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Amon Amarth – Once Sent from the Golden Hall
(Metal Blade)
review by Sam Thomas |
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It’s a common thing these days for bands to re-release old
albums, remastered and whatever. Generally, I tend to see it
as at best an opportunity to get hold of items that have
been deleted, and to fill gaps in my collection. Even then,
I’ve come unstuck – there was the Opeth CD that had the
“bonus” track that was so bad that I programmed it out every
time, the version of Jethro Tull’s “Broadsword and the
Beast” that had a stunning 8 additional tracks, all crap,
which completely ruined the flow of the album and made
nonsense of what had been the final track, “Cheerio”...
But this is different. Trust the wily Vikings to come up
with a great way to produce |
something that you’d actually want to own in its own right.
You’re getting two for the price of one here – a remaster of the original, and a live
performance of the album in its entirety. Given that the
original was produced in 1998, and the live performance took
place towards the end of last year, there are some obvious
differences. Of course the line-up has changed (most notably
Martin Lopez – a superb, technical drummer – being replaced
by the lovely Fredrik Andersson – an equally superb, but
different drummer) and the band have matured. Then there’s
the contrast of a studio performance with a live one (and
bear in mind that this took place in Germany, with an
audience who were clearly lapping it up, and not the least
inhibited!) In my opinion, Amon Amarth are one of the best
bands I’ve ever seen live, and certainly they are the finest
proponents of Viking metal ever. The live version of this
album goes a long way towards capturing the sheer raw energy
and happy blood-lust that has always been a part of their
act: it is quite simply staggering.
In short then, absolutely fantastic, well worth the money
for the live album alone.
www.amonamarth.com
| www.metalblade.com |
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Arise - The Reckoning
(Regain Records)
By: Dave Schalek |
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Journeyman death/ thrash band Arise from Sweden return after
a four-year hiatus with a new full-length, “The Reckoning”,
on Regain Records. Arise have three prior full-lengths under
their belt, the best and most notable being “Kings Of A
Cloned Generation” from 2003, but have never really been
able to rise above a decidedly second tier status in a field
crowded with plenty of other journeyman bands. Competent,
mid-paced to frenetic death/ thrash with galloping speed,
fast riffs, plenty of melody, and so on, Arise,
unfortunately, are ultimately just another average death/
thrash band from Sweden.
Most of the Swedish bands playing in this genre (Dimension
Zero, early Carnal Forge, The |
Forsaken, etc.) are all pretty decent, but are all more or
less interchangeable in that none of them really stand out
from the crowd. This stereotyping perfectly describes Arise
as “The Reckoning” is decent enough as you listen to the
album (the first half, anyway), but is immediately forgotten
afterwards and does not distinguish itself in any manner
from releases of the other aforementioned bands playing in
this genre. In addition, adding to the overall mediocrity is
the fact that, while the first few songs are quite good,
most of rest of the album is pretty boring (I literally fell
asleep while listening to it in the car while my wife was
shopping) as it becomes painfully obvious that Arise didn’t
really spend much time during their hiatus working on their songwriting
skills.
In short, “The Reckoning” is essentially filler material in
the death/ thrash genre, and is really not worth your time
as you continue to ponder the question, “When are The
Forsaken going to release another full-length?” Eh.
www.myspace.com/ariseonline
| www.regainrecords.com
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Funeral Mist - Maranatha
(Norma Evangelium Diaboli/ AJNA Offensive)
By: Dave Schalek |
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Finally, after a six-year wait, Arioch (also known as
Mortuus of Marduk fame) returns in the form of the solo
project Funeral Mist with a second full-length. The album,
entitled “Maranatha” and released on the truly vicious duo
of Norma Evangelium Diaboli and AJNA Offensive, is exactly
that, vicious.
The addition of Mortuus as vocalist has reinvigorated Marduk
with their last two excellent full-lengths. Mortuus’ alter
ego, Arioch, further explores black metal viciousness with
Funeral Mist in “Maranatha”, which immediately establishes
itself as that rather rare black metal masterpiece that
truly delivers an authentic aura of evil and blasphemy.
First off, |
although not a technical album of any sort, Mortuus deftly handles all of the instrumentation and vocals
on “Maranatha” (albeit with an unknown session drummer, who
I suspect is probably a big name of some renown). The music
is well played, but “Maranatha” truly shines with some
masterful songwriting that showcases all out blasts
interspersed with droning riffs backed up by a mid-paced
tempo. There are also a few experimental bits with a loud
bass punctuated with exceptionally hard hitting, bullet-like
percussion that will make your speaker casings rattle. Back
it all up with a crushing production, a blasphemous
atmosphere evocative of pure hatred towards religion (some
excellent sampling appears in the form of a
fire-and-brimstone sermon), Arioch’s absolutely roaring
vocals, and “Maranatha” really nails what black metal is all
about. Therefore, there’s no surprise that Funeral Mist
firmly resides on Norma Evangelium Diaboli’s roster, a
roster filled with “true” acts if there ever was one. In
addition, Arioch as Mortuus supplies the conceptual layout
of the album’s art, which nicely complements his work with
the recent Marduk re-releases on Regain Records.
