Blood Red Throne - Blood Red Throne (2013)

Country: Norway
Genre: Death Metal

I'm just writing this review whilst listening to the last songs from the album, and what I can say is that, it was literally "saved by the bell". It's a progressive album in terms of how it grows and how songs become more and more aggressive but effective at the same time. The first songs are boring shuffles of erratic riffs recycled from old and modern death metal. Boring, nothing new and nothing outstanding. But then the compositional part becomes tighter and the band incorporates catchy riffs and passages which make this album worth listening. Songs lack "flow" and that's the major flaw of this LP, but that doesn't mean that the good parts cannot be enjoyed by themselves. Another minor flaw of this LP is certain sounds, for example, the snare. It lacks power, definition, makes the final drum sound a bit dull and void. The guitar/bass mix is very effective, allows to hear lots of bass chopping in the stereo part whilst hearing powerful guitar riffs in the stereo. In terms of lyrics, I have no idea what these guys are talking about, but I don't find it very interesting to explore it either, maybe will be a future exercise when listening to this album. A couple of riffs where stolen directly from the Suffocation department, some others sound Slayeresque; some others sound like a modern version of the sound from early Entombed. I have to confess that there's something in this album that made me feel pissed off at the beginning, and I still can't understand what it was. I think it's the lack of compositional fluency from the album. All the great ideas are trapped inside a carcass of boring death metal disguise. I will try to enjoy the good parts and avoid the bad ones as much as I can. And stop listening to this when I get tired of being filtering...

ngx981

Behemoth - The Satanist (2014)

Country: Poland
Genre: Death/Black Metal

Extreme metal has always been and will always be the black sheep of the music "family". It brings some extreme topics to the surface: it's controversial, irreverent, and discusses life, death, gods, passions and darkness. But mainly, if you're in a extreme metal band, you will hardly make a living out of it. Like some other genres, it's essentially "ars gratia artis", and it's very difficult that you will see some metallers becoming millionaires. Nevertheless, with the boom of new talented young bands around the world, old bands that were already established and had their own musical niches were commercially threatened by these new bands. In the case of Behemoth, it's one of those bands which were able to morph from primitive, raw, ultra-necro black metal to a more stylish blend of death and black metal. Not everyone saw this progression as positive, but what is true is that it allowed the band to continually find its own niche, which was much more important that preserving the musical direction or the initial concept of the band. In this new record, "The Satanist", Behemoth is able to combine two really important elements of extreme music, which enables it to be a commercial success and at the same time, a satisfying musical experience: a convincing, natural and experimental production and the 20+ year experience to write good musical compositions. The final result is beautiful and brutal... It must be clear that the musical focus from this album isn't on brutality, but at the same time it's able to preserve and display considerable intensity. Sophisticated, emotional and lucid arrangements dominate the record, whilst the production puts every riff and passage on another level. I can't just stop praising how great the production is in this album, because you can feel the music in its wholeness and still be able to see through it. You can definitely listen to the music as multiple well-differentiated streams of sound, like threads forming a weave. The mix is impeccable and the recording was done so greatly that no instrument tries to overshadow any other along the record, delivering a crispy and elegant final result. The cover art and the rest of the visual side of the album are of no lesser quality and brilliance. One of the best records of the year. I honestly thought they were about to repeat the same mistake from "Evangelion" in which they tried to imitate the great sounding "The Apostasy" with no success. Luckily for us fans, this was not the case, and we are able to listen to this magnificent follow-up. We need more of this, Behemoth. A dozen of this. 

ngx981

Grave Upheaval - Untitled (2013)

Country: Australia
Genre: Death Metal

Saying that this band is "death metal" could be one of the worst descriptions ever. It's not "just" death metal. Think of the deepest and darkest cave you can imagine, and then you put the most powerful amp you can find, plug your heaviest sounding guitar tuned to some unknown low note and start playing the most cacophonous and destructive melodies. Then you record some of these songs and make an album with no name, finishing it with the darkest and most perverse cover art. Make an altar, lit the candles and make invocations whilst listening to this record... This record itself is an energetic and chaotic display of extreme music and creates a mass (not wall) of sound that can be enjoyed in a single take. Obviously they sound like their friends Impetuous Ritual, which is a silly comparison considering that both are considerably unknown and is quite difficult for people to know them. They sound a bit like Portal as well, but this is because the three bands Portal/Grave Upheaval/Impetuous Ritual share most of their personnel. It seems that they want to produce more bands and collaborations in the same circle of musicians, but because the concepts are different, each have their own flavour, their own "sound". There is uniqueness in this music, but definitely they want to emulate the old glory from one of the heavyweights from Australian death metal: Disembowelment. It's like listening to this old, iconic band and with a different mix. It has the same depth and cavernous power; it also has the same processional rhythmic approach: cadent and slow. I don't want to be exaggeratedly pessimist about the feeling that I had when listening to this record, but I had this morbid thoughts when that happened: this is the soundtrack for the burial of mankind. Say no more, pick the record (if there are some copies still left from NWN) and grab your gasmask before you start hearing the air raid sirens warning you about the nuclear devastation. And press play in your stereo before that happens...

ngx981

Nightbringer - Ego Dominus Tuus (2014)

I met this band in 2011 with their album "Apocalypse Sun" knowing also that they will release a new albun that year...and they got me hooked since. this is a different black metal band...as many other that have emerged recently...and by different i mean that their lyrics and music is so sophisticated and well written...that it is a tribute to philosophy...the occult dark philosophy. going in a different direction from where all black metal bands are...specially in the satanic subject...they are way ahead of the curve...and they´re not alone...bands Such as Blut Aus Nord, Deathspell Omega, Inferno; and a few more...they are into a different sense of the Luciferian theme...doing it based on the Prometheic Doctrine And Also The Thelema Writings...making an "Intelligent Black Metal"...why? because i presume that they got fed up of the same shit over and over again...just check their lyrics and you will understand why. and that is why i like this band so much...i mean...they left the boredom that implies to mention satan in every song...and even some stupidity about jesus and doing tons of shit to a corpse already mutilated and abused so many times trough the years...that is so dull and simplistic to even talk about it anymore...no...in this case we are at the first steps of musicianship and lyricism greatness...a black metal well done...furious, mercyless...and totally above the majority of bands nowadays. and it´s funny to see how the "iconic" bands react to this kind of material, cause...honestly they are been left behind by this movement which is so young...that in the next 10 years they will be the new black metal icons. mark my words black metal fans looking for something better and even born from the depths of this occult philosophy that was hidden...this is a new era of consciousness...a new era of darkness...for the open minded and elitist thinkers...and of course not suitable for those who think of satan as a cartoonish being...Lucifer is more interesting...and even bettet described.

Enjoy!!

Joe Bonamassa - Different Shades Of Blue (2014)

Unlike other successful blues-rock guitarists, Bonamassa's influences are British and Irish blues acts, rather than American artists. Comparing the music in the United States to the "European" versions of the blues, Bonamassa found the English blues - fostered by the Jeff Beck Group, Eric Clapton and Irish blues player Rory Gallagher - to be far more interesting to him than the original Delta blues players. In an interview in Guitarist magazine, he cited the three albums that had the biggest influence on his playing: John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton (the Beano album), Rory Gallagher's Irish Tour and Goodbye by Cream. He also stated Stevie Ray Vaughan's Texas Flood was a big influence at a young age. He also listed the early blues playing of Jethro Tull as one of his influences, putting both Martin Barre and Mick Abrahams as important musicians to him. His first solo album was named after and includes a cover version of Jethro Tull's "A New Day Yesterday" from their album Stand Up.

Now in 2014...his new album, Different Shades Of Blue...takes us into a melodic journey of his influences and old sounds like never before...that we wish it never ends...great solos...that branded Bonamassa´s sound acquired trough his career makes us understand that we will have his musicianship, refined and class act as always...for a while.

"Enjoy!

Appalachian Winter - The Epochs That Built The Mountains (2014)

Appalachian Winter is a one man black metal band from the rural mountains of Pennsylvania. The theme of this band is the various entities of Pennsylvania's environment, with a focus on the harshness of Winter.

