OVERHATED 'Into The Plague' INDEPENDENT Fresh off the beaches in the Dominican Republic is Death / Thrash horde Overhated with their premier EP 'Into The Plague' released last year. Some would expect to hear raw and low recording quality, whether you agree or not with that sentiment the organic sound mastered by this quintet is paramount to their scenes steady but growing metal scene. Granted it is nothing new and whilst originality prevails here and there on certain songs, the overall feeling is one of justifiable gratitude. It's an EP that should be taken seriously however not too much as to acknowledge that it is not an effort that warrants a label signing. However as blistering as the heat is out there, it is matched equally by the music of which constitutes bellowing vocals, gritty riffs and thunderous drumming. Hark the coming of age for the Dominican Republic Metal scene. Download This: "Into The Plague" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Gojira, Darkane, Hatesphere [8] RHYS STEVENSON DEADPOINT 'The Art Of Deception' INDEPENDENT Could Deadpoint prove to become Poland's long awaited answer to Lamb of God? You would think so. With the quintet's scintillating debut album 'The Art Of Deception' racking up some serious grooves and uncompromising brutality, you would need a damn good alibi to cover your reason for ignoring this album, in fact it would be criminal to turn a blind eye to said release and band. Already creating a buzz in their homeland, it is only a matter of time before Deadpoint arrive on your doorstep ready to blow the roof off of your local venue. 'The Art Of Deception' ironically sums up the album as a whole, at first you think it's another run-of-the-mill funked-up metalcore release, but when it kicks in you will suffer so much whiplash you would wish you had taken out medical insurance prior to listening to this musical apocalypse. Download This: "Lapidus" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Lamb Of God, Machine Head, Asking Alexandria [8] RHYS STEVENSON DEAD END 'Dead End' INDEPENDENT At first 'Dead End' seems to be heading to become just another average Heavy / Thrash Metal release, but it takes time for the real deal to kick in. 3 songs in and you're thinking more optimistically for the release, it is this slow wait for anything convincing to happen that hampers the EP as a whole. When it does pick up the pace, 'Dead End' is an EP that should be viewed with interest as it has promise among the pitfalls, sure first releases are not always the best, but there is enough potential riding on this EP that should enable the band Dead End to deliver a better follow-up release. Swiss Metal has suffered a slight setback in recent times and whilst bands like Dead End try to reinvigorate it, with this effort it is clear we might have to wait slightly longer for something magical to arise. Download This: "One Of Them" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Evile, Metallica, Gama Bomb [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON BELHAVEN 'Sage Of Hope' INDEPENDENT Poland's love affair with Symphonic Metal continues as the latest army to join the ranks emerges from the shadows, Belhaven are here with their premier EP 'Sage Of Hope' and they aim to reap your soul. Expect soaring harmonics combine with elegant vocals and be mashed together with eccentric music elements, sure it's near enough the same working formula devised for most Symphonic Metal bands nay releases, but it works. 'Sage Of Hope' is a delightful listen for those who are adventurous enough to try something new and will certainly provide Belhaven a starting point to build a career upon. Whether they took their name from a Scottish village remains a question needing answering, but the answer to whether they will be popular and successful is clear, keep up this effort and they will reach that point with ease. Download This: "Nightguide" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Within Temptation, UnSun, Amberian Dawn [8] RHYS STEVENSON STORMWOLF 'Swordwind' INDEPENDENT Modern Heavy Metallers Stormwolf kick off their career with a bang, by formulating a set of winning songs to slot into their debut album 'Swordwind', the Italian quartet deliver a romping stomp across various pitches, tunes and sounds. Majestic with every song, 'Swordwind' comes into its own with flirtatious riffs, riotous vocals and emphatically insane drumming. You get the feeling that Stormwolf are set to breathe life into a volatile yet over-populated metal genre, well by bolting melodic and Gothic metal influences onto the heavy metal sound, they have certainly got their eyes set on the future. 'Swordwind' is a treasure to behold, with some songs sounding as if they came from the soundtracks of 'Pirates Of The Caribbean' e.g. 'Marathon' (2:28-2:40) and 'Lord Of The Rings' e.g. 'Thasaidon', overall the sound is magical, it's sexy and most of all it's clearly done with creativity in mind. Let the Stormwolf roam across planet metal freely. Download This: "Marathon" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Kobra & The Lotus, Sister Sin, Iron Maiden [8] RHYS STEVENSON LE GÉNITEUR 'Les Pantins Du Péché' INDEPENDENT 'Les Pantins Du Péché' (trans: 'The Sin Of Puppets') is the debut EP of French Death / Thrash newbies Le Géniteur (trans: The Progenitor) and whilst you might hope for something spectacular, you will be left slightly disappointed. Irrespective of the language differences, the power is not there and it at times loses focus, that is, there is no clear direction as to where it is actually going. You know, you might find more entertainment and solitude in watching paint dry, ironically bide your time and there are some glimmers of hope that the band know what they are doing (but you have to wait till the fourth track). So whilst 'Les Pantins Du Péché' may do well in the local and regional scene in France, it lacks that potential ability to make a European if not national name for itself. There is far too much emphasis on the guitar riffs, very little composition from the drums and the vocals are too muffled, other than that good job. Download This: "Extremum" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Machine Head, Deathchain, Possessed [6] RHYS STEVENSON NAWATHER 'Wasted Years' M & O MUSIC Making your feelings and emotions heard is not always easy, but perk up your ears and hear the sounds of traditional Middle Eastern folk music collide head on with Progressive Metal and immerse yourself in the world of Nawather, Tunisia's latest export. Hot on the heels of fellow countrymen Myrath, Nawather take a unique root through the combining the vocals of Tunisian Raouf J Occulta and Omani Ryma Nakkach together. Perfect for Arabian nights, Nawather's 'Wasted Years' gives itself as a huge testament to Tunisia's flourishing metal scene. Some might argue that the 'Oriental Metal' movement is too narrow and that they sound too alike to Myrath, but this simply is not the case. Aside from the fact they sing in both English and Arabic, Nawather have their own sound envisioned and they will realize this with ease. Watch this group with utmost interest. Download This: "Daret Layyem (دارت الايام)" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Orphaned Land, Myrath, Sand Aura [8] RHYS STEVENSON ESHTADUR 'Oblivion' REBELSIGN Not letting go of their ascent to international recognition, Colombia's rampaging horde Eshtadur delivered their first EP and with it comes another horrific slab of Melodic-infused Black / Death Metal. You know to think that Colombia alone is infatuated with Extreme Metal, becomes immediately apparent when you have the likes of Eshtadur who unleash such an accentuating and distinguishable sound that sets them apart from their influential peers. Unrelentingly fast, uncompromising at it's best and without a doubt mind-blowing at it's absolute peek, 'Oblivion' is a truly magnificent release that proves Eshtadur have what it takes to raid Europe and then some. Unpredictable throughout the EP, there are twists and turns at every second, thus giving the EP a unique feel to it, one that demands your attention. If you don't check this EP out, you are no fan of Extreme Metal. Fact. Download This: "Heavens To The Ground" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Ihsahn, At The Gates, Behemoth [8] RHYS STEVENSON STORM 'Medusa' TIN IDOL PRODS. Following up from their promising start, Hawaii's premier Gothic Metal band Storm make no mistakes in unleashing another sensational album. 'Medusa' devotes itself as a conceptual album about the ancient creature spoken of in Ancient Greek mythology. With Eric Barker taking over keyboard duties, Storm found the missing piece that they lacked on ' Storm's a Brewin' ', giving greater atmosphere and prominent presence. By ingeniously mixing together storytelling with metal music, the Hawaiian horde manage to bring a new dimension to the metal music world, in fact Storm deserve all that comes their way in 2016 because with this effort, they will place Hawaii on the map just as 36 Crazyfists did for Alaska. 'Medusa' is essentially a Gothic / Power Metal album that opens and frees the mind from the shackles of the ever-narrowing corridor of Gothic Metal adventurism. Download This: "The Curse" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Within Temptation, Pythia, Seraphim, Epica [9] RHYS STEVENSON ACID FORCE
'Towards The Nuclear Load' INDEPENDENT Punk n' Thrash is not exactly a new concept having buried it's roots over the years, but it still lives on with fresh and exciting band emerging to lead it on. One such band is Slovakian quartet Acid Force whose premier EP 'Towards The Nuclear Load' dwells within the Old-School Thrash Metal era with Punk influences in-tow. Whilst yes it is nothing new it certainly does the rounds and features a host of songs designed to get a mosh-pit started without prior warning. Sadly it does not carry the warrant of immediate appraisal nor does it do the band injustice, 'Towards The Nuclear Load' despite it being a decent Thrash EP just does not cut it completely. At times it desperately tries to avoid being 'Slayer-like' and whilst it does this, it ironically does fall into that trap at certain sections, leaving the EP in a questionable state. Download This: "Ammunition" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Slayer, Nuclear Assault, Anthrax [7] RHYS STEVENSON
