“The Whereabouts” starts a bit like Mary slow moving backdrop talking into melodic death blasting, its a bit… humm ok, i don’t get how it fits, but the melodeath sounds pretty good, “Defying My Master” starts again with the backdrop talking into melodic metal hummm with some pretty catchy riffs, probably my fav until now, “Seeds Of Darkness Sprouting In Light” brings back a bit of doom and melodic death, with some blasting guiding it along its way, “The Inevitable Day” is a softer track, more melodic easing up on the doom, kinda feels like its the point where they sound best, in between full force blasting and eery doomish rock.

“Shattering The Earthly Bond” uhh sounds ominous and it actually plays ominous, blasting death all the way, good good hehehe, although by the end it gets a bit weirdly, anyhoo finishing it up with “A White Dove Flew Over The Prison Walls”, mostly a melodic track, its fitting, although it does end up in a melodic death solo into a repetitive ending, one thing i gotta say Anachronaeon do know their chops, and so it ends!

I must say, good job Anachronaeon, your name is hard to pronounce, but the music is solid as fuck, and a pretty good listen to boot, production is sharp, the music was well played and pretty crisp, also the vocals were good, although a bit monotone, i think it actually fits the music pretty well, guess Anachronaeon gets the seal of approval, if you are into sort of doomish melodic death concept albums, than this one is a keeper, go get it!

Official Site Anachronaeon | Myspace Page Anachronaeon

Anachronaeon – The Inevitable Day

“Sleepless” you are up, and we get a more “new wave” hardcore, its good! but always with some breaks and kinks here and there, this is good stuff, “Tears Valley Sickness Blues” is a quicky hardcore blaster, then the melodic interlude with “The Foreword”, hummm not too sure about this one it does wind up into a a nice crescendo, just these melodic parts with backdrop vocals sound weird, the apply named “The Storm” is a bit a “stormy” hardcore track, “Desolation in Gb Minor” is a slowed down hardcore track, almost sludge, still pretty good contrast, and because of the slowed pace the vocals sound awesomely sharp, nice one.

“Twentyeight to Ten” is back to blasting hardcore, building and yelling away to a chorus crescendo, kinda weird, but hardcorish for sure! “Last Fuckin’ Scarred Lines” is more hard/hardcore and what a fitting way to finish a album… blasting away…

One thing I cant beat “The Hardest Season” is for being too formulaic, something hard to escape in the narrow landscapes of hardcore, i also like the position of the tracks, i normally have a issue with that, not in this album, especially cause some hardcore tracks if listen in succession might sound very similar, production is spot on, i really wasn’t expecting much from this album, but i can say i left this one pretty happy, if you are craving for some hardcore, give this one a try!

Myspace Site The Hardest Season HC | Facebook Page The Hardest Season | Youtube Introduction to the New Album

The Hardest Season – Nightmare of You

What PERDITOR have to offer is probably more than just a musical release. The small amount of information I have gathered in the process points at a modern day VENOM way of life and music. Musically speaking, PERDITOR stroll down the alleys of early harsh BM with a number of Thrash influences (a very significant number of Thrash influences, in fact).

The next obvious step is considering this Dutch gathering as an old school act. Vocally, Cronos seems to have a semi-follower in Azazel, only the latter does have a voice of his own – and PERDITOR use backing vocals, as opposed to VENOM. I could swear I heard some mid-period MARDUK-inspired moments in In Signo Suo, then again it was probably an acoustic fata morgana.

Anyways, this unpolished recording I still much more listenable than most raw/ ‘true’ BM releases (my deepest trauma still is MAYHEM’s Pure Fucking Armageddon), and it sounds quite interesting. I cannot tell you much more about the band, because the promo pack does not include further information. However, you cand raw your own conclusions from tracks like Hellstorm, Nekromantik, Chaotic Demonic Raging Madness, Forthcoming Millennium and Empire of the Black (is this a reinforcement of anti-racist theories here?…).

PERDITOR will surely please fans of VENOM, DARKTHRONE, MAYHEM and some other acts deep into the old school BM spirit. Musically, PERDITOR did not convince me entirely, but either I think this is a rather good release.

Official Myspace Perditor666

This is Black Metal, aye, but with very good production and songwriting skills, all of which have been the result of one man’s efforts: F. Dupont. Besides writing, Dupont has also produced the album, and despite the drum machine, it is a nice album all in all, especially seeing as the usage of the drum machine is balanced with the song structures. Less frosty than it would be if raw produced, but this has completely new dimensions.

These dimensions are also supported by strictly acoustic moments in tracks like Instrumental Intermezzo, which add more melancholy. The songs have good dynamics and do not become too repetitive. As a bonus to older band fans, Elite features some older songs re-recorded. In addition to the nine tracks the album consists of, there is also a cover track – of Britney Spear’s Toxic.

