index

Reviews by L. Buscaino except where indicated.
Last addictions albums year 2000: EXTERMINATOR “Mirror Images” (2000); SUICIDAL WINDS “Winds of Death” (1999)[NO COLOURS RECORDS]; LORD WIND (POL) “Heralds of Flight” (2000) [NO COLOURS RECORDS]

ANGIZIA (AUT) “Das schachbrett des Trommelbuben Zacharias” (1999) [NAPALM REC] 51.51“
I guess most of you know this band from Austria as “Das schachbrett...” is already their 3rd album (plus a split CD with Amestigon). This is also the album that closes the “Russian” trilogie: eight charming songs with a sublime combination of folklore, classical and avantgardish elements and instruments together with deep and wise theatrical voices. It’s impossible to don’t be touched by their eccentricity as in the "bizarre" "Scheittenfahrt mit einer lodenpuppe". Angizia play exceptional music taken elements from folklore therefore notes endure the text of time!

AETERNUS (NOR) "Shadows Of Old" (1999) [HAMMERHEART REC.] Aeternus has been a favourite of mine since I heard the Dark Sorcery EP some years back. This is their 3rd fullength album and probably their best! On this album they have more or less crossed over from being a Black Metal band to a more Death Metal style but still the Black Metal feeling is there. The power on this album overwhelms me with thunderous riffing and drumming as once heard back in the early nineties with bands like Cannibal Corpse and Napalm Death and Ares’ vocals are impressive as always. When it comes to melody and atmosphere these guys don’t need keyboards…just listen to the guitar moods and the calm acoustic parts that surprises you all of a sudden. This is a kick in the balls to all the bands that have wimped out lately!
Reviewed by Jan Roger Pettersen

AZAGHAL (FIN) "Mustamaa" (1999) [DRAGONTHRONE/AT WAR REC.] cass.album
This I'm going to review is the official tape version of the Finish Azaghal debut album. well, they play raw (yeah!) black metal with some really cool riffs and sometimes the vocalist also use clean vocals which I really appreciated. Azaghal is not exactly an original band as sometimes remind me too much Darkthrone and other ones Immortal but I really don't mind about this as it's just what my hears want to listen to!
This is about the first side of the tape. Instead, coming to the other side, I must tell you that the sound is over semplified black metal with a really bad sound too especially referring to the drums.Is this the same band?
Anyway, if you're fond of black metal à la Darkthrone as me, I really advice to check this band out (the CD/LP version of this tape is out on Melancholy Prod.).
AT WAR REC. c/o Andreas Bauer, GreepenstraBe 51 82239 Alling- Germany. www.fdj.org/war
DRAGONTHRONE PROD., c/o Kalliola, Kastentie 3 as.1, 05840 Hyvinkala.

BLOOD STORM (USA) "Pestilence from the dragonstar" (2000)[SOUL SOLD MUSIC]
It’s quite rare to receive a great album like such a “Pestilence from dragonstar” so it’s with further pleasure I’m going to review it.
To present this talented and slaughterous band to all of you who didn't get the change to listen to their debut "The Atlantean Wardragon" on Cacophonous, I can tell you the vocalist & guitarist of the band is not really a new musician to all the fans of the USA black/thrash metal and more precisely of the supreme band from USA playing this kind of style. I'm talking about Absu and surely mostly of you will remember Mezzadrurus furiously playing on stage with them.
To be clear, I just mentioned Absu to introduce Blood storm as even if both the bands have some obvious common points, like creating excellent aggressive black/thrash tunes, this doesn’t really mean Blood storm lack of personality. On the opposite, their ability in sounding incessantly so destructive is truly exceptional for mostly of the bands and even their intense recall of the old 80’ies tunes sounds innovative! All of you who will approach Blood storm getting the new “Pestilence from the dragonstar” album will plenty satisfied and will be a new fan of the band at once.
If you can't find it in your shop I definitely advice you to order it directly through their label for $15 ppd:
Soul Sold Music., PO Box 920, Yonkers, NY 10701
email:metalczine@zineaol.com
To get in touch with the band just send a mail to: bloodstormmezzadurus@hotmail.com or write to:
BLOOD STORM PO BOX 2303 PHILADELPHIA, PA 19124 USA

BLOODTHORN (NOR) "Onwards into battle" (1999) [SEASON OF MIST]
The "saga" of Bloodthorn goes on with their 2nd album "Onwards into battle". Well, I must admit I was a bit disappointed of this work as in some parts sounds too much "melodic" for my taste (in some parts I also though I was listened to Dimmu Borgir!): they add lots of female vocals and cliché' keyboards so their sound have lost the "obscure" touch of the first work and when I listen to these parts I lose the "right mood". I'm not saying Bloodthorn's members are not good musicians or that this album is bad: don't get me wrong. On the opposite, I know the value of these musicians and I listened to some interesting parts/riffs in this album. I'm saying that it's not enough to advice this album to people who is not into "melodic" black metal stuff.
This is to end the first saga of Bloodthorn. Now, let's talk about the new one that is announced like a really different story. In fact, after the departure from Season of Mist, the band declared their next album will really sound in the death metal vein. It's not a bullshit: I've listened to some new songs during their last two concerts here in Trondheim and they really sound more aggressive and "brutal".
To conclude, if you want you can just skip this 2nd work but don't forget to look out for the next one.

