ANTICHRISIS
“A Legacy Of Love”
Napalm Records
rating: 6 of 6
“A Legacy Of Love” begins with “How Can I Live On Top Of A Mountain?” track which in fact is a some sort of a very long intro, being a Celtic folklore-oriented tune featuring such instruments as Uilleann pipes, tin whistle, bodhran, etc. Interesting experiment. The next one is “Nightswan” – very soft but extremely impressive, almost genius dark wave / gothic track with nice-sounding female vocals and fine keyboard’s accompaniment. Then we have “Trying Not To Breathe”, perhaps the most gloomy song on the album, with Moonshadow’s “clean” voice breathing with depression… “Baleias Bailando” is less grim and ‘suicidal’ composition, with both, male and female voices, and folk elements. Oh… I think, it’s needless to describe the other songs included in this magnificent CD… They speak for themselves… Despite the total absense of brutality and brutal-sounding guitars, this is genius effort, one of my favorite-ever albums in dark wave genre… and A MUST for all of you. (Herr Stalhammar)

THE BLEEDING
“The Answerless Maze”
Impaled Productions
rating: 1 of 6
This Croatian band appears of no interest to me. They appear as brainless CATHEDRAL rip-offs, one more copycat of that mighty band… This MCD seems to last for eternity, it’s incredibly boring and uninteresting. Ok, enough with it… I’m tired to waste my time for reviewing worthless bands. (Herr Stalhammar)

DAN SWANO
“Moontower”
Black Mark Productions
rating: 6 of 6
I always respected herr Swano for his works and never even doubted his talent, but I feared a bit to listen to this CD, since his desire for creating more 'comprehensible' and 'soothing' music was more than evident… Besides, the efforts released by those bands he took part in lately, featured more «clean» vocals which totally prevailed over Dan's growling. Choosing his own name for the solo-project also spawned some kind of fear inside of me (Michael Jackson, George Michael, etc.), although it gave us a chance that this is exactly that band where Dan is able to show his 'real face'. And yes, he did! And he did it in a way I expected him to do, proving that he's not some sort of a 'commercial worm', and this project is a dream of all those who were into EDGE OF SANITY as well as all those who are simply into true metal music! So what's so great here? Well, «Moontower» includes everything I liked EDGE OF SANITY for, i.e. inimitable mix of brutality and melody. Keyboard passages (although there're not so much of them here) fit the music perfectly, creating tremendous atmosphere… There's drummachine instead of real drums, but it doesn't irritate due to the clever programming. In the whole, everything on this piece is done in an extremely professional and sincere way, so don't hesitate to buy it!!! (Lazar)

DESIRE
“There Where Candles Fade”
Noxious Records
rating: 3 of 6
You won’t find anything special even listening carefully to this CD. This is already second output from Finland’s DESIRE (don’t confuse them with Portuguese band!), recorded at Abyss Studio and produced by Mr. Tagtgren. “There Where Candles Fade” include eight tracks of soothing and calm dark (?) wave music. I guess, “Beyond Gehennah’s Senseless Gardens” is the best track here, being a quintessense of all the best DESIRE can offer. Pleasant stuff… if you suffer from insomnia. (Herr Stalhammar)

GARDEN OF SHADOWS
“Heart Of The Corona”
X-rated Records
rating: 5, 5 of 6
This is definitely one of the best US bands playing so-called ‘atmospheric death metal’! If you checked out Issue III, you should know that I praised their former demo tape (also entitled “Heart Of The Corona”) to the skies, since it was really fantastic material; and now we have this MCD (MCD lasting for the fourty minutes??) featuring remastered demo songs + two new ones, “Solar Pulse” as an introduction, and “Shards Of The Sphere”. GARDEN OF SHADOWS’ style is much alike early SEPTIC FLESH (circa “Temple Of The Lost Race” and “Mystic Places Of Dawn” CDs), fast but never losing melody, with plenty of symphonic elements, powerful guitars, brutal male ‘dragonvoice’ and celestial female vocals… No doubts that the best song here is “Apollonian Realm”, as well as “Heart Of The Corona”. The new one, “Shards Of The Sphere”, is more mid-paced and doomy, but still very impressive. The CD comes with a splendid layout and packaging (and finally, with all of their equivocal though extremely exciting lyrics!), therefore it’s a MUST for all fans of atmospheric  sympho-death / doom metal. (Herr Stalhammar)

