Anal Vomit - Peste negra, muerte negra
Anarchos - Descent into the Maelstrom
Archemoron - Sulphur and Fire
Archgoat - Whore of Bethlehem
Ashtar - Ilmasaari
Beth-Shemesh - The Last Chant of the White Wolf
Captain Cleanoff - Rising Terror
Concatenatus - Meditation Through the Inner Vortex
Dan Deagh Wealcan - Who Cares What Music Is Playing In My Headphones
Demonic Manifestation - World of Horror
Disthrone - Anti-System
Echo ov Desolation - Je serai ma chute
Elforg - Elforg
Emrevoid - Riverso
Fumes of Decay - Festering Abscess Fornication
Gathering Darkness / Tyrants Blood - The Light Won't Save You
Helligators - Road Roller Machine
If I Die Today - Cursed
Insane Attitude - Swarming in Decadence
Insepulto - The Necrodex
Insolitum - Infestus
Invoker - Aeon
Israthoum - Antru Kald
Kali Yuga - Kali Yuga
Killing Gandhi - Cinematic Parallels
Page 2:
Mad Parish - Procession
Necrotic Woods - The Nameless Dark
Omheten - Sjalv
Polarized - Western Hypnosis
Possession - 1585-1646
Radogost - Dziedzictwo Gór
Runika - Demo’15
Rusty Pacemaker - Ruins
Slowtorch - Serpente
Spasmodic - Mondo Illustrated
Torchia - Ending Beginning
Valdur - Pathetic Scum
V-Anger - In Shovel We Trust
Varang Nord - Fire of the North
Vargsang - In The Mist Of Night
Watch Out Stampede - Tides
Weltering in Blood - Rise of the Necronaut
Band: ANAL VOMIT
Country: Peru
Title: Peste negra, muerte negra
Label: Gates of Hell Records / Icarus Productions
Year: 2015
Style: Thrash Black Death Metal
Review:
Fourth, long awaited, album of this Peruvian Extreme Metal legend, Peste negra, muerte negra gets released 6 years after the previous full-length, so I guess their fans are finally happy especially since this new album is released both on vinyl and CD, and I have a feeling it won't be long until it will be out on tape, too. 9 long tracks totaling 40 minutes of total destruction and violence, something anyone familiar with this band is used to, a proper lesson in organic, visceral, hateful Extreme Metal stripped to the very bones, no effects, no tricks, no modern touches, just plain and simple traditional violence in music. If you're looking for aggressive, fast and punishing traditional Extreme Metal you won't be disapointed by this new Anal Vomit album, that's for sure: mid-tempo to (mostly) fast paced rhythms, catchy riffs, schizophrenic Death Metal solos, ferocious vocals, impressive bass lines with excellent influence in the overall music, and pounding drums where comes my one and only complaint, I'm not that fond of the snare drums sound, but except that this album absolutely rips you apart. Metal brutality in it's purest form, mandatory!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9.5/10
Contact:
www.facebook.com/ANAL-VOMIT-oficial-301683759950705
www.gatesofhellrecords.com
www.icarusmusic.com.ar
Band: ANARCHOS
Country: Holland
Title: Descent into the Maelstrom
Label: Helldprod Murder Records
Year: 2014
Style: Death Metal
Review:
After a demo in 2012 Anarchos are back with their first official EP, a 5 tracks effort totaling a bit over 20 minutes of old-school Death Metal, of course, what else? The expressive and quite memorable cover artwork by The Crystallomantic Art perfectly introcudes the listener in the atmosphere and offers a hint of what to expect. Anarchos are a mix of Swedish Death Metal, local, Dutch Death Metal and also a bit of Tampa Bay brewed Death Metal, a bit of everything resulting into a mid-tempo to fast paced Metal of Death well-thought and well-delivered, but unfortunately not expressive enough to keep me interested for more than a couple of spins. The guys are good musicians, in terms of old-school Death Metal they are doing everything as they should, but the atmosphere lacks the most inhere, throughout the whole EP I have the constant feeling something's mising in order for this music to become as dark and somber as I'm sure these guys initially designed it. Maybe I've been listening to too much of this Death Metal that I've become numb, I'm not surem, but it's certain the band is good but doesn't clicked with me.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6.5/10
