REVIEW: CARNIVORE - RETALIATION - REMASTERED EDITION

 

CARNIVORE - RETALIATION - REMASTERED EDITION (Roadrunner Recs., 2000)

Produced by Alex Perialas

Recorded at Systems Two, Brooklyn, NY

Artwork by X Design

Tracks: 1- Jack Daniels and Pizza; 2- Angry Neurotic Catholics; 3- S.M.D.; 4- Ground Zero Brooklyn; 5- Race War; 6- Inner Conflict; 7- Jesus Hitler, 8- Technophobia; 9- Manic Depression; 10- U.S.A. for U.S.A.; 11- Five Billion Dead; 12- Sex and Violence; 13 - World Wars III and IV (demo); 14- Carnivore (demo); 15- The Subhuman )demo

This is the exact link between the first Carnivore album and the "Slow, Deep and Hard" Type O Negativa album. In fact this is a Remastered Edition of this classic with many bonus tracks and fully remastered sound. Here you can listen the band that launched Pete Steele to the underground fame. Tracks like "Technophobia" wouldn´t be out of place in any of the Type O Negative albums despite that Steele´s vocals are more screaming than what he des in that band. There is a certain hardcore and punk feeling in many of the tracks that make the material contained here rawer and more direct.

Favorite tracks: "Jack Daniels and Pizza", "Race War" and "Jesus Hitler".

Contact: www.roadrunnerrecords.com

REVIEW: CARNIVORE - CARNIVORE - REMASTERED EDITION

 

CARNIVORE - CARNIVORE - REMASTERED EDITION (Roadrunner Recs., 2000)

Produced by Norman Dunn

Recorded at Braille/East Sound, NYC

Artwork by X Design

Tracks: 1- Predator; 2- Carnivore; 3- Male Supremacy; 4- Armageddon; 5- Legion of Doom; 6- God is Dead; 7- Thermonuclear Warrior; 8- World Wars III and IV; 9 - U.S.A. for U.S.A. (demo); 10- S.M.D. (demo); 11- Sex and Violence (demo)

This is the Carnivore debut album in a completely remastered edition that contains interesting bonus tracks, mainly demos. For those who doesn´t know the band this is Pete Steele´s band previous to the creation of Type O Negative. In fact there are certain similitudes with the early Type O material. The album opens with "Predator", a track that wouldn´t be out of place in a Venom album!!! The music here is raw (despite having a better sound than in the original recording) and almost punk in some parts. There are slower parts that make some tracks more climatic. The lyrics are always ironic and sarcastic. A piece of metal history. Check it out.

Favorite tracks: "Male Supremacy"; Legion of Doom" and "Thermonuclear Warrior".

Contact: www.roadrunnerrecords.com

REVIEW: BRUJERIA - BRUJERIZMO

 

BRUJERIA - BRUJERIZMO ( Roadrunner Recs., 2001)

Produced by Güero Sin Fe, Asesino, Juan Brujo and Marijuano Machete

Recorded at Studio Dee

Artwork by Diseño Pe Dulce

Tracks: 1- Brujerizmo, 2- Vayan Sin Miedo, 3- La Traición, 4- Pititis, te invoco, 5- Laboratorio Cristalitos, 6- Division del Norte, 7- Marcha de Odio, 8- Anti Castro, 9- Cuiden a los Niños, 10- El Bajón, 11- Mecosario, 12- El Desmadre, 13- Sida de la Mente

Brujeria´s music has changed through the years...While their first track had riffs that were a cross between death metal and grind, on this new album you can listen much modern guitar riffs with a good sound (that was lacking "Matando Güeros" for example). The music now is closer to say, Fear Factory (specially in the guitar and drums sound)...what a coincidence!!! Yes, this time Dino Cazares and Raymond Herrera didn´t disguise their sound and their way of playing, and the similitude with their main band is more evident. Compositively the band has gotten better with time, comparing to their primitive debut. And the sound has really good quality.

Favorite tracks: "Vayan Sin Miedo", "Laboratorio Crisalitis" and "Anti Castro".

Contact: www.roadrunnerrecords.com

REVIEW: BLUDGEON - CRUCIFY THE PRIEST

 

BLUDGEON - CRUCIFY THE PRIEST (Metal Blade, 2002)

Produced by Joey De Maio

Recorded at Bludgeonville by Jason Walsh

Artwork by Ken Kelly

Tracks: 1- Smoke Screen; 2- Idle Distinction; 3- Tortured Through Lies; 4- Zero Tolerance; 5- Last Rites; 6- Voluntary Manslaughter; 7- Crucify the Priest; 8- Abandoned; 9- Bound; 10- Inner Hell; 11- Turmoil; 12- Stained In Blood

The music of this band could be defined as death/ black metal. I am saying this because they mix elements of both styles....there are a lot of death metal riffs with a crushing guitar sound typical of this style, while there are some vocals and fast riffs that would not be out of place in a black metal band. The main element in this recording is the great work that the guitarists do through all of it going from really direct riffs to hypertechnical ones and then going through very slow moments, all in one track (for example the opening track). I like a lot some rhythmic riffs that make the result extremely heavy in tracks like "Tortured Through Lies". The sound is devastating making all the instruments shine as they deserve. A bestial and brutal band that kick your ass through the whole release!!

