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Amorphis - Skyforger
(Nuclear Blast)
By: Joe Florez |
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It’s only been three years and these Finns aren’t messing
around by releasing a third album featuring Tomi Joutsen. I
must admit that I was a little worried in terms of which
direction they would head into next because they have
covered all the bases and then some. So, the only way to
find out was to let this one rip.
The opening salvo “Sampo”
just reeks of awesomeness with its keyboard intro followed
by a mid paced tempo that contains bite. The chorus is
filled with lush harmonies and the licks are just
infectious. Tomi’s voice is perfectly audible, but there’s a
bit of gruff to it that’s just right. While he keeps his
lung work in check for the most part, the death metal |
growls of yore come crashing in out of nowhere toward the
end of this wonderful piece of work. A more than satisfying
first track that definitely lets you know what you’re in for
for the next hour. The lead single “Silver Bride” once again
delivers the goods with its precious and infectious riffing
that will remain tattooed in your brain for some time to
come. Half way through the set and the band lives up to the
name of “Majestic Beast.” It’s just like the good old days
from Tales From The Thousand Lakes where the crushing vocals
from Tomi reign supreme. Many fans will have a grin from ear
to ear when they hear this one. While the folk influence
which was a signature part of their sound isn’t as prevalent
as the past, but with “Highest Star” you can hear the flutes
in all their glory. All I have to say is that the guys have
really pulled the rug right from under me. Rather than go
back simply a record or two, they take bits and pieces from
each record past and present and fuse them where they are
appropriate and each song is born. The melodies, hooks and
grandiose choruses are all in tact here. Esa has a way with
creating great riffs and Tomi’s voice roars like a lion and
while I’m a huge fan of Pasi let’s put it to rest once and
for all. Tomi is the singer and will be until the end. He
possesses plenty of charm and personality and he fits
snuggly with the band. Let’s end all of the comparisons and
how much that guy was better than this one. This is Amorphis
and I love it! They really outdid themselves here. Now, the
challenge is to see what they can pull out of their hat
next.
www.nuclearblast.de
| www.amorphis.net
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Arthemis - Black Society
(Scarlet) Review by Metal Mark |
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I hesitated on this one due to the cover. Yes, I know “never
judge a…blah, blah, blah”. Still the hand covered in a
black, sticky substance plus the dark sky plus the word
“black” in the title had me thinking that this was going to
be death metal or thrash/death at least. Of course as usual
I was wrong on my judging the style by the cover art
approach. This is actually the fifth release from Italy’s
Arthemis, but my first exposure to the band. This isn’t
death or thrash, but in fact this band plays a style much
more influenced by early American style power metal. Metal
Church, Armored Saint and maybe even Leatherwolf are all
influences that come to mind. At other times they even bring
in some early speed metal |
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similar to Agent Steel into play as well. Still I would say
they are influenced by these bands rather than sounding just
like them because the finished sound is closer to present
day than to say mid-late 1980’s. The band is huge on
melodies and they have uncanny knack for combining said
melodies with hard-driving rhythms. All the while they just
persist in spinning rhythms and they bring in plenty of
twists and turns to make it interesting. I think the overall
sound could have been slightly heavier in the mix, but
that’s a very minor problem. Obviously I wished that I had
given this disc a spin when I had first received it.
www.myspace.com/arthemisweb |
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Artillery -
When Death Comes (Metal Mind Productions)
Review by Mat Willcocks |
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Despite the oh-so-80s album art, it is pretty representative
of what is on offer on this CD – not very slick or modern,
just full-on and nasty. This will no doubt come as a welcome
offering those who like their metal old school. Should the
younger reader of this review not so familiar with
Artillery, they are a Danish group who formed in (gulp)
1982. What is quite amazing when listening to this is the
pace and technicality displayed, initially causing the
listener to quite justifiably believe that Artillery are a
bunch of late teens with a weeks worth of Red Bull in them.
This isn’t plod along kind of stuff, this is true European
thrashing |
metal. Singer Soren Adamsen has a great voice,
gruff but melodic. Flanking Adamsen are the Stutzers on
guitar, who not only are fantastic rhythmically, but provide
astonishing solos. In terms of the more notable songs of the
album, the album is pretty consistent and there is little
deviation from the usual charge-along, but the opener title
track scalds from the outset, seconded closely by “10,000
Devils”.
