REVIEW: DOMAIN - THE ARTEFACT

 

DOMAIN - THE ARTEFACT (Nightmare Records, 2002 )

Produced By: Axel Ritt

Tracks: 1- Discover the Artefact, 2- Charade, 3- Mystery Stone, 4- Day Tripper, 5- Strangers From The Heart, 6- Blackhole Visions, 7- Seasons (The Circles Around the Moon), 8- Don´t Count on love, 9- Spirit of the Sun, 10- Almost Eden, 11- Downtown Babylon, 12- Heart on the Line, 13- Experience XTC

Cover Art by Sebastian Kozak

Recorded at Meadow Recording Studios

Here we have pure heavy metal in the vein of bands like Stratovarius, Yngwie Malmsteen and bands of the style. The band starts powerfully with "Charade", a song designed to be a hit in the heavy metal world. The musicians here have a lot of technical skills and they have created some european sounding melodies such as the ones in "Mystery Stone", that is a very "german sounding" track. One of the mmain elements here are the keyboards which are all over the tracks adding chord progressions and melodies in the songs. One thing to point out is the great sound that this recording has, specially on keyboards and guitars thata re essential for Domain´s sound. Pure heavy/power metal!!!

Favorite tracks: "Mystery Stone", "Strangers from the Heart" and "Spirit of the Sun"

Contact: www.nightmare-records.com

REVIEW: DIO - KILLING THE DRAGON

 

DIO - KILLING THE DRAGON (Spitfire Records, 2002 )

Produced By: Ronnie James Dio

Tracks: 1- Killing The Dragon, 2- Along Comes a Spider, 3- Scream, 4- Better in the Dark, 5- Rock and Roll, 6- Push, 7- Guilty, 8- Throw Away The Children, 9- Before The Fall, 10- Cold Feet

Cover Art by Marc Sasso

Recorded at Total Access Studios

Here we have in our hands the new album of Ronnie James Dio´s band. This time features new guitarist Doug Aldrich. The music here is not so different from the one in Magica (except because here there is no concept behind the lyrics), and as in that album some of the tracks are not as direct as in albums like "Holy Diver" or "The Last in Line". Here we have Aldrich replacing Craig Goldy´s riffs and solos in a really good way and we have also the rhythmic tandem of Jimmy Bain on bass and Simon Wright on drums that add a lot of power to the songs. And we have the genius Ronnie James Dio whose voice is as wonderful as always and if the other musicians are the skeleton and flesh of the music, then Ronnie is the soul of all the songs here.

Favorite tracks: "Killing the Dragon", "Scream" and "Before the Fall"

Contact: www.spitfirerecords.com

REVIEW: DEFORGE - SILENT TERROR INSIDE

DEFORGE - SILENT TERROR INSIDE (Independent, 2001)

Produced By Deforge

Tracks: 1- Fear West, 2- necrotic Skin, 3- Terminal Revolting Idea, 4- Back To life, 5- K.K.K.

Cover Art by Ettore Gaetano

Recorded at: Temple of Noise Studios

A modern death metal band with some thrash touches !!!! This is the style that this guys from Italy play. Full of brutality this band has chosen a more technical side to play their music. In fact the first thing that got my attention was the drumming sound, almost mechanical and that lets you listen all the complex rhythms that this guy is playing behind the drumkit. Then you have the deathly guitars with a really fat distortion that is essential to achieve the results that the guys in Deforge want. Plus, we have a bass player that plays many interesting arrangements through all the tracks. The mix of this CD is really good and makes things more brutal than it would be with a rawer production. This guys rule and lovers of death metal should check them.

Favorite tracks: "Fear West", "Terminal Revolting Idea" and "K.K.K."

Contact: konkhra@tiscalinet.it

REVIEW: DARK TRANQUILITY - DAMAGE DONE

DARK TRANQUILITY - DAMAGE DONE (Century Media, 2002 )

Produced By: Dark Tranquility and Fredrik Nordström

Tracks: 1- Final Resistance, 2- Hours Passed in Exile, 3- Monochromatic Stains, 4- Single part of two, 5- The treason wall, 6- Format C: For Cortex, 7- Damage Done, 8- Cathode Ray Sunshine, 9- The Enemy, 10-I, Deception, 11- White noise / Black Silence, 12- Ex Nihilo, 13 - Video: Monochromatic Stains

Cover Art by Niklas Sundin

Recorded at Studio Fredman

Here is the new album of Swedish death metal gods Dark Tranquility. Yes, one of the founders of the Gothenburg sound are here with "Damage Done". As always the band delivers technical death metal with that typical swedish flavor that we know bands like Dark Tranquility or In Flames have. This band has achieved its own identity and they show this on this latest CD with all the elements that ahve made them famous: fast riffs played with a lot of technical skills, clean guitar interludes, melodic guitar phrases and solos and powerful vocals. When looking back on Dark Tranquility´s career we can find that on each recording they have got a better mix and sound and this one is no exception being the album with tightest mix and more devastating guitars. A classic.

