CHASING THE RISE 'The Dawn' There are some Metalcore bands that try so much fancy stuff that they over-complicate the sound, there are some Metalcore bands that are too basic in their ways that they end up as another boring 'we cannot be bothered band', Chasing The Rise are none of these. The Lithuanian Melodic Metalcore outfit emerge out of the sewers of Vilnius with guns blazing and a sound that is more brutal than your last hangover. Dropping their debut EP 'The Dawn' this year, this could be the sound that finally gives the Lithuanian Metal scene international attention. Menacing vocals guide the apocalyptic riffs through the technically melodic matrix that becomes built up by the complexity of the drumming, guitar playing and vocals all put together. Make no mistake, 'The Dawn' is the sound of the underground and Chasing The Rise are flying the flag for Lithuania. The onslaught has just begun.... Download This: "In Front of Everything" For Fans of: Tides of Virtue, Bullet For My Valentine, As I Lay Dying [8] RHYS STEVENSON MORN GURUTH 'Weltekel' TALHEIM It's always been a common thing amongst the German underground metal scene, that Black Metal bands roam so freely and yet so secret that they are barely detectable. One such example is Morn Guruth, a Depressive Black Metal duo hailing from Bavaria. Their debut album 'Weltekel' delivers such a bleak and raw atmosphere that would you need to be very sober to get the feeling for it. Sad to say the drums are not particularly impressive and need more work on, especially in speed to get that sincere feeling that the guitars seem to deliver well, as for the vocals, well, yeah. Total redevelopment is needed because whilst they are there, they are far from understandable and at times are seeming to be a little false or leaning towards random screaming, which compared to other DBM bands is hardly there. So whilst 'Weltekel' is a decent release and somewhat scores points in each area, it lacks that final touch. Download This: "Destrudo" [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON MIDNIGHT MESSIAH 'The Root Of All Evil' It's always grand to see modern day bands playing the classic sounds of hard rock and heavy metal in such epic glory, whilst adapting it to their own taste. This is how exactly London quintet Midnight Messiah have gone about things, it is highly detectable on their debut album 'The Root Of All Evil' which sheds a brilliant sound in all of the departments. Clean and powerful vocals lead the front-line of this modernised version of Iron Maiden, whilst the guitars and drums deliver that all important blow that leaves the album in good stead as being a must own release for all those who prefer the old style of rock and metal. Make no mistake about it, 'The Root Of All Evil' is an album that will please many fans alike and is sure to give this band some well-deserved attention. Download This: "The Evil One" For Fans of: Iron Maiden, Van Halen, AC/DC The album is available online from the label website: www.coldtown.com priced at £7 GBP. [8] RHYS STEVENSON VORTECH 'Devoid Of Life' Modern Metal seems to have become a phenomenon in the metal music industry, bolting together the fluidity experienced in the electronic music crux with the brutality and manifestation of metal music. The latest band to embrace this cosmic wave of mass destruction is Finnish trio Vortech who layer Industrial influences with Death Metal to give a sound some would associate with bands like Fear Factory, this is best heard on their 2012 release 'Devoid Of Life' whereby the vocals and double bass drum set the speed and the riffs shred high voltage as if it was out of fashion. Don't instantly think it's ground breaking, it's far from that, but more closer to actually giving this band a major boost in the Euro Metal scene. Prepare for the techno-pit, a new form of moshing. Download This: "Grains of Reality" For Fans of: Fear Factory, Noein, The Amenta, Breach The Void [8] RHYS STEVENSON DOBLE ESFERA 'Mi Universo' Dropping their debut album last year is Spanish four-piece Doble Esfera (Double Sphere in English), their release 'Mi Universo' (My Universe in English) is another classic hard rock / heavy metal sound but naturally coming with the Spanish language. So do expect to hear a lot of Iberian influences coming in and out each song, amongst the tricky and magical riffs that serve up nicely whilst the drums provide the all important solid backdrop and the vocals weaving magic like thread through water. Sure it's nothing really special, but it certainly glimmers with charm and eccentricity, 'Mi Universo' will appeal to many fans of the classic sounds as well as those looking to learn Spanish. Download This: "Perdido En El Tiempo" For Fans of: Iron Maiden, Motorhead, Zarpa [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON AWRIZIS 'Final Hybridation' Awrizis are a hard band to nail down in one genre, so consider their debut album 'Final Hybridation' a slapping of Groove Metal mixed with a lashing of Deathcore influences and a dollop of aggression. Fueled by an endless supply of adrenalin and incredible technical skill, the Czech quartet's album deals damage en masse, except the only problem is the chunkiness of the bass, it needs a cleaner presence as you can hear the twanging too easily. But for those who want to hear music from the furthest limits then Awrizis is for you, make no mistake about it given the said improvement being completed in the future we could see a new international band arising from the depths of the Czech abyss and delivering a punch into the faces of the posers of Europe. Download This: "We Are Gifts Of Hell" For Fans of: In Flames, Suicide Silence, Machine Head [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON INFECTED RAIN 'Asylum' On the international metal scene, Moldova is down in the pits with only a handful of metal bands breaking out of Moldova and only a few of those gaining attention, well the tide is going to turn with Infected Rain. Simply put this female-fronted quintet implore a new twist to the whole Nu Metal sound, via the use of angelic and gritty female vocals (think Within Temptation for the angelic vocals) as the main weapon, a plethora of menacing riffs and powerful drumming sequences, they are poised to smash the European scene with a shattering explosion, well when you listen to their 2011 release 'Asylum' you will be warped into a musical world previously experienced. Thunderous drums and crunchy riffs boost the vocals like a musical atomic bomb, it is only a moment of time before Infected Rain joins the leagues of Exilia, Disturbed and other fellow Nu Metal compatriots, Infected Rain are flying the flag for the Moldovan Metal scene. Download This: "My Morphine" For Fans of: Exilia, Disturbed, Within Temptation, Static-X [9] RHYS STEVENSON FROSTLAND DARKNESS 'Ad Moriendum Dei Gratia' INVERSE Returning valiantly to deliver the second