CD AND DEMOS REVIEWS - OCTOBER 2001

 

VII ARCANO - INNER DEATHSCAPES (Warlord Records, 2001):

Interesting technical death metal band from Italy, in the vein of In Flames and Samael. This is a band with a lot of melodies and ideas going on. In fact the main thing here is the combination between this guitar melodies and some thrash metal rhythms with a vocalist reminiscent of Slayer´s Tom Araya (obviously more growling and with more variations). There is a really good double bass drumming work here and there are also a lot of tempo changes that give the band a lot of personality. I think that this is one of the bands that creates the missing link between modern death metal and old school thrash metal (there are a lot of old school riffs that were sorely missing in the metal scene of this days...and here they are). The vinyl version includes a cover of Kiss "Love Gun". Favorite tracks: "Of Suicidal Age", "Echo Calling" (with catchy riff), "Necrotica Art..." (again killer opening riff). Contact: www.warlordrecords.com and www.viiarcano.com

 

ABOMINATTION- RITES OF THE ETERNAL HATE (Destroyer Recs., 2000):

Technical data:

Recorded at Da Triba Studios - Sao Paulo, Feb. 2000

Engineered and Mixed by Tchelo Martins. Mastered at Estudio Zappa.

Cover Artwork by Marcello Possa.

Track List: 1- Rites of the Eternal Hate, 2- Abominattion...of Creation, 3- Real Glory Revealed, 4- Diabolical Redemption, 5- Burn on Behalf of God, 6- Hated by the Flames, 7- the Emptiness of the Flesh, 8- Smell of Death

Black/death metal from Brazil with some good ideas (like for example the riff and changes at 0:47 in "Abominattion...of Creation") and a poor sound quality, specially on drums and guitars. This is raw and extreme black metal with some death influences in some of the riffs and some slower parts like the one in the break at 1:20 of "Real Glory Revealed" ( I think this guys should do more parts like this one because I think is where they can find their own identity). There are extremely fast guitar solos and an anguished vocalist who contributes to the dark feeling of the whole CD. I find interesting some thrash metal parts that are here and there in a lot of the tracks here and which I think should be more used. A good overall result. Favorite tracks: "Diabolical Redemption" (with some odd tempos), "Hated by the Flames". Contact: www.destroyer.com.br

 

AKERCOCKE - THE GOAT OF MENDES (Peaceville Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at

Engineered and Mixed by.

Cover Artwork by.

Track List: 1- Of Menstrual Blood and Semen, 2- A Skin For Dancing In, 3- Betwixt The Iniquitatis and the Prostigiators, 4- Horns of Baphomet, 5- Masks of God, 6- The Serpent, 7- Fortune My Foe, 8- Infernal Rites, 9- He Is Risen, 10- Breaking Silence, 11- Initiation, 12- Ceremony of Nine Angles, Video Enhancement for "Infernal Rites".

Akercocke is a really original band...in fact I could not have said this by listening to the first track, but it is a completely different band from the second track until the end of the CD. And they are really powerful !! Is it correct to call them industrial melodic brutal death metal? (what a name!...I hate labels). They have elements of each of this styles: The guttural vocals like the ones used in death metal bands, a lot of electronic elements (courtesy of Martin Bonsoir), and a lot of melodies in many of the parts (and in the vocals too in some choruses). I think that this two last elements are what make the Akercocke sound really original...killer guitar riffs with natural harmonics thrown here and there...electronics and keyboards used to enhance the power of the tracks, original melodies, extremely fast solos, some more calm moments like "Fortune My Foe"... And this guys are going on tour with Katatonia...what a team !!!! A must. Favorite tracks: "Horns of Baphomet", "Masks of God", "Infernal Rites". Contact: www.peaceville.co.uk or www.akercocke.com

Track List: 1- Scars of the Old Stream, 2- Everwake, 3- J´Fait une promesse, 4- Alone, 5- Far Away (acoustic), 6- Eternity (part 2), 7- Eternity (Part 3) (acoustic), 8- Better Off Dead, 9- One of the Few, 10- Inner Silence, 11- Goodbye Cruel World, 12- Destiny, 13- The Silent Enigma (Orchestral), 14- Angelica (live in Budapest 1997), 15- Horses, Video enhanced track - Hope

This is a must for Anathema fans...a compilation of the band´s more climatic moments...the ambient side of Anathema, including some rarities like the acoustic version of "Far Away" or "Eternity (Part 3)" also in an excellent acoustic version or the orchestral version of "The Silent Enigma" that were previously available only in Germany and Japan (six tracks of rarities). Also this CD includes a live version of "Angelica" recorded live in Budapest in 1997. This is a CD to lay down and listen with your eyes shut letting the music transport you to Anathema´s ethereal world. Plus you have here the Pink Floyd covers "Goodbye Cruel World" and "One of the Few", plus another cover "Better Off Dead". Relax, lost soul, and let Anathema embrace you with their dark wings. Favorite tracks: "The Silent Enigma", J´Fait Une Promesse" and "Destiny". Contact: www.peaceville.com

 

AYDRA - ICON OF SIN (Independent, 1999):

Technical data:

Recorded and Mixed at Sound Machine Rec. By David Lenel, Andreas Venetis and Aydra.

Mastered by Antonio Piazza and Aydra.

Cover Artwork by Eugenio Morganti.

Track List: 1- Icon of Sin, 2- Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, 3- Reflect and Desist, 4- Pleasure Dome, 5- The Day of the Weddings, 6- Xavier´s Dream, 7- Lost Time Fury, 8- Night Drive, 9- No R.M.X.

This guys are really technical !! I have the personal opinion that this bands that make the most technical versions of death metal are the ones that push the style one step forward and the ones that make the style evolve in the right direction. Aydra is an italian band and the musicians here extract all the sounds that are possible from their instruments (a special mention to Francesco Olivi who is a killer and original guitarist doing incredible solos with legatos and fusion phrases). Some parts here reminded me of bands like Cynic or Pestilence ("Testimony of the Ancients" or "Spheres" era) or maybe to Atheist. But this band has its own identity. Two words here to describe their music: Original, Extreme Musicianship. Since this album is from 1999 I am really awaiting a new effort really soon !!. One of the albums of the month. Favorite tracks: The whole CD. Contact: http://digilander.iol.it/aydra

 

BALANCE OF POWER - PERFECT BALANCE (Nightmare Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Mastered and Mixed by Todd Fitzgerald, Lance King and Lionel Hicks at Oarfin Studios.

Engineered by Lionel Hicks at POD and Summit Studios

Art Images by Will Putnam.

Track List: 1- Higher than The Sun, 2- Shelter Me, 3- The Fire Dance, 4- One Voice, 5- The pleasure Room, 6- The Killer or The Cure?, 7- House of Cain, 8- Hard Life, 9- Search for The Truth

Balance of Power is a well known and respected progressive metal band from the USA. And this band is for me the perfect argument to say that good bands like this one can do their style without copying another one (this is for all those Helloween/Rhapsody clones out there) and using a lot of original riffs and ideas (not only the old galloping and runs between keyboards and guitars). Here everything is done in order to create good songs, the melodies, the solos, the chord progressions...the great thing is that I can not pinpoint the influence of one band here...there are shades of Dream theater, of Shadow Gallery, of Vicious Rumours (in the most twisted and heavier riffs) and many more...all put together creating Balance of Power´s own personality. The plams go to the multifacetic singer Lance King who knows how to make the songs shine and to guitarists Pete Southern and Bill Yates whose solos are far beyond what most bands are doing nowadays. Fresh Air for heavy metal. Favorite tracks: "Higher than the Sun", "One Voice" and "The killer or The Cure?". Contact: www.nightmare-records.com

 

BEATEN BACK TO PURE - SOUTHERN APOCALYPSE (Retribute Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Mastered at Leadbelly Studios - June 2001

Produced by Steve Austin (Today Is the Day).

Design and Layout by Bailey at Retribute Recs.

Track List: 1- Whores Bath, 2- Tremors Beneath the Skin, 3- Acolyte, 4- Antietum, 5- Failure Wine, 6- Six Gun Salute

Take a little bit of Black Sabbath, put some Down on the mix, then add some Saint Vitus and The Obsessed and when it is almost ready add some Cathedral, Trouble and Today Is The Day...then you will have a close idea of what Beaten Back To Pure does. This is music that is in the path beyond stoner rock, doom and death metal (vocally at least). This is a good CD for those who love those rhythmic, almost psychodelic riffs with a growling vocalist that pushes forward the music by singing in different moods and sounding like he is putting a lot of effort on it. The guitars sound heavy, distorted and letting space for the songs to breathe. Fans of the styles mentioned above will love this one. One fundamental thing here: the grooves. Favorite tracks: "Tremors Beneath The Skin" and "Failure Wine". Contact: www.retributerecords.com

Technical data:

Raw black metal but with more emphasis in certain subtle elements instead of on speed. Evethough this band plays this style and has a lot of hyper fast parts, I think that their main features are on the parts where the guitars shine more, like on the melodic solos (which are not so common on the style) and in certain rhythms that are very different from the one note runs thta are so popular. In fact I think that this bands prefers not to abuse blast beats concentrating instead in trying to get their own identity in the world of black metal...check for example the first riff on "Mummification" which sounds like bands in the vein of Celtic Frost...really catchy but at the same time raw and powerful... totally recommended for black metal fans. Favorite tracks: " Bloodthrone", "Mummification" and "Darkest path To Eternity". Contact: www.foreverunderground.com

 

BRAINDANCE- REDEMPTION (Progressive Darkwave Recordings, 2001):

Technical data:

Produced, Edited and Engineered by Vora Vor.

