For all of you who aren't familiar with Sweden's MISTELTEIN yet, here's some facts for ya: "Divine, Desecrate, Complete" is already their second full length offering (following the band's debut "Rape In Rapture"), with a production courtesy of Malmö's quite famous Berno Studio. MISTELTEIN have been around since 1996 by now and have dedicated themselves to the fast, aggressive Black Metal of the modern kind. And besides the rather stupid looking coverart, that's probably the band's main problem. Even though they deliver solid and quite furious compositions, their real strength quite obviously can be found in the midpaced stuff. There's actually some really impressive and crushing killer riffing to be discovered, while the very well executed highspeed passages are mostly quite ordinary and unfortunately pretty typical for this genre. The use of keyboards compliments most parts on the album, but never to the extend that it sounds wimpy or cheap in any way. So, all in all this is a partly promising, yet not completely convincing second album of a band, worth to keep an eye on in the near future.

Frank Stöver

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MISTRESS
In Disgust We Trust
(Earache)
50:30min (real running time: approx. 36min)

On their third album Birmingham's MISTRESS offer a rawly sounding mix of early 90s Death Metal, Crustpunk, Grind- and Sludgecore. MISTRESS make an effort to keep all ten songs diverse by varying forceful mid- and uptempo as well as blastbeats. The production itself is flawless, and both instruments and vocals come crashing on your ears. Especially the guitars have a wonderfully destructive sound. As far as I'm concerned, the only conflicting thing about the vocals are a few rather weak attempts to imitate the screams of Rob Halford, on the side of vocal diversity they are a surprising element, but when I heard them for the first time, I was a bit puzzled. Fortunately, these high-pitched vocals only appear in a very small number of songs, while the majority of this album is intoned by brutal grunts, screams and gangshouts. As indicated in the header of this review, this “longplayer“ is not as long it seems at first sight. After ten songs follow over twelve minutes of silence and then finally a short but rocking hidden track. To be honest, I hate this inflation of running time, do you know anyone who likes to fast-forward for hidden tracks? I bet you don't. Anyway, although a bit short, this is a fresh record recommended for all friends of Punk-influenced groovy Death Metal. Bandpage: http://www.geocities.com/stomp666/

Christoph Göbel

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MISTWEAVER
Dream’s Domain
(Medusa Productions)
38:21min

Yes, definitely if a band really wants to make things in a right way, they do it. And that's the case with this Spanish band. MISTWEAVER are not new in this as they had another CD released called "Sol Obscuritatur" that was not bad at all although I think it didn't got the attention it deserved. Now, here we have their second release "Dream's Domain", that is a more than good progression for the band. Starting with its production, that is really awesome and continuing with the music displayed, I can tell you that this band is really good! It's melodic Death Metal with a great importance given to the melodies and an incredible use of the keyboards that are more than the usual complement to the music, as they're used as if it was a fourth instrument. The first CD had some influences from AMORPHIS in it, and although this time they still sound like this band, they have now added some epic touches to their melodies, which sound similar to bands like MITOTHYN. The whole CD is very good, as you also have a very good layout that complements it. Don't be a fool and check this band out. This is a great release, for sure. Contact: www.dragondesign666.de

Tony

(this review originally got published by Xtreem Music)

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MISTWEAVER
Age Of Darkness
(Golden Lake Productions) 
49:00min