Contact:
www.facebook.com/anarchos666
www.helldprod.com
Band: ARCHEMORON
Country: Greece
Title: Sulphur and Fire
Label: Cryptia Productions
Year: 2015
Style: Black Metal
Review:
If you're a fan of the bombastic Greek Black Metal scene, you most probably like this new Archemoron full-length, and I'm saying this because I too am a devoted follower of this scene and I have really enjoyed this album. Archemoron was active between 1999 and 2008 as Ancestor playing Heavy Thrash Metal, but in 2008 switched to Black Metal and three years later their first studio album under the new moniker was released. Now it was about time for a followup, and Sulphur and Fire comes in form of a 10 tracks effort totaling almost 70 minutes of atmospheric, melodic, expressive Black Metal, actually a mixture of the second wave of both Norwegian and Greek Black Metal scenes with some modern Black Death influences here and there. Good and clever guitar riffs, same goes for the solos, versatile vocals (although they can do even better), frantic rhythm section and excellently built dark and oppressing overall atmospheres. I like the fact the band's compositions are not stale, they explore in every direction, even when it comes to rhythms, so the listener can taste from slow, ambient rhythms, to fast and energetic ones, but all heading towards the same epic and sinister path. A good album, give it a try!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10
Contact:
www.archemoron.com
cryptiasyn@yahoo.com
Band : ARCHGOAT
Country : Finland
Title : Whore of Bethlehem
Label : Debemur Morti
Year : 2015
Style : Black Death Metal
Review:
Archgoat's debut go back to the end of the eighties. However, his first full lenght was only released in 2006!The reason for that was a hiatus of many years, more exactly from 1993 till 2004. Two years after, these finns released the album we are talking about here, Whore of Bethlehem. First released by Hammer of Hate, it's during the summer of this year, that it has been rereleased again, as the french label Debemur Morti had the excellent idea to make it available again on vinyl and CD. As usual, Debemur did not skimp on the quality and offers magnificient vinyl and cd versions. A great initiative as the album had become rare apart from exorbitant prices on sale sites which are not necessary to mention here. On the border between Black and Death Metal, Archgoat set the bar high with this first full lenght. The trio have quickly know how to distance himself from the rest of the bands. Primitive riffs playing on a fast tempo which brings down everything on the passage, Sinisterror, whose strike is like shells exploding, a cavernous vocal and the whole gives a pearl of blackness. The album is very intense, the listener has rarely the time to get his breath back. But Archgoat does not play in a blind speed way. Every track has great breaks which moderate a little the intense song structures. These great mid-tempo passages contrast with these waves of blasts. This is a real trademark of the band which brings enormously to the compositions. Explaining it's long absence by a rejection of the scene of this time, Archgoat makes a strong comeback by imposing it's primitive vision to those who too long desecrated the real spirit of Black Metal.
Reviewed by J.
