GMA - Vol98 - Agresiva, Hybris, Huldre, Dublin Death Patrol, Adjust The Sun

AGRESIVA
'Eternal Foe'

Revolution, that is the only word to describe the Spanish onslaught brought on by the emphatic debut album 'Eternal Foe' by Madrid Thrashers Agresiva. Corroded by a bountiful load of riffs, grizzly vocals and neck-snapping drumming, 'Eternal Foe' sees the clashing of 80's style Thrash with the tenor of American Power Metal. Just like a horde of bulls on a rampage and the free-flowing attacking style displayed by Real Madrid, Agresiva set the tone for the expectations of Spanish Power Thrash Metal. From start to finish, a non-stop delivery of powerful vocals, brain-smashing riffs and quick-footed drumming is what is to be expected. Is this Spanish Metal album of the year? Might as well be!

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

HYBRIS
'Instinto'
LEYENDA

Hybris return with their fourth offering of Spanish influenced Melodic Power Metal in the form of 'Instinto', this is a truly remarkable album for the Canary Islanders. With over an hours worth of majestic vocals, technical drumming and melodic riffs to capture the atmosphere of being in paradise, or so the listener should be. Whilst this may prove tricky for the non-Spanish speakers, the music instead does the talking, cruising from the deepest depths to the highest heights in metal music, Hybris certainly do not fail to impress with this release, in the tune of crossing Sonata Arctica with Amberian Dawn, this is a pure classic example of exceptional musicianship, it will be interesting to see what album number five brings.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

HULDRE
'Intet Menneskebarn'

No joke, this is proper Eurovision material, no wait let's not stoop that low for a release that is a mish-mash of Eluveitie, Aperion and Arkona. Collectively playing a violin, guitar, bass, drum, a flute and a hurdy-gurdy is sextet Huldre from Denmark. Delivering their Danish myth-laden debut album 'Intet Menneskebarn' in a classical way, it won't take long before the major labels start sniffing this album out. Fuelled by the classics of Danish folklore and tales, this is a truly remarkable album and is sure to get the European Metal scene wake-up call, or at least could act as a wake-up call for anyone. Bouncy music mix with a tongue-twister of Danish lyrics and traditional Folk Metal vocals and result in a definitive piece of music.

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

DUBLIN DEATH PATROL
'Death Sentence'
MASCOT

For a band name which could provoke the Irish and Northern Irish, the septet from California, Dublin Death Patrol return with a vengeance with their face-melting second effort 'Death Sentence', quite literally one song down and you'll be signing your death warrant for enduring a luxury seldom ever done, simply classic Heavy Thrash Metal. Featuring the masterminds Steve Souza and Chuck Billy, they lead a valiant group of musicians on a quest to deliver epic sounds, and they have done. Scintillating riffs merge with brutal drumming and skull-crunching vocals and it is this sound that could shape the band forever, now if this album does not get in the top 20 on the billboard, I shall eat my speakers.

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

ADJUST THE SUN
'Devouring Worlds'

So the debut album from Adjust The Sun is practically Scar Symmetry but adjusted to a different style. Strapping progressive elements to the embodiment of Melodic Death Metal and ending up with a unique sound in that both gender vocals come together, the guitars riff it out to the max and the drummer provides a technical level of musicianship, such is an apt description of the German's debut album 'Devouring Worlds', think of Gojira mixing with Scar Symmetry and you'll get the idea of what this sounds like. For the sextet this is a promising start but the only problem is keeping it up, only time will tell, but for now and especially 2012, witness the birth of a new force in the German Metal scene.

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON