Devils Rage-Desolation

Self-Release/Independent
2018

Devils Rage is a D.I.Y. melodic death metal band that hails from Sursee, Switzerland. Having first come together in late 2006 (with their current line-up in place since 2010!), this highly-skilled & downright scary outfit has one EP and two full-length album to it's name. Released this past March on the 17th, the 11-track "Desolation" is the group's latest album to date. It serves as the follow-up to 2015's "Impending Demise" and was sent to me by one of the group's guitarists, Patrik "Schumi" Schumacher. Lead vocals come courtesy of Stefan "Lalas" Häfliger (a brutalizing growler that is a much-feared beast on the mic!) and with a run-time of just over 45 minutes in length, "Desolation" is a perfect way to get a quick fix of top-tier death metal! Well-crafted and featuring a nice production job that plays to the strength of this simply-savage release(!), Devils Rage has delivered an album that should appeal to fans of both vintage and modern-day melodic death metal!! If melodic death metal with monstrous guitars, gritty overtones and a pulverizing rhythm section is your thing (and why wouldn't it be?) then "Desolation" should be on your short list of new albums to buy!

Waves of Decay-Cycloptic

Self-Release/Independent
2017

Waves of Decay is a Belgian metal band that is made up of ex-members of Horny Moses, Hope Erodes, Inferior, Last Star Down, and Razor Fate. The five-piece is lead by Stijn 'Stekke' Kustermans and "Cycloptic" serves as the group's first studio release. It is a heavy & hard EP that clocks in at about 24 minutes in length and you can download the recording on CD Baby and iTunes. In addition to the industrial metal-tinged title track, Waves of Decay's creative debut includes "Destiny", "Craving for Misery", "As I Walk", and "The Hurricane". Backing up vocalist Stijn Kustermans is Arun Rao (guitars & keyboards), Jim Metal (guitars), Jelle Sterckx (bass), and Ben Gyles (drums). Besides having some industrial metal elements, "Cycloptic" features material with thrash metal, melodic death metal, and heavy metal leanings. Harsh and clean vocals are present and the EP is well-produced. Founded in January of this year, Waves of Decay has a sound that is bound to appeal to a lot of different folks. This is another new band that has the potential to make a huge splash in scene. You can find out more about these guys by checking out the group's Facebook page.

Descent Into Maelstrom-Descent Into Maelstrom

Self-Released/Independent
2017

Descent Into Maelstrom is a one-man band from Emilia-Romagna, Italy that has been active since September 2016. Recorded, mixed and mastered at the Treehouse Lab Recording Studio in Lodi, Italy, "Descent into Maelstrom" is the self-titled debut for this melodic death metal band that takes it's name from one of Edgar Allan Poe's short stories, "A Descent into the Maelstrom". Onetime Krygar guitarist Andrea "Maelstrom" Bignardi (vocals, guitars, bass) is the man behind the curtain when it comes to this eight song release and he does a admirable job on his first solo outing. Lyrically inspired by gothic and romantic literature, Descent Into Maelstrom has all the appeal of a edgy (up-and-coming) underground metal band with a "Don't give a fuck!"outlook even as it sets it's sights on becoming one of the more accessible faces in the overcrowded melodic death metal scene. To Andrea Bignardi's credit this self-produced album lands right square in the middle of those two extremes (the raw side of the underground metal movement and the (suddenly mainstream) death metal scene) while expertly splitting the paper thin line between melodic death metal movements and (balls out!) death metal 101! In most cases self-released albums like this one would hit the scene hard enough, but (sadly) they would get glanced over for the "name" bands. Thankfully Andrea "Maelstrom" Bignardi is now working with Atomic Stuff Promotion. That gives him a better chance of getting properly recognized for his damn good work here. For more information on this one man project be sure to check out D.I.M.'s Facebook page.

Alan Blaisdell-Gravity

Self-Release/Independent
2017





Preceded in life by the nine-track recording "The Epic", Hillsboro, Oregon' multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Alan Blaisdell (Reverse of Creation) recently-released his second solo album, the space-themed "Gravity". Along with his debut outing (which I also recommend), the tech-savvy "Gravity" can be found on places like Amazon and iTunes. For fans of (top of the shelf) melodic death metal that is more of an invitation than anything else, "Gravity" finding Alan effortlessly handling all of the instruments and vocals by himself (with extra talent to spare!). The use of electronic elements merely adds to the album's "outer space" sound (his words originally and now mine!), but it's Alan's extreme ease with the guitar, bass, and drums that really makes this release stick out and shine. Be sure to give this one a spin.  


PS: Don't pay attention to the album's so-so artwork. It hides better things.