album is Finnish musician Mantus Nord and his project Frostland Darkness. Hailing from Lapland, this Black Metal one-man project simmers the very foundation of said music genre and injects some bleak and bitter atmosphere into it. Finnish Black metal has always been a bit of a hit and miss, well it's always spewed and spat out against Norwegian Black Metal, but when you get musical escapades like Frostland Darkness producing eclectic music in such a way that it makes established Black Metal bands sound like a screamo version of the Backstreet Boys. If your into the raw sounds of true Black Metal and after that bitter feeling that corrupts your senses, then 'Ad Moriendum Dei Gratia' is an album for you. Frostland Darkness may be a not well known project, but it packs a sensational sound you cannot find elsewhere, no wonder Inverse Records signed them! Download This: "Tuhon Kirkkaudessa" For Fans of: Horna, Darkthrone, Mayhem [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON BEER BEAR 'Beyond The Invisible Line' (За Незримой Чертой) SOUND AGE PRODS. The master of all Russian beer breweries has returned with a barrel of folkloric tales, hops and fresh mountain air, I am of course referring to Folk Metal maestros Beer Bear and their 2012 album 'Beyond The Invisible Line' (За Незримой Чертой), the latest installment in their musical arsenal sees the band carry on the delinquent sounds established on their debut album and is guaranteed to please many people alike. Singing exclusively in their native language, Beer Bear have done it again, proved themselves to be worthy of being a nationally known Folk Metal band. As for their second outing, 'Beyond The Invisible Line' (За Незримой Чертой) is a pleasant enough album, just be wary that it is quick at changing speed and is hard to keep up to. Beer Bear are another one of Russia's gems that deserve much more attention than they are getting, Download This: "Folk-n-Roll" For Fans of: Korpiklaani, Arkona, Woodscream [8] RHYS STEVENSON SILENT KNIGHT
'Masterplan' Of course metal is meant to be eccentric, complex and downright dirty, it's just that Silent Knight nail two of those things, the third is nowhere to be found. A little hint, the guitars and drumming patterns on their debut album is complex, the vocals are downright dirty and the musical composition is eccentric and so what is missing? The whole package. Sure they have the elements clear on this album but it lacks connectivity and at times the solo's are far too flash, a little toning down in that department would work; an excellent solo resides on the song 'Masterplan' but not the first song 'The Curse Of The Black Rose', ok there may be some irony in this but that's metal. Whether you like it or not, 'Masterplan' is a classic power metal album, the old style of classic power metal that is, so don't expect any keyboard elements or anything special. Download This: "Prophets Of War" For Fans of: Iron Maiden, Dream Theater, Blind Guardian. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON
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BLACK ELEGY 'Pathway' Possibly the best Gothic / Doom Metal band to emerge from Germany in a long, long time. Black Elegy make their anticipated debut with 'Pathway', a 49 minute opus that takes the listener on a spellbinding journey through the bitter cold lands of the German forests and mountains through a delicate balance of harmonic angelic vs. brutally demonic vocals and a slow yet captivating mixture of solid riffs and stomach-churning drumming, not to mention a soothing and calming atmosphere being developed by the individual elements. 'Pathway' is an album many Gothic Metal and Doom Metal fans will love and is sure to push forward Black Elegy into the spotlight as a potential label signing in the year ahead, it may be early days but Black Elegy certainly seem to be going places. Download This: "Saturnine Past" For fans of: Swallow The Sun, Amorphis, Opeth [8] RHYS STEVENSON BEGRIME EXEMIOUS 'Visions Of The Scourge' DARK DESCENT Last year saw the unleashing of horrendous and torrential satanic pain, transmitted through the unholiest of medians, the second album by Canadian warlords Begrime Exemious. Their latest offering 'Visions Of The Scourge' delivers unrelenting black / death metal in the raw form that it should be more often in. Through the use of a low-key production sound it adds sweet distortion to the guitar and drum sounds whilst the vocals offer little resilience in terms of the ugly beauty they produce. Sure 'Visions Of The Scourge' may not appeal to all extreme metal fans, but to those who prefer their music as dirty as a slut mud bath, this is the album for you. In fact without albums like 'Visions Of The Scourge' and bands like Begrime Exemious, true underground metal would not exist. Download This: "The Vault Of Ancient Bone & Poison Saliva" For Fans of: Belphegor, Watain, Destroyer 666 [8] RHYS STEVENSON SILAS 'World Of Colour' You can never be too far short of good music in London, the capital of England is like a corn field with each piece acting as a band, a puzzle in the whole area if you like. Anyway enough small talk, Silas is a classic hard rock and heavy metal that embezzles the very foundation of pure music. Their first mini-album delivers that guitar-driven sound to it's limit whilst adding some rather neat and tidy fusion elements, namely the funk element from which we suspect vats of Jack Daniels might be the culpable culprit. Whatever this band runs on, their latest effort 'World Of Colour' certainly packs a punch, a punch that should get them on to the battlefields of Europe and lighting the various venues across the continent with their atomic explosion of riff-laden rock / metal. Download This: "Negative One" For Fans of: Avenge Thee & Naime, Artisfiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON REMNANTS OF CAMULOS 'Screaming For An Answer' Some bands start off with so much potential and have no clue where to direct it, this time that bleakness falls upon teenage lads Remnants of Camulos of whom delivered their debut EP last year and quite frankly although being well and good in terms of effort and being different, the overall feel and reception is one to be considered. 'Screaming For An Answer' supposedly is meant to be a mash-up of Melodic Death / Thrash Metal and Metalcore, never in the month of sunday's is that correct. Given the vocals are in the Death Metal category and the riffs and drums reside more with Thrash Metal, they may as well be Deathrash or similar. However as for the EP don't expect anything groundbreaking or spectacular, the metal is good but the application needs considerable work on. Download This: "We Are Not Enslaved" For Fans of: Lamb of God, Hatebreed. 