ARTILLERY My Blood Metal Mind Productions Official Website

ARTILLERY definitely have sold their soul to the devil! Like another Faust the band and its members seem to have a second youth. How else can I explain the fact that the band opens this album with the amazing and over 7 and a half minutes long song entitled “Mi Sangre (The Blood Song)” which truly is an example of how thrash metal music must be played. And this song is only an appetizer, because what comes after it, can only be described as “all hell breaks loose”. First of all the band introduces in its sound an oriental touch that makes their music more variable. And that’s not all... It is impressive how they keep the thrash feeling, which personally brought to my mind METALLICA’s “Master of Puppets” era and enrich it with traditional metal and power metal elements. If many new thrash metal releases lack in the variety department, this one has so many ideas that are enough for other bands to fill a couple more releases. As for the band's skills and technique, well I have nothing to say except that it's excellent, passionate and has a production that will make your speakers explode. I think that JAG PANZER and ARTILLERY can be named the kings of this month. Well, that is what I believe anyway. BUY IT!!! A thrash metal release that expands the boundaries of the thrash sound :)

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

ENCORION Facing History and Ourselves Sleaszy Rider Records Official Website

The newcomers ENCORION who hail from the Netherlands are here to present us their debut work which showcases the band's rendition and approach of folk/Viking metal music and reveals a hard working band with potential to give a lot more in the future. "Facing History and Ourselves" has distilled the experience of the past and ENCORION's influences and is trying to pave the way for the band's future with its excellent mixture of all the elements folk and Viking metal are so famous for. This debut shows a band that knows well and deep into its core how to blend the traditional folk melodies with the extreme elements of death/black metal, managing to find the ideal balance between the soft, organic ideas of the past and the contemporary, hard and aggressive themes of extreme metal. The use of the violin is there to offer more depth to the end result and to accentuate and enrich the contradiction between the past and the present. "Facing History and Ourselves" is a very good debut work from a well bonded, skillful band, so if you are into folk/Viking extreme metal I'd advise you to give them a try and keep their name in mind!

Christine  Parastatidou

VOODOO CIRCLE Broken Heart Syndrome AFM Records Official Website

VOODOO CIRCLE is pretty much a super band with David Readman (ADAGIO, PINK CREAM 69, etc) on vocals, Mat Sinner (SINNER, PRIMAL FEAR, CANS, etc) on the bass, Alex Beyrodt (David Readman, SILENT FORCE, SINNER, PRIMAL FEAR, etc) on the guitars, Markus Kullmann (PUMP, MINOTAURUS, DEZPERADOZ) on the drums and Jimmy Kresic on the keyboards. Having this in mind, I expected a lot and A LOT is what I got!! Describing the band's sound, apart from the, needless to say, great technical abilities and skills of all the band members, I'd say that "Broken Heart Syndrome" sounds like a perfect mixture of old RAINBOW, WHITESNAKE and Yngwie Malmsteen. Therefore in the lead guitar section you'll easily notice some Ritchie and Yngwie influences, in the lead vocals some David Coverdale touches, in the keyboards touches from David Rosenthal and Jon Lord's style and all this together create an absolutely fantastic end result! Now the rhythm section has some sort of fresher AOR like approach and all together the songs catch you from the very first riff!! I'm sure as hell that I'm going to melt this CD by listening to it over and over again and I'm convinced that all the melodic hard rock and metal lovers will definitely like it if they listen to it! Satisfaction is 100% guaranteed!

Dimitris  Pantsiopoulos

ANNIHILATIONMANCER The Involution Philosophy Pure Underground Records Official Website

Many thrash metal bands rise up lately and most of them have given us some worthy to mentioned releases. ANNIHILATIONMANCER come from Italy and their kind of thrash metal is a bit different from what we are used to. They are more into the technical thrash metal sound and that makes their music hard to digest. Their influences come from bands like SLAYER, MEGADETH (especially the vocals reminded me a lot of Dave Mustaine), TOXIK and WATCH TOWER. All these sound great and also add the fact that the musicians of this band (sorry too hard to write the whole names) are skillful and seem to know how to play their instruments quite well. So, from such skilful band you can’t expect nothing less than an interesting album. Yes, ANNIHILATIONMANCER have some very good ideas, but if you see the whole picture of this release you will notice that the band lacks in the variety issue. From a point on I had the sense that I was listening to the same things again and again. I believe that the band needs to tame their skills to the point that this will be functional and serve the compositions. It will be great if on their next release they can create both technical and yet memorable songs. So, I would advise you to try to listen to this release before you go buy it…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

BENEDICTUM Dominion Frontiers Records Official Website

There was a time back in the mid 90s when classic heavy and power metal had started gaining some momentum and became one of the top and most fashionable metal trends, but as everything, the music industry, too, likes to keep things changing, so new trends come forth or disappear every few years. Nowadays it's the metalcore and hardcore era, which means that classic heavy metal gets neglected if it's not entirely forlorn by most record labels. I don't like the business side of music and the existence of trends, because for me personally it all boils down to the things I like to listen to and the things I don't, so I don't like and don't accept record labels trying to shove bands down my throat, just because they happen to be the next best thing of the current trend. This thing makes me sick, but still there's light at the end of the tunnel, there's hope and something nice to be found even as things are, because when an interesting ass kicking band makes its appearance, the true fans of heavy metal are bound to discover it. That's pretty much what happened to me with BENEDICTUM and their third studio work, "Dominion"... they came, they saw, they conquered... they simply blew my mind away with their classic heavy metal structures that are infused with quite a few progressive and modern touches. "Dominion" with its over an hour of duration is here to take us all by storm with its dynamic and powerful compositions, with the band's flawless performance and technique and with its memorable riffs and choruses. One more thing that I liked about this album is its versatility and its variety... it's undoubtedly a powerful and mighty album, but it never lacks in melodies or beautiful solos and all the songs have a different character... some are epic, some are straightforward heavy metal anthems and some are more melodic and calm. What makes this album stand out, apart from its beautiful compositions, perfect execution and production, is the lead singer, Veronica Freeman, who is one of the best singers I've listened to in a long time and I'm not only referring to female ones. Her voice has such depth, flexibility and passion that she can sing melodically, she can scream and she can growl... her range is impressive, but the common denominator to all her singing styles is that they enhance the beauty of the songs and increase your satisfaction to the maximum. And if this isn't enough for you, the album offers you two bonus tracks, one of which is a cover to "The Temples of Syrinx" by RUSH and again the band did a great job, keeping close to the original and yet offering it through their own perspective. Check them out!

Christine  Parastatidou

BETRAYER F.T.M. No Life Till Fury Violent Records Official Website

This is the second new band that I listen to from Colombia, the other one are REVENGE and I think that this country of South America is a country that gives us some good speed/thrash metal bands. Anyway, let me get into the music of the band. “No Life Till Fury” is their first full length album (previously they had released an EP entitled “Bestial Torment Rage”) and as I have mentioned above they move into the speed/thrash musical path. Their sound has nothing modern and brings strongly an 80’s atmosphere. Even the production is 80’s oriented which means that it's dynamic, clear and gives space to all the instruments to be properly heard by the audience. As for the influences of the band, well, I think that early METALLICA is above all and then you can find influences from bands like TOXIK and even BLACK SABBATH. On “No Life Till Fury” you might not listen to something original, but all the songs are played with such passion that makes the whole listening enjoyable and I believe that you will give it many spins on your player, especially if you are into the 80’s sound. The only thing that I would like from BETRAYER F.T.M. on their upcoming releases is to add some more variety into their sound. So, the conclusion is: if you like 80’s speed/thrash metal, then there is a good chance you might like this release too.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

PRESSURE ZONE Volume I Noisehead Records Official Website

Noisehead Records did a very good and smart move, I think, with the release of this compilation CD, which is, as it seems, going to be the first in a series of volumes. I called it a smart move because first of all it's offered for free (so if you find it anywhere grab a copy) and we all know how appealing and exciting it is to get free compilation CDs containing various bands, because this way we all have the chance to explore the metal scene and come across new bands, which subsequently means that if we find any of them interesting, we'll make sure to check them further out and even get copies of their releases. Noisehead Records, however, did something unique and original, because they didn't care to promote their bands only, but compiled this volume with both independent and signed to various labels bands. In fact the reason of existence for "Volume I" is to make us, metal heads, aware of the many interesting underground bands we have here in Europe and this compilation is part of the label's, and not only, European metal underground united movement! Now from the ten bands participating here, the nine belong to extreme genres from melodic death metal (THE SPEKTRUM are truly magnificent) to more brutal death metal and metalcore. The only heavy metal band here is TOXIC VIRGIN who I know since their debut in 2001 and I have to say they are a very good and interesting band that deserves your support and participates here with a very good and catchy song. I mentioned these two bands only, but this doesn't mean I didn't like the rest. They are all good and the songs great, but I just pinpointed my two favourite tracks. The other eight bands that participate here are: DEMOLITION, DRACONIC, ROZENHILL, CONTROLSTATE, RIEN SANS DOULEUR, NECROPSY, NUESTROS DERECHOS and PREYDATORY. 

