SPARTAN WARRIOR
Behind Closed Eyes
Ironage Records
Official Website

This is the new album of these N.W.O.B.H.M. legends SPARTAN WARRIOR. SPARTAN WARRIOR released 2 albums back in the ‘80s. Their debut album was titled “Steel and Chains” and was released in 1983 by Guardian Records. The second one was the homonymus album and was released in 1984 by Roadrunner Records. Their second album was officially re-released in 2000 copies by Metal Mind Records 1 ½ year ago. The current line-up has only one difference with the line-up that recorded their second album. Their new release is good and I really enjoyed it. Their style now could be characterized as heavy/power metal with a 2010 sound. The vocals of Wilkinson are still in a good condition and the guitar work of the album is good. For example the solos in “Last Man Standing” and “Flesh and Blood” are great! Unfortunately all of the songs aren’t on the same quality level though. The songs that stand out are “Tear out Your Heart”, “Walking the Line” and “Time”. The grade is only for the fans of traditional heavy metal. The rest of you just give it a try, but it is more possible that this album won’t appeal to you, even though you may find it interesting! In conclusion this is a good comeback but I believe they can be even better in their next step!

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

MORIAH
Fallen Fortress
Arkeyn Steel Records
Official Website

This is a double compilation CD of this U.S. power metal band. "Moria" is the Elvish name for the mines of Khazad-D?m, in J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings". The style of MORIAH could be characterised as technical power metal of the American way. The first CD contains their first demo and their EP which were released in 1990 and in 1991 respectively. The second CD contains a live demo which was released in 1993 and an unreleased demo which was recorded in 1994. Moriah play well for their style. Especially the vocals are really great for those who love high pitched vocals while the guitar work stands on high level so we should congratulate both the vocalist Doug St. John and the guitarist Noah King for their performances. From the first CD I enjoyed the most the songs “Fallen Fortress”, “Tomorrows Time”, “Holy Child” and “Caught in the Wheel”, while from the second CD the songs that appealed to me more were “The Other Side” and “Eternal Love”. In addition to the music the booklet of this compilation is quite thick and contains many pieces of information about MORIAH. In conclusion this is a good release that contains all the existing material of this band in a double CD. The friends of this metal genre should definitely buy it.

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

REX MUNDI
Perception in Design
Steel Gallery Records
Official Website

Here we have the first work of this northern Greek metal which was created back in 2002. We've seen them throughout the years as a support act in many gigs of big names such as NEVERMORE and ATHEIST. The album was released by Steel Gallery Records which is the oldest active record label in Greece. The guitarist of the band participated in the U.S. power metal project FINAL ANSWER whose album was released by the same company. The style of the band could be characterized as modern techincal thrash metal with some death metal elements. The main influence of the band seems to be NEVERMORE. The band is good for the style they play. The songs that appealled to me the most were "Perception"and "Images from a Mirror". The vocal lines didn't appeal much to me but in general this is a good album for the friends of this metal genre. I am not so into this stuff, but I believe that this release will please them.

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

EVIL ONE
Militia of Death
Pervade Productions/Manitou Music
Official Website

When you mix thrash with traditional metal you get bands like OVERKILL, ANNIHILATOR, HALLOW'S EVE, METALLICA and MEGADETH to name some of the big ones and in the present day you get a band like EVIL ONE. With their third release entitled “Militia of Death” this French band releases its most mature and interesting album so far. Everything here is well mixed and balanced. The thing that I liked from the first listening of this release is how naturally the band moves from the thrash aggressive parts of its music to the more melodic/classic metal ones. Towards achieving all this also helps the great work that is done with the mixing and mastering of the album by Herman Frank which makes me wonder why he didn’t do the same for the latest ACCEPT album. Anyway, back to EVIL ONE and their new album. On “Militia of Death” you will listen to a very good heavy/thrash metal album that flows very easily from the first till the last track. Actually this album shows that EVIL ONE has the quality to escape from the borders of the underground French scene and be noticed by many people around the world. So, if you are searching for a good metal thrashing mad album, then this is your case. To all this add that Jeff Waters (ANNIHILATOR) plays the solo guitar on "Militia of Death", Betov (ADX) plays the solo guitar on "Straight to Hell", Herman Frank (ACCEPT) plays the solo guitar on "Suicide Fanatics" and Gerre (TANKARD) does the lead vocals on "Militia of Beer". As for my favourite songs from this album these are: “Evil Invasion”, “Baptized by Fire”, “Memories” and the “Instrumetal”. Check them out and you won’t lose.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

MEAN STREAK
Declaration of War
Black Lodge Records
Official Website

This is the second release of the Swedish band which finds them having a traditional metal mood here. If on their first album the power metal elements were obvious, here the band has reduced them to the minimum. So, what you will get here is traditional 80’s inspired metal that carries in its sound the legacy of bands like JUDAS PRIEST, ACCEPT, DIO, IRON MAIDEN and even some RAINBOW touches like in the song “No Man’s Land”. I think that the younger audience might find in the sound of the band some HAMMERFALL similarities too, which are few, but they do exist nevertheless. The songs without escaping the clichés of the traditional metal sound are well performed and structured and the lead guitar work is worth to be mentioned. “Declaration of War” might not bring something new or different to the table of traditional metal music, however it has a freshness and passion to make it convincing. By that I mean that if you buy this album it is most probable that you will have a nice time listening to it, if you don’t then you won’t miss something extraordinary. MEAN STREAK offer some well performed and composed traditional metal songs that will appeal mostly to the people who listen to this genre fanatically. Being one of them, I will say that I enjoyed listening to the album and for that I will give them a…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

