ALTAR
“Provoke”
Displeased Records
rating: 5 of 6
This CD features 10 original ALTAR’s tracks and a cover from ACCEPT (“Fast As A Shark”). “Provoke” begins with mighty death / thrash metal mixed with some grind, but in the end I suddenly discovered few romantic faint notes – and that’s quite pleasant thing. In the whole, I listened to this CD with interest, maybe thanks to the variety it incorporated. I can’t say that this work is 500% original, but it’s splendid to listen to, and well recorded. What I’d like to mark out most of all is the bass sound, however other guys also handle their instruments in more than a great way. Good album from a good band. (Lazar)

ARCH ENEMY
“Stigmata”
Century Media Records
Rating: 5 of 6
A second release from Mike Amott’s main band (the other one is ARMAGEDDON, his brother’s brainchild). “Stigmata” continues the line of “Black Earth” (out in 1996 on Wrong Again), presenting a tremendous mixture of typical Swedish DM in the vein of DISMEMBER (it becomes even more evident due to Johan’s voice and singing manner), some thrash metal and inimitable, genius leads… Perhaps, there’re only few guitarists in death metal who may be considered more talented than Michael (Chuck Schuldiner for example… hmm…??), although his brother, Christopher, also looks like a very good musician. I’m not surprised to see this band on Century Media – this label simply couldn’t miss such an outstanding act… With tunes like “Vox Stellarum”, “Beast Of Man”, “Sinister Mephisto” and “Black Earth”, “Stigmata” is a killer CD! Do I really need to say anything in regards to marvelous design and perfect sound? I hope you’re just kidding answering “yes”?? (Herr Stalhammar)

BEHEADED
«Perpetual Mockery»
X-treme Records
rating: 4, 5 of 6
This is the first time I have a chance to listen to the band coming from Malta. And I have to say that I can only dream of that all bands from this island sounded as great as BEHEADED... «Perpetual Mockery» was recorded almost two years ago, but that’s no surprise to me, because Sweden’s X-treme Recs are fond of delaying the release-dates of the albums they unleash. Musically, it’s cleverly composed and brilliantly performed mystical grinding death metal with few acoustics and even dreary keyboards featured here and there. The singer growls in an inhuman way portraying the «Inborn Lust» within the «Ethereal Passages», drumming is beyond any human’s capabilites, melodies and riffs are often being diversified, painting a picture of «Omnipotent Carnage» while additional synths force the atmosphere of «Transcendental Iniquity»... Production is clear as hell, however it doesn’t harm the brutality like it often happens... «Perpetual Mockery» is a splendid album. Those who look for brutal music with variety must (yes, no other word is appropriate here) check out this CD! (Herr Stalhammar)

CONSOLATION
“Stahlplaat”
Displeased Records
rating: 5 of 5
Unfortunately, “Stahlplaat” is the very first album by CONSOLATION I’m familiar with, since their former released (“Beautyfilth” MCD, etc.) somehow were ignored by me… This CD begins with ultra-speed though not thoughtless death metal, later featuring even some ‘groovy’ moves, and in the end turning into pure evil black metal in the vein of late MARDUK with almost sympho-alike keyboards and few additions of their usual death metal style. Despite that “Stahlplaat” is very diverse album, it doesn’t have any trace of a muddle… Be the song death or black metal one, it will always be CONSOLATION… Magnificent release, check it out! (Herr Stalhammar)

CRYPTOPSY
“Whisper Supremacy”
Century Media Records
rating: 4, 5 of 6
Oh… I really didn’t expect Century Media to release this CD… For those of you who are not acquainted with this killer band, I can tell only one thing: CRYPTOPSY is pure grinding death metal. No more, no less. “Whisper Supremacy” includes eight tracks, geniusly performed on crushing speed, while those guitar leads and drumming won’t leave you alive… If you’re into DEICIDE and late ASPHYX (circa “God Cries”), this is A MUST for you. (Herr Stalhammar)

