Blasphemous Creation

Rest in Pieces
[self-release]

      Despite the rather laughable corpsepaint jobs of two of its members, Blasphemous Creation can hold their own musically. Good black metal vocals, fairly interesting musical arangements... not bad at all, but nothing you haven't really heard before either. A whole lot of promise here however. If you get the chance, check 'em out.

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Last Souls

Light
[self-release]

      Hailing from Italy, and beginning in 2001, Last Souls are one fantastically talented band. Boasting much classical and musical training amongst the members, and it shows. Musically, Last Souls rank up there with the best of them, with tracks ranging from somber instrumental interludes to black/death metal style intensity and vocals. Truly a great band.

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Metal Message Vol. III

Metal Message Vol. III
[Markus Eck]

      This compilation of 14 international bands is composed of mostly relatively unknown acts, with a wide variety of styles. Some of my favorites are 'Lost Legacy' (Germany), which I found to be outstanding atmospheric black metal; 'Finsterforst' (Germany), also a fantastic atmospheric black metal act; 'Episode 13' from Turkey, not too many bands have I heard from this country, and this was a good initiation... fairly unique and quite interesting, heavily atmospheric black metal; 'Kromlek', again from Germany, intense black metal with some fantastic sounding medieval instrumental interludes; 'Heiden' (Czech Republic), vicious and explosive black metal, it doesn't get much better than this; 'Demonic Resurrection,' from India, of all places, an interesting mix of death metal and clean vocals... well, as you can see, I really liked this compilation. Especially because I've never heard any of these great bands before. This is truly one of the most interesting comp's I've heard in years. A spectacular collage! As an aditional note, Kris Verwimp from Belgium did the artwork for the cover/booklet.

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Magnum Carnage

Flowers of Flesh and Blood
[self-released]

      Although formed in 1996, this is my first experience hearing Magnum Carnage. The band seemed strange and unique upon first look, first they are from Hawaii (not too many black metal hailing from there), the hand drawn CD art (unsure if this is for promo's only) and the cover, not-so-typical. The music on this 2003 release is fairly standard black metal, with a rather strange choice in samples and song titles, however. That said, there is a unique vibe to the sound and vocals. Definitely interesting.

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Magnum Carnage

Digital Wolves
[self-released]

      Once again, Magnum Carnage prove to be a strange black metal band, with a bizzare drawing crowning their cover (the left CD is a promotional copy). Not what you'd find on a 'normal' black metal CD. The music itself occasionally has some pretty strange keys and vocals for this genre, and I'm not sure how well they fit. They seem to be gravitating away from black metal, with the later tracks taking on no resemblance. Interesting in its strangeness...

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Orphonic Orchestra

Orphonic Orchestra
[self-released]

      I suppose you could compare this all-female vocal band to the new The Gathering. Personally I hate the new The Gathering. I hate this band less, simply because I never once liked them. Not my style. Pass!

Underdark

I am above all
[Wraith Productions]

      Underdark, from Ukraine, play your fairly standard fast black metal. It bored me, quite frankly. Not that it's bad, it't not. It's just that it has been done way too many times. What did interest me however is a Kari Rueslatten cover of 'Hor min sang.' I was very interested in hearing this very strange cover for a black metal band to do. Unfortunately, there wasn't much resemblance at all...

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Absonis Noctis

Penumbral Inorgantia
[Wraith Productions]

      Absonis Noctis have created some pretty good atmospheric black metal here. Old school sounding, dark, cold and melodic. But, I must admit, even this tried and true formula is getting old with nothing new thrown in. Undeniably worthy, however.

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Murderous Vision

Life's Blood Death's Embrace
[Live Bait Recording Foundation]

      Fans of dark ambiance and Murderous Vision should take note, 'Life's Blood Death's Embrace' is one of M.V.'s best works to date. Dark atmosphere, strange, droning audio landscapes... it's truly a canvas of intricately well crafted sound. Stephen Petrus, the dark mind behind Murderous Vision has certainly created a landmark work here. Very recommended.

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Muerte Villa

La Conquista
[Negativity Records]

      I presume this band is from the USA from the inlay, but the gutteral death metal grunts are done in spanish, although you wouldn't know it, as it is all incoherant monotony. Boring music. Boring band. This could be ten thousand other bland, cloned bands, and they all suck...

Catholicon

Treatise on the Abyss
[Negativity Records]

      From Louisiana, USA, come Catholicon, a black metal act of some promise. Musically, they're fairly melodic and create a decent dark atmosphere. The voice, however, screechy and incoherent, gets very old as the CD progresses. Other times, the vocals are done differently and sound very good. Promising, but that's about all. The vocals ultimately killed this for me.

Overthrone

Declarations of Secession
[self-release]

      Now here's an interesting one. Hailing from Illinois, USA, this black/death effort is the work of two brothers. Melodic and interesting from beginning to end. According to their bio, this band has released serveral demos, but this is their first full length, and it fucking shines. Better than most, in this bland and uninspired age.

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Lacerater

Nessun Urlo Nell'ombra
[Self-released]

      From Italy, here is a slab of some brutal death metal. Insane sounding and super brutal... the vocalist is an animal being tortured in hell. The melodic brutality of the music is the soundtrack to you beating your head against a wall of rusty nails.

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Self Torture

Dead Center
[ANGEREPIDEMIC]

      From Ankara, Turkey, cometh the hardcore/deathmetal band Self Torture. When one thinks of 'extreme' music, Turkey doesn't first come to mind. I can't think of anything I've heard from there, before this band... so--in my mind, Self Torture shall represent their country until I hear otherwise. In this case, Turkey should be proud of them. They capture an angry energy in this recording. Thrashy and heavy, not a bad effort at all.

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Blasphemous Creation

Black Winter
[self release]

      From Reno Nevada, USA, come Blasphemous Creation. Here is an example of the old wisdom 'Don't judge a book by it's cover.' The CD artwork itself is bland and uninspired looking... the band photo on the inside is humorous. But the music fucking K I L L S ! The vocals more specifically. Sharp and abrupt, snapped at the listener like a rabid dog. The music has a primitive old school vibe that sounds good to these ears. One of the most promising black metal CD's I've recieved all year. What a huge improvement from their last CD. Very recommended!

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Midnight Syndicate

The Dead Matter: Cemetery Gates
[Entity Productions]

      Alas, another outstanding release from Midnight Syndicate. All of the haunting atmosphere of previous releases returns. Eighteen tracks, plus three bonus tracks from the soundtrack of the upcoming film 'The Dead Matter' are included here. Every track is carefully crafted just as you'd expect from this talented band. Some of the Ancient Egyptian themed later tracks like 'Tear of Osiris' and 'Forging the Scarab' are an especially interesting twist. The bonus tracks are 'gothic rock' oriented... which aren't for me. Everything else, is superb as usual.

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Forevers' Fallen Grace

Herald of Twilight
[Aggressive Music]

      Hailing from Massachusetts is 'Forevers' Fallen Grace.' FFG is a mix of a lot of different styles, sometimes conflicting poorly, other times sounding promising. Sometimes doomy slow, others melodic metal/chaotic speed, keyboards, female vocals, 'clean' male vocals to more traditional death metal vocals, etc etc... There is too much going on here, too much conflict. The potential is quite obvious there, just lost in a storm of influences and styles.

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Resistant Culture

Welcome to Reality
[SOS Records]

      Ok, this album was recorded back in 2005 but was released April 2008 and features some of the last recorded material of the late Jesse Pintado of Napalm Death/Terrorizer. The 16 tracks are described as 'tribal grind crust.' It's heavy, sometimes to the point of chaos, which seems to work for them, and is laced with anger toward our lovely modern civilization. Cheers.

Band Website

Blasphemous Creation

Shadows of Evil
[self-release]

      This band has both surprised and impressed me several times in the past. It taught me once again that you cannot judge a book by its cover, or a CD for that matter. Their last release, Black Winter, was a true slab of audio violence. They seemed to get better each release... so it displeases me to hear this latest release and hear a huge decline. This sounds bland. Unoriginal. The power is nearly gone. It is speed and chaos. Raspy, uninspired vocals. What the fuck happened? Is this a trick?

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Sjenovik

Jouissance
[Starlight Temple Society]

      Sjenovik. No, their not from Scandinavia, but from southern USA. And even stranger they list their inspiration as "Inspired by the French philosopher and psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan." Strange? Perhaps, but onward to the music. Here is a decent mix of heavy doomy death metal/industrial doom and strange ambience, mostly the former. Not bad, but nothing too ground-breaking either.

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Dol Amroth

Around Europe in Ten Songs
[self-release]

      Mourning the Ancient's seventh Dol Amroth review. That might be our most reviewed band to date, all of them positive. I can seldom remember hearing the first demo 'Where in Honour the Elvinking Wars.' It sure seems like seven lifetimes ago for me. Dol Amroth, since that first cassette, long ago, has always been perhaps the most enigmatic band I've ever encountered. The magic of their creativity has been shrouded by poorly printed covers and presentation. Low quality recordings and even an obsession with Tolkien's works which seems to span to even this release. Each release has been on either cassette or CDR, and they've never been on a record label to date. Yet, without a doubt, they remain one of my favorite bands of this style. And it is a style which changes often, with a flood of different instruments and contributors. Around Europe in Ten Songs is no different. Creative. Daring. And always interesting. My seventh recomendation for you to hunt these releases down!

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Motus Tenebrae

Soul Expression
[New LM Records]

      From Italy come Motus Tenebrae, a quality heavy metal act. Clean metal vocals with tiny bits of death metal infecting the vocalist from time to time, which is a positive thing. The musicianship on this is superb. Production, recording are extremely clean... Personally, I think this would kill if they used that death metal vocal style they hint at.

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Mortal Wish

Around the Infernal Spirits
[Suicide Apology Rec]

[left is promo version]

      Mortal Wish are an intense black metal act from Brazil which we've reviewed once before. This CD is a welcome slab of black metal. Atmospheric and fused with emotion, hungry, extremely violent and evil sounding --this is truly something your missing out on if you've never heard it. This will truly blow you away as it did me. A modern masterpiece! Very, very recommended!!

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