Mixed at Audiology Studios

Designs and Illustrations by. Kinchi

Track List: 1- Refracture, 2-Resurrection, 3- Resurgence, 4- Return, 5- Relentless, 6- Reduction, 7- Resilience, 8- Requiem, 9- Reflexion, 10- Redemption

When confronted to this wonderful CD you only can think in the inmense talent that both members of the band, Sebastian Elliot and Vora Vor, have. I have to take my hat off to one of the most original releases not only of this year but of all metal history. What amazes me most besides their originality is the way in which Vora Vor does the arrangement. This woman does not let even one hole here to fill from the more evident elements to the most subtle keyboard or guitar line. This is one of those albums that you have to listen many times because on each hearing you find something new...it is really full of surprises. What can you find here? Heavy guitars, odd time rhythms, great vocals,melodies, synths, electronics, and many more things. Buy it or die because of your ignorance !!. Favborite tracks: The whole album. Contact: www.progressivedarkwave.com

 

BRIGHTNESS - DRINK AND DESTROY - LIVE 2001 (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded on Drink and Destroy Tour 2001

Track List: 1- intro, 2- Senseless War, 3- Sprightly Nights, 4- Headbangers Symphony, 5- Metallica Medley "The Four Bellz", 6- Revolution, 7- A Hard Way To Go, 8- Bullshit and More

Good old metal !! Why is it that countries like Germany, Norway, Sweden and Finland have so many good bands from so many different metal styles? They range from clasic heavy metal to death metal, black metal, grindcore and beyond. IS it a cultural reason? I don´t know. Brightness is a trio that is in the middle path between heavy metal and old school thrash (much closer to this latest style...in the vein of Sodom) ! With those thrashy riffs and drum patterns this band kicks ass in this live recording. I think that the effect would have been bigger if the sound would have been better (specially on drums and guitars that are quite in the back...but maybe next time that will be better). I like specially when the singer uses his middle ranges instead of the more thin Dave Mustaine-like voice because for my taste that fits better with the music. One thing that I would love this guys to do is to add a bass player to keep the bottom end of the music. Favorite tracks: "Revolution" and " Senseless War". Contact: www.brightness-metal.de

 

BURIED DREAMS - PERCEPTIONS (Oz Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Produced, Engineered and Mixed at Studio Fredman by Fredrik Nordström and Buried Dreams.

Design and Layout by Oscar Reyes Torres

Track List: 1- Illnamiqui, 2- The Riddle, 3- The Mind´s Subconscious, 4- At The End, 5- Cosmic Prophecies, 6- 360, 7- Perceptions, 8- Gods of Fire

A solemn keyboard and orchestral introduction leads us into the world of this mexican band. This world is completely made of progressive technical death metal. It is really interesting to see how the guitars are constantly constructing melodies and structures over the keyboards progression, even in the most compicated parts. The vocals are lying in the path of bands like Atheist or Death adding anguish to the tracks. There are a lot of calm passages with clean guitars like the ones in "The Riddle" (  2:30), followed by heavily orchestrated sections. It is amazing to see how important the keyboards are in this band....without them the music would have been completely different. Thumbs up for this guys !!!. Favorite tracks: "The Mind´s Subconscious", "At the End" and "Perceptions". Contact: www.ozproductions.com . In Argentina you can find it on this record shop: furias@ssdnet.com.ar or 4583-9955

 

CORPSE GRINDER - PERSISTENCE (Destroyer Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and Mixed at Da Tribo Studio, June 2000.

Produced by Ciero, Tchelo and Corpse Grinder

Artwork by Sidnei F. Capetto.

Track List: 1- Natural Order of things, 2- Sarcastic Symphony of the Universe, 3- Reflections, 4- God of Disunion, 5- Shadow´s Land, 6- Condemned To Die, 7- Necrorealism, 8- The Oppressor

What is death/thrash metal? Well, we can define this as death metal with a lot of thrash guitar riffs, or maybe as a structure that would not be out of place in athrash metal band but with a heavier guitar sound and faster parts and growling vocals. Well, Corpse Grinder is a good example of this. They are a death metal machine but they use a lot of thrash metal structures (take a look for example at "Natural Order of Things"(2:16), that drum pattern and guitar riff...or check the opening riff and melody of "Sarcastic Symphony of the Universe"). I like the way the band sounds, I would have mixed a little bit louder th snare drum and the hi-hat on the drums but the overall sound is fairly good, obviously with more money they can do it better. Fans of the styles have a good option here from Brazil. Favorite tracks: "Sarcastic Symphony...", "God of Disunion" and "Condemned To Die". Contact: www.destroyer.br

 

DARK LEGION - BLOODSHED (Deadsun Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Promo 99 Produced, Engineered and Mixed by Arek at Manek Studios. Promo 20111 engineered and Mixed by W. Wesolowski at Nazir Studios.

Design and Layout by Jaromir "Deather" Bezruc and David Najbrt.

Track List: 1- Intro/Adrenaline, 2- Perpetual Fear, 3- Show No Mercy, 4- Sins of The Past, 5- Endure the Pain, 6- Vein, 7- Razor, 8- Haemorrhage, 9- Anticipation of Death, 10- The Dark Light

The first thing that strucks you with this release is the really good sound that it has....specially on the guitars that are fat and loud (the drums sound quite strange but the drummer is really a killer one). Do you want brutality?? Here you have a lot !!! plus, you have hyper fast riffs but that are not played in one note runs, instead they are twisted and have a lot of breaks. Tempo changes, breaks...this band knows how to be technical (example: the breaks in "Adrenaline" at 4:13) and here is where the originality of this band lies, in the interaction between the four musicians..it is amzaing to see how many changes they can do within a song structure (they have a killer bass player too which makes things better). Favorite tracks: "Perpetual Fear", "Razor" and "Anticipation of Death". Contact: www.deadsun.fr.fm

 

DARK SANCTUARY - DE LUMIERE ET D´OBSCURITÉ (Wounded Love Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at THD Studios by Pascal and Arkdae.

Artwork by Arkdae.

Front Cover by Eric Esculier

Track List: 1- Preludia, 2- De Lumiére et d´obscurité, 3- Le Paradis Noir, 4- Reve Mortuaire, 5- Cet Enfer au Paradis, 6- La Chute del ´Ange, 7- Interludia, 8- Au milieu des Sepultures, 9- Ordre et Decadence, 10- Les Entrailles de ce Purgatoire, 11- Funerailles, 12- Que mon Dernier Soupir m´emporte, 13- Summoning of the Muse

A great ethereal release is the one we have here !! Wounded Love Records have released this great recording comprised of thirteen climatic and orchestral tracks. We have keyboards, violins, bagpipes, clean guitars... everything is used in a sort of dark folk fashion...and that is how I would like to describe the sound of Dark Sanctuary: orchestral dark folk music. I have to speak about the amazing vocals of Marquise Ermia, because they are amazing...I think this woman must have trained herself a lot to reach those perfect pitched melodies, full of inflexions and to get this amazing vocal technique. In fact her voice is close in range to the one of the great Kari Rueslåtten but here Marquise Ermia harmonizes her vocals in the choruses parts in a darker way. This is a CD for fans of climatic music and of music done by people who know how to compose. Favorite tracks: "Le Paradis Noir", "Cet Enfer au Paradis" and " Les Entrailles de ce Purgatoire". Contact: wounder@tin.it . You can get it in Argentina : furias@ssdnet.com.ar or 4583-9955

 

DEATH KNELL COMPILATION (Eternal Night Recs., 2001):

Design and Layout by.Anubis Tatoo / Jon Echeverry

Track List: 1- Scared (Agony), 2- Crowned Child (Ancient Ceremony), 3- A Tale of Mankind (Dysanchely), 4- Vindictive (Tombe), 5- 666 (Denata), 6- Storm of the Thrashers (Incinerator), 7- Voiceless Scream (Horfixion), 8- Besmeared with Blood and Viscera (Festerguts), 9- Blackmoon´s Ritual (Stormcrow), 10- Hatt (Warlust), 11- Festering Clausura (Nefarium), 12- Diabolical Redemption (Abominattion), 13- Dreaming in Splendour (Mithras), 14- Connected with Emptiness (Throneum), 15 - Pleasure of the Blood (Hatework), 16 - Escondidos Detrás Nuestro (Prosapia)

This compilation from Eternal Night Recs from Colombia is presenting us with bands from a lot of countries from America nad Europe. We have interviewed and review CDs from some of them like Denata, Horfixion, Mithras and Ancient Ceremony. All the bands here are from the more extreme styles within the metal realm, that is death/thrash/black metal. And we have pretty interesting bands here like for example Dysanchely from Slovakia with its extremely atmospheric black metal with keyboards and a lot of clean parts (here they present their track called "A Tale of Mankind"), or we have rawer bands like Incinerator from Sweden with their crude death metal or Festerguts from Russia with their gore death metal with some female choruses. This is a good way to check bands that are growing in the underground of different countries and to have a sample of their music....that is always extreme. Other bands here are Nefarium (Italy), Throneum (Poland), Hatework (Italy), Prosapia (Argentina), Agony (Colombia), Tombe (Netherlands), Stormcrow (Italy), Warlust (Netherlands) and Abominattion (Brazil). The price of this CD is U$S 10. Contact:  et_night@mixmail.com

 

 

DIABOLICAL MASQUERADE - DEATH´S DESIGN ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK (Avantgarde Music, 2001):

Technical data:

Produced by Blakkheim and Dan Swanö.

