ADNAUSEUM
«Desire, Aspire,
Inspire, Expire»
Independent / Horrorshop
Records
rating: 4 of 6
Seems like ADNAUSEUM
are strongly inspired by bands like INTERNAL BLEEDING - or how will you
explain those typical American death / grind moves and plenty of blasts
which made me to recall bands like DYING FETUS and others of that ilk?
However, ADNAUSEUM cannot be defined as regular clone-band, because they
mix those insane face-ripping parts with slow as hell passages in the vein
of WINTER... It’s hard to say if this band has bright future but they surely
can be distinguished from numerous hordes of groups lacking their own face.
The only real complaint I have here concerns too «clean» production
making «Desire...» sound somewhat less brutal than it could
be...
BERSERKR
«Crush The
Weak»
Resistance Records
rating: ???
This album is more
than just ‘strange’, hence I couldn’t even give it appropriate mark. «Crush
The Weak» starts with pure death metal tune «Swindler’s Wish»,
later turning into some kind of a cross between late GOREFEST’s and METALLICA’s
heritage, hardcore and even nazi ‘oi’ music with some doom metal elements...
Rather interesting and fresh recording, but too much various, even for
me. Amateurs of such stuff can try it, though.
DISFEAR
«Everyday Slaughter»
Osmose Productions
/ KRON - H
rating: 3, 5 of 6
Relentless, raw death
metal with noisy guitars performed in style of old Swedish DM bands, bringing
to memory those wonderful days when ENTOMBED just released their «Left
Hand Path» and nobody even heard about IN FLAMES and DARK FUNERAL...
First I had a chance of listening to this band after getting the second
compilation from Osmose, «World Domination». There these Swedes
featured «Anthem Of Agony» song which I unfortunately confused
with ordinary Swedish black / death metal, although now my mistake is luckily
revealed. As a concluding words - it’s quite surprising to see DISFEAR
signed to KRON-H, after this Osmose’s sub-label released DIABOLOS RISING,
MASTER’S HAMMER and RAISM.
DRUGGER
«Dementia»
Music Park Productions
rating: 2, 5 of 6
This is first release
from Russian Music Park Productions and it’s nothing good I fear... DRUGGER
play brutal death metal with few doom influences and good lyrics in Russian.
Both, musicianship and sound quality cannot be critisized in any ways because
of definite professionaly obtained by DRUGGER’s members and sound engineer
(Pavel Botov of St. Petersburg’s Awesome Studio), but there’s something
which doesn’t work with me in this band’s sound... I don’t know the reason
why, but «Dementia» didn’t impress me at all. Sorry, guys.
FACES OF DEATH
«Faces Of Death»
Ecocentric Records
rating: 5, 5 of 6
Interesting stuff,
which surprised me a lot. It begins as typical grindcore-thing, but later
you can hear almost hard-rock guitar parts with beautiful, tremendous solos!
Add grunting vocals, some sfx’s in the background and weird samples...
Besides, sometimes it seems that «Faces Of Death» was recorded
live, however when you listen another song you assure yourself that this
CD was recorded at the studio... In short, very strange album, nevertheless
leaving extremely impressions! FACES OF DEATH are similar to a breath of
fresh air in the grindcore scene, no doubts!!
GOREFEST
«Chapter 13»
Steamhammer Records
rating: 4 of 6
I was always a big
fan of GOREFEST, from «Mindloss» to «Soul Survivor»
so I hope you already guessed that I was very interested in hearing new
stuff from them. Now «Chapter 13» is among other CD’s in my
collection, hence I have to write a review. Frankly speaking, it disappointed
me. There’re no such mighty tunes as «Soul Survivor», «Electric
Poet», «Dogday» or «Erase»... Finally, Jan-Chris
began singing in «clean» voice and that wasn’t very good move
in my opinion. Fortunately, that good old and more than just original growls
are still here, the fact which saves the whole CD. In general, «Chapter
13» is neither shitty nor great album, it’s nice but extremely unmemorable...
Probably, after four or five listens I’d write better review but then it
will be too late...
