'In The Emptiness Of Life' Creating a release with less members than your average band line-up becomes harder as more instrument duties have to be designated, however with that comes the greater freedom of creativity and this is what Germany's Mysterion have exploited. With Zkraciev on vocals and Stefan Jakobitz dealing with the instrument sections, this duo have lashed together a ferocious blend of Black Metal, epic symphonies and plagued atmospherics with the embodiment of Dark 'Gothic' Metal to create a sound beyond darkened imagination. Evidently present on their debut album 'In The Emptiness Of Life', their unique sound of Blackened Dark Metal caresses the senses and enlivens the mind, call it what you like as this release will undoubtedly capture attention across the breadth of the underground metal world. Download This: "Emptiness" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Anorexia Nervosa, Carach Angren, Agathodaimon [8] RHYS STEVENSON  N R C S S S T 'Schizophrenic Art' INDEPENDENT 'Blackgaze' sounds interesting at first but in the end it boils down to post-black metal, a sub-genre that irks die-hard metalheads. Or at least N R C S S S T might argue, musical creativity. Hailing from Lithuania, this quintet immerse the surroundings in a blanket of mist, laden with noise beyond belief and a Black Metal attitude that stems from this Baltic nation's dark history. 'Schizophrenic Art' is the band's debut album and it demands a high level of attention to say the least, ironically it falls short of being anything decent, experimentation is good but you can get carried away with it, sadly N R C S S S T have fallen into that trap and it is up to their next release to rescue them from falling flat on their faces. 'Schizophrenic Art' may be different, but it just fails to make the cut, but is a half-decent listen none the less. Download This: "In Remorse" - Click here to listen For fans of: Falloch, Alcest, Deafheaven [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON  AVERSION 'Aversion' Canada's Aversion go balls-to-the-wall to show that Scandinavian-style Black Metal is not geographically fixed and that it can be exploited anywhere. This is exactly what the quintet have done, with their self-titled album sweeter than syrup and grimmer than a mauling bear, they have the hallmarks of becoming the next successful Canadian metal exports. For an album that is trilingual (English, French and Polish), it certainly meets the criteria to acknowledge it as a well-worked debut album. Conjuring up an atmosphere that chills your spine and lashing it to vocals from the venomous vixen Vena Kava, erotic guitar work, blitzing bass elements and thunderous drumming parts, the result is an album that will give any Black Metal fan a whopping boner in their pants. Watch this band with interest, we could have the new Carpathian Forest in our midst? Download This: "Gangrene Harvest" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Carpathian Forest, Mayhem, Urgehal [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  HELL:ON 'Once Upon A Chaos...' FERRRUM.COM Following a decade of demolition in their native land, Ukrainian metal wielders Hell:On return with arguably their best offering ever. 'Once Upon A Chaos...' is a hell-raising leviathan-of-an-album that enthralls an satisfies any palatable tongues for bruising Death / Thrash Metal. Featuring an array of slick-tight-arsed riffs that dance around the furious yet persistent drum beats, this is one album that ought to be on anyone's 2015 hit-list for album purchases. With raw and rancid vocals adding to the already enraged drama, you can be assured of a heavy knock-out when being seduced by this quintets capability of defying all logic and reason. Technical in some parts, seismic all over, 'Once Upon A Chaos...' is a sharp contender for Ukrainian Metal album of the year. This album certainly is not for those who cannot cope with heavy music, word. Recommended Track: "Self-Destruction" For Fans of: Nervecell, Oshiego, old-Sepultura 'Once Upon A Chaos...' is out 31st August via Ferrrum.com [8] RHYS STEVENSON  KHAEL
'Efímero' INDEPENDENT Four years have passed since Khael's debut album 'Dualidad' caught our attention and last year they released their follow-up album 'Efímero', and damn is it good. Sticking to their native Spanish, the now-duo embrace the beauty and the darkness of the Gothic Metal sound and add some Spanish flavors to give it an exotic feel. Whilst perhaps not as robust as their first album, 'Efímero' does bear all the hallmarks of a well-executed release, with crunching riffs combining with flamenco-style singing and bullish drums supporting the electric atmosphere, you would be stupid to dismiss this release on the very simplest of whims. Whilst perhaps not geared to spark interest across Europe, this album will certainly appeal to the Spanish-speaking metal nations worldwide. Khael may yet have proved themselves to be Spain's answer to Italy's Lacuna Coil. Download This: "La Tormenta" - Click here to listen. For Fans of: Lacuna Coil, Moi Dix Mois, Lumina Criptica [8] RHYS STEVENSON  RAUNCHY 'Vices.Virtues.Visions.' MASSACRE Twenty years in and the Danish battalion known as Raunchy have once again amassed an array of sounds that befit the Raunchy signature displayed across all five previous albums, and now their sixth opus 'Vices.Virtues.Visions.'. Welcoming on board is vocalist Mike Semesky (ex-The HAARP Machine), who adds a lighter approach to the music whilst unleashing another barrage of unforgiving epics, this album is a sure contender for Danish Metal release of the year. Just like a cake, Raunchy have carefully balanced layers of ingredients that all come together to deliver a delicious-yet-sumptuously indulging album. They may call it 'Modern Metal', but we call it 'The New Wave of Nordic Modern Metal' and with 'Vices.Virtues.Visions.' now firmly presented to the global masses, this could be Raunchy's finest hour. Let's just say they got the right man at the right time. Download This: "Anesthesia Throne" For Fans of: Sonic Syndicate, Mnemic, The Interbeing 'Vices.Virtues.Visions.' is out now via Massacre Records [9] RHYS STEVENSON  OVIF 'Démence' Quebecois Thrash Metal duo Ovif made their return known with their second album 'Démence', now whilst some songs are in French and others in English, don't like this put you off. 'Démence' is one of those Thrash Metal albums that is sensationally fast, rough and more raw than blood-red meat. Make no mistake about it, they are truly a unique dynamic duo who would appeal to any Thrash Metal fan. With 35 minutes worth of pure headbanging and moshing at the helm, you would have to be rather stupid to dismiss this release after the first track, in fact it's heaviness is only challenged by it's level of eccentricity present. 'Démence' is a beacon within the Quebec Metal scene and serves this duo well as a solid platform to release their next venture upon, classic Thrash Metal is right here and right now it yearns to claim your neck. Download This: "New Reign" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Slayer, Evile, 'Brutally fast Thrash Metal' [8] RHYS STEVENSON  HECATE 'The Order Of The Black Light' WINTERWOLF Arising from the sandy streets of Cairo, is Egyptian Black / Death Metal duo Hecate with their phantasmagorical debut effort 'The Order Of The Black Light', with it comes a savage shredding of raucous riffs, venomous vocals and ballistic bass playing, all marred by the velocity expressed through the drums. Egypt in the last 10 years has seen a fair few acts break out internationally, from Scarab to Zatreon and now beckons the turn of Hecate. The atmosphere expressed on this release is so scary, it sends chills down your spine and as a result removes all of your defenses, thus leaving you totally exposed to the might of this outrageously powerful debut. 