What at first sight felt like a release akin to dozens others, slowly developed into something rather well done. Mistweaver play melodic Death Metal, with variation and an added dose exoticism. Frankly speaking, I didn’t notice their origin the first five spins, but I didn’t become surprised to solve Mistweaver’s homeland. Our Spanish Metal friends haven’t given us the prime examples of Death Metal, besides Avulsed. Mistweaver are not up to par either, but there are elements in their songs that make me wish “Age Of Darkness” was their debut album, not their fourth. As said, their music is safely placed in melodic Death Metal. They surprise us with tempo changes and small nuances in the songs. In 'The Sun Turned Into Blood', I spot a crystal-clear Helloween inspiration after 1:05 minutes. A jolly good part that makes me smile. Hmm, it may not be the main intention of Death Metal, but I’m also into music for entertainment. After 2:07 minutes they slow down and give us another part of über-melodic Metal that again makes us smile. OK, so there are some Cradle Of Filth whispers and a false male vocal around 3 minutes, but I still credit Mistweaver for trying. “Age Of Darkness” is well played. They arrange their songs with intention, instead of just placing one part after the former. The way 'The Curse' builds is nothing but a super moment in Mistweaver’s musical career. It’s no big surprise that this track turns out to be the prime moment of “Age Of Darkness” despite the strange ending. I mean, here they write a super riff, just to end the song after repeating the riff for only 20 seconds. The major drawbacks of the album, and the reason I decided to not send them any questions are some vocal parts and the horrible keyboard. I’m not saying the keyboard is out of tune and played by a 5 year old kid, and it does even fit here and there. Though, in the beginning of 'Malefica Non Patieris Vivere' they could safe and sound have avoided the use of the keyboards during the first minute. Trust me, the riffs and the melodies work fine on their own. No, it’s the sound of the keyboards. I can’t imagine the band in the studio, be it inside the recording (Vrs Studios) or the mastering studios (Finnvox Studios), cried out loud in joy. The sound is mostly so thin that it’s super annoying. And that’s a MAJOR pity, since the music is good and challenging. Listen to the first half a minute of 'Malleus Maleficarum'. That’s the way to go, without keyboards. The Death grunts are fine all over despite the obvious accent, but the woman they invited as a guest has to be a friend of theirs. Actually, she has to be such a good friend that they didn’t dare to tell her that her vocals suck. I’m reminded closely of the horrible trend during the 90s, where every other band included an awful female guest vocal. And the normal male vocals are not much to brag about. It’s a sad thing when there is one element, such as the keyboards in this case, that destroys an otherwise fine album. Mistweaver should have included major Dimmu Borgir - like keys, or skipped keys all the way. I know, they don’t have the necessary funds to get a sound like Dimmu Borgir, so… And I must credit the band for the booklet. Ahh, it’s been a long time since I saw such a fine booklet. And also for the fine folk-part during 'Eternal Rest' popping up after 2:15 minutes. I didn’t find anything about Skyclad in the booklet, but it suits Mistweaver’s brand of Death Metal. One more thing I have to mention, due to the closer 'Melancholy'. Reader, ask yourself which Death Metal album you like that does not end with a super heavy real Death Metal track, be it slow or fast? Actually, I can’t thing of one. More or less all the classics ends with something deadly, be it Death, Morbid Angel, Entombed, Deicide, Dismember, Immolation, Vital Remains, Rebaelliun, The Chasm and more… Mistweaver’s “Age Of Darkness” is not the classic it could have been, and ending the album with an acoustic piece of melancholy (sic!) doesn’t add to the wanted “classic” status every band should try to yearn for. www.mistweaver.org, www.goldenlakeprods.co.uk You can order the CD here.

Roy Kristensen

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MITHRAS
Worlds Beyond The Veil
(Golden Lake Productions)
67:43min

British Death Metal became a pretty rare pleasure lately and only DESECRATION, GOREROTTED and of course NAPALM DEATH managed to come up with satisfying releases. Now there is the second full-length of another British Death Metal act namely MITHRAS, but unfortunately it can not be added to the nice albums of the aforementioned bands. MITHRAS play extremely technical Death Metal and obviously do it with ambition, skill and the wish to experiment – they even try to implement psychedelic, spacy electronic sounds. But due to the miserable production, the lame vocalist that reminds me of new USURPER stuff and the bad drum sound MITHRAS fail. Their music has some sort of forced progressive aspect and appears totally artificial and constructed to me. Bands like ATHEIST, CYNIC, late DEATH have a certain progressive “flow” and sound despite all musical excess natural, but MITHRAS don’t. Still, I would encourage you to visit their website and judge for yourself, if your mind is open enough to understand their weird sounds: www.mithras.org.uk Their label can be found here: www.goldenlakeprods.co.uk.

