TBOPTPIAS
'Caucasian Flagellation'
INDEPENDENT

Potentially hailing from Barbados, Tboptpias are veiled in secrecy and there's very little information about who is in the band, whether they are from Barbados or indeed if it's a legit band (think Rhanawa vs. Oriksha Shakpana). Either way 'Caucasian Flagellation' is a very interesting release as it binds together influences from both the Black and Death Metal genres and thus somehow develops it's own sound for Tboptpias to experiment with. With the raw and low-fi production adding a crisp and underground feel to it, this debut EP is one for the ages and will surely appeal to those who indulge in extreme metal from exotic locations... that is if they are from Barbados; we know Conrad are.

Download This: "Cholera" - Click to listen

For Fans of: Cannibal Corpse, Vader, Impiety

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

MEMORIAM
'Ravaged Approach'
INDEPENDENT

Cyprus does not exactly spring to mind when you think of metal music, yet this island nation in the Mediterranean has a bustling metal scene, full of hidden gems that will get your moshing before you book flights to this sunny and hot place. Memoriam so happens to be one of these gems, this ten-legged Melodic Death outfit certainly know how to deliver a cranial-crunching release, 'Ravaged Approach' is the bands debut EP and it gives generous nods to the whole modern style with Gothenburg elements in tow. 2017 could be Memoriam's year because this sort of sound will do well around Europe as Melodic Death Metal seems to be in demand of late, watch this band with vigorous interest.

Download This: "Sated Bull" - Click here to listen

For Fans of: Arch Enemy, Amon Amarth, Scar Symmetry

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

CHEPANG
'Lathi Charge'
INDEPENDENT

Now based in the USA, Nepalese Grindcore merchants Chepang drop their self-titled EP with such force that you cannot just simply ignore it. Come on the band features two drummers for heaven's sake, and yet at times you can distinguish this easily from the forethought of them having just the one. Singing exclusively in their native Nepali, Chepang know their stuff as they bolt political and social lyrics with the grizzly sound of thunderous drums, tight riffs and vocals so thick that they're hard to understand - what more can you expect? Chepang take their name from the indigenous Tibeto-Burman tribe and the EP title comes from the Indian Media expression for 'baton charge'... yeah imagine being hit by a baton, that's what this EP will do to you.

Download This: "Bidwa Ko Charam Sukha" - Click to listen

For Fans of: Napalm Death, Tengkorak, Multinational Corporations

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

SILENT TORTURE
'Your Creation'
INDEPENDENT

Revelling in the shadows of Old-School Death Metal, New Zealanders Silent Torture keep the style alive with their debut EP 'Your Creation'. With muffled growls at the helm, this ten-legged leviathan of bestiality slams down on the table an EP that spits vulgarity, hate and abhorrence. Whilst the core of the EP glimmers with the old-school sound, there's some parts which nick elements from the Modern Death Metal style and thus if you like, keeping both camps happy. 'Your Creation' might not be unique in any shape or form, but it's certainly a delightful blast to unleash upon your neighbours - unless their elderly and then in which case may the zimmer frame moshpit commence (joke).

Download This: "Blasphemy" - Click to listen

For Fans of: Napalm Death, Morbid Angel, Obituary

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

LUCIFUGE ROFOCALE
'Serpent Insurrection'
BLACKENDEATH

For the uneducated, Lucifuge Rofocale according to the Grand Grimoire, is the demon in charge of Hell's government by order of Lucifer. In the metal world they are a truly decent Black Metal outfit from the darkened pits of Nicaragua. This time round the trio come armed with their latest offering of demonic and bestial sermons in the form of their premier EP 'Serpent Insurrection'. Traditional Black Metal riffs course throughout whilst there's a delicate whiff of True Norwegian Black Metal in the atmospherics department, both aided by raucous vocals and riveting drumming. Overall a solid EP release that will definitely appeal to the Black Metal loyalists and those passionate about metal from exotic lands alike.

