"Bled To Death" mCD '99
Yeah!!! This band rules! With so powerful grind/death metal they'll blast your brains out. Very strong grind vocals, powerful guitars and radip drum-beats creates very impressive sound of this band. Though U.K. is not known as country with lots of death-style bands, 7th Child shows that there are bands to listen to. It's not just death metal with fast drums and roaring vocals, it's something more - it's extreme, it's brutal, it kicks ass. So sad that this CD is too short (4 tracks), but you can press "repeat" on your CD player and you'll be thrown to the kingdom of extreme and brutality for the rest of your fucking life - 'cause it don't get bored! So all you have to do is to order this CD (I recommend to put a helmet on your head, because sound of the 7th Child may smash it fucking out).
"Aghora" CD '99
Aghora plays technical progressive avangarde metal with female vocals - something I've never heard before. There are 9 tracks on this CD and in all of them you can feel relaxation, lightness. Vocals of Danishta brings to Aghora's music something uneartlhy what raises music to higher dimension. There are lots of guitar riffs, but they're not so sharp and is very well adapted to the whole sound of Aghora. Sean Malone plays bass here, I don't need to present this person, because he is already well known in progressive metal world. Drummer works very hard, but yet finessely. I recommend this CD to all prog-metal fans and to those who are tired of brutality and want some fresh dwell of air to their brains.
"In Red Nights" CD '99
Antiqua gathered as a band in August '96 in the city of Queretaro, Mexico. The group follows a metal melodic fusion that ranges from pure aggression to easy listening passages. It's hard to characterize Antiqua's style in one word. They combined lots of styles: music changes from lyric instrumentals to brutal death metal with roaring vocals. Very big role in Antiqua's style plays female vocals, which brings sense of atmosphere and melancholy. Antiqua tries to give each theme and song more variety and complexity. For its members the main intention is to express their feelings through metal music. Really great debut, hope they'll have what to say in future.
"Homecoming's March" CD '99
U.S.A. band Averse Sefira presents black metal. For the first time I heard such interesting black metal. Fast drums and powerful guitars combined with clear black-style vocals creates really interesting sound. Averse Sefira's music is not so boring as many black metal bands from U.S.A. - they really have what to say and to show. Though this album was recorded by two men - Sanguine and Wrath - without using keyboards, it doesn't lack anything - guys worked really hard and got great result. Everything is done right as it should be done, all guitar solos, vocal parts or rhythm changes are where they have to be. Also I've turned my attention to great looking booklet of the CD. Great artwork on cover. In a word - complete perfection. You must have it undoubtly!
"Stabwound orgasm" CD '99
Undisputable death metal will smash you like ten-ton hammer. During 8 years of existence band found their own style and knows how death metal should sound like. Traditional growling vocals sounds really heavy and aggressive, powerful and intense guitar riffs will make shake your heads along with their sound. Being so brutal and heavy, guys didn't forget about the melody, they're not just following blindfould treaded path of death metal, but puts some freshness and originality to it. Truly recommended for all death metal fans, not without reason in the advertising booklet is said that Avulsed is the most famous death metal band in Spain - I believe that with such high quality sound they could be.
"Till Birth Do Us Part" CD '99
Denmark's Behind the Curtain create their own avant garde vision of metal for the next millenium. '"Til Birth Do Us Part" is a concept album filled with dynamic contrasts of crushing guitar riffs, symphonic keyboards, and original vocals. The keyboards open up the riffing and clean/solo passages, allowing for some great contrasts in terms of heaviness tempered with tranquility. Although complex in nature, Behind the Curtain's music is often subtle and filled with powerful emotions. Songs like "Artificial Trance" and the epic ballad "I Lost My Sense Of Passion" will enrapture the senses into a kaleidoscope of colors, images and vivid scenes that bring back beautiful memories.