Favorite tracks: "Tortured Through Lies", "Voluntary Manslaughter" and "Inner Hell".

Contact: www.metalblade.com

INTERVIEW WITH SEAR BLISS

1- How has been "Forsaken Symphony" received in the undergound? 

"Although Forsaken Symphony is out only for one or two months, it can be said that the responses are very good so far. We have received positive reviews mostly and quite a lot of metal radio stations play the songs. So, we are totally pleased."

2- The sound in "Forsaken Symphony" is raw but yet really effective...was this done on purpose?

"Definitely. In case of the previous album, Grand Destiny, we relied on the sound engineer, who wanted as clean sound as possible. Now the time has come for us to take the control on the sound. Our aim was to create a raw and unpolished sound because it fitted very well to the mood of the songs this time. We wanted to produce a really unique atmosphere and we succeeded in producing it. "

3- Do you consider Sear Bliss a black metal band or is that definition too narrow to describe your music?

"Basically, it is black metal but not in ist purest sense. The arrangement of the songs are for example not typical. It is enough to say that we have been using a brass section since the very beginning of the band. All in all, I would say that we play a black-metal-based music without limits. We believe that black metal is about originality. We don't see reason to copy the Norwegian bands, however we like and respect them. When black metal started in the 80´s, the bands tried to be as unique and original as possible. This is our aim too."

4- How importan are Zoltan´s trombones and barytones to Sear Bliss´ music?

"We have been using a brass section from the beginning, so it is a kind of trademark of the band. When somebody hears the name of Sear Bliss the first what comes to their mind is that "Oh, yes! The band with the brass section!". And musically they play a very significant role: these instruments give the music a real classical touch."

5- How are Sear Bliss songs composed? Do each member bring ideas or each member composes a complete song and then teaches the other ones ?

"We do not have any special way of composing songs. One of us brings an idea and if it is liked by the others, it inspires us to do our own parts. Usually the guitar players are those who compose the basic themes, but the keyboard player, Oliver had also a lot of ideas. We can compose music when we are in a certain mood. It´s definitely needed to be alone when composing. "

6- What are "Forsaken Symphony"´s lyrics about?

"We get our inspirations from inside. The lyrics on Forsaken Symphony are escapes from today´s rotten life and morals. In our lyrics and music we try to be as far from everydays life as possible. Our lyrics have got nothing to do with earth-bound things like politics or social problems, etc. They come from inside and born by our imagination. "

7- How do you see the evolution of the band from "Phantoms" to "Forsaken Symphony"?

"We have definitely improved a lot since then. At that time we were much younger and less experienced than we are now. But our attitude and enthusism towards playing our music is the same as that. We have been trying to make as great music as possible. Yet I think Forsaken Symphony is very much in the vein of Phantoms in its mood. It is a very similar album in my opinion.

8- You have toured with great bands like MArduk, Anathema, Tiamat, Dark Funeral and many others...which was your favorite gig?

"Well, all these gigs had great influence on us and it is really great to remember to them. But without doubt the most remarkable one was the European Tour with Marduk in 1997. It was very exhausting to travel 8200 kilometres in 12 days, but it was worth. We met a lot of exciting people and it was great to play to a different crowd each evening. And it was also great to get aquainted with the guys from Marduk. We had unforgettable parties together."

9- How important are the dark atmospheres and melodies to Sear Bliss´music?

"Two types of music characterize the music of Sear Bliss. On the one hand there is black metal on the other hand the atmospheric/melodic side. These two are the major constituents of the music of ours. But these two serve the same aim: to guide the listeners on the path of darkness."

10- Any final words?

"Thanks a lot for your support! Check out www.searbliss.hu for up-to- date information. We wish you and everyone in the scene of South America a metallic new year!!!"

REVIEW: BLOODFLOWERZ - DIABOLIC ANGEL

 

BLOODFLOWERZ - DIABOLIC ANGEL (Silverdust Recs., 2002)

Tracks: 1- Fatal Kiss; 2- Diabolic Angel; 3- Lovesick; 4-Ablaze; 5- Sadness; 6-One Second; 7- Mea Culpa; 8-Tears of the Night; 9-Cold Rain; 10- Season of Love

This is with no doubt one of the CDs of the Month. Mixing brutal guitars with a lot of melody and using one of the best female vocals that I have listened (Kirsten is great also harmonizing her own vocals). The music is extremely powerful and the band achieve this without having to use speed or guttural vocals. The compositions are really well crafted and each musical piece is a short story. The guitarists make really great riffs (many of them are really heavy ones) and they know how tuo use clean guitars in thew right context to create interesting harmonies and atmospheres. Despite being their debut album I must say that this band will be really big in the future.

Favorite tracks: The whole CD.