Needless to say, I’m blown away by “Maranatha”, and there’s
no doubt that the album will reside in this year’s top ten
list. Black metal album of the year? Quite possibly. Buy or
fucking die.
www.myspace.com/thefuneralmist
| www.noevdia.com
| www.theajnaoffensive.com |
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Jungle Rot - What Horrors Await (Napalm Records)
Review by
James Davison |
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Jungle Rot fell onto my mat. Spectacular artwork gracing the
front cover and large white letters emblazoned across the
back, reading" OLD SCHOOL DEATH METAL". I couldn't be
happier. As an obvious newbie to the reviewing scene, I
couldn't have been more content with my first few cd's. This
time I wasn't surprised by the actual music. In fact I had
to check the correct disc was in the sleeve as to start with
I thought some fool had put a Benediction disc in. Now I'm
not saying that would be a bad thing, as I do like a little
Benny Dixon from time to time, but the similarities were
uncanny. Grooving, song orientated old school death metal
with an emphasis on metal. |
“What
Horrors Await” starts well and I was really enjoying
this latest release, however it seems to slip around track
No9. Good solid songs, dark and melodically heavy, but
gradually becoming sloppier. Jungle Rot are a veteran outfit
with a band that should know what to do – but for the most
part, this sounds like a band going through the motions to
some extent.
Maybe Jungle Rot should go to one extreme or the other. They
seem to be floating about in the middle of death metal,
playing safe but unadventurous music when they obviously
have the skills to be writing better material. This then is
a frustrating material, because the core of the music is
eminently likable, and to some extent addictive, but
tantalisingly short of how the band could sound. I think
they 'could do better'. Even so this is a good album. If
you're nothing like me and actually just enjoy your music
without constantly feeling like your looking for the holy
grail, you'll be rocking. Just don't expect an innovative
album.
I fear I have suffered from this fever before. This feeling
of upset because something I really want to be great isn't
quite there. I have remembered the cure! To see them live.
With a belly full of beer and fellow metal heads to argue
with about subjects such as these. The things that make
metal, metal. So, to make “What Horrors Await” a classic,
just add beer. Basic, really.
www.napalmrecords.com
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Masterstroke - As Days Grow Darker
(Dynamic Arts) Review by Steve Green |
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Opener Wait For The Fall is so full of energy, I thought that Finns
Masterstroke had won me over immediately. Razor sharp riffing, a rhythm
section firing on all cylinders and a ballsy frontman, with a good old
fashion Metal voice. Unfortunately from the Power/Traditional Metal
opening, things quickly turn into a more sombre progressive affair and
my interest is starting to wane somewhat. I'm not adverse to the odd
bout of Progressive Metal, but on a personal level, I prefer the rockier
side of Masterstroke. There's nothing inherently wrong with their sound,
it's just not really my cup of tea. Some of the songs are drawn out,
with a theatrical feel, to me at least, and it feels as if vocalist |
| Niko
Rauhala is acting out a play rather than fronting a Metal band. If the
songs were more immediate, like the opener, then I think I'd would have
enjoyed this a lot more. As it stands, I'm ok with about half of the
album, with both Wait For The Fall and achingly familiar Inside Myself
both scoring top marks and with Purity Fades and Stillborn also leaving
a lasting impression on me, and I like a lot of album closer Truth
Revealed. So overall, not as bad as I was expecting at the halfway mark.
Their label compares them to Nevermore and that's a band who I've never
really clicked with, so that may well explain my apathy here.
www.dynamicartsrecords.com
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Minotaur - God May Show You Mercy, We Will Not
(I Hate
Records) Review by Chris Davison |
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There are some considerable perks to reviewing for
Live 4 Metal. Of course, the principle perk is the sheer
volume of heavy metal that I get exposed to that I would
probably not ordinarily get a chance to pick up – especially
given that I live in the Fens, a landscape so bleak that it
makes the lunar landscape look like an advert for Scottish
tourism by comparison. Minotaur are one of those minor old
thrash bands that I have seen much about during my
infrequent trawls through the so-called “elite” metal forums
(otherwise known as the principle breeding grounds of snobs, cunts
and morons). All I knew about them was that they were
German, had been about in the heydays of thrash (releasing
their |
only full length album back in 1988), and were spoken about
in the fondest of terms.
