ALCHEMIST
“Spiritech”
Thrust Records
rating: 5 of 6
Seems like I heard someone of you saying that ‘techno-death is dead’, eh? Go to hell then, because this kind of statement is nothing but a bullshit. While there’re bands like ALCHEMIST and SADIST (‘AtheIST’, ‘SadIST’, ‘AlchemIST’… hmm…) still existing, such genre as techno-death metal will be alive. “Spiritech” is a third CD from this Australian band, and also most long-awaited one. Why? Well, in fact, their previous effort (“Lunasphere”) was released back in 1995, which is quite a long time ago. This album looks like (or sounds like?) the peak of their development as a band. It’s just impossible to reach anything more splendid, anything worked out in such a detailed and thoughtout way, created with such a stunning imagination… How can I describe this stuff? It seems almost impossible to me… Speaking in plain human words, such title as “Spiritech” fits (and describes) this CD perfectly. Yes, it’s a unique combination of spirituality and technocracy, elevated human spirit and dehumanized computer’s mind. In short - it’s ‘just’ avantgarde death metal. Not for everyone… but for open minded fans only. (Herr Stalhammar)

APOPHIS
“Heliopolis”
Morbid Records
rating: 4 of 6
Already a third CD from this fine German band performing so-called ‘mystical death metal’. Although the things became much ‘softer’, it’s not bad. In fact, I liked former APOPHIS’ CDs much better than this one due to their lack of any kind of compromises, brutality and incredible atmosphere, however it doesn’t mean that “Heliopolis” is pathetic stuff. No, it’s still highly exciting death metal, with magnificent leads and perfect arrangements, as well as few reminiscenes of ARCH ENEMY, but… if it just sounded more brutal…! (Herr Stalhammar)

AVULSED
“Cybergore”
Repulse Records
rating: 5, 5 of 6
I bet no one expected such a thing from this famous Spanish band! They always were one of the most innovative and interesting death metal acts in Spain, but nothing could foretell that they will ever release “Cybergore”. The album’s title explains everything, appearing as the perfect definition for what is going on here. Yes, it’s kind of a cross between ‘cyber death metal’ and techno, i.e. typical techno beats (intented for the dance floors, ha ha!) mixed with inhuman growling and brutal guitars (check out “Addicted To Red Bull”, for example). Actually, there’re no new tracks here, only re-mixes (although the song titles were changed a bit – f.ex. from “Hidden Perversions” to “Hash-Perversions”, or “Frozen Beat” instead of “Frozen Meat”) which may remind some of you of FEAR FACTORY’s “Remanufacture” (as it said in the bio), however I should admit that these acts don’t have much in common, as well as “Cybergore” and “Remanufacture”. Despite those cyber-sounds and programming, AVULSED still sound very brutal and (what’s most important!) original. All of the songs are re-done in a different way, so this CD never becomes boring. There’re two more things I can’t leave unmentioned – firstly, this album has a CD-ROM track featuring video clip, various pics and alike stuff. And secondly, let’s hail these guys for choosing such an amazing design and coverart, which also fit their music perfectly! Expect the interview in the sixth issue as well as the brand new CD, “Stab Wound Orgasm” (out soon!), which will be composed and performed in the vein of old AVULSED’s creations, since “Cybergore” was only an experiment… (Herr Stalhammar)

BLOODWURM
“Cold Dead Stare”
Lifestyle Records
rating: 4 of 6
This is something really weird… Some kind of a ‘pub-thrash’ in the vein of mighty GWAR, mixed with lots of death metal influences and some hardcore. Sometimes it reminds me of the aforementioned GWAR and alike bands, sometimes of few punk groups, as well as someone else… The musicianship is good, although production could be MUCH better, damn it! Seems like this MCD (b.t.w. limited to 100 copies… these guys also sent me the 7”EP!!!) was recorded in certain garage… Vocals vary from death-alike growls to hardcore screaming and “clean” singing. The music itself is rather groovy and pleasant, however too amateur, at least in my mind. The lyrics are not bad, while BLOODWURM’s image is something vampire-alike, which is quite exciting. I truly like the songs like “Oh, Yeah!” and “Cold Dead Stare”, nevetheless they remind me of early VENOM and MISFITS too much… I’m waiting for their forthcoming (professional, I hope) full-length recording… (Herr Stalhammar)

