2013

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    Kozeljnik - The Acheron of Multiform Negation (2013)

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    Continuing with the twisted Black Metal sound Kozeljnik brought upon us on their 2010 release “Deeper the Fall”, this Serbian outfit delivers six more tracks of punishing Black Metal with “Null: The Acheron of Multiform Negation”. With a dark and twisted edge to their sound, this band shows more improvements over their previous release and they create a very thick and heavy atmosphere for over 35 minutes of music on this album.

    Opening with the melodic “As if Through a Myriad of Shades”, we get some excellent riffing and very fitting clean vocals that create quite a dense atmosphere. With obvious Black Metal roots, the band’s sound can be compared to other acts like Secrets of The Moon that bend the foundations of BM to their will and create nifty songs in the process. A perfect example of this is the crushing “Evoking the Furtive Depths (Reprisal)” featuring crafty guitar work and hellish vocals.

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    Hod – The Uncreated (2013)

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    Packing in a lot of fire power in three songs, today we have Hod and their 2013 demo “The Uncreated”. Delivering relentless riffs, tight drumming, and hellish vocals, this band has what it takes to take you by surprise and command you to headbang from the beginning to the end of this nifty release.

    Opening with the sheer power of “Beneath The Mountains of The Scorpions”, this nearly six minute long opus delivers high-octane energy and plenty of killer riffs, showcasing the band’s brutality and musical abilities. The vocals are quite entertaining and keep things fresh, but what hooks you is the massive drumming surrounding the catchy riffing. The band does a great job in keeping the song fresh and diverse by switching up tempos very graciously.

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    E-Musikgruppe Lux Ohr – Kometenbahn (2013)

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    Always having surprises for us, Svart Records presents the very unique and highly experimental release “Kometenbahn”, by Finish outfit E-Musikgruppe Lux Ohr. Mixing all kinds of genres but mainly: Electronic, Ambient, Krautrock and Progressive elements from the 70’s, this is one very weird and totally different release to what we are used to… and we kind of dig it.

    Opening with an electronic intro “Prolog im Himmel”, the band slowly builds up with the futuristic and hypnotic “Nachtgeist”, a song that we picture to be playing in all the elevators of Sci-Fi movies like “Minority Report” and such. “Durch Den Komischen Dunst” is an 11 minute epic that is very rich in diverse elements and it is greatly put together to craft a very ethereal experience. We have to say that this is one of our favorite tracks of this release thanks to its very soothing and engaging pace.

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    Lustre – Lost In Lustrous Night Skies (2013)

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    One-man Atmospheric Black Metal force Lustre delivers their latest compilation of unreleased (or hard to find) tracks under the title of “Lost In Lustrous Night Skies”. Featuring five tracks inspired by Burzum’s atmospheric pieces, this release is quite a treat for hard-core Lustre fans and fans of Atmospheric and creepy Black Metal.

    “Spirit” delivers the opening 12 minutes of very minimalistic and highly atmospheric bone chilling music. Very simple keyboards and atmospheric elements create a very dense and eerie atmosphere that is enhanced by distorted guitars and devastating screams of agony. A similar approach is taken on the disturbing instrumental “Echoes of Transcendence”. With “Into The Ancient Darkness” we have more of a Bruzum feeling that is combined with elements of bands like Austere and such. The screams are quite fitting for the purely atmospheric content of such a track.

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    Odd Dimension – The Last Embrace To Humanity (2013)

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    After blowing us away with their debut release “Symmetrical” back in 2011, Odd Dimension returns with the more mature and centered “The Last Embrace To Humanity”. This Italian band showed great potential on their first release and here they demonstrate they are growing as musicians by delivering eight excellent tracks that range from Progressive anthems to more laidback and mellow ballad-type of songs.

    The band opens with the Progressive anthem “The Unknown King” a very upbeat and quite intricate 7 minute long track. Here the band continues with their “Symmetrical”-style sound with lush keyboards and very tight instrumentation. Manuel Candiotto powerful vocals are the standout element of tracks like “Under My Creed”, where his range is nicely tested. The Progressive magic continues with “Dissolving Into The Void” filled with excellent piano sections and very well crafted guitars.

