THYRFING

Hels Vite

If we talk Viking Metal you can almost take it for granted that the name Thyrfing appears at least once in a discussion. The Swedish brigade has been quite for a long time developing their own mix of Black and Folk stuff recording nowadays albums that do not have so much in common with their first offerings “Thyrfing” and “Valdr Galga”. Whereas several years back in time the band’s music relied to a considerable extent on catchy synthesizer passages it is currently the guitars, which are most responsible for creating the atmosphere in Thyrfing’s efforts. It has become much more heavy and massive and even though the trace of traditional music has become fairly vaguer on their latest releases, the spirit of Scandinavian heritage reflected in some Folk-influenced moments still reminds of the band’s interests and roots. More...

CRYPTOPSY

The Unspoken King

This album was a great mystery for all the CRYPTOPSY fanatics. After kicking out Dan “Lord Worm” Greening and two other band mates leaving the band some thought that it would be almost impossible to create something as good as “Once Was Not”. The situation was even more mysterious – and disturbing for some – when the band announced that the new throat will be a man called Matt Mcgachy from a little-known Canadian melodic death metal 3 Mile Scream. The suspense continued when outlines of the forthcoming album leaked into the web. “Bemoan the Martyr” with clean vocals, quite simple melodies, metalcore influences and surprisingly low level of brutality. Many CRYPTOPSY maniacs thought “WTF?” and some even created a League Against Matt Mcgachy to boycott the new music. More...

NAPALM DEATH

Time Waits For No Slave

There's only few really trustworthy bands on extreme metal scene and British NAPALM DEATH is definitely on the list. Over the years they have proven themselves to be one of the most honest and uncompromising bands that have ever existed on this planet and there's probably no force in the universe that could stop them or at least soften their balls. It's no wonder that almost each album recorded by these Birmingham boys turned out to be a classic one... More...

KREATOR

Hordes Of Chaos

It's safe to say that German thrash metallers KREATOR have achieved almost everything they could wished for. Recognition of the fans all over the world, status of the leading act in the European thrash metal scene, a permanent place in history of heavy metal music. Being considered as another German icon, having achieved widespread popularity Mr. Mille Petrozza could go for a musical retirement and finally, after so many hard-working years- enjoy life of a free man. But he doesn't plan to stop KREATOR. He would rather lose his genitals than determination and dedication to metal music... More...

DARKANE

Demonic Art

Since the very beginning the Helsinborg metalheads marked up their own path in the jungle of - sometimes almost identic- Swedish bands playin’ melodic death/thrash. And I have to admit that they do it with really good effect, effectively escaping from the IN FLAMES custody. More...

PSYCROPTIC

Ob(servant)

Eat a sandwitch, drink a beer, watch some TV series, get some sleep, dig your garden, go for a walk with your dog, call your girlfriend and tell her how much you are missing her, or at least... I don't know... pick your nose maybe? Pleasure can be found in sooo many little things, while listening to the fourth PSYCROPTIC album called "Ob(servant)" means nothing but the pain, almost 50-minutes of death metal torture for your ears. Are you interested? Huh... I guess you might be a pervert if self-inflicted pain is the only thing that makes you feel better... More...

BORN FROM PAIN

Survival

For more than 10 years the borderland between hard core and metal is a natural environment of this well known Dutch crew. So without any doubts those guys have had enough time to perfect the formula of noise which combines the most attractive elements from both worlds. And the fifth full-lenght album in band’s career proves that those gentleman didn’t waste that time. More...

ANATHEMA

Hindsight

Five years after „Natural Disasters” Cavannagh brothers are back with a collection of re-recorded semi-acoustic versions of few of their most beautiful songs. Well it may be considered as a little disappointment. I must admit that since memorable „Alternative 4” those guys have special place in my heart. And such a long hiatus is a painful challenge for a die-hard fan. Especially when I’m sure that it’s only a master of business circumstances that we still do not have a chance to listen to new songs. More...

KIVIMETSÄN DRUIDI

Shadowheart

Century Media announces KIVIMETSÄN DRUIDI as a young and determined metal band from Finland destined to become the next sensation in symphonic metal. Personally I'm not sure whether these five young men wearing strange clothes, painting his faces with quite weird patterns and holding plastic swords in their hands plus their blonde female co-vocalist take themselves seriously or not. One is for sure, their new album entitled "Shadowheart" won't change the world. If you have good taste in music, this is something you don't want to listen to. More...

SIX FEET UNDER

Death Rituals

Being one of the most productive death metal bands these days SIX FEET UNDER are still pumping their filthy, poisoned death gore metal into arteries of a dying world. The newest effort of Chris Barnes & Co. is entitled "Death Rituals" and contains a bunch of painful hits. It's hard to believe, but the tenth studio album of these Florida death metallers is probably their best work do date. More...