Stefan Franke

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MITOCHONDRION
Archaeaeon
(self-financed)
71:38min

Over the years, a plethora of great bands has emerged from the Canadian scene, be it classic Thrash Metal or filthy warlike Death / Black Metal and it seems this steady flow of quality acts is not about to stop anytime soon. The debut album released by Victoria-based MITOCHONDRION came as a huge surprise to me. Despite the groups monicker which would fit a more modern technical Death Metal band as well, “Archaeaeon” certainly draws upon the Canadian tradition of chaotic and violent Black / Death Metal, yet aiming at something different, having influences ranging from Death / Doom, “classic” dark North American Death Metal as well as dreamy / psychedelic passages merging into long and monstrous songs. The first real song, 'Into The Pit Of Babel' kicks off as a brutal and dark piece of Death Metal until it fades into a spherical interlude introduced by timpani at the 3:32 mark, resembling shoegaze acts or even PINK FLOYD (to give you an idea), which then slowly builds up again to a more disharmonic riff with some off-beat accentuated rhythm to finally return to the pace the beginning, all that in nine minutes. With such an opener it is clear that this is no album which can be digested easily or immediately and indeed “Archaeaeon” comes across as a black, chaotic trip with many different angles. Besides the musical leanings which seem to range from for example old MORBID ANGEL and INCANTATION, CONQUEROR (some similar breaks with pick-sliding can be heard e.g.) as well as WORMPHLEGM or maybe DISEMBOWELMENT the vocals also are rather varied as one can find screams, whispers as well as very low, almost gutturals which are rather seldomly heard in other acts being somewhat tied to bestial Black / Death Metal. What has to be mentioned is the use of leads to add various moods and layers to the songs. The percussion delivery also is everything else than simple or straight forward. While it is true that there is plenty of blasting and high speed parts, fills and variations are abundant – 'Infernal Weapons Summons' even features gravity blasts. With “Archaeaeon”, MITOCHONDRION released a fascinating piece of very varied, captivating, packed yet at the same time violent, epic, technical, atmospheric, ritualistic, chaotic and obscure Black / Death Metal not caring about any possible stylistical and / or musical borders or rules. Admittedly, with more than 70 minutes this album is maybe a bit too long and at parts demanding taking into consideration some song's lengths (from three minutes to the fourteen-minutes closer '137') and the many details the compositions are packed with but for people fond of more ambitous foryas into the realm of Black and Death Metal should enjoy this slab. Considering the fact that this debut has been self produced by the band, the overall sound is good, the guitars could have been slightly heavier but this is nothing too grave in my opinion. “Archaeaeon”, is sold out from the band but it should still be available in several underground distros. In case this review piqued your interest, you can find download links for the two demos at the band's myspace page. With such an impressive debut it should be interesting what MITOCHONDRION will come up with on their second album. www.myspace.com/mitochondrion

Ulrich Kreienbrink

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M-90'S
Desert Of Pangea
(self financed)
30:15min

To get rid off the negative things first for a change: the band's name as well as the cover of this CD (an almost unrecognizable picture in military olive-green) sucks beyond belief ! With a visual presentation like this you probably might attract a Punk fan, but certainly not the die hard Thrash / Death Metal listener. Oh well, luckily the musical side of this seven tracker is way better. M-90's are hailing from the Netherlands, have already released a demo tape and two MCD's before "Desert Of Pangea" and play a very harsh form of oldschool Thrash Metal, with some Death Metal overtones here and there. In a way you could say that their straight ahead, yet technically very interesting performed material comes across like a SLAYER / SODOM mixture. SLAYER mainly for the guitarwork and parts of the drumming and SODOM for the overall quite cool raw approach of the whole material. Except for a little bit of death grunting and some CARCASS similarities in the album's titletrack, the vocals sound refreshingly unique and neither come across like all the Bay Area Thrashers, nor Mille Petrozza infected. This is actually a lot closer to all those second generation US Thrash Metal acts of the 80s that - even though they never made it really big - still have their loyal following today. I bet that M-90's is really an entertaining, energetic live act and their welldone version of SLAYER's 'Silent Scream' a perfect choice to get each crowd going berzerk. For further details and ordering information contact: info@m90s.com, www.m90s.com

