Band: MANNTRA
Country: Croatia
Title: Venera
Label Croatia Records/Kontra
Year: 2015
Style: Electro Folk Metal

Review:
Folkore and Rammstein in one, heh! New Manntra’s album is a continuation of their musical way, which they started in 2012. „Venera” is a mix of thrash, heavy, folk, electro, some tradiotional folklore voices (croatian „klapa” – kind of traditional style of singing) and small piece of core. For me is a folkmetal album but not typical folkmetal, just Manntra’s folkmetal. I really like this kind mix of great guitar riffs with folklore and piece of electro. Great stuff for open heads! 
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 8/10

Band: MASK OF SATAN
Country: Finland
Title: Promo 2015
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2015
Style: Death Metal

Review:
Ok, we'll refer here only to fans of and within the confines of the retro Death Metal movement as Mask of Satan, although a young band founded this year only, plays exactly that and nothing else, no influences, no elements from other genres. This is their debut demo, a 4 tracks effort lasting for almost 20 minutes of mid-tempo Death Metal highlighted and lead by an excellent, horrifying vocal line that makes the focal point inhere, too. The guitars are ok but a bit too generic and less aggressive than I would have liked, the drums are organic and quite influencial on the whole atmosphere, and the bass lines are quite incisive, too, so all is legit, but unfortunately not impressive. The vocals remind me of Davi Ingram but with a more Horror edge to them so I'd say this is a very good starting point for the band, once you have such an inventive vocalist you can only start building from there. The 3rd track, Asmodeus, is the best in my opinion and that's how I would like the band to sound for the future, too, including the guitar solos, of course. Keep an eye on them, Mask of Satan might prove to be a successful act in the future.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10

Contact:
www.maskofsatanband.bandcamp.com

Band: MIZANTROPIA
Country: Ukraine
Title: Oblivion
Label: Metal Scrap Records
Year: 2015
Style: Gothic Black Metal

Review:
Probably the first band I meet with ladies in their line-up and no band pictures in the CD booklet, this should be a first I tell you, haha. Mizantropia is made of 5 members, 2 of them being ladies (one is vocalist, obviously), but I wouldn't know their names since the booklet is completely written in Cyrillic script so totally out of bound for someone like me who's not familiar with this type of writing. This is the band's second album to date, an 11 tracks effort totaling a bit over 50 minutes of organic and quite raw produced Gothic Metal with intense Black Metal influences, even a secondary shrieking male vocalist. Their music reminds me a lot of a US band that I think it's already disbanded by now, Rain Fell Within, from the vocals to the dramatic use of keyboards, but except to the Extreme Metal part of it, of course. At times the guitars take influences from a distant genre as Technical Death Metal which is pretty bold, but sounds good. An interesting combination, one that was in fashion about 15 years ago but one that died quickly, so at least for nowadays I don't know many other bands trying this path. Good choice if you like a hint of melancholy and (good) female vocals in your Extreme Metal, go for it!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10

Contact:
www.vk.com/mizantropiaband
www.metalscraprecords.com

Band: MYHRDING
Country: Sweden
Title: Nordens mörkaste kapitel
Label: Unexploded Records
Year: 2014
Style: Black Metal

Review:
Second studio album from these Sweden based Black Metallers formed as Myhrding in 2006, Nordens mörkaste kapitel features 12 tracks totaling 50 minutes of playing time. I have to admit after seeing a few photos of these guys and the morbid (excellent though) cover and booklet artowork, I wasn't expecting such a melodic music, Black Metal yes, but a melodic, technical and quite epic type, not the raw and brutal type I was expecting. Their music reminds me of the '90's scene, the Swedish Black Metal scene that is, with occasional remains of the Medieval Black Metal movement also from the '90's. Based on technical guitar riffs, melodic guitar leads and solos, organic and precise rhythm section, a vicious and quite versatile vocalist, and backed up by a crystal clear production, Nordens mörkaste kapitel can compete at the highest Black Metal levels, no doubts, but I wouldn't recommend it to the ones of you looking for the ugly, uncompromising side of this genre, it's a good sounding album following the Swedish Black Metal tradition, but bringing nothing new to the table, the band still needs a bit more work to come up with something of their own and impress throughout the nowadays overcrowded scene.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/Myhrding
www.unexplodedrecords.com

Band: MYSTICAL
Country: Portugal
Title: Infernalis Creatura
Label: Helldprod
Year: 2013
Style: Black Metal