HATRED
«Suffer»
self-released
rating: 5, 5 of 6
As far as I know,
«Suffer» is a second release from this American band, while
the first one was «Daze Of Darkness» demo... I don’t know anything
about the previous tape, but this one is just fucking great - pure bestiality
and evil, extremely ruthless and as brutal as possible! Talking about their
style, I guess there’s no need to tell you what we can expect from American
band called HATRED? Yes, it’s pure crushing death metal, although it has
some interesting melodies here and there, packed with great vocals (both,
deep growls and high-pitched shrieks), excellent production and musicianship...
It’s not original, but who cares anyway?! I don’t, since HATRED play death
metal lacking any alien influences the way it always should be - fast,
face-ripping and brutal with actual thoughts of their own put in each song
featured here... Buy this stuff NOW!
P. S. «Suffer»
comes is a shape of CD (although self-released one), so I believe that
we can consider it as some kind of «official» release, however
I feel I have to give your HATRED’s contact addresses:
P. O. Box 10264,
Alexandria, VA 22310 or (703) 960-HATE or online at <HATREDVA@aol.com>
INCANTATION
«The Forsaken
Mourning Of Angelic Anguish»
Repulse Records
rating: 6 of 6
AAARRRRGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
The demons of filth are back with most bestial and dark album in their
whole career!!! It’s fast and brutal as always, but in contrast to
most contemporary straight-forward death metal bands, it is various and
intelligent with weird atmosphere, which means that «The Forsaken
Mourning...» should appeal to huge number of BM fans. The best songs
here are probably «Lusting Congregation Of The Perpetual Damnation»,
«Twisted Sacrilegious Journey Into Our Darkest Neurotic Delirium»
and absolutely killer DEATH’s cover «Scream Bloody Gore».
This MCD is surely A MUST.
INCANTATION
«Diabolical
Conquest»
Relapse Records /
Nuclear Blast
rating: read below
I received «Diabolical
Conquest» already after this issue was complete, so you’ll have to
forgive me this time for quite short review. Well, as you may see above,
I praised former INCANTATION’s MCD to the skies, and rated it as «6»
of «6». And damn, what can I write now, if «Diabolical
Conquest» is even better??!? I guess «nothing» is the
answer. I simply don’t want to write «masterpiece» once again...
Fuck, too much masterpieces this number... Weird thing. And very pleasant
in the same time. It gives me hope for the bright future of death and black
metal. So... you already understood everything yourselves, right...?
P. S. Kyle Severn’s
drumming on this CD is one of the best I’ve ever heard on DM albums, no
doubts.
INFERIA
«Masterpiece»
Streetrock Productions
rating: 1 of 6
INFERIA appears as
regular typical and generic death / grind act from USA... This album is
masterly performed, however it’s too boring and completely soulless...
INGROWING / DEFLORACE
«Perverted
Look At The World / Dreams Of A Serial Killers»
Leviathan Records
rating: INGROWING
- 4, 5 of 6
DEFLORACE - 5, 5 of 6
This is a split CD
from two Czech bands released by Leviathan Records, who are also known
thanks to ASTRAL and SILENT STREAM OF GODLESS ELEGY albums... Both, INGROWING
and DEFLORACE, play relentless, mercilessly brutal death / grind sowing
the seeds of utter destruction everywhere these sounds may reach... I don’t
know why I should to describe the music because if you read this review
you should know what so-called «gore metal» is all about. Although,
I can’t pass one really oustanding track by DEFLORACE. It’s called «Paula»
and begins like a very strange one - almost a ballad you know, however
later it turns into all-devouring, hateful hymn of violence... This CD
is great (if you don’t care about awful English, ha ha!), especially DEFLORACE
who perform their creations in more brutal and impressive way. Recommended
to all lovers of true death metal.
MORBID ANGEL
«Formulas Fatal
To The Flesh»
Earache Records
rating: 4 of 6
After quite a long
break since the release of «Domination» (although, three years
delay is usual thing for MORBID ANGEL), these Florida’s gods unleashed
their new blasphemous spawn, recorded with the new vocalist, namely Steve
Tucker. Now Trey Azagthoth is the only guitarist in the band, since they
got rid of Eric Rutan due to some unknown reasons. Besides guitars, Trey
handles all keyboards also being responsible for backing vocals (which
sound a lot like black metallish ones...). Well, I thought that I’d face
more changes with this CD, but who knows, maybe the lack of drastical metamorphosis
is a good thing afterall? Steve Tucker’s voice sounds very similar to Dave’s,
being almost identical to former singer’s deep growls. «Formulas...»
