Musically, GALLERY OF MITES is an homage to the band members’ references, as Bugs on the Bluefish is a powertrip to 70’s hard rock and some of the 60’s (lack of) charisma. Bands that immediately come to mind: STOOGES, early ROLLING STONES and a truckload of other well-known acts the traditional stoner will undoubtedly recognise. Speaking of which, there is yet a track with MONSTER MAGNET members backing former KYUSS/ current HERMANO vocalist John Garcia, probably a cocktail-molotov of orgasmic nature for thousands of stoners around the world (100 Days).

Despite the good technicality and the obvious quality of the musicians, Bugs on the Bluefish did not really sound that magnificent, but it should please very man die-hard revivalists anyway. This is probably ideal as a soundtrack to a crazy Summer.

Highlights of the album are without the shadow of a doubt Rebel Souls and Coronation. Resurrection of Azarath is thus an excellent means to revive glorious moments of the DAMNATION era, as well as grasp the very rare tracks of Promo 1998. Ogverall, I found the compilation CD rather attractive and musically worthwhile, were DAMNATION not one of the milestones of the Polish scene. Now it is off to a new album!

Magistralec Ouverture is a quite long intro to L’Émpire des Sens. Some might consider it way too long. Others might praise it for the interesting arrangements. My personal opinion lies somewhere in between ~ I quite like the arrangements, but agree to it being interesting only at first listening sessions.

Votre Déchéance is not quite as aggressive as I had imagined ~ there seems to be at least one instrument (be it the guitar or keyboards) that cuts all the aggressiveness.

By the third minute of Mon Âme Noire I had already surrendered to the calmer part of the song ~ though I would gladly do without the female vocals.

In To Enter the Tragic Symphony, keyboards tend to become interesting every now and then.however, there is the problem of the too obvious COF influences, also in vocals.

The album features two guest musicians: Marco B. of OBSIDIAN GATE, who performs the orchestral introduction of L’Émpire des Sens and Robynne of DAEONIA, who performs the female vocals. Furthermore, a cover version of FALKENBACH’s Balturs Tod has been included and is sung by ex~SETH’s Vicomte Vampyr. Definitely one of the highlights of the album (or is it because I adore the original version?), alongside the title track.

Not generalising to the band as a whole, I would say the biggest problem with L’Empire des Sens is that this debut album sounds too much like DIMMU BORGIR and CRADLE OF FILTH, which comes as a result of keyboards and female vocals being close to the above mentioned bands’. AD INFERNA could definitely be more original. After a while, I get the impression I have to listen to the CD to the end for reviewing purposes only, that is to say: the album has a tendency to become boring ~ which is not a very healthy feeling.

Musicians are good, but somehow somewhat ‘artificial’. Although the album is above the average, I would not consider it that striking. There seems to be something lacking. Future albums might help overcome the absence of this vital element.

Myspace Ad Inferna

Now to Life, the first real contact I have had with INHUMATE (at long last). It took three or four years for the band to release something ‘new’ since the Growth album – in the meantime, they have been rather busy playing tens of shows all around Europe and releasing numerous split tapes, split EPs, compilations, etc. Back in 1996, INHUMATE set themselves for the development of a conceptual series of albums – an heptalogy based on the concept of Life and the Abolition of Time (how is that for a change?…). It all started in ’97 under the moniker Internal Life. This first part deals with a preoccupation with presenting an illustration of the antenatal life. Ex-Pulsion represents the moment of the birth, whereas Growth does not need much explanation. The present album Life is the middle album and attempts at portraying the maturity of a life form (perhaps of INHUMATE too). The future albums are the development of the heptalogy and should be titled The Fifth Season, Expulsed and External Life. According to the band, this last step ends life on Earth of all men and opens Mankind to infinity. Does it mean it will bring INHUMATE to an end too? We hope not.

I have been hearing all these good things about INHUMATE for the past years, but now I see they were founded. These French goresters appear to have developed their music to a different level – most songs are actually quite enticing, With many movement-impelling rhythms, grinding guitars and the occasional blast drums. And what is the more, the recording is not the kind of Underground thing which does not allow one to understand the instruments separately. Life was recorded, mixed & mastered at Down Town Studio and no vocal effects were used.

Apparently, INHUMATE keep up the tradition of three-second-long tracks in I Want to Kill Some… (Part IV). Let me guess what the three previous editions of the episode sound like… Favorite tracks are For Lust, N.D.S. (brilliant!), No Answer and A Trip. But INHUMATE do break with tradition in one aspect: Life features no sample of any kind – which is a fresh breeze on the scene, huh?

The Life/ Live feeling is very much present in the booklet’s artwork, which features tons of pictures of the band live, fliers and the likes of. Those who still have not seen INHUMATE live (like myself) may be curious to see/ hear the band live on stage. INHUMATE thought about it too, and as a result they included a number of live tracks. I was not at all disappointed by the tracks, though I must admit to finding it slightly awkward to hear such a violent band speaking French at intervals, haha. Somehow it does not seem to fit. Fortunately, you don’t get to understand that the lyrics to N.D.S. are written in French. Mean me.

By A Trip, I thought these guys sounded a bit like SIX FEET UNDER, but N.D.S. brought a distinct HATE ETERNAL feel to the music. None of these bands happen to be Grind, so it is not really an indicated way to give you a general overview on the music, is it? The best solution is quite simple actually: visit the band’s website siteinhumate.com and download songs and videos – then you will get to know INHUMATE. Or buy the fucking album!

Official Site Siteinhumate.com | Myspace Inhumate

Inhumate – Blasted

«Intense» is a good word to describe the album (although not quite as intense as they would have it), characteristically American in nature (and for once I mean this in a positive sense): technical, brutal and grunted through and through. Drums are good, guitars are now and then hypnotizing, and the songs sound well thought-out. There are breaks, dragged rhythms of chaos, but mostly Death Metal violence. For fans of DISGORGE, IMMOLATION, DISAVOWED or DYING FETUS.

Conceptually, DEBODIFIED are heavily war-inspired, and the cover artwork (by Jon Zig) reflects the album title – my view of Utopia in the eyes of a beast can also be illustrated by the war panzers, helicopters and related warfare, dictating the onslaught and mutilated, maimed and burning human corpses. The everlasting struggle against the Human scum – innocent or not. Or maybe the Beast is none other than the very person who holds a speech at the beginning of Terminated with Prejudice – Mr Adolf “Swine” Hitler.

Recorded October 2002 at the Soundlab Studio, produced by DEBODIFIED and engineered by Joey Rhyme, Utopia… features Jay Barnes (of LUST OF DECAY) on backing vocals (Instinct for Malevolence).

But I might as well have conjugated the verbs in the Past Tense – you see, DEBODIFIED was disbanded two months after the release of Utopia in the Eyes of a Beast, due to turmoil within the band. This is the band’s legacy. And it is a killer.

Myspace Debodified

Conceived and bred by the malignant mind of Jason Suecof (CAPHARNAUM), CROTCHDUSTER come up with a rare set of songs, also spasm-inducing for the weak-minded, as well as for the less attentive ones. The first song, True Nature of Williams, is an amalgamate of completely different sounds, and the parodying intention is immediately noticeable. The target is, of course, bands and songs of all genres, be it metal, pop or whatever. The moment I heard the first few seconds, I immediately wondered whether the right CD was in my stereo, and yes, it was. Even though CROTCHDUSTER did not at all seem like a band given to slow music, pop or semi-pop, that is exactly what you get from the first song. Add a unique impression of Holy Wars (MEGADETH), early SEPULTURA and BEE GEES with a Mask-like soundtrack, and your next step is Big Top Williams. It is inevitable to get into the spirit of the song and the band. Once there, there is no way in hell you can stop listening to Big Fat Box of Shit.

The most significant and perhaps the most representative song of the band is undoubtedly Mammal Sauce, a hilarious hymn to a substance who ingredients only Bill Williams (band member) and people from another dimension seem to know. The upsurge of Chinese diarrhea, in a THERION-like environment, followed by really squeaky and miserably frustrated power metal-like vocals carry on the concept behind Big Fat Box of Shit: to mock uncontrollably. Fornicus “Fuckmouth” McFlappy and Slippery Jim are supervised by their faithful producer and composer, a dog by the name of Cain, who may have been part of the inspiration for the Cher-like vocal effects. In all fairness, the vocals are just great and extremely versatile, regardless of genre. Now picture Barney – that mythical Simpsons character, singing the chorus a la Cher. The Mike Patton/ MR. BUNGLE influence stands out rather prominently, so if you are into both, you will probably also appreciate CROTCHDUSTER. And in the band’s own words: If you don’t like Mammal Sauce, you might as well be gay!

