Ulceration - ¨Submerged in Gluttony¨
(Holland, Bizarre Leprous Records, Brutal Death Metal, 2004)

Recorded by Tim Bleske in May 2004 in Asylum studio, and mastered in Mastermind Studio in June 2004 by Trevor Sadler, ¨Submerged in Gluttony¨ brings in front of us a 5 track MCD album into brutal death metal way of playing!
This CD is a very brutal and intense one, band memebers being attracted by the US brutal death metal area. Singer's vocal register use a guttural score, an extremely grave one; the symbiosis between singer's voice and the musical instruments being an extremely inteligent one too. I supose that band's guitar is the most interesting musical instrument used by Ulceration; its attacks, riffs and solos showing us that John Lecher knows very well to handle his instrument.
The rhythm changes are absolutelly brutish, the drums section being in a real search for the perfect rhythm to fit perfectly with this sound battle. We can frequently met some hardcore elements, the final result being a very good one for the headbangers arround the world. Also, we can find some slower metal phases an ideea that gives to ¨Submerged in Gluttony¨ another musical dimenssion, an interesting final concept made by Ulceration.
Finaly I'd like to add that Ulceration prepares another album that probably will be recorded for Unmatched Brutality Records from USA.

Contact: bilepr@lanskrounsko.cz
http://www.myspace.com/ulceration
Playing time: 15:14

Review by Litocranius

Uncreation's Dawn - "Lightninig Hammer Falls"
(Finland, Hammer of Hate Records, Black Metal, 2004)

After many years of intense activity, the finish black metal masters have finally succeeded to record their first full-length effort called "Lightning hammer falls"! To be frank with you, I've never expected to meet such a good band; so... I was very impressed still from the first accords. This product contains 7 tracks into raw black metal, although its total running time is about 40 minutes. We have here more than a half an hour of intense black metal, near to Immortal, very well combined with a few death metal lines, even with some thrash metal elements too. CD songs are 5 minutes long each, very intense and raw, a decisive role having the rhythmical section and the guitar. Although I'm not a devoted black metal fan, it’s obvious that Uncreation's Dawn is one of my favorite 10 black metal bands ever. An incredible vokills who passes very easy from screaming to growling, deadly guitar solos and a totally antichristian attitude and lyrical concept, compounds an unitary whole from which the Finnish been frequently compared with Destroyer 666 or Grand Belial's Key. The sound is a very good one and the production too; because these aren't bad elements, the final result is a very good one genre fans will be enlighten by this material signed Uncreation's Dawn.

Review by Litocranius

Well, the chapter of Ungraved have to me written  apart from whole Russian doom scene, where the came band from. This act shows us unbelievable art potential and non-standard approach to the question of song’s composition! Ungraved, according the bands’ name, had a death metal past, and soon probably decided to find own way in music. What we have got? An eclectic mix of ferrous death metal riffs, spiced by emotional doom elements and unique keyboard atmosphere. The voice is very deepest and certain, spreading a stench of death. Sometimes, it’s strange to listen to “virgin” keyboards passages, sorrowful melody and this power growling! Songs are not ideal, but do not forget – it’s just a debut work and even here we can feel the great potential that band have! “A Life Elder” is full of surprises! You never been know what you may await – songs’ structure is broken and unpredictable and when I listen to this opus, I find the resemblance with great Russian masters of doom/death/black metal Psilocybe Larvae, which name is well-known to any cultural “doomster” inside of Russland. I think, it’s a good deal for Backfire productions to possess this material. No doubt, the band go onward and next album, as I suppose, will not be worse that current interesting debut work!

Order: www.backfire-prod.ru
Playing time: 41:40

The second material from Van Records is signed Urfaust, and it introduce us a so called black metal music. In the end this is a combination between so many elements that made me to label this release as: funeral depressive doom combined with experimental black metal and with slow moments and unusual chants! This album surprised me from the first of its accords; and in only 2 tracks it made me to travel into something I never got in before, a depressive work that can bring you in the 4th dimension of your own!
I have to recognize that I never heard such things like this before, but I think I’ll do from now on; a very good and intelligent material that speaks itself and it needs no other introduction and some other shity things like that! Honestly I really don’t know what to say about such a great work, because it’s so good that left me no space for some other comments.
I’d like to end here because is useless to talk about such a brilliant album; but keep on eye on the interviews link because very soon you’ll find out an interview with this incredible combo called Urfaust!
Incredible, excellent, impressive!!!

Contact: sven.dinninghoff@van-gbr.de
Playing time: 18:57

Review by Litocranius

Listening to Urduk's debut demo, I am transported back 5 years in time to when I first heard Must Missa's demo “Sex Beyond the Grave”. Not only do Urduk sound pretty much exactly like Missa used to, but they hail from the same town of Kilingi-Nõmme and this 4 song demo is released by an ex-member of Must Missa!
Urduk's music is generally up tempo, with fizzy, abrasive guitars playing evil sounding riffs, with an almost a punk-like simplicity. There are some slower parts that add a little variety, but for the most part this is fast, necro and uncompromising. Absolutely unoriginal, but raw black metal is more about energy and intensity, two characteristics this demo has in spades.
You can find more info about Urduk at www.myspace.com/urduk. You can get the demo (CD-R with pro-cover) for 4 GBP or 6 EUR from Mahtra Records at the address below.

Urn - “Dawn of the Devastation”
(Finland, No Sign of Life, Thrash/Black Metal, 2006)

“Dawn of the Devastation” is Urn’s fifth release and second album after 2001’s “666 Megatons”. The style that they are playing is tributary to 80’s Thrash Metal combined with primitive Black Metal and some old Heavy Metal. This album is more like a love or hate thing and for sure is not meant to be listened by the masses having in mind that for most Thrash Metal listeners of today it will be at least outdated having in mind that this mostly sounds as Venom or Hellhammer on speed.
After the intro “Introaaarr from the Depths” hell unleashes, songs like “Possesed by Satan”, “Rise of Necromancy” or “Massgravedesecration” - this song has some great moments, great technical combinations between drums/guitars and some nice riffs - will for sure appeal to any true thrasher around . Their style is not progressive and quite minimal mostly played in high speed. This release is very intense, the drumming is mind blowing, guitars are sounding harsh, the bass lines are very audible and the vocalist sounds possessed.
Lyrically they deal with devastation, satanic and occult topics not mere poetry but good stuff. A minus would be the cover which is quite strange I may say, also the production is a bit thin but fortunately very clear.
Not bringing anything new to the scene this a good addition to your collection if you like bands like Toxic Holocaust, Witchery, Front Beast or plain and simple good thrashing Black Metal.

Contact: www.urn666.com
www.no-sign-of-life.com
Playing Time: 41:37

Review by Cătălin Carlaonţ (10/07)

Uruk Hai - “Barbarians - Orcish Battle Hymns”
(Austria, Chanteloup Creations, Ambient/Black, 2000)

On this tape album of Uruk-Hai is presented a mixture between ambient and electronic black metal. There are some long songs like "Of Thingol and Melian" and "Then the gloom gathered, darkness growing”. Lots of movie samples are to be found here. This is a step further into the process of creation for Uruk-Hai. I don’t know if you knew but this is a project of Hugin from Hrosharsgranni. Also here you can find an unusual cover for Motörhead's "March or die". Album recommended to Tolkien fans.