Beastcraft - "Into The Burning Pit Of Hell"

(Norway, BlackSeed Productions, Raw Black Metal, 2006)

Listening to Beastcraft only reinforces my opinion that Norway has no good Black Metal bands anymore. If their idea of being "true" is being a shitty, 10th rate Dark Throne rip off then I'm not interested... Soaking the sound with distortion does not disguise the fact that there is little creativity on display here. Every song sounds the same, same riffs, same tempo, no darkness or energy in the music at all. I don't really know what Beastcraft wanted to achieve with this release, I guess in their quest to become "truer-than-true" they've forgotten what made Black Metal so great in the first place. Dark Throne did this a thousand times better on "Under A Funeral Moon".

Before The Fall - "From Mutism To Riddance"

(Austria, Noisehead Records, Thrash Metal/Core, 2006)

This is another strong release coming from the young label Noisehead Records (former Black Lagoon Records). Before The Fall's debut is a modern mix of Thrash Metal and Hardcore spiced with some Metalcore ingredients. It also reminds me a lot of (the older) In Flames sound, except for the vocals. Again a respectable album, considering the fact that the band was founded only in 2005, by Michael (vocals, songwriting, artwork) and Rudolph Obermann (guitar) who also recorded and produced it by themselves.
Except for the name (there has been already an Alternative Rock band named the same), everything is quite professionally done here. The sound is very brutal though clean, you can identify every instrument, especially the drumming and the vocals are very intensive, just check out "Purified" which combines all their trademarks together: double bass passages as well as melancholic ones, sharp riffs and all kinds of vocals (including some distorted ones, which I like very much)... Obviously the've worked hard on the ten songs to make them as diverse as possible. The compositions are full of breaks and rhythm changes, sometimes it even reminds me of Math Metal. "Walk Through Death" could also have been on Cannibal Corpse's "Bloodthirst"! I think this is my favourite here, a hyperspeed song with a great (short) electrifying solo!
The problem with this recording is that I somehow miss originality, no song sticks out or is outstanding at all... at least I couldn't keep in mind any of the songs, even after repeated listenings, maybe because this is not my kind of music, all this bands sound the same to me, I can't find a difference between them... therefore my (rather bad) rating, but in fact there's nothing to complain about and I guess they deserve 10 points! I think this kind of music works great on stage, so I hope to see them soon around...
Check out the nice website, and form an opinion about it!

Behold... The Arctopus - "Arctocalypse Now ... Warmageddon Later"

(U.S.A., Epicene Sound System, Progressive Metal, 2003)

What this strange named band has to offer is some kind of Progressive Metal played in high speed. Only few bands that I've listened to offered such an intriguing and highly potent debut release. The composed songs are far from being common or easy to play. To fully get into their music you got to be very focused on what's getting out of your speakers, there are so many hidden details in their music, details that are coming to surface with every new listening. With such a potential of creating music, who knows what we can expect next? Interesting is also the format on which they've releases their music, a 3" CD.


Berserk - "Rites Of Supremacy"

(Spain, Oaken Shield/Adipocere, Pagan Black Metal, 2003)

The first impression that I get listening to this opus by Berserk is that you're going to experience a pure Black Metal audition, but when you'll go deeper into the music you'll hear the Pagan Black Metal elements that they are speaking about. Very close to sound and in the manner of interpretation to Raw Black Metal scene, they will impress you. The songs are well composed and not boring at all, if you listen to the small details that are to be heard in the background, like keyboard that are used in a subtle manner. Not in the nowadays tendency to use the keys as one of the main instruments in the structure of the song. But as an element that is giving grandeur and that is hearable only if you listen carefully to the music. Another used instrument are the drums, here you can also listen to some technical interpretations. All in all this is good Black Metal and you'll like it for sure if you are a listener of this kind of black art.

Bestia - "Demo"

(Estonia, Self released, Pagan Black/Death Metal, 2001)

This band called Bestia is based on the Black/Death Metal style and I can say that they are playing it in a good way, not something extraordinary but not bad. The melodies are generally played in high speed, the voice is OK (the screamed one!!!), guitar riffs are quite cool and the drumming reminds you about the original drumming style of the early Black Metal bands (quite raw!!!). One thing that I didn't like at this release is the recitative growled voice which appears on some tracks. The cover artwork is cool. A strange thing here is the last track, an electronic bizarre experiment. The production is good thinking that this is a demo. LET THE WOLFS HOWL!

