bounded by metal

Swallow the Sun - New Moon

2009-11-15T01:44:00.001+01:00

Genre: Melodic Doom/Death Metal
Year: 2009
Country: Finland
Tracklist:

1.	These Woods Breathe Evil	06:43
2.	Falling World	05:08
3.	Sleepless Swans	07:23
4.	...and Heavens Cried Blood	06:17
5.	Lights on the Lake (Horror pt. III)	07:45
6.	New Moon	05:00
7.	Servant of Sorrow	06:25
8.	Weight of the Dead	09:04
Total playing time		53:45

Download (depositfiles)
Did Swallow the Sun jump onto the new plane, did they create a new paradigm with New Moon? The answer should be decidedly “no”, as the old trusted melodic doomdeath rules the day. At the same time, within this genre, the band remains completely personable, jerking a quick tear out of the corner of an eye or a momentary throat choke. This is what I personally needed from the band, despite what many would call a lack of progression.

Temple of Baal - Lightslaying Rituals

2009-11-14T02:46:00.001+01:00

Genre: Black Metal
Year: 2009
Country: France
Tracklist:

1.	Piercing The Veils Of Slumber	05:03
2.	Triumph Of Heretic Fire	03:28
3.	Black Sun Of The Damned	05:04
4.	Angstgeist	04:30
5.	Dead Cult	05:58
6.	Hate Is My Name	02:53
7.	Poisoned Words	04:09
8.	Vectors To The Void	03:22
9.	Blessings Of Blackfire	05:49
Total playing time		40:24

Download (uploading)
For years Temple Of Baal has been twisting and turning its self-created muddy pool of dirty, underground satanic worship. Their new album is called ‘Lightslaying Rituals’ and it will definitely give the dyed in the wool occultist some pleasant hours of dark listens. The premises for Temple Of Baal are actually pretty simple: you turn your distortion all the way up until your nearing the dirty frequencies of, say, Arkhon Infaustus and you go through your songs on various catchy tempos.

You could call this one-dimensional, however ‘effective’ would be a better choice of words. Without much ado nine intriguing death incantations are rammed relentlessly into your brain. You simply do not get a chance to say no to them. With exactly the right proportions between the catchy speed of thrash, the sheer bluntness of death and the creepy atmospheres of black, Temple Of Baal make it practically impossible to ignore the sheer quality of ‘Lightslaying Rituals’. It is amazing how incredibly addictive simplicity can be!

Troll - Drep De Kristne

2009-11-14T02:41:00.001+01:00

Genre: Symphonic Black Metal
Year: 1996
Country: Norway
Tracklist:

1.	Kristenhat	06:44
2.	I Saler av Sten	03:40
3.	Trollberg	04:20
4.	Naar Solen Blekner Bort	04:17
5.	Troll Riket	04:07
6.	Med Vold Skal Takes Kristenliv	03:06
7.	Gud's Fall	03:57
8.	Drep De Kristne	03:56
Total playing time		36:10

Download (mediafire)
Those who know Stian Arnesen’s work from his time in Dimmu Borgir or The Kovenant will hopefully as pleasantly shocked as I am when they stumble across his time spent in Troll, a little-known offshoot of the Norwegian Black Metal tree that did great things in its time, and promises to do so again now that a new album is due in 2010. The Industrial Metal of 2001’s Universal is a personal highlight of the subgenre – I have absolutely nothing against the Kovenants of the scene, but they never seemed to be up there in quality with the Dødheimsgards and Arcturuses out there – and yet it’s the band’s debut album that’s the best of the bunch. Troll started when Stian, here going under the name Nagash Blackheart, was just fourteen years old, and Drep De Kristne (“kill the Christian”) is, along with Covenant’s debut, the best and purest Black Metal that he was associated with.

The best thing about the album is, surprisingly, the synths – they’re expertly applied, coating the fuzzy riffs and solid supporting blasts and beats to epic effect. I’m always astonished at the quality of the songwriting here, too, there being exactly zero poor tracks. Opener Kristenhat brings the Burzum, ambient humming becoming strangely symphonic and grandiose, layers forming atop one another as militaristic drums beat a harsh tattoo – then the Black Metal kicks in, wonderfully melodic without losing an iota of viciousness. Nagash’s vocals are throaty and raw, contrasting brilliantly with the rather beautiful music; think early Enslaved but catchy, and you’re more or less there. Unlike some of the other Black Metal bands who made Symphonic Blackness of a high quality, Troll’s synths go beyond the flying-dizzily-over-great-dark-forest effect to something distinctly more mystical and fantastic. The troll of the band’s title is the first thing that comes to mind, and as laughable as it may sound Drep De Kristne do a brilliant job in convincing you of these creatures’ existence.

From the epic invocation of I Saler Av Sten to the near-humpaa of Trollberg, Scandinavian myth meets your basic Black Metal bigotry in a killer combination. The sheer variety on offer is astounding; fine, 1996 was the year that Black Metal began to shapeshift, Satyricon’s Nemesis Divina and Dødheimsgard’s Monumental Possession just two of the albums that stood on the thin line between the genre’s future and its past, and Drep De Kristne is very much of the past, yet we’ve been conditioned to accept poor songwriting from the early Black Metal masters when gems like this exist. Take Naar Solen Blekner Bort, opening with catchy synths before an ahead-of-its-time breakdown and whirring guitars appear, spiralling down through keyboard blasts to incredible effect. On any other album it’d be an unquestionable highlight, yet here it’s surrounded with excellence, and picking out favourite tracks becomes genuinely hard. They’re all great, the bells and whistles of Troll Riket and the manic screams of Med Vold Skal Takes Kristenliv alike – really, this is a brilliant bit of Black Metal, and that Nagash performed all the instruments himself is even more impressive.

