 AGRONA 'Realm Of The Fallen' UKEM It pays to be different and to be different you have to a formula that steps away from the generic layers found within your chosen metal genre, which is exactly what Welsh Black Metallers Agrona have done here with their debut album 'Realm Of The Fallen'. Gone is the over-reliance of fast riffs, blitzing drums and raspy vocals and in comes a rather technical yet atmospheric and heathen approach to Black Metal, with this effort Agrona might as well be thee extreme metal band the Welsh Metal scene has ever so-long been craving. Insane creativity wriggles itself through this leviathan of an album at every second and whilst the barrage continues right till the end, the feeling that Agrona will become big is ever evident. Download This: "Storms End" - Click to listen For Fans of: Dimmu Borgir, Necronautical, Windir [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  DIATRIBA 'Mártires Del Cambio' INDEPENDENT It's not easy to make an album that stand's out easily, nor can it be easy to make an album that has an original sound that is void from other 'already done' sounds. However, take Venezuela's Diatriba and their new album 'Mártires Del Cambio' and you get the feeling that they're avoiding any sort of influence whatsoever, sure they're singing in Spanish but musically they straddle between Thrash, Hardcore and Speed Metal. 'Mártires Del Cambio' has a decent variation in tempo, pace and rhythm across the entire album so there is something for every thrash maniac, arguably this is one of the best albums to emerge out of Venezuela this year and will take something special to dethrone it. Download This: "Judas" - Click to listen For Fans of: Slayer, Biohazard, Motorhead [7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  SENTENCIA ÁCIDA 'Acta Est Fabula' INDEPENDENT If you want something to give you neck-ache and have nothing against listening to music in another language, then the second EP 'Acta Est Fabula' by Venezuelan Crossover Thrashers Sentencia Ácida is your immediate remedy. It comes laden with thick bass lines, raucous vocals and drumming so brutal it makes your last hangover seem mild. It's only around 13 minutes long, so make sure you have enough energy to rock out to this release because you'll need it, there is never a dull moment and no moment where the music becomes unrelenting. Sadly it's nothing new but it still is rather refreshing none the less. Download This: "Crossover Is Not Over" - Click to listen For Fans of: Slayer, Toxic Holocaust, Municipal Waste [7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  CRYPTOGRAM 'Ahrimanic Meditations' INDEPENDENT Seeing as Cryptogram hail from Uruguay, you would have thought they couldn't muster up a production that's decent enough to challenge the Nordic Black Metal scene... well you'd be wrong friend. This trio clearly know more about Black Metal than you'll ever know about the sub-genre, their debut album 'Ahrimanic Meditations' has lyrics in both English and Spanish, but over-arching all of that is their raw and atmospheric Black Metal sound which echoes the greats of Dark Funeral and Marduk; they could even become Uruguay's answer to these bands. 'Ahrimanic Meditations' is by far a solid effort that won't go unnoticed in the underground and with it should give this trio the proponent to go on further. Download This: "The Black Gates Of Cosmic Chaos" - Click to listen For Fans of: Satyricon, Dark Funeral, Marduk [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  VADEMEKHUM 'X' INDEPENDENT It would be pretty fair to say that the reason why the debut album by Uruguayan Death Thrashers Vademekhum is called 'X', is that they marked their 10th anniversary as a band in 2017; although album came out this year. Casting that aside and focusing on the music is simple enough, this quintet deliver Death / Thrash Metal in such a brutal and exciting fashion, leaving you baying for more as the ferocity courses through this full-on metal release. Singing in their native Spanish; who would have thought this language could be so brutal, Vademekhum make no mistake in dropping an album that's bound to catch some attention across the South American metal scenes. Download This: "El Otro" - Click to listen For Fans of: DevilDriver, Dew-Scented, Torture Squad [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  LEFT FOR RED