features more keyboards as well as few instrumental tracks, sounding enough
weird and gloomy to ruin your nerves and crawl into the very depths of
your weak human essense... Oooh, what can I say in addition? Production
is more than perfect, every instrument’s part, each guitar’s riff sounds
crystal clear, in the same time still staying very brutal. Solos still
appear as very weird, and so masterly performed that some may even doubt
the Trey’s human origin... This album surely will be considered as masterpiece
by faithful fans of this band, but I’m not one of them, so the only thing
I can conclude this review with is: very good album, but nothing special
to me.
MORTICIAN
«Zombie Apocalypse»
Relapse / Nuclear
Blast
rating: 6 of 6
«Fuck Of Death»
- hmmm... «Charred Corpses» - heh... «Zombie Apocalypse»...
- yeah, such titles don’t seem to imply very intellectual music. And MORTICIAN
isn’t a kind of band which makes emphasis on intelligent, diverse music
and thrilling, equivocal lyrics. Is it bad? I don’t know. I only know that
this CD drives me insane! Fuck the intellectuality! Hail stupidity and
meaningless violence, ha ha! Just kidding. Anyway, all those who wish to
hear something 100000000000000000000% brrrrrrrrrrrrrruuuuuuutal have to
stop their search and try MORTICIAN. Their music doesn’t pretend to be
anything, but pure evilness, speed and brutality. And that’s what I like
in such kind of bands! Excellent CD, with inhuman demoniacal growls and
music, which is able to smash the brains out of your neighbours’ heads!
NEGLECTED FIELDS
«Synthinity»
Neat Metal / Eldethorn
Records
rating: 6 of 6
A Latvian band, making
it’s debut through the famous English label?? Sounds ridiculous, but NEGLECTED
FIELDS surely deserve such a deal. This five-piece (including a girl, responsible
for back vocals and playing keyboards) perform very interesting and intriguing
techno-death metal with typical grim black metallish vokills and equivocal,
somewhat abstract lyrics. Unlike many bands of this kind, NEGLECTE FIELDS
don’t sound boring, no! Their music is various, but not ‘too’ various (hopefully
you get what I mean), brutal and very technical, possessing sombre, depraved
atmosphere - mostly thanks to keyboards. I’d even dare to say that this
project is one of a kind, at least when it comes to techno-death. Very
exciting album!
P. S. Notice that
«Synthinity» was recorded at famous Tico - Tico Studio with
Ahti Kortelainen!
OBSCENITY
«Human Barbecue»
Morbid Records
rating: 6 of 6
Aaarggghhhh, fuck
everyone who will argue my opinion that OBSCENITY is the best death metal
band in Germany ever!!! «The 3rd Chapter» kicked ass, but «Human
Barbecue» is a masterpiece! I’m not going to describe this CD - it’s
needless. OBSCENITY’s music should be listened not discussed! Everything
is perfect here and I’d better go and listen to it once more instead of
writing ordinary boring review...
P. S. Did I tell
you that «Human Barbecue» is ‘a must to have’ album?
PSALM
«Threshold
Of Escape»
Crazy Records
rating: 4 of 6
French bands, the
ones who dedicated themselves to death or doom metal, always captured my
attention due to their non-standard approach to music they create. Just
recall MISANTHROPE, SCARVE, DEAD SOULS RISING, KALISIA or M.PHERAL! Now
we have PSALM with their debut (at least, I think that it’s their debut)
CD, produced by F. Foulquier, the same guy which did all the sound-engineering
work for black metallish SETH. However, production could be better, although
it doesn’t suck - it’s just rather mediocre, you know. The best comparison
which could be found here is EDGE OF SANITY - PSALM’s creations stand quite
close to the works of aforementioned legendary Swedish band, especially
it goes for that distinctive guitar sound and growling vocals (while
speeches are similar to the declamations by Darren, ex-ANATHEMA singer
and the current vocalist for THE BLOOD DIVINE). Although, despite the afore-said,
PSALM possess certain originality; but in the same time this band doesn’t
bring anything new to the metal genre they’re playing in...
