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Adagio - Sanctus Ignis (Limb Music, 2001) Rating: 9/10
Now don't get me wrong, the guitar doesn't make the album, every piece of the band is greatly talented and that's what makes this album so good. It's really a treat if you're interested in great writing and not about image. - Jim Bob the Enforcer back to the top. |
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...And Oceans - Allotropic/Metamorphic Genesis of Dimorphism (A.M.G.O.D.) (Century Media, 2001) Rating: 0/10
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Armored Saint - Nod to the Old School (Metal Blade, 2001) Rating: 2/10
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Astaroth - Burning Christians (Self released, 2000) Rating: 7/10
I'll spare you a rundown of the entire body of Astaroth material (I'll save that for a review of the aforementioned re-release of both demos). I bring up Drowning in Blood as a means of comparison to Burning Christians, which was released in 1998 and is of a very different and less remarkable style. The depressing doom-ish sound was traded in for very fast, anti-Christian death metal of a Deicide and Infestdead vein that also showcases strong black metal influences, particularly in the vocal department. While they certainly do the style well, when compared to earlier material it is a disappointment that Astaroth abandoned their unique sound for this much more straightforward approach. That said, however, fans of the genre should greatly appreciate Burning Christians, though coming from earlier Astaroth releases I can't help feeling let down. - Al Kikuras Email OriginalBrutality@hotmail.com for ordering info. back to the top. |
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Avenger - Fall of Devotion, Wrath and Blasphemy (Deathgasm Records, 2001) Rating: 9/10
It's hard to really pin one particular comparision on Avenger since they have many influences in their bag as well as plenty of originality. But fans of dark, evil and satanic black metal will digest such tracks as "Behind the Gates" and "Opus 666" like communion wafers. Vocals are all sung in Czech, which adds an even more mystical aura to thsi release. One of the most promising bands I've heard in quite some time. - Big Juan back to the top. |
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Behemoth - Thelema .6 (Olympic Records, 2001) Ratings: 8/10
This is much more interesting than their demos and older black metal records. Songs like "The Act of Rebellion" and "The Universe Illumination" show a furious band who aren't afraid to throw a few melodic hooks here and there. Take is from someone who prefers a more raw style of black metal, these guys are heading in the right direction. With "Thelema .6" Behemoth have come into a sound all their own. - Big Juan back to the top. |
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Belphegor - The Last Supper & Blutsabbath (Mercenary Musik/WWIII, 2001) Rating: 7/10 (The Last Supper)
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Bethlehem - Schatten aus der Alexander Welt (Red Stream, 2001) Rating: 7/10
Gone are the suicidal screams and speed that made "SUIZID" and "Dictus Te Necare" brutal yet moody pieces of metal. Instead Bethlehem (and their revolving door line-up) have chosen to evoke calmer, yet no less disturbing pieces of dark metal mayhem. Occasionally going as far as incorporating drum n' bass into their sound, Bethlehem manage to experiment heavily while still maintaining the essence of their trademark sound. The evolution of Bethlehem continues to be a strange and interesting journey. - Big Juan back to the top. |
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Black Dawn - Blood for Satan (Necropolis, 2001) Rating: 8.5/10
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Black Mass - To Fly With Demons (Elegy Records, 2001) Rating: 6.5/10
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Blackmore's Night - Fires At Midnight (SPV/Steamhammer Records, 2001) Rating: 9/10
After years of retreading Deep Purple and Rainbow, it's a treat to see Blackmore pioneering a new sound in the same way he did over three decades ago. - John Gee Warrior back to the top. |
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Blaze - Tenth Dimension (SPV/Steamhammer Records, 2002) Rating: 10/10
Tenth Dimension is a concept album, now I'm not going to give away the story line, but the album must be listened to in this fashion. One track may be good, but every track is that much better next to the other tracks. The album goes from the (old school) Metallica-esque riffing on Kill & Destroy to more soft acoustic, choir laced stuff on Meant to Be, but there isn't a moment when you get bored! Not a point on the entire album that you go, "Why was this included?" The band has improved dramatically from the Silicon Messiah and they've really put out a top class CD. If you get a chance to pick it up, do so! This is one of the best albums you'll ever buy. It's up with the great albums of all time, and it ranks next to MY personal favourite Maiden album 7th Son of a 7th Son. Try it, you'll like it. - Jim Bob the Enforcer back to the top. |
