HYMIR

'Nyctophobia'

Dutch Blackened Death quintet Hymir scores their debut album 'Nyctophobia' with a blistering collection of darkness, sincerity and lustre within each track. Although they have symphonic influences as well, the vocals are not as well as expected but still offer some leniency towards to genre debate. Without picking hairs as the saying goes, Hymir in reality are an Extreme Metal band, there are too many genres going on to pinpoint a singular one, and for those who are savvy about phobias, 'Nyctophobia' means fear of the dark, especially when Hymir are about...

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/hymirband

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DEFEAT LIES AHEAD

'Self Preservation'

Dutch Death Metal/Metalcore quartet Defeat Lies Ahead released their debut EP 'Self Preservation' in 2009 and erm, not much to say about it. There is hardly any good points to make, the fact is they combine Metalcore style drums with Death Metal vocals, it just does not work with this band, credit for them attempting, but it would make Lady Gaga look more Metal, not sure if that is an insult or not, but definitely a way of saying that they need to go back to the drawing board. Take it from the top guys, wait that's lunch everybody.

[2] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/defeatliesahead

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FUCK YOUR SHADOW FROM BEHIND

'Freigeist' (Free Spirit)

BASTARDIZED REC.

German Deathcore sextet Fuck Your Shadow From Behind blow the competition for best Deathcore act wide open with their debut album 'Freigeist'. There is something about the Germans in regards to Death Metal, the fact they are naturally guttural acts as a spice to the Death vocals in hand. Albeit that, they take on the form of Whitechapel but uniquely shift between two vocalists adding differential aspects to the music, and with all the lyrics in German, this is one band sure to gain international interest. If you think Deathcore in English is good, wait till you hear this sextet, you won't ever regret it.

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

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SOULGATES DAWN

'Messiah'

BASTARDIZED REC.

German Melodic Death Metal/Metalcore quintet Soulgate's Dawn return with their third full length 'Messiah'. Words are hard to find in order to describe the musicals this band exhibit, such virtuosos reside within the five musicians but with an added essence being synchronization. Soulgate's Dawn offer straight-edge Metalcore with Death Metal growling and melodies so epic like a flood flowing over a waterfall. It is safe to say that they are vastly becoming one of Germany's Melodeath veterans and are one band you must have in your collection if you are a die-hard Melodeath fan.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

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ANHEDONE

'Ανηδόνη'

French Progressive Death Metallers Anhedone kick off their musical career with their debut demo entitled 'Ανηδόνη' which is Greek for 'Anhedone'. Well the demo consists of two gigantic tracks, one 18 minutes long and the other 15 minutes long. In iTunes thats 36mb and 30mb, a sure one to miss to put on iTunes i must say, but musically they are not bad, the only major lack is vocals and the lenght of the songs is a bit over the top, none the less they are not bad. Not as brutal as fellow countrymen Gojira, but still not bad for a first shot.

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/anhedoneband

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OUTCAST

'Mass Murder Fantasies'

SOULFLESH COLLECTOR

Belgian Death Metallers Outcast fire up the machine guns with their debut album 'Mass Murder Fantasies'. Soul crushing blastbeats, gut-retching vocals and electrocutioner's guitars make up this Belgian quartet. Imagine having a sonic boom and multiplying it by ten, that is what Outcast are, brutality gone sonic. Prepare for the oncoming onslaught from the Belgians, forget Hercule Poirot, digest the chocolates and take no notice of the language feud going on between Flemish, Dutch, French and German because Outcast dont give a flying f***, this is the new s*** and it will blow your speakers up with 'Mass Murder Fantasies'.

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

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QUAEDT

'Plaegh'

IRON AGE

Belgian Black Metallers set off on their maiden voyage with their debut full length 'Plaegh', although Black Metal is meant to have raw guitars, endless blastbeats and screeching vocals, well that is exactly what Quaedt have managed to do and also in the first song it sounds like violent wind blowing around in ambient style. There is some Black Metal which is unbearable, but Quaedt do not make it over-raw as it were and remain true to themselves and Belgian Black Metal, hail 666.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

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