As epic instrumental Gud’s Fall introduces the finale title track, it’s hard not to be reminded of Emperor’s classic In The Nightside Eclipse. Drep De Kristne is clearly a different album but there are similar themes explored, and whilst this isn’t as good as the imperial masterpiece it is still a damn good piece of Black Metal, perfect for going out into the woods with on a clear night and paying homage to the sky. Others may have been spacier or more epic with their Black Metal, some were more technical or catchier, but few relics from the 90s could combine all of these into one kickass package, and it remains one of the best pieces of symphonic blackness to come from Norway; a vital listen for all Black Metal fans, as obscure as it sadly is.

Dodsferd - Suicide and the Rest of Your Kind Will Follow

2009-11-14T02:27:00.001+01:00

Genre: Black Metal
Year: 2009
Country: Greece
Tracklist:

1.	Suicide and the Rest of Your Kind Will Follow	20:23
2.	His Veins Colored the Room	16:33
Total playing time		36:59

Download (mediafire)

A one-man productive Greek black metal machine Dodsferd has put its name in the running for the “miserable” black metal album of the year with Suicide and the Rest of Your Kind Will Follow. For those who followed Dodsferd evolution thus far, Suicide … may feel like an out-of-character surprise that it is. Who knows what kind of mood main man Wrath was for this, but my bet is on him feeling despondent. Gone is reckless pissed off attitude and addictive black’n’roll of Death Set the Beginning of My Journey. What could have been a camp buddy to Horna and Sargeist before, now feels a lot closer to hopeless pessimism of Xasthur and Shining.

Having seen the light of day back in May of 2009, the title track may be a perfect soundtrack to a fall. Steady non-wavering mid-pace rhythm allows layering and developing guitar hooks onto the monotonous main riff structure. As much as the track appears one-dimensional, it has interesting off-shoots throughout, keeping the listener wallowing in his/her own mire. Suicide and the Rest of Your Kind Will Follow is like walking in the rain. You are uncomfortable at first, cold water getting down your neck and behind your shirt. Then, amidst the misery you almost feel defiant, determined to reach your final destination with a quick drum pattern change, only to dissolve into an acoustic final realization that wherever it is you are going, you will arrive there desperately sick from all this cold and wetness.

The other album’s cut, His Veins Colored the Room, starts out as a screeching horror flick and builds in even more of a dreadful atmosphere towards the end, however, this track also finds room for layered melodies. The feeling of unavoidable disaster is prevalent, and Wrath also builds in some jolting synthesizer car break-like squeals for further effect.

Throughout these 37 min Wrath really impresses with his vocals abilities. His howls, a lot less over the top than Silencer, peel the skin off raw, dementia weighing heavily onto listener’s mind.

Suicide and the Rest of Your Kind Will Follow descends into the dread with style. Produced above the level of your average DIY bedroom black metal, it has just the right amount of refinement to be audible, yet emphasizes the urge to bang your head against some dark corner in the most remote room in your dwelling when all seems lost.

Anthropia - The Chain Reaction

2009-11-14T02:21:00.001+01:00

Genre: Progressive Metal
Year: 2009
Country: France
Tracklist:

1.	Incarnation (Prologue)
2.	A New Self
3.	Whipping Soul
4.	The Torn Off Wing of the Butterfly
5.	Take Me Home
6.	The Night at the Opera
7.	The Altar of Trust
8.	Those Days Are Always Rainy
9.	Trinity (The New Consensus)
10.	The Tree of Life
11.	Breeze in the Leaves (Epilogue)

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Anthropia is a French band who with 'The Chain Reaction' release their second album. In 2006 the band debuted with the album 'The Ereyn Chronicles Part One' which was released on the famous Magna Carta label. Even more than nowadays the band then was a solo project of guitarist/vocalist/ composer Hugues Lefebvre. Now he has gathered other musicians around him, but still Hugues is the man who writes and rules. Fortunately, the man understands the art of composing.

'The Chain Reaction’ is a concept album. In short, the story is about a 'soul' that has had enough of always having to obey orders from his masters. He is being kept on a leash and a lot of promises are made. He decides to only do what he wants in his next life. But this behaviour and the loss of his soul mate, result in an unexpected ending; the end of human kind. You may understand it is a science fiction story which also has some biblical elements. The implementation of the songs is perfect and the CD also sounds very solid (Tommy Hansen did the mastering of the CD, Hugues himself was responsible for the production). The music reminds me a lot of the work of Pain Of Salvation and to a lesser degree of a band like Evergrey. Everything a concept album in this genre needs is there: heavy parts and sensitive passages, flashy solos and beautiful acoustic guitar parts, great solo and harmony vocals (the combination of Hugues and Nathalie Olmi is perfect), pounding drums and atmospheric piano pieces. The highlight of the CD for me is ‘The Torn Off Wing Of The Butterfly’ because of all the ideas that are incorporated in that song. For fans of the bands mentioned above, this is a compulsory purchase.

