Not sure if you can
call this an album or just a discography collection. Included are the
bands 2 demos, ‘92’s “In Hate…” and ‘93’s “Dark” tapes. I always
wondered what happened to this band, who play a well balanced
combination of melodious and memorable structuring with a courseness of
harsh speed, all fully steeped with passion and hate. Cult darkness!
Breath Of Night
Recs., P.O. Box 54, Dekalb, IL. 60115 - 0054, USA Email = akhenaten@niu.edu
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Saturnus are a
melancholic doom band with gothic overtones. When I read the description
I was worried, but this is not too bad I actually got into some of it.
It seems obvious to me that Saturnus are very talented and play with
emotion. This disc is produced by Flemming Rasmussen (Morbid Angel,
Blind Guardian, early Metallica), so you know the sound is nice. If
melancholy is your poison, I have a fix for you.
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Yet, another fix
of Finnish barbarity, to the tapped vein courtesy of Dynamic Art.
Sear are an interesting band that manage to play some good extreme
death metal. Despite the brutal nature of their music they always
seem to administer a strong air of stark, somber, almost psychotic
atmosphere to their sound. To create this kind of feeling threaded
throughout a severe death metal album is both unique and admirable
to mine ears. I mean seriously when was the last time you could put
on a new album bang your head, punch a fist through the wall all the
while feeling like you are hearing the soundtrack to a graveyard
horror movie?! It has been a long time for me. Finland is really
starting to assert itself as the new UG metal super power in
Scandinavia. – Dale
www.officialsear.com www.dynamicartsrecords.com
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Imagine if you will
a looser, less melancholic and riffier “Bloody Kisses”. Slow to
mid-paced passages with Peter Steele-esque, ‘I’m too sexy’ vocals.
Season, are not the most original but they do play this style well. Too
bad I hate gothic like it is the plague!
Website =
www.webmedia.pl/hardgothic/index.htm
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This was originally
released in cassette format on the Russian label Hobgoblin Records.
Sermon play solid and stylish melodic death metal with black overtones.
The music and playing are really smooth and well put together. In the
end though, it is not very memorable.
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A very nice looking
release visually, by a young committed label. All the elements of a good
black metal band are here. Rapid fire drums, sweeping guitars, venomous
whispers/screams. There are some, synth accompaniment, which I can
usually throw out but it isn’t really forceful here. All on here is well
done and this is a good album but nothing really beyond intense or
really stands out. The album is 3 tracks and 30 minutes and the songs do
tend to drag on. Die hards will want this but anyone else could
probably take or leave it.
AMSG, Centre MBE 175
- 82, Rue Jeanne D ‘Arc, 76000 Rouen, FRANCE
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Wild Rags is a cool
label but shit they have a good share of crappy bands as of late. I put
these two albums together, as they sound pretty much totally alike to
me. In fact, I bet they were both written on the same night. It says in
the bio this preferably listened to “under the influence of LSD…”. I can
where you would have to be under the spell of a hallucinogenic drug to
like this! Mikael formerly of Buried Beneath (a band I liked) and
apparently these 2 CD’s are his 2nd and 3rd albums
(The first to be recorded in a studio). Yes, 2 LP’s of synth music in a
spacey kind of style with a few spoken word vocals whispers and lame
effects. That sound like they are sampled from some cheesy video game
or maybe a tv show like Doctor Who or some shit. I guess this is
supposed to be evil and surrealistic but I don’t get that feeling even
listening to it in the dark! The only synth music I can get into at all
is the first Mortiis album and the original Halloween movie soundtrack,
now that is creepy!
Shadowcaster, P.O.
Box 174, North Greece, NY. 14515, USA website = www.frontiernet.net/~mikael
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This is an
accompaniment to issue # 5 (reviewed in the Fanzine Assault section) of
S.O.M. and is a nice promotional tool for bands the mag likes. So here
is a run down of the good, the bad, and the okay bands as they pertain
to my tastes. Ragin’ bands: Lividity, Morbus, Neuraxis, Disciple, and
Insatanity. Next are the decent but unspectacular acts: Thorn, Zeus,
Mysophilia, Imperial Foeticide, Godless Truth, Scabmaggot. Last and
certainly least: Epidemic Cause and Undercurrent. As you can see a
pretty solid comp and it comes free with the first 1,000 who order issue
# 5.
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Shatterpoint
are, a Canadian band that are, new to mine ears. I suppose you could
call this a modern thrash core band or something similar. They claim
Slayer and The Haunting as major influence. Yet I hear fast enough
or heavy enough to really justify such a claim. To my ear a fairer
comparison might be a diet version of Skinlab and Machine Head. A
point of interest may be that in addition to this album you get a
2004 ep, tacked on as a bonus. I will give them their due where they
deserve it and that is on track 5, “Torn Apart”, with a really nice
solo / lead guitar fill. For their style the recording on “Dead
Presence”, does the record very little justice. Overall it is just
too weak and not heavy enough and the beefy riffing falls flat. I
believe I would be just fine if Shatterpoint and myself never
crossed paths ever again. – Dale
PP Records, Box
571, New Hampton, NY 10958, USA
www.powerplayrecords.com |
Don’t let the goofy
name fool you! This is the best Black Sabbath inspired act to come along
since the mighty Sabs themselves! Described in their bio as Sabbath
meets Kyuss in a ‘70’s kind of style. Drop the Kyuss tag and add how
blissfully heavy and mind-warping, they are and I am in full agreement.
I didn’t even mention singer Steve Hennessey who sounds almost more like
Ozzy on the first 5 Sab albums than the man himself! In closing I will
tell you they steal nothing directly from Sab like some other groups and
their Canadian so what more do you want!? Put aside your lava lamp, and
go buy this. Band contact:
Sheavy, P.O. Box
1262, Station C, St. John’s, New Foundland, A1C 5M9, CANADA website =
www3.nf.sympatico.ca/ren.squires
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I have been a
Sinister fan for a long time, ever since buying their ’91 split 7” w/
Monestary (side band w/ members from Entombed and Sinister), and shortly
after tape trading for their ’89 demo “Perpetual Beginning”. I totally
missed their debut LP “Cross The Styx” but reveled in their sophomore
effort “Diabolical Summoning” & follow up to it “Hate”. Which brings us
up to speed, I really had visions of a Grave “Hating Life” abomination
due to the loss of their original songwriter/vocalist. “Aggressive
Measures” is a decent affair, with a lot of cool riffs but gone is the
unrelenting juggernaut brutal and technical attack of “Hate”. Now
replaced with a less technical, simpler approach, that while good does
not match the pummel of days of old. New throat Eric keeps things deep
but with a higher degree of decipherable edge that I can take or leave
really. Excuse, me if you will, I’m going to put on “The Diabolical
Summoning” and sit this hand out. I suggest you do the same.
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I’ve heard this
bands name in the past, never heard their stuff though, apparently they
have been kicking around since the early ‘80’s! Mainman Matt Sinner is
also in Primal Fear as you will read in that bands interview elsewhere.
Sinner play straight forward, classy heavy metal that is a bit on the
accessible side. There are some great riffs on here sprinkled with some
keys that do spice the music up without holding it back. Sinner’s best
asset is the emotional and richly textured vocals of Mr. Sinner himself.
I really enjoyed the guitar solos on here as well. Beyond that I must
say much of the music falls flat and doesn’t really have the punch and
intensity that is called for here.
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This is limited (5,
000 copies) and has 5 tracks that go as follows 2 new songs, a demo
tune, a live one, and a Brujeria cover tune “Raza Odiada”, this song is
the best on here, too bad it isn’t even their own. If you will recall I
ripped this band a new one in my debut issue in a review of their first
CD. They still sound like a Machine Head (who also suck!) rip-off with
the deep Alice In Chains styled deep spoken word and slow guitar breaks.
*YAWN* More lame tough guy commercial power thrash crap, still can’t
believe Steev Esquivel (former creative force behind thrash ragers
Defiance) has sunk this low. If you liked Skinlab on “Bound, Gagged And
Blindfolded”, then ‘jump’ up and down to store ‘cause your in for a
treat!
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If you read Metal
Maniacs lately this is the new great hope for the scene. HA! Yes, I hate
Skinlab and this is exactly like their old releases rehashed but they
have toned down on the Alice In Chain-isms a bit. Lost Souls, Machine
Head, Korn ect. fans take note ‘cause you’ll love this. For some
unexplainable reason each time I listen to this, the title of that
cheesy ‘80’s tv show “21 Jump Street” springs to mind?
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Well a melodic
death band from Sweden. Who would have guessed it? I like this
style, but I find I only ever listen, to the absolute cream of the
crop, in this genre. In other words; I am not just into every band
that comes along and they have to be damn good for me to give them
the time of day. There is some quality material on here, you have
heard it all before, but still some solid stuff nonetheless. It is a
hooky affair and the flow in the guitars is nice. But where I have a
problem is with the peripherals or at least what should be the
peripherals. The synth and orchestral elements are too over the top,
much too busy and too loud in the mix for my liking. If used at all
it should be a compliment, rather an overpowering fight for center
stage or the plot often gets lost. One of the only albums I can
think of, where these elements were this prominent and the album was
good, would be Tad Morose’s “A Mended Rhyme”. When we stack
“Esoteric” up against a high watermark like that, it falls painfully
short. The growling vocals from Joakim Karlsson are excellent though
and guitar solos/fills are quite fantastic and prolific. If I could
recommend this album it would be for those two facets of this
musical piece that grabbed me. It is worth a listen, and for those
who can not get enough of this genre, you will be pleased. But for
the more critical follower of this style, you will lose no sleep by
passing on this one. – Dale
http://label.pivotalalliance.com
www.myspace.com/skyfiremusic
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It has been some
time since I have heard some real Swedish black metal in the old
traditions. Just when I feared Sweden was getting soft. For the
trivia buffs, Spetalsk is Sverige for “Leprosy” and the band
features members of Terrorama, Satanic Slaughter and few other
bands. Three bands per member, yes it must be Swedish. This self
named platter was recorded at Pure Dechristianizing studios with by
Magnus Devo Andersson (Marduk), so you know it is sick sounding.