Frank Stöver

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THE MODERN AGE SLAVERY
Damned To Blindness
(Napalm Records)
40:17min

Full power to the engines, prepare all weapons, let the killing begin – these words are the perfect introduction to “Damned To Blindness” the debut of THE MODERN AGE SLAVERY. The band has been founded in 2007 and is heading from Italy to demonstrate that not only German bands like MAROON or HEAVEN SHALL BURN are in the position to set the roof on fire. So the direction is more than clear – head banging and circle pit potential at the absolute maximum (at least at 150%) and drum impacts behind every riff. I think that some oldschool Death Metal fanatics will have their problems with the so called Deathcore style (including myself) because some bands just arranging their music to properly forfill the style requirements but from time to time I need these kind of musical adrenaline as long as the release is as good as “Damned To Blindness”. This debut will disappoint not a single soul because the album is offering 40 minutes of powerful Death Metal plus a nice ENTOMBED cover (‘Wolverine Blues’) which is building in some way a bridge between old / new - so please take cover and prepare for impact. www.napalmrecords.com, www.myspace.com/themodernageslavery

Matthias Auch

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MOLESTED SENSES
No Friends Here
(Still Dead Productions)
22:16min

After two demos this five-piece from the US releases their debut consisting of eight tracks of heavy contemporary American Death Metal. Overall, the songs are more of a groove oriented nature with lots of double bass drumming and powerful riffing – but not pure "slam – riffs" from the frognoise department. Variation comes in form of the occassional SUFFOCATION-type breakdown as well as several fast outbursts. While having some influences from modern Slam / Grind they don't quite belong into that genre as the vocals are deep but understandable and MOLESTED SENSES actually come around with some powerful arrangements. Perhaps this is more similar to SKINLESS's style but with less dominant basslines. Here and there I feel reminded to US Death Metal from the early nineties but that impression lasts only shortly before rhythmic elements take over again. I am not too familiar with this genre, all I can say is that MOLESTED SENSES are solid, perhaps even more – that's up to you to decide. Contact: MOLESTED SENSES, P.O. Box 3691, Auburn ME 04212-3691, USA, email: mail@molestedsenses.com or molestedsenses@hotmail.com, homepage: www.molestedsenses.com.

Ulrich Kreienbrink

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THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT
The Apotheosis
(Cold Blood Industries)
37:16min

Even if I hadn't read the band's infosheet, I certainly would have been quite sure that THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT ain't no newcomer to the extreme underground anymore. And indeed, the band consists of former members of the two Dutch acts ALTAR and DEAD HEAD, delivering a pretty furious debut full length here. Their label already compares them to NILE, but I don't really see that yet, apart from the fact that THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT also do work with three brutal lead vocalists. NILE is currently simply a lot more unique than these four guys, who as of yet still can't compete with the diverse songwriting skills of Karl Sanders & Co. Lyrically "The Apotheosis" is a concept album, dealing with the real story of Vlad Tepes the Impaler - better known as Count Dracula (which ain't really the newest idea anymore), musically just very intense Death Metal, often rather close to Grind already, but all in all performed with a lot of technical finesse and class though. The main problem of THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT currently still is their overall lack of variety. They are mainly blasting through the material with full force, adding some crazy SLAYER soloing to it, but therefore ending up becoming rather monotonous and boring after a while (at least to me!). I always enjoy them a lot more whenever they incorporate a couple of slower passages (just listen to the great opening parts of 'The Desecration Of The Black Stone' - in an early DEATH vein - or 'Der Kriegsmeister', which comes up very SLAYER-like), as the riffing used for those particular parts is extremely cool and way more crushing than the highspeed elements which often tend to go nowhere. Some more of that would definitely help to make their next effort more balanced and exciting to listen to. www.monolith-deathcult.com, www.coldbloodindustries.com 