Favorite tracks: "Final Resistance", "The Treason Wall" and "The Enemy"

Contact: www.centurymedia.com

REVIEW: CYCLOPS - CYCLOPS FROM HELL

 

CYCLOPS - CYCLOPS FROM HELL (Independent, 2001)

 

Produced By: Cyclops

Tracks: 1- Welcome to me! (intro), 2- Metal Eye Beast, 3- Kill the Beast (Part One), 4- Bloody tears, 5- Metal Be With Us, 6- Stop this Hell

Cover Art by Mauro Vanzati

Recorded at Jam Studio

A slow melodic intro lets us into the heavy metal world of Cyclops. Here we have pure heavy metal with interesting guitar arrangements and clean epic vocals. The influences that I find here are those of Iron Maiden, some Helloween and a touch of old Queensryche. One extra point to these guys go for the excellent guitar solos (with lot of feeling and technique). All of the songs here have epic melodies and are of the kind of songs that are composed to be sung with your fist in the air. The mix is good but I would mix a little bit louder the guitars to make the result even heavier. There are some acoustic moments like in "Kill the Beast...". Plus there are lyrics thata re very sentimental (specially for people in Argentina) about the desparecidos and the killings that the militar governments did here in this country. Lovers of heavy metal don´t miss this one.

Favorite tracks: "Bloody Tears", "Metal Eye Beast" and "Stop this Hell"

Contact: www.cyclopsfromhell.com

REVIEW: COAL CHAMBER - DARK DAYS

COAL CHAMBER - DARK DAYS (Roadrunner Recs., 2001)

Produced By: Ross Hoghart

Tracks: 1- Fiend, 2- Glow, 3- Watershed, 4- Domething Told Me, 5- Dark days, 6- Alienate Me, 7- One Step, 8- Friend, 9- Rowboat, 10- Drove, 11- Empty jar, 12- Beckoned

Cover Art by Kris Mc Caddon

Recorded at Rumbo Recording Studio

In the life of the band the first album is what brings you immediate success, the second one is the one that solidifies your fame, but it is the third one the one that decides if you are going to continue being succesful or not. Knowing this, the guys and girl in Coal Chamber have started this third CD with a potential hit called "Fiend". The sound continues being the same as in their first two albums, that is heavy guitars with really fat sound, a clean bass guitar that follows closely the guitars, strong vocals and rhythms designed for the mosh pit or for headbanging. The mix of this album is good but no so different from the one in the first two albums. A third album to continue being among the top new metal bands.

Favorite tracks: "Glow", "Fiend" and "Empty Jar"

Contact: www.coalchamber.com

REVIEW: CHEMIKILLER - 4 SONG DEMO CDR

 

CHEMIKILLER - 4 SONG DEMO CDR (Independent, 2002 )

 

Produced By: Chemikiller

Tracks: 1- The blackest Night, 2- House of Blood, 3- Seek the Reaper, 4- Flesh Eaters

Cover Art by Chemikiller

Each Chemikiller songs sounds different fom the previous one!! The first track here opens up with a real thrash death riff before getting into a fast thrashy tun, then the second one, "House of Blood" is more rocking with more direct riffs and drumming. The third one is a more direct track and the fourth one is in a Motorhead style (and reminds me a little bit of Sodom´s classic song "Ausgebombt" from teh "Agent Orange" album). But each song is completely different from the other yet retaining the Chemikiller sound...and that is good. The singer here has a very special vocal range (sometimes closer to Tom Angelripper) and that also gives a lot of identity to the tracks. The sound of this four track demo is good and I would like te band to mix the guitar louder so they give some extra power to each of the songs.

Favorite tracks: "Flesh Eaters" and "House of Blood"

Contact: www.chemikiller.cjb.net

REVIEW: CHAOS THEORY - THE SMOKEY BASEMENT EP

 

CHAOS THEORY - THE SMOKEY BASEMENT EP (Independent, 2002 )

Produced By: Chaos Theory

Tracks: 1- Not for Me, 2- Shame, 3- Give Up

Recorded in a Smokey Basement

Chaos Theory´s music is difficult to label but it has a lot of elements of eighties thrash metal and of pure heavy metal, such as the vocals and certain rhythms (some passages in "Shame" reminded me of early Anthrax). But despite this, Chaos Theory does not sound like an eighties thrash band. In fact they have a modern guitar sound and a bass player whose bass lines can be clearly listened through the whole recording. The guys here have good technical skills that help them to create the great music that we can listen on this EP. The mix of the three songs is clear and I really hope that this guys record more songs soon to listen the way in which the band evolves. This is a good sign that bands that have been influenced by thrash have developed their own sound, like Chaos theory did and are making a big thrash metal comeback. Thrash is back !!!