Nothing more to say on this one really. Those already with a
grasp of what Artillery are about will not be surprised. For
those who have not yet sampled Artillery, this is not a
revolution in metal – even better than that, the
no-nonsense, balls out attitude of this group are why metal
is so great.
www.metalmind.com.pl |
www.artillery.dk |
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Attica Rage - Dark City
(single) Review by
Chris Davison |
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A single, no less! Fresh from seeing them on their
triumphant Hammerfest gig, this new two tracker clatters
through my letterbox. A bit of an odd choice for the single,
though chaps. The Scots metallers certainly have one foot in
the old school – reminding me somewhat of a modern take on
the beer-and-chips breed of NWoBHM that almost died out.
Alas, this extends to the production; weak as piss, tinny
and unsubstantial.
Dark City itself is a brooding, pleasing enough track,
though not the stand out track of their live set by any
means. The thin, reedy character of the guitar sound means
that much of the inherent power of the song is robbed. The
second track on the single, “Overkill” should |
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really need no introduction to the discerning metalhead; all that need be
said on that count is that it isn’t the worst cover of it
I’ve ever heard, but then again it isn’t the best either.
I’m still looking forward to snaffling more of their back
catalogue, but I’m not really sold on the single.
www.myspace.com/atticarage |
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Black Lightning - The Secret Anger (Lightning Records) Review
by Marco Gaminara |
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I wasn't really too certain of what to expect from this
Italian quintet, as they describe themselves as Melodic
Heavy Metal, and they certainly are melodic, that's for
sure. Maurizio's vocals are clean, powerful and a tenor
rather than alto, which most power metal bands tend to
prefer. Francesco and Fabio's guitars interweave melodies
and riffs in a way reminiscent of Maiden, with the rhythm
section of Daniele on bass and Mattia on drums keeping
everything ticking over. This EP consists of 4 songs with
the opener "Secretness" having a nice technical lead
that flows over the pounding snare. The kick drum triplets
used on "Anger" have the song galloping along, and the
chorus has an epic quality about it, |
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Francesco and Daniele also do
backing vocals to give the song a nice choral effect.
"Honeymoon" is very rock orientated and sounds like
something that would have no trouble getting airplay on
mainstream radio. The longest track here is "Pathetika"
which flows through various tempos and melodies to great
effect and making it rather grandiose to boot. The final
lead trade-off is actually superb too.
www.BlackLightning.it
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Cryptic Tales - VII Dogmata of Mercy
(Crash Music)
Review by Anthony Deane |
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Polish band “Cryptic Tales” have been flying the flag for
Black Metal for over twenty years; the band formed in 1989
and in that time, have seen few line-up changes. The band
have also taken long periods of silence between releases
which has only increased the bands drive to create a fresh
sound. With all this in mind it’s not surprising that
“Cryptic Tales” have maintained exceptionally high standards
in terms of writing and producing epic songs.
Each “Cryptic Tales” track offers its own epic journey. With “VII Dogmata
of Mercy” expect powerful guitar harmonies which are leaden
with black metal influences, whilst |
being met head on with brutal thrash metal passages,
accompanied by atmospheric keyboard parts and relentless
powerful drumming. Cryptic Tales have notably followed the
paths of bands such great bands as Emperor & Enslaved.
There is little doubt that taking time out has certainly
helped “Cryptic Tales” nurture and develop their craft. I
can’t help but feel that the years of absence between albums has
increased “Cryptic Tales” frustration which has certainly
overlapped into their ferocious writing. Hopefully
they won't leave us waiting too long before they unleash
there next instalment of evil.
www.myspace.com/cryptictalesband
| www.crashmusicinc.com
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Demonical - Hellsworn
(Cyclone Empire) Review by
Chris Davison |
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When Swedish death metallers Centinex imploded in 2006, it
seems that three of that particular crew were not inclined
to cut their hair and go back to the 9 to 5 grindstone that
grips so many of us. Demonical are the result of this “no
surrender” credo, with the three survivors also joined by
Diabolical growler, Sverker, to comprise this most aggressive
wrecking crew. So they’re Swedish, with a hefty background
in death metal. What are they like? Well, no surprises here
– it’s quality old school death metal time again, folks.
I know, I know, it seems that every fresh update at
Live4Metal Towers seems to have a new old school outfit
grinding through the gears of extremity, and truth be told,
there’s little |
here to suggest novelty or anything groundbreaking. That
being said, there is the simple pleasure of hearing
something done well. As you would expect from such battle
hardened veterans of the scene, Demonical know how to make
the best of their talents; this is death metal stripped back
to basics and played in the vein of old Entombed, the rock
bombast of Unleashed and the heads-down workman like quality
of Grave. With one guitarist on board, it’s the sheer power
of the riff that compels here rather than any fancy
trickery, and likewise the drums and bass are played in that
aggressive way – direct and in your face without any
pretensions of “polyrhythms”, hyper technicality
or any of the other infections that are killing modern death
metal. Sure, there were moments on the album where my ears
pricked up and I wondered just which classic track had been
plundered for the riff, but such nit picking seems rather
tedious in the face of such an enjoyable, dark romp. It all
feels pretty exhilarating, and the joyous, infectious spirit
of songs such as “Infernal Void” brought to mind pleasant
memories of listening to insane (and little appreciated)
Danish Konkhra spin-offs, Daemon on their “7 Deadly Sins”
platter in terms of the spontaneity of the music.
