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Ad Inferna - Trance N Dance
(Dream Cell 11/ Aural Music) Review by Steve Green |
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When it comes to your average Extreme Metal album, I'm just about at my
boredom threshold. The scene, as far as I'm concerned, is just churning
out one bland album after another. Which probably explains why I'm
enjoying the Industrial cds that come our way more than most these days.
Here we have a French band, Ad Inferna, who are releasing their 1st
album since their 2002 debut, L'Empire des Sens.
I've heard way too many covers of the Visage classic Fade To Grey, yet I
still found this version, which opens the album, to be very enjoyable,
mainly because of the combination of dancefloor EBM and dark (read into
that bleak) vocals and the inclusion of a more
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harsh vocal style around the 2 minute mark. And that really
sets the tone for the whole album. Positive, upbeat
industrialized music with a multi vocal attack: 2 male
vocalists, one in a dark Gothic style and the other
exploring the realms of Black Metal, and not forgetting the
uplifting female vocals that litter the album. The
amalgamation of the various styles works brilliantly and
although I'm not particularly knowledgeable about this style
of music, this album has persuaded me to investigate the
scene a little deeper.
www.myspace.com/adinferna |
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Augrimmer - From the Lone Winters Cold
(Northern Silence
Productions) Review by Crin |
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Debut album from this German Black Metal band, and
continuation from the Autumnal Heavens mcd. This really is
a band I just can't get my head around. The mcd was an
average ‘heard it all before’ release and it really is a
form of music that without the labels personal involvement
would probably never appear above underground level. This
has many elements of other bands, and just a little individuality.
Think of a cauldron of steaming riffs and caustic percussion
care of Endstille, Setherial, early Immortal and Dissection,
and what we get is a sound countless other bands feed upon
to make up a variant of their own. There is a distinctive
Nordic style to the very smooth fast songs here, an almost
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underbelly that is knotted to the rabid compositions. I can't find anything eventful here, it's just
fluently polished, well executed Blackened Death that is
neither astounding nor boring, it's just average
www.northern-silence.de |
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Contracrash - Goddam Planet
(Fastball Music) Review by Steve Green |
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When making a decision, what normally wins, your heart or your head? In
the case of young German Hard Rockers Contracrash, my head spits
out the words awful and clichéd, while my heart tells me that my foot
taps along to every song, particularly the ridiculously catchy title
track, Goddamn Planet and I do actually quite like this.
Look, it's simple, hook-laden Hard Rock, nothing more, nothing less.
Some of the songs are winners and a few of them do edge towards
mediocre, but the overall quality is pretty good. I'm sure Contracrash
make a very good support band for whatever major band plays in Germany,
but there's still a bit of work to do if the band want to make it on the |
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scene, in my opinion. And I think the (for want of a better
term) Nu-Metal nuances have to go as they are much better as a
Hard Rock band than one with modern traits. They have potential, but at
this moment in time I don't think they know how to unlock it.
www.myspace.com/contracrash
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Count Raven - Mammons War
(I Hate Records) Review by
Chris Davison |
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“You can’t teach old dogs new tricks”. This is an
oft-repeated credo, and in some respects in the reactionary
and regressive world of true doom, often the case. Who
better espouses the path of true doom than Count Raven? The
eerily Osbourne-esque howl of ultra-vocalist Dan Fondelius
and Iommi fed riffage providing the most Sabbath-like
experience other than Sabbath … and, to be honest, more than
Sabbath since The Mob Rules. All that being said, “Mammons
War” proves that occasionally, the old dog can indeed learn
to jet-ski.
Let’s be honest from the outset though – those looking for a
brave excursion away from |
the path of the green-faced witch are onto a loser. It would
seem that the reunion that promised to bring back the
classic Count Raven line up was doomed to falter, and so
this incarnation retains only Fondelius, the other band members coming from his post-Raven
project, Doomsday Gouvernment. Worries that this line up
would disgrace the legacy of their earlier, classic albums
have proven to be ill founded. This is probably the best
release of their long, if sporadic and fractious career.
From the rocking, full blooded opener “The Poltergeist” to
the closing notes of “Increasing Deserts”, this is a hefty,
chunky and – dare I say it this early in a review –
essential slice of fantastic doom metal. So where are the
afore mentioned new tricks? So far, so expected – groovy,
slow riffs; the smell of melancholia in the air and
thumping, Wardian drum beats. Where the new ideas creep in
are in the detail of tracks such as the title number,
“Mammons War”. A vocals, electronica and synth only
plaintive, thoughtful number devoid of all guitar. Have they
gone mad? Surely it must be the power of the riff that
compels the true soul to return to the pagan altar of doom?
Well, in the context of this platter, the pinch of modernism
among the retro loving E chords adds a usually missed sense
of dynamism to proceedings.
The production cannot be faulted in any way – perfectly
mixed, with a powerful, fruity sound that reeks of polish
and attention to detail. The cover art is quintessentially
doom – religious statue iconography, a tombstone and a
metric shit-load of skulls all in a lovely orange
glow-sauce. Everything as it should be then – and then some
on top. Hold the press – best doom release of the year by a
clear length, including the recent Candlemass album. Nice
one, Fondelius.
www.ihate.se |
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Extreme O.D. - This Is The End
(Self Release) Review by Steve Green |
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It seems the underground is awash with unsigned bands right now. Which
could either be a sign of the (economic) times as far as labels (no
longer) signing any band with a pulse, or it could just
be a coincidence that so many bands are releasing EP's/demo's right now.
Extreme O.D. are a band that hold the middle ground, in terms of Metal.
