DAEMONIC
Daemonical Spell (Demo 2009)
(self-financed)
16:05min

The Californian Death Metal band DAEMONIC is another hopeful in the Death Metal world. Their 4 song demo (+ intro) “Daemonical Spell” offers great dark Death Metal with ultra deep vocals. I rarely have heard deeper vocals in a Death Metal band before. These deep vocals suit very well to the dark and brutal Death Metal hymns. According to their myspace-page they take influences from such acts as INCANTATION, MORTEM, PARALYSIS, IMMOLATION, POSSESSED, DEATH and more. Personally I hear mostly influences of INCANTATION in their songs and that’s from my point of view the closest band I could find when comparing them to anyone. Fans of INCANTATION should dare a listen and I’m more than convinced that no one of those fans will be disappointed with DAEMONIC’s “Daemonical Spell”. The overall layout of the demo CD is quite simple and features not much information, but as the music is as good as it is I think this is not that necessary at all. The long intro (2:13 minutes) in the beginning is kinda annoying, though, simply because it’s neither fun to listen to, nor has it any connection with the great music itself. The band might disagree here, simply as it has some kind of blasphemic message or whatever, I think the 4 “real” songs on this CD don’t need such a long introduction as the quality of them speak for itself. I hope to hear some new erruptions from them soon as what I heard on “Daemonical Spell” let me hope for great works to come. Get in touch with DAEMONIC via Daemonicspell@gmail.com or through their myspace-page at www.myspace.com/daemonic666.

Thomas Ehrmann

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DAEMONS EMBRACE
Nocturnal Overture
(self-financed)
31:21min

And yet another real good band I saw at this great HIDDEN IN THE FOG / THE AWAKENING / OF TREES AND ORCHIDS (now INGURGITATING OBLIVION) / NAGELFAR gig very recently (check out all of these bands!). DAEMONS EMBRACE are playing a raw sort of Black/Thrash Metal (no keyboards) one might compare with the sound IMMORTAL are celebrating at the moment. Basically, this means: DAEMONS EMBRACE don't go just fast-fast-fast all the time, very often they're even kind of groovy (no "Nu" Metal shit, though) which appears to be their drummer's fault: this guy kicks ass! Live they were really strong, moving a lot although at the moment they don't have a bass player which leads to the next problem: "Nocturnal..." is already a bit dated and because of the line up problems they won't be recording anything new until February 2002. Their singer and guitarist Axel told me to especially point out that this CD (good production, by the way) represents the band at a fairly early stage and yes, this can't compete with the big names of the genre (one should name DISSECTION as an influence for the band as well), but still I think it's not a bad idea to check out this record after all! Do I have to mention that these guys are from the scene of East Frisia / Oldenburg, Germany? I doubt so... Contact: DAEMONS EMBRACE, Ernst-Barlach-Straße 9, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany

Ramon Claassen

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DAEMONS EMBRACE
Endzeit
(self-financed)
35:12min

Better beware for the DAEMON is back for its deadly EMBRACE! The beast’s return to our dimension turns out to be even more dangerous than its first strike "Nocturnal Overture" as the creature’s powers have immensely increased. Including the goosepimple outro, 7 sins have been banned onto this album of pure fucking Endzeit. This monster loves to slay in the old style of Black Metal: there are no keyboards on here! DAEMONS EMBRACE knows how to create atmosphere with axes and drums as it’s evil to the bone and you can almost see it smiling. Fatally for you it doesn’t simply tear you to pieces by uncontrolled rage – no, it feels home at all kinds of speed, even at breathtaking acoustic or spoken parts the DAEMON hypnotizes its prey! While the victims fanatically bang their heads, the beast takes away their souls. And it’s not only as strong as countless of the established old ones both in using its instruments as well as in composing hymns of blasphemy: the senseful use of a bass plus the kick ass attitude that already made me fall prey quite some time ago will be of advantage in battle with other monsters from the underground. So if you don’t want to end up an addicted victim in the clutches of this DAEMON, avoid contact under any circumstance! www.daemons-embrace.de

Ramon Claassen

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DAEMUSINEM
Daemusinem Domine Empire
(Cold Blood Industries)
39:41min

In case you missed the Gothenburg scene at the beginning of the nineties, DAEMUSINEM could make your day. Right from the start these Italians bring back in mind one of the most seminal bands of the melodic and technical Death Metal genre that are first era AT THE GATES. And indeed "Daemusinem Domine Empire" bears striking similarities with masterpieces like "The Red In The Sky Is Ours" and 'With Fear I Kiss The Burning Darkness". Vocalist Gianni Abrardi even belts out some Tomas Lindberg mannerisms and as the AT THE GATES of old, DAEMUSINEM are totally at ease with complex song structures and mystical, melancholic and very dark lyrics. Far from being a mere clone, DAEMUSINEM refresh a somewhat obsolete style to give it a new brightness, a commendable deed if you ask me. I can't point at any standout track really, as the whole album shows a lot of consistency, without any flaw. The music is delivered at very fast pace, with lot of breaks and rhythm changes. Note that the recording line-up is only a three-piece, and I would like to give a special mention to mastermind Patrick Zavanese who plays all the instruments (except drums) with obvious talent. Synths are used throughout the album, but only in an ornamental way, to set up haunted atmospheres, so don't expect ambient nonsense but rather intense and highly melodic Death Metal with some light Black Metal overtones. Add to all this a splendid (as always) artwork by Kris Verwimp (my favorite artist for album covers) and I guess you get a winner here. Support DAEMUSINEM, they certainly deserve it, as this first offering promises a lot for the future. The Empire strikes back indeed! Check out for the band at http://www.coldbloodindustries.com

Edouard Vergriete

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DAKRYON
Promo (CD-R)

Even though this fourpiece from northern Germany still looks rather young, they already manage to deliver the right feeling in their music pretty good. This four song promotional CD-R is the follow up to another mini CD entitled "Tot", which I unfortunately never got to hear. So judging DAKRYON by this new material exclusively they exactly seem to know how traditional, non wimpy Black Metal should sound like. Lyrically they obviously try to find a balance between German and English written material, while the music gets performed in a really raw, aggressive and always straight into your face vein. This is by no means your typical mainstream, keyboard dominated, easy accessible type of "Black" Metal, but a rather nordic, cold and eerie sounding version instead (no real surprise when you see that two of the members are wearing SATYRICON and DARK FUNERAL shirts...). For obvious reasons DAKRYON ain't the most original band at all (even though they don't use corpsepaint), but I still prefer their highly entertaining and well executed 20 minutes over pseudo unique sounding bullshit. So, Black Metal purists shouldn't hesitate to get in touch for further (and possible ordering) info at the following address: Steven Mahncke, Auguste – Schmidt – Str. 10, 23558 Lübeck, Germany, e-mail: Ahriman404@aol.com

Frank Stöver

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DAMAGE
Time To Attack
(self-financed)
16:03min

More and more, bands of all ages and nationalities are trying their hardest to play Metal of all varieties with the exuberant punch that gave it such vibrancy in decades past. DAMAGE are one such band. Their demo, "Time To Attack", is a charmingly amateur affair similar to the early work of SODOM, METALLICA, and HELLHAMMER. The word "amateur", by the way, should not be understood as a term that dismisses the merits of the music. In this context; i.e. early-to-mid 80s Metal, "amateur" is what characterized all the masterful demos accidentally fashioned by excited teenagers. It's great, and what is more, DAMAGE are entirely without that plastic myspace sound that so many other band suffer from. The production is likely as not informed by HELLHAMMER or some other band with a fat, dusty production on their demo. DAMAGE are not fond of emos. So great is their distaste, the demo has a drawing of one in the process of being decapitated. That's true Metal. www.myspace.com/damagewebsite

Nat Shapiro

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DAMNABLE
Completely Devoted
(Cudgel Agency)
34:55min

The mindblowing grinding madness machine from Poland  has just arrived at your town, more brutal than ever! Yeah of corpse we talk about DAMNABLE, one of the most violent and wildest bands on this fucking planet. This is their new album called "Completely Devoted", featuring twelve tracks of brutal Death / Grind full of blast beats ( this time courtesy of a monster drum machine ), terrific and devoured guitar riffing and gutteral vokills (not as brutal as "Inperdition" from 1996, but sick as hell ) - all played with the perfect technique and the accuracy of a forensic doctor who's dissectioning a corpse that has just arrived at the morgue. You want more?? Ok,  as a bonus you'll get a CD-Rom part with fotos, bio, info of the band, and three fucking bizarre videos from the last edition of the "Fuck the Commerce Fest", where they played this year.