'The Order Of The Black Light' is sure to garner the duo attention in the worldwide underground scenes, Egyptian Dark Metal will never be the same again that is for sure, expect great things from this understanding duo. Download This: "Mighty Warrior" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Belphegor, Infernal War, Naglfar 'The Order Of The Black Light' is out now via an independent release [7] RHYS STEVENSON  ARMAGEDDON REV 16:16 'Sundown On Humanity' PITCH BLACK Well it only took 15 years to make a debut album, so surely Armageddon Rev 16:16 should lay their instruments to rest, pack up and go home? Not quite, simply because the level of professionalism riding on 'Sundown On Humanity' is so honorable there must be a follow-up album in the pipeline because this effort certainly warrants it. This Cypriot quintet ensure that their island nation remains firmly bolted to the international metal scene map and simultaneously ensures that their fabled start to a new career lifts off on a positive note. 'Sundown On Humanity' keeps you occupied for a certain amount of time, except at times it does get rather boring, but overall its an album worth checking out. Lashing together the epic elements found within Power Metal with the more adventurous Progressive Metal sound, 'Sundown On Humanity' is a gem to be treasured. Download This: "Hypocrites Of Destruction" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Testament, Iron Maiden, Manowar [8] RHYS STEVENSON  BONES 'Awaiting Rebirth' BLOOD HARVEST That sound of Old-School Death Metal never losses it's charm, in fact it's bands like Bones who keep it going! Hailing from Belgium, this quartet unleash a crushing barrage of cranial torture so brutal, it makes your last hangover seem light. 'Awaiting Rebirth' is the premier EP by Bones and with it comes a 16-minute journey through unrelenting riffs, raw musical elements and enough bollocks to make your testosterone levels appear to be lower than your left foot. The only downside to the EP is that it lacks diversity as at first the songs all sound the same, but after closer inspection you begin to sift out the close-comparisons and discover different elements in each song. With riffs as thick as molasses, vocals as arousing as your last erection and drums so demeaning they will have you for breakfast, 'Awaiting Rebirth' is a true testament to the classic Old School Death Metal sound. Download This: "Blight Upon Sodom" For Fans of: Death, Obituary, Morbid Angel [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  BLACK TRACK 'Let The Thunder Roar / Werewolf Attack' METAL WAYS The truth about 'Let The Thunder Roar / Werewolf Attack' is that you have to either be insanely tired or stupidly drunk to make sense of it. Seriously if you're plain sober when listening to this, you would not fully appreciate the release. It's all over the place, just like Kim Kardashian's bum went viral, this music is enough to give you a viral infection, it's that disgusting. Of course the latest offering by Mexican Heavy / Speed Metallers Black Track is not a complete failure, but neither is it anything spectacular, ok maybe it has what metal fans would expect from a Speed / Thrash Metal release but it lacks that striking cord that says 'hey I'm a metal album'. The only true positive is that the release features songs from the band's second demo. Download This: "Speed Force" For Fans of: Agent Steel, Judas Priest, Motorhead [6] RHYS STEVENSON  ANTOINETTE 'Renaissance' Fresh from the pits of Wiltshire comes a 10-legged machine known as Antoinette, featuring two members of Sleep Inertia; who are also ex-members of The Dead Lay Waiting. With a tongue-in-cheek introduction on their latest EP 'Renaissance' - a voice message recording - this Post-Metalcore murder squad drop their best material without fault, tight-ass riffs course through the veins of this living, breathing release, whilst the sheer velocity of the atmosphere will make your skull implode with enough force, you will wince at every inclining millimeter. 'Renaissance' is a statement of intent that says Antoinette aren't messing around, so BMTH and Architects please move as Antoinette are destined to go places and become the new face of Modern Post-Metalcore. You have been warned. Download This: "Conform / Control" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Architects, BMTH, Miss May I, Underoath 'Renaissance' is now out via an independent release [9] RHYS STEVENSON  NEOLITH 'Izi.Im.Kurnu - Ki' NON-SERVIAM Whilst Behemoth have left bands like Vader and here Neolith in a trail of dust, the inaugural truth cannot be more true, that is these three bands are just a handful of the Polish Blackened Death old guard. Waiting another five years for Neolith's fourth album may seem like eternity, but the wait was worth... just half of it. 'Izi.Im.Kurnu - Ki' albeit it being a solid yet respectable slab of mauling yet ferocious metal, just does not quite cut itself out as anything new. Ironically it offers a sound that is not visited all that often, with the combination of the eccentricity demonstrated by Behemoth and some rather harmoniously demonic keyboard elements, 'Izi.Im.Kurnu - Ki' provides itself as one of those 'neither here nor there' releases and so thus leaves a lot of questions to be answered. Download This: "Are We The Lost Ones?" For Fans of: Vader, Behemoth, Luciferion 'Izi.Im.Kurnu - Ki' is out now via Non-Serviam Records [7] RHYS STEVENSON  MORTAL STRIKE 'For The Loud & The Aggressive' Firstly make sure that you insure your neck for any damage caused by the metal machine known as Mortal Strike, their unforgiving lashing of merciless Thrash Metal certainly will leave listeners weeping in excruciating pain. Let's face it if any metal music fan cannot take this music then they must have very soft ears, either that or they're Justin Bieber fans-in-secret. 'For The Loud & The Aggressive' is an honorary testament to what makes Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal. It features full-throttle drumming, flash riffs and vocals so gritty and dirty, you would consider this as an audible sex orgasm cocktail. Austria may not be the first country that comes to mind when thinking of neck-breaking Thrash Metal, but Mortal Strike are destined to change that, if you thought Thrash Metal couldn't get anymore sexy, it just did. Download This: "MG 42" - Click here to listen to the live version For Fans of: Evile, Kreator, Destruction [8] RHYS STEVENSON  TARTARUS (USA)
"Untitled EP" Tucked away in a tiny corner of Pennsylvania is a four-piece onslaught waiting to slay your sorry soul for breakfast. In recent times the amount of female musicians in Extreme Metal has been increasing and quite rightly so, with bands like Tartarus comprising of two males and two females who'd have thought this dynamic unit would be capable of delivering such an anal-fisting sound? Well, their debut 'untitled' EP slaps down on the table all of the hallmarks of a promising band and subsequent debut album. Murdering riffs marry up well with the thick bass elements, whilst the vocals pour into your ears like an icy flowing waterfall and the drums deliver a hallowing sound that will make you wet yourself. Overall the debut EP will appeal to fans of not only Black Metal and Death Metal, but also Doom Metal through the atmosphere developed. Definitely a band to watch (you have been warned). Download This: "Blood & Honor" - Click here to listen. For Fans of: Arallu, Fourth Autumn, Barbarian Prophecies [8] RHYS STEVENSON  POWERWOLF 'The History of Heresy II (2009 - 2012)' METAL BLADE German veteran Power Metallers Powerwolf return with another boxset full of emphatic sounds and majestic ballads to wet your whiskers by. 