Review:
Mystical are a trio from Silves, Portugal, founded back in 2003, but a band that severely lacks in discographic productivity this one being only their second demo tape to date, a 4 tracks (+ intro and outro) effort releasedon tape limited to only 150 numbered copies by Helldprod. We're dealing here with traditional Black Metal without any influences from other genres, honest and organic music (although the drums are programmed), aggressive and blasphemic as it should be. I liked the guitar work on this release, quite intricate and not monotone as one could expect, but unfortunately the band lacks in a few areas: the atmosphere they create are not intense or mystical or demonic or anything close to horrifying as I would have liked so there's definitely something missing, then the vocals have an excellent tone for Black Metal, but they are way too tied with the general rhythms without looking for their own way, for their ownidentity, or at least that's my impression. Not a bad demo, but not impressive either; I liked the over artwork, too, blasphemic, old-school, perfect.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6.5/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/mysticalofficial
www.helldprod.com

Band: NACHTSCHATTEN
Country: Germany
Title: Prolog
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2015
Style: Melodic Death Metal

Review:
Oh, such a nice surprise coming out of Karlsruhe, a city that gave us such icons as Necrophagist for the Tech Death scene, Umbra et Imago for the Gothic scene or Pink Cream 69 for the Hard Rock scene; the surprise for me was actually the fact that this band is playing a style that was in fashion a decade or more ago, Melodic Death Metal, and I honestly wasn't expecting it to impress me that much. First this release comes in form of a professional Digipack CD with 12 pages booklet featuring all lyrics, all this self-released by the band, but unfortunately with a dull and not imteresting cover and booklet artwork. Then the music is a "traditional" type of Melodic Death Metal, I'd say a mix of Children of Bodom, Amon Amarth and even or especially Crematory, just think of Crematory with a more Death Metal (still quite light and joyous instead of dark and brutal) edge, minus the female vocals and backgound choirs, and with a less incisive keyboard, one that's used as background filling only. Its main highlights are the skillful guitar work, clever compositions and powerful yet comprehensive vocalist. It's a very technical, heavy, melodic, complex and nice flowing release and although it won't amaze anyone with its originality I'd say is an excellent debut for Nachtschatten, one that presents us a band capable of eventually refreshing this nowadays so boring Melodic Death Metal scene, and hopefully they will. 
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10

Contact:
www.nachtschatten-band.com

Band: NEVERENDINGHATE
Country: Spain
Title: La Caída de los Ídolos
Label: Morbid Shrine Productions
Year: 2014
Style: Death Metal

Review:
Spanish duo (not to be mistaken with the Chilean band with the same name) made of Erun-Dagoth, known from his work in Eldereon, Briargh or Undernoise, and Enserune, most probably his lady, and founded in 2013 although the general concept was created by Enserune since 1998. This is their debut demo, a 3 tracks (+ intro and outro) effort totaling 12 minutes of bestial, grim, horrifying Death Metal, a mix between the US and the South American scenes from the beginning of the '90's, defined by mostly fast paced rhythms intersected by some slower and darker ones, good quality riffing, devastating short solos, a terrifying atmosphere and above all the bestial screans of leady Enserune that sounds like a witch in flames, enraged and demented. Yes, I have enjoyes this debut demo a lot, I have also tasted the sad, yet hopeful acoustic guitar outro, a breath of air after a highly energetic and brutal release. This demo was released by Morbid Shrine in a nice black tape format with 6 panels booklet featuring the lyrics as well, not sure if it's limited but I suggest you don't miss any more time and get this one.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10

Contact:
www.morbidshrineproductions.com

Band: NORMAN SHORES
Country: France
Title: Le tombeau de brume
Label: Ossuaire Records
Year: 2015
Style: Black Metal

Review:
I've just finished reviewing the Obscurite debut album and wasn't too impressed by it so honestly when I saw Fog (one of the two guys involved in Obscurite) is the man behind this one man project, I wasn't too keen on listening to it. But once again my prejudices proved to be wrong, Norman Shores, although following a similar Traditional Black Metal path, is way, way more interesting and catchy. This is the second full-length under this moniker, a 9 tracks effort totaling almost a full hour of freezing cold and dark Black Metal with epic melodic guitar riffs and leads, and a dense, oppressive atmosphere that's perfectly portrayed by the cover and booklet artwork, you'll feel alone in a dark forest, terrified, but with a glimpse of hope though; some guitar riffs are quite hopeful and folk-ish if I could say so, but the overall impression is of a frantic and well-crafter Black Metal material. Impressive even though not innovative or original; recommended! 
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10

