SPEED LIMIT
Moneyshot
Pure Steel Records
Official Website

This is a new album from a very old Austrian hard rock band that exists for over 30 years. They decided to make their new album after almost 20 years. In the past they recorded an EP "Prophecy" in 1988 and two albums, "Unchained" in 1986 and "Perfect Inspiration" in 1992. Their new album is somewhere between melodic hard rock and melodic heavy metal. The one thing I can say right from the start is that the guys have really worked a lot in order to present a good album. The vocals are really great, the guitar work is very good and the sound is just how it should be. The best anthems are "Broken Mirror", "Lost and Found" and "Fly Like an Eagle". The ballad type tune "Heartbreakin' Valentine" is also very good and well timed. The whole album reallly "flows" very pleasantly. In conclusion this album is really great for its genre and you should give it a try! For the fans of this genre the grade is of course higher. It is definitely one of the best new releases I have heard in this metal/hard rock genre!

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

NIGHTMARE
About to Explode
Dirty Sound Records
Official Website

This is the second album of this great Colombian band. I bought their first cd "High Speed Venom" and it really blew me away!!! From that album they have passed 6 years when Nightmare decided to come again with their second effort. Their second album is in the same style namely heavy/power metal the old way!! The production is clear and strong, the vocals are good and the guitar work is really cool. I really liked all the 9 songs of the album but the ones that I enjoyed more were "Out of Love", "About to explode", "Confess and Regret", and "Invasion". This is one of the best new releases I have heard the last 1 1/2 years (and I have heard many of them!!). The grade is of course higher for the fand of the classic metal sound!!

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

MAGNUM
The Visitation
SPV Records
Official Website

This is the 16th album of the band two years after their last album "Into the Valley of Moonking". For the ones that don't know them, MAGNUM play pomp rock. Their singer Bob Catley also has several solo albums. "The Visitation" flows pleasentaly but it isn't the big album that will please all their fans. It doesn't maintain the listener's interest on high levels. The best tunes are "Doors to Nowhere" and "Spin Like the Wheel". Unfortunately, it can't be compared to their magnificent albums "Kingdom of Madness" and "Magnum 2". This is a quite good release for the fans of pomp rock but I would suggest you better buy the last album of TEN, "Stormwarning". If you want to buy something from SPV Records which is a magnificent record label you have a plethora of good heavy metal choices!!!

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

GREY SKIES FALLEN
Along Came Life
Xanthros Music
Official Website

GREY SKIES FALLEN aren't a new band and yet I've only had the pleasure to be introduced to their music recently with the release of their latest EP, despite the fact that they already have three full length works. Better late than ever as the saying goes and I have to admit that I'm more than happy I finally had this chance, because their music is so rich in textures, emotions and sounds that you are "trapped" into their world and you just can't leave. This is a way I can describe what "Along Came Life" made me feel and think and this is how mesmerizing the music here is! I've read somewhere that GREY SKIES FALLEN are a melodic death metal band and they might have been one in the past, but I have to disagree with the term from what I've listened to on this EP. For me they are now an atmospheric metal band whose music has some melodic death metal moments to enhance the contradiction of feelings and enhance the sharpness of the songs. I can also say that their music has some doom and progressive touches as well, but I use the latter term with its real sense, meaning that there are quite plenty of tempo changes and alterations between their harsher and more melodic ideas as well as some traces of pioneering elements that set GREY SKIES FALLEN's music apart. The band have managed to create a distinguishable sound of their own and this is one of the most difficult accomplishments nowadays in the oversaturated music scene. The musicianship and both the clean and death metal growls of the singer are great, the production is top notch and the artwork too since it was created by the extremely talented Travis Smith.

Christine  Parastatidou

WYVERN
Lords of Winter
Jolly Roger Records
Official Website

This is the "new" album of the Italian band WYVERN. The songs were recorded between 1998 and 2002 but the album is out now. There are also bands with the same name from Sweden and Turkey but the WYVERN from Italy are probably the most known band with this name. This is their second full length album after the one that was released 20 years ago. Their two first demos were released 8 years ago by a Greek label, Unisound Records. The new album is quite good. The band plays Euro-power metal but it is far more serious than the countless groups which came out from Italy and played that kind of stuff. The album is more than decent and the tracks I enjoyed more are "Twin Factory" and "Ice Guardian". In coclusion this is a good release for the friends of Euro-power metal!

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

DEATH
The Sound of Perseverance
Relapse Records
Official Website

I don't think there are many metal heads, if any at all, out there who are into death metal and never heard of DEATH's swansong "The Sound of Perseverance". If I'm not mistaken I think this was their first album I had the pleasure to listen to and what can I say? I was enthused and taken aback by the sheer beauty, extremity and depth of this album right away and it's a classic for me ever since. DEATH is one of the most influential bands in the death metal genre and if you spend some time listening to the songs here you'll know why.... the demonic, high pitched growls of Chuck Schuldiner, the man behind this band, create the right amount of brutality and aggressiveness that's also built by his and Shannon Hamm's guitar parts. They are both really skillful guitar players delivering some really intricate and elaborate solos, riffs and themes. The guitar work is perfectly supported by the concrete stone wall of a sound created by the charismatic drummer Richard Christy and the great bassist Scott Clendelin, who keep on changing tempos at will, while always having a metronome like precision. "The Sound of Perseverance" is according to me perhaps the best example of how great technical death metal is and how beautifully death and progressive metal can be combined. The production is one again top notch and behind it we find the great Chuck Schuldiner and Jim Morris with his famous Morrisound Studios and the artwork was once again done by the very talented Travis Smith. An interesting story about this album is that some of the song names here were originally going to appear on the first CONTROL DENIED album, but when DEATH was signed on to Nuclear Blast Records, Chuck agreed to make one last DEATH album before moving forward with CONTROL DENIED and we're all ever grateful for this!! This album was re-released with no changes by Nuclear Blast in 2001 and again in 2005 as a deluxe edition, but now Relapse Records is re-releasing it a third time, only this time with plenty of bonus material and in particular with the songs from the band's 1997 and 1998 demos. If you are a DEATH or in general a death metal maniac, then this is a release you should seriously consider checking out!

Christine  Parastatidou

CONTROL DENIED
The Fragile Art of Existence
Relapse Records
Official Website

I don't think there is much for me to say about this masterpiece... the only thing I can say is that if anyone reading this isn't aware of this colossal work, then they should stop right here and go grab a copy of the album as soon as they find it. I remember how thrilled and excited I was in 1999 when the album was first released through Nuclear Blast Records. I'd listen to it again and again and still I wasn't able to fully grasp and digest the mesmerizing beauty of this work. "The Fragile Art of Existence" is a state of the art not only when it comes to progressive power metal, but music in general and it's delivered by some of the finest musicians in metal. First and foremost we have the mastermind and leader of this band, Chuck Schuldiner (may his soul rest in peace) and then we find Steve DiGiorgio on the bass and Richard Christy on the drums who are both really famous and have cooperated with countless bands ever since. Besides them we also find another amazing guitar player, Shannon Hamm, who used to play with DEATH and on the vocals Tim Aymar who has an incredible raspy emotive voice and a singing technique that brings to my mind JAG PANZER's Harry "The Tyrant" Conklin and NEVERMORE's Warrel Dane. Music-wise CONTROL DENIED is the power metal version of DEATH with maybe some ATHEIST twists, but above all it's Chuck Schuldiner! The album has a top notch production done by Jim Morris & Chuck Schuldiner at Morrisound Studios and the cover artwork was done by Travis Smith, so as you can understand this album has it all... flawless technique, superb hyper-skilled musicians and a killer production and artwork. "The Fragile Art of Existence" was re-released in 2008 by Metal Mind Productions and now it's been remastered again by Relapse Records in two different formats... as a double CD slipcase and as a three CD deluxe reissue digipack. The extra things you'll find in these two new versions of the album are the band's demos from 1996, 1997 and 1999 that featured all the songs, some of which actually have Chuck Schuldiner doing the vocals. A great treat for all the music lovers... an album that everyone should have in his/her CD collection according to me!

Christine  Parastatidou

SUIDAKRA
Book of Dowth
AFM Records
Official Website

This is the tenth album of this German band which personally I think didn’t receive yet the recognition it deserves. Maybe this is caused by bad choices, but somehow I think that the press has a big responsibility too. It was easy to tag them as a DARK TRANQUILLITY like melodic death metal band from Germany. Something which partially is correct, but if you listen to their music carefully you will see that SUIDAKRA are more than that. Their new album “Book of Dowth” might be the most melodic one the band has released and yet I think it is their most mature release. The band delivers its death metal music mixed with folk sounds, but the structure of the songs is more complicated. You can say that it's almost progressive to some points. On the other hand the band more than ever flirts in this release with heavy, epic and power metal influences which can bring to your mind bands like BLIND GUARDIAN and RUNNING WILD. All these are done in such a way that these elements don’t change the original sound of the band, but fit perfectly to it and expand it even more. With “Book of Dowth”, if you are a SUIDAKRA fan, you will get exactly what you want and even more. In this release the band underlines some aspects of its sound that have been there in its previous releases but not so deeply worked as here. “Book of Dowth” is a great album and will satisfy the old fans and at the same time it's a good release to bring new ones to the group. A band that deserves your attention and support (and hope one day someone will bring them here in Greece for a live show). 

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

MACABRE
Grim Scary Tales
HammerHeart Records
Official Website

MACABRE is one of the oldest bands that played a kind of music that would later on develop into death metal and grind. They exist as a band since 1984 and they've been calling their music murder metal and I think this is the most ideal term because if we try to label them by using their musical influences and approach, we'd need to write a whole book... One reason why they call themselves a murder metal band is the fact that the majority of elements that comprise their music are sharp and extreme, but the main and most important reason is the fact that all their songs have been dealing with serial killers, their crimes and their lives! Now in an attempt to touch the main ingredients of this U.S. band's sound we'd have to include thrash, death and grind of course, but at the same time we also need to add math rock, nursery rhymes, punk, folk melodies, insane children's songs-like tunes, jazz fusion and black metal. I think these genres pretty sum up the energetic amalgam MACABRE's music is all about. As I mentioned earlier lyric-wise the band deal with all-too-true tales of serial killers and the ones featured here are: Locusta, Nero, Gilles de Rais, Vlad Tepes, Gilles Garnier, Elizabeth Bathory (this one is a cover to VENOM's "Countess Bathory"), Brendan "Dynes" Burke and William Hare, Mary Ann Cotton, the Bender Family, Lizzy Borden, Joseph Vacher, Belle Gunness, Bella Kiss and Karl Großmann. All this is delivered with knife-edge precision, superb musicianship, unsurpassed skills and with the singer's, Corporate Death's, various vocal styles from extreme growls to clean singing and the use of psycho screeches. Those of you who already know and love the band can invest without thinking about it twice. From the rest of you only those who are really open minded and like progressive, evolutionary music with the true use of the term should consider checking "Grim Scary Tales" out. You need to be quite psychos yourselves to like and appreciate this sophisticated stuff. I guess I am quite a bit since I liked it!

Christine  Parastatidou

RANCOR
Release the Rancor
Independent
Official Website

RANCOR come to confirm my saying about the thrash metal sound with this debut release of theirs. The band comes from Spain and the album is self released by the band. Their sound is influenced by the 80’s thrash metal scene and the bay area touch is very strong in their sound. To be more specific in the sound of RANCOR you will find influences from bands like TESTAMENT, SLAYER, METALLICA and EXODUS. RANCOR seem very tight and they have ideas that make the album pleasant to listen to and I am sure that the fans of this genre (including me) will find songs that they will like. I have also the need to say that although “Release the Rancor” is a self – financed release, it moves on very professional standards and helps the band display to the listener its whole talent. All in all “Release the Rancor” is a good release that the fans of thrash metal have to support, because RANCOR prove that they are a talented band and I would love to see what they will be able to offer us in the future. Check them out…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

HAVOK
Time Is Up
Candlelight Records
Official Website

These last few years the traditional thrash metal sound has returned stronger than ever. We have witnessed not only the resurrection of good old bands, but also a new generation of thrashers who are thirsty to achieve the quality of their heroes. I think that little by little time will tell which bands from the new generation can be the leaders of this sound and HAVOK in my opinion belong to this category. “Time Is Up”, their second release, in my opinion, is one of the best thrash metal releases of this year. Their sound is rooted deeply in the legacy of bands like ANNIHILATOR, SLAYER, EXODUS and METALLICA, but these guys don’t reproduce their sound. No, they add their personal perspective of how traditional thrash metal should sound. It is really interesting and surprising how in their speed/thrash metal riffing, they throw a good dose of traditional metal; a twist that definitely makes things more interesting and highly addictive. “Time Is Up” is one of these albums that will haunt you and you will listen to it again and again. My personal favourite songs from this album are... Fuck it! It's the whole album!! Buy it or you will lose.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

FRIGHT NIGHT
The Play of Pain
Independent
Official Website

Gothic metal is by no means my cup of tea, so I can’t give you much information about the influences that this Russian band has. So let me tell you what exactly I received by listening to this release. First of all I liked a lot that the band has nothing to do with the modern trends that rule this genre. So, you won’t listen to another EVANESCENCE or NIGHTWISH clone. The band emphasizes on creating music by using piano and some medieval tunes and they use the rock/metal instruments in order to make some parts more intense. The classical dialogues between male and female vocals exist here too, but in a strange way they manage to give the theatrical/dramatic atmosphere they want to their album contrary to other bands that can’t do it. “The Play of Pain” gives me the sense of an album that has quality and differs from most gothic rock/metal works that are released lately. For me the best thing about this album is the theatrical atmosphere it has, which for sure can be described as gothic. The fans of this kind of sound, should try to check them out and make their own decision…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

EDEN’S CURSE
Trinity
AFM Records
Official Website

In our days, no matter the metal genre, I have witnessed that most of the bands tend to exaggerate without having real substance. So either we will listen to a band that plays ultra fast and aggressively without a sense of melody or on the other hand we will get bands that overdo it with melodies. Personally, I think that exaggerations like these create many monotonous and boring albums. EDEN’S CURSE from the United Kingdom with their third studio release entitled “Trinity” play melodic metal. A melodic kind of metal that most of the times lacks of intense parts. In my opinion their music needed controversy or a form of "dialogue" between melodic and intense parts in order to make the album memorable. Well most of the tracks on “Trinity” move on a one way road and they are too melodic, to a point that after you listen to a couple of them you don’t pay much attention and you think that all the others sound alike to each other. In this curse of melodic metal mediocrity I found my Eden in three great songs (this makes things even more disappointing since the band shows that they can compose good melodic metal songs with balls): “No Holy Man” (featuring James LaBrie), “Can't Fool the Devil" (by far the best of the album having a SAXON touch) and “Black Widow" featuring Andi Deris (this one brought to my mind a melodic version of RAGE).

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

DEUS INVERSUS
Mastery over the World
Nihilistic Empire Records
Official Website

Qualitative brutal death metal with lyrical topics dwelling around Satanism and some very interesting guitar solos filled with melodies and a morbid scent is what DEUS INVERSUS have set to offer us. Perfect bonding among the band members with lots of chemistry, compositions filled with blackened melodies that despite them being chaotic are discernible (something very important for a listener to be able to understand and like a song) are the main ingredients of this release!! The tempos are ultra fast mainly, but with the right rhythms and without ever becoming sloppy. The fans of bands like DEICIDE, IMMOLATION and ACHERON shouldn't waste another minute!

George  "Death Dealer - Echoes From Erebus"  Kefalas

DEBAUCHERY
Germany´s Next Death Metal
AFM Records
Official Website

DEBAUCHERY from Germany started as a mid tempo death metal band with their style being closer to the US sound bringing to mind bands like early SIX FEET UNDER and OBITUARY. Their first two albums are great and I still listen to them. After that the band decided to add some hard rock elements in its sound; elements that were influenced mainly by AC/DC. This was an interesting twist in their sound and I enjoyed their music even more, since it was making their sound more variable. Actually after that the band continued releasing albums with tracks that either remind us of their first era or mix death metal with hard rock. All these lead us to the seventh studio album of DEBAUCHERY entitled “Germany’s Next Death Metal”. Things here haven't changed dramatically and the band’s sound stays pretty much as they've got us used to lately. The only exception is that in their new release DEBAUCHERY have added some thrash metal elements in their sound, too. All these sound good, but the sad thing is that this seventh album finds the band a bit tired and not so inspired. The songs mainly try to remind us of their previous release and lack in enthusiasm in comparison to them. The truth is that the album sounds a bit monotonous and I think that the band needs to take a rest or try something else, since it seems that the inspiration in this hard rock meets death metal style runs low. This is the first release of DEBAUCHERY which left me indifferent. Hope soon they will come back on the right path.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

VIETAH
Smalisty Zah
Stygian Crypt Productions
Official Website

Atmospheric black metal with mid tempo rhythms and with a pagan hibernal atmosphere is what VIETAH from Belarus are here offering us. Actually VIETAH isn't a group with the general meaning of the term, but is infact a one man band, so behind everything regarding the band we find the venerable Mister Antarctis. "Smalisty Zah" is a worthy and admirable work done with love, passion and deep devotion to this particular sound. The autumnal-winterly atmosphere that dominates the whole album is created from both the guitar and the keyboards. "Smalisty Zah" is high recommended to the fans of atmospheric black metal... if only the album had a bit more speed, it'd be even better and greater!

George  "Death Dealer - Echoes From Erebus"  Kefalas

NECROPHOBIC
Darkside
HammerHeart Records
Official Website

"Darkside" was the second official full length release from this colossal Swedish band, NECROPHOBIC, which was originally released in 1997 through Black Mark Production and as "The Nocturnal Silence" it was re-released via HammerHeart Records in 2003 and again now in 2011, which means that people like me who hadn't had the pleasure to come across this incredible band and these two amazing albums back then, now have the chance to do so. Everything I mentioned in my previous review is valid here too only this time NECROPHOBIC turned more towards their black metal side and roots. "Darkside" as the title claims is darker and more blackened, but at the same time it shows a more skilled and definitely more technical band that offers us some really great intricate solos and intense riffs. On the other hand, however, these aren't the only aspects in their music, since they've also enhanced and progressed their melodic lines and thus deliver here some stunning, breathtaking dark melodies as well. I loved "The Nocturnal Silence", but I think that "Darkside" is even greater and the fans who are like me and like both black and death metal should invest on this work without giving it much thought! 

Christine  Parastatidou

SINISTER
Legacy of Ashes
Massacre Records
Official Website

The Danish SINISTER for many years now know one thing for certain and they know how to do it great... This is no other than play fast technical brutal death metal with violent melodies!!! "Legacy of Ashes" has plenty of rhythm changes that keep the listener's interest intact throughout the album and without ever becoming tiring. In fact the album's hypersonic parts are as always superb and highly appreciated by the band's fans. The atmosphere of the album is chaotic, apocalyptic and venomous, exactly as it should be and perfectly fitting the band's sound and overall approach!

George  "Death Dealer - Echoes From Erebus"  Kefalas

NECROPHOBIC
The Nocturnal Silence
HammerHeart Records
Official Website

There are two bands with this moniker, one from Poland that used to play thrash metal and the other one from Sweden. We're dealing here with the latter and as most bands from Sweden NECROPHOBIC too deliver death metal, only their death metal isn't the modern and more melodic branch of this sound, but it's closer to the roots and origins of the genre and has plenty of black and thrash metal references. All this sound very natural especially if we take into consideration the fact that this band was formed in 1989 something that makes them one of the oldest death metal bands out there. "The Nocturanl Silence" isn't a new release, but it's actually a re-release that originally saw the light of day through Black Mark Production in 1993. I'm stunned and at awe from the sear extremity and intensity of this albu!. I don't think I'd be exaggerating if I said that this is one of the best blackened death metal albums ever released since it has power and might, catchy sharp riffs, a stable rhythm section, demonic growls and all this delivered from a well bonded band. If you are into blasphemous blackened death metal and you haven't had the chance to get this album in 1993 or in 2003 when HammerHeart Records had re-released it, now you are given a third chance to get your hands on this black jewel!

Christine  Parastatidou

DECREPIT BIRTH
Polarity
Massacre Records
Official Website

Here my dear friends we have one of the best albums for 2010 without there being a need to dissect metal music into categories and genres like death, black, thrash or heavy metal. DECREPIT BIRTH simply teach and dedicate to all us metal heads amazing and beautiful music. Incredible in their conception riffs that combine melody, rhythmic variety and brutality are perfectly tied together with massive rhythm parts that pound on you mercilessly. The drummer is definitely one of the best in the whole wide world when it comes to speed and double bass drumming. You have to listen to him play to know what I'm talking about! The vocals move in a brutal death metal way with some black growls that enhance the abominable atmosphere of this album... Those of you who are open minded and don't care about genres should listen to them to enjoy speed, melodic variety and pure brutality! A simply stunning album with a fitting professional and superb production.