DARKSIDE
“Evolution”
NSM Records
(provided by Wolfblood Promotions)
rating: 5 of 6
This CD fucking shreds!!! While their previous album, “Melancholia Of A Dying World”, did nothing for me, being very boring and monotonous piece of doomy death metal, “Evolution” is really a pace forward! DARKSIDE almost got rid of those ‘doomy’ elements therefore this CD appears as a brilliant work made within the bands of death metal. It has plenty of atmospheric keyboards, so probably we can talk about ‘symphonic death metal’ here? Vocals became less guttural and more screaming-alike (in the vein of late ASPHYX and CRYPTOPSY), guitar harmonies and (magnificent) leads are unusually melodic and diverse for DM, although it does only good for the band! Speaking plainer and in more short way - “Evolution” is a killer album, featuring fast, rhythmic and brutal death metal, sometimes (very rarely) turning into slow or mid-paced doom, with brilliant guitars, killer vocals, perfect rhythm section’s work, bewitching synths and impressive lyrics. It seems like I said everything I could regarding performance, and when it comes to production… heh, it’s just as splendid as the musicianship! Being quite original (!) this band somehow reminds me of INTESTINE BAALISM at times… Check out the songs “Souls Of Led Blackness”, “Evolution?” and “Spiritual Galleries”. (Herr Stalhammar)

DEATH
«The Sound Of Perseverance»
Nuclear Blast Records
rating: 6 of 6
Ha, a lot of time has passed since their debut, however this oldest brutal band on Earth (hmm… - Herr) still is able to surprise us… Back in 1987 Chuck Schuldiner and co. released their first CD, «Scream Bloody Gore», which was considered by me to be the most extreme release ever… Surely, now I can't say the same, but in the same time I can't deny the fact that DEATH were always true to their beliefs, besides that they always were top-class musicians… The same goes for their latest release. Chuck didn't turn his head to worthless faggothic crap, no! Instead, he spawned even more brutal CD, and I believe it can only gladden the old fans of this band, such as me for example… «The Sound Of Perseverance» simply staggers you – just listen to it and you'll see that I'm right at 100%! Oh… now it's time for such a shitty thing as comparisons… This CD is less melodic and complicated as «Symbolic», but it's much more hateful and fierce… Seems like Chuck can't stand the success of famous BM acts, so he often begins to sing in so-called 'nocturnal voice' without losing the originality of his singing manner. Lyrically, it's again the same stuff inspired by Nietzsche's works and suchlike things, but that's not what I'd like to talk about, so let's better get back to music. While DEATH's ex-drummer earns another 1 000 000 bucks with OLD MAN'S CHILD, his replacement isn't worse at all, bassist spawns thoughtout and complicated parts (not that kind of delirious stuff as on «Individual Thought Patterns»). As to guitars, Chuck is Chuck, and will always stay himself, however I couldn't witness the second guitarist's performance here, although his face can be discovered on the cover… Why am I stating things like that? Well, I listen to DEATH for more than 10 years and learned to distinguish Schuldiner's parts from those by anyone else. Either he took his band's old fan as a second guitarist, the one who spent all his youth in order to play exactly the same way as his 'idol' or the face on the cover may be compared to Kostas from SEPTIC FLESH (a little note: all of the drum parts on SEPTIC FLESH's CDs were the programmed ones). That looks like a sad thing a bit since I still can't forget Andy La Roque's guitar… But anyway, this CD is a magnificent one, a best gift we could get from DEATH… (Lazar)

DICHOTIC
“Collapse Into Despair”
Lost In The Fog Records / Discorporate Music
rating: 2, 5 of 6
This is almost a ‘no future’ band, at least they have no future with such music. “Collapse Into Despair” brings back to memory those times when 99% of metalheads began to grow tired of death metal because most of bands couldn’t offer anything splendid, even brutality… And DICHOTIC may be easily reckoned to such acts. Yes, riffs are heavy and that guttural voice is somewhat brutal, but you see, this album doesn’t leave such an impression as f.ex. DYING FETUS or SINISTER’s works do. This CD features very boring and insincere music, therefore I’ll better go and listen to BEHEADED or JESUS MARTYR once again… (Herr Stalhammar)

DYING FETUS
«Killing On Adrenaline»
Morbid Records
rating: 6 of 6
Rotten, desecrated bodies, bleeding wounds and screaming mouths, violence as the primal law, cruelty as the only pleasure, death as the only outcome - slow and tortured death in agony seeming to be endless... These are the visions bewitching me, when I’m listening to this masterpiece of terror... Bloodred visions, filled with inexpressible anxiety and horror, dismal thoughts of decline, enraptured by the poetry of war, evocated by slaughter of mankind, everlasting in oblivion among the ruins of deliverance... Loathsome, decayed remains of those, once breathing with delight... Obscurantism and misanthropy, mass-genocide and murder in perpetual maelstrom of insanity, mental vortex and utter annihilation... This is what «Killing On Adrenaline» is all about... Brutal to most possible extent, with three vocal lines and maniacal drumming... Inevitable triumph of grinding anger... As perfect as it only could be... Perfection in gore... I can’t stop listening to this CD... Nothing more to say... (Herr Stalhammar)

