Self-Prod.
2010

“Bitter Frost” has released its self named album recently. The music of the group is a mix of black metal, power metal, jazz, Viking metal and pagan one. The songs are all showing in their compositions a technical neo classical style in the riffs and soli. You will also find symphonic orchestration. Most of the songs are dark but melodic, some have a doom sound like “Oplexicon I – Sons Of Kogaion” and others are more power metal like “Oplexicon III -
Waterboard The Peasants.”
The album features several vocalists as guests. The album was mixed and mastered by Christopher Erikson.
It is a really good album to listen even if you don’t like particularly the style because the mixing of different metal styles is well done.

www.myspace.com/bitterfrost

UK Division Records
2009

The group proposes a modern/experimental rock, powerful and dark, mixing some metal and electronics. A hard rock group which plays true hard rock music. The songs are powerful, full of energy, direct with a modern sound. There is a well done guitars playing and rhythmic section is good and efficient. If there were a second guitar, the songs would gain some power.
Some song are original, others neatly less. Now it’ll be your choice to buy this album or not.

www.dhos.eu
www.myspace.com/dhosband

Aural Music/Worm Hole Death
05 – 2010

“The Way of Purity” has recently released its album “Crosscore”. The style of the group is a mix of death metal, black metal even some grind and clean vocals. The vocals are much varied as well as the music so you won’t get bored. Their texts are somehow a kind of “bizarre”, for example they don’t care about fans…they have a “message” to give to people coming directly from “God”. We are the hand of God; we're here to bring the animals' message to liars, weak individuals, prostitutes, drug addicts, nymphomaniacs....». To be short we can say that it is a concept album. However I did not appreciate this “Crosscore” as I don’t like particularly this mix of style. Now it’s up to you to make your own choice.

www.myspace.com/thewayofpurity

Innervenus Records
2009

Storm King has released last year the album « Angels Of Enmity ». Their music is hard to define has it is a mix of several styles. You’ll find death, thrash metal, stoner, progressive, doom, and grind, rock, heavy metal with some technical passages. It is hard to find yourself in all that !!! and it’s hard to like that kind of music as a whole, so to like the album ! To be short Storm King makes modern metal. The vocals are shared between clean melodic vocals and others like screams…
I’m sure some of you will get into this music but personally I’m not in it…

www.myspace.com/stormkingreigns

Jolly Roger Records
09 – 2010

Rosae Crucis is an Italian group which will release very soon its album “Fede Petere Vendetta". The style of the group is power/epic heavy metal. The compositions are epic, with varied sounds, rhythmic changing and breaks with warrior ambiances. The vocals are in Italian and the singer has as a whole an aggressive voice and sometimes he is moe yelling than singing. “Il Re Del Mondo” is the track that can be taken out of the album because it is much more melodic than the others. Speed parts are following slow or medium ones. You’ll find religious choirs which accompanied sometimes the vocalist. I find that the production is lacking of some perfection.
For me this album is not worth to buy.

www.myspace.com/rosaecrucisband

Brennus Music
04 – 2010

The French group M.Z has released some months ago « Heavenwards ».
The group was formed in 1999 by Markus Fortunato at the bass guitar and Zan Dang at guitars. The style is still melodic metal even if now the group has since 2007, a vocalist. The compositions are mature and the group knows where it goes musically speaking. “Heavenwards” is a classic heavy metal album which uses also neo-classic and progressive elements, and varied instruments such as the harpsichord, the piano. The tracks are well linked to one another with soft and slow parts and more fast and epic parts. The same, some songs are catchy and others neatly less. Nothing to say about the quality of the musicians. It is sure that they are controlling their instruments. You’ll find some instrumental parts on this album. I’m sure that in the future the group will be able to release an album which will be even more progressive or symphonic.
The album has the benefit of a very good production. A group to look for because it has a true potential.

.
www.myspace.com/mzneoclassicalmetal

Golden Antenna Records
05 – 2010

Kerretta is a group which is coming from New Zealand. “Vilayer” is the first album from the group. The style they play is a dark instrumental rock. When you’re listen some tracks you can say that they were right to choose to play instrumental music, the voice would be too much. The guitars are heavy and the rhythmic section is pretty strong. The first track “Sleepers” is a kind of post-rock style with saturate guitars which appear progressively and the rhythmic section which is put in front. You’ll find acoustic guitars in “White Lie” as well as in “Bone Amber Reigns”. It’s a nice album to listen and for those who like the style, Kerretta is a group to follow. For fans of groups such as Isis, Mogwai, and so one.

www.myspace.com/kerretta

Basick Records
06 - 2010

Ion Dissonance is coming back this year with its new album “Cursed”. The tracks are brutal, aggressive and technique with a heavy sound. As well the vocalist has an aggressive voice, strong, screaming most of the time. The compositions are relatively fast as a whole. The riffs are heavy and dissonant, straight in your face. The rhythmic section is heavy and strong. The music is violent, raging, devastating. I’m not into this kind of music so I cannot say that I like this album.