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Blood Red Throne - Monument of Death (Hammerheart/Martyr Music, 2001) Rating: 7/10
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Blood Stained Dusk - Dirge of Death's Silence (Baphomet, 2001) Rating: 7/10
Blood Stained Dusk are a worthy addition to the USBM scene which, in my opinion, is currently the strongest it has ever been and the strongest BM scene worldwide. Dirge of Death's Silence is a good debut from a band that has the potential to develop into true masters of the genre. I look forward to hearing their next release. - Al Kikuras back to the top. |
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Boris - Absolutego (Southern Lord, 2001) Rating: 2/10
One track. Fifty something minutes. The initial thirty minutes consisting of irritating feedback and drone. Most would say you have to be “under the influence” to listen to this. I tried that. Still don’t get it. A very challenging listen with little payoff. - Big Juan back to the top. |
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Brutality - Metamorphosis/Dimension Demented (Self-released, 2000) Rating: 9/10
Why do I reminisce so? Because, much to my delight, Dimension Demented and the demo that followed, Metamorphosis, are now in my hands... on CD! Metamorphosis is new to my ears, while I know Dimension Demented inside and out. Vocally, I prefer Larry Sapp's performance on these demos to Scott Riegel's (his replacement on the debut album, Screams of Anguish). Both are equally brutal, but Larry's voice has a more distinct sound than Riegel's. Those familiar with Brutality's three full-length albums will be pleased with Metamorphosis, as it is very much in the fashion of the aforementioned Screams of Anguish, particularly the solo guitar work. Dimension Demented, on the other hand, may come as a slight surprise as it incorporates elements of thrash and some VERY slight tinges of hardcore into the material. The end result is catchier, less intimidating songs that are still brutal but would seem out of place on any of the full-length releases. - Al Kikuras Check out the Brutality site for ordering info. back to the top. |
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Bunk Dope - Uncut (Self released, 2000) Rating: 7.5/10
Email Bunk Dope for more info. back to the top. |
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Burning Inside - Apparition (Crash Music, 2001) Rating: 9/10
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Darkane - Insanity (Century Media, 2001) Rating: 1/10
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Decapitated - Nihility (Earache/Wicked World, 2002) Rating: 9.5/10
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Deteriorot - In Ancient Beliefs (WWIII, 2001) Rating: 9/10
The music on this beast can best be described as a mix of Onward to Golgotha with a little bit of Dawn of Possession thrown in there for good measure. The production is more modernized than those bands, but the style is right on cue with what those early American DM bands were spewing out. The style isn't surprising considering also included as bonus tracks on the 'In Ancient Beliefs' disc is their 1992 demo, cleverly called 'Demo 92.' Tracks like 'Unholy Return' and 'Spiritual Evocation' are brilliantly constructed, and won't sound dated 10 years from now, when hopefully this album will be considered a classic in the genre. The guitar could be a little bit thicker sounding, but overall everything is mixed well and it offers a clear but not too polished sound. Buy this album and take a walk down DM memory lane. - Wayne back to the top. |
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Another great record that I got in this batch. This band is a great group of really, incredibly talented musicians.
There are very few who could have pulled this off. Again, it goes with the neo-classical theme that has been showing up in lots of power metal lately (and for a while at that). The most outstanding piece of this recording,
however, is the guitar work. Normally guitarists are "stand outs" primadonnas who really want to be heard, and they're often produced as such. This album takes a totally different
approach to the production and the absolutely great guitar work is actually hidden behind the curtain of music. After serious scrutiny of the album, I've decided that this guitarist is one of THE best that I've ever heard.
When will the hurting stop? Just when I thought Century Media was done torturing me this month along comes a
new And Oceans disc. Now I have no problem with keyboards in Black Metal (my fave BM disc of all time has keyboards throughout), but AO doesn't truly understand how to use keyboards. Using the same notes all the time, and so
high in the mix it drowns out the guitar is not the way it should be done. Also, keyboards are used for atmosphere, not to try and hide riffs you are probably ashamed of. This
album is dripping with cheesy keyboards, and bland uncreative music. On the first song they manage to rip off Iron Maiden in under 200. I keep hearing this bands older material is better,
but after an album this horrible I don't think I want to give their other albums a chance. - 
This is seriously one of the worst albums I've ever heard. I can't believe that
anyone could possibly enjoy these guys. John Bush can't sing. He cannot carry a melody and the entire point of the music they play IS to carry a melody. Musically it's not that interesting, just rehashed
shit that they've been playing for years (hence, releasing an album of rehashed shit that they've been playing for years). I honestly could hardly SIT through this album. The Enhanced CD is pretty
cool, but other than that, this album is a waste of time and money. Why do these guys still exist? - 
Astaroth is the band Larry Sapp founded after leaving Brutality (see the review
above for more history). The first (and only) release I received from Astaroth prior to getting this CD a few months ago was the Drowning in Blood demo, which is a complete masterpiece. Unfortunately
only 100 or so of the demo were released as the band was not happy with the production. As a result, ut was re-recorded in a 16 track studio and re-released as the Songs of Sorrow demo in '93
and was recently pressed on to CD by Mr. Sapp with Lost State of Dreams, another Astaroth release. Drowning in Blood was a dirge of very dark, brutal and atmospheric death metal
that just seemed to suck the life from you. Elements of doom and very ethereal yet raw production gave the demo a unique sound that, to this day - almost 10 years after its release - my enthusiasm for the music is undiminished.
Brutal, atmospheric and seriously fucking evil. Avenger manage to piece together
a rather unique sound that has a foundation in country-mates Master's Hammer, plus some Burzum and Dissection influence. 
Behemoth is a rare form of metal band who evolved from raw "pagan" black metal (complete with synth and female
chanting) to a mature death metal entity. Typically such a change in sound leads to a dip in quality of music, but Behemoth have proven there are excpetions. 
I had been curious about Belphegor for quite some time prior to receiving promos of The Last Supper and
Blutsabbath from WWIII records. I had seen ads for them in the score of fanzines I read on a regular basis. Something about the covers and logo appealed to me... they made the album look like it was going to be a big, bloody,
disgusting mess of death metal and black metal and I am happy to say that is exactly what Belphegor are. Though, actually, they aren't really a "mess." The music is very
chaotic, but intentionally so - Belphegor definitely are not hacks at their instruments. The Last Supper is an earlier release and leans more towards death metal than Blutsabbath, which still retains a lot of death metal
characteristics, but has a lot of elements of black metal as well. Both releases are excessively brutal, which seems to be the primary focus of Belphegor's efforts and they are capable.
The Last Supper gets to be a bit monotonous with the "brutality for brutality's sake" attitude apparently taking priority over the songwriting, whereas on Blutsabbath things
are more refined and varied. For example, the excellent fifth track, "No Resurrection," features some very tastefully placed keyboards and a crushing slow riff/vocal section that closes
out the song. Likewise, "The Requiem Of Hell" has a brief clean guitar passage and some tasty melodic riffing that, despite the melody, is still very ugly. 
For those already familiar with The Last Supper, this version is a re-release with
bonus demo tracks and covers of Black Sabbath's "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" and Sodom's "Outbreak of Evil," so if you are a fan of the band already it might be worth picking up anyway. The sound
quality is considerably less powerful on the demo tracks, but no less enjoyable. There is something about badly recorded brutal metal that I like. Old fans will most definitely enjoy Blutsabbath and I
recommend that folks new to Belphegor start with the latter release and if you like what you hear, trace back the roots a bit with The Last Supper as it is the weaker of the two, but still a good listen. - 
Being a long-time Bethlehem fan I was expecting to hate this based on the samples I'd heard. While the bonus disc
that accompanies the album ("featuring diverse bonus tracks by several Bethlehem members") is a total throwaway, I am finding myself constantly drawn to this album. 
It's going... it's going... it's GOOOONE! Necropolis have hit one out of the park
with Black Dawn's Blood for Satan, one of the most violent and competent black metal releases I have heard since Anateus' Cut Your Flesh and Worship Satan. Whereas Anateus' sound is based largely on chaos, sounding like any
second the entire band is going to trainwreck into complete noise, Black Dawn have things very much under control - the band are very tight and the music structured, but the overall sound is equally abrasive. They
combine the evil atmosphere of Horna with the straight-up violence of Panzer Division Marduk and cut it with movie samples and the thrash-dynamics displayed on an album like December Wolves' absolute masterpiece, Completely
Dehumanized. The end result is very listenable black metal that can be appreciated solely for the sheer extremity of it all, but at the same time demands repeat listens based on the
catchiness and strength of the songs, themselves. - 
Black Mass play relatively simplistic death metal. The vocals are similar to Blasphemy, though not as crazed in
nature. To Fly With Demons is not a bad album by any means, but the songs don't stand out from one another, the end result being an unremarkable listen and an album that I don't think I will get
the urge to listen to again once this review is completed. To their credit, Black Mass have conjured up some brutal death metal, but the sinister atmosphere that is crucial to make an album of this ilk
succeed isn't there. So, rather than sounding frightening, the album comes off as kind of cheesy. The picture of the band on the back of the album doesn't help either... it is, well, just
plain silly! With this, however, comes a certain "camp" appeal that you get from B-rate horror movies, but that appeal alone doesn't carry the album. - 
Being one who loathes all things new age and Tesh-like, I was skeptical of Ritchie
Blackmore's latest project, Blackmore's Night with it Renaissance imagery and female vocals. When I did get around to listening, however, what I found was inventive English folk-rock in the Fairport
Convention mold. The writing on Fire's At Midnight is excellent. Singer, Candace Night has a beautiful way with a hook, a beautiful voice, and is, heck, just plain beautiful as the many pictures of her in the
CD booklet attest. Songs like Written In The Stars, the haunting I Still Remember and Fires At Midnight sound like classics that have been in your collection for years. The
execution of this album is unique in that it is rock, but subdued and with unconventional instruments such as hurdy gurdys, shawms, and bagpipes. Blackmore's trademark solos
flow over the material greeting you like an old friend.
The band B L A Z E has put out anouther phenomenal album. For those of you who are familiar with the band, then
you're probably aware of Silicon Messiah, and the great fanfare that it got. It was an excellent album, great pounding riffing, melodic soloing, and Blaze sounding his best vocally, ever! Well,
they've done it again, but much better this time around.
Continuing with the trend of European bands releasing Floridian-style death metal albums (see Bloodbath,
Throneaon, etc.), Blood Red Throne have thrown their axe into the mix and a sharp blade, it is. The drawback, of course, is that they're not doing anything new and are doomed to be held up against the
master releases of this ilk as a measure of their quality. Blood Red Throne have all the elements... crunchy guitars, deep vocals, relentless drumming... the one thing missing, however, is the catchy songwriting that made
early albums from bands like Morbid Angel and Deicide so damn memorable and timeless. To pigeonhole Blood Red Throne as just a Floridian death metal clone would be unfair,
however. There is a bit more atmosphere here than on the standard death metal release, perhaps a result for their Norwegian origin. Monument of Death is a good release to fix
your death metal craving, but if you are looking for an album that you'll still be hearing in your mind after you turn it off, this isn't the one. - 
With a sound similar to early Emperor (a comparison they are probably sick and
tired of hearing by now, but when the spiked boot fits...), Blood Stained Dusk are a decidedly Scandinavian-sounding USBM band from the depths of Alabama. The vocal screeches are of a very high
register, with deep DM roars and a mid-range lament employed on occasion. The performance on the part of each member of the band is solid. The production is very ethereal and
keyboards are used tastefully to enhance, and sometimes set, the melodies of the songs which, much to my pleasure, never dominate to the point of overshadowing the venom of the music. While convincing and competently executed,
however, the majority of the material on Dirge of Death's Silence isn't particularly memorable to my ears. There are some shining moments, like the melodic passage about 4 and
a half minutes in to "The Infernal Praise" and just about all of the album's keyboard-heavy closer (and finest track, in my opinion), "Funeral of Lamentation," but for the most part little
distinguishes the 7 tracks on this album from one another. The result is an album that is almost hypnotic and soothing in a trance-like fashion... one that you can listen to passively,
but if you were to give it your full attention, at just over 51 minutes it might seem a bit overlong. 
This is a tough review. I’m usually a big fan of the material to come off Southern
Lord. I’m also usually very into the modern “doom” sound. But I just don’t get Boris. 
Many of our loyal and delightful readers probably are not aware that Unchain the Underground was originally a print
fanzine back in '89-'91 or so (though I have mentioned it enough times that anyone who does know is probably annoyed by me remind you so often). Back in 1990 we received a demo from a band called Brutality that went on to
release two well-received and respectable death metal albums. The demo, Dimension Demented, was a blast - though not nearly as polished or technical as the release Brutality is most known for, the debut album Screams of
Anguish, it had a lighter side that later releases did not. 
You nasty, baby. This is some foul, decrepit death metal from Portland, OR. Bunk Dope have technical chops and
use them well, but the music still sounds like a glorious mess. Perhaps it is the raw production, or the overly deep and muffled vocals, but no matter how proficient these guys are as musicians,
Uncut still sounds completely barbaric and unrefined. Fans of Mortal Decay, Disgorge, Lividity and early Internal Bleeding will find Bunk Dope to be a serious fix. There is nothing original here and Bunk Dope do little to set
themselves apart from their contemporaries, but they are good at what they do and fans of brutal death metal will appreciate their efforts. - 
Ahhh, the joys of well-crafted death metal! Burning Inside have combined proficient musicianship and a love for
brutality to produce an album that appeals to both the primitive and higher registers of the intellect. I suppose one could call Apparition "thinking-man's death metal," though one should not
conjure images of Cynic and Atheist when trying to get an idea of Burning Inside's sound. They don't play over the head of the layperson, rather using the exemplary level of skill of a band featuring members of Death, Control
Denied, Acheron and Black Witchery to forge a brand of death metal that can appeal to musical elitists as well as fans of the nasty. When considering the origins of the members, the end
result of their collaboration is not at all a surprise. We have Richard Christy, former drummer of Death and Control Denied - two bands that exemplify metal and death metal at their
highest forms of evolution without ever stepping outside the bounds of the genres (as the aforementioned Cynic and Atheist do, incorporating elements of jazz into their metal). On
the other hand, we have Michael Estes on guitar, former member of Acheron, a band renowned (and sometimes renounced) for their formulaic, yet rewarding hook-laden, mid-paced Satanic Death metal. [It should be noted that
though Christy was also in Acheron for a spell, it did not nearly showcase his immense talents as his participation in the Schuldiner-fronted projects did.] Guitarist Steve Childers is a
member of the current reigning kings of brutal US black metal, Black Witchery. Combine the refined sound of Death with the death metal sensibilities and hooks of Acheron and the
mindless violence of Black Witchery and you have Burning Inside. Bassist and vocalist Jamie Prim, despite having a girly name, delivers the goods vocally, seldom swaying from a
mid-to-low death metal growl but managing not to sound stagnant or boring. As far as I know, Burning Inside is his first project of acclaim and it is a hell of a foot in the door.
Apparition is one of the rare death metal releases that has the potential to cross over to a broader audience without abandoning even a speck of the credibility that comes with
strictly adhering to the very elements of the genre that usually keep such a broader audience from appreciating it. While not doing anything remarkably new or innovative, Burning Inside
still has a fresh sound and Apparition serves as an example to remind the listener that there still is relevant and rewarding music to be written within the confines of death metal. - 
You ever get filled with so much animosity towards a genre you just wish it would
have died with the legends? As the further bastardization of the once mighty Swedish death metal sounds rages on, here comes Darkane with the genres latest unmotivated dull and downright
atrocious offering called "Insanity". If anything makes me sick these days its the crossover genre now of swedish death and Hardcore. This cd is everything that is bad about the Swedish scene right now.
As usual with a Century Media disc production isn't the problem, no matter how the production was on this cd it could not be saved. To sum this review up here's an equation:
Swedish Death + HC - Talent - Creativity= Darkane. - 
Poland is becoming the breeding ground for some of the best death metal bands
around. Most notably is Vader, however a bunch of upstarts named Decapitated are cementing their place in the death metal community. Although the average age of the members in the band is 19,
don’t let that fool you. They’ve already received the praise of many and continue to turn heads with their amazing display of technical, yet brutal death metal. “Nihility” is the band’s second
full-length release, and is the follow-up to the highly-acclaimed “Winds of Creation”. If you enjoyed the sheer power of the last album, you will not be disappointed
by this outing. The band offers 8 tracks of technical death metal, which this time around, seems more oriented towards tighter rhythm sections and not so much “flashy sections”.
The only real difference from the last album is the departure of slam riffs, which were present on the last album. However, despite that this album is still impressive. What I
also liked about this album is that the production on it is stellar, and makes the songs and sound seem crisper. Sauron’s vocals on this album are gritty as hell, and Vogg’s
guitar work is simply brilliant in creating great rhythm sections as evidenced on “Mother War” and “Spheres of Madness”. The drumwork and basswork are solid and provide a good
backing section for the guitar. Fans of quality death metal should not hesitate and purchase this album immediately. - Derek Lennon
For all those people who claim Death Metal isn't what it used to be, and yearn
for the glory days when the genre kicked out tons of amazing bands, this is definitely a release those critics should check out.