Frank Stöver

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THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT
Trivmvirate
(Twilight Vertrieb)
59:37min

Third strike of this band from the Netherlands, and due to the name, I was expecting a brutal Death Metal assault all the way. On one part, I was correct for the brutal Death Metal part, which can be compared to early CANNIBAL CORPSE with a bit of early MORBID ANGEL, but then, a good dose of electronic sounds are combined into the music, giving this an almost industrial sound, specially the first songs. Think along the lines of early FEAR FACTORY and the few bits I have heard of bands like RAMMSTEIN, could fit the sound. Techno or industrial influences in Metal are not exactly what an old Metalhead is looking for, and lot less mixed with brutal Death Metal in sight…but they are wise enough to come out successful with this otherwise abominable mixture. Suddenly, more than a few riffs reminded me to those ages where the brutal Death / Doom / Thrash bands were dominant in the Netherlands. Well, they do sound a bit like those bands, like PHLEBOTOMIZED, BEYOND BELIEF and so on. The band is capable of creating eerie morbid atmospheres, that can be heard in such masterpiece as 'I Spew Thee Out Of My Mouth', which even reminds me of early THERION. The final result is a long album, with some great atmospheres created, with good growling vocals, a heavy production and although the constant use of keyboards / electronics might be too much for a few, there are surely some really great songs. The album closer 'Den Ensomme Nordens Dronning' clocking at 14:05 minutes, is one good example of how the band can try many different atmospheres and speeds in one long song, yet not doing it tiresome. By the way, in this one song I can listen to some similarities in style and composition with NILE, just to give you a slight idea. After a few listens, I would say that the last 5 songs of the album are the better ones, the use of electronics is kept a bit more in the back and the more brutal and direct style becomes predominant. A quite interesting album, of a band not afraid to dwell deep into the horror. www.twilight-vertrieb.de, www.monolith-deathcult.com

Julian Nuñez

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MONSTROSITY
Enslaving The Masses DoCD
(Hammerheart Records)
“Crave The Blood” (CD1) - 46:19min
“Stages Of Decay” (CD2) - 47:17min

Thanks to the iron will of  Lee Harrison, MONSTROSITY is still a reality in the new millennium (a fatal one?), and it is about time to offer us a double treat as “Enslaving The Masses” to remind us how seminal the band was these last ten years. Yes for sure this double CD is a rather special offering; CD one presents a compilation of promo / demo material covering among others the entire “Imperial Doom” track listing, while CD two is a live record mainly and logically  focused on the most recent MONSTROSITY material, from the “In Dark Purity” album. On “Stages Of Decay”, the band appear as a five piece, and I don’t know if this line-up is due to remain stable in the future, the band having been plagued by multiple changes in the past. Let me only say that these live recordings are faultless, all the tracks being perfectly played, with a special mention for Jason Avery’s excellent vocal performance and of course Harrison’s rather complex drumming parts. But the main interest of “Enslaving The Masses” lies in the “Crave The Blood” CD, because it documents the genesis of one of the most important album of the Death Metal genre, namely “Imperial Doom”. Older readers may remember how much the band were not satisfied with the final mix released by Nuclear Blast, so here is the chance to hear alternate versions of five tracks from the “Imperial Doom” album, on which the guitars are more prominent. The real highlight of “Crave The Blood” is certainly the “Horror Infinity” promo / demo, on which MONSTROSITY appear almost thrashy with a very raw and primitive sound, reminiscent of the 80's. In fact, these fours tracks (redone from the “Imperial Doom” album) made me think of the earlier incarnation of MASTER. Impressive and ultra-violent stuff, especially with George “Corpsegrinder” Fischer spitting his hate with tormented screams instead of low growls. The CD ends with some sessions for the “Millennium” album, the songs sounding better here simply because they sound clearer and rawer, for a less calculated effect. All in all, I think it is obvious how much “Enslaving The Masses” is an essential buy, and I don’t feel the urge to say more. Buy then, and wait for the next MONSTROSITY album, planned for the beginning of 2002!

