REVIEW: MAGNUS ROSEN - IMAGINE A PLACE

 

MAGNUS ROSEN - IMAGINE A PLACE (Heptagon Records, 2000)

Recorded at Bohus Sound Studios

Cover Art by Per Wik

Tracks: 1- The Key To Your Soul, 2- Land of Spirits, 3- Imagine a Place, 4- Anchanted Wood, 5- Gate To Heaven, 6- First Steps, 7- Romance, 8- A Temple In China, 9- Blues Man, 10- Open Heart, 11- A Memory, 12- Past Future, 13-Newborn Waterfall, 14- A Church Without walls, 15- A Relationship in Tokyo, 16- Infinity, 17- Castle Garden, 18- No Name

Here we have the solo album from Hammerfall´s bassist and after listening this CD I can not find a reason why he does not play this type of bass lines in his main band. This could help a lot to set the band apart from the one million power metal bands that are everywhere that do the same galloping over and over again. Rosen here plays a lot of different styles but the main one is jazz. He is joined here by Biggi Vinkeloe on sax and flute (she is a really great player) and by his partner Ander Johanson on drums on three tracks. Here Rosen has found an appropriate vehicle for his musical personality which he can not reflect in Hammerfall. Check all the bass lines and melodies that he makes here to see what this guy is capable of doing. Come on Magnus!! Show the guys in Hammerfall how to do it in a more original way

Favorite tracks: "Land of Spirits", "Castle Garden" and "A Memory"

REVIEW: LUGUBRE / MISANTHROPY - UNITED IN MANKIND´S ANNIHILATION - SPLIT CD

 

LUGUBRE / MISANTHROPY - UNITED IN MANKIND´S ANNIHILATION - SPLIT CD (Satan´s Millenium Records, 2001)

Produced by Lugubre and Misanthropy

Cover Art by Björn Rubingh

Tracks: Lugubre: 1- The Devastating Hammer of Evil, 2- Pure Annihilation of Unworthy Existences, 3- Black War Destruction, 4- Drenched by Ancient Blood, 5- Nuclear Counterstrike. Misanthropy: 6- Brutally Raped and Maimed, 7- Only Hatred Remains, 8- Hate With No Compromise, 9- All Humanity Must End, 10- Virus Spreader - Outro

Here we have this split CD from this two ultra raw black metal bands. First we have the five Lugubre tracks which are ultra raw and hyper fast with a lot of black metal screams and raw guitars. This band plays really fast tracks with certain similarities to the first Mayhem. Hermit vocals are extremely painful and fit the music. The mix is not really good and I think that this guys with a better mix can make their music more effective (specially the drums). Then comes Misanthropy which is a one man band (Ed is the only composer and player here). Misanthropy has the characteristic of using a drum machine in their tracks along with an ultraraw guitar. Ed´s screams and vocals are really black and send chills down your spine. Again the mix can be better, specially here on the guitars (when he does some melody you barely can notice it) This is a really underground release and here we have two bands to don´t miss a step in their evolution.

Favorite tracks: "Pure Annihilation of Unworthy Existences", "All Humanity Must End" and "Only Hatred Remains"

Contact: www.satanmilleniumrecords.cjb.net

REVIEW: LIVING SACRIFICE - CONCEIVED ON FIRE 2 SONG ADVANCE

 LIVING SACRIFICE - CONCEIVED ON FIRE 2 SONG ADVANCE (Solid State Records, 2002)

Tracks: 1- Subtle Alliance, 2- Send Your Regrets

Here we have a sample of what the new Living Sacrifice album is going to be. After the powerful "The Hammering Process" we have this powerful new offering (not yet, it will be on the streets in September 24). We have here all the elements that have made Living Sacrifice a top metal band but with a better, bigger sound. The two songs here are heavy as hell and have many modern elements that Living Sacrifice know how to play in a really great way without loosing their power. I await the new album to see the complete result. I think this will be a killer one!!!!

Contact: www.solidstate.com

REVIEW: LIVIDITY - ...TIL ONLY THE SICK REMAIN

 

LIVIDITY - ...TIL ONLY THE SICK REMAIN (Morbid Records, 2002)

Produced by Scott (Broken Hope)

Recorded at Mercenary Digital Studio

Tracks: 1- T.L.C. (Tigh Lil Cunt), 2- Coated With My Semen, 3- Unrelenting Homicidal Obsession, 4- A Woman´s Place is On my Face, 5- Second Cumming (Pussy Lover Part II), 6- Snack Size Tits, 7- Anal Autopsy, 8- Fetal Scabs, 9- Conception Through Ingestion

Here we have the new album of this porn death psychos called Lividity. Their music is devastating...they crush the listener´s brain and ears with their deathly guitar riffs and fast and furious drum beats (full of blast beats). Here we have the maniac guttural as hell vocals that make the music even heavier and more deathly. The sound of the recording is really good and makes the instrument shine (in fact what I find great is that each of the instruments can be heard really good, even the bass guitars). There are nine tracks here that from beginning to end will not have mercy for you. This band knows how to be really heavy even in the slower parts as the ones that are on "Coated with my semen". Music for crushiung your brain into pieces !!