CIVIL CARNAGE
“Abomination In The House Of God”
Discorporate Music
rating: 4, 5 of 6
Something tells me that this band has it’s roots in punk rock??? I don’t know why I came to such a conclusion, but I believe I’m right anyway. “Abomination In The House Of God” is, no doubts, a well-crafted CD (although the drum sound sucks really bad!), presenting us powerful grind / death metal with extremely low-pitched, malicious vokills, unusually melodic sometimes. Most of tracks are done in the same vein, so it seems to be useless to mark out any of them, however I feel I can’t pass “Mindset” which is an absolutely amazing instrumental track, arranged as a neo-classical piece! “12 Beer And An STD” (what the hell is ‘STD’?) also stands out of the whole CD somehow… It’s almost a rock’n’rollish (!) tune, however somewhere in the mid of it we have (surprise, surprise!) rap-alike vocals and I’m strongly convinced that this is not the kind of thing they should do. Anyway, those who’re into atmospheric though ripping death metal with variety MUST have it. (Herr Stalhammar)

DISABLED
“Faith Ablation”
Embassy Productions / Craziness Musix
rating: 4, 5 of 6
There aren’t too much death metal bands from France coming my way, and it’s really a pleasure to get a CD from that country and find out that it’s definitely worthy stuff. DISABLED features members of another DM act, PSALM (they sound somehow a bit similar to EDGE OF SANITY circa “Purgatory Afterglow” CD), while “Faith Ablation” was produced by the same guy who was responsible for the sound on SETH’s “By Fire, Power Shall Be…” album. This MCD has six songs of pure crushing death metal, brutal as it only could be. You won’t find any originality or innovative ideas here, but who needs ‘em if we have mighty and powerful piece of primal anger and aggression? (Herr Stalhammar)

LAMENT
“Through The Reflection”
Little Rose Productions
rating: 5, 5 of 6
Anyone willing to hear some splendid Christian death metal out there? No, not splendid, but actually AMAZING piece of absolutely non-typical death metal? Can’t here ya! No?! Too bad for you, because (despite their ideology) LAMENT definitely deserves our attention. Their style is melodic DM, packed with so-called ‘shouting’ vokills, perfect performance and execution, however what really makes this CD truly outstanding goes for bass guitar lines. They go throughout the whole album, while bass often appears as the main instrument. Moreover, I should say that Iram is a magnificent bassist, no doubts!!! Some female vocals as well as few verses in Spanish can be discovered here, although the most interesting fact consists in the following – “Through The Reflection” is played by Mexican guys, recorded back in USA and mastered in Finland, striking as a product of some kind of international collaboration! Grab your hands on it immediately and await the interview in forthcoming issue! (Herr Stalhammar)

LOBOTOMY
“Born In Hell”
No Fashion Records
rating: 4 of 6
Strange to see death metal band signed to the label famous thanks to releasing high-quality BM efforts for years, although after getting INSANIA’s CD from them (power / speed metal), I guess nothing will ever surprise me. In short, “Born In Hell” didn’t impress me. This is already third CD from LOBOTOMY, although I haven’t heard any of their former recordings so I can’t draw any parallels or compare them to each other. I’d better say the following: “Born In Hell” is pure death metal, mid-paced and melodic though crushing, quite similar to the stuff performed by their countrymates, VERMIN. It’s perfectly recorded (Sunlight Studio) and well played, but I just don’t dig it, you know. Vocals are really brutal (especially when sung by Lars), there’re even few acoustics in “Dying Days”… sometimes this CD heavily reminds me of late MORBID ANGEL (“Ashes” and “Bloodangel”)… I don’t know. This is neither splendid, nor worthless. Just another decent death metal recording from Sweden with brilliant production and magnificent musicianship. (Herr Stalhammar)

LYCANTHRIS
“Live Your Crime”
Empty Eye Productions
rating: 4 of 6
LYCANTHRIS is a completely unknown bandname to me, and somehow I think that this CD is a debut from them, however it’s not bad. It’s a bit hard to describe what is going on here, but I’ll try anyway. “Live Your Crime” sounds like a mixture of death metal and hardcore; quite pleasing and original mixture, I must admit. Musically, it’s really brutal, bonecrushing and relentless form of music, in the same time being enough diverse and fascinating, while vocals vary from raw voice in the vein of FLESHCRAWL and alike bands, through some hardcorish singing to “clean” voices. The singer seems to be rather skillful in what he’s doing – as well as all the musicians. I wouldn’t say that this stuff totally blew me away, but it’s still a decent CD although the lyrics suck… I just hate the song titles like “Cool Motherfucker”… (Herr Stalhammar)