'bizarre metal' [6] RHYS STEVENSON ADAPTOR 'Fire In The Hallway' What can one say, Thrash Metal how it should be, well at least partly. Take Adaptor's debut EP 'Fire In The Hallway' released last year and rip it apart, first off the shift in time signatures and pace is far too great to comprehend, how on earth are metal fans meant to headbang to the opening song 'Mind' without tripping over themselves? Fast, slow, fast, slow? Really? More like a stuttering car engine. Ok, give due 'Fire In The Hallway' is a decent enough release, it does mostly what most Thrash Metal bands do best and deliver heart-shredding music, but it is the change in speed that let's it down. Wherever the Dutch quartet go from here it better improve, because judging on this effort, they have a fair bit to do before being considered all for it. Good release though. Download This: 'Fire In The Hallway' For Fans of: Kreator, Holy Moses. [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON NEBRUS 'From The Black Ashes' SCHATTENKULT At times it's a rarity to find old school Black Metal and so attention always turns to the abyss of the underground, this time the fire burns bright for misanthropic anti-christian Black Metal duo Nebrus who hail from the sun-soaked region of Tuscany, Italy. Their debut album released last year carries everything expected of an underground Black Metal release and as listeners peruse the songs on 'From The Black Ashes', they will come across at every song a whole plethora of different elements and sounds all coalescing into each song. Guitars are as raw as red meat and the drums as potent as poison, however the vocals do need some work on but for now offer a darkened insight into potentially the next best Black Metal outfit from the Italian lands. Download This: "Chains" For Fans of: Darkthrone, Burzum, Mayhem [8] RHYS STEVENSON MERCILESS TERROR 'Vile Extinction' DEVILS CLAUSE You know how it goes, technology is always renewing itself. The same goes for a band, each release that passes they intend to renew their current sound to improve it, however some fail at this process. Merciless Terror on the other hand were practically born with this process in their system, take their upcoming full length 'Vile Extinction' for example and try surviving the whole 34 minutes of it without either 1. violently headbanging, 2. drinking excessively or 3. wanking. This is due to the album blasting out a futile mix of Death Metal vocals and a Thrash Metal music embodiment that together merge to form a sound that will send shock-waves down the spine of planet metal. Through the composition of fast music that speeds past anything experienced at Wimbledon and the repulsive yet delicious lyrics instated on the album, there is no reason to why Merciless Terror's new album 'Vile Extinction' will not show bands in said genre how it should be done. For Fans of: Old Sepultura, Napalm Death, Slayer, Deicide 'Vile Extinction' is out on 19th August 2013 via Devils Clause Records worldwide [10] RHYS STEVENSON MASQUERADER 'Singular Point' It would certainly seem that Masquerader are ready to follow ChthoniC's footsteps and become an internationally recognised metal band. The five-piece Thrash Metal maniacs unleash furious hell with their second EP 'Singular Point', think classic Slayer and then wield that with an oriental attitude, you got it - colossal meltdown. 'Singular Point' gleams with everything you would expect from an 80's metal inspired band, producing insanely fast riffs without any mercy whatsoever whilst the drums and vocals finish the rest of you off. If this was a meal it would be burger and chips, juicy riffs with enough punch to know you back whilst the chips relate to the atmospheric flavor Masquerader muster on this must have release. Masquerader are flying the flag for Taiwan, now watch the Taiwanese onslaught begin. Download This: "S.A.T.A.N" For Fans of: Slayer, old Sepultura, Venom [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON HELL'S THRASH HORSEMEN 'Demo 2012' Wallowing in the land renowned for a lot of black metal and pagan metal is Hell's Thrash Horsemen, a (you guessed it!) Thrash Metal band from the bitter lands of the Russian Federation. Here we have their latest release, their 2012 demo gives an important sign that they are sure to make waves in Europe in the foreseeable future. Sure the release itself is not exactly anything different but still it serves up nicely as a decent Thrash metal release. Prepare for some classic sounds and fast music as Hell's Thrash Horsemen aim to serve up a feast for your ears that will aim for anyone to come back to enjoy once more. Download This: "Servants Of The People" For Fans of: Slayer, Evile, classic Thrash Metal. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON PUNCH 'N' JUDY
'Crossing Over' It is interesting to see a band cop onto the traditional British puppet show Punch 'N' Judy and call themselves after it, especially when they are from Germany. The five-piece Folk Metal musicians deliver an almost identical sound to that of the said piece of theatrical art. 'Crossing Over' is the band's third album to date and delivers that classic Folk Metal sound with added extras through the elaborate way of using the accordion to develop a country folk or medieval metal sound, which is funny seeing as medieval metal does already exist. But what is captivating about this band and indeed the album is that both defy the rulebook and do things their own way. You can be assured that Punch 'N' Judy will capture attention across the European plains with their unique style of German Folk Metal. Download This: "Nur Der Narr" For Fans of: Schandmaul, Subway To Sally, Eluveitie [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON ANCKORA 'Открой мне дверь' (Open The Door For Me) LIFE MUSIC Russian Cyber Metal bands are always promising, not only do they lash together electrodes of industrial music along with synthesizers and the beautiful dark side of the Russian language, but bands like Anckora make it sexy time. Deep in the cold and bitter backstreets of downtown Moscow, Anckora emerge with their new album 'Открой мне дверь' (Open The Door For Me), showing a shift from Symphonic Gothic Metal to Electro 'Cyber' Metal, whilst continuing to mix their mother tongue with the musical shift. 'Открой мне дверь' (Open The Door For Me) is one for those who love the futuristic elements of electronic trance and the harsh bitter sounds of industrial laden with brutal metal foundations that compute this release as one of Russia's most exciting releases this year. Download This: "Врата рая" For Fans of: Nine Inch Nails, Breach The Void, The Kovenant, Gothminister [8] RHYS STEVENSON NOTHING MORE TO EAT 'Nothing More To Eat' For a quick 25 minute outburst of Death Metal and Grindcore, look no further than Finnish band Nothing More To Eat and their delicious self titled release, featuring a whole host of humorous and totally bonkers songs, this is extreme comedy central like never before. 