OVERDRIVE
Angelmaker
Lion Music
Official Website

If you are one of those who think that traditional metal is not a demanding kind of music, then my friends you are very wrong. It might sound simple, but sometimes the work that hides a memorable tune or song is much more than any progressive metal band out there. Playing complicate themes is easy if you are a good musician, but composing interesting great songs is a whole different story. OVERDRIVE from Sweden is a gifted band, not only because they have some great musicians that can play everything you can imagine, but mainly because they know how to compose some good traditional metal tunes. “Angelmaker” is an album that is dipped in the 80’s sound, it has some hard rock touches (just listen to the song “In Gut We Trust”) and a contemporary production that makes it a pleasure to listen to. In its whole atmosphere the “Angelmaker” CD brought to my mind the band RIOT and especially their “Thundersteel” era. Besides the RIOT influences you will find in their sound references to groups like JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN, ACCEPT, RAINBOW and even to STRYPER (in the song “See the Light”). This is the kind of album that every 80’s metal fan should have and younger metallers too in order to understand what about this music is. Personally, I think that “Angelmaker” is the kind of album that the more I listen to it the more I like it. My favourite songs from the album are: “Angelmaker”, “Under the Influence”, “On with the Action”, “To Grow”, “Cold Blood” and “The Wavebreaker” (as it starts it reminds me strongly of a JUDAS PRIEST song, I will let you find it out on your own though)!

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

EIGHT OF SPADES
Driven by Hate
Pervade Productions/Manitou Music
Official Website

With such a name what do you think that their main influence will be? Lately France has given us lots of interesting metal bands, although EIGHT OF SPADES expand their influences to other territories of the extreme sound. EIGHT OF SPADES having MOTORHEAD as their basis, mix in their sound thrash metal with some punk/hardcore elements that are obvious mainly in the way that their singer sings. “Driven by Hate” is a pure high speed rock ‘n’ roll album and its main target is to make you bang your head and blow some steam off. Here you won’t listen to something new or innovative, but you will get a genuine passion for rock ‘n’ roll partying and some great tunes. The sound of EIGHT OF SPADES might not be my cup of tea, but I had a nice time listening to it and I am sure that the people who love their metal mixed with a rock ‘n’ roll attitude will have a great time listening to this release. 

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

KRAKEN
Abandoned
Arkeyn Steel Records
Official Website

This is the second re-release of the work of this old Canadian heavy metal band by Arkeyn Steel Records. This is their first album which was recorded back in 1982 and if I am not mistaken it was released a month later. The production in this stuff was made by Lips (ANVIL). The CD contains 9 songs and the style of the band is classic heavy/power metal. This stuff is in fact a couple of years ahead of its time! Some of its songs are really top notch stuff like "Burn Witch Burn", "Greed & Deception", "Vampire", "Easy Sleazy" and "Desperate Solutions". I also liked the rest of the stuff. The vocals are good and the guitar work of this album really appealed to me. The booklet and the work that has been done to the sound of this release really pleased me. I want to say here to all the fans of this metal genre that this is a must buy and as for the rest of you I would suggest you give it a try. One of the best re-releases for sure for this year and one of the best releases of Arkeyn Steel Records!!!

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

SCHEEPERS
Scheepers
Frontiers Records
Official Website

I am not in fond of side projects of well known musicians that already belong to well known bands. Especially when the project is not so different musically from the band that the musicians are a member of. Ralf Scheepers, however, managed to make me leave aside this prejudice of mine, since his personal album sounds great to my ears. Don’t expect to listen here to something different from what Ralf has got us used to all these years. His music is strongly influenced by bands like JUDAS PRIEST, ACCEPT and GAMMA RAY. So, that's exactly what you will get here. Well performed heavy metal with a contemporary production and a performer that screams like hell. To all these also add some great participations like from Tim “Ripper” Owens on the song “Remission of Sin” (this one is a tribute to ACCEPT musically). Also in other songs you will find participations of musicians like Kai Hansen (GAMMA RAY), Victor Smolski (RAGE), Mike Chlasciak (HALFORD) and many-many more that I can't mention here. The funny and the sad thing at the same time is that all these songs were written for PRIMAL FEAR, but the band chose to leave them aside because they thought they didn’t fit to the musical path they wanted to follow with their last releases. Their loss, since here there are some very good heavy metal tunes that the fans of the traditional sound will like to check out. Personally my favourite songs of the album are: “Locked in the Dungeon” (Mr. Scheepers screams his lungs out on this one), “Remission of Sin”, “Cyberfreak”, “Saints of the Rock”, “The Pain of the Accused” (a great ballad) and my favourite and by far the best of the album “Play with the Fire”. So, if you miss the good old PRIMAL FEAR or you just want to listen to a sincere and well produced heavy metal album, this one will make your day. This cooperation of Tim “Ripper”Owens had me think how great it will be if one day these two great singers cooperate with the METAL GOD (Rob Halford, for those that are reading this by chance). 

