NEVER FACE DEFEAT Convicted Demons Run Amok Entertainment Official Website

NEVER FACE DEFEAT is a mature band having a decade of experience on their backs and quite a few releases, which means that by now they've managed to find their path, their true calling and have been able to form and shape their personal sound. "Convicted" is, in fact, a very appealing release for the band's fans because it's a picture 7'' LP that comes with a bonus CD, too, limited to only 300 copies, so it's worth buying if you dig the band and are into the hardcore sound. However, to be perfectly clear and correct NEVER FACE DEFEAT don't simply play hardcore, but they actually enrich it with some thrash metal and metalcore touches. The end result is aggressive, dynamic and powerful with heavy down tuned riffs, a concrete fast rhythm section and a singer who spits his lungs out. On the other hand, though, I can't fail to notice that these songs are too generic and common. "Convicted" has some good ideas, but they are just that... they are good, but not exceptional and when there are thousands of bands out there that play hardcore, I think you really need to put forth something really strong in order to get truly noticed and make your breakthrough. NEVER FACE DEFEAT seem to have what it takes and seem to have more to give, but I'm not totally convinced with this five track work...

Christine  Parastatidou

INCARNATE Hands of Guilt / Eyes of Greed Demons Run Amok Entertainment Official Website

And once again we come across a generic band name... It seems that the word incarnate is very popular among the metal heads or else there's no other explanation for the several bands that have the same moniker. The INCARNATE we're presenting here are from the Netherlands and deliver a mixture between thrash and brutal death metal with only a few hardcore tinges to enrich the end result. For the most part "Hands of Guilt / Eyes of Greed" is a brutal death metal album following the general approach of the American scene and is enriched with some sharp thrash metal riffs, often signature and rhythm changes and tempos that vary from mid to ultra fast. The vocals are another field that has variety and we are offered here a wide range of interpretations from guttural growls to pissed off hardcore screams and a few black metal-ish shrieks. The production is very good and allows us to enjoy both the extreme and aggressive parts of INCARNATE's music as well as their more groovy, elaborate and mid paced moments. This is an interesting album for the brutal maniacs!

Christine  Parastatidou

MANIFESTATION Burden of Mankind Demons Run Amok Entertainment Official Website

MANIFESTATION is an old band formed many years ago, but due to a variety of reasons they didn't have the chance to have their breakthrough or at least be able to create music and spread it. It seems that their time has come now, though, and they have the chance to release their album "Burden of Mankind" that moves on the typical hardcore genre that's enriched with plenty of punk references. The band seem bonded, they know how to work together after all these years and they've managed to achieve a very good and clear production that allows us to listen to everything going on within the songs. However, things here are typical and generic, I'm afraid, with only exception the addition of some more classic oriented metal riffs... Other than that their style is straightforward aggressive hardcore with a punk-ish attitude... and believe me I wouldn't mind. Good music is always good music no matter what. The drawback of this release, according to my personal taste, is that all the songs sound too indentical and alike, so after a while the end result sounds too monotonous and flat to me and I have to say I got a bit bored towards the end. I didn't find the necessary variety that would make me want to listen to "Burden of Mankind" over and over again. I think this is an album that can be appreciated only by the die hard fans of the genre. Personally I'd like to be offered something more and richer in order to enjoy it...

Christine  Parastatidou

FEET FIRST Heaven Home Hell Demons Run Amok Entertainment Official Website

FEET FIRST... now that's an unusual band name and it's so strange that it doesn't give you any hints to understand the direction of this German five piece group. So, my curiosity had to be prolonged a few more minutes, but everything is crystalized once the first song kicks in. "Heaven Home Hell" is the band's debut full length work and it balances between its hardcore and punk approach with other times the first taking the front role and other times the latter dominating the compositions. The band has two singers who have, both when they sing in German and in English, lots of passion and aggressiveness and suit like a glove to the pissed off compositions with the sharp riffs, heavy rhythm section that's filled with double bass drumming and the excellent production. Lyric-wise FEET FIRST have a straightforward political approach and support the anti-fascist ideology which is very commentable and makes me like the band even more! Except for that "Heaven Home Hell" also contains guest performances from members of END OF DAYS, NASTY, and UNITED AND STRONG. All in all, this is a good hardcore/punk album, nothing new or original, but still it's decent and honest and has the right aggressive attitude.

Christine  Parastatidou

STRAIGHT TO YOUR FACE The Struggle Demons Run Amok Entertainment Official Website

STRAIGHT TO YOUR FACE are a dynamic combo from Denmark and it seems to me that lately this country has a really strong hardcore scene and has given birth to some really cool acts. Following their country's tradition, these guys also deliver aggressive and powerful music and as their moniker so eloquently implies their music is indeed like a punch straight to our faces. Their hardcore is heavy and crunchy with a concrete rhythm section that supports the riffs ideally and it's filled with some really cool riffs and grooves, too. The vocals sound really pissed off spitting the words out with venomous disgust, something that enhances the brutal aspect of the band's sophomore album, along with some dispersed, here and there, punk touches. The production is awesome and really dynamic and the artwork is here to underline and intensify the extremity of this hardcore work. For a hardcore fan "The Struggle" is as good an album as it can get, which means that it should be made a priority to them since satisfaction is guaranteed!

Christine  Parastatidou

HIEROPHANT Hierophant Demons Run Amok Entertainment Official Website

There are quite a few bands currently sharing this moniker, so let me clear out before I present the music that this is the Italian HIEROPHANT, a newcoming band that was formed about a couple of years ago and is making its first step with its debut self titled album. The genre they chose to follow and serve is in fact a mixture of various elements so we could say that "Hierophant" is an album that dwells between sludge and black metal with really heavy doses of hardcore, as well. Now as we know both sludge and black metal are noisy genres to begin with so imagine what these two mixed together sound like... For the fans of noisy and chaotic music, "Hierophant" might sound interesting and appealing, but to people like me who like music to have some dose of melody so we can follow and understand its patterns and themes, the album sounded tiring and the songs too identical to one another. Plus the production didn't help the band much either, since it was less dynamic than necessary and thus enhanced the noisy-chaotic aspect of this album. "Hierophant" is addressed only to the fans of sludge and primitive black metal, the others, I'm afraid, won't find many appealing elements here.

Christine  Parastatidou

EDGE OF SPIRIT Edge of Spirit Demons Run Amok Entertainment Official Website

To the connoisseurs of the rock and metal sound, Japan is the promised land for melodic bands and albums, since what's mainly advertised and brought forth by the media and the people's choices is their affinity to melodies, shredding and neoclassical elements. However, there's a whole different undercurrent surging lately in the native Japanese scene that stems from a more extreme background. EDGE OF SPIRIT is one such example of a native band who deliver in your face, packed with aggressiveness and dynamics, music with their fourth self titled full length work. The album obviously belongs to the hardcore sound, but this doesn't mean that some more metal elements and references are missing. The band's hardcore has nothing to envy from the sound of the U.S. hardcore genre, since it's full of passion, power and aggressiveness and at the same time it's technically great and supported by a very good production. The tempos are mainly fast, however, some more mid paced rhythms also make their apperance to add the necessary variety to the songs. The rhythm section is flawless, leveling and concrete like a stone wall, while the vocals are shrieks of anger spitting venom and disgust. I'm not a fan of hardcore, because most bands tend to sound identical, but EDGE OF SPIRIT's music is really catchy and they seem to have something to offer to the scene and its fans!