www.myspace.com/iondissonance

STF Records
2009

It is the first opus of the group H.O.T. the group is coming from Italy. The style is a rock with big guitars riffs. The tracks are energetic and the style is hard rock right coming from the 80’s. Nothing new or nothing original but good songs are played. The vocals are high-pitched ones.
You can listen it without any constraint and especially if you like melodic hard rock/metal but it has nothing exceptional to be taking out from all the other ones release.

www.myspace.com/handsoftimerock

Self-Production
2008

“Carnivorous” is a three thrash metal tracks EP. The Hungarian group takes influences also in death metal. The songs are aggressive on the musical level as well as on the vocals level. The musicians seem to possess a certain technique. For the tracks are much alike and it is difficult to give my opinion of a group on only three songs as I do not know their previous demos.

www.myspace.com/farcrymetal

Black Lodge Records
10 - 2009

“Something’s Dripping” is the second album from the Swedish group Bonafide. The style is a hard rock inspired by AC/DC or recently Airbourne. The first title “Dirt Bound” doesn’t lie, you’re thinking you’re listening to AC/DC.  Without being original this album gives you good hard rock songs, nothing more, nothing less and a lot of songs are similar. On the song “Straight Shooters” the Crucified Barbara’s vocalist and the singer Pontus Snibb make a nice duet. The album has a whole is lacking of energy but the riffs are solid, the singer right at his place and the rhythmic section, basic.

 
www.myspace.com/bonafiderocks

Napalm Records
09 – 2010

“After The Storm” is the 11th album from the German group Atrocity and it features Jasmine, Alex Krull’s sister. The songs are a mix of ethnical and metal music. The songs contain great rhythms and the music has very nice ethnic or folk passages like in “Transilvia” or in “The Flight Of Abbas Ibn Firnas”, an instrumental track at guitars, but you will also find great rock and metal parts. Each composition has its own ambience, its own sensibility. The vocals are energetic and the male and the female voices are going well together. The instruments have been recorded live with the voices. The mixing of all is well done. The album has the benefit of a very good production. The group explores different kinds of music for their compositions. The ethnic, folk instruments and metal ones are going well together and the whole make nice melodies and nice melodic lines. The guitars are strong and heavy, besides the drums, the group uses also percussions    to make tribal rhythms. Moreover, the group uses string instruments. Some songs are dark or extremely dark due to the instruments like the song “A New Arrival”, but also to the feeling of the voice, you have a lump in your throat. “Call Of Yesteryear” is a well rhythmic song as well as well folk one, you cannot retain yourself to mark the rhythm. “Black Mountain” is a real rock song. “After The Storm” is for me an excellent album to listen and to listen again.

www.myspace.com/atrocitypage

RELAPSE Records
2009

Sweden has been really huge in the late 80's/beginning of the 90's for all the death-metal bands (Nihilist, Entombed, Carnage, Dismember, Grave, Unleashed to name a few) that saw the light of day and NIRVANA 2002 was one of them... This CD is a collection of their early recordings that show the band really had the potential to get bigger, but bad luck, they got ignored by the bigger labels instead... Even if the overall sound quality is not always good (Some songs have a very good produciton but some others are taken from rehearsals or live-recordings), this is a very interested release. That's pure death-metal in the swedish vein with the typical sound and the low-tuned guitarz & always that interest for melodious & heavy breaks, full of twisted atmospheres... Musically I'd situate NIRVANA 2002 between the early-Entombed & Carnage when "Left Hand Path" or "Dark Recollections" were released... You can't be disappointed if you like Death Fuckin'Metal, this is played in the purest tradition of the style with much class ! This CD will bring you back to the magic of the early Death-Metal days !

