REVIEW: NOMED - FEEL THE PAIN

 

NOMED - FEEL THE PAIN - DEMO 2001 (Independent, 2001):

Track List: 1- Winds of Heart, 2- The Voice of Demon, 3- Metal Quest, 4- In the Darkness, 5- Feel the Pain, 6- Disbelief

Andre Lemesle is the main composer of Nomed´s music which we could call death/black/viking metal with thrashy and heavy metal riffs and interesting keyboards progressions and atmospheres. Which is the fundamental element here? Believe it or not, the atmospheres created by the guitar riffs and the keyboards. In fact, some of the riffs are really twisted and are accompanied later by great keyboards scales and progressions , like in the middle part of "Metal Quest". It is fascinating the contrast between this more melodic and intrincated parts with the raw and sometimes guttural vocals. I think that lemeslé is looking not only for brutality but also for originality in his work. Watch out death metal...here is Nomed !! Favorite tracks: "Metal Quest" and "Feel the Pain" (with great keyboards-piano and great guitar, sometimes doubled by the keyboard). Contact: lemesleandre@aol.com

REVIEW: NIGHTWISH - OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY

 

NIGHTWISH - OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY (Nems Enterprises, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded by tero Kinnunen at Caverock and Mikko Karmila at Finnvox - February/March 2001

Live tracks recorded by Transmix Ox at Tullikamari, Tampere, Finalnd 29/12/00

Mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox

Cover Image by Sami Vänskä.

Track List: 1- Over The Hills and Far Away, 2- 10th Man Down, 3- Away, 4- Astral Romance (version 2001), 5- The Kinslayer (live), 6- She Is My Sin (live), 7- Sacrament of Wilderness (live), 8- Walking in the Air (live), 9- Beauty and the Beast (live), 10- Wishmaster (live), 11- Sleepwalker (heavy version)  

This is Nightwish latest release and it consists on some new tracks like "10th Man Down" and "Away", some songs that were on other Nightwish albums like "Astral Romance" from "Angels Fall First" and a heavy Version of "Sleepwalker" from "Wishmaster", a cover of Gary Moore´s "Over The Hills and Far Away" and six live tracks recorded in Tampere.

The new tracks follow the path of the bands last studio album "Wishmaster", that is songs that are maybe more calm and introspective than the ones that we could find in "Oceanborn". The new versions of the above mentioned tracks are quite good, specially the version of "Astral Romance" which has a better sound than the one contained in Nightwish´s first album and it has the guest vocals by Tony Kakko (from Sonata Arctica) as well as in the live version of "Beauty and the Beast".

And well, the best part of this CD for me are the live tracks...they are played in an almost exact version as the one in studio, but the sound is rawer (specially Emppu´s guitar). I liked specially the version of "Sacrament of Wilderness" (a little bit faster than in "Oceanborn". Favorite tracks: "Sacrament of Wilderness", "She is My Sin" and "Kinslayer". Contact. Nems@nems.com.ar

REVIEW: MYSTIC PROPHECY - VENGEANCE

 

MYSTIC PROPHECY - VENGEANCE (Crash Music., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and Mixed by Music Factory Studio /Seltmans.

Mastered by Eroc´s Mastering Ranch

Produced by R.D. Lipiakis, M. Albrecht.

Cover Design: Mario Le Mole

Track List: 1- 1545-The Beginning, 2- Sky´s Burning, 3- Damnation and Darkness, 4- Welcome In the Damned Circle, 5- Dark Side of the Moon, 6- River of Hate, 7- In the Mirror, 8- In the Distance, 9- When Shadows Fall, 10- Fallen Angel

Another release from metal label Crash Music and is very differnt from the Altar one that I commented above. While the Altar release was closer to death metal and this is a release of total heavy/power/thrash metal and the first thing that got my attention is how good the CD sounds. The production here enhances the sound of guitars, drums and vocals making them sound more powerful. Power metallers will hail this release because it has all the elements of the genre but far much better done than some of those mediocres bands that are out there. And what I like more are certain thrash metal elements from the eighties that I can listen in their music such as some vocals and choruses that are certainly welcome to my ears. Favorite trcks: "Sky´s Burning", "Welcome in the Damned Circle", "In the Distance". Contact: www.crash-inc.com

REVIEW: MOONSPELL - DARKNESS AND HOPE

 

MOONSPELL - DARKNESS & HOPE (Century Media, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Finnvox Studios, Helsinki.

Produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa

Track List: 1- Darkness and Hope, 2- Firewalking, 3- Nocturna, 4- Heartshaped Abyss, 5- Devilred, 6- Ghostsong, 7- Rapaces, 8- Made of Storm, 9- How we became Fire, 10- Than The Serpent in my Arms, 9- Os Senhores da Guerra

It is interesting to see how Moonspell has developed their own sound and style. This time the result goes in the middlem path between "Irreligious" and " Sin/Pecado". That is it sounds heavier than "Sin/Pecado" with some screaming vocals in some parts and heavier guitars (like in "Irreligious"), but retaining the melodic and gothic side that they reached on the aforementioned release (a clear example of this is the difference between the second track "Firewalking" where the heavier parts are more evident and the third one "Nocturna" where the more climatic, lighter parts are the main feature). The music is dark as always full of melodies and with the enchanting vocals of Fernando Ribeiro greatly singing through all the recording. Also there are the omniprescent synths and samplers of Pedro Paixao that in some places reminded me of the ones in Paradise Lost´s "Host" and the heavy guitars that this time are more present in some of the tracks. Favorite tracks: "Firewalking", "Devilred" and "Than The Serpent in my Arms". Contact: www.centurymedia.com

REVIEW: MIKE CAMPESE - TOTAL FREEDOM

 MIKE CAMPESE - TOTAL FREEDOM (Independent, 2000):

Technical data:

Recorded at Virtual Sound Recording Studio

Remastered by Ted Malia - May 2001

Produced by Mike Campese

Cover Photo by Dan Castle

Track List: 1- Amberay, 2- Sea, 3- Thunder and Rain, 4- Sun, 5- heaven, 6- Jungle, 7- Last Train Out, 8- Blizzard, 9- Indian War, 10- Space, 11- Freedom, 12- Jewels

A great acoustic piece "Amberay" opens this CD of guitar maestro Mike Campese. Great taste, technique, great compositional skills is what Mike is all about. He can play from the most delicated acoustic texture to the heavier than hell riff or solo. Total Freedom is an album full of great guitar melodies and it explores the solo side of Mike Campese, because this is an album of solo guitar (only accompanied by some keyboards here and there). There are some overdubbings, so you can listen to Campese doing the melodies and the chord progressions at the same time with really good taste. Some of the tracks reminded me of Marty Friedman´s solo album "Scenes" or tu some of David Chastaín´s acoustic pieces. There are also some bluegrass and fusion influences too. A must for guitar fans. Favorite tracks: "Thunder and Rain", "Jungle" and "Blizzard". Contact: www.mikecampese.com

REVIEW: MIKE CAMPESE - FULL CIRCLE

 

MIKE CAMPESE - FULL CIRCLE (Independent, 2001):

Track List: 1- Touch the Sky, 2- Torches, 3- Dark Aqua, 4- Happy Snow, 5- Burgundy Mist, 6- Scatterbrain, 7- Africa, 8- Angel, 9- Velvet, 10- Crash and Burn, 11- In the Mirror, 12- Bourbon Street, 13- Whole Steppin, 14- Walkaway, 15- Tinted Windows, 16- Rescue Me, 17- Loralie

Here is the newest album from guitar virtuoso Mike Campese. This CD shows us a less introspective side of his playing than the one in "Total Freedom" his previous CD. Exploring melodies and moods through all the recording using different textures and guitar arrangements seem to be Campese´s main goal. And he has achieved it. It is really great to see how much technique this guy has and how well he uses to fit his songs (the good thing is that he puts all his knowledge to create the best songs that is possible instead of showing how much he can do on the fretboard). Check for example the semi-acoustic "Torches" with its darker sounding melodies (in fact here we can listen to some flamenco-like playing). Or check the beautiful Vai/Satriani/Macalpine/Chastain like melodies on "Dark Aqua". Plus the sound of the recording is incredible. Mike Campese is one name to be known when you talk about guitar. Favorite track: "Torches", "Happy Snow" and "Velvet". Contact: www.mikecampese.com

REVIEW: MIGUEL SIGALES - EL LUGAR DE LOS MILAGROS

 

MIGUEL SIGALES - EL LUGAR DE LOS MILAGROS (Independent., 2000):

Technical data:

Recorded /Mixed at Swami Records-November 1998.

Engineer: Miguel di Genova

Layout and Graphics by Gustavo Alonso

Track List: 1-Navegante hacia el fin de los mares, 2- El lugar de los milagros (Brutal Confusión), 3- Cerca de la fuga, 4- Más que mil palabras, 5- Hazme Libre, 6- 1911, 7- Sueños "Scaramouche", 8- Paisajes de ayer, 9- Presto.

Miguel Sigales is a great guitarist and composer from Buenos Aires, Argentina. And this is his instrumental debut. His style is somewhere between Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen, Greg Howe and Tony Macalpine. It is really great to see how much technical skills and feeling this guy has. In fact what is interesting from Sigales playing is the fusion of styles in his playing from neoclassical runs to really rocking licks all done witth freat taste. The tracks are really well developed and I liked a lot certain aspects like the power and the sound of the band that supports him (including the drums samples that are mixed very good and they don´t sound thin). I would like to listen more from him, and he is playing live this month....I am not going to miss it. Favorite tracks: "Más que mil palabras", "1911" (with a lot of clean guitar) and "Sueños "Scaramouche" . Contact: sigalesguitar@hotmail.com

REVIEW: MICHAEL PRIME - ELEMENTS 1

 

MICHAEL PRIME - ELEMENTS 1 (Mycophile Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Track 1 recorded at the 13th note, Glasgow 30/10/98, the Rising Sun Institute 31/10/99, the Spitz, London 27/2/00 and Orpington, november 2000.