GRONE
“Chucklepatch”
Gomek Records
rating: 5 of 6
In the letter enclosed with this CD, they asked me ‘to try to do the best with it as we need all the help we can get’… Sounds funny. Hey, when I promise you an ‘honest review’, I don’t mean that I’ll give you the highest mark just because you spent some money in order to send me your stuff! But when it comes to GRONE, I truly can give ‘em ‘5’ of ‘6’ since they rule! These guys made everything themselves, i.e. recorded, mixed and produced this CD, made the whole layout and released it – and I should say that they only gained by it! There’s no trace of visible drawbacks here. “Chucklepatch” features very weird stuff, kinda cross between death metal and industrial; dreamy, tranquil and in the same time extremely anxious (however, becoming quite boring with the last tracks… I believe, “Chucklepatch” could sound more impressive if it was shorter.) Drums were performed by computer, although there’re no keyboards or synths on “Chucklepatch”. Despite that it’s totally original stuff, this album reminds me a bit of GODFLESH as well as Austria’s CADAVEROUS CONDITION… Highly recommended! Expect the interview in the next issue… (Herr Stalhammar)

JESUS MARTYR
“Sudamerican Porno”
Repulse Records
rating: 5, 5 of 6
JESUS MARTYR comes from Argentina, quite exotic country when it comes to metal scene, and that’s why I was surprised by their perfect musicianship (b.t.w., the same goes for sound). As to the music they perform, it’s rather original, innovative and incredibly brutal stuff, combining the elements of hardcore, death, thrash and even some power metal featuring plenty of industrial sounds. Being influenced by such bands as NAILBOMB, FEAR FACTORY and PANTERA, musically they stand quite close to their labelmates THE MIST, although this splendid band definitely possesses certain kind of originality… First I didn’t get into those ‘shouting’ vocals, however, after three or four listens, I even started to like it – by the way, let’s don’t forget that “Sudamerican Porno” also features some sort of “clean” singing as well as utterly insane and loathsome shrieks… Such tracks as “Back To Basics”, “Low Resolution Lifelines” and “Impersonal World Order” will simply shred your pathetic minds! Repulse was always known as the label, releasing extremely brutal and in the same time well considered and somehow original music, but something tells me JESUS MARTYR is one of most impressive bands Repulse ever unleashed! Fuck, I want to see this band live!!! Their gigs have to be something truly amazing – at least, that’s what their music tells me… You either get this, or you’re simply a non-entity!!! (Herr Stalhammar)

ILLDISPOSED
«There’s Something Rotten... In The State Of Denmark»
Serious Entertainment
rating: 4 of 5
If I don’t mess the things up, «There’s Something Rotten...» is the third full-length CD from most famous Danish band... It’s not as brutal and all-devouring as before, more groovy this time, sometimes even turning into modern thrash metal... Despite that these guys became less ‘grinding’ and ‘violent’, I like this album. Maybe thanks to incredible technique and performance (Tore Morgesen (lead guitar) must be a genius!), maybe thanks to enchanting melodies mixed with blasting death metal in an unfathomable way... Some songs also feature distorted ‘alternative’ voice and groovy rhythms reminding me of late DOMINUS... In fact, ILLDISPOSED is still worth attention of those who loved it’s former efforts. At least, I appreciate this band’s activities as well as all the tunes included in «There’s Something Rotten...» (Herr Stalhammar)

INQUISITION
“Krank”
NSM Records
(provided by Wolfblood Promotions)
rating: 4 of 6
I like it! Austria’s INQUISITION have their own vision of how death metal should sound alike, and I really appreciate it. “Krank” combines hateful vokills with gentle harmonies, brutal riffs with beautiful though a bit anxious violin sounds, fast drumming with powerful keyboards… Lots of interesting, innovative and unexpected moves can be found here… One more strong point of this CD hides in the lyrics (just read “The Lighthouseman” or “A Tale About An Unattainable Aim”!) which sound more like short stories, lacking rhymes (who cares anyway?) but very interesting and exciting to read through… “Krank” is two years old now, so expect the new stuff from INQUISITION soon, in the shape of “Timetravel” CD which will be “different, faster, more aggressive – but certainly unusual. With clean vocals and more German lyrics”, as their label says. So let’s wait and see if they’ll justify our hopes. One thing is unquestionable – this band has a big future. (Herr Stalhammar)