Wolfheart featuring The Malavita Antisocial Club-Morphean Empires

Wolfblood Productions
2016


"Morphean Empires" is the first release from Wolfheart featuring The Malavita Antisocial Club. And who or what is Wolfheart featuring The Malavita Antisocial Club you might be asking? That's a really good question with a really long answer. But, seeing as time is precious and all that jazz (or in this case METAL!) I'll just keep this short and sweet in order that we can get to real meat of this piece. Stripped to it's core, Wolfheart featuring The Malavita Antisocial Club is, for all intents and purposes, a solo outing for one Wolfgang Süssenbeck (Angry Nation, Citizen X, Darkside, Demolition, Midgard.Upgraded,  Noohoorsh, Waves). On the ultimately impressive (and if we're to be bloody honest here rather lengthy*!) "Morphean Empires" vocalist/keyboardist Wolfgang Süssenbeck has teamed up with fellow Darkside member Jaroslav "Jaro" Lukac (guitars), and bassist/drummer (Dark Lunacy, Darkside, Tapewhore, ex-Demolition (live), ex-Infernal Poetry, ex-Priority, ex-Resurrecturis ) in order that he might unleash (FIERCE!) melodic death metal onto the unsuspecting masses. With guest musicians (and fellow followers of the almighty power cord!) Thomas Schmoll (guitar) and Walter Oberhofer (guitar) along for the ride, "Morphean Empires" ends up being a grand experience and one that should not be undertaken unless you are fully prepared for the eventual onslaught that will follow! Sure, "Morphean Empires" is Wolfgang Süssenbeck making good on a promise that he made to himself some 30+ years back**, but it's also a pleasant little jog through a METALLIC minefield where every new step could find you blown to pieces and left for dead!! In other words, "Morphean Empires" is a damn fine listen especially for those who like their death metal to be melodic, technical and above all else terrifying! Only time will tell if Wolfheart featuring The Malavita Antisocial Club is the real deal or a one and done project. Hopefully it's the former and not the latter as there is a lot of good ideas floating about on this uncompromising release. This one definitely comes stamp with my seal of approval. And as to the band's decision to cover The Doors on "Morphean Empires"? Well, we already had the keys to the kingdom, but now we get all the gold that comes with it!!!!



 

*The promo I was sent included 21 tracks(!) for a run-time of over an hour and a half!

** Wolfgang promised himself that at some point in the future he would release a solo album. Well, the future is now and by the sounds of this bloody curtailing release everything  is on fire!

Saturday Single: Silent Line-"Drag Me Down" (One Direction cover)

Silent Line is a Canadian and Edmonton-based melodic death metal band with three independent albums to it's name. The group's latest release,"Shattered Shores", came out in October of last year and it was a concept album. Maybe one day soon I'll get around to covering it, but for now here we have the  guys in Silent Line doing a cover of "Drag Me Down" by One Direction. Enjoy.

 

[Evertrapped]-Under The Deep

Hellstorm Recordz
2015

Formed in 2007, [Evertrapped] is a five-piece melodic death metal band from Montreal, Québec that lists the likes of of Death, Unearth, Machine Head, Scar Symmetry, Soilwork, In Flames, and Arch Enemy as their primary influences. The forthcoming "Under The Deep" is this group's latest recording and third overall full-length album since first issuing "Tales from the Supermax" way back in 2010. Every bit as technical and skilled as some of their listed influences (most certainly later day Death!), [Evertrapped] excels at their craft with "Under the Deep" offering a full-fledged assault on the senses that is absolutely stone-cold BRUTAL! And between you and me friends such aggression and overt hostility is a welcome sight sound when all you want to do is check out of this crazy world for awhile and decompress! Despite the fact that this album would just as soon tear your face straight off as have to deal with any pleasantries(!), "Under The Deeps" is exquisitely melodic and even slightly progressive! It's a fine balancing act, but the five members of [Evertrapped] walk that alarmingly thin line like champs! All of that is fine as blood red wine, but what happens when you take into account the brief traditional heavy metal teases that come with the band's third album here? Well, let's just say that it pushes matters OVER THE FREAKING TOP and in the process of doing that dirty deed it turns "Under The Deep" into a slam dunk death fest that rattled these old bones of mine and made me dive back into the pit for another go! As far as everything else goes? Lyrically/theme-wise it's all about the madness and the above album art does a fair job of representing the ghostly appeal of this gut-stomping release. As good as the all the music is (and it is bad-ass!) I can't help but feel as if "Under The Deep" wouldn't work as well as it does without the grizzly sounds of James Brookes. I mean what's killer death metal without a killer lead vocalist? That's where James comes into play and he handles the mic like he's wielding a blazing chainsaw! His voice cuts the listener in half and makes this album all the more powerful and ultimately intimidating! With a great supporting cast in position and songs that are well-drawn and structurally-strong (and not to mention legitimately clever!), James Brookes is able to breath fire into the individual tracks thus making this spring magically to life! Let's now move from James to the album's overall sound. From a production standpoint there is seemingly nothing amiss here with everything fitting together nicely. Not that the album is overly glossy or anything. This is death metal after all! It's merely a case where a album's production enhances the musical delivery without taking anything away from the brute force narrative. To put it into simpler terms there's nothing here to find fault with. Let me repeat that. There is NOTHING about "Under The Deep" to hate. Nothing. This is simply great music. That means fans of top-tier (slightly-progressive & highly-technical) melodic death metal should find plenty to love about this upcoming release. If that's a tag that you proudly like to where then you should go and pre-order the album by heading here.

