AURA Deliverance Spider Rock Promotion Official Website

This is the first album of this Italian progressive rock band. The band plays prog rock with a contemporary sound. AURA have a good vocalist while at the same time they surely know how to play their instruments. I think that they use keyborads in a clever way, so the listener doesn't get tired by them. The album is good but on the other can I can't say it's great either. The songs aren't on the same level and the ones that I think stand out are "The Eden's Tree", "A Candle's Dream", "The Bridge of Silence" and "The Glorious Day". Even though they play progressive rock the length of their tunes is regular and I think this a good thing. However, the band has to improve its songwriting skills a little bit more. In conclusion this is a promising debut and a good album for the fans of progressive rock but AURA is inferior to groups like ASTRAL TRAVELLER, MYSTERY from Canada and ABARAX!! 
P.S.:For the fans of progressive rock the grade is of course higher. 

Ioannis "Knight of Light" Kaskamanidis

DEF LEPPARD Mirror Ball Frontiers Records Official Website

It’s a little bit weird for me because DEF LEPPARD was one of the first bands to show me the way to melodic rock sound. It was 1987 when I bought "Hysteria" and I was stunned by all those great melodies. And 24 years later I have to review their first live album. The album was recorded during The Sparkle Lounge Tour and it features songs from the whole DEF LEPPARD discography plus 3 new songs. There is not a lot we can say about anthems like "Rocket", "Animal", "Foolin’", "Love Bites", "Make a Love Like a Man", "Bringin' on the Heartbreak", "Armageddon It", "Hysteria", "Photograph", "Pour Some Sugar on Me", "Rock of Ages", etc. It's like a best of live. The band is in very good form and they deliver the goods! The new songs are "Undefeated", "Kings of the World" and "It's All about Believing". "Undefeated" is a great rocker and an instant DEF LEPPARD classic. I can hear people singing the chorus when the band performs live! "Kings of the World" is a very QUEEN-ish song. The vocal arrangment and the piano could be Freddy Mercury and co! Finally "It's All about Believing" has a very nice AOR tune and closes the album in a great way. At the bottom end we have a very good album that will make all DEF LEPPARD fans smile. Thumbs up.

Chris Kappas

THURISAZ The Cimmerian Years Sleaszy Rider Records Official Website

As a listener I always like the musicians who through the heavy metal forms manage to create a sound that at the same time sounds familiar and yet unique. THURISAZ from Belgium is not your typical atmospheric – extreme metal band. You can’t just throw a few names and say they sound like that, because the truth is that THURISAZ sound like THURISAZ. Musically they manage to create an atmosphere that sounds both epic and melancholic. The guys have something from the epic character of bands like BATHORY and ANCIENT RITES mixed with folk tunes and black – death metal riffs that have something from the feeling of bands like IMMORTAL and AMON AMARTH. Also you can easily spot doom metal touches that can be compared to bands like MY DYING BRIDE and SOLSTICE. All these are mentioned only in a way to give you through this text a hint about how they sound. The truth is that the band has created a personal sound that you can easily recognize. “The Cimmerian Years” is a release that demands the full attention of the listener in order to conceive its whole glory. I have nothing more to say, except that THURISAZ deserve our attention and above all they deserve to be considered as one of the most talented and gifted bands in the contemporary metal scene. An album made from musicians that set above all their artistic expressions through their music. Support them…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

GARAGEDAYS Dark and Cold Massacre Records Official Website

Do you like METALLICA? I think more or less we all like them. GARAGEDAYS, though, like them so much that their sound is directly influenced by them. Their heavy/thrash metal sound is walking on the steps of this great band and believe me it doesn’t sound bad at all. Their “Dark and Cold” album, without being something new to the heavy metal sound, is at least sincere and has compositions that keep your interest from the first till the last second. To be sincere the band will also bring to your mind legends like OVERKILL (check out the song “Blown Away”), METAL CHURCH, ICED EARTH and even the good old MORGANA LEFAY. If the originality is not what you want, then this release will offer you a pleasant time of listening since the musicians are talented and deliver their mission with lots of confidence and ability. Personally, I had a lot of time to listen to such a band and GARAGEDAYS offered me a good change of listening in an era that many bands sound similar to one another. This is a good start for the band and I hope that in the future they will manage to create an even more personal sound. Besides that, “Dark and Cold” is a release that you should check out, especially if you are in the heavy/thrash metal genre.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