'Human Complex' INDEPENDENT Slamming their second album on top of the table is Left For Red, now whilst the Midlands quintet primarily bask in the Groove Metal sound, their new album does have elements of Doom Metal dabbled here and there - especially on the first track 'Dancing With Misery'. By no means is this another 5FDP clone, no way, in fact Left For Red have stuck themselves in their own concocted sound. 'Human Complex' comes bristling with the fast and heavy, the slick and groovy, but above all the balls and sweat that makes a compelling metal album... compelling. Marking their ten year anniversary with this album is like when Manchester City won the Premier League by a single goal difference, it leaves you on the edge of the seat anticipated for something magical, boy does it deliver. Download This: "Hand Of God" For Fans of: DevilDriver, Iron Maiden, Slipknot [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON
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 PALE BASTARD 'Pale Bastard' INDEPENDENT Casting aside the overshadowing Welsh 'core' scene for a second, Stoner Metal crew Pale Bastard prove that there is more to the Welsh Metal scene than tight jeans, breakdowns and the occasional sheep-shag (yes it's an outdated joke, but it's still funny). Having crafted their self-titled debut album with such finesse, it's difficult to see where they can improve before their next outing, but there is always room for improvement right? However, it goes without saying that this is an album that any Stoner Metaller will be proud of, with grooves as thick and choking as the Welsh coal mines and riveting riffs laying down the red carpet for the ballsy atmosphere to take charge, Pale Bastard are certainly primed, tipped and ready to explode upon the British Metal scene with a brutal arsenal at their disposal. Download This: "Spider Blood" - click to play For Fans of: Orange Goblin, Fu Manchu, Kyuss [7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  LELAHELL 'Alif' METAL AGE PRODS. Four years have eclipsed since the debut album by Algerian Death Metallers Lelahell saw daylight, since then there has been a few members leave and thus has left frontman Lelahel taking command. Taking over bass duties and recruiting Hannes Grossmann on drums as guest, the Algerian outfit unleash their second album 'Alif' which offers more of the infatuating style of Death Metal presented on their debut 'Al Insane... The (Re)Birth of Abderrahmane' albeit with Black Metal influences dotted here and there. It's been some time coming but 'Alif' delivers without fail, offering a slaughtering barrage of tight-ass riffs, menacing bass-lines and gut-rotten vocals along with crystal-clear production. 'Alif' may well be the album to set the Algerian Metal scene alight and bring much-earned attention to this part of the world, Lelahell are flying the flag for Algeria. Download This: "The Fifth" For Fans of: Aborted, Unleashed, Behemoth [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  TURBYNE 'Origins & Endings' INDEPENDENT Just for a second, think about the fact that Scotland has other metal bands. You know, other metal bands than that Pirate Metal band (you know who). Bands like Turbyne whose recent Bloodstock appearance was a statement of intent, a statement to prove that there is a truly active scene north of the border. Harking back to their debut album 'Origins & Endings' it's clear the band wanted to avoid being shackled down as just another flashy Melodic Metal band, determined to add some grit and attitude to the mix and the result is one of beauty. Sure members have come and gone since then (2015), but the formula will remain the same, this might be 'Turbyne Metal' but whatever it is, it's a breath of fresh air. Think Cypher 16 meets Scar Symmetry meets Iron Maiden, a metal concoction that will leave you drooling for more, the origin of Turbyne is Dumfries, Scotland, but the ending is nowhere to be seen. Download This: "The Fate Of A Dying World" For Fans of: Scar Symmetry, Iron Maiden, Cypher 16. [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  OBZIDIAN 'Obliteration Process' ROCKSECTOR 17 years in and now four albums down, things cannot get any rosier for Obzidian could they? Well unless you count their amazing set at Bloodstock showcasing material from their latest album 'Obliteration Process', their tight-ass combination of Progressive Thrash and Death Metal is so sublime you'd have thought this band would have graced the bigger stages by now. Since 2012 they've been in a sturdy 2 year-album cycle, having had a rocky start in the beginning and 9 years between their debut and follow-up. But with this effort the Staffordshire outfit have clearly shed that past off and emerged with a glistening and sparkling sound, one that will bleed the ears of whomever checks this brilliant outfit out. Thundering drums, crunchy riffs, venomous vocals and a ballistic bass-line come together to leave you totally battered. Download This: "They Led The Fall" - Click to listen For Fans of: Malefice, Gojira, DevilDriver [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  NARSARAKH 'Thy Doomsday Lord Enthroned' INDEPENDENT Brunei's Narsarakh are a leading beacon in their national scene, 9 years in and their debut album comes out with a dank, dark and filthy sound, one that is as extreme as the Asian Metal scene itself. 