Favorite tracks: The three

Contact: www.chaostheoryonline.com

REVIEW: CELESTIAL DAWN - GENESIS

 

CELESTIAL DAWN - GENESIS (Independent, 2001)

 

Produced By: Celestial Dawn

Tracks: 1- Celestial Dawn, 2- Breakdown, 3- Spectre, 4- Another Rising Sun

Cover Art by Brian Kosovan

Recorded at The Sound Module

This is pure heavy metal!! Here we have this band whose music is metal in its purest form. It has all the elements of the genre, distorted guitars, open riffs that let the vocals do the melodies, and we have a drummer that knows how to play rhythms living a lot of space for the guitars to do their job, there are also melodic guitar solos that creates epic melodies in the songs. The vocals are closer to eightioes thrash metal ones than to typical metal because of the use of some relly high pitches (that bands like Toxik or Hexenhaus used a lot in their music). Here you have a good mix of the instruments that lets you hear perfectly each one of the instruments. Lovers of heavy metal in its purest form will surely like Celestial Dawn´s music

Favorite tracks: "Breakdown" and "Spectre"

Contact: www.celestialdawn.com

REVIEW: CATHOLICON - 2002 & 1999 PROMO DEMOS

 

CATHOLICON - 2002 & 1999 PROMO DEMOS (Independent, 2002 )

Produced By: Catholicon

Tracks: 2002 Promo: 1- Dawn of a Dark Age, 2- Gallery of God´s Love, 3- 14th Century Apocalypse, 4- Embodiment of All That is Not, 1999 Promo: 5- 14th Century Apocalypse, 6- Coronation, 7- Heir To The Throne, 8- Remember the Fallen

Since I have just reviewed the 2002 promo demo cd from Catholicon I will review here their promo demo from 1999. Here you can listen how Catholicon´s music has evolved between the two demos. In the 1999 the guitar sound was closer to death metal while the vocals were more of teh black metal type. Also there was less keyboard work than in the 2002 demo (even if it is present in this older version of "14th Century Apocalypse"). The sound is far more primitive in the older demo and you can feel that the mix was not as good as in the new one. A good starting point to compare the evolution of Catholicon´s music.

Favorite tracks: "Coronation" and "Heir To the Throne"

Contact: www.fuckyourgod.com

REVIEW: CATHOLICON - PROMO DEMO 2002

 

CATHOLICON - PROMO DEMO 2002 (Independent, 2002)

Produced By: Catholicon

Tracks: 1- Dawn of a Dark Age, 2- Gallery of God´s love, 3- 14th Century Apocalypse, 4- Embodiment of all that is Not

Cover Art by Catholicon

Recorded at Underworld Studio

This is Catholicon´s new promo demo and here they show their brutal mix of death metal and black metal with some grind touches (in some of the fastest parts). This guys are one of the most brutal bands in the underground and I really like the way in which they have made a fusion of different styles and achieved their own identity through that (in some parts there are also some keyboards that accentuates one of the riffs in a great way (check "14th Century Apocalypse")). There are also multiple types of vocals here: from a screaming and shrieking one to one that is closer to screaming grind (because it is really distorted) to a more guttural one....and this voices interact through the four tracks in an amazing way. If you like the aforementioned styles, check Catholicon´s music.

Favorite tracks: The four

Contact: www.fuckyourgod.com

REVIEW: CARNALITY - BRUTAL EXECUTION

 

CARNALITY - BRUTAL EXECUTION (Independent, 2002)

Produced By: Carnality

Tracks: 1- Forever in Your Grave, 2- Cadaveric Orgasm, 3- Frozen Human Meat

Cover Art by Francesco Rapini

Recorded at: Fear Studio

This is a three tarck MCD from this extremely brutal band from Italy. The music can be related to "Blessed are the Sick" or "Covenant" era Morbid Angel (because of the complex riffs that are played really tight and that emphasize the rhythmic brutality and not only the simple speed) or with bands like Sinister because of the brutality of the vocals and the drumming. One thing that I have to point out is that this guys have achieved a great sound and the recording is really well mixed and that makes the music even more brutal and powerful (in fact I think differnt than those bands that think that the worst the sound is the music sounds more brutal....I think that bands like Carnality show that having a polished sound add a lot of heaviness to your music. Thumbs up also for the killer drummer that is a rhythmic beast and essential to Carnality´s sound.

Favorite tracks: the three. They are a showcase of extreme brutality

Contact: brutalcarnality@yahoo.it

REVIEW: BUNUH - THE TORSO KILLER

 

BUNUH - THE TORSO KILLER (Independent, 2002)

Produced By: Bunuh

Tracks: 1- Cold Blooded Murder, 2- I Shall kill Again, 3- Humaneater, 4- Killed and Dismembered, 5- Raining Blood, 6- Nymphic Land, 7- Psychiatric Disorder

Cover Art by Nurul

Recorded at TNT Studios

Directly from Singapore comes this extremely brutal band. Bunuh´s music goes along the path of the most bestial death metal with ultra fast riffs and extremely guttural vocals (sometimes closer to grindcore). This guys use also a lot of rhythmic riffs that make the songs even heavier than using only speed. Is precisely in this riffs and rhythm changes where the band shows that they are really well rehearsed and that they are extrmely tight. The only melodies that you can hear on the songs are the ones done by the guitar solos and maybe some guitar melody.The sound of this recording is good and makes the whole recording even more brutal. Also I have to remark that this CD comes in a digipack presentation with a CD that is semitransparent. Lovers of brutality rejoice!