'The History of Heresy II (2009 - 2012)'. This time round they have whipped in classics from their albums "Bible Of The Beast" and "Blood Of The Saints", but have also included an orchestral release under the name of "The Sacrilege Symphony". Powerwolf are best described as mixing Power Metal with Gregorian chant elements here and there, one song that features this is "Moscow After Dark", but whatever you call them, 'The History of Heresy II (2009 - 2012)' is a beautiful testimony to a band who has lead the German Power Metal ever since 2003. So if any one in your family is looking for a timeliness classic and graceful present for Christmas, 'The History of Heresy II (2009 - 2012)' is your answer!!!! Download This: "Moscow After Dark" For Fans of: Sabaton, Hammerfall, Gloryhammer [8] RHYS STEVENSON  SKÀLMÖLD 'Með Vættum' NAPALM Iceland's second most successful metal export (behind Sólstafir) Skàlmöld have returned with their third album 'Með Vættum' and with it comes sword-stabbing Viking Metal ballads, much akin to previous efforts "Börn Loka" and their debut "Baldur". Naturally preferring their Icelandic language over the English language, 'Með Vættum' brings the magical stories and myths of the bygone Viking era to life and really connects you with Europe's most North-Western country. By closing your eyes and listening to the album, you can easily place yourself in the position of a marauding Viking either marching into battle, living a daily Nordic life or doing what most Nordics do, drink beer as if it was going into rationing. Skàlmöld have set alight the beacons of true Viking Metal once again and as 'Með Vættum' gains momentum to it's inaugural release, one thing is clear, 'Með Vættum' is set to captivate planet metal. Download This: "Með Drekum" For Fans of: Nordheim, Ensiferum, Týr 'Með Vættum' is out 14 November 2014 via Napalm Records [10] RHYS STEVENSON  FAITHFUL DARKNESS 'Archgod' CORONER Modern Metallers Faithful Darkness know exactly what they are after and with their latest effort 'Archgod', they have reached it. They have banished the Soilwork demons that Jimmy Persson had brought in and have replaced them with the sensational Jonathan Thorpenberg and thus with this change, Faithful Darkness have become a force to be reckoned with. 'Archgod' will have your neck snap in juxtaposed positions as you headbang to this absolute ballistic-missile-of-an-album. There is something about the Scandinavian nations that make them so damn good at Modern Metal, and this is extremely evident on 'Archgod'. It deals no bullsh*t and has 101% ferocity guiding it throughout it's entire self. 'Archgod' has bought Faithful Darkness the one-way ticket to European domination. Breathe it, hear it, f**king fear it. Download This: "The Witness" For Fans of: Mnemic, In Flames, Sonic Syndicate, ok and Soilwork (ish) 'Archgod' is out 08 December 2014 via Coroner Records [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  SEASON OF GHOSTS 'The Human Paradox' CORONER Season Of Ghosts is possibly one of the most exciting acts to emerge out of the Greek Metal scene in a very long time. Fronted by Sophia Aslanidou (who was vocalist for Blood Stain Child at one point) and featuring Ghost Legion as the power behind the instruments, this dynamic force will set the world alight with their emphatic sounds. 'The Human Paradox' is best described as "Futuristic Dance Metal" and as such combines a majestic array of music styles, ranging from Trance Metal to Cyber Metal and from Dance Pop to Sci-fi soundtrack elements. 'The Human Paradox' is a one of a kind album is sure to appeal to fans of the Modern Metal sound as well, in fact through the use of the synths, harsh male vocals, soprano-like female vocals and the unmistakable Disney's Fantasia feeling, this album has ground-breaker written all over it. Download This: "Time Travellers" For Fans of: Xe-None, Blood Stain Child, Amaranthe 'The Human Paradox' is out 8th December 2014 via Coroner Records [9] RHYS STEVENSON  VEILBURNER 'The Three Lightbearers' American Extreme Metal bands come in leaps and bounds, Veilburner are definitely above that... to a certain extent. 'The Three Lightbearers' is a valiant effort and serves as the perfect springboard for the Pennsylvania duo to unleash their unruly fathomable sermons upon the unsuspecting Extreme Metal scene worldwide. Through the use of some rather erotic riffs and immensely brutal vocals, coupled with the thunderous drumming sequences and anger-enraged atmosphere, 'The Three Lightbearers' is an album to piss your neighbors off with. Earlier 'to a certain extent' was said, well the reason behind that is that it simply does not have that sparkle that otherwise would give them a record label deal, unless of course they did not want one... Download This: "Gospel of Blood-Stained Void" For Fans of: "Unruly noise", "Black / Death Metal" [7] RHYS STEVENSON  ABIDE TILL DEATH 'Works Of Your Hand' Be honest, would you have expected Papua New Guinea to have a metal scene? Well it does, Christian Alternative Metal band Abide Till Death have unveiled their latest single 'Works Of Your Hand'. The best way to describe this is think of your average male-fronted Alternative Metal band and add Christian lyrics to it, but don't judge because of the lyric topics because at times the vocals break into deep growling. So, 'Works Of Your Hand' is essentially experimental as well as alternative and this is why many rock and metal fans will like it, it is catchy, groovy yet full of energy. 'Works Of Your Hand' is a song you should have on your mp3 player. Download the single here For Fans of: My Chemical Romance, Family Force 5, Stone Sour. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  LASHER ZOMBIE 'King Of Kings' Belizean Death Metal armada Lasher Zombie make their voices heard with their latest offering 'King Of Kings'. Smouldering hot with the smells of Old School Death Metal, this trio assemble together an array of sounds that demand your attention with every passing second. Let's be honest if you cannot handle this, then Death Metal is not for you (and don't even try to argue). 'King Of Kings' delivers the mid-paced to fast-paced kind of drumming you would expect, coupled with some rather nasty yet gnarly vocals that savagely rip into you, whilst the riffs pour acid all over your organs and leave you to burn to death. The zombie plague has arisen, Lasher Zombie are leading and flying the flag for the Belize Metal scene.... you have been warned. Download This: "Belizean Blood Bath" For Fans of: Suffocation, Morbid Angel, Obituary [8] RHYS STEVENSON  KOLONY 'Sledge' SELF-RELEASED Melodic Metallers Kolony make their return known with their second album 'Sledge', now if you were to strap a wire to both of your hands behind your back for just 45 minutes and bleed slowly to death whilst indulging in Quebec's finest release this year, then you would have had 45 minutes of enjoyment in your life towards your untimely demise... of course we're joking, don't do anything like that, it's stupid. But what isn't stupid, is the insurmountable attention that has been directed towards 'Sledge', in fact if the quartet play their cards right, this may well garner some attention from record labels worldwide. 'Sledge' is an absolute roller-coaster of a ride that will get blood pumping and moshpits working overtime, hell this is insanity in physical form!! AIEEEEEE!!!!! Download This: "Anthem" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Bullet For My Valentine, Megadeth, Avenged Sevenfold 'Sledge' is out 14th November via an independent release [8] RHYS STEVENSON  MORLAS MEMORIA 'Follow The Wind' Arriving on the German Metal scene is sextet Morlas Memoria with their own unique style of Symphonic Gothic Metal, that is they introduce Folk Metal elements into the mix through the flute. 'Follow The Wind' is the band's debut album and it really carries that spark element, you know that spark to say 'sign us' to the record labels. Through the elegant use of harmonious female vocals and dramatic music supplementing a majestic yet emphatic sounding atmosphere, 'Follow The Wind' is an album that breathes beauty and speaks solemn grace. If you wanted to check out any new Symphonic Gothic Metal bands this year, make sure you have Morlas Memoria down on your list because rest assured, they are going places with this effort, they are Germany's answer to Within Temptation. Download This: "Follow The Wind" For Fans of: Within Temptation, Nightwish, Therion [9] RHYS STEVENSON  BLACKOUT