RING’S END
«Digest»
Serious Records
rating: 5 of 6
BIOHAZARD’s typical
sound along with GOREFEST (circa «False») and pure jazz - what
do you think of such a mix? And that’s exactly the music RING’S END play.
This is quite hard-for-comprehension album, although it might appeal to
all fans of experiments in extreme music. «Gone» is the best
track here, mostly due to delirious changes from blasting death / hardcore
to calm and vanguard jazz tunes... Try it, «Digest» may appeal
to you.
SADIST
«Crust»
Displeased Records
rating: 5, 5 of 6
SADIST’s debut entitled
as «Above The Light» (Nosferaru, 1993) was absolutely killer
stuff - amazingly performed, symphonic and technical death metal with strong
BM influence, though their next CD, «Tribe» (Rising Sun, 1996),
unfortunately disappointed me... No, it was nothing bad, in fact a good
album with excellent keyboards and guitar work, but something just didn’t
work with me when it came to «Tribe». Maybe too polished production?
But let us, the ones who didn’t like that album, nevermind it because now
we have «Crust»! I don’t know, but it looks like the band changed
singer once again, since the voice changed rather drastically - from that
ATHEIST-alike weird singing to malicious and hateful screams reminding
of «Above The Light». Production is also much better - it’s
great but this fact doesn’t make the whole CD sound less brutal like it
was with «Tribe». I guess there’s no sense in praising keyboards
and synths featured here - all of those who already had chance to listen
to SADIST’s former albums, know what I’m talking about! So... I said everything
I could, now it’s your turn - to go in the nearest underground store and
purchase «Crust», really great and outstanding piece of brutal
and weird symphonic death incorporating many black metal (and also few
industrial) elements!
P. S. ... however,
where are those amazing guitar solos??
SILICON HEAD
«Bash»
DSFA Records
rating: 4, 5 of 6
Do you remember a
band called ATHEIST, now sadly defunct (too much marijuana, I believe)?
Yes? Then what do you think of their «Elements» album? If you
liked it, SILICON HEAD will replace an empty space in your collection for
ATHEIST. «Bash» strikes as one of the best records released
by DSFA Records, it’s very diverse, heavy and brutal although not thoughtless.
Basically, it’s techno-death with some doom and hardcore elements, good
non-standard vocals and excellent guitars, especially when it comes to
acoustic parts. What to add? SILICON HEAD also includes some ORPHANAGE
members and this CD has brilliant sound...
THE NOW NOISE!
«Raging Mad
Sanity»
Morbid Records
rating: 5 of 6
Like all stuff from
Morbid Records, THE NOW NOISE!’s «Raging Mad Sanity» (what
a ridiculous title!) features great, fierceful death metal without any
compromises (while sometimes it seems that this band’s members played punk
or hardcore before - I don’t know why). The strange thing is that despite
total lack of originality and any new ideas (just pure death metal at it’s
best, you know), and the same as most other bands on Morbid (for example
AGATHOCLES, DEPRESSION, NYCTOPHOBIC, etc.) THE NOW NOISE! sounds fresh
and captures your attention till the album ends, after what you’ll play
it over and over... Where’s the secret? Anybody knows? At least, I don’t.
But who cares if we have one more excellent DM band?! If you’ll miss «Raging
Mad Sanity» you’re more than stupid...
TOTENMOND
«Vaterchen
Frost»
Massacre Records
rating: 5, 5 of 6
This is fucking slow
death metal, extremely brutal and depressive, although with plenty of ripping
fast parts... The strangest thing is that TOTENMOND appears as one more
Austrian band singing in Russian, together with ANGIZIA and ANOREXIA NERVOSA!
Third song is even entitled in this language with cyrillic letters... But
never mind it, let’s better get to music. What can I add to afore-said?
Drumming is excellent and strikes as one of the TOTENMOND’s strongest parts.
Vocals are deep, performed in true death metal style, so are guitars -
mangling your brains with their thick, depraved sound. Unfortunately, this
CD features only four songs, very long though. The best ones are undoubtedly
«Boga Semena» («Seeds Of God» in English) and opening
tune called «Mutterliebe» with great intro... «Vaterchen
Frost» is excellent CD. Production is good, as well as splendid musicianship,
songs are dark, brutal, memorable and even somewhat original... GREAT!