Favorite tracks: "Cold Blooded Murder", "Humaneater" and "Nymphic Land"

Contact: bunuh2002@hotmail.com

REVIEW: BOOMERANG - WEAVEWORLD

BOOMERANG - WEAVEWORLD (Trance Music, 2002 )

Produced By: Boomerang

Tracks: 1- Mourning Sun, 2- Keepers of Light, 3- The Cold One, 4- Into the Night, 5- Weaveworld, 6- Shores of Ithaka, 7- Like Black Like White, 8- Dismanteling Fortress Architecture, 9- Of Blood and Honour

Recorded by Stefan Grötzinger

Pure metal!!!!! And this is thrash metal the way it used to be in the eighties but with a more modern sound and some power metal touches and melodies !! There are fast drumbeats in the thrash metal way and vocals that can be harsh and at the same time melodic. The songs here have a lot of hooks and they are epic (without using the same german melodies that a lot of power metal bands copy again and again) and powerful. I find really interesting the voalist who adds a lot of the power that the band has and at the same time sings melodies that you can follow and sing. The band has a really european sound (why is it that you can always distinguish europena metal from american metal because of the way the compositions are done?). I find interesting that bands like Boomerang are making a comeback of thrash metal into reality with their powerful music!!

Favorite tracks: "Keepers of Light", "Weaveworld" and "Mourning Sun"

Contact: www.dc-net.de/trance-music

REVIEW: BLASPHEMER - LIFE KILLS

 

BLASPHEMER - LIFE KILLS ( Independent , 2002)

Produced By: Blasphemer

Tracks: 1- Life Kills, 2- Slaughter the Pig, 3- Bat Man Suicide, 4- Strange Abortion, 5- Another Shade That Fades, 6- Outro

Layout by Andrea Cattaneo

Recorded at: GB Studios

One of the most brutal releases that arrived to me this months. This band from Italy is devastating from the first second to the last. This guys know really well how to make songs that have all the most brutal elements: fast parts, crushing guitar sound, guttural vocals. The guitar riffs are well constructed and they seem to be very difficult to play, specially in the fastest parts. The sound of this recording is fairly good, specially on the guitars (that in some brutal bands get buried in the mix) and that adds even more brutality to Blasphemer´s tracks. Plus, there is one funny 22 second song that starts with Batman´s melody in the bass and finishes with a deathly explosion, called "Bat-Man Suicide". If you want brutality here you have this "Life kills" that will satisfy your urge.

Favorite tracks: "Slaughter the Pig", "Life Kills" and "Strange Abortion"

Contact: extremesickness@hotmail.com

REVIEW: AZAGHAL - OF BEASTS AND VULTURES

 

AZAGHAL - OF BEASTS AND VULTURES (Evil Horde Records, 2002 )

Produced By: Jani Loikas

Tracks: 1- Helwettiläinen, 2- Welho, 3- Reign, 4- Kaikki Elävä Kuihtun, 5- Of Beasts and Vultures, 6- Peto - 666, 7- Minä Olen Tie, 8- Verenjano, 9- Epilogue, 10- 13 Candles

 Recorded at Cursed Studios

This band is bestial !! And they have made something that I like a lot that is that mix of all the rawest elements of black metal and mixed them with riffs that are closer to heavy metal and also have added acoustic and climatic parts. And the final result is also helped by a really great mix (some black metal bands should check Azaghal to see how their music can sound more powerful with a sound liek this one). There are many interesting atmospheric part with acoustic guitars and keyboard solos and parts such as the one at the end of "Helwettiläinen". The vocals are those typical in the black metal style but this guys have also added some vocals closer to death metal that add a different side to Azaghal´s music. I have to point out the really good quality packaging that this CD has (I think that this is typical from Evil Horde releases). 

Favorite tracks: "Welho", "Of Beasts and Vultures" and "Minä Olen Tie"

Contact: www.evilhorderec.com

REVIEW: ARCH ENEMY - WAGES OF SIN

ARCH ENEMY - WAGES OF SIN (Century Media, 2002 )

Produced By: Fredrik Nordström and Michael Amott

Tracks: 1- Enemy Within, 2- Burning Angel, 3- Heart of Darkness, 4- Ravenous, 5- Savage Messiah, 6- Dead Bury their Head, 7- Web of Lies, 8- The First Deadly Sin, 9- Behind the Smile, 10- Snow Bound, 11- Shadows and Dust, 12 - Lament of a Mortal Soul, 13- Bonus Video: Ravenous

Mixed by Andy Sneap

Arch Enemy is a band that always surprise the listener with something new in their music. A soft keyboard intro in "Enemy Within" starts this powerful CD. In fact the first track starts with a riff that wouldn´t be out of place in a classic power metal band then starts the faster parts and the death and stronger than hell vocals of new singer Angela. She is amazing, in the vein of extreme vocalists like Holy Moses´ Sabina Classen, really extreme. As always, there are complex guitar riffs and a lot of guitar solos (Mike Amott is killer here). I have to speak about the production: Having Fredrik Nordström and Andy Sneap in the production and the mixing Arch Enemy is having the best production in their whole career, sounding better than ever, you can hear each melody, each drumbeat, each scream, all is crystal clear here! Arch Enemy is a band that every metalhead should check because they have a lot of power while having always new ideas..

