EDEN 'Memories' SOUND AGE PRODS. Bands who mix a metal genre with influences from their traditional music or cultural background ought to be merited each time for creating their own unique sound. One such band is Eden who lace together the free-flowing graceful tunes of the violin with the majestic Symphonic Metal style, giving it that distinctly ethnic Russian sound. No doubt some metalheads will whine that they sound similar to most Symphonic Metal bands, but in reality they are different. From start to finish, Eden's latest effort 'Memories' sums up how good the quintet really are and is an absolute delight to listen to, so for once turn off that overly-processed crap you listen to and indulge in true Symphonic Metal courtesy of Russia's Eden. Download This: "Memories" (sampler) - click here to listen For Fans of: early-Within Temptation, Lapis Lazuli, Silent Opera [8] RHYS STEVENSON BLOODY BROTHERHOOD 'Ritual Of Blood' As far as this debut album is concerned, either the producer does not know metal or the band were so tired they forgot how to play their instruments. 'Ritual Of Blood' may well be the first release from Spanish Death Metal mob Bloody Brotherhood, but it is a far cry from being anything spectacular. It falls well and truly in the category of 'cliche metal', stereotypical track titles are marred by the poorly executed vocals, miserable riffs and non-existent drumming. In all honesty gargling acid or listening to generic pop music would be far more entertaining, not to mention tolerable. As far as Spanish Metal goes, here's hoping that Bloody Brotherhood pull their socks up before their band career goes as flat as a bouncy castle mauled by a stampeding bull; as this album is a gigantic cry for help. What's that? 'Ritual Of Blood'? More like ritual of despair. Download This: "Inquisition" - click here to listen (if you dare) For fans of: 'Death Metal you cannot understand', Gorey Metal, Aborted perhaps? [5] RHYS STEVENSON AEONS OF ASHES 'Shutdown' NOISEHEAD Coming out of the underground with guns blazing, Austria's Aeons Of Ashes don't need a second invitation to drop a debut album capable of securing them festival slots in 2015. 'Shutdown' broods in the Melodic Death Metal sound and boy is it loaded with tons of attitude, energy and sexual evocation. Laden with ferocity and smoking with burning ashes, the five-piece have served up a release that is sure to gain much-warranted attention across the Alpine states let alone further afield. Now if this album was to befit a movie scene, it would have to be Frodo's majestic venture into Mordor and why? Well it's dark, it's mysterious and whilst at present it can be considered a product delivered by an underdog band, that underdog band is destined to leave a lasting legacy in the Austrian Metal scene, need we say more? Download This: "Remember My Name" (contains distressing images) - Click here to listen. For fans of: Arch Enemy (White-Gluz era), Dark Salvation, Sight Of Emptiness [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON STAINED BLOOD 'Hadal' Catalonia has well and truly been shaken up by Stained Blood's apocalyptic sophomore album 'Hadal', with enough enraged fury coursing through all musical departments, this is definitely an early contender for Spanish Metal album of the year. Weaving together a chaotic mix of Melodic Death Metal and Deathcore, the quintet have delivered an album that is as turbulent as their past, with this album featuring the same line-up as their debut album "One Last Warning", but a different line-up compared to their first demo in 2006. Why these guys are not signed is a question that must be addressed, they have enough firepower to give the titans of Deathcore like Whitechapel something to think about; albeit the inevitable headache. 'Hadal' is a testament to everything brutal, even your last demonic hangover. Download This: "Colossus Embrace" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Bleed From Within, Out Of Yesteryear, Shot At Dawn [9] RHYS STEVENSON ODIUM 'The Science Of Dying' NOISEHEAD It's hard to think of a number of Austrian Metal bands who have been going for a long time albeit Abigor, Darkwell and Visions of Atlantis, but for bands like Odium who have been going the same amount of time and yet in 2014 dropped their seventh album, things cannot be sweeter for the quintet. 'The Science Of Dying' is a Melodic Thrash Metal opus that without a doubt would appeal to the 80's metal fanatics. Featuring a guest appearance by the original Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di'Anno on 'Die With Pride', you get the feeling of success flowing through the veins of this unit. Not just because of said musician making an appearance, but because 'The Science Of Dying' is a gem that any metalhead should own. If their was a time for Odium to contemplate releasing a best of compilation, that time is now. This latest offering will keep fans of Classic Metal entertained for hours on end, no mistake made. Download This: "The Science Of Dying (teaser)" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Metallica, Iron Maiden, 'Melodic Thrash Metal' [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON WÖLFRIDER 'Wölfrider' Keeping the tradition of the umlaut-band names alive, Poland's Wölfrider dropped their self-titled debut demo last year with as much satisfaction as winning gold at the Olympics. 'Wölfrider' is a charismatic release, laden with erotic riffs, valiant vocals and emphatic drums. The only downside is the appearing lack of diversity, but that's what you generally expect from demo's, that they often aren't the best of what a band can deliver, but on this strength it would appear Wölfrider know exactly what they must do to garner wider attention. In fact now they are signed, this suggests they have good potential, time for them to muscle up and lay down the blueprints for a classic Polish Heavy Metal resurgence, watch this band with interest. Download this: "Rise Of NWO" - Click here to listen For fans of: Iced Earth, Iron Maiden, Motörhead [8] RHYS STEVENSON RAINSHADOW 'Ghosts Of Great Enterprise' You see the problem with Gothic Metal is there are some bands who lean towards the darker topics of sadness and depression, and whilst that's completely acceptable, sometimes too much can make the release rather dower. Rainshadow's third full length 'Ghosts Of Great Enterprise' falls into that category, now whilst the atmosphere is of the H.I.M guild, the vocals lack 100% presence and instead leaves the drums and guitars to propel the release through and through. So of course those fans who indulge in the darkest emotions of humanity, this would appeal to them completely. But if this is how Rainshadow rolls, then they deserve a record label deal immediately, especially when this strain of Gothic Metal appears to be rare in Australia. Ironically 'Ghosts Of Great Enterprise' is a good solid 45 minutes of solid, darkened, erotically-charged Gothic Metal. Download This: "Anti-Hero" - Click here to listen For Fans of: H.I.M., Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride [7] RHYS STEVENSON CIRCSENA 'A Dryad Tale' If The Lord Of The Rings was represented via metal music, then Circsena's debut album 'A Dryad Tale' would claim that honor. With an eccentric mix of Post-Black, Experimental Metal and dashes of folk and pop elements, it's easy to see why such an album ought to perk up the ears of record labels worldwide. Rather uniquely done, 'A Dryad Tale' is a combination of music and storytelling, almost as if Daniel Kirchhoff wanted to redefine the definition of an audiobook. With the unbelievable power this album holds, and this part forming a part of a trilogy, it would seem silly not to unleash the next two albums to finish the story. At best it's experimental nature is top class, but at it's worst it has dabbled in an entertainment field not widely exploited, thus it might not appeal to a number of metalheads. Negative notes aside, Daniel Kirchhoff is a musical genius and this project and subsequent album he has created alongside other musicians who are as equally talented, will pave the way for a new breed of metal music, the dawning of "Story Metal" has begun. Download This: "Through Sand & Pain" For Fans of: Falloch, Sólstafir, Alcest [10] RHYS STEVENSON DEFACED 'Forging The Sanctuary' RISING NEMESIS After being snapped up by Rising Nemesis Records, the consequential action by Swiss Death Metal armada Defaced was to unleash a brutal-yet-improved onslaught of rapid-fire riffs, seismic drumming and uncompromising vocals, the result? 'Forging The Sanctuary'. This quintet's second offering sees a switch on vocal duties and given their debut album was extremely poor [see GMA134], they have tightened their belts and ventured into battle headfirst, emerging victorious. Demonstrating that they have found the right vocalist at the right time as 'Forging The Sanctuary' is a merciless 50-minute face-punching album (you have been warned). Defaced are set to become the ideal replacement for one of the Death Metal old guard, through their ballistic mix of barraging sound, atomic atmospherics and a renewed sense of making a name for themselves, this is the time for Swiss Death Metal to stand up, be counted and be led on valiantly by Defaced's latest offering. Sick buckets at the ready people! Download This: "Sower Of Discord" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Unleashed, Suffocation, Kin Beneath Chorus [9] RHYS STEVENSON ANTHROPIA