Cain's Offering - Gather the Faithful

2009-11-14T02:17:00.001+01:00

Genre: Power/Heavy Metal
Year: 2009
Country: Finland
Tracklist:

1.	My Queen of Winter	04:15
2.	More Than Friends	05:38
3.	Oceans of Regret	06:21
4.	Gather the Faithful	03:50
5.	Into the Blue	04:25
6.	Dawn of Solace	04:18
7.	Thorn in My Side	04:07
8.	Morpheus in a Masquerade	06:51
9.	Stolen Waters	04:35
10.	Elegantly Broken	02:46
Total playing time		45:06

Download (depositfiles)
he question whether the Finish super group Cain’s Offering is in fact a Frontiers project or a real band is haunting me already for a while and hopefully the answer will be that it’s a real band who’s certainly going to perform live and will make more records. The band, which consists of ex-Sonata Arctica and ex-Altaria guitar player Jani Liimatainen, Stratovarius singer Timo Kotipelto, ex- Sonata Arctica keyboard player Mikko Harkin, Wintersun bass player Jukka Koskinen and Paul Di’Anno Drummer Jani Hurula leaves a very good impression on their debut album ‘Gather The Faithful’, that’s for sure. Main man proves to be guitar player Liimatainen who wrote all of Cain’s Offering’s material and who has also produces the debut album, but you shouldn’t underestimate the importance and added value of the other band members. Especially singer Kotipelto sounds great, a lot better than what he did on the last Stratovarius album.

The band is to be situated in the same genre as the previous bands of Liimatainen and that’s the progressive metal genre. They do this in a great way as proven by both opening tracks of the record, the up-tempo ‘My Queen Of Winter’ and the more mid-tempo ‘More Than Friend’, which are both real good metal songs with flashy guitar work and nice keyboard parts. The following ‘Oceans Of Regret’ has some more progressive influences, while title track ‘Gather The Faithful’ is a very bombastic instrumental, which reminds by sometimes at Nightwish. Also the next five tracks are very enjoyable, with a special mention for the complex, almost seven minutes long ‘Morpheus In A Masquerade’, which will take you quite a number of listens before it’s digestible. The only lowlight of the album is closing song ‘Elegantly Broken’, of which the keyboard intro is identical to the melody of the eighties pop song ‘Tell It To My Heart’ of Taylor Dane. Besides this nothing than praise for this fine debut album!

Claustrofobia - I See Red

2009-11-14T02:10:00.001+01:00

Genre: Death/Thrash Metal
Year: 2009
Country: Brazil
Tracklist:

1.	Discharge	03:28
2.	War Stomp	03:52
3.	Minefield	03:41
4.	Evil University	02:58
5.	Alarm	03:10
6.	Raining Shit	04:23
7.	Don't Kill the Future	04:56
8.	Our Blood	03:22
9.	Natural Terrorism	02:38
10.	I See Red	02:45
11.	Tiro De Meta	03:33
12.	Subconscious in Flames	03:21
13.	Filha da Puta (Ultraje a Rigor Cover)	03:02
14.	Beneath the Remains (Sepultura Cover)	04:11
Total playing time		52:11

Download (mediafire)

I was not particularly familiar with Brazilian deadly thrashers Claustrofobia until a fellow reviewer told me that Candlelight had yet another thrash related band up for grabs. Since most thrash bands that come out of Brazil tend to possess a certain amount of quality, I took the bait, and well, this is damn good. It should however be noted that Claustrofobia‘s fourth album has just as much in common with death metal as with thrash metal. The guttural vocals will jump out and punch you in the face a long with fast rolling riffs that are extremely heavy. To be honest, I’m not the biggest death metal fan, but this grabbed me at once. May it be the Sepultura-like guitars and song-writing or the faint brutal touch of Cannibal Corpse, either way if you like fast, relentless and uncompromising death metal with loads of top notch thrash-moments that’ll make you bang the head like a maniac, Claustrofobia should definitely be on your list.

Even though this may seem a tad bit long with its fifteen tracks, it never really comes of as tiring in the very least. There are plenty of outstanding songs that consists of memorable riffs, rapid drums, and gut-wrenching growls that will rip the flesh of your face. The monotone nature that often strips death metal bands of their colour and make them easy to write off is simply not a factor here. These guys knows how to make their songs sound interesting be it two-and-a-half-minute straight-forward face-smashers or 5-minute slightly more melodic yet violent assaults like the brilliant Bonded By Blood-era Exodus-like Don’t Kill the Future that’ll actually remind you of the old days in a good way rather than making you wish you had a veteran band in your cd-player. Except the one interlude here, each song is as crushing as the other and as blood flows from your gashed head, Claustrofobia will do nothing to heal the damage.

There is not much more else to say without me sounding like a broken record, than that this may have been Candlelight’s most interesting outing in a while in between the tons of retro-trash acts that have spamming the metal universe for a while now. Claustrofobia deliver on all parts, and though this is absolutely nothing new, it’s a damn fun and entertaining listen even for metal-heads that are not too fond of death metal for some reason. I have not yet dug into this band’s past, but I guess I have to now as this kind of took me by surprise, and I like surprises. Highly recommended!
(review by metalreviews)

The Ruins of Beverast - Foulest Semen of a Sheltered Elite

2009-11-14T02:06:00.001+01:00

Genre: Black Metal
Year: 2009
Country: Germany
Tracklist:

1.	I Raised this Stone as a Ghastly Memorial	10:31
2.	Alu	00:51
3.	God's Ensanguined Bestiaries	08:33
4.	Mount Sinai Moloch	12:27
5.	Transcending Saturnine Iericho Skies	00:46
6.	Kain's Countenance Fell	08:37
7.	The Restless Mills	12:09
8.	Theriak - Baal - Theriak	01:22
9.	Blood Vaults (II - Our Despots Cleanse the Levant)	09:19
10.	Arcane Pharmakon Messiah	15:14
Total playing time		01:19:52

Download (mediafire)
By now every black metal fan, even the vaguely interested, has heard of The Ruins Of Beverast. Of course, this is not without reason as the music this one-man group has delivered, surely has made its carvings in the black metal tree of life. Indeed, ‘Unlock The Shrine’ and ‘Rain Upon The Impure’ changed the way many perceived black metal. Am I being overly dramatic here? I think not. In any case the third instalment, enigmatically called ‘Foulest Semen Of A Sheltered Elite’, has some serious shoes to fill.