Favorite tracks: "Snack Size Tits", "T.L.C." and "Fetal Scabs"

Contact: www.morbidrecords.de

REVIEW: LANDGUARD - A PERPETUAL GAME

 

LANDGUARD - A PERPETUAL GAME (Independent, 2002)

Produced by Landguard

Mastered at Zappin Studios

Cover Art by Landguard

Tracks: 1- A Game Begins..., 2- A Perpetual Game, 3- Wizard of Time, 4- Mindscape, 5- Ivory Mask, 6- A Perpetual Joke

Landguard is an excellent progressive metal band. Their music is heavy and at the same time has many complex arrangements done by all the musicians that are of superb quality. Here we have many changes in the vein of Imags and Words-era Dream Theater with multiple guitar and keyboard solos and an excellent vocalist that does not abuse the high pitched notes preferring to give a warm touch to Landguard´s music with his use of the middle range. This band is amazingly clean in their sound and they have an excellent guitarist who knows how to play different riffs and incredibly melodic solos while retaining the heaviness with his guitars. The rhythm section is extremely tight and plays in a great way the many changes in Landguard´s music. This is a band that I think will be a really famous name in the progressive metal world. A must.

Favorite tracks: The whole CD is a jewel

Contact: www.landguardweb.com

REVIEW: KORN - UNTOUCHABLES

 

KORN - UNTOUCHABLES (Epic Records, 2002)

Produced by Michael Beinhorn

Recorded at Conway Studio

Cover Art by Eric White

Tracks: 1- Here To Stay, 2- Make Believe, 3- Blame, 4- Hollow Life, 5- Bottled Up Inside, 6-Thoughtless, 7- Hating, 8- One More Time, 9- Alone I Break, 10- Embrace, 11- Beat it Upright, 12- Wake Up Hate, 13- I´m Hiding, 14- No One´s There

When Korn first appeared in the scene they were welcomed as the new blood in metal....then came success with their second and third album and then people started to hate them and the whole new metal scene (this is a bag where they have put bands like Korn, Papa Roach and a million more, I don´t know why because they are very different). Fuck em!! I think that Korn brought a new style that is their own to a scene that was becoming stagnant . And they show that they have not lost their energy on this album "Untouchables" which is much heavier than "Follow the Leader" or "Issues" . Here we have all the elmente sthat have made Korn famous but with less catchy choruses and some more interesting riffs. The recording has fourteen tracks and also a multimedia track.

Favorite tracks: "Blame", "Thoughtless" and "Wake Up Hate".

Contact: www.korn.com

REVIEW: JAILBIRD - ...INSIDE NONSENSE

 

JAILBIRD - ...INSIDE NONSENSE (Geska Records, 2002)

Produced by Jailbird

Engineered at Numerock Studios

Cover Art by Franck Ackermann for Ackermann Studio Design

Tracks: 1- End Connection, 2- N.W.O., 3- White Lines 23, 4- Go Insane, 5- Delirium Tremens, 6- Majestic Sacrifice, 7- Last Pray, 8- Red Sky, 9- Mach. Syst. Ctrl, 10- Red Light Visions, 11- Heaven Distortion

Some issues back I had the opportunity of doing an interview with Jailbird and here is the review of their latest album. The music that this band makes can be labeled as industrial metal, mainly because of the sound of drums and guitars (you can not compare this band to Ministry or Nine Inch Nails because their music is completely different). Here we have electronic drums and heavy crushing guitars all in a sort of mechanical environment which I like because it gives a lot of originality to Jailbird´s music. The vocals are sometimes sung, sometimes spoken and sometimes screamed or whispered, depending on the mood that this guys want to give to their music. There are a lot of keyboards that emphasize the sound creating the Jailbird´s sound. One thing that I have to remark is the excellent sound that this recording has. If you want something with industrial sound but with true identity here you have Jailbird.