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

BLACK HAWK
Straight to Hell
Karthago Records
Official Website

I really like a lot the bands that don’t care if their sound is original or not and try to play music from the heart, the kind of music that the band members like to listen to. On the fourth full length album of the Germans BLACK HAWK I have the sense that the band had a reallygood time playing the songs included here. They follow the well tried recipe that never fails and it is no other than adding in their sound influences from bands like ACCEPT, GRAVE DIGGER and early HELLOWEEN. To all these you can add a rock ‘n’ roll attitude that you will find in the song “Bad Pussy” with some slight neoclassical and old METALLICA touches. I can’t say if this album will endure the test of time. Nobody can say that, but the sure thing is that “Straight to Hell” is made to be played in high volume and so that we can bang our head like hell. Teutonic metal is my favourite kind of music and on this album I really found many good moments. A sincere release that applies to people who want to listen to 80’s influenced metal with a contemporary production. My favourite songs from the album are: “In Isolation”, “Shoot Shoot” (A tribute to ACCEPT), “Bad Pussy” (a great rock ‘n’ roll anthem) and the epic and by far their best composition “Guardians of the Night”. The album also includes a cover to SAXON’s “Crusader” song which is decent but yet nothing extraordinary. The friends of 80’s German heavy metal have to check them out…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

BUTCHER
Welcome to the Night
Inferno Records
Official Website

Do you like the early 80’s U.S. metal sound? Back then when the bands were still strongly influenced by the British metal scene and they were playing heavy metal songs straight from the heart without trying to prove anything. Back then when the most of the musicians were more fans than professionals as today artists claim? Well, if to all these your answer is a loud and proud YES, then read this review and try to find out this album. BUTCHER from U.S.A. are actually the continuation of the 80’s metal band COVEN. They actually have even included in this album songs from the COVEN era (“King Of The Hill” and “Battleaxe”). So, it is not strange that their sound has this original 80’s air in it. Their music now has lot of variety and also it is straight to the point; an element that many bands of today lack. As for their influences, I would say that the band’s music is relative to groups like LIZZY BORDEN, RIOT, early SAVATAGE, but also have epic touches that remind of CIRITH UNGOL (musically not vocally) and MERCYFUL FATE (check out the song “Halloween”). They are also female fronted band, but the voice of Lil Tang is what exactly this bands need. My only objection is that they could use fewer interlude tracks between the compositions. Anyay, “Welcome To The Night” is the real 80’s metal thing, so instead buying some BON JOVI like good looking guys that “borrow” ideas from the first 2 albums of IRON MAIDEN, try to find this release. Speaking for myself, this is the kind of 80’s U.S. metal sound that I like.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

EPISODE 13
Death Reclaims the Earth
Misanthrof ANTIRecords
Official Website

Who said you have to be from Scandinavia or generally from cold climates and barren lands to be able to write good black metal songs? No! Black metal like every other kind of metal music must run through your veins. There's no other way to write memorable music that can touch other people too and it seems to me that the Turks EPISODE 13 are well aware of that and are here to prove what I just said right, even to the most demanding blacksters. "Death Reclaims the Earth", the band's third full length work, is here to deliver some really great epic and frozen black metal anthems. Their songs dwell somewhere in between the frozen primitive black metal of Norway with the more elaborate melodic black metal that incorporates dark atmospheres and eerie melodies enhancing thus the coldness and blackness of the compositions. Lyric-wise EPISODE 13 deal with the same topics as most black metal bands and these are no other than anti-religion and misanthropy. Their songs are great with a good production and contain everything that black metal stands for, but EPISODE 13 take things one step further and prove to all of us that they are honest musicians who deeply love this kind of music and thus offer their album for a free download! So, if you are into black metal, then you have the chance to enjoy a really cool album for free. "Death Reclaims the Earth" is available for free download at: http://episode13.misantrof.net/.

Christine  Parastatidou

DESERT
Star of Delusive Hopes
Sleaszy Rider Records
Official Website

In art to have a good or an original idea is good, but not good enough. It is also very important the way that you will work on that idea and how you will present it to the people and since here we speak about music to the audience. DESERT from Israel is a power metal band that I have to admit that has something that makes them distinguish from other bands of this genre. This element is the voice of Alexei Raymar who gives a gothic – atmospheric touch to the sound of DESERT, since it will bring to your mind SISTERS OF MERCY. All these sound very good and promising, but the bad thing is that the whole sound of DESERT is one way track. It is more atmospheric and it lacks on energy. This has as an effect to make the whole album to sound bit monotonous and repetitive. To this it doesn’t help also the production which is clear sounding but a bit dull. Personally I think that if this album had some more songs like the “Letter Of Marque” (my favorite one) and “Soul Of A Wanderer” we could speak about a very good release. In our days though it is true that you need to have more, if you want to achieve something memorable in the metal scene. My conclusion is that DESERT have good ideas, but they definitely need to add more variety and energy in their sound. For your information there is a guest appearance by Joakim Broden (SABATON) on the song "Lament For Soldier's Glory (Order 227)".