GORATH is not a live band, but chances are it might be possible to see them perform in the future.

LastFm Gorath

Gorath – Toxic

Technically, the musicians are very good and know how to put their knowledge to excellent use. LEX TALIONIS are Jeremy (vocals, keys), Pierre-Marie Reverdy (guitars), Yannick Morisset (guitar) and Nicolas Gleizes (bass). As you will probably have noticed by now, there is not a human drummer, which is what makes the album less meritorious in a way – but the drum machine is finely worked with mega-fast speed, which most of the times pleases the ear (although it need not be so fast all the time). I can understand the absence of a human drummer: LEX TALIONIS are into machines and in the end, it is a sign of coherence.

The general atmosphere of the album is rather martial, in a successful combination of death, black and some electro. The subtitle of the album (Fusion of ancient ways with modern tech. support) points at the predominance of technology, Cybernetics, punctuated with neoclassical and progressive solos every now and then. And leads are numerous throughout The Supreme Aggression.

Rises the Soul of Nature Immortal Myth is classical-inspired. The band’s heterogeneous direct or indirect influences are clearly stated in each member’s thanks list. As for the cover concept, the band’s idea of what is Extreme Aggression appears to be sticking needles in lips. I can imagine it hurts.

Official Site Lex Talionis

Vado Mori is a good follow-up to Ära, better on a number of levels, particularly in building the tension, creating cold music with an atmosphere of Doom and Darkness, surrounded by the Slivery Mist of Oblivion. Some sort of Hlidskjalf-era BURZUM, only faster and exclusively as the intro is concerned. The album starts acoustically, but most songs are violent BM assaults interspersed with interludes. The calm before the Storm. PEST had me on the third page of the booklet, with a quote from Edgar Allan Poe’s magnificent poem The Raven. Good taste, gentlemen. Good taste.

The Darkness leads Onwards and, untrue as it may sound, Mr Blasphemy (vocals), Alex (vocals, guitar, poetry), Scum (guitar, bass) and Mrkok (drums and keys) should be praised for so grim an offering. This is one of those albums with which you feel too many words will be a waste of time. Stick to the sound, stick to the concept. Stick to 45 minutes that blast their way to Hell.

Official Site Pest Musik | Myspace Pest6666

Pest – The Glimmer

The song-writing is not as complex as MESHUGGAH’s, but some passages are inevitably similar. The FEAR FACTORY resemblance is not so much for the usual cyber components or the production – Todd Brashea’s vocals come close to Burton C. Bell’s, and they do not sound repetitive or plagiary. The music in general sounds slightly predictable, though. PANTERA is usually an established comparison, but KRYOBURN are not quite in that league – they are more cyber, definitely, and have the same type of melody to find in Resurrection FEAR FACTORY. But they also have the power to make one listen to their CD time and again.

Enigmatic Existence reveals the power of PANTERA’s music allied to early FEAR FACTORY atmosphere and a great deal of energy, power and conviction in the process. The production has been mentioned already – it was conducted by Eddy Garcia, of PISSING RAZORS/ MINISTRY, and features the ideal characteristics for a robotic metal band, i.e., cyber metal. For some, this whole album might be viewed as homage to FEAR FACTORY, but it certainly sounds like a good start for a band that will please younger generations massively. Possible commercial success.

Myspace Kryoburn Tribe | Youtube Kryoburn

Kryoburn – Reverse
Kryoburn – Atman Project

I cannot quite give you a name for what music MAPLE CROSS play, because the richness of its hybridism makes a unique sound, making The Next Chapter a plentiful listen. All of this is aided by the strong an powerful production, aided by screams/ clean vocals / throaty chants inspired by 80’s Thrash and a touch of Scandinavian madness. And then there is a heavy Rock’n’Roll groove to the Next Chapter which only makes it the more worthwhile listening. And always addicting. ENTOMBED is a band I could think of while listening to MAPLE CROSS, but in all honesty, MAPLE CROSS are by far much more interesting and much less tedious. In fact, I cannot seem to find a hint at boredom in MC’s music – and that is to say a lot.

The Next Chapter is intensity, variety, independence and personality, in a homogeneously created sound scape called «MAPLE CROSS».

Now the masterpiece was put forth by Marco R. J. (vocals), Sami (guitar), Late TT (guitar), Ollari (bass) and Aki (drums). Favorite moments could be World Wide Mystery and Nothing Starts from the Beginning, the best fucking moment of the whole album! And believe me, these are short but intensive 35 minutes – I want more.

Compulsory album for lovers of successful Death/ Thrash/ Personality/ Individuality.