"Redemption" CD '99
Braindance's first two independent, self-released albums, "Shadows" and "Fear Itself", have been critically acclaimed worldwide, their respective singles appearing frequently on countless domestic and international radio stations, compilation recordings, soundtracks, and web sites. Their new release "Redemption" brings their unique vision to a staggering new level. Every song will bring you through different moods, you'll hear dark, melancholy, emotive, scary, floating, atmospheric, intricate, melodic, intelligent and at the same time extremely beautiful melodies. Originality at its finest.
"Burn The Priest" CD '99
Destructive, crushing, black/death metal from U.S.A. Pain, torment, anguish, and frustration fuel this band as they prepare to destroy everything in their path. 13 tracks of pure aggression, power and killing sounds of hell. From the first demos Burn The Priest did big step on the way to professionalism and found their own sound. Their first CD is result of hard working and searching ways to express their own way of living. This CD is solid provement of that. As for music - with machine like drums, and the technical and precise guitars, these songs will tear into you like a surgeon turned serial killer. It's really pleasure listening to Burn The Priest: "...they are best band on the planet as they hold you in their grasp with a smile on their face. They're ruling your world AND THEY KNOW IT!"
"Under The Surface" CD '98
What a great work. Good old school death metal with all its necessities: deep growling vocals, mid-temp music and lots of power. Sometimes music is so slow, that reminds Crowbar, sometimes it's so fast as Deicide. These guys from Germany kicks ass. There's so much power and weight in their music that I'm afraid that my roof will fall on my head! To some of you the whole album might look monotonous, but there are some interesting variations with sound. Casket really great combined slow rhythm with powerfull riffs, so their music though is not very fast, but remains extremely brutal. To my mind this album shows musical maturity of this band and hope they will have what to say in future. For now enjoy this great sound of Casket.
"Bloodhunt" mCD '99
What can you expect from Sweden - everyone knows the answer. Extreme and dark black/death metal will transfer you to ancient times with demons and other disgusting creatures... Music is very fast and intense with rapid drum-beating and guitar fusion. Vocals sometimes sound in black-metal style and are very aggressive. One bad thing is that music is a bit monotonous: same vocals, same rhythm, same guitar solos during all songs, but in general album is worth listening. I'll recommend it to those who likes brutality all the time, who don't get tired of fast rhythm and loves fast way of living...
"Surface Tension" CD '99
Inspired by progressive icons Yes and Dream Theater, Clockwork's debut is an original blend of symphonic rock and technical metal. Lush keyboards provide the backdrop for dual lead guitars, layered vocals and a tight rhythm section. Although extremely complex, Clockwork's music is melodic and highly memorable. "Surface Tension" features a variety of progressive sounds from the radio friendly "Smile Under Sad Eyes" to the 13 minute epic "Design Of Enlightenment". The CD also features a special guest appearance by bassist Sean Malone (Cynic, Gordian Knot).
"Through Chaos And Disharmony" CD '98
All bands I know from Brazil didn't disappoint me with their music. Not exception is Core. You'll swear that you just been hit by a freight train..." This trio proves that Brazil is homeland of aggression, where such bands as Sepultura, Soulfly, Abhorrent came from. Core's music is mixture of power, angry, aggression. Guys express their opinion about life. Each song expresses different factor of how unfair life is. Musically album represents pure thrash/death metal with all its necessities: very strong roaring vocals, rapid drums, clear rhythm, great solos.
"End Of Ages" mCD '99
Fast, technical death metal from Canada. When I put this CD on, I got disappointed in length of it - it's too fucking short. Every fan of true death metal would like to listen to such music for life... Guttural vocals in best traditions of death metal, fast drums and heavy grooves will hit you like tornado. Lots of rhythm changes, diverse drum parts, different guitar solos won't let you get bored while listening this masterpiece. Really great work. Don't miss this CD, 'cause these guys are ready to score off some major bands. Guys are now working for a new material, so let's wait for their full-lenth...