Christine  Parastatidou

ETERNAL CHAOS Dark God of the Eternal Mighty Hordes Productions Official Website

It seems to me that Colombia has a vivid and strong underground extreme metal scene and ETERNAL CHAOS is one more band to prove this right with the release of their debut full length album, "Dark God of the Eternal" that moves on the old school black metal path. The album is, in fact, inspired by the monolithic, primitive black metal sound of the Norwegian scene filled with tons of blast beats and generally ultra fast tempos and frozen riffs that the band tends to repeat a lot. The vocals are harsh demonic screams with some deeper growls here and there spicing things up and naturally there are no keyboards or melodies in any of the songs whatsoever. "Dark God of the Eternal" is a decent work from a band that loves the pure black metal sound, but for me it also has some drawbacks that the guys should improve with their second release. First of all, the production is a bit shallow and more muddy and noisy than it should, so they should focus on a better production next time. Secondly, the songs have too many repetitions of the same things thus making some parts sound a bit dull and uninspired and maybe a bit more chaotic than necessary. These are my main objections and since the band moves on the right path, if they work a bit more on these two aspects, I'm sure they can offer us much better works in the future!

Christine  Parastatidou

FROZEN DAWN The Old Prophecy of Winterland Mighty Hordes Productions Official Website

Debut full length work from the quartet from Spain that showcases the band's rendition of black metal music is what Mighty Hordes Productions are here presenting and offering us. "The Old Prophecy of Winterland" may be an album released very recently, but music-wise it doesn't have many neoteristic or modern elements to show, but rather the contrary since it's focused on the old school Norwegian sound. The tempos are mainly fast with some really sharp riffs and tons of blast beats and naturally, since we're dealing with the old school sound, there's no place for keyboards or melodies. There's only place for sharp riffs, blackened frozen atmospheres and tormented black metal howls. I know that "The Old Prophecy of Winterland" is nothing new or original, but on the other hand I can't overlook the fact that it's a perfectly executed album with some really great tunes and an epic scent surrounding the songs. FROZEN DAWN is a very promising band that has put forth an excellent album for the fans of the traditional black metal sound and bands like DISSECTION, DARKTHRONE, DARK FORTRESS, early IMMORTAL and the likes and I'm sure they'll enjoy this work because it has catchy compositions, a good, for the sound, production and a cover version of SATYRICON's "Fuel for Hatred".

Christine  Parastatidou

ATANAB Black Magic Mighty Hordes Productions Official Website

ATANAB is an old band from Colombia originally formed in 1993 that so far have released a couple of demos, an EP and four full length studio albums. "Black Magic" is their latest work that was originally released in its first form in 2006 and nowadays is being re-edited and re-released through Mighty Hordes Productions. As I said the album has been re-edited which means that most songs remain as they were, but some others have been replaced by new ones. Anyway, let's move on from the information and the details and let's focus on the music itself which is, in fact, the most important thing and what really counts. ATANAB play straight forward old school black metal with lyrics that deal with darkness and Satanism, so all in all there aren't any surprises in store for you and by that I mean that if you like pure primitive black metal with sharp riffs, frozen atmospheres, Satanic lyrics, demented hellish screams and a dirty production that enhances the overall extremity and aggressiveness of the album, then "Black Magic" is a work that encompasses everything you're looking for. On the other hand, if you like melodic or majestic black metal with bombastic keyboards and stuff like that, then you must look some place else, because ATANAB's music may have some blackened melodies and dark atmospheres, but it always remains harsh and extreme!

Christine  Parastatidou

ASSORTED NAILS War, Death, Destruction and Chocolate Independent Official Website

I know these guys since their first demo release and I have to say that all these years, six to be more precise, they've been very consistent with their musical direction and have been following it with determination, passion and craziness! The crazy aspect of their music can be easily realized with the last word of this album's title! We usually tend to say that there isn't space at all in extreme metal music for sweet things, mellow emotions, flowers and stuff and yet these wild Germans have made the transition and show us that chocolate has its place even in death metal music! And don't you ever think, not even for a minute, that their death metal is melodic or cheesy, but rather the contrary since it's mainly focused, oriented and inspired by the more brutal movement of the genre having a sound close to that of the American brutal death metal bands and the old school Swedish groups like HYPOCRISY and THE ENTOMBED, when melodies hadn't quite entered and altered the genre. The rhythm section of ASSORTED NAILS' debut official release is solid and heavy, the tempos vary from mid to fast, the riffs are catchy and are etched in your mind having sometimes even some more classic metal references and the vocals are mainly guttural, but some times they are also enriched with some really cool black metal screams similar to the ones that SIX FEET UNDER have. All in all, "War, Death. Destruction and Chocolate" is a very good and quality work that all the death metal maniacs should check out!

Christine  Parastatidou

YOUR HIGHNESS Cults 'n' Cunts Hammerheart Records Official Website

"Cults 'n' Cunts" is the kind of album that impresses you the first time you listen to it. It impresses you with its heaviness and classic catchy tunes, however, if you listen to it a second and a third time, the shinny coating leaves and a not so interesting album is revealed. Let me explain myself... this is the kind of album whose songs if listened to separately might be liked and enjoyed, but if listened to as a whole release then they make you feel tired with their repetitive nature and lack of fresh ideas. There may be some twin guitar themes here and some nice stoner a la BLACK SABBATH riffs, but the end result is too flat and unoriginal to make you feel overly excited. One other thing I didn't like were the vocals that enhance the sludge aspect of this band's music and I didn't like them because they were too monotonous with no elements of surprise or change. They were a constant rasping growl that made the songs sound identical to one another even when the melodies and tunes were different. "Cults 'n' Cunts" has some good elements, but I'd like YOUR HIGHNESS to work a bit more on the variety part of their music and definitely enrich the vocals with more layers and approaches.

Christine  Parastatidou

LOVE.MIGHT.KILL Brace for Impact Massacre Records Official Website

LOVE.MIGHT.KILL is the band created by drummer and producer Michael Ehre (FIREWIND/Uli Jon Roth/METALIUM) and “Brace For Impact” is their debut album. The guys play melodic metal. Now if we come to the question how they sound, I will tell you that sometimes the influences of one musician who happens to be the leader of the band can give us a lot of information. If you check the official site of the band (http://www.lovemightkill.com/) you will find out that Michael Ehre’s favorite bands are JUDAS PRIEST, RAINBOW, DIO, WHITESNAKE and ACCEPT (by the way good taste Ehre!) and this is exactly how this band sounds. The main characteristics of the compositions on this album are the mid – tempos and the fact that they bring to mind the late works of Ronnie James Dio. However they also have influences from the other bands I mentioned earlier and they might also remind you to a point good old PRETTY MAIDS. Besides the traditional orientation of the album, you will find out that it has a modern touch, too, that is mainly expressed by the false harmonics and the great solid production. Except for the great musicians that participate in the band (Stefan Ellerhorst – guitar, Christian Stover – guitar, Jogi Sweers – bass and Michael Ehre – drums), LOVE.MIGHT.KILL has a great singer. The Italian Jan Manenti has a voice so warm and expressive that has nothing – and I really mean that – to envy from singers like Tony Martin and Jorn. So, the things are pretty clear here, if you like traditional heavy metal and bands like DIO and BLACK SABBATH (with Dio and Tony Martin), then here you'll find your heaven. One other thing that is good here is that the album as it proceeds becomes better and better. Damn, too many good releases for a month! Hehehe! Good for the listeners, bad for their pockets! ;)

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

TERAKAI The Last Stand Siege Of Amida Records Official Website

I'm not a fan of metalcore... There was a time when I could stand it, but nowadays I seem not to be able to even do that. However, I still have the objectiveness to appreciate and realize where there's talent and TERAKAI are such a case. They are one of the few bright exceptions of metalcore bands that not only didn't make me despise what I was listening to, but actually I found myself enjoying quite a lot of their riffs and music. "The Last Stand" is this U.K. based band's debut EP consisting of five tracks that convey the dynamics, force and aggressiveness that are metalcore's trademark along with the melodies that create the necessary contradiction. All this sound generic and they are, but TERAKAI manage to deliver it all through their personal sound and offer us something really powerful and fresh often bringing to my mind SOILWORK of their "Figure Number Five" era, which for me was their best and one of this genre's milestones. So, things are simple... If you like metalcore music and you like to listen to something fresh and interesting, then "The Last Stand" is the obvious choice for you!