'Nothing More To Eat' gleams with fourteen tracks of outrageous lyrics and barmy music, the two when together sum up as a frenzy like production. Sure this is nothing as grandeur as fellow countrymen Deathbound, but this isn't Brutal Death Metal either, this is simply fast music with heavy vocals that crushes and destroys anything that opposes it, devouring the senses until there quite literally is 'Nothing More To Eat'. Download This: "Death From Below" For Fans of: Deathbound, Fitcage, Goresoerd, Tengkorak. [7] RHYS STEVENSON BODRAGAZ 'Symphony' Eighteen years down the road and Colorado's Bodragaz have still got the power, their seventh full length 'Symphony' ironically does deliver symphonic-like Progressive Metal. However unlike most albums in this genre, 'Symphony' does not feature any whopping 7 minute plus songs, whether that is a good or bad thing remains debatable, but what is hard to debate is the level of excellence shown on this release, if this was a bird of prey it would be a peregrine falcon, swooping down each symphonic element as it glides over the sensational riffs, pecks at the electric vocals unleashed on this release and watches over the drums as all elements come together and deliver a spectacular release. 'Symphony' is an album that will appeal to almost any Progressive Metal fan and is sure to become a legend in the state of Colorado, if not beyond. Download This: "I Found You" For Fans of: Dream Theater, The Devin Townsend Project, Myrath [8] RHYS STEVENSON FALL OF PANTHEON 'The Shadow Envelops All' Easily one of Denmark's most promising extreme metal acts to emerge out of the abyss in the last few years, the five Danes wield together a sound that will get bands like Hail of Bullets (NL) wetting their pants, this sound resonates on their second 'The Shadow Envelops All' from which belts out drum sequences at a blistering pace whilst the riffs shred metal like bullets that are fired from an AK-47 and the vocals emit a brutal force that is reported to have swayed the Øresund Bridge so much that engineers are worried that anymore brutal force and it will collapse, perhaps then it will be made out of Lego or perhaps Fall Of Pantheon will make the Swedish Death metal scene shudder in fear. This year music belongs to Denmark, they already won the Eurovision and now they might as well have one best underground unsigned Death Metal band of the year. Download This: "Inner Dystopia" For Fans of: By The Patient, Narakam, Scarab, Unleashed [9] RHYS STEVENSON TENOCHTITLAN 'Сотворение Мира' BADMOODMAN Usually when singing about topics that are not related to the country you are from it is always less authentic, such is the case of Tenochtitlan of whom delves into the past histories of the Mayan, Aztec and Inca civilizations. Whilst the Russian lot are expanding their horizons beyond paganism and bard folk numbers, it is more so worrying that they decided to sing in Russian about South American people, who knows they may be cursing? Even so considering 'Сотворение Мира' is the band's fourth major outing, the integrity of it's existence is considerably questionable; this is about the release in general that seems to at one point offer something different and on the other copy every other Doom Metal band wallowing in the snow-laden lands of the Russian Federation. Tenochtitlan's 'Сотворение Мира' may be a unique journey, but it's a bumpy one sadly. Download This: "Sokol I Zmej" [6] RHYS STEVENSON SKARTHIA 'Retaliate' If the NHS wasn't screwed, it is now. Tracing back all those whiplash cases has left doctors pointing at the same cause, the ground-cracking sound of Skarthia and their apocalyptic powerhouse 'Retaliate'. Spewing out a plethora of cosmic elements that merge together to form a musical combustion of melodic angelic vocals, murderous riffs, solid drumming sequences and gut wrenching male vocals. 'Retaliate' from start to finish unleashes a whitewash torrent of groove-laden melodic death metal that would make bands like Devildriver perk ears up. Skarthia may be relatively new on the block, but the sound is their own and with Bloodstock in their sights, there is no reason why they should not go through. The time has come for Skarthia to 'Retaliate' against the over produced 'core' scene in England, if you want cranial corrupting music and slit-throat vocals then Skarthia is for you, if you don't then you don't know true metal. Download This: "Drill" For Fans of: Devildriver, The Agonist, Lamb Of God, Machine Head. [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON NATHICANA '2012 Demo' London in the last year or so has renewed itself as a breeding ground for some top notch bands, joining this fresh wave of grit is Nathicana, a West London force that produces enough brutality to sink a thousand ships, let alone cause havoc for those traveling towards Uxbridge due to the sensational force exerted on the band's premier demo. The '2012 Demo' purges out a raw and bitter sound that eclipses the earliest days of Behemoth whilst adding an experimental stance to the formula, pretty much like a Subway where you put what you want on it and what you want is a delicious slice of extremity, with Nathicana you get that and much more. Make no mistake, Nathicana are a force to be reckoned with and as 2013 opens new doors, who knows what this band will do next. Download This: "Entity" [8] RHYS STEVENSON ABSKE FIDES 'Abske Fides' SOLITUDE PRODS Suicide is perhaps an understatement after hearing this offering by Brazil's Abske Fides, their self titled debut comes nine years after their formation and it most probably will take that time for listeners to regain their lives. Seriously, what is here is on one hand a decent effort but on the other hand a total calamity that could drive listeners to enjoy opera. Not much else can be said about this release except if you're looking for eccentric and outstanding Doom Metal, look elsewhere; ideally the underground because 'Abske Fides' is worse than the Black Plague. But if you're up for listening to music that can only be worse than listening to flatulence on low audio wave, then go right ahead. [3] RHYS STEVENSON ETERNAL HELCARAXE 'Against All Odds' ABYSS Marking their debut album release last year and tenth anniversary this year, Ireland's Eternal Helcaraxe show a thing or two with their thunderous sound found on 'Against All Odds', unrelenting Black Metal slices and bleeds the atmosphere as if torture was a passionate hobby, or at the very least the soundtrack to the wishful film Saw 8. 'Against All Odds' features eight songs that are authenticated to unleash a battering of convincing Black Metal, whilst inevitably justifying why Eternal Helcaraxe ride alongside bands like Cruachan as masters of True Irish Black Metal. Whilst not being as pronounce as one would have hoped for, the band outperform the expectations on level of brutality and 'Against All Odds' sum up a masterpiece that will power them forward even more. Download This: "We Assist Death" For Fans of: Cruachan, Winterfylleth, Hecate Enthroned [8] RHYS STEVENSON HI-GH