Track 2 recorded in Orpington february to november 2000.

Artwork by Emma O´Bong and Michael Prime

Track List:  1- Surface Tension, 2- Salamander 

This is another experiment from the mind of Michael Prime. This time he uses as a sound source elements from the nature to experiment with its sounds. In the first track the main element is water wre he uses his water machine that he has specially assembled in the studio. In the second track the element tahat is the source of sound is fire: he has recorded fire sounds and then he has manipulated the sound in the computer. The result is very weird and demonstrates what I always say: with an open mind there is no limit for music and experimentation. Contact: mikep@myco.demon.co.uk

REVIEW: MENTAL ECLIPSE - GRAVESIDE FLOWERS REMEMBRANCE

 

MENTAL ECLIPSE - GRAVESIDE FLOWERS REMEMBRANCE (The Flaming Arts, 1999):

Technical data:

Recorded at Atom Bomb Studios, 24 and 25 April 1999

Engineered and Mixed by Eugen Shmuletsov

Produced by S.D.R.

Artwork by Denis Pugatch

Track List: 1- An Excuse for blood, 2- Out of Flesh, 3- Dark Seeds, 4- the Pandemonium, 5- Born by the Unlight, 6- The Spell of Death

Extremely raw and fast black/death metal directly from Bielorrussia. The music here is aggressive and fast but played with a good technique that allows this band to do some interesting tempo changes and breaks. There is a lot of inflence from eighties thrash metal bands, specially in certain rhythms and in the guitar solos. 6 song are on this tape and they follow this path without slowing too much. This is for black and death metal fans. Favorite tracks: "Out of Flesh", "The Spell of Death". Contact: valkalac@mail.ru

REVIEW: MAUDLIN OF THE WELL - LEAVING YOUR BODY MAP

 

MAUDLIN OF THE WELL - LEAVING YOUR BODY MAP (Dark Symphonies, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Zing Recording Studios.

Engineered by Jim Fogarty

Mastered at Peerless Mastering by Jeff Lipton

Track List: 1- Stones of October´s Sobbing, 2- Gleam in Ranks, 3- Bizarre Flowers/A Violent Mist, 4- The Curve that to an angle Turn´d, 5- Sleep is a curse, 6- Riseth He, the Numberless, 7- Monstruously Low Tide

This is the other part of the Maudlin of The Well release. As "Bath" this opens with a climatic track full of sax and arpeggiated guitars in the beginning called "Stones of October´s Sobbing" before getting into a doom/death like part in 1:30...but the sax and keyboards part continue !!!!!. I love the experimentation of this guys and I love their heavy use of uncommon things that will do close-minded purists to smash their heads against the wall (there are some passages on this tracks that won´t be out of place in a free jazz context...those killer sax lines !!). It is no secret that I love the complex and the original and here we have both ...amazing !! Hail to Dark Symphonies for having such a great band with them !! Favorite tracks: Again the whole album from beginning to end. Contact: www.darksymphonies.com 

REVIEW: MAUDLIN OF THE WELL - BATH

 

MAUDLIN OF THE WELL - BATH (Dark Symphonies, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Zing Recording Studios.

Engineered by Jim Fogarty

Mastered at Peerless Mastering by Jeff Lipton

Track List: 1- The Blue Ghost/ Shedding Qliphot, 2- They aren´t all Beautiful, 3- Heaven and Weak, 4- the Ferryman, 5- Marid´s Gift of Art, 6- Girl with a Watering Can, 7- Birth pains of Astral Projection, 8- Geography

This is one half of what Maudlin of The Well offers this time (The other half is called "Leaving your Body Map" and I will comment on that one later). The result is great, being this two CD set one of my favorite albums of the year... going from extremely calm and exotic tracks like the opening "The Blue Ghost/Shedding Qliphot" to the death/blast "They aren´t all beautiful without a pause. But the main feature in Maudlin of the Well´s music is experimentation through different rhythms, includding some odd-time signature tempos, melodies, instrumentation (use of saxophones, clean guitars, and all they can put his hands on), atmospheres (all of this you can find even within only one song here), different vocalizations, etc, etc.. Each song here is a world on its own, with subtle details that make each of them unique and lots of changes within them (there must be dozens of changes within each track...really difficult and technical). Bow down to receive Maudlin´s latest offering. Buy or die !!!. Favorite tracks: the whole album from beginning to end. Contact: www.darksymphonies.com

REVIEW: MATT WESTON - VACUUMS

 

MATT WESTON - VACUUMS (Sachimay Recs., 2000):

Technical data:

Recorded July and November, 1998, Chicago, Il.