Contact:
www.lecaveaustudio.fr
www.ossuairerecords.fr

Band: OBSCURITE
Country: France
Title: Contemplation
Label: Ossuaire Records
Year: 2014
Style: Epic Black Metal

Review:
Another band coming out of the nowadays so effervescent French Black Metal scene; this time we're dealing with a duo started in 2013 and with their debut album, a 9 tracks effort totaling almost 50 minutes of Black Metal. Their style I'd say is a '90's type Black Metal highly influenced by the Scandinavian scene, especially by the monotonous, repetitive and almost mesmerizing guitar riffs creating a certain epic melody in the overall atmosphere. Unfortunately in Obscurite's care we're not treated with such an expressive and interesting vocal type as in, let's say, Burzum's case, the vocals here are quite liniar and leading to a boring state after a few listens. The drums are mostly mid-tempo and quite boring as well, except for a few faster parts where they seem to want more from this release. The guitars are actually the most complex and interesting but suffocated at times by their own overuse to a point where all tracks sound one like the other. Well, I've slammed it a bit too much, but such a release was mediocre even in the '90's, no offense guys, there's nothing exciting here; although the execution is not amateurish, the potential might be there and the sound quality is also quite good, but that's not enough.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 5.5/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/pages/Obscurité/533375126762124
www.ossuairerecords.fr

Band: ORACULUM
Country: Chile
Title: Sorcery Of The Damned
Label: Invictus Productions
Year: 2014
Style: Death Metal

Review:
Even if Chile is not the first country we think of when talking about Extreme Metal, the south american scene had always a strong potential. Oraculum proves in his turn the quality coming from this continent.Formed in 2011, this trio released his first Ep including 3 tracks. With his great cover, this opus had immediately attract my attention, and the musical part hadn't disappointed me, on the contrary!Oraculum plays primitive Death Metal, the way it should be !  
From the start, the track The Vessel Of Orichalcum, gives the tunning : forceful riffs, a mostly fast rhythmic punctuated with well placed breaks, the whole shrouded in a primitive atmosphere. These chileans have certainly a solid experience, as the compositions are very mature. They are intense and testify of a constant inspiration. And when these guys slow down like during the instrumental  Passage I,  they also master their subject with crushing parts. But these slack times are short term because the blasphemic assaults are quickly starting again. With Sorcery of the Damned, Oraculum signs a promising Ep which should appeal to the Death Metal maniacs ! 
Reviewed by J.

Band: ORIZEN
Country: Switzerland
Title: Of Life, Death & Salvation
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2015
Style: Black Metal

Review:
One man band from Switzerland started in 2005, Orizen is the result of Richard Leishman's work, a seemingly young guy, and here is have its second full-length album to date, a self-released 8 tracks effort totaling a bit over 70 minutes of playing time. At first I want to remark the excellent cover and booklet artwork (pencil drawings) and the fact Richard tells a story, an interesting story throughout this album and tries to link everything in a single concept. I think he succeeded to blend everything in a complete, expressive and well delivered project, this album being a definite proof of his abilities both as composer and musician. Melodic, melancholic and mesmerizing mid-tempo Black Metal with plenty of excellent guitar work, versatile vocals, deep atmospheres and emotions, at times hinting at the Melodic Doom Death scene. Although it's such a long album I'm sure the listeners will appreciate the effort and by the end will want even more, but the problem is that this material was composed over a period of 6 years, so I don't think we'll get a followup anytime soon, especially since we're talking about a one man band, so the ideas come from one person only, and that limits the posibilities as well. Anyway make sure you don't miss this album if you're into Melodic, Ambient, Emotional Black Metal.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10

Contact:
www.orizen.ch

Band: OUTRE
Country: Poland
Title: Ghost Chants
Label: Godz ov War Productions
Year: 2015
Style: Black Metal

Review:
Blackmetallers from Cracow released their first  full length miasma infernal! At the beginning – slowly and causing insane in the brain, next furiously and quickly. Next - slowndown and technically, crazy noises from the deepest hell. This is not typical blackmetal – this is complex, thoughtful, technical blackemetal with some doom and death metal influences. Seven great pieces of seven gates of hell.  And the last track is a pure painful of nostalgy... Great stuff!
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 8/10