'Thy Doomsday Lord Enthroned' takes the best from the Atmospheric, Black and Death Metal styles, through the use of harmonious keyboards, gritty vocals and riffs, this quintet are proving themselves to be capable of delivering a melting pot of sounds... a lot more than the initial one-man project did. Expect to flit from the rawest of raw sounds in the Black Metal dominion to the majestic of majestic sounds a Death Metal band could throw up, granted it's no groundbreaker in terms of 'it's been done before', but it's a solid enough release to get heads turning in the South-East Asian Metal regions. Narsarakh are flying the flag for the Bruneian Metal scene. Download This: "Storms Of The Nine Kingdoms" For Fans of: Demonic Resurrection, Behemoth, Unleashed [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  SRD 'Smrti Sel' ON PAROLE A one to watch in the Black Metal world, Srd are a Slovenian quintet who formed from the ashes of Terrorfront (project of Goran Slekovec) and with their debut album only just released last year, a year or so since the band's inception, this is one band that will rock the very foundations of the greats. Bands like Watain, Immortal, etc., will befall to the swagger and menace Srd deliver, their debut album 'Smrti Sel' is sung in mostly the Slovene language, but does have some English songs in the mix. It's amazing how such a South Slavic language can be utilised with Black Metal to create something so dramatic, so grim, so dark that you will be sweating in fear as the music sends blackened shocks down your spine and the suspense makes your hair stand on end. Download This: "Kupa Trpljenja" - Click to listen For Fans of: Eastern Front, Immortal, Carpathian Forest [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  LYNCHPIN 'Millennial Holocaust' DEAD SEA RECORDS CARIBBEAN This is no Pirates Of The Caribbean story, there is no black pearl, no dead man's chest, only some rather brutalising metal bellowing out, spewing across the sandy beaches and wind-swept palm trees of Trinidad & Tobago. The passage of course refers to Lynchpin, who after Wacken hit the studio to deliver their second EP 'Millennial Holocaust' and by steel drums did they deliver. OK enough with the puns. Lynchpin don't take no nonsense, this EP demonstrates that as they unleash a torrential flood of Progressive, Death, Nu Metal and Metalcore altogether in one solid package. There is never a dull moment on this EP, the metal does not slow down, nor does it go stale. If you're looking for something exotic, something brutal, something metal as f*ck, you've come to the right review. Lynchpin are flying the flag for the Trinidadian Metal scene. Download This: "Graves Of A Thousand Unknown" For Fans of: Meshuggah, Machine Head, Necrophagist [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  EMPHASIS 'Soul Transfer' RED RIVET Estonian Symphonic Prog Metallers Emphasis return with their second offering in the form of 'Soul Transfer', featuring a lengthy journey across soaring melodies, harmonious symphonies and beautifully orchestrated pieces, this is a step up from their debut album and with a new drummer at the helm (Stanislav Lint), the future looks bright for the quintet. The album thunders along for a whopping 73 minutes, but what makes it worth the lengthy wait is that the instrumentals included break the songs up; ingenious. 'Soul Transfer' carries on the soft yet powerful style of metal Emphasis have created, it's almost in Within Temptation territory. Given the evident planning that has gone into this album, it won't be long before Emphasis grace the rest of the Europe with their infectious masterpiece. Download This: "Leviathans" For Fans of: Within Temptation, Dream Theater, Tarja-era Nightwish [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  MOTÖR MILITIA 'World In Flames' INDEPENDENT Seven years have passed since Bahraini Thrashers Motör Militia released an album and now they present to the world, the 'World In Flames'. With three new members in the line-up including a new vocalist, this album is by far the best material they've ever released. Thrash Metal is the staple sound of this band, but on this album they manage throw in the occasional Middle Eastern vibe on the guitars. Otherwise the album is a neck-snapping work of magic, from start to finish there is the unrelenting surge of power coursing through each and every song. It's hard to see Motör Militia turning back after this, it's an album worthy of international recognition and could very well prove to be thee album to expose the Bahraini Metal scene to the world. 'World In Flames' arguably is one of the finest Thrash albums to be released for the last few years and reassures Motör Militia that they are flying the flag for the Bahraini Metal scene. Download This: "Reckoning" For Fans of: Holy Moses, Suicidal Tendencies, Evile [9/10] RHYS STEVENSON  NECNON MORTUSS