V8 WANKERS Iron Crossroads SPV Records Official Website

There are bands that create original music and want your attention in order to understand fully what they want to express through it and there are bands that play the kind of music that makes you want to grab a glass of beer, put the highest volume on your stereo and start banging. V8 WANKERS definitely don’t belong to the first category and surely have dedicated their soul to the god of rock ‘n’ roll. Things are simple here, however highly addictive. Imagine a combination between MOTORHEAD and AC/DC with a strong rock ‘n’ roll feeling and you have a full picture of how these guys sound. Their skills are more than good and they have a sound production that is dirty yet the proper kind for the music they play. “Iron Crossroads” is the kind of CD that you want to listen to in a party along with other friends and practice your headbanging and air guitar skills. This is nothing more than pure fun. The only negative thing that somebody can find is the lack of originality or variety, but I don’t think that the band had that in mind, when they were creating this album. Personally, I think that it's a sincere and good release for its genre.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

TERRITORY Killer Instinct Sleaszy Rider Records Official Website

I love the national team of Uruguay. Actually, it was the national team that I supported in the latest World Cup and Diego Forlan is one of my favourite football players. So, when I saw that TERITTORY are from Uruguay and they play thrash metal, I thought well here I might have the chance to listen to something good. The South American metal bands lately have got us used to good releases. “Killer Instinct” is a thrash metal album based on the bay area scene mainly and up to a point flirts with some power metal elements as they were expressed by bands like ICED EARTH and AGENT STEEL. All these elements make you think that they can guarantee you a pleasant listening. Well, “Killer Instinct” by all means is a boring album. The riffs are too typical for the thrash metal releases and the guys lack in the ability to create a song that you can remember later and make you listen to this album again. Also the singer of the band, Jason, screams constantly and from a point on he broke my nerves. He seems that he has lungs, but he must try to use them in different ways. Constant screaming doesn’t make you more aggressive, but it does make you boring. I don’t have to say anything more. This album is tasteless and TERRITORY must focus on their composing procedure, because the modern production and the fake aggressiveness can’t save them. I hope they read this review and get pissed off really, because it is then that a thrash metal musician can compose. Sorry guys, but I will wait for your next release hoping for a better result from your debut…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

STORMWARRIOR Heathen Warrior Massacre Records Official Website

So far, most of us have treated STORMWARRIOR as good clones of HELLOWEEN (mainly) and RUNNING WILD. Something close to the most recent ENFORCER. I believe that the band also wanted to show this image through statements and acts through these years. However, all things must have an end and I believe that “Heathen Warrior” is the transition between good old and the new better STORMWARRIOR. No, don’t get worried, the band still plays traditional heavy metal, but the guys seem to have finally achieved a personal sound. An effort that was started in their previous release and here it is realized. The band carries once again its influences from bands like IRON MAIDEN and RUNNING WILD (the HELLOWEEN sound is not so intense here with only exception the song “Ravenhearte”), but they don’t simply copy them. They add their personal touch. STORMWARRIOR is transformed into a band that is inspired by the legends of the 80’s, but they interpret their influences through their personal musical playing style and view. For someone that followed the band for so many years, I've been listening to them from the demo tapes, I think that he/she will understand what I mean. Now, for those who don’t know the band, this release will make them happy since they will listen to some good European traditional metal. It is also amazing the detailed work that happened to the lead parts and solos in this new release and the production once more is clear and gives space to all instruments to be heard. This is the most mature release of STORMWARRIOR. An album that you have to check out. My favourite songs from “Heathen Warrior” are:  “The Ride of Asgard”, “Bloode to Bloode”, “Fyre & Ice” (this one is my most favourite) and “Ravenhearte”.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

