CANCRENA
In The Flesh
Independent
Here we have an Italian death grind band with their first demo "In The Flesh" it's got seven tracks running to 22:17. This demo is
enhanced so you get extra stuff like the bands biography, photos and a video, cool eh? The band keeps things interesting by
adding serene atmospheres with their usual death grind vomit. The production is crisp which I dislike but overall this is a decent effort.
Cancrena
www.cancrena.tk
cancrena@email.it
CARNAL REDEMPTION
The Limits Of Persistence
Independent
From Athens, Greece spews out death metal tribe Carnal Redemption. Consisting of the trio of Nick (Vocals, Bass), George (Guitars)
and Nondas (Drums) the band pays homage to the Florida way of doing things. This is the bands first demo and contains tracks
"The Punisher", "The Limits Of Persistence" and "Victim Of The Cyberworld." The music is straight forward death metal with thrash
overtones with neat production, it's pretty one dimensional but the execution pass my tolerance level. The raw and brutal vocals of
Nick remind me of ex-Malevolent Creation esophagus Brett Hoffman and liked how he belched "mother fucker" in the title track but
his lyrics are kind of ridiculous or it was intentional? My only complain are the solos of George, it lacks feel and dynamics. Overall,
this is a decent effort. Two horns up to these lads for dedicating their work to Chuck Schuldiner. Hail death metal!
Carnal Redemption
3 Keskiniou St.
Vironas 162 31
Athens, Greece
http://carnalredemption.cjb.net
carnal_k99@hotmail.com
CARNIVEAN
In Todes Banden
Independent
Musically this disc is flowing with talent. From the guitars, bass and drums you can say that these guys have been spending quality
time with their instruments. And their songwriting skills are kick ass heavy especially in the guitar section. Mark Warlokk must be
influenced by 80's type shredder thrash metal bands from the way his guitar lines flows. Lots of hooks and deadly structures. What
irritates me with this record are the lifeless vocals of Luke Ryan it's just lame weak and doesn't fit in with the aggression of the
music. He sounds like Cookie Monster with a hang over. Carnivean's music is a hybrid of death, thrash and speed metal. The guitar
lines of the songs usually give you a thrash metal feel. There are occasional blast beats but most of the time the drums are
straight forward. Over all "In Todes Banden" is a good debut what this band needs to work on is to sack their vocalist and improve
the production.
Carnivean
P.O. Box 138
Salford, Pa 18957
USA
www.carnivean.com
SCUMGOD@aol.com
CATHOLICON
Promo Demo 2002
This Baton Rouge based black metal warriors consists of I.N.R.I. (Vocals), Sovereign V (Guitars, Vocals), The Shape (Guitar, Vocals),
Blasphyre (Keyboards, Vocals), Lenepdafur (Bass- Sessionist) and Statutorist (Drums, Percussion) and they have been raging against
Christian orthodoxy and fundamentalism since 1994. This demo contains tracks Dawn Of A Dark Age, Gallery Of God's Love, 14th
Century Apocalypse and Embodiment Of All That Is Not. The songs will give you an idea on what to expect on their upcoming full
length "The Death Throes Of Christianity" which is a complete expose over the pain caused by religious fanaticism. This demo is all
out violent and blasphemous black metal with brutal screechings, apocalyptic riffs and unholy blastings. There are keyboards in this
recording but it's properly used and it didn't affect the ferocity of the music. The recording is unpolished which gives the right feel
to this kind of music. Pledge your allegiance to Satan and get this fucker!
Catholicon
c/o I.N.R.I.
2213 Firewood Dr.
Baton Rouge
Louisiana 70816-5801
USA
www.fuckyourgod.com
Catholicon666@hotmail.com
CELESTIAL CROWN
The Embraced
Doom Records
I have been looking forward for this CD ever since the "Invasion Of Suicidal Angels" demo* came out a few years ago as this band
brought my interest back to the art of dark doom metal. "The Embraced" is the bands debut full length. It contains nine tracks
clocking in at 51:45 "Your Touch" and "Nocturnal Insanity" from their demo is re-recorded here. This album is darkly erotic and
overwhelming with emotion and it conjures an atmosphere of bleak despair. Aggression, melancholy and melody simply sums up
"The Embraced." The recurring darkly melodic riffs that swarm all throughout for me is the highlight of this album not to mention
the male and female vocals which are performed with agonizing passion. Overall, this is a decent debut.