Bestia - "Õiglaste Tulek"

(Estonia, Hexenreich Records, Pagan Black Metal, 2006)

The only other Bestia release I have is their demo from 2001 that Cătălin gave to me ages ago. So I had some catching up to do with Estonian metallers Bestia, and I'm glad I did. Bestia are playing no-frills Pagan Black Metal on this MCD and it's nice just to see a band focussing on writing good Metal and not just trying to be really extreme or whatever... Opener "Arg Sõdalane" reminds of early Behemoth, especially the Pole's 1997 LP "Grom". It's got plenty of solid riffs and atmospheres. The title track follows, it's a bit slower but still good. The third track is more uptempo Metal, then that's it. Short but rather sweet. Anyway, you can download the first two tracks from www.estonianmetal.com if you miss out on a copy of this extremely limited CD-R. If you like what you hear, why not check out of the band's 2005 debut "Hallutsinatsioon". Ask the address below for details or visit the band's website at www.metal.ee/bestia.

Bewitched - "Somewhere Beyond The Mist"

(Chile, Conquistador Records, Atmospheric Doom, 2005)

Formed in 1990 in Chile by Doomicus Stardust and Arahn Evil, Bewitched is one of the oldest bands from its country which incorporates Doom elements in their music. The name of the band is taken from the title of a song from Candlemass' 1987 album "Nightfall", also the nickname of the leader, Doomicus Stardust, can be put in connection with Candlemass, one of the band earlier albums being named "Epicus Doomicus Metalicus" (1986). The style of Bewitched can be labeled as a crossover between melodic Heavy Metal, power Doom, Dark Ambient and some Black Metal, especially some of the vocal melodies are reminiscent of this.
"Somewhere Beyond The Mist" is Bewitched's third album and their 10th release overall (5 demos, 1 Split, 3 albums and one compilation with rarities). After so many releases you can expect from a band a mature release and this one nearly is. I mean you have variations here from melodic and light parts to slow and dark to dreamy Dark Ambient, but somehow the result is not complete, it does not leave you with the feeling of a perfectly balanced and rounded release, maybe due to the fact that it is somehow too bombastic and Bewitched is really trying to do everything in a single release.
The album starts with the song "Sons Of Satan" which is a generic Melodic Black Metal with a strong dose of Heavy Metal soloing, from the song "Stargazer" the Black Metal is left behind, which is a good thing I may say because they do sound better when they play Doom, "The Dawn Of Middle Earth" is more Heavy Metal oriented, with a good atmosphere and bombastic solos (both guitar and keys). With the fourth song the album has another switch, "Merciful Faith" not being a straight cover version of the eponymous band is clearly a tribute song, everything here screams King Diamond, the song is moderately good but one thing is for sure: King Diamond's voice cannot be imitated! "Waterfall Of Illusions" together with the last song on the album "Somewhere Beyond The Mist" are Neoclassical Dark Ambient pieces. The sixth and seventh songs are again Doom oriented, one being a Candlemass cover "Bewitched" and "Semitarius" being a good Doom/Melodic Heavy Metal song, probably the best one to be found on the whole album.
"Dreamweaver" starts with good keyboards somehow reminiscent of Hawkwind and then goes again to a straight Doom with blackish vocals by the middle of the song they switch to a dreamy, almost Gothic like song that by the end turns into a good Heavy Metal song, maybe for some this switches are too much. I cannot complaint, they do give variation. "Midwinter Gathering", the ninth song is more aggressive than the others, the atmosphere here is more dense, it also has an oriental/arabic feel to it, some key parts giving you this feeling. "Crossing The Veil Of Mist" has at least the first lyrics that are sung taken from Baudelaire's "Les Litanies Du Satan". The song starts with a classical guitar prelude and then the female voice appears singing with a sweet voice "O toi le plus savant e plus beau des anges...". Great! Then the Metal part kicks and somehow the dreamy atmosphere is destroyed and replaced by a darker but not greater atmosphere, fortunately the first part is repeated at the end of the song giving it a circular feel. This release is complex but not complete.

Beyond The Ninth Wave - "Beyond The Ninth Wave"

(Canada, Suffering Jesus Productions, Black Metal, 2005)

This is an older release from Suffering Jesus which was sent to me along with their newer stuff. Beyond The Ninth Wave play depressive Black Metal with a raw and cold sound. The tempos are varied, though the faster material can sound a little generic at times. The slower parts are the highlights and in my opinion the best tracks are towards the end of the CD. These use slow minor key arpeggios on the guitar, with some basic synth sounds, the way Burzum played on "Filosofem". Standout tracks are "Screams From The Dungeon" and the mournful "Trostlosigkeit", which seeps with feelings of solitude and misery. Recommended to fans of raw, depressive Black Metal.