George  "Death Dealer - Echoes From Erebus"  Kefalas

BONAFIDE
Fill Your Head with Rock (Old, New, Tried & True)
Black Lodge Records
Official Website

A while ago the Swedes BONAFIDE released their album "Something's Drippin'" which had made quite an impression on me. In fact that album and this band in general is the closest one can get to that of AC/DC. Their music is so inspired and influenced by AC/DC and quite a bit by WHITESNAKE that there are moments the songs sound as familiar to you as old classics, simply because they have the scent of the aforementioned colossal bands. With this being said I'm making myself perfectly clear saying that BONAFIDE aren't here to reinvent the wheel, but they are here to play music they love... and they do it in the best possible way! Now "Fill Your Head with Rock (Old, New, Tried & True)" is exactly what the title prepares you for which is a six-track EP filled with both old and new songs that are indeed tried out and true to their origins and roots. More particularly the EP contains a radio edit of the super big hits of the band taken from their "Something's Drippin'" album, "Fill Your Head With Rock" and  (radio edit) and "No Doubt about It" as well as a previously unreleased track titled "Kick Me Out" which is also very good. Now except for these three band songs the EP also contains some cover songs of HUMBLE PIE's "I Don't Need No Doctor", THE WHO's "I Can't Explain" and ROSE TATTOO's "Nice Boys Don't Play Rock 'N' Roll". Last but not least this EP contains two videos of the songs "Hard Livin' Man" and "No Doubt about It". All in all this is a really nice treat for the band's fans, but I have my objections, because in these difficult times we live they could have just added all this in their "Something's Drippin'" album as extras and not sell it as a different release. For this reason and for the fact that this album only contains one totally new track, I've decided not to put a grade. A good release no doubt, but personally I think it's only addressed to the band's fan base.

Christine  Parastatidou


KARNAK
Dismemberment
Casket Music / Copro Records
Official Website

KARNAK play death grind metal with a special passion, energy and dedication to their sound. The amazing and great thing regarding this  album is that the brutal death/grind songs are combined with majestic orchestral atmospheric tracks played of course with keyboards only. Undoubtedly even these songs reek of sickness, paranoia and atrocity and this is what makes this end result so extraordinary and incredible! KARNAK is an extremely good, skillful and original band! Well done!!

George  "Death Dealer - Echoes From Erebus"  Kefalas

THE BRIDAL PROCESSION
Astronomical Dimensions
Siege Of Amida Records
Official Website

France has always had one of the strangest, most unconventional and original metal scenes in the world. For some reason the bands from over there like to create unique soundscapes and mix a plethora of different and some times even contradicting elements in order to form and express their artistic needs. THE BRIDAL PROCESSION is one such band and the uniqueness of their sound can even be found in their moniker which doesn't prepare you for the sear extremity of their sound. However, aggressiveness and brutality aren't the only musical and emotional aspects of their music since their death metal is infused and enriched with sharp, cutting-edge riffs, concrete rhythm sections with countless progressive cuts and tempo changes, a few dispersed melodic black metal tinges, some psychedelic keyboard part and some mesmerizing piano additions. The vocalist spits his guts and venom thus enhancing the brutality of their compositions that have elements both from the classic brutal death metal and its more modern counterpart. The production is crystal clear allowing you to listen to everything happening within the songs and the cover artwork is really intense, depicting the darkness and extremity of this band's music. Need I say more?

Christine  Parastatidou

TSORER
Return to Sodom
Siege Of Amida Records
Official Website

Raw old school black metal ideal and necessary "supply" for the fans of bands like GRAFT and DARKTHRONE that combines quite plenty of psychedelic and experimental elements of the '70s in their blackened version of course is what TSORER from Israel are here offering us. This is a very interesting band delivering a good album that takes old school black metal into new dimensions and immensely refreshes it. If you are into black metal and yet you want to listen to it through a unique and new perspective, then "Return to Sodom" is what you've been looking for! 

George  "Death Dealer - Echoes From Erebus"  Kefalas

SEVEN THORNS
Return to the Past
Nightmare Records
Official Website

Here in Greece summer is the worst period for someone who watches TV. You see all the people go on holidays and due to that the TV channels play old series again and again. Somehow, “Return to the Past” brought this image to my mind. The band is influenced by groups like GAMMA RAY, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, HELLOWEEN and FREEDOM CALL. The kind of musical genre that we are used to characterizing as happy Euro power metal. I don’t have any problem with this kind of music, since there are quite a few bands that I like. The problem with this release is that it repeats without imagination the musical clichés of this genre. It's the kind of album that makes you want to stop it and put on your CD player the releases of the bands that first played this kind of music and did it much better. SEVEN THORNS might be very good music players, but they have to work more on the aspect of imagination. An album so typical that I can’t imagine even the biggest fan of this genre finding it interesting. Anyway, try to listen to it, before you decide where to spend your money…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

DAYS OF ANGER
Death Path
Massacre Records
Official Website

This band really started on the wrong foot. By listening to the first two tracks of their debut album (“Damaged” and “All Pigs Must Die”), I thought: “Oh my god, another modern thrash metal band that pays tribute to SLAYER”. DAYS OF ANGER, though, seem to have some nice surprises up their sleeve for me. Yes their sound is modern, so if you are into the classic sound better leave this review now. On the other hand if you are really searching for good metal no matter if it is modern or traditional, better stay, because things are getting really interesting. After the first two typical modern thrash metal tracks the band shows another face which is fresh and quite original I have to admit. How shall I put it exactly? Hmmm, well… Can you imagine a band which combines the thrash metal riffology of SLAYER along with the grooves of Zakk Wylde’s BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and the soloing madness of Jeff Waters (ANNIHILATOR)? If yes, then that’s exactly what you will get from this release which is intense, catchy and above all aggressive. With their debut album the Swedish DAYS OF ANGER show that in the metal scene there still exist bands that can bring fresh ideas to the table. Check them out…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

NASTY TENDENCY
Hello Suckers!
My Graveyard Productions
Official Website

I love the 80’s heavy metal sound. Most of my favourite bands come from that era and I see lately a revival of this sound. Recently we witness a trial of renaissance of this sound by many new bands around the world. NASTY TENDENCY from Italy are trying to do the same thing. Musically they can be described as a hard ‘n’ heavy band that draws influences from groups like JUDAS PRIEST, ACCEPT, MOTLEY CRUE, KISS and TWISTED SISTER. Their whole sound is close to the 80’s feeling and will make the older ones remember that great era of heavy metal sound. The problem though is that if you try to play 80’s metal, it doesn’t guarantee you that you will release a great album. Personally, I found “Hello Suckers!” too typical for my taste. I had a good time listening to it, but it didn’t have the melodies or the inspiration that I want from an album in order to make me listen to it again and again. It's the kind of album that I listened to once, had good time, but I don’t feel the urge to play it again on my player. So, if you search from a band something more than only to remind you of the 80’s sound, then you have to continue searching cause NASTY TENDENCY won’t satisfy your need for great heavy metal. 