Download This: "Luciferic Enslavement" - Click to listen

For Fans of: Immortal, Carpathian Forest, Taake

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

LUCID NIGHTMARE
'Lucid Nightmare'
INDEPENDENT

Northern Ireland is one of those metal scenes that despite having a wealth of talent, rarely sees any of it's offspring fledge outside of it's lands if only for a few bands, Gama Bomb for example. So when the attention turns towards the underground and bands like Lucid Nightmare deliver their first effort, eyebrows are raised, because when you listen to their debut self-titled effort, not only is it raw and delicious, it's true to the underground sound. 'Lucid Nightmare' is a release that whilst evidently lacks the ability to convince that the band is the real deal, it does come as a consolatory pleasant listen, one that borrows influences from Black Metal, Thrash Metal and Heavy Metal without straying into either one too far. 2017 should have high hopes for this quintet, they're clearly onto something.

For Fans of: Toxic Holocaust, Slayer, Venom

Download This: "Hidden Victims" - Click to listen

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

COMMUNAL GRAVE
'Solace in Violencia'
ENFORCER

The members who make up the Pakistani Extreme Metal band Communal Grave have come out from their own communal grave (ha-ha... no), well the previous incarnation split back in 2011 before a new visage emerged just last year (2015) and with it they set on delivering a solid 'welcome back' release. The result? A powerful punch-in-the-face courtesy of their rather ironical debut album 'Solace in Violencia' which eventually came after 10 years since their inception. By throwing Melodic Death and Thrash Metal into the mixing pot, this Karachi-based horde have conjured up a release that is sure to draw some attention their way as its potency is second to none... it's sheer magnificence is untouchable.

For Fans of: Scar Symmetry, Kreator, The Haunted

Download This: "Pull The Trigger" - Click to listen

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

RAGE MOB
'Unforeseen Disaster'
INDEPENDENT

Done in the traditional style of South American Thrash Metal, Rage Mob's first ever demo 'Unforeseen Disaster' is laden with chugging riffs, headbanging vocals and Teutonic drums, but even more impressive is the variety of style on this demo. From the fast to the slick, 'Unforeseen Disaster' is a demo that should be heralded by the Paraguayan Metal scene as one of the finest releases seen this year. By taking the Groove influence from Sepultura and adding the brutality of Slayer, this quartet are set to embark on something remarkable in the years-to-come. Sticking to true 80's Thrash lyrics, the band dives head-first into social issues, violent unrest and humanity's demise, how more fitting can this be?

Download This: "Ritual Of Violence" - Click to listen

For Fans of: Slayer, Sepultura, Evile

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

APU RUMI
'Puka Yaku'
INDEPENDENT

The self-proclaimed 'Andean Folk Metal' sextet known as Apu Rumi have stamped their mark on the Peruvian Metal scene with their ethnic take on the Power / Folk Metal style. By releasing their debut album 'Puka Yaku', which is entirely in the Quechua language; thus becoming the first metal band to do so, they've effectively created a new style of Folk Metal. Quechua so happens to be the native language of the Incas and so thus making this album and band rather authentic to Peruvian culture. Immerse yourself in infectious melodies, thunderous drums and riffs, harmonious and Amazonian atmospherics but also traditional Inca folk music. 'Puka Yaku' is a truly unique and mesmerising release that will set the trend for Peruvian Folk Metal in years to come.

Download This: "Tanta Qarwa" - Click to listen

For fans of: Mägo de Oz, Skiltron, Angra

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

EXITUS
'Rot 'Em All'
INDEPENDENT

Hailing from The Philippines, the Extreme Metal trio Exitus bind together elements from Black Metal, Death Metal and Thrash Metal to once again conjure up another demo, 'Rot 'Em All'. Yet whilst it's only taken a year to unleash this beast, it's 15 years since the band's inception and so it makes you question what on earth have they been doing all this time? Sleeping under rocks? No idea. But the demo itself is not bad, it's not great, but it does well to pass the time. None the less Exitus will have their fair share of attention across the South-East Asian Metal scenes, but for the wider world? Questionable but certainly not wishful thinking.

Download This: "This Metal Lust" - Click to listen

For Fans of: Toxic Holocaust, Carpathian Forest, Immortal

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

By Farzand Bawa

First things first this is not for the weak hearted! But then again which form of metal actually is? The theory behind Ghalazat ([Urdu] an excess of filth and impurity within an area or within a human being) MMXIII was to bring together some of the most highlighted bands of the underground scene in Nepal, Pakistan and the USA!! Does it succeed to do so? Well, read on to find out..

First up we have the Nepalese Brutal Death Metaller's "Binaash", who are highly acclaimed in their scene. They deliver what they call "Ancient Moot". Moot basically means urine in Nepali and the title comes as no surprise as the song is in Nepali. The fact that the lyrics are in Nepali affects the flow of the song in no such way! The vocals are a real highlight!! 1:50 minutes of pure mosh!

