GMA - Vol 217 - The Nothing, Chaos Remains, Smallman, Korijenje Vječnosti, Meltdown, Prevail, Conceived By Hate, Devil May, Lamentations, Cult Of Lilith

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