Recorded at the Sanctuary except orchestrations recorded at Trivial Studios.

Art Direction and Design by Travis Smith.

We all know what Blakkheim is capable of. We have learned that through all the Diabolical Masquerade recordings and his collaborations with other musicians. But here we have this. And this is a soundtrack for a movie formed by 20 movements divided in sixty one fragments. If we add that the other person responsible of the composition is the great Dan Swanö (Edge of Sanity and multiple other projects) we obtain this wonderful release.And this is a combination of black metal, orchestra and electronics at its peak. We have fragments that are full speed black metal, others that are only the orchestra (and maybe Blakkheim´s vocals ...helped here by Dan Swanö) and others that are full of electronic experimentation. The overall result is amazing and very weird at the same time. I dont think that people who don´t like experimentation and dark melodies would love this but the more open minded people will see in this release a magnum opus. Favorite tracks: The whole album. Contact: www.diabolicalmasquerade.com or www.avantgardemusic.com You can get it in Argentina : furias@ssdnet.com.ar or 4583-9955

 

EDICIUS - AEON (Deadsun Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

All Songs Written and recorded at Temerraire Studios.

Track List: 1- Ogden Blut, 2- Gothic Breed, 3- Tremendous Unknown, 4- Misericordious Insane, 5- Bledemon, 6- At Mo S phere S, 7-Ravaged, 8- By Cold Anger, 9- And The Pleasure, 10- Of Death...

Really extreme black metal but with some almost ambient parts in the middle of their tracks!! Is this possible? Here we have Edicius, a trio consisting in Icon on drums, Alpha Coin on guitars and Insane on vokills, bass and synths. Well I like the contrast between the hyper fast black metal parts and the others were the synths are predominant. There are also parts in which the fast parts are accompanied by keyboards in the way that bands like Arcturus for example would do. But what is more surprising as I told before is when they start at full speed, then suddenly they stop and you have a keyboard passage, then they aceelerate again and then stop again...The overall sound is good here, specially the keyboards (I think that the drum sound could have been a litlle bit more fat to give more power to the band). Favorite tracks: "Gothic Breed", "Bledemon" and "And the Pleasure". Contact: : www.deadsun.fr.fm

This recording shows us a band completely inmersed in black metal, and its more raw variations. It is ablack metal that could have been part of one of Dark throne´s more recent recordings, it has that sound that Norwegian bands used to have. Hyperspeed riffs. That create some hyperspeed melodies over a crushing blast beat drumming and a diabolical vocal that screams the lyrics to the moon. "Posession of Twilight Shadows", "Battles of Armaggedon" , choose the song that you like most and you will have black metal there. The sound (unlike some bands that are around today) is really good. For my taste, maybe the drums are quite in the front in the mix, covering a little bit the guitars (that maybe are a little behind) and perhaps it has a litlle thin sound in the snare drum, but this can be fixed with more time and studio experience. Listen to "Baptism by Fire" or "Through Haunted Caverns" and let yourself be transported to the darkest part of your being. Contact: www.foreverunderground.com

 

 

FOREFATHER - THE FIGHTING MAN (Angelisc Enterprises, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and Mixed at the Croft, Surrey (England).

Produced by Forefather

Design and Layout by H.R. Graphics.

Track List: 1- The Fighting Man, 2- A New Dawn, 3- Together They Stood, 4- For These Shores, 5- The Call To Arms, 6- Out of Darkness, 7- The Paths of Yesterdays, 8- The Last Battle, 9- When our England Died

How can we describe the music that Forefather makes? Is death metal? Yes, but saying that is to narrow...Is it black metal? Well, they have some riffs that sound like black metal...but that is too narrow too...Is it heavy metal? Well, they have melodies, certain power metal runs here and there, but this is being to narrow too. Is it gothic? They have some vocals that could be of the style, but that is being short sighted too. Well, then how can we describe this? I think the better way is saying that they are a combination of all the styles mentioned above, really difficult, uh? But it is true...the combination of elements of all the styles is here at its maximum. And I think this is in part because of the versatility of the two members of the band: Athelstan who plays drums, guitars, bass and keyboards and Wulfstan who plays drums, guitars, bass and does the vocals. If you like recordings were each song is different from the other and have many different moods then this is the choice for you. Favorite tracks: "For these Shores", "Out of Darkness" and "When Our England Died". Contact: http://members.aol.com/AngeliscE You can get it in on this record shop in Argentina : furias@ssdnet.com.ar or 4583-9955

 

GODKILLER - DELIVERANCE (Wounded Love Recs., 2000):

Technical data:

Recorded and Mixed at the Frozen Citadel.

Mastered at Millenium Studio

Artwork by Olivier Mogis, Duke, Olivier Labarrére.

Track List: 1- Nothing is Sacred, 2- Wailing, 3- At Dusk, 4- When All Hope is Gone, 5- Dust to Dust, 6- For My Days are Vanity, 7- Wisdom, 8- I am a Stranger in the Earth, 9- Deliverance

I still don´t know why a lot of metalheads hate electronics...is it because they make a subconscious relation with dancing music? Is it because of a close minded attitudes? I wonder what this stagnant power/heavy metal bands that flood the scene nowadays would do with the help of electronics...maybe they would sound more original.Well, I don´t know but one thing is for sure: Here we have a man, Duke, who can teach all of us how to use electronics to obtain a great result. Having changed radically hisstyle since the prior Godkiller release, he has dedicated himself to compose this amazing and climatic, yet heavy as hell album. Whay I like here is the heavy experimentation that Duke is doing in order to create the atmospheres that his mind reveals to him. Distorted guitars and clean ones are used with the same purpose too. I am really waiting the new Godkiller release to see what he is going to do next. Always surprising. Favorite tracks: "I am A Stranger in the Earth", "Wailing" and "For My Days are Vanity". Contact: wounder@tin.it . You can get it in Argentina : furias@ssdnet.com.ar or 4583-9955

 

 

HAISHA / MIZUKO - SPLIT CD - HAPPILY NEVER AFTER (Crucial Blast Recs., 2001):

Track List: Haisha: 1- loser, 2- Secondary Survivor, 3- My Hands, 4- Moral Coma, 5- Gutter, 6- Sinking the Sky, 7- Thrash Hero, 8- Faggot, 9- Damaging Noise, 10- Limerance, 11-Twerp, 12-Being Different, 13- Ass Explodes, 14- Knocking, 15- Breathing Ghost, 16- The Revenge of Mr. Dill, 17- Moral Majority, 18 - Pissing Blood.

Mizuko: 1- Traitor, 2- Suffocating in Radiactive Gas, 3- Happily Never After, 4- Xob, 5- Hated in Cyberspace, 6- Raping a Dead Girl, 7- Keep Sleeping Dreamwhores, 8- Subjective Human Core, 9- Societal Collapse, 10- Azbongazeeowzhi, 11- The Light at the Edge of the Neuroverse, 12- Razing the Sky, 13- Frail Tranquility.

 I will do this review in two parts, one regarding Haisha and the other one regarding Mizuko.

Well, Haisha is an extremely fast and furious death/grind band with hyperfast riffs, short songs. The tracks here have differnt sound...in fact the first two have a completely differnt guitar sound than the other ones, more clear and less thin. The singer has two ways of singing...one that is more guttural in the fastest and shortest tracks and another one that is like a deathly version of Tom Araya (Slayer). There are longer tracks (which I like more) and short grindcore bursts like "My Hands". Also there are some rhythmic tracks like for example "Sinking In the Sky". Ideal if you love the style.

Mizuko start their part with a noisy introduction including some explosions-like sounds and some screams and shrieks before getting into the main part of their first track called "Traitor". The music here is completely different from the one played by Haisha. Here the music is closer to ambient and sonic experimentation. The band goes in the paths that bands like Merzbow and others explored before but adding their touch of originality in certain way of facing the composition of their tracks. Through their thirteen tracks contained here they explore countless possibilities of working with sounds deforming them in a lot of possibilities.

Favorite tracks: Haisha: "Loser", "Secondary Survivor"; Mizuko: "Xob" and "Societal Collapse". Contact: www.morenoise.com/crucialblast

 

HOLLENTHON - WITH VILEST OF WORMS TO DWELL (Napalm Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and Mixed by Martin Schirenc at Vato Loco Studio.

Mastered by Akeem Koehler at Indiscreet Audio.

Cover Concept and Layout by Martin Schirenc.

Track List: 1- Y Draig Goch, 2- Woe To The Defeated, 3- Lords of Bedlam, 4- To Kingdom Come, 5- The Calm Before the Storm, 6- Fire Upon The Blade, 7- Conquest Demise, 8- Conspirator

What a CD !! A perfect combination of brutality, originality and arrangements. From the start with "Y Draig Goch" the band starts showing interesting arrangements (specially on the keyboards and samples section that sound like coming from a movie soundtrack)...and who we have behind this madness?? Yes, it is Martin Schirenc himself!! For those who does not know him he was one of the brains behind Pungent Stench one of Austria´s main metal bands in the late eighties and early nineties.  But the music here is completely differnt from the one that he used to do with his old band, here everything is done to create this kind of baroque death metal, full of ornaments, complex harmonies, outstanding arrangements while retaining the brutality, that is manifested mainly through the heavy guitars and his vocals. Martin has reveales himself as a great composer here and he is in charge of all the instruments except for the drums. The lyrics are done by his wife Elena. A future classic. Fabvorite trcks: The Whole album. Contact: www.napalmrecords.com

 

HOLOCHAUST - VALLEY OF MISERY (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and Mixed at.MD Studios by OKI

Cover Artwork by Jan Helin, Timo Nässi

Design and Layout by.