Christine  Parastatidou

ICE VINLAND Masters of the Sea Pure Steel Records Official Website

As you probably see the bands that sing about Vikings lately are very popular. This happened partly because of the big success that AMON AMARTH have. It is also true that most of the bands come from European countries (though I have found in my search a Viking metal band from China!!!). All this Viking mania has made the labels to search for and sign bands that have such a concept. Pure Steel Records, though, does it a bit differently. They have decided to release on vinyl the debut album of ICE VINLAND from Canada. This is a rare album that was released back in 1998 for the first time in limited copies. Anyway, now the fans of vinyl will have the chance to obtain it as an LP record and with a better cover. Musically, now ICE VINLAND have nothing in common with most Viking metal bands except for the lyrical themes. Their sound is 100% U.S. power/progressive metal oriented and they have this theatrical feeling that brings to mind bands like CRIMSON GLORY and APOLLO RA. I know for some of you these names mean a lot and make you think that a band that plays like this must be good to say the least. Well, personally, I was bored with what I was listening. For an epic metal band firstly I would expect they have more nerve, something that this band doesn’t have by no means. Also I find that the structures of their compositions are too complicated and from a point on instead of making the songs interesting, they make them sound too long and senseless. Generally, the feeling that this release gave me is that the band exaggerates without any meaning. Of course there are some positive elements, like the fact that they are skillful musicians, the voice of Damian Leif is good and has the theatrical elements that the bands needs in its music and finally they have one decent metal song entitled “The New Best Seller” (a song that gives them in my opinion clearly the path that they have to move musically). I will end this review as I end most of them usually by telling you “Try to listen to it before you buy it” (because there are still people out there that buy music by the cover or the image of a band).

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

THE LIVING FIELDS Running out of Daylight Candlelight Records Official Website

"Running out of Daylight" is the kind of album that needs to be savoured and enjoyed to its full extent by multiple listenings. It's a trip to a different dimension that helps you explore some of your darkest and most melancholic thoughts and feelings. It's, as you can understand from my introdution, the kind of album that's better described with a set of feelings and ideas, rather than clinically seen and examined as music and what it consists of. This is the first time I have the pleasure to listen to one of this U.S. based band's albums -they also have a demo and a debut full length-, but after this I'm definitely going to check out everything they've released, because THE LIVING FIELDS is one of the most unique and special bands, not only in the doom metal genre where they mostly, but also in metal music in its entirety. They manage to take a vast variety of elements, channel them through their personal phasm and inspiration and transubstantiate them into something totally enchanting and intoxicating. The band's music isn't restricted by genre or instrumental boundaries, their influences and ideas are limitless and ever-expansive, so we could say that they play progressive doom metal that is surrounded by an epic atmosphere, beautiful melancholic melodic lines some of which have a Simon and Garfangel approach to them, some death metal tinges and quite plenty of classical music and symphonic additions.Another thing that adds to the variety of their compositions are the vocals and there seem to be multiple vocal styles ranging from screams to black metal shrieks, falsettos, throaty rasped growls, operatic clean vocals and melancholic chants and narrations. Most of the times the vocals are layered so you get to listen to mutliple vocal styles that are accompanied by mournful pianos and violins and acoustic guitars. The rhythm section is heavy and naturally mid paced and slow for the most part without though some fast parts and even some blasts missing. The songs are filled with plenty of odd time signatures and tempo changes while the riffs are thick and imposing and the production is flawless. To wrap it all up, "Running out of Daylight" is mesmerising, original, dynamic and challenging and I urge you all to indulge in its beauty.

Christine  Parastatidou

DEKAPITATOR We Will Destroy...You Will Obey!!! Relapse Records Official Website

I think today is the day that I will present the reissues. After ICE VINLAND, it is the turn of DEKAPITATOR. The band released their debut album entitled “We Will Destroy...You Will Obey!!!” back in 1999 and it seems that now it's hard to find. So, Regain Records, the label through which the band released its second album decided to re-issue this one. The good thing is that this time the album comes with 4 bonus tracks like “Hell's Metal” (an alternatevVersion), “Make Them Die”, “Haunted by Evil” and “Faceripper” (this one is a demo version). The sound of the band is good old 80’s thrash metal oriented that has its roots more in the European scene than the U.S. OK! You will find some slight references to bands like SLAYER, but the fact is that DEKAPITATOR feel more comfortable in the fields of KREATOR, SODOM and DESTRUCTION. The element that impressed me is that the guys sound like a European thrash metal band, but they originate from the United States. I don’t think that there are so many bands from over there that have the sound of DEKAPITATOR. Musically now, this release has the enthusiasm of the debut album, it has good ideas and it is well performed. The band might not bring something new to the table, but they sound fresh and passionate. Some repetitions could be avoided, but what the hell we talk about thrash metal and these guys do a very good job. So, if you are old school, like good thrash metal and you don’t own anything of this band, it is time to check them out since the guys are good and can convince with their sound even the most hesitant of us.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

CORPUS CHRISTII Luciferian Frequencies Candlelight Records Official Website

Black metal! This is all there is to know about this band, this is all there is in CORPUS CHRISTII's music, which means that things are once again straight forward and crystal clear with the latest release from this Portuguese duo as it's been the deal with all six albums and three EPs prior to this. We're dealing here with a highly productive band that has been putting forth almost a release per year, a band that has acquired quite a reputation in the underground black metal scene. Music-wise there isn't much more I can say... it's old school black metal of the Norwegian descent with no keyboards, but with the necessary frozen epic atmosphere and demonic growls. The compositions are pretty monolithic consisting of repetitive themes, so not much is going on in the music department. I think that most work has been done in the atmosphere and in the creation of the right kind of screams and growls in order to achieve this blackened Satanic feeling the band were after. So what I'm saying here is that this is a very typical and generic work with nothing much going on. Personally I'd like to listen to more than random growls and dark, demonic atmospheres. I've listened to plenty of those throughout the years, so they don't touch me unless they are offered in a more complete package.

Christine  Parastatidou

ORCHID Capricorn The Church Within Records Official Website

There are some bands whose selling point is their tendency for novelty. There are some other bands which don't care about novelty and their selling point is that the style they follow and play is really
good! This is the first full length album of this American band who has also released their EP "Through the Devil's Doorway" back in 2009. ORCHID is the band that is more similar to the '70s BLACK SABBATH style I have ever heard!! Their similarity is really big!!! They have a better production, of course, and their vocalist is better than Ozzy Osbourne, but other than that they sound IDENTICAL to BLACK SABBATH!!! Fortunately they also have good songwriting skills. The tracks that I liked more are "Eyes Behind the Wall ", "Electric Father " and the homonym track. Overall "Capricorn" is one of my favourite albums for 2011 along with ARTIZAN's "Curse of the Artizan" and ALPHA TIGER's "Man or Machine"!!!! So the fans of the classic SABBATH sound should buy this with closed eyes but I also think that everyone should listen to this work no matter what!!