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

MALEVOLENT CREATION
Invidious Dominion
Nuclear Blast Records
Official Website

To refer to original logic, when death metal is properly played, the net result is a successful release. It shouldn't be way too long nor should it be way short. What we have here with this MALEVOLENT CREATION is an album that is way too short. It's difficult that out of the 11 tracks, it's hard to fully make out the guitar riffs because of the chronic blast beating. The intensity is there, but these guys needed to concoct a release that isn't too vocal stricken and less guitar oriented.
Definitely fast tremolo picking occurs here, but not enough music to accompany the totality in riffing. This album isn't boring, just the vocals are non-changing throughout the entire release. Truly defiant and a slaughterhouse of energy, but the music isn't entirely intriguing. There was really nothing special about it-nothing that hasn't been preformed already from a MALEVOLENT CREATION release.
These guys I suppose tried to keep things short and the main emphasis was on the lyrics/vocals and not enough on the music. Just blast beating galore without anything that's too catchy riff-wise. What we have here is a conglomeration of fast picked guitars, but nothing that really sticks to you. Plus, the lead guitar pieces didn't strike me with anything that's fancy or well played out.
What we hear most of the time is Bret Hoffman's vocal outputs with nonsensical lyrics and hoarse throat throughout this entire release. The vocals go well with the death metal guitar riffs, though I would've preferred more riff outputs without so much of the vocals. What would've been classic is if the guitar riffs would've been catchier and songs that would stick into your brain because of their innovation. I didn't find that on this release.
Bret's lyrics focuses mostly about death, war, hatred and violence. Definitely brutal topics that mesh well with a death metal oriented act, but it doesn't take a whole lot of effort for these lyrics to come up with. But it is what it is and nothing more here. All 35+ minutes about this release isn't a total waste. However, I think that the band could've come up with something more interesting musically. The songs on here didn't catch me as being too innovative.
Enough with the criticism though. The band hasn't changed its style which is a plus. The album itself just needed more length-I can't stress that enough. They also needed to concoct guitar riffs/leads that were more interesting and outstanding. They're just not there with this album. I think that the album needed more time to construct. Again, it's not boring, but if you want to hear MALEVOLENT CREATION's classic releases, best to delve into the past and you'll find that.

Ryan  "Death8699"  Fanucchi (MethylinInfo@aol.com)

UNSUN
Clinic for Dolls
Mystic Production
Official Website

I have sinned a lot lately, so I needed a karmic cleansing. I can’t explain in any other way the reason that lately I have to present so many gothic/female metal fronted releases. I don’t have anything with females. Especially the ones that sing traditional metal, they have real balls, but the gothic/symphonic female metal is a whole different story. If someone says that the modern gothic metal moves somewhere between the latest NIGHTWISH releases and EVANESCENSE, he/she can’t be more accurate. UNSUN from Poland are no different at all. They have a cute – good looking female singer with an even cuter voice and distorted guitars that play rhythms that owe a lot to late NIGHTWISH and EVANESCENSE. To all this add a clear and pop production and there you go. The product is ready to be consumed. As a product “Clinic for Dolls” is perfect, but I really despise this fake and cheap emotionalism that tries to pull it off as true darkness. Somehow I have the feeling that all these releases are produced by the same factory and the bands do nothing more than just put their name on. This is a typical album that will be listened up until another similar sounding band releases a new album. I will give them above 5 only because the singer is really cute :)

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

COLD EMPIRE
From the Ashes of the Empire
Naturmacht Productions
Official Website

It seems to me that the older I grow the more I start to like and appreciate black metal. Usually it's the other way around, but when you have the chance to listen to such good and quality works as COLD EMPIRE's "From the Ashes of the Empire", then it can only be a form of natural selection and evolution. COLD EMPIRE is a two piece black metal band from Italy and if I hadn't mentioned their country of origin it would have been near to impossible for you to guess where they originate from. Actually before I checked out this band for information on the Internet I thought they came from Scandinavia, because their black metal is cold, epic and really dark. Their songs are sharp and move in the classic black metal genre with no keyboards or any other additions. "From the Ashes of the Empire" is a very interesting, catchy frozen black metal release that's going to take you along with its great blackened atmosphere. Black metal reings supreme in  COLD EMPIRE's music! 

Christine  Parastatidou

NOCTURNA PERAMBULANT IN TENEBRIS
Death Dawn
Cakset Music
Official Website

Italy is not a country that has got us used to offering us many death metal releases. They might have an extreme scene, but personally I know little about it. NOCTURNA PERAMBULANT IN TENEBRIS with their debut release “Death Dawn” introduce us to their sound which has as a foundation the mid tempo death metal as it was played mainly from U.S. bands. Upon this musical basis, though, they add influences from other sounds like black and traditional metal. One other thing that's worth to be mentioned is that the band doesn’t sing about zombies, gore and serial killers. Their lyrics are more war and epic oriented like BOLT THROWER. If I have to compare the sound of the band, I would say that they are close to groups like SIX FEET UNDER, DEBAUCHERY and ROTTING CHRIST. I have to admit that “Death Dawn” has some good ideas, but somehow as a whole release it's a bit monotonous. I think that it lacks in the aspect of variety. Something that is very hard to achieve, when you play mid tempo death metal. There are positive elements in this release, however the band has to work more and add more variety to its songs. For now, I believe that only the diehard fans of this sound will find this album interesting. It has some good moments like the songs “Immortal End” and the epic “Lachedaimonios”, but from a point on the repetition makes the album sound the same. Try to listen to it, before you decide what to do…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

FATHER'S FACE
Soundtrack for a Closing Light
Independent
Official Website

I had the pleasure and luck to listen to this band's self titled demo some months ago and I was impressed with the beauty of their compositions. FATHER'S FACE from Brazil have this great ability to create special songs that carry the band's stamp or to put it simpler this band has character and once you listen to their music you can tell them apart from the majority of heavy and progressive metal bands. "Soundtrack for a Closing Light" is their debut full length work and it consists of ten compositions, seven new and the three ones from their demo CD. All I can say is that this is one of the best progressive heavy metal albums I've listened to in a while bringing to my mind HEAVEN'S GATE, ANGRA and CRIMSON GLORY, but without ever FATHER'S FACE sounding as poor imitators or copy cats of the aforementioned bands. Their progressive elements serve and enrich the songs and are never used to show off. The guitars play some great melodies and the rhythm section supports the songs in the best possible way. I also liked the addition of some more extreme vocals in a couple of songs, because it made me feel as if I was listening to a film in which two adversaries (the clean and the harsh vocals) were arguing. If you want to listen to good progressive heavy metal, then FATHER'S FACE is a band you should count on, because they sure can deliver!! 