Track List: 1- Beyond The Violence, 2- Valley of Misery, 3- I Wanna Lie

This is a three track mini CD from this finnish band. The style is thrash metal in the old vein with some heavy metal touches and a more modern sound. The one good thing here is that vocalists like Doomer are sorely missed in the scene nowadays...singing somewhere between Chuck Billy (Testament) and James Hetfield (Master of Puppets-era). Also there are guitar solos and acoustic guitar intros that are not so common nowadays as they used to be (check the intro of "Valley of Misery" with vocals closer to a mix between Glenn Danzig and Fernando Ribeiro (Moonspell). This is to prove wrong all those who say that "Thrash is dead"...Music is subject to a lot of tendencies...who can say if tomorrow thrash will be the main style again and Holochaust one of the bands destined to the top?. Favorite tracks: "Valley of Misery", "I Wanna Lie". Contact: http://go.to/holochaust or www.mp3.com/holochaust

 

 

HYPNOS - THE REVENGE RIDE (Morbid Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Produced, by Harris Johns.

Design and Layout by.

Track List: 1- Raven´s Opera D´Moll,2- Crystal Purity of Treachery, 3- Evil Awaken, 4- Regicide, 5- Journey Into Doom, 6- Endorsed by Satan, 7- Spider-Werk, 8- I am the Wind, 9- lost, 10- Heroism of New Era

Hypnos is today one of the main bands in the Czech death metal scene. And they deliver this style with extreme brutality and technical quality. This time they had the help of the great Harris Johns in the production (who produced Kreator among many others). Fans of death metal in the style of Morbid Angel (that is complex and with a great fat guitar sound with a lot of fast parts) or Deicide will love this release. It has all the elements required: a Wall of sound guitar, guttural vocals (Bruno is also the bassist...and bass can be heard really well thanks to the great mix) ,fast guitar solos with good note placement (not only a bunch of whammy bar noises), double bass drumming (excelent sounding drums), complex rhythms. Recommended for deathmaniacs. Favorite tracks: "Crystal Purity of Treachery", "Regicide" (this track is a classic of death metal!!!) and "Spider-Werk". Contact: www.morbidrecords.de

 

INSOLENCE - REVOLUTION (Maverick Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Produced by Sylvia Massy Shivy and Insolence

Recorded at CelloS tudios, Mad Dog Studios and Sound City Studios.

Design and Layout by OG Flemdog.

Track List: 1- Death Threat, 2- Head 2 head, 3- Poison Well, 4- Natural High, 5- Revolution, 6- 1-2, 1-2, 7- Lifted, 8- Game Over, 9- Get Up, 10- Mad Science II, 11-Detox, 12- Sick, 13- Breakdown, 14- Sativa

This intense recording of this band from San Jose, California is a welcome addition to the "new metal" scene. The sound of the band is a mix of bands like Soulfly, Living Sacrifice, Korn, Limp Biskit (also some of the vocals are similar to the ones in The Prodigy and some melodies really twisted like the ones you can hear in a band like Tool) and many more. There are also some reggae and funk influences too. This band is really tight and it looks like that it has been rehearsing and playing live a lot. "Death Threat", the song that opens the CD is a song destined to be a hit. Second song " Head 2 Head" is much more aggressive and I liked it much more because of the strength that pours out of all the song´s parts. There are fourteen songs in this CD, including one experimental/industrial/hip-hop track called "Mad Science II". The band is touring with Soulfly, so I think that those concerts willbe killer...plus it would be good to see Insolence live to see their live act that they tell is very impressive. Contact: www.insolence.com or www.maverick.com/insolence

 

 

JAVIER C. PEREYRA - EN VIVO (Leviathan Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded live in 2000 and 2001.

Cover: Silvina Editado.

Track List: 1- Dulce Blacky, 2- Adiós Nonino, 3- Siempre que sueño con mis abuelos, 4- Nocturno, 5- Poutpourri de tradicionales "Seguiriyas y soleares", 6- Nanuk, 7- Alice y Cindy, 8- Paseo de Randy , 9- La muerte de mi perro Rayo

 This is an instrumental album from the guitarist and singer of Leviathan band Javier C. Pereyra. And is a completely acoustic album. Here Pereyra shows habilities completely different from the ones that he shows in Leviathan, exploring a more subtle side and including certain pieces like "Adiós Nonino" from Argentinean composer Astor Piazzola or a "Potpourri de tradicionales..." that would be out of place in his main band. It is good to see that Javier is willing to explore different sides from his musical personality and that he makes it really good. He is showing here his love for classical guitar and flamenco among others. Despite being a live album, recorded in a two track or four track machine (or even some tracks taken from ambient sound), the sound quality is really good, showing the intimacy that this shows had and letting the guitars and keyboards breath. Favorite tracks: "Nocturno", "Nanuk" and "Paseo de Randy". Contact: www.leviathan-hm.com.ar

 

KHARON - THE FULLMOON CURSE - DEMO 2001 (Neodawn Prods., 2001):

Track List: 1- Sentenced To Death, 2- The Fullmoon Curse, 3- Hell on Earth

Kharon comes from Norway (features two members of Ragnarok) and their music is black/death metal (the vocals are closer to death metal...remember Paradise Lost´s "Lost paradise" or "Gothic" albums). They are exploring the lands of the more mid paced black metal and they not overabuse the fast blast beats . They prefer to use those riffs where the other guitar can play a slithering melody over it or slower parts that emphasize the feelings that they want to transmit. The tracks are long enough to develope some good ideas within the same song and explore through them without letting them vanish after the first time they play it. The only low point here is the sound which sounds muddy...I think this is unfair to the band because they deserve a better sound. Maybe on next release they will have it. Favorite tracks: "The Fullmoon Curse" and "Hell on Earth". Contact: http://go.to/neodawnproductions

 

LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE - BURNING: A WISH (Napalm Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and Mixed at lungfull Studios.

Engineered and mixed by Marc Patrick Fleischer

Design and Artwork by Kathi Klimm.

Track List: 1- Melantroduction, 2- Without, 3- Adorer and Somebody, 4- A Summer´s End, 5- Solicitude, Silence, 6- 2 Sec. And a Tear, 7- Lastdance, 8- Morning...grey, 9- Diotima, 10- Re-silence

Lacrimas Profundere...what can I say? Only few times a name fits so perfectly a band...Sadness, depression, anguish and all this dark feelings are transmitted through their music. Lacrimas Profundere is the perfect soundtrack for a suicide. A music conceived to leave scars in your soul, in your heart. Besides Christopher Schmid anguished vocals, the main element that gives the darker edge to Lacrimas Profundere´s music are the guitars that are melodic, and repeat a dark phrase time after time until it is stuck in the listener´s mind. Plus the acoustic passages and keyboards are added to make the songs deeper and more complex for the listener. Do you wanna cry while listening music? Try with Lacrimas Profundere and you will not be dissapointed. Favorite tracks: "Adorer and Sombeody", "Lastdance" and " Solicitude, Silence". Contact: www.napalmrecords.com

 

LEVIATHAN - DEL LADO DEL ROCK (Leviathan Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Mataderos Records, Sep-Dec 2000.

Mastered by A. Molina

Design and Layout by Daniel Trajtemberg.

Track List: 1- Marginado, 2- Destruyendo Agonías, 3- El Tren Se Va, 4- Oye Dios que me has Dado, 5- Mira Hacia lo Alto, 6- Postcrucificción, 7- Al Otro Lado del Silencio, 8- Lunes por la Madrugada , 9- No Bombardeen Buenos Aires, 10- Siempre que estás allí, 11- Desconfío, 12- Sólo Quiero Rock and Roll, 13- A Mi Manera, 14- Sucia Lady

This is Leviathan´s new recording and is a CD comprised of fourteen covers of bands mostly of Argentinean rock (but also including bands from Spain like Barón Rojo and Angeles del Infierno): ranging from the early seventies to the nineties. Bands like Kamikaze, la Torre, Polifemo or Pescado Rabioso were legends within their styles here in Buenos Aires. I think that Leviathan has achieved better results in those songs whose original versions were more related to heavy metal or hard rock, because this is were the band fits better. For example check "Solo Quiero Rock´n´roll" or "Oye Dios que me has Dado" to see the good results. Why am I saying this? Because if you are familiar with the original versions you will see that in those were the vocals tonality is more different than the ones from Javier C. Pereyra, the result is quite strange. It was a great idea to include new versions of "Sucia Lady" and "Marginado" that are songs from El Vago and Pereyra´s previous band called Flores Muertas. Favorite tracks: "Siempre que estás allí", "A mi manera" and "Postcrucificción". Contact: www.leviathan-hm.com.ar

 

 

LUJURIA - ENEMIGOS DE LA CASTIDAD (Locomotive Music, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Kirios in April 2001.

