REVIEW: OSSIAN - PROMOTAPE 00

 

OSSIAN - PROMOTAPE 00 (Independent / Kick Promotion Agency, 2000):

Technical data:

Recorded at Blu Velvet Studios Modena - Jan/Feb 00.

Produced by Ossian. Mixed by Marco de Bartolomeo and Ossian at master Recording Studio

Ossian is a heavy thrash band from Italy and this is a three track promo CD. The music of the band is really heavy, take as an example a mix of Machine Head, Sepultura, and some hardcore band (Cro-Mags I would suggest…) with some melodic touches in the vocals on some bridges and choruses. There are some modern sounds like in the second track here that sounds like Korn meet death metal. It seems that the band has participated in some festivals with great response from the audience. If I had to resume the whole album in one world: strength. Contact: www.ossian.3000.it or madfucker@libero.it

REVIEW: OCCULT - VIOLENCE AND HATRED

 

OCCULT - VIOLENCE AND HATRED (Painkiller Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded, mixed and engineered by Peter Gardian with Dream World Studios.

Mastered by John Korsten and Peter Gardian.

Produced by Occult and Peter Gardian.

Track list:  1-Violence and Hatred, 2- Killing for Recreation

This band has become heavier !! This CD single presents two tracks recorded last year by this death metal band. The music here is pure death metal but with riffs that are more close to heavy metal or eighties thrash metal, obviously with a more modern sound (the riffs brought to my mind Sodom´s "Agent Orange"). I have not heard in a long time rhythms like the one that opens "Killing for recreation", really Kreator / Destruction-like. There are two types of vocals here that sometimes make unison phrases (one is more guttural and the other one is more of the Carcass-type). The next full length of this band will be out in a couple of months through Painkiller Recs. and I would like them to emphasize this path they are walking on nowadays.Contact: painkiller@infonie.be

REVIEW: NIGHTSIDE - SHADOWS WEAVER

 

NIGHTSIDE - SHADOWS WEAVER (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and mixed at Litle Fox Studios September 2000/January 2001 by Simo, Dany and Nightside.

Produced by Nightside.

Booklet and cover design: Valentina and Davide S.

Track list: 1- Abyss, 2- Illusion, 3- Darkness, 4- The line, 5- Only one, 6- Rain dance.

This is with no doubt one of the albums of the month ! It is a pity that Italy is now known because of its power metal bands and this is like a tree that does not let people to see the forest that is behind. Extremely technical death metal is what this italian band does with shades in some aspects of norwegian bands like In The Woods or Enthrall (in the clean voices). Interesting drum patterns are what Matteo C. Does, in the vein of maybe Sean Reinert to give you an idea. There are a lot of interesting guitar moments here, including complex riffs, clean interludes and two guitar games (for example one clean and another heavily distorted) or for example clean guitars while the bass does some interesting arrangements. This is recommended for those who love extremely professional bands with excelent musicianship. Favorite tracks: the whole album. Contact: tompa@virgilio.it

REVIEW: MYTH - DEMO CD 2001

 

MYTH - PROMO CD 2001 (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Dream State Studios on December 7th, 2000.

Mixed on June 8th, 2001 by Brandon Youngs and Myth.

Track list: 1- Through The Mist of Time, 2- The Shadow Beyond, 3- The last Feast of Marketh,

What a surprise this promo CD was !! This is melodic black metal directly from the USA, with the use of female vocals, flutes and viola with a great emphasis on melodies. The first track "Through the Mist of Time" is the slowest track here with the use of female choruses and a lot of keyboards. In fact, I find interesting the heavy use of keyboards, specially in the track "The Shadow Beyond" (interesting lines at the end of the track). "The Last Feast of Marketh" is a rhythmic instrumental track that opens with the flute playing some medieval-type melody before the band enters playing this heavy rhythmic phrase (interesting work of the bassist here, alla Steve Harris). I wonder if this band will get a recording deal soon so we can listen a full length release from them. Keyword: originality. Contact: stormdrums@aol.com

REVIEW: MYSTICA - BLINDED BY MY BLOOD

 

MYSTICA - BLINDED BY MY BLOOD (Painkiller Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded in february 2001 by Xavier Carion (Channel Zero).