Mellevon-Solace

Self-Release/Independent
2014

Recorded and produced by band-member April Hutchins at Muffin Studios in Montreal, Quebec, "Solace" is the second full-length recording from Canada's Mellevon. It was released at the tail end of 2014 and this fourteen track album serves as the follow-up to the group's 2013 debut album, "Chaos Reigns". With a run-time that is over the fifty minute mark(!), "Solace" features two (short) instrumental numbers in "A Song for the Setting Sun" and the album's title track and this new recording finds Mellevon sporting a new look. One-time (harsh) vocalist Gabriel Tulli has been replaced by Red Skull and new drummer Colin MacAndrew (The Wild Hunt) takes over for the departed Jermeel Chase. As for everyone else? Well, seeing as she is responsible for most of the music and lyrics on "Solace" (as well as the album's concrete production job) special props should go to guitarist April Hutchins. As one of the original members of this Montreal-based band, April Hutchins excels in each department that she has a hand in (musician, songwriter and producer) and on "Solace" her guitar playing is absolutely sick! While this five-piece band (reportedly) started out as a Industrial/Nu-metal act you'd never know that by April's performances on "Solace" as her work is well-drawn out and meticulous in it's complexity! Even so her riffs are crisp and sharp and when stacked up against the jagged nature of some of this album's material they offer up a glorious wall of sound! April's guitar skills are the album's true highlight and they help make each and every track on "Solace" somewhat different. For the album's full line-up (and to see the guest list for "Solace") be sure to check below this review. Otherwise we're looking at a one-time(?) Industrial/Nu-metal band that has apparently turned the corner and is now (more or less) a hybrid/modern metal band. Sure, there's still a bit of industrial metal going on here, but it's been maxed out by way of melodic death metal (hence the band's own Industrial Melodic Death Metal tag) and a long-list of sub-genres that range from dark metal to goth metal to even (light) symphonic metal! The album's cool mash-up of styles helps make for a more interesting listening experience all-around. And for the most part so do the clean and harsh vocals. I might have sorted out the harsh vocals a tad more (maybe it's the mix, but from time to time the death metal growls sound....well, off kilter I guess), but they are good all the same. And that really goes for each member/part of Mellevon. Everyone does their thing and they do it well. But, if I had to pick one other thing that stood out about Mellevon's latest (besides the stellar guitar parts that rule on "Solace"!) it would be the keyboards. They come courtesy of Chel Vorsteher and they help give "Solace" a nice after-shine. They range from classy to somewhat electronic and they add that extra exclamation point to the whole affair! All in all I found "Solace" to be a solid listening experience. As with a lot of up-and-coming bands these days there are a few things that could be touched-up, but overall this is a good band that sure sounds as if they could be REALLY good in no time at all. Even if you don't pick up Mellevon's latest album I'd sure as hell keep an eye on them as this is one Canadian band that has "HUGE POTENTIAL" written all over them!!!!
 


Mellevon is:
Red Skull: Lead vocals, clean vocals
April Hutchins: Guitars, vocals and spoken word .
Chel Vorsteher: Keyboards, clean vocals .
Stefan Guaiani: Bass, harsh vocals .
Colin MacAndrew : Drums, harsh vocals


Guest Performers:
Björn Strid (Soilwork): Vocals on "The Quiet Light".
Les Godfrey (ex-Tchort, ex-The Illuminati): Guitar solo on "Under Moss".
Kyle Lapointe (The Renaissance Men): Spoken word intro on "Sonically Transmitted Dysphoria".
Melanie Hutchins: Vocal harmonies on "Left Behind".

Embryo-Embryo

Logic(Il)Logic Records/Andromeda Dischi
2015

The first of two promo CDs to recently come my way from the fine folks at Atomic Stuff Promotion and Logic(Il)Logic Records (Badmotorfinger, Twintera, Steel City, Hex, Nightglow....), "Embryo" is the latest release from this long-standing melodic death metal band from Cremona, Italy. Formed in 2000, with vocalist Roberto Pasolini and guitarist Eugenio "Uge" Sambasile the sole original members and influences listed as Fear Factory, Meshuggah, Strapping Young Lad*, Embryo first hit the scene with the demo "The Source of Hate" in 2001. Following the release of "Promo 2002" the band issued their full-length debut album, "Chaotic Age" in 2006. Another demo ("Promo 2009") appeared before the band would release the highly-rated "No God Slave" in 2010. It was "No God Slave" that truly brought the group into the limelight with stellar reviews pushing the band upward and onward. Here it is 2015 and the band is finally rolling out album number three, the self-titled "Embryo". Currently rounded out by keyboardist Simone Solla, bassist Nicola Iazzi and drummer Enea Passarella** this five-piece band falls somewhere between melodic death metal and standard death metal with the harsh voice of lead singer Roberto Pasonlini often times moving this metal band into deathcore and/or extreme territory!  With a grand total of eleven-tracks and a run-time of over forty minutes the recently-released "Embryo" (recently-released as in the 10th of this month!) is all at once intimidating and intriguing. Lyrically-speaking the album "Embryo" is "a descent into the Maelström of human soul 'til the door to the abyss that is the denial of being part of mankind" even if you'd have a hard time catching on to that given the otherworldly/demonic delivery of Roberto Pasonlini. As stated it's his unapologetic approach to "singing" that gives this Italian band that extra edge making this self-titled studio recording excessively brutal! By balancing out his beastly voice with complex arrangements that are deep and soul-steering an album like this becomes much more than merely a LOUD death metal release. That isn't to say that "Embryo" isn't LOUD as it is! It's also extremely HEAVY as touched upon. But, thanks in no small part to the fact that "Embryo" was recorded, mixed and mastered by the skilled hands of producer Simone Mularoni (DGM, Empyrios, The Modern Age Slavery, Vision Divine...), it is all that (LOUD and HEAVY) and so much more! This Italian band plays with purpose and the various musicians involved with this recording did more than just unleash unholy amounts of hostility and vulgarity dressed up as "music". These numbers offer interesting riffs and imaginative keyboards. The bass parts are progressive and the drumming (while certainly pummeling!) shows passion and personal pride. When brought together the music gives the listener a reason to pause and reflect what Embryo is really about. "Embryo" is worth tracking down as there is much more than meets the eye when it comes to this particular death metal band.     

