MERCILESS
Live Obsession (2 DVD set)
(Escapi New Media / Alive Music)
approx. 100:00min

At the same show where DISMEMBER's live DVD originates from (Stockholm - May 27, 2003), Sweden's reunited premier Thrash lunatics also recorded their gig for another fine DVD release. This of course results in more top quality and turns MERCILESS' crushing 12 track live-set into something highly enjoyable. I wasn't too much impressed by the band's self-titled "comeback" album, but in terms of their live qualities they are without a doubt still raging like hell and everyone into a furious old SLAYER / KREATOR mixture simply has to love these guys! On disc number two there's some kind of documentary on the band, which not really ended up as informative as the one on the DISMEMBER DVD for the simple fact that MERCILESS obviously don't take anything serious at all. All they seem to care about is booze and playing energetic and highly aggressive Metal as opposed to giving boring interviews. What a bunch of sick fellows, hahaha! Those "interview" sequences are interrupted by live footage from a show in Hultsfred, quality wise of course not as good as the Stockholm gig on the main disc, but still cool to watch nevertheless. But the most entertaining part for me definitely were their two promo videos for 'Pure Hate' and 'Cold Eyes Of Grey', which I had never seen before. Holy shit, especially 'Pure Hate' looks extremely silly nowaydays, with the band standing somewhere out in the hills, banging their heads and doing their playback "performance". If you remember a particular type of pictures that circulated of various Death & Thrash Metal bands in the late 80s / early 90s (let's call it "aggressive-evil-posing"), you'll already get a little idea of what to expect visually here... 'Cold Eyes Of Grey' is slightly better though and shows the band on stage (backed with the music from the album), which represents them best anyway. There's another (real) live clip on here (don't know if that was also an official promo video), which is mainly of interest because it documents Karlén's "short hair period", hahaha. All in all not exactly as good as DISMEMBER's DVD, yet another highly recommend release from Escapi with the usual extras (band biography, discography and image gallery). So, go out and fuckin' buy it! More info you may find here: www.escapi.com

Frank Stöver

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MERCILESS CRUCIFIXION
Airesis (MCD)
(BlackSeed Productions)
18:57min

"…and it is written in the book of rock: beware of side-projects, they suck.“ Please excuse my pathetic attempt at poetry here, but MERCILESS CRUCIFIXION made me do it. These three wedding singers from Greece usually waste their time in over-hyped combos such as ENSHADOWED, BURIAL HORDES or VOMIT CHURCH and obviously saw fit to enrich the world with yet another project, dedicated to “warlike Black Metal”. They surely had one hell of a time watching dozens of third grade horror-movies in search of funky samples and making up unique pseudonyms such as “Impaler” or “Necrotormentor”. And of course they don’t forget to pay tribute to their roots by doing a truly original cover of ‘I.N.R.I.’ by the ever-so-kult SARCOFAGO. Which probably makes an EP of what otherwise could be referred to as single and singles are not Metal, except they have a DARKTHRONE logo printed on them. Good to see that the cult is still alive… P.S.: At least the opener ‘Supreme Blasphemous Outbreak’ shows that not necessarily all is lost on them if they should ever overcome their muddy and powerless “underground” non-sound. www.blackseedprod.com

Torsten Gründig

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MERCILESS DEATH
Evil In The Night
(Heavy Artillery Records)
24:18min