Iñaki (Pinhead)

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DAMNATION
Resist
(Dark Realm Records)
33:30min

I have a lot of respect for DAMNATION. Over the past couple of years they never ever jumped on any bandwagon to appeal to a larger crowd. And they are still practicing what they preached from the very beginning, which is nothing but brutal Death Metal. But somehow I was still expecting a little more from this newest offering to be perfectly honest. I never got to hear all of their previous releases, but had high hopes anyway that they would've made a big improvement from their debut "Reborn...", which was released way back in 1996 (if I remember correctly). But unfortunately that isn't the case. To me the band still sounds exactly like they used to back in those days (which normally is a good thing when it comes to the style of music...). But the production still hurts their material pretty badly. It's not crushing enough, the snare drum too much upfront and annoying (just listen to the beginning of 'Against My Enemies') and the guitars are lacking in heaviness and power. The whole album still has this ever-present MORBID ANGEL vibe to it, but there's no real soul in it. Everything seems to be written too much from sketch, instead of letting the dark and brutal feeling take over. Don't get me wrong – the band delivered another really skilled release, it's just that Death Metal needs a little more to convince than just the right technical abilities. Maybe it's about time that DAMNATION get the opportunity to work together with an experienced Death Metal producer outside of Poland. That could already help them immensely...

Frank Stöver

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DAMNATION
Destructo Evangelia
(Threeman Recordings)
40:24min

Formed back in 1989 Swedish ooooooldschool Black / Thrashers DAMNATION did not manage to release anything except demos until 2004. Now the band’s first full-length is ready to strike and though it turns out to be a total worship of BATHORY, VULCANO, old SAMAEL, SEXTHRASH, DARKTHRONE and old MAYHEM it undoubtedly has its qualities! The morbid charm and timelessly ancient sounding production, the members of ENTOMBED, MERCILESS and UNANIMATED hiding behind this band definitely did a good job in summoning the flair and unique fascination of the aforementioned bands. Varying between thrashing assaults and dark, heavy mid-tempo passages (e.g. in ‘Night Eternal’ or the titletrack) plus adding some typical Swedish Black Metal keeps the album musically quite interesting and driving. Yet I’m not sure what’s the motivation behind this: is it out of true dedication to the “good ol’ days”? Is it just for fun? Are the “hardrockers” of ENTOMBED getting into “real Metal” again? Will DAMNATION be releasing more stuff in the future? “Destructo Evangelia” is certainly a convincing piece of music, but I’m not sure if the reason behind all this is one I can sympathise with or not. Maybe the band itself will clear this up once in a while... If you don’t think it’s too lame to do another of those oldschool worships DAMNATION’s album might really be something for you, it has the right sound, the spirit, variation and something unexplainable that caused me liking it better the more I listened to it. Enjoy this ride into the dark past... www.threeman.net

Stefan Franke

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DAMNATION
Divine Darkness (7" EP)
Insulter Of Jesus Christ (7" EP)
(Iron Fist Productions)

Additionally to their debut full length on Threeman Recordings, there's also two vinyl 7"es available from Sweden's oldschool horde DAMNATION. The first one, "Divine Darkness", features the band's demo of the same name from 1994. In case you missed out on it back when it originally came out (or were simply too lazy to get it through tapetrading), here's a second chance to hear the material. What you get is three unpolished tracks ('Eternal Black' – which also appears in a new version on the "Destructo Evangelia" album now, 'The Dark Divine' and 'The Mistress / Queen Of Sin') and a cool cover of BATHORY's 'The Return Of Darkness And Evil'. Compared to their new material these songs still sounded a little bit more melodic and less NIFELHEIM / TREBLINKA infected. They actually made me think of DISSECTION back when the demo originally came out (a comparision which the band wasn't too happy about) Oh, well… The other 7" also features demo recordings, but they are more fresh as they got recorded last winter, but (as far as I know) never officially released before. All of the songs ('Insulter Of Jesus Christ', 'Night Eternal' and the VULCANO cover 'Bloody Vengeance') made it onto their full length (newly recorded though), so that this is more like a collectors item for DAMNATION die hards (the EPs are limited to 1.000 copies each). Don't know if there's also any colored vinyl copies or something, at least mine are both on black fuckin' vinyl and come up with a total oldschool, black & white packaging. The funny thing is that the guy who released them (ex-Putrefaction zine editor Tomas Nyqvist) returned back into the spotlight right around the same time with his label as the DAMNATION guys… and just like them, he's also not into modern technologies… So, no - there's no Iron Fist website on the net, hahaha. To order your copies you gotta write an old fashioned letter to: Iron Fist Productions, c/o Tomas Nyqvist, Madängsgatan 8a, 41702 Göteborg, Sweden. According to DAMNATION's Mr.Churchburner (who wasn't completely sure about the price of the EPs either), 6 Euros for a copy (8 Euros for both) should probably do… but don't quote me on that.

Frank Stöver

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THE DAMNATION
Into The Underworld (Demo 2004)
(self-financed)
18:26min

THE DAMNATION (not the most original of the monikers) are a German duet, in a sporadic activity since 1996 (in the meantime between then and now, the two band members played also in ACT OF FATE and POINT ZERO). “Into The Underworld” is their second demo which offers us five tracks of rough Death Metal of a brand that was current in the first half of the 90s. Well, this CD comes out very interesting because of the simple (and not simplistic) approach of the songwriting. This mini effort has it flaws of course. The drums sound too synthetic to my ears (yet a real drummer is credited), the guitars are mixed too much upfront in the detriment of the vocals, even if the overall production is clear and very powerful, with a lot of dynamics. All the songs are excellent but one (‘Reflections’, with an annoying repetitive guitar lick which gets on the nerves after a while). Like I said the song structures are simple but efficient, and one has to admit it is not very usual these days. This MCD reeks of honesty and dedication, these guys are not here to show up. All in all, a rather pleasant surprise and a band worth to check out. I have to add that the CD is a private pressing which comes with a good layout. Strongly recommended! http://thedamnation.de, e-mail: info@thedamnation.de.

Edouard Vergriete

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THE DAMNATION
Into The Pits Of Hell
(self-financed)
35:28min

On their debut album, this four-piece from northern Germany delivers wonderfully powerful Death / Thrash Metal with a strong oldschool feeling. That means that THE DAMNATION are not up to break any hyperspeed limits (although they play fast), but that they are more focused on catchy songs in general, comprising memorable guitar riffs and leads, brutal but comprehensible vocals and forceful rhythms. What I especially like are the energetic Thrash beats and the few slower but more atmospheric parts which convey a dark and vile vibe. All 11 songs come up with their own interesting ideas; there are no boring repetitions or even weak tracks. Altogether, there’s nothing for me to criticize on this release, it’s an excellent debut with strong songwriting and good production. If you’re into good old Death / Thrash Metal, check this one out. On www.thedamnation.de you can 2 find complete songs to get your on impression, you won’t regret it!