Band: PANDORIUM
Country: Germany
Title: The Human Art of Depression
Label: Bret Hard Records
Year: 2015
Style: Thrash Metal

Review:
Great debut album from this German quartet that already presents itself as a solid contender for the tops of this genre, and I'm seriously thinking that. The Human Art of Depression was released a year after the band changed both the drummer and a guitarist, so after a deep split in the band's continuity, and that proves how capable is the new line-up to recover and regroup. The album is made of 3 acts, 9 tracks, and clocks a bit over an hour of old-school type of melodic and technical Thrash Metal with excellent, modern sounding production, so a fresh release I'd say, and it was firstly selfreleased by the band in 2013, and now picked up by Bret Hard Records. The strongest element on this release is the excellent guitar work, both guitarists are coming up with amazing hooks on riffs, leads and solos, so definitely a point every Thrash Metal maniac will love; the rhythm section is precise and quite groovy, so here's another catchy thing about this band; the vocals are angry and energetic, comprehensive and easy to follow but they sound like something's missing in order to hit you right in the face, they don't have the same impact as the guitars. All in all The Human Art of Depression brings us plenty of melody, catchy elements, metallic elements and energy to enjoy it to the core, a very good debut album that should be followed by a new one asap not to loose momentum. Recommended for fans of modern sounding traditional Thrash Metal without compromises.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/PandoriumBand

Band: PERCIVAL SCHUTTENBACH
Country: Poland
Title: Mniejsze Zlo
Label: RedBaroon Studio / Fonografika
Year: 2015
Style: Folk Metal

Review:
Percival Schuttenbach is one of  more interesting polish folkmetal band.”Mniejsze zlo” („The lesser evil”) is the next step in the musical development of the group. Some of tracks, arranged in oldschool heavy/thrashmetal style are mixed with traditional slavic (polish, ukrainian, byelarussian etc) songs. Blackened and authentic folklore female vocals are exist on this album next to each other. This is authentic folkmetal - a large part of this album is a metal version of authentic slavic folk songs and melodies! The last track is a small joke but great arranged Dead Can Dance cover, „Cantara”. In my opinion „Mniejsze Zlo” is the best Percival Schuttenbach album and one of the best folkmetal albums  and folkmetal stuff issued in Eastern Europe over the past few years! So far lacked such an approach to folk in metal - Percival filled this niche. 
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 10/10

Band: RASHA'IM
Country: USA
Title: An Invocation
Label: Nauseating Whiff Records
Year: 2015
Style: Black Metal

Review:
Debut demo from this new US based trio founded only a year ago, a definite statement of what they are all about and what's theyr chosen path: raw, bestial Black Metal with oppressive, gloomy atmospheres. I have to admit at first I disliked the somehow amateurish way of building the guitar part, but after a while I got into the whole atmosphere and it kind of grew on me. I don't know, probably the way the whole is mixed and mastered, or the very expressive and at the same time impressive razor-sharp shrieks, or the whole repetitive elements, turned out this demo better than expected after a couple of tracks. Don't expect anything innovative, but you can expect a band that seems to know how to create proper Black Metal atmospheres, they might be a nice surprise in the future; this demo is made of 5 tracks totaling 23 minutes of playing time, and if you're a fanatics of demo tapes you can give it a try, that if you'll manage to find it as it's limited to only 66 handnumbered copies.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10

Contact:
www.rashaim.bandcamp.com
www.nauseatingwhiff.com

Band: REVELATION
Country: Belarus
Title: Consciousness
Label: Darknagar Records
Year: 2011
Style: Gothic Doom Metal

Review:
Revelation is a studio project founded back in '99 by two guys, Moon the Loon (instruments) and Warcraft (vocals), a project that released 3 full-length albums and an EP by 2008 when Warcraft decided to quit. Nikolay Popov joined Revelation as vocalist in 2009 and here we have the first fruit of the new collaboration, a 9 tracks effort totaling a bit over 50 minutes. Traditional, '90's type of Gothic Doom Metal with occasional Death influences here and there, that's what Revelation offer their audience, and they do it quite well. Although there's nothing to surprise, nothing innovative or highly unusual to make the band an actual revelation, these two guys are moving well inside the above mentioned genres, the material sounds curdled and well-structured, it flows well and manages to captivate your attention, of course if you're into those styles. Some might have a problem all lyrics are in Russian, also the booklet is printed completely in Russian, but in the end it's the music that counts, and Revelation do a good job. Too bad they are not trying to come up with their own stuff, with something innovative and original. 
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10