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LYNCHPIN 'God Complex' INDEPENDENT It might well be presumptuous to call Lynchpin leaders of the Caribbean Metal scene, but they certainly are strong enough to carry the scene forward. Hailing from Trinidad & Tobago, this Progressive Death unit wager themselves against fate as their latest effort 'God Complex' catapults them into the limelight with their recent announcement of them competing for a slot at Wacken Open Air 2016. Far from your glitzy tech-laden European Progressive Metal style, Lynchpin opt for a more practical approach and instead join allegiance with the likes of Gojira, Opeth and Machine Head. 'God Complex' gives Lynchpin some hope at cementing their place at Wacken, but for now they stand tall as unarguably the finest Trinidadian music export the Caribbean island nation has ever seen. If you love your Gojira, you'll love Lynchpin hands down. Download This: "Softest Floor" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Gojira, Machine Head, Opeth [8] RHYS STEVENSON PYRAWEED 'Inside Green Chaos (live @ Le Chateau)' INDEPENDENT What makes a live album decent depends on two things, how clear is the music and how organic the recording is. It needs to be clear but not too much in order to avoid being accused of being 'refined', on the other hand it needs clarity to avoid it becoming trashy and not organic. Pyraweed's debut live album certainly carries the hallmarks of a D.I.Y live album, you know it's as if you were in the crowded-out Le Chateau rock bar. Never letting a note go awry, Azerbaijan's Pyraweed deliver a delicious slab of live Sludge / Stoner Metal that would appeal to any fan of the said genres. With thick bass elements holding up the gritty riffs and angry vocals, this is a live album to savor. Given the relatively small but ever-strengthening Azerbaijani Metal scene, Pyraweed certainly know how to deliver a rather sensational live performance, even if it's recorded. Download This: "Green Bullet" - Click here to listen For Fans of: The Melvins, Baroness, Kylesa [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON MA'ANISH 'Under The Fig Tree' INDEPENDENT 'Under The Fig Tree', the band dub it Technical Progressive Death Metal, we call it 'Experimental Death Metal'. There are a ton of genres going on here and to think that you can headbang to the beat would be a generous overstatement. Despite the inability to keep to time, the album does however reward its listeners with over forty minutes of Tech / Progressive slapped Death Metal that would please anyone who dares listen to it. There's the slow and progressive "Let It Burn" and then there's the absolutely crazy and mindbogglingly fast "Revolution \ Evolution", both evidently offering a wider choice than at first conceived when going through the album. Whilst this is a solid and decent effort, it will require a tad more effort and greater accuracy when experimenting to establish a name well and truly outside of Israel, the Middle East and perhaps Eastern Europe. Download This: "Revolution \ Evolution" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Periphery, early-Sepultura, Testament [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON THE ORDER OF ELIJAH 'War At Heart' LUXOR When Metalcore reached it's peak it became harder for bands to evade the generic over-cliche sound of riffs and breakdowns romancing each other, then came Motionless In White with their Gothic-tinged outlook and now it's The Order Of Elijah's turn. Who'd have thought that mixing Technical Metal and elements of Melodic Metal would conjure up what you could theoretically call 'Experimenticore'? Because let's face it with the sudden shift in riff pace and sound, coupled with the brutality of the rampaging vocals, and the drums providing the final smacking, you would automatically admit that the latest effort by this Missouri machine has stapled itself to the very hear of 'Experimental Metal'. Make of it as you wish, 'War At Heart' is one album to be taken seriously as it demands utmost attention. Deathcore has Whitechapel, but Metalcore now has The Order Of Elijah. Download This: "God's Unwanted Children" For Fans of: Whitechapel, Born Of Osiris, The Browning 'War At Heart' is out now via Luxor Records [8] RHYS STEVENSON DENIGRATE 'Hollowpoint' INDEPENDENT Possibly considered as a one-off release, 'Hollowpoint' certainly stirs up the emotions as the melancholic and emphatic sounds caress your soul and mind with every passing second. Making a comeback is never easy, but given the strength of the album Denigrate certainly seem to have a lot more to give to the Finnish Gothic Metal movement. Whilst perhaps not as dark or hallowing as fellow countrymen HIM, Poisonblack or the late Vanguard, Denigrate don't lay a finger wrong on this album and as a result unleash a record to be proud of. With harmonic vocals leading the charge and the musical elements providing a solidified atmosphere, this is an album that deserves a nod or two. Twelve years have passed since their debut, and yet they manage to whip out a delicious release, what more can you ask from the quartet? Download This: "My Corrupted Soul" For Fans of: Poisonblack, The 69 Eyes, Paradise Lost [8] RHYS STEVENSON ELIZIUM 'Elysium' STF It's sad to see that sometimes, bands do not know when exactly it is their time to pack up their instruments and disband. Despite the effort demonstrated on 'Elysium', the album as a whole does not make the cut, it fails to ignite any interest and instead gives itself a bad name as a supposed 'Gothic / Doom Metal' release. For the Dutch band Elizium, this is quite detrimental to their lengthy career but it seems as if the curtains are ready to be drawn to a close. Quite frankly you could easily fall asleep to this release and not regret missing a bit, again the effort is there but without the rousing ability to make jaws drop, this album will just fall to the wayside as a pitiful waste. 'Elysium' may well appeal to the hardened Gothic Doom contingent, but for the average metalhead it's just another yawn away from boredom. Download This: "Elysium" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Draconian, Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride [5] RHYS STEVENSON HORDAK 'Padre' CASUS BELLI MUSICA 'Celtiberian Pagan Metal' has officially become a new form of Folk Metal, well given it's pioneers appear to be one of few bands who actually could use the term, it seems apt then for Hordak to adopt it. The Spanish contingent return to deliver their next installment in their career with the raucous sounds of 'Padre' at the forefront. Album number four, 'Padre' stamps its authority with a convincing sound, it's raw infectious elements gnaw at your ears with the savage bite begging for your anticipation. With the vocals as gritty and grueling as they are, it only makes sense that the music be as bleak and hostile as the Celtiberian and Roman conflicts. 'Padre' is a well-made Pagan Metal and will certainly give Hordak a boost across the European landscape. Good job they made their own genre, because that is the best way to describe them. Download This: "Soaring" For Fans of: Arkona, Heidevolk, Celtiberian (of course) [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON ARCANE SYMPHONY 'A New Day Begins...' INDEPENDENT Symphonic Metal with female vocals is always a godsend and Arcane Symphony are no exception, the Russian quintet muster together a sound that is just as powerful as Anna Volodina's vocals are angelic. 'A New Day Begins...' is the band's debut album and it heralds praise from the moment you kick off the first song, brimming full of elegance, power and eroticism, Arcane Symphony have it all sussed out. With the atmospherics as cold as a Siberian winter, guitars as savage as aged vodka and vocals as majestic as the Moscow State Circus, it would be stupid to knock off this lot as just another Female-fronted Symphonic act. Open up the heavens, let the rain pour and enjoy what this quintet have conjured up. Arcane Symphony are a band to watch in 2016, they will be knocking at your door with their infectious sounds. Download This: "A New Day Begins" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Tarja-era Nightwish, Lanewin, Within Temptation [9] RHYS STEVENSON SHOW ME WOLVES 'The World They Took Over' FALSE BEING PRODS. If you didn't feel dazed and confused before listening to this release, you probably will be once you're finished. Creating some rather freakishly eerie sounds and instating a spine-chilling atmosphere is what Show Me Wolves clearly intended to do on their second offering 'The World They Took Over'. Masterminded by Icelander Hörður Lúðvíksson, the evident wafting in and out of Progressive, Black and Avant-Garde Metal seems all too paramount when summing up the album, but it has been done in such a way that you cannot begin to comprehend how Hörður Lúðvíksson conjured up the music ideas in the first place. By drifting from slow atmospherics and gritty vocals to fast, sometimes Metalcore-like and progressive-laden sounds, 'The World They Took Over' is a treasure to behold, the magic is there all right, just let it in. Download This: "Mother" For Fans of: She Must Burn, Ne Obliviscaris, Ihsahn 'The World They Took Over' is out 16th January via False Being Productions. [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON MARIO TURIS
'Luminance' INDEPENDENT Space Metal is a relatively new conceptual genre, even though it can bounce off of the likes of Modern Metal and Cyber Metal it has a distinctive element to it. Take for example the premier EP by Slovakian instrumentalist Mario Turis, 'Luminance' lashes together elements of Progressive Metal and Symphonic Metal to develop a sound that demands its own unique recognition. It's all you could wish for from an agile release, it's fast, heavy and flashy, yet it lacks vocals with could hinder it somewhat. However Mario's tenacity towards creating a sound so technically simple has enabled the EP to escape any considerable comparison against other bands indeed releases, so if you're thinking of wanting a space-like feel to any game or film soundtrack, forget the Hollywood catalog and go for a musical-genius-in-development as Mario Turis will certainly make a name for himself given this effort. Download This: "Stardustborn" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Cypher16, Dol Ammad, The Kovenant [7] RHYS STEVENSON AKVAN 'آتش زاده' INDEPENDENT Throughout the rich and turbulent times found within the Iranian metal scene, the country's Black Metal contingent have never shied away from delivering releases of extreme quality and exotic beauty. The latest to join the allegiance is one-man project Akvan; fronted by Lord Vizaresa, who has just released his debut EP 'آتش زاده' (which roughly translates as 'Birth Of Fire') and culminates a dark, depressing yet purposeful sound. Wallowing in the darkest Black Metal sounds, 'آتش زاده' takes listeners on a historic journey through Ancient Persia and the lands of the Aryans. With an atmosphere that matches the traditional and elegant sounds of Iranian / Middle Eastern folk music, 'آتش زاده' is a real testament to the emergence of Iranian Black Metal as a global phenomena. Download This: "Iran, Land Ov The Aryans" (Click here to listen) For Fans of: Aras, Darkthrone, "Historical Metal" [8] RHYS STEVENSON TRISTANA 'Virtual Crime' BAKERTEAM Wired up to the electrical surge of thunderous riffs, electrical atmospherics, cryptic vocals and melodious keyboard elements, Tristana's third album 'Virtual Crime' takes their newer Groove / Alternative Metal sound and upgrades it with a new found sense of excitement. 