Band: ASHTAR
Country: Switzerland
Title: Ilmasaari
Label: Czar of Crickets Productions
Year: 2015
Style: Blackened Doom Metal
Review:
Debut album from this Swiss duo founded in 2012 by a Swiss lady and a Finnish guy, both previously or currently members of Phased, a quite established Psychedelic Doom Metal band. I guess this new band (or project) of theirs is like an escape towards a more mystical, a darker and blacker world since in Ashtar they even scratch Black Metal surfaces at least in the vocal part. The whole inhere sounds mysterious and mesmerizing as it should be, but to be honest with you I had to wait for the 5th track (from the total of 6) to enjoy it, and let me explain why: the first 4 tracks are traditional Doom with a hint of Black Metal in Witch's raspy vocals, but the fifth, These Nights Will Shine On, actually adds a bit more energy in the guitars and drums parts, too, it adds a bit more diversity and surprises the listener. I know, Doom should sound monotonous and heavy, but by now you're kind of waiting for Doom to surprise you, too, to be fresh and daring, and thankfully part of this album is, and it sounds great and promising. By listening to this 5th (also the 6th) track I feel this band is capable of delivering emotional, involving, entertaining and interesting Blackened Doom Metal fit for the years we live in; there are plenty, actually too many, Doom Metal bands nowadays, it's like a fashion again, so bringing something new to a quite stale genre won't hurt anyone and it's possible this duo might have what they need.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10
Contact:
www.facebook.com/ashtarband
www.czarofcrickets.com
Band: BETH-SHEMESH
Country: Italy
Title: The Last Chant of the White Wolf
Label: Magma Pure Underground
Year: 2014
Style: Black Metal
Review:
This one man band from Italy was apparently started in 2011 but the first demo, this one I'm listening to right now, was released only in 2014, and it features only 3 tracks and an intro, so not a big deal of material also. In my opinion one starts a one man project when he/she has some ideas already gathered and wants to show them, but to me 3 years for one person to come up with 3 tracks is way too superfluous. Anyway, let's see what we have here: fast, '90's type Black Metal highlighted by freezing and piercing shrieks that emanate both hate and evilness, excellent intelligent guitar riffs (ranging from traditional Black Metal to some primitive Thrash Black rhythms, too) that will totally capture your interest if you're into this genre, and organic (I guess live recorded) drums. Although there are some occasional, unavoidable mistakes here and there, the general impression on this demo is a very good one; not original or innovative in any way, Beth-Shemesh still manages to capture and express a perfect Black Metal atmosphere, evil, cold and threatening as first meant. Cool debut, I hope it won't be another 3 years until the next demo...
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7/10
Contact:
www.facebook.com/pages/Beth-Shemesh/529984620453609
www.facebook.com/label.magma
Band: CAPTAIN CLEANOFF
Country: Australia
Title: Rising Terror
Label: Blastasfuk Grindcore
Year: 2015
Style: Grindcore
Review:
Holy shit, these guys have almost 20 years of activity underbelt and the experience they've accumulated during these years is clearly displayed on this (only) second full-length album, a 16 tracks effort totaling a bit over 20 minutes of traditional yet fresh and definitely energetic Grindcore spiced with so many catchy guitar and clever guitar riffs, insanely ruthless dual vocals, a brutal as fuck rhythm section, and a perfect (!!!) production. It took them almost 2 years to record this album and 2 more to release it but I'm sure their fans will be satisfied by it. If you're a constant reader of my reviews you should probably know that I'm not a big fan of modern Grindcore, but I love the traditional violent and fast Grind, and here's another release that definitely meets all my needs in this genre, it's tough to even stand down and writing while listening to it, that's how addictive and energetic these 16 tracks are. Amazing band, amazing album, check it out if you're a Grind fanatic.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10
Contact:
www.facebook.com/pages/Captain-Cleanoff/104452571850
www.blastasfuk.bandcamp.com
Band: CONCATENATUS
Country: Chile
Title: Meditation Through the Inner Vortex
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2015
Style: Atmospheric Doom Black Metal
Review:
Young band formed in 2014 by two not so young guys with already some experience on the Chilean Extreme Metal scene underbelt, Concatenatus presents us here their debut demo, a 2 tracks (+ intro) effort totaling 16 minutes of mystical, atmospheric and brutal Black Doom Metal with a good organic production. I was impressed by the atmospheres they manage to create, quite deep, scarry and as said earlier, mystical, perfect for this type of music, and that's due partly to the versatile and expressive vocal part. The instrumental part is ok too, but needs a lot more work on the originality side, at this moment it fails to create anything to become typical for the band, but since it's a first attempt this is quite normal. The selfreleased demo comes in ProCDR format with 4 pages booklet featuring the lyrics and it is strictly limited to 200 blood-numbered copies, yes each copy is manually numbered with blood, I assume their blood. True dedication, a band to keep an eye on.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 6/10
Contact:
www.concatenatus.bandcamp.com
Band: DAN DEAGH WEALCAN
Country: International
Title: Who Cares What Music Is Playing In My Headphones?