Christoph Göbel

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DAMNATION ARMY
Tyrant
(Mascot Records)
40:54min

When you notice that the guitar is far from well played, you really don’t bother to get into the music, now do you? It’s like the player (and, judging from the website, sole member of this Damnation Army) just sloppily moves his picking hand up’n down while the other gently moves from one accord to another. The result is that this turns into a boring Black Metal album that doesn’t really head anywhere. It’s just another addition to the already overflowing pot of average Black Metal albums. The result is boring. On sale here. For more info check out www.myspace.com/damnationarmyswe

Roy Kristensen

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DAMNATION ARMY
Circle Of The Brave
(Mascot Records)
35:02min

This band has taken quite a lot from the melodic side of Death and Black Metal. Strictly speaking, they could have taken it all from IRON MAIDEN, as the majority of them have, but for the sake of variety, and the band's relative youth, I'll say DISSECTION and AT THE GATES had a fair hand in their shaping as well. Once again, DAMNATION ARMY are somewhat misplaced. While its true they play Death Metal, they are not of the blackened Death Metal family in any respect. In fact, a latter day SEPULTURA riff is on the first song somewhere near the middle of it, making this, irredeemably, an album far removed from blackened Death Metal. However, that should not diminish its value, for the band does know what its doing with its instruments, but the intended audience may find themselves hard pressed to accept it. That is to say, no one who listens to the Nuclear War Now! catalogue will find this promising material. The Blabbermouth crowd may very well enjoy it. For all further info check out www.mascotrecords.com,  www.myspace.com/damnationarmyswe

Nat Shapiro

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DANSE MACABRE
Eva
(Hammerheart Records)
48:14min

DANSE MACABRE is the brainchild of Gunther Theys of ANCIENT RITES fame, and dates back as far as 1995 when Gunther and members of SEPTIC FLESH and NECROMANTIA decided to form a goth outfit. Faithful readers of the printed version of VFTD may remember that in issue #9 published in 1996, Gunther described himself as a goth music fan, so one can say the man is very dedicated since here is the first DANSE MACABRE album finally, with a new line-up. I am not at all a fan of goth music, so I felt myself surprised to actually enjoy “Eva”. Every one of the four band members is very talented, the music is elegant, the production faultless and the artwork (conceived and painted by the DANSE MACABRE guitarist Jan Yrlund) absolutely ravishing. DANSE MACABRE (not one of the most original monikers I must say) include a lot of diverse influences in their music, I even found traces of RAMMSTEIN and DEPECHE MODE here and there. Gunther’s voice is one of the highlights of the album, he constantly changes his tone and tries new way of singing again and again, a convincing performance. I think the feminine voices you can find on “Eva" are superfluous, but hey, I suppose they are mandatory in this kind of music. Even if the guitar is predominant here, I can’t say “Eva” is that much Metal, so devotee of brutal stuff should stay away from this. My only complaint is that this sort of music sounds sometimes clinically cold, the heat of passion is missing somewhat. Only “Oblivion” with its Arabian sensuous atmosphere is a real standout track, the other ones sounding more or less the same. DANSE MACABRE see themselves as romantic (as the artwork and the lyrics are a claim for this), but they seem to forget that romanticism is a mix of diverse emotions, the cold gray of melancholy being next to the red fierceness of youthful enthusiasm. Well, I stop here before being totally boring. Investigate by yourself! Me, I can only recommend this album to Leif Jensen. (huh?! I guess when it comes to good ol' Leifi you got something completely wrong Monsieur Vergriete, or is it your weird sense of humor I don't get?! - confused Frank)

Edouard Vergriete

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DAPNOM
Actes Préalables
(Insidious Poisoning)
77:04min

Second release for this French label, which is oriented between Black Metal and the most dark, monotonous and drone-like Industrial. Dapnom is a french band which describes itself as Black Satanic Ritual Ambient, formed by only one member and which releases his first album in 2007 (after releasing some tapes, one on this same label, and another CD under Sonic Tyranny). Focusing on the band, this isn't too much Metal related, but more between the darkest part of Cold Meat Industry's catalogue (they make me think about Atrium Carceri for some oppressive atmospheres), the most monotonous SUNN o))) and maybe some passages can make you think about something like Elysian Blaze, although here there's no trace of human vocals; in fact, this could almost be qualified as anti-music. Keyboard passages, repetitive samples and all kind of noises which put your nerves at the top. So, you can imagine, this is more similar to a horror movie soundtrack than to a normal album, with only four tracks, three of which are longer than twenty minutes. And I don't think every Metal or Industrial fan will listen easily to this; this is pure atmospheric darkness, and scares for how macabre and sinister it sounds. And I don't recommend to listen to this if you're not in a good mood or in need of activity, but more for the contrary, to listen to it on the background or calmly to enter in the most agonical subworlds, musically speaking (especially in the second "song", which can produce really high levels of anxiety for the bizarre noises) for more than one hour, which is not short. And I insist this stuff is not easy to digest due to the lack of progression, as the tracks are really monolithic. I don't recommend this album to everyone, this is totally oriented for those who have a good time listening to the bands I mentioned before or searching for some experimentation and who don't need a thousand notes per second or high speed when we speak about musical extremism (or sonic, better said). By the way, you can find it on double LP with a bonus track, entitled 'Qliphoth'. www.insidious-poisoning.com

Jeroni Sancho

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DARK AGE
The Silent Republic
(Remedy Records)
45:23min

Hamburg's melodic Death Metal maniacs are back once more. I have to admit that I came across this band only recently at the Headbangers Open Air where they did a great job among all those Classic Metal veterans. "The Silent Republic" offers a lot to IN FLAMES fans and the likes. It's heavy, it's melodic - but there is also a good amount of brutality: track No. 4, 'Know Me Strong' starts with quite a blast and then turns into an almost fragile tune with a sort of orgasmic refrain. The band definitely knows how to use dynamics! And after 3 studio albums you can't call them IN FLAMES copycats any more. Sure, there is no doubt about DARK AGE's roots, but the band definitely developed its very own sound. And they recorded one of the best AC/DC covers I ever heard, namely 'Hells Bells'. Forget the lame ICED EARTH or the annoying SIX FEET UNDER covers of the hardest rocking band alive! Cool double bass on here. Yet, I'm hereby trying to stop bands from recording AC/DC songs as long as your name is not Young, Johnson, Williams or Rudd! Please! The songs sound easy but nobody ever captured the true R'n'R spirit like those five Aussies. Apart from that I can recommend this CD (out on vinyl as well, I think) from the bottom of my heart. www.dark-age.de

Ramon Claassen

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DARKANE
Insanity
(Century Media)
48:31min

The sophomore album to 1999's "Rusted Angel", this time they return with new vocalist Andreas Sydow. The obvious comparisons to such acts as: THE HAUNTED, AT THE GATES, SOILWORK, ARCH ENEMY, will of course arise. However, DARKANE is different in some respects such as many guitar parts follow the drum pattern. Example, drummer Peter Wildoer will be hitting his double bass and the guitarist will accentuate it with double rhythm picking even though for split seconds. Wildoer is probably thee most proficient percussionist in all of Metal drumming today. His ability to hit so many cymbals at once is awe inspring. His drumming alone keeps me interested, another high point is the variety of vocals on here, Sydow goes from Thrash vocals to Death, Black, growls and spoken. Where areas the ex-vocalist sounded like Dani Filth of CRADLE OF FILTH. I believe this to be the closest album to approach the Godhood of AT THE GATES seminal masterpiece "Slaughter Of The Soul", call me insane but that's my opinion. This is a must get!!!

Dimitri Ganatsios

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DARKCREED
Dark Regions (MCD)
(Soulseller Records)
25:35min

“Maggots on innards are crawling, through my fingers I hold, perversion and mental disorder, in my game you’re taking your role” – reading this and listening to these lines I had spontaneously 'But Life Goes On…' from ENTOMBED in mind (“A rotten stench surrounds another ended life, maggots infesting the rotten flesh, is that the way you want to die?”), don’t ask me why as the music itself is everything else than Swedish Death Metal ENTOMBED used to play so many years already ago. Nevertheless it's Death Metal here again (what else, haha), great Death Metal to be a little bit euphoric. A little bit euphoric is way to less as “Dark Regions” couldn’t be a better beginning for DARKCREED in the world of CD-releases. “Dark Regions” has everything a Death Metal fan is craving for except blastbeats. Well… It’s Death Metal here, typical Death Metal, mostly midpaced, call it groovy, I simply call it great Death Metal with a certain headbang-factor. Once pushing the play-button you will listen to the awesome opener ‘Sinner Mind’ and start to shake your body immediately – I promise! From time to time you recognize that a song is something special which you will listen to over and over again through the years and ‘Sinner Mind’ is exactly one of these tunes. Everything fits together, the riffs, the drumming, the atmosphere and the great vocal lines. ‘Hell To Be Reborn’ is a cool follower with its slow start and its mighty riff starting at 01:30 to fasten the song a little bit. It’s hard to pick out more songs as all of them are fantastic so let’s just add the closing ‘Deathless Ones’ which is a killer as great as the opener. Especially the first and the last song are worth to buy this helluva great MCD. To talk the truth I don’t really know what makes DARKCREED that great, after all it’s Death Metal, midpaced, you might find many bands which share the same style so it are probably the great songs on this MCD. Great songs which established bands would kill for! Perhaps it’s also the very good and clear sound, the well structured riffs and the tight drumming full of small details, and above all you have the deep and brutal, yet clear and understandable vocals of Andres which makes “Dark Regions” to what it is: a killer Death Metal record. Next to a cool layout you will enjoy 25 minutes of Death Metal – trust me! Go to www.soulsellerrecords.com or www.myspace.com/darkcreeddeathmetal for ordering details.

