2012

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    Demonic Slaughter – Dark Essence (2012)

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    With a deeply disturbing thick Black Metal sound, today we have Poland’s Demonic Slaughter and their latest EP titled “Dark Essence”. Being almost a full-length release by today’s Black Metal standards, this killer release showcases a very thick and extremely intoxicating devilish atmosphere. Thanks to the heavy guitars and firm vocals, this release surely will unnerve even the most seasoned BM listener.

    After the extremely cliché acoustic atmospheric opener, the band goes into full steam with “Inner-self Transfiguration”. In this track the riffing is very typical and the drumming provides the perfect complement. The strong snarls that the band’s vocalist Xaos Oblivion delivers are just right for such a dark and foul sound. While not your average BM release, the band has great knack for creating thick atmospheres with a the basic guitar-drum combo, and being produced and mixed by Xaos Oblivion we suspect this is exactly what the band was going for.

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    Malfeitor – Dum Morior Orior (2012)

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    Attacking our ears with relentless riffing, today we have Malfeitor’s “Dum Morior Orior”. For a band that formed in 1990, it is quite suspect that they are finally releasing their debut full-length in 2012. Anyways, this old-school Swedish Death Metal band does a pretty solid job in delivering Grave-like song structures that while effective, they feel a bit outdated by current standards.

    “Conversation in Minor” delivers the first onslaught of riffing and the nostalgic feelings begin. Reminding us of the great Grave, this band does pack a lot of heat in this release, but it also seems like it was in the ‘cooler’ for a bit too long. There are pretty solid riffs and excellent bass guitar sections in this track, and the growls are very typical of the period, but it just fails to move us like other recent Swedish DM releases.

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    Intestinal – The Rottening (2012)

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    With a cover that reminds us of Cannibal Corpse’s infamous “Tomb of the Mutilated” or “Gallery of Suicide” uncensored covers, today we have Sweden’s Intestinal and their second full-length “The Rottening”.  Featuring eleven tracks of Swedish Death Metal with a bit of a modern flair, this release is actually far more unconventional that one would expect just from the cover.

    Opening with a traditional sample, the music soon start flowing and while the Swedish DM vibe is present, the band tends to start away from the formulaic meaty hooks approach. Instead in “Flesh for Living” we have a more playful approach with the music being quite exciting, having some Hardcore and even some Modern metal hints, this track is quite enjoyable. The electrifying drumming in “Vaginal Vomination” delivers excellent sections that are quite a revelation for what we were expecting form this release.

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    Useless Concept – Mysterious Impact (2012)

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    Led by the strong vocals of Sandrine Humbert, today we have Useless Concept and their latest release “Mysterious Impact”. Combining Hard Rock with some Metal and Progressive elements and a few jazzy/funky hints, this release delivers twelve tracks of excellent and catchy music. Being originally and instrumental, and then a Progressive Metal band, Useless Concept has come a long way to their current shape, but it sure works for them and to the advantage of the listeners.

    Opening with “Emphatic Experience”, the band starts on a high note thanks to Sandrine’s vocal and the excellent music behind this track. The heavy Rock vibe is quite enjoyable, but the little progressive elements are what makes the music standout even more. The riff centric “Live and Learn” keeps things rolling, but the atmospheric elements of “Amy” really give the band that extra depth that many inexperienced bands are lacking.

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    Escarnium – Excruciating Existence (2012)

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    Packing a lot of heat in their traditional Death Metal, today we have Escarnium and their first full-length release “Excruciating Existence”. Featuring nine track of neck-breaking Death Metal, this band delivers excellent guitar riffs and tight drumming throughout this whole release. If you are a fan of Suffocation, Cannibal Corpse, Incantation, etc., this is the release for you.

    With the crushing opener “731” the band delivers a powerful blow in the shape of relentless drumming and devastating riffs. The deep growls are up to par with any of the genre’s greats, but the overall meatiness of the music is what makes this release very appealing. The devastation rolls on with tracks like “Excruciating Existence”, “Self-Proclaimed Messiah”, and “Nuclear Burial”. While the band is not the most original in the world, they do an excellent job in delivering catchiness and brutality.

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    Refusal – Grasp (2012)

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    Remember the good old days when extreme music did not had faggy clean vocals and breakdowns?, if you do, then Refusal’s latest demo “Grasp” provides a nice stroll through memory lane. Delivering four songs of very typical Swedish Death Metal, this band from Finland does a great job in capturing a timeless sound and making it their own with super catchy tracks.