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

INFINITY OVERTURE
The Infinite Overture Pt. 1
Lion Music
Official Website

From my personal experience I know that when we don’t have a clear image of what we want to do and we also want to mix a lot of styles in our sound, then most of the times the result is at least confusing. This is the kind of feeling I get while I am listening to the new release of INFINITY OVERTURE from Denmark. They try to mix symphonic power with neoclassical metal and at the same time they throw some gothic and EVANESCENCE like parts in their sound. The band probably had in mind that this way they would create an album that will be interesting and at the same time will mix lots of styles. The problem is that despite some good ideas and their skillful playing, the album shows a band that wants to play a lot of different styles, but they don’t know which ones fit them best. One other thing that makes this release a bit monotonous is that it moves mainly on melodic paths, although some intense parts would give the final result more depth and variety. For me the things that kept my interest to listen to the whole album are the skillful guitar playing of Niels Vejlyt and the enchanting voice of the female singer of the band, Kimmie Tenna Nielsen. “The Infinity Overture Pt.1” is a release that is too typical for the modern standards of female fronted symphonic metal and the only ones that might find it interesting are the fanatics of this kind of sound. The rest of us can do without it…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

BLOODBOUND
Unholy Cross
AFM Records
Official Website

From time to time it's good for an artist to try to play some different musical styles; especially if this helps him/her to draw inspiration and return to his/her classic sound. BLOODBOUND is a band that I appreciate highly, but their previous release entitled “Tabula Rasa” was a big disappointment for me since the group was playing a kind of Gothenburg melodic death metal with clear vocals. “Unholy Cross”, their new release that will hit the stores somewhere in mid – March, is the return of the band to its classic sound. So, here you will listen to galloping heavy/power metal that draws influences from mega groups like ACCEPT, HELLOWEEN, IRON MAIDEN and even RIOT (just listen to “Message from Hell”). Personally on this album I found some similarities with bands like EDGUY (their first albums), SABATON and STEEL ATTACK (their first albums too). “Unholy Cross” is a good heavy/power metal release from a band that knows well how to deliver good metal tunes. I believe that the friends of traditional heavy/power metal will find here tracks that will keep them company for a long time. My favourite ones are: “Drop the Bomb”, “In for the Kill”, “Together We Fight”, “Message from Hell” and “Unholy Cross”. 

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

AMETHYST
The Maze of Destiny
Retrospect Records
Official Website

AMETHYST formed in Kansas City in 1986 and recorded all of these songs between 1990 & 1992. We shouldn't confuse them with the other U.S. bansed band AMETHYST which released the hyper-expensive now EP "Outside of Nowhere" in 1984. Heavily influenced by bands like QUEENSRYCHE, AMETHYST play '80s melodic power metal. The QUEENSRYCHE effect is really more than obvious in their music!!! Clear soaring vocals and first-class musicianship dominate this exceptional release. First time ever on CD with songs like "Abstract of Mind", "Executor", "Mirrored Sky", “The Last Prophecy" and "The Tresspasser" that are just classics in their genre! Highly recommended to all fans of '80s power metal of the American way. The rest of you should also try to listen to them.

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

AGELESS OBLIVION
Temples of Transcendent Evolution
Siege Of Amida Records
Official Website

AGELESS OBLIVION is a very interesting newcoming thrash/death metal band with some slightly blackened vocals in some parts of their songs. In the beginning of this album they have some extremely heavy doom elements, but later on, however, the album gains a lot of speed, only having a few slow and atmospheric changes here and there. This U.K. based band is very technical and well bonded delivering even some progressive parts and themes with their music. Their riffs have a brutal approach with a sharp and tight character. The production is respectable and professional, showing off the musicians' abilities and potential. I think that AGELESS OBLIVION's debut album, "Temples of Transcendent Evolution" is a work you should invest on if you like progressive technical death/thrash metal!

George  "Death Dealer - Echoes From Erebus"  Kefalas

DALRIADA
Igeret
AFM Records
Official Website

Mixing folk and medieval music with heavy metal is nothing new. Especially in our days all these folk metal bands are becoming some kind of trend. The bad thing is that most of these bands have nothing new to offer and work on an opportunistic way to earn some bucks and fame now that this kind of music is still hot. The Hungarians DALRIADA though convinced me that they are a different kind of story. In their music they combine many folk elements from the Hungarian folk music and also they sing in their native language. These two elements give to their sound a sense of freshness and originality. Besides that, if you ask me to compare them with some more known bands, then I have to say that they are close relatives to groups like SKYCLAD, ELVENKING (early, not the last two awful albums) and KORPIKLAANI. “Igeret”, without claiming to be innovative for the folk metal genre, has the proper freshness that will make it interesting for everyone that likes this kind of sound and searches for something that declines from the usual folk metal sounds of our days. A release that should be checked out by every person that loves good folk metal.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

SAECULUM OBSCURUM
Into the Depths of Oblivion
Thunderblast Records
Official Website

SAECULUM OBSCURUM is a newcoming cross-genre band and by that I don't mean they are a weird alternative or modern hybrid... it's just that they are best described as an exteme metal band rather than with a more particular term. True! Melodic death metal is the foundation and the biggest portion of their music and influences, however they don't just stay there, but they actually add a great deal of melodic black metal elements, epic atmospheres, acoustic guitars and classic heavy metal passages. Their music is extreme and harsh, but this doesn't make their compositions lack in depth and intricacy, but the contrary since the band consists of some skillful musicians who offer us excellent performances and some really cool guitar solos. The vocals are rasping growls that are mainly close to their melodic death metal origins, without, though, some clean vocals or some more blackened screams missing. Their debut album, "Into the Depths of Oblivion" is a really good work that will be mainly appreciated by the fans of bands like DARK TRANQUILLITY, ARCH ENEMY, AT THE GATES and early IN FLAMES.

Christine  Parastatidou

PHASE
In Consequence
BackStage / Insight Out
Official Website

It seems that TEARS are not the only good Greek band in the progressive rock/metal genre. PHASE who are more a psychedelic/progressive rock band rather than a metal one have released an album that doesn’t pass unnoticed. OK! I admit that this is not my cup of tea, but I think that when something is beautiful and well done you have to admit it. PHASE’s “In Consequence” is a beautiful artistic release that through its music creates soundscapes that can make the listener travel and get lost in them. I really liked a lot the way they mix oriental music with rock and metal sounds. Their music is not easy to digest and of course it's not the kind of album that you will listen to while you do something else. This release demands your attention in order to discover its full dynamic and magic. This is a release where the western rock sound meets the oriental/Greek traditional music and this marriage is so beautifully done that will leave you breathless. This is not an album that you have to listen, but a release that you have to experience. So, if you search for something different yet rock sounding, this is a release that you have to check out…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

PICTURES OF PAIN
The Reckoning
Pitch Black Records
Official Website

If you think that the Norwegian scene has only good black metal bands to offer then I suppose you have to guess again and spend some more time searching this country's scene! PICTURES OF PAIN is a bright example of what I'm trying to tell you here, having a sound that dwells somewhere between melodic death metal and progressive. These guys have surely managed to find their personal stamp and approach to music with their debut album which took them approximately five years to release. But I guess it was worth the wait because the band have managed to offer us some really tight compositions that have the best elements of the death, progressive and classic heavy metal scenes. The band is really bonded and consists of some truly skillful musicians who offer us intricate solos and themes without ever showing off. The rhythm section is concrete and really heavy and the duality of vocals enhances the complexity and beauty of the songs. Something that impressed me a lot regarding the vocals is that the clean ones sound as if they come from a purely progressive metal band whereas the brutal growls seem to be coming from a death/black metal group. The fans of diversity and not only should invest with no second thought!