Favorite tracks: "Go Insane", "Red Sky" and "Red Light Visions"

Contact: www.geska-records.com or http://jailbird.free.fr

REVIEW: INTERNECINE - THE BOOK OF LAMBS

 

INTERNECINE - THE BOOK OF LAMBS (Hammerheart Records, 2002)

Produced by Erik Rutan

Recorded at Dimensional Sound Studio

Cover Art by Marco Jeurissen

Tracks: 1- The Elder Gods, 2- Ceremonies of Deceit, 3- ....For Thee I Bleed, 4- Hallowed Guidance, 5- Inverted, 6- Encrypting the Vehemence, 7- Divinity, 8- The Calling of the Hordes

This is a devastating release . Internecine is the project of Jared Anderson who plays guitars, bass and vocals here. He is helped by Tony Laureno and Derek Roddy (Aurora Borealis and many other bands) on drums and also he has some guest guitar solos by Erik Rutan. Also the production is done by Erik Rutan who as always delivers a great quality sound that helps Internecine to achieve the results that they want to reach. Here the guitars are extremely well mixed showing all the brutality that this death metal one man band is capable of doing in all the tracks. The guttural vocals are clearly mixed and well combined with the guitar riffs and hyper fast drumming. Lovers of brutality enjoy this CD and crank up your music equipment!

Favorite tracks: "Ceremonies of Deceit", "Hallowed Guidance" and "Divinity"

Contact: www.hammerheart.com

REVIEW: IN PECCATUM - ANTILIA

 

IN PECCATUM - ANTILIA (Independent , 2002)

Produced by Eduardo Botellio

Recorded at MM Studios

Cover Art by Joana Oliveira

Tracks: 1- Septem Aquae, 2- Everlasting Delicacy, 3- Watery Portrait, 4- Till Daylight Comes, 5- Sustained in the Nebula

"Septem Aquae", a string quartet intro opens this five song MCD before In Peccatum enters in all their magnitude to show their powerful and climatic music. The music here is dark metal with a lot of keyboards, really great guitars which play interesting and melancholic melodies (also they have killer solos). Also here are Neves vocals that fit the melancholic and dark music of the band perfectly. This is a perfect showcase of how a band can be heavy and dark and at the same time melodic and melancholic. The keyboards passages are extremely obscure and atmospheric (check 1:20 of "Watery Portrait" to see what I am talking about). So, here is what I would say to anyone that reads this review: Let darkness embrace you with In Peccatum´s music.

Favorite tracks: The five tracks are real masterpieces. One of the CDs of the month

Contact: www.inpeccatum.8m.com

REVIEW: HUNOK - GESTA HUNGARORUM

 

HUNOK - GESTA HUNGARORUM (Independent , 200)

Produced by Hunok

Cover Art by Gabor Zselencz

Tracks: 1- Dead of God´s Whip, 2- Lord Almos, 3- Oath of the 7 Lords, 4- Arpad our Ancient Father, 5- 897- End of the Great Migration

Here we have this unipersonal project by Gabor Zselencz who is the main man behind Hunok and he also plays the keyboards and drums on this release. The music on this demo is extremely ambiental consisting mainly on keyboards passages and atmospheres created by Gabor in order to show his extremely dark musical taste. Here everything is done in order to create an extremely obscure atmosphere and this is achieved by the use of minor chord progressions and slow percussion in some places. IN tracks like "Arpad our Ancient Father", which is more than 10 minutes long you can listen more shades and sort of a type of guitar sound that contrasts with the keyboards. This is for people who like this type of experimentation in darkness.

Favorite tracks: The five tracks are awesome !

Contact:

Hunok c/o Gabor Zselencz

Walter-Kolb-Str. 2

60594 Frankfurt Am Main

GERMANY

REVIEW: HUMAN BLOODFEAST - DAMNED TO ROT

 

HUMAN BLOODFEAST - DAMNED TO ROT (Independent, 2002)

Produced by Stephan Fimmers

Recorded at Aexxys Art Studios

Cover Art by Hans Himmelhuber

Tracks: 1- Intro, 2- I´m Alive, 3- Me in You, 4- Addicted To Flesh, 5- Follow the Floodline, 6- Orgasm Through Mutilation, 7- Twisted Desires, 8- Damend To Rot, 9- In My Head, 10- The Beast Inside, 11- Flesh Eating Mother

Human Bloodfeast is a really brutal band whose main characteristic are the guitar riffs which are extremely intelligent and well designed to make people bang their heads. Here we have guitars that are really crushing with a big fat sound and that have a lot of coordination with the killer rhythm section (they play also excellent solos which are ultra heavy and yet with a clear sound and some melody on them). There are different types of vocals here but the main one is the most guttural that accentuates in a really good manner the riffs and rhythms tat the rest of the band does. One of the most brutal bands of 2002 !!

Favorite tracks: "I´m Alive", "Follow the Floodline" and "The Beast Inside"

Contact: www.humanbloodfeast.de

REVIEW: HÖSS - DEMO 2001

 

HÖSS - DEMO 2001 (Independent, 2001)

Produced by Höss

Recorded at Selani Studio

Cover Art by Höss

Tracks: 1- In The Name of the Father, 2- Future is the Past, 3- Around the World in 80 Sec., 4- Father !, 5- I am who I am not, 6- I want to....