THE SACRED TRUTH Reflections of Tragedy II - The Final Confession Sleaszy Rider Records Official Website

It's really funny what sometimes the bands or their labels invent to write in their info sheet in order to impress us. I think that after so many years in the metal scene the only thing that can really impress me is the music and nothing else. So I skip what's written here about screamo vocals, etc for THE SACRED TRUTH's album and I will focus on their music. On their debut album, which is a concept story, the band from Australia continues the story they started with their EP entitled “Reflections of Tragedy” that was released back in 2009. Musically the band can be described as progressive/power metal, but not in the vein of bands like DREAM THEATER. These guys try to create an emotional kind of music that, as an atmosphere, brings to mind more of EVERGREY, QUEENSRYCHE, PAIN OF SALVATION and even early NEVERMORE. The good thing with them is that they have nice melodies; they are a tight band and have a production that lets them show all their skills. The problem is that all the songs included here are moving on the melodic way, with very few exceptions. This makes the album, in my opinion, monotonous, since I believe that if you are into metal you have to play some more aggressive songs, too. After all you are a metal band and you need to find a balance between your melodies and your aggressive parts. These guys are too melodic. As a release it is not bad to listen to, but it is neither an album that I think can offer to the listener a complete musical experience. The guys are talented, but since they are into metal they have to bring out their aggressive metal part as well. Too atmospheric and catatonic for my taste...

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

FACE DOWN The Runaway Independent Official Website

Do you like your heavy metal to be dirty, mean and raw? Do you like sharp, down tuned guitars and pissed off vocals? Do you like songs that are powerful, dynamic and take you by storm with their leveling power and might? If yes, then your quest is over and answers to the name of FACE DOWN from France who deliver in your face, full of rage, groovy southern crossover metal with a great deal of stoner elements. Having a sound familiar to that of PANTERA, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, DOWN and BRAND NEW SIN among others, but offering it through their own taste and perspective, FACE DOWN have the ability and potential to become one of the top names of the scene given the chance. The production is clear and with the necessary volume, thus enhancing the heaviness of the songs that have extremely catchy riffs and memorable choruses. "The Runaway" showcases one of the best groove southern metal bands I've heard in a long time and guarantees your satisfaction and promises you countless head banging hours. Grab a beer and go wild... FACE DOWN will lead the way!

Christine  Parastatidou

WITCHUNTER Crystal Demons High Roller Records Official Website

The latest trend in the metal scene comes with the form of bands that mainly don’t do anything other than trying to reproduce the early 80’s metal atmosphere both in the sound and the image. Most of them also claim to be influenced by the N.W.O.B.H.M. movement and it is true. Actually most of them simply copy. All these bands are fun to see, but from a point on they make you think that the metal scene doesn’t need these copy cats. I like more bands like WOLF or 3 INCHES OF BLOOD for example who draw their influences from the 80’s, but also add their personal touch to their influences. WITCHUNTER from Italy is simply just another band that reproduces the early 80’s metal sound and image. Actually, their CD was released back in September 2010 from My Graveyard Productions and now it will also be released on vinyl by High Roller Records. As I said their influence comes straight from the N.W.O.B.H.M. sound and bands like ANGEL WITCH, HOLOCAUST mixed with the dirt and speed attitude of MOTORHEAD. Personally, I think that “Crystal Demons” is a fun to listen to album, if you are a fan of the 80’s metal, but it lacks in variety. Many songs included here have the same structure. Something that you can’t ignore even if you are a fanatic of this sound. Also the album lacks in personality. The band simply reproduces an 80’s metal sound without adding their personal touch to it. As I said it is fun to listen to, but not an album that will thrill you or make you listen to it constantly. I think that people who are dedicated to the N.W.O.B.H.M. sound will like this release, the others I am sure that will find more interesting releases than this one…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

DIEHARD When Illusions Gone Independent Official Website

A promising beginning from a promising and daring band from Germany and I'm saying daring, because DIEHARD might be counting less than a year of life, but they have entered the metal world aiming to take it by storm. "When Illusions Gone" showcases a hard working band that has set and up to a point managed to create a personal and rather unique sound with their mixture of black metal with more modern, electronic experimentations. In fact there's a duality in their music... there's the more organic, electric side of it and the more digitalized and electronic self, which other times contradict with one another and other times are blended in together, while always the common denominator being the creation of sharp and catchy songs. DIEHARD's music has a really nice balance between the electric guitars and the keyboards which means that the open minded fans of extreme metal and the fans of industrial metal can find a nice treat here! The songs are tight and powerful with interesting, memorable riffs and themes and guarantee you a nice time if you listen to them at a live show or at a club... or even at home! All this is given with a nice production and a great cover artwork that reveals the band's dark black metal character. The vocals have a distortion that makes them sound edgier and more extreme and suit like a glove to the compositions, but personally I have to say I didn't like the clean female vocals at all, because they sounded off key to me. All in all, "When Illusions Gone" is a different proposal from what we're mostly used to listening to and comes from a duet (you'd think there are more members behind this creation, but there are actually only two) that knows what it's doing. If you feel daring and open minded, enter their world and you won't lose!

Christine  Parastatidou

NIHIL OBSTAT Disintegration Gormageddon Productions Official Website

Savage, dark, eerie and extremely qualitative grind with ultra fast tempos and numerous technical and rhythm changes is what we are presented and offered here by NIHIL OBSTAT. The only thing that tired me quite a bit were the constant a la Donald Duck vocals, which personally I find extremely boring... On the other hand, however, this certain vocal style is characteristic of the genre... which simply boils down to this... it's all a matter of taste! The atmosphere created and "cultivated" throughout the album is abyssmal, pestilential and dark with an excellent production in the background that covers, to the full, their apocalyptic aspirations. "Disintegration" is highly recommended to the fans of extreme grind metal... it's simply a must have for their collection!