Without any doubt in my mind this debut album fits into the Marduk,
Funeral Mist, early Dark Funeral & old Darkthrone classic
Scandinavian mold. For some I know it will seem a little unoriginal
but for a maniac like me that worships it it is absolutely bestial
and great. The music is mainly straight ahead blitzing darkness and
brutality, yet the riffs, are catchy you can actually head bang to
them. Another thing I like about this album is the quick and squealy
guitar solos that act as a counter point to the rushing chaos. The
real highlight though just may be the drumming by Endymion. Who
turns in a forceful and commanding performance that can not go
unnoticed. I feel like I just received a 35 minute beating while
engulfed in darkness. – Dale
http://www.unexplodedrecords.com
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This album is one 52
minute long song of stoner doom rock. The band were, dropped from their
former label and this almost never came out. I wouldn’t have minded if
it didn’t! “Jerusalem” serves up Sab worship in the form of slow,
undynamic, unheavy, unchanging boredom with no identity, thoroughly
mediocre. Fucking awful.
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It says in their
brief bio that these boys have been around for 7 years, in all honesty
the cohesiveness and maturity that should accompany this is sorely
missing. This actually is limp simple rock/metal that is full of groovy
rhythms that sound kind of forced, as the tunes seem to really go
nowhere. The vocals are a little dry and strained sounding. These boys
are trying but it is just not there for them. The bio also says they
have released 5 demos, maybe a 6th before a full album would
have been a good idea.
Society’s Burden,
5312
Manson Road, Julian, North Carolina 27283, USA
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I have oft heard
this act compared to At The Gates. I would disagree, what I hear is more
of a Carcass “Heartwork” mixed with some ‘80’s Bay area thrash and
general heavy metal (Accept, Lethal and ect...) of that era as well.
None too original but damn this is well done and contains plenty of
quality material.
Listenable Recs.
USA, 554 Warburton Ave., Yonkers, NY. 10701, USA Website =
www.listenable.com
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I was looking
forward to this one. I haven’t heard any good classic doom metal for a
while now and this band comes in billed to be just that. What I got from
this (now former) doom act is a couple upbeat heavy rockers (though not
as limp as the last couple Cathederal efforts). Things really go
downhill fast as the album progresses to it’s middle and latter stages
as things degenerate into music that sounds like some European hippies
sittin’ on a hillside playing. If this makes sense it sounds melancholic
and disparate but in a very unsad and uplifting fashion. If you want the
short form review this album is fuckin’ shite! Straight up.
Misanthropy Records,
P.O. Box 9, Hadleigh, Suffolk, 1P7 5AU, ENGLAND Email = amazon@misanthr.demon.co.uk
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Solus is a name I
have heard kicking around the Canadian scene for years on comps and thru
their ’96 album “Slave Of Mind”, which was sort of a thrash/death with a
hint of the ‘jump metal’ style. Now, gone is the ‘jump’ crap in favor
for a more chunky, brutal melodic death metal style with some very
stylish and well written & executed slower clean sections (reminiscent
of the old Canadian act Disciples Of Power). Vocally they employ a thick
growl, cool nasal scream/rasp and some sparsely used but integral clean
voices. Great improvement from their album and I see them only getting
better.
Solus, Box 271, Stn.
B, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2W1, CANADA website = www.skinmask.com/solus/
Email = solus@skinmask.com
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Well, this band
lists their influences as Cryptopsy, Katakylsm, and Suffocation. Though
I don’t hear any of those here and their skills are not on par with them
either. Having said that I loved the first 3 songs of heavy but not
brutal death metal and they know how to work a good memorable rhythm
with some decent leads and cool echo style death growls. The last 2 cuts
are where things break down and while the fourth song is cool it is
ruined by an awful sounding instrumental intro, but if you can get past
that it is a solid enough tune. The final track “Anoxibiosis” features a
acoustic intro with birds chirping in the background that is pretty lame
and makes it hard to like the song that follows. Guys tighten things up
a bit and forget those intros they are embarrassingly bad.
Wild Rags Records,
2207 W. Whittier Blvd., P.O. Box 3302, Montebello, CA. 90640 - 8602,
USA. Band contact: Subverator, Casilla 158, La Pax -
Bolivia, SOUTH
AMERICA
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