Christine  Parastatidou

ANDEM
Doch' Lunnogo Sveta
Apollon Records
Official Website

NIGHTWISH with their first two albums brought something new to the scene of the so called Euro power metal. They introduced the operatic female vocals. From then on many bands tried to follow their steps and some did a good work, but most of them didn’t have something new to say. Personally, I am disappointed from the whole scene and I don’t expect to listen to something that's worth to be mentioned anymore. All these, until I received this release from the Russian band ANDEM. There is no doubt that the band is influenced by NIGHTWISH of the first two albums; however they have a fantastic female singer that hears in the name Yuliana Savchenko. Her voice really gives the necessary lyricism to the songs of ANDEM. It will be though unjust not to mention that the compositions sound really well worked in every detail and have the freshness that many other bands of this genre lack. I will dare to say that "Doch' Lunnogo Sveta" ("Moonlight Daughter" in English) is an album that can be easily listened by a person that is not a big fan of this metal genre. As I said Yuliana’s voice is pure magic and when I listen to it, it travels me to the worlds of fantasy. I even like the fact that the band has chosen to sing in its native language. I had to listen to such a good release since NIGHTWISH's “Oceanborn”. Give them a chance…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

HYPERBOREA
Cryogenic Somnia
Independent
Official Website

I know I've said it one too many times, but it's the truth so I'm just going to say it again here... the beauty and even the future of heavy metal music is to be found in the underground scene which thrives with great bands that only need a push and the right promotion to make themselves widely known to the public. One such case is HYPERBOREA from Bulgaria and their sophomore full length work, "Cryogenic Somnia", which was released in 2007, but for some reason I only got it recently. That's OK, though, since it's never late to come across a good band and HYPERBOREA are definitely good. With "Cryogenic Somnia" they deliver their rendition of death metal which is sharp, aggressive, quite brutal, but also melodic. The guitars play some really beautiful melodic lines and riffs that stick to your mind and enhance the richness and variety of the songs. The band also add to their death metal quite a few groove elements and lots of technical parts and tunes, so I wouldn't be far from the truth if I said this is a technical death metal band we're dealing with. "Cryogenic Somnia" is a good album that's going to be appreciated by the deathsters worldwide!

Christine  Parastatidou

INFECTIOUS CATHETER THERAPY
Incredible Stories from Daily Humans Life
Gormageddon Productions
Official Website

Usually the bands that play brutal death metal and grindcore try to play in the most extreme way they can and in the fastest way possible. All these often cause admiration for the skills of the musicians that participate in the band; however most of these bands lack to give to the listener songs that will make him/her listen to them again. INFECTIOUS CATHETER THERAPY from Russia with their debut album seem to have a different way of thinking how this kind of music might sound. There is no doubt that you will listen here to all the clichés of the above mentioned genre, but this band presents them in a more melodic way. First of all they blend their sound with elements from traditional heavy and thrash metal, but their most important element is the use of samples. They add to their compositions some disco/pop/trance sounds that make the whole result colourful and full of variety. I am not big fan of this kind of music, but I must admit that INFECTIOUS CATHETER THERAPY offers a release that has personality and a strong dose of originality. If you search for something different in the brutal death metal/grindcore genre, then here you will get it.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

BABYLON MYSTERY ORCHESTRA
The Godless, The Godforsaken and the God Damned
Independent
Official Website

Music is an art form, therefore it cannot be confined, restricted or censored or else it wouldn't be able to convey emotions and thoughts and subsequently we wouldn't have the chance to express, as musicans, and feel and understand as listeners the music and ideas presented. BABYLON MYSTERY ORCHESTRA is one of those bands that can't be classified, because it simply can't be filed under a certain label... this label doesn't exist yet... I've been following the project of Sidney Allen Johnson ever since the beginning and I have to say it's one of the most unconventional, weird, innovative and pioneering musical endeavours you'll ever have the chance to listen to. This means that you'll either love BABYLON MYSTERY ORCHESTRA's music or hate it, there can't be another way. Music-wise this band creates an original and characteristic blend of symphonic, gothic and heavy metal with mainly mid tempos and semi-reciting semi-singing vocals, but I'd say that the music is just the means, the foundation which the lyrics are laid upon, because if you ask me I think this band mainly exists as an artistic outlet through which Sidney Alle Johnson is allowed to express his thoughts and feelings on important sociopolitical topics and problems. I'd urge you all to read his lyrics, not because I believe you'd agree with everything or anything at all written in there... I don't agree with all the views and beliefs that BABYLON MYSTERY ORCHESTRA expresses on "The Godless, The Godforsaken and the God Damned", but these lyrics are ideal food for thought and can start some really interesting discussions. What's required and demanded here is open mindedness, because after all evolution in society and in thinking comes from contradiction, opposition and freedom of speech. Apart from all this, the album has a flawless professional production and an amazing, well thought out artwork and booklet. After careful thought I decided not to put a grade on this release, because some things are priceless and what's priceless about this CD is the chance it gave me to delve into some important issues, regardless where my beliefs stand.