George  "Death Dealer - Echoes From Erebus"  Kefalas

SNOWBLIND Prisoners of Planet Earth Sleaszy Rider Records Official Website

I have listened to tons of heavy metal music as a writer of this zine, but above all as a fan. Through the years I have reached to the conclusion that I like my metal to have nice memorable melodies, cool riffs and above all to be blended with some cool solos the way JUDAS PRIEST do. SNOWBLIND, with their fourth album, seem to have all these and that’s why I have enjoyed so much listening to this release. To all these you can add the fact that, as a band, SNOWBLIND have a sound that makes them distinguish from most that are out there. So, if you like to listen to some well delivered traditional metal mixed with a bit of darkness that brings to mind SENTENCED of their “Amok” and “Down” era, then this one will make you a happy buyer and an even happier listener. Also I have to note that the fourth release of SNOWBLIND comes out 8 years after their previous one, but it sounds like nothing has changed between these years. In this release you will listen to the song “Diva”, a song that was included in the previous band of Mike G. (guitarist of SNOWBLIND) which is no other than the well known NIGHTFALL. The good thing with this release is that the more I listen to it the more I like it. Some songs that you have to check out are: “In the Name of God”, “Human God”, “The Road Has No Name”, “Macedonia (Forever Child of Greece)” (quite epic this one) and “Modern Killer”.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

MONDHAURN Maze of Desolation Independent Official Website

Some people may not know it, but USA doesn't only produce heavy/power and modern/industrial metal bands. It's true that there is more an inclination there towards the most famous music forms, but still there is a very vivid and strong extreme underground scene in this country. One such bright example of a band is MONDHAURN which is simply a killer act with some killer black metal anthems that hold the banners of this genre really high! Actually MONDHAURN isn't a band as such, but it's in fact a one man project with Marius Kozlowski being literally responsible for everything. Here, too, he proves true and pure to the core of black metal music since many old school black metal acts had or still have one member only. Music-wise this EP, "Maze of Desolation" consists of some highly addictive songs that have the frozen atmosphere and the darkness of black metal, but they never lack in inspiration or melodies and there are some very catchy riffs to be found within the songs. The production is very good, giving you the chance to explore everything MONDHAURN are here offering us and the EP comes with a very good and fitting, to its sound, cover artwork and all this simply means that this is a work that the fans of black metal, both the ones who like it more primitive and the ones who like it sharp and yet melodic, should give it a try. I'm sure you'll be as excited as I am! I can't stress enough what a beautiful cold gripping atmosphere this release has! MONDHAURN keep the black flame burning really bright!

Christine  Parastatidou

OVERTURES Rebirth Sleaszy Rider Records Official Website

This is the second release for the Italian melodic heavy/power band OVERTURES. The first time this band came to my attention was on the RUNNING WILD tribute album with their cover to the “Pirate Song”. On “Rebirth”, their second album, you will have the chance to listen to a band that is inspired by groups like HELLOWEEN, EDGUY (good old ones) and STRATOVARIUS, but all this given through their own prism. They don’t simply copy! They fuse their above mentioned influences and create an album that will make all the fans of European power metal very happy to listen to. Even I, that I am not a big fan of this sound, had a good time listening to them. Also I have to stand on the beautiful voice of Michele Guaitoli who reminds me of a mixture between Michael Kiske and Tobias Sammet (EDGUY). A good work is done on the guitars and the production, too, which is modern, clear and gives space to all the instruments to be properly heard. The sure thing is that if you don’t like this sound, you won’t like this one too, but if you are a fan of melodic power metal, then this is an album that you can’t let pass unnoticed. My favourite songs from the album are: “Here We Fall” (this one reminded me of BRUCE DICKINSON’s solo albums), “You Can’t Spit on Me” and “My Name Is Fear”.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

SOUL KILLING FEMALE Landmines Independent Official Website

SOUL KILLING FEMALE may be a one man band with Michael being literally responsible for everything, but this doesn't prevent him from being highly productive and full of inspiration, so instead of offering us an EP or at least a debut work like most newcoming bands, he offers us two full length albums! Last month I had the pleasure to present to you, his chronologically speaking, debut, "Utopia Mine" and now I'm here talking about his second work, which was in fact recorded and produced more or less during the same period with the first. I'm sure the sceptics' first thought will be "What's the point? All the songs must sound identical or at least close to each other"... and my answer to that is absolutely negative. It's true that there wasn't time in between for the band to digest the debut's  sound, but still Michael managed to deliver here something entirely different! "Landmines" is again an impressive atmospheric sludge metal album and it's still intense to the core, but its intensity mainly lies in the emotions and thoughts that creates to the listeners and not so much in the edge of the actual compositions. The rhythms are creeping slow and very imposing and the atmosphere is so gloomy and eerie that it has an immediate impact on you and it doesn't let go until well after the album is over. SOUL KILLING FEMALE write original and unique music and take things one step forward with this album, since each instrument here was recorded in one complete pass with no editing or fixing whatsoever, because the band wanted to ensure they'd bring forward the right mood and a "live feeling" touch. Another impressive and pioneering thing on this album is that it has almost no guitars, since most guitar parts have been played by a bass instead, something that makes the songs more primitive, harsh and adds more volume to them. "Landmines" is one more excellent album for the open minded who fine experimentations on metal essential!

Christine  Parastatidou

PIEL DE SERPIENTE Inevitable Pure Rock Records Official Website

I knew the band’s name. Some people in the underground scene were saying that they are close to the sound of TIERRA SANTA. I hadn’t listened to them up till now and this is their third album. From what I listened here, I have to say that except for the use of the Spanish language, the band doesn't have many similarities with TIERRA SANTA. Their sound balances between the 80’s hard rock and heavy metal. It's the kind of genre we usually choose to call hard ‘n’ heavy. So if your mind goes to bands like PRETTY MAIDS, PINK CREAM 69 and to more metal ones like ACCEPT and IRON MAIDEN, then you are right, because that’s how the band PIEL DI SERPIENE sounds. The album, in general, is very good to listen to with a few exceptions like the song “El Umbral” which is too happy, cheesy and typical for my taste. I think that this song was made to be played on the radio. On the other hand there are some great tunes like “Rabia”, “Sangre” (this one reminds me of TIERRA SANTA indeed), “Inevitabile”, “Ronnie James” (great song) and “Suonos Perdidos”. If you don’t have a problem with the fact that the band sings in Spanish, then you will have the chance to listen to a good hard ‘n’ heavy album full of passion and freshness.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

AMBIVALENCE Silicone Magic Stygian Crypt Records Official Website

AMBIVALENCE are here to offer us brutal death/grind metal with tons of technique and quality. Dispersed, throughout the album, you'll find some psychotronic keyboard parts and some unexpected melodic elements that quite often have a humourous character. The production is excellent, professional and without any flaws, it has the necessary dynamics and might. The riffs have volume, speed and a depraved psychotic scent. The rhythms are for the most part high tempo with stormful aggressive drum parts. The rhythm changes are countless and offer a technical character to the band's music. Lyric-wise and when it comes to AMBIVALENCE's ideology, the album is a clamor against the corruption, the emptiness and the rotteness of the star system. "Silicone Magic" is a superb work and a must have for the fans of this genre.

George  "Death Dealer - Echoes From Erebus"  Kefalas

WOLFCHANT Call of the Black Winds Massacre Records Official Website

There are many bands in the pagan and folk metal genres and most tend to sound too similar to my ears or too uninteresting, because there's an overabundance of them in the contemporary worldwide metal scene. However, there are always some bright examples or at least bands that are closer to our taste and touch us more and one such band are the Germans WOLFCHANT, who may play folk/pagan metal, but they do it in an exquisite original way that personally, I believe, sets them apart from the majority of bands. "Call of the Black Winds" is an opus, a state of the art of well played and perfectly executed pagan death/black metal with all sorts of additions that make the end result highly addictive and appealing. There are three types of vocals here, the deep clean ones, the death metal growls and the high pitched black screams and each vocal type offers the necessary variety to the songs which also have an epic atmosphere. Some of the songs have a tavern like atmosphere too, bringing to mind pirates feasting and having fun! The melodic lines are beautiful and enchanting, but so are the harsh and aggressive parts that make your blood pump hard in your veins and fill you with energy and pride, while the rhythm section is the ideal foundation upon which everything is built and supported. "Call of the Black Winds", to put it simply, is an album that whoever likes pagan folk death/black metal can't afford to miss!