For ‘Foulest…’ I personally expected a departure from its predecessor or at least a stylistic difference. At first glance this is actually not the case. The tone of the guitars, the sound effects and the drums all more or less sound like they did on ‘Rain Upon The Impure’, although with a much clearer and modern production. Sound-wise this is quite an improvement over the rather noisy affair ‘Rain Upon The Impure’ was, although it served a purpose then. This newly found clarity does come with a trade-off though. Much of the mystique that surrounded the previous works has disappeared. It is as if the music of The Ruins Of Beverast is naked.

The songs on ‘Foulest Semen Of A Sheltered Elite’ carry a personality of themselves rather than being part of a whole. Not that the album is disjointed of fragmented, but the songs all make a point of their own and come to that particular point rather quickly. For some that may be something positive others may prefer otherwise. I remain neutral on this issue. As a whole this album will not shake the foundations of black metal like previous efforts did, but this sure is a very good album indeed. In case I may have suggested otherwise. Musical artist Alexander von Meilenwald again came up some brilliantly atmospheric pieces of black metal art, (and I would like to stress the word artist once more) as well as furious aggression and unusual bits and pieces scattered around and no fanatic in their right mind should take a pass on this one. ‘Foulest Semen Of A Sheltered Elite’ may not be very different but nevertheless impressive and essential in its own right.

Count Raven - Mammons War

2009-11-14T01:57:00.001+01:00

Genre: Doom Metal
Year: 2009
Country: Sweden
Tracklist:

1.	The Poltergeist	04:32
2.	Scream	05:08
3.	Nashira	05:13
4.	The Entity	07:04
5.	Mammons War	05:48
6.	A Lifetime	10:50
7.	To Kill a Child	08:24
8.	To Love, Wherever You Are	03:19
9.	Magic Is...	04:25
10.	Seven Days	08:52
11.	Increasing Deserts	05:05
Total playing time		01:08:40

Download (mediafire)
Read review: here

Augrimmer - From the Lone Winters Cold

2009-11-14T01:35:00.001+01:00

Genre: Black Metal
Year: 2009
Country: Gemany
Tracklist:

1.	From the Lone Winters Cold	07:11
2.	A Ride the Celestial Night	04:00
3.	The Nightful Sleep Below	04:15
4.	At Winterdawn	04:50
5.	The Orcus Storms	05:25
6.	Deadlights	03:30
7.	Bearer of Sorrow	04:56
8.	A Thrall of the Night	07:45
Total playing time		41:52

Download (rapidshare)
After releasing two MCDs, notably one earlier this year (Autumnal Heavens), Augrimmer finally bring us their debut album, From the Lone Winters Cold. This act is now a trio formed of founder Nord (guitars), Satan (vocals and bass) and Draugh (drums). Augrimmer came to life a decade ago as a one-man project. The German trio is labeled as "Northern Black Metal", which I believe is right on.

Black and white cover art, fast and grim music, discrete rasps and subtle hues make Augrimmer interesting to listen to and discover. Nothing fancy as such or even new to be heard on this disc, just good old coldness. The sound production is a bit raw, fitting their musical direction quite well. Their music is not constantly stuck on those blast beats, Augrimmer can easily moderate to those well appreciated mid-tempos, allowing nice atmosphere and crushingness to sink in. What makes this CD more pleasant are all those extra musical harmonies that were included. Sometimes, they take the form of folksy or epic passages; otherwise they can be clean arpeggios or even some darkly ambient keyboard passages. All of those delicacies bring out their own melodious touch on such great number such as "From the Lone Winters Cold", "A Ride to Celestial Night" and "At Winterdawn". "Bearer of Sorrow" uses a classical guitar in the intro, as well as a couple of times later on during the song. Closer "A Thrail of the Night" ends the album perfectly by making the heavy crunchiness and melodic aspects alternate in harmony.

From Lone Winters Cold is one more safe Black Metal release from Germany.

Devin Townsend Project - Addicted

2009-11-14T01:32:00.000+01:00

Genre: Experimental / Progressive Rock
Year: 2009
Country: Canada
Tracklist:

1.	Addicted!	05:36
2.	Universe in a Ball!	04:09
3.	Bend It Like Bender!	03:37
4.	Supercrush!	05:13
5.	Hyperdrive!	03:36
6.	Resolve!	03:12
7.	Ih-ah!	03:45
8.	The Way Home!	03:14
9.	Numbered!	04:55
10.	Awake!	09:44
Total playing time		46:49

Download (depositfiles)
Even within the grimmest of frostbitten winterdemons hides a goddamn hippie. How can one otherwise explain the constant urge to merge “happy” and “metal” into something that actually makes sense? So far, this fusion had mostly led to the most abominable cheesefests known to mankind, but if there is one person on this world to whom we can entrust the task of creating a genuinely good natured metal album it’s Devin Townsend. Since ‘Addicted’ is exactly such an album, check your corpsepaint at the door please.