'Armageddon' The French Metal scene is an oddball if you can call it so, an oddball in the sense that there are plenty of talented bands who are capable of making a name for themselves, but only a handful actually do, Gorod, AqME, The Algorithm per se. But when you have a band who tends to operate in the Avant-Garde approach to metal, that is the experimental form, attention cannot come sooner enough. Blackkout is a three-piece metal band who have recently released their debut album 'Armageddon' and with it comes a solid packing of infectious riffs, snazzy drums and violent vocals. Just imagine the artwork depicting their music, that is how ferocious it is, seriously if they get any heavier, they would have to have a restraining order placed on them because this album is f**king insane! They call it 'Blackout Metal', we call it 'Heavy Thrash Metal'. You decide what it should be called. Download This: "Blackout Album Teaser" - Click here to listen For Fans of: T.A.N.K., Evile, "Insane Metal" [8] RHYS STEVENSON  BLOODSHOT DAWN 'Demons' INDEPENDENT Fired up from their recent Bloodstock face-melting appearance, Hampshire's beloved sons Bloodshot Dawn unleash a barrage of fiery hell in the form of their second album 'Demons'. Outrageously heavier than previous efforts, 'Demons' explodes into an unmerciful massacre with spark-shedding riffs, the drums as unrelenting as a Gatling gun (especially on 'Consequence Complex') and the vocals as murderous as a nuclear genocide. 'Demons' demonstrates the true capabilities of the Bloodshot Dawn and is sure to be met with rapturous appraisal from old and new fans alike, seriously if they were aiming to strike an impression and reach the desired sound simultaneously, then 'Demons' ticks both boxes. Nothing is missing from this fantastic release, it will blow your brains apart and thus places itself as a contender for English Metal release of the year. For Fans of: Sylosis, Obscura, Woe Of Tyrants 'Demons' is out 26th October via an independent release. [10] RHYS STEVENSON  SUBSERVIENCE 'Upheaval' INDEPENDENT Change is inevitable and so when Dan Lofthouse took over vocal duties from ex-Subservience member Jay Fitt, the new era of Subservience was born. Exploding with the delightful sound of Groove-laden Extreme Metal, the Sussex armada unleash their third EP 'Upheaval' and with it comes an explosive array of riffs, charismatic vocals and menacing attitude. Wielding together the sounds of classic Death Metal from days-bygone with the atmosphere of Lamb of God, Subservience might have just dealt justice and in the wake of this EP, the right to stake their claim as one of England's hottest properties to watch out for in 2015. 'Upheaval' may be a sharp improvement from previous releases, the question is can they hold their nerve and keep this improvement progression going? Time will tell, that is for sure. For Fans of: Carcass, Strapping Young Lad, Cannibal Corpse 'Upheaval' is out now via an independent release [8] RHYS STEVENSON  REIGN OF SIRIUS 'Mirror Figures' Sensationally dramatic and epically adventurous are two sentiments that can easily be placed upon Reign of Sirius' latest offering 'Mirror Figures'. The Symphonic Melodic Metal sextet from Macclesfield have delivered another erotic opus to wet your whiskers by. Through the meticulousness of the music and the vocals intertwining so elegantly with each other, 'Mirror Figures' can be claimed as the "metal world's version of Phantom of the Opera". From start to finish, you are taken on a roller-coaster of dynamic symphonies, articulate melodies and wintry / Gothic atmospherics, so much so that 'Mirror Figures' would be a perfect accompaniment to any birthday, Halloween, Christmas or New Years Eve celebrations. Make no mistake with this release, it is sure to give Reign of Sirius the perfect spring board to launch themselves into the European Metal circuit. Download This: "Mirror Figures" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Nightwish, Epica, Within Temptation [10] RHYS STEVENSON  LIV KRISTINE 'Vervain' NAPALM Norway's beloved Liv Kristine, with her grace and beauty, returns with her fifth solo album 'Vervain'. Once again the soprano has delivered a spectacular album that will surely earn her accolades in the music industry. Joined by the same line-up as the preceding album 'Libertine', this output features a rather majestic and swan-like elegance feel to it, that is it exhibits a lot of grace, charm and power. Keeping intact the Symphonic Metal sound that bodes well with Liv's vocals, the new album drags in elements of Folk Metal, Industrial Metal and Gothic Metal; with a possible tinge of schlager (on some songs), giving it that almost Lord of the Rings escapology feel to it, or perhaps the grandeur of a winning Eurovision entry (although the possibility of Liv entering is probably low). It is safe to say that Liv Kristine has returned with her (and fellow band-members) best album to date. For Fans of: Within Temptation, Midnattsol, Tarja-era Nightwish. 'Vervain' is out 24 October 2014 via Napalm Records [9] RHYS STEVENSON  LASTER 'De Verste Verte Is Hier' DUNKELHEIT PRODUKTIONEN The Dutch affair with Black Metal continues with Laster's debut album 'De Verste Verte Is Hier' (rough translation: 'The Furthest Distance Is Here'), if you can call it an album that is. The release is merely four tracks, three of the songs have an average length of 13 minutes and so if you want to be mightily bamboozled and have nothing worthwhile to do, then sit down and be mowed down by this unforgiving release. 'De Verste Verte Is Hier' is of the atmospheric kind, it does not aim to be the heaviest, fastest or more brutal release, but rather one that is full of body, soul and spirit. Granted it is nothing new and is a long way from being anything but, however it does demonstrate a really eery feeling, one that will surely appeal to the more underground Black Metal fans. For Fans of: Alcest, Drudkh, Wolves In The Throne Room 'De Verste Verte Is Hier' is out 1st November 2014 via Dunkelheit Produktionen [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  BEYOND CREATION 'Earthborn Evolution' SEASON OF MIST Canada's latest and hottest property Beyond Creation make their welcomed return with their latest slice of juicy Progressive-laden Technical Death Metal. 