Christine  Parastatidou

LEGION OF THE DAMNED Descent into Chaos Massacre Records Official Website

LEGION OF THE DAMNED may have been founded in 2005, but they are veterans in the extreme metal scene of the Netherlands, since prior to this band they all belonged to the OCCULT, who, too, delivered similar sounds and music. I was introduced to the band's music some years back with their "Cult of the Dead" album and I was impressed with the sheer ferocity and might of their compositions that dwell somewhere between old school death and thrash metal with the latter being mainly influenced by the German scene with a few, necessary, SLAYER parts thrown in to make things even sharper. The skills of the band are obvious as well as their ability to deliver tight songs with catchy riffs and solid rhythm sections. The vocals other times are closer to death metal growls and other times have a thrashier approach, but always manage to put forth the aggressiveness the band seeks after. "Descent into Chaos" is a good album that totally respects the band's history and the genre they've decided to follow with the only drawback being the fact that the songs are predictable and quite typical. This doesn't make it a bad album, but it surely lessens its worth a bit.

Christine  Parastatidou

MR. BIG What if... Frontiers Records Official Website

The mighty MR. BIG strike once again with a totally fantastic album! Needless to say that the technical abilities and skills of Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan haven't been lost one bit! And I'm referring to these two amazing players because their absolutely intelligent ideas and their jaw dropping technique are what give the band their unique sound. Whether the listeners listen to this album because they want to enjoy twelve catchy and great songs or whether because they want to be impressed by and explore many cool techniques on the guitar and bass, they will definitely be satisfied! I'm sure that MR. BIG is one of the top priorities for any melodic hard rock lovers and guitar/bass player out there as the band continuous to be a high standard quality choice for the above mentioned listeners! Enjoy!!

Dimitris  Pantsiopoulos

FILE OF GHOSTS Grey Metal Independent Official Website

After two demo works that span in a period of two years, this solo project from Finland with Sami behind everything, from the compositions to the song arrangements and from the performance of all the instruments and vocals to the production, has set to release and unleash upon us its first full length work bearing the eloquent title "Grey Metal". I say eloquent, because, as Sami very cleverly states on the info sheet he sent me, life isn't black or white, but it's mostly grey... various shades of grey, I may add, and since music is part of our life and existence things couldn't be any different with it... This approach and statement, I think, set the "scenery" pretty well in order to fully grasp and understand what you should expect from this work. FILE OF GHOSTS deliver dark chaotic and extremely primitive black metal that's infused and enriched with a few industrial and classic touches and yet also has an ambient feel to it, spicing up the songs with the "scent" of woods and snow, with the scent of nature... The vocals are mainly extreme demonic growls, however, in some songs some clean vocals make their appearance and create a more intense contradiction between the melodic and the extreme elements. The two words that can ideally describe this release are chaotic and lo-fi and both are Sami's conscious choices, so you can understand this isn't a work that can appeal to those who aren't into the old school monolithic black metal sound. Actually, the first time someone listens to the music here notices the extremity and sharpness of the compositions... total chaos, total annihilation... but if you pay closer attention you can hear the complex patterns and the beautiful way in which all these aggressive elements are entwined to create a homogeneous end result...
The mark below is addressed and should only be considered by people with an exquisite taste who like to indulge themselves in the extreme and primitive black metal sound.

Christine  Parastatidou

BULLET Highway Pirates Black Lodge Records Official Website

Finally the long awaited new album, at least for me among others, from BULLET is out! This band takes no shit and kicks asses in a... musical way of speaking! Seriously now, they are, I believe, a more evolved version of AC/DC and I say more evolved because apart from the typical and still absolutely great simple style of this colossal band, you are able to listen to, in BULLET'S music, from twin lead guitars a la IRON MAIDEN, to fast guitar parts and even add a neoclassical touch to it, too! If I had to say three words to describe their sound, these would be bad, dirty and mean! If I had to say two words I'd say kick ass and if I had one word only, then this would be ROCK!!! If, by any chance, you feel down and want to listen to music that will kick your ass over and over again, then BULLET will definitely do the trick! Fuckin' great!!

Dimitris  Pantsiopoulos

AEKLYPSIS Mirror of Darkness EP Independent Official Website

The most difficult achievement for a band nowadays is to manage to form and shape a personal sound and leave their stamp on the music they've chosen to follow and serve and if we take into consideration the scepticals who're fast to say that everything has already been played, then there isn't much hope for the future... and yet there are times like this when you come across a band like AEKLYPSIS from Greece who bring hope and freshness to an oversaturated scene. Their first work, a three track EP, presents us high class melodic death metal that has a distinct sound! Their compositions have complex patterns and structures that incorporate a plethora of elements and yet the guys have managed to offer us such a homogeneous and smooth end result that they'll make you not only headbang, but also feel awe! Their songs have been imbued in a pure epic folk atmosphere and have a symphonic majestic scent that are simply breathtaking, but their enchanting and mesmerizing melodies aren't the only great things about this release... The EP showcases some real craftsmen who deliver extreme music, but without lacking in the technical or guitar solo parts. The rhythm section is solid and supports the rest of the instruments while the vocals have a wide variety of interpretations from more classic death to black metal ones and with even some reciting parts thrown in. AEKLYPSIS, with their EP, have managed to deliver some of the best symphonic folk melodic death metal songs I've heard in a while. An impressive start from an impressive band!

Christine  Parastatidou

SPIDER KICKERS Alcoholic Sleaszy Rider Records Official Website

SPIDER KICKERS, one of the oldest (they were formed in 1986) and most genuine bands in Greece, strike back approximately four years after their third studio work, "VIII Division", delivering a pure holocaust with their high class death/thrash metal sound! For me, and after having the pleasure to enjoy these guys live, they are one of the best Greek extreme metal bands and not only, because their approach of death/thrash metal is old school and has all those rare qualities that lack in most contemporary releases which focus on and adapt a more modern sound. SPIDER KICKERS are pure to the core and they offer us with "Alcoholic" top notch compositions that are filled with energy and aggressiveness and yet never lack in technicality or melodies. The vocals are intense hoarse growls enhancing the extremity of the songs and what's even more amazing about them is that they come from the drummer! Not only is he an amazing drummer who changes in between tempos, from more mid paced ones to pure blast beats, but he also delivers flawless interpretations! So, I don't think I need to say much more other than also add that both the production and the cover artwork are great and the overall product shows that you don't have to live in the capital or spend too much money to create a stunning work... this is what "Alcoholic" is... Stunning old school death/thrash metal and if you're looking for a release to sweep you off your feet and take you on a brutal journey, then here's your chance!

Christine  Parastatidou

DARK REFLEXIONS Beyond Obscurity Silent Noise Records Official Website

DARK REFLEXIONS should consider themselves one of the very few and very lucky bands since shortly after their formation and without releasing any demos or independent works, they had the chance to get signed to a label and release their debut album in about a years time. I guess it's not just luck in the way or the skills and abilities of this band, which undoubtedly exist, but also the fact that they chose to play melodic death metal/metalcore, which is currently very popular and strong throughout the world... which is good on the one hand for the bands, but it can also be an obstacle since they really have to offer something new, fresh and special in order to stand out from the mass. DARK REFLEXIONS sure show they have what it takes to become one of the best bands of this genre, because their compositions have the needed intensity and aggressiveness, but at the same time they don't lack in melodies and atmosphere. The acoustic guitar and the melodic passages pave the way for some massive brutal parts that are accompanied by a pissed off vocalist and the addition of some progressive cuts and parts, make "Beyond Obscurity" a really nice treat for the worldwide melodic death metal/metalcore fans. Throw in along with the band's energy, dynamics and good sense of melody, a very good production and an interesting cover artwork and you have a pretty full package to indulge yourselves with.

Christine  Parastatidou

DEFILED In Crisis Season Of Mist Records Official Website

There aren't many bands from Japan that are well known, so there isn't much info on the Japanese metal scene. However, if you spend some time checking it out you'll see that there are mainly two directions in this country's scene, the melodic and the brutal one. DEFILED belong to the latter category, as their moniker so eloquently indicates, and decided to make their comeback almost eight years after their previous third release. "In Crisis" is an album all about brutality and aggressiveness... this is exactly what the band members aimed for and set to create with all the rest of the elements having a second role. "In Crisis" is one more generic brutal death metal album with lots of gore additions and a bludgeoning sound and almost no melodies whatsoever. Personally I need metal, no matter how intense or extreme it is, to have some melodies to keep the balance, make the songs more interesting and prevent you from getting tired. This is something this release lacks in, which means that after a while all the songs ended up sounding identical to my ears and made me get tired and bored. Like I said this album is all about dynamics and ferocity, it's extreme just to be extreme and with no deeper or better reason... It's too common and too flat in its brutality to be interesting or memorable and it's a shame because you can tell DEFILED have skills and abilities, which they decided not to use or reveal on this album. This is an album that only those who are into mindless violence and brutality in death metal can appreciate and like.

