Album Reviews

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    Klogr – Till You Decay (2012)

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    Arriving from Italy, today we have Klogr and their very dynamic and intense debut full-length “Till You Decay”. It is instantly evident that huge amount of work (and money) has been put into this very well crafted release. The production is as good as it gets and everything sounds as if you had the band playing in your living room (or car). Featuring eleven tracks of a hybrid between alt-rock and Alternative/Modern Metal, the songs presented here are very well balanced between the genres and deliver a very rich aural experience.

    Opening with “Live Dying”, the band uses a melodic approach to lure the listener into their highly diverse sound. As the pounding guitars make their presence felt, that alt rock/Metal vibe is immediately present. The band’s vocalist (and guitarists) Rusty has a very strong and engaging voice, that while very commercial sounding, it gets the job done and nicely leads the songs in this release. The highly melodic “Silk and Thorns” shows a different side of the band, and a very catchy one indeed.

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    Inner Blast – Sleepless Monster (2012)

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    With a Gothic Metal style that we haven’t heard in quite a while, today we have Portugal’s Inner Blast and their debut EP “Sleepless Monster”. Reminding us of Gothic Metal bands from the early 2000’s, the simplicity behind this band’s sound makes them very fresh and something completely different to what we are currently used to these days. Providing us with nearly 28 minutes of music, the five tracks in this EP are quite enjoyable and bring back some nostalgic memories from the past.

    Since the opener “Better Days”, the band delivers a very ‘old-school’ vibe thanks to the simple production. The keyboards are just present to add atmosphere, and are never overdone like in all bands these days. Liliana’s vocals are very natural and don’t try to be operatic or anything, just filled with feeling and that is all. We have missed music like this since bands like Nightwish, Epica, etc., now sound like a movie soundtrack and some of the emotion behind the music is greatly lost.

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    Clairvoyants – The Shape of Things to Come (2012)

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    Led by Luca Princiotta of Doro fame, today we have Clairvoyants and their excellent Power/Heavy Metal release titled “The Shape of Things to Come”. Delivering eleven tracks of brilliantly crafted old-school Power/Heavy Metal, this is one hell of a catchy and enjoyable release. With 10 our 11 tracks composed by Luca, we have a very solid Power/Heavy Metal foundation that can compare to any big-name band in the scene.

    With a very catchy chorus section, “No Need to Surrender” opens this release showcasing the band’s firepower. The guitars are very solid, the drumming is well crafted, and the singing is pretty ok for a Power/Heavy Metal band. Luca clearly knows how to open and album and with this epic anthem, “The Shape of Things to Come” is off to a great start. “Endure and Survive” is the next super catchy song in this release thanks to some meaty riffs and, again, a very catchy chorus section. This track also reminds us more of older Heavy Metal songs than any Power Metal we have heard in the last few years.

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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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    Fanthrash – Duality of Things (2011)

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    The Thrash Metal revival up to date has been mostly from USA bands, but today we have one of Poland’s ‘first’ Thrash Metal bands, Fanthrash, returning from a 10 year hiatus and delivering a pretty solid ‘debut’ full-length titled “Duality of Things”. Featuring twelve tracks of high-intensity Thrashtastic music, this band has a hearty old-school vibe that perfectly blends with a few more modern and experimental elements.

    After the instrumental opener, “Allocation of The Soul” brings solid riffing and very firm singing, none of that high-pitched bullshit that many Thrash bands call singing. With a few unconventional tempo changes, this is not your typical Thrash Metal song, but neither is Fanthrash your typical run of the mill band. With some serious Death-like opening vibe, “Forced” delivers a pretty good dosage of riffs and intricate drumming sections, making this a very diverse and highly entertaining song.

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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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    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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