'Non-Euclidean Spaces' Lovecraft topics seem to be becoming more and more popular in metal music, Anthropia's third album 'Non-Euclidean Spaces' is no exception. The latest offering by the French progressive metallers exhibits vibrant vocals that ripple across the sound waves produced by the intertwining interactions between the guitars and drums. It's a rather majestic release that ought to keep many listeners entertained as it stick's it's neck out at 71 minutes long, with no track sounding similar to it's predecessor or successor, each track is 100% unique in structure, composition and atmosphere. Celebrating 12 years activity, why Anthropia are not already signed is a question that needs answering as 'Non-Euclidean Spaces' has all of the hallmarks of a record deal opportunity written all over it. Download This: "Silver Twilight Lodge" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Symphony X, Megadeth, Myrath [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON
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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 NIGHTCREEPERS 'Hreidd' What with 'Alpha' being the blazing album that it was, it was going to be tough to see how French Folk Metal sextet Nightcreepers could up their game. But they've succeeded and the result is a sensational offering in the form of 'Hreidd'. Utilizing much of the unforgiving brutality the band has exercised on previous releases, 'Hreidd' storms out of the barn with a trail of blisteringly-hot fire left behind it. What makes this release a powerful slap-in-the-face album is the brilliance in mixing Folk Metal with Extreme Metal elements, whilst avoiding being pigeon-holed in the Black / Folk Metal category. In fact 'Hreidd' has the attitude and firepower to ignite widespread interest for the band, if this does not deliver them a record label deal within the next year or so, then there is something seriously wrong with the..... labels. 'Hreidd' is set to win Nightcreepers a flurry of new fans worldwide. Download This: "Volcae" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Windir, Dimmu Borgir, Vanir 'Hreidd' is out now via an Independent release [9] RHYS STEVENSON YMYRGAR 'The Tale As Far' Sure Ymyrgar may be singing about Norse mythology and subsequently fall under the Viking Metal or Pagan Black Metal categories, but come on they are from Tunisia! That's just as misplaced as Skiltron from Argentina singing and playing Scottish Folk Metal. However their debut album 'The Tale As Far' really sets the par high for other Tunisian Metal bands albeit Myrath who have already cemented their place in the international arena. By lacing together melodic folkloric elements with the harshness of Black Metal, what Ymygar have delivered here is a rather unique culture clash of-a-release, one that ought to garner some attention from the North African metal scenes at the very least. Featuring Tuoksu (Arij Arbi ) as the guest soprano, her vocals add the missing dimension to the album and thus poise it perfectly as Tunisia's next successful album export. Download This: "Dawn Of Time" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Drakwald, Elder Tale, "Pagan Black Metal" [8] RHYS STEVENSON ARCHAIZE 'Liberation' It's not all that often an Australian Metal band gets international recognition, although Archaize might get this with their debut album 'Liberation' which explodes in a minefield of Groove, Death and Thrash Metal, accumulating to develop a brutal form of Modern Metal. 'Liberation' is a 41 minute assault of purely aggressive, insanely catchy and completely arousing numbers that will get your tits hard and cocks up in the air as if sex went out of fashion. With vocals that are so piercingly loud, riffs so savage they rip into your soul and drumming so full of fury, you would be hard to find any other Australian Metal band that can rival the Modern Metal machinists known as Archaize. This is the new sound of metal and it's coming to whip your sorry arse. 'Liberation' is guaranteed to give Archaize that platform needed to start their career, if they carry on this sound, they may well be playing in the UK in a few years to come. Download This: "Sunset" - Click here to listen For Fans of: DevilDriver, Mnemic, Six Feet Under [8] RHYS STEVENSON MANIC DEMISE 'The Bitter Blood Of Brutality' Call them blood brothers, call them brothers-in-arms, call them what you like, the fact is the duo known as Manic Demise do not mess around when it comes to releasing stellar material. Especially when the vocalist is in the USA and the instrumentalist is in Australia, the duo's debut EP "The Bitter Blood Of Brutality" may not be the convincing release they could have conceived but it certainly is a respectable slab of Death Metal. In fact it ought to be interesting to see how they progress from this release, surely the debut album will oust the EP with no mercy attached? 'The Bitter Blood Of Brutality' is a gore-guzzling sizzler-of-a-release that demands utmost attention and a stomach cast of iron, so as to stop you from puking at this orgasmic release. Download This: "Septic Crypt" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Gorguts, Avulsed, Dying Fetus [7] RHYS STEVENSON ALKIRA 'Juggernaut' Aiming to stake their claim on Australian soil (nay the international metal scene) is South Australia quartet Alkira with their infectious Groove / Thrash effort 'Juggernaut'. Their debut album comes hot off the heels from their second EP 'Red Devil' and with it comes a valiant neck-breaking storm of fast and furious Thrash Metal mixed with the funkiness and elegance of Groove Metal. Through a culmination of gnarly vocals, barbaric riffs and unruly drumming, Alkira's 'Juggernaut' has more balls than those two dudes on the Fosters TV adverts, in fact Alkira are not your average Australian Metal band either. They will go places if they keep this momentum going, the salient point is that 'Juggernaut' is without a doubt hotter than a typical Aussie BBQ on the beach and has tons more glamor than Kylie Minogue, however it does have the sexiness of her though... Download This: "Submission Therapy" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Anthrax, Motorhead, Pantera [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON ZARIA 'Po Poti Življenja' Very few bands from Central Europe deliver a sparkling demo and then top that by delivering a debut album that turns heads from further afield. Zaria, a six-piece Folk Metal unit from Slovenia certainly have struck the right chord in delivering their debut album 'Po Poti Življenja'. Aligned alongside fellow countrymen Brezno, it seems that we could have 2 bands simultaneously leading the Slovenian Metal scene. As for Zaria, the one thing holding them back is the lack of English, ironically if they ditched the Slovene language, then the music would lose it's cultural identity as true sounds of Slovenia. With infectious melodies and harmonious elements flowing freely throughout. Zaria's 'Po Poti Življenja' is a must-have album for avid Folk Metal fans, you'd be silly not to, as it expresses the beauty of traditional folkloric tales and the gracefulness of soft, melodic folk music. Download This: "Moč Brez Imena" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Brezno, Eluveitie, Ensiferum [9] RHYS STEVENSON HAMMERHEAD 'The Doom That Came To Sarnath' For those not in the know, Sarnath is the place of pilgrimage for Buddhists worldwide, so what inspired Hammerhead to call their second EP 'The Doom That Came To Sarnath'? Simple, the title is taken from the H.P. Lovecraft novel, moreover with this EP the Belgian trio hurl a barrage of gnarly, face-punching sounds that certainly would appeal to fans of neck-breaking Thrash Metal. With some rather dashing tremolo's creating a wall of sound alongside unrelenting drumming and vocals so vile, you'd have to wear a face mask to avoid being spat upon with cyanide; it is that corrosive. The EP is all good and proper but it does take time to kick in, so some impatient "Thrasheads" may switch off, but for those who wait, the rewards are certainly worth it. Hammerhead are a band to watch in 2015 because with this 2014 EP, they are rather promising. Download This: "The Doom That Came To Sarnath" - Click here to listen For fans of: Slayer, Exodus, Pantera [8] RHYS STEVENSON RETRACE MY FRAGMENTS 'Ethereal Flux' If there is one band that has never shied away from reinventing themselves or challenging the conventions of their own music, it's Retrace My Fragments. Their debut album 'Ethereal Flux' takes on board 101% originality; something that lacks in a vast swathe of modern Death Metal bands, lashing together an awe-inspiring science fiction story (split into chapters) conceived by vocalist Antonio Martija and bringing it to life through a dramatic-yet-theatrical production of brutal vocals, eerie riffs, apocalyptic drumming and an atmosphere so expansive, it makes a black-hole claustrophobic. 'Ethereal Flux' is the finest release by this Luxembourg quintet and should garner some international attention, why these guys are not signed is astounding, however with this album the labels cannot ignore them much longer. Retrace My Fragments are flying the flag for the Luxembourg Metal scene. Download This: "Rime Of The Instant Space Traveller" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Cephalic Carnage, The Dillinger Escape Plan, 'Modern Metal' [10] RHYS STEVENSON FROST TEARS