Bisclaveret - "Amalgame"

(Poland, Zoharum Records, Ambient/Experimental, 2008)

First of all I have to mention that I'm not really into this kind of music though I like and appreciate it very much, but I'm a novice on this territory and I think this won't change because I'm very seldom in the mood for such sounds. In fact I'm running a musick project that sounds similar but I just don't have the patience to explore this scene, even if I know that there are a lot of great projects like this one, waiting to be discovered...
Since this project was founded in 2000, they have released a lot of stuff, by themselves, on the web and on compilations... This album is a collection of remixes by different artists from the scene. What bothers me a little is the fact that some bands release remixes of songs that sound like remixes themselves. I'll never understand this fact. Fortunately in this case it's a little different because Bisclaveret's soundscapes were rearranged a lot...
Anyway, this album turned out very well! Even if together it's a homogeneous, soundtrack-like CD, each one of the nine songs sounds totally different. My favourites are tracks 1 & 6. The first one is "Insane In God" which was remixed by Moan. This seems to be the band's "secret hit" and it's a really catchy song with a simple but effective, haunting piano melody and mournful vocals like Sopor Aeternus or the early Anorexia Nervosa had them. This reminds me of a soundtrack to a sick movie. In the background you can constantly hear some kind of thunder and falling drops and together with the strange creaking (sounds like someone is eating raw meat) and the deep keyboards it makes a great nightmare scenario. Just perfect!
Track 6 is named "I'm Insane In..." and this one has a totally different arrangement of the same song. This isn't a remix but more like a reinterpretation. It's made by God's Bow, a better known band who already worked for Wumpscut and was on tour with Deine Lakaien. I love what they've done to the song, the result is a Electro/Industrial ballad (if this is the right description) with some great sitar-like melodies and "elfish" but not cheesy female choirs. Also mentionable is track two ("Ritual Of All-Embracing Madness" remixed by Sleeping Pictures) with its beats that are made of static noises only.
The songs I don't really like are "All Things Lost" which sounds a little like cheap 80s Pop music and the minimalist remix of "Ritual Of All-Embracing Madness" by Hoarfrost which is only made of distorted vocals and some subtle deep tones... pretty boring in my opinion!
As a bonus you can find the video for the original version of "Insane In God", which is also very well done (pictures of a guy who has slit his wrists in a typical Eastern Europe bathroom and some nice abstract b&w images) though the rendering quality could have been better, but this depends on the free space on the disc. All this is packaged in a simple but beautifully designed 3-panel digipak!
A rating is not really possible when considering the fact that the songs 1 & 6 deserve 10 points but track 7 for example only five or even less... ratings are stupid anyway! ;) All in all it's a very cool album, which makes me hungry for more! You have to check out this band, but I think you should first purchase a release which contains original songs!
Also a single from this album was released online (featuring a non album track). Download it for free from here!

Black Angel - "From The Darkness"

(Peru, Ketzer Records, Black Metal, 2005)

After years of delays, the cult Peruvian horde Black Angel have finally released their debut CD. For those who aren't aware, the band have had an on/off existence since 1988, have released numerous demos and limited edition cassettes. It's a testament to mainman Hector Corpus' dedication and hard work that, in the days where bands create one demo (if that) and are signed, his debut CD is out, 17 years after Black Angel's inception.
And so onto the music. Black Angel play an orthodox yet strangely unique from of Black Metal, distinctly South American, with a primitive, doomy atmosphere. The are strong influences from Hellhammer and Bathory throughout, yet the occasional thrashy riff or blastbeat make the quite long compositions varied and interesting. But this is one thing; pure Black Metal hell, there are no allowances for nice productions, keyboard arrangements or female vocals. Only the most dank, nasty Black Metal thuggery is on display on this truly malevolent album. Fans of South American Black/Death Metal need this CD!
You can get "From The Darkness" from Ketzer Records (www.ketzer-records.de) in Europe or Onslaught Records (www.onslaughter.net) in the Americas.

Black Crucifixion - "The Fallen One Of Flames"

(Finland, Paragon Records, Atmospheric Black Metal, 2005)

"Rise master spirit, rise ghost of hell"