Christine  Parastatidou


INTER ARBORES
Ya.Otreshennost.Granitsi.Svyatoye
Wroth Emitter/Backfire Prod.
Official Website

Music as an art is free for many experimentations and interpretations. INTER ARBORES from Russia, having this on their mind, try to give us and create through various sounds a depressive and somehow industrialized atmosphere. I can’t say that the only track here that has a duration of over 38 minutes is a composition as most people (including me) understand it. As I said before the band through various sounds and some monologues during them tries to form an atmosphere that is ruled by dark emotions with an intensive feeling of loneliness and despair. Surely, I am not the most proper person to review this release, since I am not much into the genre that the band moves in, which is no other than ambient and funeral doom metal. I have to admit that there are times that their darkness touched me, but the long duration of the composition and the monotony that rules it, made it -from a point on– difficult to follow them till the end. I think that it might have worked better if they had divided the song in smaller parts and have included more theatrical parts in between the tracks. Anyway, the way the album is, gets boring to me from a point on. So, I can’t give them more than…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

UNDERDARK
In the Name of Chaos
Sleaszy Rider Records
Official Website

Are you ready and willing to be enthused and impressed by a newcoming band? If yes, then UNDERDARK from Poland have what it takes to shake the stagnant waters of the contemporary death metal scene and make a name for themselves... worthingly I may add, since their debut "In the Name of Chaos" is a fine sample of aggressive death metal. Their sound can't be correctly filed under either the brutal or the melodic death metal scene. It'd be too easy and not entirely right, since their music carries influences and elements from both scenes with, however, the more extreme and aggressive one prevailing. Nonetheless, as I said, their songs may be brutal, but they never lack in melodies and we have the guitars to thank for that, which weave some really beautiful melodic lines that contradict with the vocalist's guttural vocals and the concrete wall of a rhythm section they have. What's even more to add is the fact that the guitars play some really elaborate parts and intricate solos that make UNDERDARK's death metal technical with a few progressive twists. The rhythm section is amazing and the blast beats and double bass drumming enhance the brutality and volume of the release. The production is professional offering space for all the instruments to be properly heard and the artwork is really fitting to the sound and aesthetics of this band. So, if you like technical death metal and bands like MORBID ANGEL, VADER, MALEVOLENT CREATION, etc, then I think you owe to give these guys a chance! 

Christine  Parastatidou

VERITATE
The Chosen One Single
Killer Metal Records
Official Website

VERITATE are hailing from Sweden and in this release you will have the chance to listen to the composition “The Chosen One” sang both in English and Swedish. The band plays traditional heavy metal with the use of keyboards and in a way they reminded me of SEVENTH SIN from Canada. The song “The Chosen One” sounds good, it has passion, but personally it is way too typical for the heavy metal music. I demand from a band that releases a single to add a song that is really great. With this one I understood that the band has a real passion for heavy metal, but “The Chosen One” is a song that every talented band can compose in a short time. So, I can’t say anything more since it will be unfair to judge a band from one song only. I will have to wait for their upcoming full length release in order to have a clear image about VERITATE. I have to underline here, though, that the Swedish version of the song sounds better to my ears that the English one. For now I can give them only a….

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

WINO
Adrift
Exile On Mainstream Records
Official Website

We often say that heavy metal music started from BLACK SABBATH as an experimentation on the blues music that failed and there is no doubt that this was a great "failure". WINO who is a much known artist in the doom/stoner metal genre worships the SABBS, but he seems also to like the roots of our music. So, “Adrift” I can say that it's a nostalgic album for WINO, but also an album with which the musician wants to expand his horizons to the fields of classic blues/rock. So, yes you got it right this release has nothing to do with heavy metal, since it is an acoustic blues/rock album. Now, if this doesn’t bother you, then you will be very lucky to listen to an album full of good melodies and emotions. A release that brings something of the atmosphere that the albums of Bob Dylan had. There is no doubt that “Adrift” is an album that will impress you from the first till the last tune, because through its simplicity it talks about the complicated thing that is called everyday life. I don’t know why, but while I was listening to this release my mind went to the works of the great American writer John Steinbeck. Maybe, because if I had to see a movie based on the books of this writer, I would like to listen to some tunes of this album to fill its soundtrack with. Anyway, “Adrift” is an album that shines like an oasis in the modern not so rock scene. Also for your information, I have to say that the album includes 2 acoustic covers of “Iron Horse/Born to Lose" by MOTORHEAD and "Shot in the Head" by SAVOY BROWN.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

BRING YOUR OWN KNIFE
End
Sleaszy Rider Records
Official Website

These guys from Sweden have chosen a rather weird title for their debut album... they've named it "End", but let me just tell you that given the right push, this band can reach far. They simply got it! Their music is tight and dynamic... so powerful and relentless that will satisfy even the most demanding metal heads. Now music-wise the band lies within genres with metalcore perhaps being more prominent, but still not the only one. You'll also trace some melodic death/black metal touches, a few hardcore tunes and some progressive cuts and changes here and there. This is a really powerful combo that knows how to compose catchy fast paced songs that are filled with ferocity and aggressiveness! The production is also top notch, crystal clear, allowing us to listen to all the instruments equally and the cover artwork is beautiful and fitting to the band's sound. BRING YOUR OWN KNIFE is definitely one of the best bands of this genre I've heard in a long time!