DEATH WOLF Death Wolf Regain Records Official Website

The band name is new, but not the band itself. They started under the name DEVILS WHOREHOUSE and they have already released two EPs and two full length albums under this moniker. For reasons that are unknown to me (so anyone can imagine anything he/she wants or search tmatters deeper) the band decided to change name and release the same titled album from Regain Records. Something that you might also find interesting, especially the fans of black metal, is that the band was formed by Morgan from MARDUK. All these are enough, I think, for introducing the band to you. Now, let me take you to the most important part that is the music and nothing else. DEATH WOLF have a sound that can be described as old fashioned. Actually their music will travel you back in the first era of extreme heavy metal sound. In fact they have this dirty N.W.O.B.H.M. sound that was first introduced by bands like VENOM and ATOMKRAFT, along with some MOTORHEAD and punk rock touches. Also the friends of this sound will find similarities to the sound of HELLHAMMER and early CELTIC FROST. All these seem and sound very interesting, but the truth is that the album doesn’t hold the same quality from the beginning till the end. They start with some good songs, but as they proceed the repetition of their songs and ideas becomes more and more obvious. This made me reach to a point of not paying attention to the songs. I think that this release might be interesting only to the real fanatics of the 80’s extreme sound that want to have all the releases of this genre. As for the rest of you, I would strongly advise you to listen to the album before reaching any decision…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

U.D.O. Rev-Raptor AFM Records Official Website

I think that UDO is a singer and personality in the heavy metal scene that doesn’t need any recommendations or introductions. If the name doesn’t say anything to you, then you probably are not into the heavy metal genre. The original voice of ACCEPT (for me besides the guitars it's the one responsible for giving to the band a personal touch) is the only one that continued the legacy and the sound of the amazing band through its releases. So, don’t expect big surprises from Mr. UDO and his band. All his albums move on the same musical path and you have only to choose which one you like more or less. On “Rev – Raptor” you will get once again the fast songs, the mid – tempo ones and some slow, ballad ones. In the 13 tracks of this album you can find songs for every taste. Personally “Rev – Raptor” didn’t move me as the previous releases of this great artist. It has all the elements that I want to listen to from one of his releases, but I found it a bit short in inspiration and melodies. Without being bad or boring, it is just a decent album from a decent artist that helps him declare his presence in 2011 and make us hope that we might see him for a live show here in Greece. A simple good album from an artist that has got us used to exceptional releases. My favourite songs from the album are: “True Born Winners”, “Rock 'n' Roll Soldiers”, “Days of Hope and Glory” (this one is my favourite from this album), “Dr. Death” and “Fairy Tales of Victory”.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

THE SILENT RAGE Harvester of Souls EP Independent Official Website

Two years after the self titled EP the band from Athens strikes again. The band, with a new and stable line – up, recorded this new EP in order to show us their talent and how they sound. “Harvester of Souls” includes 3 old songs re–recorded and re-arranged (I can’t compare them with the older versions since I haven’t listened to them) and also two new tracks. The band plays melodic heavy/power metal and I think that their strong cards are their melodies, the good solos and lead guitars and the passionate singing of their vocalist. Their rhythm section also gives a stable and solid foundation upon which the lead guitars build their melodies and lead parts. The whole EP moves on very professional standards and it has the power and the creativity that will move any fan of good heavy/power metal. This is an effort of hard work and determination, two facts that help the talent of the band to shine on. I think that more bands like THE SILENT RAGE is what our scene needs in order to cancel any prejudice (logical up to a point) that metal fans from abroad have for our scene. So, support the band and buy this EP! Believe me you won’t regret it one bit… You can buy the EP from the band only for 5 euro plus postal expenses.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

MARDUK Iron Dawn Regain Records Official Website

If there is a band that can give you a sonic image of how warfare should sound or give you the hellish atmosphere of war, then I can’t imagine a better one than MARDUK. Only recently I listened to them and actually I can see why the band is considered one of the best in the black metal genre. For a new listener they might sound chaotic, but a closer listening reveals to you that the band can create order from chaos. I like also the fact that they've left aside their satanic image and decided to make music about war themes. I believe that their sound helps them towards achieving this. So after two years from their last full length album, MARDUK arm their panzer with this 3 track EP and declare a war against all the peaceful listeners out there. Their music still moves on the unconventional ultra fast path, but as I said their songs actually are memorable. Also from all this chaos the guys manage to create a dark and yet epic feeling. To make it simple, if you like MARDUK then “Iron Dawn” won’t disappoint you a bit. So, buy the CD and unleash a sonic and hellish warfare through your music players… 

