REVIEW: ESO-CHARIS - ESOCHARIS

 

ESO-CHARIS - ESOCHARIS (Solid State Recs., 2001)

Produced by Bruce Fizhugh and Eso-charis

Recorded at Poynter´s Palace in little Rock, AR

Cover Photo by Bitter

Tracks: 1- Born With a Future, 2- Processed Bodies, 3- Once Upon a Fashionable, 4- The Narrowing List, 5- Spirit of Revival, 6- Dunamis, 7- Skimmers, 8- The Judas Swing

What we have here? Eso-charis is a band that in some places sounds like Nile, in some places like Soulfly, in some like a new metal band and all of this with a lot of breaks and changes within the same song structure. In fact I think that they have created with this album the Eso-charis sound that is an extremely heavy and modern sound (specially on guitars) with multiple technical changes that sets them apart from other bands of the style. It is really great to listen to the calm parts with clean guitars that are very weird using chords and open strings to create this passages that sound very twisted. The bass is distorted and that adds a lot of bottom end to Esocharis music. A really powerful album. Favorite tracks: "Born With a Future","The Narrowing List" and "Dunamis". Contact: www.solidstaterecords.com

REVIEW: EMPEROR DEB - BLACK MOSES

 

EMPEROR DEB - BLACK MOSES (Lunasound Recs., 2001)

Produced by Graeme Flynn and Jim Jones

Recorded at Emperor Deb, NY

Art by The Gasworks

Tracks: 1- Second Skin, 2- Slow Mama, 3- Yr Gonna Get it, 4- Blown Away, 5- Hot Grundies, 6- Wont let go, 7- Strange Life, 8- Cut it out, 9- 20/20, 10 Eye on You, 11- Yr Friend, 12- Under The River

This CD starts directly with a guitar playing riffs with fuzz distortion and wah wah making it sound like a mix of stoner rock and some seventies sounding rock and roll. Then it calms down and the vocals enter in the sort of hard rock style mixed with some grunge and modern rock. There are a lot of different moods going on in this CD...from direct rock to songs that are much subtler (using cleaner guitar) and rocking vocals. For rock´n´roll fans. Favorite tracks: "Hot Grundies", " Cut it Out" and "Eye on You". Contact: www.lunasoundrecording.com . 

REVIEW: EDENBRIDGE - ARCANA

 

EDENBRIDGE - ARCANA (Nems Enterprises, 2002)

Produced by Lanvall

Recorded at House of Audio Studios by Lochen Weyer

Cover Art by Markus Mayer

Tracks: 1- Ascending, 2- Starlight Reverie, 3- the Palace, 4- A Moment of Time, 5- Fly on a Rainbow Dream, 6- Color My Sky, 7- Velvet Eyes of Dawn, 8- the Whisper of the Ages, 9- Into the Light, 10- Suspiria, 11- Winter Winds, 12- Arcadia

"Ascending" the orchestral introduction takes us to the world of Edenbridge. A world full of heavy metal melodies as you can listen in "Starlight Reverie" the first track. Compared to their previous album this one is a step forward, specially in certain arrangements between the guitars and the keyboards. Obviously, the main thing here are Sabine Edelsbacher vocals who is singing in her own way without trying to sound like a classical soprano (even if that is her vocal range) ansd without abusing the vibrato in her voice. Instrumentally speaking the music is completely dominated by Lanvall´s guitars and keyboards taht construct all the songs contained here. This edition comes with two bonus tracks: "Velvet Eyes of Dawn" and "The Whisper of the Ages". Really progressive heavy metal. Favorite tracks: "The Palace" (a lot of arrangements and orchestration here), "Fly on a Rainbow Dream" and "Velvet Eyes of Dawn". Contact: www.nems.com.ar

REVIEW: DUNCAN WILDER JOHNSON - DESTRUCT-A-THOR

 

DUNCAN WILDER JOHNSON - DESTRUCT-A-THOR (Wonderdrug Recs., 2001)