All albums are available for free download online. As he stated in an interview, D. G. Klyne used to make physical copies, but decided against doing so in the future. He changed that with the release of "Ghosts of the Mountains" which again is being released physically but still available for free download.

I love one man band projects...cause they have proven that you dont need that many people if yoire talented to do such things as a whole album...even a song is a challenge and a victory also...and doing it by yourself it demonstrates the opposite as stated in the music canons and conditions...that nowadays are getting obsolete and practically useless.

Mr. Klyne has already to this date, 6 albums...being this one his last masterpiece...and it is a really good album indeed...even though it has his atmospheric passages invoking the clear influence by Summoning...it also has some symphonic elements that are unique in its style...defined by the many influences he has in that area...vocals are great...guitars are well done...drum machine sounds clear...altough maybe later as a suggestion if he tries a real drum sound or even a drummer to join him...that will improve the music to a whole new level...but so far...it is good in my opinion.
something to check on in a rainy day or even when winter season begins...wherever you are.

Enjoy!

Singularity - Singularity (2014)

While i was doing my usual surfing in Bandcamp checking new bands and new sounds subgenre by subgenre...this band showed up...Hailing From Tempe, AZ....when  i saw the pic from the band...i was like...naah...not worth it...but then...leaving my cocky and arrogant mindset aside...sweet lord...this band has an enormous potential...being this their first and only full length...it is something to check on...i still cant believe that these young men do something like this...specially how demanding is tech death metal about techinique, proficiency and basically a really good musician...this men have that...skillful solos...amazing techinque...and of course they understand how this shit is done...also it has a little black-ish element as well that makes me want more of this band. something to consider in the near future...and a name to remember as days go by if they keep on doing this and even improving to higher levels of musicianship. well done...and sincerely wish them the best.


Enjoy!

1349 - Massive Cauldron Of Chaos (2014)

1349 was when the year the Black Death arrived to Norway, wiping out 2/3 of the population and ending the Golden Age of Norway.
1349 rose from the ashes of "Alvheim" in 1997, with Ravn (vocals, drums), Tjalve (guitars) and Seidemann (bass), as well as Balfori (guitars). Ravn and Seidemann played in "Hofdingi Myrkra" which started in 1994 before becoming "Alvheim".
Numbering of tracks in all releases of 1349 since 2003 starts from 11 instead of 01...yeah i know...weird shit indeed.

For many people this band sounds exactly as Satyricon´s lost sound after Nemesis Divina...for me they do have that norwegian sound that is so unique in black metal...and specially in this album it is a trademark indeed in each track you hear...those grim hellish vocals from Ravn are quite distinctive...but i understand on how people mention this satyricon comparison...but that is not fair for any band...both are good on their own.

Massive Cauldron Of Chaos is a great album...no bullshit no intros...straight to the point as it should be in this black metal style they have since their first album "Liberation". this album is really good..it took me by surprise how good it is since the single didnt cheer me up that much...but the whole album is something else...it worked fine and also its variety besides the traditional blast beats...it has some rythmic sections that actually changes how the flow of the album should be...and thats the beauty of it...bacause even though it is raw crude and fast...also knows when to pause and ease the flow of its rage and fury...its like you have the control of it...cause even those eerie guitar solos are perfectly fitted in...the tracks are enriched with all those elements making song by song a journey by itself.

Totally recommended for black metal fans who are looking for class act materials.

Enjoy!

Ayreon - The Theory of Everything (2013

Country: Netherlands
Genre: Progressive Metal/Heavy

Arjen Anthony Lucassen is a well-known multi-instrumentalist from the Netherlands. He's been involved in many projects (which end up being almost solo projects) such as A.A. Lucassen, Star One and Ayreon, just to name a few. In overall, he holds more than 25 albums under his belt. He is just one of these geniuses that produce music throughout all of their lives and get little or no credit for achieving such levels of artistic proficiency. Actually, sometimes I feel very bad about him because he should be enjoying the fame of anyone in the big (commercial) leagues. Maybe that's not what he is looking for. Enough from this.
About the record. This record seems like a very defined and obsessive idea that one day came into AAL's mind and was written, executed and recorded just the way he imagined it. It has all this small details which sound like a symphony, like music you hear in your dreams and then wake up and say: "I was literally composing the music!". Too bad because most of us won't remember almost anything or will have the capacity to write any of the notes. But AAL was able to put all these pieces together, write it in a "rondo" fashion (think of Beethoven's Fifth Piano Concerto, "The Emperor") and invite some friends to sing and sound exactly as he had in mind. The vocal arrangements are truly my favourites here, the metal genre has great vocalists but not great vocal composers, and AAL is certainly one who stands out of the crowd. If you have an eclectic musical taste, like some art rock combined with metal and can stand the fact that the whole recording is the pulsating ego of AAL, this record is for you. Not everyday you get beautiful music like this, give it a try.