Engineered by Alberto Sabando

Design and Layout by Carlos Diez.

Track List: 1- Por Encima de Nuestros Enemigos (P.E.N.E.), 2- Lección de sexo, 3- Lilith, 4- No soy Carne de Cañón, 5- Cinturón de Castidad, 6- María Martillo (una Santa), 7- Beso negro, 8- Mr. Condom, 9- Larga Vida al Rock´n´roll, 10- Merece la Pena, 11- La favorita del Rey

Lujuria makes a music that is in the middle of hard rock and heavy metal. In fact I think that they are closer to the first of this styles because of the way in which the guitar riffs are constructed (Check for example the main riff of "Lección de Sexo" and compare it with the one in Motley Crüe´s "Live Wire". The main difference with hard rock bands are the vocals that are more raw and certain tempos that are faster and closer to metal. I like tracks like "No soy Carne de Cañón" because they are a little bit more original than the others. Favorite tracks: "No soy Carne de Cañón", "Beso Negro" and "Merece la Pena". Contact: www.locomotivemusic.com You can get it in Argentina : furias@ssdnet.com.ar or 4583-9955

 

 

MACABRE - DAHMER (Hammerheart Recs., 2000):

Technical data:

Produced, Recorded and Mixed by Neil Kernon for Auslander.

Engineering by Justin Leeah and Bobby Torres

Design and Layout by Marco Jeurissen.

Track List: 1- Dog Guts, 2- Hitchhiker, 3- In The Army Now, 4- Grandmother´s House, 5- Blood Bank, 6- Exposure, 7- Ambassador Hotel, 8- How Bout Some Coffee, 9- Bath House, 10- Jeffrey Dahmer and The Chocolate Factory, 11- Apartment 213, 12- Drill Bit Lobotomy, 13- Jeffrey Dahmer Blues, 14- Mc Dahmers, 15- Into the Toilet With You, 16- Coming To Chicago, 17-Scrub a Dub Dub, 18- Konerak, 19- Media Circus, 20 - Temple of Bones, 21- Trial, 22- Do the Dahmer, 23- Baptized, 24- Christopher Scarver, 25- Dahmer´s Dead, 26- The Brain

Being a serial killer buff I find Macabre a really interesting band (first of all because of their lyrics). This time the guys are telling us the history of cannibal serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer who killed at least seventeen men and had parts of many of them in his department. I will like them to do one CD of each of the main serial killers (on their previous releases they have dealt with a lot of them). The music here is powerful death/thrash metal with an interesting drummer and good sounding guitars. There are many types of vocals here...from the growling one to a shrieking one (I don´t like this type too much). I like the way most of the tracks here spin around a main guitar riff that is twisted later to change its form but letting the main characteristics remain. The main thing here is their sense of humor. Favorite tracks: "Hitchhiker", "Blood Bank" (really punk!!) and "Apartment 213". Contact: www.hammerheart.com

 

MJÖLNIR - WHISPERING SORCERY (Cold Blood Industries, 2001):

Track List: 1- Mysterica, 2- Whispering Sorcery, 3- Times Before The Past, 4- Dragon Sword, 5- Moonlight: The Nocturnal Serenade, 6- Bloomed But Withering, 7- My Sweltering Black Eyes of Innocence, 8- Falling Into Decay, 9- A Wasted Journey

This band is a really good one...exploring the boundaries of death metal and filling them with melodies, keyboards and female vocals. It is interesting how the conception of death metal has changed through time....years ago bands like Mjölnir would have been rejected by the die hard death metal fans. But today it seems that the guys have understood that this music is brutal yet subtle, ugly yet beautiful. Check for examplethe contrast between the male and female vocals or between the faster parts (almost black metal) and the more climatic passages. One point to remark here is Linda´s drumming which is brutal and avoids getting into the cliches of the style (blast beats, double bass drumming at hyper speed). The cover of this CD can confuse you....it looks like the cover from a power metal band...but don´t be fooled this is really climatic gothic/death/black metal. Favorite tracks: "Times Before The Past", "Bloomed but Withering" and "Falling Into Decay". Contact: www.coldbloodindustries.com

 

MY DYING BRIDE - THE DREADFUL HOURS (Peaceville Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Produced by Mags.

Track List: 1- The Dreadful Hours, 2- The Raven And The Rose, 3- Le Figlie Della Tempesta, 4- Black Heart Romance, 5- The Cruel Taste of Winter, 6- My Hope The Destroyer, 7- The Deepest of All Hearts, 8- Return to the Beautiful

 The masters have returned !! After getting back into the path of the style they do better with "The Light at The End of the World" here comes "The Dreadful Hours", their new CD. And this is an album that can be compared with "Turn Loose The Swans", sometimes heavy, sometimes dark, always depressive. As in the last album Aaron Sainthorpe has returned to th singing that he made famous in My Dying Bride´s first albums. But he has expanded his range using sometimes vocals that are closer to black metal (besides his more melodic side that is here in all its magnitude). Tracks are most of the time slow with bursts of speed in some places. The emphasis here is in the heaviness of the tracks. New keyboardist Yasmin Ahmed proves here that she is a great replacement for Martin Powell who is now in Cradle of Filth, delivering the chord progressions where the rest of the musicians construct their anthems of darkness. Favorite tracks: "Black Heart Romance", "The Deepest of All Hearts" and "My Hope The destroyer". Contact: www.peaceville.co.uk

 

NAPALMED - NEVER MIND THE MSBR, HERE´S THE NAPALMED (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Rehearsal Room Sport, Most by Radek Kopel.

Mixeed and Mastered at Daemon´s Pit by Daemon and Radek Kopel

Design and Layout by Radek Kopel.

Track List: 1-56:44 (Pt.1) / Never Mind the MSBR, 2- 56:44 (Part II) / ...here´s the MBFR

Fans of industrial noise rejoice !! Here is Napalmed hailing directly from the Czech Republic. Main man Radek is a master in combbining noise, sounds an elements in a way that is new (at least for me). Here is a list of unconventional instruments used here: metal junk, iron scrap, eggcutter, home-made metal guitar, prepared accoustic guitar, etc. This and many more things (and a lot of sound effects and processors) are used here to create this extrmely heavy industrial noise. This release is really a wall of sound... while the other one "Misch Masch Miksasch" is completely different, more calm and closer to ambient. Contact: napalmed@volny.cz

What we have here is complete experimentation with sounds, noises and other elements that Napalmed main man Radek Kopel brings us. As I commented before Radek likes to combine sounds and mix them in certain ways where they get coherence and structure and then develope it as a musical piece. This is a more ambient and calm album compared to Never Mind the MSBR (which I commented before). The main element here is experimentation, so if you are not afraid of that check this release. Favorite tracks: "11.56" and "5.42". Contact: napalmed@volny.cz

 

NECRODEATH - FRAGMENTS OF INSANITY (Avantgarde Music, 2001):

Track List: 1- Choose Your Death, 2- Tanathoid, 3- State of Progressive Annihilation, 4- Metempsychosis, 5- Fragments of Insanity, 6- Enter my Subconscious, 7- Stillbirth, 8- Aucharistical Sacrifice

 Necrodeath is a classic death/thrash metal band from Italy. Avantgarde has released their classic 1989 album"Fragments of Insanity" because the band has now reunited to work on new material. The music here is lying heavily on thrash metal with death like vocals and it is primitive (I think that for the end of the eighties this was the standard, but nowadays...). To give you and idea this band has elements of Kreator, Destruction, Bathory, Slayer and some Celtic Frost. I would like to know which are their influences nowadays...I think that they must have changfe a little bit. In this bands that split up and then reunite after a long time it is always interesting to see the evolution that they suffer between the last recording before splitting up and the first one after reuniting. In this case I am waiting the new Necrodeath stuff to do this comparison. Favorite tracks: "Tanathoid", "Metempsychosis" and "Eucharistical Sacrifice". Contact: www.avantgardemusic.com You can get it in Argentina on this record shop : furias@ssdnet.com.ar or 4583-9955

 

NECROPLASMA - NECROPLASMA - DEMO 2001 (Neodawn Prods., 2001):

Track List: 1- Intro, 2- Dark Divine, 3- Nightmare (Devillust), 4- Darkness of Hell, 5- Razorwind, 6- Outro

 The sound of Dogs barking and growling and a strange creature scream open this recording of ultra fast and raw black metal. Even if Necroplasma is a band from Sweden, the music here is pure black metal in the Norwegian way. One thing that surprised me here is that the bass is clearly mixed...you can hear it in the fastest parts without having to listen very carefully and in some of the tracks it plays some interesting arrangements while still following the guitars. Bands like Mayhem or Dark throne or even old Bathory came into my mind while listening to this recording. Also it is interesting to listen how iun tracks like "Nightmare (Devillust)" the guitars start playing a slow melody while the drums and bass enter at full speed...The vocals in this recording are in the vein of the darkest bands in the black metal scene. Favorite tracks: "Darkness of Hell" and "Razorwind". Contact: http://go.to/neodawnproductions

 

PAGANIZER- PROMOTING TOTAL DEATH (Forever Underground Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Necromorbus Studio, 1999.

Recorded, Produced and Mixed by Tore Stjerna

Design and Layout by Bill Smith.

