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
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