Myspace Maple Cross Music

Maple Cross – Nothing Starts From The Beginning

Musically, Brand New Morning is not very distant from albums like Vigilante or A Storyteller’s Night – 9 songs partially acoustic (the Blue and the Grey), with piano (the Last Goodbye) and plain good ol’ rock and roll.

Despite not being exactly an expert in traditional (semi-)progressive rock, it is not difficult to recognize the album’s worth, but it is also harder to come to terms with the dominating mid-tempo. The details are there and the recipe is very successful for fans of the old days – it is just that tiny little thing called ‘tempo changes’ that is lacking. Enjoyable, nevertheless.

Official Magnum

Magnum – The Last Goodbye

You name an influential artist of the Death Metal scene (not so of the Grind variant) and it is most probably featured in this compilation. One of the positive things about this compilation is that Relapse did not focus on bands of its own catalogue – which makes this a fairly impartial OST.

There are some points of criticism to be made, though (that is why this is not a classic, but quasi). Surely it may become a matter of personal taste, but some of the bands may not have been quite as influential as it might appear, but those are details. As a whole it is quite consistent and not many would disagree with the choice. But, as regards to the consensual bands, some of the songs that have been chosen belong to the «after-classic period», which is slightly disturbing.

Relapse also thought fit to include exclusive, never-before-heard songs from NIHILIST (pre-ENTOMBED), SUFFOCATION and PIG DESTROYER.

Anyway, this is a compulsory piece for every decent Death Metal freak (from the average to the hardcore), as it basically sums up the highest moments of the DM history.

Track-listing as followed:

1. NAPALM DEATH – Scum
2. SIEGE – Walls
3. REPULSION – Maggots in Your Coffin
4. MORBID ANGEL – Chapel of Ghouls
5. NIHILIST – Severe Burns [exclusive track]
6. OBITUARY – Slowly we Rot
7. DEICIDE – Lunatic of god’s Creation
8. NAPALM DEATH – Suffer the Children
9. CANNIBAL CORPSE – Hammer Smashed Face
10. CARCASS – Heartwork
11. AT THE GATES – Need
12. DEATH – Symbolic
13. OPETH – Demon of the Fall
14. BRUTAL TRUTH – Dead Smart
15. HATE ETERNAL – Powers that Be
16. PIG DESTROYER – Untitled [exclusive track]
17. ARCH ENEMY – We Will Rise
18. ZYKLON – Psyklon Aeon
19. NILE – Sarcophagus
20. SUFFOCATION – Souls to deny [exclusive live track]

Official Site Choosing Death | Relapse Records

Carcass – Heartwork
Hate Eternal – Powers that Be

So, we are talking about evil BM here – but there are also elements of Death and Thrash, which makes a perfect combination. Fast BM with an energetic drummer and well played songs – and that is a (rare) fact. There is perhaps a slight bit of catchiness in demand for the songs to be fully distinguishable and have a dimension of their own. I loved the vocals, though. The sound is also very uncharacteristic of ‘raw’ stuff (well, GHOLGOTH is not raw anyway): though I would not call it perfect, there is a lot of power and the bass drums are ever working (Somnus Mortis Imago was recoded at BatSound Studios).

The two highlights of the album are Dead Star and the cover, where a ‘man-skull’ in a hood leads a legion of desolate, demotivated men devoid of self-will into a hellish gate. My rudiments of Latin point at an album titled Image of the Sleep of Death – is the cover a possible illustration?

I would not say GHOLGOTH are a breeze of fresh air or very innovative – then again, not always is innovation a virtue (even for truly evil eyes). This is highly recommendable nevertheless. Fans of old MAYHEM or GORGOROTH might find GHOLGOTH appealing.

Myspace Gholgoth

Gholgoth – Absurdum (live in Debrecen)

Upon a Throne of Skulls stands out for the inherent melody and mesmerising riffs, although innovation is not exactly a major characteristic for this band. Some melody intertwined with frozen, icy moods provide the album with some variation, although for the first listening session, a certain flair of «sameness» summarises the whole album (8 songs + 1 intro).

Contrary to what may be thought, the band’s name is not taken from the German language, where it stands for anxiety, dread, terror; it was taken from the English language, and stands for fear. Conceptually, the band’s world appears to deal with the title: “By this sign you shall win”. The cover artwork features a goat with from a slightly different perspective, but should be a hint at what the band is all about.

It is difficult to get into more detail, as there is neither website nor lyrics available. This particular promo copy was also quite stubborn to play in my usual stereo. Lack of innovation and some dejà-vu notwithstanding, In hoc Signo Vinces should please fans of CRAFT or ARMAGEDDA.

Last Angst

Angst – Golgotha