'Virtual Crime' is one of those releases that demands an eclectic taste to like, sure it falls slightly short of being called Modern Metal (if some synths or industrial elements were added, this would have been a groundbreaking release), but it does offer something remarkable in return and that is a solid 40 minute explosion of pure Slovakian Metal music mayhem. Whether this is the band's best album to date is open for debate, but for now it can be positioned as a contender for Slovakian Metal release of the year despite it's subtle flaws. Watch with interest. Download This: "Fallen" (Click here to listen to and watch the music video) For Fans of: Dagoba, Sepultura, Bon Jovi [8] RHYS STEVENSON IRREVERSIBLE MECHANISM 'Infinite Fields' BLOOD MUSIC Music is unpredictable at the best of times, so when Belarusian duo get snapped up by Blood Music on the brink of their debut album release, there was obviously something magical about this duo and boy were they right. Unleashing a torrential battering of Progressive Death Metal, 'Infinite Fields' places Irreversible Mechanism on the map, and with it comes by far the most impressive Belarusian Metal release since the scenes inception. Just like War of the Worlds, V For Vendetta and the Orwellian novel 1984, 'Infinite Fields' guides listeners through a post-apocalyptic world full of dystopian ideologies, advanced technologies and natural cybernetic atmospherics. Now if there is one album that was calculated so precisely, so much so any form of erratic equation becomes eradicated as a result, it would have to be 'Infinite Fields'. This album, is the album to slam any predecessors in the technically-minded Progressive Death Metal arena and make them listen, listen to the noise coming from Eastern Europe, a noise that will give this band glorified international attention. Download This: "The Betrayer Of Time" (Click here to listen) For Fans of: Becoming The Archetype, Gorod, Obscura [9] RHYS STEVENSON DESERT 'Never Regret' RAVEN MUSIC Israel-based Power Metal outfit Desert make their welcomed return with their second album 'Never Regret'. Bringing to the table once again their fantasy-laden hooks, eloquent vocals and Middle Eastern flavorsome vibes. When you think about it, Middle Eastern Power Metal is not highly prevalent and so when Desert emerges with another offering, it's as if a once-every-1000 years opportunity has arisen. With the keyboards providing a taste of traditional influences and the vocals leading the charge with a smothering of Russian influence; developing a unique cultural clash. 'Never Regret' may not be the perfect Power Metal album in existence, indeed at times it leaves listeners stuck on the 'will there be a song different to the last' moment, it does however validate Desert as a unique unit in their own right, question is how long will it take for their own take on said music genre to be recognized further afield. Download This: "The Wolf's Attack" (Click here to listen) For Fans of: Orphaned Land, Iced Earth, Hammerfall [7] RHYS STEVENSON TERRA 'Untitled' HIBERNACULA Well if you ever get time to pass and want to check out something bizarre yet extreme, then Terra's debut album 'Untitled' should be on your hit list. Granted with only 3 tracks totaling up a grand time of 41 minutes, the ferocity and animosity explored and demonstrated is unmistakably valiant. This three-piece Cambridge horde muster up a sound that represents the true values of Atmospheric Black Metal in the veins of Winterfylleth and the like. Created by veterans of bygone years, Terra is an exciting addition to the resurgence of British Black Metal and will ultimately add to the plethora of BM bands across the lands. For seasoned Black Metal addicts, this is the crème de la crème, but for newcomers it might come across as rather bewildering, additionally this would most appeal to the lovers of rawer Black Metal in contrast to the more commercially appealing Borgir-esque and Cradle-esque sound. Download This: " I " (Click here to listen) For Fans of: Winterfylleth, Wolves In The Throne Room, Northern Oak [8] RHYS STEVENSON NEPENTE 'I Will Get Your Soul' CIMMERIAN SHADE South American metalheads tend to have an unstoppable addiction towards extreme metal, it's like as if the vast production of cocaine became eradicated and metal music has taken it's place. Welcoming to the forefront of the Black / Death Metal style is Colombian battalion Nepente with their second EP 'I Will Get Your Soul' and with it comes a thunderous explosion of acidic vocals, mauling riffs and bone-crunching drumming. Let's face it Nepente are set to take the Colombian Metal scene to greater heights with their new offering 'I Will Get Your Soul' and for those brave enough to check it out, you will not be disappointed. With every second comes a mauling explosion of chaos and fury neatly packaged in this unforgiving EP, if Nepente keep this sound going they will be sure to perform in Europe next year. Download This: "Show Me That You Are Suffering" - Click here to listen. For Fans of: "Old School Death / Black Metal", Impiety, Infernal War [8] RHYS STEVENSON DAMAGE SOURCE 'Raise Hell' INDEPENDENT It's very easy for a lack of imagination to marauder into the process of making a Thrash Metal release and sadly it seems Damage Source fell into that trap. With their debut EP 'Raise Hell' featuring some rather basic riffs that instead of complementing the vocals seem to bury them so deep, it's hard to catch on to what the lyrics actually are. For the new kids on the block, this is the quality you tend to expect on a demo at least, but despite it's negativity here and there, 'Raise Hell' does position itself as a platform for the Germans to magic up a debut album that ought to wow people. It will be interesting to see how the quartet aim to better themselves, because on the strength of 'Raise Hell' it is nearly a tall order. Granted mixing elements from the Bay Area and Teutonic scenes respectively might bode them well, it boils down to whether they can use this combination to their advantage. Download This: "The Disease" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Metallica, Holy Moses, Slayer [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON RED ROOM ENSEMBLE 'Red Room Ensemble' INDEPENDENT It's an undeniable fact that the Finnish do not need to take any iron supplements to keep their metal levels up, in fact they produce them. Marking their territory with their debut self-titled album is Melodic Heavy Metal outfit Red Room Ensemble, featuring a no-nonsense, no-rules attitude towards their recording and creating of their debut album. Hailing from the Åland Islands, Red Room Ensemble broods within the atmospherics of Iron Maiden and features vocals in the style that of Bon Jovi's 'Blaze of Glory'. Although the album is nothing new and therefore is not breaking new ground, it does offer itself as a delight to seasoned classic metal listeners. In a visual context, the band aren't dressed in your average metalhead outfit, but rather in dapper suits. As for 'Red Room Ensemble', it is a must-own album for any classic, heavy or melodic metal fan, period. Download This: "Everything Went Red" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Iron Maiden, Bon Jovi, "Melodic Heavy Metal" [8] RHYS STEVENSON MALDEVERA 'All Eyes On Jeff' INDEPENDENT Texas over the decades has delivered a whole host of unforgettable metal bands, focusing on the new wave of Texan Metal means paying attention to bands like Maldevera, whose infectious mix of Thrash Metal riffs, Groove Metal grit and thunderous atmospherics, bodes well for times ahead. 'All Eyes On Jeff' is the third demo by this now-trio and whilst it sadly is nothing new, it does offer some anticipation for their expected debut album. Sampling elements from Star Trek: Voyager and Spawn: The Animated Series, fans of both sci-fi and / or 80's Thrash Metal would drool over this raw-as-hell release. With each track dissimilar to each other, 'All Eyes On Jeff' ought to grab the trio some well-earned attention from across the States, let alone internationally. So sit back, succumb to Maldevera's tornado-like onslaught and batten down the hatches, for this Thrash Metal storm won't be going anywhere soon. Download This: "Maldevera" (Click here to listen) For Fans of: Pantera, Slayer, Motorhead [8] RHYS STEVENSON ACHELOUS
'The Cold Winds Of Olympus' Bands who use folklore or historical events in their lyrics usually tell the best stories through metal music, such a band is Greek Heavy Metal newcomers Achelous. Whilst there are no flash riffs, no emphatic beats or crushing vocals, the band's premier EP 'The Cold Winds Of Olympus' explodes with a colorful arrangement of classic Bon Jovi-esque vocals, emotional atmospherics and a powerful dramatization of bygone Hellenism. Achelous have proven that the classic sound of Heavy Metal is very much alive and well. Now whilst this EP might not satisfy the more modern heavy metal listeners, it does however pay homage to the founding metal genre of which our favorite metal sub-genres derived from. All in all 'The Cold Winds Of Olympus' drops hints of something even more majestic to come, watch this band with interest as the dawn of 'Hellenic Battle Metal' arises without mercy. Download This: "Guardians Of The Light" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Iron Maiden, Manowar, Van Halen, Bon Jovi [8] RHYS STEVENSON REMMIRATH 'Shambhala Vril Saucers' TODESTRIEB Metal music can take turns for the worst as well as the best, it can also spew out some of the strangest sub-genre combinations ever imaginable. Remmirath's decision to mix Black Metal elements with Hard Rock and experimental music (songs like 'Tiger of the City' feature game sounds), gives their second album 'Shambhala Vril Saucers' a much needed 'hello' to the wider international metal community. As for the Slovakian quintet, this is a solid effort that gives them the push to join the experimental metal elite. Whereas their Eastern-tinged product may confuse some metalheads; evidently shown in the album title which derives from a Tibetan Buddhist and Hindu belief that Shambhala is a hidden kingdom located within Inner Asia and 'vril' as a form of psychokinetic energy, it offers a distinct sound and alternative to the already mass-populated subsequent Black Metal and Hard Rock scenes. Download This: "The Gunfighter's Quest For Enlightenment" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Venom, Blut Aus Nord, early-Forgotten Woods, "strange music" [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON HOUSE OF ATREUS 'The Spear & The Ichor That Follows' DARK DESCENT Whenever a metal band blends in said music genre with lyrics covering history, any release produced automatically qualifies as an educational tool. Unleashing a bout of Greek tragedies and war tales is American Death Metal mob House Of Atreus, their debut album 'The Spear & The Ichor That Follows" wallows in the old-school Melodic Death Metal sound, with Death Metal vocals leading the frontline and the melodies supplementing the sheer ferocity of the drums and guitars entwined. Whilst listening to this album, the feeling that this band can share the stage with Greek Metal legends becomes imminent. Just imagine the murderous bygone times of Ancient Greece whilst listening to the debut album by this promising quartet, you can connect the two perfectly. This is Sparta! Erm NO!! THIS IS THE HOUSE OF ATREUS!!! Recommended track: "Throne Of Chariots" For Fans of: Rotting Christ, Running Wild, Sacriphyx The Spear & The Ichor That Follows' is out 5th May via Dark Descent Records [8] RHYS STEVENSON APOPHYS 'Prime Incursion' METAL BLADE And the Dutch are at it again, conjuring yet another scintillating Death Metal release by a highly-promising quintet. 