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

SUPREME PAIN Divine Incarnation Massacre Records Official Website

I think that the Netherlands have managed throughout the years to create a solid and strong death metal underground scene that almost exclusively specializes in the brutal death metal branch. SUPREME PAIN are worthy representatives of their country's extreme metal scene and deliver, with their third studio work, death metal that's filled with the blasting brutality and ferocity of today, while never losing the old school feeling. "Divine Incarnation" is filled with razor sharp and heavy as hell compositions that are not only brutal, but also technical, containing some really great rhythm changes and lead guitar parts. However, this isn't something that should come as a surprise to someone who knows the band, because all its band members are veterans of the brutal death metal scene and have actually been part of some well known bands. All in all, SUPREME PAIN is the kind of group that the fans of the classic brutal death metal sound and those who are into extreme technical stuff will dig! It's nothing new, but it's definitely fresh and honest!

Christine  Parastatidou

WINTER CRESCENT Battle of Egos Independent Official Website

This is the first release of this Greek metal band that was formed in Heraklion (the fourth largest city of Greece) in 2000 and they play progressive metal. The truth is that I am not into progressive metal music that much the last few years, but this band is really good. They are definitely one of the best bands I have listened to in this genre the last years. Their work has seven songs, it lasts about 35 minutes and their songwriting manages to keep the listener's interest intact throughout. Their songs can be listened to not only by prog metal fans but also from all the metal fans in general and this is really important!!! The vocals of Nikos Spiridakis are really good, the other lads are good at what they do as well, the production is strong and balanced and the artwork is quite interesting. Maybe the best tracks are "The Battle of Egos Part 2" and "Lost in Dreams". So overall we have here a good progressive metal release which should be checked out by all metal fans!! It seems that Greece produces good progressive metal releases lately!!

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

MARIENBAD Werk 1 Nachtfall Massacre Records Official Website

There's a whole story behind this band name and in fact it's really interesting. The German quartet were intrigued with the story of a village so much that they decided not only to build a concept album around it, but build and form a whole band who'd carry the very essence of that place. So, both the moniker and their debut album's concept are related to the village of Marienbad in the Czech Republic where strange and mysterious events happened and that was finally erased by a flood in 1961. Instead of moving to another place, 12 residents preferred to die in Marienbad and chose suicide. So based on this story the music of MARIENBAD can't have any ray of sunshine or hope, but in fact it's as gloomy and dark as a gothic metal album can get. The band also add a few folk melodies and some black metal tinges, but this doesn't change the fact that this band's existence is based on a story which means that the main focus is on the lyrics and the singer. The music works just as a background to make the narration darker and more melancholy, because if we pay a bit more attention to the tunes and riffs we realize that there isn't much going on in that department. The music is too generic and repetitive throughout the album and to be honest with you "Werk 1 Nachtfall" hardly qualifies in my vocabulary as music. It's definitely art, but art that doesn't have much to do with music. Therefore and after careful thought I've decided not to put a mark, because if I value this work as an art form I have to give it a high grade, but if I look at it as a piece of music, then the mark will have to plummet below average and I really don't know which of the two is the most fair...

SATARIAL LateXXX - Tanz Mit... Tod Sleaszy Rider Records Official Website

SATARIAL is an old band from Russia, first formed in 1989, but has been totally revamped and has changed its musical direction these last few years following more modern paths. "Tanz Mit... Tod" was first released in 2005 and "Latexxx" the following year, but they were exclusively released in their homecountry, so Sleaszy Rider Records decided to take SATARIAL's last two albums and re-release them, only this time worldwide, keeping the songs exactly as they were and by adding as bonus material the video-clip of “Hure-Tod” plus plenty of photos from their shows that are filled with nude dancers. The band kicked off its career as a black metal combo, but as I mentioned earlier their last two releases, the ones I'm presenting here signify a change in their sound which can be now described as electro/folk/gothic metal and it will bring to your mind RAMMSTEIN and a bit of NIGHTWISH whenever the female etherial vocals take the front role. The band also enriches its sound with many folk and industrial touches that make the end result more varied, especially with the addition of unusual rhythms and instruments like electro bagpipes, violins and multiple vocals. If you like modern gothic music and latex clothes, check them out!

Christine  Parastatidou

THE PHANTOM CARRIAGE New Thing... Throatruiner Records Official Website

This release is something remarkable as well as the whole story around it and the record label in particular. I say it is extraordinary, simply because Throatruiner Records isn't here for the money or for the fame, but it's here because the people behind it believe that good things, like music, should be free. So, what they've set to do is offer all their releases for free so that everybody can enjoy them. Now, THE PHANTOM CARRIAGE is a U.K. based band with a very strange, unconventional and weird sound that blends in a plethora of elements thus putting forth something entirely fresh with the guys' personal stamp. "New Thing..." feels like the creation of not one, but multiple bands since within the compositions you'll find elements from black metal, screamo, hardcore, punk, a bit of jazz, post rock and quite a generous dose of grindcore. The list could be even longer, but I think you get the general point and where "New Thing..." is headed! This is an album addressed to the open minded fans who look for new stuff in the extreme metal scene. THE PHANTOM CARRIAGE are here to offer them that and even more. Give them a chance if you dare!

Christine  Parastatidou

THE AXIS OF PERDITION Tenements (of the Anointed Flesh) Code666 Records Official Website

Oh goodness! This must be one of the worst albums I've listened to ever! Actually I'm not so sure this qualifies as music... it's pure noise, chaos and then some more noise... THE AXIS OF PERDITION play industrial black metal that's totally deranged, totally psycho and has no shred of coherence or sense of melody. The only good thing I can say about "Tenements (of the Anointed Flesh)" is that it's unlike anything you've listened to before... the guys have, you could say, a personal style and method of composing and I listened to this album twice in order to make sure I came to the right conclusion... right by my standards I mean, because I guess there are people out there who dig psycho chaotic noise and think of it as an art form. I'm not one of them, so I'll pass without a second thought!

Christine  Parastatidou

PHARAOH Ten Years EP Cruz Del Sur Music Official Website

The U.S. metal band PHARAOH have closed 10 years of existence in the underground metal scene. So, they have chosen to celebrate this by releasing this EP entitled “Ten Years” for obvious reasons. Personally, I like PHARAOH and I consider them one of the most dedicated metal bands that probably deserve more attention than they have already got till now. On the EP you will have the chance to listen to two unreleased songs from the “Be Gone” recording sessions, two tracks previously released only as a bonus 7'' and two covers; the song of  NEW MODEL ARMY "White Light" and SLAYER's "Tormentor." Especially “Tormentor” is a very interesting cover, since the band manages to make it sound like an original PHARAOH song. As for the other tracks, well they are moving also on the band's known paths since they carry their IRON MAIDEN, JAG PANZER and even RUNNING WILD influences, but they also have PHARAOH's characteristic sound. If you don't have the songs in their previous form, this release is a good chance for you to have them. A good heavy metal release in a month that I had the chance to listen to a lot of good music. The only problem is where I will find the money to buy them all :). 