*Given the band's complex arrangements and the compelling ingredients that found their way into this mix those three influences don't even begin to scratch the surface when it comes to everything that "Embryo" has to offer. Whether you are into melodic death metal or extreme metal this album has something worthwhile to say to you if you should choose to listen!

** Drums on "Embryo", which by the way are freakin' smashing(!), were performed by the talented Francesco Paoli (Fleshgod Apocalypse).

Explain-Just The Tip

Self-Release
2014

Here's a new one for ya-crossover thrash and jazzy/tech metal....combined. Oh, and there is also some punk rock and melodic death metal going on with this Vancouver, British Columbia-based outfit. Yep. That's Explain. Often-time humorous, sometimes just flat out weird. But, and this is a big old but friends, Explain are always spot-on (technically-speaking) and "Just The Tip" (their full-length debut which is now remaking the rounds thanks to Asher Media Relations) actually kicks! It empties you out with some menacing death growls, slick headbanging and sick (crossover) riffs before it fills you back up with some of the best jazz-inspired thrash this side of Atheist! And man, but does an album like "Just The Tip" ever stick to your ribs! Yummy! You can find them here:  https://www.facebook.com/Expainmetal and for further fun you won't want to miss you can listen as this lot tackles John Lennon's "Imagine" here: https://expainband.bandcamp.com/

Otoño-Something Metal This Way Comes

Human Cyborg Productions
2013

The month of May might seem like an odd time to cover a Halloween-themed album, but if we can keep the spirit of Christmas alive in all of us year long then why not a whimsical night when all the little ghouls and goblins come out to play? For sure it isn't always about Halloween for Hollister, California's Otoño (Spanish for "autumn"), even if this trio (first formed in 2003 as Human Cyborg Relations before the name change in 2009) seems to be generally inspired by horror, but here on their latest/second overall full-length release the band does it right by covering tracks like "This is Halloween", "Phantom of the Opera" and "Ghostbusters" and including samples from movies such as "Evil Dead",  "Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth", "A Nightmare on Elm Street", "The Shining", "The Exorcist" and The Omen"! Oh, and did I mention the fact that Otoño also pays tribute to Peter Steele with a sweet little cover of  Type O Negative's "Black No.1"? I didn't? Well, I am now and I'll tell you what else my friends, there is a lot going on for this group (even if they are off of most peoples radars). For a group whose roots run deep down into the depths of high school (talk about a real hell on Earth for many of us!), when founding members/guitarists/vocalists Eldridge and Bangulo covered their fave groups (Metallica, Slayer and Diamond Head) while looking for that one magical line-up to take them to the top (enter bassist/vocalist Angel in 2008), and one which started off as more of a straight-forward (if slightly enhanced by black metal and thrash elements) melodic death band, "Something Metal This Way Comes" is a real charm, a progressively-enhanced ambient charm! Said to be inspired by "different genres of music ranging from metal to classical… and snippets of everything in between" or, better yet folks, "a fusion of various musical influences" (Opeth, Gwar, Persefone, Metallica, Sepultura, Agalloch, Edge of Sanity, Liquid Tension Experiment, Torchbearer, Machine Head, Buckethead, Katatonia ) Otoño tires on a sore's worth of different hats on "Something Metal This Way Comes". And it's that exact reason why Otoño should be setting off alarms on people's (metal) radar! To be sure a band like Otoño is probably best described as (melodic) death metal first and foremost (so as to offer fair warning to anyone who might be scared off by such an "extreme" format), but this trio doesn't exactly follow any standard set of rules other then say, paying homage to many a great film, book (or, in the case of a number like "Room 237"*, both film and books!) and band. And why not? It's these different forms of media that helped groom the band for what would come about, later on, and it's all done in a manor so that everything just meshes together! Available for free right here: http://otono.bandcamp.com/ this is one of those release which is clever and, yes, plain fun! Sure, Xentrix first did it back in the early nineties, but doing a headbanging version of the theme from "Ghostbusters" is just awesome! As is the band's instrumental take on "Phantom of the Opera". Featuring some killer solo work**, which shows up on just about EVERY track here(!), "Phantom of the Opera" is covered in metallic fashion and while it might not be my fave moment here (I love "The Book of the Dead" which also features stunning lead work!) it's still a nice addition to "Something Metal This Way Comes". Most assuredly this album is worth downloading and for Otoño it's a great addition to an every growing catalog***. Moving forward Otoño could/should deliver on the promise of an album like this one and REALLY make a hell of dent on the melodic death metal scene, but who can say for sure? Today's scene is so fickle and for every worthy (and original/interesting!) band that pops up doesn't it just seem like labels bypass them in order to scoop up and sign a dozen bands who all look and sound alike? Yeah, it sucks. So, like I always say support band's like this! Get up and go! See them live, buy their merch and show them real love! And with that you can follow these guys via these links:
www.otonometal.com 

www.facebook.com/otonometal 

 https://twitter.com/OtonoMetal



*Audio sample on "Room 237" were taken from 1980's "The Shining" and the track also features excerpts taken from the novel. "The red death held sway over all" (originally in Edgar Allan Poe "The Masque of the Red Death") was used by Stephen King in the novel. 

