OTKROVENIYA DOZHDYA

'Emanation Of Hatred'

SOLITUDE PRODS.

Russian Melodeath/Doom Metal quintet Otkroveniya Dozhdya return with their third bout of extreme metal, beyond mere fury comes the sensational vocals of Igor Yashin and his band of merry men contributing some of the strangest and eccentric compositions found to date in the doom/death vein. Evidently, the Moscow-based musicians combine the darkness and Pagan background of motherland Russia and encase it in thick, distorted guitars, very little vocal activity and instrumentation, finalising as one of Russia's most anticipated 2010 releases, a sure band for fans of Hecate Enthroned, Arkona and Frailty.

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

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ASHESTOANGELS

'Most Beautiful Things Are Dead'

Escalating from Bristol's graveyard vaults is the Gothic Alternative Metal / Rock quartet Ashestoangels (during the recording it was a trio), visually like Marilyn Manson / Murderdolls, lyrically like Evanescence and musically like Ashestoangels, the four male musicians equally could be contrasted to The Rasmus in the Gothic sense and Nine Inch Nails in the industrial and electro-influences, none the less Ashestoangels are yet to make themselves known nationwide, but with this release they deserve to be, such careful skill and emotions have been loaded onto 10 tracks totalling 46 minutes of the best of British alternative Gothic music, it is as Ashestoangels have put it, the 'Most Beautiful Things Are Dead'

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/ashestoangels

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DAEMONICUS

'11th Hour'

VICISOLUM PRODS.

It's a common practise these days, the fact Sweden has Death Metal somehow means every band sounds the same, well that would be true for those without finely tuned hearing. Sweden's underground newcomers Daemonicus release their premier EP '11th Hour' after their debut release 'Host Of Rotting Flesh', interestingly enough their first ever CD release (demo) was 06/06/06 = 666 (any reason?). F***, Daemonicus are the next of Swedish Death Metal (NWOSDM), with some rather melody-like compositions acting as a backdrop to the deafening growls emitted on this 4 track and 17 minute massacre, time for coffee, it is already the '11th Hour'.

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

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DHARMA

'Heavenly Hell'

NAIL

Gothic Metal generally seems better with a female vocalist as the forefront member, and Dharma is no exception, the Hungarian quartet add an extra dimension (apart from the band photo), in the form of synthesizers adding an electro metal feel to it whilst the drums lean on industrial music, so effectively Industrial Gothic Metal is prevalent here, but essentially a real party album, one that a playlist could not ignore in terms of productivity, dance level required and intriguing combination of cyber metal and gothic metal (the kind sought by The Kovenant). None the less, Dharma are seen to be Hungary's next hottest metal act, look East and see the darkness arising from that side of Europe and witness Dharma's 'Heavenly Hell'

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

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ENGAGED IN MUTILATING

'Population: Zero'

COMATOSE MUSIC

Texan Technical Brutal Death Metallers made their fists heard in 2009 with the ferocious headf***ing of their debut full-length 'Population: Zero', resembling more like 'lets make this as fast as possible' instead of music, the drums are somewhat repetitious and riffs are eminent until i got bored of hearing this mess-up, ok so much for extreme metal, but for f*** sake, this is bordering onto noise, but henceforth Technical BruteDeath will never be the same again (was it anything in the start), well as far as the overall package is concerned it comes as a tolerable bout of massacre, but an hour later will result in 0 population (they would have emigrated to mars).

[2] RHYS STEVENSON

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GRAVFALT

'Welcome To The Burial Ground'

Now generally Melodic Death Metal is supposed to be fast and eccentric, but whereas most bands opt for insane solo's, neck breaking drums and vomit vocals, Gravfalt opt for a more sincere, slightly depressive but darkened approach, so much so it carries depression in musical form, never the less Italy's Gravfalt make a different impression on the genre in terms of slight raw music being implemented but essentially a dogmatic approach to melodic death metal (no freedom basically). Controversially and contradictory that may be, when each track has its signature tune, but generally they are all seen as the sign that Gravfalt are ready to conquer.

http://www.myspace.com/gravfalt

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

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SAR

'The War Manifesto' + 'Revenge'

For a country with such extreme rules on metal restriction, Iran's Sar in some sense rebels against the insane authority in form of DSBM, and whilst sounding raw to it's true form, Sar (project of Don Andolini) is one band that should not be ignored. To the general metalhead, Iran has a small metal scene, to those who delve into global and underground metal, Iran has a fair decent metal scene and it is bands like Sar who fly the flag for Iran in the metal world and for the music Don evidently loves, not for the money, not for the publicity, but for freedom of speech, 'The War Manifesto' and 'Revenge' are undoubtedly Iran's finest 'metal' hour.

[7.5] and [8]

http://www.myspace.com/sardsbm

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WOODSCREAM

'Pentadrama'

Hailing from St.Petersburg, Russia's latest Folk Metal export is an epic one too, Woodscream sit in between Slavic and Pagan Folk Metal whilst utilising the Russian language to their advantage and creating an indefinite blend of Russian folk music and global metal, a bit like vodka, strong and easy to enjoy. Whilst not sounding as aggressive as fellow countrymen Arkona (which is good), the Russian quintet are not to be messed with, two females and three males combined to deliver what is undoubtedly one of Russia's, ever, best debut release to date, such power and exertion will be hard to match and with that in mind, come to rise Russia's best answer to the Folk Metal vein, watch this space.

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/woodscream

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ADVENT OF BEDLAM

'Behold The Chaos'

ENVENOMED

Costa Rica's next Melodeath metal export Advent Of Bedlam operate on note 666 and consequently gave birth, painfully, to their debut full length 'Behold The Chaos'. Sounding similar to fellow countrymen Sight Of Emptiness, Advent Of Bedlam are ready to expose the Costa Rican Metal scene to the world and make a statement, metal is not just American or European, but globally supported. Blastbeats as fast as the bullet train act as the base for a monstrosity that can only be heard vibrantly on Dolby digital surround sound, so 'Behold The Chaos' for which it stands, Advent Of Bedlam are the newest breed of Melodeath Metallers.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

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SPHINX

'Prizrak'

FONO

Sphinx's sophomore album released in 2008 came with a recognisable tune; the mesmerising charisma exerted from the melodic power metal compositions only spelt in a number of ways the complexity of this Russian sextet with two female vocalists and four male musicians, pretty much like a doublefold spearhead attack. None the less, Sphinx are one of Russia's promising power metal acts and are sure to dominate the Russian Power Metal scene and fly the flag for Russia in the global power metal scene, utilising their native Russian they expertly diverse from the rulebook and develop their own unique sound, for fans of Amberian Dawn, Nightwish and Arkona.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

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