ADVENT (ITA) "The DAWN" (2003) [Golden Lake Productions]
Quite a gentle and melodic mix of blackmetal and deathmetal, which mostly reside somewhere around midtempo. But at some points also reaching really fast pace, as well as slow harmonic parts. However, the music lacks that firm structure , and it just does not reach all the way (to Hell). I don´t feel like doing any unnecessary comparison with other bands , because I usually don´t listen to this kind of metal. And ADVENT aren´t going to change that fact. Really qualified vocalist though. Successfully pulling of both screams and growls, as well as clean vocals.
ADVENT are from Italy, and has previously released two demo-cd´s.
For more info , check out the homepage
on the web:
http://www.adventcomes.it
Review by Elias Axellson
AETERNUS "A darker monument" (2003) [Nocturnal Art Prod.]
Aeternus grants our sick world with yet another album , and once
again proves that not only superiour blackmetal emerges from the land
of grimness, known as Norway. Just like the legendary IMMORTAL
they originate from the city of Bergen (the norwegian bay-area) and
this is their seventh release ( I think).
In spite of all releases and the
fact that AETERNUS have been active since 1993, I still have not
heard so much of them. But from what I´ve heard my comment is
that they are not the most original act, yet without doubt worth to
check out if you´re into heavy and pounding deathmetal that has a
certain stench of Florida (the american bay-area). However, if
you suffer from headache and fever, like I do for the moment, then
I strongly suggest that you listen to something more relaxing.
CELESTIAL PAIN “Agggresion” (2003) 38:22 [SWAYRECORDS]
From Sway Records, the same label that produced The Murder Squad 7”, here it comes a great release called “Aggression” by the Swedish thrasher Celestial Pain. This band released 2 demos from 2 studio session respectively in 1994 and 1995; as both these 2 demos made Celestial pain a kind of cult band in Stockholm and outskirts, Sway records decided to release them in a 500 limited gatefold heavy vinyl.
As the title suggests their music is based on aggressive 80s thrash metal in its most effective way: pure thrash metal songs, with perfectly suitable harsh vocals, as “Dressed in black leather”, “Totem of terror”, “War obsession” are alternated with more death/thrash metal oriented songs as “Massive destruction” “Nuclear Fire”, “Embraced by aggression”, to end with the delight of the album “Celestial pain”: really catchy riffs as well as thought songwriting.
Get it now or die in pain!
Contact: celestialpain@hotmail.com
or
Sway Records, P.O. BOX 12166, 10224 Stockholm, Sweden
www.swayrecords.com
Review by Lidia Buscaino
DARKTHRONE “Hate them”
Thanks to Fenriz and Nocturno Culto to hate all the trendy shit out on the market under the appearance of a CD format and therefore to still produce hateful exceptional black metal. This as introduction of their new extreme release called “Hate them”.
If you are fond of the slaughterous feelings this supreme band has always been able to scream around the world trough their incomparable raw black metal for more than a decade, well, I don’t really need to add any words to describe this new excellent release. If you don’t…well, I won’t really spend any words for you!!!!
Darkthrone don’t know half measures: just love them (as I do) or hate them!
Review by Lidia Buscaino
GODHATE "Godhate, promo"(2003)[private production]
Some of you might know a swedish band called THRONEAEON. This is the very same band , only with a new name. The change of name obviously has its reasons. According to the bands vocalist Tony Freed : no fucking idiot was able to pronounce the previous name in a correct way, so it was better to change it.
The music however , has not changed the least. In other words , we can still enjoy the traditional but never the less powerful and energetic old-school death metal, that has come to be this quartets trademark.
There are three new and strong songs presented on this recording. And for you who are unfamiliar with this band, there´s a chance to get a greater impression thanks to five more featured songs , taken from the album "Neither of gods" and from the mcd "with sardonic wrath".
Look out for the presumed forthcoming album , which I reckon will cause more than just a few hours of headbanging. At least here within my lair of darkness.
Review by Elias Axelsson
GRAVE FLOWERS (SWE) promo 2003 17:55 3 tracks
This is Matte (Godgory)’s project band. The new promo contains only 3 tracks which anyway give me a clear idea of the band’s aim: to sound depressive but sorrowfully beauty like a sad marble statue emerging in a isolated cemetery. Of course I don’t need to tell you the band’s name goes straight to this point as well as lyrics which follow the same path trough old graves, sometimes a bit too delicate for my hermetic predilection, still always words of a sad beauty dawn view.
Grave Flowers is able to evocate an inner sadness in a really personal way. Suggestive clean vocals and suitable keyboards take the band far outside the doom vein but still you should have clear in mind that other elements like i.e. heavy guitars, tough drums and slow tempos also takes (luckily) GF thousand miles far from the gothic rock trendy business.