Black Crucifixion started as a band in 1991, "The Fallen One Of Flames" being their first demo tape, and the only Black Metal release in their catalogue. Black Crucifixion is one of the forerunners of Black Metal this demo remains over time a very good expresion of the first wave of nordic Black Metal and it also bears all the caracteristics of the genre, it is cold, dark, lo-fi and it spurs a great atmosphere.
Black Crucifixion's first line-up featured Arjo Wennström and Sodomatic Slaughter both of them were at the time in the more know outfit Beherit and you can say that Black Crucifixion's sound is derivative from Beherit's to some extent but in the same time warmer and taking inspiration more from doom Metal than Grindcore. The album is opened by "Intro", an acoustic song featuring the usual by now, organs/whispers/classical guitar clichees (composed the same as the "Outro" by Beherit's Holocausto Vengeance), the follower "Flowing Downwards" is a track of epic proportions, opened by a choir accompanied by acoustic guitar the song evolves into a doomish Black Metal somehow remininding me of Baphomet's "Latest Jesus" from the album with the same name released in 1992. "Master Spirit", the third track is a more grinding Black Metal piece, very much like Beherit on "Oath Of Black Blood", fast and crushing primitive Black Metal.
As an extra on this edition you can find the song "Goddess of Doom" which was only available on the first 50 copies of the first edition of the demo, released in 1992 by Fallen Pages Productions which also released the cult underground fanzine "Fallen Pages". The song starts with a Black Sabbath like riff, then turns to the grinding Black Metal of "Master Spirit". The mastering of the CD suffers a bit, on "Flowing Downwards" for example you can hear that the master tape was not in a very good condition.
What we have here is an EP for whomever is interested in the early days of Black Metal, when it was not about the money and this kind of music was not that easy to get and the most important it had a soul of its own.

Black Vomit – "Jungle Death"

(U.K., Rusty Axe, Metal/Ambient/D'N'B/Psychedelia/Post-rock, 2009)

Metal music, being born from merely a simplified and distorted form of Hard Rock, was always, in it's traditional values, about touching the core by simple and primitive means so any band expanding the language instead of cutting it down is to be regarded with suspicion. Pureness gets along very well with conservative views so is little room for innovators on these grounds.
Black Vomit's "Jungle Death" is an effort of forcing the style into a new synthesis. A very generous display of sources that are forced to work together. The result is highly eclectic, diverse, unequal along the LP but with great moments and elements of novelty. The debut is wondering and dark, with a cloudy atmosphere introducing a mood that would surprisingly last trough and despite disparate elements. Second track its an Electro psychedelic blasting Black Metal tune with plenty of keyboards that struggle surrounding a simple straight forward base structure. Then the violence stops at once delicate Ambient notes rising. "Vigilante Night" marches like a Metal/Post-rock monster, thick full of echos and humid tones. "Last Cries Of The Lost" introduces a more literal jungle feel, as the drumming resembles Drum'n'Bass patterns and the rest of the elements are molded into a wet forest journey.
There are vocal samples and tribal drums on "La Pastora (The Shepherdess)", Noise and Ambient on "Consterndt", that drone and drag until "Repositioning Chrome" lightens things up with an almost epileptic Post-rock drive. This piece falls short into a chamber music part with small ghost like sampled voices and more conventional drumming. "Dark Beloved Cloud" is the twin composition of "Deluge From Hell", bursting into blast beats and noisy digital distorted Black Metal riffs but unlike the second track doesn't end abruptly but mutates into a deep coma like Ambient piece. This tends to complete the album structure as it appears similar to the first track; but now the blasting reintroduces dynamics, as another Post-rock monster with digital implants dancing and praising nature.
One of my most interesting finds this year. An original take on heaviness, be it Metal or not.

Black Math Horseman - "Three Song Demo"

(U.S.A., Self released, Psychedelic/Doom Rock, 2007)