'九章 (Nine Chapters)' MAGNUM MUSIC Leading the way for the new wave of Oriental Gothic Metal is Taiwanese ensemble Frost Tears with their debut album 九章 (Nine Chapters). Singing in their native Chinese language, the sextet embody this with the gracefulness of European Gothic Metal, mix it with an Oriental atmosphere and create an overall sound that will appeal to a wide range of metalheads. '九章 (Nine Chapters)' explodes in all directions with the vocals ranging from operatic to melodic and the instruments delivering a combined solid force that will surely drive Frost Tears into the international limelight. Full of drama, twists and turns at every pulsating second, '九章 (Nine Chapters)' is one album everyone should own, literally everyone. Download This: "九章 (Nine Chapters) album trailer" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Lacuna Coil, Tarja Turunen, Within Temptation [8.5] 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 GOTLAND 'Gloria Et Morte' Gotland from Italy plays an exclusive mix of Italian Folk Metal with Pagan Black Metal, marking their debut is Italian Folk Metallers Gotland with their premier effort 'Gloria Et Morte' (Latin for 'Glory and Death'). Whilst the album may lead some fans under false pretenses, that is, the style of Folk Metal is not what you would expect; there are melodic metal elements running here and there throughout, especially in the vocal and melody departments, the overall perception of the album is that it strikes fear hard. If you like, 'Gloria Et Morte' captures the very essence of the power and darkness experienced during the empirical battles, dramatizing the ferociousness of the Roman Empire in its wake, now whilst Caesar may not approve, it certainly would have appealed to Caligula for it's level of monstrosity and darkness. Download This: "Slaves Ov The Empire" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Finntroll, Amon Amarth, Septic Flesh [8] RHYS STEVENSON DISTANT PAST 'Utopian Void' Switzerland's Distant Past return with their fourth studio album 'Utopian Void', adorning much of the Progressive / Melodic Heavy Metal sound that has bound them together since 2002. 'Utopian Void' is a glistening hour of pure ballsy metal with twelve tracks of grit to keep you going, granted whilst it is nothing new and is certainly not groundbreaking, it offers another slice in this sensational crossbred music genre. 'Utopian Void' delivers that almost unmistakable sound of classic metal, you know with the bellowing vocals in the Iron Maiden-esque style and music so rocking, so metal, you have no choice but to let your hair down and go completely insane! Where the quintet go on from here is one question, whether 'Utopian Void' will be beaten by a better Distant Past album is another, but for now it stands as a decent album on it's own accord. Download This: "A Day Of Darkness" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Iron Maiden, Dream Theater, Airbourne [7] RHYS STEVENSON P.T.O.M.A 'Shit Into Existence' Finally a Thrash Metal band who takes no nonsense and delivers a sound that is what is expected of a Thrash Metal band. Greek quartet P.T.O.M.A. (Ptoma is the Greek word for 'corpse') drop their premier album 'Shit Into Existence' with such a thrashing force, it eclipses anyone involved in a boxing match. 'Shit Into Existence' is your classic Thrash Metal album, full of speed and agility that is smothered by the lovable Slayer influences. Whilst most Thrash Metal bands sing about politics, death and the cliche topics, P.T.O.M.A on the other hand cover every lads dreams... tits and fun. It's funny really because for most metalheads, metal, beer and boobs are all the rage, and yet this Greek outfit certainly jab in an element of humor, especially with track titles like 'die with titties in your face' making '50 Shades Of Grey' all of a sudden appear to be a children's bedtime story. Download This: "Die With Titties In Your Face" - Click here to listen. For Fans of: Slayer, Evile, Zimmers Hole [8] RHYS STEVENSON HIVERNA 'II. Macabre' Quebec has a very good track record regarding Black and Folk Metal bands, so when one of it's 2004 graduates Hiverna, released their second album 'II. Macabre' this year, expectations were sure to run high and sure enough, they have delivered. Now surely the theme here is that the albums form some sort of series, especially when there are Roman numerals present, but ignoring that ideology for a second and focusing on 'II. Macabre' itself. The album delivers the elements you would expect from such a band, the galloping yet ferocious drums set the pace whilst the flute delivers the melodies that the guitars cannot seem to do, in turn the guitars deliver that crisp yet sharp sound that is demanded from a Black Metal purview. What makes 'II. Macabre' such an interesting album does not reside with the French lyrics, but more so it's connection with nature, leaving it much likened to any album by England's Winterfylleth. Download This: 'Le Satyre' - Click here to listen For Fans of: Winterfylleth, Eclipse Eternal, Kampfar [8] RHYS STEVENSON PROTOKULT 'No Beer In Heaven' Anyone know any major Canadian beers? Because you cannot just listen to this release without a beer in your hand. 'This release' so happens to be Protokult's second album 'No Beer In Heaven', an album that exhibits a rather unique mix of Atmospheric Folk Metal with Black Metal elements. So picture this, the melodic beauty of Nightwish crashing against the blackened brutality of Windir and being entwined with the elegant happiness of Arkona, well you get the picture. Laden with angelic soprano-like female vocals alongside gnarly and clean male vocals, 'No Beer In Heaven' is a truly dynamic masterpiece, and that's just the vocals. Coupled with an emphatic array of riffs designed to melt your heart apart and drumming so juicy, it bleeds hops and fermenting grapes as to create an aromatic flavorsome production of Canadian Folk Metal, such an eclectic mix of elements will surely garner a lot of attention from around the world. Download This: "Get Me A Beer" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Skyforger, Arkona, Nightwish [9] RHYS STEVENSON FRAGMENTA 'Odimorsus' Returning with album number two is Australia's Fragmenta, of whose Thrash Metal effort 'Odimorsus' initially has a promising outlook on it, but when you realise how high you have to turn the speakers up to hear anything, positive anticipation turned into sour disappointment. Ignoring the production for now, what you have is a decent enough album that carries all the signatures you would expect from a Thrash Metal release, that is gritty vocals, crunchy riffs and bass lines. Topping out at over an hour long with twelve tracks, one of which lasting eight minutes long, is adequate evidence to say that there is something for everyone regarding the album as a whole. 'Odimorsus' may not be the album some die-hard Thrash Metal fans would expect, it is one of those left wide open to interpretation... literally. But the imagination of how this sounds live has a greater feel about it. Download This: "Darkest Storm" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Evile, Slayer, Kreator [7] RHYS STEVENSON LA DAMA OSCURA 'Caminando Sobre El Fuego' MOLUSCO PROD Last year Spanish Heavy Metallers La Dama Oscura released their third album 'Caminando Sobre El Fuego' and naturally what comes with it is a bout of sensational songs, all in the Spanish language. In fact this such a great album if you are learning the language, or want to, because you can really connect with Spanish culture through this album (and indeed all of the band's releases); not just lyrically but musically as well. The album itself is very much wedged within the Iron Maiden universe, with the vocals being in the tenor range demonstrated by Bruce Dickinson. As for the rest of the album, it simply is the basic classic Heavy Metal sound you would expect and so thus ought to appeal to a wide range of metal music fans, listen to it and live la vida loca. Download This: "La Hoguera" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Iron Maiden, Van Halen, Judas Priest [8] RHYS STEVENSON WARFIST 'The Devil Lives In Grünberg' WYDAWNICTWO MUZYCZNE PSYCHO Poland's love affair for Black Metal and Thrash Metal continues with Warfist's latest offering 'The Devil Lives In Grünberg' (the German name for the Polish town of Zielona Góra) - the trio from Zielona Góra (yes you guessed it right) - have rustled up another serving of Black / Thrash Metal, but with a tendency to lean more towards the latter genre. The thing is, it's nothing new and it sits well and truly within the generic sound you would expect, some would even go as far as calling it a shame to abuse their town name like that. The only thing that can be really said about 'The Devil Lives In Grünberg' is that it is a decent release, that is all. For a band celebrating ten years, you'd have thought there would have been a greater presence on the album, in a contradiction-context however it is there, just not all the time. Make of it what you will, it just simply does not completely impress. Download This: "The Devil Lives In Grünberg" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Deströyer 666, Toxic Holocaust, Skeletonwitch [6] RHYS STEVENSON BODY HARVEST 'Futile Creation' GRINDHOUSE MUSIC Murderous and cranial crushing comes to mind when devouring Body Harvest's debut apocalyptic album 'Futile Creation', from the word go this release will have you begging for mummy more than you did when you were a baby. 'Futile Creation' draws in elements from the Grindcore and Brutal Death Metal sub-genre's and thus combined together produces a musical onslaught of blood-splattered riffs, gut-rotten vocals and seismic drumming, all of which provides itself as a perfect soundtrack to any Saw movie. Funnily enough in recent times, Bristol has become a hotbed for some of the grizzliest bands ever to have emerged in the Death Metal and Thrash Metal styles, so with Body Harvest now a firm family member of the Bristolian metal clan, we can expect a lot more from these guys in times ahead. Download This: "Condemned To Suffer" - click here to listen For Fans of: The Berzerker, Suffocation, Hour of Penance [8] RHYS STEVENSON SINISFEAR