'Loud Frequences On Planet Jupiter' LA RIOT SURVIVOR Spunk usually is associated with the white, sticky stuff that Rammstein spurt out when rubbing their microphones on stage too much, however in Italy it refers to the music genre that HI-GH have dreamed up. Abbreviated for Speed Metal and Punk, the four-piece from Rome deliver justice on their debut demo 'Loud Frequences On Planet Jupiter' released last year. Furiously paced drums power the rest of the band forward at a hundred M.P.H, whilst the overall sound is raw and gritty the satisfaction is well out of reach. Sure it is a classic 'flip the bird' release aimed at politics and rioting, but the overall productiono is one left to be desired, but that is what makes it great. 'Loud Frequences On Planet Jupiter' and HI-GH do not conform to rules and instead smash out a sound that will make you soil your pants. Download This: "You're Going Down" For Fans of: The Sex Pistols, Motorhead, The Ramones, Judas Priest [7] RHYS STEVENSON HUMANGLED 'Odd Ethics' ABYSS Italian Death Metal veterans Humangled made light effort of crafting their next release from thin air, their 2012 EP 'Odd Ethics' spews more and more of the organic sound they made for themselves over the years and delivers a fistful of guttural gluttonous music that signals more is to come from this five-piece monstrosity. Lets face it, even a legendary goalkeeper like Gianluigi Buffon could not save himself from being mauled down by this Tuscany armada, and that's putting it mildly. The thing is, although the muffled sound that exists on this release may put some people off, the general feeling is one of celebration as the underground champions once again a divine release of sensational music. It may be 'Odd Ethics' that Humangled employ, but boy does it work. The moral is, resistance is futile, this is the face of Italian Death Metal and it is not leaving anytime soon. Download This: "Deny Your Creed" [7] RHYS STEVENSON NEBULOUS 'Destroy To Build to Destroy Again' With lashings of technical music here and there, it is without question that Nebulous are amongst the new wave of emerging French Metal bands. Armed with their latest EP 'Destroy To Build to Destroy Again' released in 2010, the sextet have enough panache and creativeness to blow the entire metro system apart. Fusing together a thunderous explosion of gritty Death Metal and a brutal slaying of Hardcore, 'Destroy To Build to Destroy Again' is a release that is sure to appeal to many, as much as this band pummels the human senses into a pathetic lump of aged matter. In fact, Nebulous have similar comparisons to bands like Noein and Quintessence of Versatility, these three French Metal bands may prove to be the French industrial revolution, a revolution built to overthrow the titans of Europe. As for the band's EP, there is much more to come and boy Europe better be ready, especially when signing off with the pingu tune on 'Faintness' Download This: "Faintness" [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON REPERIUM 'Deterioration' When bands mix different contrasting and complex elements into one sound that involves differences in tone, speed and brutality, the general results are dire and pathetic. Reperium defies that logic and amasses a style they can call their own and no one else owns this, this is heard on their latest track 'Deterioration'. Picture this, an ambient atmosphere behind djent / progressive musical elements and a blasting of Metalcore - cross - Deathcore on both the vocals and music. Complex eh? Reperium proves it isn't, in fact 'Deterioration' poses a threat on the over-saturated 'core' British scene, defying the rulebook and overused riffs, cliches, and elements that bands seem to cop onto these-days. Reperium are arming themselves to take this nation by storm, by watching the 'Deterioration' of the scene style of metalcore, may the true metalcore come back via this Liverpool armada. [8] RHYS STEVENSON RAJALLA 'Demo' Deep down in the frozen sewers of backstreet Helsinki a monster is born, that monster is Rajalla; a four-piece Thrash Metal machine. Armed with their debut demo, the Finnish group immerse the listener in the classic and modern style of the said genre whilst adding their own signature sound to it, that being singing in the Finnish language. So picture this, Evile or Holy Moses and adding to it the Finno-Ugrian language, this gives it a unique style and a more personal connection to the music, neck-savaging riffs cut open the titanium wall to allow a cascading sound of unrelenting blast-beats to pummel the atmosphere into total disrepair. To put it short and sweet, Rajalla are how modern Thrash Metal should be and to be quite frank, they are doing it their own way, and that is the spirit of Thrash Metal, breaking the rules. Download This: "Etsijä" [9] RHYS STEVENSON CHANGE OF LOYALTY 'Freethinker' SUBLIMINAL GROOVE Turn the clock back to 2011 and relive the moment St. Petersburg experience it's first ever earthquake, 6.66 on the Richter scale. The cause? A Teutonic, boulder-crunching explosion of progressive melodic metalcore unleashed by quintet Change of Loyalty. The Russian atomizers constructed their sophomore EP 'Freethinker' and unleashed it with such a force, the Kremlin had to evacuate for fears it would come crashing down because of the sheer immense force excruciating from the djent style riffs, merciless vocals and paralyzing drumming sequences, all of which equate to a audio wall blitz that takes similarities to bands like The Browning, Born of Osiris and Thy Art Is Murder. However, Change Of Loyalty have their own sound and after all are a unit that sums up as a genuine 'Freethinker'. If you thought you heard technically challenging Metalcore, think again. Download This: "The Last Word" [9] RHYS STEVENSON HEMORAGY 'The Thirst World War' France has generally lacked a surmountable power of having many metal bands breaking outside their own country, Hemoragy is a perfect example why. The underground offers a plethora of exciting talent and boundless energy, something this French trio muster and put to use on their fourth album 'The Thirst World War', however there is one notable downside, the repetition of riffs are overused on some songs and so it becomes recycled in less than thirty seconds. Overall 'The Thirst World War' has a tongue-in-cheek approach to the Heavy Thrash metal vernacular, that is the musical language of the said genre. Some music lovers will find it appealing, others may downtrodden it to the very core, but it still warrants a place in the metal scene as a decent effort. Download This: "Turning Into A Lush" [7] RHYS STEVENSON ARAPACIS 'Netherworld' RAVENHEART Turn back time to the year 2011 and experience the Canadian Hard Rock / Heavy Doom Metal ensemble Arapacis dropping their third album 'Netherworld', featuring more