ANATHEMA
“Judgement”
Music For Nations
rating: 5 of 6
Well, what can I say? Seems like this review will be one of the most short ones in this issue. Look at the mark I gave “Judgement”… I guess you already understood that it’s rather excellent piece of art… “Judgement” follows the line of “Eternity” and “Alternative 4”, i.e. it’s gothic / dark wave stuff, extremely pleasant for the ears and, of course, pro-done. Vocals are great, and all the instruments just support them… Unfortunately, it’s not that melancholic as “Eternity” songs… but still excellent. (Herr Stalhammar)

ARTEMISIA
“So Legends Tell”
Dawn Of Sadness Records
rating: 3 of 6
Last CD from Italy’s Dawn Of Sadness I’ve heard was VLADIMIR’s “Mother” MCD which turned out as rather impressive effort, however this one is much worse, I fear… ARTEMISIA plays some sort of dark metal, romantic and tremendous, though rather sombre at times, and, generally speaking, music itself is very beautiful and well-structured, but vocals is what really irritates me. When Igor screams and growls, he sounds fine, but when he begins to sing… arrgghh, he’d better don’t do it! His voice sounds like bleating, annoying and out-of-key. Martina, the female vocalist, also can’t sing a shit. Ok, getting back to music and other stuff. It’s mostly mid-paced (however “In An Evening Dawn…” strikes more as a black metal song, fast and furious…), with splendid arrangements and leads, coming with a good production, while the artwork, as well as this disc’s appearance in the whole, is purely amazing! It grabs your attention at once and I only wish they could find good and well-trained singers, since ARTEMISIA seems to be a promising band – musically. (Herr Stalhammar)

COLDER THY KISS
“Into The Mouth Of God”
self-released
rating: 3 of 6
I’ve read lots of reviews in the underground mass-media, the ones who praised this band for being something truly innovative and, perhaps, even outstanding… however I still wonder what made ‘em to rate COLDER THY KISS the way they did. This band performs rather average doom / goth stuff, featuring decent arrangements and really heavy guitar passages, but who said that it’s what makes band outstanding? And those low-pitched vocals sound nearly ridiculous at times… The only track here I could recommend you to get acquainted with, is “Song’s Mistress”. (Herr Stalhammar)

DAYLIGHT TORN
“Death Alone From Life Can Save”
CCP Records
rating: 5, 5 of 6
I always thought that Austria’s CCP Records unleash only black metal efforts, however it seems like JACK FROST wasn’t the only exception. Here’s DAYLIGHT TORN, young talented band, whose style is gothic doom metal, although pussies aren’t welcome!!! Coming with ten songs of pure romantic yet sombre atmosphere, it’s definitely stunning effort. Male and female voices, unbelievable variety (although it doesn’t have anything to do with acts such as DRAWN – you don’t have to listen to “Death Alone…” for hundred times to get into it), inimitable atmosphere… CCP gatheres more and more outstanding bands… (Herr Stalhammar)

DYING PASSION
“No Time”
self-released
rating: 4, 5 of 6
When I looked at the song titles (such as “Errection”) and realized that “No Time” is a self-financed release… I thought it is pure crap. Just one worthless entity pretending to be a masterpiece in a doom / gothic genre. I was wrong and it’s really great I think. DYING PASSION comes from Czech Republic and the stuff they compose and perform may be easily defined as slow, tranquil and peaceful gothic rock with female voice (although some male vocals are here as well) and flute as one of the leading instruments. The production definitely could be better, however it’s not that bad. The music itself itself is based on Zuzana’s voice and Veronika’s flute parts as well as acoustic guitar. Drums and bass also sound highly impressive, though sometimes there’re too much of them if you get what I mean. Unfortunately, despite that DYING PASSION is, no doubts, a talented and promising band, their music becomes somewhat boring at times… it just lulls you to sleep, especially if you’re drunk or tired. Well… I think, “No Time” shouldn’t be listened in a drunken black metallers’ company… it’s the kind of music you have to play when you make love… or something like that (???)… (Herr Stalhammar)

