Album Reviews

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    My Darkest Side – Death Begins (2010)

    While we usually don’t like bands that play Death-core, My Darkest Side has managed to make us more open to this genre. This young band delivers a very solid 12 minute promo with “Death Begins” that will leave you wanting more.

    “Death Begins” is a perfectly recorded promo release that shows that if there is a will there is a way. Nowadays unsigned bands are putting out more crap music than ever, thanks to cheap recording equipment and the myspace era. But My Darkest Side manages to shine away from their competition by having a very professional promo release.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Kratornas - The Corroding Age of Wounds (2009)

    Coming from the Philippines we recently received this very brutal and chaotic release names “The Corroding Age of Wounds” from the one-man band Kratornas. The band furiously mixes Black Metal with Grindcore influences creating a very think cloud of chaos.

    Kratornas has been around since 1995 has released a countless number of demos, Ep’s and split albums before releasing their first full-length album “Over the Fourth Part of the Earth” back in 2007. While the band’s style is nothing new or original, it will surely turn heads because of its brutality and restless drumming.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Burzum – Belus (2010)

    Disclaimer: Many things can be said about Burzum’s mastermind Varg Vikernes and while we DO NOT SUPPORT in ANY means his political and ideological affiliations. We will review his music like any other band that we would get a promo/cd from.

    Back in 1992 when Burzum’s self-title album came out it was one of the most interesting releases of it’s time. The band kept getting better and better with time, releasing their best album with “Hvis Lyset Tar Oss”. After that the Burzum style was refined and “Filosofem” was released amidst Varg being in jail.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Ragnarok – Collectors Of The King (2010)

    Featuring a completely re-vamped lineup that only contains original drummer Jontho, Ragnarok is back to defend it’s underground Black Metal crown. The band has never gotten too big, but their music speaks for it self: a healthy dose of True Black Metal that does not sound like it was recorded in the toilet.

    With ten tracks and around 40 minutes of music, “Collectors of the King” marks the band’s return after 6 years since their well received “Blackdoor Miracle” album. The band does not bullshit around, and with “Collectors Of The King” they provide a very powerful tour-de-force performance.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Enthroned – Pentagrammaton (2010)

    Three years have passed since the band’s lackluster album “Tetra Karcist”, now they are back and ready to play some ‘balls to the wall’ Black Metal that will blow you head off. “Pentagrammaton” is by far a better quality release than the band’s previous opus.

    The band has never been known for their consistency, however, they have managed to produce some fine Black Metal albums like: “Prophecies of Pagan Fire” and “XES Haereticum”. If we had to decide, we would place “Pentagrammaton” in the band’s top 3 albums of their career.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Finntroll – Nifelvind (2010)

    After releasing “Ur Jordens Djup” in 2007, Finntroll reached ‘world fame’ and became one of the most recognized bands in the Folk Metal genre. The band been touring both Europe and the USA since that album non-stop and finally we get a new release this 2010.

    “Nifelvind” shows why this horde of crazy Finish people incites the masses to consume beer and party with their music. The album features eleven tracks of very solid Folk Metal that will surely please every single fan of the band since it caries with the band’s traditional sound.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Dark Tranquillity – We Are The Void (2010)

    Dark Tranquillity in it’s almost 20 years lifespan has managed to create some of the most iconic Melodic Death Metal albums of all times. The band has also paved the way to the hundreds of clones that try to play Melodic DM with the famed Gothenburg sound but fail miserably at. With “We Are The Void” they present us their latest offering in their career and it’s a solid but somewhat empty album.

    The band has always been pushing the boundaries of the genre in every release they have produced. Since the early days they have been bending musical boundaries, and in the last decade they have been probably the only true Gothenburg Melodic DM band left.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Voices Of Destiny – From The Ashes (2010)

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    Have you ever wondered how angles or sirens would sing?, if I had to guess it would be pretty darn close to Maike Holzmann, the female vocalist of Voices Of Destiny. I’m a huge fan of Gothic Metal and I’ve heard countless bands but only a few female singers have enchanted me, and Maike is one of them.

    Voices Of Destiny hails from Germany and for such a young band (formed in 2004 and have only released one demo), they kick ass at playing the ‘traditional’ Gothic Metal with the ‘beauty and the beast’ vocal approach. But don’t be fooled, this band is nowhere as formulaic as this statement might sound.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Demonica – Demonstrous (2010)

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    Featuring Hank Shermann from Merciful Fate fame, Demonica is here to capitalize on the current revival of Trash Metal. And they do a great job at it, kicking ass in every direction this album takes.

    You can hear some Slayer-style vocals (which are not my favorite), but the best element in this album is the guitar riffing: it’s amazing. If you are not a big Trash Fan you should get in on the action right now, since there are many brilliant albums being released these days.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Catamenia – Cavalcade (2010)

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    Back in the day Catamenia used to play Melodic Black Metal and was considered just another band in the bunch. We have slowly seen how this band has been evolving into a more complex beast and it has been shedding its skin release after release until now.

    “Cavalcade” shows a finally mature band that plays a very interesting sounding ‘Blackened’ Power Metal. You still get the Black Metal shrieks, however the music structure is very Power Metal like, and its brilliant. The band finally polished its sound and after interesting releases we finally get a great one.

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