www.myspace.com/disembodiedspirits

NUCLEAR BLAST
2010

Swedish veterans are back ! Who could have imagined back in the late 80's when the band was contaminating the underground scene with its demos & 7"Eps that they would still be active 25 years later... active ? Yes, maybe... but heavier ? Better ? Stronger ? Probably not alot of people haha ! We're in 2010 and Johnny and the boys are still holding high the flag of what they have called "Viking Death Metal" ! Definitely from the very first notes, you know this album will take NO prisoner - awesome massive production that gives much power to the band's sound & songs ! And the songs... ? They're like weapons of massive destruction ! Imagine you're the target, one after one, they will hit you right in the face, their impact is incredible ! With "Courage Today, Victory tomorrow" as title to open this album, you definitely get an idea of what I mean and how big is the band's determination ! I know many people blaming Unleashed for playing the same kinda music since the beginning and to those I'd say "F--k You", take the time to listen carefully to the albums, I agree they have stayed TRUE to their style since the beginning but they know how to compose new songs without copying what they've done in the past and the more it goes, better are the songs... They always go a step further - not so many bands can say so, many have tried, too much have failed ! Unleashed have enough talent to keep the true death-metal spirit alive, without incorporating progressive/nu-metal, technical or folk shits to their music, they don't betray and are not here to entertain the masses ! Each song by Unleashed is made of abnegation, perseverance & boundless determination ! The titles of the songs speak by themselves... be it "Wir Kapitulieren Niemals", "This Time We Fight", "Chief Einherjar", "Dead To Me" - you know what to expect ! All the songs of this album are pure Unleashed "classics" and one couldn't expect better ones from this new album, Unleashed have put alot of blood, sweat & guts in, that's played/composed with heart & sincerity - and so far, this has always been the best recipe to a GREAT album - once again, it works ! The overall feeling of this album is a tribute to courage & perseverance... I bow down before Unleashed as of today I can't find better Death-Metal band than UNLEASHED ! Yggdrasil trembles, this will soon be your turn, poor mortals !!!



www.myspace.com/unleashed

FUELED BY FIRE have one song called "Thrash Is back" and I think those guys are RIGHT ! I can see more & more bands worldwide holding high the flag of THRASH METAL, played in its purest tradition, originated by bands like Exodus, Testament, Slayer, Megadeth and Metallica in the late 80's ! This time the newcomer is named SHOTGUN CURE, formed in 2006, hailing from Toronto, Canada... After some line-up changes, gigs & intense rehearsals, the dudes have unleashed in 2009 a first EP/CD entitled "Depravity Unleashed", made of 5 songs that definitely show a band with great ability & big potential ! Their style is classical US thrash metal style in the veins of early Metallica, Heathen, Exodus and Megadeth... catchy, fast, aggressive with always an interest for melodious breaks & tempo-changes here & there... The whole sounds really HEAVY and I'm impressed by the musicians & their technical skills & abilites in composing killer tunes as the ones here ! ... Their young age make me think they really worked hard to reach such a level which for sure proves their motivation ! "Sustainment" is the opening track of the release... short intro and immediately, I can say it "thrashes" hard !!! Very precise guitar riffs, cutting like razors making me think of bands like Megadeth & Metallica mainly... Also the vocal style reminds me of a cross between D. Mustaine & J. Hetfield on albums like "So Far, So Good..." or still "Ride The Lightning"... Maybe in comparison, this lacks a bit of power, but this has no bad influence on the music... the result is really ok ! "Exercise This" shows that first song didn't happened by mistake (haha !) and shows ever more surprises ! It's faster, raging & have more of Dave Mustaine influences in the vocal style ! That potential is also confirmed when listening to the other songs... Great guitar riffs, neck-breaking rhythmicals, very cool aggressive vocal style... definitely I can say I'm impressed ! This band has a great potential and it'd no surprise to see them releasing a great album soon !!! If you like technical/class Thrash Metal, go for it !!! You can't be disappointed !

www.myspace.com/shotguncure
www.shotguncure.bandcamp.com

NUCLEAR BLAST
2010

OK I admit.. I was a bit scared about the new OVERKILL album.... I was afraid they would bring another tasteless thrash album like EXODUS did recently (that's my opinion, I don't like their kinda metal-core/groove metal orientation AT ALL !) - but HELL NO ! This album is something you can't absolutely miss ! This "Ironbound" has the benefit of a very clean & clear production but doesn't sound too modern at the same time, it really gives much power to the songs that are definitely old-school oriented ! One can feel the rage, the power, the passion throughout ALL the songs, this album is made of blood, sweat & guts for sure ! Musically this ranges from Iron Maiden's influences (listen to the break in "Ironbound" and that awesome guitar !), NWOBHM touches to pure thrash style à la Slayer/early Metallica ! "Bring Me The Night" is one of the best songs in my opinion with its Motörhead-charged riff, this song is relentless and hits like a hammer ! A "Hammer"... yeah, that's the overall feeling I get when listening to that album, from the beginning to the end, it lets no rest and for the biggest pleasure ! This is a very rich & diversified album, always many tempo-changes & breaks, more or less expected, all songs are very interesting, played with much class & talent and they all keep the feeling RAGING ! Guitar solos are definitely all amazing, both guitarists are doing a hell of a job, as well as the rhythmical job that is really catchy ! Bobby's vocal style is still the same, particular for sure but always right in place & catchier & stronger than ever - 25 years after the debut album, the guys still have BALLS and know how to THRASH the right way ! If you still don't know Overkill, get that album as it is for sure an essential piece of their discography ! THRASH with CLASS !!!!

