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We never really recovered from the backlog of cds that built
up at the start of the year. We are now nearly out of the
woods, so I'm going to be adding a number of pages which
will contain some slightly shorter reviews over the coming
weeks to finally clear the reviews backlog. |
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Battle Dagorath - Eternal Throne
(Cold Dimensions) Review by Steve Green |
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I have to be honest, I don't get exposed to that much Black Metal. It's a
genre I like, but one that I've never really explored, bar it's more
ambient side. It's not helped by the fact that some of the so-called
bigger bands being, in my opinion, pretty damn awful, with Mayhem
instantly springing to mind. So here we have lashings of lo-fi fun, with
biscuit tin drums, buzz-saw guitars and hellish screams. Yes, it's an
under-produced racket, but some of these songs are simply epic. With the
majority of the songs clocking in at around 6 minutes, with a couple
venturing towards 9 and 11 minutes respectively, unbelievably, they grab
your attention immediately and they manage to keep it. The musicianship
is way
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above the production values and the rhythm section, despite
it sounding like they are playing different songs from each
other, is a joy to hear, especially the bass, when it can be
heard. Admittedly, I couldn't cope with all of my albums
sounding this bad, but this has made a pleasant change from
the norm.
www.myspace.com/battledagorath
| www.cold-dimensions.de |
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Decadenze - Beyond
Obsession (Rocksector Records) Review By Steve
Earles |
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Well-produced, and well played good time rock n’roll. ‘Hit It
Hard’ is reminiscent of Def Leppard circa. ‘Shoot Me High’
and has a killer groove, very decadent indeed, and it sees
the band living up to their name. ‘Wasted Life’ is more
diverse, reminiscent of Soundgarden or Alice In Chains, a
trend that continues on ‘Tomorrow Is Too Late’. ‘Falling
Rain’ has some seriously muscular riffs, and a strong
groove, and groove is really important, something so many
bands forget. Continuing the groove, there’s some seriously
good bass on ‘The Otherside’. ‘Don’t Fear Me’ again has the
swagger of Alice In Chains’ ‘Facelift’ album. ‘Never Be
Forgotten’ highlights Decadenze’s song-writing abilities and |
own individual sound, and ‘One Night’ finishes the album in
fine style.
www.rocksector.com |
www.decadenze.co.uk |
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Eyrn Non Dae - Hydra
Lernaie (Metal Blade) review by Steve Earles |
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Metal Blade have come up trumps with Eyn Non Dae. Opening with
‘When Time Elapses’ they prove themselves to be both
blisteringly heavy and talented musicians. ‘Blistering Hate’
shows the band having an identity all of their own,
featuring a driving riff, dissonant bass-playing, honestly
at points it’s almost Pink-Floydian , with some really
progressive sounds, those giving way to the harshest noises
this side of hell, and underlying it all is a terrific
groove. This isn’t a collection of riffs, it’s a song with
beginning middle and end. ‘The Decline And Fall’ is Miltonic
in scope, reaching harsh otherworldly dimensions, indeed, it
could be described as blackened progressive metal (surely a
soon to come |
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genre). ‘Through Dark Skies’ is blisteringly fast, think of
Bathory circa ‘Blood, Fire, Death’ but just when you think
you’ve got this track sussed, there are yet more
time-changes and musical side-turns. ‘Opposition From
Within’ has a sense of frightening urgency, while ‘Echoes OF
Distress Pure’ is more old school but none the less
adventurous for that. A band with a future!
www.metalblade.com |
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Goatwhore - Carving Out The
Eyes Of God (Metal Blade)
review by Steve Earles |
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This is what the doctor ordered (that is if the doctor is the
Abominable Doctor Phibes). Goatwhore open their blackened
onslaught with ‘Apocalyptic Havoc’, all Venom grooves,
Entombed swagger, and their own attitude. ‘The
All-Destroying’ features more killer grooves, Ben’s vocals
being harsh but clear. The title track is more dirgy but
none the less heartfelt. ‘Ravorflesh Devoured’ is far more
pacey, a killer metal attack. Musically the band acquit
themselves very well as you’d expect from their playing with
Acid Bath, Soilent Green, Eyehategod, Nachtmystium and the
might Crowbar. ‘Shadow of A Rising Knife’ highlight’s
Goatwhore’s ability to create songs that are both heavy and
well- |
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constructed. Ending in epic style with ‘To Mourn And Wander
Forever Through Forgotten Doorways’ really points to the
future for Goatwhore. The missing link between Down and
Venom, Goatwhore are a very true band indeed.
www.metalblade.com |
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Mortuus Infradaemoni - Imis Avernis
(Cold Dimensions) Review by Steve Green |
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I'm not sure if this has ever happened before, but Mortuus Infradaemoni
consists of 2 band members, both of whom are ex-drummers of the same
band. Namely Lunar Aurora. Their roles are slightly different here, with
Nathaniel handling guitars and vocals and Profanatitas multi-tasking on
drums, bass-guitar and vocals.