THE GATHERING
“How To Measure A Planet?”
Century Media Records
rating: 4, 5 of 6
All the albums by THE GATHERING appeared as fresh, innovative, and in the same time, highly exciting recordings, and “How To Measure A Planet?” is not an exception. Apart from rather dull and banal “Nighttime Birds”, this album (consisting of two (!!) CDs) is quite intriguing musically. THE GATHERING understood their mistakes and changed their sound a bit for one more time. This effort plunges the listener into tranquil and serene music with Anneke’s inimitable voice and weird ‘allegoric’ drum sound… “My Electricity”, “Probably Built In The Fifties”, “Red Is A Slow Colour” – these are some of their song titles, which obviously tell us that this time we’ll have to deal with somehow psychodelic music, inspired by PINK FLOYD, HAWKWIND and DOORS in some ways. This comparison especially concerns the last track, almost 20-minute epic, “How To Measure A Planet?”… Although I was never really into THE GATHERING, I like this stuff…

GODSEND
"A Wayfarer's Tears"
Holy Records
rating: 4 of 6
Seems like Holy Recs began to display interest in the bands playing much softer and more soothing music, in contrast to this label's previous signings. Is it because ELEND and ORPHANED LAND left Holy? Or because this label’s favorites, NIGHTFALL, became less brutal? Actually, it's hard to say… The one thing I know for sure is that Holy Records always released CDs of high quality, and this statement also goes for this effort. Probably, some will say that it’s ordinary BLACK SABBATH-clone with ENTOMBED’s sound, but this person simply should listen to “A Wayfarers’ Tears” once again… Splendid cross between heavy and doom metal mixed with rhythm’n’blues will make you to listen to this stuff over and over again… Those who support CATHEDRAL’s activities can’t find better CD to please their tastes! (Lazar)

LEFT HAND SOLUTION
“Shadowdance”
Massacre Records
rating: 3 of 6
I listened to «Shadowdance» right after I got familiar with GODSEND, and unfortunately I can't say that LEFT HAND SOLUTION can be even compared to aforementioned band… Yes, it's BLACK SABBATH again, the same mix of the same styles, but this time utterly insincere… Vocals are out-of-key, which doesn't help anything at all… Only for maniacs of suchlike stuff! (Lazar)

LOVE LIKE BLOOD
«Snakekiller»
Hall Of Sermon
rating: 2 of 6
I got acquainted with this legendary band only half a year ago with «The Love Like Blood E.P.», which truly impressed me in more than positive way. It appeared as true gothic rock with heavy guitars and memorable vocals (recorded at mighty Abyss Studio, by the way)... But unfortunately, «Snakekiller» is thousand times worse than LOVE LIKE BLOOD’s former MCD. It sounds like new album from PARADISE LOST - pussy metal for teen girls with sugary singer’s voice, recuring refrains and cheesy keyboards... There’s even some kind of ballad here! In fact, at the first sight, everything looks the same as on «The Love Like Blood E.P.», but later you understand that everything IS NOT the same at all. The basis of both efforts is similar, but in contrast to previous mini, «Snakekiller» sounds 100000% more commercial and sickly sweet... This stuff is definitely not for me. (Herr Stalhammar)

MARGOT DAY
“Margot Day”
Future Music
rating: 4 of 6
Erh… this is more ‘alternative’ side of things. This MCD brings some strange kind of dark wave music, standing quite close to the LOVE SPIRALS DOWNWARDS’ creations as well as the ones by DEAD SOULS RISING (especially when it comes to vocals); sometimes Margot’s stuff even reminds me of Diamanda Galas and few Sub Pop bands. Here we have strong emphasis on vocals – music almost doesn’t play any serious role, appearing more like an accompaniment. I can’t say that I’m totally into this sort of stuff, but anyway let’s give this MCD ‘4’ as a mark. (Herr Stalhammar)