RESURRECTURIS
“Nocturnal”
Diamond Rds Int.
rating: 4 of 6
Italy doesn’t have too much bands (especially, when it comes to death metal) but the ones it have (almost) always seem to be splendid. Fortunately, it’s the same with RESURRECTURIS, a bandname I’ve never heard before. But I’m glad that I’ve finally heard it anyway, since their form of death metal is really interesting and innovative… Featuring good sound, this CD brings some death metal with a lot of variety – it has the elements of thrash, dark wave and lots of other styles, as well as few female voices here and there. “Midnight Letter” tune sounds almost like a ‘pop’ tune, although very good one. Too bad but there’s no growling here, since main vocals appear as ‘screamy’ ones and that’s not the sort of thing I like. However… who cares if the music itself is great? This is definitely a band which has a bright future. (Herr Stalhammar)

SCATTERED REMNANTS
“Destined To Fail”
Repulse Records
rating: 5 of 6
Wow… This CD is definitely unusual piece. It begins with anxious keyboard intro and later turns into quite typical unholy brutal death metal a-la early INCANTATION and others of that ilk. However, with “As Whores” track we have pure ambient work, incredibly grim and atmospheric, and, further, “Angelic Redemption” features female vocals! That’s totally surprising to be discovered here! Besides afore-said I have to admit that “Destined…” is rather diverse CD in terms of speed – it varies from slow tortured “doom” (conditionally speaking, of course) with rumbling drums, to agonizingly fast hellish death metal with absolutely inhuman growling… This is a very good CD from one of my favorite death metal labels in Europe (along with Morbid Records and Serious Entertainment). (Herr Stalhammar)

SEPSISM
“Purulent Decomposition”
Repulse Records
rating: 3 of 6
I still consider myself to be a fan of death metal, moreover – I’m into mostly the ‘typical’ side of things, i.e. I’m a fan of such bands as SINISTER, CANNIBAL CORPSE, SUFFOCATION as well as their followers… those who don’t care about originality or variety too much, playing relentless death metal at it’s best without giving a fuck to anyone’s opinion. California’s SEPSISM may be reckoned to this category, although the coverart attracts me much more than the stuff they create. Maybe it’s because of the monotony whose trace it bears… you know, this CD becomes boring very fast. I also don’t like that guitar sound at all; it reminds me of CANNIBAL CORPSE’s “The Bleeding” too much (and “The Bleeding” is the worst CD by that band in my view), however the closest comparison here is INFERIA with their “Masterpiece” album. Actually, I never liked gore death metal and the bands playing this kind of stuff. Yes, SEPSISM are brutal, but erh… brutal in a ‘wrong way’, heh heh… Anyway, I wouldn’t say that it is a no future band – perhaps, those who’re totally into gore metal like AUTOPSY, INTERNAL BLEEDING or EXPIRATION will get into “Purulent Decomposition”. (Herr Stalhammar)

TEMPLE OF THE ABSURD
“Mother, Creator, God”
High Gain Records
rating: 5 of 6
TEMPLE OF THE ABSURD is a newborn metal band, comprised of the HOLY MOSES and WARPATH ex-members. Lead by Sabina Classen (vocals, lyrics), this act appears as rather various musically… well, I don’t mean exactly melodies, but genres combined together. I’ve listened to this CD (b.t.w., buying it you also get CD-ROM) for many times and still can’t figure out if they’re death or black metal? Moreover, here we have some thrash and heavy metal influences when it comes to musical structures in the whole and guitar work in particular (especially regarding harmonies their music is based on)… It’s rather melodic though still enough brutal and exciting with unique singing by Sabina – I still can’t believe it is a woman’s voice… you see, there’re not much of us, males, able to sing like that… Vocals vary from black metal-alike, anxious, almost hysterical screams to typical DM growls passing through some ‘industrialized’ distorted voices. There’re also some recitatives performed by certain guy in the nearly rap style and I don’t like this at all! It sounds just annoying, nothing else. But fortunately it seems to be the only drawback when it comes to “Mother, Creator, God”. Musicianship is perfect as well as sound execution. The same goes for this album’s appearance, i.e. layout and design. Lyrics sound a bit incomprehensible at times, although they’re rather intriguing and pleasant to read through… And what’s most important, this output sounds ORIGINAL. The opening song, “A Resurrection Story” (together with “Liebe Toetet Langsam” and “Requiem For Misanthropy”), looks (sounds?) like the best tune here, although I feel I should note that, generally speaking, all of the songs on this CD are equal to each other. Moreover, these guys contrived to cover JETHRO TULL’s “Locomotive Breath” in a more than magnificient way… I think, both – BM fans and lovers of death metal – should check it out… (Herr Stalhammar)