Christine  Parastatidou

FOLKEARTH
Viking's Anthem
Stygian Crypt Productions
Official Website

Being overproductive might show that you work a lot, but this doesn’t mean that your work has quality. Especially when we talk about music and art in general. FOLKEARTH, the project that consists of many artists from many different countries, might have started as a good idea, but during the years and with the releases they have offered us, I had the feeling that they had nothing important to offer. Thank goodness, they proved me wrong with their new release, which in my opinion is the best of the band so far in their career. First of all in the technical parts the production is very good and also a great work has been done in the mixing. So, the listener will have the opportunity to fully enjoy the album. On the musical part now, I really liked the fact that the band gave more space to the metal instruments and used the folk ones, mainly the violin, as a supportive instrument that gives more color to the final sound of the band. Personally, if I have to compare the sound of this album, I would say that it's close to the sound of bands like ANCIENT RITES and of course SKYCLAD. I have listened to all the releases of FOLKEATH, but I believe that this one is the best the band has offered us till now. So, if you want to listen to one of their releases, I will definitely recommend this one to you. An album that has something different to offer amongst the many folk/pagan metal releases of our days. 

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

BREACH THE VOID
The Monochromatic Era
Coroner Records
Official Website

BREACH THE VOID is one more new coming band who have decided to follow the nowadays so famous modern metal path. The band hails us from Switzerland and this is pretty much the biggest difference or originality of this band since we're not used to listening to extreme metal bands from this country. I don't want to sound mean, because the guys did a pretty decent job with their debut, but in all honesty it's too common and too much of the same to make it stand out and make the band the next best thing in the metalcore genre. Music-wise the guys owe a lot to the melodic death metal movement, especially the latest one that seems to add lots of electronic and keyboard parts. So you'll listen here to quite a few references to IN FLAMES, DARK TRANQUILLITY and especially SOILWORK of the "Figure Number Five" era and on. These are all killer bands and BREACH THE VOID aren't bad either, but they are indifferent, meaning that with this being their debut work, they haven't managed to form and shape their own personal and characteristic sound. They're just doing their first steps and their influences are extremely obvious which makes "The Monochromatic Era" (by the way the title reminds me a lot of the DARK TRANQUILLITY song "Monochromatic Stains") an album worth only to the die hard fans of the modern melodic death metal and metalcore sound. The rest of you should first try to listen to samples of this work and then decide what to do. 

Christine  Parastatidou

DESTRAGE
The King Is Fat 'n' Old
Coroner Records
Official Website

I remember when I first listened to these Italian band's debut, "Urban Being", I was very impressed with their music, because they had the ability to take some classic metal elements, mix them with modern flavours and create a really insane catchy end result.  About a year after that, they strike back with their sophomore studio work which moves on the same path as its predecessor, only according to my personal opinion it falls a bit short... "The King Is Fat 'n' Old" has the same good ingredients, but I think for the sake of showing off and making a big impression to the listeners, the guys in DESTRAGE have overloaded the compositions with elements, tempo and theme changes to the point of making you feel you've been listening to three or four different songs instead of just one. The changes are impressive, no doubt about it, but there are points that they are too abrupt and destroy the natural continuity of the songs, thus making them sound as a patchwork of randomly thrown in ideas. To put it simply in most songs the outcome is too chaotic. I suppose the guys wanted to make their songs sound progressive and elaborate, which they are, but after a while this doesn't work for their favour. DESTRAGE is a very talented and well bonded band that offers top notch performances by well trained and extremely skillful musicians. The rhythm tempos are concrete and the guitars are stunning... especially the solo parts that are heavily influenced by Yngwie Malmsteen. You'll also listen to quite a lot of Zakk Wylde styled false harmonics and all this is topped with a talented vocalist who can growl, scream and sing excellently.  If you are into this modern metalcore music and you like beautiful clean vocals accompanying harsh ones, then this is an album you should probably check out. It's a good work, but personally I'd like them to write more structured and a bit less-adorned songs. Plus it'd be nice to drop those clean vocals, too... They are great, but honestly I got sick and tired of this harsh-clean vocal duality, because it seems that lately almost all the bands use it. 

Christine  Parastatidou

TRELLEBORG
Lands of Njord
Stygian Crypt Productions
Official Website

There is a trend in the metal scene these last few years and we have seen an explosion of Viking metal bands. In such explosions, the truth is that very few have something to say. All the others just release decent or mediocre albums. TRELLEBORG from Russia with their debut full length album show some elements that for sure they are not so typical for this kind of music. Although they have the folk melodies, the keyboards and the accordions, they don’t fall in the trap to copy the big bands of the genre. One other thing that saves them is that they blend their sound with some humoristic music parts in the way ALESTORM do it on their albums. Also the structure of their songs is not so typical and they hide quite a few surprises even for the experienced listener. It is also impressive that the guys who are in the band seem to be of young age. “Land of Njord” is a very good Viking/pagan release that keeps the elements of this genre and also dares to differ from the usual. This is a release that every time you listen to it, you will like it more and more. Finally, I have to note that the album closes with the wonderful orchestral soundtrack oriented composition which has the title "Birth of Skerriz". 

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

OBSZON GESCHOPF
Symphony of Decay
Twilight Vertrieb Records
Official Website

I'm going to keep things simple and quick here, because I want to finish with this work for good and not deal with it again or more than I have to. OBSZON GESCHOPG are a French band existing since 1996 and offering us with their fifth studio album their rendition of industrial thrash metal. I don't like industrial metal much, I can only stand it if it's partially infused with more classic metal forms and the same goes with the electronic elements. This band has both in abundance and there were quite a few times when I got really pissed off with the songs I was listening to and there were also times I found the electronic elements so silly and childish that they made me laugh, but the feeling that remained with me from the beginning of the album till its end is utter and absolute boredom. You see all the songs move on and follow the same pattern and the rhythm section is identical throughout the album. Down tuned heavy guitars and deep hoarse growling vocals which made the singer sound as if he had a constant cold while recording his vocal lines, didn't help me like "Symphony of Decay" at all. Now if we strip the songs off of their industrial elements what remains is pretty classic and VERY typical thrash metal, but the bottomline is that this is too typical, boring and uninspired music.