The first thing that got my attention from the beginning of this CD were the strange rhythmic patterns that this band uses: they are not common...in fact they are twisted and everchanging as hell!! The band has a lot of technical skills and they use then through all this recording of what I would like to call unorthodox death metal. There are a lot of strange melodies combined with killer drumming (this guy is a master of the double bass and of odd time signatures). The guitarists are really technical too playing a lot of crushing riffs perfectly tight with the drums and the adding some interesting solos or melodies in all the tracks. For fans of original and twisted death metal.

Favorite tracks: "IN the Name of the Father", "Father!" and "I am who I am Not"

Contact:

Pawel Michalkiewicz

11-130 Orneta

Dworcowa 7A/2

POLAND

REVIEW: HEAVENLY - SIGN OF THE WINNER

 

HEAVENLY - SIGN OF THE WINNER (Century Media Records, 2001)

Produced by Tommy Hansen and Heavenly

Recorded at Sound of the Winner Studio

Cover Art by Herve Monjeaud

Tracks: 1- Break the Silence, 2- Destiny, 3- Sign of the Winner, 4- The World Will Be Better, 5- Condemned to Die, 6- The Angel, 7- Still Believe, 8- The Sandman, 9- Words of Change; 10- Until the End

An orchestral introduction opens this CD on the tracks "Break the Silence" before getting in the heavy metal universe of Heavenly (this first tracks is a really good instrumental piece). The music of the band goes along the path of bands like Stratovarius or Yngwie Malmsteen but with more predominance of the keyboards. In fact I like a lot the work of the keyboards that give a lot of epic touches to the music on this CD. I think the band has to rely on this more in order to achieve their identity (and maybe a little bit less on the vocals that are really similar to Kotipelto or Michael Kiske depending on the song...for example he reaches more originality in tracks like "The World Will Be Better"). This is a CD for heavy power metal lovers that like fast guitar runs along with a lot of epic melodies and fast drumming with a lot of double bass.

Favorite tracks: "Sign of the Winner", "Condemned to Die" and "The Sandman"

Contact: www.centurymedia.com

REVIEW: GREYSWAN - GREYSWAN

 

GREYSWAN - GREYSWAN (Independent, 2001)

Produced by Greyswan

Recorded at Flying Studio

Cover Art by Greyswan

Tracks: 1- Sleepless Nights, 2- Alone Among Thousands of People, 3- Tragic End

Here is this MCD from this gothic dark metal masters. With some shades of Paradise Lost and Anathema, Greyswan has managed to develope their own style, with heavy riffs combined with keyboards and an excellent vocalist full of anguish and sad melodies at the same time. I like the way this band can play heavier than hell parts retaining the melodic side of the music at the same time. I liked a lot the keyboardist (please, mix him louder because he is great in all the chord progressions) and also the main guitarist who plays those sad melodies over the crushing rhythm guitars. This guys deserve soon a recording contract and a full length release. We want more from Greyswan!

Favorite tracks: The three on this CD are amazingly catchy and dark at the same time

Contact: greyswan@libero.it

REVIEW: FJELLTRONE - SKOGENS ANDE

 

FJELLTRONE - SKOGENS ANDE (Dark End Records, 2000)

Produced by Fjelltrone

Recorded at DarkEnd Records

Cover Art by Mig 91, Nyman and DoD

Tracks: 1- Skogens Ande, 2- Vintermånens Land, 3- Under Mörkrets Tistel, 4- In Till Döden; 5- En Sorg, 6- Demonernas Fjäll; 7- Ensanhetens Skugga; 8- Vintersorg

Here we have this incredibly melancholic band that plays a music that I would describe as nordic folk with some ambient touches. In fact there area lot of interesting features: one is the combination of keyboards and interesting percussion (as in tracks like "Vintermånens Land"), another one is the developing of sad melodies within each of the tracks (I love the way in which this guys express their ideas mainly using a keyboard chords progression and then adding a lot of melodies over it. People who like this type of music will be delighted with Fjelltrone´s originality and their musicianship. All this instrumental tracks are little masterpieces that awake a lot of feelings in the listener.

Favorite tracks: All the CD is a fucking great piece of art.

Contact: www.fjelltrone.com

REVIEW: EUSOPHOBIA - DEATH FROM ABOVE

 

EUSOPHOBIA - DEATH FROM ABOVE (Independent, 2001)

Produced by A. Orhan and Eusophobia

Recorded by A. Orhan

Cover Art by Eusophobia

Tracks: 1- Death from Above, 2- Excruciation, 3- Revealing the Decay, 4- Under the Bestial War Command

Here we have this MCD from this tight death metal band. The main thing here are the devastating riffs which are killer like the ones at 3:30 of the track "Death from Above", designed for the mosh pit. The band has reached a good equilibrium between the fastest parts and the more rhythmic and heavier ones which I think are the ones that the band has to use more often. There are interesting solos which are played fast and achieve the correct level of melody and they are transformed soon in a riff like it happens on the one at 1:50 in "Excruciation. The sound of the recording is good but I would like them to put the drums a little bit louder (specially the snare drum that is a little bit buried) and I think that in that way they can achieve a better result. Crushing.

