BALANCE INTERRVPTION

'Era I: Nuclear War For Rescue (2nd Edition)

MORE HATE PRODS.

Ukrainian Black Metallers retell the horrors humanity has caused themselves to be at fault for, right from the first track 'Chernobyl' to the end of their debut album which for the record saw light in 2007. It is seen to be the only Ukrainian Black Metal album to feature such controversial human disasters, yet at the same time is probably the cleanest. Take into account Ukraine's Soviet past and compare to modern day Kiev, much has changed and Balance Interrvption highlight that fact, equally they highlight that humanity will eventually fall victim to the mass machinery and computers developed. That day is judgement day.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

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DEATHSAINT (split-up)

'Шляхам Ваўкалака'

FONO

Belarusian Melodic Death Metal band Deathsaint called it quits this year even so after their debut EP released in June so that concluded eleven years of existence, not such a great discography but one heck of an EP. Mixing Belarusian with Melodic Death Metal (although Metal Archives incorrectly dubbed it Black Metal' Deathsaint were one of Belarus' more promising upcoming acts, but as they say 'another one bites the dust'.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

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ACEPHALA

'Division By Zero'

SOULFLESH COLLECTOR

Russian Brutal Death Metallers fire up the machines with their sophomore album 'Division By Zero', double bass drums and blastbeats work with some of Russia's deepest vocals and very clean guitar plucking which altogether result in a thorough brain mashing, total chaotic sonata's live on this album and is a sure sign Russia remains a super power, both politically and musically, one thing is for certain, it is bad to use 'Division By Zero' in maths.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

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SCRAMBLED DEFUNCTS

'Souls Despising The God'

SOULFLESH COLLECTOR

Russian Brutal Death quintet Scrambled Defuncts defy the basics and instead meet the weird and wonderful with their third album 'Souls Despising The God'. Interestingly they combine Brutal Death Metal with classical symphonies, a shock to some as well as me, but regardless they make it work so well it may have just sparked off a new genre on its own. The only real bad thing is the vocals; they are there but not understandable? It is therefore the music itself that restores hope in this band. Not bad for trying something new, least they have the guts to do so. Somewhat a climax to the full-on Brutal Death Metal blasting, a good effect in reality.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

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PERVERSUS STIGMATA

'Interstellar Hatred Void'

MORE HATE PRODS.

Russian Symphonic Black Metallers Perversus Stigmata saw their 2009 debut album 'Interstellar Hatred Void' being released through More Hate Productions from Volgograd, Russia. With Dimmu Borgir influences and Russian Black Metal at the reigns, Perversus Stigmata take it in their stride to develop a unique perspective on the highly criticised genre. The symphonies surrounding the Black Metal atmosphere created resembles a journey amongst the darkest corners of life and in doing so they fulfill the 'Interstellar Hatred Void'.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

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DEATH TOLL

'Wall Ripping Flesh'

Mexican Blackened Death Metallers Death Toll stormed the Mexican Metal underground with their debut EP 'Wall Ripping Flesh'. Ever-changing drum beats and some of the cleanest Death Metal vocals coming from Central America, this quartet (was quintet) diminish the Aztec ruins and modernize Mexico whilst remaining true to their Metal roots. For a band that kicked off in 2009 and have just emerged into the Metal scene, things are looking bright for their future. Not to mention their music clarity sent ripples across the Sierra Madre del Sur causing avalanches, but also livened buildings up with the sound of 'Wall Ripping Flesh'.

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/metalcollapse

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IN DECEMBER

'In December'

Sending icy cold winds from the Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany, In December released their self-titled debut EP in March 2010 and with it saw an uprising in this region of Germany, a signal erupting from every spectrum of the band covering five positions. Scar Symmetry style melodic vocals and Madina Lake style music with Sonic Syndicate influences, this may well be the next generation of Melodic Death Metal/Metalcore and with that in mind, if someone ever made a Eurometalvision, In December should represent Germany. Definite candidates for the Bundesvision though.

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/indecember

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POSITHRONE

'Necropoles'

SLEASZY RIDER

Austrian Melodic Gothic Doom Metallers Posithrone gave birth to their debut album 'Necropoles' in 2009, causing a stir across the Austrian Alps in the icy, cold country and doing so were reprimanded in that the heaviness of the music was not to be performed in the middle of Austrian valleys for the fear of avalanches. Sums the music up nicely, epic melodies alongside real dark vocals giving the sense of coldness and darkness circulating about the two 'Necropoles'.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

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TOR MARROCK

'Heaven's Death Lights Kindle'

Hailing from Aberystwyth, Wales, Tor Marrock stormed through the Welsh valleys all the way to Snowdonia and back whilst recording their sophomore album 'Heaven's Death Lights Kindle'. Welsh Death Metal meets the Tor Marrock Gothic image to create something unique; this something is known as Gothic Death Metal. Gothic imagery and symphonies are the backdrop to full-on Death Metal which eludes their mainstream fellow countrymen Bullet For My Valentine and as the mist settles over the valleys, we learn that the result of 'Heaven's Death Lights Kindle'. Hail Cymru!

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/tormarrock

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EMPTY DREAMS

'Live At Rockmaraton - Rec. 9/7/08 - Rel. 2009'

Romanian Gothic Metallers Empty Dreams released their first ever DVD in 2009, recorded live at the Rockmaraton Open Air festival in Hungary on 9th July 2008. The music is so dynamic within the open air stage it seems as if the Romanian quartet brought along with them the Gothic darkness resting within Transylvania and relayed it into three men and one woman. In this encounter, the front woman, bassist and guitarist take the front line with the drummer in the background. What also is unique is both the guitarist and bassist play with different hands, so giving a reflection effect as it were. Musically, it involves electronic synthesizers, Gothic melodies, Romanian attitude and overall in general, pure Gothic Metal.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/emptydreamsmusic

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