** Solo on "Phantom of the Opera" by virtuoso guitarist Allen "Robot" Van Wert.

***The band also appears on Sinister Path Promotion's "Unsigned Metal Band Compilation Volume 1" https://sinisterpathpromotions.bandcamp.com/album/sinister-path-promotions-unsigned-metal-band-compilation-volume-1

Hollow-Mordrake

Self-Release/Independent
2014

Montreal's Hollow (the symphonic black metal one and not the now defunct thrash metal version) offer up their full-length debut album with "Mordrake". Serving as the predecessor to their 2010 EP, "Cynoptic Eschaton", "Mordrake" (due to be released on the 30th of this month) is the sound of a band that knows fully well what they are capable and then not only doubles the task at hand, but triples it! Having already shared the stage with such heavyweights as Marduk, Suffocation, The Agonist, Sword, Jungle Rot, TYR, Aborted and even Canadian legends Voïvod, Hollow are now primed to conquer the world of studio recordings thanks to this fifty minutes or so long, wake and shake the dead collection of extreme material know as "Mordrake". Produced by Kevin Jardine (Slaves on Dope) and co-produced by Dan Lauzon (Entropy) and the band members themselves (Mott-vocals, Cadaver-guitar, Snow – bass and Blaac-drums) "Mordrake" is absolutely brilliant as a debut-album! The songs on "Mordrake" betray this band's (musical) maturity as each and every track here seems to have been painstakingly crafted so that no minor detail has been overlooked! The skill-level of Mott notwithstanding, it's the music, between the hash marks, that is this band's true strength. Subtle, cleverly placed notes demonstrate the clear-cut effort that went into this release and it's all the more impressive when you take into account this little note that came pasted along with the promo:  Hollow's "Mordrake" was recorded "without the use of any triggers, midi or copy/paste editing, the album features true-to-life performances". How about that?  Amazingly that's not something you come across every day. Especially in regards to a symphonic black metal release! "Mordrake", as precise and detail-oriented as it is (Cadaver's guitar playing is stunning!), is a real album with no studio tricks/slight of hand maneuvers! Instead this brave and bold outfit did it all on their own making a release like this one (one which soaks up the sun while it partakes in adventure after adventure-not just through the fields of black metal, symphonic metal, melodic death metal and even progressive death metal(!), but by way of traveling in new directions such as taking a jog through the valley of classic heavy metal!) all the more satisfying and filling! More and more I find myself falling in love with beautifully assembled/creative black metal like this (even at it's bleakest which is something that could and should be said about Hollow's delivery!), performed with razor blade like precision (technically speaking) as it savagely stabs at the listener (emotionally speaking) with material that is at it's core equally fierce and frightening as well as freeing! Destined to be looked at as one of the defining moments of Hollow's career, "Mordrake" comes across as a must-have addition to the collection of any self-respecting black metal fan! 

https://www.facebook.com/hollowcanada

Words Of Farewell-The Black Wild Yonder

AFM Records
2014

As just one of many CDs that I received in the mail last Friday (April 18th to be exact with a special thanks to Dustin Hardman for the well-stocked package of goodies!) "The Black Wild Yonder" has thus far proven to be one of the better surprises. Maybe I wasn't expecting a lot out of this German collective, but that would be of no fault of their own. "Words Of Farewell", who have been on the scene since 2006 or so, are melodic death metal done right. Perhaps it is just that that term, "melodic death metal", is every-present and over-used? Or maybe it's just that there are so many newcomers in this field that it has blinded me to the fact that there are still elegant acts out, with a foothold planted firmly in the greats of the past thank you very much(!), that are doing much more then simply riding out the current fad trends? Whatever the case I owe this lot an apology and the aforementioned explanation. For "The Black Wild Yonder" is a release which you could easily use to set aside as a standard of the field and that is a good thing. A very good thing indeed! Take away the obvious, melodic passages executed with precision and written in such a manor as to flow and peak at all the right moments, and you're still left to witness a band that has marvelous "metal" aspect to their overall sound. That probably sounds as if it should be a given, but for this German lot there is a clever balance point in play between the two extremes. The melodic side of Words Of Farewell is clearly meant to appear as good as it gets (and it does so as careful consideration was obviously given to each and every line present within the band's sophomore output and, to that end, Leo Wichmann 's keyboard passages are exquisite!), but one thing that is even more enjoyable to discover (so I implore you to do just that!) is that when the band-mates concentrate on the heaviness factor of their sound it's turned upside-down/inside-out with only the BEST of the BEST leads (something guitarist Erik Gaßmus should be awarded for!) having been chosen. One could try to pin-point the rock elements in this band's overall direction on "The Black Yonder", but it's better to just point out that it is there as opposed to where it came from! Rock-based construction is nothing new in this day and age of course. For Words Of Farewell they may not be the innovators, but they've taken such a concept as far as it can be taken while still maintaining a healthy metallic  approach to their delivery. Everyone plays their part here perfectly (up to and including vocalist Nicolas Alexander Otto) so there's never an uncomfortable component to Words Of Farewell. There's never a lull in the action either as this German collective carefully moves it's peaces across the chess board paying special attention to what comes next. Beautifully-constructed and perfectly-delivered,  "The Black Wild Yonder" has made me a believer when it comes to Words Of Farewell. Even though I walked into this performance with no clue as to what to aspect I walked out of it with all of the elements dancing around in my head! With it's admirable rock and roll song construction, admission of classic heavy metal's influence in lead guitar work, moving keyboard passages and careful attention paid towards the past and present elements of melodic death metal "The Black Wild Yonder" is an absolute must-have addition to metal collections! There's nothing more to it then that! 

