REVIEW: NOKTURNEL - FURY UNLEASHED

 NOKTURNEL - FURY UNLEASHED (Nokturnel Eclipse Records, 2001)

Produced by Tom Stevens

Recorded at Isotopia Studios

Cover Art by Typhus

Tracks: 1- Legend of the Wolven, 2- Taking Hate to the Grave, 3- Food Chain, 4- I Remain Faithless, 5- Visions of the Haunted, 6- Realm of possession, 7- Forcefed Fear, 8- Immortal Destroyer, 9- A Collision of Dimensions

Here we have this brutal and bestial band whose style is pure death metal but with some shades of black metal that fit the music of the band perfectly. The band plays at full speed most of the time making hyper fast guitar riffs which sound really complex because they are not the usual one note riff that are played in the fastest parts...in fact there are some riffs that are more heavy that are used in breaks and slower parts, and then they use some kind of riff with open strings and runs in the more brutal parts. Tom Stevens is the brain behind Nokturnel and the only member that is left from the original Nokturnel lineup. This time he has been helped by Lee Ribera on bass and session drummer Tophetarath which are a good team to bring Nokturnel´s music to the bestial level that Stebvens want. I strongly recommend this release to death/black metal fans who love brutality and musicianship.

Favorite tracks: "Food Chain", "I remain faithless" and "Immortal Destroyer

Contact: www.nokturneleclipse.com

REVIEW: NIGHTSHADE - NEBULA TRANCE

 

NIGHTSHADE - NEBULA TRANCE (Independent, 2001)

Produced by Nightshade

Recorded at CEM Studio

Cover Art by Chris Kallias

Tracks: 1- Prisoners of Time, 2- Sons of Khaos, 3- Stellar Circle, 4- In the Heart of A., 5- Cain´s Curse, 6- Fall of Light, 7- Spear of Destiny, 8- Polaris, 9- Two Worlds, 10- One Day, one Life, 11- Hyperion XVI, 12- Ozymandias

Here we have Nightshade´s new album. Their music is really weird and at the same time really heavy and powerful. In fact, the way in which this band´s music has been labeled is Electro Dark Metal. And this is because the way their guitar sounds, because of the way in which their drums sound (this guys don´t disguise the fact that they use programmed drums as many others band do) and because of the heavy use of keyboards and electronic sounds. In fact, the first thing that I want to say is that Nightshade´s music is really atmospheric, while being really heavy. The distorted guitar riffs contrast a lot with the keyboards and electronics (a great example of this is "In the Heart of A." that starts really electronic and then becomes heavy as hell. The vocals are most of the time spoken or whispered which add some mechanical feeling to Nightshade´s music (which is essential to achieve the result that this guys want). If you like originality then you will surely like Nightshade.

Favorite tracks: "Prisoners of Time", "Cain´s Curse" and "Polaris"

Contact: http://deadly-nightshade.freeyellow.com

REVIEW: NECROTIC CHAOS / CARDIAC NECROPSY - SPLITTING THE VULVA (SPLIT CD)

 

NECROTIC CHAOS / CARDIAC NECROPSY - SPLITTING THE VULVA (SPLIT CD) (Dark Artz Releases , 2001)

Produced by Rezal Death

Cover Art by Yus Arai

Tracks: Necrotic Chaos: 1- Cataclysmical Enlightenment, 2- Forth Abbatoir, 3- Infernal Sorcery, 4- The Black Flames of Hatred, Cardiac Necropsy: 5- Choking on Cum, 6- Beastial Fistfuck, 7- Blood Sex and Saliva, 8- Whorridify Whore Kill, 9- Desecrating the Vulva

This is a split CD between two extremely brutal bands. First comes Necrotic Chaos whose music can be described as extremely brutal death metal. Thir riffs are powerful and they use a lot of brutal drum patterns in order to achieve their bestial as hell death metal. The sound of Necrotic Chaos is extramely raw, specially the drums which sound really different than most of the bands of the style, specially the snare drum. There are some interesting guitar melodies which I think the band should use more often (an example of this are some of the riffs in "The Black Flames of Hatred") Then comes Cardiac Necropsy which is in fact more of a grindcore gore band with extremely distorted vocals and ultra fast parts full of blast beats and chainsaw like guitars. Cardiac Necropsy has not as much variations as Necrotic Chaos but their music is extremely brutal too and will smash your brain to pieces.