'Earthborn Evolution' is the second album by the Quebecois quartet and with it comes a battering onslaught of thunderous drums, electric riffs and raucous vocals, what more could you want? Simple. More where that come from! With ten tracks of some of the most complex metallic algorithms you'll ever come across, an atmosphere raining blood-soaked spikes and a release that could easily claim the title of Canadian Metal release of the year, Beyond Creation have successfully dug deep to find something funkier than 1970's disco, more brutal than your last New Years party and sweeter than pancakes topped with Canadian syrup. Prepare for some hazardous moshing, savage headbanging and crapped pants, you have been warned. For Fans of: Obscura, Fallujah, Alarum, "Mathematical Metal" 'Earthborn Evolution' is out 24th October 2014 via Season Of Mist [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  OBSIDIAN KINGDOM 'Mantiis' SEASON OF MIST Catalonia's (Spain) Obsidian Kingdom make their voices once again known with their third album 'Mantiis', now this sound is not easy to pin down and thus requires a level of mental deconstruction to unlock the various elements pressed onto each song. But what this quintet has done is strapped together a myriad of sounds to captivate and arouse the listener in every aspect (ay no need to think dirty here), through the use of eery atmospherics, progressive elements lodged in the drumming area, riffs so soft they make velvet more like sandpaper and vocals that flit between the melodic and gruff Black / Death Metal vibrancy, Obsidian Kingdom have produced a release they can be extremely proud of. As black as obsidian itself, the world can now witness the birth of "Obsidian Metal" and with it a 47-minute epic journey through a hellish heaven. For Fans of: Cult of Luna, Dälek, Drumcorps 'Mantiis' is out 24th October 2014 via Season Of Mist [8] RHYS STEVENSON  NECROPHAGIA 'WhiteWorm Cathedral' SEASON OF MIST Death Metal's forefathers Necrophagia make their hallowed return with their seventh full-length offering 'WhiteWorm Cathedral', with it comes that classic old school Death Metal sound that concreted the genre to the ground and laid the foundations for the Death Metal bands you know as of today. 'WhiteWorm Cathedral' welcomes Mirai Kawashima back to the fore as the band's keyboardist (some will also know him from the band Sigh), with her return comes the spine chilling elements she is renowned for, add that to the brutality and grit that Necrophagia has always been known for and you get slammed with a force so reckoning, you would have to take out life insurance to survive the uniqueness of what we call "Horror Death Metal"; we could imagine Necrophagia as a decent addition to any Saw film soundtrack - it is that gory in an audio context. For Fans of: "Old School Death Metal", Autopsy, Asphyx 'WhiteWorm Cathedral' is out 24th October 2014 via Season Of Mist [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  AONIA
'Sunchaser' Uprising English "Symphonic Gothic Fantasy Metal" outfit Aonia mark their second coming with their latest EP 'Sunchaser', which sees a line-up extension with guitarist Przemek Drużkowski and second female vocalist Joanne Kay Robinson joining the band. With this change, 'Sunchaser' completely crushes Aonia's debut EP 'City Of Shadows' without any remorse or mercy, in fact the EP carries the sound that should give Aonia the attention they deserve. What with the dramatic elements found scattered all over like a starry night, the angelic vocals caressing the symphonic atmosphere (which is as powerful as Disney's Fantasia) and elegance as graceful as a swan, it is safe to say that 'Sunchaser' is one of Gothic Metal's best 2014 releases. Make no mistake about it, we will be hearing more of Aonia in the future. Download This: "Echoes" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Nightwish, Therion, Within Temptation [10] RHYS STEVENSON  HEAVEN'S SCUM 'It All Ends In Pain' Luxembourg is one of those countries that rarely gets looked at when regarding metal music, so when Death Metal mobsters Heaven's Scum arrive on the scene with their debut album 'It All Ends In Pain', the initial question is will this gain them attention outside The Benelux. Well it should do, with gritty and dirty vocals, rampant riffs and unforgiving drums producing a sound that would appeal to any Death Metal fan, this is an album that should catch the eye of a label or two. With an hours material at the helm, you will not get bored easily and nor will you switch it off, in fact by the end of the album you will realize that 'It All Ends In Pain'. Download This: "Mutality" For Fans of: Lamb of God, Unleashed, Machine Head [8] RHYS STEVENSON  PURGAMENTUM 'Aschewelt' Underground Black Metal has to have a certain element to it to make it credible and worth the buzz in the pits of hell. Germany's Purgamentum are close but no cigar, their premier album 'Aschewelt' delivers what is expected of such a release but lacks that element of convincing. It has to strike emotion into the listener and it appears to be hard to find any trace of passive emotion. As the album title suggests it is in German and thus whilst anyone learning the language may find it useful, it unfortunately will remain within the German-speaking Countries. Overall it offers promise but at the same time questions the sincerity of the release. Download This: "Erntemond" For Fans of: "Underground Black Metal", "German Black Metal" [6] RHYS STEVENSON  BLACKNETIC 'Hell & Fire - Demo 2014' The downside about DIY or low budget recordings is that the majority of them are low sounded and are of poor quality. Sadly Blacknetic's first demo 'Hell & Fire - Demo 2014' finds itself in that category, but that's not unexpected of a demo. The music itself takes elements of Heavy Metal and Thrash Metal and is meshed together to make a sound that would appeal to mostly anyone. Hampering down the release as said is the low quality of sound, not only that but even when turning the speakers up a few notches, there is a lack of seriousness and this really renders the demo a waste of time, of course the band would disagree but que sera sera. Download This: "Erratic Kingdom" For Fans of: "Anything below volume 3", "low sounds", "standard Heavy / Thrash" [6] RHYS STEVENSON  DYER 'The Evolutionary Process' At times you just get bored hearing the same old coming out, sure bands say that they are original and create their own music, but half of the time that is a fabricated lie. Now whilst Dyer's EP 'The Evolutionary Process' may offer something fresh, it certainly is not completely new. Concocting a blend of Grooved up Thrash Metal, this Californian unit obviously missed the memo that said think outside the box, simply because this EP has 'standard writing' written over most of it. The irony is that it so bad it is that good, at times the vocals lack powerr, the riffs fail to come out of the strings and the drums are so standardized it would take someone like One Direction to come up with something much better, albeit "Fist-Print", being the only song that ticks all the boxes. Dyer may have had three years since their debut album but these were clearly wasted. Download This: "Fist-Print" For Fans of: Machine Head, Pantera, Annihilator [5] RHYS STEVENSON  HYPERIAL 'Blood & Dust' BLACKTEAMMEDIA Black / Death Metal has just received a face lift, exposing the inside core of this rather hostile music genre. Entering the halls of the abyss is Polish quintet Hyperial with their second opus of Modern Extreme Metal, infusing together the riotous and unforgiving power of the Behemoth machine, with the Modern sounds and spine-chilling elements churned out by The Kovenant, Hyperial whip up a sound that is guaranteed to make you think twice about listening to 'that new album' by Polish veterans Behemoth. Whilst it may not be as heavy, what it lacks in heaviness it makes up for scintillating orchestrated pieces, from start to finish Hyperial unleash a barrage of hell that only the fans of Extreme Metal would get a boner over. 