Favorite tracks: All the CD. Arch Enemy always makes masterpieces

Contact: www.centurymedia.com

REVIEW: ANTIMATTER - SAVIOUR

 

ANTIMATTER - SAVIOUR (The End Records, 2002 )

Produced By: Michael Moss, Stuart O´Leary and Mac

Tracks: 1- Saviour, 2- Holocaust, 3- Over Your Shoulder, 4- Psalms, 5- God Is Coming, 6- Angelic, 7- Flowers, 8- The Last Laugh, 9- Going Nowhere, 10- Over Your Shoulder (acoustic), 11- Flowers (acoustic)

Cover Art by Mark Kelson

Recorded at Academy Studios

This is the new band from ex Anathema man Duncan Patterson who is here playing all the guitars, bass, keyboards and programming. Here Duncan is helped by Michael moss on guitar, bass and keys and he has a lot of guest vocalists, from the enchanting voice of Michelle Richfield to the one by Hayley Windsor and the special appearance of Danny Cavanagh (Anathema) in the acoustic version of "Flowers". The music here is extremely climatic with heavy use of clean guitars and keyboards. Here the main goal is to explore deppressive sides of Duncan´s musical personality. I want to point out the excellent work that Michelle Richfield has done here on the vocals, adding a lot of feeling to each of the songs on this CD. This CD is a future classic. 

Favorite tracks: All the tracks. I love the music Duncan does.

Contact: www.theendrecords.com

REVIEW: ANEURYSM - AWARE

 

ANEURYSM - AWARE (Independent, 2001 )

Produced By: Aneurysm

Tracks: 1- The Cavern, 2- Larva, 3- Inner Side, 4- Ruin, 5- Torment, 6- The Hunt, 7- Ways, 8- All In the Name, 9- CD Rom Track

Cover Art by Giorgia Carteri

Recorded at Pink Noise Studios

Aneurysm is a band whose music is extremely difficult to label (something like progressive death modern metal can be closer but I think is not fair to describe their music that way because their compositions go well beyond this styles). In fact I have to say that their vocals are sometimes death metal and sometimes cleaner and more melodic and sometimes closer to gothic. The main thing here are the technical skills of this four musicians from Italy. This guys change from riff to riff, from rhythm to rhythm, from clean to extremely heavy within the same song without missing a note. The band is extremely tight and the songs are realy well composed. Palms go to all the musicians because of the excellent work that they have done on this CD (specially the guitarists...Peter is really a virtuoso). One thing that also makes the results better is the extremely great sound that the recording has. Check this CD now!

Favorite tracks: All of them are masterpieces

Contact: www.aneurysm.it

REVIEW: AMUN RE - MAGIC KINGDOM

 

AMUN RE - MAGIC KINGDOM (Real Treat Recs., 2001)

Produced By: Amun Re

Tracks: 1- Bad Dream, 2- Shadowhunter, 3- Anathema, 4- Reach for the Stars, 5- Avalon, 6- Twilight Pyramid, 7- Child of the Light, 8- I Wish it Back Again, 9- Diablo, 10- Under Dark Skies, 11- Magic Kingdom

Cover Art by Norbert Sigart

Recorded at Holy Gasoline Recording Studios

Here we have this progressive metal coming directly from Austria. If you want melodies here you have them. They are done mainly through the guitars, keyboards and vocals (here we have beautiful voal harmonies done by a male and a female vocalist that know really well their job). But the main thing here are the keyboards: they play melodies, chord progressions and do a lot of orchestration of the tarcks of this CD. The male vocalist is not of the type that you expect in a band like this. In fact he uses more the middle range of his voice instead of using high pitched vocals (he achieves good harmonies with female vocals that are also in the middle range). I would like Amun Re to mix a little bit louder the guitars so the music will have more power. Lovers of progressive metal will surely like this one.