Contact:
www.vkontakte.ru/revelationdoom
www.darknagar.ru

Band: SORTILEGIA
Country: Canada
Title: Arcane Death Ritual
Label: Van Records
Year: 2014
Style: Black Metal

Review:
Three years after their promising demo Pestilent Black Sorcery, this canadian duo forming Sortilegia is back with his first album called Arcane Death Ritual. After a ritualistic intro of three minutes, the sharp riffs of Per Atrum Ignem are resounding and makes my blood run cold !
An excellent track which opens in a monumental way the album ! For those who already appreciated Sortilegia with their demo, you won't be disappointed, believe me ! The duo continues his path with an inspired and bewitching Black Metal.  The sound is raw, just as it should be, and fits perfectly to the music. One of the big points of the album is this black atmosphere and this hypnotic aura that radiates from the seven tracks. The quality of the compositions, which are excellent from the beginning to the end will lead you through this ritual of death. Last but not least, few words about the vinyl version of the album which is beautiful. Van Records did a great job as the gatefold  lp is worth ! The digipack cd is also well done. Arcane Death Ritual is a jewel in the pure tradition of the genre. Don't miss it ! Gloria Ad Maledictiones In Perpetuum...
Reviewed by J.

Band: SPEEDEMON
Country: Portugal
Title: First Blood
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2015
Style: Speed Thrash Metal

Review:
Debut release from these Portuguese Speed Thrashers, First Blood comes after they released 2 singles previously, one of them, Road to Madness being part of this EP, too. 4 tracks, almost 15 minutes of playing time, enough to make an impression on what the band wants and what they can deliver. We're dealing with a fast paced (of course), energetic Speed Thrash Metal a la '80's but with polished and modern sound; powerful bass lines, very good riffs, catchy guitar leads with springs from the '80's Heavy Metal as well, fast paced drums, and a hoarse vocalist who's actually not the best around, but he has his own timbre and sounds honest and enthousiastic enough not to fall way behind the very good instrumental part. All in all this is an ok debut displaying a very capable instrumental side and a vocal that needs something more to catch up, maybe a backing vocal or more catchy choruses.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/speedemon.band

Band: SPELLBOUND
Country: Germany
Title: Nothing by the Truth
Label: Bret Hard Records
Year: 2015
Style: Thrash Metal

Review:
Not sure why or if the two previously released albums weren't that successfull for the band, but with this one Spellbound should make a mark on the New Wave of German Thrash Metal and finally spread the resonance of their name all over the World. This third full-length effort is made of 11 tracks totaling almost 50 minutes of US influenced Thrash Metal, I'd say a healthy combination of Testament, Onslaught and Exodus but without sounding like a copycat of any of these. The guitar riffs are so solid you'll feel them like a wall of bricks hitting your head, then the rhythm section is Swiss clock-precise and the vocals are easily comprehensive but at the same time raspy and powerful, with a hint of growl sometimes. The only fault I could find on this release was the vocalist inability to deliver when it comes to clean, melodic tone, the slow song (the ballad of this album) isn't that appealing if you ask me; the rest of the time David manages to keep the attention and interest high and his tone is perfect for such a release. Anyway, this won't spoil your audition, trust me, this is one of the best Traditional Thrash Metal releases coming out of Germany this year, but a bit far from the traditional Teutonic style Thrash though.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10

Contact:
www.spellbound-alliance.de
www.brethard.de

Band: SVILEN KONAC PROJECT
Country: Serbia
Title: Demokratija
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2014
Style: Power Metal Turbofolk

Review:
This interesting and untypical band from Belgrade, which is playing mix of heavy/power metal and turbofolk. Turbofolk is a kind of local Serbian and ex.Yougoslavian disco stuff  like as manele in Romania, chalga in Bulgaria, discopolo in Poland etc. Idea to mix these genres is really explosive, but „Demokratija” is really funfuckingtasting material! Svilen Konac Project took the most known hits from ex-yugoslavian discoteques (artists like Ceca, Jelena Karleusa etc) and played it as melodic heavy metal with folk and powermetal influences. Do you remember Helloween played tracks tribute to Abba and Jean Michel Jarre or polish Inima Salbatica covered romanian manele tracks? Or old Goran Bregovic’s rock band Bijelo Dugme? This is very similar stuff and additional flavor associated with non-musical envelope turbofolk which will be understood in central and eastern Europe more than at the West. Great, great, great stuff by the big letter „G”!!!
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 9/10