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

WOLVESPIRIT Spirit Metal Sleaszy Rider Records Official Website

One thing that can’t pass unnoticed from anyone is that we live in an era that everyone tries to find inspiration from the past decades and mainly from the 70’s and the 80’s. Yeah, I know that this pretty much used to happen every time, but there is a certain intensity of this phenomenon in our days. WOLVESPIRIT from Germany, against all odds don’t play any kind of power metal. Their sound is baptized in the 70’s hard rock/early-metal sound and you can find a strong stoner touch in their songs. Obviously this last element is the contemporary aspect of their sound. They also use the hammond, a musical instrument that was used a lot from the late 60’s and 70’s hard rock bands. The sound of this instrument makes the sound of WOLVESPIRIT more nostalgic and besides that the guys have actually some good ideas. The bad thing is that from a point on they emphasize more on the stoner elements of their sound. Something that personally didn’t move me, since I find this kind of sound boring and repeating after a while. Instead when they focus on their 70’s influences the whole result is much more interesting and enjoyable. Before reaching my final conclusion I have to note that their female singer, Debbie, has a warm bluesy voice that fits to the whole sound of the band and reminded me of Yvonne Durand of ZED YAGO. So, all in all “Spirit Metal” is a typical stoner rock/metal release with some glimpses of innovation ( I refer to the 70’s hard rock elements) which, if the band chose to follow more closely and leave aside the stoner sound, will give us some great tunes. Until then only the fans of stoner sound might find this release interesting to listen to…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

EXELOUME Fairytale of Perversion ViciSolum Productions Official Website

It is obvious that people get interested in every subgenre of metal music and that is a good thing. Here in my country, Greece, I have witnessed from the live shows I have lately been to that people seem to love a bit more thrash metal. I think that in the rest of the world thrash metal knows a new season of glory. EXELOUME is a Norwegian metal band whose members are long in the metal scene and here they have decided to join forces and give us their point of view of how contemporary thrash metal should sound. For the technical aspects of this release I have to admit that the production and the mixing are very good, modern and give to the sound of the band the necessary volume and clarity in order for the listener to enjoy every aspect of their music. Also the skills of the band's musicians are impressive, because they play technically but only to the point to support their musical ideas. As for their influences they combine their U.S. bay area thrash metal influences with some old death metal touches (they are mainly obvious on the vocals). In general the release is a pleasant listening, but it has the disadvantage that it's common and close to many thrash metal bands and that their compositions sound too similar to each other that from a point on you really can’t distinguish or remember any song. “Fairytale of Perversion” has an impressive production yet it is another album that after you listen to it, you don’t remember much. A release that only the fanatics of this genre, might love.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

ALPHA TIGER Man or Machine Sonic Attack Records Official Website

This is the debut album of this German metal band. Actually this is their debut under the name of ALPHA TIGER. The band until early 2011 was called SATIN BLACK and under that name they released in 2008 the album "Harlequin" and the demo "Martyr's Paradise" in 2010. The style of this album is U.S. power metal band with some European power metal elements while SATIN BLACK had a more thrashy direction. I have to say I really liked the alum. The vocals of Stephan "Heiko" Dietrich are really divine and the guitar work is really fantastic! I really enjoyed the whole album but "Starrider", "Against the Time", "Karma" and the homonym of the album really blew me away!! This is until now the album of the year!! So the friends of the classic metal stuff should buy it without a second thought! We are already waiting anxiously for their next effort.
P.S. : The cover of the album is also really great and not like some idiot computerized covers!!!

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

SLAVES TO FASHION Artistic Differences Hands Of Blue Records Official Website

SLAVES TO FASHION from Norway are considered to be and labeled as a progressive rock/metal band... fair enough! The description is correct, but not entirely since it doesn't manage to convey all the aspects of the band's music or pigeonhole them in more detail. However, I'm afraid that I can'd do any of those either simply because SLAVES TO FASHION with their debut full length album, "Artisitc Differences", have managed to form and shape a totally personal sound that makes them stand out. There are some skeptics out there, people who think that the contemporary music scene doesn't have much to offer... and to such people all we can do to turn their views around is make them listen to a release like this one. SLAVES TO FASHION manage to incorporate into their sound an abundance of different musical ideas and genres and get come up with an extremely beautiful and homogeneous end result that has both energy and enchanting melodic lines. The song structures, riffs and melodies are so beautiful and memorable that magnetize you and make you push the play button over and over again. The songs' choruses are so catchy that you end up humming the tunes and singing the lyrics hours after you listened to the album. Apart from the creative part, the technical aspect of their music is also excellent since the production is crystal clear and dynamic and the band is comprised by some very talented musicians and an amazing singer whose passionate and emotive interpretations elevate the songs even more. If you are looking for something melodic and yet catchy that marries beautifully the past with the present and the future, then "Artistic Differences" is here to bring an end to your quest!