Creinium-Project Utopia

Inverse Records
2014

Helsinki-based Creinium was formed in early 2012 by former members of Path Of Annihilation. Since then this young band, which is lead by the frightening lead vocals of Sami Haimilahti, has issued a 4-track demo (2013's "Modern World Tyranny") and now, with this 5-track EP (due for release on April 16th) looking to set the pace for Creinium and their D.I.Y. ethic, this Finnish outfit sounds poised to make a bigger splash outside of their native land. Music-wise we're talking about black metal/death metal, but with abundant keyboard passages (courtesy of Antti Myllynen) and melodically-enhanced technical/progressive elements serving to add patches of color to an otherwise dark setting there is much more to Creinium then can be neatly folded into any one box! Especially endearing are tracks such as "New World Order" and "Synthetic Paradise" where the band, in what can only be described as a brilliant decision on their part, (vibe-wise) channels the spirits of horror movies of old while further pushing the boundaries of modern day black/melodic death metal! For their part the band, which also features a skilled set of guitarists in Tone Nyström and Mikko Asplund, delivers a convincing set of tunes that come across as much more mature in nature then the band's young age might otherwise suggest. There's much to be discovered on a release such as this one and in fact it's probably more than can be properly digested in just one sitting!  And while opener "Societal Collapse" might run under three minutes these Finnish band mates are not shy when it comes to performing complex arrangements such as the ones found on "New World Order" and "Synthetic Paradise" (running, respectively, at 7:37 and 9:43!). For fans of technical black metal/melodic black metal (especially the kinds that fully-embrace progressive metal elements within their strong song structures!) this one comes with my highest recommendations!

Sound of Memories-Living Circles

Self-Release/Independent
2013

Sounds of Memories, who call Paris, Île-de-France home, are another up-and-coming act who have signed on with Contorted Records. Formed in 2010, and with bands as diverse as Iron Maiden and Carcass serving as their musically influences, this French melodic death metal act released "Living Circles", their debut (and so far only) recorded output, late last October. This three-track EP was recorded, mixed and mastered at ZOE H Studio by Zoe H (Herrschaft, The CNK, Outburst, etc) and it finds this young five-piece trekking into the same territory that house acts like In Flames, Amon Amarth, Dark Tranquillity, At The Gates - Hypocrisy, The Black Dahlia Murder and Arch Enemy. The only difference would be that Sound of Memories, which is fronted by Flo (Florent) and features lead & rhythm guitarist Del, lead & rhythm guitarist/backing vocalist Lucho, bassist/backing vocalist Fab and drummer Nacim, almost come across as if their music was built upon a solid heavy metal foundation and then it was built up, riff by brutalizing riff, into the death metal monster that stands before us today! Well, there's that and then the fact that this group of well-skilled musicians also seems to draw upon a bit of the melodic death/metal power metal of bands like Mercenary and Children Of Bodom. When all of that is compressed and squeezed through it's French' filters  what you get is a dastardly little EP like "Living Circles"! So far that makes two for two bands on the newly reshaped Contorted Records and if these are the kind of acts that we can expect from this independent label then I say BRING IT ON!   

Check out "Living Circles" here:
 http://soundofmemories.bandcamp.com/

Check out the band's Facebook page here:
https://www.facebook.com/soundofmemoriesofficiel

The Unguided-Fragile Immortality

Napalm Records
2014

Formed in 2010, following Richard Sjunnesson departure from Sonic Syndicate over an apparent disagreement over the new musical direction that was being chosen by said band, Sweden's The Unguided, which also features Roger Sjunnesson and former members of Sonic Syndicate, are a difficult band to put to paper. Dubbed "melodic death metal" by many, which would seem to be lazy description given everything that this band brings to the party (or at least on their sophomore full-length album "Fragile Immortality"), this Swedish band stretches the musical boundaries of death metal while unleashing an album that is far too good to be ignored! After a few spins of this release (the first full-length studio album from The Unguided since 2011's "Hell Frost") "Fragile Immortality" left me with more than just a favorable impression! Is this another album in the early running then for my 2014 "Best Of" list? I'd say so. Music-wise Sweden's The Unguided could be seen as Sonic Syndicate part two. Or at least where Sonic Syndicate should have headed before they went off into this odd pop direction! That much I do realize. But, before we look over why I love this release so much let's look at who is who in this Swedish metal band. Harsh vocals are taken care of by Richard Sjunnesson (ex-Fallen Angels, ex-Amaranthe (live), ex-Faithful Darkness, ex-Sonic Syndicate) while Roland Johansson (ex-Sonic Syndicate, ex-Dodge), who is also the band's lead guitarist, handles the clean ones. Meanwhile Richard's brother Roger (ex-Sonic Syndicate, ex-Fallen Angels) plays rhythm guitar and performs the keyboard parts while Henric Liljesand (Cipher System, ex-Eternal Grief, Lavett, ex-Nightrage, ex-Dead by April) plays bass. Drum duties fall to the capable hands of Richard Schill (Acacia, Level Above Human, Vile Scar, ex-Livsnekad, ex-Shining, ex-Spawn of Possession). OK, with that out of the way let's see if I can (hopefully) pin-point what it is about The Unguided that I find so appealing. I admit (begrudgingly) that you could start with "melodic death metal". All of the elements that make for a good melodic death metal band are here. Great musicians playing death metal with clean lines and precision-timing. Melodic passages that give way to brutal lead guitar solos (Roland Johansson provides seriously wicked guitar work throughout this album!) and keyboard parts that create beauty out of what would otherwise be seen as pure darkness. The new band has all that down pat. However, a release like this one is also different then the bulk of melodic death metal bands thanks to the expert way in which the band utilizes both harsh and clean. The harsh vocals provided by Richard Sjunnesson are pure death growls. It's death metal 101 and Richard does it near perfectly. Then you have the clean vocals of Roland Johansson and, to put in bluntly, here we have an individual who could EASILY be fronting his own heavy/power metal outfit! Yes, he is that good! It's not enough that you have one band that is blessed with TWO excellent lead singers. All of which shows how good a band like The Unguided is in just in regards to that one department alone! But, and this will sound weird coming from me, the one thing that really kicks up this release another notch isn't the vocal interplay but rather the very cool keyboards! The best way I could describe them (and this is odd folks) is if you were to pluck the keyboard parts from some of the better synth rock/new wave acts of eighties and (maybe) some of the more unique keyboard work of  90's alternative rock/shoeglaze bands and, after giving them a more "modern metal" once-over, squished them into a Swedish melodic death band with dreams of world conquest! On one hand it's weird and yet, somehow and someway, it's always quite infectious! When it's placed next to metallic, near thrash-like guitar riffs you would think that it wouldn't work right? But it really does and it's that kind of balance which, just like the harsh and clean vocal combination, lifts this one above merely "interesting" into "excellent"! Needless to say "Fragile Immortality" is one new release that is highly recommended!