Christine  Parastatidou

TEARS
Unravelling Travesties
Freedom Records
Official Website

Well, progressive metal is the kind of metal that I despise the most. You see I have the sense that most bands of this genre try to show off their musical skills rather than create something that will make you listen to it again and again. TEARS from Greece are a whole different story though. They can be described as progressive metal, but they mainly have a progressive rock feeling of how they approach their compositions. TEARS mix in their sound a lot of sounds that range from progressive rock to heavy and progressive metal and they do that in such a creative way that their music sounds solid and not like a gathering of different musical styles. One other thing that makes this release a pleasure to listen to is the whole theatrical feeling it has and it is supported greatly by the warm and expressive voice of the singer of the band. “Unravelling Travesties” is a progressive metal release that dares to be different not on purpose, but because the musicians who created it are above all artists and don’t feel that they have to prove anything else other than expressing their thoughts and feelings through music. An album that embellishes the Greek metal scene. Recommended to all people who want to listen to metal music full of quality. A big bravo on my behalf. 

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

THE EVIL AMIDST
Lords of the Nine
Metal Matters PR
Official Website

THE EVIL AMIDST is a death metal power combo from the U.S. featuring members of some great bands like the death metal legends MALEVOLENT CREATION, the black metal giants KULT OV AZAZEL and the famous grinders HATEPLOW. The band blends and creates on "Lords of the Nine" a special and characteristic mixture of death, black and thrash metal that other times leans more toward the brutal sound and other times it's more focused on the melodic lines and technical solos. One of the elements that make this release special and unique is the power and might of their compositions that are so intense you simply can't resist their blackened charm. This album flows and takes you along both with its demonic dark passages and its mesmerizing melodies. One other thing that sets THE EVIL AMIDST apart from the majority of bands is that they aren't afraid of adding loads of technical parts and intricate solos, because they know that extremity can be expressed in a plethora of ways. The band is brutal, but at the same time also melodic with an epic atmosphere surrounding their songs and some slightly oriental riffs here and there. If you are into brutal bands who opt for diversity and technicality, then you've just found what you've been looking for!

Christine  Parastatidou

PAVLOV'S DOG
Echoes and Boos
RockVille Music
Official Website

This is the new fifth album of PAVLOV'S DOG. The band which made two hyper-classic albums back in the '70s, "Pampered Menial" and "At the Sound of the Bell", returns now with a brand new album. Their new album, "Echoes and Boos" is good and at the muscial style of the aformentioned albums. It has good tunes, but the ones that really made be want to hear them again and again were "Angeline", "We All Die Alone" and "Jubilation". The voice of Surkamp is still on a good level even though it is not so high pitched as it used to be! The fans of the band and the classic rock fans should buy "Echoes and Boos" immediately!!! The others should try to listen to it first!

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

HEMOPTYSIS
Misanthropic Slaughter
Metal Matters PR
Official Website

A good metal release is like an energy pump, you listen to it and you start feeling an adrenaline rush making you feel invincible and full of power. This is one of my ways to "measure" the effect an album has on me and HEMOPTYSIS' "Misanthropic Slaughter" has managed to achieve this to the maximum... For me personally this band should be touring all around the world, being among the top names of the metal scene, dominating the live stage with their power and might and I'm pretty sure they'll have their chance soon... the time is drawing nigh! "Misanthropic Slaughter" is a state of the art when it comes to what we call thrash metal and I already know it's going to be a classic for me. It's one of those albums that the more you listen to, the more they grow in you and the more elements you discover in them. Where should I start from? From the amazing, kick ass compositions with their catchy riffs, sharp guitars, intricate guitar solos, concrete rhythm structures and top notch vocals that enrich and enhance the songs' brutality and extremity? "Misanthropic Slaughter" is the epitome and the quintessence of what thrash metal really is and stands for, but at the same time the guys manage to infuse it with some classic heavy metal elements and melodic death metal touches. It's beyond me how such one of the most talented bands I've come across in a long time is still unsigned... "Misanthropic Slaughter" is simply a death/thrash metal holocaust with technical parts and a flawless production! I'm simply stunned and in awe!

Christine  Parastatidou

PALLAS
XXV
Mascot Records
Official Website

PALLAS are a progressive rock band based in the UK. They were one of the bands in the vanguard of what was termed as neo-progressive during progressive rock's second-wave revival in the early 1980s (other major acts included MARILLION, IQ and PENDRAGON). Beginning life as RAINBOW, they dropped the name after Richie Blackmore left DEEP PURPLE and called his new band RAINBOW. PALLAS began hitting the club circuit at the beginning of a grassroots revival of full-blown progressive rock which, at the time, was extremely unfashionable due to the overwhelming influence of pop and new wave (not N.W.O.B.H.M.!!!). This is their seventh brand new album and it's definitely good for its genre. The group surely knows how to write nice melodies. I would say that the tunes that I liked more were "Falling Down", "Crash and Burn" and "Sacrifice". I would also say that the album is quite introverted so you will need to listen to it a couple of times in order to fully appreciate it. In conclusion this is a good album but in my opinion it is difficult to reach the levels of albums like "Beat the Drum".

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

ERADICATION
Dreams of Reality
Siege Of Amida Records
Official Website

In an overflown and oversaturated scene such as the contemporary melodic death metal and deathcore, a band really needs something special in order to make the break through and reach with their sound a wider audience. The British based ERADICATION (not the be confused with the French black metal band) apparently seem to have what it takes to make it and establish themselves to the modern death metal circuit. They surely have the necessary musicianship and technique as well as the skills to write catchy aggressive music that can appeal to many fans. What they need to pay more attention to is to try to find more of their personal stamp and sound, because their compositions are quite reminiscent of already successful recipes and bands. However, personally this is something that I find more than natural and to be expected since "Dreams of Reality" is their debut album. Music-wise these guys belong to what's called modern melodic death metal, but at the same time their songs have quite a few references to the deathcore movement. The singer offers us some really cool both guttural and more high pitched growls, while the lead guitars deliver some really technical themes and the rhythm section is there to support the whole creation and enhance its extremity. The bottom line and what's important, though, is that these guys have the skills and have managed to write some sharp, aggressive, up tempo songs that are ideal to be played live. I think you should give them a chance, because they seem to know what they're doing... If only they work more on their originality-personality aspect, I'm sure they can do miracles!

Christine  Parastatidou

IMMANIFEST
Qliphotic
Metal Matters PR
Official Website

This three track EP opened my appetite so much and enthused me with the band's sound and overall approach that I think I'll hold it against them for not offering me more music samples to indulge myself with! "Qliphotic" is one of the best, most characteristic and ideal ways to present melodic symphonic death/black metal. Their songs have dark atmospheres with a frozen epic feeling weaved together with the ferociousness and brutality of death metal, the occult blackness of black metal and the symphonic orchestrations and themes of classical music. This EP is simply mesmerizing and blood chilling and for me personally it has everything I love in black metal and all this given with a very good production and an amazing artwork from an extremely skillful and talented band who is really devoted in what they are doing... I really can't wait to get my hands on their full length work! Hail to the migthy IMMANIFEST! Remember this name... it'll soon mean a lot!