Thomas Ehrmann

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DARK DISCIPLE
Unholy Hate Gore
(Morbid Records)
28:47min

Founded in 1999 in Maryland, DARK DISCIPLE come up with solidly executed, rather oldschool Death / Grind. The songs are played with passion and the band has probably spent a lot of time in the rehearsal room but there isn’t much memorable about “Unholy Hate Gore”, maybe except for some of the sick solos and the track ‘Human Killing Machine’ which starts out pretty creepy and also features some good rage as well as some cool groovy parts. It’s a bit like: “Oh, yeah – that’s a cool passage. Gimme more of that!” DARK DISCIPLE are talented but there’s still a gap between them and most of the old masters. Maybe the record deal came a little bit too early, especially considering the masses of releases these days but I’m sure if DARK DISCIPLE spend some more time with the songwriting, they’ll come up with something pretty strong. www.darkdisciple.com

Ramon Claassen

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DARKEST HATE WARFRONT
Satanik Annihilation Kommando
(Ketzer Records)
28:02min

This Portuguese / Brazilian Black Metal union brings us a really short album called "Satanik Annihilation Kommando". On this 28 minutes long compact disk you will get ordinary fast Black Metal. As usual, the atmosphere is based on raging aggression and fast played instruments, which usually means there is no real atmosphere besides aggression. If this is enough for you, and you like it the way bands like GORGOROTH and IMPALED NAZARENE are do it, you will be nothing but right here. Variation and innovation are completely missing on that album, but this probably was the aim of both band-members. Not one single song rises above any other one; all songs sound the same, which is not the case with the two earlier mentioned bands (at least on their old cult albums). "Satanik Annihilation Kommando" is probably interesting for fans who want a clone of GORGOROTH, IMPALED NAZARENE and ENTHRONED. But it might be too meaningless for the rest! The get-up and layout is nothing special at all, no lyrics just a more or less huge thanks-list and the usual information. Website: www.darkesthatewarfront.site.vu

Hurricane

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DARKESTRAH
Epos
(No Colours Records)
33:35min

“Hey Dimitri, I’ve a brilliant idea for our new record. Why don’t we go for something really epic, you know, like one extremely long song, just like those MOONSORROW fuckers on their boring last record ?!? – Sounds cool, but at the moment I just got some rather lame riffs lying around which I wanted to use for my side-project UNHOLY WINTERFROSTMOONDESECRATION… - No problem man, we‘ll just have to stretch them over a long enough time and throw in some breaks, atmosphere and stuff, you know ? – Yeah, and maybe I could also bring that chick I tried to bang last week, she claimed to play some of those weird classical instrument, like a real big fiddle… - Excellent, all art and depth and stuff! And if we still don’t get material of half an hours worth we just sample some ‘wind and sea’ – sounds from your daddy’s old BATHORY – records for like 5 minutes in the beginning and the end, atmosphere and shit, you know, I mean this is going to be EPIC! – Any idea for a name yet? – Well, it should be something real kind of, ähem, epic, you know, but I think I still have to think about something really cool to sum it all up… - How about "Epos"? - Excellent choice man, you’re a genius, did I tell you that ?! – Well that’s what I was trying to tell the cello-slut, but she didn’t seem to be convinced…” With good reason. www.no-colours-records.de

Torsten Gründig

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DARK FACES
The Path
(Medusa Records)
53:39min

Coming from Germany, this is the second full length release of this band. The first thing that strikes me is the very good production, with very powerful guitars. Enter the sounds of DARK FACE. The main music can be described as an unholy union of early Florida Death Metal like Malevolent Creation, some more early Doom / Death like early The Gathering, and with some early Dark Tranquillity sound. They also use keyboards, and a lot to be more precise. Then in the info I got it states that this is also Goth influenced. I was about to turn my head all around and puke green. But the very powerful guitars were strong enough to stop that exorcism from being performed. Also there are two types of main vocals, yeah two. Ones is the Death / Black Metal (male) vocals which are quite good, although nothing spectacular. But then it comes the female vocals. They sound a lot in the early Nightwish style… for what I have heard of Nightwish that's it…yeah, more operatic than just normal female vocals. This gives the final recipe stated before to add the now famous Finish band as a part of the sounds. Both vocal styles are used through the whole album, it at times takes a while to get used. We can call this a melodic Death / Black with operatic / Power Metal touches to it, with many rhythm changes. A really powerful song can be found in 'Fearscape Forest' with a monster main riff. There are just a few things that are just not clicking after few listening. The female vocals are all the same, I cannot hear to any variation at all, any part where she sings sounds the same. Also sometimes they use way too much melody, and it breaks a song that is aiming for more brutal destination, not to mention that they use both vocals whether they fit or not. As a whole this might be enjoyable for the more open minded Metallers, it will definitely be loved by Nightwish fans (if there is any reading this site more consecrated to the dark side, he) and can only be good by making those "fans" to get interested in more extreme Metal. www.medusarecords.net

Julian Nuñez

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DARK FOREST
Dark Forest
(Northern Silence Productions / Eyes Like Snow)
49:32min

All releases from Eyes Like Snow – the Northern Silence sublabel for all kinds of Doom / NWOBHM stuff - are like a trip to my father’s Rock / Heavy Metal collection. The DARK FOREST debut is no exception to the rule and brings back the time when a cover has more been seen as a piece of art than mere album decoration. The DARK FOREST music is simply saying completely in line with the wellknown British cult acts and they sound – even if I risk to get hanged for treason – fresher than everything I heard from MAIDEN & co. since their “Fear Of The Dark” record in 1992 (blasphemy!!!! - Frank). But don’t expect a simple MAIDEN clone – the band recorded 10 good songs and ‘Pipes Of Pan’ for example is for sure inspired by the glorious times of Eddy and his companions - but the DARK FOREST universe has far less limits or borders. It’s raging from slight JUDAS PRIEST influences to a certain touch of Folk (sometimes it seems that I’m listening to an old SKYCLAD record) and especially when the band is showing their ‘capabilities on the electric guitar’ you can feel that they really love to play this kind of music. If you need ‘Chapel Of Ghouls’ as lullaby to fall asleep every night the DARK FOREST debut is definitely nothing for your dark soul, but everybody (including myself) who is enjoying a good Heavy Metal album from time to time (to listen to clear guitars and recognizable vocals) should give the band a chance – because their album is everything else than an average debut. www.myspace.com/darkforestrealm, www.northern-silence.de

Matthias Auch

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DARK FORTRESS
Tales From Eternal Dusk
(Red Stream Records)
52:12min

It may sound a little harsh, but there's absolutely nothing spectacular about the debut album by Germany's DARK FORTRESS. This German five piece has choosen a rather safe way of getting their music out to the underground by presenting themselves the usual way - totally in black, with lots of corpsepaint and spikes. The album sleeve features a band logo by Christophe Szpajdel and coverart by Kris Verwimp, and the production was done at Studio E, courtesy of Markus Stock (EMPYRIUM). All in all this ain't necessarily a release I would expect from Red Stream Records who usually go for the more obscure stuff. But you know what? I couldn't care less as I still enjoy the material. The band's convincing combination of Black and Death Metal partly even reminds me on late DISSECTION, even though DARK FORTRESS are certainly more atmospheric and melodic sounding due to the use of keyboards. But they seem to be rather skilled musicians and therefore easily manage to get you in the right mood throughout their almost one hour lasting roller coaster ride. Unfortunately an obvious mistake was made during the mastering (or pressing) of the CD's as there's little time spaces in-between songs that are usually connected and therefore certainly shouldn't be there. But this is still far better than most of the hyped Gothenburg crap as it's more dark and aggressive sounding, yet not lacking some memorable melody lines. If you don't mind professional, powerful productions and a songwriting formular that was used in a similar way before several times already, you should definitely check this out. Good one.  