    Opening with the neck breaking “Do Your Part”, the band’s sound immediately has that old-school vibe. The riffing is quite catchy and the vocals are raspy and powerful. This song also features a pretty solid tempo that is nicely marked by the well-crafted drums. The band reminds us of Grave in certain instances. Keeping the catchiness flowing, “Grip” delivers nice and meaty guitars paired with excellent growls. In this track we can verify that the band does a great job in creating a certain tempo that works perfectly with the riffing and the vocals.

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    Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody – Ascending to Infinity (2012)

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    Our initial impression of the latest ‘Rhapsody’ (Luca Turilli’s incarnation of it) is HOLY SHIT. The man has shown over the years that he is a brilliant musician and with the ridiculously over the top “Ascending to Infinity” he answers to all the skeptics a big: I am Rhapsody. Featuring nine brilliant tracks of Symphonic Metal, this is one of those albums that you need to hear at least 100 times to fully discover all the little details and brilliance behind it.

    After the epic mood –setter “Quantum X”, things blow up with the playful “Ascending to Infinity”. In this track, the guitars are flowing, the orchestral arrangements are very classical sounding, but Alessandro Conti’s vocals steal the show. Coming from the relatively unknown band “Trick or Treat”, this new singer delivers every single line to perfection. The over the top feeling is not saturated as with other overly ambitious bands, and the tempo changes are very well crafted.

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    Crucified Barbara – The Midnight Chase (2012)

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    Delivering an excellent hard rocking release, today we have Sweden’s Crucified Barbara and their third full-length release “The Midnight Chase”. Featuring eleven songs of Hard Rock with some Metal elements, this release is very well written and extremely catchy. The band’s attitude since the opener “The Crucifier” is very determinate and quite effective in delivering powerful Thrashy riffs with more traditional drum structures.

    Mia Coldheart’s vocals are raspy enough to have that early Motorhead vibe, giving the band’s sound that old-school vibe that other bands would kill for. The melodic aspect of the band’s music is also quite excellent, on tracks like “Shut Your Mouth”, and “Into the Fire” there are very cool melodic passages that add diversity to the band’s sound. The tempo changes like on “Rules and Bones” add depth to the band’s musical arsenal, but ultimately the killer guitars and catchy lyrics are what make the songs an excellent listening experience.

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    Nile – At the Gate of Sethu (2012)

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    The everlasting Nile returns to us this 2012 with yeah another dose of extremely brutal Death Metal with hints of Middle Eastern influences. While we loved “Those Whom The Gods Detest”, this release feels too much like a continuation of that album and nothing else. The production of this release makes the guitars sound a bit weird (very thin in a way), the bass guitar is very hard to find, the drums are a bit drowned in the mix, and only highlights the vocals (both growls and clean ones), making for a unique but weird listening experience.

    The hyper-fast “Enduring the Eternal Molestation of Flame” opens the musical onslaught with great brutality and crushing riffs (that sound a bit weird). The hellish different vocal layers are pretty demonic sounding, and the overall drumming is actually quite good, but it sometimes gets lost behind the growls. There is no doubt that there are some excellent technical sections in this track, but there is nothing new to show when compared to their previous release.

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    Chaosweaver – Enter the Realm of the Doppelganger (2012)

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    Finally we get a release that is a bit different than almost everybody else that tries to copy somebody. With Chaosweaver’s sophomore release “Enter the Realm of the Doppelganger”, we are treated to nine tracks of excellent Symphonic Metal with Black Metal and Industrial elements. Keeping the atmosphere above all things, the band nicely crafts excellent songs that are quite a musical experience.

    The highly dramatic opener “A Read Dawn Rises” is a clear example of a beautifully crafted track that delivers emotions and a great sense of harmony. This is the perfect lead-up for the explosive “Wings of Chaos”. In this track the guitars open up a riffing onslaught while the atmospheric synths fill the atmosphere. Not sounding like Dimmu Borgir, or any other Symphonic Metal band, Chaosweaver has a bigger and more grandiose cinematic feeling. With a very classical feeling “Maelstrom of Black Light” nicely keeps the experience rolling with catchy riffing and an excellent tempo.

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