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

REVIEW: VARGSRIKET - SATANIC EXECUTION COMMANDO VARGSRIKET

VARGSRIKET - SATANIC EXECUTION COMMANDO VARGSRIKET (Records, 2002)

Produced by Vargsriket

Recorded in February 2002

Cover Art by Grym

Tracks: 1- Black Orders, 2- Luciferian, 3- My Blood- My Enemy, 4- Vargsriket, 5- Prologue To Honour, 6- Minions of Satan, 7- Oath of Blood, 8- Sanguinem Sacrificim, 9- Antichristian Battle Tune, 10- Hater of the Nailed One, 11- Willing to Compromise; 12- impale the Bastard

Here we have this band that is a legend in the black metal realm. There music is full of hate and extremely fast in some places and more climatic in others (like in "Sanguinem Sacricim"). Here the main thing are the guitar riffs combined with some hyper fast part with blast beats and a lot of crushing rhythms all over the tracks. Also here we have some interesting interludes with dense atmospheres and some spoken vocals. What I liked a lot here is the bass guitar which is mixed really loud and helps the devastating result of this CD (it gives a lot of power to the riffs because they accentuate a lot of them). The vocals are screaming in the black metalstyle and they spit lyrics about hatred of god and war to cristianity. Lovers of black metal will enjoy this one with no doubt!!

Favorite tracks: "My Blood - my Enemy", "Sanguinem Sacrificim" and "Hater of the Nailed One"

Contact: www.vargsriket.com

REVIEW: THY PRIMORDIAL - THE CROWNING CARNAGE

 

THY PRIMORDIAL - THE CROWNING CARNAGE (Candlelight Records, 2002)

Produced by Tommy Tägtgren

Recorded at Abyss Studios

Tracks: 1- Subterranean Carnality, 2- Genuine Hatred, 3- Icon Retribution, 4- The Crowning Carnage, 5- Worldecay, 6- Purveyor of Chaos, 7- Changing the Mortal Disguise, 8- Menace of Human Waste, 9- Destroying the Idea of a God.

This is pure fucking holocaust black metal!! Here you have a black metal band that goes at full speed and full of hate all of the time. And they got what they deserve: the production of Tommy Tägtgren and the sound of the Abyss Studios that have multiplied ten times the power of the band. Yes, here the guitars are devastating even in the fastest riffs and you can hear them perfectly (they are not like a buzz in the speakers as in some releases that are not well mixed). Here you listenm perfectly the voices spitting their lyrics with their denial of god. And also here you have a killer drummer that can play great fills and blast beats making the music more agressive. This is raw black metal with great sound.

Favorite tracks: "Genuine Hatred", "Icon Retribution" and "The Crowning Carnage"

Contact: www.candlelightrecords.co.uk