"Wepts From The Sky" CD '99
Melodic black metal will darken your mind when you'll put this CD on. Really great work from these French guys. Screeming black vocals, fast drum-beats combined with majestic sounds of keyboards creates really astonishing sound of Destinity. Only good words I can say about this band. All compositions are ripened without any lack of sound or unnecessary note. The whole album is solid, continous, still every song has it's own rhythm, it's own structure and the album isn't borring. Lots of odd changes, solos are doing this album worth taking place among the best black metal albums. I'm predicting great success to this sextet and hope they won't dissapoint me and their fans.
"Forensick" CD 2000
Holy shit!!! Crushing, strugling, tearring, striking, killing, raping, sodomizing metal will hit you to ground when you put on these mexican deathsters Disgorge. They'll smash you like a press with heavy as hell and brutal at it's best guitar solos... Your brain will spoil inside your skull from beating of drums... Your hands and legs will start to shudder, when you'll hear growling vocals and powerful bass parts... It may make you sick only after looking at the cover of the CD (it was censored in many countries). Oh, mama... The most brutal metal I'e ever heard - that's for sure... There aren't even single lyrical note - brutality all the way from the start to the end of this album. Damn... I love it!!!
"Inner Self" CD '99
The Norwegian band Divided Multitude create an innovative mix of crushing power metal and complex progressive rock. "Inner Self" features epic tracks filled with soaring vocals, virtuoso guitar and old school progressive rock keyboard solos. Their diverse influences range from the neo-classical riffs of Symphony X, Yngwie Malmsteen and Rainbow to the symphonic sounds of Yes and Genesis. The record has great production featuring a real epic sound. This is a young band poised to make their mark on the worldwide metal scene.
promo tape for "Re-Vision" CD '99
Ens Cogitans is a band from Russia. Music of this band reminds Paradise Lost's last albums, especially structure of songs: light intro, powerful chorus and solos. Maybe Ens Cogitans uses more computer's music, there is more electric sounds and vocals is not very strong. In some songs feels influence of progressive metal. Ens Cogitans' music oriented to those who like light metal. These guys combined powerful metal and computer's magic and got great result. There's nothing more to say, just order it and enjoy for yourself. Also in tape I got was Oversun's (side profect of one of Ens Cogitans members) demo. This was really great stuff. If add to this music vocals of Rob Zombie it would be White Zombie. Very strong guitar riffs and some electronic sound - really great.
"Stigmatised" mCD 2000
Yeah!!!!! Long awaited release of Australian thrashers Fury. It's sad a bit that this is mCD with only 4 tracks. From their demo CD that was released back in '97 Fury turned more to the Pantera-sound way. Vocals became more aggressive, not only roarring, but vary from death-growl to core-scream. New drummer really knows how the drums should sound like - very fast and solid beating can make you feel someone is striking on your head. Guitar riffs became more intense and heavier, and in combination with pounding bass and rapid drums makes sound of inimatable beauty. A word about lyrics - they are more mature than in demo CD. I think guys are going right way. All we have to do is to wait for their full-lenght by listening this one. Keep on working that way!!!
"Apocryphal" demo '98
This demo came from Portugal. Golden Pyre's songs are in an undeniable death metal style, changing between the violent guitar assaults and blast beats and more melancholic moments with strong bass cadenses and majestic vocals. All the demo tape is conceptual, it is based on legends and ancestral tales settled in all civilizations' minds whose authenticity is many times argued... in a word "Apocryphal"!!! In a word truly European death metal which will blow up your brains and tear up your mind into pieces. You must have it!
"Master Control" CD 2000
This CD was orriginally recorded back in 1988 and now re-released. So don't be surprised when you'll hear speed metal with powerfull guitar solos and vocals a-la Iron Maiden. "This album was received so well at that time of it's release that it shared the #1 spot on American College Metal Radio with Metallica". Easily memorable melodies without long intros or lyrical digression and chorus reminds me Deep Purple and Rainbow. Every song is like an anthem to how we fight the evil. I think many of older fans of metal fell sentimentals to such kind of music - its the roots of heavy, thrash and death metal. There's nothing more to say - about that kind of music is said almost everything. We know this music and you still like it - don't wait.