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

AENAON Cendres et Sang Code666 Records Official Website

"Cendres et Sang" is one of the most impressive, pioneering and innovative works I've had the chance to listen to in the black metal genre and the fact that it's delivered by my compatriots AENAON makes me feel very proud! Extreme metal reigns supreme here in Greece and this band is one more proof of how strong the scene is here. AENAON isn't your typical black metal band and it's definitely unlike anything you've listened to so far. They belong to the wider genre of avant garde experimental black metal, but their compositions are so psycho, so technical and with so many jazz references you just listen to it with your mouth gaping wide open. Truth be told, however, this isn't the kind of music that can be easily digested by many people, it requires openmindedness, because the songs on "Cendres et Sang" are so paranoid, chaotic and multilayered, it's sometimes difficult for you to follow or fully understand them. There are two things I can tell you for certain... one is that this is a visionary band that brings something new to the table and the second is that this album needs many listenings in order one to be able to say he/she has started getting what's going on. I ponder upon what grade to give them a lot and no matter what, I don't think it'll be right, so I thought I should give them the average between what AENAON deserve for their songwriting skills and what a typical metal head will think when he/she listens to this work.

Christine  Parastatidou

VARIOUS ARTISTS Embrace The Sun - The Lion (Music Japan Benefit Project) Lion Music Official Website

Behind The Veil Webzine will always support releases like this one. So, please read the text to learn a few things and don’t loom for any mark because there won't be any. I believe that such efforts have to be appreciated only for the humanitarian purposes they are released. However, don’t be disappointed since this release has quality. The idea behind this project is to gather money for Japan and its people who go through tough hours after the tsunami hit. So, Lion Music gathered its artists and asked them if they want to contribute with a song for a compilation whose money will go to the people of Japan. The musicians were more than willing to contribute and most of them composed new songs. So, in this release you will listen to a variety of music that ranges from AOR to classic rock and from heavy metal to progressive. The truth is that most of the songs are ballads or melodic oriented due to the purpose of this release, however there are also heavy ones. I won’t list all the bands that participate here since they are too many and the review will become an article. So here are the ones that I liked the most: Marco Sfogli – “Stand Alone”, Jennifer Batten – “Sakura Season”, Emir Hot – “Fear of the Storm”, SECTION A – “Survive”, IRON MASK – “Sons of the Sun”, EARLY CROSS – “Cairn” and WINTERLONG – “Failed Connection”. If you can afford it, support this release!

GRABAK Sin Twilight Vertrieb Records Official Website

GRABAK have been out and about a long time now, counting lots of years of experience on their backs since 1995 when the band was formed and having released five full length works by now. So we can call them veterans of the underground black metal scene, which seems to be quite vivid in all its forms in Germany. GRABAK choose to deliver straight forward black metal with a dark epic feeling and a demented atmosphere. The tempos are ultra fast with endless blastbeats, the rhythm section is imposing and the vocals are blackened screams and growls that enhance the ferocity of the compositions. There are no keyboards here to mellow things down, but in fact "Sin" is an unstoppable force assaulting your senses. One other thing that stands out about this band is that they have one guitar, but two bass guitars and this is why their rhythm section is so heavy and dynamic. "Sin" is a very good, yet generic black metal release that I'm sure the fans of the old school Norwegian sound will dig with enthusiasm!

Christine  Parastatidou

REIGN OF FURY Psycho Intentions Goodlife Recordings Official Website

Thrash metal is alive and kicking!!! And if there's anyone out there who doesn't believe what I just said, then I feel obliged to acquaint him/her with this killer U.K. based band that has managed to blow my mind away with their four track EP, "Psycho Intentions"! I'm definitely sure you'll thank me after you check this amazing band out for a variety of reasons... Their songs are pure head bangers, they are a full frontal assault with aggressive and yet ingeneous tunes, making REIGN OF FURY a riff machine that shows no mercy... they pound and hammer you down leaving you breathless gasping for air and then there you are again... you just feel compelled to push the play button and start this vicious cycle all over again! Now, I mentioned in the beginning that they are a thrash metal band and this is absolutely true, but the guys also add to their songs some punk, speed and even some classic heavy metal oriented riffs and ideas that bring their compositions on a whole different level setting them apart from the majority of the thrash metal bands worldwide. It won't do them any justice to compare them with other bands, because REIGN OF FURY's music has a personal and fresh touch, but I'm just going to mention some names here so as to give you a better clue of how they really sound. So, if you are fans of SACRED REICH, DRI, METALLICA, ANTHRAX, MEGADETH and ANNIHILATOR, then you're gonna love "Psycho Intentions"!

Christine  Parastatidou

DAEMONLORD Godless Prayers Ketzer Records Official Website

There's no other kind of music a band with the moniker DAEMONLORD can play other than black metal. This duo from the Basque country in Spain has been very busy since their formation having released thus far four full length albums and numerous EPs and split works. About five years after their third full length album, "Hellfire Centuries", DAEMONLORD strike back with their raw black metal that's mainly focused on and inspired by the old school primitive black metal scene of Norway. Their rhythm section is ultra fast with countless blastbeats, their riffs are sharp, the atmosphere is frozen, the vocals are like demonic growls and the production has the right amount of noise and dirt, thus making "Godless Prayers" a very good proposal for those of you who dig the old fashioned black metal sound that has nothing to do with keyboards or melodies. I don't think the rest of you will find anything interesting here, since the album is good and yet it's too generic, making it a treat only for the die hards.

Christine  Parastatidou

SECTU Inundate ViciSolum Productions Official Website

Now this is something we don't encounter every day! SECTU are a newcoming band from Sweden who play death metal. So far so good and nothing new or strange. The strange thing lies within the kind of death metal this trio has chosen to play, which has nothing to do with the Gothenburg melodic scene, but it's in fact influenced by its American counterpart. So "Inundate" is a brutal death metal album filled with blast beats, guttural vocals, a concrete mainly fast rhythm section and some technical guitar parts in which we also find some thrash metal references. The songs that comprise this debut album are heavy and aggressive, but still they have the necessary melody thrown in here and there just to spice things up a bit. SECTU is a skillful band, but still their sound is rather generic, so I think they address solely to fans of MORBID ANGEL, CRYPTOPSY, SINISTER, CANNIBAL CORPSE and the likes. 

Christine  Parastatidou

CATALEPSY Bleed Bastardized Recordings Official Website

I knew CATALEPSY was a popular band name, but I never expected it to be that popular... I mean there must be at least a dozen bands listed with this moniker, so you should know right from the start that this is the U.S. based band I'm presenting here and "Bleed" is their sophomore full length work that came about three years after the release of their debut, "Iniquity". The band obviously belongs to the extreme sound and more particularly to the deathcore genre with all the requirements and cliches this branch has. However, the guys try hard to create something different so they enrich their songs with an eerie atmosphere and modern, industrial-like themes. The production is good and the songs are tight and aggressive without, though, the occasional melodies missing, but the truth is that "Bleed" is as typical as an album can get, which means that it can only be appreciated and enjoyed by the die hard deathcore fans.