MORBID DEATH
«Echoes Of Solitude»
Independent Records
rating: 6 of 6
What a stupid and ridiculous bandname and what a brilliant music! To tell you the truth, I didn’t expect such album from the band carrying the name «Morbid Death»... These Portuguese dudes play impressive and quite innovative sort of music, which could be roughly defined as gothic doom metal heavily inspired by DEATH, ATHEIST and alike bands. This CD contains some folk and barocco elements, however let’s don’t forget about bass leads and excellent hoarse vocals, soothing melodies and tremendous guitar solos, almost grinding parts and splendid drumming + a big amount of nearly symphonic keyboards... Yes, «Echoes Of Solitude» is overflowed with contrasts, but in spite of this it doesn’t sound incomprehensible. I like this CD more than much... and I hope so will you! (Herr Stalhammar)

SANGUIS ET CINIS
«Sanguis Et Cinis»
Trinity Records
rating: 1 of 6
I’m becoming tired of this (fag)gothic trend. This CD is just one more proof of this style’s near decline - there’re not too much bands who’re capable of creating anything new or exciting in the schemes of dark wave genre. SANGUIS ET CINIS (a side-project of the members of SUMMONING) started two years ago with «Schicksal» CD, which brought us incredibly dark and gloomy gothic / dark wave stuff, possessing unique atmosphere of mysticism... I liked that album and expected the further development from this band, but... their music turned more and more softer with time, and this CD is nothing but a pop-crap with weak vocals, total absense of e-guitars and atmosphere... Drummachine only spoils the whole thing. And how do you like such names as Eve Electra Evangel and Celine Cecilia Angel? Yes, they sound nice for the females, but... eh, the thing is that there’re only men in the band... If you’re faggot, this album is for you. (Herr Stalhammar)

SENISTRO
«Feelings»
self-released
rating: 5, 5 of 6
Most of doomy bands coming from Germany always captured my attention, since most of them strike as worthy ones... CREMATORY, DARK, NOX MORTIS, JACK FROST, LIVING SORROW - the list goes on forever. SENISTRO seems to be a neophyte, coming from the depths of German underground (at least, I’ve never heard about them before), however «Feelings» doesn’t yield to f.ex. CREMATORY at all, more than that - right now they’re one of my favorite German bands. Talking about SENISTRO’s style, I’d define it as top-quality ‘gothic doom metal’, so I believe it’s needless to say anything in regards to musicianship and production simply because both of them lack any drawbacks... The music itself definitely deserves attention of those of us who care about melodic and emotional, though somehow old-styled doom metal with atmosphere of romanticism... Maik Schmidt’s vocals is the strongest part of SENISTRO, and undoubtedly are one of the most impressive ones I’ve ever heard in doom metal! He sings in two voices: mild growling in the vein of KALISIA (it’s really nice to see bands who still use this kind of singing) and genius «clean» vocals, incredibly low ones, sometimes reminding of mighty RAMMSTEIN... So... looks like I said everything I had to. My special recommendations to all lovers of doom metal. (Herr Stalhammar)
P. S. ... although there’s one thing I still can’t get into: why is this CD a self-released one? With such an excellent music, SENISTRO had to obtain the record-deal immediately after their formation...

THE SHROUD
“A Dark Moon Night”
Magpie Records
rating: 5 of 6
This CD will grab your attention at once thanks to the very well thoughtout design and layout, while the music is by all means even better than this album’s splendid appearance. “A Dark Moon Night” is already a third recording from THE SHROUD, reminding me of THE GATHERING a bit, although this stuff is much more “gothic”. It’s very beautiful and soothing, calm and in the same time rather melancholic kind of music making all of your negative emotions to fade away… Besides afore-said “A Dark Moon Night” features incredibly impressive lyrics by Lydia (vocals) - just read a couple of verses and you’ll see that I’m right. Getting back to music… Honestly speaking, I don’t know what to add here… Such tunes as “Where The Wind Goes”, “Day And Night”, “Roses”, “Another Time” and “Apology” appear as something you won’t easily forget, no doubts… Fancy the dark starlit sky, grass gently cherishing your naked skin and the woman you love near you… That’s a picture I conceived after being absorbed by THE SHROUD’s magic… (Herr Stalhammar)