Contact: www.silverdust.de

REVIEW: BELINUS - BATTLECHANTS

 

BELINUS - BATTLECHANTS (Independent, 2001)

Produced by Belinus

Recorded at B.P.M. Studios Cork

Artwork by HuGarDarn

Tracks: 1- Croi Dorcha na Coille; 2- Stormgod; 3- Magtuired; 4- Cursus; 5- At Dusk We Rise

This is a really climatic and epic CD! The vocals are closer to black metal but the guitars prefer to play riffs with melodies than doing superfast one note riffs. This recording is powerful, and the main thing here are the great arrangements that the band makes on each song. I can feel some Emperor and Enslaved influences here and there but this guys play their music in a completely different way than this bands. The guitarists are extremely heavy contrasting with the vocalist that sometimes uses clean vocals in a really effective way. I would have mixed a little bit louder the snare drum and bass drum to make a little bit more crushing the result. The overall result is really good for those who love dark music.

Favorite tracks: "Stormgod" and "At Dusk We Rise".

Contact: www.belinus.cjb.net

REVIEW: BELFHEGOR - INFERNAL LIVE ORGASM

 

BELFHEGOR - INFERNAL LIVE ORGASM (Phallelujah Prods., 2002)

Tracks: 1- March of the Dead, 2- Purity Through Fire; 3- Necrodaemon Terrorsathan; 4- the Last Supper; 5- No resurrection; 6- Swarm of rats; 7-Diabolical Possession; 8- Blackest Ecstasy; 9- Requiem of Hell, 10-Der Untergang Pt. II, 11- Graves of Sorrow; 12- Hellbound; 13- Vomit Upon the Cross (video); 14- Purity Through Fire (video)

Black/de ath metal cult band Belfhegor delivers a live album full of raw music and brutality. The music here is extremely fast and the sound is good enough to make all the instruments really clear in the mix (I would have mixed a little bit louder the snare drum...more or less at the same level as the bass drum). The guitars are really cool full of interesting and crushing riffs. I prefer the parts where the drummer is not playing blast beats and where the band delivers their best and more powerful riffs. The live sound is great and the badn sounds more energetic than in the studio. A great live album from this extreme cult underground band.

Favorite tracks: "Purity Through Fire", " No Resurrection" and " Graves of Sorrow".

Contact: www.phallelujah.com

REVIEW: BARATHRUM - SAATANA

 

BARATHRUM - SAATANA (Spinefarm Recs., 1999)

Produced by Barathrum

Recorded at Tico Tico Studios

Artwork by Tom Harkonnen

Tracks: 1- Introitus, 2- Satanick alert, 3- Dark Sorceress 2; 4- Boundless Arts; 5- Beltane; 4-Helluva Agitator, 5- Melancholy, Infinity, Agony; 6- Regent of Damnation; 7- Countess Erzebeth nadasdy; 8- Sacrilegium; 9- Saatana; 10- Dark Sorceress (Autumn Siege); 11- Necromantical Ritual; 12- Salubele

Is Barathrum a black metal band? Of course ! But they have many elements that make them different from many of the bands of the same style that are nowadays in the underground. First of all their songs have many hooks (yes, I think that this is one of the main points of their music....check the choruses and bridges of their songs to see what I am talking about). The guitar riffs have many elements that they use very effectively instead of simple speed and aggression. The vocals are clearly black metal and they are clearly screamed adding a lot of atmosphere to the tracks. Many of the tracks here are mid tempos (check "Dark Sorceress 2" as an example). If you thought that black metal was running out of originality, check Barathrum´s music and realize that you have been mistaken!

Favorite tracks: "Statnick Alert", "Melancholy, Infinity, Agony" and "Regent of Damnation".

Contact: www.spinefarm.fi

REVIEW: APRIL ETHEREAL - ADVENT

 

APRIL ETHEREAL - ADVENT (Conquer Recs., 2001)

Produced by Jerzy

Recorded in Catacomb Studio, Warsaw

Artwork by April Ethereal

Tracks: 1- Her Silent Cry at Dawn; 2- The First Step into the Unknown; 3- Departure; 4- The Repose; 5- Hologram; 6- The Last Glance Into her eyes; 7- Truth; 8- Epilogue

Looking at the cover I was waiting a gothic band !! Wrong!!! April Ethereal is a band taht knows how to mix the most extreme brutality with a lot of changes and interesting arrangements (the short piano part in "Her Silent Cry at dawn" is amazing). There are some keyboards that contrast a lot with the brutal vocals making the music of this recording sound more weird. The drummer uses a lot of snare drum patterns combined with some double bass and speed fills. There are interesting acoustic guitar pparts that add the melody that the tracks deserve. This is one of the recordings ofd the month. For fans of brutality with an interesting twist.

Favorite tracks: "The First Step into the Unknown", "The Repose" and "Truth".

Contact: www.conquerec.com

REVIEW: APHASIA - ARCANE IN THALASSA

 

APHASIA - ARCANE IN THALASSA (Independent, 2002)

Produced by Aphasia, Jean Francois Dagenais and Jean Francois Girard

Recorded at Pierr Remilliard´s Studio, Quebec

Artwork by Yvon D´Anjou

Tracks: 1- Devastating Wind; 2- Merging Process; 3- Passion of Time; 4- Beyond the Infinite Horizon; 5- Learning From the Unknown Image; 6- Cries from Despair; 7- L´Absolu Ment; 8- Stormbound

Here is Aphasia´s newest offering. This is the succesor of their "Beyond the Infinite Horizon" MCD, and they have evolved a lot since then. They have not changed their approach to music (which is death metal with technical black metal influences), but they have improved a lot the technical side and the sound of the release. Specially the drums have a much better sound than on their previous effort. Steph´s guitar lines are brutal and at the same time capable of adding some subtle arrangements to the tracks, like on "Merging Process". It seems to me that the music of this band is ideal for a live show. Brutality with a lot of original ideas.