Favorite tracks: "Cataclysmical Enlightenment", "Infernal Sorcery" and "Bestial Fistfuck"

Contact: Necrotic Chaos: darknecro@slayerized.com . Cardiac Necropsy: www.beastialfuck.com

REVIEW: NARGATHROND - FOR WE BLESSED THIS WORLD WITH PLAGUES

 

NARGATHROND - FOR WE BLESSED THIS WORLD WITH PLAGUES (War is Imminent Productions, 2002)

Produced by Nargathrond

Recorded at CDM Records Studio

Cover Art by Abián

Tracks: 1- Nocturnal Everlusting, 2- For We Blessed this World With Plagues, 3- Farewell to the Flesh, 4- The Season Shaped in Black, 5- As I Gave You Birth, 6- Death is Tender, 7- The Serpent and the Snake, 8- Deep Beneath, 9- Cast Away Your Dreams, 10- Silver Ghost, 11- Winter Comes This Autumn, 12- Let My Dreams Become Your Nightmares

This is a weird band. And this is not an extremely complex band or experimental one. In fact, the difficult thing here is to label their music...I can say that is heavy....but this guys use a lot of rocking riffs and the vocals are more brutal and there are plenty of keyboards and melodies. Yes, they don´t fit in death metal, not in black metal, not in heavy or power metal...maybe they are closer in some parts to gothic metal but they are much much heavier. Well, lets say that Nargathrond has heavy guitars (which I would like them to mix louder...and maybe add another guitar to give more bottom end to the music) and a powerful vocalist that brings to my mind in some parts to Moonspell´s Fernando Ribeiro (Wolfheart era) even if he sings in a completely different way. They also have clean parts like in "The Season Shaped in Black" which are climatic and interact well with the keyboards.The band is a trio and I think they will find a lot of interesting things to do adding a second guitarist who can add a lot of heaviness to the band.

Favorite tracks: "Farewell to the Flesh", "...As I Gave you Birth" and "Winter Comes this Autumn

Contact: www.unholycross.com

REVIEW: MYSTERY BLUE - DEMO 2002

 

MYSTERY BLUE - DEMO 2002 (Independent, 2002)

Produced by Mystery Blue

Recorded at JAM MUsic

Cover Art by Mystery Blue

Tracks: 1- Dark Visions, 2- Roller Coaster Ride, 3- Angel

A climatic acoustic beginning on "Dark Visions" with the powerful voice of Nathalie singing at the top of her voice. Mystery Blue is not a new band, they have been recording since the eighties with a lot of effort and really good taste. Their music is pure heavy metal and Nathalie gives agreat feeling to the songs (sort of a Doro Pesch but he sings a little bit higher in some places). IN the second track called "Roller Coaster Ride" they are closer to thrash with a lot of speed and extremely heavy riffs. One thing that I liked a lot are the killer guitar solos which are a trademark of Mystery Blue´s musicbecause they are played with really good taste and add an interesting feeling to the songs. Now I await their new full length which I think will be loved by heavy metal maniacs. And check Nathalie´s vocals which are killer!!

Favorite tracks: The three contained on this demo

Contact: www.mysteryblue.com

REVIEW: MORIA - MÖRKRETS INBROTT

 

MORIA - MÖRKRETS INBROTT (Independent, 2001)

Produced by Moria

Recorded at Moria´s Homestudio

Cover Art by Moria

Tracks: 1- Ödets Vind, 2- Åtrå Efter Liv, 3- Slavavals

Here is Moria´s new offering. And this is a really good one !! It is just that it lives you wanting more!! The music on this three tarck CD is amazingly climatic, even with extremely heavy and raw guitars. This is because the musicians in Moria know really well how to combine guitar melodies and how to create this dark atmospheres that are the trademarks of the Moria´s sound. Another of the main points here are the vocals, which are essential part of Moria´s music: here we have brutal male vocals that sometimes are harmonized by a clean female voice or by a cleaner male voice, this gives a lot of contrast to the music and add a lot to the dark atmospheres created here. Another thing that I liked is the use of some keyboards that most od the times does somber chord progressions and sometimes add some sad melodies. One thing that I have to remark is the good sound that this recording has despite being home recorded. A must for lovers of darkness.

Favorite tracks: The three are great tracks!

Contact: http://back.to/moria or www.mp3.com/moria

REVIEW: MIDNIGHT SYNDICATE - VAMPYRE - SYMPHONIES FROM THE CRYPT

 

MIDNIGHT SYNDICATE - VAMPYRE - SYMPHONIES FROM THE CRYPT (Entity Productions, 2002)

Produced by Midnight Syndicate

Mixed at Mandala Studios

Cover Art by Keith Parkinson

Tracks: 1- Awakening, 2- Graveyard, 3- Unhallowed Ground, 4- Crypt of the Forsaken, 5- Winged Fury, 6- Blackest Rose, 7- Ravages of Time, 8- Catacombs, 9- Unseen Eyes, 10- Undead Hunters, 11- Ancient Comes, 12- Dusk, 13- Spectral Masquerade, 14- Vampyre

Here is the new Midnight Syndicate album....and I have to say that I have been awaiting this release anxiously. After listening to their previous recording "Gates of Delirium" which was a masterpiece I didn´t know what this guys could do to do a better album...and they ahve surprised me with this "Vampyre....". This is a darker release than the previous one and all the elements that make Midnight Syndicate a unique and original band are here. For those who don´t know the band, listening to this guys music is like listening to a movie soundtrack (if you close your eyes you can imagine the whole situation), there are plenty of changes and feelings on this recording. The orchestration here is superb as are also the compositions, really complex and full of different moods and atmospheres. Midnight Syndicate have become one of my favorites and they are a classic band!! A must.