This is simply groove laden, straight-ahead Extreme Metal. No frills, no
bullshit and to coin an overused phrase, they do exactly what is says on
the tin. This is Metal to bang your head to, very much in the way you
used to go crazy over Pantera all those years ago. And everyone needs
this kind of shit (and not in the derogatory sense) in their diet every
now and then. |
It's no different than being married to a nymphomaniac and
still needing to look at porn every now and then.
Find out more at:
www.myspace.com/extremeod |
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Grieving Age - In Aloof Lantern, Thy
Bequeathed A Wailer Quietus... (Self Release)
Review by Steve Green |
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Looking for something a little different? How about a 37 minutes, 2 track
slab of Doom from Saudi Arabia, with mixing and mastering by the
workaholic Dan Swano and artwork by My Dying Bride's Aaron Stainthorpe?
I wasn't sure if this was going to be full of Middle Eastern flavours, but it's
very much in the vein of traditional Doom (and of course early My Dying
Bride), with a drummer who I'm sure has listened to Bill Ward once or
twice.
I like what I hear, but I have to admit that the songs, because of their
length, are hard going. After 15 minutes of opener number... wait for
it.... A Quadrennial Dame Pyres,
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Hearses Shall No Yawn, Thence... I wanted to surrender. The
misery had beaten me into submission, although I didn't
reach for the skip button, my brain switched off for the
final 5 minutes.
The equally bizarrely titled, Therefore A Myriad, Of Gargoyles Bellow
Their Aborted Versicles, Quoth Thee, is of a similarly torturous nature,
although the speedier section that kicks in around the 4 minute mark is
guaranteed to grab your attention for a good portion of the songs near
on 17 minute duration.
I'd say this one is for the braver Doomheads out there.
www.myspace.com/grievingage |
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Hackneyed - Burn After Reaping
(Nuclear Blast) Review by Steve Green |
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Last years Death Prevails was good, well excellent if you consider the
band were only about 16 years old when they recorded it. So another year
on, does that mean the band are another year wiser? Let's hope so.
After the minute long intro, Burn, the band get straight down to
business with the wonderfully catchy sing-a-long Weed Flavoured Meat.
Intentionally funny or not, has Death Metal ever been this much
entertaining? Don't get me wrong, Hackneyed are not a joke band, but
they just seem to bring a smile to my face whenever I hear them. Their
neck snapping brand of Death seems to fall effortlessly from my stereo.
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writing I'd say there's only one band ahead of them at the
minute, and that's Amon Amarth. (Who I have to say are miles
ahead of everyone).
These young guys are seriously good and performing on a tour like Nile's
Those Whom The Gods Detest tour at the end of the year will do them the
world of good I'm sure, as they'll know exactly how far away from
greatness they are. Personally I reckon about 12 months.
www.myspace.com/hackneyed
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Scar Symmetry - Dark Matter Dimensions
(Nuclear Blast) Review by Steve Earles |
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Opening thunderously with The Iconoclast, Scar Symmetry have
produced a modern metal album in the best sense of the word.
Marrying harsh riffs and growls with soaring melodies. A
standard maintained for the entire album, which I have to
say is a very uplifting experience, the band forging their
songs with hard graft and sincerity, which is always the
most important thing in music. Standout tracks include
Mechanical Soul Cybernetics, Dark Matter Dimensions and A
Parenthesis In Eternity. There is a Fear Factory-shaped hole
in the metal market, and Scar Symmetry are perfectly aligned
to fill it.
www.nuclearblast.de
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Septekh - Not Quite
What I Had In Mind (self release) Review by Steve Earles |
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Great stuff, very Wolverine Blues- era Entombed in sound,
but even punkier with more influences from Samhain and The
Misfits. Shoot Them All, is seriously heavy and catchy. Some
great song writing. Blunt Force To The Head is ominous and
creeping. Nils’ Cronos like vocals are harsh but coherent,
and it just pounds. Not Quite What I Had In Mind hits the
accelerator pedal hard. Eating The Maneater has an insanely
catchy riff, really groovy, like a collision between Danzig
and Tyrant!! Finishing up with Seth Avalanche, this is a
fine demo, from a band that deserve a deal pronto. Oh Yeah!
www.myspace.com/septekh |
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Shadows Fall - Retribution
(Spinefarm Records) Review By Steve Earles |
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Shadows Fall have produced a good modern metal album. My
Demise comes on like later-period The Haunted. The
musicianship as you’d expect is top-notch. Still I Rise is a
searing statement of intent. King of Nothing summons up
memories of At The Gates. I prefer tracks like The Taste Of
Fear which have far more of Shadows Fall’s own identity
stamped on them. In fact as Retribution progresses, it grows
on the listener more and more. Certainly their love of
melody to match the metal muscle is to be admired. Ending on
a high note with Dead And Gone, Shadows fall are anything
but dead and gone!
www.shadowsfall.com
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Undivine - Into Dust
(Northern Silence
Productions) Review by Crin |
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Black/ Death Metal from Sweden that has a thick guitar swirl
reminiscent of the mighty Hypocrisy. This is the bands 2nd
album and features members of Rimthurs, Isole, and In Aeternum. The Swedish melodic Death genre is a thoroughbred
scene that can stand its own ground against any on earth, so
to be part of it can be both detrimental if you’re shit, or
beneficial if you are good. Undivine fall into the latter
category as they can for sure string together a deathly rage
to evoke the wonderful Sarcasm and at times the flawless
Dissection. This album has solid rhythmic sections that
collide with brutal parts. The sound here sits firmly
between the total death abandon of Morbid Angel and the cold
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of Marduk. As with all such solid well produced
acts, it is not the faster songs that stick in the head.
When this band slow down and produce those memorable
mid-tempo tracks it is like being crushed by a death metal
steamroller. The great Swedish death genre has many levels
of intensity and ability. The more flowing musical
compositions of Hypocrisy are more suited to Undivine than
the direct approach of Dismember.
www.northern-silence.de |
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