CANNIBAL CORPSE (USA)”Bloodthirst” (2000)
Now this is a feast for the US-Death Metal freaks out there. Cannibal Corpse is back with the album ”Bloodthirst” and the feeling I get from listen to it is…these guys are insane! I guess this can be said as their most technically performed album yet, and brutal as hell. We get the picture that these guys know what they are doing with their instruments. But why is it not recorded at Morrisound? (Village Productions, Texas) When I listen to US-type death metal bands of today I get the feeling the albums should have been recorded in MS…it gives albums an unbeatable sound. Still ”Bloodthirst” goes into my memory-block as one of the better Cannibal Corpse albums. The production on this album can’t be said to be too far from Morrisound quality. Go buy it freaks!
Reviewed by Jan Roger Pettersen

CENTINEX(SWE)“Hellbrigade” (2000)[ REPULSE RECORDS ]
Helvete! I must admit that I undervalued this band. I totally enjoyed their last album “Hellbrigade” that showed me the right & elevated value of Centinex.
The main reason is that I’m a great fans of Swedish death metal à la Dismember, At The Gates, etc. and “Hellbrigade” fulfil such a passion both about musical and vocals performance. Of course, I must add that Centinex sometimes show a more heavy metal approach like in the song “Last redemption” and a more violent approach like in the song “Neverending Hell”.
Just one black point: the drums recordings are really dry (do you all remember the unlucky drums’ recordings in “Velvet Creation” by the great Swedish Eucharist, don’t you?!?) but this is not enough to make change my high opinion about this work.
E-mail: centinex@hotmail.com

CHALICE (AUS) “Chronicles of Dysphoria [Modern Invasion] (1999) 49”
Finally I can put the Chalice’s debut album in my CD-player. Its ethereal notes wandered as a knight errant from Australia to Norway to finally arrive in Italy. Maybe its delicate tunes wanted to continue that graceful flight… This CD is a beauty but I’m not surprised for this brilliant result, as I’ve already noticed the ability of these guys in creating dreaming atmospheres in their demo. It’s an absolute confirmation of my expectation, even more with the favour of a really crystalline production. Each talented (mostly of them had a musical study’s background) members of the band gave a harmonious contribute in creating tunes which will stir up your deepest emotions. Nevertheless, a special praise is for the singer Shiralee who greatly impress me again in this CD and who is without any doubt one of my favourite female singers. The eternal flight...

DARKSEED "Diving Into Darkness" (2000) [Nuclear Blast Rec.]
Ok, here comes the new Darkseed album...Not too long after the previous release. I must say I had some doubts about it. Bands that are rushing out to make new albums generally end up with crap, still this album is in some ways stronger than "Give Me Light." In the last few years I've developed a little taste for gothic metal such as this. What surprises me is that Darkseed use more growl-vocals on this album than in the previous one (not much, just more) and that the songs in general are more melodic and definitely more interesting. The mood in the songs is quite sad and filled with a feeling of solitude that I happen to like. Pay attention to "Left alone" & "Forever Darkness" -hey what the hell, just pay attention to all of it! If you liked the previous album you'll love this one.
Revied by Jan Roger Pettersen

DARKTHRONE "Preparing for War" (2000) [PEACEVILLE RECORDS]
Three are the main reasons why I find this collection CD a good idea. First of all, totally authorized CD like such a “Preparing for war” collection CD should hopefully stop all the ugly and illegal productions have been released in all these years about this cult Norwegian band that has been spreading around the obscure “black death” from 1349 opss…1986. Then, all the fans & collectors which was really willing for listen some of the old and rare works will be satisfied with songs like “Snowfall” taken from the “A New Dimension” demo and “Archipelago” taken from the other demo “Thulcandra” and an old live recording in Oslo during their exhibition in 1989. Third, “Preparing for War” comes with a really special and obscure layout also featuring old pictures plus notes written by Fenriz himself.
To me this should be enough and you will probably find even other reasons to get this…

DEPRESSION (GER) “Chronicle Depression” (2000) [DEADLY ART]52.17"
Brutal/grind fans out there have to check this CD out: it will really suit their collection.
First of all this is a 10-year anniversary CD and you can easily understand the decennial experience of this band in listening to “Chronicle Depression”: more than 50 minutes of brutality! The CD contains news songs, including some more groovy guitar riffs, as well as, as a bonus for the fans, one song from each old Depression’s releases in all these years: I was impressed by "I remember my future" that is strongly more in the US death metal vein but the oldest songs' recordings are really not good and the style is sometimes ultra-grind or too “weird”...not exactly my cup of tea!
Fans of Mortician will be instead glad to listen to the cover of “Bloodcraving” while Macabre’s followers will get crazy for the vocals!
Last but not least, there’s a surprised for people who believe bands into brutal stuff can’t play “dark” and depressive tunes and also use gloomy clean vocals: well, I advice this people to listen to the “Depressionen”. This solitary song will be a sufficient reason to buy the CD: it’s so clever they used this song in the midst of totally brutal ones!
Order the CD for 20 Dm/$13 through: DEADLY ART, c/o KAI SCHEIBE, WACHENHEIMER STR. 82, 65835 LIEDERBACH, GERMANY Deadly-art@eternity.heavy.net
www.deadly-art.de
www.welcome.to/metal

DEPRESY "Sighting" (1999)[SHINDY PROD.] 37.07"

Eight tracks of "first-class" death metal is what this band from Slovakia offers to us.
Depresy is not really a new band in the musical scene and you can also understand their experience listen to the brillant notes of this albums that is a rare example of dark, inspired and well-played death metal.
This band really deserve your support and attention.
Something else you need to know? Yes, in the CD-extra you'll also find "The Antichrist's Philosophy" video and a photo gallery took so far in the Bechov's castle: enter the dungeon and enjoy its instruments of torture!