Frank Stöver

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DARK FORTRESS
Profane Genocidal Creations
(Red Stream Records)
68:27min

I gotta admit that I still have some problems with the fact that the music delivered by Germany's DARK FORTRESS is way more melodic than their visual side, which is Black Metal to the bone, yet done with a lot of taste (corpsepaint, bullet belts, spikes, firebreathing, weapons, black and white pictures etc.). The grim vocals by frontman Azathoth are really convincing and totally fit into the aforementioned image, but for my taste unfortunetaly got buried a bit too much in the mix, while the music itself offers quite a lot of surprises. After a short, kinda symphonic intro (courtesy of LIMBONIC ART's Morfeus), the album kicks off with 'Defiance Of Death' in a rather speedy way. This 8 1/2 minutes long track is the perfect opener and along with 'Blood Of The Templars' and 'Battles Rage In The Infernal Depth' probably the rawest and most straight forward tune on the entire record. 'Passage To Extinction' is next. This song already comes across alot more atmospheric and besides a more dominant use of keyboards it also features a clear female vocal part, which I personally easily could have lived without as it's nothing but superfluous. An acoustic guitar piece opens another 9 minutes long composition ('In Morte Aeternitas'), which basically combines everything the band musically stands for: it's raw, has got a very symphonic feel to it and comes up with a very strong, catchy melodyline. Unlike many other extreme (Black) Metal acts, DARK FORTRESS don't limit themselves in terms of the speed, so don't expect another "Panzer Division Marduk" type of release here. These guys quite obviously try to compose their songs in a very varied manner, which not only results in a pretty long individual playing time of each song, it also keeps the material interesting from start to finish. DARK FORTRESS is neither your typical early BATHORY / DARKTHRONE inspired (and therefore musically quite limited) Black Metal act, nor a mainstream Black / Gothic DIMMU BORGIR type of phenomenom. By listening to their material, it becomes pretty obvious that this six-piece draws alot of their influences from traditional Heavy Metal, especially when it comes to their melodic, twin-guitar leads and parts of the riffing. So, in a way, this is melodic, yet aggressive, blackened symphonic Metal (or something like that...). The frequently used comparisons with DISSECTION definitely won't work here any longer as DARK FORTRESS have matured into an even more unique direction with "Profane Genocidal Creations" already. So, what else is important to know? Well, 'Battles Rage In The Infernal Depth' features a guest appearance by AETERNUS mainman Ares, the album was recorded at Norway's famous Grieghallen Studios (with Pytten on the desk, but still has a somewhat warmer, more powerful sound), the entire layout was done by ABIGOR's Peter Kubik and the coverart once again supplied by Kris Verwimp... So, all in all, "Profane Genocidal Creations" has become another high quality release from these hopefuls! More info at: www.thetruedarkfortress.com, www.redstream.org

Frank Stöver

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DARK FORTRESS
Stab Wounds
(Black Attakk)
69:28min

The German Black Metal bands' third strike is, although it marks the break with the underground charm that the debut "Tales From Eternal Dusk" and its follow-up "Profane Genocidal Creations" had, a monumental piece of melancholic yet aggressive Black Metal somewhere between old KATATONIA (of whom they've covered a track for the digipack version of this album - Frank) and DISSECTION showing a high level of professionalism, musical skill and variable songwriting. Also in terms of production DARK FORTRESS are finally playing in the premier league after disappointing totally on "Profane Genocidal Creations" which despite being recorded at Grieghallen had a rather miserable sound with way too loud keys. The latter have been used more sparse on "Stab Wounds" and nicely melt into the crisp and clear sound creating a bombastic feel the "big bands" of Black Metal (e.g. DIMMU BORGIR, CRADLE...) could not do better. Fortunately DARK FORTRESS avoid getting too pompous and surprise with authentic hatefulness, a good load of fantastic riffs, powerful drumming and impressive vocals succeeding in delivering aggressive moods as well as more melancholic moments. Personally I still like the debut a little better for its unique sound and the aforementioned "underground charm", but this will not keep me from utterly recommending this excellent piece of suicidal Black Metal art, that'll definitely find the appreciation it deserves and catapults DARK FORTRESS on a new level musically and maybe even results in international success. Whoever saw the band live should know that they have the charisma and energetic performance to reach that goal... www.thetruedarkfortress.com

Stefan Franke

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DARK FORTRESS
Seance
(Century Media)
62:02min

I can actually remember this band's early work, one of the members sent me one of their first CDs some years ago regarding the possibilities of a gig in my hometown Trondheim. Back then they were a lot more attached to the underground and their style was still sounding much more underground as well. The last year or two I’ve seen their name mentioned in more and more zines and on the net, something is certainly stirring up in the Dark Fortress camp these days. Getting signed to Century Media is one of them and that is quite a good accomplishment I think, even though the band has been around for 10 years or so. Their music has been too underground and primitive to achieve a deal with a major label like Century Media. “Séance” on the other hand, is indeed a big step away from the underground and revealing that the band can create music for a larger audience (on my own behalf, I’d just like to add that the underground is a good enough place for me…). Their music now compared to their debut “Tales From Eternal Dusk” in 2001 can be said as much more mature, stronger songs, the riffs are more original in way, more symphonic yet darker in a way. They now display a great diversity in their songs, adding more “life” to the music. I can actually say that they present the fact that it is possible to make a modern Black Metal album without the ongoing monotonous and repetitive sound, speed and aggression so many others do, or the overproduced bombastic sympho-nonsense that rule the commercial Black Metal scene today. Dark Fortress have found a way of getting neatly placed somewhere straight in the middle of it and delivering a good and interesting product that can be approved by Black Metal - lovers on each side I think. Yes, they do have traces of more famous bands of course, without being a copy band. In my ears I can find traces of Dimmu Borgir, Mayhem, Gehenna, Thorns, Satyricon and Dissection. There are a lot of things happening in their music, so it is quite impossible to name that one song sound like this or that band, but you get some hints here and there. The vocals are also quite grim and dark, reminding me of Shagrath (Dimmu) and Dolgar (Gehenna) mixed together into an interesting result, with the exception of the parts where he is trying to imitate Atilla (Mayhem back on “De Mysteriis…”). That I could do without because it seems to me that he is really doing his best to sound just like him (although he does it quite well…). Also there is a track on the album that in my opinion is totally useless and out of place, just some screaming and howling as an attempt to bring forth feelings of hate, fear, agony or pain... I don’t know, but it’s all just nonsense to me. Apart from these small negative outbursts I must say I was caught by surprise by this album. Good, dark, cold and grim atmospheres in a diverse and interesting Black Metal package. www.thetruedarkfortress.com, www.centurymedia.com. The CD is on sale this location.

Jan Roger Pettersen

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DARK FUNERAL
Diabolis Interium
(No Fashion Records)
36:17min

Maybe this new DARK FUNERAL album simply got me in a bad mood or something, but apart from the usual aggression and perfection in terms of production and playing, "Diabolis Interium" didn't manage to move me at all. Everything just sounds too safe, predictable and wellknown already, that it bores me way too quickly. This is nothing but another typical modern mainstream Black Metal release, which will certainly sell big amounts of copies, but musically totally lacks in inspiration, feeling and the right haunting atmosphere to completely convince me. When it comes to the songwriting DARK FUNERAL always more or less stood in the overmighty shadow of their countrymen MARDUK, but while MARDUK invented something fresh, DARK FUNERAL still choose the easy way and follow already established formulars. Don't get me wrong - the album certainly has its qualities, but considering the fact that there's hundreds of bands (in Scandinavia alone) these days that do offer the same, I wouldn't necessarily add another record like this to my collection, but search for something with more soul instead. If you don't mind, make at least sure sure to pick up the import version as it's supposed to feature the entire "Teach The Children To Worship Satan" mini album as well.