* Review available in the first issue.
www.celstialcrown.com
celestialcrown@hot.ee
CENSORED
Self Titled
Independent
Zurich death metal cult Censored
unleashes this 4-track self-titled debut disc mixing traditional death metal and hardcore beatings with a very raw feel. The songs
are straight forward and typically arranged. The guitar lines gets melodic at times but still manages to hit you in the face and
makes you bleed. For a self financed record the production is decent. Blast beats sounds sweet. What I really liked about this
disc is the vocals it's just sick! I bet this guy gargles and drinks pus in the morning. The trio of Manuel Fruh (Bass/Vocals), Marcel
Zilic (Guitars) and Niklas Naumann (Drums) have been together since 1994 and have played countless local shows. There's so
much potential in this band and it's just their first effort.
Censored
c/o Niklas Naumann
Knuslistr. 6
8004 Zurich
nik@censored.ch
www.censored.ch
CENSORED
System Disease
Independent
This is the bands follow up to their self titled release. "System Disease" features tracks Mental Torture, System Disease, Reflected
Insanity, Blind Hate and This Cold World Is Dead (Instrumental). Improvements in the songwriting, musicianship and production
are easily noticed. The band definitely outdid themselves here. This is faster, heavier and tighter. The vocals are not as sick as
it used to be though but I'm not complaining. This is a quality death metal release.
Censored
www.censored.ch
info@censored.ch
CLOSER THAN KIN
Promo 2002
Independent
This is melodic hardcore and this is the style of hardcore that I find tough to get into because of those melodic Iron Maiden like guitar
lines that flows throughout the songs. It just sounds ludicrous to me. "Euphoria Of Strangulation" would have been killer without those
irritating whining guitars. Shit. I like this band but it's just hard to pretend not hearing those guitar lines. This also features a video of
"Dead Flowers For A Dying Lover" which is cool and a kick ass cover of "Skulls" by The Misfits minus the guitar whinings. If you like your
hardcore a little melodic then check out this band.
Closer Than Kin
www.ctk508.com
info@ctk508.com
COG
Single
Independent
Hailing from Manila, Philippines. The quintet of Yagi Olaguera (Vocals), Eric Perlas (Guitars), Joel Patricio (Guitars),
Richie Ramos (Bass) and Alan Po (Drums) carves out a bit of a name in the local scene with "Single" A two track audio
stampede featuring "Collide" and "Definition" with excellent production that brings all instruments to the forefront.
Cog's music is spine splitting intense. The vocals are all out throaty to divergent styles, the guitars runs amok and
the drum performance is meticulously pummeling. The songs are constructed perfectly and the execution is flawless
without any nods to trends. I really find myself getting into some of the excellent hooks scattered all over "Single"
particularly with "Collide's" restrained and muted riffage with the double bass fueled thrashing. These fucks are either
huge metal historians or they've got the gift of riff but either way it makes for some damned good listening.
I'm delighted to hear this band because the Philippines historically have been the weakest Asian nation for producing
any sort of quality metal. Cog has the skill to put the Philippines back on the map of metal.
Cog
http://gearcog.tripod.com
yagi013@indiefilipino.com
COG
Contact
Independent
I have been looking forward for this EP ever since I interviewed Yagi Olaguera (Vocals) as I just can't get enough of "Single." I got this
EP when I attended the "Sickfest" and was blown away once again by the bands performance even though their set was very short.
I think they only played three songs but having "Collide" on their set was enough to make me sane throughout the night. "Contact"
is metal with a hybrid of styles with one intention and that is to break your fucking necks from banging your head. Cog creates
impeccable and intelligent song structures and dynamics rarely found in the local scene and this is what I like most about this band as
they are not afraid to do what they want and not just adhere to the norm in the metal circle in order to be accepted and respected in the
scene. This quintet dares to be different. This EP is a balanced release of their aggressive and soulful songs. Tracks on this EP are
2 ˝, Collide, Ethel, Tsunami and Cleansing. This EP is one of the best local discs that I have ever listened to. Though, I hope that they
would make more songs in the vein of 2 ˝ and Collide.
Cog
http://gearcog.tripod.com
cogtheband@yahoo.com
CONDEMNED
S/T
Independent
This is grindcore from Manila. I've seen them live countless times and they always rip everything to fucking shreds. This demo features
nine Emperador fueled songs with low and high vocals, killer breakdowns, and all the blast beats that you can handle. This band
definitely hits with 100% grindcore intensity. I'm looking forward for the full length.
Condemned
c/o Chuck Datuin
38 C. Raymundo Ave.
Sagad, Pasig City 1600
Philippines
www.condemnedph.tk
grindcoreiscondemned@yahoo.com
CONDEMNED
Armed Conflict
Independent
Grindcore from Manila. This is fucking relentless from start to finish. The intensity of their live performances is captured in this recording. If you have seen them live then
you know what I mean. What I like most is the low and high vocal trade offs as it's fucking insane. The material in this CD will be featured in "To Suffering" that is in the
works. This is definitely tighter than their self titled demo.
