REVIEW: BELOW THE SOUND - MORE LIKE A GUNSHOT THAN A CAR WRECK

 

BELOW THE SOUND - MORE LIKE A GUNSHOT THAN A CAR WRECK (Berserker Recs. / Crucial Blast, 2002)

Produced By: Below The Sound

Tracks: 1- Extravaganza, 2- Fever Pitch, 3- Penetration, 4- Pretty Stupidity, 5- Subtractive, 6- Like a Pig, 7- Hot Blooded Animal

Cover Art by Below The Sound

This guys play some sort of heavy rock with an industrial feeling (I am saying this because of the guitar sound and because of the riffs that are played in a way that seems of the style. There are no samplers and telectronics here). Here we have seven energetic tracks with enough hooks to make the listener tap the feel and sing some of the choruses. The sound of the recording is really weird, specially the guitars and the bass that sound different from what you are accustomed. There is a lot of variation from song to song and none of them is similar to the other. Here we have a good option for lovers of powerful rock with raw sound and attitude.

Favorite tracks: "Extravaganza", "Penetration" and "Like a Pig"

Contact: www.berserkerrecords.com or www.crucialblast.com

REVIEW: AUDIO JUSTICE - BORED GAMES

 

AUDIO JUSTICE - BORED GAMES (Independent, 2002)

Produced By: Audiojustice

Tracks: 1- Peanut Blues, 2- Happy Ending, 3- Time, 4- Snakes and Ladders

Cover Art by Progmaster Q

Recorded at Mighty Koolworld Studios

I expected sort of an industrial band but I was wrong. This band plays sort of rock but with a lot of pop attitude and many hooks in the vocal melodies and the choruses (that are essential here and are made for the audience to remember them). Here we have four songs that I wouldn´t be surprise to see them in the charts and with videos on MTV or some video station (this could be very productive for this guys in order to promote their music). I would like the band to mix a little bit louder the guitars, specially when the distorted ones enter adding power to then songs). There is heavy use of clean guitars here and that makes the song a little bit lighter than one could expect, but there is also heavy diostorted guitars that add energy here.

Favorite tracks: "Happy Ending" and "Time"

Contact: www.audiojustice.net

REVIEW: ASHES TO ASHES - CARDINAL VII

 

ASHES TO ASHES - CARDINAL VII (DVS Recs., 2002)

Produced By: Michael Stenberg and Björn Luna

Tracks: 1- New World Obscure, 2- Embraced in Black, 3- Among Mortals, 4- Truth on Scaffold, 5- Iben, 6- Dualism, 7- Sic transit Gloria mundi, 8- Ravenous Unleashed, 9- Behind Closed Eyes, 10- Cardinal VII, 11- Iben pt. II

Cover Art by B.Torbo

Recorded at Earattack

We reviewed the previous album from this darker than hell band from Norway some issues ago. Here we have their new album and I have to say that if that album was really good, this is even better. The band sounds heavier this time but without forgetting the melodies and keyboards passages that are essential to their sound. Here we have multiple heavy guitar riffs supporting the melodies and being the basis for Kenneth Brastad´s amazing vocals. Kenneth´s voice gives a lot of power and atmosphere to the songs as also do the choruses that give darker than hell melodies to them. The arrangements of the compositions here are amazing (this time the choruses sound more ethereal, deeper and more powerful). There are heavy keyboards passages and the band uses also cello in some parts. A must for every metal lover

Favorite tracks: One of the albums of the month

Contact: www.atoa.net or www.dvsrecords.com

REVIEW: ASHEN LIGHT - CTAPbI BbIAHHbI

 

ASHEN LIGHT - CTAPbI BbIAHHbI (More Hate Productions, 2001)

Produced By: Ashen Light

Tracks: There are twelve tracks with song titles in russian

Cover Art by Ashen Light

This is a compilation of two recordings done in 2000 and 2001 by Ashen Light. Here we have twelve tracks whose main sound is really atmospheric with a lot of keyboards and good and spacey drumming. Here the dark melodies are enchanting and reflects the darkness and serenity of the woods and other arcane places that inspire Ashen Light´s music. The compositions are well developed and they transport the listener to their dark world also using forest sounds and nature sounds that closing your eyes can take your imagination far away. There are also some heavier parts like on the seventh track were the guitars enter leaving a lot of space to the drumming, and the keyboards. For lovers of the dark, here is Ashen Light !!!

Favorite tracks: All the CD

Contact: www.morehate.newmail.ru

REVIEW: ASBEEL - HOMO HOMINI LUPUS

 
ASBEEL - HOMO HOMINI LUPUS (Independent, 2002)

Produced By: Asbeel

Tracks: 1- Walczyc Nie Chce, 2- Condemantion, 3- Rotten Dreams, 4- Venom and Envy

Recorded at Checz Studio

Ultra heavu and weird kind of metal. This band comes directly from Poland and delivers here four tracks that are really heavy as hell and at the same time have elements that are not typical of the styles that we are used to listen. Here we have crushing guitars, an amazing contrast between Joanna´s vocals and other vocals that are more guttural (there are also amazing vocal harmonies done by Joanna herself). It is amazing how well Joanna interacts with the heavy guitars with her extremely powerful voice. The guitars here sound fat and heavy doing complex riffs,scales and phrases while the drums play heavy rhythms. I have to point out the good quality of the guitar players that deliver riff after riff and interesting solos through all the recording. If you like original metal with interesting musicianship then you should check Asbeel´s music. 