Christine  Parastatidou

BURIED IN BLACK Black Death AFM Records Official Website

After approximately three years from their formation the German extreme metallers BURIED IN BLACK finally had their break and were given the chance to release upon the masses their debut full length work with the fitting, to their sound, title, "Black Death". Of course as you can understand you can't have an album title referring to the plague and compose happy, cheesy or relaxing music... The deal is rather the contrary since the album title as well as the band moniker create the right atmosphere for the songs to come and blow our minds away. I'm not saying here that BURIED IN BLACK have managed to create anything original or innovative, but I have to grand them the fact that they have managed to take all the elements and ideas of death metal, channel them through their personal touch and taste and create some really fresh, tight and addictive headbanging material. Their death metal, however, can't be clearly classified since it balances and carries influences both from the Scandinavian melodic death metal and the more extreme and brutal American branch. Same goes with the vocals that other times have a more melodic nature, while other times they are a full frontal assault with guttural or more high pitched growls that enhance both the extremity of the songs and their variety. "Black Death" is a perfectly executed album delivered by some really great musicians, it has a very good powerful production, a killer artwork and above all kick ass compositions! Invest!

Christine  Parastatidou

ROXXCALIBUR Lords of the N.W.O.B.H.M. Limb Music Official Website

I am not really fond of such releases of bands that cover 80’s heavy metal songs. I can see that it might be necessary to someone that is new to the genre and through the covers he/she might discover bands he/she didn’t know, but to a metal head that is for a long time in this music, I don’t think that ROXXCALIBUR can offer something, besides a nostalgia to dig up your old records and put them on the record player. To be more specific, ROXXCALIBUR is a German metal band that is specialized on covering N.W.O.B.H.M. bands. The good thing is that with a few exceptions the band chooses to cover songs from bands that were not so known, although the album has covers from some well known bands as well like SAXON (they actually cover an unreleased and unfinished song of the band with the title “Lift up your Eyes”), TOKYO BLADE, SARACEN, TYGERS OF PAN TANG, VENOM and SATAN. I think that I gave you pretty much a picture of what you will listen to here. As I said it's a release that mostly applies to new fans and people that don’t know much about N.W.O.B.H.M. As for the rest of you, just wait to find it somewhere in a nice price. Personally, I have other priorities at the moment than buying an album full of covers.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

TYRANEX Extermination Has Begun Inferno Records Official Website

We live in the era when bands from every kind of metal genre try to bring with their sound back the glory of the 80’s. No doubt that the 80’s was an era when metal was triumphant and gave us many great releases. Now from the new bands others manage to give us good releases and others fail. TYRANEX from Sweden belong to the first kind of bands. Their kind of game is 80’s speed/thrash metal with a contemporary production and a female singer that really spits out every single word with real anger. The thing that I like about this band is that they have some great melodies thrown in their speed/thrash mix, melodies that give a traditional metal aspect to their sound and make their songs easy to recognize and remember. As for the influences they carry, well I have to admit that their more intense one is KREATOR, but you can also find out references to bands like ANNIHILATOR, DESTRUCTION and early METALLICA. “Extermination Has Begun” might not be something groundbreaking in its genre, but it is a solid release and a pure fan pack for those who are addicted to the 80’s speed/thrash metal sound.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

AXECUTER Bangers Prevail Inferno Records Official Website

AXECUTER, this Brazilian trio, is a newcoming band having formed approximately a year ago with their EP "Bangers Prevail" being their debut to the worldwide metal scene. However, if someone didn't have the chance to look them up and search their name on the Internet, then he/she could be easily misled to believe that AXECUTER is a highly experienced old school extreme metal band. Their sound is what we nowadays call retro black metal, which means it's an amalgam between the old school black and thrash metal genres, while at the same time bearing lots of elements and additions from the classic '80s heavy metal. The three songs I had the pleasure to enjoy here are very interesting and highly addictive, especially for someone who's a big fan of VENOM, like me, because the sound of AXECUTER moves on the same path. So, "Bangers Prevail" all it did was open my appetite for more! I'll keep an eye on these guys!

Christine  Parastatidou

SOL INVICTUS The Cruellest Month Prophecy Productions Official Website

They describe themselves as apocalyptic folk. Well, the description is quite accurate since the guys create an atmosphere that can be described as sad or pessimistic at least. Now, musically I have to say that “The Cruellest Month” is not your typical medieval/folk music release. The catch here is that the band tries to use their melodies and sounds more toeards creating the right atmosphere rather than creating a structured song. Somehow the whole result brought to my mind a darker version of Mike Oldfield’s “Ommadawn”. Not that this release reaches the quality of this classic, but I use it as a reference point to give you a close description of how they sound. Now this album indeed manages to create this “apocalyptic” atmosphere, but in my opinion fails to keep the listeners attention till the end; at least the ones that are used to listen to more structured music. Probably the people that listen to ambient and such kind of music might find it more interesting. I understand that the band tries to create something original, but certainly this is not the kind of music that I love to listen to. Try to listen to the album before you decide where to spend your money…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

ZUBROWSKA Zubrowska Are Dead Independent Official Website

It took this wild French band five years to be able to complete and release a new album, but what their attitude reveals to all of us is that if you are determined, love and believe in what you do, then you'll find the strength to overcome all the obstacles and finally make your dreams come true. Now I mentioned in the beginning of this presentation that these guys hail from France which is immediately translated into psycho extreme metal... Throughout all the years I'm into metal music I've listened to tons of stuff and after a while you get to realize some things like the fact that the majority of the French metal bands are usually into the extreme metal sound and follow or explore unconventional paths quite often mixing and bleding together different sounds and elements. ZUBROWSKA is such a bright example of a band with a personal, unconventional and chaotic sound that dwells somewhere between hardcore and death metal, while at the same time they also throw in some metalcore touches. Their death metal is so brutal it often enters the territory of grindcore, so we could either call their style brutal deathcore or even the latest term for this kind of music would be mathcore! I said their music is chaotic and complex which means that it has a progressive and highly skillful approach and yet it never becomes tiring or difficult to follow. The patterns are chaotic and violent, but the melodies are always there to lead and pave the way and there's also a dark ambient atmosphere surrounding some of the songs. "Zubrowska Are Dead" is a treat for the open minded extreme metallers. I urge you to check it out!

Christine  Parastatidou

PAGAN'S MIND Heavenly Ecstasy Steamhammer Records Official Website

Part of the quite rich Norwegian prog metal scene, PAGAN'S MIND return with their 5th studio album. Their music continues to be both technical and melodic with the right amount of riffs, solos and uplifting choruses. The truth is that in this style (which is still haunted by DREAM THEATER) the competition is fierce, but PAGAN'S MIND manage to stay at the top of their game and deliver a very interesting album. What is missing to take them a step further is some extra catchiness or an instant hit that takes you by the throat like their "Through Osiris' Eyes" from their 2002 album. "Heavenly Ecstasy", however, remains an album that will be enjoyed by all prog metal fans and it's a worthy addition to your collection. 

Paschalis  "Elfstone"  Mirmigakis

BYFROST Of Death AFM Records Official Website

Well I don't think the name BYFROST can throw you off track or mislead you, because it's as clear a black metal moniker as it can get. The trio from Norway revisit, with their sophomore full length album, both the sound they've shaped since their formation and the original old school black metal sound. This doesn't mean, however, that we're dealing here with a raw primitive black metal release in the vein of MAYHEM or DARKTHRONE. Of course, there are such elements in BYFROST's music, but the guys infuse it with other metal genres and with even some eerie, dark melodic lines that highlight the extremity of some of their riffs. So if I want to be more accurate I have to say that "Of Death" is an amalgam of black with thrash metal, while it's also enriched with plenty of classic heavy metal touches and all this makes it an album that can be appreciated by a wide spectrum of black metal maniacs.