Christine  Parastatidou

NORDAGUST In the Mist of Mornings Karisma Records Official Website

I'm going to start this presentation in an unorthodox way and clear out that this is a release only the truly open minded people should check out, because NORDAGUST's music hasn't got anything to do with metal music in the way we perceive and understand it for the most part. There are quite a few bands ou there that are considered metal and yet deliver melancholy atmospheric music without having the intensity and sharpness of metal and NORDAGUST fall under this category, too. Their music has the classic rock/metal instruments, but it also has the flute, dulcimer, sallowflute, a mouth harp, saws and kettles delivering symphonic prog rock music with an intense folk and medieval twist in it. "In the Mist of Morning" is the band's debut album, although they've been founded many years ago and the album's sole purpose of existence is, I think, to create intense soundscapes and the feelings of catatonia and melancholy. The compositions are based on the melodies and the multiple male and female vocals are there to create this original end result, but the songs' drawback is that although they have so many different instruments and sounds, they all pretty much tend to sound identical to one another. "In the Mist of Morning" is a very good album showcasing a band that doesn't have much to improve, but on the other hand it's only addressed to people who like catatonic soundtrack like music, because despite the fact that the songs create intense feelings, like that of isolation, they don't have much of an energy. This is special music for special people and personally I don't consider myself to be one of them.

Christine  Parastatidou

MOURNING LENORE Loosely Bounded Infinities Major Label Industries Records Official Website

MOURNING  LENORE is a newcoming band from Portugal that was formed a couple of years ago and so far had only released a split CD, so it was about high time for them to release their debut full length album and show the world what they've got. Like the majority of the bands from Portugal MOURNING LENORE have chosen to follow the melodic doom death metal path and the result of their efforts is to be found on "Loosely Bounded Infinities". When I deal with debut albums I tend to be a bit more loose, because it's only natural that most bands are still struggling to get their identity and shed their influences away. MOURNING LENORE are obviously one such example, because their melodic death doom metal is good, well executed and filled with feelings of seclusion and melancholy, but on the other hand it doesn't hide its influences. What I'm trying to say here is that "Loosely Bounded Infinities" is a good album with a good production and well thought out, and yet it's nothing ground breaking or that special, because it's too typical and doesn't reveal a band with a personal sound. They sure have what it takes, but they need to work more on finding their own approach. Subsequently the album can only be appreciated, liked and purchased by the die hard fans of this genre. The others should try listening to some samples before they decide on what they'll do.

Christine  Parastatidou

SILENT STREAM OF GODLESS ELEGY Navaz Season Of Mist Records Official Website

SILENT STREAM OF GODLESS ELEGY are from Moravia in the Czech Republic and have been around since 1995 delivering their own rendition of folk metal that's very original and unlike most things you've listened to so far in this genre. First of all they sing in their mother tongue and the whole album has been imbued deeply into the Slavic folklore music, traditions and feelings. So, "Navaz" is in fact like listening to a metallized version of Slavic traditional folk songs. The skills of the band are unparalleled and the warm emotive voice of the female singer enhances even more the feeling you have that you are in fact not listening to a metal album, but rather a traditional release. The male vocals alternate from deep clean ones to some more brutal growls and enrich the duality of the band's sound and the marriage between folk and metal music. The violoncello weaves so beautiful and mesmerizing melodies that will simply take you along and make you think of times in the past and the way ordinary people used to live in the Balkan and wider Slavic area. "Navaz" is an excellent album with a great production, but the metal element isn't that prominent, so if this is something that doesn't hold any significance to you, but all you are into is cool beautiful music, then I highly recommended it to you! 

Christine  Parastatidou

WHITESNAKE Forevermore Frontiers Records Official Website

WHITESNAKE’s comeback album (2008’s “Good to Be Bad”) was a nice surprise; not many people thought that David Coverdale & Co. could write a solid good hard rocking album after all these years.
When it was announced that WHITESNAKE would release a new album in 2011, my thoughts (and bets) were that the band would have run out of good songs and ideas. I was so wrong! The new songs are not just good. They are absolutely amazing! I never could have thought that come 2011, WHITESNAKE would release such a monster record!
What can I say? The guitar work is just immense! The rhythm section is first class. Mr. Coverdale’s voice is not as it used to be 25 years ago, but give credit to the man; he gives everything he’s got! 
Quite a few of the songs sound like they were written back in the “Saints and sinners”/”Slide it in” era! The opener “Steal Your Heart Away” sets the pace and you also get a whole bunch of great hard rockers like “All out of Luck”, the band’s first single “Love Will Set You Free”, “Tell Me How”, “Love and Treat Me Right” (simply breathtaking), the 1987-influenced “Dogs in the Street”, “Whipping Boy Blues” and “My Evil Ways”. There is a nice ballad (“Easier Said Than Done”) with the closer being the track that named the record: “Forevermore”; An epic that instantly brings “Sailing Ships” to mind. 
You will probably be able to find a couple of fillers as well. Don’t let that put you off. If you consider yourself to be a fan of hard rock music, do yourself a favour and get this record. It is pure hard rock heaven.

Kostas Rigas

SCARLET RAYNE Theater Humanitarian Arkeyn Steel Records Official Website

This is the re-release of the only album by this great U.S. metal band. This a vinyl re-release of this album which was re-released on CD three years ago. The vinyl re-release is in 525 copies. The first 150 vinyl copies will be heavy vinyls and their colour will be transparent purple. The last 375 will be black and regular vinyl copies. However all of them are gatefold. The CD edition is limited to 2000 copies. Both formats contain four bonus tracks and have been remastered. “Theater Humanitarian” is a real gem for those who like QUEENSRYCHE, but the fans of melodic power metal should listen to it, too!! I really like the whole album but "Scarlet Rayne", "Covered Fear" , "Alpha & Omega" and "Sands of Time" are probably the best. This is one of the best re-releases made by a Greek record label. The album is really good and at the same time both its sound and its package are really great as well!This is one of the albums that every fan should at least try to listen to no matter the metal gnere (s)he is into!!

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

Klaus Schubert’s ROCK BUNNIES Speedmachine Pure Rock Records Official Website

Klaus Schubert’s ROCK BUNNIES is a female fronted hard rock band and the brain child of Austrian guitar player Klaus Schubert (No Bros). The band started as a blues project (BLUES BUNNIES) but quickly opted for songs with a more rocking edge and changed their name to ROCK BUNNIES. Their very first album “Speedmachine” is a mixture of studio and live material (11 studio and 5 live tracks).
The band plays pure 70s influenced hard rock (like URIAH HEEP, DEEP PURPLE, RUSH and WHITESNAKE used to) although the guitar playing brought me back memories from the 80s. The keyboard sound is excellent ranging from a typical piano sound to a great sounding melodic hammond sound. The (all female) rhythm section is tight and gives enough space to Klaus Schubert to play some excellent solos and Tici Weitstreicher (vocals) to provide some nice melodic vocal lines. The sound of the band is by no means “retro” but very much fresh overall, thanks to a very clear and powerful production. It is a very pleasant record to listen to.
Maybe they have done one too many covers but the major weak point of the album is that there aren’t any real stand-out tracks. Tracks that will make you go back and listen to the album over and over again.
Nevertheless, ROCK BUNNIES is definitely a band that all lovers of 70s hard rock should check out.