Favorite tracks: "Death from Above" and "Revealing the Decay"

Contact: www.eusophobia.de

REVIEW: ELECTRO-MAGNETIC TRANSPERSONAL ORCHESTRA

 

ELECTRO-MAGNETIC TRANSPERSONAL ORCHESTRA (Pax Recordings, 2002)

Recorded by Eli Cruz

Cover Art by Aaron Benett

Tracks: 1- C; 2- D; 3- E; 4- B

Here we have this completely experimental recording by the Electro-magnetic Transpersonal Orchestra that has in its lineup nine great musicians who love improvisation. Here we have Aaron Benett who plays the woodwinds and drinking straw, Mark Chung and Jeff Hobbs on violins, Marlin Coleman and Adam Lane on cellos, George Cremaschi on bass, Joe Sabella on tuba, Dan Cantrell in acordion and John Finkbeiner on guitar and alto saxophone. This orchestra was designed to experiment with their instrument and the amazing thing here is the coeherence that the music achieves as result of their interaction (I love the way the accordion enters playing some melodies while the rest of the band plays an almost ambient background). This guys are obviously really good musicians and through the four tracks contained here (one of them is over 19 minutes long) they explore all the possibilities that they can with a completely open mind. There is an interesting contrast between the more melodic sections and the more chaotic that makes each of the tracks really dynamic and always changing. This is a CD that I would recommend to openminded people.

Favorite tracks: The four contained here

Contact: www.paxrecordings.com

REVIEW: DYSPRAXIA - RESTABLISHING THE EQUILIBRIUM

 

DYSPRAXIA - RESTABLISHING THE EQUILIBRIUM (Records, 2002)

Produced by Raul Manrique and Dyspraxia

Recorded at Tatxin Studios

Cover Art by Javi

Tracks: 1- Misery of Many...,2- Real Woman, 3- Restablishing the Equilibrium, 4- Warloot, 5- Bonus CD Rom: includes "Warloot" Video

Here we have Dyspraxia´s first work. Their music is extremely fast and brutal death metal with hyper fast riffs played at full speed. There are various types of voclas. A more guttural one and a screaming one and also a one more shouting. There are some guitar solos which I find interesting, sometimes played over slow rhythms like in "Misery of Many...". There are also some odd passages which I would like the band to use more often because they show us a weird side of Dyspraxia´s music which I like a lot. The bass guitar is suprisingly cleean contrasting a lot with the guitars that are a wall of sound !! The mix is really good specially on the guitars which have a crushing soun. Lovers of brutality have to check Dyspraxia !!

Favorite tracks: "Real Woman", "Misery of Many"

Contact: www.dyspraxia-extreme.com

REVIEW: DIVIDED MULTITUDE - FALLING TO PIECES

 

DIVIDED MULTITUDE - FALLING TO PIECES (Elevate Records, 2002)

Produced by Trude Midtgaard

Recorded at Brygga Studio

Cover Art by Håvard Gjelseth

Tracks: 1- Enter Paradise, 2- Focus, 3- Stigmatize, 4- Locked Away, 5- No Man´s Land, 6- Dreamin´, 7- Falling To Pieces

Here we have this amazing progressive metal band coming from Sweden. Here we have their epic keyboards, their virtuoso guitars and the extremely technical rhythm section. This, combined with Sindre Antonsen´s vocals which are very different than the ones used by the other bands of this style make a powerful recording. To give you an idea Divided Multitude is like a combination of progressive music with some heavier style such as the one played by bands like Vicious Rumours. The keyboards are all over the songs and they interact really good with the heavy guitars. One of the main things here are the melodies which are epic and dark. This is one of those recording that you listen over and over again and you always find something new, some arrangement, some lick, some pattern that you have not heard before. Thumbs up for Divided Multitude!!!!