Christine  Parastatidou

BOREALIS Fall from Grace Lion Music Official Website

I often ask a question to the bands from the 80’s. I want them to answer to me in which ways the 80’s differ from the contemporary metal scene. I think that it's time for me to answer to this question. The thing that I love about the 80’s is that the bands and musicians back then were more carefree. They had their dreams and their passion to play metal music and even become known like the bands they once admired. Most of them were not great musicians (talking about music theory etc), but they had their passion and their naïve ambitions and all these made them create songs that some of them endure the test of time until now. In our days now, we have great musicians (talking about music theory and practice) and a technology that helps even more the musicians. However I have the feeling that most of these musicians don’t let their emotions guide them to compose music from their soul (after all metal is music played from the heart) and they have constantly on their mind the theories they have been taught and try to prove their skills. This is a foolish competition indeed. So, BOREALIS from Canada (a metal scene that I love) play modern power metal which means that they combine the traditional elements of this genre mixed with some melodic death metal musical parts (like IN FLAMES). You can say that they are close to EVERGREY as an atmosphere (another boring band for me). The whole package is well set and performed, but again it lacks in one important thing, the personal touch. The album is a pleasant listening, but it sounds like so many other contemporary power metal bands... After all in the kind of music that BOREALIS play, ORDEN OGAN and ASPERITY (they have released only one album) do a much better work for me.

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

WARRANT Rockaholic Frontiers Records Official Website

2011 has been a great year for hard rock so far.
There have been awesome releases from WHITESNAKE, KING KOBRA and BLACK ‘N’ BLUE to name a few. Well, I can tell you that the new WARRANT album is no exception to that rule. I believe that Robert Mason (vocals – LYNCH MOB) has given the band the push it needed in order to make a great record. His performance is simply breathtaking. And the rest of the band isn’t doing bad either! Great hard rocking tunes all the way!
I knew WARRANT was back when I read the title of the very first track: “Sex Ain’t Love”. This is what we have all been waiting for. I really don’t want to give you a track-to-track analysis. This album rocks really hard from start to finish and it must be the band’s best album since 1992’s “Dog Eat Dog”! Just listen to it. Will you find a better hard rocking tune than “Show Must Go On” in 2011? I seriously doubt it.
This is an awesome comeback. Fans of hard rock music should buy asap.

Kostas  Rigas

IMMACULATE Atheist Crusade Stormspell Records Official Website

This is the second album of this new Swedish metal band. Their first full length effort was released back in 2007 with the title "Thrash, Kill 'n' Destroy" while the band also has a 2004 demo. "T.K.N.D. Pre-Production Demo'' and "Thrash, Kill 'n' Destroy" are available for free download on their entirety on the band's official website. The style of the band is technical speed thrash metal with high pitched vocals!!! Their stuff is really good!! I really liked all the songs but "Cross of Nero", "The Immaculate Dead", "Gutterthrash" and the homonym track of the album really blew me away!On the album there is also a good FATES WARNING cover from their second album, "Spectre Within". It has been a really long time since I have listened to something so good in the speed/thrash metal subgenre! For me it's just one of the top releases I have listened to the last year!! It seems that these guys have really been listening to bands like TOXIK, REALM, INTRUDER (their third album mainly), ATROPHY, HEATHEN, etc. The production is really loud, the guitar work is really worthy and the vocals are really great!! The fans of the U.S. power/speed 
metal will definitely love it! I can see with satisfaction that the revival of the classic metal sound continues in Sweden. In conclusion this is a must have album!! Stormspell Records has again chose well! I will anxiously waitfor the next step of IMMACULATE!! 