Artwork by Matt Weston. Design by Steve Norton

Track List:1-  Vacuums I, 2- Vacuums II, 3- Vacuums III, 4- Vacuums IV

Percussion and electronics master Matt Weston has released this experimental CD with compositions entitled "Vacuum". This is music very differnt from all the other projects in which he participates. In fact here he is the only musician doing all the electronics and percussion. The experimental music contained here goes from extremely subtle percussion passages, like in the beginning of "Vacuums II" for example to louder passages were he puts an emphasis on the intensity of his improvisation. Fans of experimental drumming will be delighted with this release. Favorite tracks: "Vacuums III" and "Vacuum IV". Contact: www.mattweston.com

REVIEW: MANIPULATED SLAVES - THE LEGENDARY BLACK JADE

 

MANIPULATED SLAVES - THE LEGENDARY BLACK JADE (Worldchaos Production, 2001):

Technical data:

Produced by Bat and Tery

Guest musicians: Johan Liiva (ex-Arch Enemy), Yuko (Fatima Hill)- vocals, Saeko (ex-Fairy Mirror)-vocals, Maya (Threat) - violins

Track List: 1- Thrust Sword into the Earth, 2- The Way of the Emperor, 3- Woman in the Iron Mask, 4- The Broken Chain, 5- Eyes Filled With Tears, 6- Man From the Horizon, 7- Capital Punishment, 8- Assault on the Enemy, 9- Bearing the Final Pain.

What a great surprise !! From Japan comes Manipulated Slaves and this is their second album. His style can be defined as melodic death/thrash metal and they do it really well!!. Specially I liked the "melodic" aspect which is centered in melancholic and epic melodies (as you can listen in the first track) done by guitars, while there are some excelent female vocals that do a great contrapósition with the more aggressive vocals. Good combination of aggressive music (check the mentioned vocals and the drumming which has an excelent sound) and melody ( great guitar solos, female vocals, violins, twin guitars). It is an excellent fusion between death metal and classical heavy metal (if you don´t believe this check the guitars on "Woman in the iron Mask" (4:10)...I think they wouldn´t be out of place in Iron Maiden). Favorite tracks: "The Way of the Emperor", "The Broken Chain" and "Assault on the Enemy". Contact: worldkdm@syd.odn.ne.jp

REVIEW: MADRIGAL - I DIE, YOU SOAR

 

MADRIGAL - I DIE, YOU SOAR (Nuclear Blast, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Studio Fredman, Gothenburg by Anders Friden

Track List: 1- Same Face, 2- Languish, 3- Taint of Shame, 4- Mind in Disguise, 5- In Debris, 6- Ashen Eyes, 7- Enticed, 8- Moulded Pain

This is a deppressive metal act that is endorsed by In Flames singer Anders Friden, who offered this guys to record in his studios. The music is very dark with lots of passages of keyboards and vocals that accentuate the pain that theya re transmitting (they sometimes are similar to those of Amorphis Pasi Koskinen). There are really subtle moments like the beginning of "Languish" follow by bursts of anguish and sadness reflected by this musicians. The music is halfway between doom, death and gothic...but allways emphasizing the darkest part also in the more commercial tracks. Following the path of bands like Anathema and the more commercial My Dying Bride. Favorite tracks: "Same Face", "Taint of Shame" and  "Moulded Pain". Contact: www.nuclearblast.de .

REVIEW: KNELL - KLICH BEZODNY

 

KNELL - KLICH BEZODNY (The Flaming Arts, 1998):

Technical data:

Recorded in January-April 1998

Mixed by Verba Denis

Logo by Pondon Viktor

Track List: 1- Predvestnik Gibely, 2- Vo Ime, 3- Vestnik Zimnikh Volodov, 4- Bind i repel, 5-Kaidani, 6- Klich Bezodny, 7- Mogitngi Viter

When this tape began I was transported to the darkest of worlds, full of black forests and fog. Dark images came to my mind. "Vo Ime" starts the depression with a lot of guitar melodies that are original for this sort of black metal. In fact I think this is the ingredient that the band has to use always, along with the omniprescent keyboards to set them apart from other bands of the style. The drums are programmed and that gives a strange taste of electronics to the final product, that for me helps the final result (it is better to listen this than a badly mixed drummer doing blast beats).Contact: valkalac@mail.ru

REVIEW: JOHN RUSSELL & ROGER TURNER - THE SECOND SKY

 

JOHN RUSSELL & ROGER TURNER - THE SECOND SKY (Emanem Disc, 2001):

Technical data:

Digital recording made in London, January 11, 2001 by Sean Mc Ghee.

Editing, mastering, photography and design by Martin Davidson.

Track List:1- Fire at my ribs, 2- 2:30, 3- Piercing the Second Sky, 4- Parapet, 5- Eye Stone, 6-Slowly Burning Word, 7- dunt, 8- Fulcrum, 9- The Dodger.

