PILORI

'Trip A Bière'

Something out of the ordinary, for French Deathrash newcomers Pilori, their 2009 debut demo 'Trip A Bière' is beyond mere expectation, whereby there is false Death Metal vocals, a percussive beat to send anyone to sleep, riffs beyond mere satisfaction and a slight poor recording. The only difference reality-wise is the lyric language, naturallement Francais. But it requires more than that to give speakers trouble, back to the drawing board at once.

[3] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/pilorifrance

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MERCILESS FAIL

'Leading The Blind'

These guys just don't pause for a second, Southend bad boys Merciless Fail return with an upgraded slab of Heavy Thrash Metal with some melodic influences, riffs after riff raff and drum kicks after high pitch vocals, this is the new face of Essex Metal. Certified to keep listeners on their feet, a power-pack of insane solos, riffs, vocal tone changes and a masculine background is all that's needed to make this band who they are. A real improvement since their debut demo 'Forged In Black'. One of a few candidates for Essex Metal band of the year. Watch this space.

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/mercilessfailthrash

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EVESTUS

'This Is Dramacore'

Electro-Industrial Gothic 'Dramacore' project Evestus come back to haunt humanity with their darkest-yet and latest full-length offering 'This Is Dramacore', mixing Marilyn Manson gothic aesthetics with the best of eurotronic music, Evestus from Estonia is a project of darkness, classic circus endowment and free-speaking propaganda, with tracks such as the insane 'Pikachu Warriors', this is a child-friendly release. This is comes with samples such as 'drama'tic gunfire and a sense of complete horror-esque production, on the foundation of the Cybergoth scene, such a release is the best in Estonian electronic history. Although not entirely metal, Evestus still offers that metal basis, whilst pioneering a new genre. Marilyn Manson maybe Alternative Metal, but for Evestus 'This Is Dramacore'.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/riseofthenewscum

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PSYCHOANALYSIS

'In Transience'

Scottish Death Metal quartet Psychoanalysis made their mark with their debut demo 'In Transience' released in 2010 with a mass of blastbeats, highland growling and thorny guitar compositions, with enough haggis to savour the hunger, Psychoanalysis finish off with a treat, not the dessert kind however. The four bandmember mob from Dunfermline embrace the political side of their country and attach it to their music. Psychoanalysis are in the next wave of Scottish Metal. For Psychoanalysis whit's fur ye'll no go by ye!

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/psychoanalysismusic

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TAIFA

'Alhambra'

Hailing from the Balearic Islands, Majorcan Heavy Progressive Metal quartet Taifa unleashed the Mediterranean spirit in their 2008 sophomore full-length release 'Alhambra', mixing traditional Spanish guitar music with the worldwide notion of Metal music, they develop a unique style of Metal. Much like Gibraltar's Breed 77, they implement Flamenco music with Heavy Metal to create something dynamic and atmospheric. For the Balearic Islands, Taifa is certainly flying the flag for both the Majorcan and Balearic Islands Metal Scene.  Taifa are livin la vida loca.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/reinodetaifa

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ALANTIA

'Alantia'

Dutch Gothic Metal newcomers Alantia released their self-titled debut demo back in 2010, it sees the very essence of Dutch Gothic Metal that has captivated many across the globe, whilst not as symphonic or melodic as their fellow countrymen Within Temptation, the Gothic music certainly has no definitive contrast from both bands. The sextet from the capital Amsterdam prove that there is more to their country than windmills, clogs and canals, but in terms of power Alantia are more powerful than any cannabis used in the capital. With the keyboard developing the atmosphere, the other five members use all darkness summoned to finalise a promising Dutch Metal band.

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/alantiamusic

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ILLUMINATA

'A Frame Of Beauty'

Austrian Melodic Power/Gothic Metallers Illuminata saw their first EP 'A Frame Of Beauty' take life in 2009, a year after their debut album 'From The Chalice Of Dreams'. Now whilst this is not exactly yodelling or Mozart's prodigies, but Illuminata are certainly taking their Alpine land and using its dark beauty in their favour. Operatic Metal however is a better description of this sextet's music, with a load of positions taken such as two vocalists and two back vocalists who double up as a flute player, drummer and keyboardist, Illuminata are flying the flag for the Austrian Metal scene.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/illuminataband

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ARCANUM

'No Past No Future SSDD'

Swiss Heavy Metallers Arcanum return with their sophomore full-length album 'No Past No Future SSDD', with it comes their beautifully majestic female vocals, percussive beats and almost clean guitars. Unfortunately there just seems a little less passion put into it, no oomph is easily heard. In fact it doesn't seem Heavy Metal at all, it seems more Alternative Metal orientated, for their second adventure there is a little disappointment, but still a fairly decent album.

[6] RHYS STEVENSON

http://www.myspace.com/arcanumrock

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SICKENING HORROR

'The Dead End Experiment'

SOULFLESH COLLECTOR

Greek Technical Death Metal mob Sickening Horror decimated Athens in 2009 with their sophomore album 'The Dead End Experiment', with a mass bulk of pounding blastbeats and drum kicks meshed in with riffs of ravenous quality and death growls deep enough to rattle brain cells, this is a Greek masterpiece. For the quartet this is probably their finest hour as they battle out the competition in the ever-becoming-popular Greek Metal scene. For fans of Cryptopsy.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

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ETERNAL HELCARAXE

'To Whatever End'

ABYSS

It is rather uncanny that Ireland seems to have a horde of underground Black Metal bands, is there something that should be known? What does need to be known is in 2010 Irish Black Metallers Eternal Helcaraxe released their sophomore demo 'To Whatever End', coming into place with the summer time. Raw vocals, upbeat blastbeats and the traditional Irish feel, this is one demo worthy of a place in any Black Metal fan's collection,  But as these Black Metallers would agree 'The Irish don't know what they want and are prepared to fight to the death to get it'.

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON