ABADDON INCARNATE
“Nadir”
Sentinel
rating: 5 / 6
Surprisingly or not, Irish men are rather good in death metal too. Even though the CD this band made their debut with, was issued via France’s Season Of Mist, “Nadir” is my very first acquaintance with the band. And… I can’t really understand why SoM got rid of ABADDON INCARNATE. These guys fucking shrrrrrrrrrrred, believe me! In fact, it’s not really death metal, or at least not a 100% DM, but more likely a cross between grind- and death-core. Pretty complex and definitely in-your-face, variable enough, and what’s most important, recognizable. Actually, it seems like Irish bands always will be known for possessing very own sound, and it doesn’t really matter whether they come up with black metal, thrash or deathcore. By the way, check out the lyrics. These are like short stories; well-written ones.
Website: www.sentinelireland.com
Email: adrian@sentinelireland.com
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

BOLT THROWER
“Honour – Valour – Pride”
Metal Blade Records
(provided by Fono Ltd.)
rating: 4 / 6
This work is good the same way “Mercenary” was disgusting. And who cares that you won’t ever reap laurels like PAPA ROACH and all these nu-metal acts do, delivering this kind of music. We love this or that band disregarding the amount of CDs they sold, huh? But off to “Honour – Valour – Pride”. Apparently, it’s “good the same way” (see above) only in comparison to it’s predecessor, so if taking this effort separately, you will clearly realize it’s not a masterpiece, and simultaneously not a failure. These British kept untouched the unique melodiousness they’re known for – praise and honor! Adequate sound execution also shouldn’t be left unmentioned – so, once again, “praise and honor”. As to the drawbacks, I’d name vocals which have been pushed forward too much, as well as certain monotonousness and comics-like artwork. In other respects, “Honour – Valour – Pride” appears as that good ‘ol mid-tempo death metal, memorable and distinctive. (Herr Stalhammar; translated by Herr Stalhammar and Ingvar)

CADAVEROUS CONDITION
“The Lesser Travelled Seas”
Perverted Taste Records
rating: 5 / 6
Weird death metal. That’s what CADAVEROUS CONDITION have always been. That’s what they always to astound the regular listener with. After not-so-successful collaboration with Lethal Records and a long break caused by involvement in numerous side-projects, they’re finally back on the spot with an all new album, which is, to say the least, beats everything Wolfgang and co. have done so far. Imagine brutal death metal suddenly interrupted by incredibly melodious harmonies and DM ballads played with acoustic guitar, then fill it up with a cover from DEATH IN JUNE (“Heaven Street”), and you’ll get CADAVEROUS CONDITION. No, it doesn’t have anything to do with bands like OPETH (how are you doing, Mike? Wish you no hangovers from now on :)), i.e. “progressive”, “vanguard” or any other kind of perversion brought into death metal. Everything sounds too raw – yet both technically and compositionally well executed – and… erh, can’t find a proper word… perhaps, amalgamated so well that not even a sensitive ear can’t find out at least a single element of DIFFERENT approch? Maybe. All I can say, this CD is worth listen. (Herr Stalhammar)

DARK LUNACY
"Devoid"
Metal Blade Records
rating: 6 / 6
Wow! This one blew my head off! Imagine DISMEMBER-inspired melodic death metal from Italy, featuring Russian choirs and violin all the way through... Astounded, aren't you? Well, "Devoid" won't leave anyone cold, that's for sure. I haven't heard such a bewitchingly intriguing, unpredictably versatile - though brutal as hell! - incredibly well worked out and refreshing death metal for ages... THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A MUST, damn you! I could you much more regarding "Devoid", however a) what for? no words can describe this piece in a proper way; b) sorry, but this is a last-minute review. Sometimes you just have to be laconic... :(
Website: www.darklunacy.com
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

DARKSIDE
“Shadowfields”
System Shock
(provided by More Hate Prod.)
rating: 3 / 6
Have anyone ever heard me yelling “hey, this stuff’s bloody outdated!”. No one, I guess. Well, now you all will hear me saying what I never even think of saying. Yes, this is outdated. There’re still plenty of bands delivering already considered to be “old-school” death / doom metal, however DARKSIDE aren’t the ones to make it sound exciting. Well, I think you know what we have this time: slow death metal, man’s trying to growl grimly and girl’s attempting to sing tremendously, keyboards thrown in here and there, acoustics and sorrowfulness. This kind of music was more than just popular back in early and mid-nineties, and all of you surely gave a listen to bands like DARKSIDE a thousand times. Enough. This is not bad. Not good. Not even average. An echo from the past better said, I assume… (Herr Stalhammar)

DECAPITATED
“Nihility”
Earache Records
rating: 5 / 6
And now, learn what pure death metal should really be, you poor wretched scumbags! Learn from a second work by most possibly youngest DM combo Europe’s metal scene ever witnessed coming into life. I refused to believe that the average age of the band was just 14 when it’s been formed back in 1996, however sometimes you just have to. But off to music. “Nihility” features eight tracks of, as I said earlier, PURE death metal, obviously being heavily influenced by their older comrades (read – VADER), who, by the way, also inked a deal with Earache some 10 years ago. There’s not much originality to be found in case with DECAPITATED, but this aspect completely lost it’s importance years (aeons?) ago, at least if we speak about death metal. All in all, DECAPITATED strike as one of the best acts this genre has to offer nowadays. Congratulations! (Herr Stalhammar)

DECEMBER
“The Lament Configuration”
Earache Records
rating: 3,5 / 6
“I use DECEMBER’s music to get my actresses psyched up to do really brutal anal scenes!” These are the words of infamous adult movie director Matt Zane. So this must be SOMETHING, huh? Well, it’s not ‘something’. Just brutal hardcore violated and speeded up to death metal’s torturous attack. Unfortunately, only ‘just’. I confess, first I confused ‘em with US’ black metallers DECEMBER WOLVES who are (were?) also signed to Earache, and figured out it’s completely different act only when this CD started to spin in my CD-player. Not that it’s album to be passed on; “The Lament Configuration” simply doesn’t fit my tastes. I wouldn’t dare to say there’s any single thing to cavil at, however – and it’s only my personal point of view – with a bit more sincerity as well as diversity, it would have sounded better. (Herr Stalhammar)

MANIPULATED SLAVES
“The Legendary Black Jade”
Worldchaos Productions
rating: 4 / 6
Swedish-sounding death / thrash metal originating from the land of the rising sun? Well, at first I thought THAT’S what it is. Somehow I was wrong. Not completely, though. MANIPULATED SLAVES deliver rather impressive mixture of two of the genres mentioned above, although it shouldn’t necessarily be considered “Swedish”. At least, a participation of Johan Liiva (ex-ARCH ENEMY) isn’t the right reason, I believe. It’s more thrash than death, and that’s the way “The Legendary Black Jade” differs from most of musically similar (which aren’t too many, in fact) offerings. Unfortunately, the opening title, “Thrust Sword Into The Earth”, is the only one still spinning in my mind, therefore the mark is a bit worse than it could be. By the way, besides Johan, these chaps have been joined by Maya (THREAT) playing violin, as well as Yuko (FATIMA HILL) and Saeko (ex-FAIRY MIRROR) responsible for female voices. Well, I guess you already know “The Legendary Black Jade” is a pretty diverse piece. (Herr Stalhammar)

MASTIC SCUM / HAEMORRHAGE
“Reek” / “Dawn In The Rotting Czech”
Shindy Productions
rating: MASTIC SCUM – 4 / 6
        HAEMORRHAGE – 2 / 6
Split-MC featuring two of Europe’s most famous grindcore acts, one from Austria, one from Spain. MASTIC SCUM gets some extra points for clean studio recording and enough comprehensible music. It’s definitely 100% grindcore, although far from being utterly thoughtless garbage like most of bands of this kind usually offer. I wish it was more violent, though. “Reek” also features five tracks recorded live and fortunately put on tape in a proper way. HAEMORRHAGE, despite their cult status and somewhat surprising fact of presence of a girl on guitar, didn’t impress me at all. It doesn’t have anything to do with sound quality, since it’s more or less ok, it’s the music which just doesn’t excite me. Like “ok, what’s that? Oh, looks like I have to listen to yet another grindcore act. No prob, let’s do it. Ha, pure mediocrity! Review’s written? Excellent. At least I won’t have to listen to “Dawn…” never ever again”. (Herr Stalhammar)

OLIGARQUIA
“Nechropolis”
Destroyer Records
rating: 5 / 6
This CD literally breathes with the underground. South American underground, to be exact. Despite the stupid moniker, badly executed appearance and poor English (thus, incomprehensible lyrical canvas), “Nechropolis” undoubtedly deserves to be listened to. Needless to say, “especially when it comes to death metal freaks worldwide”… Yep, it’s death metal, nothing more nothing less, done in that inimitable South American way I was slowly but inevitably starting to forget about. Reminding a bit of DEVASTACION and the early days of Colombia’s famous, MASACRE. They even have a girl playing guitar here… All in all, worth spending some fifteen-sixteen bucks.
Website: www.destroyer.com.br
Email: destroyer@destroyer.com.br
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

PERVERSIST
“Necrophilharmony”
Pigeon Shit Agency
rating: 5,5 / 6
Holy hell, where had all the major labels been?! Instead of signing various crap, I’d suggest check this band out, for it seems like “Necrophilharmony” is one of the best death metal albums I’ve given a listen to lately. Well, Czech Republic as well as neighboring Slovakia have been always known for giving birth to a great number of quite outstanding DM acts, however PERVERSIST seem to beat ‘em all in terms of approach to music and the way this “music” had been treated and further executed. I don’t feel like I have to go deeper into describing what’s so special with this CD; I’d just better tell you it has everything you ever aimed to hear once buying a death metal work. A MUST.
Email: pigeonshitagency@hotmail.com
       r.tygl@cs.mfcr.cz
(review by Herr Stalhammar)

SEPTIC FLESH
“Forgotten Paths (The Early Days)”
Black Lotus Records
rating: -
These paths undoubtedly must have been forgotten long ago… Hackneyed song titles (“Melting Brains”, “Unholy Ritual” and “Curse Of Death” might be quite good examples), straightforward death metal, with obviously no keyboards whatsoever thrown in. Yes, this is what SEPTIC FLESH was all about back in early nineties. But hey… wait a bit! Straightforward? Now, when I’m giving this CD supposedly a hundredth listen, I start doubting it… “Forgotten Paths” (comprised of intro, outro and five surprisingly well executed [there could be lesser amount of low frequencies, though] studio tracks as well as three recorded live) featured quite unorthodox death metal, sort of “outdated” nowadays, but let’s once again recall, this recording saw the light for the first time back in 1992. And furthermore, it can’t be compared neither to US nor to Swedish school… for it sounds 666% Greek. I urge everyone – listen there, EVERY ONE! – purchase this piece of aluminum. And oh, how I wish SEPTIC FLESH stopped and disbanded BEFORE “Revolution DNA” was released… (Herr Stalhammar)

SINISTER
“Creative Killings”
Hammerheart Records
(provided by Fono Ltd.)
6 / 6
Short, more or less dismal intro, and… Holy hell, what a growling! And this is a girl?! I definitely wouldn’t believe if once been told anything like that. How a delicacy throat of no less delicacy Rachel (formerly OCCULT) spawn such a guttural roar? Hadn’t Netherlands turned into second Chernobyl? Not, it hadn’t. Anyway, don’t you even think that vocals is the only value SINISTER A.D. 2001 can boast with. The guys didn’t let the mess happen, and came up with a killer death metal sometimes easily entering the territories of GRIND, Mighty and Evil :). Don’t get me wrong; GRIND – not grindcore. No senseless noise or hellbarking a-la MORTICIAN. Actually, everything seems to be quite the contrary: “Creative Killings” is masterly performed, in the same time managing not to overwhelm the listener with yngwiemalmsteen-like challenges. They just don’t need it. The only aim – which they in fact succeeded at – is to shred and make a bloody gore out of you; so no fucking happy harmonies. A serious claimant to become an “album of the issue”… or an “album of the year”? You choose. (Herr Stalhammar; translated by Herr Stalhammar and Ingvar)

VADER
“The Darkest Age – Live ’93”
System Shock
(provided by More Hate Prod.)
rating: 3,5 / 6
I can’t figure out who was the wisest one to decide make this CD available now. I can’t figure out who really needs a live recording dated back to the year of 1993. Perhaps, I could understand it all if “The Darkest Age” was recorded at least in 1999 or 2000, but… I mean, VADER is one of the best live acts, so aren’t there enough gigs they took part in recently, in order to be put on tape and later brought forth the light? Ok, this is “100% live” just like it’s been stated, recorded in Krakow (Poland), December 1993. I truly admire this band, however, and that’s quite unsurprising, I prefer “Litany” over “De Profundis” if you get the point. (Herr Stalhammar)