Label: Total Metal Records
Year: 2015
Style: Experimental Metal
Review:
I've recently reviewed this duo's debut album and wasn't too fond of it to tell you the truth, so I started listening to this new full-length rather suspiciously, but for my luck this either sounds like a totally different band or I'm a totally different person while listening to it. The Ukraine/Russia duo kept its experimental and chaotic side but improved the compositions a lot, now it's a pleasure and a really interesting jurney while listening to these 9 new tracks, the music is curdled, expressive, crazy and daring and this time it feels like the two musicians care a bit more about what they offer to the listener rather than just trying to be as incomprehensible and rebel as possible, this new album is not only digestible, it's actually a jurney, a deranged one indeed, but a jurney that lets itself discovered and joined by the listener. Think of a schyzophrenic mixture of Devin Townsend and Nine Inch Nails spiced up by influences from both '70's Progressive Rock and the nowadays Post Rock, sounds interesting? Give it a try. I still don't like the drums sound, I find it awful, but the general impression on this new album is: wow!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10
Contact:
www.dandeaghwealcan.com
www.metalscraprecords.com
Band: DEMONIC MANIFESTATION
Country: Mexico
Title: World of Horror
Label: Dan's Crypt Records
Year: 2015
Style: Death Metal
Review:
2 seconds into this album and you already know you're going to experience traditional, horrifying Death Metal, now that's what I call straight in your face! Not that the cover artwork would indicate something else, or the label releasing it would be a different kind of label, everything here simply roars old-school Death Metal. Demonic Manifestation is a quite young band founded only 3 years ago, and this is their debut album, followup to their 2013 demo The Evocation & Death Spells, featuring half (2 tracks) from that demo. We're treated here with 10 tracks clocking almost 35 minutes, a compact and entertaining release that will please fans of both American and Swedish Death Metal, actually Demonic Manifestation is a mix of the two influences, delivering both mid-tempo heavy and fast, menacing rhythms, tenebrous, horryfing vocals (maybe a bit more versatlity would be useful next time), pounding drums, low tuned, explosive bass lines, and Swedish type of guitar riffs, but above all, what captured my interest the most were the excellent guitar solos and leads, really old-school, really well done. Probably most of the new generation fans won't "get" this sound production, it's less powerful than what we're used to nowadays in Death Metal, but that's how bands (especially the Swedes) were sounding 20-25 years ago, so for me it's an excellent treat. Loved it!
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10
Contact:
www.facebook.com/Demonicmanifestation666
www.danscrypt.es
Band: DISTHRONE
Country: Portugal
Title: Anti-System
Label: Helldprod
Year: 2013
Style: Crust Thrash Metal
Review:
First and so far only material released by this young band founded back in 2011, Anti-System is made of 3 own tracks + intro + a cover of Darkthrone's I Am the Graves of the 80's, all in a bit over 15 minutes playing time. To tell you the truth the band, except for the fact that's a female fronted band and the girl is as angry and ferocious as a wounded wild boar, doesn't impress with anything, the guitar riffs are ok but too repetitive and dull, the drums are organic sounding but a bit too in front and as repetitive and uninspired as the guitars, the bass is barely noticeable, the production is like the one of a live rehearsal although apparently this was studio recorded, and finally the lyrics are quite childish, especially since the one who wrote them has quite terrible problems in English. So except for the excellent cover picture that attracts your attention, and the girl's angry and disgusting vocals (comprehensive also; I guess Asphyx-influenced), there's nothing to recommend this demo, sorry. Released in tape format numbered and limited to only 300 copies.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 5/10
Contact:
www.facebook.com/disthroneband
www.helldprod.com
Band: ECHO OV DESOLATION
Country: France
Title: Je serai ma chute
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2015
Style: Black Metal
Review:
Man, this EP starts absolutely awful, didn't expect such a weak start from this French band who, in their promo pics, are looking like they'll seriously fuck your brains (and they do look awesome for such a band, chicks will go nuts about them!), but once again I shouldn't judge a book by its cover. The sound production is organic, yes, but this feels more like recorded live at the rehearsals, including the obvious mistakes in execution and lack of syncronisation. The compositions are quite weak as well and the vocals, although displaying a good tone, fail to have any individuality, any face of their own. The most annoying thing on this EP are the childish guitar solos (can I call them solos?) and part of the leads, as simple as a 5 years old could perform after 2 hours with a guitar in his hands... I said the beginning of the EP was disapointing only because thoughout the 5 tracks (20 minutes) you'll be able to hear also some good riffs and encounter some parts where the music sounds as it should: menacing and dark, and you'll get quite used to the rest of faults, but to be honest the overall impression is of a band that needs much more work before demanding to be taken seriously. Sorry, but there's much better coming out of France at the moment...