Kostas  Rigas

SACRED LEGACY Undying Heart STF Records Official Website

This is the third release of SACRED LEGACY and it comes one year after the “Apocalypse”. More specifically this one was released in 2007. If “Apocalypse” was an album showing a talented and promising band, this one is a beast that bites you from the first listening. The band continues to move on the musical path of melodic thrash meets progressive metal, but here they introduce some new elements, too. First of all the lead melodies on the guitars are carved in your mind and the solos have this neoclassical touch that gives to their sound more depth and variety. The vocals once more are distorted and remind me of the contemporary melodic death metal bands. This time they are improved in comparison to the previous release; however I insist that I would love to listen to this band with clear vocals (A good example of how they sound with clear vocals is the song "Undying Heart" in which they also feature a female singer along with clean male vocals). No matter what, “Undying Heart” is a step forward in comparison to the previous album and I have to say that this band deserves attention and they can give us in the future some great metal tunes. Along with this release the band gave me to review their new single entitled “Forsaken”. Things here, if I judge from this song, are becoming crystal clear. The sound of the band didn’t change much from their previous releases, although they have a better production, but they use clean vocals and the result is a pleasure to listen to. “Forsaken” is an excellent sample of melodic metal and the singer sings with such a passion that he makes you listen to the song again and again. Try to listen to this band…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

SACRED LEGACY Apocalypse STF Records Official Website

This is the second release from the band that originates from Maldives, a country that is not so known for its metal scene. As representatives of their country SACRED LEGACY are very good. Their music can be described as a mixture of melodic heavy/thrash with progressive metal. If you can imagine a band that combines influences from ANNIHILATOR and old DREAM THEATER, then you have a clear image of how the band sounds. The good thing with SACRED LEGACY is that they manage to add their personal style to their sound. Another thing is that the guitar work is great throughout the whole album. The only things that need improvement in my opinion are the production which is clear, but needed to be more dynamic and the other thing that I didn’t like so much are the distorted vocals. I think that clear vocals or some melodic death metal vocals should fit perfectly and much better to the sound of SACRED LEGACY. Anyway, the fact is that SACRED LEGACY are a very talented band with good ideas and skilful musicians, a band that deserves your attention…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

FINALLY DECEASED Finally Deceased Twilight Records Official Website

FINALLY DECEASED is an old band that was founded in 1992 and back then they were one of the youngest death metal bands worldwide. A few years later, in 1995 to be precise, they released an EP called "Blessed by Demons" and a couple of years after that they called it quits. Now more than thirteen years later the band members decided to make their comeback by releasing their first full length studio work that was recorded in 1995 and produced by Andy Classen, but due to the numerous reasons the band never had the chance to release it. Their time has come now, apparently, and with their self titled debut FINALLY DECEASED offer us, fifteen years later, their rendition of old school death metal that's straight forward, sharp and aggressive with a few black metal tinges here and there. The band seems really bonded and offer us some stable rhythm sections and riffs that show their skills and potential. "Finally Deceased" is a technical old school death metal album with a natural old school sound in the production, which I liked, because the drums aren't filled with triggers or the rest of the instruments with any other sound effects. So, this is an album as natural and pure as it can get, but on the other hand and since it's fifteen years old I also have to say that it's nothing original or special. This is a typical, but good old school death metal album and nothing more.

Christine  Parastatidou

DEVASTATING ENEMY The Fallen Prophet Twilight Records Official Website

A couple of years after the release of their debut EP, "The Gods of Reason", and after gaining quite a lot of experience by playing live at clubs and festivals, the Austrians DEVASTATING ENEMY felt ready to unleash upon us their debut full length work, "The Fallen Prophet". The album incorporates all those elements the band members like in extreme metal music and takes all their influences and inspiration and filters them through their own perspective and approach. Music-wise the band falls into the wider modern death metal category, since their sound is enriched and consists of an abundance of elements. First and foremost we have melodic death metal that's perfectly combined with the more brutal and extreme forms of the genre and then we can also add quite plenty of thrash metal touches along with some metalcore tinges and even some black metal ideas. The melodies are ever present, thus creating a complex and yet beautiful outcome, are entwined with brutal and aggressive riffs and some really deep guttural vocals that enhance the extremity of  the songs. The band's skills are obvious while the guitarists deliver some great solos that are supported by a really stable rhythm section with plenty of blastbeats and breakdowns. As for the vocals the singer makes sure to sing in various styles and apart from his guttural vocals, that I've already mentioned, he also offers us some nice high pitched growls, some metalcore screams and some clean vocals, which I'd rather he didn't have, because I got sick and tired of listening to this kind of cheesy singing technique. All in all "The Fallen Prophet" is a really good start showing us that DEVASTATING ENEMY have plenty in store for us!

Christine  Parastatidou

WIZARD ...Of Wariwulfs and Bluotvarwes Massacre Records Official Website

I think that the new album of WIZARD is a concept album based on the novel of a famous fantasy writer from Germany. I think that this is an interesting change after all these Viking mythology they had on their previous album. The sound of the band in their new release didn't change. You will get the typical Teutonic metal mixed with the MANOWAR influences that this band carries. The sad thing is that in their new release WIZARD don’t sound as inspired as in their previous release “Thor”. The band seems to repeat the same patterns again and again and although they play fast and heavy, they don’t have the inspiration to create melodies that will stick to your mind. WIZARD might not be the best music players in the world, but with their previous releases they have proven that they have the ability to compose great tunes, something that can't be found here. As a person that loves WIZARD, I have to admit that this album left me indifferent and sad to say, but it is too typical not only for the standards of the band, but of the true metal sound in general. Only the real fanatics of the band will find this one interesting. The rest have to check their luck in other releases…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

SYMBOLIC Scarvest Twilight Records Official Website

First of all let me start this presentation with some important info, since there are countless of bands with this name (in fact there are at least a dozen listed)... this is one of the two German bands we're dealing with and "Scarvest" is their sophomore work. On this album the quartet blends, in an exquisite and absolutely impressive way, all their death metal influences thus creating their own rendition of this sound. They could be described as a melodic death metal band if we have to put a label on them, but if you ask me I'd say that there's more than meets the eye and by that I mean that they infuse their melodic death metal with plenty of brutal death metal touches and with quite a few melodic black metal references as well. Add to all of the above the superb musicianship and skills of this band and you have a stunning technical death metal album addressed to those who like their death metal to have beautiful melodies and elaborate solos. SYMBOLIC have managed to combine all these contradicting elements in a very homogeneous end result and they top it off with a very good production and a thought provoking intense cover artwork. "Scarvest" is an album I'm definitely laying my hands on! I think you definitely need to check them out too!

Christine  Parastatidou

FIREFORCE March On 7Hard Records Official Website

One of the essential albums for the power metal sound, especially the U.S. one is “Powerslave” of IRON MAIDEN. After IRON MAIDEN introduced the galloping rhythms to the metal sound, many other bands tried to do the same. FIREFORCE from Belgium, although they are of European origin have a sound that is quite U.S. oriented and reminds us of bands like HELSTAR, MANOWAR, early SAVATAGE and of course they have something from IRON MAIDEN's “Powerslave” era. To all these you can also discover some European references, which are very little though. By reading something like this, someone might think "Oh yeah that’s a band that I have to listen to". Personally, based on my experience and having listened to lot of bands like FIREFORCE, I think that the band has the passion and the skills, but it hasn’t the ideas or the melodies that will make them distinguish from other heavy/power metal groups like them. They are too typical for the kind of music they play and the songs don’t differ so much from one another. Something that makes it hard for the listener to remember the album after listening to it. Personally the songs that I liked from this release are: “Firestorm”, which has an ACCEPT touch, and “Moonlight Lady” with the HELLOWEEN, OMEN and RUNNING WILD influences it carries.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