Track List: 1- Promoting Total Death, 2- Brutal Way To Die, 3- Only Ashes Remain, 4- 16 Seconds Massacre, 5- At War, 6- All Hope is Dead, 7- Cyclone of Human Atrocity, 8- Life Slips Away, 9- Pain Has a Face

Some issues ago I interviewed Rogga from Paganizer....he told me that the band had changed the lineup and its name to Carve. I also reviewed the Carve promo. Maybe he decided to keep the Paganizer name after all. Now Forever Underground Recs. is releasing the recording that made Paganizer a famous underground act. "Promoting Total Death" is a burst of brutal death metal with extreme vocals. This is a death metal feast with brutal guitars that are really well mixed and a killer drummer who is a double bass nightmare. Also one point to remark is the bass that is helping to emphasize the guitar riffs while playing very tight with the drums adding heaviness to the final result. Judging from the wall of sound of this band and the quality of their riffs (made for jumping and moshing) I think they are a great band to see playing live. Favorite tracks: "Brutal Way To Die", "All Hope is Dead" and " Life Slips Away". Contact: www.foreverunderground.com

 

PARADISE LOST - BELIEVE IN NOTHING (EMI, 2001):

Track List: 1- I am Nothing, 2- Mouth, 3- Fader, 4- Look At Me Now, 5- Illumination, 6- Something Real, 7- Divided, 8- Sell It to the World, 9- Never Again, 10- Control, 11- No Reason, 12- World Pretending

I must admit that Paradise Lost is one of my favorite bands (if not my favorite) and I always have a big expectation on what movement they are doing next (they are always a surprise changing record after record). I must admit that even if I liked "Host" it was my least favorite recording from the band. I thought that one of then elements that made Paradise Lost so special as it was the combination of melodies with heavy guitars was gone. But I was completely wrong and here they are again. Crushing you since the beginning of "I am Nothing" here Aaron Aedy and Gregor Mackintosh have found again their sound (check for example "Sell It to the World"). Sounding like a mix of "One Second" and "Host", "Believe In Nothing" is one of the best recordings of the year. One thing that I always admired from Paradise Lost is how Nick Holmes vocals get better on each recording, and here is no exception, he is singing on top of the possibilities with his amazingly personal voice. While the songs are not like the ones in albums like "Shades of God", "Icon" or "Draconian Times", they are the perfect blend of heaviness and gothic flavors. Favorite tracks: All the album.

 

PETTALOM - THE WINE OF THE NIGHT (Demise Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Voicing Studio.

Produced and Mixed by Alan de Augustinis and Celso Veagnoli

Design and Layout by Sergio Oliveira.

Track List: 1- Beyond The Castle´s Door, 2- Ashes Garden, 3- Berenice, 4- Irate Lizard, 5- Dungeon, 6- Feelings Buried Alive, 7- Serenade To A Sleeper Fairy, 8- Celibate, 9- Sons of The Light

Since I listened this CD for the first time in Orion Music Entertainment´s shop, I loved it. I think this is the perfect combination of operistic vocals with a really heavy music and instrumental harmonies. First of all I liked the keyboards and pianos which are used in a different way than in most of the bands (sometimes closer to jazz) playing arpegios instead of the usual chord progressions. Then I liked the changes in rhythms that the band has within each of the songs that are multiple (and this showcases the skills of the musicians of the band). And then I loved the omniprescent vocals of Kátia Santana who sounds like a very dark Tarja Turunen (Nightwish) but with a different approach (she uses more her middle range), contrasting with Marcos Riva´s vocals who are deep, sometimes almost spoken (like in bands as Moonspell for example). Also you have to check the guitars who play fast riffs and great solos having a great interaction with the keys and the vocals. One of the most promising bands this year. Don´t lose a step of this guys and girl. Favorite tracks: The whole album. Contact: www.demise.com.br You can get it in Argentina on this record shop: furias@ssdnet.com.ar or 4583-9955

 

 

PRIMAL DAWN - PRIMAL DAWN (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and Mixed at Salt Studios, Dublin.

Design by ADS, Dublin.

Track List: 1- Absorbing the Lies, 2- Let them Die, 3- Blood of The Land, 4-Pull the Trigger

Death metal directly from Ireland!!! I have read good reviews about this guys and they are fair. They are a crushing band and on this MCD they show a lot of brutality. Some of the recording reminded me of the german band Profanity which I think have in mind the same thing as this guys: pure brutality and heavy as hell music. What makes this guys so fucking heavy? First and main reason is the guitar sound which is like the sound you get cranking a Marshall amp up to 11 and cutting the middle ranges...that is a bigger than hell wall of sound!! . Also the interaction with the bass who is playing similar lines in a lower range. Then the drummer who is killer (I think that with a better sound here the results will be heavier). Finally the growling vocals of Mr. John Mc Ghee who adds the final touch to bring this unholy band to the fron of the death metal scene. Favorite tracks: "Absorbing the Lies" and "Blood of The Land". Contact: primaldawn@hotmail.com

Technical Data:

Germany´s Profanity have made a really heavy album. Death/thrash metal is the music they play full of souble bass drumming and no subtle things. Music design to crush you down like a ten ton hammer smashed on your head. Thomas Sartor vocals are guttural but at the same time understandable and fit perfectly the mood of the music that the band makes. It is amazing to see that this is a trio, because they have a really full sound, in fact I think that Martl has to make a lot of speed picking on his bass as a second guitar would do to fill every space. Profanity is a band designed to kick your ass and it seems to me that they have achieved their goals with this album (see "Drowned in Dusk" or "Soultornado-Hate Burn Inside" just to name a couple of the tracks presented here). Don´t ask melodies, don´t ask keyboards or female vocals. If brutality and power is what you wnat here is Profanity. Favorite Tracks: "Drowned in Dusk", "The Springs Within" and "Soulitude". Contact: www.profanity.de

REPROBATION - THE COLOUR OF GORE (Forever Underground Recs. - 2001):

Produced by Mike Sheffield and Reprobation

Photography by Jessi Virtuosio

Track list: 1- Sins of the Sick, 2- Butchered Souvenirs, 3- Crippled Minions, 4- Fuck the Rotted Meat, 5- Lament Suffering, 6- Entropy

Mini-CD from this guys dedicated to the most pure gore/grind/death. The six songs presented here are short and effective, in the vein of bands like Carcass or Incantation (mainly in the sound). A great effort from this band, which I think should use more of those crushing riffs that they use sometimes to avoid the fastest parts , making more original the compositions. I like a lot the work of Rob Whitworth and Shawn Connors on guitars with those pinch that they throw in the middle of the riffs. To remark also are the more rhythmic parts in the tracks (Mike Rees on drums). This band, with a little bit more of experimentation could be a big hit in the underground. Favorite tracks: "Butchered Souvenirs", "Sins of the Sick" and "Fuck the Rotted Meat" . Contact: www.foreverunderground.com or www.geocities.com/reprobation

Can we mix extreme brutal fast death metal with a lot of guitar melodies and some riffs that can sound really power metal? Yes ! And here we have the prove. From Italy comes Rising Moon and this is a demonstration of the mix that I told before.  This is a band that will kick you in the stomach with their powerful sound and their furious blast beats while having in some tracks (for example on "Roswell Fire") some interesting riffs that wouldn´t had been out of place in Carcass masterpiece "Heartwork". In fact I think that this is the path the band has to explore more in the future...those guitar melodies and the way in which one guitar plays a rhythmic riff while the other one makes some melodies over it are what can give the band the opportunity to be a unique name in the death metal scene. Favorite tracks: "Roswell Fire" and "Temperatures". Contact: www.risingmoon.it

 

RUNE - RUNE (Crucial Blast Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at the Danger Room by Chris Commons

Cover Artwork by Germ?.

Layout by Dave

Track List: 1- Call of Hearts, 2- Four Season Landmark, 3- 106 Degrees

What a noisy guitar !!! This sounds like they are overdubbing a lot. Great, I like it ! And it sounds different from what one is expecting . This grind/death metal band has a big contrast within their sound which I like: this extremely loud and distorted guitars colliding with the clean bass and the extremely clean drums (they sound like in a band like for example Rage Against the Machine, spexially the snare drum).. I think the heavier parts are where this guys make breaks in their musics and there are a lot of them or on the midpaced tempos where the guitars and bass play in unison its lowest notes. The vocals are closer to death metal than to grindcore...in fact they sound like old Obituary in some parts. This is a three track EP and the three track are powerful and noisy at the same time. Recommended for fans of the styles (more death metal than grind). Contact: www.morenoise.com/crucialblast

 

SAREPTA - SOULSCARS (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and mixed by Boban Milunovic at Noise Art Studio.

Artwork by pascal, hannes and Leonam by.

Track List: 1- Lying Face Downward, 2- Stress Accelerator, 3- Fear Rush, 4- Blood, tears and Hate, 5- Hungry, 6- Revolution Train.7- Blackground, 8- Assholes First, 9- Lustheide, 10- The Clutter in your mind, 11- Awake, 12- Vempires, 13- Soulscars, 14- Vulgar Speech

This is what I call a powerful album. This is death metal with a modern sound (it is what Machine Head would do if they play more death like music). Full of intense riffs, excelent guitar solos and melodies. Remember what you felt the first time that you listened to "Burn My Eyes"? Well, this is the feeling that I got here...I crancked my stereo to a loud volume and let Sarepta hit me in the face !! How can a band blend melodie and riffs so intense in such a perfect way? There are also some Prong influences here and there and maybe some Fudge Tunnel and Slayer, all mixed up and surfacing with Sarepta´s identity. Here there are fourteen tracks of pure metal made by a band designed to crush the world. Do you want power? Here is Sarepta. Favorite tracks: "Fear Rush", "Revolution Train" and "Assholes First". Contact: www.sarepta.net

 

SERBERUS - OUR DYING GRACE (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Hellion Studios.