The image department also reflects the parody, and we are given certain Beavis & Butthead-like characters under an Africanised perspective, as well as some other hallucinogen-induced creatures. The booklet includes lyrics, product of a brilliant evil mind, centered on the spiritual, carnal and sensual world of Williamburgsland.

An album to watch out for, for the straight-forwardness and daring spirit, one of those truly unexpected moments which leave a sour taste in your mouth when a growl and grunt session is expected and, instead, we get to hear weird versions of some crazy old metal classics followed by BEE GEES or BLUR-inspired music and other related squeaks. Even though this may not be the usual 24/ 7 type of album, you might as well become severely addicted, for this is simultaneously one of the most original, uncompromised, satirical, competent and audible albums I have had the pleasure of listening to over the last few years. Ad as if all of the above were not enough, the album features special guests Richard Christy, James Murphy and John Tardy.

Big Fat Box of Shit finishes off with the band members reading aloud some hate mail and providing the writers with hilarious replies (Cain’s reply is naturally verbalized by fellow band members). Towards the end, we are also told of the latest Black Metal band, Hellspawned Warhammer of the Nordic Wind. Do not miss this album – buy it now!

Myspace Crotchduster | Encyclopaedia Metallum Crotchduster

Nihility is the second opus created by this four-member act. I believe all the expectation around the album is more than justifiable. They benefited greatly from the fact that they attend a music school, and as a proof, you have flawless, technical Death Metal at your availability, from the guitars to the drums.

Some obvious comparisons to Cannibal Corpse and Morbid Angel must be established, but it is not at all some sort of copy or plagiarism. It is only a proof that their sources of inspiration are very good. Decapitated also have their very own sense of mature morbidness and there does not lack the hypnotic riffing, allied to a very heavy production.

In a total playing time of 35:07 minutes, their 8 tracks are a sample of genuinely well played technical, inventive and progressive Brutal Death Metal. Favourite tracks are Mother War, Nihility (Anti-Human Manifesto) and Spheres of Madness. In Nihility you can actually feel Armageddon is coming nearer, in pieces, accompanied by gradual threats of annihilation. In Spheres O Madness (a slower-tempo song) you just go berzerk with the intro. The other tracks are Perfect Dehumanisation (The Answer), Eternity Too Short, Names, Babylon’s Pride and Symmetry Of Zero.

The more I listen to the album, the more addicting it becomes. All in all, it is a very refreshing release as it comes to well-played Death Metal. The fact that the musicians attend music schools does not prevent the true feeling from being there as, alas!, so often happens with (virtuoso) musicians.

Amongst so many Death Metal bands that arose after Vader, Decapitated seem to be THE honourable successors to Poland’s (maybe even Europe’s) Death Metal throne. You should be on your knees, begging for an opportunity to see them live. Well I have and am certainly awaiting future concerts!

Official Site Decapitatedband.net | Myspace Decapitated

Note from the Editor: The band had a van accident while touring in russia and Witold “Vitek” Kieltyka the drummer of the band, and one of the best kick ass drummers i have ever listen has died, if you want to help his and other bandmates families you can do so by going here, thank you… you will be missed… now freakin enjoy his awesome work on Spheres of Madness

Decapitated – Spheres Of Madness

Sacrifice for Satan begins with a Latin invocation (Gloria Causa Satani) and the full black and white layout adds to the atmosphere, bearing in mind the fact that the pictures include corpsepaint. Recorded at Cyber Studios, Poland, during January 2004, the result is an amalgamate of obscure melodies with hypnotizing rhythms, not necessarily raw and with the addition of a significant amount of atmospheric passages. All things considered, even though Besatt do not score on the originality or innovation department, they sum up rather nicely the trademark features of obscurer Black Metal.

The promo package includes a multimedia section where, amongst others, we are given the opportunity to watch a videoclip to the song Kingdom of Hatred, illustrating Death and Hatred towards Christian ideology and belief by means of the widely used concept of Christ carrying the cross. This Christ figure is, however, quite peculiar, for he does have a beer belly. And so is the image of Death, the Grim Reaper, with a nice goatee. Oh the sweet scent of modernity…

Official Site Besatt

Besatt – Time For Gathering

The self-titled debut was recorded at the Torre de Marfil Studios (Valencia), produced by VAHLADIAN and mastered at El Cielo de Madrid (ARS AMANDI, amongst others).