Favorite tracks: All the CD is a masterpiece as it was the previous one !!!

Contact: www.midnightsyndicate.com

REVIEW: MELECHESH - AS JERUSALEM BURNS...AL´INTISAR

 

MELECHESH - AS JERUSALEM BURNS...AL´INTISAR (War Is Imminent Productions, 2001)

Produced by Melechesh

Recorded at Y.S.Studios - Jerusalem

Cover Art by David Roberts

Tracks: 1- Intro, 2- Sultan of Mischief, 3- Assyrian Spirit, 4- Planetary Rites, 5- Hymn to Gibil, 6- The Sorcerers of Melechesh, 7- Dance of the Black Genii, 8- Baphomet´s lust, 9- Devil´s Night, 10- As Jerusalem Burns...Al´Intisar, 11- Desert Pentagram (bonus), 12- Malek Al´Nar (live in jerusalem 1996) (bonus)

Directly from Israel comes Melechesh. This is a recording from 1996 from this raw black death metal band with some eastern influences (specially in the lyrics). The sound of this recording is extremely raw, specially on the hyper fast guitars and the blast beat drums (maybe the ride cymbal is a little bit loud in some places covering other frecuencies). There are interesting mid paced parts which I think the band should use more in order to give more variation to the tracks contained here. I find interesting when the band slows down a little bit and plays some sort of interesting eastern sounding melody as it happens in "Assyrian Spirit" after the balst beats. This CD comes also with a video CDR track with the song "Hymn to Gibil". The vocals on this recoprding are of the screaming type used by black metal bands adding a lot of hatred and dark feelings to the tracks.

Favorite tracks: "Assyrian Spirit", "Dance of the Black Genii" and "Baphomet´s lust"

Contact: www.unholycross.com

REVIEW: MAELSTRÖM - MAELSTRÖM

 

MAELSTRÖM - MAELSTRÖM (Independent, 2001)

Produced by Alexandre Cegalla

Recorded at Edengard Studios

Cover Art by Leviathan

Tracks: 1- Sea of Darkness, 2- Maelström, 3- Obscure, 4- Lilith, 5- Eternal Curse, 6- Every, 7- Despair, 8- The Visionary Hope; 9- Faust, 10- Bleak, 11- Insane, 12- Shadows, 13- Legions of Hades, 14- Forever in my Mind, 15- The reverse of life

This is one of the albums of the month!!! A beautiful acoustic guitar plus keyboards open this Maelström CD sending us directly into the world of this band. In fact this is a one man band (Alexandre Cegalla does all the composition and he plays guitars, keyboards and does all the vocals here ) with two guest musicians on bass and drums. I would call the music here "progressive climatic melodic heavy death metal" just to give an idea of what you can find here: heavy riffs in sort of a heavy metal fashion but with a bigger sound, a lot of climatic pa´rts with a lot of keyboards and acoustic guitars (check "Obscure" and see the beauty of Maelström´s music), then you have a voice that is guttural in some places but in most of the recording is in a sort of Therion (Theli-era) type of voice. The mix of the album is really good, maybe the drums can be mixed clearer but that doesn´t affect the final result. A must for all metalheads

Favorite tracks: All the CD is great!

Contact: www.maelstrom.com.br

REVIEW: LUCIFUGUM - INVADE

 

LUCIFUGUM - INVADE (War is Imminent Productions, 2000)

Produced by Lucifugum and Climent Monserrat

Recorded at Panorama Studios

Tracks: 1- Intro, 2- Nocturnal, 3- Those Chaos from the Giants; 4- The Dark Eyes of Satan, 5- Ethereozul, 6- Where the Ancient Thoughts Pass the Dead Sky, 7- Moongrinder, 8- Holocaiust from the Blazed Lands, 9- In Satan we trust, 10- Vers La Nit

Lucifugum is a pure black metal from Spain (even if in some aprts they have some death and thrash touches). After the orchestral and atmospheric intro the tracks on this CD are raw and fast with amny changes within the same song. Another of the main features on this CD is the use of many differnt types of vocals: some screaming, some more guttural, some distorted, some spoken, some shouted, some melodic ones....and this gives a lot of diversity to the music. There are many melodic parts done with the guitars (I would like them to mix louder the guitars so this melodies will be on top of the mix and be the main ingredient of the band´s sound) . The drummer is extremely fast and does a lot of great double bass drumming while the bassist follows him and at the same time does interesting arrangements (as in"Those Chaos from the Giants"). Here we have a good option for thoise who like black metal and want something different.

Favorite tracks: "Nocturnal", "The Dark Eyes of Satan" and "Moongrinder"

Contact: www.unholycross.com