Once again, this is a frantic slice of lo-fi Black Metal from the Cold
Dimensions camp. The vocals are semi-buried in the cacophonous
outpouring, the guitars are ice-cold in texture and the drums are simply
pummelling. The production is as raw as you'd expect, but it's the
atmospherics of the album that draw you in. Clever changes of pace,
particularly the slow
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build-ups to some of the songs adds to the eerie presence
that lingers throughout the albums hour long duration. I
think it's fair to say that I'm fast becoming a fan of this
epic, raw as hell black art.
www.cold-dimensions.de |
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Neaera - Omnicide -
Creation Unleashed (Metal Blade) Review by Steve Green |
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I was a big fan of Neaera's last album, 2007's bludgeoning Armamentarium,
so I was looking forward to hearing their new opus. Opening number, I
Loathe, wasn't as heavy as I was expecting, but the slower pace suits
the band well and if I'm not mistaken, the band have shifted their sound
slightly and are now not a million miles away from label mates, Amon
Amarth. Which is no bad thing as far as I'm concerned.
As with, you know who, (I'm not going to litter this review with AA
comparisons, honest) Neaera have the balance between melody and
brutality absolutely spot on. I guess to an outsider (ie, someone who
isn't into Metal) this is a devastatingly heavy album, and it is, |
sort of. The melody contained in every song not only makes
this accessible to almost anyone, particularly those that
aren't usually fans of Death Metal, it also tempers the twin
vocal attack, which in reality is superbly caustic.
Incidentally, both styles, deathly growl and higher pitched
bark are performed by frontman Benjamin Hilleke.
The words Melodic Death normally send shivers (of fear) down
the spines of most Metalheads, but fear not, this is an
album you can embrace with open arms. I was hoping for
something at least as good as Armamentarium and I've not
been disappointed, far from it.
www.myspace.com/neaera |
www.metalblade.com |
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The Crimson Armada - Guardians
(Metal Blade)
Review by Steve Green |
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Despite its modern stance, I was quite enjoying this album.
Unfortunately, within the first minute or so, the words "Call Upon The
Almighty One" killed this fucker stone dead for me. I hate religion with
a passion and I've no intention of listening to Christian Metal, in
whatever form it may take. Musically, I really like what's going here,
despite not being a fan of either modern Metal, or the more technical
variety. The Crimson Armada are fantastic musicians and their, I suppose
a more death metal take on Cradle of Filth, is a breeze to get into, but
I don't listen to preachy shit. Yep, I'm extremely narrow-minded when it
comes to religion, but that's my choice and I'm sticking to it. If the
God squad crap |
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doesn't bother you, then give this one a spin. Everyone
else, avoid at all costs.
www.myspace.com/thecrimsonarmada
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www.metalblade.com |
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Trist - Willenskraft
(Cold Dimensions) Review by Steve Green |
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The ex-Lunar Aurora connection continues (if you've read the Mortuus
Infradaemoni it all makes sense) with Trist, which features Tristan, aka
Aran (aka Benjamin König). And it seems as if the head of Cold
Dimensions, Andreas Bauer (aka Whyrhd) also ex-Lunar Aurora, likes to
keep in touch with old friends.
Ending this trio of fine releases from Cold Dimensions we dip our toes
into the wonderful world of blackened ambience. I have to say that I
love this style of music, mainly as it takes you away to a different
world. It's a time to switch off from everything around you and to
totally immerse yourself in the music and let the images it creates in
your mind take |
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over. The opening number, Bewusstsein, which translates
as Consciousness, is a cold stark number, with a never-ending tide
crashing against a desolate beach in the dead of night. Well, that's how
the song feels to me. Bewusstsein segues, seamlessly, into Wagemut
(Boldness) and a crazed figure has appeared on the beach and the feeling
of danger is accentuated by the foreboding blackened tones that break
the ambient spell. It's all beautifully crafted and it sends my mind
into overdrive as I endeavour to turn the music into a fictional
scenario. Music can be a very powerful tool and it's amazing that such
simple music can have such a strong effect on the human mind.
Willenskraft offers up an hour of pure escapism and it's an album that
comes very highly recommended to all those that have a preference for
Ambient Black Metal, as well as to those with acid addled brains that
want to freak themselves out for fun.
www.myspace.com/tristambient |
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