'Blood & Dust' could be a contender for Polish Metal album of the year. Download This: "Gehenna Upon His Feet" For Fans of: The Kovenant, Behemoth, Tristwood, Anaal Nathrakh [8] RHYS STEVENSON  NECRONAUTICAL 'Black Sea Misanthropy' Now if Blackbeard had a favorite metal band, because of the aptness of the band name it would probably be English 'Nautical Metal' sea merchants Necronautical. But don't panic, they are not singing about sea shanty's, pirates, beer, or any other cliche topics, but rather the darkness of the seven seas. Their debut album 'Black Sea Misanthropy' is anchored deep in the Black Metal style and explodes in a vibrant array of captivating Death Metal, Folk Music elements and evident Black Metal rallying assaults. Although this could be an apt soundtrack to the film "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl", it would be great if they carried on this 'dark side of the seven seas' theme. What this trio have served up here is an exciting promise of things to come, therefore watch this band closely with intent as they could well become Alestorm's darker self and your new favorite Black Metal band. Download This: "Pride In The Great Colossus" For Fans of: Alestorm, Carach Angren, Black Metal [9] RHYS STEVENSON  CLAMUS 'III' The first question to ask is how is this EP called 'III' when there only appears to be two EP's released? The second question is are Clamus more Death Metal or Thrash Metal? And the final question is where do Clamus go on from here, because what they have delivered here is decent but it lacks that spark that would see them breaking out of the Brazilian Metal scene. Sure the drums are on full throttle, the riffs are exploding like dynamite on speed and the vocals are as brutal as a hangover at the World Cup, but this is nothing new and so lacks that element of convincing listeners whether Clamus had their blueprints laid out right for the second EP or they simply lit a joint and lost their imagination through getting high. One thing is for sure, the drums hold this EP up off the ground. Download This: "Nitro Blast" For Fans of: Sepultura, Slayer, Carcass [7] RHYS STEVENSON  NAPALM STORM 'Harmless Cruelty' WORMHOLEDEATH Let's see if you can make it through Napalm Storm's debut album 'Harmless Cruelty' without actually falling asleep, this is just basic standard Thrash Metal and does not really feature anything spectacular about it. Even perhaps the most ardent Thrash Metal fans may go out for a fag or whip on Justin Bieber to alleviate their hearing from the torture experienced by this poor release. 'Harmless Cruelty' may well have been released one year after the band reformed, but with this effort time was clearly rushed and thus the album released lacks balls, or at least any convincing element that would otherwise dub the release 'decent', these Spanish lot have got a huge task on their hands to make a come back from this... Download This: "Slaves Of Divinity' For Fans of: Metallica, Slayer, Evile [4] RHYS STEVENSON  SOVENGAR 'Vindicta Et Gloria' ART GATES Soverngar the Spanish Viking Metallers... yes you read that right 'Spanish Viking Metal', serves up their debut album to the masses with enough shields and swords to recreate the Helm's Deep scene in the film 'Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers', unfortunately the sound summoned is a beyond poor as the vocals are very naff. They sound far too forced for their own liking and this alone is the reason why 'Vindicta Et Gloria' is a hit-and-miss release, it seems too pushed in your face to really appreciate it. The riffs are too standard, in tow with the solo's that seem to be just whacked in without thought, the drums however give the release a glimmer of hope. The only major positive aspect the album actually has is that it exists, the riffs seem too uninspiring and the drums more repetitious than someone with a Obsessive-Compulsive disorder in repeating themselves, the minor positive aspect is that they gave it a go. Download This: "Fight Or Die" For Fans of: Tyr, Ensiferum, Skálmöld [4] RHYS STEVENSON  BELGARATH
'Wanderer' Eastern Europe tends to have a huge love affair for the darker styles of metal, so therefore it comes as no surprise that arising from the back streets of Sofia is Bulgaria's newest Black Metal offering. Belgarath are a three-piece machine who have just unleashed catastrophic hell through their premier album 'Wanderer', an unrelenting charge of lightning-fast Black Metal courses throughout the entire album, leaving the listener gasping for blood as a result. Corroded riffs lead the battle charge through the storm that sits within the core of album, whilst the shrieking vocals boil your blood at the same time as the drums set the moody atmosphere, this is not a band to joke around with, they mean hell. 'Wanderer' may just prove to be Bulgarian Metal album of the year. Download This: "Dead End" For Fans of: Darkthrone, Immortal, Marduk [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  DYING DECAY 'Demo 2013' Where does one begin, where does one begin to criticize this release apart from saying that it falls short of anything credible. Germany's Dying Decay have got to improve after this abysmal demo release, the only thing that stands out is the riffs, and even they aren't 100% convincing. Now imagine having a dodgy curry and being on the loo for hours on end, same principle with this release, it is 95% awful. Never mind what style of metal they are aiming for, until they improve the vocals by giving them more prominence and the drums pick up their presence and stop letting the guitars take the lime-light, Dying Decay will be exactly what their band name suggests. 'Demo 2013' is well a shocking release, for all the wrong reasons. [4.5] RHYS STEVENSON  KHADAVER 'New World Disorder' What you could easily call 'Dystopian Cyber Metal' is in fact Khadaver's splendid mixture of electronic elements with industrial black metal in such a way that they have developed their own unique sound. 'New World Disorder' is the Slovakian trio's debut album and as long as you're into cold and bitter music you'll be just fine because this music is designed to place chills down your spine. Forged in the darkened areas of Soviet relics in Presov, Khadaver ignite a revolutionary sound that should act as a warning to the people of the EU that inevitable totalitarianism is not just a theory but slowly becoming a reality. Now if you're into films like V For Vendetta, 1984, Iron Sky and the forthcoming film The Fourth Reich, basically any work of art that relates to dystopia, totalitarianism and the whole paraphernalia of total control, then 'New World Disorder' by Khadaver is for you. Download This: "21st Century Antichrist" For Fans of: The Kovenant, Combichrist, Rammstein, Laibach [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  SAPIENCY 'Tomorrow' SAOL After their successful debut album, Germany's Sapiency could not wait to deliver their second smiting album 'Tomorrow', delivering once again their emphatic modern melodic death / thrash metal sound. This album is a whole lot heavier and certainly packs a powerful punch through the cleverly executed switching between clean vocals and death growls, whilst the guitars do their wizardry much better than that of Harry Potter, the drums deliver a rally of thunderous beats and double bass deliverance whilst the atmosphere is of pure sensationalism, this is evidently the new face of modern melodic death metal and as the album suggests, 'Tomorrow' brings a whole lot of new things to the meaning o life, as for the band, well... Bloodstock anyone? Download This: "Weight Of The World" For Fans of: Scar Symmetry, In Flames, 'soul-crushing metal' [8] RHYS STEVENSON  WINTERCOLD 'Invoke The Ancient Forces' Perhaps the jolliest release by Swedish Gothic Doom project Wintercold, here again Satanic Tony delivers another bountiful of dark and depressive music but ironically in a more happier way, the 2013 promo / demo 'Invoke The Ancient Forces' is a fruitful hour long and displays a brilliant array of different sounds that will garner a lot of attention. This is a change of sound by the mastermind and it has been executed very well, rather than having just a raw and fuzzy atmosphere, the atmosphere this release delivers is one that could be likened to bands such as Black Sabbath or the modern band Ghost, especially the vocals in comparison are highly similar. It is left to be said that Wintercold rarely ever disappoint, a truly remarkable inspiration to anyone thinking of entering music. Download This: "Death Comes Ripping" For Fans of: Ghost, Black Sabbath, Candlemass [8] RHYS STEVENSON  CORNERS OF SANCTUARY 'Breakout' MARCH BABY MEDIA Ah the sound of classic hard rock and