of the same beautiful crafted music experienced on their previous album 'Consequences of Dreams', Arapacis prove once again they practice what they preach. Wallowing in the depths of early Doom Metal bands like Black Sabbath and adding a Progressive element to it, resulting in a slow and percussive sound that is thicker than the thickest Canadian syrup ever found. In fact, 'Netherworld' summons a sound so original it is quite surprising why this lot have not exploded over Europe yet. The great thing about 'Netherworld' is that it appeals to a wide range of tastes, from the classic rocking tune of 'Crisis' to the melancholic and chilling sermon 'Lords of the Clouds', 'Netherworld' is a soundtrack of epic proportions. Download This: "The Affliction" [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON GHOST OF WAR 'Only Death Is Real' Forming the old guard of the Pennsylvanian Metal scene in the USA, veterans Ghost Of War emerge off the concrete streets of Gettysburg to unleash their majestic catalogue of sounds known as 'Only Death Is Real', their debut album is a sign that this band has a lot to offer. Offering a slice of power metal dashed with Heavy Metal grit is just the start of it for the band drives blistering paced drums to extreme speeds whilst the vocals fire lyrics out like a machine gun on automatic. As for the release in it's entirety, it's nothing new but it does not shun itself either, in fact 'Only Death Is Real' is a pleasurable listen to those who like their metal gritty, dirty and downright filthy. Sex, drugs and Ghost of War. Download This: "Absolute Nothing" [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON NOEIN 'Infection - Erasure - Replacement' LES ARTS BOURRINS It has come, the debut album by upcoming French band Noein. The Industrial Death / Modern Metal quintet serves up an explosive force that equates to the sheer power that an F5 tornado musters, whilst the music is a whole level more aggressive, faster and technical, there is no downside to this album, in fact they've developed rather dramatically since their premier EP 'The Initial Tale' dropped. Building up a more eerie atmosphere thanks to the intricate samples, cutting edge riffs, gut-wrenching vocals and a percussive beat that would get even the most hardened metal fans smashing faces in the inevitable mosh-pit. 'Infection - Erasure - Replacement' spits venom in every dimension, taking on board elements from Strapping Young Lad, Mnemic and Fear Factory, resulting in the scenario of it being apt to call Noein a French industrial revolution as they crank up a gear, electrify the ambiance and set themselves up with 'Infection - Erasure - Replacement' firmly grounded to take Europe by storm, if this was in book form it would be '1984' by George Orwell as this post-apocalyptic feeling of being suppressed with a revolution on the cards demolishes everything in its wake. Download This: "D-MOX" [9] RHYS STEVENSON CHASING IMMORTALITY
'New Blood' In the last year or so London has been a breeding ground once again for modern metal bands, first off The Defiled, then Despite My Deepest Fear and now the next wave led on by the mob known as Chasing Immortality. Fresh from the damp-ridden streets of North London, the lads have dropped their premier EP 'New Blood', perhaps a message to say they are the 'New Blood' of Technical Metalcore / Deathcore, a musical matrix that mauls any preconceived ideologies about this band being visually emo or similar. The Wall-cracking drumming infrastructure sets the tone for the guitars to shred shrapnel in the process of bleeding ears dry, whilst the merciless relenting anger channeled through the vocals are enough to make any hardcore kid cry for their mummy, or at the very least wish they'd had grown a pair of balls to match the testosterone coursing through this bands veins, that is the definition of 'New Blood'. Download This: "Her Lips May Poison" [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON ZARIA 'Sij Obzorja' Folk Metal towards Central and Eastern Europe generally takes on the form of being influenced by Slavic culture and sounds and Zaria are no exception, taking on their national cultural sound and lashing it to Folk Metal gives the debut EP 'Sij Obzorja' (Translates as "Glow Of The Horizon") its authentic and emotional attachment to the identity of the Slovene nationality. Sure the sextet Zaria from Medvode take no issues when producing this magnificent work of musical art, oddly enough the EP be somewhat likened to their fellow countrymen Aperion, although the latter is more Symphonic Metal. But for Zaria and 'Sij Obzorja' this is a huge step to gaining recognition outside of Slovenia and with the majestic elements one hears from this EP, that some how relates to music found in the Shire scenes of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, shall power the band on towards greater things in the future. Download This: "Njun Svet" [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON FRAILTY 'Melpomene' ARX PRODS. It was four years since the debut album by Frailty and now the Latvian Death Metal / Doom Metal sextet make their welcomed return once again with their latest album 'Melpomene', kicking off with some harsh bitter vocals that set the tone for the rest of the band to follow by and in doing so they create a darkened bleak atmosphere that would send chills down anyone's spine. 'Melpomene' keeps the listener occupied with the average song length being around the 7 minute to 8 minute mark, however the breadth of the release is sensational, for once Frailty are now on the rightful track to shed their music over the European lands and with 'Melpomene' firmly in the forefront, there is nothing to stop this megalithic monster from reaching the metal masses. Download This: "Cold Sky" [8] RHYS STEVENSON DERELICT 'Perpetuation' Taking into account a complex algorithm of matrices is never easy, especially in the musical context of piecing technically laden Death Metal with a myriad of differentiating influences from song to song, such an example is Derelict of whom last year melted faces with their third onslaught of mathematical death metal. 