Christine  Parstatidou

RESISTANCE
A Tale of Decadence
Emanes Metal Records
Official Website

This is the second release of the French heavy/thrash metal band and I dare to say that it is a very ambitious music work. The album is a concept and is based on the novel "The Monk" by Matthew Gregory Lewis, published in 1796. In a few words the concept of the album tells the story of a monk named Ambrosio who is well respected and of his downfall. The story is very interesting indeed. RESISTANCE had the difficult task to give this story musically and I think they did a fine work. You see their sound, which reminded me of early ICED EARTH and MANTICORA, is dark enough and fits perfectly to the hellish story of the monk Ambrosio. My only objection to this album is the production which without being bad, could have been more dynamic. Sometimes the music covered the lyrics... An element that makes it hard for the listener to understand what the singer sings about. Anyway, “A Tale of Decadence” is a good power/thrash metal release that will be enjoyed by people who still need to listen to material that reminds them of the good old ICED EARTH. Also as an album it has some interesting ideas that give to it an air of freshness. My favourite songs from the album are: “Loss of Innocence”, “Conjurer of Fate”, “Revenant” and “In Expiation of his Crimes”.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

DARK COVENANT
Eulogies for the Fallen
Emanes Metal Records
Official Website

Playing doom metal is a really difficult thing. As a genre is quite monolithic and because of that you need to have some really good ideas and a singer with a powerful and emotional voice. Unfortunately, the Canadian DARK COVENANT with their debut album seem that they don’t have any of these two. Their doom metal is so typical that they sound like poor relatives of bands like CANDLEMASS (mainly) and SOLITUDE AETURNUS (in some parts). While I was listening to the tracks I found out that the structures of most of them were so repetitive and similar to one another that from a point on their music becomes too predictable, especially for an experienced listener. One other thing that doesn’t help the band is their singer, whose voice might remind a bit of Messiah Marcolin but it is so weak that most of the times the instruments cover it. The only track in which, in my opinion, the band sounded interesting is the track “A Broken Sword Reforged”. Besides that their music without being bad is too typical and predictable for the kind of music they play (epic doom metal). I believe that this release can attract only the interest of people that are fanatics of doom metal. Try to check them out before you buy it.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

GAE BOLGA
Violent MetalStorm
Emanes Metal Records
Official Website

If you cannot stand all these modern thrash metal productions and you need to listen to a new release that sounds dirty, raw and aggressive as the thrash metal used to sound back in the 80’s, then make a stop to check out these guys from Belgium. On their debut album GAE BOLGA seem to ignore the current date that the calendar shows and using their music as a time capsule they take us back in the 80’s. In their influences you will find bands like KREATOR, SLAYER, DESTRUCTION and even some VENOM and early RUNNING WILD touches. The album is pure and raw energy. The kind of release that will make you play it loud, drink beers with your friends and make your conservative neighbours sell their house and try searching a more peaceful neighbourhood. Nothing more to say than the fact that “Violent Metalstorm” is exactly what the title of the album suggests and that if you consider yourselves to be serious thrash metal maniacs, then you have to check them out. A very good start for a talented band!

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

SYRENS CALL
Raging Waters
Pervade Productions/Manitou Music
Official Website

In the beginning there were NIGHTWISH and after them came EPICA. These two bands had quite a success since their music was a combination between power and gothic metal and because of that they managed to draw the attention of fans of these two genres and not only. SYRENS CALL from France with their third release sound like these two aforementioned bands with some KAMELOT touches here and there. The playing skills of the band’s musician is very good and the band seems tight, but the problem with this release as with most of them is that they don’t have the ideas or the melodies that will make you listen to their album again and again. All the melodies and the tunes here are too common (you always have in mind that you have listened to them somewhere before) for the genre and their compositions are too predictable. So, SYRENS CALL might be very good and professional working musicians, but their compositions don’t have the personality or the element that will spice them up and make you listen to them again and again. I think that they have to continue to try to find their personal sound and when they do I will be more than happy to present them again on my site.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

WARRANT
Ready to Command 2010
Pure Steel Records
Official Website

This is a compilation cd from this German power/speed metal band which has nothing to do with the american band with the same name. They first released an EP in 1985 entitled "First Strike" and in the same year they released their full lenth album entitled "The enforcer". This compilation contains two songs which were in their second unreleased album. The songs are named "Flame on the Show" and "When the Sirens Call" and they are two very good songs!! The CD also contains two live tracks. The tracks that I liked more from their EP are "Satan" and "Bang that Head", while from the album I enjoyed more the anthems "Nuns Have No Fun" and the homonym track. The band is good for their style so the fans of old school speed/power metal should invest. For the rest of you this is an interesting release so you can give it a try.

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

ONSLAUGHT
Sounds of Violence
AFM Records
Official Website

How many times can a person listen to the same thing again and again? OK! I respect ONSLAUGHT and their history, but this won’t influence my judgment. “Sounds of Violence” gave me the impression of a tired band, a band that really has nothing new to give to the thrash metal genre and since they seem to be aware of it, they try to cover it with a good production and down tuned guitars. For f**k's shake these down tuned guitars!! When will the bands understand that this kind of production might add volume to their sound, but it reduces their character. “Sound of Violence” sounds pretty much the same as so many modern thrash metal albums that have been released so far and many others that will be released in the future. Sorry, but some good and technical guitar solos won’t save the final result, which might sound impressive in the first listening, but after you finish the whole album you won’t remember a thing. This one is too typical for this kind of music and I think that only the fans of the band who want to possess everything that the band has released will buy it. The rest try to find your luck in other releases…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

ZENO MORF
Wings of Madness
Karthago Records
Official Website

Norway is mainly popular for its extreme metal bands and especially the black metal ones. From time to time, though, from this country also pops up a band that plays traditional metal. ZENO MORF with their second album entitled “Wings of Madness” offer to the listener 12 compositions of traditional metal that are baptized in the sounds of IRON MAIDEN, BLACK SABBATH (DIO era), JUDAS PRIEST and a bit of METALLICA. Although you can recognize the influences that the band have, the good thing is that they combine them in a way that gives to the final result their personal touch. There are many good songs here, but one thing that in my opinion this album lacks in is variety. Most of the songs that are included here move pretty much on the same tempo. Also the singer has a very distinctive voice, but I think that he should also try out other ways of singing. Generally the album is good to listen to and the fans of traditional metal will have a good time listening to it; however it can’t yet reach fans of other genres. A good release from a talented band, but I think that they can do more than this release. My favourite songs from the album are: “Riding the Tundra” (it has an epic touch), “Requiem” and “Badgers in the Attic”. 