Mastered by Attie Bauw / Amsterdam.

Cover Artwork by Kris Verwimp.

Track list: 1- My Malediction, 2- Blinded by My Blood, 3- Mystica, 4- Follow your God to the grave, 5- Illusion, 6- Betrayal 666, 7- For the Love of God, 8- White Princess

This is agressive music with lot of melodies ! A mix of speed and slower riffs and temos is the main charachteristic here along with the groovy type rhythms like on "My Malediction" (0:32). One thing that caught my attention is the drums sound here that is really good, specially on the double bass parts where you can listen this arrangements that are interesting for Mystica´s music. (check"Blinded by My Blood" to see what I am talking about). Another thing omniprescent here are the two type of vocals (one growling and the other one more of a screamer). If I had to describe this release I would say that is pure energy, aggression but with some subtle elements (specially on the guitars, whose riffs are really special). Favorite tracks: " "Mystica", "Illusion" and "For The Love of God". Contact: painkiller@infonie.be

REVIEW: MOURNING BELOVETH - DUST

 

MOURNING BELOVETH - DUST (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and mixed from 29 may to 4 june, 2001 at Academy Studios.

Mixed, recorded and produced by Mags

Artwork by Sofía: lopezsofia@yahoo.com .

Track List: 1- The Mountains are Mine. 2- In Mourning my Days, 3- Dust, 4- Autumnal Fires, 5- All Hope is Pleading

Dooom!!!!! Here is Ireland´s main exponent of this style. There are shades of Paradise Lost, Saint Vitus, The Obsessed and Trouble here. Anguish, despair and sadness is the general feeling here, and the music is the best way to communicate it. Slow riffs and melodies, anguished vocals (Darren is a killer vocalist, I think he is the one with the anguished voice and Frank, the guitarist is who provides the death growling) are the key elements here. Nothing here shows happiness, all hope is lost. All five tracks here are long and they totalize more than sixty minutes of obscure feelings. Favorite tracks: "Autumnal Fires", "All Hope is Pleading". Contact: mourningbeloveth@ireland.com

REVIEW: MOTHERCARE - FUSOKU NO KIGEN

 

MOTHERCARE - FUSOKU NO KIGEN (Independent/ Kick Promotion Agency, 2000):

Technical data:

Recorded at No Brain Studios (drums) and Bunkker Studios (everything else).

Edited and Mastered by Mike at Bunkker Studios

Produced by Mirko and Mothercare.

Track list: 1- Mugon, 2- Deceit, 3- Dog, 4- Onslaught, 5- Elucidation, 6- Deceit (live), 8- Game Over (live)

This is extremely agressive music that this italian band describes as being somewhere in between Napalm Death and Slipknot (I think that this is a fair description (the sound is closer to Slipknot, specially the drums) and some riffs are closer to Napalm Death or some other death metal bands. The first thing that got my atention is the mix on this album…it is really good and has nothing to envy to those of the bands that are more recognized. The drums are up in the front (they sound almost electronic, almost industrial) and there are some interesting double bass patterns and the bass is really tight with the rhythmic parts. Good guitarists in the vein of Andreas Kisser, Dino Cazares or Robb Flynn and extremely agressive vocals. This MCD contains two live tracks that are really showing what this guys can do live and that is kicking your ass with all their power (eventhough the sound here is not good at all compared to what they achieve in the studio). Favorite tracks: "Deceit", "Dog" and "Elucidation". Contact: mauro.z@easynet.it or madfucker@libero.it

REVIEW: M.D.U. / SALE HOPE - SPLIT CD

 

M.D.U. / SALE HOPE - SPLIT CD (Trouduc Recs., 2001):

Technical Data:

Recorded and Mixed at Pourrisound Studio Tampax by Scotch Burne.