Of course, one the kindest compliments that they could be
paid is being on the mighty I Hate Records roster. It's fair
to say from the outset that Minotaur aren't your Bermuda
short wearing kind of thrashers. This is altogether rawer,
nastier heavy metal of the sort that really ought to come
with a warning label. Making the likes of early Sodom and
Kreator sound like some kind of Salvation Army marching band
by way of comparison, this is light-speed riffing, blackened
thrash of the most unholy kind. There are no concessions to
trendiness, current themes or, frankly, the comfort of the
listener. I get the impression that Minotaur are only out to
impress themselves, playing with a frank “fuck you”
attitude. The guitars are raw and dirty, the bass only
barely audible, while the drums are given a sound thrashing
to within an inch of their worthless lives. With a vocalist
who is comprised of equal parts pure heavy metal and crow,
by the sound of his tuneless cawing, this couldn't really
get any more underground as far as thrash goes.
There isn't much in the way of dynamics, nor are there any
particular appeals to technicality or songwriting nuances,
but this is hardly the point. Minotaur aren't out to change
the world, they're here to thrash as hard and as ugly as
they can. The sheer bloody minded aggression and vicious
attack is enough to convince me that I don't need anything
else other than their gonzoid enthusiasm and single-minded
approach to mayhem. It's not sophisticated, nor is it
subtle, but by fuck is it fun. Easily the nastiest thrash
release this year, if not decade.
www.ihate.se
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Paindivision - One Path
(Riot Entertainment) Review by Steve Green |
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Paindivision do a good job of copying an old style, but at the same time,
they add enough of their own identity to keep it sounding fresh and new.
Which is exactly what they do on their cover of Accept's Balls To The
Wall, the intro of which I hardly recognised. And as a major Accept fan
myself, I really like their take on this 80s classic.
Paindivision are from Australia and their free-sprit spills over into
their music, which is a riotous take on more Traditional Metal and 80s
Thrash and more guitar based histrionics. I have to mention the guitars,
as this album is full to the brim with lead guitars which seem to appear
all over the place, but despite their high level presence, they never
seem to overstay |
their welcome, plus they add a stack of energy to this
already testosterone filled platter.
I maybe wrong here, but I think Paindivision have (deliberately) taken
the best of their 80s influences, namely W.A.S.P, Megadeth, Accept
etc... and have recreated it for a new Millennium. One Path certainly
has the heart of 80s Metal, but I also hear other influences such as
Killing Joke (mainly for the crazed backing vocals on a couple of
numbers) as well as Pantera's patented groove, albeit at a more furious
pace. The mixing up of these styles sure is a potent one.
Since recording this album, Paindivision have gone through a few line-up
changes, so when they finally hit these shores, hopefully later in the
year, it'll be interesting to see how the band shape up. Because from
what I've heard on One Path, the new line-up has a lot to live up to.
www.paindivision.com
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Stone Axe - Self Titled
(Roadburn) Review by Metal Mark |
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Mos Generator frontman Tony Reed has released a very focused
and to the point album with his new project. Now when I
first heard the moniker Stone Axe I immediately started
imagining something simple and heavy. That image I received
isn't far off from what this band is about. They may very
well get lumped into the stoner rock category. That wouldn't
do them justice though. These guys lug out the massive
sounds and they begin spinning them around, manipulating and
pulling us with them. The music is basic at its core, but
undeniably mesmerizing. Quite simply they know how create
the kind of music that celebrates the essence of what once
made rock music great and that is they know how to |
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craft the kind of guitar riffs that will pull in all who
hear. That's an approach that worked forty years ago and it
can still work today. Fortunately Stone Axe realized that
and they are more than willing to share on this album. The
influences include Cream, Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy, Free and early AC/DC. These
guys are not just a copy band or a retro band though.
Whatever their inspiration may be, it is readily apparent
that how create some stellar grooves and they know to run
with them as well. There are plenty of 60's-70's inspired
hard rock bands these days, but not everyone can pull it
off. However Stone Axe obviously know and appreciate the
essence of classic heavy music so they can deliver the goods
in fine fashion.
www.myspace.com/stoneaxe |
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Witchmaster - Trücizna
(Agonia Records) Review by Crin |
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Polish Black Thrash and album number four. This genre is
spitting with rage at the moment and this is just more
regurgitated thrashing spite already mass produced by the
likes of Norway’s Inferno, Sweden’s Bewitched, and virtually
every other thrashing gut ripping outfit that has ever been.
The velocity has been doubled here though and this brings
into play the unholy brain hacking of Thailand’s Surrender
of Divinity, or Singapore’s Impiety. This is low-fi venomous
Blackened Thrash on offer here and it's got fuck all to do
with inspiring a new form of Thrash, neither will it make
you gasp in admiration. The one thing this will do is make
you wish you were somewhere else or make you feel like you
have just |
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been spunked over by Satan’s pet goat. This is
totally raw and nasty, rabid blackened thrash without any
nice bits or warm moments. It’s a post apocalyptic noise
fest that prescribes death and ear bleeding agony to all who
listen to its unearthly blurhh of abortive aural chaos.
Yuk!!, It's just old school wrung though a shit smeared
mangle. I really cannot think of fuck all else to say about
it. [ok, just one more thing, the kidney pummelling cover of
Sepultura's, Troops of Doom, is pure gut chomping class]
www.myspace.com/wearewitchmaster
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