'Prime Incursion' is the gut-busting debut album by the all-star armada Apophys and it is packed with everything you expect of a modern Death Metal album. With so much brutality crammed in a 9-track blitzing onslaught, you will be begging for mercy at the hands of what could be considered as a contender for Dutch Metal album of the year. Bringing together a chaotic atmosphere, merciless-yet-sexy riffs and unrelenting seismic drumming, 'Prime Incursion' is sure to smash the international metal scene to pieces. Comprising members of Dutch legends such as God Dethroned and Prostitute Disfigurement, with this effort Apophys are on course to establishing themselves as supergroup of the decade. You have been warned. Recommended Track: "The Antidote" For Fans of: Aborted, Cerebral Bore, Prostitute Disfigurement, "Dutch Death Metal" 'Prime Incursion' is out 7th April via Metal Blade Records [9] RHYS STEVENSON DEATHBLOW 'The Other Side Of Darkness' INDEPENDENT You see Deathblow decided to make Thrash Metal just that little more faster and enter the realm of Slayer via Metallica technicality, sadly there seems to be very little variety on their forthcoming EP 'The Other Side Of Darkness', however it does serve itself up as a guaranteed spine-snapping, bone-crunching effort that deserves immediate attention from metalheads and labels worldwide. What with Utah recently reinstating death by firing squad, Deathblow have reinstated the death of your senses by insanely fast and merciless riffs. Unleash this beast in a venue and let the moshpit do the talking, unleash this beast at a festival and watch the all of death take you to 'The Other Side Of Darkness'... which is darker darkness. Deathblow have all the hallmarks for a successful Thrash Metal band, now they need to capitalize on this moment and shift from 3rd to 5th gear. Recommended Track: 'The Other Side Of Darkness' For fans of: Evile, Slayer, Destruction 'The Other Side Of Darkness' is out 21st April via an independent release [8] RHYS STEVENSON KOMMANDANT 'The Architects Of Extermination' ATMF No they are not fascists so don't get on your high horse and jump to conclusions, they are in fact the darkness that haunts you in your sleep. Illinois' Kommandant make their hallowed return through their third dystopian album 'The Architects Of Extermination'. Now you are permitted to go all '1984' on this album but you must obey the tracks on this release as they appear to tell a story that's worth indulging in. Granted to most, the raw drums and guitars swallow up the distorted vocals, but isn't that what evil music is all about? Masquerading a wall of sound so thick, it makes a Panzer VIII Maus appear weak and lame. 'The Architects Of Extermination' is the perfect sound to a dystopian-war film and draws clear influence from bands like Laibach amongst other bands, utilising Avant-garde Black Metal with industrial elements. Recommended track: "Acquisition Of Power" For Fans of: Laibach, Dornenreich, Deathspell Omega 'The Architects Of Extermination' is out 27th April via ATMF [8] RHYS STEVENSON CORPSE GARDEN 'Entheogen' SATANATH / RTM PRODS. Following fellow countrymen Sight of Emptiness in leading the Costa Rican Metal scene to international recognition, Death Metal maestro's Corpse Garden have spewed out their second offering 'Entheogen' with such fury, it eclipses their debut album "Burnt By The Light" (See GMA Vol88) completely. As stated Corpse Garden were a band to watch, now that they are signed their dreams are coming true. 'Entheogen' is a tour de force that will keep many passionate Death Metal addicts entertained, not because it's coming from a tropical country, but more so through it's ability to evade any signs of weakness. With this new album, Corpse Garden ought to be preparing themselves for a world tour (or at least Europe), because 'Entheogen' will almost certainly prove to be popular amongst the European metal nations, with it's tactful display of blistering-paced drums, gritty vocals and whiplash-riffs, it's a given prediction. It may also be a contender for Costa Rican metal release of the year. Recommended track: "Sulphur" For fans of: Abhorrent Decimation, Defaced, Infection (Peru) 'Entheogen' is out 15th May via Satanath Records (RU) and RTM Productions (DE) [9] RHYS STEVENSON PENITENZIAGITE 'Humanity Galore' ON-PAROLE PRODS. Despite 'Humanity Galore' being Penitenziagite's debut album, the quartet have been around since 2004 perfecting and crafting their own sound, whilst unleashing ideas at their live shows. The long-awaited result is a chaotic Death Metal album that will make you piss your pants off. 'Humanity Galore' has menace, technical complexity and groovy brutality running through it's veins, inevitably enabling itself to begin calculating a formula to make Penitenziagite well known outside of Slovenia. With this solid effort there is no reason why they should not be detected by other Western European metal media. Recorded at the Negligence studio; run by Slovenian metal legends Negligence, 'Humanity Galore' is one album every single Death Metal fan should own, because if they don't, then they are ignoring true Death Metal and should feel a little ashamed. Where Penitenziagite will go next is of course the resulting question. Recommended track: "Lords Long Forgotten" For fans of: "Modern Death Metal" (essentially any band under this category) 'Humanity Galore' is out 17th April via On-Parole Productions [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON DOWNFALL OF NUR 'Umbras De Barbagia' AVANTGARDE MUSIC If you had a lot of time on your hands and or are going on a long trip, this is the perfect accompaniment for both events. 'Umbras De Barbagia' is the debut album by one-man project Downfall Of Nur. It broods in atmospheric Black Metal and has enough chilling effect to keep you calm and at peace, not to mention the five tracks equate to 62 minutes-worth of majestic South American Black Metal. Mastermind musician "A." takes no solace in delivering a remarkable piece of musical art, the Argentinian has taken a wide range of dark, gloomy and tranquil elements and has assembled them in such a way, that the resulting album is as powerful as an atomic bomb. 'Umbras De Barbagia' sits on the boundaries of the Post-Black Metal movement and the Black Metal of old, making it and deeming it a worthwhile listen. Download this: "The Golden Age" - Click here to listen For fans of: Winterfylleth, Skyforger, Kampfar 'Umbras De Barbagia' is out now via an Independent release / 25th March via Avantgarde Music [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON CREINIUM 'Divested Liberty' INVERSE The latest release by Finnish Tech / Melodic Death outfit Creinium is amongst us, 'Divested Liberty' is the latest single by the sextet and it carries on their lyrical topic of dystopia. The first song 'Divested Liberty' has enough panache in it to leave listeners begging for me, slowly but surely the interweaving of the guitars, vocals, drums and keyboards lay the path down for the next song to take center stage. 'The Seventh Seal' refers to the seals depicted in book of revelations, and as mythical as the accounts appear to be, the song itself livens up that myth through the use of emphatic riffs, raucous vocals and belligerent atmospherics, marred by the eccentricity displayed on this single. Sure it may not be the best work to date, but it's another step towards giving Creinium a name for themselves, watch this space. Download This: "Divested Liberty" - Click here to listen For Fans of: Shade Empire, Alterbeast, Neuraxis [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON EPOCH
'Sacrosanct' Some say this band or project are Greek, some say they are Belgian, we say they are pretty good. Epoch's debut album 'Sacrosanct' is one for the Blackened Death Metal addicts, through the use of rapid-fire drums, raw-yet-thick riffs and bruising vocals, this first effort demands absolute respect. Sure it is unknown as to who the musicians actually are, perhaps they're communicating from the other side of life as paranormal entities, whoever they are they know the music genre inside and out. One thing is for certain, 'Sacrosanct' will attract attention throughout the underground metal scenes, however it lacks that killer instinct that otherwise would grab some record labels attention. But for a debut effort it packs a punch, a punch to be reckoned with. Only joking, they are Belgian after all and with that in mind, here begins a new Epoch for Belgian Metal. Download This: "Altered States" - Click here to listen For Fans of: "Underground Black / Death Metal", early-God Dethroned, Behemoth [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON FRIGHT NIGHT 'Life Eternal' SOUND AGE PRODS. Russian Metal rarely gets a decent look in by it's Western contemporaries, so when Fright Night unveils the follow-up to their debut album 'The Play of Pain', they are sure to shock the masses. This Gothic Metal outfit employs a rather unique vocal combination, that is they use angelic female vocals alongside clean male vocals; unlike some bands who opt for growling. Maybe it is coincidental, but the vibe experienced on 'Life Eternal' matches up with the band name, as if the music was written for a Halloween opera. For a band who will be celebrating 10 years in 2015, this album certainly oozes intricate ideas that flow through the blissful riffs, elegant vocals and powerful drumming compositions, make no mistake as Fright Night's 'Life Eternal' is a contender for Russian Metal album of the year. Download This: "Numb" - click to listen. For Fans of: Lacuna Coil, Theatres Des Vampires, Lacrimosa [8] RHYS STEVENSON GENIUS ULTOR 'Nic Co Boskie Nie Jest Mi Obce' ARACHNOPHOBIA Ah those releases that feature songs in entirely one language, the sort that don't always break out into planet metal, but putting that aside and in context with Genius Ultor's second album 'Nic Co Boskie Nie Jest Mi Obce', what you have is a decent slab of Polish Black Metal. Right from the off, this album explodes into the cataclysmic force you would expect from such a genre. With vocals so raw it would make you want to eat your own feces, guitars so sharp they make the amps frost over with the bitterness of the genre, drums so insane ole Varg Vikernes would piss himself and all of this encased in an atmosphere that feels worse than death, yeah this is not for the faint of heart. Download This: "Zwycięstwo" - click to listen. For Fans of: "Anyone who can understand Polish", Stillborn, Watain [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON ODRAZA 'Esperalem Tkane' ARACHNOPHOBIA The same with Genius Ultor's release, Poland's Odraza adopts their native tongue to spread their raspy messages of alcoholism, depression and vanity via their premier album 'Esperalem Tkane'. Whilst as not as brutal as their label-mates, Odraza do not fail in summoning up a sound that would strike a string in any Black Metal fans heart. 'Esperalem Tkane' delivers a delicious 47 minutes of pure Polish underground Black Metal that ought to expand their name amongst the Central and Eastern European metal scenes, however whilst it might daunt some listeners, especially with two songs lasting 11 or so minutes each, the time used to listen to it all the way through pays off as this is probably the darkest BM seen in this country for sometime. Download This: "Wielki Mizogin" - click to listen. For Fans of: "Anyone who can understand Polish", Carpathian Forest, Watain [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON CODEDECODED 'Vorace' Of course if you want an absolute skull-crushing sound that has enough brutality to make you vomit your innards out and in repetitiously, you only have to look as far as Greece's Codedecoded to get the full package, that is an additional punch in the face. Unleashing ballistic hell through their debut album 'Vorace', this tight Technical Death Metal unit takes no prisoners and are primed to unleash a torrent of murderous carnage across Europe with their first album in their locker. Harder than your average boner, Codedecoded are a force to be reckoned with and with this effort they clearly warrant attention, we could see much more of this ensemble in the future, but for now the slaughtering has only just begun.... Download This: "Descends" - click to listen to the whole album For Fans of: Psycroptic, Neuraxis, Meshuggah [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON ELUVEITIE 'Origins' NUCLEAR BLAST The masters of Celtic-infused Melodic Death Metal have made their welcomed return with another slice of Helvetian history at the helm, following up from their sensational 2012 release 'Helvetios', 'Origins' carries on the unmistakeable Eluveitie sound that has stood them in great stead over the years. Blitzing along to a total length of one hour, listeners will never reach the state of boredom as the album is guaranteed to keep you on your feet. Vastly positioning themselves as not only a successful metal export, but as a highly regarded Swiss music export, Eluveitie have once again met expectations and have dropped an album that may just become Swiss Metal release of the year. 