| MUSIC REVIEWS January 2005 |
| BERSERK - RETURN OF THE ANCIENT LAWS (8 song CD) ADIPOCERE RECORDS This disc is a re-issue of the bands first demo on CD format. The CD also includes some live tracks & a BURZUM cover. These guys are from Spain & play really dark Death/Black Metal music. The music is really low end & aggressive Death Metal with some really harsh & atmospheric Black Metal parts tossed in. There is a strong coldness to their music as well. The vocals also sway back & forth between Black & Death Metal styles. True die hard Black Metal fans will enjoy these guys!!! - P.O. BOX 438 / 13080 CIUDAD REAL / SPAIN / BERSERKhorde@yahoo.com / www.BERSERKhorde.com |
| BLODSRIT - HELVETESHYMNER (9 song CD) OAKEN SHIELD This new disc is from the Swedish Black Metal band BLODSRIT. Most fans of Black Metal & Sweden's Metal scene already know of these guys who have been spreading thier sound since 1998. These guys play extreme old school Black Metal music. There is an onslought of dark evilness pouring from this band. The music is very tight, fast & full sounding. The vocals are done in a mid ranged hallowed Black Metal scream growl. This third CD release from these guys will please thier old fans & will surely draw more Black Metal hordes to them!!! This is their best effort so far!!! - info@BLODSRIT.se / www.BLODSRIT.se |
| BRODEQUIN - METHODS OF EXECUTION (11 song CD) UNMATCHED BRUTALITY RECORDS Damn! This is some extremely brutal & heavy shit! I have all of this bands other releases & this is by far thier best yet! These guys play a mix of Death & Grindcore music. The music just repeatedly pounds you & plows you over. There is Grindcore blasts, crunchy & dirty guitar riffs & sick as hell gutteral Death growls. These guys out do themselves with each releases. This is their first release in almost three years. Check these sick fuckers out & be prepared to be pummeled!!! - www.BRODEQUIN.com |
| DOWNTOWN BROWN - SELF TITLED (13 song CD) CHOCOLATE STAIN RECORDS This is the second CD release from this Detroit trio. These guys are very spastic & all over the place. This is a good thing when it comes to this band. These guys are highly talented & prove it on this disc. They cross Punk, Jazz, Funk, Hardcore, Death Metal, Doom & Arena Rock all into one. I love how the music changes all the time. It's done so smoothly, you never see it coming, but you can't wait for more. The vocals also join the music, by crossing into all the above styles! If you took the bands DOG FASHION DISCO, WHITE TRASH, PRIMUS, MR. BUNGLE, JACKYL, FISHBONE, BLACK FLAG & some MURPHY'S LAW, CIRCLE JERKS, COAL CHAMBER & blended them all together you'd get these guys!!! I enjoyed this disc a lot! Check it out!!! - 2741 BURNS / DEARBURN, MI. 48124 info@DTBmusic.com / www.DTBmusic.com |
| FORGOTTEN TOMB - LOVES BURIAL GROUND (9 song CD) ADIPOCERE RECORDS From the dark pits of Italy comes the very intense Black Metal band FORGOTTEN TOMB. These guys base their roots in Black Metal, but also add lots of Doom Metal elements to their music. The music goes from dark depresive sounding into hyper blast aggressive brutality. They even toss in some atmospheric parts as well. The vocals are done in a mid ranged Black / Death Metal growl/scream crossover style!!! This is yet another great band from this label!!! FORGOTTEN.TOMB@libero.it / www.FORGOTTEN.TOMB.com |
| MUMMIFICATION - RUNES OF BLOOD (9 song CD) BRUTALIZED RECORDS Hailing from California comes this sick Death Metal monster. These guys play very brutal old school styled Death Metal music. There are some touches of new school influences, but it's mostly in the old school range! There are a lot of crunchy riffs & heavy blasts. The vocals are done in a low end Death gurggles along with a higher throaty Death growl. Fans of old Death Metal greats like SUFFOCATION, CARCASS, DISINCARNATE, CARNIVORE & OBITUARY will dig this band!!! - P.O. BOX 1112 / LAYTONVILLE, CA. 95454 / www.MUMMIFICATION.tk |
| RED SPAROWES - AT THE SOUNDLESS DAWN (7 song CD) NEUROT RECORDINGS This is the debut CD release from this heavy Psychodelic Rock band. These guys blend lots of trippy sounds into creating their style. The band contains members of ISIS, NEUROSIS, TEMPORARY RESIDENCE, CONVERGE & more. There are a lot of Doom, Goth & Soundscape influences all through out the disc. Sometimes the music gets really heavy, but it's mostly melodic sounding & reminds me of early SONIC YOUTH, JOY DIVISION & DEAD CAN DANCE. Fans of this labels other releases will dig these guys!!! www.REDSPAROWES.com |