Favorite tracks: "Devastating Wind"; "Passion of Time" and "Cries from Despair".

Contact: http://listen.to/aphasia

REVIEW: ANYONE - ANYONE

 

ANYONE - ANYONE (Roadrunner Recs., 2000)

Produced by Rick Parashar and Riz Story

Recorded at London Bridge, Seattle

Artwork by Riz Story

Tracks: 1- Giving Thrills, 2- Don´t Wake Me, 3- Lazy hazy, 4- Whole World´s Insane, 5- Hitches, 6- Slaves (Part 12), 7- Real, 8- Fly, 9- Turnaround, 10- Running Dry, 11- Drops of Miracle, 12- She, 13- Peace Love and Toxic, 14- Dear Sylvia, 15- Kissing God, 16- Wait Until Morning

The music that this band makes is really weird, sort of a fusion between new metal and some alternative band like for example Jane´s Addiction (I am saying this mostly because of the vocals. The guitars are heavy, specially on the choruses and they play dissonant phrases here and there like bands in ths tyle of Korn could do (but they are completely different from this band). Here there are a lot of maniac guitar solos and guitar atmospheres. I don´t like too much the vocals...I think that a stronger vocalist or someone with a different range could have given the band a needed extra power. One of the fundamental things here are the choruses which have a lot of hooks (almost poppish in some songs).

Favorite tracks: "Whole world´s insane", "Hitches" and "Drops of Miracle".

Contact: www.roadrunnerrecords.com

REVIEW: ANTHRAX - RETURN OF THE KILLER A´s

 

ANTHRAX - RETURN OF THE KILLER A´s (Spitfire Recs., 2000)

Produced by Anthrax

Mastered by George Marino

Artwork by Tim Gabor

Tracks: 1- Bring The Noise, 2- Only, 3- Potters Field (remix), 4- Ball of Confussion, 5- Crush, 6- Room For One More, 7- Inside Out, 8- Hy Pro Glo (remix), 9- Fueled, 10- Among the Living, 11- Got the Time, 12- Indians, 13- Antisocial, 14- I´m The Man, 15- Madhouse, 16- I Am The Law

This is a compilation of Anthrax main tracks through their whole career (except for their debut "Fistful of Metal") with some rarities like a couple of remixes and the "Ball of Confussion" cover. There are elements from their Joey Belladona era like "Indians", "I am The Law" or "among the Living", that 15 years later are still crushing. And, obviously there are a lot of tracks from the John Bush era, like "Only" , "Room for One More", "Fueled" or "Hy Pro Glo". I would have added "Metal Thrashing Mad" to make this a complete compilation with material from all the releases.

Favorite tracks: The whole CD. Anthrax is a classic band and here you have a lot of their best material.

Contact: www.spitfirerecords.com

REVIEW: ANNIHILATOR - NEVER, NEVERLAND - REMASTERED EDITION

 

ANNIHILATOR - NEVER, NEVERLAND - REMASTERED EDITION (Roadrunner Recs.)

Produced by Glen Robinson and Jeff Waters

Recorded at Vancouver Studios

Artwork by Len Rooney Creative

Tracks: 1- The Fun Palace, 2- Road To Ruin, 3- Sixes and Sevens, 4- Stonewall; 5- Never, Neverland, 6- Imperiled Eyes, 7- Kraf Dinner, 8- Phantasmagoria, 9- Reduced to Ash, 10- I Am In Command, 11- Kraf Dinner (demo); 12- Mayhem (demo of "Reduced to Ash"), 13- Freed From the Pit (demo of "Road To Ruin")

Here is a completely remastered edition of Annihilator´s second album. After appearing in the thrash scene with "Alice in Hell" this band developed their own style on this recording. Replacing Randy Rampage on vocals with Omen´s Coburn Pharr the band gained an extra edge and added some interesting hooks to the vocal lines. Also here is more clear the combination of clean and distorted guitars that made Annihilator famous. The thing that make this album interesting for those who have the original one are the demo tracks that are contained here, some of which ended as different songs on this album. An essential album in the history of metal.

Favorite tracks: "Stonewall", "Imperiled Eyes" and "Phantasmagoria".