'Válečné Konflikty 20. Století' INDEPENDENT The Czech Metal scene does seem to be slightly secluded from the rest of Europe, but it's bands like Necnon Mortuss who keep the underground thriving. Sure it's been six years since their second album, but was the wait worth it? Kind of. 'Válečné Konflikty 20. Století' is a decent enough effort but it just does not make the cut, there is something missing, that something is deviation, most of the songs seem to have a similar pattern in the music and this is what drags the album through the dirt. Props go to singing in their native tongue, but the album itself fails to shift out of third gear. Despite this, the album is a decent effort but falls short of being excellent, it's not terrible but it's not sensational either. Download This: "Karpatsko-Dukelská Operace" For Fans of: Cannibal Corpse, Vesania, Aborted [6/10] RHYS STEVENSON  X.KERNEL 'Face The Truth' CIMMERIAN SHADE 'Face The Truth' is the debut album by the Ukrainian Cyber Melodic Death / Metalcore outfit X.Kernel and boy does it captivate throughout the entire album. By lacing a industrial / cyber style of music on the keyboards with the sheer magnitude of the Melodic Death Metal / Metalcore crossover sound, the quintet X.Kernel have clearly demonstrated that they're not adverse to challenging the conventional norms and in doing so have delivered an album that is worthy of international recognition. If they can maintain this futuristic sounding style of metal they've constructed, they may well just become The Ukraine's latest successful export after their fellow countrymen Jinjer secured a deal with Napalm Records, one can imagine the likes of Nuclear Blast being interested in this one. Imagine Sybreed being mixed with Asking Alexandria and Scar Symmetry and you get the idea, cyber metal flirting with heavenly melodic death metal and brutally-tinged Metalcore. Download This: 'Kingdom Of Pain' [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  BEHATED REIGN 'Encounters Of The Worst Kind' INDEPENDENT It's no secret that South America has had a relatively low-key history in terms of metal exports, except for Brazil's Sepultura and Nervochaos, Argentina's Skiltron and to an extent Colombia's Eshtadur. Venezuela on the other hand doesn't throw up any successful metal exports, until perhaps now where Behated Reign are the juggernaut this scene has been waiting for. Their debut album 'Encounters Of The Worst Kind' embraces the Melodic Death Metal sound with ease and comes dabbled with elements of Black Metal (in the riff department), it's a tour-de-force that will sure garner the band attention across planet metal. Having been in a previous incarnation in the form of Beheaded (2012-2015), the 2015-present ensemble Behated Reign are sure to knock on the doors of opportunity with this irresistible effort. Download This: 'Insanis' [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  AK-47 'AK-47' INDEPENDENT Latino Thrash Metal is one thing you could call the sound devised by AK-47, or you could call it raw Thrash Metal, whatever you decide to call it, their debut demo is one of promise. Hailing from Uruguay this quintet play Thrash Metal and sing in their native Spanish language giving it that original and authentic feeling. Sure the demo itself is only two tracks long, but it's a solid effort which leaves much anticipation for their debut EP or album. Despite the demo having a low-budget artwork design, the sound certainly is not low-budget, far from it. Thunderous drums lead the backline whilst the riffs rampage on, all whilst the vocals polish off the tracks with enough headbanging opportunities to give you conclusive whiplash. Download This: 'Amos De La Guerra' [7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  CRUSHEM 'OBS' INDEPENDENT There are times where it's best to stick to the 'already done' and then of course there are the times where originality should take centre stage. However and somehow Turkey's Crushem seem to have gotten themselves stuck in the middle, their debut EP 'OBS' delivers a modern approach to the Death / Groove Metal crossover genre, but some of the components are nothing new and so the EP unfortunately lands itself in the 'been there, done it' basket. There are moments where the EP