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

CYPERUS Blow it out your Ass Arkeyn Steel Records Official Website

This is the latest re-release by Arkeyn Steel Records. CYPERUS is an American metal band from Olympia, Washington. This release contains their 1986 demo and their 1998 unreleased LP tape. CYPERUS also released the album "Sanity Management" back in 1992. Their album is quite weird and it didn't thrill me when I listened to it, so let's focus on their current release. I had listened to their demo 4-5 years ago and I really liked it! Now we have it remastered along with their LP tape which is on the same musical direction as their demo. Kostas Scandalis has done an excellent job remastering all this material! The style of the band is U.S. power metal with high pitched and quite unique vocals! Their stuff is really great and all the friends of this metal subgenre should buy it. All the songs are really good, but "Judgement Day", "Black as Night", "Local 517", "Blizzard Crusade" and "Ode to Omen" are probably the best!! So in conclusion this is a really good release and personally I consider it as a must buy!! 

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

IN LEGEND Ballads ‘n’ Bullets SPV Records Official Website

Metal never stops creating new genres. After VAN CANTO, the a cappella power metal band, which are a real fun and pleasure to listen to, we have IN LEGEND which are a piano metal band. This is good, since it shows that there are still people out there with imagination, even if they do it only for commercial purposes. So on the debut album of IN LEGEND you will listen to drums and bass, but the place of the guitars has been taken by the piano. It is obvious that the mood of the album is melancholic and all the songs here are melodic. So, if you want to listen to something to bang your head with, then this is not a release for you. On the other hand if you can imagine the more sensitive songs of SAVATAGE without guitars, then pretty much you have an image of how they sound. Personally, I found the whole work very pleasant to listen to (this is the third time I write this), but it didn’t create to me any intense emotions that will make me listen to them again soon. So, try to listen to them before you decide what to do with your money…

Nick  "Verkaim"  Parastatidis

REQUIEM Within Darkened Disorder Twilight Records Official Website

Swiss death metallers REQUIEM have decided to make a strong comeback about two years after the release of their fifth studio work, "Infiltrate... Obliterate... Dominate" and are once again here to offer us clear, pure and in your face death metal with no frills, experimentations or any kind of enrichment whatsoever. "Within Darkened Disorder" is the real deal of brutal death metal that draws influences from the European scene, but is in fact closer to the brutal U.S. death metal movement with deep guttural vocals, extremely heavy and fast rhythm parts and some relentless and yet intricate solos and riffs. Wrap all this up with an excellent production that allows all instruments and all ideas be displayed in the best possible way and you have a pure holocaust of an album. REQUIEM aren't here to offer us anything new or original, they are here because they love brutal death metal and they are here to deliver it without making compromises or alterations. So, if you like the traditional death metal sound then perhaps REQUIEM's "Within Darkened Disorder" is an experience you'd like to have! 

Christine  Parastatidou

THE BLOODSHOT GAMBLERS Pain and Other Simple Pleasures Demon Deluxe Records Official Website

This Arizona based duet, comprised by Tim David Kelly & Brian Anderson of KICKING HAROLD, has made me ponder once again on the universal truth "never say never", because I can't say I like rock or even alternative rock music much... Actually I don't like it at all, but then bands like THE BLOODSHOT GAMBLERS come who make you reconsider. This doesn't mean that come tomorrow I'll start listening to rock music, but it means that their music is so beautiful, powerful and great that they won me as a fan even though I'm not in the "demographic" their music usually applies to. Their compositions are warm and alluring, they are seductive and mesmerizing and yet they are dark with a dose of melancholy and bitterness. Besides, the guys in the band have managed to find the golden balance between their rougher and their more melodic moments, thus not only creating a homogeneous smooth end result, but also a dynamic and passionate work. The craftsmanship is obvious here and the vocals by Tim David Kelly are so beautiful, warm and emotive that elevate the songs' worth and value even more making "Pain and Other Simple Pleasures" an enjoyable experience! This may not be the kind of music that's usually addressed to the average metal head, but still quality music should always be acknowledged, so if you are open minded enough and you like good rock music, then this is a release I highly recommend!