Contact: www.roadrunnerrecords.com

REVIEW: WINDS - REFLECTIONS OF THE I

 

WINDS - REFLECTIONS OF THE I (The End Recs., 2002)

Produced by Andy Winter

Recorded at Top Room Studio

Artwork by Travis Smith

Tracks: 1- Clarity, 2- Realization, 3- Of Divine Nature, 4- Transition, 5- Passion´s Quest, 6- Reason´s Desire, 7- Premonition, 8- Remnants of Beauty, 9- Existence, 10- Continuance, 11- Predominance, 12- Inception Perspective, 13- In All Reflections, 14- Bloodstained and Sworn, 15- Mirrored in Time, 16- An Eternity of Dreams

I can not start the review in a different way: Andy Winter and company are really fantastic musicians ! In fact the music here is a mix of elements from many different styles, combined in such a great way that you will not believe it. This CD is a step forward compared to "Of Entity and Mind" (all the tracks of this MCD are here too...they are five) which was an amazing album too ! There are the omniprescent keys played by Andy Winter and there are violins, cellos and violas playing great melodies in all tracks. Jan Axel Von Blomberg (Hellhammer) is a great drummer who can show more variotions of his styles here than in many of his other projects. There are elements of classical music which I loved combined with metal in its purest forms. Lars Eric Si´s vocals are great and fir the music perfectly. This is with no doubt a masterpiece. Favorite tracks: The whole CD. It is really amazing !Contact: www.theendrecords.com

REVIEW: VIU DRAKH - DEATH RIFF SOCIETY

 

VIU DRAKH - DEATH RIFF SOCIETY (Moonstorm Recs., 2002)

Produced by Björn Langkopf

Recorded at Berno Studios, Malmö

Artwork by Olli

Tracks: 1- Death Riff Society, 2- Demon Dance, 3- Mutant Gods, 4- Bush, 5- Peaches and Cream, 6- Caravan, 7- Blade Spirits, 8- Worst Disease, 9- Dead or Alive, 10- As the Dormant Awakes, 11- Silver, 12- Ace of Spades

Viu Drakh´s music is extremely heavy. This, combined with the great sound that this recording has make a crushing combination. And they are really brutal. Their brutality relies in three elements: the guitars which are heavier than hell, the drums (this guy is a really machine man with an excellent sound) and the bestial vocals that make the music blast your brain with its strength. Starting with a melodic mid tempo in the first track (the title track) this guys start changing rhythm and speeding up showing their fierce music to the listener with no mercy. The combination between the guitars and the bass is crushing, using both of them very low riffs that sound better in this style of brutal music. People who like brutality and want a release with a great sound that make the results better should check this release with no doubt. Favorite tracks: "Mutant Gods", "Caravan" and "As the Dormant Awakes". Contact: www.moonstorm.de or www.viudrakh.de

REVIEW: VACANT STARE - VINDICATION

 

VACANT STARE - VINDICATION (Copro Records, 2002)

Produced by Andy Sneap

Recorded at Philia Studios

Tracks: 1- Obscured, 2- Inertia, 3- A Head Start, 4- Patience, 5- Where I stand, 6- Come Face Up, 7- Halving the Fuse, 8- Prognosis, 9- Seeds of Unrest, 10- 1 A.M.

This CD starts with an electronic drum beat and soon you find yourself in the eclectic world of Vacant Stare. This amazing guys combine with no problem riffs that could be from a death metal band, some modern metal breaks, clean vocals and screaming ones (the vocalist is really good with the melodies that are not what one is accustomed to listen) . This release has a great sound with all the instruments and vocals mixed clearly. The guitar sounds change all of the time adding some effects to it and playing from crushing riffs to sustained notes to open chords to some short solos, to some Voivod type riff. This is a band that deserves to be known because they are of great quality. And they seem to be really openminded adding a lot of originality to their music. Favorite tracks: "A Head Start", "Where I Stand" and "Seeds of Unrest". Contact: www.coprorecords.co.uk

REVIEW: TWOTHIRTYEIGHT - REGULATE THE CHEMICALS

 

TWOTHIRTYEIGHT - REGULATE THE CHEMICALS (Tooth and Nail, 2002)

Produced by James Wisner

Recorded at Wisner Productions

Artwork by Chris Staples and Twothirtyeight

Tracks: 1- The Hands of Men, 2- There is no Dana, 3- Coin-Laundry Loser, 4- The Sticks are Woven in the Spokes, 5- This Town Will Eat You, 6- The Spoiled One, 7- Les Wirth, 8- Moving Too Far, 9- Songs Will Write the Words, 10- Ears and Fingers, 11- Indian in your Eyes

The first thing that got my attention is the huge sound that this CD has (despite not being an ultra heavy band ). The clean guitars are really well mixed in great combination with the bass and the arrangements can be heard in all their magnitude. Twothirtyeight´s music relies heavily on melodies (made by the guitars or the vocals) but it seems to me that this melodies are not happy. In fact I feel there is some dark or sad element in their music. I can not say what it is but I can feel it. Maybe Vocalist Chris Staples melodic lines are dark (sometimes he reminded me of The Cure´s Robert Smith). A good option for those who like very melodic music with some interesting twist. Favorite tracks: "There is No Dana", "This Town Will Eat You" and "Moving Too Far". Contact: www.toothandnail.com

REVIEW: TORTURE SQUAD - THE UNHOLY SPELL

 

TORTURE SQUAD - THE UNHOLY SPELL (Destroyer Recs., 2001)

Produced by Ciero and Amilcar Christofaro

Recorded at Da Tribo Studio

Artwork by Joan Delville

Tracks: 1- The Unholy Spell, 2- Warmonger, 3- Spiritual Cancer, 4- Abduction Was the Case, 5- The Host, 6- Area 51, 7- Welcome Home, 8- Under the Wings of the Empire, 9- A Soul in Hell