To end, Grave Flowers is still looking for a contract for their new release so labels should get in touch:
depravedoria@yahoo.se
Reviewed by Lidia Buscaino
IN AETERNUM "Nuclear armageddon" (2003) [Agonia Records]
David Larsson and his creation IN AETERNUM are back with a new
album. I have enjoyed previous releases, and I still do. Especially "The
pestilent plague" with its great mix of black and deathmetal. On "Nucle
ar armageddon" the blackmetal influences are more or less gone. Obviously pushed aside in benefit of more traditional deathmetal tones.
FUNERAL MIST -drummer Tore Stjerna have been recruited , and
his work on the stool really improves IN AETERNUM´s music. And
the ensemble together with the new guitarist Daniel N Sahlin and guit
arist/vocalist David Larsson, results in quite highclass apocalyptic
metal. However, there´s no reason to issue any "megahit-warning",
cause the really strong and memorable melodies unfortunately does
not appear. But I still consider "Nuclear armageddon" to be a great
album, so buy ´n´ bang my fellow metalbrothers and sisters !
Review by Elias Axelsson
KATAFALK “Storm of the horde” (2003) [Cold Blood Industries]
If you have just been thinking to enjoy a relaxing evening drinking a glass of wine in front of a exciting book and playing a sort of dark gothic background music (aren’t you already drunk?!?), well forget it! I am afraid I have to destroy all your “romantic” plans and perhaps you should also check out if there’s enough beer in your fridge: now you’re ready to enjoy Katafalk’s debut album.
Katafalk is a Dutch band (to confirm how bigger is getting the death metal scene in Holland) playing a well mixed aggressive death-thrash metal: bombastic tempos for never-ending head banging, catchy riffs (like in the delight song of the album called “Redeemer”) and harsh soul screams alternated with some growl parts.
Katafalk’s sound is as well influenced by NWOSDM and brutal death metal: this obviously materializes in songs such as “Empty life” and “Succubus” respectively and it also shows the development process of this band (a very typical element in a debut album)
To sum up, a really enjoyable CD with no space for intricate boring melodies, if you know what I mean you’ll surely enjoy it.
Reviewed by Lidia B.
LUNA AD NOCTUM (POL) "Dimness Profound" (2003) [Golden Lake Productions]
The dark regions of Poland are to me associated with lots of qualitative deathmetal. But LUNA AD NOCTUM substantiates that there´s also hellish blackmetal emerging from these domains.
"Dimness Profound" was recorded already in the year 2001, and in fact even released by the label Pagan Records. But only for distribution within the borders of LUNA AD NOCTUM´s native soil. Now Golden Lake Productions allow the rest of the world to hear the blasphemous tunes of this black orchestra.
Unfortunately the album becomes a bit monotonous towards the end. And the
energy somehow seems to subside, which may cause the listener to lose interest. Nothing new is brought to surface within LUNA AD NOCTUM´s music. It´s usual and ordinary sounding blackmetal which I´ve already fed to my ears 666 times before. But who the hell said that blackmetal has to be original to be good !?
In my opinion "Dimness Profound" definitely deserves to be checked out.
The cd also includes a multimedia video of the song "The last coldest sunset".
Review by Elias Axelsson
KATATONIA (SWE) "Viva emptiness" (2003) [Peaceville] 13 tracks
Katatonia are truly the masters of melancholic music. They are really talented when it comes to writing songs; they show this especially in the song "Criminals": it is amazing that a so sad melody is able to give me thus good feelings.
Lyrics on this album are as always mysterious and depressive: they sounds really personal and that is something I do really appreciate. This album is not so different from their 3 previous masterpieces and I think the band is now 110 % sure which direction they want to go. So why wait to get this album??
N.B Remember to turn off your light!!!!!
Official Website: www.katatonia.com
Reviewed by Ketil S.
SPORTLOV (SWE) "Offerblod i vallabod" (2003) [Head Mechanic/NAW]
A very strange band indeed. Skillfully performing fast and quite
ordinary blackmetal , combined with lyrics that are everything
BUT ordinary. The singer is screaming in swedish about subjects
such as hot chocolate, churchburnings, skiing, satanic rituals,
grilling of sausages, and christian death. A true celebration of
master Satan and famous swedish wintersport athletes. This
sounds a bit weird, and it sure is. But I for one am happy that
I understand the swedish language. Cause the lyrics certainly
puts a big fucking smile on my face. The band features members
of DISKONTO, DEFLESHED / DARK FUNERAL, and FKÜ.
Also a few guestappearances occur throughout the album.
A mini-cd entitled "Snobollskrieg" was released last year, and
"Offerblod i vallabod" is the fullength debut. Both releases are well
worth checking out, if you understand swedish. If you don´t , then
there is plenty of better blackmetal to spend your painfully earned
money on.
Reviewed by Elias Axelsson