Christine  Parastatidou

DEATHFIST
Too Hot to Burn
Pure Steel / High Roller Records
Official Website

They are from Germany and they are proud to show their musical roots in their music. DEATHFIST is a thrash metal force that took me by surprise when I listened to their album for the first time. The passion and the ideas are all here and above all the band knows how to compose songs that will make your head move in ultra speed rhythms. Their influences as I mentioned above are coming mainly from the German thrash metal scene and I think that the guys adore bands like KREATOR and DESTRUCTION. However there are some moments on this album when DEATHFIST pays tribute to good old METALLICA of the first album (just check out the song “Too Hot to Burn”) and SLAYER (“Killing Time” and “Slay Her” are such examples). The whole atmosphere of the album is rooted in the 80’s, but also the band manages to keep a contemporary feeling that makes their music tempting for both old fashion and modern thrash metallers. One other outstanding thing is that the vocals are handled by a female singer. Her name is Corinna Becker and can easily claim the title of the female version of "Mille" Petrozza (KREATOR). It is really great when I listen to albums that make me feel like a fan and not as a reviewer when I listen to them and “Too Hot to Burn” is such a case. Check them out, because they definitely deserve to be noticed. Probably with THE PROPHECY 23, these guys are the most interesting thrash metal bands that I have listened to lately.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

MONDVOLLAND
D' Olde Roop
Apollon Records
Official Website

When I first layed eyes upon this promo's cover artwork I thought I'd have to deal with one more of the same folk metal release and actually I wasn't far from the truth. MONDVOLLAND is an extreme folk metal band from the Netherlands existing approximately five years and after a couple of demos and an EP, they've decided to release their debut full length work. Now when it comes to the folk part of their music things are pretty typical for these folks, meaning that they use pretty much similar formulas, riffs, ideas and clean deep reciting vocals. So, there's nothing new or that special about it, but what elevates the quality of "D' Olde Roop" is the black metal part of the compositions. Unlike most extreme folk metal bands, MONDVOLLAND give black metal a front role, which makes their songs edgier and more aggressive compared to the majority of other bands' releases. So, on "D' Olde Roop" you'll listen to equal and well balanced portions of both black and folk metal with the first giving the songs a dark, frozen hue and the latter offering some more melodic, non metal touches. If you are a fan of folk black metal and you want to listen to something a bit more extreme, then MONDVOLLAND will probably offer you what you're looking for.

Christine  Parastatidou

KARNAK SETI
Scars of Your Decay
Casket Music
Official Website

After four demos and having been active since 2001 the Portuguese KARNAK SETI have decided to move to the next level and release their debut full length work fittingly titled "Scars of Your Decay" and I'm saying fittingly because this quintet delivers straight in your face melodic deatgh metal. Before I continue with their music I want to state here that KARNAK SETI don't deliver original or innovative music, not at all, but they play with such passion and they have so catchy and cool riffs and ideas, that the lack of originality takes a second role and doesn't bother you at all! In fact I don't think I'll be exaggerating if I say that they are the best melodic death metal sample coming to us from Portugal and not only. In a time when most bands from Sweden (and I'm mentioning this country, because it's there where this sound was born, molded and shaped) try to sound original and commercial and add countless hardcore or metalcore or modern touches and end up offering insignificant and annoying products, these guys from Portugal come to teach them how melodic death metal is really played and what we mean when we use this term! "Scars of Your Decay" is a really tight well produced and perfectly executed melodic death metal album with a few progressive touches, lots of catchy riffs, great solos and some keyboard parts here and there, but like I said it doesn't have the annoying clean vocals, modern nu-metal or core themes that most melodic death metal bands have nowadays in order to make their music more commercial. KARNAK SETI stay true to their values and principles and music-wise they sound very close to DARK TRANQUILLITY, AT THE GATES and early IN FLAMES and SOILWORK. Check them out and you won't regret it!

Christine  Parastatidou

COMA
Excess
Mystic Production
Official Website

After a quick search on the Internet I found out that COMA is one of the most popular and successful Polish rock/metal bands dominating their home country's charts with their songs and winning several Fryderyks (Polish equivalent to Grammys). However, they had to release their fourth full length work titled "Excess" for me to have a chance to check them out and I have to be honest with you I wouldn't have minded one bit if I've never had the "pleasure" to listen to their music. The first thing that hit me as very annoying was the fact that I couldn't "tell" where the album was headed to and I wasn't able to pinpoint their musical direction at all. I know that we reviewers often complain that most albums are too predictable, but this is one thing and having a totally different sound per song is entirely different. I mean they give you hints as to their musical approach and all of them are misleading, so after the album ends you don't know what you've been listening to... The only certain thing I can say is that they play heavy rock/metal with quite a few alternative, grunge, progressive and modern nu-metal-ish touches and yet it also has some extremely mellow ballads. So one minute you are listening to a modern song and the other minute you listen to a very soft and cheesy ballad and then they throw in some punk influences in their "F.T.P." ("Fuck The Police" song) and everything is jumbled up creating a very annoying and well... excessive end result with lots of filler moments. "Excess" can only be appreciated by the die hard ALICE IN CHAINS and TOOL fans, while the rest of us should keep as further away as possible! 

Christine  Parastatidou