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

RAZORWYRE
Coming Out E.P.
Independent
Official Website

This band from New Zealand started its career under the name GAYWYRE. A name that is too “gay” for the kind of music they play. Thanks to the metal gods soon they realized that they should find a more fitting name for the kind of music they play and changed it to RAZORWYRE. So, if you wonder how they sound, their name can give you a hint. RAZORWYRE play heavy metal mixed with strong doses of speed and thrash metal. If you can imagine a mixture between IRON MAIDEN and good old OVERKILL, then you have a pretty good picture of what you will get from this release. Personally, I liked their release a lot, since they have all kinds of things that I want to listen to from a new band... Good ideas, enthusiasm and freshness. All these are supported by a good and clear production that moves on professional standards. Also I want to say that the voice of the singer Z Chylde is  the perfect match for the sound of the band, since he has an N.W.O.B.H.M. way of singing and from time to time he reminded me of Cronos from the mighty VENOM. Anyway, if 80’s heavy/speed metal is your kind of music, this is a release that you must check out. I think that RAZORWYRE deserve to be noticed and make a career in the heavy metal scene.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

TEN
Stormwarning
Frontiers Records
Official Website

This is TEN's new work. TEN is a band that has been active for over 20 years now and this is their 11th release and their 8th studio album. The style of the band could be characterized as a mixture between melodic metal and pomp rock. The band seems to be in a really good form on this album. "Stormwarning" contains really melodic metal/pomp rock hymns like "Endless Symphony", "Kingdom Come" and "Destiny". The only disadvanatage of the album is that after the middle of it, it becomes too soft. The really soft parts of TEN always made me get a bit bored and that was their only mediocre part. In conculsion this is a very good album for the fans of this rock/metal genre, who shouldn't hesitate buying it. It's the best album that TEN made since their "Spellbound" and "Babylon" period. Also the cover is really great!

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

THE TARDS
Guillotine
Independent
Official Website

Well the name THE TARDS might not tell something to most of us, but the band is active for quite a few years now (they were formed back in 2005) and this is their second release. On “Guillotine” THE TARDS play a bizarre kind of thrash and traditional metal music. I mean that they have a modern production but the riffs and their attitude are closer to the 80’s sound. The interesting thing with them is that they have managed with their second release to create a distinguishing personal sound that makes it hard to point out which their influences are. The only thing I can say is that the structure of their songs brought to my mind MEGADETH. As a release “Guillotine” is a very interesting work, but my only objection is that the band should try to make its compositions a bit shorter, because some of them were becoming a bit repetitive from a point on. The good thing with THE TARDS is that they have a personal sound and also the talent and the dedication to the metal sound that guarantee us that we will listen from them a lot of interesting things in the near future. All they have to do is to tame their talent in order to make their compositions more direct and less repetitive (at least some of them). Try to listen to them, because you don’t listen so often in our days heavy/thrash metal bands that have a personal sound.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

THE NEW BLACK
II: Better in Black
AFM Records
Official Website

THE NEW BLACK is one of the very few bands that have made such an intense impression on me from the very first moment I had the pleasure to listen to their music. After so many years in the metal scene and after listening to tons of new bands and albums, I've come to a point where I'm not easily impressed, excited or enthused and the bands that make it to my long term playing list are handnumbered to say the least. However, the Germans THE NEW BLACK have that special something that caught my attention right away, so it's needless to say how much I anticipated their sophomore work... and for the second time these guys haven't failed me! There's no way if you are into Southern groove metal, you won't like these guys, because they simply have the magic to weave beautiful melodies, groovy rhythms and sing along choruses and all this is given through superb musicianship and a top notch production! "II: Better in Black" continues from where their debut, "The New Black", left of, only this time the guys seem to be in a more rocking mood, sometimes bring to my mind the good side of NICKELBACK mixed with Zakk Wylde's false harmonics and vagrancy. I also want to comment on the band's singer, Markus Hammer, who has a great warm voice, thus elevating the songs even more! If you like Southern groove metal, you just have to get your hands on a copy! I sure will!!!

Christine  Parastatidou

HUNTRESS
Off with her Head
Independent
Official Website

Here we have a new American band. They move on heavy/speed metal paths, this is their first EP and it contains three songs. For vocalist they have Jill Tuesadae Janus an ex-PLAYBOY model. This is their first attempt and they don't sell their EP but you can download it for free from the official site of the band: http://huntress.bandcamp.com/. The vocals of Jill are quite good and this comes from a guy who doesn't like female vocals very much no matter if they are old school or new school vocals (e.g. NIGHTWISH, LACUNA COIL, THE GATHERING, e.t.c.). The guitar work is also quite good. All three of their songs stand on a good level but maybe "The Creeper" is their best one. The band are about to release their first full length job soon. Until then just keep them in mind...

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

SOUL KILLING FEMALE
Utopia Mine
Independent
Official Website

SOUL KILLING FEMALE is no doubt one of the weirdest monikers I've ever come across, so it's not one of those names that can give you the clearest of clues for the musical direction of the band at hand. However, what it does reveal is the fact that this group has some pretty intense stuff in store for us and the cover artwork also makes this clear as day. This one man band that hails from Canada delivers atmospheric sludge metal and as every band from this country, it has a unique and original sound. I don't know if you can call me biased, but I'm always excited to listen to Canadian bands, simply because their scene is really vivid and keeps producing some really unconventional and original bands... SOUL KILLING FEMALE is one such band that incorporates in its sound a great deal of elements and manages to create some really cool compositions with dark gripping atmospheres that don't get lost or buried underneath the heavy down tuned guitars. "Utopia Mine" is definitely one of the best sludge metal albums I've listened to lately, but let me just clear out that it's also for a certain exquisite taste and not music that can apply to everyone. If you are daring and you like sludge metal, then I think you should seriously consider giving this album a try! 

Christine  Parastatidou

BUGUL NOZ
Night Shepherd
Independent
Official Website

It's impressive how much the Greek metal scene has evolved and progressed these past few years, having in its ranks not only extreme metal bands, but also representatives of a plethora of other sounds. BUGUL NOZ from Corinthe are one more proud example of what hard work can make you accomplish... and for these guys in particular it's a very interesting debut album with elements, ideas and songs that open our appetite for more. "Night Shepherd" has this ability to move in between and around genres, encompassing them all and yet having a really homogeneous end result given through the band's fresh perspective. Music-wise the band delivers stoner rock with some doom, grunge, modern and hard rock touches, hence the diversity of their sound that I mentioned earlier. However, stoner rock is the foundation of their music and it's built upon beautiful melodies and various singing styles. The rhythm section is mainly mid paced, without though some faster parts missing, so I guess this is an album that will be appreciated by the stoner rockers and especially by the fans of bands like DANZIG, KYUSS, DOWN, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS to name a few so that you can have a better clue of how BUGUL NOZ really sound. If you like the aforementioned bands, then all you have to do is visit the band's website to check them out!

Christine  Parastatidou

DEUS INFESTUS
Swansong for This Stillborn Race
Independent
Official Website

If there's any salvation from stagnation and mediocricy for our beloved music, if there's a way out from the metal trends that are dominating the scene these past years, then we can only find it in the underground scene. DEUS INFESTUS are, in all honesty, one of the most impressive and killer bands I've come across lately and they prove with their five track EP that there are still great riffs to be played, aggressive rhythm parts to excite you and dark atmospheres to devastate you! "Swansong for This Stillbron Race" is with no exaggeration and according to my taste the epitome of what well played, kick ass death/black metal really is! There's no moment or riff in here that will make you feel bored, since all the compositions are tight, well performed and with a killer production, responsible for whose mixing and mastering are R.D. Liapakis and C. Schmid. The compositions like I said are top notch and the icing to this blackened death metal opus are, the technical skills of the band members and their session drummer who is the renowned George Kollias (NILE, NIGHTFALL, SICKENING HORROR, etc). If melodic death/black metal runs in your veins, then DEUS INFESTUS are the best next thing for this genre and "Swansong for This Stillbron Race" is an album you can't afford to miss!

Christine  Parastatidou