This CD starts with hyper brutality with the title track....a track designed to bang your head against a wall with the rhythm of the killer drums here. Everything here is made in order to make this brutal death metal in a really effective way. In fact the riffs are devastating and the vocals are guttural (one of them) and saming (the other). I liked a lot the shifts from one rhythm to the other that this guys make. They are technically proficient and they have interesting thrash metal influences. Speed is one element here that can not be left out when describing this band´s music. It is fundamental. Lovers of brutality, here is Torture Squad !! Favorite tracks: "The Unholly Spell", "Abdusction Was the Case", and "Welcome Home". Contact: www.destroyer.com.br

REVIEW: TOOL - LATERALUS

 TOOL - LATERALUS (Emi Virgin Music, 2001)

Produced by Tool and David Botrill

Recorded at Cello Studios an The Hook

Artwork by Alex Grey

Tracks: 1- The Grudge, 2- Eon Blue Apocalypse, 3- The Patient, 4- Mantra, 5-Schism, 6- Parabol, 7- Parabola, 8-Ticks and Leechees, 9- Lateralis, 10- Disposition, 11- Reflection, 12- Triad, 13- Faaip De Oiad

It always amazed me how Tool was related by solme people in the media to the grunge style despite being som different. As everybody may know, Tool´s music is really climatic and it is trully based on two things: Adam Jones guitar arrangements and Maynard James Keenan´s excellent vocals. The main feeling here is oppression...and that is the same feeling that I have since listening their first album "Undertow". A great album of this band that had been in silence for a long time. Favorite tracks: "The Patient", "Parabola" and "Disposition". Contact: www.toolband.com

REVIEW: TO ELYSIUM - DEAREST VILE

 

TO ELYSIUM - DEAREST VILE (Cold Blood Industries, 2002)

Produced by The Satanic Twins

Recorded at MTS Studio

Artwork by Jacek Wisniewski

Tracks: 1- Harangue, 2- He Rears His Head in Laughter, 3- In Collision, 4- Bug, 5- The Devil herself, 6- Dana in Darkness, 7- Chaos/ Sun, 8- Seas of Starvation, 9- Meridians Fall, 10-To a Flame, 11- Doomcraft

To Elysium is an amazing band. They are somewhere between black and death metal (specially because of the male vocals) and they have excellent keyboards orchestration. The guitars are full of melodies and solos (great guitarist). Some of the riffs reminded me of czech band Forgotten Silence but they are played in a different way. The band has a killer female vocalist (great soprano range) called Esther De Vos (don´t forget this name, I think we´ll hear more from her in the future). This band has great musicallity and the tracks are carefully planned with many arrangements and instrumental passages where you can see this band technical abbilities !! An amazing album !!! Favorite tracks: "He Rears His Head in Laughter", "the Devil Herself" and "Dana IN Darkness". Contact: www.coldbloodindustries.com

REVIEW: THIS VALE OF TEARS - EXCEED

 

THIS VALE OF TEARS - EXCEED (Black Rain Recs., 2001)

Produced by This Vale of Tears

Tracks: 1- Exceed, 2- The Wind, 3- No More, 4- Flame, 5- Alone in the Shower, 6- Silence, 7- If I die (Resurrection mix), 8- My Distance, 9- Higher Spirits, 10- Inside Out, 11- Exceed (Iva vs. Ganesh edit)

What is this? A strange rhythm opens this CD, then come the vocals and then come the keyboards playing some oriental melodies over this electronic beats. Then enter the guitars with some sort of industrial feeling. Great and original !! It is great to listen the melodies done by guitars and keyboards since the first track. The vocals are strange, sort of with a punk influence and it sounds weird over the music that the band does. There are a lot of electronic elements and the drums are programmed giving an eerie sound to all of the tracks. I liked certain Tangerine Dream influences that I think that this band has. They mix it with distorted guitars and with really climatic moments being really originality. Check this band if you like originality and experimentation. Favorite tracks: "No More", "Silence" and "Higher Spirits". Contact: www.blackrain.de

REVIEW: THIS MORTAL COIL - BLOOD

 

THIS MORTAL COIL - BLOOD (4 AD Recs., 2000)

Produced by Ivo Watts Russell

Recorded at Blackwing Studios, London

Artwork by Nigel Grierson

Tracks: 1- The Lacemaker, 2- Mr. Somewher, 3- Andialu, 4- With Tomorrow, 5- Loose Joints, 6- You and Your sister, 7- Nature´s Way, 8- I come and Stand at your door, 9- Bitter, 10- Baby Ray Baby, 1- Several Times, 12- Lacemaker II, 13- Late Night, 14- Ruddy and Wretched, 15- Help me Lift you Up, 16- Carolyn´s Song, 17- D.D. and E., 18- Til I gain Control Again, 19- Dreams are Like Water, 20- I Am the Cosmos, 21- (Nothing but) Blood

This Mortal Coil always amazes me with the diversity of their material. They can be climatic, dense. They can also be sort of celtic, sort of pop. They mix influences and then they regurgitate thema as their own music (obviously there is some Cocteau Twins in there). The main thing here is the expereimentation with female vocals, using many of them (here participate as guest vocalists Kim Deal (The Breeders) and Tanya Donelly (ex-Belly). The music is very dense, abusing some atmospheres and with heavy use of effects and synths. The music is ethereal and sometimes leaves you waiting for a conclusion that never comes. Piano parts and keyboards combined with harmonized vocals. Favorite tracks: "With Tomorrow", "Several Times" and Til I Gain Control Again". Contact: www.4adrecords.com