Produced by Dave Otero

Collage Layout by Nick Jackson.

Track List: 1- Prologue, 2- Our Dying Grace, 3- Dark Dream, 4- Ancient Throne, 5- Curse The Gods, 6- Multimedia Section: 2 live videos, the In Eternity EP in MP3 format, biography, discography, reviews, interview, lyrics, etc.

This is one of the best sounding black metal bands that I have listened in a while. In fact I think we could call the Serberus style as black/death metal because they have elements of both styles while retaining original ideas, specially in the guitar riffs (check the ones in "Our Dying Grace" with twin bridges to see why I am saying this and check the final part that is really slower with intriguing melodies and an extremely dark aura). "Dark Dream" starts fast and melodically in a way that wouldn´t be out of place in bands like In Flames or Dark tranquility. The main attraction in the band is how intersting their riffs are and how catchy are the choruses ( I can relate this to bands like Samael or Carcass whose choruses you can sing or scream along while remaining brutal) and this giives a lot of originality to the music. Plus this CD has a multimedia track were you can see two live videos of the band and check all the data, reviews, and the "In Eternity" EP in mp3 format. Favorite tracks: "Dark Dream", " Our Dying Grace" and "Ancient throne". Contact: www.serberus.com

 

SUMMON - BAPTIZED BY FIRE (The Plague, 1999):

Technical data:

Recorded at Laud Studio.

Produced by Tim Lau and Summon

Digital Rendering and Art Execution by Michael Riddick.

Track List: 1- Intro, 2- Sons of Wrath, 3- Visions of Apocalyptic Grace, 4- Baptized by Fire, 5- The Silence of Chaos, 6- Dark Descent of Fallen Souls, 7- Realm of No Return, 8- Burning Black Desire, 9- Beyond the Gates of Storm, 10- Eve of Anti Creation, 11- Eternal Darkness, 12- Outro

I reviewed Summon´s latest offering on last issue of Music Extreme. This time I have in my hand Summon´s previous album "Baptized by Fire". And I can see that the band has not evolved too much since this release. Is that good or bad? That is up to you. Here is their extreme and brutal fast death metal with some black metal parts. Here is also that machine like drummer who does not miss a beat and plays extremely fast blast beats and interesting double bass patterns. Here are the guttural vocals that are so important in this style to transport you directly to hell. And here is also the really good sound that this recording has, were you can clearly listen everything that is going on while this guys play their instruments. I would compare this to albums like "Blizzard beasts" by Immortal but with a better sound. I can do an equation: speed + brutality + intense musicianship = Summon. Favorite tracks: "The Silence of Chaos", "Realm of No Return" and "Eve of Anti-Creation". Contact: www.hammerheart.com You can get it in Argentina on this record shop : furias@ssdnet.com.ar or 4583-9955

 

TED KILLIAN - FLUX AETERNA (pf MENTUM, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Fusion Post Productions.

Mixeed and Mastered by Jeff Kaiser, March/April 2001

Design and Layout by Ted Killian.

Track List: 1- Hubble, 2- Leaving Medford, 3- Cauterant Baptism, 4- Last Sparrow, 5- Recurvate Plaint, 6- Nocturnal Interstices, 7- Reverse Logics, 8- Convocation Solitaires, 9- Gravity Suspended, 10- Flux Aeterna

Really atmospheric use of electronics and guitar on this recording by master Ted Killian. It is interesting to see how this man creates certain waves of sounds, some of them more rhythmic, some of the more melodic, some of them more noisy and he starts to put one over the other to create this unique pieces. In my mind this is like the sea...when one wave dissapears then another one comes to replace it without leaving any holes. Here is the same...you have one sound in the background...then another one covers it gently and the first one stays in the back or goes away. If this sound dissapears, another one takes it places letting silence appear only to remark the dynamics. Ted Killian is really experimenting here and I love guys like this one who have the mind so open to achieve this results. Ten tracks of exploring new soils in the musical world. Favorite tracks: "Leaving Medford", "Recurvate Plaint" and "Reverse Logic". Contact: www.pfmentum.com

 

TRAIL OF TEARS - PROFUNDEMONIUM (Scarecrow Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at jailhouse Studios, Norway.

Produced by Hans Eidskard and Trail of Tears.

Design and Layout by travis Smith.

Track List: 1- Countdown to Ruin, 2- Driven Through the Ruins, 3- Fragile Emotional Disorder, 4- Profundemonium, 5- Sign of the Shameless, 6- In Frustration´s Preludioum, 7- In Frustration´s Web, 8- Released at Last, 9- Image of Hope, 10- Dissapointment´s True Face, 11- The Haunted

Trail of tears is one of the Norwegian revelation bands. Their sounds is a climatic death metal with female vocals in the way that Tristania did in their first recording. The vocals of Ronny Thorsen are pure death metal, prefering to be effective and clear than guttural and Helena Michaelsen´s ones (she was replaced by Cathrine Paulsen) are the perfect contrast, destiling passion and pain (and using very effectively her middle range instead of abusing the highest notes she can reach). Obviously here we have a lot of keyboards and orchestrations that construct effectively the songs interacting with the heavier guitars and the voices. This is what I would call a very baroque death metal release, full of ornaments and arrangements. Favorite tracks: "Driven through the Ruins", "Sign of the Shameless" and "Image of Hope". Contact: www.redheaven.com . You can get it in Argentina on this record shop : furias@ssdnet.com.ar or 4583-9955

 

TRIBUTO A RATA BLANCA - LA LEYENDA CONTINUA (Nems Enterprises, 2001):

Here we have fourteen Rata Blanca classics and I must say that here I am getting subjective: I like more the first Rata Blanca album and the "Entre el Cielo y el Infierno" one. And I like more the bands that have chosen not to cover the song in an almost identical way than the original. That is why I like more tracks like "La misma mujer" done by JAF who has a completely different type of voice than the original singer Saul Blanch. Eventhough the same happens with "Chico Callejero", I find that the result is not as effective as in the aforementioned song, I think that here the vocals doesn´t achieve the power that the songs deserve. On "El sueño de la Gitana" original singer Saul Blanch does an almost exact version than the original. Another of my favorites is "Agord, la Bruja done by Jeriko and Horcas singer Walter Meza. This is a musically very even tribute. Favorite tracks: "La Misma Mujer", "Agord la Bruja" and "Jerusalem". Contact: www.nems.com.ar

 

UMBAKRAIL - IN UNITY "PAIENNE" (Deadsun Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and mixed by S´aam ed .

Front Cover by Allan Lee.

Track List: 1- Intro, 2- On Blaspheme Mes Rois, 3- Mélants Néants, Desastres Et Soumissions, 4- In Our Hearts, 5- Like an Orckean Hunger, 6- Dome, 7- The Pagan Ceremony, 8- In Unity "Päienne"

What is this? This is black metal with a distinctive saturated sound and electronic drums. The ideas here are really good but I think that the guitar sound which is terribly saturated in combination with some electronic hihat parts ruin some parts that would have been better with a different sound. In fact some interesting guitar rhyths suddenly get lost when the blast beats or parts with more hihat appear. S´aam ed the only man behind Umbakrail has many good ideas as is shown for example in the keyboard parts in "On Blaspheme Mes Rois" which plays a simple melody over the fast rhythms before getting into a more mid paced part at 1: 32 or in the many different types of vocals that are used through the recording. I think that he must change the guitar sound in order to obtain better results...maybe the frequencies of the hihat and guitar cancel each other, I don´t know. Favorite tracks: "In Our Hearts", "Dome" and "The Pagan Ceremony". Contact: www.deadsun.multimania.com

 

VALHALLA - THOUGHTS OF GLORY (Independent, 1999):

Technical data:

Recorded at Styria Records International.

Mixeed and Engineered by Michael Kackl

Design and Layout by Kurt HB, Alex S and Valthor.

Track List: 1- Ride The Storm (Intro), 2-Messiah, 3- For Glory, 4- Stronger Than Ever Before, 5- Silver Halls, 6- The Power of Steel, 7- Ancient Gods Calling (Outro)

 This is Valhalla´s debut album. And it shows the embryo of what was going to come later in albums like "Destination Day" (with tracks rerecorded) or "Northman" (their best album for my taste). That is a thrash/death metal with influences of great bands like Celtic Frost, Sodom and Coroner. This was a good first effort and only a prelude of what was going to come later. In fact this album does not feature keyboards as they would use later in "Northman" for example. This first album is really raw and powerful. Favorite tracks: " For Glory", "The Power of Steel" and "Messiah". Contact: www.truemetal.org/legion-of-eternity

 

VALHALLA - BY THE GODS (Independent, 2000):

Technical data:

Recorded on eight track demo machine.

Produced, mixed and engineered by Valthor

Cover by Luca Giordano.

