REVIEW: ARSON - LACERATE THE SKY

 

ARSON - LACERATE THE SKY (Resurrection A.D. Records , 2002)

Produced by Eric Rachel and Arson

Recorded at Trax East

Cover Art by Pat thompson

Tracks: 1- Indefiance, 2- Cast In Shadows, 3- Perfect Truth, 4- My Empty Graves, 5- Remnants, 6- Closed Wounds, 7- Motives for Nightmares, 8- Changeling, 9- Limb from Limb, 10- Proceed To Proceed

Here we have this powerful band whose music is somewhere close to death metal but they are not what you would called a classical death metal band or something like that. In fact this guys make a lot of emphasis on the heaviness of their riffs being them fast or slow (check the second track "Cast In Shadows" to see what I am talking about). The similitude with death metal can be raised because of the vocals that are screaming ones but this band is much more being really technical in many breaks and changes. The guitars sound extremely heavy and the drummer uses a lot the cymbals in order to make things even heavier. There are some interesting guitar solos and melodies and the vocals are devastating too. The sound of the recording is really good in the guitars and vocals, maybe it needs a small twitch on the drums cymbals (not the Ride cymbal that sounds really great). This CD is a must for fans of the most extreme and powerful styles in metal.

Favorite tracks: "Indefiance", "Remnants" and " Limb from Limb"

Contact: www.arsonism.com or www.resurrection-ad.com

REVIEW: ARSIS - DEMO 2002

 

ARSIS - DEMO 2002 (Independent, 2002)

Produced by Arsis

Recorded by James Malone and Michael Van Dyne

Tracks: 1- Ellegant and Perverse, 2- Wholly Night, 3- Worship Depraved, 4- Seven Whispers Fell Silent, 5- Veil of Mourning Black, 6- Fortune´s Envy, 7- Close, 8- Painted Eyes

Here we have Arsis, which is a duo of talented musicians: James Malone and Mike VanDyne decided to play together while attending Berklee College of Music. And on this recording you can feel how tallented this two guys are. I really liked the way Malone and VanDyne mix the most extreme metal genres, such as death metal or black metal with a lot of virtuosism (you have to check Malone´s guitar solos which are really complex to play...and a footnote: It has been a long time since I last listened to a guitar solo that uses a harmonizer!!). One thing that gains extra points for arsis is the complexity of their riffs and drumbeats which are not straightforward as in many extreme bands prefering to use riffs in the vein of Death, Carcass, Cynic or Atheist in many places. The vocals are brutal and add a lot of extreme feeling to Arsis music. Buy it or die!!!

Favorite tracks: One of the most powerful releases of the month. All the tracks are perfect

Contact: www.worshipdepraved.com or www.mp3.com/arsis

REVIEW: ARCHÆUS - THE ANNIHIL CHAPTER: A SOURCE OF FIRE

ARCHÆUS - THE ANNIHIL CHAPTER: A SOURCE OF FIRE (Independent, 2002)

Produced by Archæus

Recorded at Archæus place

Tracks: 1- Epitome 1 (The Source), 2- On the Wings of Pain, 3- The Whole Suffering, 4- Epitome 2 (the Nihil Procession), 5- Apoca...lips. 6- The Realm of Chasm, 7- Gate of Deliverance

This is absolutely mayhemic black metal , this is absolutely unholy and blasphemic black metal for dark souls and minds!!! Here we have this band that play the rawest kind of black metal, but at the same time they have some different features: first of all there are some slower parts that are really climatic and almost atmospheric (as in the middle of "Apoca...lips" where they change completely the rhythm of the song creating a whole song structure within the main structure). Another main feature is that despite being fast and furious and having an extrmely raw sound they make some melodies in the main riffs that shows a completely differnt side of Archæus. There is also some use of keyboards in the instrumntal intros called "Epitome1 and 2" and also in the beginning of "The Realm of Chasm" that is sort of an intro to "Gate of Deliverance". The drummer is extremely fast and makes incredible blast beats in many places and also creates some interesting patterns in other parts. I think that a better mix will make the music of this guys even more wild and powerful. Black metallers rejoice!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Favorite tracks: "ON the Wings of Pain", "Apoca...lips" and "The Realm of Chasm/Gate of Deliverance"

Contact: http://members.lycos.fr/archaeus

REVIEW: ANDARK - REGNANT AURA

 

ANDARK - REGNANT AURA (Independent, 2001)

Produced by Andark

Recorded at Alpha Omega Studios

Layout by Fabio Verga and Andark

Tracks: 1- Beyond Destiny´s Path (intro); 2- Astral Fire Glitters; 3- the Last Embrace

Here we have this MCD from this italian band that makes epic black/death metal with many different moods within each of the songs. Here we have an introduction that is really calm and orchestrated with some violins. The comes the first track called "Astral Fire Glitters" that starts very raw in a certain black/death fashion and then gets in an amazing calm passage at 2:37. I think this guys have really good musicianship and they explore a lot of different things specially in this calm parts where they have the opportunity to show a different side of their music. Here we have a lot of keyboards arrangements with a lot of chord progressions and some melodies that contrast deeply with the two types of vocals (there is one that is closer to death metal more guttural and one that is more screaming...and also we have a high pitched voice courtesy of Roberto Beccalli and a female voice on "The Last Embrace" done by Cristina Meroni). Now I am waiting the new release from this amazing band. A great release.

Favorite tracks: The three tracks are raw, dark and epic at the same time

Contact: www.andark.3000.it

REVIEW: AGAMEMNON - ANGRY BEYOND FORGIVENESS

 

AGAMEMNON - ANGRY BEYOND FORGIVENESS (Independent, 2002)

Produced by Kharis

Recorded at Dungeon Studios

Cover Art by Anubis

Tracks: 1- Watchtowers of Night, 2-Queen Maeh´s Ride, 3- Perseus Treachery, 4- Horrors of the Inquisitium, 5- Window Through Eternity´s Continuum, 6-Desertion of the Churchyard

This is an extremely ethereal and atmospheric release by Kharis, the only compoaser and musician behind Agamemnon. Kharis is also the one that plays all the keyboards (which are the only instrument here) and does all the vocals.The result is a darker than hell album with a lot of moods and feelings (all of them dark and sad). The compositions here are really calm and have many different shades that Kharis has developed really well. All songs are quite long and that allows Kharis to give a lot of variations in the harmonies and melodies that he plays here. One weird thing is that the music here was recorded originally in a rehearsal in 1996 and in 2002 Kharis revidsed the lyrical concept and rewrote some part. Despit what it says in the booklet, the sound is good (even if there is some tape noise in the background). People who liked things like Koan or Esperanza or atmospheric bands like those ones would surely like Agamemnon.

Favorite tracks: The whole CD is extremely dark, atmospheric and sad !!!!

REVIEW: AESMA DAEVA - THE EROS OF FRIGID BEAUTY

 

AESMA DAEVA - THE EROS OF FRIGID BEAUTY(Root of All Evil Records, 2002)

Produced by Aesma Daeva

Cover Art by Aesma Daeva

Tracks: 1- Lysander, 2- Devotion, 3- In My Holy Time, 4- The Eros of Frigid Beauty, 5- Overature, 6- The Minstrel Song, 7- Lysander II

This is Aesma Daeva´s second full length album and if the first one "Here Lies One Whose Name Was Written in Waterwas excellent this one is better. Here you have all the elments that have made John Prassas a reknowned composer....here you have the ethereal melodies, the cold female vocals, the beautiful atmospheres and the darkness of the feelings that this music provoques on everyone that listens to it. Here John has gone beyond boundaries adding a lot of harmonies and elements that were in the previous album but this time they are multiplied by ten adding new sides an d perspectives to Aesma Daeva´s music. Here John has shown us all his compositional skills and has improved the sound when compared to the previous album making the music sound deeper and more introspective. Just one thing more....you have to got this album!!!!!!!!!!!

Favorite tracks: All the CD. As always Aesma Daeva delivers the best.