'Reigning Death' Drilling their flag of Death Metal in to the Canadian soil is Sinisfear with their premier EP 'Reigning Death', a colossal slamming of subterfuge in 25 minutes. We say subterfuge, because it is more like Deathgrind than actual Death Metal, but even so it is a rather interesting release to say the least. With squealing guitars forming a glut of whine on 'Wretched Stench' and guttural vocals imminent on every single song, this is an EP of all sorts. The downside is that at times it seems as if the music is going nowhere and has too much going on in such a short space of time, leaving the EP in the corner feeling sorry for itself. That does not mean to say it is trash, just that it lacks that punchline to label it a release of promising things yet to come, Sinisfear need to rethink their next offering otherwise it might as well be game over. Download This: "Wretched Stench" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Death Metal... ish [5] RHYS STEVENSON BLOOD EVERYWHERE 'First Blood' Given the tenderness of the ongoing skirmishes in the Middle East, this band name certainly is highly controversial. Rest assured, the choice of genre befits the name very well. Unleashing a barrage of ballistic Death Metal is Israel's Blood Everywhere, even though the release dropped way back in 2010, the sincere amount of effort and insanity purged into the sole EP is paramount. 'First Blood' may be the band's first and last EP, let alone release, the brutality they have instilled here is one to get any Extreme Metal off their asses and moshing as if it was the end of the world as we know it. Blood Everywhere were the band never to be, as for their EP though, may it remain as a piece of undiscovered Israeli metal history. Unleash the torrent of blood..... Download This: "Total Eradication" - Click to listen For Fans of: Whorecore, Aborted, Cephalic Carnage [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON MANOR<? 'The Reckoning Of Manor: The Story Of A Downward Spiral' Being the only band in your area to play a certain music style is never easy, but when Kent's Manor<? aim to take that challenge, they take it in their stride and unnerve Medway's residents in the process. The quintet's new EP 'The Reckoning Of Manor: The Story Of A Downward Spiral' roots itself within the Industrial Metal matrix, whilst peripheral genres like Shock Rock and Alternative Metal add that distinctive Manor<? flavor. This is definitely a breath of fresh air since this metal style severely lacks representation in the UK, yet it has enough ferocity to turn you psychopathic. What with Luci's vocals leading the thunderous onslaught of sexed up Rob Zombie influences and the instruments taking a harsh Rammstein-cross-Deathstars approach, Manor<? are not a band to f*** around with. Prepare yourself for a murderous journey of savage carnage. Download This: 'Kill Or Be Killed' - Click to listen For Fans of: Rob Zombie, Rammstein, Deathstars 'The Reckoning Of Manor: The Story Of A Downward Spiral' is out 25th September via independent release [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON WARDENCLYFFE 'Graveside Legacy' Possibly taking their name after the Wardenclyffe Tower (Tesla Tower), Leicester's new kids on the block step out on terra firma with their debut demo 'Graveside Legacy'. The demo features that evident feeling of the band putting in a total, solid effort to make the demo as-much-of-a-credible release as it can be, sure the vocals at times need refining and the drums given greater presence, but the overall impression that it leaves is a long-lasting one of 'this band has got a future ahead of them'. Bolting together elements of Progressive Metal onto the skeletal sound of Melodic Death Metal, this trio successfully immerses the listener in a world of the supernatural and darkened horror. Halloween has come early, Wardenclyffe are going to haunt you in your sleep with the sound of grizzly vocals, psycho riffs and menacing drums. Download This: "Carrie" - Click to listen For Fans of: Carcass, Opeth, Dark Tranquility [7] RHYS STEVENSON EUTANOS 'Lo Que Te Lleva A La Muerte / Live Death Valley' Ten years down the line and Ecuadorian Black Metal armada Eutanos unleash Anti-Christian and devastating hell through their premier compilation 'Lo Que Te Lleva A La Muerte / Live Death Valley'. Conveniently split onto two disks, this release throws out the chaotic scenes and atmosphere of true South American Black Metal. That is, mind-splitting vocals leading the front-line whilst the drums and guitars combine to deliver that level of raw production you would expect from an underground release. Sure some people might struggle at the Spanish lyrics, but overall if you have the trained ear to pick out some rather grizzly and bitter tracks, then you would have no problem getting to grips with Eutanos. Whilst some underground Black Metal bands opt for speed and technicality as a means of trying to impress, Eutanos take the brutality up a notch and use that to their advantage, giving the honored right to fly the flag for the Ecuadorian Metal scene. Download This: "Lo Que Te Lleva A La Muerte" - Click to listen For Fans of: Marduk, Carpathian Forest, Behemoth [8] RHYS STEVENSON ILENKUS 'The Crossing' You'd have to be rather insane to give Ilenkus any reason to roam your mind with their Prog-infused slab of Post Metal, yes insane. If you are sane, then their music would make you go insane because their music is.... insane. Enough of the confusing babbling-on, Ilenkus' second album sets out on a psychedelic journey of technical brutality, with a dollop of Hardcore vocals, mathematical calculations riding the riffs and an atmosphere that develops a cold, damp, yet machinery-style feeling upon indulging in their 38-minute assault. 'The Crossing' is bound to give Ilenkus the overseas exposure that they thoroughly diverse with this effort, funnily enough this may well appeal to fans of Ambient, Djent and possibly Drone Metal. This is the band to turn the tides of the Irish Metal scene, keep an eye on this group at all costs, this band are going places. Download This: "Devourer" - click to listen For Fans of: Xerath, Isis, "Unique Metal" [8] RHYS STEVENSON DISTORTED HARMONY 'Chain Reaction' Strapping together an electric mix of elements including Progressive Metal, Symphonic, Melodic, Jazz, Progressive Rock and Djent, Distorted Harmony have produced a sound that is sure to challenge the already flooded Progressive Metal arena. Whilst perhaps not as Oriental-influenced as fellow countrymen Orphaned Land, Distorted Harmony certainly place their power and fire within the beats and atmosphere of the music to develop their own unique style of Israeli music; let's call it "easy listening metal". Let Progressive Metal be damned if Distorted Harmony don't get a record label deal this or next year, because boy are they going to whip the rest of the world into line, 'Chain Reaction' has a lot going for it, so much so this may well become a hot contended for Progressive Metal album of the year by a lot of global media. Download This: "Every Time She Smiles" - Click to listen to the entire album as well. For Fans of: Dream Theater, Muse, Periphery, Porcupine Tree [10] RHYS STEVENSON EVIL SCARECROW 'Galactic Hunt' Salutations must be bestowed upon a band that has defied the rules of metal, crushed rubber duckies under the weight of their furious 'Parody Black Metal' sound and amassed an army of human crabs scuttling to the sound of the soon-to-be number one chart hit 'Crabulon'. This is of course Nottingham's beloved Evil Scarecrow who have crafted another spectacular album. 'Galactic Hunt' is the quintet's third full-length and once again the elegance of their own form of Black / Thrash Metal has been polished and presented to the masses. With a cyber / futuristic theme seeming to emerge from the album, it will only take a few seconds for E.T. to not go home, mosh alongside the Terminator and crowd-surf over a crowd of Daleks. With Princess Luxury providing the sci-fi sounds, Brother Pain, Kraven Morrdeth and Ringmaster Monty Blitzfist fighting over musical supremacy and Dr Hell letting rip with a barrage of savage vocals, 'Galactic Hunt' is by far the best release they have done thus far. Download This: "Crabulon" - Click to listen to the Bloodstock live version For Fans of: GWAR, Slayer, Cradle of Filth 'Galactic Hunt' is out 13th October 2014 via an independent release [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON ORANGE GOBLIN 'Back From The Abyss' CANDLELIGHT Unleashing their eighth wave of unmistakeable Stoner Metal is Orange Goblin. Their upcoming album 'Back From The Abyss' is packed with everything you love about the band, it comes chock-a-block full of ballsy erotic riffs, harmonious-yet-melodic vocals and classic hints of meth 'wafting' around in the background. Now for a band who celebrates their 20th anniversary next year, a forthcoming October and November European tour and of course their forthcoming album, things could not be sweeter. Or could they? 'Back From The Abyss' definitely places itself as a contender for album of the year, but whether this is their best album to date is well and truly wide open for debate. Make no mistake, Orange Goblin have got plenty more where 'Back From The Abyss' came from and boy do they intend to slay your sorry asses with this effort, essentially it is sex in music form. Preview This: "Demon Blues" - click to listen a preview of each song For Fans of: Led Zeppelin, Pentagram, Atomic Rooster 'Back From The Abyss' is out 6th October 2014 via Candlelight Records [9] RHYS STEVENSON RAPTORE 'Demo 2014' Welcoming to the front-line is Argentinian Heavy Metal quartet Raptore unleashing their first ever release in the form of a demo, this unit strolls down the alleyway of the Classic Heavy Metal sound many Metalheads grew up with and produces material that is sure to appeal to many. Firmly and deeply rooted within the NWOBHM style, Raptore's premier demo delivers a lot of promise for this band, proving that they certainly know how to turn up the volume past 13 and blast out a sound that is far more controlling than your mother-in-law. With elements of Speed Metal clearly present, Raptore are sure to make a buzz in the years ahead. Imagine your partner grabbing you hard by the balls or boobs and then as a result you emit a high-pitch shriek, well this is what the vocals are like. Whilst the pain barrier is broke, the riffs lash your spine with barbed wire, whilst the drums keep your head spinning to the beat. Hell hath no fury with this lot. Download This: "Rage N' Fever" - Click to listen For Fans of: Motorhead, Iron Maiden, Saxon [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON WINTERFYLLETH