Picture the following scenario: Egypt. A group of scientists stumble upon the tomb of a pharaoh who was believed to have only existed in fiction. Unable to believe what they discovered, the team ventures deep into the labyrinth of passageways. Soon, their ears are greeted by the sound of music – a powerful, epic, mysterious sound – coming not from outside the tomb, but from deeper within. Following the sound further down the dark corridors, they at last find themselves outside a sealed room seemingly as old as recorded history. From within, they hear the mysterious music carrying on, completely isolated from the entire world. Breaking into the sealed-off space, they discover the grand burial chamber. Inside, the source of the music is a group of priests, dead for millennia, the mummified eternal servants of the pharaoh whose tomb they are in. Due to some fold in time, they play on endlessly, using instruments as ancient and fragile as their own mummified bodies, the names of which have been lost and forgotten with the passing of countless millennia. The feel of the music is both hypnotic and primal, as though they are trapped performing a ritual that never ends. Bewildered, the team of scientists can do nothing but watch and listen as the priests play on, the lyrics telling tales of their culture from long ago in a lost language that might as well have never existed. The vocals, sung like an ancient chant, tell tales of the beginning of time, the great flood, epic battles, the rise and fall of civilizations, and the coming apocalypse.
I don't actually know what the lyrics are about, but that is the best way to describe the feeling one gets when listening to this first demo by Black Math Horseman. These three songs, as already mentioned, are epic, powerful, terrifying, and beautiful all at the same time. Combining elements of Doom Metal, Post-rock, and Psychedelic Rock, amongst others, Black Math Horseman have created a wonderfully unique sound all their own that is full of depth, atmosphere, mood changes, and addictive melodies and harmonies. Just dig a little below the surface and there are tons of subtle details waiting to be discovered. There is such careful attention to detail that it is at times like Classical music. Nothing sounds good by accident – every note played and every little harmony created sounds like it was meant to be there. Every drum fill, every rhythmic detail, every shift in dynamics is used to maximum effect. And, speaking of dynamics, this demo runs the full range from wide-open stretches of spacey bliss to full-on distorted heaviness and everything in between. And the vocals fit so perfectly! Bassist/vocalist Sera Timms performs a kind of eerie, otherworldly style that ranges from a soft murmur to a kind of ghostly call. Drenched in reverb, they don't rise above the music but add to it. Being used like another instrument, they only add another layer to the already-thick atmosphere.
Despite all the artistic flair these guys (and girl) have, they don't forget how to bring the Rock! From the occasionally bluesy feel to the epic guitar riffs and mammoth drum fills, Black Math Horseman still bow down to the Rock gods of old. Though it may be hard for others to pick out, I can see similarities with the likes of Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, and Jimi Hendrix, as well Black Sabbath and Pentagram. There are so many great guitar riffs to be heard on this demo, the drums providing a perfectly driving rhythm to propel everything forward and give it all a head-bobbing, jamming vibe. The music sounds as though it's simultaneously planned and spontaneous, composed and improvised at the same time. Although the music says enough on its own, I will also mention that this demo was recorded by former Kyuss bassist Scott Reeder, who has been involved in recording many albums over the years, Sunn O)))'s "OO Void" among them. Unless I am mistaken, I believe he will also be recording/producing the band's next EP.
This is without a doubt one band to look out for. I honestly can't recommend this demo enough. After hours and hours of listening to only these three songs for several weeks, it still doesn't get old. It only makes me want to hear more from this amazing band! Even though the sound quality is slightly rough, it somehow fits the ritualistic atmosphere, as though you're listening to the sounds of a pagan ceremony drift up from an old stone basement. Enough with ridiculous comparisons - my point is that you shouldn't let the word "demo" scare you off! This music is easily good enough to be considered more than just "demo material". Supreme musicianship and mature songwriting go together to make this one hell of a "demo." This is sure to appeal to fans of bands like Grails, Godspeed You Black Emperor!, Mono, Boris, Om, Kyuss etc. Absolutely magnificent! Any self-respecting music fan owes it to them self to check out this amazing band. A new favourite of mine for sure!

Blind Myself - "Product Of Our Immagination"

(Hungary, 1G Records, Modern Hardcore/Metal, 2002)

This is Blind Myself's second album after releasing a EP back in 1998 and "Heaven't" in 1999. A bastard of Neurosis (particularly the transitions from melancholic passages to mad outbursts of fury), Dillinger Escape Plan (complex progressive structures) and Crowbar (the sadness and the pain in the songs...)
A noisy intro opens the album, a perfectly arranged orgy of screams and growls, followed by excellent original compositions which only slow down for some great bridges and interludes (they call them tunels), like the perfect "Shine" which consists only of piano and creepy samples or the last song "Allyson", an acoustic instrumental (and it's better this way, I think vocals would have ruined it). "New York City" is made only of guitar scratching (3:20 min. long!) - but built together it's a great melody like in "Silent Hill" (the game) for example - and ends with some sophisticated spoken verses. The lyrics are in general very significant and authentic and performed without an accent! The great guitars (tons of perfect riffs), a fat bass sound, machine-like drumming and Greg's strong voice are the ingredients for this explosive release! Just check out "Sorrows" or "Lava"! Intensive like hell!
Every track has it's right to exist on this album, there's no filler, just qualitiy! I even dare to compare this one with Neurosis' "Trough Silver In Blood"! It's not the best production, but who cares? It's one of the most ambitious albums I've ever heard and it made me hungry for more!

Blind Myself - "Ancient Scream Therapy"

(Hungary, Edge Records, Modern Hardcore/Metal, 2006)