DETONATION (HOL) "Lost euphoria" (2000) [Skull Crusher Rec.] 20.53" MCD
The Dutch UG scene is one of the most richest lately but also one of the most undervalued. Detonation is a young band and, in my opinion, promising band coming from Holland but don't expect nothing new from them. In fact, they play skilled melodic death metal a' la first In Flames with lots of interesting guitar riffs but in some parts they sound more aggressive as in "Helpness". According to me the very delight is "Euphoric Loss": the vocals are really evocative and the initial riff reminds me the gloomy and nostalgic feeling of Katatonia! It's a pleasant to listen to this MCD as all the 4 songs go on without a hitch.

DISGORGE (MEX) “Forensick” (2000) [REPULSE REC.]
What do you expect from the really well know brutal/grind Spanish label and the Mexican band Disgorge: just ultra brutality? You guessed right.
Disgorge is not exactly a band for refined listeners and their second album is not really an album for all. On the opposite, I advice “Forensick” only to the fans of death/grind (and by the way I’m not a big fan when it comes to grind/brutal!). They will surely enjoy it as everything is ultra brutal in this album: from the ultra fast sound and the gore vocals to the “sick” cover that has been censored by different magazines, all supported by an ultra strong recording that makes this album a good buy in this genre.
If you didn’t get enough frightened, well it’s time you listen to the different intro/outro the band inserted between the songs; then let me know if I’m right: they will make the view of the most splatter horror movie just an optional thing! Fans of vinyl: this album is also being released on 12” by the Italian label Nocturnal Music.
Disgorge P.O. Box 1-310, Queretaro, Qro. 76001, Mexico
e-mail: disgorge_mex@hotmail.com

EARTHCORPSE(UK) “2000” CD Single/Promo [GRAVE]
It’s always a kind of Russian roulette to play a promo of an unknown band. Luckily, this time my CD player it’s safe! More, I’m gladly surprised by this English band.
I should add that, even if Earthcorspe is a new band for me and probably for mostly of the readers, (I wonder why as it simply sounds great!), it’s not really a new and immature band in the underground scene; you can get an idea of this, both from high quality, professional sound and powerful performance. They play melodic but aggressive Swedish death metal and guitars riffs are so great to make my skin creep. I’m looking forward to listen the new album and you should really check out Earthcorpse releases too!
For more info send a a-mail the band:
mark@earthcorpse.co.uk

ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW (FIN) "Chaotic Beauty" (2000) [SPINEFARM]
In despite of the title their music is varied but not “chaotic”, nevertheless the band focus their sound into melodic death metal with some black metal influences in the use of the scream vocals and large employ of keyboards. As mostly of the bands which choose to play this style they’re really skilled musicians: fans of Dark Tranquillity and Children of Bodom couldn’t lose this. By the way, the charming layout is made by Niklas Sundin himself. Another “famous” guest is Kimberly Goss who appears as singer in "Bride of the Crimson Sea" and other few parts which, in my opinion, are a bit pointless. On the contrary, I really appreciated the equal sporadic use of charismatic male spoken parts. I can’t forget to talk about the really original cover (finally a good one!) of Edge of Sanity “Black Tears” where E.T.O.S. use keyboards instead than the guitar solo: brillant!

EVERGREY "Solitude, Dominance, Tragedy" (1999) [Hall Of Sermon Rec.]
This Swedish quartet does their things nicely. I guess they play some kind of gothic influenced by metal, well anyway it's metal and that's all that counts. The vocalist impresses me quite a bit with a powerful sad-sounding voice. The guys have some violin parts in the music which I would say fits in perfectly. The first song on this album is probably the best cuz it has a special emotional burst. The songs has a quite original twist to it (to me anyway) and have a quite good variation on instruments and luckily the keyboard parts don't take the control over the songs. I especially like the way they vary from intense metal songs to the more calm and sad parts. The choir they use on the CD is very much appreciated: bravo! The only negative thing I could mention is that the album isn't all interesting to the end, maybe next time? I'm looking forward to the next album from these guys...soon?
Reviewed by Jan Roger Pettersen

EXTERMINATOR “Mirror Images” (2000) 39:03 Coming from Belgium this band is not surely a new born. They already gave out different demos/promos from 1991 and a mCD called “Forgotten Souls” in 1995 before the last effort “Mirror Images”. The band properly show their experience in this album that is really well played. Exterminator play a fairly technical death metal with many catching riffs à la Slayer but they also don’t dislike to deal with some more quiet moment but still using tragic tones like in “Bitter End”.
The good production of this album make the listening even more enjoyable and also the well built concept about the circle of life is another good point.
"Mirror Images" is not a album that makes me jump from the seat but, in despite of the horrible cover, the contents are really good. www.listen.to/exterminator
www.listen.to/exterminator

FALL OF THE LEAFE FIN) “August Wernicke” (2000) [ICARUS] 52.04”
This album is surely for all you fans of NWOSDM but not only as it’s one of those outstanding albums that deserves to be in every collection. Fall of the Leafe plays melodic death metal with a really “gentle” touch: the fall of the leaf!
The album turns out to be really fresh and more I listen to more I like it: the production is really crystalline and every track is very well -built. Moreover, the band uses the most characteristic elements of the melodic death metal in a proper and creative way. These ones are also well alternated with splendid and distinctive “overtures”, passages and mid-tempos. Personally I was also amazed by the use of the clean vocals which give to their music an evocative and melancholic touch as, for example, in “I feathe to the Jumper”: a pale memory of the affecting Novembre’s notes like a ghost skimmed my thoughts: sublime!
Really an excellent work for this Finnish band and for the argentine neo-label Icarus. Order a copy now through:
Icarus: c.c. 1593, Correo Central, C1000WAP Buenos Aires, Argentina. E-mail: icarus@ba.net
Band contact: Fall of the leafe, Ursininkatu 7b 2, 20100 Turku, Finland.E-mail: fermina@nic.fi