Favorite tracks: the four

Contact: www.asbeel.metal.pl

REVIEW: ARTDISORDER - FALLEN

 

ARTDISORDER - FALLEN (Independent, 2002)

Produced By: Artdisorder and Andy Whitmore

Tracks: 1- Fallen

Cover Art by www.lethal-dose.com

Here is a single extracted from the "Sounding Colours". This is with no doubt one of the most aggressive tracks on that recording,and it has amazing melodies on the choruses with some processed vocals while having huge guitars doing rhythmic riffs and powerful drumming. Again I recommend this band to those lovers of heavy music with amny melodies and interesting compositional skills on their music.

 

Contact: www.artdisorder.net

REVIEW: ARTDISORDER - SOUNDING COLOURS

 

ARTDISORDER - SOUNDING COLOURS (Independent, 2002)

Produced By: Artdisorder

Tracks: 1- Contrasting Shapes, 2- Fallen, 3- Abstract, 4- Virgo, 5- Fallen (UK Single Version)

Cover Art by www.lethal-dose.com

Recorded at Psychotic Reaction Studios

Here is a band that I am sure that with a good promotion could be one of the biggest name in the scene. Here we have a band with huge heavy guitar but with a pop feeling in the vocals that add a lot of hooks in each of the tracks on this album. Yes, each song here is memorable as hell while having heavy riffs and many changes. It really amazes me how well the songs are developed here and how you can sing them following the band . There is also heavy use of clean guitars in many parts and interesting drumming that add some progressive touches to the music here. I would recommend this to anyone that wants something new (and something that can go up in the charts really soon!)

Favorite tracks: The five

Contact: www.artdisorder.net

REVIEW: ANTARCTICA - ERASING MANKIND

 

ANTARCTICA - ERASING MANKIND (Sweet Nausea Promotions, 2002)

Produced By: Antarctica

Cover Art by Antarctica

Recorded at Mansion Studios

This release has two great features: first of all the music is brutal and powerful, and second the musicians here are really good and that means that they have a lot of creativity in their riffs making the songs really interesting and giving each second new twists to each of the compositions. Here we have a band that is not afraid of trying new riffs and drumming on each of the phrases, a band that finds new licks and riffs on each moment. All this ideas flow naturally from the band and is remarked by the good sound that this recording has. The vocals here can be brutal (in death metal or black metal styles, spoken and calm within the same composition as can be listened through all this recording. A must

Favorite tracks: All the CD

Contact: http://home.no/antarctica o www.sweetnausea.com

REVIEW: ALEPH - PROMO 2002

 

ALEPH - PROMO 2002 (Independent, 2002)

Produced By: Aleph

Tracks: 1- Hallowed Hatred, 2- Sins of the Fathers, 3- Crossroads

Cover Art by Aleph

Aleph is a band with complex songs that can be described as heavy metal with some speed metal / thrash metal feeling in many of them. Here we have twisted riffs with complex guitar lines and good drumming with a lot of variations. One of the main things here is the use of keyboards that contrast heavily with the guitar riffs playing chord progressions and melodies while the guitars do the heaviest riffs. The vocals are in the style of pure heavy metal with some thrash metal feeling on them. There are interesting breaks and changes of riff and rhythm. The band sounds really tight and they have achieved a lot of cohesion between the members that allows them to play perfectly the compositions. For lovers of pure metal with new ideas.

Favorite tracks: The three

Contact: www.alephmetal.com

REVIEW: ABSURD - ASGARDSREI

 

ABSURD - ASGARDSREI (Resistance Records, 2002)

Produced By: Absurd

Tracks: 1- Leben ist Krieg, Krieg ist leben, 2- Asgardsrei, 3- Für Germanien, 4- Tod vor Sonnenaufgang, 5- Crux Gammata, 6- Als die Alten Jung Noch Waren, 7- Germanien über Alles, 8- Sonnenritter

Cover Art by Nick Oxner

Recorded at Adlerskerbe Studio

Absurd plays a climatic raw as fuck pagan black metal with nationalist lyrics that are sung in german and interesting guitar melodies in some places. In fact this band delivers interesting riffs played with a primitive sound that gives an underground feeling to this recording. Here ther is a use of programmed drums thatare a little bit buried in the mix. The riffs are twisted in many palces, specially on "Für Germanien", an eerie track. I would like the band to mix louder the guitars and find a fatter sound in them to add more power to the compositions, plus the guitar melodies that are in many places here can be combined with a rhythm guitar in order to add more cohesion to the music. A good effort. 

Favorite tracks: "Crux Gamata", "Als die Alten..." and "Germanien Über Alles"

Contact: www.resistance.com