I remember the first time I heard this CD last year (as it was originally released in 2006 as the band’s debut demo. Now re-pressed with a pro booklet, pro cover art by none other than Ed “Fucking” Repka and what appears to be a heavier overall remix) I was fuckin’ shocked to say the least! For two reasons: one that there was another band in this State that was not only into the same music as is my personal favorite of Metal yet was just as fast and technically proficient as my last band DEKAPITATOR! As for years there hadn’t been any new Thrash bands like DEKAPITATOR from anywhere in California since the old days. Almost two decades in the past, when the legends of those specific bands that we all looked up to strode the earth in their prime, playing shows on a weekly basis and their videos were in heavy rotation on Headbanger’s Ball. So yeah undoubtedly as any of you could imagine my surprise of  “Whoa…fuck…cool!“ when I hit the play button and sat back to do some mail was considerable. For those maniacs who are just now hearing about MERCILESS DEATH, let me say that “Evil In The Night“ now in its revised presentation is worthy not only of your attention but most assuredly worthy of your hard earned cash! Featuring eight songs of blistering, and I mean blistering Speed Metal that just puts the word adrenaline to shame. P.S. At press time a limited edition vinyl version of this album shall commence soon, as will quality woven official logo band patches. Get in contact and get ‘em while they’re hot! Contact: www.myspace.com/mercilessdeath or info@heavyartillery.us or www.heavyartillery.us

Wes Rhodes

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MERCILESS DEATH
Realm Of Terror
(Heavy Artillery Records)
28:39min

Ah, new oldschool Thrash Metal. Wait! Don't stop reading just because of that, as here we have (I would say) one of the truest exponents of the genre, one that would have fit well with the bands most of us thrashing old farts love and remember well. On this (their second) album, MERCILESS DEATH attacks us with very well played instruments by the rhythym section of the Torres brothers and the excellent guitar playing of Dan Holder who holds down and executes the position of a lead guitarist very effectively.They have become more evil and darker than on their debut CD "Evil In The Night" and their vocals are still very teutonic, you know, like old German Thrash bands (not like KREATOR thankfully!) but there's a darkness to the vox... not Death Metal frog impurities, they just have a bit more obscurity to them is all... A much better offering than their first CD (although that one was good) "Realm Of Terror" is for us old Thrashers who appreciate real sincere Thrash Metal with a capital "T" and for new Thrashers who need to be shown: "This is how it's done!" By the way, MERCILESS DEATH have taken to calling their brand "Satanic Thrash" (as have many other serious bands) as a way of differentating themselves from so-called Thrash bands that are more interested in being short sharp crossover, singing about partying, skating and / or ninja turtles... www.myspace.com/mercilessdeath, www.heavyartillery.us 

Luis M.L. Sallard

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MERRIMACK
Of Entropy And Life Denial
(Moribund Records)
56:03min

This is really wicked. I mean, I have (tried to) pay close attention to the Black Metal scene, the Death Metal category and well… Metal in general. There are unavoidably some bands that pass by without as much as a little sigh of attention, no matter the quality of the releases. I mean, if you don’t work with this day and night you are destined to overlook a few bands. And that’s all fine, since there are other important things in life; be it eating, taking a shower, watching the news, listening to your favourite bands… Yeah, you know what I mean! When I read that Merrimack are the leaders of the “French Black Metal Revolution”, or that the cover is eye-catching or that they have a cult name in the Black Metal scene, I’m all ears. What went wrong, since I’ve never heard a single note played by this band prior to “Of Entropy And Life Denial”? Maybe I was too occupied with Deathspell Omega, perhaps I was looking closer at the eye-catching cover art of an album such as Rhapsody’s “Dawn Of Victory” (now, that’s what I’d call an eye-catching cover) or maybe I was too focused on other cult names in the Black Metal scene, be it Watain, Mayhem, Marduk, Funeral Mist or Gorgortoth? Well, what’s done is done and here we are with another furious Black Metal release recorded in the Necromorbus Studios (Watain). And fact is, “Of Entropy And Life Denial” has all the necessary ingredients you need. There is fast and fuming Black Metal, we get our dose of mid-paced rhythms designed to please the devil and this is all wrapped up in an excellent production where the level between the vocals, guitars and drums are finetuned. And then not much more. Merrimack performs Black Metal without a slightest sign of originality, provocation or attitude. It’s like they just rehearse some tracks and then record them. I don’t fear Merrimack. It’s not evil. It’s not creative in any sense, meaning that you’ve heard it all before. Even their sixth track, a song that stands out a lot due to the different vocals, does add to this lack of creativity. But the world is full of paradoxes, right? Yeah, that’s all right and I actually enjoy the approximately 50 minutes of deadly Black Metal. However, in contradiction to the case of Deathspell Omega versus Roy Kristensen, I don’t get pleasure from Merrimack’s new release due to the atmosphere, but rather as a result of well crafted arrangements and an album that feels like a whole unit instead of 11 tracks that stand on one’s own feet. If they had managed to spawn the atmosphere of such acts as Deathspell Omega and Watain, I’m sure “Of Entropy And Life Denial” would be up / down there in the Black Metal league with Satan. http://merrimack.satanslegions.com, www.moribundcult.com