With the brooding and restrained ‘Ki’, the first part of his four album project, Townsend may have alienated parts of his fanbase, so let’s start this review with some assuring words: ‘Addicted’ is a lot more representative of what Devin has done in the past. The album is very much in line with what he did with The Devin Townsend Band, Ocean Machine, Ziltoid, etcetera. There is only one slight difference: ‘Addicted’ is a lot better! Despite more or less returning to the kind of loud, layered, musicalised metal he Canadian is known for, Townsend has retained the newfound confidence and his open mind to an open sound that could be found on ‘Ki’. This has resulted in his most crushing production and, more importantly, his strongest songwriting to date.

‘Addicted’ sounds instantly recognizable. Devin’s trademark style is just all over the place. From the opening title track to the subsequent ‘Universe In A Ball!’, a rollercoaster ride of a track with a very unusual beat, everything sounds extremely familiar, but then the next song, the brilliantly titled ‘Bend It Like Bender!’ is a complete curveball; with its upbeat rock-meets-disco rhythm and a chorus that is about as catchy as the Mexican flu, the album kicks into top gear from these on. It is also this song the features the first of several utterly dominating performances by Anneke van Giersbergen (Agua De Annique, ex-The Gathering), who appears on eight out of this album’s ten songs.

The remaining songs just keep this momentum going right until the very end of these 46 minutes. ‘Addicted’ is simply a barrage of great riffs and excellent choruses that are a clear invitation for singing along obnoxiously loud and woefully out of tune whilst driving insanely fast on the motorway. Naming any highlights would be a nigh impossible task, but a song that does stand really out is ‘Hyperdrive!’, which may be very familiar to everyone owning the ‘Ziltoid’ record. Anneke’s rendition of the song on ‘Addicted’ is not only by far superior to the original, it is also simply goosebump inducing. What makes ‘Addicted’ stand out so much is the fact that this is just an unapologetically heavy album. It’s simply loud, good fun, without any trace of guilt, shame or any of that. What is left is an album filled with straightforward, seemingly simple songs that have a lot going on beneath the surface. ‘Addicted’ also features stellar performances from Townsend, drummer Ryan van Poederooyen en most of all Anneke van Giersbergen, who has easily done her very best work since leaving The Gathering.

Finally some words of comfort to all those grim and frostbitten winterdemons: don’t be afraid to include this one in your top 10 of 2009. Given how uplifting and FUN ‘Addicted’ is, this album might just as well be much more dangerous than the whole Burzum back catalogue, especially if listened to in traffic. It’s either that or you’ll get a number of speeding tickets that is simply criminal.

Katatonia - Night Is The New Day

2009-11-14T01:24:00.002+01:00

Genre: Depressive Rock
Year: 2009
Country: Sweden
Tracklist:

1.	Forsaker	04:05
2.	The Longest Year	04:39
3.	Idle Blood	04:23
4.	Onward Into Battle	03:52
5.	Liberation	04:18
6.	The Promise of Deceit	04:18
7.	Nephilim	04:27
8.	New Night	04:28
9.	Inheritance	04:30
10.	Day & Then the Shade	04:27
11.	Departer	05:27
Total playing time		48:38

Download (freakshare)

In the new Millennium these Swedes released a peerless album every three years. After slightly riff oriented albums as ‘Viva Emptiness’ and ‘The Great Cold Distance’, ‘Night Is The New Day’ turned out way much calmer, soaring and - if we may use the word in this respect - more symphonic. There is a simple explanation for that. On previous albums, scanty keyboard parts were played by guitarist Anders Nyström; this time they worked with a keyboard-wizard. Frank Default has put a proper mark on this album, however without estranging the Katatonia sound ever. The band already knew the man after cooperation for ‘Unfurl’ (one can find this track on the EP ‘July’) and they needed a slight evolution.

That’s the way we like it: a band that does not stagnate, but always looks for new boundaries without renouncing its own identity. I did play the album lots of times before starting to write down my impressions, since these “nearly-chansons” demanded a bit of get used to after former, heavier albums; certainly after watching the band mainly in a live situation recently (they are a bit heavier anyway then). In the end I came to the conclusion that this is a masterpiece with a number of classic Katatonia gems. Maybe I just should stick to what the band says: there are prog moments, doom, folk and classic melodic songs. But I like to go a bit deeper into the matter.

‘Forsaker’ is the start of this melancholic, dark trip through heart and soul. It is linked up with the previous album ‘The Great Cold Distance’, lyric-wise as well as music-wise. Them greasy guitars join heavily in between the contemplative vocal lines of Jonas and fluttering guitar sounds are magnificent. ‘The Longest Year’ - pitch black as night - bridges again earlier work by its dreamy timbre. From ‘Idle Blood’ on, evolution is noticeable. Acoustic guitars: did we hear this before with Katatonia? Strings, mellotron and symphonic arrangements. New! And vocals… I know that Jonas and Mike Akerfeldt have been friends for a long time, but are you sure that Mike wasn’t behind the microphone for just one song? Anyway, this song is very Opeth-like. In contrast with what the title might surmise, ‘Onward Into Battle’ appears to be a very placid song in which vibrating guitars reign. Heavy riffs and the “old” style with great guitar leads can be found in ‘Liberation’, a song that could have been on earlier albums easily. Synths are used in a modern way in ‘The Promise Of Deceit’. My speakers almost blow up by these ponderous sounds. Loads of keyboards, semi-spoken and a kind of distance it creates. ‘Nephilim’ has parts that are very progressive, vocals are conjuring and thoughtful, though an eruption of bushy guitars isn’t missing. Personal and fragile is ‘New Night’, this song instantly speaks to the heart. For one or another reason ‘Inheritance’ reminds me of current Anathema. Maybe due to strings, vocals with echo and bits of modern sounds. ‘Day And Then The Shade’ is the single. A videoclip will be shot for this one and it is a catchy song (mark the perfect contrast between riffs and mellotron). It is in the vein of the three singles of the previous album. The last song has a surprise. Sometimes we find Jonas doing guest vocals on other bands’ albums (see interview for more details). Well, ‘Departer’ is sung by Krister Linder (Enter The Hunt). Initially there seems to be not a great difference in timbre and style with Jonas, but I soon found out to be mistaken. Soon you notice that it is someone else behind the microphone. The song has a slightly folkloristic, but also symphonic flavour. Think of Pink Floyd in troubadour style. Isn’t this a very fresh, surprising Katatonia album? But once more a stunner in unique Katatonia tradition! I finish with one more remark: with the former album I wrote that it is exceptional that they can invoke such a melancholic feel without using keyboards or piano. Well, that has changed by now.

Green Jellÿ - Musick To Insult Your Intelligence By

2009-11-14T01:16:00.001+01:00

Genre: Punk/Comedy Metal/Crossover
Year: 2009
Country: USA
Tracklist:
01. Sugar and Spice
02. Gefilte Fish
03. You Can't Kill Me
04. Albert Fish Liverwurst
05. Stabby The Clown
06. Geek Girl
07. I Will Not
08. You're Gone
09. Nothing to Say
10. Sweat Lagoon
11. Trick or Treat
12. Scroty the Clown
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No need for introduction. You already know if you want this or not..

Karl Sanders - Saurian Exorcisms

2009-11-14T01:05:00.002+01:00

Genre: Middle Eastern/Egyptian Ambient
Year: 2009
Country: USA
Tracklist:

1.	Preliminary Purification Before the Calling of Inanna	03:51
2.	Rapture of the Empty Spaces	04:23
3.	Contemplate This on the Tree of Woe	03:53
4.	A Most Effective Excorcism Against Azagthoth and His Emissaries	05:29
5.	Slavery Unto Nitokris	05:54
6.	Shira Gula Pazu	04:59
7.	Kali Ma	03:38
8.	Curse the Sun	04:52
9.	Impalement And Cruxifiction Of The Last Remnants Of The Pre-Human Serpent Volk	04:10
10.	Dying Embers of the Aga Mass SSSratu	06:10
Total playing time		47:19

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The second album from Nile mainman Karl Sanders’ self-titled side-project continues along the same path that 2004’s Saurian Meditation started. For those not in the know, Sanders released the first album in his name to use leftover instrumentals and interludes from Nile, but it has taken five years for Saurian Exorcisms to arise, suggesting that he’s taking his time with this and created an album rather than just stuck some leftovers together. Saurian Exorcisms does seem a more complete and enjoyable album than its occasionally rather dull predecessor; there’s more emphasis on percussion and less on ambience this time around, Rapture of the Empty Spaces giving off a pleasingly Dead Can Dance-y vibe with the male and female wailing and complex ethnic instrumentation, most of it performed by Sanders. There’s a good deal of variety, the acoustic strums and percussion of Contemplate This on the Tree of Woe up against the ominous chants and invocation of A Most Effective Exorcism Against Azagthoth and His Emissaries – if you enjoy the spooky vibe that Nile’s instrumentals can have, then you’ll love this.

Although it’d be easy to pigeonhole Saurian Exorcisms as being for Nile fans only, there’s a great deal more to it than that. I mentioned Dead Can Dance above, and that’s the best comparison, but I can’t remember them ever being this ominous or overtly complex. The chants, percussion and, for want of a better term, whooshing of Slavery Unto Nitokris alone are simply gripping, forming a rhythmic pulse that is the very heartbeat of the Ancient Egyptian atmosphere that Sanders is seeking to invoke – those who foolishly doubt his proficiency as a musician should have their minds fully made up here. Whether it’s the baglama saz, the glissentar or the various percussion instruments, Sanders does a wonderful job, and although there are no nine-minute monsters like Of the Sleep of Ishtar here (the longest track being just over six minutes) he packs a lot in. Although tracks can be as short as the three-and-a-half-minute Kali Ma, an aggressive pounder with twisted, epic orchestration, they do generally seem to be pieces of music in their own right rather than mere bookends for bits of Death Metal, which is a good thing.

What I find particularly interesting is how Sanders creates all this without using frequent vocals. You can hear the occasional chants or bit of throat-singing, but mostly this is an instrumental project, and as much as I’d like to hear Lisa Gerrard’s gorgeous voice wailing all over it, Saurian Exorcisms never once suffers for lack of vocals as instrumental projects all too often can. Where vocals are used, they’re used exceptionally well – the strange, alien voices on Impalement and Crucifixion of the Last Remnants of the Pre-Human Serpent Volk, for example, changing to howls and screams mixed with clattering metallic percussion. I mention a few highlights below, but the truth is if you appreciate music of this sort then the whole album will be of interest for you – it’s a cliché, but turn out the lights, put on the headphones and turn this up, and the experience is amazing. Sure to be forgotten against the crushing might of the excellent new album from his main band, Saurian Exorcisms is nonetheless a remarkably good piece of music, showing the other side of Ancient Egypt and reminding what a brilliant talent Karl Sanders is, as if such a reminder was needed.
(Review from metalreviews.)