Condemned
c/o Chuck Datuin
38 C. Raymundo Ave.
Sagad, Pasig City 1600
Philippines
www.condemnedph.tk
grindcoreiscondemned@yahoo.com
CONDEMNED
Grind Intoxicating Nation
Sacrilege Records
Grindcore from Manila. I guess this is their tribute to their favorite past time which is drinking. Ha! With songs like "Lambanog", "Vodka", "Rhum", and "Gin" it's needless to
say that I'm in for an intoxicating grindcore debauchery. This is hammers like a mother fucker and the only chaser I get is the silence between the songs. I like every second
of this CD and nothing is spilled. Their low and high vocal trade offs gave me a hang over that I'll never forget. Cheers!
Condemned
c/o Chuck Datuin
38 C. Raymundo Ave.
Sagad, Pasig City 1600
Philippines
www.condemnedph.tk
grindcoreiscondemned@yahoo.com
COPREMESIS
Demonstrating The Fist
Independent
This is brutal death grind from New York. This demo features four songs and samples that will test your patience. You have been
warned. This is fast, misanthropic, and brutal. Brodequin and Malignancy comes to mind but they do have their own style and they
add humor to their work. Everything is well executed and the production was able to capture the right feel of the music. This is
sewage death grind brutality at its finest.
Copremesis
www.copremesis.cjb.net
copremesis@hotmail.com
www.copremesis.cjb.net
copremesis@hotmail.com
COTE D ’ AVER
PROMO 2005
Independent
This is death grind from the Netherlands. Murderous. This is conventional death grind with sludge and groove patterns that makes it interesting for me and I can’t get
enough of it. There are two vocalists' but I can't distinguish who is doing what. The guitars could have been thicker and the drums are behind the mix. This is only a
Promo CD and I'm certain they will work on these on their next release and I am looking forward for that.
Gerard Frijlink
Rembrandtstraat 71
8331 RM Steenwijk
The Netherlands
www.cotedaverwebswamp.nl
info@cotedaver-webswamp.nl
CORVUS CORAX
The Atavistic Triad
Dark Symphonies
This disc was traded in by Roy Sierra of UnderWorld Zine (on hiatus) for a copy of In Dark Purity No. 1 Hail Roy! Darkest Regards
to our metal brothers down there in the deserts so for those who wish to have a copy of the zine through trade just let me know.
"The Atavistic Triad" contains 4 tracks of symphonic dark metal. The songs runs to 15:05, 11:04, 02:48 and 12:11 to a total of
44:27 fucking minutes. 4 tracks only but runs longer than shit so the songs gets really boring as soon as it hits over the 4:00
mark. The songs are horribly arranged. There is no spontaneity in their work. The band just patch things up to create a song
and don't even fucking know how to end it. Yawn… Hmmm… Maybe this is the reason why Roy traded this disc to me?
Dark Symphonies
P.O. Box 547
Billerica, Ma 01821
USA
darksympho@aol.com
www.darksymphonies.com
CYSTIC DYSENTERY
DEMO 2003
Independent
This is brutal death metal from Florida. This demo features three songs running to 12 minutes. The style is a combination of FLDM and
NYDM. This is fucking tight and syncopative. It’s been a while since I heard a demo of this quality. This gets intensity ten from my
brutality meter. If you are a self respecting fan of death metal then check out this band.
Cystic Dysentery
P.O. Box 14628
Jacksonville, FL 32238
USA
www.cysticdysentery.com
benjamendavis@comcast.net
CYTHRAUL
Growing Insanity
Independent
"Growing Insanity" is a 5-track masterpiece of heavy melodic folk death metal. Cythraul is obviously influenced by the
Gothenburg scene. The songs are mostly mid paced with occasional blast beats to set the mood in and the melodic guitar lines
just take you off in a listening mode. The vocals are in the form of death metal grunts but fit the music very well. I am not really
a fan of this form of metal but this release is a very good listen. It gave my ears time to relax from the usual dose of brutality
I listen to. This is the bands latest offering since their 1997 demo "Fading Dead" Cythraul is composed of Robbert (Bass/Vocals),
Jeffrey (Guitars), Leon (Guitars) and Ilja (Drums).
Jeffrey Pieters
Spadestraat 53
1445 JB Purmerend
The Netherlands
cythraul666@hotmail.com
www.cythraul.net