Roy Kristensen

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MESMERIZED
Coronation
(Heavy Horses Records)
29:47min

After 10 years of underground existence MESMERIZED from Poland finally release their debut with ten songs of Black / Thrash Metal and on first instance think that a playing time of 29 minutes including a previously released bonus track is really at the bottom line. Don’t want to go deeper because it’s the music that counts but nevertheless think that 10-15 additional minutes would be more adequate for such an underground release. The music itself is pure Black / Thrash Metal following the wellknown rules of a dirty riff / vocals plus a nice solo and everything is over in three to four minutes. Would like to write more about this band but this style is so worn out (maybe one step closer to the edge than Black Metal) that there are not more than a single drop of fresh blood in this release. For all the die hards out there take your chance, but the band is currently searching new band members and I really hope that new members could also mean new ideas / impulses. www.heavyhorsesrecords.de; www.mesmerized.prv.pl

Matthias Auch

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MIASMAL
Demo
(Detest Records)
16:16min

This is it! This is the real deal for anyone who still worships the good ol' Swedish Death Metal from the late 80s / early 90s when ENTOMBED were just about to release "Left Hand Path" through Earache Records, DISMEMBER returned to the scene with the impressive "Reborn In Blasphemy" demo, CARNAGE delivered their massive "Dark Recollections" via Necrosis and GRAVE debuted with their excellent "Tremedous Pain" 7"EP on Century Media. Yeah, those were the times indeed until a Tsunami-like Black Metal wave washed it all away unfortunately. It took this movement quite a few years to regain its strength and even though EVOCATION recently gained a lot of attention with their awesome comeback overhere, it was young oldschool bands like KAAMOS and REPUGNANT that got the ball rollin' again a couple of years before them already. Now it's up to Sweden's latest sensation MIASMAL to fill the gap that the split-up of those two bands has left behind... and the quite big size of those shoes already seem to fit them perfectly! Their debut demo features 4 songs of the finest oldschool SweDeath you could imagine. From the typical d-beat, to the shredding guitarsound, the morbid melodies (sometimes even with a couple classic MOTÖRHEAD-inpired overtones) to the cool grunted vocals this little cassette (yep, it was even released the classic way!) offers everything a fan of good old Sunlight sounds was always craving for. Almost unbelievable that the four members have not been active in any better known acts before already and are only playing together since 2007! They also sent me a killer cover of ENTOMBED's 'Serpent Speech' (from 1993's "Hollowman" EP), which unfortunately isn't included on the tape, yet underlines their qualities even more! I bet my old ass that a record deal is only a matter of time here! Get this great (pro-printed) demo at any cost from www.detestrecords.com. But you better hurry up as it's limited to 200 copies only! More info on the band and sound samples can be found here: www.myspace.com/miasmalband

Frank Stöver

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MIASMAL
Miasmal (7" EP)
(Detest Records / Me Saco Un Ojo Records)
18:02min