Legend guitarist John Russell unleash madness in this duets with drummer percussionist Roger Turner. This time, Russell uses an acoustic plectrum guitar which sounds sometimes like a banjo, sometimes like a citar, sometimes like a harp (depending on how he plays it). A lot of weird sounding improvisation is done here. Russell plays tremolos, harmonics and some glissandos while Turner explores his percussion set in an odd manner. Check for example "Fire at my Ribs" with some strange drum patterns by Turner while Russell picks the strings of his guitar in a wild fashion. Interesting experimental duets. Favorite tracks: "Fire at my Ribs", "Piercing the Second Sky" and " Fulcrum". Contact: www.emanemdisc.com

REVIEW: JEZABEL - A TODO O NADA

 

JEZABEL - A TODO O NADA (PROMO) (Icarus Recs., 2001):

Track List: 1- Eternamente, 2- Días de Gloria, 3- Cuando Dudes en Seguir, 4- Estirpe

Heavy metal with certain progressive touches (especially on the keyboards that I think should be used more because they sound really good and can add a lot to the music) with a great work of guitars and good ideas. This is heavy metal for those who love bands like Rhapsody, Stratovarius, Helloween and it has nothing to envy to those band (except the popularity and the sales). Excelent work of the bass player doing certain interesting arrangements in "Días de Gloria". Songs like "Cuando Dudes en Seguir" are really potent and will be loved by power metal fans (good guitar riffs). I have to point out that the edition that Icarus is releasing comes with an excelent box package and a poster of the cover art. Contact: icarus@ba.net or icarusmusic@speedy.com.ar

REVIEW: JAG PANZER - MECHANIZED WARFARE

 

JAG PANZER - MECHANIZED WARFARE (Century Media, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Morrisound Studios.

Produced by Jim Morris

Track List: 1- Take To The Sky, 2- Frozen in Fear, 3- Unworthy, 4- the Silent, 5- The Scarlet Letter, 6- Choir of Tears, 7- Cold is the Blade (And the Heart that Wields it), 8- Hidden in My Eyes, 9- Power Surge, 10- All Things Renewed

Here is a classic hevay metal band !!! I have been listening this band since their release called "Ample Destruction". Their sound has changed a lot since them (since the time Joey Tafolla was in the band), and their sound is much heavier still melodic today. In fact what has changed a lot and for better is the guitar sound. Since they are recording at Morrisound their guitars sound heavier and fuller. The vocals of Harry "The Tyrant " Conklin is up there like always. Fans of power metal should know this band instead of more of those that are out there because here is more originality, more skills and a lot of thrash metal influences that should be useful to the genre for don´t becoming stagnant. Favorite tracks: "Frozen in Fear", "The Silent" and "Power Surge" (crushing rhythms here...lot of thrash metal and screaming vocals). Contact: www.centurymedia.com

REVIEW: IN AETERNUM - PAST AND PRESENT SINS

 

IN AETERNUM - PAST AND PRESENT SINS (Orion Music Entertainment/Necropolis Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Artwork and Layout: José Montemayor

All tracks were recorded between 1995 and 2001.

All recording from 2001 are from the Abyss Studios. Recorded by Tommy Tägtgren.

Track List: 1- Cursed Legions, 2- Demon Possession, 3- Witches Spell, 4- The Arrival of the Horde, 5-The Pale Black Death, 6- Black Moon Attraction, 10- Abigail, 11- Wolves Blood (live), 12- Revelation of Hell (live), 13- Ultimate Warfare (live), 14- When the Vultures left (live)

This is an album of this black/death metal beasts consisting on tracks recorded through all their career that were considered rarities, some new tracks, two covers and some live tracks taken from the "Plague Across Europe Tour" on 12th february, 2001. Also this recording feature a participation of Schmier (Destruction) on guest vocals on the track "Cursed Legions". This band goes in the path of the blackest of metals ( on tracks like "The Pale Black Death" you can hear a definite Venom influence, in fact I like this track more than some of the speediest ones becaus here they show more interesting ideas). It is interesting to see the evolution since the 1995-1996 tracks whose sound is not so good, compared to the newest ones like the two first tracks (from 2001 and 1999) and the covers of King Diamond´s "Abigail" (march 2000) and Venom´s "Countess Bathory" (March 2001) (this versions are really crushing) whose sound is definitely much better. Also the sound of the live recording is really muddy( it sounds like air recording).This is a CD for collectionists of black metal and for those who don´t know In Aeternus and want to have a good sample on their music . Favorite tracks: "Cursed legions", "Countess Bathory" and "Wolves Blood (live)". Contact: In Southamerica: furias@ssdnet.com.ar or calling (+54-11)4583-9955 or fax: (+54-11) 4581-4066. Rest of the world: www.necropolisrec.com

REVIEW: HURT - HURT

 

HURT. - HURT. (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at the Factory, Vancouver .

Produced, Mixed and Mastered by Jeff Pauze

Cover artwork by Viy.