Christine  Parastatidou

VALIDOR In Blood in Battle Eat Metal Records Official Website

I am a fan of the traditional heavy metal sound, but through the years I grew tired of listening to bands that simply play music that reminds me of the bands they love. I can understand it and it is only natural that everyone is influenced by other musicians, but then influence is a different thing from copying the ones you like. VALIDOR on their debut album achieve something amazing... Although their influences are obvious, they manage to craft them and create a sound that has personality and it is distinguishable. Musically the band moves on the path of epic power/speed metal and it will bring to your mind the first efforts of the good old BLIND GUARDIAN. But that’s only the beginning, since the sound of VALIDOR carries many influences in it and I will leave you to discover them while you listen to this album. The positive thing with this release is that it combines passion and also skillful playing from the musicians participating in it. The rhythm section that is played by Odi Totounis (also vocalist of the band) builds a sound wall on which the lead and solo parts really paint with intense colours the compositions which talk about battles and other epic themes that never tire me to listen to. Also another interesting thing is the voice of Odi who sounds like a mixture between Hansi Kürsch (BLIND GUARDIAN) and Mark Shelton (MANILLA ROAD). As you can read and imagine “In Blood in Battle” is a very interesting debut album that can satisfy even the most demanding of the traditional metal fans especially if he/she likes speed and epicness. Finally, I have to inform you that the album has some guest musicians like Stelios Sioulas (BLACK SWORD THUNDER ATTACK) who does the narration on “The Last Emperor” song, Nick Fra who plays the solo guitar on “Through the Storm” and “Sword of Vengeance”, Nick Papakostas (CONVIXION) who plays the acoustic guitar on “A Last Farewell”, Bob Katsonis and finally Dagwn (NETHESCERIAL) who did the black/death vocals in the break somewhere in the middle of the song “Through the Storm”. So, the whole package is more than promising and I believe that it deserves your attention and support. I can’t wait to get my hands on the CD! :)

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

AMETHYST Time of Slaughters Sleaszy Rider Records Official Website

There are times when you search to listen to something good and other times the good things come one behind the other. Having listened to the great, for my taste, album of SEVEN WITCHES, I didn’t expect to listen so soon to another good album and this time it comes from Italy, although the sound of the guys is U.S. oriented. The band and their label claim that they play thrash metal. For me this gives half the picture of how the band sounds. So, I prefer to call them power/thrash metal because their sound balances between their TESTAMENT, METALLICA and SACRED REICH influences on the one hand and their power metal touches on the other that bring to mind groups like early SAVATAGE and METAL CHURCH. The skills of the musicians are very good and they are used only in a way that are useful to the compositions and give them more depth. So, if you ask me why should you buy this album? Simple because you will have a good time and I think that it will offer you lots of hours of enjoyable listening. My favourite songs from the album are: “Justice Is Done”, “Attitude to Aggression”, “Explosive Metal Night”, “The Stone of Tears” and “Welcome to Hell”.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

PREMONITION 13 13 Volcom Entertainment Official Website

The U.S. based trio PREMONITION 13 may count approximately a year of existence, but the actual idea behind them was first formed about twenty years ago when the band's two guitarists started jamming together shaping in a very early stage what were about to become PREMONITION 13's sound and style. "13", the band's debut full length work, explores the musical exploits of the guitarist Scott “Wino” Weinrich (THE OBSESSED, SAINT VITUS, SPIRIT CARAVAN, etc), who has managed throughout his career with the bands he's been in to mold and form what we call doom and stoner metal and yet the end result is something totally new and fresh. It definitely has the band's seal etched on it and dwells somewhere between doom and stoner metal, while it also has quite a few psychedelic and ambient touches that spice it up and offer it a special recognisable character. Lyric-wise the band touches topics like conspiracy, the negative effects of control and the likes and all this is supported by a very good production and artwork making "13" an interesting proposal for the fans of the old school doom/stoner metal sound. 

Christine  Parastatidou

SEVEN WITCHES Call upon the Wicked Massacre Records Official Website

When you have musicians like Jack Frost and James Rivera in a hellish mood, then the album must be at least a hell of a release. Nothing ground breaking here, but totally headshaking. So, who gives a fuck about innovation, when you have such a heavy metal pleasure like “Call upon the Wicked”? The band walks on the known heavy metal paths that have got us used to through years, which means that they draw influence from giants like JUDAS PRIEST and BLACK SABBATH and create an album that even these legends would envy. You will get songs that vary from mid – tempo to full speed and even thrashy heavy metal. Jack Frost is definitely a riff machine gunner and the god James Rivera offers some of the best performances in his career. There are even some epic moments on the album like the song “Ragnarok” which I play over and over again. For me “Call upon the Wicked” is the kind of album that comes to remind you the enthusiasm that you felt the first time that you listened to the magical music of heavy metal (this one goes especially to old farts of heavy metal like me). This album is a born classic and is damned to be classic. So, if you are into the 80’s fucking heavy metal and you pray every day on the JUDAS PRIEST icons, then dare not to miss this release. Enough for now, I am going to listen to it once again :). No, I won't write down any of my favourite song, cause this one is a pure fucking heavy metal hell… 

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

RIVAL SONS Pressure & Time Earache Records Official Website

This band is a mixture of the early '70s bands in the likes of DEEP PURPLE and LED ZEPPELIN with a strong influence from a more American sound. Bluesy, rock and melodic as it is, it will bring quite some satisfaction to the early '70s classic rock lovers and even to the southern rock ones! However, following the footsteps of such megatheriums of bands from that era, who are responsible for most of today's rock and metal genres and scenes, makes it hard to develop even though these guys seem to be making an honest enough effort in their attempt to deliver to us some "classic" satisfaction. All in all, "Pressure & Time" is a good album and yet it's nothing groundbreaking, having nothing new or fresh to offer us.

Dimitris  Pantsiopoulos

TRUCKER DIABLO The Devil Rhythm Independent Official Website

TRUCKER DIABLO from Ireland is a name that should be etched in our mind since they are here to shake the stagnant waters of contemporary rock/metal music with their dynamic, powerful and addictive style. Having as a foundation for their music the classic hard rock/metal sound and infusing it with a great deal of Southern metal touches, they guarantee an end result that's a monster of a sound and has it all. It's rough, it's edgy, it's catchy and you just can't have enough! "The Devil Rhythm" is exactly what the title so eloquently implies and TRUCKER DIABLO seem to be possessed... Have they found the devil at some crossroad and sold their soul? :) It doesn't matter! What does matter, however, is that TRUCKER DIABLO are one of the best and finest Southern metal bands I've listened to in a long time holding the genre's banners really high. The songs on "The Devil Rhythm" are the epitome and quintessence of good, catchy music, it's the kind of stuff you like to listen to with your friends when you feel like partying with beers and fine raw tunes! All in all, this is a flawless album with a killer performance from all the band members, a really passionate vocalist who elevates the songs and a very good production. The album also has a guest appearance from the Northern Irish rock star and current THIN LIZZY frontman, Ricky Warwick (THE ALMIGHTY). I don't have anything more to add... Just check them out!