GEHENNA (NOR) "Murder" (2000) [Moonfog] 31,44"
The label has announced this new Gehenna's work as a more direct album and you can trust them as "Murder" is really a more violent album with lots of death metal influences in the sound as well as in the vocals!
I'm not kidding: Gehenna will take you in a sanguinary world already from the titletrack and your journey into the "psycho" thriller minds will start passing through their really cold thoughts! I must admit I was really impressed by the result of this work (and I'm not only talking about the death metal approach) because lately lots of band have changes their sound into new directions, some just add new elements but really few ones was able to get something better and sometimes even good the same from all this. Gehenna instead is one of those few bands who was able to undertake a clever evolution.
I'm sure mostly of the old fans and even people into death metal (even if, I repeat, this is not really only a death metal album) will be enthusiastic of the new course of the band and they will also recognize some of their special peculiarities in a few riffs like in the song "Devout Dementia" and other black metal traces like in "The crucified one" that also recall me a bit the Satyricon's style.
The Norwegian cult band already showed some changes in this new direction to the listeners in "Adimiron Black" but I guess few extremely "purist" narrow mind into black metal will be a bit shocked the same by "Murder" as they use to be shocked at nothing: I can even imagine their childish tears falling during the listening of "The First Spell" even on the 2nd if the first was not long enough to dry up them all!
On the opposite, after get over the last line-up changes, Gehenna will cheer up as they absolutely hit the target: kill, kill, kill!
www.gehenna666.cjb.net

HOLLENTHON "Domus Mundi" [NAPALM REC.]
A few months back a friend of mine threw an album in my lap...”listen to this”, he said…I guess I didn’t take it too seriously as I skipped some tracks and heard that they had "stolen" some tunes from the music of the "Braveheart" movie...what could this be? Well it was the debut album of Hollenthon "Domus Mundi" and wow…I’m glad I gave it a second chance. This is the new band of Pungent Stench frontman Martin Schirenc. It is a black/death/heavy metal collaboration with ethnic and classical undertones with great variation to each song. And normally I don’t like it when bands take musical-parts from movies I like, but hey…in this case go right ahead =) . This album really surprised me with really great mystical and dynamic songs...I guess Pungent Stench was just a starting point for Martin Schirenc...

Reviewed by Jan Roger Pettersen

HORIFIXION (CAN) "Rage" CD promo 1999 21,22"
I've received this promoCD from Canada that should be a really precious piece for all the fans of technical death metal. Lots of thrash and Slayer influences but also some surprising melodic riffs like in "Deserted Landscape" all supported by a really technical approach that in some parts, like in "Nature's Revenge", also reminds me the supreme band Death.
The only black point is that in some parts, on the opposite of their technical approach, Horifixion's riffs seems to be a bit repetitive but these really rare moments don't really damage the final level of their work that is in my opinion really high.
To end this review I can't forgot to suggest you to listen to the song "Rendez-vous avec la mort" completaly sing in French: actually it sounds strange but you can't really lose this chance!
www.horfixion.com
E-mail:samuel_landry@concept.com

IN AETERNUM (SWE) “Forever Blasphemy” [NECROPOLIS] (1999) 37.41”
G-R-E-A-T!!!
It was from the last (finale?) and essential album of my beloved band Dissection (who else?) "Storm of the light’s bane" I haven’t felt such strong emotions: I couldn't even dream a CD like this! Believe me, this is an incredible band and I’m not use, unlike many others, to mention Dissection if there is a really significant reason for doing it. This doensn't mean they sound like someone else, on the opposite, their sound is unique and incomparable.
The precious CD consists of 7 fiendish songs for 38 minutes of total...blasphemy and when the CD will come to its last aggressive you’ll surely invoke for more!

INHUMATE "Growth" 32"
This is a really qualified death-brutal band and Growth is a so well played album that I can hardly believe this.
I’m not so much into ultra grind-brutal vocals but this is a little details that can't distract my attention from their sound.
The song I like the best of the "Growth" is "N.S.C." with so incredible catchy riffs.
I can't forget to talk about the drummer who is one of the most technical drummer I've heard and who is able to push the sound to a really fast level! It's really unbelievable no brutal-grind label offered a deal to a band like this, jet: it's a pity!

KALMAH (FIN) “Swamplord” (2000) [SPIKEFARM Records]
When I put “Swamplord” in the CD player my first consideration was about how much this band is skilled and how this album is well played and supported by a great production. The fans of Eternal Tears of Sorrow will be surely grateful to the members of the band who decided to give new “life” to Kalmah (previously called Ancestor and playing thrash metal!) to spread their huge inspiration. As fans of melodic death metal after listen to the excellent “Chaotic Beauty”, you will probably get this one too. Instead, if you like to have more assorted musical collection, I must tell you that even if “Swamplord” is a great album, the last ETOS “Chaotic beauty” is difficult to exceed and it impressed me more about variety.
Some other listeners will also wonder why they need to start playing the same style in another band: wasn’t ETOS enough to express their ideas? Don’t ask me, only the band can answer to this. Anyway, is this so important?
Of course, it’s pretty natural to compare the 2 bands which in some aspects are like peas in a pod. Are you so surprised by this? I expected it as I know how it’s difficult to sound different playing the same style.
Yes, this could be another good quality ETOS release!