Frank Stöver

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DARK FUNERAL
Angelus Exuro Pro Eternus
(Regain Records)
47:16min

Three times six – the number of the beast and synonym for all evil in this world could become a more than positive omen for our dear friends from Regain Records. Within 2009 the label released the new MARDUK and GORGOROTH albums which at least counts twice the evil number and which band could close the remaining gap better than DARK FUNERAL. So the circle is complete and after a long break of four years the Swedish band is killing all light, happiness and silence with just one strike. Over the last couple of years I’ve lost in some way the contact to this band mainly due to the fact that they concentrated far more on their evil image than on their evil music but this release feels like coming home. DARK FUNERAL are like an old oak withstanding every storm and every new influence and nobody will expect anything else than 9 tracks of pure evil and hatred. And you get what you are looking for! The release has a enormous powerful sound – the band recorded “Angelus Exuro Pro Eternus” (Angels will burn forever) under the holy supervision of Mr. Hypocrisy - and all tracks can offer the necessary diversity which is mandatory if it comes to high speed Black Metal. The album starts with a 120% typical DARK FUNERAL song and the 'The End Of Human Race' could be easily found on any of their former releases. But the next song with a interesting middle riff – really want to avoid of stating the world slow in a DARK FUNERAL review – shows that that the band has really worked on the diversity of their songs. Don’t take me wrong but the aggressive Black Metal has seen - within the last 20 years - so many faces and facets that it’s more than difficult to invent the wheel twice even for such a ‘premium’ act. Nevertheless a more than solid release which is maybe far more interesting for the new Metal generation which has not seen all facets of this band – but nobody could entirely blame DARK FUNERAL for this development because as long as they release such good albums they will remain one of the leading acts. www.darkfuneral.se, www.myspace.com/darkfuneral, www.regainrecords.com

Matthias Auch

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DARK LEGION
Bloodshed
(Deadsun Records)
45:40min

The Gdansk area is a fertile ground for class Death Metal acts, and DARK LEGION is another proof of this statement. This Polish four piece comes out of nowhere yet to deliver a true masterpiece, a captivating album from the beginning to the end. The ten tracks on offer here are faultless, be it structurally or technically wise. Each of the four musicians displays a lot of talent and the whole band shows a huge amount of rage, passion and above all extreme tightness. I could only liken DARK LEGION to CRYPTOPSY, NECROPHAGIST and especially YATTERING because of their complexity level, but saying that I realize that it is very difficult to exactly define what is happening on ”Bloodshed”. Yes, the DARK LEGION songs are complex, full of unexpected breaks, bizarre twists and whirling riffs, but the whole result is far more decipherable and fluid (or if you want less experimental) than what you can hear on “And Then You’ll Beg” (CRYPTOPSY) or “Murder’s Concept” (YATTERING). The songs (well complimented by a thick and raw production) sound familiar and yet a touch of freshness and originality could always be heard, as it is often the case with the polish bands. DARK LEGION could appeal to both MORBID ANGEL and CANNIBAL CORPSE (“Bloodthirst”) fans, and this is very difficult to melt together like that two different Death Metal styles on one album. Just listen to “Razor”, with its killing intro, and you will know what I mean. Expect a true musical carnage of the highest quality that will let you for dead at first hearing and then eager to listen to it again and again. With the first NEPHAST effort, this is for me the best pure Death Metal album this far in 2001. Don’t miss the opportunity to be exposed to this little gem, and contact Deadsun Records at gurkkhas@aol.com (website: http://deadsun.multimania.com) for more information. And enlist without delay into the dark  legion!

Edouard Vergriete

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DARKNESS BY OATH
Fear Yourself
(Cyclone Empire)
41:06min 

The statement - with DARKNESS BY OATH the best Spanish Gothenburg Death Metal band enters the main stage - could mean a lot especially if Dan Swanö is supporting the fact but it could also mean nothing more than the amount of shallow words. I can't get away from my first impression of nice but nevertheless completely mass combatable melodic Death Metal. Just imagine a mixture of the original aggressive IN FLAMES sound (before the Nuclear Blast supported hype started) and the Invasion Records armada of Swedish Metal bands (THE EVERDAWN; GATES OF ISTHAR). The Spanish band has recorded "Fear Yourself" over 18 months ago and the album can offer under best circumstances a handful of good songs ('Echoes Of Silence') but at the end it's still one of dozens of average releases with some interesting parts but unfortunately nothing more. Due to the fact that the melodic Death Metal overkill is nearly on the some level as his Black brother I really doubt that this release is in the position to impress more than a handful of fresh Metal heads who never heard of a time before IN FLAMES ruled the world. www.cyclone-empire.com, www.darknessbyoath.com

Matthias Auch

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DARK ORDER
The Violence Continuum (dual disc)
(Battlegod Productions)
60:29min

DARK ORDER is an Australian Thrash Metal band in the Bay Area vein – calling their style Nuclear Thrash Metal. Whatsoever… Unfortunately this is not a new release but a remixed and remastered version of their album “The Violence Continuum” from the year 2002, first time ever released world wide. So we are talking about 4-5 year old recordings here. The brand of Thrash Metal DARK ORDER is playing isn’t original, isn’t really groundbreaking but damn solid. I hear huge influences from SACRED REICH, TESTAMENT or VIO-LENCE which is kinda nice and not really usual these times. The musicians are very skilled and the songwriting is pretty good, and with songs like 'The Terran Empire' or 'Slaves Of A Namelass God'  they have some really good tunes on this disc. The only tiny disappointing thing here is their vocalist. Unfortunately he’s not able to keep the high level of the musicians here, from my point of view. Well, as we are talking about a 4-5 years old recording here, I’d be really interested in hearing some new tunes as DARK ORDER is doing their stuff pretty good and Bay Area sounding Thrash Metal isn’t something which you are able to hear on new releases so regular! OK, besides the songs from this album this CD offer on the other side a DVD with 2 videoclips and a few extra features. This is definitely value for money. So the only thing I’d recommend is to have a look on www.darkorder.com.au or listen to some of their tunes on their myspace-site www.myspace.com/darkorderthrashmetal to find out if this is something worth your money. Available here.

Thomas Ehrmann

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DARKTHRONE
Preparing For War
(Peaceville Records)
74:52min

Peaceville are running scared…running scared. Once upon a time all the biggest labels came from the UK, and a slew of original and groundbreaking bands to support them in the early 90’s. In an alternative sense Peaceville ruled… that simple. But something went wrong, very wrong. A nightmarish merger with MFN and many bands either leaving or disappearing leaves Peaceville 2001 with 5… yep 5 bands! Add to that the dwindling importance of the UK as a force in sales and bands and indeed the downsizing of its underground scene. No one really cares that much anymore. So what do they do? An AUTOPSY comp, a DARKTHRONE comp, a MY DYING BRIDE comp and re-issue some old CD’s to throw at the market. In fact reviewing the circumstances surrounding this CD are perhaps more relevant then the actual CD. Of course it looks great as thankfully all Peaceville stuff does and did, it has some demo tracks… nice and other rare stuff and serves as a reminder what a great great band DARKTHRONE actually were in case it had slipped your mind. And with that thought one cannot but help thinking back through all the classic releases Peaceville have given us. But the climate has changed, it’s not as easy to sell records anymore and there are a million labels snapping at the heels of a million bad bands, all waiting for the trend to turn and payday to arrive. And where does that leave Peaceville? With an MDB of ever smaller profile, two commercial no hopers in THINE and BEYOND DAWN, some crap electronica I can’t recall and their one bright hope… KATATONIA! My advice is to move into the transfer market very quickly as they will never build up new bands as they once did… hard times ahead. My other advice is to buy "Preparing For War"…

Nemtheanga

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DARKTHRONE
Plague Wielder
(Moonfog Prod.)
42:50min

Consistency in a world gone mad! That's a term used here in reference to Guiness in believe, but one could also level that same argument at Norway's DARKTHRONE. A band, who by all means, single handedly redefined what Black Metal was ten years ago. But here we are now, 2001, ten years on from their momentous "A Blaze In The Northern Sky" with their latest offering "Plague Wielder". It is somewhat more MOTÖRHEAD than anything else. Same as on "Ravishing Grimness", the beats and rhythm patterns all remind me of MOTÖRHEAD. There is a dark, melanholic (misanthropic?) resonance to it all but it all seems more rock n' roll that anything preceeding "Total Death" ("Goatlord" not withstanding). The songs are long and somewhat ponderous at times directing ones concentration away from the music. Where can DARKTHRONE actually go and what can they really do that we might expect something in the form of genius from them again? I don't think there is any answer to that. They simply are and will most likely remain to pound out mid paced, rocka rolla Black Metal, always in the shadow of their previous masterpieces, but there will always be some of us who are glad that a band like DARKTHRONE still does exist, irrespective of what they really do or sound like (yep, like me - Frank).