Edouard Vergriete

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MONSTROSITY
Rise To Power
(Conquest Music / Metal Blade)
47:59min

This could be the easiest review I ever did. I mean, what can you say about a perfect Death Metal album? Review finished. Buy or die! Okay, I’ll give you just a little more: for those of you who already liked “In Dark Purity”, “Rise To Power” is not going to let you down for a second! It’s perfect rage, perfect technicality, perfect brutality, mighty solos… I don’t know where to start! “Rise…” is a little more to the point than “In Dark Purity”. It’s more focused on oldschool, yet highly technical brutality. Still impressive on drums: Mr. Lee Harrison! I don’t understand why MONSTROSITY are still that much underground but maybe with the support of Metal Blade in Europe, things are going to change at last? Jason Avery on vocals simply knows how to do it and those melodic solos even remind me of one of my favorite guitar duos, the guys in AGENT STEEL! Just listen to those Spanish guitars in 'The Fall Of Eden'! Or the extremely long, somewhat experimental last tune called 'Shadow Of Obliteration' featuring (cool sounding!) feedbacks over several minutes as outro! I hope this is gonna be out on vinyl as well although I’m not happy about the cover artwork (better than the one for the last two releases, though) and I can’t wait to see MONSTROSITY on stage again! After the tragic ending of DEATH, MONSTROSITY have become even more important. ‘Nuff said!

Ramon Claassen

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MONSTROSITY 
Spiritual Apocalypse
(Metal Blade)
45:56min

I admit that I somehow miss the fact that there is no good "mainstream" Death Metal around anymore. Before cursing me for my opening statement let me first explain myself. I believe that there was a time where some former underground Death Metal bands managed to break the underground barriers only to enter the "mainstream" Metal scene with some killer material. I am referring to bands such as MORBID ANGEL, OBITUARY, PESTILENCE, MORGOTH, CARCASS etc. that became "big names" (without necessarily presenting weak material) and introduced even more people to Death Metal with releases such as "Covenant", "The End Complete", "Testimony Of The Ancients", "Cursed" and "Heartwork" to name a few. Nowadays most contemporary, mainstream Death Metal bands suck big time (to say the least) and those belonging to the old league have either changed their style, disbanded or sound completely uninteresting. MONSTROSITY is one small exception to the above "rule" since they keep on releasing decent, powerful releases and with "Spiritual Apocalypse" prove - to me at least - that they are able to deliver some fine Death Metal to the masses. Overall we are dealing here with some straight-forward Death Metal, mainly delivered in high speeds with loads of blasts (and some breaks) and a couple of great-played / sounding solos that actually save the album from sounding monotonous. Well if I want to be a bit strict I can reveal that there are some parts that sound a bit "repetitive" still the good guitar-work in the solo-parts improve the situation and the overall quality of the release (the same goes to the killer vocals and the excellent drums). One additional point worth mentioning is that the production sounds really great since the whole album has been recorded in the legendary Morrisound studios. Last but not least they have prepared a great looking cover artwork for this release (contrary to the rather weak covers of their past few releases). To sum it up, if you need a piece of decent contemporary, "mainstream" Death Metal (with both good musicianship and production) then why don't trust veterans MONSTROSITY for the matter? www.monstrosity.us

Manolis A.

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MOONBLOOD
Dusk Woerot
(A.Y.M.S.)
approx. 23min

