GMA - Vol95 - Hollow Demise, Alter Self, Absence Of The Sacred, Sighisoara, At The Lake

HOLLOW DEMISE
'Hollow Demise'

Considered to be the next band out of South-east England to grace the nationwide press, Hollow Demise are an eight-legged killing machine, playing Death Metal laced with the rapid-fire of Thrash Metal to deliver a two-track sampler of epic proportions. In the sound of Dew-Scented and Hatesphere, the four piece take no prisoners in handing over a face-melting taster of what they can do, will do and hope to achieve by doing what they do, that is create music that will make anyone cry. Hollow Demise will duly be on everyone's lips and as they smash the scene apart, bear in mind that resistance, is futile.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

ALTER SELF
'Promo 2012'

Greek modern Death / Thrash stalwarts Alter Self come back to release their second demo of the band's career. The demo 'Promo 2012' delivers choppy drum kicks, spine-chilling vocals and enough riffs to cause a storm over the Balkans and flatten all the trees surrounding this apocalyptic band. Listeners should prepare themselves as they are strapped in for the ride of their life, taken through a whirlwind of influences from Slayer to Dew-Scented to Talanas and as the final song comes to a close, listener's will be left wanting more. The Greek revolution has come, musically, economically and politically, Alter Self is leading the front line of the battle.

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

ABSENCE OF THE SACRED
'Come Hither O Herald Of Death'
SONIC BLAST MEDIA

It is quite common these days for bands from Singapore to absolutely demolish the studios with their genius and outstanding compositions and Absence Of The Sacred is no different. The quartet delivers a wave-after-wave attack of solidified Death / Thrash Metal music with their blitzing third outing 'Come Hither O Herald Of Death'. Capturing speed on the drums, emphatic riffs and solos and vocals heavy and deep enough to make the metropolis of Singapore City shake with absolute fear. This is a thunderous release with enough brutality to smack any poseur into next Tuesday, but for Absence Of The Sacred, they are taking the Singaporean Metal scene to new levels whilst proudly flying the flag. 'Come Hither O Herald Of Death' is for fans of Morbid Angel, Slayer and Hypocrisy; check it out if you dare!

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

SIGHISOARA
'Lost In Transylvania'

The sophomore album but Sighisoara took twelve years to drop, but boy was it a worthwhile wait, even if the CD drive got covered in dust, it just adds to this timeless classic of a modern age. For the Slovakian sextet, their second album brings out a beautiful and powerful combination of Doom Metal atmosphere and Gothic Metal music. From start to finish, the ten track opus delivers just under an hour's worth of pure solid grim and cold music in emphatic fashion, with a delinquent serving of raw riffs, low-pitched vocals and a dark atmosphere; this will be a hard album to follow on by and is for fans of Paradise Lost and Mercyful Fate.

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

AT THE LAKE
'Mäyä'

When two sub-genres clash together they usually produce a contrasting sound, however when Symphonic Metal and traditional Eastern European Folk Metal come together, it produces a melodramatic and undisputable sound that can only be referred to as heavenly. Such a release comes from Poland's sextet At The Lake and their sensational debut album 'Mäyä', with that epic 'Disney - Epcot' feel to the album, this is a delightful and perhaps easy-listening piece of music that entrances the listener in a blanket of majestic panache and relentless power, with huge bellowing vocals, Apocalyptica-style symphonies and Celtic and Slavic atmosphere, this will be a hard act to follow and would be surprised if it doesn't make Polish Metal album of the year, everything is here: power, beauty and the heart of metal music. At The Lake will without any doubt be a band to watch out for and is for fans of Within Temptation, Dalriada, Eluveitie and Apocalyptica.

[10] RHYS STEVENSON