ngx981

Download:
http://goo.gl/oXmhW7

VA - Jazz & Blues The Best Collection Songs For The Soul (3CD) (2012)

For all the fans of jazz and blues...this is a compilation that will suffice your needs...specially because of the names this 3cd compilation has...i enjoyed it back in 2013 when i found it...and quite frankly it helped me a lot to discover a musical genre that i have abandoned for years...jazz. you see...when we get into metal...most of our day is joined by our favorite songs and our own playlists that we make to get up and boosted depending on how the day develops...but there is something left to be fulfilled...and this is when this genres come into mind. a moment of peace during a break...or even enjoying your lunch...whatever the reason it is...this is a great companion for those moments when all you need is to relax. so...i recommend that you pick at least one cd to be in your playlist...during those moments...and you will see how your mood will change and even get better...for the rest of the day.



Enjoy!!!


JZZBLS2014

Emeth - Aethyr (2014)

I dont know what surprises me the most...either that this band is so damn good and it already has 4 albums (being this one their most recent material) or...they are from Belgium...whatever the answer may be for my shocked brain...this album nails it! straight into your face riffs...some tempo changes acompanied for the classic chuggy guitars and an insane drumming...which makes me wonder that some drummers specifically in the tech brutal death subgenre they must have a metronome instead of a heart...amazing album overall...there's no waste in it...not even the final songs...that for some albums in this genre weakens the whole album concept or idea. but not this one...check it out...you wonr be dissapointed. Just a reminder...Emeth means truth in hebrew. truth for metal insanity.

Enjoy!


EMETH20114

Solerrain - Fighting The Illusions (2010)

Hailing from St. Petersburg...this melodic death metal band really knows how to do their job. back in 2010 when the melodeath scene was in a turmoil...several bands had risen from unexpected countries...and this is one of them. and album with so many influences...most of them scandinavian...but also a distinctive strength not that common nowadays...some critics called them the" children of bodom from moscow"...but they rejected that comparison in an interview and sent a warm message to the critic who said that by giving him the middle finger live in a metal show...ahh isnt that what metal is about? never the less it may sound a little bodom-esque...they are a little apart from that style...sounding even more death metal in some parts and even neoclassical in others as well.

an album for true melodeath fans...and for people who arent into melodeath...well...google the subgenre fisrt so you can even ger excited or dissapointed...and leave room for others that really want to listen to this.

Enjoy!


SLRRN2014

Obliteration - Black Death Horizon (2013)

Country: Norway
Genre: Black/Death Metal

Don't let yourself be fooled by the chaotic and undistinguishable cover art (the logo deserves the same adjectives) from the third full length by these Norwegians. It kicks off with "The Distant Sun", a very progressive track, slow and dense in the beginning, which effectively unleashes its power in a  energetic and neck-breaking mid-section. "Goat Skull Crown" hits you in second place, and waits no time providing a healthy dose of speedy black/death metal. I would like to comment on two musical elements, which also need to be praised in this effort: the vocals and the drums. Vocals sound so desperate and haunting, emotional at the same time. It's like the voice of someone escaping death, like someone begging for mercy from its victimiser. Another remarkable feature in the vocal department is a suitable mix: not too much on the foreground, not too much on the background, the listening experience is full and plentiful. I don't take for granted what some personalities say about some releases, because one can become incorrectly biased by compromised statements. However, before listening to this album I had the chance of reading what Fenriz, of Darkthrone-fame, had said about it. He said the record to be "organic", but this term has become so void and overused because in most of the so-called organic albums you just find that there's nothing really special about them. I was wrong and can tell you this is pretty much the first real "organic" sounding metal release that I have heard lately. Mics were probably used in a different way, but let me tell you, the drums have a primitive sound whilst the arrangements are tight and ugly-precise so you have this delightful final product which embodies both ugliness and beauty in a single artistic expression. I forgot to say that another of the important actors in this act is the sound of the bass. The bass has this rich and trebly metallic sound which fights and counteracts against the guitars. They don't provide the rhythmic foundations but instead, they continuously defy the guitars, like preventing them from becoming more important at any stage of the musical experience. In overall, this release should keep you full of ugly energy and wait for another Obliteration to be released in the future. I don't like to talk the future, but this band will be huge someday... Just saying.