'The Divination Of Antiquity' CANDLELIGHT The immediate thoughts of Black Metal usually drag up the common associations of Satanism, blood, darkness and evil. Winterfylleth on the other hand have their own unique style of Black Metal to wage war with, their forthcoming album 'The Divination of Antiquity' comes as the band's fourth full-length to-date and features the majestic elegance exhibited on it's predecessors, but with added Doom Metal to create a more dynamic-yet-fluid atmosphere; one that is sure to impress even the more underground Black Metal followers. Lasting a sensational 62 minutes, 'The Divination Of Antiquity' can be considered another chapter in the Winterfylleth chronicles, carrying on their unmistakable Anglo-Saxon heritage and Paganism lyrics along with their fast, majestic and totally awe-inspiring Black Metal sound. A true diamond within the darkened caves of English Black Metal. Download This: "A Careworn Heart" - when the album is out For Fans of: Fyrdsman, Cnoc An Tursa, "Folkloric Black Metal" [9] RHYS STEVENSON EVERGLOW 'Destination' Last year Belgian Power Metal sextet unveiled their premier album and with it comes an extremely well-presented sound. 'Destination' wields together some rather heavenly yet bellowing female vocals to blitzing drums and elegant riffs. Sure it has taken 13 years since the band's inception but the wait has been worthwhile, let's be honest here though - how many Power Metal bands do you know feature female vocals at the forefront? Probably not many, but as Cindy Baert's Everglow evidently show, you don't need to burst your lungs or introduce melodies such that swaying becomes almost uncontrollable and unrelenting oscillation. 'Destination' is an album of epic proportions and would appeal to most metal fans. Download This: "Frozen Tears" For Fans Of: Sonata Arctica, Delain, Edenbridge [8] RHYS STEVENSON INFERNAL OUTCRY 'Eclipsed' You'd have to either be stupidly drunk or high-on caffeine to actually understand what Infernal Outcry's debut demo 'Eclipsed' is all about, well the drumming is so uninspiring and the riffs are so simple it makes you question whether this was a practice session or they were legitimately aiming to release a well-crafted demo. The vocals are too forced and the whole feeling of the release is one of utter confusion, questioning what they were aiming to do. The only salvation point that the band can take from it, is that they managed to release a demo, let's just hope their second release is going to turn heads otherwise consider this a shot-in-the-foot moment. Download This: "Jaws Of Life" For Fans of: You tell us! [4.5] RHYS STEVENSON ONE MORE VICTIM 'Loyalty & Honour' Strutting out of the back streets of Liverpool is "Street Metal" mob One More Victim, hell actually it's a combination of bruising metal and gritty attitude. Laying down the law with their premier album 'Loyalty & Honour', the four-piece amass a sound that makes Wayne Rooney's post-match commentary seem like baby talk in comparison to the deliverance of this release. Damning as hell, you would want to take out life insurance to make it past the absolute concrete barrage of face-punching, ballsy metal One More Victim have served up here. Now whilst this may cause some listeners to reminisce a bit, through the intricate use of Groove Metal riffs and Ministry / Rammstein Industrial Metal elements, a DIY attitude and a bright future ahead, One More Victim are poised to make a buzz in the British Metal scene with this effort. Download This: "5 Days" For Fans of: Rammstein, Ministry, Pantera, Charles Bronson (if he was a musician) [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON LAPIS LAZULI 'Lost' 'Lost' marks the departure of Lapis Lazuli's third vocalist Frida Eurenius and welcomes in their new vocalist Cecilia Kamf. As for the Swedish Symphonic Power Metal outfit, Lapis Lazuli have not lost their trademark sound, that is their tasty mix of angelic vocals, cascading and ascending symphonies, smooth riffs and dramatic atmospherics. It could actually be said that Cecilia Kamf has vocals of the Tarja Turunen guild, that swan-like elegance in her voice caressing each note produced by her fellow band-members. This could be Lapis Lazuli's time to make a stand and go for a label deal, because this material certainly warrants a contract. Download This: "Forgive, Never Forget" For Fans of: Therion, Within Temptation, Tarja-era Nightwish [8] RHYS STEVENSON NECROBLATION 'Ablation Of Death' It might as well be ironic that a band using Christian lyrics amasses a sound so demonic that it would make Satan piss blood. Welcoming to the forefront of the Death Metal / Grindcore arena is Switzerland's Necroblation, whose 2013 debut album 'Ablation Of Death' features the brutality of an Alpine avalanche, but leaves the vocal clarity at times like the snow-dust from the subsequent avalanche. Sadly at times the album seems to run out of imagination and thus rests on the stereotypical Death Metal / Grindcore sound that seems to be generically churned out, despite this as said the vocals are the only major letdown, for you might as well just grunt in tune and hope for some lyrical inspiration to emerge from the almost-vacant clear-vocals. Consider it a learning curve. Download This: "Human Slave" For Fans of: Napalm Death, Dying Fetus, Mortification [6] RHYS STEVENSON EXCRUCIATION '[G]host' AURIC Unsigned bands who start and pause, split-up and reform over their entire career are often disinterred and re-emerge as a lost and forgotten relic, this may apply to the Swiss quintet Excruciation whose atmospheric mix of Doom Metal reverberates around the Matterhorn, so much so yodelling becomes a less-meaningful way of communicating a message. That message from Excruciation is one of human emotions, feelings and thus is felt with their third full length '[G]host'. Since their reemergence in 2005, you can tell that they have been buried down in a bunker mesmerizing over what their future sound will be like, possibly a lot different to the sound conjured up way back in 1985. As for their latest effort, it is a truly remarkable piece of work that solidly justifies this underground veteran's existence, you will never find another band quite like this. Download This: "Mother South" For Fans of: Saint Vitus, Candlemass, Hellhammer [8] RHYS STEVENSON HIJOS DE OVERÓN 'Prisionero De Agujas' Seven years down the line and Spanish Classic Heavy Metallers Hijos De Overón finally drop their debut album 'Prisionero De Agujas' (translates as: 'Prisoner Of Needles'), now whether satellites were involved or any form of help from the company Overon remains a question, but certainly their music is not questionable. Sticking to their mother tongue to deliver a release entirely sung in Spanish, you get the full flavor of where they come from, moreover the whole album is a masterpiece in it's own right as it sticks itself right within the realm of Iron Maiden, but wallows about to find it's own footing. Whether you like or dislike classic Heavy Metal, this album is a win for those willing to learn Spanish or indeed listen to a band that will go down well in Hispanophone countries. Download This: "Hijos De Overón" For Fans of: Iron Maiden, Van Halen, Helloween [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON HYBRIS 'Blinded Thoughts' This is quite simply a stellar start for Polish quartet Hybris, the face-smacking power exhibited on their debut EP 'Blinded Thoughts' is enough to make Behemoth turn heads. With 19 minutes of pure eccentric and accentuated Technical Death / Thrash Metal, it is worth a solid listen and subsequential replay. However at times the music gets too creative to sustain anything worthwhile and at most lacks a respectable level of convincing execution. Smothering all of that is some rather gritty and dirty vocals, so dirty it makes any porno film seem like a chick flick. Moreover you might want to go to a doctor after headbanging and moshing to this leviathan-of-a-release, it is that powerful and with the right attitude, could provide the springboard for this band to break out of the Polish Metal scene. Download This: "Mystic Circle" For Fans of: Fleshgod Apocalypse, Legion Of The Damned, Vader [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON TOTENGEFLÜSTER 'Vom Seelensterben (Re Issue)' As far as Germany goes on the metal battlefront, the nation generally does well with it's Extreme Metal and Totengeflüster are no exception. Re-releasing their debut album Vom Seelensterben, the only thing that has notably changed is the bonus track, the rest of the album is the same occult Symphonic Black Metal the band has employed. Sickening shrieks make you quake in your shoes as the shivers and bitterness of death creeps down your spine, so much so you feel repugnant to even attempt to sing along to this murderous release. With a bleak atmosphere shrouding the raw feeling of the riffs and atomic drum power, Totengeflüster have staked their claim as one of Black Metal's bands to watch in 2014. Download This: "Ein Monolog Im Mondschein" For Fans of: Dimmu Borgir, Emperor, Winterfylleth [8] RHYS STEVENSON GANGRENOMITY