'Origins' is like a Celtic version of Disney's 'Fantasia', magically awe-inspiring. Download This: "King" - click to listen For Fans of: Primordial, Ensiferum, Blackguard [9] RHYS STEVENSON DEATH DEPENDANT 'Sacrifice For The Cross' Arising from the perched surfboards on Western Australia's sun-kissed beaches is Thrash Metal merchants Death Dependant with their debut album 'Sacrifice For The Cross'. From start to finish, this four piece group dishes out the old-style Thrash Metal of the glorious 1980's, with Metallica-esque vocals leading the lightning brigade alongside outrageously insane riffs and neck-breaking drumming; Death Dependant are sure to entrench their name withing the Australian scene. Alongside the evident Thrash Metal sound, elements of Groove Metal are clearly present and as a result, this finely tunes the band's ideal sound into something metalheads globally will enjoy. Death Dependant are flying the flag for the Australian Metal scene. Download This: "Drug Machine" - click to listen. For Fans of: Machine Head, Metallica, Slayer [8] RHYS STEVENSON RAVENCLAW 'Welcome To The Ravenland' + 'Today' Backtrack to 2009 and metalheads in Slovakia may recall the release of Ravenclaw's premier album 'Welcome To The Ravenland', a solid slab of valiant Melodic Power Metal that drags in various elements from the metal spectrum, such as Heavy Metal vocals, Power Metal keyboards and a Melodic chemistry between the instruments and vocals coincidentally. True it is nothing new, but it does have an element of originality held within it, sadly it seems to lack that killer note that otherwise would have given this album that extra boost in giving Ravenclaw European attention. Putting another downer on the album seems impossible, simply because whilst as said the album sound is nothing new, it certainly poises itself as a decent-enough effort. Fast-forward to 2014 and the quintet have delightfully dropped their second single 'Today', and with it, their sound has become much more refined and crisper than their debut album. It also appears that they have opened up the vocal channels more, giving different members points at which to sing in and as a result allowing that extra boost they needed to push them up another level. If they keep this sound and style well and truly in place, they could well make a late charge onto the European Metal circuit as probably headliners. Rallying amongst the evident comparisons of Sonata Arctica and Hammerfall, Ravenclaw might have just discovered their winning formula. Download This: "Today" - click to listen For Fans of: Sonata Arctica, Hammerfall, Olzon-era Nightwish [6.5] + [8] RHYS STEVENSON CHOMALETS 'Omerta' It's countries like Indonesia where Extreme Metal seems to be riding the highways and the other genres become relegated to the streets. Emerging from the abyss is Chomalets with their premier album 'Omerta', a 36-minute slab of gut-rotten, bone-crunching Death / Grind Metal. Singing exclusively in Indonesian, this four-piece butcher armada take no prisoners when it comes to blasting the masses with their gore-soaked torrent of murderous metal. With blastbeats ringing out like no tomorrow, vocals delivering rip-tides and riffs arising like ghosts out of a graveyard, Chomalets' album 'Omerta' proves itself to be a contender for Indonesian Metal album of the year. This is certainly guaranteed to go down well with metalheads of the more brutal kind. Download This: "Parodi Hitam" - Click to listen For Fans of: Cannibal Corpse, Dying Fetus, Napalm Death [7] RHYS STEVENSON GYMIR 'The Return Of The Raven' The lack of representation of Folk Metal in the UK seems rather apparent, this is probably why bands like Gymir hold the beacon of hope and aim to bring British Folk Metal to the foreground. A year into their existence and the quintet unleashes their premier single upon the masses, 'The Return Of The Raven' is a gallant and powerful two-track release. With elements originating within the Olde English sound, you get the feeling that Gymir are aiming for a more folkloric connection, however this irony since the band name relates to Nordic myth. As for the single, no Folk Metal fan would get bored of this, in fact it is that good, Gymir's debut album (when it comes) is going to be well anticipated. Gymir are definitely a band that will be on everyone's radar in due course. Download This: "Return Of The Raven" - click to listen For Fans of: Finntroll, Ensiferum, Skyclad [8] RHYS STEVENSON INNSMOUTH
'The Shadow Over Innsmouth' CRIME Firing up the insane time signatures and monstrous brutality for an assault never seen before is Danish bruisers Innsmouth. If headbanging to Mathcore proves to be a tricky challenge, then headbanging to the band's debut album 'The Shadow Over Innsmouth' would require a masters degree in mathematics. From start to finish, the insane mix of erratic time signatures and gritty Death Metal is enough to place anyone into a state of complete confusion, whilst the atmosphere developed is enough to deliver that final blow that is guaranteed to knock metalheads flat out. If Necrophagist and Nile had an illegitimate son, it would be Innsmouth, sure the release is an absolute belter, but the question is can their second effort keep the band standing up and not fall at the hurdle. Download This: "The Shadow Over Innsmouth" - click to listen For Fans of: Nile, Cacophony, Obscura, Necrophagist 'The Shadow Over Innsmouth' is out October 10th, 2014 via Crime Records [7.5] 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 RENEGADE STATE 'The Pit' What has Liverpool and metal got in common besides the obviousness of the shipping heritage? The answer is found in a Renegade State. Fresh from the depths of the Mersey, this five-piece monstrous ensemble wield together elements of Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal and Hardcore together to develop a sound that will epitomize the entire hybrid music ideology. 'The Pit' is not only their latest single, but on their latest release alongside "The Pit are tracks such as "Chicago Typewriter" and "Judgement Day", sure the former sounds like the Bugsy Malone era and the latter sounds like a time of the week we all fear, but the core point is that the Renegade State are a band that could well be on everyone's lips by the end of 2014. Just don't drag up anything about Mancunian football or culture..., joke. DO IT! Download This: "Chicago Typewriter" For Fans of: Chimaira, Machine Head, Pantera [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON ZEITGEIST 'Shallow Play' Paraguay might not come to mind when you think of Gothic Metal, let alone metal music in general, but some may actually challenge this by using Brazil's Sepultura as a prime example. Zeitgeist is a four-piece classic Gothic Metal band arising from the back streets of Asunción, through dropping their awaited debut album 'Shallow Play', the first impressions that come with it are of neutrality, in the sense that the album kicks off in a rather standard-sounding way for a Gothic Metal album, but as the music progresses there is this element of relief that the album is not doomed to slot into the 'every other album sounds like this' trap. 'Shallow Play' in fact is a decent enough release that should garner some attention from their Paraguayan compatriots and South American cousins, the likelihood of it reaching European shores will have to wait till the second album. Through the use of dynamic vocals, virtuoso guitar playing and solid drumming, Zeitgeist's 'Shallow Play' is a one to enjoy after a few re-runs. Download This: "For You" For Fans of: Evanescence, Sirenia, Tainted Grace [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON SILENT OPERA 'Reflections' MASSACRE 'Reflections' is no doubt one of the most highly-anticipated metal albums of the year, the album explodes into a wide array of sounds that will certainly tickle the taste buds of planet metal. What Silent Opera have done here is something spectacular, by lashing together the elegant beauty of Symphonic Gothic Metal with the hard, heavy hitting power of Melodic Death Metal, the sextet seemingly have crafted out their own unique sound. Underneath the album's skin lies the echoing connotations of the operatic greats such as The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables, by charging thunderously down the halls of Operatic darkness and into the new wave of Orchestral Metal, Silent Opera will place themselves on everyone's lips in 2014. 'Reflections' is guaranteed to smash your senses to pieces as the majestic power demonstrated here is enough to shatter crystal. It would not be surprising at all if 'Reflections' secures Silent Opera a slot at either Wacken or Bloodstock in the not so distance future. Download This: "Dorian" For Fans of: Within Temptation, Arcane Grail, In Flames, Delain [10] RHYS STEVENSON UNTIL EXTINCTION 'Malice' Four years after their debut album, Missouri's Until Extinction have certainly dusted themselves down. The debut album was not as impressive as this album is, with a clearer production level imminently evident, and the harmonics and brutal elements intertwining more freely, 'Malice' is an album you would want to chew into intentionally. Naturally Until Extinction have followed their instinct and in doing so have delivered a release that is sure to garner attention across the USA, overseas attention might be a little harder but with this formula demonstrated, they could easily push harder and further. Just imagine a hundred horses galloping towards the sunset in an adventurous style, this is the best envisage you could apply to the album, it is a rapid journey across many musical sounds. Just prepare yourself for the last track which is a whopping 10 minute opus, might as well whip out the popcorn and American beer. Download This: "Herald The Dawn" For Fans of: Immoralis, Gojira, Dream Theater [8] RHYS STEVENSON FALLEN FATE 'Into The Black' If a forthcoming apocalypse had to have a soundtrack constructed in order to support the mass devastation, Fallen Fate's 'Into The Black' would be the perfect candidate. Developed by fusing together the monstrous sounds of Thrash Metal with the brutality of Modern Metal, the calculated output is one of sincere cranial destruction and sheer incomprehensible force. From the start to the end, Fallen Fate certainly have upped the ante since their well-received debut album 'The Virus Has Spread' (2011), by utilizing ear-bleeding vocals alongside explosive drumming sequences and murderous riffs, 'Into The Black' is a definite contender for album of the year, even though the year has only just begun. With this effort firmly set in concrete, it is inevitable that Fallen Fate will be blitzing their way through 2014 and remain a positively and highly promising unsigned British Metal band. Watch this space... Download This: "Blackened Within" For Fans of: Machine Head, Sylosis, Trivium, As I Lay Dying [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON ALTERBEAST 'Immortal' UNIQUE LEADER If violence was to become the next Disney film theme, then Alterbeast ought to be the film's composer. By unleashing a rally murderous brutality via through their debut album 'Immortal', the Californian Technical Death Metal newbies craft a sound that will crush anyone who opposes it to death. Guaranteed it will make you spit blood and spew acid out of every orifice. Unrelenting vocals shatter the silence with enough force, leaving your last constipation seeming pitiful, moreover whilst the drums deliver a whammy of fast-paced mauling, the guitars exercise and shred metal shrapnel so sharp it will make your cranial area bleed black blood. Whence listening to the sheer uncompromising brutality delivered by the Californian quintet, prepare yourself to walk away with your tail between your legs and with the knowledge that Alterbeast might just be one of 2014's hottest and newest properties. For Fans of: Abigail Williams, The Black Dahlia Murder, Psycroptic, Cryptopsy 'Immortal' is out 18th March 2014 via Unique Leader Records [8] RHYS STEVENSON INDICA 'Shine' NUCLEAR BLAST Making their highly-anticipated return to deliver their sixth studio album is Finland's all-female troupe Indica, building upon their successful 2010 album 'A Way Away' the quintet once again muster together their unique sound of Pop Rock, Alternative Metal and Symphonic Rock to shatter the musical barriers and evidently demonstrate why they are more than your average girl group. 