ngx981

Download:

http://goo.gl/lC2I8A

Volbeat Discography

Formed in 2001, this band is quite hard to label...for instance...since their first album...they had this distinctive sound between hard rock, good old groove, a little rockabilly, and even some western spaghetti music...a whole other concept that broke all the conventionalisms in music...refreshing it with his originality.
i met them back un 2008 when a friend of mine told me that i should check this band...3 days before christmas...and man...at the beginning i was...wtf is this? johnny cash meets hard rock?...and actually put the album aside...months went by...and then my friend who was already a fan...he showed me their latest album "beyond hell/above heaven"...and woow...it was really good...still they had that unique touch which i didnt like...but i really dont know what happened but i enjoyed it...since that day i became a fan...this danish fellas really know how to make great music...and also to innovate in a almost saturated scene...we need more bands like them...otherwise...we may see in the future more copies of Volbeat...and that will suck indeed.


Enjoy!!!



VLBT2014

Rage Nucleaire - Black Storm of Violence (2014)

Country: Canada

Genre: Black Metal

I really don't like to put the "black metal" label on this release because it's much more than that. It has some black metal, some death metal, even some industrial sounds. However, this combination is not what makes this release unique, and I'm not talking about it being unique because of its originality. It's because of this brutal, evil, cacophonous feeling that invades your listening experience, it virtually desecrates your ears even in the first listen. It owns some kind of "sonic violence", and every track is able to deliver an equivalent amount of this energy throughout the record. No wonder why they explicitly put the word "violence" on the album title. Lord Worm, of Cryptopsy-fame, provides the vocals in this record and the result is as grim as the music: they are distorted shrieks like coming from an infernal beast trying to escape from imprisonment. Not many vocalists like to incorporate effects in their singing these days, but I personally like how they used many vocal experimentations in extreme metal and somehow miss that they are not doing it anymore (the harmonised vocals of Glen Benton, for example). Music-wise, guitars are driven by black metal-inspired riffs (tremolo picking, some well-known black metal chords, etc) and the drums are mostly repetitive, and vicious: they sound like machine-guns in the process of annihilation. According to the information available from the band, drums were actually played and it's not a drum machine, but their robotic and almost perfect sound makes it easy to consider that they were computer-programmed. I would also like to mention that this is one of those records which are able to change my psychological state: there's too much violence, too much action, too much of everything. I can listen to it but not very often, my piece of mind becomes endangered. Anyway, I strongly suggest listening to this record, it's up to you how much you're able to handle it and this is very subjective. This record is just like drinking coffee: you drink as many cups as you want; whilst for some one cup will be enough, some others will become mindless addicts that will crave for more and more Rage Nucleaire. Beware of this record.

ngx981

Download:

http://goo.gl/taKKxq

Sadism - The Ocularis Domination (2014)

After the legacy that Pentagram left for the chilean scene...a lot of bands emerged from it...being Sadism one of them...they started back in 1992 always with old school death metal style...and now...in this 2014 they deliver another album filled with that old school death metal. fierce and striaight in your face kind of band...they really know how to make an album that crushes your ears with every chuggy riff as it was in the past. an album recommended for death metal fans...and metal in general also...you wont regret it...and you will even love it or hate it...but at least you heard it.


Enjoy!


SDSM2014

Decapitated - Blood Mantra (2014)

When first formed, the age of the band members ranged from 12 (Vitek) to 16 (Vogg and Sauron).

