REVIEW: DARK RITUAL - PROMO

 

DARK RITUAL - PROMO (Independent, 2002)

Tracks: 1- Frayed, 2- Princess, 3- My Skin Unbroken, 4-Enhanced section

Well, this is the latest promotional CD by the band Dark Ritual. Comparing to their previous effort this one is a step forward in the correct direction. They have added a better sound to the instruments that now sound better and bigger (specially the guitars that sound much harder now ...they are a wall of sound). The music is heavy metal with thrash, progressive and death influences. Starting with "Frayed" a song with a crushing rhythm and an eerie melody done by the guitar (in some parts through a terrible flanger effect) and multiple changes that make this a really intereesting track. The vocals are stronger and have more variations on this release giving the tracks the strength that they are asking for. The second song is "Princess" slower in the beginning with interesting melodic guitar riffs and getting faster soon (again great guitar riffs and a really good bass player who is very original). This Promo CD contains three tracks plus a multimedia track containing pictures, videos, biography, lyrics, etc. Favorite tracks: The three. Contact: www.darkritual.com .

REVIEW: CHRIS BURN/ JOHN BUTCHER / RHODRI DAVIES / JOHN EDWARDS - THE FIRST TWO GIGS

 

CHRIS BURN/ JOHN BUTCHER / RHODRI DAVIES / JOHN EDWARDS - THE FIRST TWO GIGS (Emanem Disc, 2001)

Editing Mastering by Martin Davidson

Recorded at on May 25, 2000 and September 17, 2000

Design by Martin Davidson

Tracks: 1- Low Standard, 2- High Standard, 3- The Remove, 4- Scharlachglut, 5- Russelliana, 6- Souvenir De Docteur

Experimental music done with: piano and percussion, soprano and tenor saxophone, harp and double bass. And this guys know how to play in a really manic way their instruments. This are two gigs recoorded in May and September of 2000 in different environments. And here you can listen how eerie this music sounds....sometimes really coordinated, sometimes truly wild. And above all it is a music without a fixed structure and it is constantly evolving and developing into something completely different. The main thing here are Burn´s pianos and percussion that are all over the place and Butcher´s sax that appear in the more intense moments. Check it if you love experimentation. Favorite tracks: "Russelliana", "High Standard" and "the Remove". Contact: www.emanemdisc.com

REVIEW: CHIKMOUNTAIN - PORN ON THE COB

 

CHIKMOUNTAIN - PORN ON THE COB (Tachist Records, 2000)

Mastered by Paul Story and Derek Wille

Recorded in June-july 1999 and January 2000

Tracks: 1-Electric Toadjuice Experiment, 2- Where Am I, 3- the Room, 4- Chikmountain Speaks, 5- Turn Up The Music (The Air Conditioner´s Mocking Me), 6- Wronghole, 7- Revelation 101, 8- Drums, 9- Love Won´t Pay the Bills, 10- Use Once and Discard

This is totally insane and experimental music !! Yes, the music contained on this CD is for people looking for something new and original. Chikmountain is a band that has some features that I would like to mention: 1- A guitar that plays a heavy riff and in some parts is doubled by other guitar, sometimes repits an idea through the whole track, sometimes has more variation. There are some samplers and electronics effects that are fundamental to Chikmountain´s sound. There are some vocals thrown here and there but they are used like a sound effect to complete this complex and spontaneous music that Chikmountain makes. I think that most of people in magazines will have a hard time trying to label this band (specially the ones in metal that sometimes are quite close minded). If you want originality, don´t miss this recordingFavorite tracks: "The Room", "Turn Up The Music" and "Revelation 101". Contact: tachist@yahoo.com

REVIEW: BRODEQUIN - FESTIVAL OF DEATH

 

BRODEQUIN - FESTIVAL OF DEATH (Unmatched Brutality Recs., 2001)