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 4/10
Contact:
www.facebook.com/echoofdesolationfr
Band: ELFORG
Country: Poland
Title: Elforg
Label: Art of the Night Production
Year: 2015
Style: Folk Metal
Review:
Young folkmetallers from Warsaw released their first stuff. I'm really happy that more and more interesting folkmetal bands and albums appears on the Polish metal scene. Elforg is another band, who joined the teams having already won a professional record. Elforg’s stuff is infused by black/deathmetal influences (vocals, some riffs) deftly interwoven with folk (some melodic tracks and violin sounds) motifs. Elforg’s stuff It is not very inventive but well listens and certainly hits the nail on the head to playing folkmetal. I am pleased disappointed, very good debut musical team who previously knew only from underground concerts in small clubs.
Reviewed by Vilcin
Rating: 8/10
Band: EMREVOID
Country: Italy
Title: Riverso
Label: Drown Within Records
Year: 2014
Style: Black Death Metal
Review:
I was not familiar with this band at all, but judging by the band pics and album covers, Emrevoid evolved towards a darker, gloomier type of music along the years, since their foundation in 2004. The band released only one full-length album prior to this EP, so we're not dealing with a prolific band when it comes to discography, but at least this new EP is really good. We're treated with 6 tracks totaling almost 25 minutes, released in Digipak format limited to only 300 copies. Black Death Metal, or better said Blackened Death Metal is the name of the game here, a music highlighted by the dark, omnipresent growls of Gaetano displaying a good tone although here I might add my one and only complaint regarding his American accent (although he sings in Italian, the American accent is really strong and quite stupid as well), then a heavy wall of sound made by the drums and bass, and last but not least the razor sharp guitar riffs seconded most of the times by brutal and abrupt Death Metal rhythms and at times even by Post Black Metal inspired riffs, and I shouldn't forget the few but very efficient slow, mystical parts where you'll surely feel doomed. All in all Emrevoid delivers a complex, tasty, well detailed stab of Blackened Death Metal that's quite original and stand-alone (not the usual Behemoth clone in any case), I'm curious to see if they have the ability and desire to start releasing more stuff more frequently or if this was the band's swansong.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8.5/10
Contact:
www.emrevoid.bandcamp.com
www.drownwithin.wordpress.com
Band: FUMES OF DECAY
Country: Holland
Title: Festering Abscess Fornication
Label: Murder Records / Visceral Vomit Records
Year: 2010
Style: Brutal Death Metal
Review:
This is the debut demo from Fumes of Decay, demo initially released by the band in 2009 as CDR and then picked up a year later by Murder Records and Visceral Vomit Records and released as tape limited to 300 hand-numbered copies with a sick and simple black on yellow cover artwork. The demo features 4 short track totaling 10 minutes playing time, a fast paced and brutal as fuck Death Metal with plenty of groove, intelligent guitar work, complex drumming, deep bass lines and incomprehensible pig-sqeals type of vocals, not even sure there are any lyrics at all on it since there are none printed in the tape booklet either. Anyway, for a debut demo Fumes of Decay prove to be a pretty solid band with a bright future ahead, and as a proof they have signed with the US based Sevared Records and released their debut album a year later, but unfortunately things have been silent since then.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10
Contact:
www.facebook.com/Fumesofdecay
www.helldprod.com
Band: GATHERING DARKNESS / TYRANTS BLOOD
Country: Spain / Canada
Title: The Light Won't Save You
Label: Hecatombe Records
Year: 2014
Style: Death Metal / Thrash Black Death
Review:
Although formed back in 1998, Gathering Darkness have only one full-length album underbelt so far, but they also released several demos and an EP before teaming up with Tyrants Blood for this new split CD that hopefully will revive them a bit (this split comes 5 years after their previous release...). The band offers here 5 tracks of American type Death Metal, or better said '90's American type of Brutal Death Metal with excellent guitar leads and solos, heavy as fuck riffs, demonic vocals ranging from low growls to demented screams, and a catchy, headbanging-friendly rhythm section. The production is not perfect, but one could pass over it easily and enjoy the music. So yes, as a first encounter with this band I'd say they are pretty skilled in this type of Death Metal, not innovative or original, but definitely dedicated and well prepared.