One of Germany’s finest Black Metal bands with their final stroke: this mini-album was originally supposed to be released as a split LP with NARGAROTH but as this is not going to happen (NARGAROTH and Sombre Records blame the other party), and the vinyl version will probably not be out before the end of 2003, the sheer brilliance of this recording made the Colombian label A.Y.M.S. release the songs on tape (limited to 666 copies, pro-tapes and a different artwork as the LP version). MOONBLOOD’s last recording offers everything that a fan of the band can ask for: fast and raw Black Metal without keyboards, yet always melodic and the incomparable, to be recognized within a thousand others, vocals of Gaamalzagoth. This is probably not MOONBLOOD’s best recording (which in my opinion is the “Taste Our German Steel” LP), but a couple of other bands were lucky if their recordings were of this quality, and soundwise this may be the best MOONBLOOD have ever done. The tape consists of four songs: ‘Dusk Woerot Part I-III’ and ‘Born To Live Under The Shadows Of Damnation’. ‘Dusk Woerot Part I’ is more like an intro, yet ‘Part II’ and ‘Part III’ offer so typical material that I simply cannot get enough of, fast Black Metal always with this incredible (sometimes rather medieval) melodies that you simply cannot get out of your head after listening to it for three or four times. Especially ‘Part III’ proves this perfectly. ‘Born To Live…’ then shows the band from its more mid-tempo approach. I simply cannot describe how incredible I think this album is, but MOONBLOOD are so unique (while unfortunately this word is far overused) and have been ever since their incarnation in 1994. Due to the import prices this tape could be comparably high but this release is worth any cent, and as the band decided not to press just another 100 copies edition this will possibly be available for about 6-8 Euro which are well spent here. The final gravestone is set with this tape. Rot in peace and thanks for a couple of more-than-great albums over the years. Contact: A.Y.M.S., c/o Arctthuro, A.A. 36531, Cali - Colombia

Nhashi

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MOONSORROW
Voimasta Ja Kunniasta
(Spikefarm Records)
48:46min

Actually each package by Spinefarm / Spikefarm has yet offered at least one pearl - and so it was this time again. Finnish pagan band MOONSORROW unleash their 3rd effort - if you include their re-recorded demo "Tämä Ikuinen Talvi" on Sagitarrius Prod. - and although I am no longer that much into the pagan stuff like I was years before this was surprisingly fresh for my ears. "Voimasta Ja Kunniasta" which translates as "Of Strength And Honour" is always straight forward but includes all the ingredients that I demand by a Pagan Metal-album: those Nordic melodies, heroic viking choirs, aggressiveness nevertheless a positive mood, authentic instruments like a mouth harp, sword-samples etc. but never forgetting that this is of course a metal-album - all the stuff that makes a pagan album somehow unique. And you will find all this here - done in a decent quality. And even though this somehow lacks originality I consider this far more spiritual than many releases of the same vein. But as I find something negative on every release: who has done those photos? Destroy his camera-equipment and send him naked to the north polar circle! Seldomly I have seen pictures that were as silly as those included in the booklet. Beside this slip - highly recommended.
www.moonsorrow.cjb.net

Nhashi

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MOORGATE
Close Your Eyes And Fade Away
(Cutting Edge Records)
43:30min

In the info sheet that was sent along with the promo for MOORGATE's debut album "Close Your Eyes And Fade Away" this Swedish bunch gets compared to melodic Death Metal acts such as AT THE GATES, IN FLAMES and DARK TRANQUILLITY... Pardon? I really wonder if the guy / girl who wrote that really listened to the material they decided to promote here... Ok, just like the aforementioned acts also MOORGATE have a lot of classic MAIDEN overtones in their material (obviously most inspired by the rougher, early days of the Brits), which is perfectly reflected in the gallopping raw riffing and twin guitar attacks throughout the entire record. But that's about it already! Unlike all the Gothenburg acts, MOORGATE deliver their material in a slightly heavier way, the vocals are more deathly and the bass is refreshingly upfront in the mix. The overall production sounds very "live" and is by no means compareable to all the faceless digital stuff that floods the scene these days. Unfortunately the band also decided to incorparate several clean vocal parts in some of the songs (starting off with track number four, 'Self Immolation'), which I could easily have lived without. Apart from that it sounds pretty promising all in all, doesn't it? Well, I personally wouldn't really play "Close Your Eyes And Fade Away" again nevertheless as the whole record pretty much bored me after a couple of songs already. MAIDEN influenced Death / Thrash Metal simply isn't my cup of coffee and MOORGATE's version of it not exactly the most groundbreaking either. For all further info check out www.moorgate.se. The label can be reached at www.cuttingedge-records.com

Frank Stöver

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