Band: THRONE OF EVIL
Country: Chile
Title: Muerte por creencias
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2013
Style: Black Metal

Review:
We're dealing here with a not so productive band if we take into account they only released an EP prior to this debut full-length album, and that was back in 2008, a year after their foundation. Anyway, probably this is the click that will make the band be more active on this level, although this album was released almost 2 years ago, and their Social Media still has no mention of a followup... Talking about this debut album, it is made of 9 tracks totaling almost 50 minutes of raw, aggressive Black Metal with rare Ambient parts to stir things up. At first I was impressed by the cover and booklet artworks that although quite childish in style, are probably very linked with the lyrics and primitivism of this band. The production of this album makes me use the word "primitive", and unfortunately not in a good way; although quite clear and comprehensive it's thin and doen't help at all in creating a dark, offensive, and scarry atmosphere throughout the album. the drums are also awful, at times loosing pace, at other being too fast for the general pace of the music. The vocals are great, at least the Black Metal screams, because the Pagan clean vocals sound a bit dull. And the guitars are a mix of traditional Black Metal with traditional (Thrash?) Metal riffs, good but not impressive. All in all some of you will like it because it's really raw and piercing, but it brings nothing to impress, nothing to stand out from the crowd.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6/10

Contact:
www.throneofevil.bandcamp.com

Band: THY FLESH
Country: Greece
Title: Thymiama Mannan
Label: Odium Records
Year: 2014
Style: Black Metal

Review:
Not sure if the band is still active since there seem to be no more news from them since November 2014 on the social media, but anyway, here I have their debut album, an album that comes after exactly 10 years since the band's foundation (even thouth during this decade the band was active only 4-5 years). 7 tracks, 38 minutes of fast paced, vicious, offensive and grim Black Metal, the traditional way; although not the Greek traditional way, I'd rather place them on a Norwegian mixed with Swedish traditional (second wave of) Black Metal path. An explossive, very thick and oppressive music highlighted by enraging comprehensive Black Metal shrieks, a very pronounced and impressive bass line, blasting drums, and excellent guitar work both on riffs, leads and even solos. Everything seems to be well-thought and well-crafted here, the music becomes mesmerizing at times and yet keeps its occult, terrifying essence, and the top-notch production of all this is also impressive. What can I say, I haven't expected such a great release, I really hope they'll be back soon with a followup as this debut deserves it, also the piano outro of this release seems to open a new chapter not close one.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/thyflesh
www.odiumrex.com

Band: TRIGGER
Country: Russia
Title: Under Hypnosis
Label: NitroAtmosfericum Records
Year: 2014
Style: Death Metal

Review:
Wow, this new Trigger album is a blast! The second full-length effort from the Russian Death Metallers features 8 tracks and clocks 37 minutes of playing time. Mid-tempo to fast paced traditional and groovy Death Metal, a mix of Six Feet Under, Bolt Thrower, Debauchery, Deicide and maybe a hint of Dutch Death Metal, too, a brutal, well-thought and well-executed piece of music that demonstrates that you don't have to be the most technical, or the most melodic, or the fastest, or the most brutal around to deliver fresh, intelligent, complex and catchy Death Metal. Kudos! I like everything on this release, this is clearly something right up my alley when it comes to this genre. 
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9.5/10

Contact:
www.vk.com/triggerband
www.nitroatmosfericum.ru

Band: VEER
Country: Hungary
Title: 27
Label: Caverna Abismal / Neverheard
Year: 2015
Style: Black Metal

Review:
Veer from Hungary have prepared and released their second full-length album 6 years after their debut, but at least it's out on two different formats, CD by Caverna Abismal Records and tape by Neverheard Distro. 7 tracks, half an hour of mid-tempo Black Metal highlighted in my opinion only by the expressive vocals of Jim Jones; to be honest this new album didn't do it for me, it doesn't have too many things that could make me get back to it at a later date, but for me the biggest draw-back was the way too abrasive sound and mastering of the tracks, maybe a sound quality of a higher level would have increased the impression it left on me; the sound is clear though, you won't have problems distinguishing the instruments, but it's too raw for what they seem to create here. But anyway, this new material, as I said is a mostly mid-paced Black Metal with occasional fast parts, mostly dedicated on creating a sombre-like atmosphere; the vocals are a mix of Mayhem and Shining, raw, abrasive type, very disgusting, almost vomiting, and even almost crying at times, and the instrumental part is not monotonous at all, I'd say quite imaginative, but not as expressive and interesting as the vocals. I'd say if you think you'd like a mix of Shining and (mostly) Mayhem, give it a try, maybe you'll like it more than I did.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6.5/10