The particularity in VAHLADIAN lies chiefly in the fact that the average band member’s age does not exceed twenty, yet these Spaniards achieve much with their playing and song-writing skills, for the present opus features ten tracks of Spanish-bred melody, presenting a mixture between Power Metal and the more complex Progressive Metal. Musically, VAHLADIAN are very heavily influenced by IRON MAIDEN, whereas vocals remind Spanish Heavy Metal, and ANGRA, RHAPSODY or METALIUM. The opener Áureo Lamento is very well accomplished and happens to be my favourite, but most songs have that necessary amount of catchiness that will make you hum some of the songs by the end of the first listen. Por la Sangre, Vida is not bad either. I do admit, however, that hearing ‘Puños de Acero´ instead of ´Fists of Steel´ is somewhat anti-climatic, but that is a constant. The band sings in Spanish only.

VAHLADIAN also invited Jorge Salán for the guitar lead in Lágrimas Negras Parte 2. the end result is very pleasant indeed. Then there are lots of moments throughout the album where you sometimes feel you went 20 years back in time (such as the beginning of Reinas de la Oscuridad), which is very good indeed.

For first timers, Vahladian is fine and very much worth the listen.

Official Sites Vahladian.com

An introduction that reminded me the soundtrack to The Dark Eye (Pc Game based on Edgar Allan Poe’s tales, particularly The Cask of Amontillado) was certainly a mood-setter. However, it did not prepare me for the brutal assault represented by Grace by Chalice of Anger. Fierce, brutal death metal – the way it is supposed to be. The band’s conceptual dimension is simply quoted as «Hate, Anguish and Egoism towards humanity and all its forms». This expression of this disdain is perfectly mirrored in the band’s aggressiveness – but it is an «orderly» aggressiveness, with song-structures without an apparent pattern, but well thought-out. There is a healthy amount of influences in the songs – from MORBID ANGEL to CRYPTOPSY and CANNIBAL CORPSE. In the end, the songs are varied and some riffs are really good and morbid. We are dealing with skilled musicians here and, while not being necessarily a breath of fresh air in the Death Metal scene, Fragments of Perdition is still worth the listen. The formula is successful in the band’s music.in addition to good music is the good production (Pop-Studio, Mika Haapasalo).

Fan Site Mikseri.net – Death du Jour

Death du Jour – Harlot Deliverance
Death du Jour – Triangle Gallows

Bleed your Mind is the long-awaited follow-up and is the end result of a thorough metamorphosis in the band, starting with the name. the songs are not nearly as industrial as one might at first expect – there are samples and passages that do confirm the band’s reputation for cybernetics, but the music itself has firm roots on classic Death Metal. They are also technically demanding, more often than not. Some of the riffs are highly inspired by CANNIBAL CORPSE (check out MOduS Op3r4nd1 or 30 Seconds Intercourse), but the range of influences is rather broad.

On a different note… from the very first live shows, the audience has responded positively, but the modern shows are particularly striking, for the visual support is intense and treads on cybernetic paths. I is an interactive union between sound and image to further illustrate the band’s concept.

The D’EVIL LEECH PROJECT is currently brought to you by Alfredo Cassis (throat, previously in local DM ac SANNEDRIN), Diogo Coelho (bass guitar), Nuno Carola (guitar) and Paulo Marçalo (guitar).

Official Sites Devileechproject.com | Ragingplanet.web.pt

Decade Infernus is a best of double CD-set comprising the band’s first ten years, which started in 1988. Back then, Mr Crowley joined forces with Peter Gilmore, a classical composer and Magister of the Church of Satan. In the early years Anton Szandor Lavey invited Vincent Crowley to join the COS, which he did, regardless of the apparent contradiction between surname and religious/ ritualistic organization.

Decade Infernus features the band’s strongest songs – taken from a vast discography. Some of these are classics, others are perhaps not very representative of ACHERON’s real power. On the whole, the double CD set is perhaps better listened to separately, for the mighty anthems of doom may sound a little too monotonic at the 10th track or so. But other than that, this is a pretty good compilation of the band’s work – ideal for those that do not own the albums and might want to get to know the band. The songs are mostly mid-.tempo, there is some variation (some keyboards too). The best of is a good choice for newcomers, and a sound purchase for those who want to understand the cult, but I would not necessarily hold this as a compulsory album.

Sites Acheron666.com | Black-lotus-recs.com