Forever In Terror-Forever In Terror

In-Demand Records
2013

The story behind Streetsboro, Ohio's Forever In Terror seems to start back in 2003 when drummer Nick Borukhovsky first went about the task of putting a group together. After the band tired out a couple of different names and went about the all to common line-up changes that seem to haunt just about every band out there these days they were finally settled on their current moniker. The rest is as they say history. Well, there is actually more to the story of this five-piece band, but for the sake of time (and seeing as I might try to swing an interview sometime in the coming week or so with these guys who were formed just one town over!), we will just skip a bit of  the who, what, where and why and instead concentrate our efforts on this self-titled release. Besides drummer Nick Borukhovsky, whose skill on drums is never in question, the current lineup features lead vocalist Chris Bianchi, guitarist/vocalist Johnny Burke (who seems to have been the only member besides Nick to have been around back in the very beginning of this group's formation), guitarist Glenn "Glizzy" Moore and bassist Chad Lundgren.  Now, despite this group (in one form or another) being so close to me geography-wise I do have to say that this album is my first chance to check this Ohio act in all their glory! Sure, I've caught glimpses of the band here and there and I've heard sample clips of this group in action, but this is the first full-length album that I've heard by them. As the follow-up to 2009's "The End" (also released on In-Demand Records) this album certainly comes across as a "long-time in the making" release, especially for fans one would think! Of course I can't compare this album to "The End" as I've never heard it, but my first impression of "Forever In Terror" went something like this-"Hell yeah!" which was followed up shortly by "Wow, now here is band that knows how to merge melodic death metal and metalcore just the right kind of way!". Well, alright I do realize that those two (brief) statements might not exactly blow away anyone in the description department, but (more or less) that is what we're talking about with this Ohio heavy metal collective. After opener "We All Die Young" dropped the bomb on my speakers (blowing my stereo into a million pieces thanks to some near-thrash like riffage) the band worked their way through an album that, influence-wise, recalled everything from American acts like The Black Dahilia Murder, Trivium, Lamb of God and As I Lay Dying to some Swedish bands like At The Gates, The Haunted and In Flames. Now, clear your preconceptions of what all that might sound like morphed together as your journey through this self-titled album finds you coming face to face with a band whose technical proficiency is off the charts while, thankfully, never failing to realize that at the end of the day they just want to thrash out! Calling this band a melodic death metal/metalcore then might not be eternity fair as these Ohio natives seem to have gorged themselves on so much more that heavy metal has to offer! And besides that let's face a fact or two. Other then maybe Killswitch Engage (another influence on this group) traditional metalcore is going the way of the dinosaurs and needs a face-lift. Forever In Terror seems as poised as anyone else then to take this scene to bigger and better things! As it stands now this Ohio act might still be flying under the radar somewhat, but with an album like this on their resume now it doesn't have to stay like that for long. Forever In Terror, a band that I like equally from the mellow and harsh vocals all the way down to the mellow and harsh music!, is most definitely recommended and I for one will be keeping an eye out for more good things to come from this band from right down the street!