The new album from Hungarians Metal band No.1 seems to be the most professional one to date. The most important new thing are the vocals. Greg's voice has progressed very much, you can enjoy a much brighter spectrum than before. There are still screams and raging hardcore growls but a clean voice completes the whole thing and makes the songs sound more effective. There's always something to discover on this album, no time to get bored, no reason to push the "next" button. The elaborated compositions are filled with all kinds of sounds, some vocal effects and great ideas like the Hammond organ like solo in "Judgement 2021" or the absolute ingenious female vocals in "The Buried Alive Exercise" (6:15 min.! - the best track here, and one of the most intense I've ever heard) - sort of Jarboe and Synne Diana Soprana (In the Woods). This woman really can sing!
Not every song has the same high quality level, "Sólyomszemmel" for example is the worst one here, not because of the Hungarian lyrics, but in general) and in the main I like the earlier works better but nevertheless it's more than a good job, and I hope they find a bigger label or a distribution which helps them crush the so called stars of the hardcore/Metalcore scene...
The beautifully designed dvd (menu) contains three live tracks (better recorded than a lot of the dvd's you have to pay for, their three videoclips "Go Get A Life" (another perfect one from the new album), "Worst Case Scenario", and "Wise Men Of The West", both from the last release, as well as a picture gallery and an interview, which is unfortunately only in Hungarian... A professional artwork (just like the rest of their visuals), a perfect production and a great bonus dvd for only 2000 Ft (8 Euros)! More than value for money! As far as I know the CD isn't distributed elsewhere but on www.bprnr.com but it isn't that hard to order it there...
And finally something "sweet" from the credits section: "This record is dedicated to Steve Irwin. Support your local dog rescue shelter and adopt a dog if possible!" I love this statement! You have to know this band!

Blood Duster - "Menstrual Soup"

(Australia, Bizarre Leprous Production, Grindcore, 2005)

Probably there are just a few headbangers who got no idea who Blood Duster is. Recorded back in 1992, the "Menstrual Soup" demo succeeded to impress the Australian underground scene through its very good and intense sound, but through production too. If we'll try to label Blood Duster's music, we could say that this Australians play a kind of Rock Death/Grind Metal; a wonderful support for worldwide fans. Although "Menstrual Soup" is just a demo, this product shocks through its guitar themes, oriented a lot to traditional Heavy Metal, and very good screaming and guttural vocal register. I like much that Blood Duster's demo re-recorded to be their first step in finding a new, true and 100% dedicated label, able to press a new album and I hope their adventure will end here, because Bizarre Leprous is something Blood Duster really need. Because when Relapse broke off the deal with this Australian band, Blood Duster never profited by such an important deal Bizarre Leprous offered them. So I'm waiting for the up-coming album, which will probably be recorded under Bizarre Leprous' banner.

Bloodfeast - "Autophobia"

(Austria, PH-Music, Death Metal, 2005)

After four demos the Austrian Death Metal band has released their first album "Autophobia" under Phil Hauser's new label PH-Music (www.ph-music.org). Six glorious tracks, the sick intro, which in not only a 30 seconds long filler, and two live tracks - older songs, recorded in summer 2005 in Graz, "Herr der Herren" (Lord of the Lords, I think) and "Jason", the band's "secret hit" :)
Obviously Wolf (guitar, voc.), James Blood (guitar, backing voc., ex-Black Prophecy, joined in 2003), Ghandi (bass, backing voc., the "fun factor" in the band, who will unfortunately leave this winter for studying in Vienna) and Gatti (the drummer who never comes to the aftershow-parties) gave their best and used all the possibilities of a professional studio to record this album. The sound is clear though it's filled with details, the instruments well played and mixed. Wolf's voice variates from Death Metal growls and a bit of Dani Filth's screams to sick Manson-like vocalparts (the demo contained a very well done cover of "The Beautiful People", but they decided not to put it on the album due to copyright problems. Live it's usually the last song, and it works perfectly) and even some melodic parts like in "My Friend". Each song has its own feeling, together it fits as one. I think it's because of the different personalities in the band, the various tastes. You can hear the influences (Pungent Stench and Disastrous Murmur, Cannibal Corpse... and even a little Meshuggah and Marilyn Manson).
Bloodfeast is now touring through Austria. New material should be ready for next winter, when they enter the studio again. Visit their website, made by James!

Blood Tsunami - "Grand Feast For Vultures"

(Norway, Candlelight Records, Thrash Metal, 2009)

The Thrash Metal masters Blood Tsunami return with a new opus called "Grand Feast For Vultures", the follow up to their highly acclaimed "Thrash Metal" recorded 2 years ago under the banner of the same Candlelight Records!
Consisting in 7 songs "Grand Feast For Vultures" seems to be faster, darker and heavier than before, but still maintaining the epic brutal and yet melodically content! Combining musical lines taken from Thrash, Death, even from New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, Blood Tsunami has created their own mixture of extreme Metal content, filled with various vocal scores that frequently remind me of Deicide and Witchery in the same time! Recorded in Lion Heart Studios from Oslo the album was engineered by Voldmo Larsen and it was produced by Blood Tsunami itself; the sounds cape being dark, brutal and 100% devoted to the devil! There is no doubt that band's technical level is the most important attraction point of this CD; and you should listen to this jewel on your own to see what exactly all is about!
All in all this is a very good material, the perfect chance to see how the new Thrash Metal music will going to sound from now on. With this new opus I assure you are one step closer to the grave, where the only thing you have to do is to admire horse head nebula!