Mastered by Ken Camaro

Edited and Produced by Tara de Marco and Duncan Wilder Johnson

Graphic Design by Duncan Wilder Johnson

Tracks: 1- God of Car Crashes, 2- Dictionary definition of the Word "Dude", 3- Heavy Metal Mountain Movie, 4- heavy metal Part 3: Ozzfest, 5- Tim Catz, 6- Dude, Fuckin´war, Man?, 7- On Fire, 8- Nipplekabob, 9- Heavy Metal part 5: Motorhead, 10- Screaming penis eats the Corpse, 11- Assholes Part 1: Electric Boogaloo, 12- Assholes Part 2: Chicago, Enhanced CD: Heavy metal part 4: Scissorfight

The music of Duncan Wilder Johnson has elements from metal, from straight rock´n´roll, from stoner rock and from hardcore too. The first name that comes to my mind is Henry Rollins but Duncan is heavier and has influences closer to the more extreme side of the specter. Even if there are certain rock elements here, they are played with a big fat guitar sound that makes the result heavier. Duncan has a great sense of humor as he shows in "Heavy Metal Part Part 3: Ozzfest" a spoken track where Duncan tells the audience about his experiences in the Ozzfest festival. I liked a lot this combination of extremely heavy and fast tracks with spoken tracks with great humour. This CD has twelve rocking tracks plus an enhanced part with a video for "Heavy Metal part 4: Scissorfight" live performance. Don´t miss this CD. Favorite tracks: "Heavy Metal Mountain Movie", "Dude, Fuckin´war, Man?" and "Screaming Penis Eats The Corpse". Contact: www.wonderdrugrecords.com

REVIEW: DREAMING IN RED - SILENCE BEFORE

 

DREAMING IN RED - SILENCE BEFORE... - DEMO 2001 (Independent, 2001)

Tracks: 1- Devotion, 2- I bid You Welcome, 3- Dalse, 4- Lunatic, 5- Ashes, 6- denied, 7- Braeheart, 8-Resist, 9- Lost Souls

The album opens with a clean guitar and a voice speaking before getting into the heavier side of Dreaming in Red. I like a lot one element and that is the combination of one guitar doing an extremely heavy rhythm combined with other guitar doing some sad melodies over it. And that is the thing that sets Dreaming in Red apart from the other bands...that combination of heaviness and bestiality with melody and subtle moments. There are a lot of passages where the instruments shine. Plus the vocals are real death in some parts and remind me of bands like Illdisposed. The drummer is killer with a lot of double bass drumming and a lot intersting patterns using the toms and the ride cymbal. Fans of bands extremely heavy but at the same time really melodic will have orgasms with this release. Favorite tracks: "I bid you welcome", "Ashes" and "Resist". Contact: www.dreaming-in-red.com

REVIEW: DRACO HYPNALIS - PROMO 2001

 

DRACO HYPNALIS - PROMO 2001 (Independent, 2001)

Tracks: 1- Fortified Source of Invisible Light, 2- Cairm - Cleansing Time Keys, 3- Departed for the cloud - Vaulted Portal, 4- Intermezzos for Live Gigs

Are Draco Hypnalis the Dream Theater of black/death metal? I think that this comparison is not wrong because of the great technical skills that this guys have. Since I listened their music I become a big fan of this band. This guys are beyond styles, beyond metal, beyond death...they are composers, amazing musicans, full of ideas. The music in this promo is better than on their demo from 2000 and they have evolved a lot in just one year, making their music more porwerfulñ and diverse yet very complicated to play (that means that the skills of this guys are well above average). Here we have three new tracks with a better sound, specially on guitars and with more keyboards (I love the way the keyboards sound here), and there is also a bonus with some intermezzos that Draco Hypnalis uses in their live shows. An amazing album. Come on metal labels!! You have to offer a deal to this guys!!!!!. Favorite tracks: All the tape !! Contact: dracohypnalis@seznam.cz

REVIEW: DRACO HYPNALIS - NOBLENESS OF THE STORM GATHERER

 

DRACO HYPNALIS - NOBLENESS OF THE STORM GATHERER (Independent, 2000)

Recorded and Mixed at Policna Studio

Produced by Draco Hypnalis

Layout by Cowley

Tracks: 1- My Shields is Black Feathered Circle, 2-Cycle of Being Absurdly reversed, 3- Of Doves, Falcons and Souldust, 4- Oracle of Inner - Bonded Blue Flame, 5- Torn Funeral Shroud of their shapes, 6- Portal for the Nocturnal Weavers of Unrest.