Christine  Parastatidou

LEGIO MORTIS The Human Creation and the Devil's Contribution MDD Records Official Website

About a couple of years after the release of their third work, LEGIO MORTIS, the sextet from Germany strikes back with a new album with the very clever, I believe, title "The Human Creation and the Devil's Contribution". Lyric-wise the band deals with Satan, the ancient times and darkness in general, but the ideas they put forth can also work as food for thought besides serving the songs and making them sound more extreme and edgy. Music-wise, now, they dwell somewhere between death and black metal with lots of dark and gothic metal elements and although all these may sound similar and pretty common to you, the truth is that these guys have managed to deliver a quite original and characteristic end result, unlike what we're mainly used to listening to. This doesn't mean that their music doesn't contain all the well known and necessary cliches of the aforementioned genres, it's just that these guys have managed to offer it through their own perspective, adding a slightly modern twist mainly displayed by the keyboards. Other than that the musicianship is very good, most of the songs are catchy and interesting, the production is very good and Liv Kristine (LEAVES' EYES) also makes a guest vocal appearance in the song "Life Denied". If you like modern versions of dark, gothic death/black metal, then LEGIO MORTIS might be a good start for you!

Christine  Parastatidou

WARDRUM Spadework Steel Gallery Records Official Website

This is the first album from this Greek metal band that comes from Thessaloniki, the second largest city of Greece. This is the city where both Behind The Veil and Steel Gallery Records are based. The majority of the band members are from HORIZON'S END, a really great progressive metal band. The leader of the group is Stergios Kourou, the drummer of HORIZON'S END, the guitarist is Kosta Vretos from HORIZON'S END as well, who, by the way, has done a really great solo work and the bassist is Kostas Scandalis also from HORIZON'S END. Scandalis took over the production duties and the mastering of the sound and I can really say that he has done a wonderful job!! The singer of WARDRUM is Pierro Leropale, a singer that I had the chance to see live a couple of months ago along with the guitarist Uli Jon Roth (ex-SCORPIONS). I can say that this guy is great both in a live environment and in the studio!! The cover artwork was made by Michal Karcz, member of the Rainer Kalwitz Crew (that has done cover artworks for SHADOW GALLERY, Century Media Records, Massacre Records, etc). The band plays lyrical power metal, but it also has a really good technique! For example the guitar work on this album is excellent!! The anthems that I enjoyed a bit more are "The Meaning of Forever", "Crest of the Wave", "Yesterday" and "Soultrip". In conclusion this is one of the best works that came from Greece (and perhaps even from all over the world!!) the last years and I really think that you should buy it. If you think that I am saying all these kind words because the band is from my city then I suggest you try to listen to some samples first and then I think that you will remember my words!

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis

ILLDISPOSED There Is Light (But It's Not For Me) Massacre Records Official Website

ILLDISPOSED from Denmark is a hard working and very productive band, now counting their ninth full length release since their formation in 1991, which makes them an old band that has accumulated experience over the years and has managed to form and shape a personal sound that belongs to the wider genre of thrash/death metal. Recently they seem to be hyper-active and work even harder and more than they used to, since in these past couple of years they've released, through their new label Massacre Records, some of their previous and highly successful albums plus two new releases. However, don't think even for a minute that this would make them sound tired or uninspired since their latest output, "There Is Light (But It's Not For Me)", is a pure holocaust with some really tight, raw and in your face songs that spit venom, aggressiveness and hatred, while at the same time making you go wild, with adrenaline pumping through your veins non stop... and this is not just it, since the album sounds darker and more pissed off than anything they've done so far and yet it's far more complex and elaborate, adorned with beautiful melodies and catchy guitar riffs and solos. "There Is Light (But It's Not For Me)" is a step back to the band's roots, while confidently gazing the future!

Christine  Parastatidou

INNOSENSE Outcast Steel Gallery Records Official Website

This is the first album of this Greek progressive metal band. The band comes from Larissa, a city of central Greece which has given good bands of various metal genres in the past!! The band has also released a demo back in 2007. Their debut album, "Outcast", is good for its genre, the production is as it should be for the style that they play while the vocals are definitely the biggest advantage for the band. My favourite themes are in the songs "On and On", "Mystify" and "The Fall". In conclusion this is an album which is a must for the fans of progressive metal as well as the majority of the albums that were recently released by Steel Gallery Records. INNOSENSE has shown that they are capable of great things in the future!!!

Ioannis  "Knight of the Light"  Kaskamanidis