REVIEW: THE WOUNDED - MONUMENT

 

THE WOUNDED - MONUMENT (Cold Blood Industries, 2002)

Produced by The Satanic Twins

Recorded at Franky´s Nieuwleusen

Artwork by Reggie

Tracks: 1- Dawn, 2- Garland, 3- The Real, 4- Grace, Murder, Divine, 5- Billet Doux, 6- Chaos Spectacle, 7-Red, 8- Black Heart, 9- Dark Moon Generation, 10- Child, 11- A Dance With the Insane, 12- Monument

The Wounded...everything in my mind told me that this was going to be a death metal album. But I was mistaken. In fact the music of this band reminds me a lot to Paradise Lost or the first Anathema because of the song structures...but they have a big difference, the vocalist. He things in a more medium ranged type of voice and the band has harmonized vocals in some parts. The guitars are really heavy (I would have liked to have them mixed a little bit higher) and the drummer uses a lot the crash cymbal an open hi-hat to give a lot of support to the guitars and bass. Some vocal parts which are harmonized me sounded to me really seventies progressive rock. Cool and strange at the same time!!! They have hooks in most of the songs and I wouldn´t be surprised if this band gets a hit single in the underground scene. !!! Favorite tracks: The whole CD....a great album!! Contact: www.coldbloodindustries.com

REVIEW: THE NEFILIM - ZOON

 

THE NEFILIM - ZOON (Roadrunner Recs., 2001)

Produced by the Nefilim

Artwork by Alison

Tracks: 1- Still Life, 2- Xodus, 3- Shine, 4- Penetration, 5- Melt, 6- Venus Decomposing, 7-Pazuzu, 8- Zoon (Part.1 y 2), 9- Zoon (Part III), 10- Coma

The Nefilim....I don´t know if this guys are related in some way to that great band called Fields of the Nephilim. This band is in the middle path between really death metal and industrial, adding some gothic touches. The vocals are killer and brutal and give a different feeling to the tracks whose riffs are more classical metal. There are keyboards and sound effects that create the industrial atmosphere that I was talking about . The clean guitars in some places make interesting calm passages that turn into extreme heaviness when the crushing guitars and the vocals enter. This is a really powerful release from this band. I would love to hear more from them. Favorite tracks: "Penetration", "Venus Decomposing" and "Coma". Contact: www.roadrunnerrecords.com

REVIEW: THE MAIDEN YEARS - TRIBUTE TO IRON MAIDEN

 

THE MAIDEN YEARS - TRIBUTE TO IRON MAIDEN (Sum Recs., 2000)

Produced by Lea Hart

Recorded at Hatch Farm Studios

Tracks: CD 1: 1- Can I Play with Madness?, 2-Two Minutes to Midnight, 3- Wrathchild, 4- Hallowed be thy Name, 5- Running Free, 6- The Evil that men do, 7- Phantom of the Opera, 8- Number of the Beast, 9- Iron Maiden, 10- Run To the Hills, 11- The Trooper

CD 2: 1- Bring your daughter...,2- Murders in the Rue Morgue, 3- Aces High, 4- Flight of Icarus, 5- Wasted Years, 6- Remember Tomorrow, 7- The Clairvoyant, 8- Prisoner, 9- Sanctuary, 10- Powerslave, 11- Killers, 12- Fear of the Dark

I have different opinions from this tribute albums. First of all I like some of the versions, and some not. The main problem in the songs that I didn´t like are the vocals which are extremely palid when comparing to Bruce Dickinson´s or even to Paul Di Anno´s (he is participating in some of the best tracks here) (Check for example the awful version of "The Trooper"...good guitar work but extremely poor vocals). The production is good but some of the guitars lack the adequate heaviness. This is a good selection of the best Iron Maiden tracks (obviously there are many more to make great versions) Favorite tracks: "Wrathchild", "Phantom of the opera", "Murders in the Rue Morgue".

REVIEW: THE GLASSPACK - POWDERKEG

 

THE GLASSPACK - POWDERKEG (Small Stone Recs., 2002)

Produced by The Glasspack

Recorded at The Musueum, Louisville

Artwork by Mike Saputo

Tracks: 1- The Glasspack Song, 2- Shut up and Ride, 3- Mrs. Satan, 4- Whiskey House, 5- Sleeping Pills, 6- Mopar Fire Paint, 7- The Heebeegeebees, 8- Back Seat Whore, 9- Demolition Derby, 10- Jjim Bean and Good Green

Woooooww!! How great is the beginning of this CD !! It is a burst of power that starts"The Glasspack Song"....full energy and power on this short instrumental song that is almost an anthem of this band!! The band plays extremely crushing and distorted rock!!! The vocals are strange sounding really dirty and sometimes screaming at the top of the lungs. What I like most is the combination of the guitars and bass sound that make a real wall of sound. And this is the main point that make the songs here so heavy and dense....this sort of sound mix is heavier than hell. But the band has also some more rocking side and they show it to the listener on every track. I feel some Saint Vitus and Black Sabbath influences here and there but the band has its own identity. Lovers of this doom heavy rock style will surely like this one. Favorite tracks: "The Glasspack Song", "Whiskey House", "Demolition Derby". Contact: www.smallstone.com

