Devilish Impressions (pol) "Diabolicanos (Act III : Armageddon)"
Conquer Records/Plastic Head Distribution
On their second record for UK's Conquer Records Poland death/black metallers Devilish Impressions are poised to make their mark on the international scene. Sounding like a mix between "Satanica" / "Thelema 6" era Behemoth and (later) Crionics this Polish unit combines the strengths of death metal structural heaviness and the contrasting atmospheres of upper tier symphonic black metal acts. The use of keyboards is done in a very tasteful manner and they do not dominate the whole. The guitar work isn't yet quite as intricate as Behemoth or Nile, but is of a much higher standard than most young acts with two albums under their belts. The drumming is quite amazing with a fitting amount of well-placed fills, thundering rolls and relentless blasts with enough double bass – and cymbal work to satisfy the death metal crowd. Much like their peers in Behemoth and Crionics this band knows how to master their instruments and their skill to write catchy memorable material is refreshing to hear amongst the current crop of bands which focus on being the most brutal around. The production is much down the line of Behemoth's watershed "Satanica" release whereas the artwork, design and lay-out could have fitted with (early) Dimmu Borgir and bands of similar ilk.

address: http://www.conquerrec.com/
Wouter - 8

Deicide (usa) "Till Death Do Us Part"
Earache Records
Uncharacteristically "Till Death Do Us Part" – Deicide's third album for Earache Records - opens impressively with a moody instrumental intro track called ‘The Beginning Of the End'. Benton sounds at his most guttural and most articulate once the title track kicks in. The impressive epic leads of Jack Owen (ex-Cannibal Corpse) and Ralph Santolla (ex-Iced Earth, Obituary) have remained intact and once again feature prominently on this album. The title track is a doom-fused slow grinder. The aptly named ‘The Hatred Of all Hatreds' kick into high gear and sees Deicide continuining in the direction of their critically acclaimed "The Stench Of Redemption". ‘Worthless Misery' and ‘Severed Ties' both start out slow initially but the former has a multitude of slithering leads whereas the latter's more choppy structure actually reminds of Decapitated's slower material. ‘Not As Long as We Both Shall Live' is probably the slowest yet intense Deicide tracks to date. In a similar fashion as this album started with an instrumental it also is concluded with one. This album shows Deicide at its most brutally diverse and as such is a highly recommended disc. Recorded at the famed Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida "Till Death Do Us Part" comes with a crystal clear production that matches the band's own modern classic "The Stench Of Redemption" in a number of ways yet adds increased levels of texture, depth and clarity. The artwork, design and lay-out remind slightly of Hate Eternal's acclaimed debut "Conquering the Throne". Deicide have been able to live up to the promise of "The Stench Of Redemption" and this record will solidify their reputation's as one of the genre's primary veteran practitioners. The limited edition of this album comes with a patch and an exclusive bonus track called ‘The Great Lance'.

address: http://www.earache.com
Wouter - 8

Cryptopsy (can) "The Unspoken King"
Century Media Records
To say that this much important follow-up to 2005's "Once Was Not" album was a feverishly anticipated affair would be an understatement. All is not well, however. Note that the classic band logo is suspiciously absent. The album opens with ‘Worship your Demons' that kicks off with a blast and a shriek by newly recruited vocalist Matt McGachy. ‘the Headsmen' reminds perhaps a bit of the old Cryptopsy but the vocals ruin much of its impact. The guitar solo is a highpoint but it's all too brief to be of any meaning. ‘Silence the Tyrants' repeats the same structure as the preceding track but with more attention to groove. This strangely reminds of latter day Fear Factory's more cinematic tracks, in structure and its staccato riff barrage. There's a bouncy synth intro to ‘Bemoan the Martyr'. The track opens with a spoken word section a la Linkin Park's ‘Points of Authority' and the several clean sung sections remind of Linkin Park's Chester Bennington. The multiple breakdowns make this sound like Job For a Cowboy. ‘Leach' has a chorus that brings Alice In Chains to mind. The extended solo isn't able to redeem this track. Clean vocals and atmospherics are also present on ‘the Plagued'. McGachy's harsher vocals remind slightly of The Haunted but they are not nearly as powerful and sound more hardcore oriented. Keyboardist Maggie Durand has very little to do on the actual album, throwing in the occasional few notes brief electronics or atmospheric passages on a few tracks. Why she is credited as full member instead of a mere session musician is anyone's guess. The only thing that has remained intact from the old Cryptopsy is Flo Mounier's whirlwind drumming, yet "The Unspoken King" sees him going into a stripped down, ever simplified, groovy direction. His blasts are still present but feel disjointed and misplaced in the context of the band's current direction. Bassist Eric Langlois still has the magic and while his slapping funky bass lines feature prominently on this record those alone aren't able to save it. The high class artwork and packaging together with the top notch production job by Sébastien Marsan is nothing short of impressive. Cryptopsy no longer are mentioned in the same breath as Brain Drill, Decrepit Birth, Gorod, Odious Mortem and Spawn Of Possession now instead they seem to cater the audiences of In This Moment, Job For a Cowboy, Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall and Winds Of Plague.

address: http://www.cryptopsy.net
Wouter - 5

Bonded By Blood (usa) "Feed the Beast"
Earache Records
California thrash upstarts Bonded By Blood (taking their moniker from the classic 1985 Exodus album of the same name) are one of the many bands benefitting from the (retro) thrash revival that is currently making waves in the international metal scene with bands such as Dekapitator, Evile and Municipal Waste. From the onset its clear that "Feed the Beast" is a high energy genre exercise that does little new. Its infectious enthusiasm and pumping grooves help making this album more than another trip down memory lane. The cuts on this album are quick, catchy and competently written. The band has their chops down but they do little but pay tribute to the legendary bands that truly innovated this particular genre. Bonded By Blood master their instruments well enough and it is not often that a band this young is able to sound this convincing. Bonded By Blood have delivered a fitting, no-frills tribute to their legendary and innovative thrash ancestors, yet they'll have to work into making the genre more their own on their next album. If they are able to write an album that puts their own mark on this genre, they'll be able to carve their own path within a subgenre that is currently being flooded by tribute bands. "Feed the Beast" was produced by Michael Rosen and his production work actually harkens back to the Fleming Rasmussen produced albums Metallica did when they were still relevant in any meaningful way. The comic book styled artwork was designed by Tom Martin of Lich King, which reminds a bit of the earlier work by Ed Repka. The track ‘Immortal Life' also appeared on Earache's 2008 "Thrashing Like a Maniac" compilation. If you can't get enough of the classic thrash sound of old, give this a listen.

address: http://www.earache.com
Wouter - 7

Battalion (bel) "Welcome To the Warzone"
Shiver Records
On their second record for Shiver Records Belgian old school death metallers Battalion have grown into a lethal warmachine. Their brand of groovy death metal will appeal to fans of Amon Amarth, Bolt Thrower, Grave, Jungle Rot and "Soul Collector" era Panzerchrist. The band has taken its easily recognizable influences from US veterans like Malevolent Creation and Monstrosity to the next level and various sections of this album remind of either "The Will to Kill" or "In Dark Purity". The vocals by Ruben Luts have improved greatly in both pronunciation and vocal lines compared to their rather monotoneous 2006 debut "Winter Campaign". The solid riffage and regular solos/leads harken back to the earlier days of this genre and add greatly to the atmosphere on this record. With a new drummer by the name of Erwin Schellekens in the fold the work behind the kit has also taken a step or two into more technical and blasting territory, while keeping a foundation of groove intact. The production by CCR Studios is a bass-heavy affair that is reliant on the band's meaty, thrash fused distinctively Swedish sounding riffs. Artwork and packaging draw comparisons to Panzerchrist as the inevitable panzer tank features prominently. Overall, "Welcome To the Warzone" is a record that the Belgian underground scene needed for a couple of years now. While in no sense revolutionary or groundbreaking in the genre at large Battalion have delivered an album that might just open the door to an international audience. No guts, no glory!

address: http://www.shiver-records.com
Wouter - 8

Aguynguerran (bel) "Perverting the Nazarene Cult"
Shiver Records
Militant Belgian black metal combo Aguynguerran debut on Shiver Records with their "Perverting the Nazarene Cult" record after two demo sessions in 2000 and 2003, respectively. Comparisons to "Regie Sathanas" era Enthroned are evident although there's much more of a strong old school German thrash vibe present on this material. Most of material on this record is played at lightspeed with an excellent sense of dynamics and vocalist/guitarist Nguaroth spews his vocals in a similar whirlwind fashion to former Enthroned vocalist/bassist Sabathan. The addition of shrieky, short solos/leads also adds greatly to the (early) Enthroned vibe present on this record. The band is tied to veteran Belgian old school black/thrash metal unit Iconoclasm as they share their drummer and this album was recorded in Iconoclasm's home studio. Recorded at Dungeon Studios (Enthroned, Iconoclasm) and the band's own home studio facilities the record is graced with a sound that is well-rounded and thick in guitar tone, clear where it needs to be and possession an almost thrash-like clarity not often heard in black metal album these days. Sporting high class artwork by the inimitable Kris Verwimp (Absu, Enthroned, the Legion, Marduk, etc) The album also comes with a Nifelheim cover with ‘The Final Slaughter'. "Perverting the Nazarene Cult" will appeal greatly to those craving for vintage Scandinavian black metal done the right way. It's been a while since black metal sounded this appealing, be sure to give this one a listen!

address: http://www.shiver-records.com
Wouter - 8

Avsky (swe) "Malignant"
Moribund Records
Moribund continues to unearth the underground's finest material in both the death - as black metal genres. Much like Scandinavian labelmates Horna and Azaghal this unit produces high standard traditional, misanthropic black metal like (early) Enthroned, mid-career Marduk and Dark Funeral. Coming from the ever fertile soils of Sweden Avsky are blessed with an environment which strengthens this genre. Grim atmosphere is present on the aptly named "Malignant" thanks to the many gloomy mid-tempo sections and truly demonic dual vocals that bless this album with an atmosphere that's almost otherworldly in its diabolic purity. At once militant and aggressive while remaining strangely and unconventionally melodic Avsky are pro's in their chosen field. The tracks twist and turn through various tempo changes without compromising an inch of brutality. All tracks on this record are of the same high quality and the band doesn't stray too far from what is expected in this genre. The production is fitting in its minimal but professional sounding tone with all the required texture, definition and clarity. A high end production job would take away much of the brutality a record like this aims for. Thus the production here only serves to strengthen the music. Artwork, design and lay-out are in the typical grey and black tones thus adhering to the underground rules of this genre.

address: http://www.moribundcult.com
Wouter - 7

Brown Jenkins (usa) "Angel Eyes"
Moribund Records
Coming hot on the heels of 2007's critically acclaimed "Dagonite" EP Austin, Texas one-man black/doom metal project returns with "Angel Eyes". Once again delivering a harrowing mix of funeral doom and hateful black metal Brown Jenkins are rapidly making a name for themselves. Expanding on the strong aspects of its debut EP this full length sees Brown Jenkins building upon its epic mid-paced riffing, minimalist drumming and occasional vocals. The tracks on this record are even more elaborately crafted with slowly unfolding melodies, mammoth song structures and layer upon layer of details. The feeling of "Angel Eyes" is fittingly bleak and desolate expanding both on the band's black - as doom metal foundations. Like the material of the EP "Angel Eyes" is an engaging listen that combines the collective strengths of black - and doom metal. The production has improved compared to the band's EP with a thicker guitar tone that has gained a lot more clarity. The drums sound heavier and the overall production has gained a lot in definition and texture. Overall this is still leaning towards the black metal part of the equation. Artwork, design and lay-out conform to archetypical underground black metal stylings and only consist of black-white.

address: http://www.moribundcult.com/
Wouter - 8

Flagellum Dei (por) "Under the Might..."
Bloody Productions
Portugal continues to breed strong albeit unadventurous black metal bands. Coming from the Portugese underground is Flagellum Dei who produces moody black metal in vein of (early) Celtic Frost, (early) Enthroned and (early) Mayhem. Opening track 'The Mist Announces (the Reaper has Returned)' is particulary strong in its impressive tempo changes, the storming drumming and shrieking almost thrashing solo/lead work. The dense riffing is cold, bleak and almost detached sounding. The drumming, vocal delivery and chord progressions betray much of a Celtic Frost influence whereas the general delivery remind of Belgium's Enthroned, although this band isn't nearly as brutal or fast. The delivery is spirited and all involved master their instruments well, although it has to be said that the material present on this record isn't all of the same quality. The record starts out strong initially but looses steam along the way. Flagellum Dei isn't yet able to write instantly memorable material with recognizable hooks which is perhaps the biggest gripe this record carries. The production is of a reasonably high standard for this genre with a clear but a bit thin guitar tone. The drums possess enough power and provide this record with much of its heaviness. The artwork, design and lay-out are typical for the genre and not standing out in one way or the other. With some additional years of experience and a better understanding of what point they'd like to get across Flagellum Dei might very well become an interesting act in the underground.

address: http://www.flagellumdei.kom.pt/
Wouter - 5

Funerarium (lux) "Nocthule"
Undercover Records
After an atmospheric, moodsetting intro piece Luxembourg duo Funerarium presents traditional black metal in the vein of the Scandinavian pioneers of the genre with their debut "Nocthule". Playing generally at mid-tempo with well-placed faster sections Funerarium take cues primarily from "Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism" era Immortal or (early) Dark Funeral whenever they speed up their material. Recreating at once the hateful and desolate nature of Scandinavian black metal this duo is able to live up to the lengthy shadows of its inspirations. De Rais handles all string instruments with drummer Necroshadow laying down an impressive storm of percussion. The production values are on par with the Scandinavian inspirations of this band and convey the much needed oppressive atmosphere that a record like this calls for. The artwork, design and lay-out hearken back to the earlier days of the genre (the first Ancient Rites album comes to mind) and are refreshing to see amids all the colorless underground black metal art of the last years. Overall, Funerarium do an excellent take at carbon-copying this genre without adding anything their own in to the mix. It's competently written, instrumentally handled professionally yet nowhere does Funerarium show a face or idea of its own. If you like Scandinavian black metal done the way it should this band is a sure bet, although you might have heard it before earlier.

address: http://www.funerarium.lu
Wouter - 6