Contact: www.rootofallevil.com

REVIEW: ABSCESS - THROUGH THE CRACKS OF DEATH

 

ABSCESS - THROUGH THE CRACKS OF DEATH (Peaceville Records, 2002)

Produced by Abcess

Tracks: 1- Raping the Multiverse, 2- Mourners Will Burn, 3- Through the Cracks of Death, 4- Escalation of Violence, 5- Serpent of Dementia, 6- An Asylum Below, 7- Tomb of the Unknown Junkie, 8- Monolithic Damnation, 9- Die for Today, 10- 16 Horrors, 11- Vulnavia

Chris Reifert and company are back!! This is the follow up to their "Tormented" album and here we have many of the features that we lkove from this band. In fact, there are some welcome changes like faster riffs and better guitar solos. As most of you know Chris Reifert played drums on Death´s "Screaming Bloody Gore" album and later founded classic band Autopsy. That band was a really influential one in the underground and here we have half if that band because we have also Danny Coralles on guitars. Here we have the guttural vocals that have made Autopsy and Abscess famous and also here there are slow as hell riffs like the ones Autopsy used to play (check the middle part of "Through the Cracks of Death"). The sound of the recording is really much better than in all previous Abscess albums, specially on the guitars where you can listen the great riffs that this guys use and the amazing guitar solos. A classic.

Favorite tracks: "Mourners will Burn", "Serpent of Dementia" and "Monolithic Damnation".

Contact: www.peaceville.co.uk or www.peaceville.com

REVIEW: ZAO - PARADE OF CHAOS

 

ZAO - PARADE OF CHAOS (Solidstate Records, 2002)

Produced by Barry Poynter, Jesse Smith and Scott Mellinger

Recorded at Poynter´s Palace

Cover Art by Asterik Studio

Tracks: 1- The Buzzing, 2- Suspend / Suspension, 3- Parade of Chaos, 4- Angel Without Wings, 5- Killing Cupido, 6- Free the Three, 7- Man In the Womb, 8- A Pirates Prayer, 9- The Ballad of Buddy Bigsby, 10- How are the weak Free?

Zao is back!! This time more violent than ever! Here we have the crushing riffs that were in their previous releases but this time the screams are louder the riffs are heavier and the sound is bigger !! Here we have this trio of devastating guys that melt your brain through the ten tracks of this CD. Here we have the drumbeats from hell that lives the listener banging his head. This are songs that were meant to be played live. I imagine a Zao concert with hundreds ofmetalheads moshing and jumping along with the songs. The songs here have a lot of interesting changes and guitar arrangements that make the result really powerful and interesting and also the songs have a lot of catchy choruses that you can scream along !! A must.

Favorite tracks: "The Buzzing", "Angel Without Wings" and "Man in the Womb"

Contact: www.solidstate.com

REVIEW: VINTERRIKET - ADVANCE FROM "KÄLTE" 7" EP

 

VINTERRIKET - ADVANCE FROM "KÄLTE" 7" EP (Parasite Records, 2002)

Produced by Vinterriket

Cover Art by Vinterriket

Tracks: 1- Der Schrei Der Leere; 2- Züngelnde Winterflammen

Here we have this two track CDs with two strong compositions by Chris. This compositions are from february and march of 2002 so they are the newest material from Vinterriket. On the first track we have some raw parts with screaming and blast beats combined with a lot of keyboards passages and interludes that give a lot of identity to Vinterriket´s music. This way to mix darkness and violence in the same compositions is an art that Vinterriket has developed in a really great way. The second tracks is kind of more introspective and melancholic and shows us a more atmospheric side of Vinterriket´s music (here Chris screams but the screams are mixed lower letting us listen much more the eerie keyboards phrases and interludes). Let there be darkness with Vinterriket´s music!!

Favorite tracks: Both tracks are beautiful works of art.

Contact: www.vinterriket.com or www.parasiterecords.org

REVIEW: VINTERRIKET - PROMO 2002

 

VINTERRIKET - PROMO 2002 (Neodawn prods., 2002)

Produced by Vinterriket

Cover Art by Vinterriket

Tracks: 1- Fragments Eines Schatten, 2- Tötendes Licht, 3- Am brennenden nördlichen Firmament, 4- Stumme Wintersnacht, 5- Forge of Souls (Graveland Cover)

Here we have Vinterriket´s new promotional CD. This consists in some tracks taken from different releases like splits or 7" and a Graveland cover. Here we can see that Vinterriket has achieved their own style with raw guitars and a lot of keyboards (in fact I think the keys are the main element here adding a lot of atrmosphere to the tracks). Chriostopher ´s voclas have a more dominant role here than in the previous material that I had listened before and he sings melancholic melodies through all the recording and screaming when its necessary. And that is the main thing here: melodies with a lot of darkness. This is definitely a release for lovers of darkness and music with a lot of interesting arrangements.

Favorite tracks: The five contained here are great

Contact: www.neodawn.de or www.vinterriket.com