Gothenburg-dwellers MIASMAL have defecated a chunky slab of staunchly traditional low-tuned Swedish Death Metal with a charge of Käng on release number two. Coming after a four-song demo tape, this vinyl offers two new tracks and nothing new under the Sunlight sound. Yet it’s nearly perfect at what it aims to achieve, which is a heavy, groovy, pummeling for the aficionados and anyone else who can’t resist boogieing down to that roaring Death Rock madness. Right off, I’m hearing DISMEMBER, or was that ENTOMBED? No matter, think of a platter of carnal leftovers minus the blasts. I smell only a faint whiff of AUTOPSY (twice-removed on their mother’s side). The brutal DISCHARGE beats and careful attention to the rock in the classic Death & Roll formula lends this a snarling, up-tempo feel throughout. Guitar leads and solos are competent and well-placed. The vocalist’s delivery is more angry than putrid, which distinguishes them from other, more ghastly contenders. Overall, das ist gut scheiss. Visit www.myspace.com/miasmalband, www.detestrecords.com or www.mesacounojo.com

Leonard Likas

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MIDWINTER
Between Wisdom And Lunacy
(Twilight Records)
55:01min

To put the resume at the beginning - MIDWINTER are no longer a promising newcomer, their second release is an outstanding example of how to play excellent Black / Dark Metal, covering the whole spectrum of this genre, from slow to fast, from melancholic to aggressive, from melodic to brutal. All songs are done with mixed vocals, mostly a fusion between shrieks and grunts, but also clear voices and chantings can be heard. The guitar-work is outstanding, be it typical Black Metal or more traditional Metal, and the keyboards are more than just support, instead they are equal to the other instruments. The song writing of each song and the album in total is simply astonishing, because it takes the listener on a journey through the realm of MIDWINTER. It does not happen very often that a band manages to form such an union of vocals, guitars, keyboards and drums. Of course each song got a different center, but within all songs the above mentioned trademarks are there. Some well dosed samples are added, long enough to underline the atmosphere, yet so short to not lose sight of the music itself. The opener ‘No Gods Have Built My Sky’ is an good example of the amazing song writing, a track like ‘Song Inside’ breeds from a fine keyboard melody, ‘Thorns Of Ice’ is classical Black Metal, reminding me of LUNAR AURORA, due to the same desperate, gloomy atmosphere and the German lyrics. An epic, chanting chorus in the vein of MANOWAR / HAMMERFALL can be heard on ‘Where Steel Is Born’ and ‘Dragonrock’ (nomen est omen) surprises with more Rock‘n'Roll like rhythms. Those are just a few highlights on “Between Wisdom And Lunacy”, every song is a tremendous piece of great music. No fillers here, just killers. www.midwinter-online.de. On sale here.

Mirco Szymyslik

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THE MIGHTY NIMBUS
The Mighty Nimbus
(Threeman Recordings)
50:35min

“Doom Metal fans rejoice. Your saviors have arrived”, declares SMNnews.com. This says too much of course, but regarding the fact that I’m not exactly a big Stoner Rock fan (I pretty much prefer bands like CANDLEMASS or SOLITUDE AETURNUS), it’s amazing how much I like the debut album of these Americans. By the way: one of their guitar players – Erik Larson - is active in ALABAMA THUNDER PUSSY as well. When I first listened to this CD I thought: “too groovy for me” but it turned out that THE MIGHTY NIMBUS grew as time went by. In fact, it’s cool as hell! Maybe because it’s not so much Stoner Rock anyway – just a groovier sort of SAINT VITUS. Pretty memorable songwriting – very cool when driving in your car early in the morning. Only one thing I don’t understand: as the record continues, Andy Campbell’s vocals get more and more extreme until he completely sounds like Death Metal at the last – cover (!) song, namely SAINT VITUS’ ‘Born Too Late’. Therefore, some old Doom fans I know won’t like the album at all. I got accustomed to it because THE MIGHTY NIMBUS simply rock!