Production wise, this is murky, muddy and full of
atmosphere, with (unsurprisingly) the buzz saw guitar sound
and an attacking bass tone. Vocals are pleasingly gruff and
hoarse while the lyrics can still be made out – and the
drums are perfectly in the mix – for evidence listen to
stand out track “Bloodridden” and the tense, brooding
drum-heavy introduction. Demonical may not be reinventing
the wheel, but let’s face it – they’re a damn sight more
interesting than the death metal bands that claim to be
innovative. Here’s to stagnation.
www.myspace.com/thedemonicalhorde |
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Endstille - Verfuhrer
(Regain Records)
By: Dave Schalek |
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The always solid Endstille return with yet another solid
album, this one entitled “Verfuhrer” and released on Regain
Records. “Verfuhrer” is the sixth full-length from this
German horde and largely continues the band’s brand of fast,
generally raw black metal.
Endstille are quite prolific with all of their releases
coming since 2002. In addition, the band’s early albums
exhibited a raw ferocity that seemed to diminish somewhat on
their last couple of full-lengths, the 2007’s “Endstilles
Reich” and 2005’s “Navigator”, and I was mildly disappointed
with each. However, “Verfuhrer” has a considerably fuller
sound than “Endstilles Reich”, for example, and has a much
more powerful vibe to it. Although a |
mature album, “Verfuhrer” definitely hints at Endstille's earlier, rawer
sound than does “Endstilles Reich”.
Endstille have always been firmly entrenched in fast black
metal, and those trends largely continue on “Verfuhrer”.
Fast blasts, rapid chord progressions, hissed rasps, hints
of melody buried deeply in the mix that allows for slight,
atmospheric touches, and generally catchy songs are present
in spades on “Verfuhrer”. These somewhat typical elements
come together along with a few minor variations in tempo to
create an enjoyable, if unoriginal, album.
In short, “Verfuhrer” is a good entry in the genre, and
Endstille are one of the better second tier bands playing
fast black metal. Recommended.
www.myspace.com/endstilleband
| www.regainrecords.com |
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Funebrarum - The Sleep
of Morbid Dreams (Cyclone Empire) Review by
Chris Davison |
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“Ah”, I say to myself, popping this into the CD player.
“This will be some Swedish death metal band re-release”.
It’s all there of course, the thick, chainsaw guitars, the
subterranean bass sound, the hollow drumming, intense
breakdowns and guttural vocals. Then, I do the “google”
thang, and blow me down if Funebrarum aren’t the best old
school death metal band to have ever broken from…erm…New
Jersey.
Geographical incongruities aside, (and let’s be honest, does
anyone really want another technical / brutal death metal
band from the States?), this is incredibly impressive,
darkly atmospheric death metal. I could talk to you about
how black the atmosphere is here, but |
I’d run out of ways to describe “darker than the deepest
cave in hell”. During the final, triumphant lead out of
opening track “Perish Beneath”, I was wondering just how it
would be possible for the boys to sound any bleaker or more
occult. Playing death metal the old school way is fast
becoming a trend, but this is a band who have been playing
this way for a decade now, and boy does it show. Careful not
to fall into the trap of sounding like some kind of one
dimensional Entombed clone (the world does not need another
Clandestine – produce me another Left Hand Path, and we’ll
talk). The bass sound, in particular has that bowel
loosening quality that was used to such effect in classic
Autopsy, but it’s the drums that really adds this that
altogether special quality. The use of the high hats and
cymbals is so jarring, yet so integral to the sound of the
album that it really began to dominate my listening
pleasure. Adding an extra element of flair to an already
impressive formula, with a brilliant grasp of dynamics, time
changes (from downbeat chug to blasts), this album has it
all.
With all the fuss and hype around the so-called resurgence
of old school death metal, it would be too easy to lump
Funebrarum into this movement, but they’ve clearly paid
their dues, and to be fair this album is a testament to how
far they are willing to deviate from the old masters. The
core of the Norsemen is there, for sure, but the dashes of
old school American death metal (in particular old Death,
Autopsy and Obituary) and a soupcon of their own
indefinable black souls ensure that this is perhaps the
most restless of morbid dreams that you are ever likely to
experience. Seriously, seriously impressive stuff.
www.cyclone-empire.com |
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