'Perpetuation' delivers a non-stop rally of face-punching music that would make any professional boxer look like a soft lad dancing around in the ring wearing a tutu and lashings of pink. So what does Derelict take to make 'Perpetuation' thee album from which the European labels should sniff at? Simple, Strapping Young Lad, DevilDriver, Neuraxis and Beneath the Massacre at a premium, however they brandish their own unique style on the complex music genre and as a result are primed to obliterate any pathetic excuse to why they are not simply Canada's latest and greatest modern metal export. Download This: "Spoils Of War" [10] RHYS STEVENSON ABYSSUS 'Monarch To The Kingdom Of The Dead' 2012 saw the premier release of 'Monarch To The Kingdom Of The Dead' take flight, it is the debut EP by Greek Death Metal mob and sad to say is not an all thumbs up release either, the riffs deliver a sharp and composite approach which, alongside the drums, acts as a force that even Golden Dawn could not comprehend, however the let down is the vocals as they are not well executed and need more growling to be inserted, in fact they are so bad the Ancient Greeks would not be impressed by the power exerted here and so the EP loses much of its luster. On a plus note, the music is original and for those Death Metal fans, it may well be a good listen, but for the benefit of the doubt it is questionable. Download This: "Left To Suffer" [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON RELICSEED 'Upcoming Second Studio Album Promo EP' Heavy Industrial Thrashers Relicseed unveil their magical works to come via a promo EP for their upcoming album out in Autumn. What fans can expect is blistering paced drumming, industrial funk and heavy vocals, all of which when together create a wall of sound that would blast any hole in any speaker that the music comes into contact with. With influences ranging from Metallica, Machine Head, Slipknot and Rammstein, listeners can expect a whole selection of different song structures and musical sounds whilst the Latvian four-piece retain that signature sound they have created over the years, and that's just the promo EP! Bring on number 2! [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON THE SUMMA IN VERSE 'When In Limbo' Trance Metalcore seems to be a hit or miss genre, you either get it nailed on sounding right or end up like another Asking Alexandria clone, but down in the underground streets of Bristol a project (hoping to be a band) is born under the moniker of The Summa In Verse. Putting together the electic elements of Hard Trance with some elaborate synthesizers cutting through the electromagnetic surge that courses through each track and then bolting clean and harsh vocals to the mix, this is some cutting edge stuff. 'When In Limbo' is what it says, in limbo between the electronic-sphere and the metalcore legion and what separates this project from the crowd is the unique layering going on, such a winning formula should garner this young musician some attention in the times ahead, in the near future. Download This: "Into The Inferno" [8] RHYS STEVENSON SILVERCAST 'Chaos Engines' For those who love their Gothic Metal full of power, bouncy elements and emotional connectivity, then Silvercast's 'Chaos Engines' is for you, unleashed by the Russian quintet the debut album has a number of exciting elements to it from the technical parts in the song 'Mechanical Heart' to the soft elegance experienced on 'В Лабиринте', sure the latter is in Russian but the album itself is a mixture of the Russian and English language, so one can expect the album to be culturally diverse. Even so, the keyboards add a calming feel to the aggressive drumming sequences and the savage swift riff production, all in all 'Chaos Engines' is a well crafted musical piece that should aspire many in St Petersburg to follow suit. Download This: "The Name Of Chaos" [8] RHYS STEVENSON SYSTEM OVERTHROW 'System Overthrow' Well the truth is you're not meant to be disappointed at the first part of a release, but sadly this is the case for System Overthrow's debut self-titled demo. The instantaneous negativity that smacks you in the face is the inescapable realization that the volume quality is merely abysmal, if you krank the volume up more you can hear a band that fashions the classic frenzy known as Thrash Metal and produces a well worked recording, but with that the consensus is that this is basic Thrash Metal with no real deviation from the plethora that swamps the metal music community of modern times, maybe System Overthrow will get better on their next release, but for now there is room for improvement. [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON NORTHERION 'Silent Screams' Here again just another generic Melodic Heavy Metal band, Northerion made their mark last year by releasing their debut album 'Silent Screams' and what is featured on this album is ideally no keyboard elements just bog standard Heavy Metal with melodies circulating the standard instruments themselves, leaving somewhat a disappointing feeling. Perhaps if German beer was a little stronger, so would the music be, but on the other hand it cannot be decried as a total flop because the music itself is knit tightly so that any attempt to crush the music before fully dissecting it would be a mission impossible. What is possible though is for this band to seriously consider restructuring their sound to make it what it says it is. Download This: "Out Of The Light" [7] RHYS STEVENSON RAW ENSEMBLE
'Jesus Is Back.... And He Is Fucking Angry' 2012 gave birth to a new German Thrash Metal release, 'Jesus Is Back.... And He Is Fucking Angry' by quartet Raw Ensemble. What pursues next is a colossal explosion of gnarly vocals and the signature Teutonic Thrash Metal caricature, with that in mind the band opt for a more religious and evil approach rather than the political stance some Thrashers adopt. They call their music 'Blasting Thrash Metal' and they aren't half wrong, fueled by unrelenting percussion and bulldozing riffs that would make your generic headbanging style look like a pansies dance. Infectious and insanely fast is what this mob have aimed for and successfully delivered, so expect similarities with bands like Slayer and the whole 80's Thrash Metal era. Download This: "Jesus Is Back..." [8] RHYS STEVENSON CRY HAVOC 'New Life' UNSIGNED If Cry Havoc got anymore brutal then health and safety might put a restraining order on Exeter's thrash 'n' roll merchants, the debut EP 'New Life' explodes into life at every second and mashes up the evident traces of Pantera and Guns 'N' Roses into one concrete sound, rocking out of the starting blocks like no tomorrow. The killer riffs that reside on this release are sharp enough to cut your throat, so careful listening is of utmost importance. But whilst the vocals and music do the slaying, the only three elements that are missing from this sensational EP are the crates of beer, the hot girls and of course the record label, here's hoping they come out of the corners to stand up to Exeter's finest new band and one of 2013's hottest properties. Download This: "Ignition" For fans of: Guns 'N' Roses, Pantera, Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet For My Valentine 'New Life' is out Monday 15th April 2013 [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON GBS (GRAND BEAST SODOMY) 'Fuck The Holy Trinity' SALUTE / WOLFSVUUR The debut EP only comes 11 or so years since the bands inception, going by the title 'Fuck The Holy Trinity' is not for the devout religious followers, instead what unravels here is a smothering of Finnish Satanic Black Metal, the