TROLL BENDS FIR Hoplnir EP Independent Official Website

Here is a release that will make you cheer up. TROLL BENDS FIR's folk metal might not be innovative (something that is very hard to do in this genre), but it is full of freshness, good melodies and ideas that make you want to jump from your seat and start dancing. “Hoplnir” makes your mind travel back in the medieval times and makes you believe that you are part of a medieval festival in a small Russian town where the beer flows and the people sing along and dance. In hard difficult times when the people knew how to enjoy themselves... this is where this EP takes us. So if you love bands that carry influences from groups like MAGO DE OZ, KORPIKLAANI (note: I like TROLL BENDS FIR better), JETHRO TULL and the Russian folklore mixed with heavy metal, then this release will be more than satisfactory for you. Personally, I loved them and hope some label and the press helps them to make their music more known to people. They have the freshness that many known bands of the folk metal genre seem to be missing lately. Especially the fans of folk metal have to check them out… Thanks for the nice time I had listening to your music guys :)

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

UNTIL RAIN Pandemic EP Steel Gallery Records Official Website

This is the second official release of this Greek progressive metal group and "Pandemic" is actually a mini CD which lasts for 42 (!!) minutes. The EP contains two songs from their first album and four new songs. One of the new songs is in two versions on the CD. The band is good for the stuff that they play and even though I am not so much into progressive metal music I liked it. The production of this mini CD is good while the members know how to play their instruments. In conclusion this is an interesting release for all the fans of progressive metal. We will anxiously wait for the next step of this promising Greek progressive metal band.

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

GRANICUS Thieves, Liars & Traitors Independent Official Website

This is maybe the group that has the biggest time gap between their first release and their second one. Their first homonym album was released in 1973 and it was re-released in a CD format in 2009. This album is one of the best undergound '70s hard rock albums. So the band released their second album with recordings that had been made in the period 1973-1974 and the addition of Woody Leffel's vocals who had left the group right after the release of their homonym album. The new album is between 30 and 35 minutes long but there is a 27 minute medley of the songs "When You Are Moving", "Back Seat of my Car" and "Bad Talk" which were recorded live at that period. The best tracks of this really good album are probably the homonym, "Space in Time", "Wizard of Was" and "Taste of Love". This album is a bit inferior when compared to their homonym opus but nevertheless it is one of the best albums of '70s hard rock nowadays so the fans of the genre should run to buy it. The rest of you can try to listen it first.

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

NIGHTMARE One Night of Insurrection Live AFM Records Official Website

This is a live DVD which was put out on the market in order to celebrate NIGHTMARE's 30 anniversary. NIGHTMARE is a heavy metal band from France which put out two albums in the '80s and continued to make records in the '00s. This DVD contains also a bonus CD with a live appearance of the band. The CD contains 13 songs and all of them are from the albums that the band recorded in the last decade. There is the homonym song from the album “Cosomovision” (2001), three songs from "The Dominion Gate" (2005), three songs from "Genetic Disorder" and five songs from "Insurrection". The truth is that I hadn't listened to the albums that NIGHTMARE recorded the last decade. Their style reminded me of the solo works of Rob Halford but I would say that Rob's albums are heavier and more inspired. In this release the songs gave me the impression that I was hearing them in a studio version because the sound was clear and loud and the audience was heard in the end of some songs. The sound is 100% studio processed. I would suggest staying away from this release and buying the first two albums of NIGHTMARE.

MERCURY RISING Under a Big Sky Arkeyn Steel Records Official Website

This is a re-release of the stuff from this really good band from Baltimore, USA. This release contains the first demo of 1992 and it also contains an unreleased demo of the band which was recorded in 1991. The CD also has some unreleased live songs and its running time is 47 minutes. MERCURY RISING have also released two albums, one in 1994 "Upon Deaf Ears" and another one in 1998 "Building Rome". The whole stuff has been digitally remastered and the CD has also a rich booklet containing lyrics, a biography of the band and unpublished pictures of MERCURY RISING. The band's style is US power metal from the early '90s era. The basic influence of the band seems to be QUEENSRYCHE, but the band isn't a clone and I would say that they are heavier than most bands which are influenced by QUEENSRYCHE. The vocals are really great while the guitar work is very good!! The whole CD is great in general, but the songs"Harnessed Lightning", "Mercury Rising" and especially the anthem "Under a Big Sky" are superb! Especially "Under a Big Sky" is a real hymn!! Definitely one of the best releases of Arkeyn Steel Records and of Greek record labels in general! The CD is suggested to all the classic metal fans but the rest of them should also try to hear it!

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

DEAD SHAPE FIGURE The Disease Of St. Vitus Dynamic Arts Records Official Website

In my opinion many new bands that try to play traditional metal music, because they don’t have much of inspiration, try to impress the audience by overproducing their releases, filling them with as many effects they can and above all by trying to show off their technical skills. DEAD SHAPE FIGURE from Finland play thrash metal, they have a great lead guitarist that plays some amazing solos, but besides that their sound is too typical for the thrash metal scene, especially the modern one. The sense that this album left me is that everything was done on purpose to impress the listener and not to create songs that you will remember after the CD finishes. Personally, the only thing that I will remember from this release is a vague sense of how skillful the guitarist is and nothing more. I don’t know, maybe the younger generation of metal heads might find them interesting, personally I prefer the bands that do more with less. Try to listen to them before you make any decisions…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

EMERALD SUN Regeneration Pitch Black Records Official Website

If power metal is what you prefer to listen to for hours, every single day, if you sleep with a poster of HELLOWEEN above your head… so here is your masterpiece for this year! After the release of “Escape from Twilight” in 2007 and after the substitution of their singer Jimmy Santrazami with Theo Tsakiridis, EMERALD SUN recorded the new album titled “Regeneration”... From the first note till the last you receive a feeling similar to the first three albums of HELLOWEEN! I know it’s a big word, but I felt like this! Excellent songwriting and both the music and lyrics make together a solid total of classic power metal, that I’m sure many “big names” will be jealous of… The result is something more than perfect even if we have heard that style again and again. A good start is the half of everything says an ancient Greek phrase and this can apply perfectly here! The first two songs "We won't Fall" and "Theater of Pain" grab your attention directly, in such a big way that you can’t go to the next songs, but you push the rewind button to hear them again! The homonymous song plus the “Planet Metal” conquer your mind as well! The band apart from all, composed a 12 minute song named “Fantasmagoria”, an extremely brainstorming song, and a cover to the classic rock song “Holding out for a Hero”! Surely this album will be discussed for a long time and not only for this year. Check it out!

Dimitris  Konstantinidis

HADEAN Parasite Sleepcast Records Official Website

Composing a song is a complicated kind of work. It all starts with having some good ideas, but you also need to have skillful musicians and to be decisive of what direction you will follow. HADEAN, on their debut release entitled “Parasite”, seem to be skillful musicians, a tight band and they obviously (if you listen to their album) have some good ideas. The big problem with this band is that they don’t seem to have decided what exactly they want to play. In their sound they mix elements of METALLICA influences (“Black Album” era), along with some late ICED EARTH touches and on the other hand they have some gothic references to bands like SENTENCED. There are also times that they flirt with atmospheric doom metal. If all these sound confusing to you, that’s exactly the sound of HADEAN. Also one other thing that works negatively for this release is that its biggest part moves in melodic, mid tempo rhythms and lacks in energy. Personally “Parasite” made me think that HADEAN are talented, but they need to work more on their compositions if they want to do something worthy to be mentioned… 

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

JAG PANZER Scourge of the Light SPV/Steamhammer Records Official Website

Most of the times a break works in favour of the artists. Labels must understand this and not push them to release new material every year. JAG PANZER after 6 years of absence strike back with their new release and what a release? First of all the band left aside all the modern and down tuning tricks that they had used in their past releases and didn’t help much and with this release they try to revisit their roots. If you want to know what's that that makes them so much appreciated to the metal fans, the answer is obvious... traditional metal and that’s exactly what they do here. The power metal elements of the previous album are reduced and the band chooses to play classic metal. While I was listening to this album I had that constant feeling that they must have been listening to a lot of DIO lately, before they entered the studio and recorded the album. Yes, the album has this DIO vibe which of course carries the personality of JAG PANZER, too. To make things even more interesting once again the voice of Harry "The Tyrant " Conklin is breathtaking and adds a lot to the lyricism of each song. For me the guy is the new DIO, just listen to the way he sings in all songs with the only exception the track “Burn” where he pays his respects to the METAL GOD (Rob Halford for the ignorant ones). Finally the band has also a new great guitarist that hears to the name Christian Lasegue and he has contributed also to the compositions and he has done an extremely good job. “Scourge of the Light” is a CD that not only continues the legacy of the band, but also makes it richer. If heavy metal music is what you like to listen to, then this must be your first choice for this month. 