Darragh O'Leary

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DARKTHRONE
Too Old, Too Cold (MCD)
(Peaceville)
13:00min

When Peaceville announced that DARKTHRONE had returned home, there were discussions. When it was announced that DARKTHRONE would record their first single, ever, the discussions even grew. Of course, DARKTHRONE have not always delivered strong releases, in my opinion at least the quality of “Plaguewielder” and “Goatlord” is certainly debatable. But the duo probably could not care less or as they say: “Nothing to prove…”. And this is why they will not care about anyone’s opinion regarding this EP as well. They are so far ahead of anybody else. They are the sole survivor (with the exception of ENSLAVED) of the very early 90s Norwegian Black Metal-scene, so why should they care? And is anyone here expecting another “Transilvanian Hunger” in a time when dozens of bands try to sound like DARKTHRONE anno 1993 and blatantly fail? In fact it was  a very wise choice to not record in a studio but at Nocturno Culto’s house. The sound is not thin, but dirty, probably closer to “Under A Funeral Moon” than any other album released throughout the years. The titlesong starts with an unbelievably cool opening riff, before it gets very slo-mo until the end and. ‘High On Cold War’ begins with a completely silly solo until it becomes another very punkish but still cool song, with vocal duties shared by Grutle from ENSLAVED and Nocturno. ‘Graveyard Slut’, the only exclusive DARKTHRONE-song on this release, sounds as nasty and rusty as it can get. I am pretty sure that songs like these are the ones that wannabes like Nattefrost would like to compose once in their lifetime. Although the weakest song on this single, the SIOUXIE AND THE BANSHEES - cover ‘Love In A Void’ nevertheless is pretty listenable as especially the clear vocals are interesting, I don’t want to know how much Fenriz drank before recording them. Not to mention that the original interpretators might turn in their graves. Two things remain as a conclusion before the new album (their twelfth!!!): DARKTHRONE are able to write shorter songs (which I normally tend not to like) and still not to lose any feeling and secondly, DARKTHRONE finally incorporated some of those “Panzerfaust” doom-parts in their songs again. If someone really needs a negative aspect on this album: the coverartwork could be the weakest in DARKTHRONE’s complete history, but it looks already better for the album, so I may forgive them here. I might end with a quote from ‘Too Old, Too Cold’: “You call your Metal Black – it’s plastic, lame and weak…”. www.darkthrone.no

Nhashi

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DARKTHRONE
The Cult Is Alive
(Peaceville)
39:11min

I know very well that I already praised the EP that DARKTHRONE released before this album. To say that one should forget about everything I wrote there in comparison to this album is certainly not correct, but I must say that I am definitely surprised by the even far better album. The best way to support my opinion is certainly that ‘Too Old, Too Cold’, the titletrack of that EP, is the weakest song on the full-length. There’s not much one can debate regarding the quality of the album – unlike certain DVD-interviews in certain German magazines which should never be made again!!! – everything is as it should be: the sound is superb, the vocals sound as dark as in the mid 90s, there are finally solos again on a DARKTHRONE - album that have not been there since at least “Under A Funeral Moon”, but nevertheless this album has not too much in common with the glorious trilogy musicwise. The songs have become much shorter and they certainly have a crustier edge now. To me it looks like DARKTHRONE have consciously decided to give their new album a different approach, especially in comparison to the dozens of bands that nowadays try to sound like DARKTHRONE anno 1993 (to quote: “You copy my style and you call yourself a man?”), and I have to say that they did succeed. They feel connected to the underground but do not care a single second for any rules on the one hand, and do not care for the business side either. The video which is included on the special edition of the CD is not really appropriate in my opinion, but as Nocturno Culto stated in an interview it was rather to show that a Metal video does not need a script, a director etc., it is not too bad either. I doubt though that the video is reason enough to spend more money on this album than for the normal CD. It is evident that DARKTHRONE would not care about my opinion on this video anyway. However, the album is highly recommended from my side for the pure musical side of the album, and the duo remains as one of the very few early Norwegian bands that still deserve support. www.darkthrone.no. On sale here.

Nhashi

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DARKTHRONE
New Wave Of Black Heavy Metal (EP)
(Peaceville Records)
15:44min

Since the new album will be around shortly, I think the review for this EP can be cut short, especially since – for the first time since the "Plaguewielder"-release – I wouldn't necessarily call this a must-have. This judgement however is not based upon the musical quality (especially for track two and three) but rather on the fact that there is just one single song on this EP that might be exclusive to this release, the third song 'Hedninger Fra Helvete'. 'Wisdom Of The Dead' and 'Canadian Metal' only have different vocal tracks compared to those announced for the new album "F.O.A.D." and the TESTORS-cover 'Bad Attitude' has already been released on last year's "Forebyggende Krig"-EP. Despite my personal support for their Fuck Off attitude regarding any scene and laws therein, this is simply superfluous. Thus anyone interested should rather wait for that album, the new songs sound promising once again. www.peaceville.com

Nhashi

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DARKTHRONE
F.O.A.D.
(Peaceville Records)
40:41min

If DARKTHRONE decide to piss off any of their old fans and also the press, it is certainly their choice. If they mean to stir a lot of debates, it is their choice also. If they like to listen to old Rock and Punk albums and play that kind of music - because musically "F.O.A.D." is hardly Black Metal the way DARKTHRONE coined it massively - from now on, yes, it is of course their choice. Still, I don't know if they sometimes simply forget to write and record good songs during this course. The album starts off quite well with 'These Shores Are Damned' and 'Canadian Metal' (different vocals than on the previous single), but starts to lose it from there just to finish it off with two really good songs ('Pervertor Of The 7 Gates' and 'Wisdom Of The Dead'). In their 20th year of existence and having released some albums that are - no doubt - classics of their genre, one may say they are allowed to do whatever they like, so be it, but nevertheless there are some weak points on this album, which I cannot ignore: on the one hand the inconsistent sound (changing from one song to the other, obviously due to the way the album was recorded, i.e. only two songs at a time) and on the other hand Fenriz' partly unbearable vocals, especially in the title-track and 'Raised On Rock'. Surprisingly enough, the album grows on me with every listen. I am not sure though how this album will be viewed in the long run, and despite it not being a bad album, one should definitely try to get an impression before buying it. And DARKTHRONE may - despite their hard effort to destroy their cult-standing - at least try to write a consistent row of good songs, even if they are no longer in the vein of "Under A Funeral Moon", and even if they are having plenty of pints and a good laugh during writing and recording the album, because this is what mostly got lost during the album in my impression. That they can do it is undeniable. It would not even matter if they needed a year longer for an album and no singles in-between. My review sounds inconsistent? So is the album… www.peaceville.com

Nhashi

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DARKTHRONE
Dark Thrones And Black Flags
(Peaceville Records)
39:03min

DARKTHRONE have, for the past three or so years, both disappointed and enlightened their fans. Those among us who now despise DARKTHRONE for selling out, going Punk, or whatever else have you, aren't entirely wrong, but they certainly aren't justified in saying the music doesn't satisfy. This record, more than any other since "The Cult Is Alive", has more Black Metal than the Black Metal albums DARKTHRONE released between 1995-2002. What makes it Black Metal without sounding like dust blowing in an air filter, is that it borrows directly from the bands that truly influenced the genre. Bands like VOIVOD, whose influence can be heard on the first track, 'The Winds They Called The Dungeon Master', AUTOPSY, whose slow, haunting passages are always a joy to hear, MOTÖRHEAD, whose drumming is heard practically in every Metal album, and CELTIC FROST. DARKTHRONE have always taken inspiration from these bands, and many others like them too numerous to name here. However, it must be said that they are not the same band they once were. This record is too thrashy and traditionally Metal to be called Black Metal by today's standards. Yet, this is why it IS a Black Metal album. BULLDOZER, TORMENTOR, SODOM, BATHORY, AXEGRINDER; none of them sounded like Drowning The Light or Mastiphal. It feels free, free to drink whisky and blast TANK records. www.darkthrone.no, www.myspace.com/officialdarkthrone. On sale here.