could swing into more favourable territory but these are too rare for the EP to be considered an interesting listen and rather just something to pass the time of day. With the correct vision and aptitude, Crushem could craft something much more memorable rather than something just to be in existence. Download This: 'Trial' [6/10] RHYS STEVENSON  ORCHID SWORD '大躍進' INDEPENDENT Could this be the birth of 'Orientalcore' or Oriental Metalcore? Well Taiwan's Orchid Sword certainly seem to want to embrace the westernised Metalcore style with the basic breakdowns and chugging riffs that you would expect, but draft in oriental sounds by using a keyboard; it might sound more impressive with traditional instruments, a er-hu per se. However, the other aspect that makes this band and their debut album ' 大躍進' evidently oriental is the language choice, embracing their traditional Taiwanese they have created a truly unique and authentic sound that should get some attention from overseas – this stuff usually gets some form of international attention. Taking an overall aspect this album is something magical that will propel Orchid Sword into the limelight, here cometh the pioneers of Orientalcore. Download This: 'Empty 6' [7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  APOCRIFO MANIFESTO 'Manifiesto' INDEPENDENT Hailing from Argentina, Heavy Groove Metallers Apocrifo Manifesto make their debut EP 'Manifiesto' a little basic and unadventurous despite using their native Spanish as language of choice. The EP is too casual for it to be taken completely seriously but does offer glimmer of hope at various points of something special to come. But for the time being it is a decent effort, it is hoped they will build on this effort and come up with something more striking. The atmosphere is just not as potent as it could be, the vocals are OK, the guitars are what you expect and the drums, well simple as they can be. Download This: 'Alpha-Omega' [5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  BLUNT SHOVEL 'Get In The Ground' GOATSOUND Now this is what you call some brutally heavy sh*t, seriously the debut album by Australia's Blunt Shovel is savage enough to rip the skin and muscle from your face. The unrelenting concoction of Death Metal-infused Metalcore is menacing enough to leave your underwear stained. 'Get In The Ground' is their debut album and it will certainly keep you occupied just as long as you can keep headbanging or air guitar playing, because it demands your immediate attention and does not let go without a fight. Fire and fury underpins this unforgiving release and it's final strike is the unrelenting ability to never stop. Download This: 'Tongue Hung Pinata' [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  ANOMALIE 'Visions' ART OF PROPAGANDA Austria has always had a success story at nurturing the Black Metal scene and yet despite the slight lack of bands expanding beyond borders, it still has a thriving and enticing scene. Dropping their third album is Atmospheric / Post-Black Metal ensemble Anomalie, 'Visions' definitely brings the chills down your spine with an icy, Alpine breeze that is almost impossible to resist. To be fair it's the kind of Atmospheric Black Metal you could fall asleep to, sure it's similar to bands like Winterfylleth and Fen, but it works and will certainly appeal to the wider metal music fan and not just those enticed by Black Metal as a whole. Anomalie are a band to keep tabs on as this effort shall certainly turn heads. Download This: 'Vision VI: White Forest' [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  DEMOCRATUS 'Starting Again' INDEPENDENT The Welsh are always regarded as singers when they speak, but when they let open the gates of hell for metal music to enter into their lives, their true singing abilities kick into being. Back after a 2 or so year plunge into the abyss with line-up changes and what not is South Welsh crew Democratus with their slick streamlined slab of Melodic Death Metal, successfully demonstrated on their aptly named EP 'Starting Again'; it would be cool if they crafted a song in the Welsh language, but for now let the EP strike a chord in the underground for it will serve as a building block for the next few years or so. Whilst at times the EP breaks into Thrash territory especially on 'Furious Horde' (but retaining the core Melodic Death sound), it does evade the shackles of the generic formulas so many other Melodeath bands have used over the years and thus giving the EP a greater meaning to it's existence. Download This: "Furious Horde" For Fans of: Scar Symmetry, Bloodshot Dawn, At The Gates [8/10] RHYS STEVENSON  THEOPSYA