Bloodthirst - "Let Him Die"

(Poland, Pagan Records, Thrash Metal, 2007)

Weren't you told Thrash Metal would kick ass? Damn, I can't believe but "Let Him Die" is a masterpiece winding from the rusty past. However the album is fresh, there are no riffs of so-called "fresh blood" and anything that may bring the band as a modern one. Nothing new, only crushing riffs in the best and accepted traditions of Metal warriors. Everything made in old manner and there is no chance to leave – accept this bestiality or die! And the result just excellent!!! Bombastic and mighty crushing riffs in fast tempo just kills and says: destroy, destroy, destroy!!!
Also interesting way is vocal that was signed in Black Metal-like screaming that was laid on whole music where mad drummer want to strike drums... Interminable aggression will torment you, baby, during 3 minutes of pure Thrash madness. Especially I want to emphasize third song called "Destroyer – Bringer Of Flames" that I think the best and it's just for soul. It very similar to legendary U.S. warriors Nocturnal Fear (if somebody don't know, they do live in racial restless Detroit and as for my opinion, the best band playing dirty, sick, and crushing Thrash in U.S.A.!) and just cool to listen to this storm of ferocity.
As concerning musicians themselves, it's enough to see their photos and understand that time of ancient Thrash sickos will be back. They looks as real metalheads in comparison with dozens of nowadays teeny idiots trying to play evil music. Must have for all Metal oldmen, absolutely!!!

Bloodthirst - "Sanctity Denied"

(Poland, Pagan Records, Thrash Metal, 2009)

In the last few months I received quite few interesting materials from some labels I started to work this year 2009; one of this home recordings is Pagan Records from Poland, a label I suppose you heard about it in the last 10 years or so.
One of its last releases is this album signed Bloodthirst; a very good Thrash/Death Metal sample extremely heavy and technical in the same time. Band's second effort "Sanctity Denied" contains 8 songs, probably some of the best I ever heard until now in this extreme way of playing; a material that spreads tones of raw & intense hateful anti-Christian Thrash Metal, something I met on a Czech Metal band called Doomsday! Combining extreme classic Thrash Metal with blasphemous Black Metal lines à la Desaster, Witchburner, Dissection or Destroyer 666 as they like to say, Bloodthirst shows us that although it is a relative young band they really know how to handle their instruments; the technical level I met here being probably the main attraction point of such a brilliant materials entitled "Sanctity Denied"! Extremely well done rhythm changes, infernal heavy guitar solos, a drums section that fits perfectly with band's musical content and a vocal score that speaks for itself, these are the main ingredients offered here! I really appreciated the guitar and bass guitar attacks, breaks and mid-tempo lines, extremely intelligent emphasized by a small core touch; all these elements being very good "dresses" in a Heavy/Thrash envelope that I very much liked in the end.
All in all "Sanctity Denied" is one of my favourite albums this year, and it represents one of the most important bricks on the Thrash/Death Metal edifice! Check it as soon as possible and you'll see on your own what all is about with this gang hailing from Poland!

Bonemachine - "Destination Hell"

(Australia, Self released, Minimalist Industrial Ambient, 2003)

"Sympathy For The Devil" is a strange journey through Ambient landscapes. A release that features one song which is lasting for 77 minutes, very hard to listen to and maintain yourself focused to what is happening there, and there aren't many things that you'll notice because there aren't too many variations here and when a new element theme appears in the music there is the tendency to repeat and repeat that theme until you say that you've had enough. I don't know if anyone is interested in this kind of release but anyway, everyone is free to say what he wants to say... isn't he?



Boner Bitch - "Score Baby"

(Austria, PH-Music, Rock, 2007)

I can't help thinking of a dirty biker club in the middle of a dried out wasteland, tequila and weed in masses, gorgeous girls and loud machines when listening to "Score Baby"! Sex, drugs and Rock'n'Roll!
It's unbelievable but these four guys are from Graz (the capital of Styria). I don't know where all the inspirations are from, but this debut (after two demos) tops some of the albums established bands of this genre have recorded!
The twelve songs are a mix of Queens of the Stone Age and Monster Magnet (the vocalist actually looks like Dave Wyndorf) with some Motörhead influences. OK, the first track is more than inspired by QOTSA's "Regular John" but it's not a copy, it's more like a hommage I'd say. The rest of the album is kick ass Stoner Rock (if I may call it that), pure and real - and it gets at the end more and more original. The built in subtle female vocals also gives the songs an extra touch of coolness.
If I had to choose favourites I'd pick "Do It For Your Kitten" with its great melodies, melancholic passages and a perfect clear voice, the uptempo song "Join The Toyride" (what a great title!) and the ingenious opener. The drug infected ballad "Darkened Skies" is also very interesting - intense and emotional.
This is the best local act I've heard for years (also on stage! - I saw them live two times), nothing on this release has to hide behind international standards. This is amazing, especially when considering the fact that the first gig was in December 2004! I hope PH-Music can take the responsibility for this band and make it bigger! Tell your girl that Rock is back in town!