Track List: 1- Deemon, 2- Onion, 3- Lobo, 4- Fuckfeast, 5- Eat the Worm, 6- Slavecrown

Full speed grinding your brain with no mercy. This is Skull crushing grind/death !! The CD opens with "Deemon" a totally grinding track at full speed with vocals that are typical of the style. Brutality is other of the words that come into my mind while listening this band. I find much more interesting the second track called "Onion" with an interesting opening riffs (I think this guys must explore things like this more often or like the riff they use at 0:50 on this same track). In this second track the use of blast beats is less abusive and the drummer has a lot more opportunity to show what he is capable of doing ( for example interesting snare drums and double bass paterns). "Lobo" is another track where we can see what this guy can do behind the drum kit (interesting stops and cymbals on this track). For death metal fans and obviously grindcore ones. Favorite tracks: "Lobo", "Eat The Worm" and "Onion". Contact: www.hurting.org   

REVIEW: HOWARD RILEY TRIO - OVERGROUND

 

HOWARD RILEY TRIO - OVERGROUND (Emanem Disc, 2001):

Technical data:

Analogue recording made in London, August 28, 1974 and November 1, 1975.

Editing, masteringa and design by Martin Davidson.

Analogue to digital transfer by Paul Wilson

Track List:1- Loops, 2- Pages, 3- Spliced, 4- Recognition, 5- Overground

Another jewel edited by Emanem Disc. This time is a recording by the Howard Riley Trio, formed by Howard Riley on piano, Barry Guy on double bass and Tony Oxley on Percussion and Live Electronics. A killer experimental recording driven by the piano runs of Riley who is like the director of the trio building up some basement for the other two musicians to improvise and unleash their musical thoughts. I like specially the way in which Riley improvises, doing runs, chords and some interesting odd tempos and phrases while Barry Guy is doing his job on the double bass and Oxley crushes his percussion set doing the most amazing sounds. For lovers of experimentation. Favorite tracks: "Pages" and "Overground" (this track is over twenty minutes long and is a compendium of madness). 

REVIEW: HIGHLORD - WHEN THE AURORA FALLS

 

HIGHLORD - WHEN THE AURORA FALLS (PROMO) (Icarus Recs., 2001):

Track List: 1- When the Aurora Falls, 2- Don´t Kill Me Again, 3- Frozen Heaven, 4- We Are Gods

Power metal in the vein of Rhapsody but with less orchestration and somewhat more direct. This is pure power metal done in the italian way. In fact the thing that differentiates this band from Rhapsody is fundamentally the sound that is somewhat inferior and the singer which should give more power to his vocals in order to fit better with the rest of the music. The four tracks in this promo CD follow the same vein with a good guitarist and a good keyboardist which are the centre of the music here. The version released by Icarus Recs. has a bonus track recorded specially for Southamerican fans. Favorite tracks: "Don´t kill me again" and "We are Gods". Contact: icarus@ba.net or icarusmusic@speedy.com.ar

REVIEW: GRAVE DIGGER - THE GRAVE DIGGER

 

GRAVE DIGGER - THE GRAVE DIGGER (Nuclear Blast, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and mixed at Principal Studios

Track List: 1- Son of Evil, 2- The Grave Digger, 3- Raven, 4- Scythe of Time, 5- Spirits of the Dead, 6- The House, 7- King Pest, 8- Sacred Fire, 9- Funeral Procession, 10- Haunted Palace, 11- Silence

I don´t know if it is for the new studio techniques or because the band decided to change their sound that when this band got reunited in 1993 they got heavier than they were in the eighties. In fact their music continued to be very similar but their sound is more in the front, better mixed. Now, year 2001, Grave Digger is back, this time with ex-Rage Manni Schmidt on guitar (he is risponsible of part of the music of the best Rage albums like "Perfect Man", "Secrets in a Weird World"). Here his guitar shines in a very similar context than in Rage....fronted by the vocals of Chris Boltendahl, Schmidt is allowed to do a lot of solos and interesting riffs. The main difference with the latest albums "Excalibur" or "Knights of the Cross" is that the lyrics and some atmospheres are darker this time, the first ones centered on Edgar Allan Poe´s writing instead of some medieval tale. Favorite tracks: "The Grave Digger", "Spirits of the Dead" and "King Pest". Contact: www.nuclearblast.de Distributes for Argentina: Icarus Recs: icarus@ba.net or icarusmusic@speedy.com.ar

REVIEW: FEEBLE MINDED / LIMITS OF NESCIENT SPLIT

 

FEEBLE MINDED/LIMITS OF NESCIENT - SPLIT CD (Grodhaisn Prods./Copremesis Recs., 2001):

Track List: Feeble Minded: 1- Final War (intro), 2- History, 3- Miss Dissection, 4- XXX,. 5- Alone, 6- Tommyknockers, 7- The Dying Landscape, 8- The Pool, 9- Period_3 (chaos), 10- Miss D (Sweet pills Mix)

Limits of Nescient: 1- 33, 2- Dunia Di Tanganku, 3- The Appaling Instinct, 4- Unsur Yang Layu, 5- Disbelieve Cover, 6- Voluntary Fabrication, 7- Bleed, 8- Remains-Sisa, 9- Pulp (fiction Theme), 10- Predetinated

