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    Thaw – Thaw (2013)

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    Arriving today from Avantgarde Music we have Thaw and their self-titled debut full-length release. Jumping on the current wave of Experimental Black Metal, this Polish band does a pretty good job in delivering seven tracks of weird-but-brutal Black Metal. Combining trippy atmospheric passages with some Noise/Drone elements, the band greatly complements their relentless Black Metal with some nice flair.

    After the Noise/Drone intro “The Gate”, this release starts picking up with the crushing “Ancestors”. We particularly love the mixture of relentless BM with the creepy clean vocals. The band’s BM foundations are quite strong and deliver waves of powerful riffs and brutal drumming. The same could be said about “Divine Light”, another fine example of the band’s sheer power combined with some cool atmospheric passages.

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    Apocynthion – Sidereus Nuncius (2013)

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    Going over tons of releases every month, we rarely get to enjoy unexpected masterpieces like Apocynthion’s “Sidereus Nuncius”. Having received the promo directly from the band, we got immediately hooked into their music after the first song and we have been constantly listening to it non-stop since then. Delivering seven tracks of majestic Post-Rock/Post Black Metal with Shoegaze and some Doom elements, the band’s sound is quite moving and powerful.

    Opening in a very dreamy note with a sample from “2001: A Space Odyssey” on top of atmospheric arrangements, the band commands attention with this hypnotic opening. “Redshift” continues with a Post-Rock vibe, similar to Godspeed Your Black Emperor and God is an Astronaut, filled with cool percussions and dreamy clean vocals. This ten-minute track slowly morphs into Post-Black Metal territories with powerful and dreamy guitars accompanied by shrieks of desperation. The band reminded us of Heretoir, Lantlos and similar outfits, but they always keep their own musical identity.

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    Enshine – Origin (2013)

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    Being huge fans of Atmospheric Death/Doom Metal, we have been following this collaboration for a while and finally we have “Origin”, Enshine’s debut full length release that is as majestic everybody expected. Featuring Jari Lindholm and Sébastien Pierre, this band delivers nine tracks of brilliant atmospheric Doom passages with powerful growls and a very melancholic vibe. Recorded in a span of two years, “Origin” is one release that will keep you entertained for quite a while.

    Opening with the lush atmospheric elements of “Stream of Light”, the band sets the tone for a very impressive release since the initial stages of this album. With a vibe similar to bands like October Tide and Forest of Shadows, Enshine focuses their energy in delivering powerful atmospheres surrounded by excellent guitar work. Not being 100% predictable, tracks like “Refraction” blend some synth-pop elements into the bands melancholic sound.

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    Kingdom – Morbid Priest of Supreme Blasphemy (2013)

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    Delivering 30 minutes of crushing old-school Death Metal, today we have Poland’s Kingdom and their sophomore release “Morbid Priest of Supreme Blasphemy”. In this powerful release the band travels back in time and delivers raw and uncompromising brutality in the shape of 10 devastating tracks. As one of the best releases from Hellthrasher Productions, this is one hell of an album you do not want to miss.

    “Slaves of Ruins” delivers the first crushing blow to the head with powerful riffs and hellish vocals. The rawness of the production allows the band’s sound to be filthy and demolishing without compromising quality. As tracks like “Krwawiąca rana”, “Beast of the Sea”, and “Morbid Priest” steamroll their way through your ears, you will immediately want to start headbanging and breaking stuff.

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    Abyssal – Denouement (2013)

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    Always delivering brutal releases, Hellthrasher Records surprised us this time with a release that goes beyond brutal and mixed some very interesting Black and Doom Metal elements to produce one hell of a devastating album. Abyssal’s “Denoument” was originally self-released in 2012, but with this re-release more people will get to experience their crushing and complex sound that will blow you away from your seat.

    Featuring six tracks and around 50 minutes of brutal music, the band wastes no time and delivers the first blow with the powerful “The Moss upon Our Ruins”. This song seems to start heading in Black Metal direction, but the band suddenly changes to crushing Brutal Death Metal in a heartbeat. Layering BM guitars with crushing DM riffs works greatly for the band allowing them to be very brutal and yet diverse. The tempo of the music is also very Doom-like keeping things slow and painful while sounding massive.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Shakhtyor – Shakhtyor (2013)

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    Originally released back in 2012 as an independent album, Cyclone Empire has scooped up Shakhtyor, a German outfit and their very powerful four track self-titled debut full-length. While many people are raving and loving all the new Sludge/Post-Metal releases, we have to say that sometimes they are just plain and dull and unluckily this is album belongs to this category. We understand that being repetitive and ‘crushing’ is part of the deal, but when you have 40 minutes of music revolve around 8 riffs, it is just unacceptable.