www.myspace.com/overkill

AREA DEATH Prods.
2009

NADIMAC are hailing from Serbia and have released last year their album on China's (highly recommended) label Area Death Productions. I had never heard of the band before and this album is really a good surprise to me ! The band's style is raw Thrash Metal mixed with old-school Hardcore/Punk elements... One could speak of "crossover" style, like it was played in the 80's with bands like D.R.I., S.O.D., Nuclear Assault, Hirax, early Suicidal Tendencies but also makes me think at times of older punk bands like Discharge or Terveet Kädet... see what I mean ? Expect very fast, very raw thrash style, but always kick ass & efficient ! This album is made of 10 songs for a timing around 35 minutes... for some people this can be short, but I think this is the perfect timing for such a release 'cos it keeps the energy & power very intense... A longer album would have weakened this quality I think... "Reign In Blood" is "only" 30 minutes long and it is a milestone, right ? Songs are all sung in the band's native tongue and I think this underlines the undergound spirit of the band... no compromise ! So, even if this album doesn't bring anything new to the style (and I doubt that was the band's pretention), I took a real pleasure listening to it and i'm sure this will please all fans of MOSH & SLAM parties haha ! Full Speed Ahead, yeah !!!

www.myspace.com/nadimacbend

NUCLEAR BLAST
2010

This ain't a new album by Mortification but a kinda best-of of the band's 20 last years... Well to be honest, I've never been a fan of Mortification... and I guess it'll be hard for me to change my opinion with a compilation from past materials... especially when some songs are taken from recordings with really bad sound quality - Some of the live-recorded ones really suck here !!! This doesn't really help at all... It is not that the band is bad, it is just because I think there's nothing particular with that band... ordinary Death/Thrash metal... like it was played by a thousand of bands at that time... nothing else... Even back in the 80's I was surprised to see them getting a record deal, there were much more better Death/Thrash metal bands around deserving the label's attention like EXMORTIS, PRIME EVIL to name a few...Probably Mortification were on the right place at the right time but I don't think such a release will help the band to get more recognition now... as I don't understand the label for releasing it... except if they're running after the $$$... That's a poor release... save your money !

AFM Records
2010

Hell yeah, wear your armour & ride the dragon, CRYSTAL VIPER have unleashed a new album ! Made of 10 songs, this album in its first part combines live-versions of songs from the previous albums like "Metal Nation", "Legions Of Truth", "Shadows Of The Horizon", "The Island Of The Silver Skull" and the awesome "The Last Axeman"... great choices not only because these songs are among my fave ones of the band but because I think they perfectly represent the band's style - it's heavy, catchy, melodious and all are pure anthems to Metal Warriors ! Played live, they all get another dimension and make you feel like shouting out loud the lyrics ! Recorded last year in Germany, this is without a doubt something that will please all true METAL warriors wordlwide ! The sound is not too polished and really gives back the feeling of that live-experience - close your eyes - you're in the crowd ! Needless to say the songs are played with much class, power & feeling ! Second part of this CD includes an unreleased song called "Secret Of The Black Water" to be featured on the band's next studio album ! Can't say the song itself is something unexpected, that in the tradition of Crystal Viper, nothing more but nothing less - expect hi-class heavy/epic/power metal with Marta's enchanting voice ! Other songs are "The Wolf & The Witch" taken from the vinyl 7'EP released on HIGH ROLLER Records - first time on CD ! This one is definitely HEAVY & really kicks ass ! "Stronghold : Under Siege" is another jewel you can find here... there's no word to describe this song, try this by yourself, you'll be amazed ! CRYSTAL VIPER ends the CD with a coversong from VIRGIN STEELE called "Obsession (It Burns For You)" - a pure classic Epic/Heavy Metal anthem !! If you dig bands like Running Wild, Lonewolf, Rampart, early HelloWeen, Manilla Road.... you will love CRYSTAL VIPER ! Up The Hammers !!!

www.myspace.com/crystalviperofficial

RELAPSE Records
2009

CONVULSE were a death-metal band from the early 90's and this is the re-release of their album came out in 1992. The style is Death fuckin' Metal, alot influenced by NIHILIST, early ENTOMBED, CARNAGE or UNLEASHED... Nothing particular except that it perfectly reflects what the style was back in those days... when the style was emerging... expect from-the-grave vocals, gloomy, dark atmospheres throughout all the songs.... fast & doomy tempos... all the elements of the death-metal recipe are here and one can only enjoy such a release, the style is pure & authentic... This re-release comes with 6 bonus-songs, two are recorded live (one of them is "Countess Bathory" from the mighty VENOM !) and the other ones are from demo-days.. the good surprise is that the demo-songs have all a very very good sound-quality... A release to enjoy if you're into old-school Death-Metal !

www.myspace.com/convulsedeathmetal