 A chaotic introduction called "Final War" let us into the world of Feeble Minded. A czech death metal band whose main feature are the powerful riffs in the more rhythmic Morbid Angel tradition. Another thing that caught my attention was the used of programmed drums which I think are a positive point for the band (insome bands this can be positive and in some negative depending on how they are used). I would like to point out that the riffs are carefully constructed and they are really far from the wall of noise that some bands of the style do in their fastest parts. Also there are some grind parts that sound really good and very...tidy? Yes !!. Tracks like "Miss Dissection" are a good example of what I said: Calculated rhythms and rotten vocals. The other band Limits of Nescient is a band that plays some death metal and uses some similar riffs, but in a different way than Feeble Minded, without abusing the speed also and prefering to create something more original than fast. It is a pity that they have split up. The sound of the Feeble Minded tracks is better than the Limits of Nescient, specially on the drums department that sounds quite hollow in the second band and really strong in the first one. Favorite tracks: "The Dying Landscape", "Alone" and "Dunia Di Tanganku". Contact: http://grodhaisn.cjb.net

REVIEW: EVAN PARKER - THE AYES HAVE IT

 

EVAN PARKER - THE AYES HAVE IT (Emanem Disc, 2001):

Technical data:

Analogue studio recording in 1-4 made in London, December 1983.

Digital Concert Recording by Martin Davidson, London August 1, 1991.

Editing, masteringa and design by Martin Davidson.

Track List:1- Aye 1, 2- Aye 2, 3- Aye 3, 4- Aye 4, 5- The Eyes Have it 

This is an album with two parts...the first one is comprised of four tracks with improvisations in a trio format recorded in studio on 1983 and that features Parker´s excelent skills as saxophonist while Paul Rogers constructs the double bass structure for him to improvise while making uncommon sounds with his instruments and while Jamie Muir developes his undesciphrable percussion playing and enhances the eerie feeling by using some toys. The second part of this release onsist in a 36 and a half minutes jam in quartet format this time including a trombone (this is a recording from 1991). The sound in this second part is better, specially on the saxophone and I like a lot the interventions and unisons of Parker and Wierbos (trombone). Close minded people abstain. Favorite track: "The Eyes Have It", and "Aye 2". Contact: www.emanemdisc.com

REVIEW: ENFORSAKEN - EMBRACED BY MISERY

 

ENFORSAKEN- EMBRACED BY MISERY (Lifeless Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Studio One, December 2000

Engineered by Chris Djuricic. Mixed by Enforsaken and Chris Djuricic

Cover Artwork Carlos del Olmo Holmberg at www.nailstream.com

Track List: 1- Of open Wounds..., 2- The Acting Parts, 3- Embraced by Misery, 4-Dead Light, Dead Night, 5- Into the Everblack, 6- Standing in the Shadows.

Enforsaken is a really aggressive band whose music transits the path of death metal. I would call this a more sophisticated kind of death metal because of the variety of arrangements that the band makes in the tracks, for example doing some arpegios with distorted guitars like in "Of Open Wounds..." or interesting soloing (check the solos on the same track). The vocals reminded sometimes of Carcass (but they use a lot of different types of vocals) and I would define the music as Carcass meets Kreator meets Celtic Frost meets Morbid Angel. They have achieved a good sound on this release, specially on guitars and drums. I think the song that I would choose as the best is "The Acting Parts" because of the great arrangements and the catchy chorus (with a really deep vocals) and because of the mixture of straight forward metal with blast beats. A promisory recording. Favorite tracks: "The Acting parts", "Dead Light, dead night" (with slow beginning, really technical) and "Into the Everblack". Contact: www.enforsaken.com or http://lifelessrecords.8k.com

REVIEW: DIVE IN MINDS - INNOCENT VICTIMS

 

DIVE IN MINDS - INNOCENT VICTIMS (Furias Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Nestor Iencenella from Iencenella Records Studios.

Executive Production: Eduardo Mallada, Musical Production: Dive In Minds.

Art Cover: Hector Tito Gervan.

Track List:1- Suffering, 2- Holocaust of the Human Being, 3- Innocent Victims, 4- Torment, 5- Hijos, 6- Under the Power of Men, 7- Come Back from Death, 8- Humanity Death, 9- Desperate Yells of Confinement.

Dive in Minds is a band from Bahía Blanca, a city in the south of the Province of Buenos Aires, Artgentina. Their style is extremely progressive and technical death metal. Influences of this band are Death (Individual Thought Patterns/Symbolic era), In Flames, Dark Tranquillity  and bands of the style. The main point here is tthe excellent work of guitars, bass and drums and the excelent sound that the band has achieved. This guys deserve to be a really succesfull band world wide...check their guitar solos, their rhythms (killer drummer), the phrases that the bassist makes (in a Steve Di Giorgio fashion), the clean interludes, the changes, the complexity of the tracks. There is nothing that this guys can not do. One of the albums of the month. Favorite tracks: All the CD. Contact: furias@ssdnet.com.ar or calling (+54-11)4583-9955 or fax: (+54-11) 4581-4066.