Boner Bitch - "Rounded Rooms"

(Austria, PH-Music, Rock, 2007)

"Rounded Rooms" has been released as a single which also features the radio mix (I thought it's useless but I've heard it on the radio just as I was writing these reviews), a funny stop motion videoclip inspired by the movie "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey" and the non album track "Dirty Low Summer" which sounds like an average Motörhead track - not sensational but for sure the right sound for some shots of firewater. Well, "Rounded Rooms" is not the best track on this album but for sure it's the right one for airplay and as we know, the singles mostly don't represent the whole album - at least not in the Rock/Metal scene. Nevertheless, a nice single which deserves your attention.

Branikald - "Winterkald"

(Russia, Total Holocaust Records, Raw Black Metal, 2005)

Branikald, among with Forest, Raven Dark, Nitberg, Rundagor, Vargleide, Wotansjolv are members of the Blazebirth Hall, an underground Black Metal organization from Russia. Winterkald is the 17th release of Branikald (is possible to be the re-release of the 1997 demo Av Winterkald, on which there are few information to be found). From this immense discography only the demos "Stormheit" from 1994 and "To Kampf" from 1995 came across my path, and the variation between is barely visible, all of them being blizzard like Black Metal. In an interview Kaldrad (the man behind Branikald) stated about his compositions: "It couldn't even be called "music" in the usual understanding of this term, because the essence is changed and the very substance of it could be the one only with the hurricanes, with the whirlwinds and with the sounds of the frosty howling nights. Only those could fully understand it, those who enter the battle without doubts, without looking back. Others will seek the beauty of harmonies in it, but as they will hear it, they will be frightened and they will start to bark like the cowardly dogs." And this is the right description of all the Branikald released that I've listened so far, the difference between this statement and others alike is that in this case this is not just bullshit propaganda, is just the right description of the "music" presented! Among Raw NS Black Metal bands, this is one of the Elite, so it would not be so wise to pass over this if you are into unpolished minimalist true Black Metal!.

Breizh Occult - "La Contemplation Du Chaos"

(France, Self released, Black Metal, 2006)

Probably an unfamiliar name for most of you readers, this French band sticks to the old school Black Metal. The sound is pretty raw and unpolished for this times and the atmosphere is quite serene. Mostly played in mid-tempo they somehow remind me of Mütiilation/Countess style of playing Black Metal.
"Burn And Die", "Le Festin Des Fous" and the eponymous "La Contemplation Du Chaos" - this last one featuring a good dose of Doom at the end of it - are the fastest songs here, simple but with the right atmosphere, but mainly this band plays mid-tempo Black Metal, some of the songs are even close to Doom Metal but with a harsh Black Metal voice which is actually quite good and enjoyable, a good example of this being the songs "The Grave Of Hatred" or "Les Demons De La Putrefaction".
Maybe they are not the best new thing in Black Metal, but for me this release is one that must not be skipped by anyone who is still listening to good Black Metal (this meaning non melodic/sweet/triggered). I have nothing to complain about this release. For what it is it is very good!

Brodequin - "Festival Of Death"

(U.S.A., Unmatched Brutallity Records, Brutal Death Metal, 2003)

Although Mike Bailey is the owner of Unmatched Brutallity Records, it seems that he got a lot of free time for his band, Brodequin, too! And that's a very good ideea 'cause Brodequin became a very powerfull band from album to album. Through its 11 songs Brodequin blows out our brains with its fast Brutal Death Metal style. When I first listened to "Festival Of Death" I've realised that very known bands such as: Suffocation, Deeds Of Flesh or Mortician are to slow compared to the brutal newcommers Brodequin! The main attraction point of this CD is Jamie vokills, Mike's brother, an interesting one very low and very guttural. Although Jamie is the band singer, he plays very well the guitar-bass too at a very high level I could say! Mike's guitar riffs and solos are very well done and the rhythm is very intense and fast. The rhythmical section is handled by Chad Wall, a guy who has no mercy and who continues from track to track to "kill" his instrument! "Festival Of Death" is a very brutal album but we can find here interesting technical moments too; the lyrical content dealing with anti-Christian themes, band members being totally against the present and past church manipulation, the final result being in a very good conection with the cover artwork and with the musical content too. On the whole this album is an excellent product, that will surelly satisfy the most exacting Brutal Death Metal fans. So don't hesitate to get this CD because this is something you really need!