Binaash - Ancient Moot
http://ghalazat.bandcamp.com/track/ancient-moot
http://www.facebook.com/binaashband

Next up we have "UgraKarma", another Kathmandu based Death Metal band. They offer us with "Dang Dung (Disorder Lust)". Like "Ancient Moot",this is also a Nepali based song, but trust me Death Metal never sounded so real. Highly suggested for people new to this genre. It's made for the people who can't take Death Metal, not that it's light by any means, but it shows all the brutality there can be, if this can be in taken your into the genre my friend!

UgraKarma - Dang Dung (Disorder Lust)
http://ghalazat.bandcamp.com/track/dang-dung-disorder-lust
http://www.facebook.com/Ugrakarmaofficial

So we have two variations of the Death Metal genre, what about Grind? Can it be left behind? The guys at Ghalazat MMXIII, say HELL NO!! And then we get the Nepal-based Grindcore band "Terrifyer". Sticking true to their genre they give two short yet really heavy songs! In fact "Mortal Enemy" ends just as you thought it was picking up. But what follows is the epic "Urban Wasteland". These are some songs that I must say have a real thrashy feel to the sound (and I like that change). Go and jump into the fire of true GRINDCORE!!

Terrifyer - Mortal Enemy / Urban Wasteland
http://ghalazat.bandcamp.com/track/mortal-enemy
http://ghalazat.bandcamp.com/track/urban-wasteland
https://www.facebook.com/terrifyergrind?fref=ts - (for some reason the band disabled the link)

And now for the song which will be the highlight for me! Pakistan's (Yes that country has a better way to express VIOLENCE) "Foreskin"!! They give us the true Thrash Metal song on this compilation with "Anti-kvlt". With unbelievable vocals and heavy use of the bass, this is some song! With a high replay value, this is the song of the album for me! God, Pakistan has some talent!!

Foreskin - Anti-Kvlt
http://ghalazat.bandcamp.com/track/anti-kvlt
http://www.facebook.com/foreskinband?fref=ts

An album with so much underground stuff to offer only gets real when we have the highly underground band "Kali X Gula", they are actually one band whose location has not been traced till now, now beat that! Two songs where the Hardcore Punk comes to the fore, what comes as a revelation is the use of Bollywood these guys do, yes you read it right, Bollywood!! They give intro's by Amrish Puri in "Kalimai" and Shakti Kapoor in "Shakti Kapoor" and then the pounding starts!! These guys have a sure love (or should I say anti-love for bollywood), but that comes as no surprise as it is the music which has hidden all other forms of music from South Asia!!

Kali X Gula - Kalimai & Shakti Kapoor
http://ghalazat.bandcamp.com/track/kalimai
http://ghalazat.bandcamp.com/track/shakti-kapoor
https://www.facebook.com/KaliGulaMachikne

"Jugga", the next band has nothing funny about them except for the name and this is where things get serious hardcore wise. Hailing from Nepal this Metallic Hardcore band takes it to another level! With bestial vocals and a groove-like feel in the back-end of the longest song on the album, this is "Eternal Sleep". Power! Force! Total Blasphemy!!

Jugaa - Eternal Sleep
http://ghalazat.bandcamp.com/track/eternal-sleep
http://www.facebook.com/jugaahc

So, everyone thought this was South Asia specific? NO!! Gazalat goes global when the include "Sangharsha" from the USA!! These guys describe themselves as Peace Core but actually are Sludge Metal. Beat that for contrast. We get a Nepali based song "Chik De" which literally means 'F**k it' in Nepali, guess that is enough for some insight into the song. The bass is prominently used in this one and is a totally different song in the context of the generally high-paced compilation! I don't mind that and actually came as a pleasant surprise to me!!

Sangharsha - Chik De
http://ghalazat.bandcamp.com/track/chik-de
http://www.facebook.com/shoutatsangharsa

This album proves that metal exists in every part of the world and for true there is talent galore everywhere, we just need to dig in.

Ghalazat MMXIII
http://ghalazat.bandcamp.com/

Download for free here (Yes, it comes for free!!) :
http://www9.zippyshare.com/v/1030251/file.html

Some cult pick's: Anti-kvlt, Urban Wasteland, External Sleep, Ancient Moot.