LOTUS

'Forgotten Silence'

COPRO/CASKET MUSIC

Italian Gothic Prog Metallers Lotus make their full awakened debut with 'Forgotten Silence', an eleven track soul chilling masterpiece, categorizing lush melodies with the charm that is exerted by modern metal bands, having clear influences from Myrath, Metallica, Lacuna Coil and Iron Maiden, Lotus are the next breed of Progressive Metallers and if it makes listeners feel better, the leaning tower of Pisa fell over, Mount Vesuvius erupted and Italy felt an earthquake from this release. Lotus have fully finished the master plan and completed 'The Italian Job'.

[7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON

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SUBHUMAN

'Profondo Rozzo'

MAPLE METAL

Ordering a cappucino from these guys could be dangerous, sharing a pizza can be just as dangerous, hearing Italy's Subhuman with their debut album 'Profondo Rozzo' may as well be music to your ears, or make that bloodshed. Picture AC Milan vs. Inter Milan, Subhuman provide the soundtrack for the bloody encounter, furious drumming backed by Italian lingual growling and virtuoso guitars, somewhat a maestro but definately one of Italy's newest acts, a right powerhouse resides within, so much for the Italian romance, prepare for some ear mutilation.

[7/10] RHYS STEVENSON

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ENORIA

'Enoria'

Swiss Gothic Metallers Enoria create a dark atmosphere and a female presence in the valleys of Lausanne with their self-titled debut release, melodic vocals with a cold and dark atmosphere bellowing out of the speakers whirl the soul of the listener around with immediate effect, the effect being the feeling of sorrow and deep depression, a solemn moment for reflect and a time for listeners to relax and look back on their life, definitely one of those that can only be judged by individuals. Switzerland has their answer to Italy's Lacuna Coil.

[6.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/enoriaband

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MALRUN

'Beauty In Chaos'

MIGHTY MUSIC

Denmark's Progressive/Metalcore debutant act Malrun signify the next tour of mass murder with their f*****g bulldozer of a premier release entitled 'Beauty In Chaos', having Raunchy influences, the Danish quintet are amongst the next generation of Metal in this Scandinavian country, it would seem apt to state Denmark's other popular export is Metal, alongside Lego and bacon (even though Malrun would make mincemeat of pigs). With Technical Metal influences also interlocked with the ever-increasing popularity of 'modern rock/metal', they show Sonic Syndicate influences as well. Malrun definitely see 'Beauty In Chaos' whereas others may not.

[8/10] RHYS STEVENSON

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BORN OF SIN

'Imperfect Breed of Humanity'

UNEXPLODED

Born Of Sin are in theory Marionette's long lost brother, in reality they are the next generation of Swedish Melodeath, it would also seem right to say they have Metalcore influences but somehow weave in the Gothenburg Metal sound, a sure reminiscence of Sonic Syndicate's earlier days. Here is a quintet who come fresh off the block with their debut 'Imperfect Breed of Humanity', but with it comes some of the most brutal material Sweden has s**t out of the underground, interesting it is to hear Black Metal rasping yet the vocals are full-on Death Metal, an interesting intonation. Born Of Sin have most certainly discovered the 'Imperfect Breed of Humanity'.

[7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON

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MASKBREAKER

'Frontline Tales'

2009 saw the Austrian Death Machine return to Grieskirchen and change it's name by depoll to Mask Breaker, the Austrian quintet also brought their passport in form of their debut 'Frontline Tales' which had security issues, the music was too violent and brutal to be brought into the EU. Cut the c**p, Mask Breaker are one of Austria's promising Death Metal acts of the next wave and are certain to cause chaos across Europe with this belter of a release, assume battle positions, for the bass, guitars, drums and vocals of this Alpine assault army will give us the 'Frontline Tales'.

[7/10]

http://www.myspace.com/maskbreaker

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NICHT

'Part 1: Catalepsy Sinks'

Pass me a gun? This is doom metal gone suicidal, if depression was a disease, Nicht would carry it, the French Gothic Doom trio dont seem to pierce any true atmosphere and with this in mind go for death vocals, genre dispute pursues, but why waste the time, after all, the music itself is dubbed 'wtf is that?'. If this is France's next doom act, then the UK may as well go one better with Ed Miliband on the horizon, utter depression.

[2/10]

http://www.myspace.com/nichtmusic

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HAGL

'Nearer To Victory'

CASUS BELLI MUSICA

The Russian duo at the time (quartet now) recorded their debut in 2005 and five years later released it, coming from the darkened lands of Russia, the Black Metallers unify black kvlt Metal with their native Russian embodiment, strong enough to overthrow the Kremlin doublefold. Atmospheric influences come into play during this album, dragging a cold feeling with it, the sort of chill experienced in Siberia, probably where this band capture the atmosphere from. This is probably Russian Black Metal's finest hour, when the band is 'Nearer To Victory'.

[7.5/10] RHYS STEVENSON

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VALHALLA

'Valgrind'

Poland has produced many epic uprising bands, but none like Valhalla. This Gothic-tinged Heavy Metal quintet is Poland's answer to Iron Maiden, but a definite album to knock Legia Warsaw off the top position in the Polish football. A sort of adventure record comes to mind when listening to this album in it's entirety, a total wipe-out of Polish solo's and soprano's in the darkest tone of 'night time' is just the start of the band's journey, onward to the second release.

[7/10] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/valhallavalhalla

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SCREAMING FOREST

'Black Kingdom Of Lust'

MORE HATE PRODS.

Dark these Eastern European's aren't they, scary at that too, unless of course if your Screaming Forest, you are f*****g scary. Ukraine's uprising Black Metallers Screaming Forest debuted with 'Black Kingdom Of Lust' in 2009 and this year came up with their sophomore album 'Jesus=whore'. Is their lyrics linked to Satanism? Nope, Paganism. Ironically Paganism resides in Eastern Europe, so how the trio managed to conjure up the blackest of the black for their debut we shall never know, they may have just bought it from The Ukraine, the 'Black Kingdom Of Lust'.

[8/10]

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