EVER EVE
“Regret”
Nuclear Blast Records
rating: 4 of 6
Unfortunately, this album is a hundred times more weak if we’d compare it to such outstanding (moreover – unique!) CDs as “Seasons” or “Stormbirds”… don’t listen to those who praise “Regret” considering it to be the best-ever recording EVER EVE have done so far. First of all, I should say that the loss of previous singer (Tom Sedotschenko, who killed himself some time ago) harmed this band a lot. Tom had a unique style of singing, the one which differed EVER EVE from any other band – and now they sound like your regular goth / metal act… moreover, I still miss those black metal shrieks, the ones that are gone now. Guitars sound less brutal, the arrangements are much poorer – and where are those unique synth’s passages???! Who cares that their lyrics are still very dark… Yes, this CD has some good songs like “Passion And Demise”, “Dies Irae (Grave New World)” or “Where No Shadows Fall”… but, but, but… Once EVER EVE used to be truly outstanding band with a sound of their own, an imitable sound… and now it’s just ordinary doom / goth / heavy metal… Good one. But “splendid” is something I definitely prefer over “good”. (Herr Stalhammar)

GODGORY
“Resurrection”
Nuclear Blast Records
rating: 4, 5 of 6
This CD appeared as some kind of disappointment to me. I truly loved their previous output, “Shadow’s Dance”, however “Resurrection” couldn’t affect me the same way as it’s forerunner. The atmosphere strikes as somehow vague and indistinct, the songs themselves aren’t very memorable… Of course, all of them are top-notch when it comes to performance and sound quality, but… Only ACCEPT’s cover, “Princess Of The Dawn”, appears to be really outstanding piece. Others are good, but the ones featured on “Shadow’s Dance” were better. Sorry, Matte… (Herr Stalhammar)

GODS TOWER
“Ebony Birds”
Sturmesflugel / Prophecy Productions
rating: 5 of 6
Hmm, I guess GODS TOWER deserved this deal, although I was somehow surprised to see them on Prophecy anyway. “Ebony Birds” includes various tracks taken from “The Eerie” and “The Turns” CD’s, re-recorded and re-mixed (I believe). Such tunes as “Eye For An Eye”, “Raising Arrows”, “Till Death Do Us Part” or “The Eerie” are the best ones here, and also the best ones to make you a fan of this Belorussian band. For those who still do not know what GODS TOWER is all about, their style is pagan doom metal with plenty of (pseudo?)folk elements, and what’s most important, 100000% originality. Lesley (the singer) developed his singing skills, and now his voice sounds more powerful than ever before – and the same goes for all the other musicians, involved in this band. Describing this CD seems to be utterly useless to me, better check it out yourselves – and if you’re into acts like SOLSTICE (late), early AMORPHIS or IN EXTREMO, you won’t be disappointed. I only wish to believe that “Ebony Birds” is the first though not the last product of collaboration between GODS TOWER and Prophecy Productions. (Herr Stalhammar)

HEFEYSTOS
“Psycho Cafe”
Wounded Love Records
rating: 1 of 6
Oh fuck. I couldn’t even think of HEFEYSTOS releasing such an album in my worst nightmares… Perhaps, it’s worst-ever release from Wounded Love, and in my view they should think seriously before releasing a next CD from HEFEYSTOS. This Poland’s band made their debut with highly exciting two-song MCD, “Vilce Sjen”, pure pagan black metal in the vein of early BEHEMOTH. It was decent stuff, however their self-titled fulllength CD appeared as something truly amazing! Combining the elements of black metal, dark wave, gothic metal and folklore, it was a masterpiece – no more, no less. Add decent production, brilliant musicianship, beautiful female voice and lyrics in Polish, sounding so smooth and fascinating… and you’ll see that you have to get that album now. But this is what goes for “Hefeystos” CD. Yes, you should check it out, but don’t even try to listen to “Psycho Cafe”! Packed with incomprehensible sound and poor composition’s talent, it doesn’t have anything to do with black… well, with metal music at all. “Psycho Cafe” is alternative pop / rock with few gothic elements. Surprised, eh? I was surprised too. But what’s most strange, musicianship sucks as well. Seems like Alicja lost her voice? And where is that powerful drumming? What about synths played by Piotr Weltrowski? He is one of the best keyboardists in the whole Europe, so I can’t really understand why “Psycho Cafe” doesn’t feature any exciting arrangements and orchestrations… Once there were bewitching guitar leads, where have they gone??? Get lost, you morons. It’s not a ‘progress’, but nothing but a hackneyed desire to become a little bit more rich. (Herr Stalhammar)

LACRIMOSA
“Elodia”
Hall Of Sermon
rating: 6 of 6
Perhaps, “Elodia” is the best album from LACRIMOSA so far. This time we have that familiar sound coming with addition of the London Symphony Orchestra – no more, no less! And it was a good decision, no doubts! If Tilo didn’t invite Orchestra, most possibly “Elodia” would sound like a “Stille’s” copycat, and that’s not the kind of thing we expected, right? Now LACRIMOSA’s sound strikes as even more tremendous, fascinating and exciting, especially thanks to those bewitching guitar solos and perfect orchestration… In my view, this is one of the best gothic / dark wave CD’s released this year. (Herr Stalhammar)

NIGHTFALL
“Diva Futura” + “Electronegative” MCD
Holy Records
rating: 2 of 6 (“Diva Futura”)
        0 of 6 (“Electronegative”)
If I knew that NIGHTFALL will sound like that, I would never make an interview with Efthimis (the one featured in the former issue)!!! Tell me, who needs yet one more PARADISE LOST-clone?? Even “Lesbian Show” (not a masterpiece) was stunning effort if comparing to “Diva Futura” and, especially, “Electronegative”! This is some commercial crap, sometimes sounding the way even PARADISE LOST’s “Host” (their latest CD) seems to be brutal! And sorry Efthimis, but Nick Holmes at least has a good “clean” voice, and I can’t say the same about you! You try to sing to the note, and what the fuck, you fail!!! As far as I remember, only KATATONIA’s “Discouraged Ones” made me THAT angry!!! (Herr Stalhammar)

NOX MORTIS
“7 Lies”
Prophecy Productions
rating: 4, 5 of 6
Stunning artwork was the first thing caught by my sight. Surprisingly various, innovative and even a bit avantgarde music was the second fact regarding this CD, this time captured by my ears. “7 Lies” is the second output from this German band, unleashed after a long period of silence. The album they made their debut with back in 1996, “Im Schatten Der Hasses”, featured some pleasant though rather orthodox atmospheric doom / death metal in the vein of CREMATORY’s “Just Dreaming”, however this one is a huge step forward, no doubts! NOX MORTIS circa 1996 and NOX MORTIS circa 1999 appear as two completely different bands, at least in my opinion. With such tracks as “Have You Ever Seen” NOX MORTIS prove that they contrived to get rid of any alien influences and create truly impressive stuff, performed in their own style. They’re still ‘doom / death’, but a way different from the common sense of this definition. The music became less dark and anxious… more atmospheric and somewhat ‘progressive’. At least, a strange comparison with… DREAM THEATER came to my mind while listening to this CD. “7 Lies” has a big vocals variety (recitatives, “clean” voices and growling), being extremely diverse and rather complicated musically. And here we have some kind of a problem… This ‘diversity’ irritates me sometimes, moreover – such music is a bit not my cup of tea (despite that I ‘get high’ on plenty of doom / death efforts), that’s why I rated it the way you see. (Herr Stalhammar)

RUINATION
“Xura”
Goldtrack Records
rating: 5 of 6
“Visionary Breed” was excellent, but it seems like “Xura” is even better… Or, more likely, RUINATION still plays the same, but everything endured some kind of development… This Litva-based act (signed to Spanish label) performs certain sort of a mixture between gothic doom and heavy metal, this time with more emphasis on keyboards (there’re few undoubtedly genius synth’s parts here!), however it doesn’t make “Xura” to sound more commercial or anything like that. Donatas’ and Ainius’ voices sound more impressive than ever, guitar passages are nearly amazing… and I already said everything I wanted to regarding Vytautas’ (keyboards) performances. Recorded in the Abyss Studio with Peter Tagtgren and Mikael Hedlund behind the bench, and coming with such tracks as “Long Way”, “World In Stain” or “Xura (The Land Of Pleasures Unattained)” as well as “Vision Thing” (a cover from SISTERS OF MERCY), this album shouldn’t be ignored! (Herr Stalhammar)

STONEHENGE
“Sense Of Doom”
CDM Records
rating: 4 of 6
I expected more from this one. “Sense Of Doom” features mostly old songs (in fact, there’re only two tunes here that I haven’t heard until getting this MC), such as 12-minute “Black Swans Of Dark Paradise” or “Unborn” and I bet all of us (I’m talking ‘bout Russian fans) already got ourselves acquainted with ‘em at one of STONEHENGE’s gigs. Unfortunately, Serge and co. got rid of Alexander and, despite that he was a chickenbrain fag, it’s really sad because STONEHENGE needs two guitar lines. Serge is a good and skillful guitarist, but he needs someone to supplement his performance, otherwise the whole stuff possesses less thicker sound that it had to. Also, “Sense Of Doom” sounds less brutal and grim (with an exception for “Outro” which is a five minute masterpiece!), this time with a bigger amount of synths incorporated. Vlad sings in three voices: a) almost grind-alike grunts b) some kind of sublime and emotional declamations c) nearly a black metal screaming, and all the vocal lines sound perfect. Well, I always considered him to be a great singer… and, moreover, his voice is one of the most original ones when it comes to Russian metal bands. Besides these changes, “Sense Of Doom” is one more splendid effort from STONEHENGE, unfortunately having few drawbacks, but… damn it, it still kicks ass! (Herr Stalhammar)