'Demo 2014' Awh, you have got to admire the slamming Brutal Death Metal sound for what it is. No need to sing just gurgle away and make pig squeals, hell if you don't like this style of music, then there's always Justin Bieber and that will hurt your ears. Making their own style of noise is Swiss bruisers Gangrenomity whose 2014 demo spews out nothing but fairytale gore and peaceful murderous ideologies. From the bloody start to the infested finish, this demo covers everything you would want from that metal genre, just don't forget to brush your teeth after vomiting all your innards, because take note, this release is not for those with an unstable stomach, it will make you feel like you're about to puke. Welcome to the dark side of Swiss Metal. Download This: "Compulsive Murdering" For Fans of: Carnal Disfigurement, Aborted, 'Psychopathic Metal' [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON TROBAR 'Charivari' Folk Metal is a music genre that makes you want to just set up a campfire, dance around it and eat marshmallows and enjoy the wilderness. Well with that adventure, Trobar's debut album 'Charivari' certainly poises itself as the perfect accompaniment. Far from being the typical bouncy and jumpy Folk Metal release, 'Charivari' for starters is sung in the French language and thus sticks by their traditional Québécois heritage. Moreover it would appear they have drinking and generic Canadian references going on, but as far the music is concerned it really gets you dancing. Sure the band might not garner a massive amount of international recognition, but they will go down well within the Francophone metal scenes. Gritty vocals lead the line, whilst the drums set the pace, guitars give the music that sharp edge and naturally the hurdy-gurdy and flute give the music atmosphere. 'Charivari' addresses and represents what Québécois heritage is all about. Download This: "Le Sacrifice" For Fans of: Eluveitie, Finntroll, Heidevolk [8] RHYS STEVENSON EXPAIN 'Just The Tip' Hold on to your balls, for Expain could be positioned as Canada's next great metal export. Evidently going by their ferociously captivating debut album 'Just The Tip', the quintet slap together a masochistic mixture of blazing riffs, supersonic drumming, sexy solo's and vocals so brutal it would make your last hangover as weak as Justin Bieber banging one out. Come on they mix jazz elements, that surely has to receive numerous acknowledgements, but also through the various sounds and lyric topics employed, this album is a party on it's own. Let's be honest, 'Just The Tip' is a bloody good starting position for this troupe and as they mark their first year of existence, we could well see much more of this face-punching ensemble. Modern Hybrid Metal at it's finest. Download This: "Idol Worship" For Fans of: Slayer, Voivod, Strapping Young Lad, Communic [9] RHYS STEVENSON ERASE 'Erase' Erase deliver a no nonsense form of Heavy Metal that is found to be emanating from the deepest levels of the Parthenon, moreover when speaking of their debut EP, you cannot mistake it for a classic Heavy Metal release, because it is. Rampant and powerful drums lead the back-line, whilst the sizzling riffs cook up a sound that would make people plate smashing go weak at the knees. The vocals are of the classic Bruce Dickinson guild and when layered on top of the music, forms a release that is sure to appeal to many. At times there is evident influences from the Hard Rock sector in particular from bands like Led Zeppelin and AC/DC, moreover their cover of Bitch's "Damnation Alley" goes done very well indeed. Erase are flying the flag high for the Greek Metal scene. Download This: "Damnation Alley (Bitch Cover)" For Fans of: Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen [8] RHYS STEVENSON DAMNATÖR 'Unchain The Plague' We know there are fans out there who indulge in the far more raw, underground and unclean sound of Black Metal and indeed Blackened Thrash Metal for that matter, so when Finnish newbies Damnatör make their mark with their premier demo 'Unchain The Plague', the instantaneous feeling that arises from it is one of optimism and gratification. Because the recording is low-fi and thus hence gives it that authenticity as a true underground metal release. 'Unchain The Plague' spews out barbaric riffs surrounded by frost-bitten vocals and apocalyptic drumming, now if you thought Behexen were dark enough for Black Metal, Damnatör are not too far behind them. Download This: "Baptized In Profanity" For Fans of: Behexen, Deströyer 666, Beherit [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON EDENFALL 'Under Sultry Moons & Velvet Skies' RAVENHEART Gothic Doom Metal is an acquired taste, thus henceforth when listening to these types of bands it always helps to think along the lines of Black Sabbath and Paradise Lost. Even for English Metallers Edenfall, the ideology is still the same. Making their welcome return by unleashing their second release 'Under Sultry Moons & Velvet Skies' upon the masses, what the quintet do here is create a Doom Metal embodiment and coat it with Gothic Metal influences, such as the heavenly vocals and melodies. Topping out at a mammoth 77 minutes, you will certainly be spoiled for choice when it comes to listening to the album; with two 13 minute epics in tow, this is a release not to be dismissed. Edenfall are the new face of English Gothic Doom Metal, and they are here to stay. Download This: "Obsidian" For Fans of: Paradise Lost, Lacuna Coil, Black Sabbath [8] RHYS STEVENSON UNDERGROUND '2014 Demo' Fresh out of the Slovenian Metal scene, Heavy Metal bruisers Underground have arisen from the abyss to unleash all mighty hell via their first ever demo - simply entitled '2014 Demo'. What you have here is 13 minutes of Heavy Metal slapped together with influences drawn from the Speed Metal and Thrash Metal styles. Now if this band was to carry on with this style they've created, then they may well be landed with a record label deal within the next two years. For there demo shows a lot of promise and may well lead them to follow fellow-countrymen Negligence into breaking out into the European Metal scene. With an array of fluctuating riffs, flavored vocals and solid drumming, Underground are the new kids on the block. Download This: "Horrors of the Past" For Fans of: Judas Priest, Motorhead, Iron Maiden [8] RHYS STEVENSON CRIMSON DEATH 'Fleshdance' 7 HARD 2 years ago may seem a long while ago, but in terms of music it is a lot shorter than you would think. In 2012 Germany's gore fanatics Crimson Death unleashed their premier album 'Fleshdance' and what comes with it is 42 minutes worth of gore-gutted and gut-rotten Death Metal that would make any autopsy seem to become a sick and disturbed hobby. However the downside to the album is that at times the songs sound too generic Death Metal and thus lose any impetus generated from the preceding songs, but on an overall scope the landscape is bloody red, the senses murdered and the entire feeling of the album is worse than any Saw film. Crimson Death are not your average Death Metal band, they are your average Crimson Death Metal band. Download This: "Conscious Deception" For Fans of: Cannibal Corpse, Cerebral Bore, Debauchery [7] RHYS STEVENSON DARMAGE 'La Caída De Los Ídolos' If DevilDriver and Machine Head ever produced a baby, then Darmage would be the offspring. Because fusing Groove Metal and Thrash Metal together requires a level of precision that results in the deliverance of a full-smacking of raucous vocals, mauling riffs and ferocious brutality unleashed on the drums. Darmage's debut album "La Caída de los Ídolos" does exactly that, sure the release may cause an issue for those non-Spanish speakers, but the music does the talking and thus will appeal to anyone who loves their metal so hard and heavy, your latest orgy and dump will seem infantile in comparison to this release. Darmage are certainly set to rock the foundations of the Spanish Metal scene, and with their first album could well dominate South America as their ideal focal point. Download This: "Enemigos De La Reflexión" For Fans of: DevilDriver, Machine Head, Cavalera Conspiracy [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON THORN BURIAL 'Pleasured By Rage' For all their attempts at producing a release with sensational power and fury, Greece's Thorn Burial ultimately fail to come out of the starting blocks. Their 2014 EP 'Pleasured By Rage' aims to deliver a crushing Thrash Metal sound, the downside in the process of this is that whilst the riffs and drums do the killing justice, the vocals lack that tenacity that would make this release more credible, despite the irritation experienced through the unfortunate consistency of slowing down and picking up speed. Moreover this is done without any decent transition and thus leaves the listener questioning whether to head-bang and mosh or perform the paso doble and drink to this sorrowful attempt. Back to the drawing board it is. Download This (if you really want to...): "Sarcovore" For Fans of: Poorly-structured Thrash Metal. [4.5] RHYS STEVENSON THE FUROR