The second part of this split is presenting us 4 tracks from Canada's Tyrants Blood, an experienced Vancouver based ensemble made of members or ex-members of legends such as Blasphemy, Infernal Majesty, Witches Hammer or Aggression, and by reading these names you probably got it right, we're dealing with a bestial type of Metal, a chaotic and ultra-aggressive mix of Thrash, Black and Death Metal, fast, ferocious and at the same time technical display of sheer brutality and violence. I prefer my Metal a bit more expressive in the atmosphere or melody compartment, but I can surely appreciate a good aggressive band when I hear one, and Tyrants Blood are really a name to keep an eye on, their part of the split is like a fucking hurricane, it will rip apart all your senses.
If you're into organic, traditional sounding, devastating Metal of Death you should definitely try out at least this split CD and probably afterwards you'll search for more stuff from the two bands.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10 8.5/10
Contact:
www.gatheringdarkness.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/TYRANTSBLOOD
www.hecatombe-records.com
Band: HELLIGATORS
Country: Italy
Title: Road Roller Machine
Label: Slit Trick Records
Year: 2015
Style: Groove Heavy Rock
Review:
Straight out of the capicat city, this Italian quintet present us here their second full-length album, a followup to their 2011 Against All Odds. The 10 tracks featured here totaling a bit over 50 minutes are quite hard to pinpoint on a genre or another, but to give you an image just mix Rock'n'Roll, Groove Alternative Metal, Stoner Doom, Southern Rock, well pretty much everything you can think of from Black Sabath to let's say Pantera, that type of mix that wouldn't scare a 10 years old kid (I know I would have enjoyed it at that age) and at the same time fit the taste of a senior 60 years old metalhead. The music is quite technical and melodic at the same time, ballzy, memorable at times, headbanging-friendly, and could work well from any cozy, intimate club to a huge stage, so in that aspect Helligators nailed it, they have all chances to get big in the scene. The only thing I would improve on this album would be the production, I would use a much heavier sound, but probably that's because I prefer the Metal side rather than the Rock one. Try it, you might discover a band that meets your requirements in Rock & Metal, something fresh and detached for the Extreme Metallers as well.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10
Contact:
www.helligators.com
www.sliptrickrecords.com
Band: IF I DIE TODAY
Country: Italy
Title: Cursed
Label: Sliptrick records
Year: 2015
Style: Post-Hardcore
Review:
Although I'm not a specialist or a fan of this genre, I've been listening to this release all day and so far I'm not bored at all. It's a nice combination of traditional Hardcore with some Post-Metal, Sludge and Groove Metal and even some Progressive Metal at times, with a very good and powerful production (probably that made me like it), with screams all over the place but with complex rhythms from fast and furious to slow paced and quite atmospheric. Released as digipack CD featuring an 8 pages booklet with all lyrics, this third album from If I Die Today I guess will fully please fans of modern Hardcore, but honestly I wouldn't know for sure, I'm not an expert in this genre at all.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: -/10
Contact:
www.ifidietoday.it
www.sliptrickrecords.com
Band: INSANE ATTITUDE
Country: Italy
Title: Swarming in Decadence
Label: Selfreleased
Year: 2015
Style: Thrash Death Metal
Review:
Man, I'haven't seen/heard a demo sounding this way since the '90's, and I don't think I'm exagerrating; the organic, home-made sound, minor mistakes in execution, Hardcore influenced but still somehow Death Metal growls, the generic yet good sounding guitar riffs heavily Thrash Metal influneced, the fat sounding bass lines, the chaotic solos, and the xeroxed black/white cover points towards a Thrash Death demo from the first years of the '90's. Not sure if this is something kids of Today will appreciate, but I have to admit it's pretty darn original in the scene Today, cool for nostalgics though. 3 tracks, less than 10 minutes in length, second demo from this Pisa based band founded in 2007.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 5.5/10
