ILLUMINANDI

'Illuminandi Tenebras Meas'

MOCNERAMIE

Polish Gothic Metallers Illuminandi made their debut EP come alive in 2006 with a careful mixture of English and Polish lyrics and a unique style of Gothic Metal, using the basic instruments, violins and a cello. Sounding similar to Eluveitie's Celtic Metal approach, the Polish septet are far more Gothic than fellow countrymen UnSun. Sounding rather much instead like Gothic Folk Metal (a somewhat watered down version of Subway To Sally), it is time 'Violin Metal' was seen as a genre and with Illuminandi using violins, this band may as well be one of the pioneers, watch this space.

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

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INTERVENTION

'Growing Line Of Caskets'

Finnish Deathrashers Intervention come back blazing with their third demo release entitled 'Growing Line Of Caskets' with a blast of icy air on the side from their native Arctic Circle town of Rovaniemi. Currently unsigned, the Finnish quintet are following the same footsteps as fellow countrymen Lordi, namely producing 'Arctic Metal'. Brutal and insanity come to mind with this demo, primarily from the fury installed with the music and vocals and in secondary terms with the unique position Intervention have got themselves in, a release for fans of Gojira, Human Ground and Hatesphere. Just wait for your turn to be in the 'Growing Line Of Caskets'

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.intervention.fi/

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BY THE PATIENT

'Servants'

Hailing from Denmark, Danish Death Metallers By The Patient expel the Lego and bacon in substitute for their debut full-length released in 2010, 'Servants' compromises traditional Scandinavian Death Metal ethics whilst mixing a more Brutal Death approach, simulating that the Danish quintet are not pansies at this, instead making Mercyful Fate look like pansies. Fluid drumming and ever-shifting vocals come into unification with sick solos and rough riffs. This is by far probably the most extreme music emitting from Denmark in past years, Technical Brutal Death Metal at its peak and listeners as the bands 'Servants'.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/bythepatientdk

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DAKRYA

'Crime Scene'

SENSORY

Sounding and looking similar to Canada's synth-rockers The Birthday Massacre, Greece's Atmospheric Gothic Metallers Dakrya mix a combination of Operatic style Gothic Metal with melodic atmospheric music resulting in their sophomore full-length release 'Crime Scene' which came to light in 2010.  Powerful yet graceful vocals became immersed in some of the craziest and imaginative musical compositions ever seen, namely resounding similar to the of 'the phantom of the opera' and a dramatic murder enquiry at the 'Crime Scene'. For fans of Nightwish, Therion and Within Temptation.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

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ECLIPSE ETERNAL

'Ubermensch: Evolution Beyond The Species'

Canadian Epic Black Metallers Eclipse Eternal flare up the darkness of Toronto with their near-the-mark and controversial NSBM-related lyrics namely under the Übermensch sector and Friedrich Nietzsche idealism, none the less whether NSBM or straight Black Metal, the Canadian quintet seek the darkest and most extreme music and lyrics possible to enrage and enthral the metal community. Coming with a fistful of warfare and evil propaganda, this is truly Canada's most evil release to date.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

http://myspace.com/eclipseeternal

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BEYOND THE DREAM

'While The World Sleeps'

What the English produce, the Finnish can do it better, in this case take Cradle Of Filth, convert them to Finnish and out comes the darker version and limited edition quintet known as Beyond The Dream. The Finnish Melodic Gothic Black Metallers made their sophomore statement in 2010 with their second wave of darkness codenamed 'While The World Sleeps'. Sounding similar to fellow countrymen Shade Empire, this is the next wave of Dark Metal, a genre loathed in Finland. With soul-crushing drumming, ear-raping guitars and sound-shattering vocals, Beyond The Dream are the next big Finnish act, so 'While The World Sleeps', a storm is brewing in Jyväskylä, watch this space.

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.beyondthedream.info/

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BRISELAS

'...Mas Allá Del Sol'

Chilean Celtic Folk Metal sextet make their debut double fold, in this case their first full-length has been split as two albums but coming under one CD, confusing no? So is the language used, they choose to use Spanish lyrics but interestingly they mix their own culture into the music using traditional South American melodies and folk music with Chilean metal. It goes to prove Celtic Metal can be done by anyone, but surely this can't be called as such, instead Folk Metal is more apt. Regardless, this Chilean group have done a decent job of debuting.

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.briselas.tk/

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NATION DESPAIR

'Isolation'

Tampere bad boys Nation Despair return with another delicacy of prime Finnish Melodeath, this time in the inaugural form of 'Isolation', whilst not opting for a Verjnuarmu melodic style, the Finnish quartet lean more towards the harder style of melody, thus creating a more dynamic atmosphere and severe head injury. It seems that Nation Despair have their guitars pointing in the right direction, the drums firmly fixed and the vocals ranging from Helsinki to Rovaniemi in size. An EP for fans of The Dead Lay Waiting, Sorrow Of Batavia and Scar Symmetry. Welcome, to the world of 'Isolation'.

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.nationdespair.com/

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HELLLIGHT

'…And Then, The Light of Consciousness Became Hell…'

SOLITUDE

Amassing a one hour twenty minute, six track third full-length release is Brazil's Funeral Death Doomsters HellLight, combining the deepest and darkest atmosphere in the depression state with Metal, the Brazilian trio cultivate a new meaning of soul-chilling and spine-whipping. It is the sort of release that many would be astounded by, one by the vibrant and different song composures but more than ever the sheer length of each song, this is probably in the top 30 of the longest albums in Brazilian Metal history, '…And Then, The Light of Consciousness Became Hell…'.

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

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DEAD SHAPE FIGURE

'The Disease Of St. Vitus'

DYNAMIC ARTS

Finnish Thrash stalwarts Dead Shape Figure ruffle up another storm of mass genocide with their sophomore full-length release 'The Disease Of St. Vitus', potentially relating to the problematic St.Vitus dance, none the less dance listeners will do, in mosh version. Neck-breaking Thrash Metal at blistering speed is soon to what is to be expected in the next 3/4 of an hour. On a heavier scale than Slayer, Dead Shape Figure is vastly becoming Finland's most notable Thrashers. With this release in the bag and a few skulls in the side-pockets, Dead Shape Figure is primed and ready to unleash 'The Disease Of St. Vitus' on Europe.

[9.5] RHYS STEVENSON

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