    Opening with “E. Jasper”, the band sets the mood for the whole song in the first minute and then it just drones around the same for almost nine minutes… WTF. We are aware of the need to build momentum and create a crushing wall of sound, but this band just delivers half and leaves you hanging like when the lights go out while watching porn. The most salvageable track of this release is “Handschuhmann”, a 7 minute piece that actually has some structure and nicely builds-up to a semi-climaxing stage.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Hexvessel – Iron Marsh (2013)

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    Staying busy after the release of “No Holier Temple”, today we have Hexvessel’s “Iron Marsh”, their latest EP delivering five tracks of their very enigmatic Psychedelic Neofolk music. Featuring over 30 minutes music, this EP is the perfect companion for a hike on the woods in a dark and gloomy day. Fronted by Mat "Kvohst" McNerney, this band has a very unique sound to them that will give you goosebumps thanks to their very dark and eerie atmospheres.

    Opening with the jazzy “Masks Of The Universe”, the trumpets nicely create a very unique and lounge-like atmosphere. Kimmo Helén greatly helps the band build a very unique atmosphere with him handling the keyboards, trumpet, and violin duties. McNerney’s vocals are pretty solid and very soothing for the band’s music and are greatly enhanced by the backing vocals provided by Marja Konttinen. This track also clocks in at 13 minutes, making it almost half the EP.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Strynn – Decadence (2013)

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    After all the excellent Black Metal we have heard from France in the last few years, we can’t help but wonder what kinds of stuff they are putting on the baguettes that produce such excellent musicians. With epic bands like Peste Noire, Alcest, Merrimack, Glorior Belli, and now Strynn, this country is starting to get some serious reputation in the Metal scene. Delivering 11-tracks of crushing Black Metal with nice melodic passages, “Decadence” is a very entertaining release that any fan of the genre should listen to.

    Opening with sheer guitar power on “Awakening”, the band delivers a very well timed track that is quite melodic but it also imposes itself on the listener. The riffing onslaught finally picks up with devastating tracks like “Burial”, “Uncreation”, “Emptiness”, and “Datura”. The band uses two guitarists and no bass guitar player, making the guitar the main driving force behind the aggressive music. Strynn also features two alternating singers to keep things fresh and if we told you that one of them is Female, you probably wouldn’t believe it either.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Frozen Ocean – A Perfect Solitude (2012)

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    Hailing from Russia, today we have one-man band/project Frozen Ocean presenting his 2012 full-length release titled “A Perfect Solitude”. Handling all the instruments and drum programming, Vaarwel manages to craft a very powerful and atmospheric release that showcases his excellent songwriting skills. Featuring seven tracks and nearly 45 minutes of chilling music, this release delivers a hefty amount of bleak soundscapes that will surely keep you on the edge of your seat.

    The bleak intro “Broken Window” sets a very mysterious and moody atmosphere that is very unnerving in nature. As the raining sounds bleed into “Somewhere Clouds Debark”, the mood keeps being very eerie and ethereal. The powerful distorted guitars elevate this track while maintaining the chilling atmosphere created. The vocals are very interesting since they are quite lush and greatly enhance the atmosphere, reminding us a bit of bands like Falkenbach and Thyrfing.

    • Posted By: Dark Emperor
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    Frozen Ocean – Vanviddsanger (2013)

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    Delivering a short but sweep EP of relentless Black Metal, today we have one-man battalion Frozen Ocean all the way from Russia. In the “Vanviddsanger” EP, the band delivers eight crushing hymns of old-school hate-filled Crust Black Metal that is are both furiously paced and monumentally devastating. For all nostalgic fans of the days of raw Black Metal and old Crust Punk, this is one release you don’t want to miss.

    Opening with an atmospheric intro, “Vanviddsang: I” sets a very mysterious tone for a fast-paced Black Metal journey. The release immediately explodes with the crushing tracks “II” and “III”, keeping a very hectic tempo filled with powerful guitars and very demonic screams. While the music in not too original in nature, the pure rawness and brutality of it make this EP quite an enjoyable release for any fan of the genre.

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