SUNDOWN
“Glimmer”
Century Media
rating: 6 of 6
I believe, SUNDOWN is a worthy substitute for CEMETARY, even though some may claim it to be too commercial and goth-influenced. “Glimmer” is a second CD from SUNDOWN (recorded at Mathias Lodmalm’s home studio… ha, seems like this ‘home studio’ have the same equipment as f.ex. Woodhouse or Finnvox do!), and it’s much in the vein of “Design 19”, although more heavier. Furthermore, it bears plenty of gothic rock and industrial influences, however it doesn’t make “Glimmer” to sound worse that it could. Well, if you’re into stuff like VASARIA, BLISS and others of that ilk, “Glimmer” is something you’ll get into immediately. Check out the song “Star”, which is among my favorites right now… Uhm… EXCELLENT. (Herr Stalhammar)

TENHI
“Kauan”
Prophecy Productions
rating: 2 of 6
Yes, the artwork is amazing. Yes, this effort sounds original and even a bit fascinating. Yes, “Soutro (Duft)”-track is a killer one. But no, I won’t give this album a better mark. Their former MCD (also on Prophecy) didn’t impress me at all, however I hoped that this one will be better… but it’s still as boring… unfortunately. I wish I could write better review, but let’s stay honest, ok? I don’t like it and never will. These guys attempt to create second “Kveldssanger” (ULVER’s acoustic masterpiece, remember?), but fail miserably… Don’t get me wrong, though! They’re good musicians, production seems to be rather splendid, the problem is with the songs themselves. I can’t sense that “feeling” suchlike albums should possess… that atmosphere, that sincerity… No, I couldn’t find it here, hence “Kauan” obviously sounds rather dull and boring – it just lulls me to sleep. (Herr Stalhammar)

THERION
“Crowning Of Atlantis”
Nuclear Blast Records
rating: 5, 5 of 6
“Crowning Of Atlantis” (already an eighth full-length recording from THERION!) looks (or better – sounds) like “A’arab Zaraq Lucid Dreaming”, part II or something like this, since it follows the same story: a couple of new songs, few covers, few tunes taken from the previous efforts and remixed + some live tracks. I guess, this time Christofer managed to reach better result, at least I prefer “Crowning Of Atlantis” over “A’arab…” CD. The new songs are great, although they’re done in the same vein as “Vovin”, however “From The Dionysian Days” sounds much better than any song taken off “Vovin”! As to covers… I really like “Seawinds”, the one which was originally brought forth the light by mighty ACCEPT… as well as “Thor” (from MANOWAR). This album features three live tracks, “To Mega Therion”, “The Wings Of The Hydra” and “Black Sun”, and they sound truly exciting – and very much different from studio versions. As always, lineup endured regular metamorphosis, this time it looks the following way: Christofer Johnsson (rhythm guitar and keyboards), Tommy Eriksson (guitar), Jan Kazda (bass guitar), Wolf Simon (drums), Waldemar Sorychta (guitar), Eileen Kupper (soprano), Angelika Mertz (soprano), Anne Tributh (alto), Jorg Breukker (bass) and Jochen Bauer (bass) + additional vocals by Ralf Scheepers… (Herr Stalhammar)

TIAMAT
“Skeleton Skeletron”
Century Media
rating: 4, 5 of 6
Kind of disappointment. Well, maybe not a ‘huge disappointment’, but something close to it. I liked a lot TIAMAT’s former “A Deeper Kind Of Slumber” CD (despite that most of my pals considered it to be nothing but a commercial crap), however “Skeleton Skeletron” is rather different – and worse. It’s a lot heavier but in the same time more commercial. Johan developed his singing skills, the producership is great, and few songs are quite exciting, but… some of them sound like Nick Cave’s cover versions. Surprise? I guess not.
P.S. “Brighter Than The Sun” track is a killer one!!!
(Herr Stalhammar)