'Impending Revelation' Australia's veteran Blackened Death Metaller Louis Rando (Disaster) has summoned up once again another serving of war-torn maniacal hell via his fourth album 'Impending Revelation'. Impiety's drumming magician has done a superb job at carrying on this majestic project, with the enlisted help of Jarrod Curley, Mark De Vattimo, The General and Lynton Cessford, The Furor blasts out a rally-after-rally of war-torn metal. Sure at times the vocals get stripped away from the stickiness of the instruments, but this is what The Furor has always done, smouldering-hot riffs and solo's boil over the cloaked drums and raspy vocals, so much so what is left is a truly remarkable piece of musicianship. Here's to another 10 years of Australia's finest underground metal project, The Furor. Download This: "Black Sorcerer Of Sadism" For Fans of: Immortal, Suffocation, Impiety [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON ELESSÄR 'Dark Desires' Welcoming to the international stage is Argentina's Elessär, whose premier album 'Dark Desires' released last year, delivers a magical and galloping sound of Symphonic Power Metal wrapped within the elegance of life and fantasy. There seems to be a love affair between any Hispanic nation and the Power Metal, Gothic Metal and Symphonic Metal styles, Elessär certainly seems to prove that point. In fact Elessär are the sort of band you would expect a European label to snap up immediately (what are they playing at?). As for their album, Alejandra's vocals almost certainly wallow in the style of Tarja-era Nightwish, and the music does too. Make no mistake, they might not be well known outside South America, but blimey they would be well received in Europe! Download This: "Heroes Born Dead" For Fans of: Sonata Arctica, Nightwish, Therion [8] RHYS STEVENSON APRIL WEEPS 'Outer Calm. Pain Within' What could be called somewhat more gratifying amongst other underground Progressive Metal releases, 'Outer Calm. Pain Within' is the debut album by Slovakia's April Weeps. What instantly hits out is the inevitable contrast between the female and male vocals, melodic and gritty respectfully. Whilst the vocals lead the front-line, the real artillery comes from the guitars, drums and keyboards, firing out a rally of riffs, beats and atmospheric elements that come together to deliver a sound that is guaranteed to crush your soul, make you spit blood and wish you had not shagged Dream Theater so hard, because this release is 10x more impressive then them. The modern wave of Progressive Metal is amongst us, lead by April Weeps who are flying the flag for the Slovak Metal scene. Download This: "Buried" For Fans of: Opeth, Soilwork, Killswitch Engage [8] RHYS STEVENSON HAMFERÐ 'Evst' TUTL What is so magical about the debut full length album 'Evst' by Faroe Islanders Hamferð is the sheer magnitude of power rumbling throughout Jón Aldará's vocals, breaking out into an almost operatic tone. Reminiscing of early Pavarotti, gone metal. Contrasting against that comes some of the grizzliest Death Metal vocals you could possibly imagine (OK this might be a bit of an over-exaggeration, but the elemental truth is the vocals are blindingly crushing). What this Faroese beast has done is taken the core essences of Paradise Lost, whipped in a Nordic atmosphere and turned the combo into a sound that inevitably was justifiable to why they got to play Wacken, their next effort will certainly be watched with interest. Download This: "Sinnisloysi" For Fans of: Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, Amorphis [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON SEEDS OF IBLIS 'Anti Quran Rituals' UNMERCIFUL DEATH Possibly one of the most extremist Black Metal groups to emerge from the Middle East ever, Seeds of Iblis are an Iraqi quartet who exclusively preach about one thing: Anti-Islam. Such a controversial release made public is sure to cause a division amongst the metal community, but discounting the lyrics aside, their debut album 'Anti Quran Rituals' spits out venom in all directions. Through the use of barbaric riffs, traditional Middle Eastern music as the atmospheric backdrop, thunderous drumming and spleen-splitting vocals, Seeds Of Iblis are primed to make a name for themselves and for those who seek unique sounds or bands from far-flung lands, 'Anti Quran Rituals' is one album you must own, regardless. * We suggest a song to download, but due to the nature of the lyrics we are not going to suggest any. For Fans of: Gorgoroth, Carpathian Forest, Marduk [8] RHYS STEVENSON GAUNTLET 'Break The Chains' Greek Heavy Metallers Gauntlet made their voices known last year with the release of their first ever demo entitled 'Break The Chains', delivering what you would expect from any Classic-style Heavy Metal release: infectious vocals, melodic riffs and rallying drumming, all in the Iron Maiden-esque style. Sure granted it is nothing new and might bore some fans to tears, but the solidarity of the release pushes the band on and with this effort, we might not be waiting much longer for their next release which is surely poised to build upon this success. Standing at a modest 21 minutes, this is a demo that any Heavy Metal fan should own, however it was limited to 150 copies, so you would need to act very fast! Download This (if you can): Hearts Of Metal For Fans of: Van Halen, Iron Maiden, Metallica [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON GORESOERD 'Asülum' INVERSE Celebrating 10 years this year may surpass the fact that not only was 'Asülum' Goresoerd's third album, but it was their first release on Inverse Records. Estonia's most revered Death Grinders have once again served up another slab of face-mauling grit and stuck to their indigenous Estonian tongue. Now if this album was to be a film, it probably would be Saw 7, because it is soon over before it has started and it delivers a high velocity impact in a rapid rate of fire. Plus naturally it's gore, but that's besides the point. The point is 'Asülum' proves itself as a well-planned work of art, that delivers outrageously catchy riffs, ballistic drums and raucous vocals, all of which are guaranteed to gain attention across planet metal. Goresoerd are one hell of a hidden Estonian gem, mine it at will. Download This: "Soerd" For Fans of: Deathbound, Cannibal Corpse, Napalm Death [8] RHYS STEVENSON AKROMA 'La Cène' FANTAI'ZIC PRODS. Such a far outcry from what you would expect from a Symphonic-charged Progressive Black Metal album, the vocals sound so painful it makes stepping on Lego entertaining and feel as if under anesthetic. Seriously though the keyboards, female chanting and drums deliver the greater parts of this album, but the vocals, well, are enough for you to cry, the guitars are there but at times are muffled by the vocals. Perhaps if they were deeper and less on the verge of developing 'Blackened Screamo', this album might be going places, but Akroma's latest effort 'La Cène' is certainly not pushing them anywhere. This French lot may need to come up with something far more serious for their next effort, or consider it game over. This album is an own goal for Akroma. Download This: "Simon" For Fans of: Ihsahn, Dimmu Borgir, Enslaved. [5.5] RHYS STEVENSON THE WITCH 'Black Flower Field' You know when a release is going to be extra special when a film clip makes it's way into the introduction of a song, well The Witch have done just and with the Pulp Fiction reference where Samuel L Jackson delivers his excellent biblical passage before executing Brad, it really sets the tone for the release. This French Progressive Stoner unit have certainly delivered their A-game on their second EP 'Black Flower Field'. Infectious hooks, ravaging riffs and biting vocals charge this release into the next dimension, that is as a release placing The Witch firmly on the front line for an imminent signing next year; or we will eat our speakers .'Black Flower Field' is certainly one hell of an interesting EP Download This: "Skeleton Soul" For Fans of: Mastodon, Kyuss, Fu Manchu [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON THE BLEEDING 'Rites Of Putrefaction' They might as well just of made an instrumental and save the hassle of the vocalist turning up, granted the debut EP by Italian Death Metallers The Bleeding is enough to make you poop your pants, but the vocals are on par with grunts made by cavemen. Seriously though if anyone wanted to sign along to this, the best option would be to mime. The only credible aspect of 'Rites Of Putrefaction' is the ferocity of the drums, the guitars make the occasional 'wow factor', but the overall impression of the EP is one of mass frustration, there again this would mostly appeal to fans of Grindcore, Brutal Death Metal and Goregrind, so who can honestly complain? The neighbors next door of course.... Download This: "No Dawn" For Fans of: Aborted, Suffocation, Cattle Decapitation [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON FROSTBITTEN KINGDOM