Contact:
www.facebook.com/pages/Insane-Attitude/716495911744831
Band: INSEPULTO
Country: Costa Rica
Title: The Necrodex
Label: Memento Mori
Year: 2015
Style: Death Metal
Review:
The Costa Rican Extreme Metal scene doesn't sound so exotic and inexperienced thanks to these guys too, to bands they were or still are involved with (Paganus Doctrina, Mumified, Pseudostratiffied Epithelium, Auriga and others), and this new project (not sure if it's a real, touring band or just a studio project) is yet another proof of how much talent and potential this scene has to offer. Insepulto's second full-length release comes 3 years after their debut on Polish Psycho Records, also a well received effort. This new album is made of 11 tracks and clocks almost 50 minutes of traditional Death Metal delivered with the intensity of the South American bands and occult atmosphere of the US based Death Metal masters, in fact the lyrics part seems to have a very important role in what Insepulto creates, they are solid, well-written, far from the stale "blood and guts" topics many other such bands used us with. Music wise the band impresses through their energy and brutality although they are not in their teens anymore, and I have to also mention the good production, crystal clear but at the same time dark and atmospheric, exactly what this record needed. The compositions are quite complex and diverse, you won't get bored at all, so all in all I think we have here one of the top traditional Death Metal releases of this year, not original or innovative in any way, but very well crafted, entertaining, evil and expressive.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9/10
Contact:
www.facebook.com/insepultocr
www.memento-mori.es
Band: INSOLITUM
Country: Brazil
Title: Infestus
Label: Murder Records / Sociedade dos Mortos
Year: 2013
Style: Death Metal
Review:
From an image and probably also ideologic point of view this band seems quite a strong competitor on the old-school Death Metal scene from Brazil, but when it comes to the actual music unfortunately Insolitum still has a lot to work on, or at least that's how things were 2 years ago when this debut demo was recorded and released. 4 tracks totaling 15 minutes of slow to mid-tempo Death Metal with very monotonous drums line, laughable vocals that makes me think the guy is choking in his own spit all the time, a cover image that has been used by numerous other bands before; but the positive part comes when we're talking about bass and guitar, the bass helps in creating a dark and dense atmosphere, and the guitar work is very good, catchy and not boring at all, way better than the rest. Released as tape limited to 300 numbered copies. In the meantime the band participated on two splits, hopefully they have improved a bit since 2013, but it's good they're still active and keep releasing stuff constantly, that will make them better, no doubt.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 5.5/10
Contact:
www.helldprod.com
www.sociedadedosmortos.loja2.com.br
Band: INVOKER
Country: Germany
Title: Aeon
Label: Non Serviam Records
Year: 2015
Style: Black Death Metal
Review:
After a close look at the excellent cover artwork I proceeded with the audition of Invoker's second full-length album, a 9 tracks effort that will be released at the end of next month by this hard-working label proudly named Non Serviam. At first I kind of thought the music is way below the artwork quality, but then it grew on me and I've changed my opinion, but this is also because the band comes up with all sorts of melodic and/or atmospheric elements that will enrich the audition experience. Also if you team up the music with the lyrics you'll have a special experience as well, and I kind of think we're dealing with a concept album here, one that follows an individual through life and beyond. The music is melodic at times, aggressive and organic at others, a mix of Black Death Metal with some Doom Death, especially towards the end of the release, and I find it pretty expressive and involving even though the vocals are a bit too monotone for my taste. The sound is quite raw, organic, but it fits well with the apocalyptic image the band tries to express, so all in all we have here a well structured and well delivered mystical Black Death album, not the next big thing, but definitely not a time-wasting audition.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10