'Endless' INDEPENDENT 6 years may seem a long while, in the case of France's Theopsya it certainly is seeing as they've had a line-up change and apparent hiatus during the period between their debut EP 'Tales Of An Angel' and their long-anticipated debut album 'Endless'. The magic has never gone away and with this effort they have shown they are more than ready to let rip on the world once more, hopefully with their newfound sound of glistening melodies and thunderous riffs they can rack up the attention worldwide. 'Endless' is a huge testament to the Melodic / Symphonic Goth Metal crossover and never stops entertaining throughout. Whatever Theopsya have planned next it it sure to be anticipated with high expectations because simply put, 'Endless' is a sumptuous piece of musicianship that is certain to tingle many ears alike. Download This: "Emerald Heart" For Fans of: Nightwish, Epica, Within Temptation [8.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON  THE NOTHING 'War Of Memories' INDEPENDENT If you want a face-punching slab of metal designed to leave you stunned, then check out The Nothing and their debut album 'War Of Memories'. Mixing a delicate balance of Metalcore and Melodic Death Metal (in the Gothenburg vein), Argentina's The Nothing show their contemporaries that there is more to their country than just football and red wine, in fact 'War Of Memories' might be seen as slightly political given the nature of the Falklands, nether-the-less the album is a force to be reckoned with and will certainly appeal to those who are fans of the Gothenburg Melodic Death Metal and American Metalcore styles. Download This:- "Broken Silence" - click to listen For Fans of: Scar Symmetry, The Agonist, Arch Enemy [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  CHAOS REMAINS 'Roots' INDEPENDENT Can you get any tighter than this? Austria might not spring to mind at first for the whole Melodic Death Metal / Metalcore crossover genre, more-so the dominating Black Metal sector. But when bands like Chaos Remains arise from the snow-laden streets of Vienna, with a calculative onslaught of technical riffs, unrelenting drumming and vocals so brutal that they cause seismic tremors in the Alps, you cannot help but keep your ears turned on to 'Roots'', the debut EP by this 10-legged machine. High hopes are placed on this outfit, for 2017 will be their year that they explode onto the wider European Metal circuit with a bright future ahead of them. Download This: "Marionette Of Media" - Click to listen For Fans of: The Dead Lay Waiting, Bleeding Through, Arch Enemy [8] RHYS STEVENSON  SMALLMAN 'Inner Oceans' INDEPENDENT Taking inspiration from Balkan folklore and latching it onto an ethereal mixture of Folk, Progressive and Sludge Metal, Bulgaria's Smallman are a tough nut to crack. Delivering their latest offering in the shape of their first ever EP 'Inner Oceans', you could argue that they wallow in the Post-Metal and Shoegaze genres too as their rather atmospheric sounds encapsulate your senses and leave them in complete suspension. So if you love to listen to something rather calm and pleasant, then 'Inner Oceans' should be your next purchase. Download This: "Fenix" - Click to listen For Fans of: Ethereal Music, Metal [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  KORIJENJE VJEČNOSTI 'Poglavlje Prvo' INDEPENDENT Korijenje Vječnosti means 'Roots of Eternity' in Croatian, now just because they sing about Croatian patriotism amongst other topics, does not mean that they're far right supporters. Arguably Korijenje Vječnosti are Croatia's answer to England's Winterfylleth as their style of Black Metal is so raw, thick and blazingly chaotic, moreover since they sing about nature, eternity and mysticism one can definitely separate them from the common subjects found within Black Metal. 'Poglavlje Prvo' is the debut album by this quintet and whilst sung mostly in Croatian but for one song "Panzer IV", it certainly adds a Slavic feel to the music. There are good hopes for this Croatian horde as they brandish the music of what one could call 'The New Wave of Croatian Black Metal'. Download This: "Vatra Koja Vječno Gori" - click to listen For Fans of: Carpathian Forest, Winterfylleth, Burzum [8] RHYS STEVENSON  MELTDOWN 'MeltDown' INDEPENDENT Fresh from the city streets of Prague, the Czech sextet Meltdown muster all their might together to unleash a horrific slab of Melodic Death Metal, tinged with various other elements along the way all of which combined amass to one decent listening. Stamping their ground with their debut self-titled demo, they are set on course for great things and are sure to gain attention of the record labels in the coming year. If they keep this formula together and use it on their first EP and first album