The Void celebrates their first decade of existence with "Vision Of The Truth" - their dark metal debut album. Dark metal is indeed a fit, encompassing label, as The Void grasps the essence of different genres and consolidates them in nine spun-out compositions. Doom, dark wave, gothic metal, it's all referred to, but never copied. Author: © Göran
As tradition prescribes, every Eastpak Resistance Tour is followed by a DVD compilation of the most intense experiences. I got my hands on The Eastpak Resistance Tour Volume III, released by “I Scream Records”. The show was recorded on November 28th 2004 at the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels (Belgium). The disc ended up my to-do-stack for some months, and after enjoying a couple of viewing turns, I really feel guilty for my unforgivable sin. For hardcore and metalcore lovers, this concert DVD almost is pure gold. But it definitely grants an energetic and vivid show for other music lovers too.
This third release of the well known Eastpak Resistance Tour collects renowned music icons and more underground novices. A tasteful blend! The first act to start with, is the show of the New York hardcore giant “Sick Of It All” (possibly one of the best en most influential hardcore bands, at my opinion). No crap, a blast-off, a fast pace. Just the way hardcore and punk should be. The vocals of lead singer Lou Koller are enjoyable unclear. The drumming is just mad. The fourth song “Scratch the Surface” is accompanied by a grand 4-way braveheart; a wall of death with four sides resulting in a moshpit crowd on stage. This is the powerful energy you expect of a hardcore punk concert. What a terrific DVD opener(more ...)
Author: © Hamirubi
Author: © Upchuck Undergrind
Author: © Upchuck Undergrind
Inner Souls is this bands second MCD, with three long tracks on it. Even though the music isn't the most technical around, it could grab my attention because of its well-sounding simplicity and catchiness. The only minor point worth mentioning are the vocals, which aren't bad, but they're a bit too vague and distorted. Otherwise, the heavy/thrash-like songs are nicely woven together... even despite their duration (each track is about 7:30 long), the songs don't bore a bit. Last Souls didn't produce anything groundbreaking, but they did quite a good job considering they are rather young. They certainly should continue with this stuff, it could turn out nice.
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Author: © Göran
Nihilistikrypt is a young band that just released their first demo "Required Sacrifices". This Estonian outfit plays melodic deathmetal and their effort surprises me in a positive manner. It's always risky to try and home-record in your own 'studio', but these guys obviously known what they're doing: they managed to create a fairly good production. They describe their music as "evil"... well, it's not exactly blackmetal nor does it seem very evil to me, but who cares, it sounds damn good! Varied riffs and lots of catchy tunes (in which I sometimes seem to recognize Death-influences) keep your attention for about 30 minutes. With a strong drumming effort and a solid overall performance, this demo has fulfilled its purpose: making you and me aware of the existence of this band, and more importantly, showing that their compositions are worth the attention. Cool band and good music... one to keep an eye on!
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Author: © Göran
The first full-length of None Shall Be Saved is a fact with "Those days are gone" - more than 30 minutes of intense hardcore! For fans of Sick Of It All and Hatebreed indeed: this stuff is catchy as hell... Even the most static people will move on this one, and moshers will be able to spill quite some energy if they see this act live. I have to admit I don't listen to this genre every day and the album sounds a bit 'like all the rest' to me... But in this case, that doesn't bother me: the quality is more than decent, so the more the better, right!? To all you hardcore fans: listen to this band. Definitely.
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Author: © Göran
Nefarium's "Praesidium" album contains thirty minutes of blasphemous blackmetal; just as blackmetal should sound. The machine-like drummer provides a non-stop whirlwind of uptempo beats, while the demonic guitarlines show influences from, among others, Dark Funeral and Carpathian Forest. Also hints of thrashy black are to be found, together with some runs that become typical of Nefarium throughout the album. Raw and intense, yet clear and melodic even. These guys put sufficient variation in their songs and have the necessary musicianship to construct appealing blackmetal. Fans of the genre should definitely pay some attention to this release!
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Author: © Göran
Novembers Fall is a young band with young members. I can hear you thinking already: "oh no, another band with kids who think they can play." Well, these guys don't just think it, they actually can. Melodic metal, with a firm dose of clean vocals and those lovely vague, continuous melodies. Don't get pinned on that description though, some parts even tend to blackmetal (superb vocals once more!). What i basically comes down to: a bloody impressive demo! The songs are long but the band has enough capacities to keep it varied and interesting. I can't quite make any plausible negative remarks, especially considering the member's ages and that it's self-financed. Keep an eye on this band, this can only get even better. And damn, I want to be there when that happens!
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Author: © Göran
Some weeks ago, I bought the AqME DVD “Live(s)”, a disc accompanying the homonymic album. I already reviewed the matching CD on Corazine: http://www.corazine.com/index.php?id=821
The DVD however contains a concert in Nantes (France), June 2nd 2006. The CD was recorded at a live performance in Brussels (Belgium) some months earlier on the seventeenth of February 2006. Both discs contain, next to an as good as similar setlist, no new songs. No breath of wind was to be heard of this French néo metal formation after the release of the live album Live(s). AqME honoured the sabbatical and having a dazzling fourth opus in mind (after the demo “University Of Nowhere (°2000), “Sombre Efforts” (°2002), “Polaroids & Pornographie” (°2003), “La Fin Des Temps” (°2005) and the live CD “Live(s)” (°2006)), they come up with their newest full-length album: We can all find “Hérésie” in the record shops. Compromising between néo metal and alternative hard rock, AqME definitely is one of the major or well known players in the French contemporary alternative music scène. That comes with great expectations. Could the band live up to the high prospects? Let’s find out!
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Author: © Hamirubi
Ah, my curiosity is always sparked by a one-man extreme metal project. When it comes to solo careers in metal, I've heard some utterly dreadful albums, but some magnificent efforts also. Experienced metaller Jacobo Córdova is the creator of Ticket To Hell, handling "all instruments" - let's see what that produced.
Jacobo is clearly a jack of all trades, although it's not mentioned whether the drums are programmed - but if they aren't, respect! There are people who can play multiple instruments (including vocals) at a decent level, but it isn't a common thing, that's for sure. It doesn't really matter: unlike some other one-man releases, this album isn't thinly produced at all, but rather sounds like a full band.
Varied vocals, interesting guitar dialogues and headbangable beats are mingled together into a death/thrash mix. Mr. Jacobo knows how to write his songs with an enthusiastic pace and a stubborn groove: whether or not you want to, you will succumb to it. 'Man Made Paradise' is superb as the product of one man, and still fairly decent compared to the other fish in the sea. This is not the next band to worship, but it certainly is the next album you should give a shot.
Author: © Göran
"Back of beyond" is the first full-length of Nabaath. This Russian black metal - with grim titles like 'Eternal Silent Forest Of Frost' - is another tribute to the old school generation. After the ethereal intro, the listener is drowned in a constant stream of semi-melodic blackest of black. Nabaath isn't too shabby about it, either. The drums aren't withholding at all, and the high paced gunning is, at the very least, a decent foundation. The same goes for the stringed instruments: using a dry, raw sound that allows for both aggression and clarity, the songs have a frostbitten ring to it and are compelling enough for me to be enthusiastic in my reviewing them.Author: © Göran
Author: © Peter Van De Weyer
Author: © Peter Van De Weyer
It's been a while, but it's finally that time again: an Italian power metal band promo has dropped in the mailbox. There are bands that deserve (or even get) a near-maximum score in the press, like Symphony X, Dream Theater and Angra. Then there are bands referring to such big names, hoping for the reviewer to find the similarities and giving them an equally high score. Author: © Göran