Ramon Claassen

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MINDEAD
Abandon All Hope
(7Hard)
47:01min

Not long ago, MINDEAD's music would have received a good deal of attention. Far more, in fact, that it has likely been granted now. Their songs are, simply put, a conglomeration of the popularized extreme music that had such widespread airplay between the mid 90s and early 2000s. Whatever you wish to call the music, be it Nu-Metal, Hardcore or just plain crap, the fact that MINDEAD are gunning for a slightly older style and succeeding at it is abundantly clear. That is not to say that their music is good. It is not. One may argue the only reason they've done so well at emulating mainstream Metal's biggest stars is the music is not difficult to master at all and does not require the same amount of thought that a band like INVIDIOUS or DEATHHAMMER would have to put into their songwriting.To put it bluntly, they're a "Roots" era SEPULTURA clone with NINE INCH NAILS and some Industrial thrown in for good measure. Whether or not that is your genre of choice, MINDEAD have indeed done well in sticking themselves squarely in 1999. www.mindead.com, www.myspace.com/mindead

Nat Shapiro

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MIND ECLIPSE
Chaos Chronicles
(More Hate Productions)
51:23min

I’m sorry, but I could not stand a single song on this CD. Although I do not doubt the Russian quintet’s musical skills, I think their “Chaos Chronicles” is just crap!!! MIND ECLIPSE miscreated blasting, in deed chaotic Death Metal with almost DIMMU BORGIR-like keyboard parts and awful growl / scream vocals, that sounds like a fun-version of AGIEL. The only thing I enjoyed on this CD were the intro and the pseudonyms of the musicians: Master M., Xarfax, Battlefield and Teufel Blodhorn – aarrrggghhh, those names sound like villains in comics! An album either for the garbage can or masochists... Hurt your ears at http://mindeclipse.yaroslavl.ru or send an email to xarfax@mail.ru. The label can be found at www.morehate.newmail.ru, I can only hope that they have some better bands in store or they will be bankrupt soon...

Stefan Franke

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MINDFLAIR
Green Bakery
(Bones Brigade)
30:06min

I’m not into German Fun Grind at all, sorry. Basically, the band delivers the keyword for me: “langweilig” (boring)! Yes, one of those CDs with spoken silly German intros. The fact that cult comedians BADESALZ are responsible for this doesn’t really help. And especially for the “epic” last track this is the right vocabulary for sure. Stretching the playing time so you can sell it as a full length, eh? Okay, let me do just the same with this review, hehe. Musicwise there is some groovy Punk edge making the chaotic rage sound even more extreme (hey, seemingly there is some thought behind this CD, after all!). 'Steh auf, Du Schweineficker' (get up, pig fucker – reminds me of South Park) seems to be this CD’s motto, but I just won’t. No, I won’t! All right then, I’ll shake my butt a little. Just a little bit. 'Green Bakery' suggests to smoke some illegal products and the band seems to be on a mission. In fact, this would make the record sound more interesting I guess, but I just won’t. No, I won’t! Why do people like this sort of music? Why do people record stuff like this? Once again, the band lets the German speaking listener know: “das kommt von der Inzucht!” (that’s due to incest)! Hey, this CD knows all the answers! I guess I’ll keep it as my new bible. www.mindflair.de.vu

Ramon Claassen

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MINDGRINDER
Riot Detonator
(Nocturnal Art Productions)
36:12min

I am sure I have written something like this before, but an album does often need one or two songs that make an impact in order to bother to play the album again. “Riot Detonator” has more than two tracks, but sadly they don’t occur until the 'Epiloge' is done and farewell. 'Hellfire', 'Concept Of Honesty' and 'Death’s Disciples' can be regarded as the hellish threesome on this brutal album. Personally I like this way of brutalism compared to the more common American aggressive brutalism. Mindgrinder’s way of being brutal is more bombastic and in-my-face. 'The Rebellion' and 'Transition' do nothing else than annoying me. In a way these two tracks are closer to Rock’n’Roll with a Death Metal sound, but in my book that counts less, or actually counts on the minus-side of the scale. These two are sloppy, and it’s with great relief that 'Epilogue' sets in. OK, the chorus on 'Transition' is cool, but that doesn’t save the whole track. The big keys on 'Hellfire' set the atmosphere, and it surely creates an atmosphere of being in hell. Especially after 45 seconds. 'Concept Of Honesty' has a militaristic attitude that steps all over me. It’s fucking brutal! However, it’s with 'Death’s Disciples' that Mindgrinder brings forth my smile. Not since “Blessed Are The Sick” (Morbid Angel) have I heard such a mighty riff combined with Death Metal. Could easily have been David Vincent on vocals on this track, being this close to the actual track 'Blessed Are The Sick'. Great thing, Mindgrinder. Sadly this doesn’t save the album from being a tad boring in between. Half the album is really fine, while the other half lacks something. Well, Mindgrinder is anyway onto something, and despite the lack of development (in my opinion of corpse), I am sure they will hit harder next time around. www.mindgrinder.com