'Shine' drags together the elegance of Nightwish, the power of Vanilla Ninja and the attitude of Finnish rockers that has served the national music scene for decades gone by. 'Shine' will get you moving on the dance floor and can easily prove itself to be successful as a soundtrack to proms or parties, make no mistake about it 'Shine' is certified to make anyone who listens to it rock their hearts out, without a doubt this album is an easy contender for Finnish album of the year. Download This: "Hush Now Baby" For Fans of: Vanilla Ninja, Nightwish, Evanescence, The Rasmus [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON BEHEMOTH 'The Satanist' NUCLEAR BLAST Let's be honest here, Poland's most successful Metal band of all time has gone and delivered what has to be their best album ever. Spitting acidic venom at every second, 'The Satanist' revels in the darkest pits of hell and smothers the atmosphere with the choking black smoke-smell of burning Black Metal and disease-ridden Death Metal. For a band that has been going non-stop over 23 years, never taken a hiatus and has never failed to impress, their new album 'The Satanist' certainly is the cream of the crop. Through the album you can experience the unrelenting power and mind-blowing force that this trio of musical architects have summoned on every song, more so if this triad from Eastern Europe continues their sensational punishment, we could see their follow-up being even greater, irrespective of the fact that 'The Satanist' is an album that will be hard to match by; the Behemoth metal sound continues.... Download This: "The Satanist" For Fans of: Vader, God Dethroned, Vesania [10] RHYS STEVENSON THERION 'Theli - Deluxe Edition' NUCLEAR BLAST Sweden's most successful Operatic / Symphonic Metallers Therion return with their latest offering in the form of 'Theli - Deluxe Edition'. Whilst at first it seems to be nothing but the same material they have been churning out over the years, it is in fact nearly the same as some of the material they have been churning out over the years. That does not mean to say it is not good, it basically means that if you like Therion, then you will like their upcoming album. Utilizing deep male vocals in the form of chamber music and weaving that alongside guitar and drum symphonies, Therion have once again proven themselves that they are a one of a kind. 'Theli - Deluxe Edition' will appeal to those who like the softer, darker and more elegant side of metal, the question is whether Therion can deliver it just as good when performing. For Fans of: Nigthwish, HIM, Avantasia 'Theli - Deluxe Edition' is out 28th February via Nuclear Blast Records [7] RHYS STEVENSON PERSONA GRATA 'Reaching Places High Above' Slovakia's Persona Grata are a rather curious bunch, sure they utilize the Progressive Metal sound to it's optimus prime, but by layering it with traditional Central European melodies and influences, this is a rather ethnic sound conjured up and is evidently prevalent on their debut album 'Reaching Places High Above' released last year. Sure the album at times questions itself as a credible release, simply because at times the music sounds all chucked in and not organized strategically. Meaning it's not the best release possible, but by no means is it a push over, more so it offers a newer dimension but sadly lacks that final push that makes it a brilliant debut. What have they been up to for the last seven years prior to release is beyond anyone's questioning, it certainly was partially wasted in relation to this release. Download This: "Orient Express" For Fans of: Dream Theater, Symphony X, most Prog Metal bands. [7] RHYS STEVENSON ADAMANTIUM
'Demo 2013' Every so often you will come across a release that at first seems to be as bland as a white canvas sheet, but as it progresses it's true colors begin to show. Welcoming to the apocalypse is Worcester's Heavy Thrash merchants Adamantium, whose 2013 demo delivers your average standard modern metal whilst coincidentally wafts in melodies here and there in the comparable sounds of Iron Maiden. Whilst it may never prove itself as pivotal in their career, it is a decent enough release that will get local and regional folk rocking out all night. At times the vocals deal no justice and lack that vibrancy that would push their sound up a gear, compensating for that are the intricate solo's and riffs that sit nicely on top of the drumming sequences. Credit is given where it's due and as long as Adamantium keep this line-up and buff the vocals up, they are sure to garner attention outside the West Midlands. Download This: "Escape Proof" For Fans of: Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Metallica [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON METAL 'Proving Our Mettle' You have to admit that the old ways are sometimes the best ways, well Australia's rather aptly named Metal seem to think so when delivering their debut album, with a tongue-in-cheek title of 'Proving Our Mettle' and that is exactly what they have achieved. Smoldering Heavy / Power Metal surges like an electrical storm across this album as if they were running on Duracell batteries. Fixating on that classic Iron Maiden Heavy Metal sound that provides a solid backdrop, the quartet smother it with Power Metal elements, through the use of intricate riffs, 'squeezed balls' vocals and oomph and gusto in tow, 'Proving Our Mettle' is without a doubt a metal album fit for anyone who prefers the original and perhaps less complex style of metal music. It might have only taken seven years to let this one out of the bag, but boy was it worth it. Download This: "Beneath The Banner Of The Iron Duke" For Fans of: Iron Maiden, 3 Inches of Blood, Van Halen [8] RHYS STEVENSON REPTILIAN DEATH 'The Dawn Of Consummation And Emergence' OLD SCHOOL METAL Fronted by Indian Metal veteran Demonstealer, Reptilian Death Metallers Reptilian Death make no mistakes or errors upon excreting their second album 'The Dawn Of Consummation And Emergence', ten years have passed since the concretion and unleashing of their debut release 'Total Annihilation' and the long wait has certainly paid off through a tightly-packed brutal sound that is guaranteed to shake the very foundations of planet metal. Perusing the many veins and arteries of Death Metal, this three-piece unit stitches together elements of Technical metal as the skeleton infrastructure and Brutal Death Metal as the blood-soaked, savage-scarred skin of this megalithic ensemble. What with Demonic Resurrection and Kryptos firmly leading the line, Reptilian Death are sure to follow firmly in-behind. Get your vaccinations at the ready, because this exotic Reptile bites and injects a rather toxic metallic venom. Download This: "Distorted By Bondage Blood And Bestiality" For Fans of: Strapping Young Lad, Cryptopsy, The Berzerker [9] RHYS STEVENSON SATAN'S WRATH 'Aeons Of Satan's Reign' METAL BLADE Reflecting the whole emotional side to the current situation of the Greek economy, blasphemous Blackened Thrash stalwarts Satan's Wrath spit out corrosive venom and unholy disturbances via their sophomore release 'Aeons Of Satan's Reign'. Immersing the atmosphere with the anti-christian profanity demonstrated amongst most Satanists and Luciferians, this quintet totally murder your future grave stone by pissing down your ear-holes with savage riffs (so savage that professional murderers would s**t themselves at the sharpness), vocals that would make Golden Dawn stand up and do the honors against the 'she-who-must-not-be-named', in spite of this Satan's Wrath's 'Aeons Of Satan's Reign' is definitely the future sound of Hellenic Extreme Metal, if you thought Rotting Christ were evil, that lot are cupcakes compared to Satan's Wrath. For fans of: Sarke, Aura Noir, Skeletonwitch [8] RHYS STEVENSON 'Aeons Of Satan's Reign' is out 12th November 2013 via Metal Blade Records HEATHEN FORAY 'Inner Force' Pagan Metal, it's like as if some bands cannot leave the topic alone, but when bands like Heathen Foray enter the fold, it is clear that they take their own unique twist on it. This Austrian machine embroils the atmosphere with heavy hitting melodies and the feeling of galloping across the lands with that highly noticeable Folk Metal element being developed through the guitars and drums in sync. 'Inner Force' clearly shows this style off, the quintet's third outing does not disappoint and whilst at times the language barrier may pose a problem (songs are in both English and German), the music inevitably does the talking and with this elaborated form of Melodic Viking / Pagan Metal, it is clear that Heathen Foray are one of Austria's unsung metal bands, with 'Inner Force' now out in the wilderness, they are sure to garner some attention from the surrounding European countries. Download This: "Mei Laund" For Fans of: Adorned Brood, Amon Amarth, Arkona [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON INSURRECTION 'Prototype' GALY Now for those who think Death Metal has to be blasted at the speed of sound and feature vocals that makes anyone s**t themselves, you are half mistaken, well, just a bit. Insurrection take this theory with a pinch of salt and maybe some Technical Metal elements thrown in here and there, but they are no Quo Vadis or Neuraxis, instead they implore a sound that eclipses Neuraxis, how you may ask? Simple, by switching from technical to melodic to harmonic in a flash, they carve out there own form of complexity and can be dubbed 'deus ex machina metal', a mouthful for sure but whence dissecting their latest offering 'Prototype', it does not fall short of the Modern Metal sound, in fact if Insurrection added some synths or industrial elements then the sound could easily be 101% groundbreaking. As it is, 'Prototype' is a mesmerizing album in it's own ball park and could provide the way for Insurrection to become known overseas as the new face of Canadian Technical Death Metal. Download This "Hellfire" For Fans of: Misery Index, Decapitated, Obliveon, Hypocrisy [9] RHYS STEVENSON SISARE 'Natures Despair' Finland rarely disappoints when it comes to producing metal bands and metal music releases, out of the abyss comes another underground and exciting band called Sisare, of whose debut album 'Natures Despair' ticks all the boxes for it to be a recommended metal album. The Progressive Metal four-piece deliver a sound that illuminates the entire surroundings with the sense of magic, natural goodness and the very essence of what makes Finnish metal all that special the unique musicianship skills. 