Track List: 1-Heroes of Desolation, 2- Eternal Night, 3- the First Dominion, 4- Arrows of Chaos Part 1, 5- Die for the Gods, 6- Mights of All Storms, 7- Sword of Dawn, 8- Bring Forth The King, 9- Into My Destiny, 10- Blacknight Warrior, 11- Sacred Leather, 12- Ragnarök

This was the second step in Valhalla´s career. And it was a step forward in their sound and their compositions. Twelve tracks of their blend of thrash and death metal with their particular influences and keyboards. In fact, this is the first Valhalla recording that features more keyboards and orchestration. The overall sound here is better than in "Thoughts of Glory" and the songs are better composed and they have put an emphasis on some arrangements that could not have been done without the keyboards. Favorite tracks: " Eternal Night", "Die For The Gods" and "Into My Destiny". Contact: www.truemetal.org/legion-of-eternity

 

VALHALLA - DESTINATION DAY (Independent, 2000):

Technical data:

Recorded on eight track demo machine June-July 2000.

Front and Back cover by Bernhard Kast.

Track List: 1- destination Day, 2- Stronger Than Ever Before, 3- Die For The Gods, 4- the Burning Force, 5- The Power of Steel, 6- For Glory, 7- Banished in Hell, 8- Sacred leather, 9- Mights of All Storms, 10- RagnArök, 11- Eternal Night

Detination Day is the third Valhalla album and it features a much better sound than in the two previous recording. In fact most of the tracks here are from those previous albums, but they have improved a lot the sound by recording them again on an eight track demo machine. The sound is still raw and with quite a lot of melodies. Valthor´s vocals sound here like a mix between Cronos (Venom) and Tom Angelripper (Sodom) giving their particular style of metal his particular touch. Favorite tracks: " The Burning Force", "The Power of Steel" and "Die For The Gods". Contact: www.truemetal.org/legion-of-eternity

 

 

VALHALLA - POWER AND MIGHT (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded between Nov-2000 and Aug 2001.

Track List: 1- Gloom of War, 2- Sacrifice, 3- The Dragon Rides Again, 4- Still Alive, 5- The Sword of My Father, 6- Stayin Alive, 7- Wotan, 8- Highway To Hell, 9- Tears of Mortality

 This is Valhalla´s new album...full of rarities and covers. Featuring a better sound than in all of their previous efforts and an omniprescent keyboard, plus the soft vocals of Ines Barth in some tracks which adds a new dimension to Valhalla´s sound. Here we have five previously unreleased tracks from the band, plus a live version of "The Sword of My Father" recorded in Sonnberg on May 5^th, 2001. Also this CD features a cover of Bathory´s "Sacrifice", of AC/DC´s "Highway To Hell" and a completely reworked version of the Bee Gee´s "Staying Alive" (in a really thrash version with new lyrics written by Valthor). Favorite tracks: " Gloom of War", "Sacrifice" and "Tears of Mortality". Contact: www.truemetal.org/legion-of-eternity

 

VENEFICUM - DYSPHORIA (Forever Underground Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded, Mixeed and Mastered at Studio Black Aura

Produced by Antarktis with Veneficum

Design and Layout by Antarktis with G. Reymond.

Track List: 1- Grace Overthrown, 2- A Releasement Black Aura, 3- Twisted Emotional Silence, 4- The Manifestation Nocturne, 5- Overture Bizarre

This guys have no mercy for the listener !! They start at full speed with their raw black metal!!! The main characteristic here is that even is the band is really raw and full of hatred, they have predominant keyboards,a nd I think that this keyboards are really well played and ad a flavor to the music that is different from what one is accustomed to listen in the style. The five tracks here have a lot of dark feeling and that is because this orchestration fills every space that the rest of the band allows with its sad melodies. What can we feel here? Hatred !! and Darkness !!. My absolute favorite track is "The Manifestation Nocturne", the more climatic one with the use of different types of voices and with the keyboard at the top of its possibilities. Favorite tracks: "The Manifestation Nocturne" and "A Releasement Black Aura". Contact: www.foreverunderground.com

I wouldn´t define Vinterriket´s music as black metal even if it is closer related to the style. Why? Because this can give a mistaken idea to the reader of what the music is like. In fact there are blast beats in some places and muddy guitars, but the main feature here are two: one the awesome keyboards which are the main instrument here and the songs are created based completely on them, being the main skeleton through which the tracks are built. The second feature are the vocals that are clean and more in a gothic way (this combined to the german language gives a great combination for this grim and sad atmosphere). Also the tracks are not at full speed, they are slower and more climatic prefaring to use more drum patterns than the usual blast beat. I would like a couple of changes nevertheless in the sound, maybe a different sound in the guitars (mixed a little bit higher), and I would like the vocals mixed a litlle bit lower so they don´t seem so apart from the music. Favorite tracks: "Kerker bitterer Kälte", "Morgengrauen"and "Im Abendrot". Contact: http://go.to/neodawnproductions

 

VINTERRIKET - PROMO 2001 (Neodawn Prods., 2001):

Track List: 1- Endzeit, 2- Der Tod Wuotans (Burzum), 3- Sorgens Dis, 4- Det Svake Lys, 5- Nattefrost, 6- Zauber Der Nacht, 7- På Tåkete Enger Og Myrer, 8- Dødens Bris, 9- Mørkets Slave, 10- I Skogens Favn, 11- Visjoner Av En Evighet

This are three works of this band on one CD. Here we have their "Gjennom Tåkete Skogen" demo from 2000, the "Det Svake Lys 7" EP and their part of the Split Demo 2001 with Lebzul. Here we have a much more climatic side of Vinterriket´s music...and I love this one, full of keyboards (almost built all the songs on them). How beautiful are the melodies here! And how strange and ancient they seem at the same time ! In the first five tracks there are not even guitars or drums (and you will not miss them, believe me)...and it includes a Burzum track called "Der Tod Wuotans"...How beautiful is "Nattefrost" with its key passages and the female vocals contrasting with the guitars (this time mixed better for my taste) and the drums. Do you like atmospheric music? Then Vinterriket is a great option for you. Favorite tracks: "Sorgens Dis", "Nattefrost" and "Mørkets Slave". Contact: http://go.to/neodawnproductions

 

 

VIRULENCE - A CONFLICT SCENARIO (Morbid Recs., 2001):

Track List: 1- Entrance, 2- Reptilian Triangle, 3- Painting, 4- Texture Shock, 5- Evolutionary Masquerade, 6- Cementing With Introspection, 7- Pipeline Dialogue, 8- Your Own Palestine

Do you remember the great late american band Cynic? Did you know Believer? Well, put this two bands together with a powerful an fast death metal band and you will have an idea of what Virulence sounds like. We have extreme musicianship here: that is ...the drums are not playing the common 4/4 beats most of the time and the guitars follow it in this odd tempo patterns. There are altered chords in a lot of places when the guitars are clean (I hear some Allan Holdsworth influences in this guys...great he is one of my favorite guitar players), like some diminished chords, some dominant ones. The bassist is a killer one that seems to have both a fusion background and a more metal one. Check for example the passages in "Painting " (0:15) , can I say that this tracks is a mix of Return To Forever with Cannibal Corpse or Meshuggah? I think I wouldn´t be too wrong if I say that. This is the type of bands that I like most...the onses that show many different ideas through each song and they are not afraid to show them and experiment twisting them to the limit. This album is a must for music lovers. Favorite tracks: The whole album. Contact: www.morbidrecords.de

 

 WINDS - OF ENTITY AND MIND (Avantgarde Music, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Toproom Studios

Engineered and Mixed by Borge Finstas and Winds

Design and Layout by Sub-Frequency.

Track List: 1- Inception Perspective, 2- In All Reflections, 3- Bloodstained and Sworn, 4- Mirrored in Time, 5- An Eternity of Dreams

Well, here we have another supergroup coming from the black metal scene of Norway. And as in most of them we have Mr. Von Blomberg (Hellhammer) behind the drumkit. The music here is dark and full of keyboards and at the same time powerful (warning: it is not black metal...it is more like a dark experimentation). The singer, Lars Eric Si, reminds me of Faith No More´s Mike Patton because of his vocal inflections in some parts and in others he sounds much darker. Here speed is not the main element (in fact the tracks are slow most of the time, except in some changes and parts where they speed a little bit before getting in the deeper parts. The only low point here is that the album is only 21 minutes long....well, we have to wait for a longer one. Favorite tracks: "An Eternity of Dreams", "In All Reflections" and "Bloodstained and Sworn". Contact: www.avantgardemusic.com You can get it in Argentina in this record shop: furias@ssdnet.com.ar or 4583-9955

 

 ZEENON - AGAINST THE WORLD (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded in Gordon Studio August 2000.

Track List: 1- Better If, 2- Between 2 Worlds, 3- Utopia, 4- Secret (of Secrets), 5- Absurd

Zeenon is a female fronted powerful metal band from Norway. Going from elements of pure metal, to distorted grunge, to some industrial touches, this band covers a big spectre. Along the five tracks contained here they show how energetic their music is, and it is interesting to listen the contrast between the heavy guitar riffs and the vocals that are different from what you are accustomed to listen (they are not growling and not soprano, prefering instead to create different melodies that are more clashing against the music...great) They have two women singing: Linn Pedersen is the main vocalist and Linda Aurland who also plays the guitar makes some counterpoint and harmonies with her (really depressing ones in some of the tracks...leaving space for some heavy guitar riffs). This band have some previous recordings that are also worth to be check if you love really heavy music. Favorite tracks: "Better If", "Secret (of Secrets)" and "Absurd" . Contact: www.zeenon.com