REVIEW: THE BLAMED - GIVE US BARABBAS

 

THE BLAMED - GIVE US BARABBAS (Tooth and Nail Recs., 2002)

Tracks: 1- The Lonely Zagreb, 2- The Jealous Answer, 3- 1200 Stares, 4- You Not Me, 5- So Depraved, 6- Open Mouth, 7- In Szentendre, 8- Fictionary, 9- Cyclical, 10- Prayer for the Dead, 11- Positive, 12- Instrumental Until We Die, 13- Best in Show

This is a raw punk band with great sound in all the recording. In fact I liked the guitars and bass which add some power to this band that most of the punkish bands out there do not have. The sound is raw and at the same time is modern. This guys do not rely their music exclusively in the seventies. In fact they have a very modern sound and that is much better than just imitating the sound of their icons. The guitars are for me the best here because they give a lot of energy to the band and make their music really wild !!! Favorite tracks: "1200 Stares", "So Depraved" and "Prayer for the Dead". Contact: www.toothandnail.com

REVIEW: TEARABYTE - EMBRACE OBLIVION

 

TEARABYTE - EMBRACE OBLIVION (Screaming Ferret Wreckords, 2002)

Produced by Al Mead and Kevin Mead

Recorded at Intelecon Digital Studios

Artwork by Kevin mead and Lomy Chiv

Tracks: 1- Road Rage, 2- Embrace Oblivion, 3- Strike The Enemy, 4- Tear it up, 5- One More Day, 6- Under the Sand, 7- Lash of the Gash, 8- It´s all a Lie, 9- Price of Evil, 10- Screaming Pig, 11- Pissing Contest, 12- Spear of Destiny, 13- Ring of Fire

This is a band that is extremely heavy. And that doen´t mean that they are extremely fast. In fact they prefer to not abuse the fastest parts and they use a lot of mid paced parts and riffs. The vocals reminded me of Grip Inc´s Gus Chambers, specially on tracks like "Embrace Oblivion". The main thing here are the songs and they are really heavy. But they also have memorable choruses and great solos. There are killer melodies and the riffs are very original on most of the tracks. I would like the band to mix the guitars a little bit louder (so the hihat doesn´t opaque certain frequencies). Great songs !! Again, I think the main point here are the killer riffs that give the band a lot of identity (sometimes they have great thrash metal influences). I recommend this one. Favorite tracks: "Embrace Oblivion", "One More Day" and "Screaming Pig". Contact: www.screamingferret.com

REVIEW: TANGORODRIM - UNHOLY METAL WAY

 

TANGORODRIM - UNHOLY METAL WAY (Aggressor Prods., 2000)

Produced by Tangorodrim

Recorded at Head Lee Studios

Artwork by Akonith

Tracks: 1- Morgoth, 2- Unholy Metal Way, 3- Blind Aggression, 4- Alcoholic Desescration, 5- Palewoods, 6- Bestial Sleep

Tangorodrim is a band that plays a mix between black and death metal with some eighties influences (They have a certain Celtic Frost flavor which I liked a lot). There are six tracks here which have no mercy for the listener. They crush your brain with their killer riffs track after track. I liked very much the drumming which is more than blast beats (even if they use blast beats in some parts like the beginning of "Blind Aggression"). The sound is good but I would have liked the drums a little bit louder (specially the snare drum that is a little bit opaque). The guitars are crushing and make really good riffs (there are certain riffs which are clearly rocking but played with a very low and fat sound like the one in the beginning of "Palewoods". A great album !! The recording is from 1999 so I would like to listen this guys new material. They rule ! Favorite tracks: "Unholy metal Way", "Palewoods" and "Bestial Sleep". Contact: www.aggressorprod.com

REVIEW: SUMMON - DARK DESCENT OF FALLEN SOULS

 

SUMMON - DARK DESCENT OF FALLEN SOULS (Blackened Moon Recs., 1996)

Produced by Summon and Rob Tylah

Artwork by Erich S. Wilkinson

Tracks: 1- Intro, 2- Dark Descent of Fallen Souls, 3- Eve of Anticreation, 4- Beyond the Gates of Storm, 5- Necromantic Lust, 6- Midtro, 7- Under the Midnight Shadow, 8- Silence of Chaos, 9- Sorrows of Moonless Night, 10- Outro

This is Summon´s second album. After their debut that we have just reviewed they reached new depths of unholiness with this "Dark Descent of Fallen Souls". This album is a great step forward comparing to the previous one. It has better sound and better ideas in the riffs and the tracks. In fact I think that this is the recording where Summon found their own identity mixing their black metal with some death metal and thrash elements that amke the music more interesting. As always Xaphan and Necromodeus are screaming at the top of his lungs adding a barbarish and evil edge to Summon´s music. A black metal classic. Favorite tracks: "Under the Midnight Shadow", "Eve of Anticreation" and "Beyond the Gates of Storm". Contact: www.blackenedmoon.com