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    Norse – All Is Mist and Fog (2013)

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    What happens when a release arrives a couple of years late to the party? It just sounds very dated and weak in comparison to others. This is the main problem that we have with Norse and their sophomore release “All is Mist and Fog”. With a tight Blackened Death Metal sound from several years back and a very weak production, this release would have been greatly benefitted from a remastering or something.

    Moving on full steam ahead with the pummeling “Neglect”, the band has a dated sound that while powerful is not quite what most releases these days have. The drumming is quite intense, but it sounds, to be honest, like total shit. It might have been the promo or they tried to give it a weird effect, but it sounds like it was recorded inside a toilet and some muffling effect was added. We don’t like to be this harsh on releases, but when everything else sounds quite ok, we wonder how this could have happened.

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    Beyond The Shore – Ghostwatcher (2013)

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    Diving right into “Ghostwatcher” one might immediately think this is just another Metalcore/Deathcore release, but as one further explores Beyond The Shore’s music, there are quite a few interesting elements that make this release standout from the crowd. Released via Metalblade Records, this album features 10 tracks that at times are hit or miss, but there is a general sense of diversity that will keep your attention on this release.

    Opening with two very vanilla tracks: “Dividers” and “Half Lived”, things really start to get interesting with the intricately crafted “Transitions”. The band delivers run of the mill Metalcore with some interesting guitar melodies and funky drum patters, making this track quite enjoyable and unexpected. The album’s first single “Homewrecker” is another very interesting piece with very tight melodic sections and cool transitions, only the vocals ruin a bit the moment.

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    Sannhet – Known Flood (2013)

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    Delivering 43 minutes of relentless instrumental Post-Metal with Black Metal, Sludge and even some post-punk influences, today we have Sannhet and their debit release “Known Flood”. With a current rise in the popularity of Post-Metal bands that try to be copycats of Neurosis and Isis, it is quite refreshing to hear a band like Sannhet that can deliver the goods and still craft a unique and crushing style of their own.

    The brutal “Abescon Isle” delivers a similar pummeling feeling to bands like Wolves In The Throne Room but with a sludgier edge. The band’s Black Metal influences are very evident and they make them very present in their intense riffing demonstration. Things get more interesting with the strange opening of “Invisible Wounds”, setting a very disturbing and quite engaging atmospheric tone before going back into powerful melodic and heavy riffs.

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    Azure Emote – The Gravity of Impermanence (2013)

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    As the brainchild of Mike Hrubovcak (Monstrosity, etc) today we have the totally wacked out second full-length release of Azure Emote titled “The Gravity of Impermanence”. Featuring 14 tracks and around 60 minutes of very chaotic and somewhat odd music, this release will have listeners at the end of their seats waiting to hear what is coming up next. Mixing all kinds of styles, both musically and vocally, this is one very complex album that takes a bit to sink in.

    Opening with the strange “Epoch of De-Evolution”, you immediately know that this is one of those albums that will keep you confused. Immediately we start to draw comparisons to bands like Sigh, Unexpect, etc, where you don’t really know where the album is going until you decide to give up and just enjoy the weirdness. “Carpe Diem” is quite a good example of this weirdness with haunting vocals and the excellent signature violin contribution of Pete Johansen.

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    Six Feet Under – Unborn (2013)

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    Cranking out another release in less than one year, today we have Six Feet Under and their Groove infused Death Metal. Not lacking in quality and diving a bit into their older sound, “Unborn” delivers 11 crushing tracks that any fan of the band and American Death Metal will enjoy from beginning to end. Being the band’s 13th full-length release, they still have the magic to make the crows mosh themselves to a pulp and they are not afraid to pull the trigger on it.

    Opening with the crunchy “Neuro Osmosis”, Chris Barnes treats us with his powerful growls and the band does a great job in crafting meaty hooks and solid melodic sections. After the quintessential Death Metal track “Prophecy”, the band delivers the groovy goods with the super catchy “Zombie Blood Curse”. With back to back neck breaking anthems with “Incision” and “Decapitate”, Six Feet Under keeps the album varied and entertaining, something that has been a problem with them in the past, but in “Unborn” they deliver without getting repetitive.

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