Roy Kristensen

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MINDRIPPER
Kahos Humana
(Adipocere Records)
41:16min

Sometimes the layout of an album could be very deceptive. Indeed MINDRIPPER seem to be at first glance a brutal Death Metal band, judging only from the look of the musicians and the drawing of the cover. In fact, the music of this French four piece tends to sound Black Metal more than anything else and the vocals in particular tie MINDRIPPER with this genre. All the songs are sung in French, but the brutality of the vocal delivery blurs the language issue very fast. Some Death Metal elements (and especially the song structures) add complexity to the MINDRIPPER songwriting, to the point it becomes difficult to give an actual overview of their music. Let’s say that those French show a lot of imagination to create off the beaten path songs, and that makes “Kahos Humana” a very interesting album to listen to, and I must add that the excellent production contributes to the great quality of the whole disc. All that said I cannot call MINDRIPPER a striking band though, because the seeds of excellence are merely planted here, and have not fully grown yet. Let’s say MINDRIPPER are only a promising act for now. If you are game for a fine slab of modernized Black Metal enriched with Death and even Power Metal touches, be sure to check MINDRIPPER out. All the necessary info you will find at: www.mindripper.net.

Edouard Vergriete

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MINOTAUR
God May Show You Mercy...We Will Not!
(I Hate Records)
38:36min

Twenty-one years after the "Power Of Darkness" album, a cult classic, MINOTAUR have returned, as full of spirit as any aged band worth their salt can hope to be. They remember who they were, and where they come from: the beastly Black Thrash trenches that came astonishingly close to Death Metal. Perhaps they are a Death Metal band. For my purposes here, the argument is only a side attraction for this is a review based around musical merits. There are many here, and the songwriting outperforms any modern attempt at the craft. However, there's just no beating being 17-20 years old. The spirit is young, the body fresh, and the instruments nubile and firm. The new album is a marshmallow compared to "Power Of Darkness", but "God May Show You Mercy...We Will Not" is truly great for such an old band. At times they hearken back to mid-career KREATOR and LIVING DEATH, thanks in part to the riffing and the singer's somewhat dry Thrash rasp. In a way, this album is a step backwards. The songwriting plants it somewhere in 1984, whereas the production values confirm it as a modern release; an interesting move for a band like MINOTAUR. Comparatively, this is incredibly tame when stacked against "Power Of Darkness", but as I said with PESTILENCE, you can't expect any band to soar ahead, especially an old one. www.minotaur-thrashers.de, www.ihate.se

Nat Shapiro

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MINSK
With Echoes In The Movement Of Stone
(Relapse Records)
63:06min

Bands such as VOIVOD, UMBRA NIHIL and BARATHRUM play vastly different styles, yet they have one thing that unites them all: they're weird. MISNK is weird, therefore, that strength alone may carry them through the next couple of years. Perhaps if they can equal or surpass this album in the future, their name will be remembered years from now. This is unlike almost every Doom album I've ever heard. In fact, calling it Doom is a bit of a reductive malapropism. The music is slow, but that hardly qualifies it as Doom alone. A band needs gloomy riffs, too, but MINSK doesn't have gloomy riffs per se. What they do have is bizarreness. There aren't many growls, just clear vocals and some quasi-Metal chanting / barbershop. Perhaps thinking of them as an evolved AGALLOCH mutation might help put them into some kind of context. Of course, buying the record might help make one understand. http://thesoundofminsk.com, www.myspace.com/minsk, www.relapse.com