On October 29th 2007, whilst traveling to a show in Gomel, Belarus, the band were involved in an automobile accident. Their tour bus collided with a truck carrying wood, injuring Vitek and Covan seriously. On November 2, 2007, Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka was declared dead due to injuries sustained from the bus accident. Currently, Covan is still recovering from his head injuries. It is still unknown if he will make a full recovery.

Since the band were without a permanent bass player at the time, Vogg was left as the only member of Decapitated. He temporarily joined Vader in 2008, but later that year decided to reactivate Decapitated. The band finally reformed in 2009 with three new members.

They Released 2 albums after that tragedy..."Carnival Is Forever"...and this one..."Blood Mantra". to be honest...carnival was good...no more no less...nothing that will make me destroy my room with a bat and then wonder what have i done...then Blood Mantra shows up...and i need a new closet...i mean...i enjoyed it very much...even though the first twos singles werent that attractive...the whole albums works fine...it is a fair album even slightly better than Carnival...by a bit. even though i totally will know that a lot of people will say "is not them same without vitek" kind of thing...trust me Mlody the drummer did a great job in this material...worth to check and listen to...at least once.


Enjoy!

DCPTTD2014

Falkenbach - Åsa (2013)

Vratyas Vakyas is the mastermind behind this epic band...which i met several years ago...the album  i first had was Magni Blandinn Ok Megintiri...and it was different to anything i have ever heard in my life in metal at the time.

Magni Bnandinn had that influence, old influence of the Bathory viking days...but also it had some tracks well done that they were so original...that it hooked me since then...and now...with Asa...they´re back into a more black metal style without losing their distinctive epic style...the mental landscaping that this band offers is quite a rarity nowadays...not so many bands can do that..even their first single Eweroun, we knew that something good was coming..an it did.

As i mention beofre...this band is not for everybody...and specially for people so narrowminded that they prefer the riffs and kicks and blast beast with mediocre sound...this is for those who can recognize quality and efficiency in music...besides...epick viking metal is only for even viking metal fans or epic metal fans...and as a fan of both...i enjoyed it very much.

Enjoy!


FLKNBCH2014

Septicflesh - Titan (2014)

the first time i heard this band i was completely indifferent...i mean...mystic places of dawn wasnt my favorite...and i left the band since they were still doing some death metal, the death metal i dont like.

later on...i checked online and suddenly the summerian daemons showed up...and i was insanely blown away...what a change from that death metal they used to play into a more refined and even symphonic sofisticated path, which is an element i admire in music...is not easy to adjust something so symphonic into metal and also a few people have succeeded doing it...and they did. then later came communion...a massive death metal album with orchestrations so huge that were overwhelming and unique...speedy and furious at the same time.

the great mass showed up later on...following the same musical structure...and quite frankly it was again an album that blew my mind...altough in some passages the songs weakened a little bit...overall it was great.

nowadays...titan showed up....holy fuck!...this album is so massive...like a juggernaut hitting trees...since the beginning starts to hit you in the face...so far...after communion this release is their best so far in the symphonic era of septic flesh...i really enjoyed it...but the arrangements killed me...perfeclty fitting each and every song of this album. i recommend this since they have a huge fan in me...lets see if you can enjoy it as i do everytime i play it.

Enjoy!

Wintersun Discography

Formed by Jari Mäenpää as a side project when he was in Ensiferum. When the sessions booked for the recording of the first album clashed with an Ensiferum tour, Jari left Ensiferum. The first album was recorded entirely by Jari, apart from the drums which were played by Kai Hahto.

Former Ensiferum drummer Oliver Fokin briefly preceded Teemu Mäntysaari as the second guitarist but left before the recording sessions for second album began.

Jari used to describe the band's genre as "Extreme Majestic Technical Epic Melodic Metal". Later on, after "Time I" was released, he referred to it as "Universal Metal" due to lots of various influences included.

A unique style in composition which also as the old saying preaches "the devil is in the details"...their last album has many for each song...a gem indeed...and a must have also. not recommended for instinct pro headbangers...but totally recommended for those who want lo hunt the little things in a massive album...both albums have that...and the second is even more maniacal in that subject.

Enjoy!

Download


WNTRSN2014