A TRIBUTE TO MASTER'S HAMMER
Redblack Productions
rating: 5 of 6
No doubts, this is one of the most highly anticipated compilations ever released, at least when it comes to my own perception of metal scene's happenings. This tribute features thirteen MASTER'S HAMMER tracks covered by various-styled Czech bands, starting with SAD HARMONY, whose version of "Muj Hejtmane" strikes as one of the most original covers off this magnificent CD. Taking one of the best and most anxious pieces by Franta Storm and co., adding female voice and almost techno-alike introduction along with complicated male singing's passages, it definitely sounds exciting. SILENT STREAM OF GODLESS ELEGY surprisingly delivered rather black metal-sounding version of "Zapalili Jsme Onen Svet", managing to make a newborn jewel out of this tune with viola and cello following the rhythm guitar lines. FORGOTTEN SILENCE's "Utok" sound the way more complicated in comparison to it's original version, and that makes the whole thing a bit muddled... so let's move further - to "Jama Pekel", covered by ENTRAILS in a truly furious and hateful way. Black metal to the bone, you see. Good. ENDLESS are the next ones and, most possibly, their interpretation of "Sucharduv Dum" (along with SAD HARMONY's cover) is this tribute's highlight due to the fact they contrived to give this song a new birth. In fact, it sounds like a bit groovy and atmospheric doom rock spiced with unbelievably impressive male and female voices. INGROWING couldn't offer anything outstanding; the way they've reworked "Duse Nesmrtelnych" doesn't offer any original approach. HYPNOTIC SCENERY's "Cerna Svatozar" sounds closer to the original tune more than any other covertrack off this CD, while INSANIA contrived to deliver pretty weird and incredibly irritating interpretation. DISSOLVING OF PRODIGY's music could never do anything for me, with an exception for the fact it's a good medicine if you suffer from insomnia. Thus, obviously, their "Pad Modly" lulls me to sleep. Everything's different with the next band, though. Going by the name PROMISES, these guys made almost a heavy metal (!) out of "Vecny Navrat". Very impressive. The same goes for ASMODEUS as well, by the way. FLESHLESS' "Kazdy Z Nas!" is plain death metal with no variety, therefore I wouldn't say this cover pleased me. And finally, DARK GAMBALLE weirdos turned "Geniove" into some kind of a cross between gothic rock, ambient and industrial... Well, a worthy 'grand finale' for this excellent compilation. (Herr Stalhammar)

RIDING HELLWARDS
“Volume II – Desolation Reached”
rating: 4, 5 of 6
This a comp CD brought forth the light by Smaug, the man behind Belgium’s SVARTKRIST. And to be honest, he had done his work really good, even though this CD-R is far from being perfect. First of all, Mr. Smaug, couldn’t you perform mastering on all the tracks you comprised this compilation of? I believe, it would be only for better… But anyway, let’s talk about the bands who took part in this project a bit. The first one comes from United Kingdom, carrying the BRUTAL INSANITY monicker. Well, it’s just plain death metal with few BM reminiscences to be found here and there, also seeming to be somehow influenced by US school DM. Not bad, but still rather average. The second one is HERESIARH from Latvia and that was a huge disappointment! They manage to deliver undoubtedly innovative and exciting music, but this track (“The Crownless King”) is utterly ruined due to absolutely incomprehensible recording and mixing, also suffering because of the song’s muddled structures. OATH OF CIRION from Finland surprisingly appears as one of the most exciting moments my ears caught here… Their dreamy, pseudo-symphonic yet incredibly grim kind of black metal appealed to me really well mostly due to the fact these guys (?) contrived to invent at least few astounding rhythmic moves. The fourth one, RULE OF THUMB, can’t offer anything intriguing, I fear… Mediocre, generic death / black; nothing more, nothing less. ATLAS is definitely an original band and those piano passages sound tremendous; although HORRIBLE, yeah simply horrible production destroys everything… If they manage to book a suitable studio in future, I’d recommend you to check ‘em out, though. FILTHY FLESH comes from Russia, while stylistically they’re plain brutal death metal at it’s best. Nothing too exciting, although still pretty fine. Brazil’s YOGGOTH offer the listener diabolic black metal, sometimes heavily reminding me of their countrymates, SONGE D’ENFER. HELGRINDR… Well, here we have one more of a pack. Regular Norse band coming from France, however surprisingly good one this time. As to NACHZEHRER, the ones who go after HELGRINDR… this is some kind of Nordic metal again, coming with magic Italian blend. Not bad. Not that good as well. DEATH’S BRIDE is rather good death / black metal, while Czechia’s ENTRAILS basically deliver the same kind of music, even though adding somewhat thrashy touch. I wouldn’t mind to give their CD (if they have one…) a listen, you see. WALPURGIS is a familiar name to me, and they appear as one of the most professional bands on this comp with their unoriginal but still highly exciting, even bewitching form of black / death metal. And finally we have BELENOS who (whatta surprise!) doesn’t suck this time (even pretty good sounding dreary black metal, to be honest) and an excellent minimalistic ambient from the depths of coldest Finnish lakes, the JAAPORTIT. That’s all, ladies and gentlemen. Hope you’ll enjoy this CD the same way as I did. (Herr Stalhammar)