"Hate Regime" CD '98
For the first time I hear a band from Malaysia and these guys really caused me to take interest. Very interesting combination of various styles of metal. Tittle track "Hate Regime" and "The Descent into Hades" represents rhythmic death/thrash metal, second song "Mindwarped" aims to more aggressive and powerfull metal. "Unwanted killer" reminded Alice In Chains, but Necromanicide palys faster. "Society", "Who Am I" are just worth to be called masterpieces of modern metal, "The Last Journey" is oriented to uncompromise death metal, and so on and so on... You have to listen to it and decide for yourself, one thing I can say for sure - there won't be anyone who's indifferent to Necromanicide, because there's so much innovation and originality in their music, that I'm just lacking words to describe it. Just get it!!!
"The Towers Are Burning" CD '99
Very strange project I have in my arms. As I've listened this CD several times, I can say that title "The Towers Are Burning" says all. Almost all CD (it lasts an hour) are heard noise, which is like something is burning. Only sometimes you'll hear screaming vocals in black metal style. CD contains four tracks, every of them is full of presentiment of disaster, something like end of the world. This is first so apocalyptic CD I've ever heard. Not recommended for those who have weak nerves - you might want to commit a suicide.
GNOME "Story - Legendary Japanese Wolves"
split tape '99
Two one-man bands from Japan. Nyarlathotep plays avantgarde death/doom metal which I have never heard before. Deep sound of guitar and sometimes heard growling vocals gives something epic. Nyarlathotep plays most twisted metal tunes with a lot of experimental parts. I can just say, that this demo is more acceptable for my mind than previous one "The Ideal - The Truth"
Gnome plays nature metal. In the beggining you'll hear wailimg of wolves. Then starts very deep and dark metal with clanging screaming vocals. There is more melody and guitar solos than in Nyarlathotep's style. Some moments are sentimental and quite lyric.
In both sides of this demo is heard something like accessary noise, the sound isn't clear... There's everything new for me, so first impression is pure interest. Let's wait what they'll show in future...
"Drain" CD '99
What a great CD! 15 tracks of aggression, power, heavyness, originality, speed and freshness. Never heard something like this before. These guys from Finland combined almost all metal styles varying from hardcore to death metal. One thing is common to all songs - they are fucking brutal and fast and they kick ass! You could compare them with Pantera, but Rotten Sound is faster and without any lyrical digressions. They also doesn't fit to death metal frames - riffs aren't so heavy as death metal bands'. Vocals sometimes screams in black metal style, sometimes sound like hardcore or growls in grind style... I haven't read the lyrics, but according to tittles of songs they could sing punk... In a word, you gotta listen for yourself, to certain that Rotten Sound is the most promising band from Finland at time.
"Land Of Flames" CD '98
Another progressive metal product. This time from Norwegian band Sea Of Dreams. Very interesting combination of various styles of music. Some moments of first song "Eagle" reminded me Iron Maiden, second track "Temple of Dreams" excites with motives of Oriental folk, vocals sometimes sounds like King Diamond. All songs smells of freshness, something I've never heard before. Very impressive epic track "Illusions", in which you'll hear traditional progressive rock along with elements of classic music, rap and even rhythms of Brazilian samba! Really invaluable product for a real progressive metal fan.
"A Sceptic's Universe" CD 2000
One more product from pragressive metal camp. This time norwegian band Spiral Architect with their debut album "A Sceptic's Universe". This product was released by "The Laser's Edge", so everyone knows what should we hear... High quality progressive metal with intense guitar solos, high vocals, odd changes and lots of majestic sounds of keyboards. This a;bum doesn't excepts from other progressive metal albums that are reviewed in this issue, it's just ordinary, well played and nice released progressive metal. I'm not progressive metal fan, so I can't describe this style of metal very well, but I think people who like it knows this band and will buy this album or not. To others it won't be interesting anyway.