Can we say that this is black metal? Maybe because of the vocals. Is it death metal? Some riffs may sound like that and some vocals. Is it progressive metal? Yes, there are changes everywhere, great guitar melodies, amazingly technical guitar riffs. What I can say for sure is that it is metal music and very original with excellent musicians and a programmed drum machine. With great interaction between the guitar and the bass the tracks are really well developed and I think that Draco Hypnalis are looking for originality above all. The sound is good but I think that the guitars can be mixed louder to make the result more powerful. A great prelude from a great band !! Favorite tracks: " Cycle of Being Absurdly Reversed", " Oracle of Inner Bonded Blue Flame", " Portal for the Nocturnal Weavers of Unrest". Contact: dracohypnalis@seznam.cz

DESECRATION - INHUMAN

 

DESECRATION - "INHUMAN" (Copro Records, 2001)

Tracks: 1-  Turning Black, 2- Dig up, dig in, 3- Asphyxiate on Blood

This is a three track promotional CD of Desecration latest album called "Inhuman". If you love brutal death metal here is your stuff!! The music here is in the vein of those bands that are in the most extreme side of death metal, those with guttural vocals, a lot of speed and crushing guitar riffs. The music here is extremely brutal and is reminiscent of early Cannibal Corpse, except for the sound that is much better than on that band´s first recordings. There is a lot of speed here and certain riffs are really complex. Others are more rhythmic and have hooks like the one in "Asphyxiate in Blood". Favorite tracks: "Asphyxiate in Blood" and "Dig Up, dig in". Contact: olliedes@aol.com

REVIEW: DISASTROUS MURMUR - AND HUNGRY ARE THE LOST

 

DISASTROUS MURMUR - AND HUNGRY ARE THE LOST (Perverted Taste Recs., 2000)

Produced by Reinhard Trost

Recorded at TST Studios, Klagenfurt

Art by Manfred Perack and Alexander Lausseger

Tracks: 1- Necrotic Ulcerous Genoplast, 2- Are you dead, 3- Pigamism of Remains, 4- Ultimate Masturbation, 5- Land Shark, 6- Little Purple M...Penis, 7- Pedigree Insanity, 8-Headless Autophelatio, 9- the game we play, 10- Fleshmaster´s Birthday, 11- Fotus Controlled Dismemberment

This is good thrash-death metal as I have not listened in a long time. The most evident influence here is Pungent Stench nad there is some old Carcass here too. Primitive riffs played with a really raw sound and with certain classic metal influences and sound too. There are a lot of changes in some tracks going from rhythmic riffs like the one in 1:45 in "Necrotic Ulcerous Genoplast" to others that are much faster. There are a lot of tharash influences specially on some guitar riffs and the drums patterns which are not typically death blast beats. A good release from a musical style that deserves a good come back. Favorite tracks: "Are you dead?", "Land Shark" and "The Game we play". Contact: www.pervertedtaste.de

REVIEW: DEEPRED - PROPHETIC LUSTER

 

DEEPRED - PROPHETIC LUSTER (Forensick Music, 2001)

Tracks: 1- Hi Speed Confussion, 2- Multiple Errors, 3- Dismissed From Life, 4- Luster, 5- In Cold Blood, 6- A Song For The Lovers, 7- A Relentless Path, 8- Homogeneous World, 9- All Will See rebirth

This guys have no mercy!!!!!! Their music is extremely brutal and they go at full speed most of the time!!! The recording has a great sound that makes the music more powerful and brutal. Deppred has a killer drummer who doesn´t miss a beat even in the fastest parts...he is like a hurricane delivering blast beats and hyper fast rhythms in all the tracks. The vocalist is really guttural in the vein of early Morbid Angel or something like Benediction. The guitarist is crushing with his fat sounding guitar with a lot of bottom end in the sound...he is like a bulldozer crushing everything that is in front of him with his six string attack. Lovers of extreme death metal will surely love this release. Favorite Tracks: "Multiple Errors", "In Cold Blood" and "Homogeneous World". Contact: www.forensickmusic.com