SILENT STREAM OF GODLESS ELEGY
«Behind The Shadows»
M. A. B. Records
rating: 5 of 6
«Behind The Shadows» is the second CD from this original Czechian band, surprisingly released by completely unknown label... I’m wondering why did these guys leave Leviathan Recs? And where the serious labels are looking at...? This band deserves worthy deal, no doubts... While the previous CD from SILENT STREAM OF GODLESS ELEGY, «Iron», turned out as decent piece of doom / death metal which however lacked any visible innovations and sometimes was even boring to listen to, «Behind The Shadows» shows the evident progression of this band. Musically, this album is much more diverse and intriguing, featuring more female vocals, violin and cello parts, however it doesn’t mean that it sounds more commercial or ‘mellow’ - this band and such notion as ‘trend’ have nothing in common... Ok, nevermind it, let’s better get back to the music... In contrast to the ones on «Iron», guitar passages became more improved and complicated, the same goes for Petr’s vocals - besides traditional growling, he sings in some sort of a husky voice, quite pleasant and original. In addition to all the aforementioned, I feel I have to mention that this band doesn’t fear of experimenting. Listen to «Old Women’s Dance», «Summoning Of The Muse» and «I Come And Stand At Every Door» - these tunes display another side of SILENT STREAM OF GODLESS ELEGY, being very impressive as well as other tracks included in this album... (Herr Stalhammar)

SOLITUDE AETURNUS
«Adagio»
Massacre Records
rating: 6 of 6
What to say here… No doubts that I was always under influence of this band, considering it to be one of the most outstanding acts ever, therefore I could rate this album only in two ways: ‘0’ if they failed miserably, and ‘6’ if they succeeded. Fortunately, SOLITUDE AETURNUS justified my hopes at 100%! They didn’t embark on the path of PYOGENESIS and MOONSPELL, Robert and co. follow the way they used to go on previously, during almost ten years. The same doom / heavy metal, the same peerless voice, the same thick sound… Go and buy this CD now, and don’t even dare to say that BLACK SABBATH’s “Heaven And Hell” cover feature weaker vocals than those by Dio… (Lazar)

SOLSTICE
“New Dark Age”
Misanthropy Records
rating: 5, 5 of 6
It was a big surprise for me to see this band signed to Misanthropy, however after listening to “New Dark Age” I wasn’t surprised anymore… SOLSTICE sound completely another way now – they stopped cloning SOLITUDE AETURNUS and now their style is pure heathen doom metal, sometimes reminding me of Irish bands like CRUACHAN and PRIMORDIAL, although highly original in the same time… It’s useless to mark out any tunes as the most impressive ones, since there’re no weak songs here! Maybe only the first one, “New Dark Age”, should be mentioned being absolutely outstanding piece… If you’re wondering about drawbacks, I’d say that this CD almost lacks them… however, lasting for seventy minutes, it becomes a bit boring in the end. But nevermind it… Check out “New Dark Age” anyway – it’s simply a killer album! (Herr Stalhammar)

SOULSEARCH
“Abred Vs Annwn”
Serenades Records
rating: 5 of 6
Good album title, isn’t it, eh? But it’s only a part of SOULSEARCH, a unique band with unique conception and genius musical works. “Abred…” is a natural development from the “Gwynedd” times, basically featuring very similar stuff, but in the same time – utterly different. How can it be? Well, if you once listened to this band, you’d never ask such questions… With their unique mix of doom metal, dark wave, folklore and even some BM elements, SOULSEARCH strike as one of the most original Austrian bands nowadays… (Herr Stalhammar)

TENHI
“Hallavedet”
Prophecy Productions
rating: 3 of 6
Hmm, strange name for the Finnish band (“tenhi” means “shadows” in Russian), although nothing can surprise me after Austria’s KOROVA (“cow” (!) in Russian) and ANGIZIA singing in my native language… This 7’EP consists of two songs of something that I’d call as a cross between folklore and dark wave… Sometimes this tranquil, serene and melancholic music reminds me of ULVER’s “Kveldssanger”, sometimes of THE 3rd AND THE MORTAL’s “Sorrow” MCD… But unfortunately it can’t be compared with the aforementioned masterpieces. “Hallavedet” is too monotonous, vocals also could be better… They just don’t impress me. If this effort had more than two songs, it would lull me to sleep. Anyway, let’s look what TENHI will create in future. At least, I hope that they will realize their mistakes. (Herr Stalhammar)