Contact:
www.cavernaabismal.blogspot.com
www.neverhearddistro.blogspot.com

Band: VEIN OF HATE
Country: Belarus
Title: Dualist
Label: NitroAtmosfericum / More Hate / RTM
Year: 2015
Style: Technical Death Metal

Review:
Debut album from this Belarus based Death Metal band, Dualist crowns 10 years of activity highlighted so far on a discographic level only by singles, demos and EPs. The 10 tracks featured here in a bit over 40 minutes of playing time, are a modern take on Death Metal spiced with all possible influences, from Brutal Death, to Technical Death, to Thrash and even synth and sympho touches here and there. An enjoyable release, quite complex and interesting, with new and different elements that pop up every time making it unforeseeable. The problem is that it's not that memorable in the end, you'll soon forget it although at first it will impress you; so it certainly not be the next big thing, but it will satisfy fans of both Modern Death and Brutal Death, an album that was certainly well prepared and well thought before entering the studio. The production is top-notch, nothing to complain on that level, and the album is also delivered in a nice CD format with 12 pages booklet featuring all lyrics. If you're looking for something sounding different, not Brutal Death, not old-school Death, not modern Death, not Black Death, but definitely something as technical and brutal, something in between.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/VeinOfHate
www.nitroatmosfericum.ru

Band: VILLAINY
Country: Holland
Title: Demo 2011 / Demo 2012
Label: Helldprod
Year: 2014
Style: Thrash Doom Crust Death Metal

Review:
As the title of this material suggests it, we're dealing here with a compilation of the band's previous 2 demos, both selfreleased and CD and now picked up by Helldprod for a tape release. Opening up is the 2011 demo, a 3 tracks effort totaling almost 15 minutes of intense and atmospheric at the same time Extreme Metal, a strange and original mix of Crust, Thrash, Doom, Death and Black Metal very dirty sounding, mystical and somehow satanic, just think of a Crustier and Doomier Swedish Death Metal (first wave) with the energy and atmosphere the Dutch Death Metal bands managed to deliver. The second demo, the one from 2012 is made of only 2 tracks and clocks 12 minutes, and is more inclined towards Thrash Metal this time, but without loosing the Crust element. A very, very interesting band highlighted by a clever and open-minded guitar work and a charismatic vocal type a la Death, I'm sure Villainy will make their mark on the underground scene soon. Make sure you check them out asap.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10

Contact:
www.facebook.com/VillainyOfficial
www.helldprod.com

Band: VOLTUMNA
Country: Italy
Title: Disciplina Etrusca
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2015
Style: Black Death Metal

Review:
When we say Black Death nowadays we immediately think of the Polish scene, but fortunately enough there are some other forms of Black Death still available out there and Voltumna have nothing to do with the highly orchestral and highly polished type of Black Death a la Behemoth let's say. These guys are playing their own type of music, with definite influences for many other genres like Technical Death, traditional Black Metal and even Slan Death Metal if you can believe it. This is their second full-length album, released 2 years after their debut saw the light of the day, and still an inhouse production, fully selfreleased although highly professional in both look and sound; the album has 12 tracks and clocks almost 45 minutes, and comes as CD with 16 pages booklet featuring all lyrics and an excellent artwork throughout, perfectly linked with the band image. From this we understand these guys are in for the kill, they give it all their best and seem to have massive trust in what they do. Back to the music Voltumna managed to gather all sorts of influences and still deliver a curdled product, a nice flowing Extreme Metal release that deserves your attention. In terms of flaws I'd only say they could have used the keyboards more intensively, the backgrounds could have been a bit more powerful than they are, and that's because at times the music soumnds a bit empty, like it's lacking something. But overall a very good release from Voltumna, one that should rise this band's name a bit more in the Extreme Metal scene; if you have the chance get it or at least give it a chance on the net.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10

Contact:
www.voltumnametal.com