heavy metal, hard to escape and hard to not love, even if the band has been going two years and released two albums. Just pure magic, this time that magic falls onto the laps of American trio Corners of Sanctuary and their premier album 'Breakout', with an armada of ballsy classic rock and metal coursing throughout this excellent debut album, a lot of rock and metal fans will enjoy this release by sipping some whisky at the same time. On the other hand there will be some people who will act and speak out against another band trying to modernize Iron Maiden, give over! Iron Maiden is Iron Maiden and Corners of Sanctuary is Corners of Sanctuary, a rising classic metal band that will surely go down well in the UK as they 'Breakout' of the underground. Download This: "Juggernaut" For Fans of: Saxon, Queen, Savage [8] RHYS STEVENSON  VESPERIAN SORROW 'Stormwinds Of Ages' THE PATH LESS TRAVELLED American Black Metal tends to be highly over-rated but from time to time you come across an absolute gem and think to yourself, why aren't they huge over in Europe? Such a band is Vesperian Sorrow whose fourth album 'Stormwinds Of Ages' delivers another smacking of sensational and atmospherically charged Symphonic Extreme Black Metal. Armed with blistering paced drums, spine-chilling keyboard symphonies and everything else you would expect from an extreme metal album. The stand out track by far is "Casting Dawn Into Shadow" because of the heavenly angelic vocals delivered by guest musician Erika Tandy (Autumn Tears, Ignitor & Morgengrau), perfectly honestly I think she should become a permanent musician because she adds that missing piece to make the band's sound that extra special and unique. This is no Averse Sefira, this is Vesperian Sorrow and they are going to shred your senses to pieces. Download This: "Casting Dawn Into Shadow" For Fans of: Shade Empire, Grand Alchemist, Saturnian [10] RHYS STEVENSON  WINTERBURST 'The Mind Cave' France has always had a love affair with Black Metal, right down to the Les Légions Noires and of course the dark side of the French onions... but turning heads in the underground is Symphonic Black / Death Metal masochists Winterburst, their 2012 album says it all. 'The Mind Cave' lavishes supreme keyboard symphonies with the shrieking and bombastic brutality of pure Black Metal, just imagine the Phantom of the Opera with Varg Vikernes as the Phantom.. you get the idea of what this band is like. With only four years existence and this album to go by, Winterburst could yet become France's most successful Symphonic Black Metal band ever to date. Outrageously rapid drumming coincides with a cascading feeling of devilish riffs and erotic chanting, this is the new sound of the French Black Metal scene. Download This: "The Mind Cave" For Fans of: Dimmu Borgir, 'general Symphonic Black Metal' [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  NORPHOBIA 'Seelenglanz' Well I'm not being funny but if the average listener cannot hear this well enough to detect actual vocals here, how on earth will people with hearing aids be able to hear this? Seriously they need to find a new studio, anyway 'Seelenglanz' is Norphobia's premier album and was released last year. Now the only best bit about the album is that it exists, well ok maybe the guitars deserve credit but the rest of the music, well 1. where is it and 2. what is this? Germany may be good at spewing out metal bands and albums but christ did she have diarrhea delivering this one. Supposedly it's Melodic Black / Death Metal, supposedly the studio needs to be either shut down or redone, because this is just appalling. [4] RHYS STEVENSON  DISSONA 'Dissona' Chicago may be the setting for the Broadway of theater productions in the USA, but like with every theater production their is a protagonist, this time the curtain falls onto Dissona, a Progressive Metal ensemble of whom delivered their sophomore album last year, their self-titled musical product delivers the very best of Progressive Metal, ascending vocals take the harmonics of the keyboards along with it whilst the dramatics involving the drums and guitars set out the persona of this release and naturally the band. Whilst it is disconnected from the glut of djent bands who want to become the new Meshuggah, 'Dissona' pinches a whole rally of influences from a wide array of genres, such as Melodic Metal, Avant-Garde Metal and Power Metal, it is down to the listener to pinpoint on each song where these influences are at their most prominent. Download This: "Immersion" For Fans of: Sonata Arctica, Meshuggah, Enochian Theory [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  EMBRACE OF SILENCE
'Leaving the Place Forgotten by God' SOLITUDE The Ukrainian Metal scene seems to be having a glut of Doom and Death Metal bands, almost as if they have a fetish for it, so it's no surprise that when sextet Embrace Of Silence dropped their debut album last year that the feeling of mass depression sets in. 'Leaving the Place Forgotten by God' is almost a moniker that secretly means "we are ghosts", hence dragging out that impending doom feeling, as if your funeral was meant to be a weeping willow affair. As for the music itself, well the Death Metals take the reins very well and pushes the Doom Metal atmosphere into the right direction, sure this album is relatively short for a Doom / Death Metal album, but for those who have patience the feelings felt through the music is breathtakingly impressive. Experience the harshness of Ukrainian doom and bitterness. Download This: "In Angel's Hand" For Fans of: Anathema, Katatonia, My Dying Bride [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  CHASING THE RISE 'The Dawn' There are some Metalcore bands that try so much fancy stuff that they over-complicate the sound, there are some Metalcore bands that are too basic in their ways that they end up as another boring 'we cannot be bothered band', Chasing The Rise are none of these. The Lithuanian Melodic Metalcore outfit emerge out of the sewers of Vilnius with guns blazing and a sound that is more brutal than your last hangover. Dropping their debut EP 'The Dawn' this year, this could be the sound that finally gives the Lithuanian Metal scene international attention. Menacing vocals guide the apocalyptic riffs through the technically melodic matrix that becomes built up by the complexity of the drumming, guitar playing and vocals all put together. Make no mistake, 'The Dawn' is the sound of the underground and Chasing The Rise are flying the flag for Lithuania. The onslaught has just begun.... Download This: "In Front of Everything" For Fans of: Tides of Virtue, Bullet For My Valentine, As I Lay Dying [8] RHYS STEVENSON  MORN GURUTH 'Weltekel' TALHEIM It's always been a common thing amongst the German underground metal scene, that Black Metal bands roam so freely and yet so secret that they are barely detectable. One such example is Morn Guruth, a Depressive Black Metal duo hailing from Bavaria. Their debut album 'Weltekel' delivers such a bleak and raw atmosphere that would you need to be very sober to get the feeling for it. Sad to say the drums are not particularly impressive and need more work on, especially in speed to get that sincere feeling that the guitars seem to deliver well, as for the vocals, well, yeah. Total redevelopment is needed because whilst they are there, they are far from understandable and at times are seeming to be a little false or leaning towards random screaming, which compared to other DBM bands is hardly there. So whilst 'Weltekel' is a decent release and somewhat scores points in each area, it lacks that final touch. Download This: "Destrudo" [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  MIDNIGHT MESSIAH 'The Root Of All Evil' It's always grand to see modern day bands playing the classic sounds of hard rock and heavy metal in such epic