LORD WIND (POL) “Heralds of Flight” (2000) [NO COLOURS RECORDS] 62:46 min.
This is the Rob Darken’s project so maybe you aspect it in the same style of the his more famous band Graveland.
Well, it’s really more folkish and instrumental than its main band, leaving every metal reminiscence apart. What it’s more characteristic of Lord Wind’s sound is that everything really suits good the “ancient” atmospheres: passing from the instrumental parts (sometimes recall me Mortiis first albums in the more pompous approach) to more folk ones using background hymns, battle sounds and very great cymbals playing. A really well arranged album: more than 1 hour of running time but he didn’t leave nothing to the case.
Of course, “Herald Of Fights” is not a CD for everyone: if you are not into instrumental and mysterious tunes it can be a bit lethargic after a while but if this is the style you are fond of, you’ll love it.

MAYHEM "Grand Declaration of War" (2000) [SEASON OF MIST]
It's simple to say: it's a not an album one can review in few lines: I can't get great emotions from "Grand Declaration of War". On the other side, it’s a bit controversial because I found something else in these new songs: it's like Mayhem start creating a new sound that will give to some (but I guess not so many) listeners new emotions.
About me, it’s from their exhibition in Trondheim just some days before the album was out that I’ve been asking myself: what the hell was that? I’m talking about intro to “View from nihil” and this is just an example. I haven’t found out the answer jet...
Someone declares this will be an album that will shock like the cult "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas" in the beginning of the 90's but after it'll be remember as well as this one. Well, I liked "De Mysteriis.." at once, not this one...
I can’t be sure about the opposite, only time shall tell but I have many doubts about it will endure the time. Mostly I can't really understand in which way one can compare such 2 different albums: the “obscure” touch of the oldest albums is something nobody can negate but in the new album of Mayhem is no remander.
I mean it’s impressive how they try to play something different and original and songs like “A bloodsword and a colder sun” are really remarkable when it comes to this but can we still call this originality or at least be surprised about the new addictions when nowadays mostly of the Norwegian ex-black metal bands are trying to add their sound tons of strange effects and kind of techno/industrial even ambient parts and death/black riffs and (terrible) harcorish vocals (“crystallized pain in deconstruction”)? Sometimes is simply too much: the result ends to be confuse and even the songs are supposed to be violent are not strong enough because of these parts. But don’t except Mayhem did a straight step into a “new sound” with this album; it’s more a mix of different weapons. “Grand declaration of war” could be the right title if you see this album as a “declaration” of what is supposed to be a future battle of Mayhem. But still is not clear what are they requests. I’m really curious, nothing more.
Maybe for you too now it’s a difficult choice so I advice you something more: just think what are you looking for and then the choice will be simple, one more time.

MORGAIN (SLO) “Sad Memories of Fairies” (2000) [METAL AGE PROD.] 60.
Original rockish doom metal with a folk approach. Yes, I like this because it’s not so standard as most of the bands in the nowadays too large scene. This makes “Sad memories of Fairies” a special production you shouldn’t miss. [Both female and male vocals also remind me Nattvindens Gråt with “A Bard’s Tale” listen f.e. to the song “Reading between lies”- Ed]
There’s only one negative thing in this release: the synths are too much in front, mostly comparing to the vocals, and I’m definitively not a great fan of those ones. Anyway, I will play this CD a lot in the future when I have time as it’s more than 60” long[when the day is grey and when is not!-Ed.].
reviwed by Ketil S.

MY DYING BRIDE - The Light at the end of the world"
Old fans of MDB wake up! After the previous "experimetal "34,788%" the band is back with a really surprising work. In fact , "The light..." sounds really aggressive and doomy!
What is probably more astonished in this new album is also the use of the vocals: this time, Aaron have decided to add growls and also screamings(!) to the charming clean ones. Honestly, I'm glad of this partial "back to the roofs" and I don't care so much about the reason of this, right now: the result of their last efforts is the most important thing and that's just excellent!

MY DYING BRIDE (U.K.) “Meisterwerk I” (2000) [PEACEVILLE RECORDS]
“Meisterwerk I” is really a jewel for all the fans of one of the greatest doom band, My Dying Bride. I should add that not always the collection, tribute or compilation CDs are so useful to the listeners and mostly even not so beautiful…but this is not really the case of Peaceville collection CDs starting with My Dying Bride’s one. First of all, as the labels reminds us this CD is out with full permission of the musicians and I’m sure lots of fans of MDB has been looking for years (often unluckily end their research into really bad quality bootlegs) for the songs taken from their old and rare works (demo, Ep’s, Lp’s from the early 90’ies) which are the biggest part of “Meisterwerk I”. Finally their dream come true with this long awaited production! In addiction to this, you also get the change to see their gloomy video “The cry of mankind”. All this makes the great difference with the other usual average collection CDs.

NARGAROTH “Amarok” [No COLOUR REC.] 40” (2000)
Between the CDs I’ve received from No Colours Records Nargaroth is surely the more controversial to review. I should first talk you about the opener track “Herbstleyd” as it has fairly nothing to do about the production with the rest of the CD (probably because is the only quite new song-a different promo’s version- the band include in “Amarok”): the production is good still is primitive black metal with fast as well as catchy metal riffs well mixed with more flolkish parts and even obscure slow parts à la Burzum of “Det som engang var”. Wow! I was so impressed by this first song that I was willing to listen to the rest… Unfortunately, the rest of the Cd is so low quality production (as what you can find here is mostly old material) that it makes difficult to completely enjoy it. I don’t see so much the point to release a CD like this. I mean, there’re 6 songs plus a Burzum cover taken from old demo and apart from the first track, the rest is old material with a really bad production. I know these songs are mostly unreleased material but I will like to remember everyone that “old” is not always synonymous of interesting and inspired one! Sometimes it should be better it rest “unrealesed”! This is the case of the monotonous and insipid “Amorok- Zorn des Lamme Par II” and the really gloomy song “As the stars took me with ‘em” that, apart from the final and really original “ambient” part, is so much similar to Burzum material that should be easily confused with another Burzum cover! Wasn’t “Black Spell of Destruction” cover enough?
On the opposite, the extremely raw black metal sound of songs like “Shall we begin” “into the void” is a rare treasure nowadays that give to Nargaroth a high valuation but still with terrible recordings (in comparing to this Darkthrone old releases sound like was recorded in the Sunlight Studios!): I do like primitive black metal but at least I had to get the notes I’m listen to! If the final purpose was to make the listeners/media curious about a future release of this underground band, well, I must admit they get the point but I’d rather wait for listen a new CD than buy this kind of suicidal business operation (if you considerer the weak production and the ½ interesting material). Even a famous/cult band with a long and prolific career who decided to re-released some old material have to add new songs or other artifices like a special package CD to encourage the listeners to buy it! Does the label really think Nargoroth is so famous that a release like this can survive the cruel but real business rules?!? This is what I think: it should have been enough to include just some of this material (like the above mentioned songs) in a new release, nothing more easy! All the “true” Nargaroth fans will be satisfied and the rest of the listeners will have a more complete and serious way to know this interesting band. I am really looking forward for a new release from Nargaroth.

NOVEMBERS DOOM (USA)“The Knowing” [DARK SYMPHONIES] 63.49”
One time I get an extraordinary surprise about doom tunes from a US band called In Ruins (R.I.P.). I though I had to wait lots of years before another doom band coming from USA will be able to release a so outstanding album but I was wrong. After only(!) a couple of years here it comes this CD “The Knowing “ in my postal box. This time is Novembers Doom to make this dark miracle for which I have to thank for.
N.D. is not a new band but if you compare this combo with the father of the death/doom My Dying Bride and Anathema is not either the oldest one. It’s pretty clear N.D. are not playing to create a new genre and songs like “Silent Tomorrow“ and “Last God” are an unequivocal homage to them. But it’s not about the strong influences of these bands on N.D. and on mostly of the doom metal bands followed in the latest years I’m going to talk about. It doesn’t really matter as in this way this band better focalise their music to stir up deeply and moving emotions in all the long album (more than 1 hour)plainly passing from the gloomy slow guitars riffs like in the song “Last God” to the marvellous acoustic passages in “Intervene”, from the stonish notes in “In Memories Past” to affecting piano tunes that introduces “The Day I return” .
Through the mysterious universal law of “nothing is new, everything turns into something else”, they really work out to transform the 7 notes into infinite depressive feelings…
www.novembersdoom.com

OCTINOMOS (SWE)"Welcome to my planet" (2000)
Fantastic! This is what I call furious black metal. This is what my ears want to listen to. Mr. Söderlund has been implicated in the scene with fatal guitar riffs (listen to the final track in "Welcome to my planet": it will make your skin creep!) and drastic drum machine tempos from the memorable Octinomos's debut album. "Welcome to my planet" is the third work in this hellish journey. Sell your damned souls to listen to its notes!

ORK (BUL) “Blessed by evil” (2000) [FOLTER RECORDS]
I do like the direct black metal approach of this band hailing from Bulgaria. Starting as a one-man devoted to raw black metal Ork is currently a solid five pieces still dedicated to freezing notes following the teaching of the Norwegian black metal bands, like f.e., Satyricon but sometimes also embracing Swedish death/black ones (one above all, Naglfar).
Under the German label Folter Records they released such a surprising debut album “Blessed by evil” that will probably make them known to the international crowd: they was able to get a fairly good production without loosing their direct black metal style.
Even, Ork is not a conventional black metal band mixing such different styles, heavy metal riffs and, fortunately, allowing only a tiny keyboards’ employ. I must specify I’m not a great fans of heavy metal solos into black metal but I believe it’s not a big deal Ork sometimes ignore this general structure like, for example, in the track “Black soul desire” where the guitarist performance will also please all the “heavy metal” fans out there!
Yeah, yeah…all of you, can find a reason to listen to “Blessed by evil”!

RED HARVEST (NOR) “Cold Dark Matter” (2000) [NOCTURNAL ART PRODUCTIONS]
Red Harvest is definitively a “cult” band: they started their career in 1989 and until now they have already released 5 full length albums and 2 mCD. Still now, they’re one of the most innovative and creative band I’ve ever heard and, honestly, they deserves even more attention all around the world even if their works are absolutely “not commercial”, if you know what I mean.
Their sound is difficult to label into a merely style as this band was able to create their own unique style and every album is as much outstanding and inspired as their previous precious works.
Maybe only a new description for every album should suits better this band. The song’s title “Death in cyborg era” seems to suggest the best one for their last album as “Cold Dark Matter” is an extremely cold cyber music.
Of course, it’s possible to listen to different approaches in their music from the altered industrial to violent death metal ones but as I've already explained you what makes Red Harvest so inimitable is their ability in mixing all this: they go beyond music clichés and have been started in doing this before everyone else.
The new album doesn’t make any exception to this: it’s a tunnel entering into modern psycho killer minds and ending at the edge of craziness into the sub-zero unknown: the cyborg era! What you will listen to is about their really sharp thoughts and mutant sounds!
In connection with this, the Norwegian artist René Hamel (www.spacebrain.no) realized the really ingenious layout for the new album: a virtual entering in the cyber’s world.
Black metal fans will be also glad to know their hero, Fenriz, appears, as guest vocalist, in some tracks of “Cold Dark Matter”: it’s up to you to recognize which ones I’m talking about and if you’re a big fans you’ll surely guess it right!
Everyone should have at least one album of this significant band in their music collection: who already has one was surely waiting for this new album too; if you don’t know Red Harvest (how is that possible?!?) I advice you to start from their last great and most violent release and then your burning thirst for creativity will surely yearn for more!
www.redharvest.com

SANCTUS (USA) “Aeons Sky” (2000) [METAL BLADE]
Sanctus it’s a quite particular band: they can gladly astonish you, if you like to be surprised, passing from death metal to melodic black metal.
“Aeons Sky” is one of those album that can be really pleasant to listen to in special moments so sometimes it will be maybe forgotten among your CDs’ collection. But the day you’ll ransack your drawer with thousand CDs, searching for something different to listen to, well, Sanctus will be there waiting for you!