Contact:
www.facebook.com/InvokerOfficial
www.non-serviam-records.com
Band: ISRATHOUM
Country: Holland
Title: Antru Kald
Label: S.A.R.S. Productions
Year: 2015
Style: Black Metal
Review:
Got the tape version of this new Israthoum EP, a 3 tracks effort totaling 13 minutes of well executed Black Metal with no compromises at all. Actually the band was praised along the years for their unaltered form of Black Metal, primitive yet complex, organic to the bone, hateful and expressive, brutal and tenebrous as such releases should all sound like. The Dutch trio manages to come up with some clever and catchy guitar riffs that sound kind of fresh, a versatile vocal part ranging from aggressive shrieks to deep, theatrical clean vocals, plus a devastating rhythm section that stretches from desperate mid-tempo, almost melodic to fast and razor-sharp parts keeping the whole interesting. The EP was released as tape by SARS (most probably their own label), and CD by Daemon Worship which will probably release the vinyl version soon enough. Recommended if you're in search for some mysterious, intelligent, mesmerizing and traditional Black Metal.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 8/10
Contact:
israthoum-official.bandcamp.com
sars.productions@hotmail.com
Band: KALI YUGA
Country: Germany
Title: Kali Yuga
Label: G.U.C. Records
Year: 2015
Style: Melodic Death Metal
Review:
Germany seems to have embraced this genre, Melodic Death Metal, the best, and doesn't seem to be willing to let it go any time soon. Kali Yuga is another proof this genre is still strong in Teutonic lands; the band was formed in 2006 and this is their third studio album to date, a 10 tracks effort clocking a bit over 45 minutes, a solid display of good technical skills and high quality arrangements. Although the band comes up with some catchy and quite memorable riffs here and there, the guitar leads are delicious as well, the rhythm section is Swiss-clock precise, and the vocals are powerful enough (although not versatile enough) to lead such a band, but the band lack at the originality chapter, unfortunately although this album is very good and will make constitute delight for any fan of bands like Arch Enemy, Dark Tranquility or even Amon Amarth, it won't be distinguished by the huge amount of similar releases that come up every week. So in my opinion this is an excellent band but it still lacks something of their own, an element to make them unique, hopefully they'll find it soon.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 7.5/10
Contact:
www.facebook.com/kaliyugametal
www.guc-area.de
Band: KILLING GANDHI
Country: Denmark
Title: Cinematic Parallels
Label: Crime Records
Year: 2015
Style: Melodic Death Metal
Review:
Fffffuck, this made a huge impression on me! First time I hear about this Danish band founded in 2011, and I'm an instant fan, no doubts. This debut album is probably one of the best debut albums I've heard lately, it's as close to a perfect 10 as it gets! To be honest I wasn't expecting a Melodic Death Metal album to impress me that much as I find this genre quite stale nowadays, with an acute lack of new horizons, but Killing Gandhi proved me wrong, these 16 (!) tracks are as fresh and modern as possible yet still keeping the "traditional" path of this genre. The production is absolutely perfect, the musicianship and composition skills top notch, execution is as tight as possible, the whole is as melodic as possible in order to still be considered aggressive and brutal as any Death Metal band should be, the balance between complexity and catchiness is perfect, well, what can I say more than that? I'm really impressed by what these guys delivered here, this might become a classic, I'm sure the fantastic cover art is already! That's it with this review, I like it too much to be objective, so give it a listen yourselves and make your own mind. (The rate is 9.5 opnly because I hope the next album will be at least as good as this one!)
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9.5/10
Contact:
www.killinggandhi.dk
www.crimerecords.no