Dead Ballerinas - Dead Ballerinas

2009-11-11T13:15:00.001+01:00

Genre: Heavy Metal
Year: 1989
Country: Germany
Tracklist:

1.	We Want Rock
2.	Break Your Neck by Dancing
3.	The Night Comes Down
4.	Don't Forget to Feed My Cat
5.	Kizz of the New Thunder
6.	Italian Girls
7.	Trust Me and Marry Me Young
8.	Talk Dirty to Me
9.	Naked in N.Y.
10.	Lost in Little Rock

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Arkanos - Tierra de Heroes

2009-11-10T16:25:00.001+01:00

Genre: Heavy Metal
Year: 2006
Country: Bolivia
Tracklist:

1.	Vientos de libertad	01:37
2.	Exilio	04:55
3.	Hijo de dos Sangres	06:12
4.	Sangre de Heroes	05:53
5.	Cruenta Soledad	07:50
6.	Andes Letal	08:58
7.	Gloria	06:18
8.	Vencer o Morir	07:17
9.	Heroes Anonimos	01:14
10.	Nunca me Rendire	07:45
11.	Crepusculo	05:31
12.	Abia Yala Libre	04:26
Total playing time		01:07:56

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Thunderstone - Thunderstone

2009-11-10T16:20:00.001+01:00

Genre: Power Metal
Year: 2002
Country: Finland
Tracklist:

1.	Let the Demons Free	03:59
2.	Virus	04:49
3.	World's Cry	04:21
4.	Me, My Enemy	03:40
5.	Will to Power	08:35
6.	Weak	03:10
7.	Eyes of a Stranger	05:23
8.	Like Father, Like Son	05:35
9.	Voice in a Dream	04:40
10.	Spread My Wings	05:17
Total playing time		48:28

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Password: http://thecourseofdarkness.blogspot.com/
This is the debut full-length album from this band from Finland. It is much in the same vein as fellow Finnish power/prog metallers Stratovarius. Hell Timo Tolkki even makes a guest appearance on the song "Like Father, Like Son" so the comparisons will definitely be made between the two bands. Although Stratovarius is a well-established band that has been putting out albums for more than ten years these new comers are not to far behind them in the quality of their songs or musicianship.

The album is full of excellent songs that run mainly in the power metal genre but there are more than a few prog and pure metal influences that creep in as well. The musicianship is top notch with the highlight being the far better than average guitar work. Some really cool groove oriented riffs and absolutely killer melodies and solos. The vocals are as good as you would expect from this genre but done at a slightly lower pitch which fits the music extremely well. There really isn’t a bad thing I can say about this album and the only reason I didn’t give this a perfect rating is I am starting to compare debut albums in this genre by Dream Evil’s debut disc…a bit unfair considering how damn good that album is but this disc from Thunderstone may just be able to get Dream Evil’s disc out of my player for a while which says quite a bit for the quality of this album.

Any fan of power, prog or even pure metal will find this album a very good listen and well worth the purchase price. Highly Recommended.

Thunderstone - The Burning

2009-11-10T16:15:00.001+01:00

Genre: Power Metal
Year: 2004
Country: Finland
Tracklist:

1.	Until We Touch the Burning Sun	05:54
2.	Break the Emotion	04:42
3.	Mirror Never Lies	03:44
4.	Tin Star Man	05:11
5.	Spire	04:38
6.	Sea of Sorrow	05:03
7.	Side by Side	04:23
8.	Drawn to the Flame	04:43
9.	Forth into the Black	04:42
10.	Evil Within	06:03
Total playing time		49:03

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Read review: here

Thunderstone - Evolution 4.0

2009-11-10T16:08:00.001+01:00

Genre: Power Metal
Year: 2007
Country: Finland
Tracklist:

1.	Evolution 4.0	00:14
2.	Forevermore	04:21
3.	Roots of Anger	03:43
4.	10.000 Ways	04:16
5.	Holding on to My Pain	05:35
6.	Swirled	03:48
7.	Down With Me	07:16
8.	Face in the Mirror	03:03
9.	Solid Ground	05:40
10.	The Source	04:49
11.	Great Man Down	05:01
Total playing time		47:45

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Coming from the land of the 10.000 lakes, THUNDERSTONE are a well reputed band that has managed since 2000 that it was formed to produce some fine moments of heavy metal. “Evolution 4.0” is their latest achievement trying to push the band one step forward.
The album starts with a small intro of an electronic voice and goes on dynamically with solid songs, up tempo beats and a progressive mood. Fast rhythms, smart cuts and heavy guitarwork make the puzzle that “Evolution 4.0” consists of. I have to give special credits to the singer and his magnificent voice that give this hard rock tone to the compositions of the band. Not that the others fall behind: the rhythm section is punctual and the guitar solos are technically efficient. I really enjoyed the harmonic nature of their riffs that is backed up by the keyboards and the beautiful vocal lines that top everything. There are some great choruses in there!
THUNDERSTONE have managed to create their own sound that is heavy, progressive based and hard rockish at the same time. They are not the typical European power metal band and they have similarities with the equivalent American scene, but with the sense of harmony that characterizes the Northern European hard rock scene. They balance heavy/power riffing with progressive outbreaks and modern rhythmic parts in a blend that comes out with a great production that lets the songs breathe and flourish.
One thing is for sure, “Evolution 4.0” is a decent heavy metal album that will be liked by all those who like Gotthard, Jorn Lande, Talisman and other bands like this. Should be checked out!