then they will be laughing all the way to the bank, because I have never heard such a strong demo like this before. MetalGate, Napalm, Spinefarm, are you listening? MeltDown are the Czech Republic's newest, hottest property. Download This: "I Am Unbowed" - Click to listen For Fans of: Scar Symmetry, Children Of Bodom, Wintersun [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  PREVAIL 'War Will Reign' INDEPENDENT Are we staring at the latest hot property to emerge from Denmark? F*ck yes! Stamping their authority down with forceful reckoning in-tow, this Modern Metal machine bolts together the funk of Groove Metal with the unforgiving brutality of Death Metal to craft a sound that will blast your skin off before crushing your bones to ashes. 'War Will Reign' is Prevail's debut album and it's an absolute belter, seriously this is some menacing sh*t. Topping this extraordinary sound is some rather slick and smooth melodies that just top it off all so nicely, so why not sit back, sip a cup of tea or down a stein of beer and enjoy one of the finest releases of the Danish Metal scene in 2016. You dirty animal you. Download This: "Face What Remains" - Click to listen For Fans of: Amon Amarth, Dagoba, Illdisposed [8.5] RHYS STEVENSON  CONCEIVED BY HATE 'Death & Beyond' SATANATH Four years has passed since the debut album by Conceived By Hate dropped, and now the Death / Thrash Metal horde from El Salvador drop their second album with a mighty explosion. Their music is solidly bolted in the old-school style and so should garner much appeal from those who are fans of bands like Destruction, Sepultura and Holy Moses. 'Death & Beyond' is a 46-minute romp with no second spent being wasted faffing around, no no this is no poseur material, this is the real deal. For a band who comes from a scene with very little media coverage or anything in the ways of a metal music industry, this is a solid release that connoisseurs of exotic metal should also invest time in instigating. Download This: "The Underdog" - Click to listen For Fans of: Above mentioned bands. [8] RHYS STEVENSON  DEVIL MAY 'Novus' INDEPENDENT For a band who just started out in 2015, their first EP 'Novus' is a juicy and cumbersome release, through the well-executed sound of Melodic Groove Metal comes this tight-knit unit from Wales, set to brush aside their nation's overshadowed Metalcore tagging. 'Novus' means new in Latin and for sure Devil May are new to the scene, their sound might not be completely new but their compositions certainly are something to behold. Here is a band destined to make a statement in the UK and if they're to enter BOA's Metal To The Masses this year, here's hoping they win their respective heat because this heavy sh*t will go down bloody well at BOA. Download This: "Severed" - Click to listen For Fans of: DevilDriver, Devil You Know, Lamb Of God [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON  LAMENTATIONS 'Echoes In The Wind' INDEPENDENT Over recent years the South-East region of Asia has become a hotbed for sensational talent and by honing onto the Singaporean Metal scene, there seems to be a huge swathe of bands following in their leaders steps, that band being Impiety. Hailing from the 'Lion City', this Progressive Death Metal unit certainly know the difference from true progressive metal and the over-followed djent movement. 'Echoes In The Wind' is the duo's premier album and whilst it leans more towards the Progressive side of the Progressive Death Metal sound, and in doing so doesn't quite contest Gojira, it does however offer itself as an enjoyable listen. By combining a folkloric feel to it through storytelling and using native influences, Lamentations are certainly an exciting duo to keep an eye on. Download This: "Rivers Of Past" - click to listen For Fans of: Gojira, Ne Obliviscaris, Dream Theater [8] RHYS STEVENSON  CULT OF LILITH
'Arkanum' INDEPENDENT Iceland has seen a constant output of metal from the extreme styles over the last two decades and newcomers Cult Of Lilith are no exception. Technical Death Metal at it's most centralist point, that being a fine balance between tricky, complicated riffs and full-on Death Metal. 'Arkanum' is the band's debut EP and echoes a lot of the old wizardry used by other bands in the same style. Granted it's nothing new and probably won't surprise anyone, but it does do the job that the band set out to do and presents itself as a breath of fresh air for those craving Technical Death metal of yesteryear, simply mesmerising. Download This: "Night Hag" - Click to listen For Fans of: Cryptopsy, Spawn Of Possession, Gorguts [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON |
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