'The Winter War Symphony' If anyone knows their history, then they will recall the bloody battle that took place between Finland and the former USSR, otherwise known as the "Winter War". What really sticks out like an impaled thumb on Frostbitten Kingdom's latest release is the sincerity of the music, from start to finish the blistering aggressiveness exerted here is near enough a musical representation of the brutality and pain experienced on the snow-trodden battlefield. Opening up with a ten minute wonder-opus and then cascading down to the 4 minute mark before reaching 6 and then 8 minute-long songs, 'The Winter War Symphony' warrants more attention than it is getting as it makes Immortal seem truly outdated, if you dig Melodic Black / Death Metal in the style of Hecate Enthroned, etc, then you're bound to be blitzed apart from this Finnish resistance. Download This: "Sentinels Of The Silent" For Fans of: Hecate Enthroned, Immortal, Behemoth [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON ALFORNA 'Awake' 2013 bore another good metal release in the form of 'Awake' by Austrian Groove Thrashers Alforna. Now what is rather interesting about this release, is that they switch between singing in Austrian-German and English, pinching a bit of both worlds whilst delivering a rather eclectic sound, eclectic in that the Groove elements would make any listener sway from side to side or as far as the fan girls go, wave their arms in the air side to side. Contrasted against the Thrash Metal side because this side offers no ways of resilience, nor does it deliver that convincing blow to ignite anything spectacular; often riffs are too repetitive even for a Thrash Metal release and coupled with the Groove metal sound, at times it just did not cut it. Download This: "Seed" For Fans of: Groove Metal and Thrash Metal. [7] RHYS STEVENSON INFECTION 'Acrotomophile Mutilator' Peruvian Death Metal warlords Infection mark their seminal return with their second slab of gut-rotten vocals and blood-soaked masochistic music. 'Acrotomophile Mutilator' stakes its claim as the band's second studio album and what comes with it is a futile onslaught of gore-Death Metal. From the start to the very end, there is an unrelenting barrage of blast-beats, guttural vocals and barbed-wire riffs, all layering over each other to exert a sound that is certified to make anyone poop themselves. We're not sure what they get up to in Peru, but one thing is for certain, Infection are staking their claim as one of South America's most hidden-treasures. This is not the end, not by a long shot. Infection aim to spread the disease. For Fans of: Suffocation, Cattle Decapitation, Cannibal Corpse. 'Acrotomophile Mutilator' is out 1st July [8] RHYS STEVENSON ARBOR 'The Plutonian Shore' Arbor's music is definitely classed as 'for exquisite taste only', that is you would have to have tolerance towards a mix of Atmospheric metal and Post-Black Metal. If you have over an hour to spare and you enjoy that style of metal then this album is really for you. Interestingly enough, unlike some Atmospheric-based albums, 'The Plutonian Shore' really digs deep and explodes in a radiant wave of sensational music. Funnily enough this would be best to listen to at either bonfire night or Halloween because of it's darkened sincerity and utmost bitterness riding on each song, sure it is an exquisite taste, but fans of Gothic Metal and Death Metal might actually dig this. Download This: "Only The Wind Calls Back" For Fans of: Arcane Grail, Alcest, Falloch [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON VELIGORE 'Veligore' It is generally evident what separates an American Black Metal album from an European Black Metal album, as New York's Veligore have demonstrated on their debut self-titled album. The American's want to go for more power and speed whereas the latter aim for atmospheric sounds, yet whilst the album may well deliver their own form of atmosphere, it does at times leave something to be desired in that it simply does not reach the standards expected. Despite this the guitars are raw as ever, the vocals spitting venom at a sickening level and the drums guide this beast through the mazes of darkness. If you want Immortal style Black Metal, stick yourself in the Nordics, but if you want something that sizzles like Averse Sefira, then look no further than Veligore. Download This: "Endless Night" For Fans of: Averse Sefira, Wolves in the Throne Room, Kult Ov Azazel [7] RHYS STEVENSON WORKHORSE 'Fire Before All' You have to admire those bands who mold Death Metal and Thrash Metal together, because the outcomes can either be more of this or less of that, as for California's bruisers Workhorse their sound predominantly rests between the two. Their 2012 premier album 'Fire Before All' employs strictly Death Metal vocals and Thrash Metal music and yet whilst this may sound general to any standard metal listener, they certainly have put their effort into this album, ironically realizing their band name as exactly what they are, a Workhorse. With riveting riffs wallowing in the background, smothered by the blitzing drums and raucous vocals, this is an album that delivers a powerful punch and whilst may be short-lived, it forms the basis for them to build upon. Download This: "For Which We Stand" For Fans of: Megadeth, Gojira, Pantera [7] RHYS STEVENSON VENGEFUL GHOUL 'Timeless Warfare' Like whiskey, some things must be left to mature in order to enjoy to the fullest. Such a band who has managed to do this is Turkey's Vengeful Ghoul, whose debut album 'Timeless Warfare' comes 10 years after the band's inception. Is that Dio wallowing in the background? Was Iced Earth fiddling about in the recording studio? Because that is exactly the sound you will expect from hearing this leviathan-of-an-album. From the start to the finish, 'Timeless Warfare' immerses the listener in a vibrant array of Thrash Metal speed, Power Metal-esque vocals and evident Heavy Metal melodies, summing up as a release that may well just turn heads in the Middle East region, let alone Europe. Vengeful Ghoul are flying the flag high for the Turkish Metal scene. Download This: "Search For Apeiron" For Fans of: Iced Earth, Dio, Metallica, Iron Maiden [9] RHYS STEVENSON DEAFLOCK 'Courage To Expose All' Japan has a metal scene that rarely gets a look in by the Western world, such a shame when you have bands like Deaflock making as much noise as Rammstein make fire displays. 2013 bore witness to this band's latest album 'Courage To Expose All' being dropped and it comes 5 years after the band's debut release 'Reality Of False Pasts'. Now what makes this release rather interesting is the style of Thrash Metal they've opted for, it's not like Slayer but not unlike Metallica, but rather wafting in Evile and Gama Bomb territory. Mid-paced riffs set the pace for the album and whilst the drums deliver on time, the feeling of something is missing does seem to set in, not sure what it could be and pretty sure Deaflock don't know either... yet. Download This: "Only One" For Fans of: Metallica, Gama Bomb, Dublin Death Patrol [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON FANTHRASH 'Apocalypse Cyanide' Perhaps Fanthrash were bored, or perhaps they thought they'd unleash another EP. 'Apocalypse Cyanide' marks another chapter in the Polish Thrash merchants career and with it comes another slab of average standard Thrash Metal. Sure it is fast and well orchestrated, but the overall impression that is left is one of 'what did I just hear and are they for real?' Not saying it is totally uninspiring nor at all lame, but there is something missing with this release that would seem to be the key to giving Fanthrash that exposure needed. 'Apocalypse Cyanide' is therefore one of those releases that sits on the fence, between success and failure, however it is up to you to decide where this battle shall end. Download This: "Vitality" For Fans of: Thrash Metal. What bands, you decide. [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON ETHEREAL ARCHITECT 'Monolith' Texan Progressive Metallers latched onto what they wanted very quickly and in doing so deliver an excellent second album. Granted it was released in 2012 and the music might have changed since then, but Ethereal Architect certainly set out their own style of Progressive Metal very well. 'Monolith' poises itself as the next step in the band's career and is sure to summon up a lot more interesting songs in the future. The great thing about the album is that it has such a wide vibrancy from start to finish, through having songs of the fast-paced galloping kind songs and some sitting in the more melody-based sector. Question is will their next release surpass this album with ease? Download This: "Bardo Becoming" For Fans of: Dream Theater, Symphony X, System Of A Down. [8] RHYS STEVENSON GREAT GODS OF GREED
'Great Gods Of Greed' Self Destruct Records Demonstrating more than just the plucky general sound of Classic Heavy Metal takes a lot more imagination than you could possibly think, unless of course you're Great Gods Of Greed. Wallowing out of Los Angeles with guns blazing and the additional sun-stroke, this quintet delivers a belter-of-a-release in the form of their premiere self-titled album, and what a megalithic release it is having an hour's worth of 15 exquisite tracks. From start to finish, this five-piece serves up a broadened sound within the Heavy Metal vein, from the power of a Harley-Davidson found on 'All Out Warfare' to the more melodic-based 'Requiem Of A Madman, Great Gods Of Greed are great band to listen to and they've certainly shown it on their debut album. Download This: "Give Me My Meds" For Fans of: Iron Maiden, Van Halen, Metallica [8] RHYS STEVENSON |
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