Favorite tracks: THe whole CD. This is a masterpiece of progressive metal

Contact: www.dividedmultitude.com

REVIEW: DISORDERED SYSTEMS BARBARA ROMEN / GUNTER SCHNEIDER

 

DISORDERED SYSTEMS BARBARA ROMEN / GUNTER SCHNEIDER (Durian Records, 2002)

Produced by Barbara Romen and Gunter Schneider

Engineered and mixed by Hanno Stroher

Tracks: 1-4 Salut für Caudwell , 5- Disordered Systems

Here we have Disordered Systems a project by two great musicians and guitarists, Barbara Romen and Gunter Schneider. On this CD they play first a composition by Helmut Lachenmann called "Salut für Caudwell" in which they show a lot of experimentation with guitar sounds and rhythms, adding vocals in some parts but always letting their minds find new ways iof expressing themselves through their instruments. Then comes the second composition called "Disordered Systems" which is prepared for 13 guitar instruments and is played live without playbacks or overdubs. Here they experiment with different sounds and they use metall bars and knitting needles fixed between the string making sounds that are almost electronic but have a lot of new qualities specially for the listener that is not accustomed to listen to them. A must for people who wants something new in the guitar realm and who love musical experimentation.

Favorite tracks: The whole CD is amazing and completely experimental taking guitar to new levels

Contact: www.durian.at

REVIEW: DIM MAK - INTERCEPTING FIST

 

DIM MAK - INTERCEPTING FIST (Mighty Music, 2002)

Produced by Erik Rutan

Recorded at Dimensional Sound Studio

Cover Art by Wahid Wahid

Tracks: 1- Phoenix Eye Fist, 2- Tai pan Snake Venom, 3- Komodo Whip, 4- Shambling, 5- Mindgate, 6- Den of the Avalanche Dragon, 7- Interceptor, 8- Climbing Knife Mountain, 9- Nine Head Serpentine Sire, 10- Essence of the Northern Fist, 11- To the Negative Power

A devastating release!!! With a very modern sound with crushing guitars and an excellent drum sound here we have the violent music of Dim Mak.. The eleven tracks on this CD are a burst of energy and full power ....comanded by the fast guitar riffs and the devastating drums ,and with the brutal vocals they achieve this crushing music that you can listen on this CD.The production and mix are great and here we have Morbid Angel / Ripping Corpse guitarist Erik Rutan behind the mixing board. HE gives Dim Mak what they deserve a clear and brutal sound that enhances the results that this guys wnat to achieve. Violence and brutality guaranteed.

Favorite tracks: "Mindgate", "Tai Pan Snake Venom" and "To the Negative Power"

Contact: www.mightymusic.dk

REVIEW: DAWNDEATH INCINERATOR - TOMB OF CORPOREAL BUTCHERY

 

DAWNDEATH INCINERATOR - TOMB OF CORPOREAL BUTCHERY (Independent, 2002)

Produced by Vomucus Dawndeath

Recorded at Sanguinary Tyrant Studio

Cover Art by Jerry Sandefur

Tracks: 1- Gaddianton Robers, 2- Tomb of Corporeal Butchery, 3- Scorn the Abomination, 4- Campaign in Hell

Dawndeath Incinerator´s music is difficult to describe. First of all because on each track they have many parts: some of them are death metal , some of them are grind (with blast beats), then because of the vocals that are quite different on each track. Finally they have a guitar sound that is really original and sounds completely distorted and different from the one used by the bands of the styles mentioned above. Also, you have some samples that give a mechanical feeling to songs like "Scorn the Abomination" The four tracks here are bestial with a lot of hyper fast parts but with many changes on each track. The mix is really raw and gives a lot of distortion to the guitars making the result sound somewhat industrial. This recording is a really interesting. A really original band!

Favorite tracks: The four tracks here are devastating

Contact: fountain@wasatch.com

REVIEW: CARNIVEAN - IN TODES BANDEN

 

CARNIVEAN - IN TODES BANDEN (Independent, 2001)

Produced by Carnivean

Cover Art by Carnivean

Tracks: 1- Post Mortem, 2- Of the Flesh, 3- Dreaming the Dark, 4- Evil Be Thy Name, 5- Shallow Grave, 6- Welcomed By the Mass, 7- Rest In Pieces, 8- Offering of Evil, 9- Satan´s Circle

Carnivean is a death metal band whose main feature are theuir guitar riffs. They are catchy and rhythmic and the band prefers to rely on this rhythms and some odd time signatures and changes like the ones you can hear in "Post Mortem" than playing hyper fast blast beats. IN fatc this is what I like friom this band: that even if they want to be fast and brutal they don´t abuse one note riffs and blast beats and prefer to use more technical riffs, guitar solos and intersting passages. The vocals are guttural but you can understand perfectly the band´s lyrics. The only things I would have changed is the guitar sound which I would have mixed a little bit clearer. This band is a must for lovers of death metal bands who play unusual riffs and time signatures. An original release.