Tribune-Tales

Corpse Corrosion Music
2013

Since 2004 Vancouver, British Columbia's Tribune, whose sound is a combination of all things heavy (melodic metal, progressive thrash metal, stoner rock, death metal, modern metal, etc.) have been going at it cranking out their own music that, while it might employee many different styles and sounds, still comes off as fairly original. When I last checked in with the band (2012's "Elder Lore / The Dark Arts") I made the comment that the band seemed as if it had gone through my personal CD and vinyl collection picking out bits of this and pieces of that to custom-assemble (either like a mad scientist or a really bored teenage boy!) their own take on heavy metal. I found the album to be quite effective and powerful so when this latest one dropped in my box I expected either more of the same or, justifiably so, a step up. Before we address that issue it should be noted that the 9-track "Tales" is a concept album "based on the writings of renowned authors, like Lovecraft and Wells". Concept albums to me are neither a good thing or a bad thing as I'm all about the music and how it moves you. Seems legit right? After a year or so of waiting to see what this 5-piece act would pull off with "Tales" it has taken me more then a few spins t get my head around this albums. Having enjoyed Tribune's last full-length album this one didn't really do much for me at first. Sure, it is still heavy and features explosive metal as this band rolls out a concept album with music that recalls everyone from Mastodon to Death. Meanwhile lead vocalist Bryan Baker conveys a lot of emotions and is able to pull off both clean and harsh vocals and, on first listen, this album came of as a really metal beast! But the downside of "Tales" falls within the territory of "too much experimentation and not enough consistency". In an attempt to make "Tales" as varied as possible while still cranking everything all the way up to 11 (oh Spinal Tap how I do love you so much!) the album nearly flies off the tracks! At the rate these Canadian metalheads are throwing everything at you it's like you're stuck on some hastily-assembled carnival ride going nowhere but up in flames. While the ride might start off exciting, even thrilling you and your lovely carnival date, the danger becomes all too real as it strikes you that not as much care was put into this as should be!    
Canada's Tribune sound insane on "Tales" for the first listen. After repeated listens though it was as smooth as previously thought. With that I have to admit that I didn't enjoy "Tales" as much as their previous album. Maybe hardcore fans will be more forgiving, but as for me I think I'll just stick with my copy of 2012's "Elder Lore / The Dark Arts".

Dark Age-A Matter of Trust

AFM Records
2013

In the back of my mind I was kind of hoping that somehow this was the same L.A., heavy metal/power metal band Dark Age that released one of the better cult EP's, the self-titled "Dark Age", back in 1984. Of course I knew that wasn't the case. Even so this Hamburg-based Dark Age, who are actually now on lucky album number seven, have an interesting sound all their own. The band, which was formed in 1994 and originally went by the name of Dyer's Eve, is lead by front-man/ guitarist Eike Freese and, for lack of a better description I suppose, they play a hybrid form of metal that combines European-style power metal, melodic death metal, heavy rock and even shades of modern metal. With flashy, nearly techno, keyboards (Martin Reichert) and lead solos from, I assume, Jörn Schubert (of Holy Moses fame) that comes across as thrash rock, this is an album that really caught me off guard! It truly surprised me how interesting the whole album is with it's many different layers and adventurous movements. An album like this is not an easy undertaking seeing how the actual music combines all of these contrasting elements into one smooth narration. On hand it's all so "different" and yet, when you look at it from a another angle and really allow yourself to become one with the music, it's a strong and compelling release with top-notch musicians and songs that keep you interested in what is coming up next. While there are good albums out there far too many just do not have a clue on how to keep you on your toes. This release welcomes you to come inside, sit down and unwind like a family friend. Now I've just got to say that even if this wasn't the Dark Age I had hoped for, and even if this Dark Age was completely unfamiliar to me before listening to "A Matter of Trust", I'm glad I gave it a chance and I would highly recommend this to people who are looking for something different then your typical, run of the mill, heavy metal albums. With "A Matter Of Trust", which yes, does make me hum the Billy Joe song every-time I type it, there is just so much to it. Or (when talking about their new album) to look at it a different way, when it comes to Dark Age, like they say at Baskin-Robbins, there are "31 Fun Flavors" for you to try!

Fausttophel-Thirst Of Oblivion

Another Side Records
2013

Russian metal that is naturally sung in Russian. That could prove to be a challenge. I'm always saying that heavy metal (or in this case blackened melodic death metal) is a universal language though so no excuses on my end. posses Alright, so here's what I do know about this band (info-wise). There's two members in Alexander Savinykh (vocals, guitars, bass and drums) and Valentin Samokhin (keys and vocals) with Alexander likely the band's founder. Formed in 1999 in Poltava, Ukraine the band's first run would only last until 2001. Later on in 2009 the band would be resurrected in the Obninsk, Kaluga region in Russia (Metal Archives I thank you for the info). And finally "Thirst Of Oblivion", which is technically called "Жажда забвения", is the group's debut album. Well, that's if you can call a 6-track release a "album". Oh, and there's also a cover on this "album" of the Коллапс track "Думи" (translation: "Thoughts" by the band Kollaps). The rest of the album's tracks are listed below in English if anyone is interested. Alright, so after all of that what are we to make of Fausttophel and this 6-track release? Musically they've been compared to the likes of Old Man's Child, which I do pick up on, and are suggested for fans of Edge Of Sanity (most definitely), Gates of Ishtar and Unanimated (Metal Scrape Records I thank you for any & all addition information I plundered from your site and this album's description). I personally don't know much about those other two bands (sound-wise) and can't say for certain if that's the case or not, but there's certainly some Old Man's Child and Edge Of Sanity going on here and, even in Russian, this short release (it falls under 40 minutes) is pretty sick. Gritty is another word I would use to describe this band's delivery and (in typical fashion of this kind of black metal enhanced melodic death metal) there is a overwhelming feeling of dread on "Thirst Of Oblivion". This 6-track album is really dark and it carries itself in a fashion where even at it's HEAVIEST there is a twisted sense of melancholy! Something different for sure, but different's good with this kind of metal.

Tracklist Translation:
"Thirst of Oblivion"

1. Feather - Hanjar
2. Looking for Lights
3. Spell
4. Part of You
5.  ( cover)
6. Thirst of Oblivion