| TENEBRUM INFECTUS - SAME (16 song CD) ADIPOCERE RECORDS These sickos out of France play powerful Death Metal music combined with intense Grindcore. The concept of this band is based on a devilish triangle of Man, Sex And...Pig! These guys are great. I loved this whole disc. They combine old school brutal Death Metal with new school Grindcore. If you like intense aggressive & crazy as hell music, your gonna love these guys. The vocals are done in a mid ranged Death growl, accompanied by an insane Grindcore scream!!! The disc also includes some video clips!!! - 1, IMPASSE FONTANIERES / 69 100 VILLEURBANNE / FRANCE TENEBRUM_INFECTUS@hotmail.com |
| TERATISM - SERVICE FOR THE DAMNED (6 song CD) PATHOS PRODUCTIONS I was a very glad to find this disc in my hands, for two reasons! 1) Scott is my bud & 2) TERATISM is a brutal as hell Death Metal band. These guys play all out straight forward, heavy as shit Death Metal music. They have a lot of really cool blasts, grooves, stomps & breakdowns all within their music. The vocals are done in a mid ranmged Death growl style. These guys are by far one of the best Metal bands to emerge from Mass. This is a must for any Death Metal fan!!! www.MassDeath.com |
| THEN KAME SILENCE - DEMO CD (4 song CD) This is my first experience hearing these guys who hail from the U.K. They play a mixture of Death & Doom Metal. The music is real catchy & has some good riffs & grooves. They seem to have some elements of Thrash Metal in their sound as well. This is mostly in the guitars. The vocals are done in a low end Doom Metal style which almost becomes Death Metal. The vocals sound almost like old CROWBAR. If you took bands like CROWBAR, MEGADETH, VOIVOD & DEICIDE & meshed them together you'd get these guys!!! THENKAMESILENCE@btinternet.com / www.THENKAMESILENCE.tk |
| TREPHINATION - WITH WAR COMES ATROCITIES (3 song CD) FLESHFOLD PRODUCTIONS Hailing from my home state of Pennsylvania & even my area of Philadelphia, comes this great Death Metal band. These guys play a very tight & aggressive style of Death Metal music. They have a strong old school Death Metal sound to their music. Pure brutality & adrenaline is pouring all through out this band. The vocals cross many ranges of Death Metal growls. There are low end gutteral, mid ranged growls & harsh higher growls all mixed together. If you took CARCASS, OBITUARY & CANNIBAL CORPSE & made them into one band you'd get TREPHINATION!!! - P.O. BOX 5013 / PHILADELPHIA, PA. 19111 TREPHINE666@aol.com / DissectionDeath@aol.com |
| UNREAL OVERFLOWS - POINT OF A NEW DEPARTURE (4 song CD) These guys hail from Spain & play some really good Death Metal music. The music is not your typical Death Metal sound. They have a very technical sound with Thrash, Doom & some Goth influences tossed in. The music has a strong aggressive vibe intertwind with atmospheric parts as well. The vocals are also quite varied. They cross over Death, Thrash & Goth styles. These guys are really, really good & I'd like to hear more stuff from them. Watch out for these guys!!! - ROZABALES, 52 ALDAN / 36946 CANGAS (PONTEVEDRA) / SPAIN UNREALOVERFLOWS@yahoo.es |
| VICIOUS CIRCLE - THE ACT OF AGONY (12 song CD) NEOBLAST RECORDS I was very happy to see this disc in my hands. I used to be friends with these guys in the early 90's when their old singer Brian was in the band. Also when I used to manage bands like DROSS, DEATH CORE & STRENGTH, who used to play gigs with VICIOUS CIRCLE @ the Cell Block! Anyway, VICIOUS CIRCLE play extremely well thought out Death Metal music. They blend brutal old school influences with technical new school influences. These guys have definately matured & majorly improved over the years. The vocals are mid ranged Death growls with some low gutteral ones tossed in. This disc is better than anything they have put out in the past. Evry Death Metal fan would be pleased with this disc in their collection! Get this one!!! - VICIOUSCIRCLE@VICIOUSCIRCLE.tv / www.VICIOUSCIRCLE.tv |
| YWOLF - DREAM WARRIOR (13 song CD) ADIPOCERE RECORDS I was a bit surprised by this new release from YWOLF. I have two previous releases, but this ones a bit different. The music is still done in an atmospheric Black Metal style. This time around though, he has some darker & more Goth like sounds through out the disc. The major change to me is the weird vocal styling this time. It almost sounds like a dying robot Death growl mixed with some Black Goth Metal melodic vocals! I liked this disc, but prefer his previous efforts a bit more!!! www.YWOLF.cjb.net |