Nat Shapiro

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MIRRORTHRONE
Of Wind And Weeping
(Red Stream)
52:48min

What in the first place intrigued me about this album was the very atmospheric booklet-design. Well, I can’t help it – I am a naturalist. The cover depicts a fragment of a forest-photograph. That is, one can see firs, ivy, maple trees and the like. There is a murky pond that reflects the whole scene. When you open up the booklet the inspired listener faces another forest scenery that is way more earthy and looks very enchanting. In the background lurks an old-fashioned clock… nice that. As for the music – MIRRORTHRONE perform majestic, symphonic and varying… hmmm, I’d call it Dark Metal actually. That is, the music is very complex. Partly the compositions are approximately 8 minutes long. As if the OPETH records were competed with here, haha. The oeuvre seems very homogenous, and that is why no songs really stick out really, which I definitely don’t mean negatively. I think it is utterly artistic to strive for homogeneity when it comes to composing music and arranging it on an album. MIRRORTHRONE kind of remind me of acts such as LEGENDA, a bit of VED BUENS ENDE here and  there, old …AND OCEANS (with regard to the synthies), Doom legends like SOLSTICE, MY DYING BRIDE. Actually all this is quite hard to describe ‘cause MIRRORTHRONE are relatively unique. They incorporate delightful Doom-parts in their music beside blasting ferocity, i.e. fast beats and aggressive tunes. The person behind MIRRORTHRONE is just one individual called Vladimir who’s in charge of all the components that set up the music – vocals, guitars, bass, synthesizers and the drum-programming. Yeah, MIRRORTHRONE use a drum-computer that, I must state, partly sounds a bit ridiculous… not because the sound sucks or something. No, just because it absolutely sounds superhuman, this would even be not manageable for madmen like Robbe K., Gene Hogan, Sean Reinert… impossible. Otherwise, the guitars sound really awesome, nice tuning, appropriate sound-characteristics (very doomy indeed, at times quite technical actually à 'Florilège Lunatique Occultement Révalateur…' but melodious most of the time), the bass guitar is doing a truly supportive job – not less, not more. The male vocals oscillate between aggressive Black Metal-like shrieks and, most of the time, harmonious sonorous singing (partly female vocals are used, too à 'Beyond The Mirrorthrone'). The majority of the lyrics is written in French, which I find very fitting. The synthesizers are fabulous I think… very skilful indeed. I wonder whether Vladimir enjoyed classical tutorials and training… All in all, an impressive recording, which I do appreciate as an old MY DYING BRIDE, ANATHEMA freak. I am quite impressed, too, that Read Stream release such tranquil and serene music … thumbs up!!!  Contact: www.mirrorthrone.com, www.redstream.org

F. Cthulhu E.

MISERY INDEX
Overthrow
(Anarcho Records / Morbid Records)
15:10min

First sign of life for Jason Netherton and Co. after DYING FETUS with their new band MISERY INDEX (all of them were involved with DYING FETUS in one way or another). What you can expect is a short and brutal piece of Deathgrind making your tortured ears bleed! Hell, this is fast (on the other hand, people say that for me everything faster than Doom Metal appears fast to me... but I think these guys are fast indeed), yet with good groovy parts making the rage seem even more furious. I can imagine quite a few people going absolutely nuts with "Overthrow" because that's what happens to me every time I put it on. Expect a full length in early 2002 with nothing but pure aggression and one hell of a good time. www.misery-index.com

Ramon Claassen

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MISERY INDEX
Overthrow
(Fadeless Records)
23:27min