cusp of demonic attributes soon explodes in the vibrant sounds of true black metal. As for The GBS (Grand Beast Sodomy), the wait for the debut EP was pretty much worth it, sure there were three demos prior to the release, but the overall production and reception of this release is one of gratitude and disappointment, the musical compositions are fine, the only problem is that they are more Death Metal than Black Metal vocals, somehow Satanic Death Metal just does not seem to fit. Download This: "Tekopyhä Kolminaisuu" [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON NYA 'Driving The Nails In' 2012 brought many things, the summer Olympics, the Queen's 60th anniversary, but amongst this was the dropping of Nya's debut EP 'Driving The Nails In', what comes now is an explosive concoction of Evanescence style rock and boisterous Meshuggah time riffs, armed with vocals that would tease any guy out of hibernation, 'Driving The Nails In' is the new sound of London alternative music. As soon as the music starts playing, the slicing riffs do the talking as the band battle their way through the grassed over underground and prepare to deliver an all out assault in 2013 as they are sure to turn heads in months to come. Download This: "Open Your Eyes" [8] RHYS STEVENSON VIATORA 'Mede, Kruid en Mensenvleesch' In recent times there seems to be a mass influx of Folk Metal in western continental Europe, especially from the Netherlands, the latest is Viatora who hail from Maastricht and utilise their own style of Folk Metal by mixing violins and keyboards with the Dutch language, so if you like a modern version of Heidevolk, just with less Pagan Metal influences and more connected to original Dutch folk music. 'Mede, Kruid en Mensenvleesch' contains six tracks of sensational traditional sounds and elements that onyl Viatora can compose together, so if your looking for a soundtrack to a folklore party or event, 'Mede, Kruid en Mensenvleesch' is your answer. Download This: "Three Sided Coin" [9] RHYS STEVENSON CRIMSON DEATH 'Dead's The Way I Like It' UNSIGNED Germany seems to have a knack for Death Metal, and the 2010 EP 'Dead's The Way I Like It' by Crimson Death is no exception, conjuring up the old style of the music genre and adding their own twist to it, what comes next is a barrage of mortar fire in the form of missile riffs, machine-gun fire style drums and commanding vocals, the right sort of mix to make the debut EP by the German quartet all the more better. 'Dead's The Way I Like It' is a good propulsion platform for the lads to jump off and use as a block to gain higher levels, they will need it to emerge out of the plethora of Death Metal band waltzing the earth everyday. Download This: "Show Me Your Guts" [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON CORONACH 'Mountain Kings' Instantaneous thoughts are of that this band is a Black / Folk Metal band, but Coronach are ever so deceiving, instead what is delivered on their self-released album 'Mountain Kings' is a juicy mix of Death Metal vocals and Progressive Metal music, giving a final production along the lines of Gojira and Agonyst, but for the Cambridge / Suffolk based quartet, 'Mountain Kings' provides enough headbanging material to make the breakdowns of a metalcore band sound reminiscent of a chorus from a Justin Bieber song. What these lads have done is created an album that spits fire, warrants recognition and is a gem in any metalheads collection, however the production level let it down, on the other hand it gives you reason to turn the volume up past 13. Download This: "Death Bed Memories" [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON NAZGULUM 'Aroused' DETE NENAVISTER Maybe Russian Black Metal is on a period of going overtime, not especially when the quartet Nazgulum dropped their debut album after a nine year wait, but god the wait was worth it. 'Aroused' slams out the classic style of Raw Black Metal with added effect in as far as there is not a lot of double bass drumming and so what lacks on firepower from the behind is made up in terms of atmospheric feeling, that being sombre and enigmatically dark at the same time. But as far as their anti-christian blasphemous musical production is concerned, the band overall seem to have and have not any clue of what musical direction they want to take, maybe that's why its called 'Aroused', 'Aroused' by the myriad of non-connecting music directions. [6] RHYS STEVENSON DEVIOUS MINE 'Revelation' UNSIGNED Making their mark heard is Italian Melodic / Power Metal warriors Devious Mine as in 2012 they deliver their debut EP 'Revelation' in sensational form, exploding in the sound of powerful and face-smashing music whilst the vocals encase the surrounding atmosphere in a blanket of sheer epic force. More like the modern Sonata Arctica, Devious Mine are to become a force to be reckoned with as they slalom there way through the underground and with 'Revelation' now under their belts and primed for action, there is nothing to stop these Italian maestros from conquering Europe, 'Revelation' is a must have for any Power Metal fan, simply inspirational. Download This: "Love Keep Us Together" For fans of: Sonata Arctica, Alestorm, Amoral [9] RHYS STEVENSON MOSHPIT JUSTICE 'The Serpent' UNSIGNED The band name itself is a key hint to suggest this is going to be neck-breaking music, turns it the hunch was right, the Bulgarian trio make no mistake in vomiting out their debut EP in fashionable style, covered in the glimmering shine of Power Metal and the viral assault of Thrash Metal, that together produces 'The Serpent', a full on metal assault that would make Slytherin house look as dainty as the muffin man on drury lane. Blistering pace drumming propels the EP forward whilst the vocals and guitars deliver that all important cutting edge dimension that makes 'The Serpent' perhaps one of Bulgaria's most polished releases, all in all Moshpit Justice are going places in 2013. Download This: "Blood Of The Tyrant" For Fans of: Slayer, Klynt, Evile [8] RHYS STEVENSON RADIATION SICKNESS
'Neter-Khertet' They don't make cult releases like this anymore, and no wonder. If the word diabolical was to be slapped on a Black metal release, some would assume it is correlated to Satyricon for being now, diabolical. But Californian duo Radiation Sickness (possibly after nuclear fallout) and their debut EP 'Neter-Khertet' may be a little cause for concern, simply being that although it has the embodiment of a Black Metal release, the overall sound is a little problematic, besides the great level of rawness that resides here, the music and vocals are left to be desired, rather more leaning towards Death Metal, but even that would be an insult towards the music genre. The level of seriousness here is not in questionable doubt, but the composition is in serious doubt. [5] RHYS STEVENSON |
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