2011

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    Ghost – Opus Eponymous (2011)

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    Labeled as one of the most interesting Psychedelic/Occult Rock releases of the last few years “Opus Eponymous” is the first full-length release of Ghost. For over 30 minutes we are treated to a very interesting and nostalgic sound that the band presents with their satanic craft.

    The album gets off to a great start with “Con Clavi Con Dio” thanks to solid riffs, great vocal arrangements and keyboards. However, the band’s sound is not as bombastic and effective as we expected and bands like The Devil’s Blood put them to shame when it comes to Psychedelic rock with occult elements.

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    Thomas Giles – Pulse (2011)

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    After not liking any of Between the Buried and Me’s stuff, I was about to hurl when I got this promo in my review queue. However, something magical will happen to you when you listen to this album since you will end-up loving it for its originality and freshness.

    I believe since I was expecting some crap like Between the Buried and Me I was less critical about this release, but many listens to this album you will still find yourself appreciating it and finding new details about the music. Thomas Giles crafts 11 songs that are very rich sounding and that have the perfect amounts of electronic elements, rock guitars, melancholic vocals and piano sections.

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    Wolfchant – Call of the Black Winds (2011)

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    In a time when Pagan/Folk Metal releases are a dime a dozen, it is very hard to go find something truly original and worth listening to. “Call of the Black Winds” is an example of an album that is half-way there, meaning that it is nothing ‘revolutionary’ but it has its moments.

    The band has been perfecting its formulaic approach to the genre and with “Call of the Black Winds” they show it. Every aspect of this release has been done by the band in the past, but this time around they get to do it a little bit better. For instance, the clean vocals are considerably better than last time and they actually fit the songs better in this release.

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    Before the Rain – Frail (2011)

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    Featuring none other than Gary Griffith (ex-Morgion) on vocals, today we have Before the Rain and their killer sophomore album “Frail”. It’s a rare occasion that we actually take time to listen (let alone review) albums that somebody else recommends to us since we are very busy listening and reviewing everything we get from labels and PR companies, but “Frail” caught our attention since the first song and it’s too good of an album to not tell people about it.

    Four years after their impressive “...One Day Less” debut release, the band comes back with a revamped lineup and a richer and broader sound. Taking full advantage of Gary’s vocals, the band’s sound shifts between traditional growls and clean ‘regular’ doom style vocals. The music is a lot better crafted and the hopelessness feeling given by the melodic passages is as good as it can get.

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    Impiety…Advent of… (2011)

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    Almost immediately after the release of their latest full-length album “Worshippers of the Seventh Tyranny”, Impiety returns with another aural assault with the “Advent of…” EP. In this short but sweet release, the band delivers 3 tracks of devastating Black/Death Metal with quite a decent production behind it.

    The first track “Advent of the Nuclear Baphomet” delivers a crushing Death/Black Metal attack with catchy riffs and very solid drumming. The band’s sound is very clear and monumental since this 6 minute song feels like it lasts for ever (in a good way). The vocals are very typical and the new musicians (recruited in 2010) have what it takes to create very intense songs.

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    Crucifyre – Infernal Earthly Divine (2011)

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    Hailing from Sweden and featuring members of General Surgery and a few other bands, Crucifyre comes to brand us with their ‘Satanic Death Metal’ with their debut album “Infernal Earthly Divine”. Mixing up Death Metal with some Thrash Metal elements and overal weirdness, the band manages to put together 9 effective tracks of chaos and mayhem.

    The first thing we noticed is the singing style of Erik Sahlström (General Surgery), he changes the inhuman growls for a more understandable half growl/half scream approach allowing us to finally understand what the hell he is singing about. The band’s music is fairly standard for a Death Metal album, but there are very interesting moments were the music takes a ‘Thrashier’ sound.

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    Desultory – Counting our Scars (2011)

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    Straight from the time capsule today we have Desultory and their latest release (and first in 14 years) “Counting our Scars”. If you are a fan of Swedish Death Metal with Melodic elements, then you should be familiar with this legendary band. If you are not familiar with them, please hit yourself in the back of the head before continue reading this review.

    After two very strong releases back in the 90’s, this band had to go down the ‘artsy’ path and destroy their rep with the terrible “Swallow the Snake”. Broken up for years and now finally reformed, the band comes back with a no bullshit attitude and 9 tracks of old-school Swedish Death Metal that will redeem them from their last terrible album.

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    Imperia – Secret Passion (2011)

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    In the first few months we have received amazing Gothic Metal releases from bands like Sirenia, Dotma, Visions of Atlantis, etc, today is the turn to Imperia and their third full-length release “Secret Passion”. After a 4 year waiting period since “Queen of Light”, the band returns with a very average Gothic Metal release that while not bad at all, it just feels a bit heartless.

    As we all know, Helena Iren Michaelsen (ex Trail of Tears), is a very good vocalist and her angelic voice carries “Secret Passion” from start to end. The music is good and the instrumentation is nice, but it just feels very similar to countless other releases we have heard in the past. There are no songs that made us stop and want to listen to the again immediately after there are over, and we consider this a bad sign.

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    Joyless – Without Support (2011)

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    Formed by members of Forgotten Tomb, today we have Joyless and their first full-length release in 10 years titled “Without Support”. In this release the band gives us 11 tunes of Psychedelic/Depressive Rock with a very dark and minimalistic approach to music.

    Lead by the charming (and depressing) voice of Ida Helleboe, the band rocks out songs that will definitely fit a rainy day mood and will depress the life out of the listener. After changing from Black Metal to Depressive Rock in their amazing “Wisdom & Arrogance” album back in 2000, the band has been releasing a series of split releases culminating in “Without Support”.

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    Mhorgl – Antinomian (2011)

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    Featuring a very well produced mixture of Raw and Melodic Black Metal, today we have Mhorgl and their second album “Antinomian”. In this release the band takes full advantage of a crystal clear production and defiles it their sick and twisted mixture of melodic and old-school Black Metal in a very effective way.

    With a relentless sound, the band graciously presents 8 tracks of pure destruction that will please all fans of Black Metal. Since the crushing opening track “Nocturnal Blasphemy”, the band will surely blow you away with their sharp riffs, tight drumming and hellish vocals.

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