Favorite tracks: "Of the Flesh", "Shallow Grave" and "Offering of Evil"

Contact: www.carnivean.com

REVIEW: CANNIBAL CORPSE - TOMB OF THE MUTILATED (REMASTERED EDITION)

 

CANNIBAL CORPSE - TOMB OF THE MUTILATED (REMASTERED EDITION) (Metal Blade Records, 2000)

Produced by Scott Burns

Recorded at Morrisound Recording

Cover Art by Vincent Locke

Tracks: 1- Hammer Smashed Face, 2- I Cum Blood, 3- Addicted to Vaginal Skin, 4- Split Wide Open, 5- Necropedophile, 6- The Cryptic Stench, 7- Entrails Ripped from a Virgin´s Cunt, 8- Post Mortal Ejaculation, 9- Beyond the Cemetery, 10- The Exorcist

Here we have this classical third release from one of the main death metal bands of all times. Here we have remastered classics like "I Cum Blood", "Hammer Smashed Face" or "Addicted to Vaginal Skin". This songs that in 1992 were new for the metal audiences now with the years have become death metal classics. Compared to the original edition of this recording we have some sound improvement, specially on the guitars and drums which seem to be clearer in the mix than they were on the original edition. Here we have also Chris Barnes guttural vocals and screamings which were Cannibal Corpse´s trademark before his departure and the arrival of George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher. A classic for all who like death metal.

Favorite tracks: "I cum Blood", "Hammer Smashed Face" and "Necropedophile".

Contact: www.metalblade.com

REVIEW: BISCLAVERET - AEGRI SOMNIA...

 

BISCLAVERET - AEGRI SOMNIA... (Independent, 2001)

Produced by Bisclaveret

Recorded at Halls of Oblivion

Cover Art by Thorn

Tracks: 1- Succubus, 2- Duch Moj, 3- Aegri Somnia (O Saceros Christi Tu Scis Me Esse Diabolum Cur Me Derogas)

This is a project born from Thorn´s mind...and I must say that he has a lot of creativy. In fact he plays all synthesizers here which are the main instrument and he has composed all the three tracks contained on this CD. The music contained here is really atmospherical and dark with many ambient moments. Here we have this compositions full of synthesizers and spoken or whispering vocals. With many melodic but slow touches that turn the result even darker. Thorn is trying to experiment a lot on each track but retaining a black atmosphere that surrounds all his compositions. Lovers of this style of music with a lot of creativity will surely like Bisclaveret.

Favorite tracks: The three contained here

Contact: ldthorn@inetia.pl

REVIEW: BEHEADED - RECOUNTS OF DISEMBODIMENT

BEHEADED - RECOUNTS OF DISEMBODIMENT (Mighty Music, 2002)

Produced by Beheaded and David Vella

Recorded at Temple Studios

Cover Art by Sho

Tracks: 1- Broken thoughts of Righteousness; 2- Horde of the Stolen Sun, 3- Recounts of Disembodiment, 4- Consecrated Absurdities, 5- Compelling Derangement, 6- Inherited Plague, 7- Fed Upon Odium, 8- Disdain, 9- Spreading Contagion, 10- Unbound

Beheaded is a crushing band that plays death metal with a strong emphasis on rhythmic riffs combined with fast parts. Everything here is conceived to spread the brutality of the band to the ears of the listener. I loved specially the slower riffs combined with the hyper preecise double bass drumming that gives a lot of power to the tracks. Here we have a killer drummer who is technical and bryutal playing the fastest parts and changing rhythms with no difficulty. I must remark the guttural vocals which are powerful but at the same time clear enough to distinguish the lyrics of the songs. This is a CD that I will recommend to those who love brutality and intensity in music.

Favorite tracks: "Horde of the Stolen Sun", "Recounts of Disembodiment" and "Inherited Plague"

Contact: www.mightymusic.dk

REVIEW: AUTUMN - A ROMANCE OF ART

 

AUTUMN - A ROMANCE OF ART (Nail Records, 2001)

Produced by Autumn

Recorded at A-Plant and the Autumneum

Tracks: 1- Shells, 2- Windows, 3- Serenade, 4- Glaube, 5- A Romance of Art, 6- Flaming, 7- Blue Fortress, 8- Epilogue Dawn

Here we have a MCD from this excellent band that makes a great use of melodies combining acoustic guitars with keyboards and many female vocals. The tracks here are really calm and they take the listener into a trip of a beautiful dark world where Autumn is king. In fact the thing that is most amazing of this CD is the great combination of dark and beautiful melodies with interesting percussion. The male vocals are clean ones and they add a lot of feeling to each of the songs. And when the female vocals enter there is a great contrast that makes each of the songs a unique experience for people who listen to this album. A really original and dark release.