'Natures Despair' glides between the Progressive and Avant Garde metal styles, with hints of experimentation clearly detectable and elements of melodies filtering through in the background. They may be a small unknown band in the Finnish lands, but they are a gem to the worldwide Prog Metal scene as 'Natures Despair' evidently proves. Download This: "Isolation" For Fans of: Rush, Dream Theater, Haken [8] RHYS STEVENSON HAMEREX 'IX' IX MUSIC There seems to be this certain type of aura flowing amongst the relatively underground classic heavy metal bands, they seem to go on for ever and only end up release a couple of albums, sadly this looks to be that way with Hamerex. Hailing from Yorkshire, this four-piece platoon wield that ever classic sound of British Heavy Metal and by adding some Thrash and Doom Metal elements here and there, the second album 'IX' (aptly titled seeing as Hamerex is nine years old) demonstrates the uniqueness of this metal music strain. Sure 'IX' is nothing more than a run-of-the-mill heavy metal album, but it certainly is decent enough for anyone to own, well, almost everyone (Justin Bieber + metal = disaster). Like most of their underground contemporaries, Hamerex will keep the faith going strong, with a rally of riffs, drum beats and vocal exasperation's, this is 'el clasico'. Download This: "Inferno" For Fans of: Black Sabbath, My Dying Bridge, Iron Maiden [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON REDEYE 'Violence' VIOLENT JOURNEY Seven years down the line and the first ever EP by Finnish maniacs Redeye finally drops, 'Violence' delivers a brittle and harsh sound that will amuse and abuse anyone who comes across it. Imagine this, being pummeled by belching vocals that lead this musical attack, with fist-punching drumming and slashing riffs that will bleed you dry in tow, this is exactly what listeners can expect from 'Violence', just be prepared to have a massive headache. By mixing the glorified old styles of Death Metal with Thrash Metal, Redeye summon up a work of art that will get heads banging so hard, brain hemorrhage is almost certainly on the menu. With an attitude that explores the alleys of murderous topics and music that will boil your senses dry, Redeye will certainly set the underground alight. Listen in closely and you can detect elements of Grindcore... For Fans of: Cannibal Corpse, Slayer, Obituary 'Violence' is out 29th November via Violent Journey Records [8] RHYS STEVENSON NO REMORSE NO SURRENDER 'Afflictions' As if Metalcore had not explored every possible avenue, well if you ask London bruisers No Remorse No Surrender they would say f**k you and shove that into every possible orifice you possess. Let's face it, the evidence is clear when indulging this quintets experimental-like EP 'Afflictions', from start to finish there is a cooking pot of various styles that all combine to smash your face in. Think of it as the agile complexity of martial arts mixed with the harsh mauling of Rugby, that might give you some indication of how unrelenting this lot are, needless to say 'Afflictions' is a highly promising EP and it is clear this band will go far, forgot the poncy generic metalcore breakdown trash that is plaguing every single f**king nation and douse yourself in one of British metal scenes hottest promising properties. Download This: "Ocean's Eyes' For Fans of: Parkway Drive, Killswitch Engage, Bleeding Through [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON MYSTERIOUS ECLIPSE 'Hell Of Pain' Now when listening to the third album by Slovakia's Mysterious Eclipse, there are times where the music disallows the vocals from keeping up and so it becomes disjointed, but at other times the overall sound is emphatic i.e. the melodies, brutality and sexual vocals kick in at the same time to develop a generous mix of glass-shattering and soothing ambiance. 'Hell Of Pain' definitely has an appeal to those Black / Death Metal and Melodic Metal fans, but this is no Hecate Enthroned nor is it Arch Enemy softened, instead what you have here is quite possibly the finest metal album this country has seen for a few years. Whilst the band has been around since 1996, they are relatively unknown to Western Europe, however with 'Hell Of Pain' now in their arsenal rally this is bound to change for the better. Download This: "Dark Side Of Humanity" For fans of: Children of Bodom, Arch Enemy, God Dethroned [8] RHYS STEVENSON ANTILLIA (Антиллия)
"Последний звездопад / Last Starfall" Them Russians, they do love their female fronted metal bands and so when Moscow-based Antilla deliver their premier EP, it comes as no surprise that they go full out with their style of Symphonic 'emotional' power metal. "Последний звездопад / Last Starfall" delivers a thunderous explosion of elegant keyboard elements, aligned with the dramatic-operatic vocals, Sonata Arctica-like riffs and drumming, that all together creates a sound that would be epic to play at the top of waterfall or a mountain looking over the ice-caped landscapes of the Russian tundra. Such dramatics in music has never been heard before, whilst on the other hand only Antillia can deliver this sound in such a mind-blowing way. We could see them touring Europe within the next two years if they keep this sound going and push it forward. Download This: "Шаман" For Fans of: Within Temptation, Sonata Arctica, Nightwish (Anette era) [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON DYING DECAY 'Demo 2013' Where does one begin, where does one begin to criticize this release apart from saying that it falls short of anything credible. Germany's Dying Decay have got to improve after this abysmal demo release, the only thing that stands out is the riffs, and even they aren't 100% convincing. Now imagine having a dodgy curry and being on the loo for hours on end, same principle with this release, it is 95% awful. Never mind what style of metal they are aiming for, until they improve the vocals by giving them more prominence and the drums pick up their presence and stop letting the guitars take the lime-light, Dying Decay will be exactly what their band name suggests. 'Demo 2013' is well a shocking release, for all the wrong reasons. [4.5] RHYS STEVENSON KHADAVER 'New World Disorder' What you could easily call 'Dystopian Cyber Metal' is in fact Khadaver's splendid mixture of electronic elements with industrial black metal in such a way that they have developed their own unique sound. 'New World Disorder' is the Slovakian trio's debut album and as long as you're into cold and bitter music you'll be just fine because this music is designed to place chills down your spine. Forged in the darkened areas of Soviet relics in Presov, Khadaver ignite a revolutionary sound that should act as a warning to the people of the EU that inevitable totalitarianism is not just a theory but slowly becoming a reality. Now if you're into films like V For Vendetta, 1984, Iron Sky and the forthcoming film The Fourth Reich, basically any work of art that relates to dystopia, totalitarianism and the whole paraphernalia of total control, then 'New World Disorder' by Khadaver is for you. Download This: "21st Century Antichrist" For Fans of: The Kovenant, Combichrist, Rammstein, Laibach [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON SAPIENCY 'Tomorrow' SAOL After their successful debut album, Germany's Sapiency could not wait to deliver their second smiting album 'Tomorrow', delivering once again their emphatic modern melodic death / thrash metal sound. This album is a whole lot heavier and certainly packs a powerful punch through the cleverly executed switching between clean vocals and death growls, whilst the guitars do their wizardry much better than that of Harry Potter, the drums deliver a rally of thunderous beats and double bass deliverance whilst the atmosphere is of pure sensationalism, this is evidently the new face of modern melodic death metal and as the album suggests, 'Tomorrow' brings a whole lot of new things to the meaning o life, as for the band, well... Bloodstock anyone? Download This: "Weight Of The World" For Fans of: Scar Symmetry, In Flames, 'soul-crushing metal' [8] RHYS STEVENSON WINTERCOLD 'Invoke The Ancient Forces' Perhaps the jolliest release by Swedish Gothic Doom project Wintercold, here again Satanic Tony delivers another bountiful of dark and depressive music but ironically in a more happier way, the 2013 promo / demo 'Invoke The Ancient Forces' is a fruitful hour long and displays a brilliant array of different sounds that will garner a lot of attention. This is a change of sound by the mastermind and it has been executed very well, rather than having just a raw and fuzzy atmosphere, the atmosphere this release delivers is one that could be likened to bands such as Black Sabbath or the modern band Ghost, especially the vocals in comparison are highly similar. It is left to be said that Wintercold rarely ever disappoint, a truly remarkable inspiration to anyone thinking of entering music. Download This: "Death Comes Ripping" For Fans of: Ghost, Black Sabbath, Candlemass [8] RHYS STEVENSON CORNERS OF SANCTUARY 'Breakout' MARCH BABY MEDIA Ah the sound of classic hard rock and heavy metal, hard to escape and hard to not love, even if the band has been going two years and released two albums. Just pure magic, this time that magic falls onto the laps of American trio Corners of Sanctuary and their premier album 'Breakout', with an armada of ballsy classic rock and metal coursing throughout this excellent debut album, a lot of rock and metal fans will enjoy this release by sipping some whisky at the same time. On the other hand there will be some people who will act and speak out against another band trying to modernize Iron Maiden, give over! Iron Maiden is Iron Maiden and Corners of Sanctuary is Corners of Sanctuary, a rising classic metal band that will surely go down well in the UK as they 'Breakout' of the underground. Download This: "Juggernaut" For Fans of: Saxon, Queen, Savage [8] RHYS STEVENSON VESPERIAN SORROW 'Stormwinds Of Ages' THE PATH LESS TRAVELLED American Black Metal tends to be highly over-rated but from time to time you come across an absolute gem and think to yourself, why aren't they huge over in Europe? Such a band is Vesperian Sorrow whose fourth album 'Stormwinds Of Ages' delivers another smacking of sensational and atmospherically charged Symphonic Extreme Black Metal. Armed with blistering paced drums, spine-chilling keyboard symphonies and everything else you would expect from an extreme metal album. The stand out track by far is "Casting Dawn Into Shadow" because of the heavenly angelic vocals delivered by guest musician Erika Tandy (Autumn Tears, Ignitor & Morgengrau), perfectly honestly I think she should become a permanent musician because she adds that missing piece to make the band's sound that extra special and unique. This is no Averse Sefira, this is Vesperian Sorrow and they are going to shred your senses to pieces. Download This: "Casting Dawn Into Shadow" For Fans of: Shade Empire, Grand Alchemist, Saturnian [10] RHYS STEVENSON WINTERBURST 'The Mind Cave' France has always had a love affair with Black Metal, right down to the Les Légions Noires and of course the dark side of the French onions... but turning heads in the underground is Symphonic Black / Death Metal masochists Winterburst, their 2012 album says it all. 