"Bloody Vivaldi" CD '98
If you enjoy mazochistical games, like to be called "slave" and you're getting excited by screaming sexy woman who is calling herself "a guitar goddess" - this CD is absolutely for you. In other cases don't even think about buying it. Actually, there are some interesting interpretations of clasical music, but these tracks are very short, as the whole CD (lasts only 7:23 min). First track Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" is already performed by Vanessa Mae - and I don't see the difference.. I don't think real metal fan would like this CD unless in the buklet would be more sexy photos... Also I got a CD "Digital Beethoven on Cybersped" for PC. If you'll put it in your CD-rom, you'll have opportunity to read some articles about "The Great Kat", the short history of music, hear sounds of different instruments, etc. In a word this CD is for "The Great Kat's" fans only (I think they already have it...), for others it won't be interesting
"Rossini's Rape" CD 2000
Second album from so called guitar priestess "The Great Kat". She remains loyal to her traditions: metalized classical pieces and very short album... In this album you'll also hear some interpretations of classical music played with guitar and violin - they sound pretty nice for the first time... But they don't come along with these screams and chaos that goes after. Maybe it would be better to listen to the full length album of classical music played with guitar, but now... I can't say that I don't like this album, but to say that I like it would be lie either... I've listened it several times and won't put it again for a long time, 'cause there's nothing to listen for.
promo tape for "Equal Opportunity Destroyer"
Super short tape with 3 songs. Every song is different from another. First called "Kicking your ass" reminded me Motorhead, but little bit heavier and more powerful. Second's song intro sounds like parody, but then comes something really heavy in thrash style. The last song "Parking Ticket" is very short, with grind intro and aggressive end. What can I say, to my mind it would be interesting to listen to the whole album, and fans who like Motorhead, Hammerhawk or something like old style thrash metal won't be dissapointed.
"Within" CD '99
Danish guitarist Erik Ravn unites with vocalist Kristian "Krille" Andr�n (Tad Morose, Memento Mori) to create a conceptual tour-de-force of symphonic speed metal infused with progressive, folkand classical elements. Fans of Rhapsody, Angra and Blind Guardian will not want to miss out on this epic musical adventure! "Within" is the first part of a trilogy dealing with the inner thoughts and dreams of a lonely man, searching for something beyond his simple life. Each song on the debut album "Within" is a trip down paths never walked before. With their huge compositions the band manages to combine musical elements from almost every genre: folk, speed metal, neo-classical, orchestral parts and progressive rock.
What a great CD! 11 Testament's tracks performed by different bands form Australia, U.S.A., Germany and Chech Republic... Really interesting interpretation of Testament's music, because each band plays it in their own style. Opening track "Dog Faced Gods" performed by Fury dwells of power... "Time Is Coming" performed by germans Wasteland is more in black metal style. Very powerful and agrressive are "Into The Pit" (by Prototype), "Trial By Fire" (by Catch 22) and "Practice What You Preach" (by Blackend). "Face In The Sky" (by Scary German Guy) excepts by very strong screaming vocals, as also is "Ride" (by Delusion). "Perilous Nation" (by Cold) and "Nightmare" (by Habeas Corpus) are in death/grind metal style, with growling vocals. Very interesting is "Sins Of Omission" performed by Ultimatum, with vocals I've never heard before: very clear screaming vocals in black metal style... sounds great. Ballad "Return To Serenity" is performed by Horror Of Horrors. The whole album is worth to listen for.
This CD contains 10 bands from Japan. All bands plays various species of death metal. All these bands are not heard for me (most of them aren't signed yet), but they left good impresion. Three tracks of Decapitation is in brutal death metal style, Mortalized will attack you with fast grinding death metal. Depressive death metal from Still Birth makes me feel in deep forest at night without any light... Sacred Blood propagates neo-classical melodic death/thrash metal. Evol plays chaotic grinding death/thrash metal, Hydrophobia is oriented in powerful grind/death metal - and knows, how it should sound like... Very interesting exquisite gothic metal played by Cave In Depth. Baked Bomb with technical brutal death metal, Basilisk with stormy black/thrash and Cryptic Revelation with old school brutal death metal ends this really great cognitive CD of japanese death metal. Don't miss it!