Favorite tracks: "Shadowhunter", "Twilight Pyramid" and "Under Dark Skies"

Contact: www.amunre.com

REVIEW: ALL TIME PRESENT - DISTANT MICROPHONES PICK UP BOTH DIRECT AND REFLECTED SOUND

ALL TIME PRESENT - DISTANT MICROPHONES PICK UP BOTH DIRECT AND REFLECTED SOUND (Evolving Ear, 2002 )

Produced By: Chris Forsyth and Rich Gross

Tracks: 1- Intro, 2- Detail 1 , 3-MOCA, 4- MOCA, 5- Detail 2, 6-8 Fringe 1, 9-10 Fringe 2, 11-12 Fringe 3, 13- the true sound of the improv underground

Cover Art by Littlegem Design

Recorded at Bar XVI, Red Room, MOCA-DC, Fringe Festival and Ear Space

Here we have an experimentation album that features a man whose work we have reviewed before: Chris Forsyth. Here Chris has been joined by two other guitarists and two percussionist in order to create the music without boundaries that All Time Present does. The CD starts with an eerie track with a lot of guitar arpeggios that deliver sort of a strange sounding eastern melody when combined. Then comes the heavier experimentation with lots of sounds going on in each one of the compositions...none of this guys have any problem in being spontaneous and breaking musical boundaries on each phrase or sound that they play. A must for those who like new music and experimentation.

Favorite tracks: "MOCA", "Fringe 3" and "Fringe 2"

Contact: www.evolvingear.com

REVIEW: ALL IN VAIN - THE BACKSIDE OF HUMANITY

 

ALL IN VAIN - THE BACKSIDE OF HUMANITY (Spreadit Agency, 2002 )

Produced By: All in Vain and Marrtosh Music

Tracks: 1- Annihilation of the Sun, 2- Psychological limbo, 3- Darkstars (Meteorites), 4- Introspection, 5- The Longed Wisdom, 6- Fallen Angel, 7- Revelations, 8- Epilogue

Cover Art by All in Vain

All in Vain is a band whose music can be described as death/thrash metal with no doubt! They have vocals that are clearly death metal (there is one screming vocal type that sound really original and different from what is common in the style). And this guys also have a lot of thrash emtal influences which can be heard in the riffs and guitar melodies that they make through all the recording (and also in some of the choruses). There are really good melodies, acoustic interludes and twin guitar work that add a lot of dynamics and different feelings to All in Vain´s music. The sound of the recording is good and raw and the guitars which are the key elment here are really well mixed and that allows the listener to appreciate every detail here.

Favorite tracks: All the CD

Contact: http://digilander.iol.it/allinvain

REVIEW: ABNORMITY - DEMO 2002

 

ABNORMITY - DEMO 2002 (Independent, 2002 )

Produced By: Abnormity

Tracks: 1- Fallen In Eternal Dislove, 2- The Perfect Sadness

Cover Art by Henk Van Rensbergen 

Recorded at Trastero Studios

This is a band whose music is climatic because of the way in which the guitars are used and extremely heavy because of the use of fast parts and extreme vocal parts in the black metal way (but there are also clean vocals parts that add a lot of variation to the songs). The two tracks on this MCD are long and let the band do some changes within them going from fast and heavy riffs to more climatic parts with a lot of clean guitars such as the beginning of "The Perfect Sadness" (and they also have riffs changes that are surprising within the songs). The mix of this CD is extremely raw in the heavier parts but surprisingly clean in the parts with clean guitars and vocals. I would like to listen more from them soon.

Favorite tracks: Both tracks.

Contact: http://www.geocities.com/abnormityband

REVIEW: AARNI / UMBRA NIHIL - SPLIT CD

 

AARNI / UMBRA NIHIL - SPLIT CD (Firebox Netstore, 2002)

 

Produced By: Firebox Recs.

Tracks: Aarni: 1- Uddo Sathla, 2- Myrrys, 3- Lider Umdrarum vel Coniunctio, 4- Transcend Humanity, 5- Reaching Azathoth, 6- Anima; Umbra Nihil: 7- Follow and Believe / Fall without Relief, 8- A Mere Shell, 9- My Way to the Lakeshore, 10- Determination, 11- Water in Lungs

Design by Milzer

Aarni starts this CD with a very atmospheric beginning of the first track. This track reminds me of some experimental bands and solo projects out there because of the experimentation with sounds and dissonances. Then comes a completely different track "Myrrys" which is slow paced and extremely heavy yet climatic with many clean guitars and speaking deep vocals. The main thing in Aarni´s music is the use of the instruments and voices to create atmospheric and experimental music (almost doom in many places because of the slow pace of the tracks).

Then comes Umbra Nihil starting with a more melodic approach and with more doom/death like vocals that makes the music darker and more somber. Then they have hyper distorted guitars that contrast with the keyboards adding a lot of darkest colours to their music. One thing essential here are the guitar melodies which make the songs even more deppressive and interesting. There are many parts where the bass work is essential such as in the middle of "A Mere Shell" where the bass plays a melody that is soon combined with the guitars and whispering vocals. A must for fans of doom. 

