Archives: Reviews

  • UNHOLY DEATH (USA/Mi): s/t 7″ Ep 1999 Transparent

    UNHOLY DEATH (USA/Mi): s/t 7″ Ep 1999 Transparent

    RECENSORE: Unknown

    VOTO: 7,00/10

    DURATA:

    There are labels that decide to work on extremely heterogeneous material, trying to catch everything even vaguely decent ranging from punk rock to street core to Death Metal and put it on vinyl, labels such as Transparent from Michigan. I don’t know if this method generate its fruits, but Transparent is not on the way so far to become one of my favourite producers of heavy melodies. While rather chaotic and vigorous, and with a good structured guitarwork (if not technically, from a purely stylistical point of view), this band doesn’t stir the beast in me. Vocals are gritty, of the shrieking but raw sort, but two big minutiae don’t convince me in the whole, the mixing is appalling (and don’t blame on me that I am picky on these things) and I have the constant feeling that one guitar has been forgotten during the mastering. That is, you can tell especially during the solos that one guitar is far too little for a band like this that could be called more than decent after all. Get a second guitarist (and become at least a three piece as no drummer is present) and change studio, this material might be good for a promo or demo tape, not for a vinyl debut. Despite to all this, I have come to dig somewhat hidden beneath the mud at the fourth listen. The 7″ is 3 dollars.

    Transparent rec., 6759 Transparent Drive Clarkston, MI 48346, USA

  • WITCHMASTER (Pol): “Violence & Blasphemy” Cd 2000 Pagan

    WITCHMASTER (Pol): “Violence & Blasphemy” Cd 2000 Pagan

    RECENSORE: Unknown

    VOTO: 7,00/10

    DURATA:

    WITCHMASTER, Ex PROFANUM, is not an overly complex band, but they have an honest, to the point approach. Black Metal with blazing fast drums and an extremely dirty sound. Some tinges of sincere, not overheard thrash metal exploit in the songs, often working as preludes to blastbeating crushing riffs. If the music itselfe is no-nonsense and essential, the sound doesn’t betray what already said. Barely mized, this CD could be taken as a good proof of Neanderthal Black metal in its untainted essence. Although doesn’t take the spin to my heart, it’s one of the few Black metal CD’s I would hardly separate from. Aye, of course, play it loud!

  • WITHOUT GRIEF (Swe): “Absorbing the Ashes” Cd 1999 Serious Entertainment

    RECENSORE: Unknown

    VOTO: 6,00/10

    DURATA:

    The rows of Melodic Swedish Death Metal broaden again, and admittedly WITHOUT GRIEF is not one of the worst to enter them, as they have some talent in avoiding garish ride and swing riffs. Somehwat they could be compared to CENTINEX or INIQUITY, although they’re somewhat rawer at the basics of their musak. The melody is calibrated to acceptable levels and the good, aggressive vocals and sound just are there, consistent and mature. Too bad they don’t get their music at some speed or they might effectively be a good band. This way they just play in a grey dead zone, neither good nor bad, neither raw nor overcooked, if they let some of their savagery explode we might see something interesting, or if they leave it fall in slumber they might be completely lost. Something can be freed behind their music as some potential is undeniable. Let’s see how they manage it (and let’s give it a few more listens).

  • WITCHERY (Swe): “Dead, hot and Ready” Cd 1999 Necropolis

    RECENSORE: Unknown

    VOTO: 4,00/10

    DURATA:

    The kind of retro Thrash Metal band with black metal vocals that seem to provoke erections at the bastards in Necropolis. At least it seems so as they sign every band with a vaguely similar approach. Well I really can’t find anything interesting in this band. Nothing. The vocals are shrilling like those of a girlfriend who found you fucking her mother in her bed and sees you cleaning off the cum from her face with her favourite teddy bear. The guitars remind me of STRYPER and MOTLEY CRUE which have definitely more of a glam feel than thrash. To hear they’re at their 3rd CD seems like a blasphemy when bands 100 times better are still unsigned. Whatever the hell, this band has nothing to offer but faggot music.

  • VV.AA. “Relapse Records Sampler Spring 1999” compilation Cd 1999 Relapse

    RECENSORE: Unknown

    VOTO: 6,00/10

    DURATA:

    One must be honest, when Relapse enters the fields, bringing with her the blood drenched (and pot stinking) garlands of bands such as EXHUMED, INCANTATION, NILE or MORTICIAN, there is little space for other Death Metal representatives. Yet the lions in this comp which displays a parody of SLAYER’s sword pentacle on front are the grind/core/stoner bands more than the classics above, as it was evident at the time the growing interest of the label for this aggressive yet wholly American spirited music. On the grinder part NASUM, BENUMB, REGURGITATE, while SOILENT GREEN, MINDROT, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN for the new school crazed Hard Core side. As for the uninteresting, childish, stupid stoner parts (sigh, one aspect I can’t care less of Relapse personality), MORGION are on the top with its mellowed and atmospheric music, NEBULA with its 70’s swings, BONGZILLA (such a stupid name for an equally stupid and useless band), which sounds very close to Earache’s SLEEP and NIGHTSTICK.

  • VIOLATION (Ger): “Beyond the Graves” Cd 1998 Last Episode

    VIOLATION (Ger): “Beyond the Graves” Cd 1998 Last Episode

    RECENSORE: Unknown

    VOTO: -1,00/10

    DURATA: 38:37

    Tracklist

    1 - Dark Embrace 2 - Genocide 3 - Thuata De Danaan 4 - Carbonized 5 - Bleeding Souls 6 - Invocation 7 - Through the Gates of Infinity 8 - Bitterness 9 - Fading Flames of Life
    review coming soon

  • VARATHRON (Gre): “The Lament of Gods” Cd 1999 Pagan

    RECENSORE: Unknown

    VOTO: 4,00/10

    DURATA:

    Light years from their brilliant, obscure, infamous demotape VARATHRON nowadays play the game of gay keyboards, with a desperate feel in the vocals, and overly long songs. The keyboards have no more the chilling old school Greek melodic touch they got years ago, the melody of Death and despair, they’re just bright, almost 80’s and just color the songs with some melody for easy listening that I might only associate to pop music. Anyway some of the distant class still clings to the disc, if you consider the music on the overall and do not concentrate on the sinbgle elements. I admit they still retain some originality, but not the incisiveness of their early days. Another band fucked up.