Produced by Seven taran Sky

Recorded at Digital Sky Studios

Tracks: 1-Mazzetello, 2- Judas Cradle, 3- Trial by Ordeal, 4- Torches of Nero, 5- Vivian Excoriari, 6- Lake of the Dead, 7- Blood of the Martyr, 8-Gilles De Rais, 9- Flow of Maggotts, 10- Bronze Bowl, 11- Auto De Fa

Brodequin´s music is hyper fast grind/death without subtle elements. Here are all the elements of the style and on certain tracks like "Judas Cradle" there are better riffs. One thing to remark: the drummer Chad Walls is very fast and very precise at the same time playing very tidy and clear blast beats as well as other rhythms. The vocals here are hiper guttural as grind demands. This CD is thirty minutes long and there are really good ideas like at 0:58 of "Trial by Ordeal" and Mike Bailey´s riffs which are original. Death/Grind like the one made by Brodequin rules!! Favorite tracks: "Judas Cradle", "Torches of Nero" and Flow of Maggots". Contact: www.unmatchedbrutality.com

REVIEW: AESMA DAEVA - HERE LIES ONE WHOSE NAME WAS WRITTEN IN WATER

 

AESMA DAEVA - HERE LIES ONE WHOSE NAME WAS WRITTEN IN WATER (Roor of All Evil Recs., 2001)

Produced by Nick Copernicus

Tracks: 1- O death (Rock me Asleep), 2- Downvain, 3- Stay, 4- Disdain, 5- Introit, 6- when I have Fears that I may Cease to be, 7- Luceat Eis, 8- Introit II, 9- Communion, 10- Sanctus, 11- Darkness, 12*- Darkness (Stromkern)

Spectacular CD!! This one of the best CDs of the month. Combining dark metal with a lot of orchestration and keyboards and some electronic elements. Also there is the spectacular voice of Rebecca Cords making this CD an experience in beauty. There a re a lot of elements of classical music (that is not strange because guitarist Jon Prassas is classically trained) and the music is very heavy in some parts and very subtle in others. There is always a predominance here of vocal harmonies that make Aesma Daeva´s a trully original band. This CD was originally released by Ascension Recs. in germany and now is released in America by Root of All Evil. Favorite tracks: The whole album. Contact: www.rootofallevil.com

REVIEW: WITCHERY - SYMPHONY FOR THE DEVIL

 

WITCHERY - SYMPHONY FOR THE DEVIL (Necropolis Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Berno Studio, Sweden, Feb. 2001

Produced by Witchery and Berno Paulson

Artwork by Niklas Sundin

Track List: 1- The Storm, 2- Unholy Wars, 3- Inquisition, 4- Omens, 5-Bone Mill, 6- None Buried Deeper, 7-Wicked, 8- Called For By Death, 9- Hearse of the Pharaohs, 10- Shallow Grave, 11- Enshrined, 12- The One Within

Finally Necropolis Records is releasing Witchery´s latest opus. This time the guys in Witchery have achieved their best record up to date. Beginning with the sound that is far better than the one in their previous efforts, specially on the guitars and drums. Here the tracks are better structured and composed, always revolving in their black/death/thrash style . There is as always some Venom and Celtic Frost influences in there but here they are more subtle than in for example "Restless and Dead". The palms here go to Richard Corpse´s guitar melodies and solos and to Patrick Jensen whose riffs are the main axis of the band. Favorite tracks: "Inquisition", " None Buried Deeper" and "Hearse of the Pharaohs". Contact: www.necropolisrec.com

REVIEW: VASTATOR - PROMO 2001

 

VASTATOR - PROMO 2001 (Independent, 2001):

Track List: 1- Cybernetic Heartbeat, 2- I Love You, 3- Mongolian Meat

Vastator is a band from Chile who does a style that I can fully categorize as thrash metal. And this is an advance of the tracks that will be on their next album called "The Night of San Juan". The music here is fast and powerful yet melodic. With rhythms that sound fresh...like if they have taken old school thrash rhythms and put a very modern sound to them...and interesting vocals (sometimes the vocalist reminded me of the singers in eighties thrash metal bands like Toxik). It is very interesting to find a band like this which gives an option to those who want something new instead of the same styles that are popular today. The sound in this recording is very good and I don´t know if this is the same mix that they will use in "The Night of San Juan", but is a really good one. Contact: www.vastator.s5.com

REVIEW: UNFOLDING - CIMMERIAN LANDS

 

UNFOLDING - CIMMERIAN LANDS (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and Mixed at Aale Studio by Filax, Thierry Kinsch and Unfolding

Mastered by Pier.

Female Vocals by Annabelle Saffran.

Track List: 1- Enshroud the Light, 2- Away, 3- Unfolding, 4- Needs Grown Apace

This is one of my favorite recordings of the month...and the band comes from Luxembourg !!!I would define Unfolding´s music as death metal with heavy metal riffs and a lot of technical skills. There are a lot of arrangements on the tracks and a heavy use of subtle elements. Clean guitars are used for example, on away in order to create the appropriate atmosphere for this musicians to develope the melodies that form the song and in order to explore some darker paths. Guest female vocals are added in some places to enhance this dark feeling. The four tracks of this MCD contain different parts within its structures and it is amazing how well rehearsed are this four musicians in order to achieve this great results in such difficult compositions. This is one of those CDs that you have to get for your collection!! Favorite tracks: The four tracks contained here. Contact: www.okay.lu/unfolding

REVIEW: UNAUTHORIZED - BLACK SKY

 

UNAUTHORIZED - BLACK SKY (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and Mixed at Harrow Studios

Recorded, Mixed by Harry Wijering and Erik De Boer.

Artwork by Niels De Roo / Nelson Bros.

Track List: 1- Bothered, 2- Blacksky, 3- Falling, 4- Guilty as charged, 5- Confessions, 6- Bulletproof

Very modern death metal with vocals that are similar to their country men Pestilence...just a little bit heavier. The guitar riffs are more rhythmic than melodic and they are prefering brutality than simple speed. There are also some thrash metal riffs thrown here and there. I like a lot the track called "Falling" because of that slow and melodic beginning before getting into a part really powerful (this slow part is an important part of the track and reapears later to change the mood of the song). There is also "Guilty as Charged", a track with an excellent and original riff. Favorite tracks: "Bothered", "Falling and "Bulletproof". This band has achieved the perfect combination of brutality and technicality within their music, being fast when they want and not loosing originality in the meantime. Contact: http://come.to/unauthorized

REVIEW: TRISTANIA - WORLD OF GLASS

 

TRISTANIA - WORLD OF GLASS (Icarus Recs. / Napalm Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded in Sound Suite Studio

Produced and Engineered by Terje Refsnes

Artwork by Tor Søreide Studio.

Track List: 1- The Shining Path, 2- Wormwood, 3- Tender Trip on Earth, 4-Lost, 5- Deadlocked, 6- Selling Out, 7- Hatred Grows, 8- World of Glass, 9- Crushed Dreams, 10- The Modern End 

After the success of their previous album "Beyond the Veil", Tristania brings us their new offer, this time the CD is called "World of Glass". And the arrangements have changed when comparing with "Beyond...", on this new CD they are more in the Therion vein, including a lot of choral harmonies and classical structures. They are still using the male vocals, more distorted and heavy to make a counterpoint with the female vocals (Vibeke´s voice is more present now in the recording). Maybe they have exagerated a little bit their similitude with Therion (it is a pity ...even if the choruses are used somehow differently and they have more heavy vocals than what the band of Kristoffer Johnsson uses now). As always there are a lot of keyboard arrangements and acoustic guitars. The sound is much better on this release than on "Beyond...", specially on the drums (the guitars continue being a little bit opaque compared to the rest of the instruments). Favorite tracks: "Wormwood", "Hatred Grows" and "Crushed Dreams". Contact: icarusmusic@speedy.com.ar