Favorite tracks: Aarni: "Myrrys" and "Transcend Humanity". Umbra Nihil: "A Mere Shell" and "Determination"

Contact: www.firebox.fi

REVIEW: ZøRN - ZøRN

 

ZORN - ZORN (Independent , 2002)

Produced by Zorn

Cover Art by Zorn

Tracks: 1- Intro, 2- Manifesto, 3- Serial killer, 4- Homo Creato Dall Nula, 5- Odiami

This is a brutal band that comes directly from Italy. Their music has many powerful riffs and in some places like on "Manifesto" or the beginning of "Serial killer"they use a particular guitar sound (sort of an elecrtonic noise or something like that) that makes the song more weird. The main thing here is the heaviness of all the tracks and the combination of brutality with arrangements and interesting rhythms (check for example how this guys develope the track "Serial Killer" starting with a clean guitar intro and then guetting into a twisted rhythm before getting into the full speed part. Then they add some melodies that give a lot of originality to the songs. The vocals are powerful in the vein say of Max Cavalera and singers in that style. A strange thing is listening the vocals in italian (as I think in spanish sound weird too even if it is my main language). It is incredible to see how many great bands are coming from Italy and Zorn is one of the ehaviest I have listened.

Favorite tracks: "Manifesto", "Serial Killer" and "Odiami"

Contact: www.zornband.com

REVIEW: WATCH ME BURN - WATCH ME BURN

 

WATCH ME BURN - WATCH ME BURN (Independent, 2002)

Produced by Watch me Burn

Cover Art by Watch me Burn

Tracks: 1- Lester, 2- 3 2/3rds NUMB, 3- Roadkill

This is an extremely burtal band, specially in the screaming vocals....they are brutal as hell!!!. This woman reminds me a little bit to Holy Moses Sabina Classen because of the energy and bestiality that she uses in the vocals. In fact she is amazingly bestial through the three tracks that are on this MCD. The music is also very extreme and changes rhythms a lot , from slow to fas, then back to slow and then fast again and maybe then even faster. There is also an ultraheavy guitar sound that combines perfectly with the bass thta has a cleaner sound and contrasts with them. The drummer is hyper fast and knows how to make tight rhythm changes that are essential in Watch Me Burn´s music. But the spirit and soul here are the savage vocals which in five minutes (that is what this MCD lasts) smash your brain against the wall. Here we have intensity and brutality !!! !!! Now we want a full length CD from this savage band from hell.

Favorite tracks: The three

Contact: www.angelfire.com/mt2/watchmeburn

REVIEW: VISIONS - A TRIBUTE TO BURZUM

 

VISIONS - A TRIBUTE TO BURZUM (Unholy Records, 2002)

Produced and Compiled by Hagen

Cover Art by Klaas Lageveen

Tracks:

CD 1: 1- ABORYM : Det Som Engang Var, 2- AEIGISHJALMAR: Jesus Tod, 3- BLACK QUEEN: Inn I Slottet fra Droemmen, 4- CRYOGENIC: Dunkelheit, 5- EARTHCORPSE: Lost Wisdom, 6- EWIGKEIT: Ea 2000 - Out for the Count, 7- FORNOST: Wende Im Zeichen des Mikrokosmos, 8- FUNERAL PROCESSION: Der Ruf Aus Dem Turm; 9- JUDAS ISCARIOT: War, 10- KRIGSTROMMER: Lost Wisdom, 11- KRYSTAL: Balferd Baldrs; 12- LUROR: Key to the Gate

CD 2: 1- NOKTURNAL MORTUM: Journey To the Stars, 2- ORTHAUGR: Der Weinende Hadnur, 3- PAGAN HELLFIRE: Frijos einsames Trauern; 4-SARNATH: Stemmen Fra Tarnet, 5- SCHIZOID: En ring til a Herske, 6- STARCHAMBER: Han Som Reise, 7- THE SYRE: Black Spell of Destruction, 8- TRONUS ABYSS: Moti Ragnarokum; 9- WOLFSBURG: Ein Verlorener, vergessern trauriger Geist; 10- WOODS OF FALLEN: Beholding the Daughter of the Firmaments, 11- HERRENVOLK: Daudi Baldrs

If you say you like metal then you must have this double CD in your recording collection. This is a 23 track collection of Burzum songs played in different versions by a lot of underground bands that have given the tracks their own twist in order to give tribute to a really influential band (or one man band) in the black metal underground. The tribute starts with a crushing version of "Det Som Engang Var" played bestially by Aborym which shows you the way that all the tribute is: really climatic and extremely brutal and heavy at the same time. One thing that I liked a lot is that all tracks sound really brutal, even the calmer ones and each of the bands have added their own personality on each of the tracks, from the guitar sound, to the drums sound to the way the compositions are played. There are versions that are closer to the original and some that have been changed a lot in order to add the band personality to them. Another good thing on this tribute is that despite the number of bands the sound of the overall recording is really good and there is not a big difference on the sound quality depending on which band is playing. Buy this or kill yourself!