glory, whilst adapting it to their own taste. This is how exactly London quintet Midnight Messiah have gone about things, it is highly detectable on their debut album 'The Root Of All Evil' which sheds a brilliant sound in all of the departments. Clean and powerful vocals lead the front-line of this modernised version of Iron Maiden, whilst the guitars and drums deliver that all important blow that leaves the album in good stead as being a must own release for all those who prefer the old style of rock and metal. Make no mistake about it, 'The Root Of All Evil' is an album that will please many fans alike and is sure to give this band some well-deserved attention. Download This: "The Evil One" For Fans of: Iron Maiden, Van Halen, AC/DC The album is available online from the label website: www.coldtown.com priced at £7 GBP. [8] RHYS STEVENSON  VORTECH 'Devoid Of Life' Modern Metal seems to have become a phenomenon in the metal music industry, bolting together the fluidity experienced in the electronic music crux with the brutality and manifestation of metal music. The latest band to embrace this cosmic wave of mass destruction is Finnish trio Vortech who layer Industrial influences with Death Metal to give a sound some would associate with bands like Fear Factory, this is best heard on their 2012 release 'Devoid Of Life' whereby the vocals and double bass drum set the speed and the riffs shred high voltage as if it was out of fashion. Don't instantly think it's ground breaking, it's far from that, but more closer to actually giving this band a major boost in the Euro Metal scene. Prepare for the techno-pit, a new form of moshing. Download This: "Grains of Reality" For Fans of: Fear Factory, Noein, The Amenta, Breach The Void [8] RHYS STEVENSON  DOBLE ESFERA 'Mi Universo' Dropping their debut album last year is Spanish four-piece Doble Esfera (Double Sphere in English), their release 'Mi Universo' (My Universe in English) is another classic hard rock / heavy metal sound but naturally coming with the Spanish language. So do expect to hear a lot of Iberian influences coming in and out each song, amongst the tricky and magical riffs that serve up nicely whilst the drums provide the all important solid backdrop and the vocals weaving magic like thread through water. Sure it's nothing really special, but it certainly glimmers with charm and eccentricity, 'Mi Universo' will appeal to many fans of the classic sounds as well as those looking to learn Spanish. Download This: "Perdido En El Tiempo" For Fans of: Iron Maiden, Motorhead, Zarpa [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  AWRIZIS 'Final Hybridation' Awrizis are a hard band to nail down in one genre, so consider their debut album 'Final Hybridation' a slapping of Groove Metal mixed with a lashing of Deathcore influences and a dollop of aggression. Fueled by an endless supply of adrenalin and incredible technical skill, the Czech quartet's album deals damage en masse, except the only problem is the chunkiness of the bass, it needs a cleaner presence as you can hear the twanging too easily. But for those who want to hear music from the furthest limits then Awrizis is for you, make no mistake about it given the said improvement being completed in the future we could see a new international band arising from the depths of the Czech abyss and delivering a punch into the faces of the posers of Europe. Download This: "We Are Gifts Of Hell" For Fans of: In Flames, Suicide Silence, Machine Head [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  INFECTED RAIN 'Asylum' On the international metal scene, Moldova is down in the pits with only a handful of metal bands breaking out of Moldova and only a few of those gaining attention, well the tide is going to turn with Infected Rain. Simply put this female-fronted quintet implore a new twist to the whole Nu Metal sound, via the use of angelic and gritty female vocals (think Within Temptation for the angelic vocals) as the main weapon, a plethora of menacing riffs and powerful drumming sequences, they are poised to smash the European scene with a shattering explosion, well when you listen to their 2011 release 'Asylum' you will be warped into a musical world previously experienced. Thunderous drums and crunchy riffs boost the vocals like a musical atomic bomb, it is only a moment of time before Infected Rain joins the leagues of Exilia, Disturbed and other fellow Nu Metal compatriots, Infected Rain are flying the flag for the Moldovan Metal scene. Download This: "My Morphine" For Fans of: Exilia, Disturbed, Within Temptation, Static-X [9] RHYS STEVENSON  FROSTLAND DARKNESS 'Ad Moriendum Dei Gratia' INVERSE Returning valiantly to deliver the second album is Finnish musician Mantus Nord and his project Frostland Darkness. Hailing from Lapland, this Black Metal one-man project simmers the very foundation of said music genre and injects some bleak and bitter atmosphere into it. Finnish Black metal has always been a bit of a hit and miss, well it's always spewed and spat out against Norwegian Black Metal, but when you get musical escapades like Frostland Darkness producing eclectic music in such a way that it makes established Black Metal bands sound like a screamo version of the Backstreet Boys. If your into the raw sounds of true Black Metal and after that bitter feeling that corrupts your senses, then 'Ad Moriendum Dei Gratia' is an album for you. Frostland Darkness may be a not well known project, but it packs a sensational sound you cannot find elsewhere, no wonder Inverse Records signed them! Download This: "Tuhon Kirkkaudessa" For Fans of: Horna, Darkthrone, Mayhem [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  BEER BEAR 'Beyond The Invisible Line' (За Незримой Чертой) SOUND AGE PRODS. The master of all Russian beer breweries has returned with a barrel of folkloric tales, hops and fresh mountain air, I am of course referring to Folk Metal maestros Beer Bear and their 2012 album 'Beyond The Invisible Line' (За Незримой Чертой), the latest installment in their musical arsenal sees the band carry on the delinquent sounds established on their debut album and is guaranteed to please many people alike. Singing exclusively in their native language, Beer Bear have done it again, proved themselves to be worthy of being a nationally known Folk Metal band. As for their second outing, 'Beyond The Invisible Line' (За Незримой Чертой) is a pleasant enough album, just be wary that it is quick at changing speed and is hard to keep up to. Beer Bear are another one of Russia's gems that deserve much more attention than they are getting, Download This: "Folk-n-Roll" For Fans of: Korpiklaani, Arkona, Woodscream [8] RHYS STEVENSON  SILENT KNIGHT
'Masterplan' Of course metal is meant to be eccentric, complex and downright dirty, it's just that Silent Knight nail two of those things, the third is nowhere to be found. A little hint, the guitars and drumming patterns on their debut album is complex, the vocals are downright dirty and the musical composition is eccentric and so what is missing? The whole package. Sure they have the elements clear on this album but it lacks connectivity and at times the solo's are far too flash, a little toning down in that department would work; an excellent solo resides on the song 'Masterplan' but not the first song 'The Curse Of The Black Rose', ok there may be some irony in this but that's metal. Whether you like it or not, 'Masterplan' is a classic power metal album, the old style of classic power metal that is, so don't expect any keyboard elements or anything special. Download This: "Prophets Of War" For Fans of: Iron Maiden, Dream Theater, Blind Guardian. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON |
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Global Metal Apocalypse Archives
May 2021
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