I'm wondering if this CD is supposed to be sold for the price of a full length? There are 4 new tracks on here (good production), 1 cover song (TERRORIZER's 'Dead Shall Rise') and 3 live tracks (okay sound). Not even 25 minutes and the 2 (rather boring) live videos wouldn't justify a full price, either, I think. Apart from that I like this CD a lot. It's fast and aggressive (remember: 3 former DYING FETUS members), modern sounding, yet with deep roots in the old school. Not the typical gore lyrics one usually finds within this genre: hey, they're printed on my promotional copy! Socio-critical, sort of "them vs. us" - "shepherds and sheep" or rather "wolves and sheep", an anarchic kind of punk message. Refreshing. The live tracks sound more old school, a little thrashy, even groovy and the brilliant TERRORIZER cover is the perfect link between the new songs and the live stuff. In case this CD is offered for a reasonable price, I'd definitely go for it! www.misery-index.com

Ramon Claassen

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MISERY INDEX
Retaliate
(Nuclear Blast Records)
31:22min

At last we have the first album of this American band that emerged out of DYING FETUS, when John Gallagher decided to kick out the other three members of the band after the “Destroy The Opposition” album. So it was then when Jason Netherton, Sparky Voyles and Kevin Talley formed MISERY INDEX and after one mini CD and various other splits, they signed with Nuclear Blast. Now without Kevin, but with another drummer equally as good named Matt Byers, they attack with their debut full length “Retaliate”, an excellent revenge that has the good point of not falling into what everybody could expect, that is, another copy of DYING FETUS. Although they would be the most worthy ones to do it for obvious reasons… But instead of that, they’ve done of their style something way faster and carving into more grinding territories. Lets say that it’s like if we mix DYING FETUS with some TERRORIZER, NAPALM DEATH and even EXTREME NOISE TERROR. Heavy and catchy riffs, very fast, intense… all in all 10 songs with an excellent production that could easily create a new tendency like DYING FETUS once did, if not, time will tell.

Dave Rotten

(this review originally got published by Xtreem Music)

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MISERY INDEX
Discordia
(Relapse Records)
33:12min

You think that politics and Metal are best kept separated? You hate nothing more than the “spoiling” of Death Metal’s supreme power with Punk / Hardcore-energy? And you think that the only true soul of Metal lies in the spirit of the European scene back in the eighties? Then better stay away from this record. Everybody else with only the slightest interest in extreme music based on distorted guitars get this immediately! MISERY INDEX’ debut “Retaliate” totally blew me away when it was released back in 2003. Such a ferocious amalgamum of Thrash / Hardcore / Grind’n'Death, combined with remarkably intelligent lyrics was pretty much unheard off at that time. And witnessing their crushing live-performance in a little fucked-up autonomous-cave in Leipzig made it clear that this definitely was a force to be reckoned with for years to come. Having missed the “Dissent” - EP I didn’t really know what to expect from this their second longplayer and was a bit disappointed at first. There are no massive changes in style here but the band progressed towards a more varied songwriting which at first seemed to lack the overwhelming aggression of their first effort. Adding to that impression was a slicker production which takes away some edges of their sound and a mix which could feature Jason Netherton’s unique angry-pitbull-on-crack-vocals a bit more upfront. But after a few spins all this nut-picking vanished in sheer admiration of their newfound diversity and well-rounded arrangements. They may have become more controlled and mature but were “Retaliate” was more or less blasting intensity from start to finish, “Discordia” is all force through dynamics and full of rewards for the careful listener. And once again the lyrics are more than worth reading. Whoever finds their radical left-field “eat the rich” - attitude a bit far fetched should consider that they’re written from the perspective of ‘your average American’ whose everyday-struggle can’t really be compared to that of a (still?) relative socially secured middle-European. Anyway, I can’t think of any better soundtrack for a revolution and if extreme Metal still holds any relevance it is due to acts such as MISERY INDEX. All hails! www.miseryindex.com. On sale here.

Torsten Gründig

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