Album Reviews

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Sokrovenno - De Rerum Natura (2009)

    The shit-storm of bands like Agalloch, Negura Bunget and Wolves in the Throne Room has finally reached monsoon status, and now it’s harder than ever to pick out the good bands from all these clones popping out of every dark corner in the world. Luckily for us, Sokrovenno is a very good band that this storm has produced.

    Hailing from Italy, this “Philosophical Pagan Black Metal” band is actually one of the best we have reviewed this month. Alongside the new albums from Negura Bunget and Alcest, “De Rerum Natura” is one of our favorites this year when it comes to the “Atmospheric Dark/Black Metal” genre combination.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Machines Of Grace – Machines Of Grace (2009)

    Originally started ad Wicked Witch, Machines Of Grace features Zack Stevens (ex- Savatage and ex-Trans-Siberian Orchestra) alongside Jeff Plate (current Savatage and Trans-Siberian Ochestra member) alongside Matt Leff and Chris Rapoza, both from Trigger Effect. Listening to this line-up you know you have a super group with Machines Of Grace.

    Their self titled debut album was released barely one year after the band got together in 2008. Featuring 14 songs and over 55 minutes, the band makes a very solid statement by creating very catchy and well delivered Hard Rock/Heavy Metal sounding songs that most people can identify with.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Arise – The Reckoning (2010)

    Surrounded by very confusing information, I found stuff back from April 2009 indicating the release of this album. The album was also recorded back in 2007, according to the band’s website. We have “The Reckoning” an interesting but kind of flat release that mixes Trash and Death Metal.

    The band claims to have influences of Carcass, At The Gates and Hypocrisy. While this is somewhat true, they are missing the heart behind these legendary bands. Arise plays decent music and creates decent songs, but nothing more exciting than this.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Trident – World Destruction (2010)

    Featuring Johan Norman from Dissection fame, as well as members from Necrophobic, Grief Of Emerald and Jaggernaut. Trident is another super band who is here to storm the Metal scene, and with “World Destruction” the band creates a superb first impression.

    “World Destruction” features eight tracks of relentless and amazingly crafted Blackened Death Metal that will blow anybody away. With such quality of musicians you can’t expect anything less, but Trident delivers way more than you could imagine.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Sortilegium – Unholy Land (2010)

    It’s nice to finally hear a decent new release in one of my favorite genres: Death/Doom Metal. Seems like most bands that played this genre have died down, or moved on to play Funeral Doom Metal (a genre that bores the shit out of me). But thanks to Mr. Tregor Russo and his band Sortilegium, the candle for this style of music is still lit.

    Sortilegium has been and on and off band, and finally is back with “Unholy Land” a 4-song promo that has made me dig up my old Paramecium, etc albums. After this statement you can figure out how good this release is.

    • 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.

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