This is a split CD consisting on 24 tracks by M.D.U. that conform the "Les Bijoux de la Castafionstormofzenorth" and seventeen tracks of Sale Hope called "J´ai les kros". The music here is the most brutal death/grind (despite the cover art that seems from a band of a total different style). All the tracks presented here are short and full of bursts of energy and blast beats and also full of a somewhat special sense of humor. The sound is fairly good, specially on the M.D.U. part of the split (to say something, the sound is not like in the last Gorerotted album but it is not bad either because you can distinguish really well all the instruments). Obviously the better part here is when both bands play that are not as fast as the blast beats as in the beginning of "Troudball King". Favorite tracks: M.D.U. "Paco Rabanne dans ma ligne mire", "8 questions psycho-test pour savoir si tu es un gros PD". Sale Hope: "Groove Gars groove gay", "Oh, une trace de pneu sur la grande Bleu!". Contact: mdu66@netcourrier.com

REVIEW: MAJESTY - KEEP IT TRUE

 

MAJESTY - KEEP IT TRUE (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded by Jochen Weyer. Mixed and Mastered by Jochen Sachse at House of Audio Studios.

Produced by Majesty.

Cover Artwork by Ingo Zadravec.

Track list: 1 - Keep it True, 2- Strong as Steel, 3- Hail to Majesty, 4- Son of Metal, 5- Into the Night, 6- Metal Force, 7- We will ride, 8- Last Revolution

I though that Majesty was going to be a band similar to Hammerfall when I looked at the cover and read some song titles, but in fact this is different: in fact I think that this guys have a different background: while most power/heavy metal bands seem to be influenced by Iron Maiden or Helloween, I find the sound here closer to Raven, Anvil or Manowar (in fact, part of the responsibility lies on singer / guitarist/ Tarek "Metal Son" Maghary, whose vocals are in the middle range explored by the bands mentioned before, instead of the Michael Kiske-type of high-pitched vocals). The difference with those bands is the use of keyboards that make chord progressions in a more modern way. The guitar riffs are totally influenced by eighties metal as it is shown in "Strong as Steel". In fact, I would recommend this to heavy/power metal fans who are searching metal in its purest form regardless of originality, but don´t expect high pitched vocals here (some people criticize it). Favorite tracks: "Son of Metal", "Into the Night". Contact: Monarchs@gmx.de or www.clik.to/Majesty

REVIEW: LUCIFUGUM- INSTINCT PREVELANCE

 

LUCIFUGUM- INSTINCT PREVELANCE (Dark Horizon Records., 2001):

Track List:   1- On Search of My Soul, 2- Bringing by Rain, 3- The Mysterious Garden, 4- The Sabbat, 5- Wolves, 6- (Songtitle in Russian), 7-  (Songtitle in Russian), 8- (Songtitle in Russian), 9- (Songtitle in Russian), 10- 7:06

This is raw, primitive black metal from the dark lands of Ukraine. This CD released by Dark Horizon records is a collection of two of Lucifugum´s early demos "Path of Wolf" and "Fire of Hatred for Sky". The music contained here is pure holochaust in the vein of Dark Throne but embellished with some keyboards and acoustic guitars that help Lucifugum to show the feeling of darkness that they are evoking here. The sound here is quite primitive and I think is better on "Path of Wolf" (I think that they are using a programmed drum on the tracks in "Fire of Hatred for Sky" and that is not so evident on the tracks in "Path of Wolf"). I find interesting the mix of extremely raw parts at full speed and screaming with the more atmospheric passages of keyboards and guitar melodies (and slower parts that sometimes are more effective). For fans of Lucifugum and black metal this is a must. Favorite tracks: " Bringing by Rain", "The Sabbat " (excellent keyboards in the background) and "Track number 7". Contact: www.geocities.com/darkhorizon666