Nat Shapiro

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DARKTHRONE
Circle The Wagons
(Peaceville Records)
40:50min

Ok this is a joke right Frank? I inadvertantly got the CD of some tenth rate Black'n'Roll band who has a couple of guys who think they can sing sometimes (or were told by their sycophantic friends or record co. people that they could) and was sent off to me as the new DARKTHRONE! Haha I get the joke because... wait. You mean this really is the new DARKTHRONE album?! What a fuckin almost utter piece of garbage! Sounds like a couple of guys who's brains are fried because of too much pot smoking in a cabin in the Norwegian woods and anothers brain is fried coz of too much ecstasy while doing his techno DJ job! Enough of this self righteous DARKTHRONE bullshit!! I was a DARKTHRONE fan, but for the longest time they have been putting out pathetic extremely sub par shit and then take the "powerful" stance of "well,we don't care what you say!" Fuck you DARKTHRONE!! Yeah I fuckin said it! A bunch of disjointed pieces put together as "songs" and some good riffs, that's the good part. But it all comes crashing down when the vocals and the drum patterns come in (like the most recent VOIVOD albums for example) the riffs are there, but that's it. They think they can sing so we get the "benefit" of that and they don't sound that bad but it doesn't work either! At least we get a solid production this time not a mish mash of different sound because "their majesties" DARKTHRONE felt like it. Let me tell their majesties DARKTHRONE: you are full of shit # 1. # 2 Get your head out of your ass and be DARKTHRONE again! I mean as far as I have seen all of these last albums have been nothing but a bunch of "Cold Lakes" (although I'll listen to "Cold Lake" before these last DARKTHRONE albums). Punk? We don't need no stinkin Punk! This is supposed to be Black fuckin Metal! Unless you're brain is fried by too much ecstasy! Speed... do you still remember how to play fast DARKTHRONE? Nope. And those "Heavy Metal" parts that you have in the songs! Fuck! They are so funny!! There's a reason this type of Heavy Metal is not to many of our tastes: it's cheesy and funny! It brings no power or greatness to an already great genre, rather it demeans it! And that's what DARKTHRONE does on this album. As a serious album this is nothing but a fuckin joke! As a joke album it's not even the best joke / comedy album of the year!! That honor is reserved to all MAYHEM albums after Euronymos' death and especially when their drummer decides to put on a triggered drum clinic on each song which he does on each album! I think NECROHOLOCAUST from Canada said it best when they said "Fuck Norway!" When all the dust settles I am not surprised, this album comes from a band that has completely changed styles before! So they are the Madonna's of "Black" Metal! So by that rationale let's just wait a couple of albums and DARKTHRONE will change their style again (like Madonna!). But for now, forget DARKTHRONE. And except for those classic first four albums and a couple of good ones after that, I know I already have. More info at: www.darkthrone.no, www.myspace.com/officialdarkthrone, www.peaceville.com

Luis M.L. Sallard

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DARK TRANQUILLITY
Damage Done
(Century Media)
47:52min

Well, this is somehow pretty boring. Sometimes I can not understand why bands like e.g. in this case Dark Tranquillity are celebrated by the media. Off course there are some interesting parts on this new album and of course the band knows how to handle their instruments but still I can not find anything special here that makes this album fascinating. Perhaps I just need some more listens. Perhaps this is an album that grows and grows after every single listening. I don't know. But what I can tell you for sure is that you do need time to get familiar with that one. Time that is in most times not existing. Fans of the band should for sure buy this as this will certainly be no disapooinment for them!

Phil Jonas

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DARK TRANQUILLITY
We Are The Void
(Century Media Records)
47:42min

The Swedish DARK TRANQUILLITY are one of the few bands which had been from the commercial point of view quite successful but despite this fact I still have the opinion that they never lost the contact to their underground roots. The underground credibility is still there mainly due to the fact that the band recorded one outstanding release after another during their over 20 years of existence, supported by impressing live shows with a audience raging from 15 up to 40 years. The first impression of their latest release “We Are The Void” are mixed feelings mainly due to the fact that the cover artwork seems so untypical for this band (any maybe their record label must be blamed for this mass compatible cover artwork). But every gold mine comes to an end one day and even if “We Are The Void” is offering a handful of strong songs is this album for sure the weakest DARK TRANQUILLITY release since at least fifteen years. The band has worked very intensively on their trademarks which are the impressive vocals by Mikael Stanner supported by the guitar front which is backed up by the slightly futuristic keys. But exactly this master plan is breaking the neck of “We Are The Void” because the music becomes to predictable. The 11 tracks are all on a high quality level but songs like ‘Dream Oblivion’ and / or ‘In My Absence’ (plus further tracks) can’t grab you at first instance and in some way they are nothing more than album filler to bring the playing time to an acceptable length. On the other hand there are killer songs like the opener ‘Shadow In Our Blood’ with the typical – and this time this is 100% positive – DARK TRANQUILLITY boiling blood drive and aggression. It’s really a sad moment because for years this act had been nothing more than a light bringer within a predictable scene, so hopefully the band will realize (again) their potential and return to the golden shores of Melodic Death Metal with their next album. www.darktranquillity.com, www.myspace.com/dtofficial, www.centurymedia.com

Matthias Auch

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DARK TRIBE
In Jeraspunta... Die Rückehr der tollwütigen Bestie 
(Black Hate Productions)
46:21min

Finally the second album of that killer horde from Germany got unleashed. "In Jeraspunta..." is a great continuation of their first album "Geboren an den Ufern des Wahnsinns". Unfortunately this work doesn't have the same long playing time like the debut, but Dark Tribe's second desecration will rape your mind with 9 songs and 46 minutes of mental-terror ("Geboren..." had a playtime of more than 70 minutes). The layout is very dark as usual, no real band-photos which makes that band even more mystical! Again no lyrics, just some fragments of lyrics are to be seen inside the 8 pages booklet. What is most interesting for me: this album will be released on vinyl also, I hope it will be soon! I cannot wait to get my first Dark Tribe vinyl! Okay, enough shit, let us talk about their music, if that is possible with some lousy words of mine. Finally, the great songs of their second promo got their titles, so 'The Seed' is one of these songs I was already familiar with (also 'Nothing As Darkness', 'The Unknown Light', 'In Jeraspunta', etc.). Great! The recordings (songs and sound) are different from that on the promo CD (with 5 songs included), some new arrangements and riffs and it also got mastered and mixed at Rape of Harmonies (Anael, Eternity...). Their new tracks are also great, the normal, operetta like voice is used more than usual, which is a great hypnotic one like on 'Burning Hate'! Together with the pounding music it is a completely new side of Dark Tribe, just felicitous!! Still this unholy feeling is to be heard on Dark Tribe's stuff, which is one of their best marks. The sound of the real drum is better than the sounds of the drum-pc which was used on their earlier releases. Their material is good enough to be performed live on stage, but these guys aren't too fond of that idea, which is sad. But I hope to see these guys in the future. I know this will be a dark battle. For all those into Black Metal: check this band out, it is not the usual stuff you can get on your next music-store, this is Metal with real feeling and the essential evilness. This is for the sikk ones! Although Dark Tribe have their very own style of Black Metal I just can not prevent to mention names like Countess, Open Grave and Front Beast as some bands with the same song-structures, feelings, weird riffs and such! Support and find nothing but darkness!! www.darktribe.de, www.blackhate.de

Hurricane

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