Thunderstone - Tools of Destruction

2009-11-10T16:01:00.001+01:00

Genre: Power Metal
Year: 2005
Country: Finland
Tracklist:

1.	Tool of the Devil	04:04
2.	Without Wings	04:46
3.	Liquid of the Kings	06:01
4.	I Will Come Again	04:31
5.	Welcome to the Real	06:36
6.	The Last Song	04:22
7.	Another Time	03:41
8.	Feed the Fire	04:45
9.	Weight of the World	05:54
10.	Land of Innocence	08:15
Total playing time		52:55

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Password: http://thecourseofdarkness.blogspot.com/
Mixing styles of David Coverdale (Whitesnake) and Dio with a slight hint of Joey Tempest (Europe), the opening track “Tools of the Devil” has heavy bass pounding riffs and melodic keyboards. If you like 80’s metal mixed with power metal -- you will love this release. Each song has that great 80’s metal vibe brought up to date in a power metal form.
“Without Wings” highlights Kari Tornak's keyboards with more than your basic power metal sound. Kari's sound is more like Keith Emerson ala “Brain Salad Surgery.” “I Will Come” is a slower song that has rippling guitar chords among the perfect blend of vocals and catchy lyrics. Great tunes. “I Will Come” is a track that could bring fans of AOR music to Thunderstone if they get air-play.
In most bands, the bass guitar just seems to blend in with everything else. But, what I like about Thunderstone is that Titus Hjelm shines on many of the songs and gives them that great punch. Thunderstone has the energy and the power on this release that is undeniable to the true power metal fan.
“Another Time” is a good tear-jerking ballad that doesn't go over the edge. If you think that the whole CD is melodic and down to earth, check out “Feed the Fire” -- it's got great guitar riffs and excellent balance.
Thunderstone changes it up a little and leaves the best track for last. Which is strange because the best tracks are usually towards the top of the order. “Land of Innocence” opens with a piano intro mixed with haunting keyboards. There is no doubt in my mind that anyone who hears this song will love it. This song is totally outrageous, a KILLER track. I would consider it a masterpiece. The song has all the right elements - great acoustic guitar, echoing keyboards, and those amazing vocals. When listening to this song, crank that bitch up to 11 and listen to the power when the song reaches 4:40 seconds. Total hell breaks loose!!
This is one fantastic CD!

Warfare - A Conflict of Hatred

2009-11-10T15:43:00.001+01:00

Genre: Speed Metal/NWOBHM
Year: 1988
Country: UK
Tracklist:

1.	Wax Works	02:24
2.	Hate to Create	03:59
3.	Revolution	01:21
4.	Dancing in the Flames Of Insanity	06:21
5.	Evolution	01:16
6.	Fatal Vision	05:03
7.	Deathcharge/Doomsday	05:58
8.	Order of the Dragons	03:39
9.	Elite Forces	05:18
10.	Rejoice the Feast of Quarantine	03:32
11.	Noise, Filth and Fury Requiem	01:13
Total playing time		39:58

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Warfare - Hammer Horror

2009-11-10T15:03:00.002+01:00

Genre: Speed Metal/NWOBHM
Year: 1991
Country: UK
Tracklist:
track listing:
1. Intro - Dracula Theme (01:04)
2. Baron Frankenstein (05:00)
3. A Velvet Rhapsody (01:41)
4. Phantom Of The Opera (06:48)
5. Scream Of The Vampire: Part 1 (03:57)
6. Vlad The Impaler (01:48)
7. Scream Of The Vampire: Part 2 (04:12)
8. Funeral In Carpathia (01:11)
9. Hammer Horror (02:11)
10. Plague Of The Zombies (02:21)
11. Ballad Of The Dead (00:48)
12. A Solo Of Shadows (02:04)
13. Prince Of Darkness (05:20)
14. Tales Of The Gothic Genre (03:50)
15. Dance Of The Dead (03:37)
16. Phantom Of The Opera (Hammer House Of Horror Remix) (07:17)
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Since the original version of Hammer Horror was full of flaws and suffered from
poor distribution, another version of the album was released by Silva Screen in
1991, with more tracks, a professional producer (Fred Purser (Tygers Of Pan
Tang)), Algy Ward (Tank) on Lead Guitars and totally re-recorded songs .
This is the definitive Hammer Horror album (and to Evo even the definitive
Warfare album).

Hunter - Keep the Change

2009-11-09T23:42:00.001+01:00

Genre: Heavy Metal
Year: 1987
Country: Germany
Tracklist:

1.	Get Out	02:54
2.	Ladies Boogie	02:54
3.	Angel of the Road	03:47
4.	Feeling Free	03:51
5.	Watch Out	04:03
6.	Love Is a Drug	03:46
7.	Wild and Dirty	03:01
8.	Piece of My Heart	02:57
9.	Red Light District	03:50
10.	Heartbreaker	03:25
Total playing time		34:28

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Pass: strappado

Geisha - Phantasmagoria

2009-11-09T23:18:00.000+01:00

Genre: Heavy Metal
Year: 1987
Country: Denmark
Tracklist:

1.	You Got What It Takes	04:48
2.	Shock Rock School	04:29
3.	Gangland Sector 21	06:39
4.	Alive & Scratching	04:29
5.	Claws Of Sin	04:45
6.	The Underworld	01:32
7.	S&M Youth	05:45
Total playing time		32:27

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Crystal Knight - Crystal Knight

2009-11-09T22:39:00.001+01:00

Genre: 1985
Year: Heavy Metal
Country: Denmark
Tracklist:

1.	Crying Nights	01:00
2.	War Attack	03:57
3.	Fire & Flame	05:35
4.	Love Lorn	04:42
5.	It's No Crime	05:43
6.	Sweet Dream Maker	03:27
7.	She's A Looker	03:40
8.	Prepare For A Shock	03:46
9.	Treat Me Right	05:20
10.	The Desert	05:14
Total playing time		42:24

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Pass: strappado
Original Vinyl LP was released in 500 copies only and is very rare.