Christine  Parastatidou

OFFTOPIC Backstage Independent Official Website

This female-fronted quartet from Spain a little while before releasing their third full length studio work decided to put forth an EP titled "Backstage" on which they aren't presenting us anything new, but actually they are revisiting some of their compositions that appeared on their sophomore studio work, "A Fuego". Six of those songs have been re-recorded, only this time with lyrics in English and have also been remixed, while you'll also have the chance to find an alternative version of the song "Because of You" by NEXX's keyboardist, Fran Rodríguez, who has also helped the band by adapting three of the songs into English. The tracks that appear here are really interesting and catchy with choruses that stick to your mind and make you hum the melodic lines of the songs even after the EP is over. This is a well played classic heavy metal release with some hard rock tinges that bring to mind the '80s era. Both the songwriting and the performing skills of the band members are on a good level and are topped by some really nice, slightly hoarse passionate female vocals. If you like the '80s heavy metal/hard rock then I think OFFTOPIC might interest you and satisfy your needs.

Christine  Parastatidou

SOURVEIN Black Fangs Candlelight Records Official Website

When the first tunes from the third full length work of this American quartet hit me, I have to say I felt excited, because I thought there was something good for me here. I like doom metal, so when I first listened to the powerful creeping riffs with which "Black Fangs" kicks off I thought this was a release addressed to me... After a very short while I realized this wouldn't be the deal after all, because SOURVEIN's sludge/doom metal is so noisy, down tuned and slow that it made me feel bored to death and tired me. When the compositions are so chaotic and noisy the outcome doesn't always or necessarily come out strong, powerful or aggressive... In most cases it turns out too confusing and the few dispersed melodies and riffs can't be properly discerned and enjoyed... that's the deal with this album, too. So, although "Black Fangs" has some nice catchy doom riffs, the end result as a whole was too noisy and down tuned to allow me to understand, like and enjoy the songs. Better luck next time guys and please try to improve the production as well.

Christine  Parastatidou

DENIED Garden of Stone Independent Official Website

Approximately two years have passed from the release of their demo and DENIED prove once again with this two track single that they are an ear-catching powerful combo that has the knack to create unbelievably beautiful songs. The two tracks I had the pleasure to enjoy with this single have reinforced the first opinion I had about them... DENIED are an amazing skillful band and I was more than right to be impressed and enthused with their sound. They are filed under the thrash metal genre, but things aren't so straightforward or crystal clear, because the guys like to infuse their thrash metal with a great deal of classic heavy metal tunes and riffs. So, the end result is other times fast, sharp and edgy and other times it has a more subtle energy and power. Nevertheless their songs are always imbued in passion and love for metal music. I really can't stop listening to "Garden of Stone", whose same titled song reveals a different aspect of the band's music with its power ballad character and the tornado-like "In Hell" which is dynamic, heavy and takes you along forcing you into relentless headbanging. DENIED is a great band who have put forth a flawless single with a great production, superb performances from both the lead and the rhythm sections and is topped by incredible vocals that elevate the end result even more. "Garden of Stone" is an appetizer for what's in store for us and I can only say it made me anxious to get my hands on a copy of the upcoming album. DENIED are a band that deserve worldwide recognition! Check them out and you can only agree with me!

POWERSTORM Act I Independent Official Website

Sometimes ideas and especially musical ideas, since we are talking about music on this site, have the quality of the wine. The passing of time not always wears them off, but instead sometimes they make them sound as fresh as the first time that they were conceived. Kostas Falieros, the man behind this band, had these ideas for so many years, some even go 16 years back and finally he decided to release them on an album under the name of POWERSTORM. I can't give you the reason why he didn’t release them earlier, but I have to admit that he did well that he didn’t rush to do it, because the compositions here sound really mature. On “Act I” you can listen to some good melodic metal/power metal tunes that have as their basis the neoclassical influences of the guitarist. The good thing is that Kostas uses his skills in order to make his compositions more interesting and variable. So, don’t expect any showing off here, but you will listen to some good lead and solo parts in places that they work for the benefit of the song. Also the production, might have be made in the personal studio of Kostas, but believe me it has nothing to envy from so many releases that are made in professional studios. Besides the first thing that is important are the compositions and not the technical parts. These simply help the song to become even brighter. Anyway, “Act I” is a very good heavy/power metal album that is mainly influenced by the European scene, but you can also find influences from the U.S. metal scene and from bands like RIOT, LEATHERWOLF and FIFTH ANGEL. Hope that as the title of this album suggests we will soon have the “Act II”… My favourite songs from this album are: “Break the Chain”, “The 3rd Alternative”, “On My Side” and “The Wolf” (this one is really epic).

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

MADRAKE The Damage Is Done Independent Official Website

Greece has made lots of steps forward these past few years and can proudly present some of the best, most unique and special bands that deserve a place among the elite of the worldwide scene. One such band, in fact one of the finest examples that I can point out for you, are MADRAKE a truly stunning and amazing combo whose music, once you get to listen to it, gets into you in the most effective and addictive way. I've lost count of how many times I've actually listened to this EP before deciding to present it to you... The reasons are multiple with my excitement being the most prominent and important one and yet there are other aspects that come into play like the freshness, the originality and the personal character this band has managed to bring forth with the five gems they present us on "The Damage Is Done". Each song has a unique sound and approach and classifying MADRAKE under a specific category is next to impossible, because their music consists of a wide spectrum of sounds and metal genres. I really can't pigeonhole their style, but they manage to incorporate in it and smoothly blend the harshness and aggressiveness of metal with its more melodic side. The main foundation of their music is doom, stoner and Southern metal, but upon it they lay other ideas as well from heavy and power metal and even some progressive tinges are thrown in here and there. So, if you like heavy tunes, Zakk Wylde's false harmonics, catchy uptempo rhythm sections, powerful and emotive vocals, beautiful leads and true craftsmen who have formed a well bonded band and managed to self produce an EP with a flawless and powerful sound, then you need to check MADRAKE out. This is for fans of BLACK SABBATH (mainly of the Dio and Tony Martin era), BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, BLACK STONE CHERRY and BRAND NEW SIN to give you a better hint. "The Damage Is Done" is a musical sensation and an experience I urge all of you to indulge... I'm sure you'll thank me later! The damage has already been done to me... so now come on and tag along!

Christine  Parastatidou

SKULLDRIVER Facts, Fictions and Fucked Up Situations Independent Official Website

More and more new bands decide to release their albums on their own, since they can make their music and become known through the Internet. This is a good thing I believe, since the artist has a complete control on his/her work. The disadvantage is that it requires a lot of effort and personal work in order to spread your music out there. Based on these facts, SKULLDRIVER from Finland have decided to release their debut album which includes ten songs on their own. Musically the bands moves on the road of what we are used to call modern thrash metal. This means that their sound has a lot of grooves, down – tuned guitars and vocals that move from a melodic death metal to a hardcore kind of singing. The fact is that there are thousand bands out there that play this way. So, do SKULLDRIVER have any chance to achieve something? Personally I vote yes. The positive things that the band can offer to the listener are that they have a fresh way of playing their music and that they are a talented bunch of musicians. One other thing that I liked is that the guys have actually added some southern metal (call me BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) elements to their modern thrash metal sound. For example if you listen to the track “Boots” you can easily imagine Zakk Wylde jamming with them. As a first release, though, there are some points that need to be fixed. First of all the vocals are covered by the music. The other thing is that the band needs to give more attention to the lead – melodic parts of its sound than the rhythm ones. I mean that their rhythm section from a point on gets repetitive, but they have also some killer melodic and lead parts that make you think that this band can distinguish from the many that play in a similar way these days. All in all, the debut album of SKULLDRIVER is a very positive first step and shows a band that can achieve something in the modern thrash metal/thrashcore scene. My favourite songs from this release area: “Boots”, “H.B.B.J.” and “Beast Within”.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis