SKÁLMÖLD

'Baldur'

TUTL

Sailing from Iceland is Viking Metal newcomers Skálmöld with their debut album 'Baldur' which is featured entirely in Icelandic, and still has the same majestic approach seen with their Scandinavian Viking/Folk Metal neighbours, somewhat a variant of Viking sea shanties, but supplied with additional vocals by Aðalbjörn Tryggvason of Sólstafir, so this special opus would serve as a great soundtrack during the times of Yule and indeed the Viking festivals, but with the slight hint of Scottish folk music seeping in the background, overall one album every Viking Metal fan should own, a definite for fans of Amon Amarth, Tyr and Turisas.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

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SANHEDRIN

'Salvation Through Sin'

Derby/Huddersfield-based Blackened Death newcomers Sanhedrin storm the battlefields and set aflame all religious icons to cause mayhem amongst the underground, sounding similar to the Norwegian Black Metal style vocals, the quartet (now trio) siege the churches in their heathen lands and hold them to ransom with this opus of cataclysmic force, such a strong presence resides on the 11 track debut album of Sanhedrin. Leaning towards a Hecate Enthroned, Behemoth and Carpathian Forest pick n mix, the Midlands will never be the same again as they are lead by 'Salvation Through Sin'. Undoubtedly England's latest answer to Behemoth and potentially a definite contender for the next wave of British metal.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/sanhedrin666

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NORTHERN OAK

'Monuments'

MYNYDD DU

Sheffield Medieval Folk Metallers Northern Oak have released their sophomore album with a highly sophisticated collection of musical compositions, namely the harsh vocals leading to an assumption there is either Black Metal influences or Doom Metal influences, none the less, the intricate combination that this all English group exerts is of the same level as Germany's Subway To Sally although on an alternate perspective, the two Medieval metal bands have different views on 'Medieval music', hark a different sound entirely. But one album to be at peace with, melodies, atmosphere, entrancing tunes, just a few ingredients this sextet as included, leaving this album to be one of the 'Monuments' in the Midlands.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

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OBEDIENT CHAOS

'Obedient Chaos'

Finnish Melodeath/Metalcore quintet Obedient Chaos smashes the mirrors and breaks the glass that leads them to the Finnish underground metal scene to provide a rather odd emphasis on the stated genre, as there seems to be more old school Death Metal in it, and less Metalcore, whether this was accidental it certainly left a scar on their debut EP 'Obedient Chaos', the kind Harry Potter has, magical. Sounding similar to that of Hail Of Bullets, the five Finns opt for the sort of lyrics associated with punk, but who says music has boundaries. The riffs are raw, vocals are vicious and the beats are brain-grinding, time to learn how to have 'Obedient Chaos'.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/obedientchaos

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REAVER

'Corvus'

Canadian Melodeath newcomers Reaver unleash the beast with their debut album 'Corvus', scintillating blastbeats, insane growling and solos epic enough to make Alexi Laiho look like a beginner, this is what Canada has been waiting for, an epic answer to the mass dominating Swedish melodeath scene. Leaving listeners speechless and hungry for me, the Canadian quintet had only formed last year and so could we see the Canadian alternative of Scar Symmetry born? Only time will tell, for Reaver this is a sensational debut from which only could serve as a soundtrack to Canada's ice hockey team.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/reaverofficial

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CLAIM THE THRONE

'Triumph & Beyond'

PRIME CUTS MUSIC

Australia's Melodeath Folk Metallers Claim The Throne return with their swords held high and armour more protective than ever, recording victorious battles meant the anointing of their sophomore full length album 'Triumph & Beyond', sounding rather intricate and bizarre, the quintet from Perth summon the kangaroo in full armour against the world to prove the Australian metal scene is live and well, with melodic vocals from both genders, a soundtrack of expeditions gone by and an array of instrument composures to savour time and time again, this is Australia's finest album ever which will at the end of 2010 'Claim The Throne' through 'Triumph & Beyond'.

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

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MOLTENCORE

'Infinite Metamorphosis'

Croatian newcomers Moltencore light the fury with their debut full length 'Infinite Metamorphosis', whipping melodeath around like a tornado, the quintet are amongst the latest generation of melodeath metallers in Europe and are inevitably one of Croatia's more promising acts in the melodeath vein, in fact this album is suitable for those of melodeath roots. Sounding similar to that of old school death metal and bands like Arch Enemy, the Croatian musicians are ready to wake the world with their storm and teach them about 'Infinite Metamorphosis'. Moltencore are ready to fly the flag for Croatia.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/moltencorekutina

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NOHMAD

'Propaganda'

Murcian (Spanish) Groove Thrashers Nohmad deliver their long-awaited debut album 'Propaganda' after eleven years of the band being together, sounding similar to Cavalera Conspiracy, the Murcian quartet are one of many bands from the autonomous regions in Spain and as for the album artwork, they carefully played with Russian letters which would bemuse and amuse listeners but potentially enrage the Russians, then again the Spanish bull gets enraged at anything and so you wouldn't want to let Nohmad on stage, they'd tear down the whole gig with their debut effort, they have their own 'Propaganda', this one being musical domination.

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/nohmad

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TUKKANUOTTA

'Huomenta Suoli'

STAY HEAVY

Helsinki-based Deathrashers Tukkanuotta release their highly anticipated sophomore EP 'Huomenta Suoli' with more balls than a golfer can handle, skull-smashing compositions linked with Finnish lyrics which combined result in one of the hardest and most brutal sounds of 2010, forget the language barrier (anyhow who said learning a language is difficult?) because this EP will have you smashing your face in from extreme headbanging, 100% guaranteed. For the Finnish quintet, this is the signal they are on the right path, for fans of Verjnuarmu, Wintersun and Human Ground.

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

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WEDDING IN HADES

'Elements Of Disorder'

BADMOONMAN MUSIC

French Gothic Metallers Wedding In Hades come forth with their debut release 'Elements Of Disorder', not following the almost generic formula of having a female vocalist, the quartet really opt for a bombastic twist to the genre with more thrash metal in there than gothic metal, and the vocals are on Death Metal, this can be a concoction for destruction or humiliation, both really. Although the atmosphere lays there, the music itself doesn't match Gothic Metal especially with Doom influences clearly evident, this is definitely the 'Elements Of Disorder'.

[4] RHYS STEVENSON

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