REVIEW: DESTRUCTION - THE ANTICHRIST

 

DESTRUCTION - THE ANTICHRIST (Nuclear Blast, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at The Abyss Studios

Track List: 1- Days of Confussion, 2- thrash Till Death, 3- Nailed to the Cross, 4- Dictators of Cruelty, 5- Bullets from Hell, 6- Strangulated Pride, 7- Meet your Destiny, 8- Creations of the Underworld, 9- Godfather of Slander, 10- Let Your Mind Rot, 11- The Heretic

Schmier and company are back, this time with "The Antichrist", an album whose making has been somewhat touched by bad luck (as they explain in their webiste). As in their previous album"All Hell Breaks Loose" the music is thrash metal as they used to play in the classical era of the band (before "Cracked Brain") with a really good production, specially in the drums department and in the crushing sound of the guitars. Songs like "Tharsh Till Death" or "Nailed To the Cross" are only a sample of the Destruction sound that made this band famous during the eighties. This is a classical band who knows what their fans wnat and deliver it perfectly. Favorite tracks: "Bullets from Hell", "Meet your destiny" and "Creations of the underworld". Contact: www.nuclearblast.de. Distributes for Argentina: Icarus Recs. icarus@ba.net or icarusmusic@speedy.com.ar

REVIEW: DEPRAVED - DECADENCE AND LUST

 

DEPRAVED - DECADENCE AND LUST (Warpath Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded, mixed and mastered in Second Side Studio January-March 2001.

Cover concept by Depraved. Design by Virginie, painting by Franck.

Track List: 1-Strangulation with Human leather, 2- Mass killer, 3- Cannibalistic Rites, 4- Decadence and Lust, 5- Winds of tribal Voices, 6- Exciting Murder, 7- Masturbation in Worms, 8- Scream !!!, 9- Seeds of Perversion, 10- Follow Ignorance, 11- the Hand of death, 12- Dive into Sexual Depravity 

Bestial death grind with no mercy for the listener !! This guys start at full speed with "Strangulation with Human Leather" in the vein of the most extreme death metal bands crushing you like an atomic bomb !! And this guys do not stop after the first track...in fact they are full speed, hate and violence from beginning to end. Fans of the style will love it as much as detractors will hate them. I like how the recording is mixed with the guitars and the bass in the front (despite the speed and the blast beats and all the stuff you can hear clearly the bass pumping through all the tracks). I think this guys should emphasize licks like the ones in "Exciting Murder" (0:50) or the beginning of "Masturbation in Worms". Favorite tracks: "Strangulation with Human Leather", "Masturbation in Worms" and "Seeds of Perversion". Contact: warpathrecords@aol.com

REVIEW: DEMENTOR - THE ART OF BLASPHEMY

 

DEMENTOR - THE ART OF BLASPHEMY (Qabalah Prods., 1999):

Track List: 1- Devil´s Rebirth, 2- The False Faith, 3- Time for Death, 4- Waiting the Death, 5- Love, 6-Requiem to the Cursed Lust, 7- The Art of Blasphemy, 8- Taste of Dead Meat, 9- Gate of Eternity, 10- The Eyes of the Beast

 This is Dementor´s previous album and it was a good one (not as good as "Enslave The Weak"). I think that the band has evolved really good since this recording because nowadays their music is much more interesting. While in this CD all is brutality and speed, in "Enslave The Weak" there are more arrangements, more subtle things and more creativity. It is good to see an album like this together with their latest to see how the band evolved. If you love raw death metal you will prefer this one. Favorite tracks: "The False Faith", "Love" (this is more similar of what was going to come in the next album) and "Taste of Dead Meat". Contact: www.dementor.sk

REVIEW: DEMENTOR - ENSLAVE THE WEAK

 

DEMENTOR - ENSLAVE THE WEAK (Osmose Prods., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded /Mixed at Pro Art Studios June/August 2000.

Engineered by Milos Rojko

Produced by Dementor and Milos Rojko

Track List: 1- Enslave the Weak, 2- Feeding the Fire, 3- Rewrite the Past, 4- Death is Coming, 5- Inverted Darkness, 6- Reborn Again, 7- Killing Christians, 8- Foolish Believers, 9- Opposites Beyond Eternity.

Pure death metal is what this Slovakian band specializes in. They do death metal in the vein of bands like Morbid Angel but with their own personality. The good thing here is listening slow guitar riffs over a killer double bass drumming, prefering doing things with good taste than speeding for the sake of speed. I take my hat off in Holloshman´s drumming. He is a killer drummer and drives the bands music while the guitarists construct the main structure with their riffs and guitar solos. René Blahusiak´s vocals are growling but very clear at the same time and you can understand every word of the lyrics. I think they have made a good evolution since their previous CD "The Art of Blasphemy". Favorite tracks: "Opposites Beyond Eternity", " Death is Coming" and "Killing Christians". Contact: www.dementor.sk