PARANOID AGONY
“A View In Agony”
NSM Records
(provided by Wolfblood Promotions)
rating: 4, 5 of 6
One more fine death metal effort from NSM Records who seem to have an aim of signing all impressive Austria’s DM bands. PARANOID AGONY’s style is something difficult to be categorized. It’s basis, of course, is death metal, quite melodic and various, with some progressive rhythms and structures and even female voice here and there. Sometimes it’s fast, sometimes slow, with few keyboards in the background. Despite the afore-said, PARANOID AGONY hardly can be called a doom metal band, they’re more ‘thrash-oriented’, especially when it comes to riffs. Lyrics are dark and mystic, and something even tells me that these guys are satanists… Listen to “Death”, “Synthesis”, “Prisoner Of Egotism” and “The Unknown” to form your own opinion of this definitely worthy band… (Herr Stalhammar)
P. S. Cover of Reinhard Meys’ “Uber Der Wolken” included as a bonus track is something undoubtedly worth our attention… It’s very surprising to see this song here, but anyway, that was definitely a good move!

PROFANITY
"Shadows To Fall"
Profanity Records
rating: 5 of 6
Hmm, it strikes as this CD is a self-financed one, and that’s quite weird… What we have here is a splendid band with splendid CD and… genius drummer! Yes, Armin’s technique is really amazing… Talking about the music in the whole, it sounds like death / grind stuff with few elements borrowed from power metal. Besides extremely brutal and hateful parts (a usual thing for suchlike bands), “Shadows To Fall” has some melodic and memorable moves which almost makes me to define PROFANITY as an ‘original band’. The last songs even begins ballad-alike, but further turns into crushing grind… Highly recommended. (Lazar)

SHADOWS FALL
“Somber Eyes To The Sky”
Lifeless Records
rating: 3 of 6
This is pleasant recording, although lacking any kind of originality… “Somber Eyes To The Sky” sound? like a mix between DARK TRANQUILLITY and typical US death metal. At least, vocals sound exactly the same way as the ones by Mikael Stanne, guitars are tuned quite low in the vein of early DISMEMBER, while harmonies also remind me of Gothenburg’s school as well as their instrumental tunes (such as “Lead Me Home”) evoke the reminiscences of Sweden’s ARMAGEDDON… We already have Mexico’s DARK TRANQUILLITY in the shape of CENOTAPH as well as the German one, NIGHT IN GALES, so who needs the US band of the same kind? Only “clean” vocals differ them a bit from the majority of suchlike acts… By the way, concerning comparisons… Have you ever heard EDENROT? Especially their last MCD? If yes, you will understand me if I’ll compare SHADOWS FALL to that outstanding band… Anyway, this CD is rather fine stuff, at least when it comes to the fans of melodic death metal… (Herr Stalhammar)

SINISTER
«Aggressive Measures»
Nuclear Blast Records
rating: 6 of 6
No love, no peace, no delight, only pure satanic aggression is featured on this sooo-looong awaited CD from Dutch masters of unholy death metal. There were a lot of rumours concerning SINISTER’s decline, but fortunately it didn’t come true, since we have «Aggressive Measures», the best CD these guys managed to create so far. It begins with grim and anxious intro, and later turns into thirty minutes of nocturnal art of devastation... In contrast to many extreme death metal bands, SINISTER always possessed their own, recognizable sound, and this album is one proof to these words. Is there any need to describe the music represented on «Aggressive Measures»? I think not. This album will crush your miserable mind and grind your brains... A MUST for all fans of true unholy death metal. (Herr Stalhammar)

TENEBRAE
“Hypnotech”
Shiver Records
rating: 4 of 6
After the long silence, this well-known (despite that it’s still in the deep underground) Finnish band lead by Jussi Heikkinen (WALHALLA, SOULGRIND, GLOOMY GRIM) finally unleashed second CD, this time on Shiver Records. I haven’t heard the first one, so I’m not able to compare “Hypnotech” to TENEBRAE’s former creation, therefore let’s leave comparisons alone and talk about the music represented on this album. Listening to the first songs, I thought of TENEBRAE as of almost black metal band, but later this CD moves closer to industrialized death metal, hence I still can’t decide whether to take them as death metal band or something else…? All in all, it doesn’t matter, I guess… “Hypnotech” features highly original music with low-tuned guitars, weird screaming vocals (seems like they’ve been distorted in the studio?) and mighty pounding drums like a thunder spawned by Perun himself… Powerful stuff. Check out the songs “Mask Of Ignorance”, “Illusions Of The Black”, “Inside The Twilight Of The Moonspell” and “Motorsexmanifest O”. (Herr Stalhammar)