Favorite tracks: "Windows", "A Romance of Art" and "Blue Fortress"

Contact: nailrecords@infinito.it

REVIEW: ARMORED SAINT - NOD TO THE OLD SCHOOL

 

ARMORED SAINT - NOD TO THE OLD SCHOOL (Metal Blade Records, 2001)

Produced by Armored Saint

Tracks: CD1: 1- Real Swagger, 2- Unstable, 3- March of the Saint (2001 version), 4- Day of the Eagle, 5- Never Satisfied; 6- Tainted Past, 7- After Me, the Flood (live); 8- Creepy Feelings (live), 9- Lesson well learned, 10- False Alarm, 11- ON the way, 12 Stricken by Fate, 13- Reign of fire (demo), 14- Betty 79 (demo, 15- People (demo), 16- Get Lost (demo), 17- Nothing between the ears (demo), 18- Pirates (demo)

CD 2: 1- Medieval Nightmares (demo), 2- Video: Long Before I die (live), 3- Video: March of the Saint (live), 4- Video: Reign of Fire; 5- Video: Las Train Home

Here we have a double Armored Saint CD made of all rare tracks. On the first recording we have 18 tracks. Some of them are new (the first six), then there are a couple of live tracks from their 2000 tour and then we have a lot of rare tracks extracted from old demos or from their first EP. In fact this is a great opportunity to listen new and old tracks from this classic. Also as a bonus the second CD has a demo track and four videos: two of them played live. Armored Saint is a band that will never dissapoint you if you are looking for heavy metal. As always we have the great John Bush on vocals that gives a lot of quality to the vocal melodies. A classic.

Favorite tracks: "March of the Saint (2001 Version)", "Never Satisfied" and "Creepy Feelings "

Contact: www.metalblade.com

REVIEW: AGALLOCH - THE MANTLE

 

AGALLOCH - THE MANTLE (The End Records, 2002)

Produced by Ronn Chick and John Haughm

Recorded between Nov-01 & Apr 02

Cover Art by John Haughm

Tracks: 1- A Celebration for the Death of Man, 2- In the Shadow of Our Pale Companion, 3- Odal, 4- I am the Wooden Doors, 5- The Lodge; 6- You Were But A ghost In my Arms; 7- The Hawthorne Passage; 8- ...And the Great Cold Death of the Earth, 9- A Desolation Song

It is really amazing how this guys have developed their own style. In fact you can listen to this and say that this is pure Agalloch...they have developed an Agalloch sound (which was present also in their previous "Pale Folklore"). Here you have all the melodic and climatic elements combined in a really dark way. I mean, here you have keyboards, acoustic guitars and really calm passages but everything is designed to create a dark atmosphere in all the tracks. The feelings are of sadness, loneliness. There are heavier tracks like " I Am the Wooden Doors but they are all full of twisted melodies that make Agalloch and this recording a unique experience. A must for any music lover. One of the records of the year.

Favorite tracks: The whole CD ...One of the records of the month and of the year

Contact: www.theendrecords.com

REVIEW: AENDRIA - JADIS...

 

AENDRIA - JADIS... (Deadsun Records, 2002)

Produced by David Sahunet

Recorded at David´s Home

Cover Art by Blood Ink Prod.

Tracks: 1- Jadis, 2- Deleterious Winds, 3- Aeclipsis; 4- Beyond Praise; 5- Tragediam, 6- The Fruit of the Dead Tree

This CD is really a masterpiece. It is the perfect balance between aggression and beauty, between heaviness and atmospheres. In fact the only man behind this project is David Sahunet who has done all the composition, arrangements and recordings on this CD and he has a lot of idea and knows how to express them through his music. The thing that fascinates me is the heavy use of keyboards which are all over the tracks of this CD and are used perfectly to contrast with the heavy guitars and the programmed drums that add heaviness and a cold feeling to the recording. David prefers to use spoken or whispering vocals in order to give a better idea of the atmospheres that he wants to create. If you like original music then Aendria will satisfy your needs.

Favorite tracks: The whole CD is a masterpiece

Contact: www.deadsunrecords.com

REVIEW: ABRASIVE - DESIRE

 

ABRASIVE - DESIRE (Semen Demon Prods., 2002)

Produced by Abrasive

Recorded by Alex and Abbrasive

Cover Art by Alex Ringwald and Ralf Köhler

Tracks: 1- Domination, 2- Cum With Me, 3- On MY Knees, 4- Desire, 5- Late Night, 6- Taste Me, 7- Everlasting pain

Devastating release!!!! Brutality at it s most extreme level!! Here we have this ultraviolent band with really sexual lyrics and incredibly fast music. The music on this release is extremely fast and heavy with growling vocals that add a lot of brutality to this recording. The musicians are good and they know how to change rhythms within each of the tracks. The sound is crushing, specially on the guitars which sound really fat and are the main reason of the heaviness of Abrasive´s music. The drummer is really a beast playing all this blast beats and doing really killer passages like the ones in "Cum With Me" which are really technical and need a lot of skills to do it. Fans of brutal death metal will surely love Abrasive.

Favorite tracks: "Cum With Me"; "On My Knees" and "Everlasting Pain"

Contact: www.semendemon.de