DEATH MAZE

'Promo 2010'

Teenage quartet (quintet when EP recorded) Death Maze are the next lot of Swedish youngsters to embrace the darkness and extravagancy of Melodic Death Metal. It was as if the studio was their birthplace and they were born with instruments and talent inside them, even if they are in the far north of Sweden. Shortly after release, Alexandra Trzoska (far left) left the band and has gone to pursue other dreams. But Death Maze sits firmly in between the vein of Melodic Death, even when the Öresund Bridge collapsed from the might of these three women, two men combo. Death Maze may as well be the next Arch Enemy/Human Ground and with that in mind, exciting times are yet to come, just dont get lost in the 'Death Maze'.

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/deathmaze

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BURN STILL

'Untitled (Burn Still)'

Melodic Death/Metalcore quintet Burn Still emerge on the Estonian Metal scene with a fireball in one hand and a knife in the other, this is brutality on a new level, just as dangerous as Mike Tyson the boxer is, Burn Still use the same amount of fury and pack a powerful punch. They had to give Tallinn a pre-warning that the capital might feel a power surge from the blastbeats, guitar riffs and bowel-vocals. Potentially seen as Estonia's answer to JFAC and Whitechapel, they are the new kids on the block. Estonia's Metal scene is to take a dramatic twist and with Burn Still, the scene will emerge as a powerhouse, watch this space.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/burnstill

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IMMORTAL THREAT

'Demo 2008'

Australian Melodic Deathcore newcomers Immortal Threat see their 2008 demo ousted by their later 'A.D.' 2010 EP, but residing within this Adelaide assault is four menacing Australians capable of causing a rise in hearing aid sales. The drums are paramount, the guitars are furious and the vocalist took a massive s**t. Even taking a pun on The Furor album 'Advance Australia Warfare', this certainly fits the bill as one of Australia's 'look-out-for-bands'. Immortal Threat are in a class of their own with similarities resembling much like Psycroptic and The Berzerker but with the added south Australian slickness. The Aussie's have it in for the English this time; they want the ashes back, pronto.

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/immortalthreatoz

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SONIC SYNDICATE

'We Rule The Night'

NUCLEAR BLAST

Making the 'powershift' was just the start for this Swedish sextet, their fourth journey saw them with a new assault option, Nathan J.Biggs. Delivering the ' Swedish sonic system signature surround sound system' is bassist Karin Axelsson, drummer John Bengtsson, guitarist Robin Sjunnesson, guitarist/keyboardist Roger Sjunnessonon and duet Nathan J.Biggs and Richard Sjunnesson commandeering vocal duties. Such a musical direction change was cause for concern when Roland Johannson left but the Falkenberg icons opted to switch from melodeath to modern metalcore/rock, such a gutsy move rewarded them with a party piece, a solitude amongst sheer jubilation, combining five slick Swedish stars with one English vocal entrepreneur, the Sonic Syndicate are far from reborn, they have instead experienced the 'revolution, baby', they have seen the 'beauty and the freak' whilst managing to 'turn it up' on the 'break of day' when they state 'we rule the night'. Well they may 'rule the night' but they are certainly are not 'dead and gone'.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

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TAINTED GRACE

'Denial Daydreams'

Hampshire quartet (Andrew left) Tainted Grace make the return journey with their second release and debut EP 'Denial Daydreams' and although home recorded, the atmosphere the Farnborough-based Gothic Metal group develop is paramount, darkness and love pursue from track to track, a sort of gothic version of Baz Lurhmann's 'Romeo & Juliet' soundtrack. Trissy's melodic and soul-calming vocals are the opposite to the fury emitted from the instruments, a clear controversial composition is only seen to be the next big hit from the Gothic Metal vein of Metal music, an indefinite soundtrack to chill to and yet the music is so melodic, playing it at night inside the Spinnaker Tower would be the most coolest experience ever. For fans of Lacuna Coil, Vanguard, HIM and The Rasmus.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/taintedgraceband

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DEJANIRA

'A Vent Of Rage Against...'

They may call it Metalcore/Groovethrash, but in reality it is a release overloaded with riffs, same drum patterns and a sense of self-destruction, if only the leaning tower of Pisa fell down with it. Italy's Dejanira aim to produce decent metal, but the outcome resembles a dysfunctional machine, out of sync, order and tune. There are some parts which are decent enough, but not enough to wipe clean the disaster now caused, if only we knew what they are trying to achieve, perhaps 'A Vent Of Rage Against...' themselves??

[3.5] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/dejanirametal

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SPHERON

'To Dissect Paper'

What makes Germany's Spheron excellent at Death Metal vocals is their natural guttural being, the language and accent is guttural, make that twice as brutal. The German quintet release their debut EP 'To Dissect Paper' with more meat on it than your standard butchers and more spice in it than the well known currywurst. Oktoberfest would seem empty without these burly musicians but would it seem murderous to see the lederhosen on five strapping lads? Probably not, with over a hundred steins full of beer as a beverage in their studio, nothing seemed impossible, not even the method used 'To Dissect Paper'.

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/spheronmusic

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RELINQUISHED

'Susanna Lies In Ashes'

NOISEHEAD

There is a common theme running between the Austrian Metal band's, they all seem to be brutal and dark looking, whether this relates to the countries gothic appearance or to make the band stand out it is unclear. What is clear though is Austria's Melodeath Metallers Relinquished is one of the fresher faces of the Alpine state and as they lash together the Austrian characteristics with global Melodeath, they conclude in a fashionable way that there are no limits to music, even when 'Susanna Lies In Ashes'.

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

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BETO VAZQUEZ INFINITY

'Darkmind'

BVM

Argentine powerhouse Beto Vazquez 'Infinity' continues his quest to become the world's most famous composer of Metal music and with his and a group of VIP musicians at his disposal, the combined forces produced their third release 'Darkmind'. Soprano vocals, gothic atmosphere and a sense of an epic journey are what comes about this release, recruiting well known bandmembers like H.J De Jong and Manda Ophuis of Nemesea, Sonya Scarlet of Theatres Des Vampires and Sandra Schleret of Elis, the international group delve deeper into the mystic lands of Argentina to discover the next level of metal, residing inside the 'Darkmind' of Beto Vazquez himself.

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

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AWAKE BY DESIGN

'Sentiment'

English Heavy Melodic Metallers Awake By Design returns with another treasure trove of gothic-tinged music and bring as a bonus a cold soul which turns the atmosphere back to the 1970's batcave era. It is different to see a group of six musicians not dressed gothic but yet have gothic influences, but they say 'dont judge a book by its cover' and that goes for Awake By Design too. Sounding much like the melodic version of Iron Maiden, the sextet are one gem waiting to be found by many fans, just be sure to adopt the 'sentiment' before Awake By Design release another album. A definite contender for Bloodstock Open Air's unsigned band competition.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/awakebydesign