'The Mind Cave' lavishes supreme keyboard symphonies with the shrieking and bombastic brutality of pure Black Metal, just imagine the Phantom of the Opera with Varg Vikernes as the Phantom.. you get the idea of what this band is like. With only four years existence and this album to go by, Winterburst could yet become France's most successful Symphonic Black Metal band ever to date. Outrageously rapid drumming coincides with a cascading feeling of devilish riffs and erotic chanting, this is the new sound of the French Black Metal scene. Download This: "The Mind Cave" For Fans of: Dimmu Borgir, 'general Symphonic Black Metal' [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON NORPHOBIA 'Seelenglanz' Well I'm not being funny but if the average listener cannot hear this well enough to detect actual vocals here, how on earth will people with hearing aids be able to hear this? Seriously they need to find a new studio, anyway 'Seelenglanz' is Norphobia's premier album and was released last year. Now the only best bit about the album is that it exists, well ok maybe the guitars deserve credit but the rest of the music, well 1. where is it and 2. what is this? Germany may be good at spewing out metal bands and albums but christ did she have diarrhea delivering this one. Supposedly it's Melodic Black / Death Metal, supposedly the studio needs to be either shut down or redone, because this is just appalling. [4] RHYS STEVENSON DISSONA 'Dissona' Chicago may be the setting for the Broadway of theater productions in the USA, but like with every theater production their is a protagonist, this time the curtain falls onto Dissona, a Progressive Metal ensemble of whom delivered their sophomore album last year, their self-titled musical product delivers the very best of Progressive Metal, ascending vocals take the harmonics of the keyboards along with it whilst the dramatics involving the drums and guitars set out the persona of this release and naturally the band. Whilst it is disconnected from the glut of djent bands who want to become the new Meshuggah, 'Dissona' pinches a whole rally of influences from a wide array of genres, such as Melodic Metal, Avant-Garde Metal and Power Metal, it is down to the listener to pinpoint on each song where these influences are at their most prominent. Download This: "Immersion" For Fans of: Sonata Arctica, Meshuggah, Enochian Theory [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON EMBRACE OF SILENCE
'Leaving the Place Forgotten by God' SOLITUDE The Ukrainian Metal scene seems to be having a glut of Doom and Death Metal bands, almost as if they have a fetish for it, so it's no surprise that when sextet Embrace Of Silence dropped their debut album last year that the feeling of mass depression sets in. 'Leaving the Place Forgotten by God' is almost a moniker that secretly means "we are ghosts", hence dragging out that impending doom feeling, as if your funeral was meant to be a weeping willow affair. As for the music itself, well the Death Metals take the reins very well and pushes the Doom Metal atmosphere into the right direction, sure this album is relatively short for a Doom / Death Metal album, but for those who have patience the feelings felt through the music is breathtakingly impressive. Experience the harshness of Ukrainian doom and bitterness. Download This: "In Angel's Hand" For Fans of: Anathema, Katatonia, My Dying Bride [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON CUERNOS DE CHIVO 'Exterminando A Dios' This could be the band and album that Spain has been waiting for to blast a hole in Europe with, the unrelenting force that Deathcore / Death Metal conquistadors Cuernos De Chivo exert on 'Exterminando A Dios' is enough to make the American mob sound pitiful. Crunching riffs and face-melting vocals will leave you pissing your pants as if you had a hangover after your post-hangover (if you catch my drift). 'Exterminando A Dios' is an essential album for those who love their Death Metal and or Deathcore as gritty as broken up tarmac, essentially an album that speaks a thousand words, but only one one sounds out above the rest, 'extraordinary'. What will the Spanish lot conjure up next is anyone's guess, but it's bound to be brutal. Download This: "La Mano De Dios" For Fans of: Heaven Shall Burn, Buried In Verona, Job For A Cowboy [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON VOXRA 'The Forgotten Hope That None Of Us Have...' Now the question is when will there be a release that features barely any music on it, oh wait. Yes, 'The Forgotten Hope That None Of Us Have...' by Voxra is exactly that. Supposedly it is a one man project that dips into the sounds of dark ambiance, depressive black metal and drone metal. Yeah right, perhaps the studio was shut or something, or the man behind it forgot his notes, because this release isn't even worth entertaining, seriously who would buy a release if no sound or virtually limited sound was on it? You might as well and try to rent air just for amusement. [1] RHYS STEVENSON SEAMOUNT 'Earthmother' Coming from Bavaria one would of thought Seamount's music would be as heavy as the stein's of beer that are delivered at Oktoberfest, but one was wrong. Germany's four piece Heavy Doom lords immerse the atmosphere on a joyous and less depressing sound that you would first expect given their lyrics pertain to paganism as a starting point, but as said they are far from depressing - but they do have that lovely thick bass sound going on. Sure the music on their fourth album 'Earthmother' is nothing new, it still warrants recognition as a decent enough release to garner attention across the continent. A definite must for anyone who loves Black Sabbath. Download This: "Aphrodites Child" For Fans of: Black Sabbath, Huntress [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON ENGRAVED 'Days We Dread' Engraved's 2012 demo is far better than previous releases without doubt, there is a lot more melody expressed in each song and at the same time more brutal vocals, this combined makes the demo much more like epic metal as the seconds tick by. 'Days We Dread' features the melodies exerted by fellow countrymen Scar Symmetry and the vocals of Marionette. But, Engraved play this there way and whilst they are not conventionally known outside of Sweden as such, they ought to be. If their demo 'Days We Dread' is a sign of what their debut album is going to be like, then I for sure will be wanting to hear it, the storm has begun... Download This: "Moments" For Fans of: Scar Symmetry, Marionette, The Unguided, early Sonic Syndicate [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON ZEPHYRA 'Kämpaglöd' Delivering their second EP is Sweden's furiously heavy Zephyra, their latest offering 'Kämpaglöd' delivers extremely bizarre vocals for their music choice, it is almost as if they had layered Black Metal vocals on a Heavy Metal foundation as the vocals are far from being classic Heavy Metal. 'Kämpaglöd' is one of those releases that is nothing special, yet it has something different to it, that classic irony of it being a common rarity. But what makes it like that is not so much the lesser quality of the recordings but more so the brutality pursued through the vocals and even more so the fact that the vocalist is married to the guitarist, whether this has an impact on the ferocity of the release is another question, but boy does 'Kämpaglöd' pack a solemn punch. Download This: "Route 611" [7] RHYS STEVENSON CHOSEN 'Resolution' What I want to know is why these guys are not signed? What on earth are the record labels thinking! Enter Irish Melodic Death Metal duo Chosen with their debut album 'Resolution', how apt the album title is given the amount of times the band has crossed the Atlantic to and from Canada. 'Resolution' itself conjures up that classic sound you would want to hear from a Melodic Death Metal album, gallant melodies push the musical elements to the limits as the guitars and vocals take charge of what could be Irish Metal album of the year. This is far beyond the megalithic Gothenburg sound that seems to dominate the metal waves, no.. 'Resolution' is in a league of its own and with Chosen now firmly set on terra firma once again, eyes will be turning once again to Ireland. Download This: "Mental Clarity" [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON KROWNN 'Hyborian Age' It is clear instantly that Italian Doom trio Krownn know their stuff, their premier demo 'Hyborian Age' which is released in a limited number of 200, features six tracks averaging out at six minutes long each, but never mind that because the music does the talking through thick guitar riffs and a rather bizarre fantasy feel to the music, which is funny since the bog standard doom metal release is meant to deal with depression, impending doom, and the like. There again, if you listen to 'Hyborian Age' closely you can notice a number of influences weaving in and out of the low-sound production. It's a decent enough start and is sure to get this band attention from the major metal music media, but for now they are a Italian gem, waiting to be discovered. Download This: "For The Throne Of Fire" For Fans of: Ghost, Black Sabbath, Cathedral, Candlemass [8] RHYS STEVENSON FORTID 'Pagan Prophecies' SCHWARZDORN Well to say the very least one is a little disappointed by Fortid's fourth album, not only have they depleted in the extreme music sound they are capable of producing, but the songs sound too much a like. 'Pagan Prophecies' is the Icelanders fourth outing and whilst it is the latest album released after their Voluspa trilogy, it is nowhere near as grandeur as their past efforts. But given credit it is a worthy attempt at carrying on their fabled music, 'Pagan Prophecies' is not entirely a slip-up but it is not in the same ball park as previous works that the band has duly done, sure it features a decent onslaught of Black / Viking Metal, but for the band to continue their previous success they will need to work much harder. Download This: "Sun Turns Black" For Fans of: Månegarm, Windir [6.5] RHYS STEVENSON AUTUMN OF AEONS 'Festival Of The Flesh' American four-piece Autumn Of Aeons take no hostages when delivering their latest offering 'Festival Of The Flesh', what can only be described as a delicate mix of gothic imagery, operatic and dramatic rock / metal, think along the lines of Masters of Dark Fire and Bauhaus meeting Therion and Nightwish, you get the idea. 'Festival Of The Flesh' features a plethora of songs that feature booming male and female vocals that take back operatic rock and metal back to its roots. 'Festival Of The Flesh' is sure to capture a lot of peoples attention, it's a shame that 'Festival Of The Flesh' is not an international release because I am sure the German market would love this music! Autumn of Aeons are a band that should be watched closely. Download This: "Midnight Masquerade" For Fans of: Bauhaus, Therion, Type O Negative, Nightwish [8] RHYS STEVENSON GRASSITY
'Genocide' Slamming old school Death Metal coming all the way from Slovakia, Grassity is a force to be reckoned with as the quintet shred bullets in making their premier EP 'Genocide', featuring the classic elements you would find from early bands like Napalm Death and the like, Grassity does all of that and much, much more. 'Genocide' will smash your skull in until you snort your last breath, it is a soul-crushing piece of musical wizardry that will surely get this lot the well deserved attention they need. Four tracks of unrelenting brutality explodes without any remorse and will take you alive, so you better be ready because this lot will put your favorite bands in their place. Download This: "Primitive" For Fans of: Napalm Death, Six Feet Under, Obituary [8] RHYS STEVENSON |
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Global Metal Apocalypse Archives
May 2021
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