Favorite tracks: A must for anyone that is into metal

Contact: www.unholyrecords.com

REVIEW: UNHOLY MATRIMONY - LOVE AND DEATH

 

UNHOLY MATRIMONY - LOVE AND DEATH (Independent, 2002)

Produced by Vladimir

Recorded in vladimir´s bedroom

Cover Art by Vladimir

Tracks: 1- A Prelude To love and Death, 2- Le Philtre , 3- Following the Black Star of thoughts, 4- The Feeling of not Belonging, 5- War, 6- Vomiting Bitter Tears of Disgust, 7- La fatalité de l´amour véritable, 8- Memory must Remain, 9- Hymn de la mort d´isout, 10- Selbstmord

Vladimir Cohet is a genius. This guy has created this wonderful piece of art that is this CD, full of dark ethereal music that is a great combination of melodic atmospheric passages and heavy twisted ones. The music here has powerful guitar riffs in many tracks but the essential thing here are the melancholic melodies that are in all the tracks even in the heavier ones. The music has elments of black metal like for example some fast rhythms and the screaming vocals . there are acoustic passages like the ones in "The Feeling of not belonging which are amazing and gives a lot of originality to the tracks. I think Vladimir is really good at doing orchestrations and harmonizations of musical pieces. As an example of this I suggest listening to the track "Le Philtre" which is magnificent. Vladimir also has other musical projects that I would really like to listen soon.

Favorite tracks: All this CD is magnificent

Contact: www.unholymatrimony.cjb.net

REVIEW: TORN TO PIECES - PROMOTING ALCOHOLIC DISEMBOWELMENT

 

TORN TO PIECES - PROMOTING ALCOHOLIC DISEMBOWELMENT (Independent, 2002)

Produced by Torn To Pieces

Recorded in jena - Altes Gut

Cover Art by Benner

Tracks: 1- Madness and Silence, 2- Gory Reconstellation, 3- For A Minute, 4- Indoctrination, 5- Flesh and Beer

The music contained on this four track CD is extremely brutal, despite having some really slow passages like the one in "Madness and Silence" . This guys have a lot of elements of death metal, specially in the vocals that are extremely guttural, but the riffs are different. In fact, they use some crushing slow riff and some rocking riff too (check for example again "Madness and Silence" in the bridge of the song to see the riff that I am talking about). I think the guitars should be louder on the mix because they are essential to Torn To Pieces music and on this recording they are buried in the mix and the drums cover a little bit what the guitars are doing. I think that mixing better this release is going to be killer! (louder guitars, and lower vocals) The brutality of the music is essential in the four tracks here and I think Torn To Pieces achieves great levels of brutality through their heavier than hell riffs and guttural vocals. I think one of the points that this band should use really often are the slow passages because they add a lot of heaviness to their sound. Lovers of brutality will sure like this one.

Favorite tracks: "Madness and Silence" and "For a Minute"

Contact: www.torntopieces.cjb.net

REVIEW: TIMES EXPIRED - THE ELEMENTS E.P.

 

TIMES EXPIRED - THE ELEMENTS E.P. (Independent, 2001)

Produced by Times Expired

Recorded at Machine With Magnets Studios

Cover Art by Fred Raymond

Tracks: 1- Trust, 2- Ghost, 3- The Elements

This is a three song EP from this guys that mix elements of metal and hardcore in a way similar to the one that bands like Biohazard uses. In fact they have a very big hardcore influence that can be heard mainly through all the vocals that this guys use. The guitar sound sounds big and modern and they use a lot of rhythmic riffs that are designed to make the audience jump in a live show! The drums sound is good and the man behind the drumkit is the risponsible of doing the rhytmic patterns which are essential to Times Expired´s sound. The vocals follow the ones used in this style using two or more vocals to create the vocal lines and then more to create the choruses. Lovers of metalcore and related styles should check Times Expired.

Favorite tracks: "Trust" and "Ghost"

Contact: www.timesexpired.com

REVIEW: THINE - IN THERAPY

THINE - IN THERAPY (Peaceville Records, 2002)

Produced by Thine

Tracks: 1- Best Kept Secret, 2- Feel, 3- In Therapy, 4- Homewrecker Extraordinaire, 5- Never Learn, 6- Contact Point, 7- In Red Rooms, 8- Last better Day, 9- Deny Everything, 10- The Bar, 11- Running, 12- Bleaker Audio

Here we have this ethereal yet experimental release. The sound here has (in my opinion) shades of bands liek Anathema, Pink Floyd and some Katatonia. The melancholic vocals are essential for Thine´s sound nad also the harmonization that backing vocals do with te main ones (as for example in bands like Alice in Chains this harmonizations are fundamental). There are distorted guitars but they are used to make arrangements and melancholic melodies that add a lot to the feeling of the songs. Feelings like sadness, despair, sorrow and sensations like beauty, depression and many more are present on this CD. The songs have a lot of hooks for the listener in the choruses and despite the depressive kind of melodies you will find yourself singing the choruses along with the recording. A good option for lovers of the bands that I mentioned above.

Favorite tracks: "Best Kept Secret", "In therapy" and "In red Rooms"

Contact: www.peaceville.co.uk