SIGH "Scenario IV: Dread Dreams" 1999 [Cacophonous Rec.]
Wow...now this is weird people...do you think "Hail Horror Hail" was weird? This is even more! Sigh implement all kinds of rock-style music in here...and perhaps a bit country music-thingy here and there. I guess these guys have a thing for "The Grateful Dead" or so it might seem when you listen to this CD. When you listen to “Dread Dreams, you can also find a lot of the eighties rock/metal in it. A bit of Ozzy to be sure. They never seem to get boring at all. This album is quite on the varied side of metal and crosses quite a few genres actually. The sad part of it is that the raw and bizarre riffs are more or less gone and the usual intensity is missing. Maybe you'll need to let it sinks in like I did, cuz as I said...there's a lot of crazy stuff in here...have fun!
Reviewed by Jan Roger Pettersen

SIRIUS (POR) "Aeons of magick" [NOCTURNAL ART PRODUCTIONS] (2000) 47.01"
Wow! I've got this promo CD from N.A.P. that I really want to thank for let me know this excellent band. I'm talking about the Portuguese Sirius who astonished me with their "astral" music. I was also really surprised in knowing they come from Portugal as their sound reminds me the best Norwegian b.m. productions (not by chance they're on N.A.P.!) like, for example, Emperor in the song "The Callapsing spheres of time", still Sirius is not really a copy of any Norwegian b.m. band. On the opposite, as they're really skilled musicians, they was able to create an ingenious sound. You can listen to such an original touch and "cosmic" elements in lots of interesting parts as, for example, in the "soundtrack"(!) "Stargate". In addition to this the production is one of the most professional and strong I've ever heard (Akkerhaugen Lydstudio). To conclude, this CD is one of the more interesting I've heard so far. Music for space-time continuum!

SUICIDAL WINDS “Winds of Death” (1999)[NO COLOURS RECORDS]
Yep! I like their death/thrash sound. Sometimes guitar riffs are a bit standard but in the end the listening is enjoyable. The label compares the band to the cult&excellent Merciless but apart both band are Swedish and play thrash/death I don’t see so many other points in common. Suicidal Winds more recall the Swedish Gehennah, talking about attitude!!
This is what about the sound. Instead a completely different reviews should be done for the production and mostly lyrics and “concept”(?).
It’s really not often I get disappointed listen to a Swedish metal band and this is not the time either but here there is something to complain. Production as well as the recordings are pretty weak mostly if one compares them to their aggressive sound. I don’t know if the band was trying to recall “the old times” but the result is the CD sounds more like a tape recording. Last but not least, lyrics are really low level: nobody asks the band to write a deep poem or something but these ones are too much typical topics and mostly a too much ordinary way to abuse of them (and of bitch as session scream vocalist!). I think every listener starts to get tired of such a stuff. Maybe the band have seen too many times the movie: “Henry: portrait of a serial killer”?!?
Don’t think you’re saved if you don’t get a word of English, the band try with "practical" examples to make you get their point (but was it point?) right, if you know what I mean. Hope you enjoy the listening, they surely enjoyed the recordings…

SYRIAN (ITA) "Sadness Deluxe" (2000) [Stato Nascente] 42.10"
What a surprise! A couple of years ago I discovered the fantastic and original solo-project of Lorenzo Bettelli called Godcrucifier during a little as well as underground festival of mostly brutal-death metal bands (!).
Instead, just a couple of days ago I received a promo-CD from the Italian label Stato Nascente: that's the new project (and another clever proof of his ability!) of such a talentous guy. With Syrian L. Bettelli is still under the experimental-elethronic influences of his previous work but he surely arrived to compose more refined melodies or better as the title seems to suggests he tells us his music with "sadness deluxe". This album also contains more dark-soft structures that sometimes remind me Depeche Mode like in " Frozen Frames" and he's also able to take some good teachments from the last Paradise Lost: a not easy work if you only think how this band is playing nowadays (I'm not really a fan of Paradise Lost when it comes to the extremely "pop" -and not "dark" at all- elements of their last sound!)
The only point that not completely fulfils my expectations is the use of the vocals (both female and male) which in some parts should be a bit more "charismatic".
Really remarkable, instead, is a sign of more ambient melodies in the intro/outro.
Of course, I also appreciated the allusion to the particular experimental-elettronic melodies of the last work under the monicker of Godcrucifier called "Intergalactic Christ" like, for example, in the "In Remembrance": a shady memory of what has been... Besides this, "Sadness Deluxe" is a journey in a different galaxy that I guess will also give you different emotions.
You can visit the site at: www.syrian.cjb.net
syrian@syrian.cjb.net
To get in touch with the label just enter the site at:
www.fade.to/statonascente or mail to: nekom@email.com

THE FALLEN (USA) "The Tones in which we speak" 40.08"
It's a kind of controversial topic when it comes to make a review of a professional band who play a kind of style is not really my cup of tea. This is the case of The Fallen.
What I can't really enjoy about this band is the use of the vocals that often reminds me bands like Fear Factory, Meshuggah and Gorefest and that sometimes is really too much "hardcorish". You can hear a miscellaneous of influences from thrash/death metal to the more hardcore elements I describe you above and that's definitely not in my taste.
On the other hand, this is something that makes The Fallen different from the other death metal bands. So, out of my personal taste, if you like this kind of style, you should give a chance to this band as the production is strong and professional and the sound is really competitive with the other more "famous" bands playing this genre.

THE SINS OF THY BELOVED "Perpetual Desolation" 2000 [Napalm Rec.]
The expectation I had to this album was enormous, maybe even too much. After listening to it, over and over again, I finally agreed with myself that it wasn't nearly as good as the debut. A little disappointment at my hands. But that doesn't mean it's bad, on the contrary, it's very good. The thing is that they turned their style a little too much towards the black metal side (vocals) instead of just being doomy and dark. The first album "Lake Of Tears" had a better feeling to it, much more dark and sad and has a better way of stirring up emotions in me. "Perpetual Desolation." has a better production and sound, but still it can't reach up to the "kick" I got from hearing "L.O.T." which is one of my favourite gothic-doom albums ever together with Tristania's "Widow's Weeds". The Metallica's cover "The Thing That Should Not Be" is a very good one (there're not too many good covers these days): even if I think it's not a good idea to put covers on normal albums I must say I liked it cuz of the original performance with the female vocals in it. I really missed the dark and growly vocals on this album as it were on the last one...can you guys fix that the next time?!?
Reviewed by Jan Roger Pettersen

THUNDRA (NOR) “Blood of your soul” [SPINEFARM] (2000)
Thundra features ex-members of Enslaved and Einherjer as weel as from a prog band. Therefore in their sound you can find “viking-metal” elements but also prog guitar riffs. Eventhough they handle their instruments really good they weren’t able to realise an interesting work as they mixed too many different styles (from pagan Viking metal and progressive to melodic black metal and death metal) in the inappropriate way so the CD turned out to be really chaotic and in the end it can makes the listener confused and a bit bored. Surely there are some parts I find interesting and enjoyable like, for example, in “Frozen Ground” where the evocative vocals reminds me Vintesorg and the experimental parts let me think the recordings in the same studio of the Arcturus’s debut album was not a case. Unfortunately these rare moments are soon forgotten into pandemonium…
Actually your collection will not miss it.

TRISTANIA "Beyond The Veil" (1999) [Napalm Rec.]
The expectations to this album wasn't any less than The Sins Of Thy Beloved's new one, maybe even bigger. After hearing the single "Angina" the expectations hit the roof-top. The Song "Opus Relinque" is a major high in the gothic-doom world if you ask me, even though the feeling and mood can't be compared to any of the songs on "Widow's Weeds". There are a few disappointing spots on "B.T.V." too as in the new CD from The Sins of Thy Beloved. The vocals, for example, are a bit in the Black Metal-ish style here too. They used this kind of vocals the previous time too, here and there, but on this album there're more. I've always meant that the dark death-doomy vocals fits better to this kind of music. One other thing is that in so many parts of the CD the cymbals and parts of the drumming sounds very "static" and dull as a drum machine (is it a drum machine or is the drummer just inspired by one?) Well, well enough of that...the music in general is quite satisfying in most parts, just not like the "Widow's Weeds".
Reviewed by Jan Roger Pettersen

UNDERTAKERS (ITA) “Vision distortion perversion” (2000)[NOCTURNAL MUSIC] 37.37”
Finally a good production! Even if this is not my kind of music if I compare this band to the others in such a genre, it’s surely of good quality. The main reason is that “Vision distortion perversion” is violent and fast but it’s not so chaotic and unstructured ,as most of grind/brutal death metal bands. In the CD-rom you'll find a bonus taken from the video "Dead man walking".
I guess this is a good hard drinking music: play it loud or don’t play it at all!
reviewed by Ketil S.

VAMPIRIA “Among Mortals” (2000) [ICARUS]
Well, Vampiria is not exactly an creative name but from the “Prelude” the band’s members show their great potential and technical skills and the rest is soon forgotten. The band plays a symphonic black metal with the archetypal elements like female vocals, keyboards and lots of heavy metal as well as power metal parts (listen fro example to the guitar solo in “Brother Wolf” and the opener track) which on the opposite are not exactly typical for the black metal bands.
I’ve also appreciated the clean male vocals which give an additional weight to this already excellent release. I’m impressed by the good level of this album so if you’re confused by the many average productions in this popular style, “Among Mortals” will be a certain and valuable choice.
http://habitantes.elsitio.com/vampiria
E-mail: dark-emperor@hotmail.com

VV.AA. “True King of Norway”[SPIKEFARM PROD.] (2000)
I was really curious to know the new band the Finnish label decided to send me, this time. Well, Immortal, Emperor, Arcturus, Ancient and Dimmu Borgir are not exactly “new” in the metal scene. On the opposite, they’re “true Kings of Norway” as the title of this CD suggests. Also the songs this CD features are not new either: they’re taken from all their “legendary” 7 ep’s. Although this is not a CD for everyone (at least not for people into the metal scene since its dawning and who therefore probably possess the original releases in their collection) it will be surely really useful for all the numerous fans of these bands who are still desperately looking for their rare 7 ep’s everywhere.
Something to blame: where the hell is the original cover of Dimmu Borgir 7's ep?
Something to praise: I’ve found really interesting the idea to include the detailed “scene-map” of Norway: I wonder who is the “psycho” guy who made this patience of Job!