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

CONNY OCHS Raw Love Songs Exile On Mainstream Records Official Website

After Wino’s wonderful acoustic album, Exile On Mainstream Records releases another acoustic album and introduces us to a new artist called CONNY OCHS. Actually from the little I read, I saw that Conny was opening for some acoustic shows of Wino. Musically the album is acoustic rock which is pleasant to listen to, but personally it didn’t touch me to the point Wino’s release did. “Raw Love Songs” is just an OK album with songs that everyone can sing with an acoustic guitar on some beach around the fire. It is not the kind of album that created me any intense feelings or had the melody that will make me listen to it again. I think that Conny has to try more if he wants to release something worth to be mentioned, because the songs that are included here are too typical for the kind of music he plays. Try to listen to the album, before you buy it, except if you are an acoustic rock maniac…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

VALET PARN Riddle Figure Independent Official Website

Most of the Greek metal press, the mainstream mainly, tends to favour Greek bands that copy well already known groups from abroad that are successful. They also tend to present these Greek bands like groundbreaking artists for our scene. This shows how low these guys treat the Greek scene. I am pretty much sure that VELVET PARN will be presented by many like this... In my opinion VALET PARN is another band that tries to become successful from the latest trend, which is mixing groove metal parts with metalcore elements and using both clean and harsh vocals. This release is like so many others of this genre to a point that it makes you think that the only difference is the band name printed on the album cover. The guys are good musicians, no doubt about that, and they have done a very professional job on the production of their debut album, but that is not enough. As composers VALET PARN fail to add their personal touch to the compositions resulting in the creation of songs that might have some good ideas, but don’t have that element that can make them distinguish from the masses. So, they have practiced enough, now they need to concentrate more on composing songs with identity. Another release that you listen to and the moment it ends you forget it.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

JUROJIN The Living Measure of Time Majestic Elder Recordings Official Website

All these progressive and groove metal sounds that lately seem to be in fashion are certainly not of my interest and above all don’t move me at all. From time to time, though, there seem to pop up some bands that have some really good ideas on how they can make all these trends in rock and metal music sound interesting. JUROJIN is they kind of band that fuses in its sound modern metal as it is presented by bands like SYSTEM OF A DOWN and modern rock like NICKELBACK, but the interesting twist in all this is that they enrich their sound with 70’s progressive rock elements and some oriental melodies. They use in their sound instruments like table and santoor to achieve that (just listen to the song “Proem”). Even though the kind of music that JUROJIN is not the one I like to listen to every day, I have to admit that the guys have talent and a vision to turn tasteless modern sounds into music with substance; a music that you can enjoy and get lost inside. If you search for a modern band that has something to say, then try to listen to them. They deserve to be noticed.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

THE VERY END Mercy & Misery Steamhammer/SVP Records Official Website

If melodic death metal means to you another clone of the latest IN FLAMES and SOILWORK albums or a band that mixes metalcore, then you will be surprised with the Germans THE VERY END. On their second album, this band proves that there is another kind of melodic death metal that has fresh ideas and is open to other metal genres as well. On “Mercy & Misery” the band forms its songs above their influences that derive from bands like METALLICA and KREATOR, but they also add some traditional metal and stoner rock influences to their sound. OK! There are the classic melodic death metal songs as well like the composition “Rat Nation”. The fact is that this is a very interesting album for its kind with variety and freshness. I believe that if THE VERY END continue this way in the future, then they can easily become top class in their sound. Personally, I liked their album a lot and I recommend it not only to the fans of melodic death metal, but also to people that are open to listen to good and original metal releases. Check them out…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

VERSUS HEAVEN Behind the Perfect Mask Casket Music/Copro Records Official Website

Once upon a time the biggest part of the Greek metal scene was a joke. It was the kind of scene where some guys would release a demo and would expect to be treated as the next IRON MAIDEN. And by the way most of these demos were poor on ideas and not professional at all. Such a phenomenon still exists in the Greek scene, but lately I see that there are more and more musicians that work seriously and professionally and that has as a result the release of albums that deserve to be in the Champions League of heavy metal. VERSUS HEAVEN from Greece, with their debut album, claim to be inspired by bands like ANNIHILATOR, QUEEENSRYCHE, MEGADETH and SAVATAGE and prove that they deserve our attention and if we listen to them, then they will not waste our time at all. They might have the influences I mentioned above, but to me they sound closer to ICED EARTH; however I won’t argue on that. The point is that “Behind the Perfect Mask” introduces us a very talented band which has very talented and skillful musicians. The singer of the band Kostas Miliaras (who sounds a bit like Matt Barlow) sings with passion and gives to the songs the emotion that they need. The rhythm section is steady and tight and gives the necessary background to the lead guitars to play their music themes (there are really some great guitar solos here). I won’t tire you anymore... VERSUS HEAVEN is a top league band that the fans of power/thrash metal have to check out. My favourite songs of the album are: “Betrayed”, “Heartless Kill Machine”, “Angel Dust”, “White Nights” (I like the use of violin in both of them), “Perfect Mask” (instrumental) and "Unexplored Land".

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

BATON ROGUE MORGUE High End of the Season Independent Official Website

I was really impressed to see that this is the band's fifth release, since I hadn’t listened to them before. Anyway, it is good to listen to good bands even if they are in their fifth release. “High End of the Season” is a traditional metal album that has a modern production and is deeply rooted in the 80’s. If I had to name some of the band's influences I would say that they have been influenced by bands like ACCEPT, IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST, RIOT and also they have an 80’s hard rock touch in some of their songs. The band is really tight and skillful and it has a singer that is the proper one for the kind of metal they play. Somehow, they give me the sense that they will be a great band to see live. To al these I have to add the great and professional work they have done both in the production of the album and its packaging. It is a digi-pack which includes also a bonus DVD with interesting video – clips to see. It is really strange how this band from Finland has not become more known and doesn’t have a deal with a big label. If you are in the traditional heavy metal sound, then this is a release that you have to check out. I am really impressed and I hope that some label notices them and gives them the publicity they deserve…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

HELHEIM Asgards Fall Dark Essence Records Official Website

"Åsgards Fall" ia HELHEIM's eighth official release, after six full length albums and an EP and it offers us two complete new tracks which will only be found on this release, since the band isn't going to release them again on their forthcoming album. In addition, the EP offers the song "Dualitet og Ulver" from the band's upcoming album "Heiðenðomr ok Motgangr", which will be out any time soon as well as a re-recording of their classic track "Jernskogen", which is originally from the "Blod & Ild” album. The overall sensation and feeling this EP gave me is that of epicness and darkness with its imposing mid tempo songs... and I have to say that these two elements are rather impressive. However, the new songs sounded rather tiring, repetitive and thus monotonous to my ears, especially when I unwillingly compared them with their old song "Jernskogen" which showed me a much better and far more inspired band. These songs are technical and reveal skillful musicians and a tight band behind them, but they fall behind when compared to the band's past. At least this is my opinion... The only other song I really liked and managed to totally impress me is "Åsgards Fall, Pt. II", because it brought to my mind the mighty BATHORY! This twelve minute opus has everything that Viking black metal is all about and has a pure epic frozen feeling that takes you on a mind travelling journey. For me this is the only song that stands out and the only reason I'd consider getting this EP for.

Christine  Parastatidou