SCENT OF DEATH
Entangled In Hate (MCD)
(self-financed)
19:15min

The Spanish Death Metal four-piece was founded in autumn 1998 and now after almost five years in the underground they come up with their debut-MCD “Entangled In Hate”, which was completed in 2002. Musically SCENT OF DEATH orientate on complex, modern Death Metal à la DYING FETUS, GORGASM with screaming guitars here and there, twisted riffs and surprising song structures. The vocals are more oldschool in my opinion and remind me a bit of Mike Eisenhauer / EVIL INCARNATE, who uses some kind of whispered growls, if you can imagine something like that. Because of the rather unusual, dark and morbid vocals SCENT OF DEATH are able to create a certain amount of individuality on “Entangled In Hate” and a great song like ‘Feeling The Fear’ shows that SCENT OF DEATH are without any doubt a fascinating band, that deserves attention. One should be prepared for technical and brutal Death Metal assaults with a slight sinister feeling and a very cool, traditional production, when checking out SCENT OF DEATH. They are not the new masters of the genre, but a valuable new, talented band. In addition to that “Entangled In Hate” comes with a professional layout, song lyrics and so on. The band asks especially for labels / distros willing to support them, so please do it! Contact: Nuno Miguel Perez, Ntra. Sra. Do Viso 4, 2° lzq., 32005 Ourense, Spain Email: scentdeath@yahoo.es

Stefan Franke

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SCENT OF DEATH
Woven In The Book Of Hate
(Bloody Productions)
35:02min

It seems that the call for label support that Stefan included in his review on SCENT OF DEATH's self-financed MCD "Entangled In Hate" ended up being pretty successful after all, cause in the meantime Spain's Bloody Productions has picked up the band and released their first full length (after another company had to back off for financial reasons). Even though Mr. Franke already more or less seemed to like the potential of the MCD, it obviously did not entirely convince him yet. But I was nevertheless very eager to hear this debut album now as it got recommended to me from two different people almost at the same time... both mentioning a big IMMOLATION influence in the new material! And after I have checked it out myself now I can only confirm those statements! I'm not sure if the addition of vocalist Lois (who suprisingly came from the Black Metal band IMMACULA MORTEM!) is the main reason for the band's obvious big step forward, but fact is that his extremely brutal voice often recalls the one of Ross Dolan. And that's indeed meant as a very big compliment, as Dolan's vocal delivery has without a question always been one of the best in the entire Death Metal genre! But also the songwriting on "Woven In The Book Of Hate" heavily recalls late IMMOLATION albums, with all the sick and twisted guitar pieces and apocalyptic sounding rhythm section. SCENT OF DEATH sometimes just seem to have a little more thrashier approach, but on the other hand also this rather typical MORBID ANGEL references (of whom they impressively covered 'Day Of Suffering' on this album!). Unfortunately the coverart looks a little cheap, but then again, the solid production of the record makes up for it. So, all in all Spain finally seems to have given birth to another great act to keep an eye on now!  For more info check out www.scentofdeath.com or www.bloodyprod.cjb.net.

Frank Stöver

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SCEPTER
Fucking Metal Motherfuckers
(Merciless Records)
34:33min

More than three years have passed by now since Chicago's SCEPTER came up with their debut full length "I'm Going To Hell". The album, which was the logical follow up to their two already very promising mini CDs ("Up Thy Ass" and "Metal Supremacy"), not only ended up being a pretty solid foundation for the three-piece from Chicago, the guys furthermore finally seemed ready to conquer the Metal world in general. But for some strange reason that never happened and after a long period of silence I already assumed that they had called the quits... until I got myself a copy of Slayer Magazine # 18. That issue not only featured a brand new interview with the SCEPTER guys, it also announced the release of "Fucking Metal Motherfuckers" after all. And "surprise surprise", a couple days later I had the promo for the album in my mailbox already. After a few listens I can easily assure you, that nothing really has changed in the SCEPTER camp - they are still the same dedicated Metalheads we used to like and worship years ago. Which means, their songwriting is still very straight ahead and stripped to the core (the majority of the twelves tunes not even reaches the three minutes mark!), mainly built around a very CELTIC FROST-ish riffing and SODOM alike vocal delivery. Mix all that with a small dose of MOTÖRHEAD rawness and you already get 95% of the picture. Apart from that formular there's also tunes like 'Time To Bleed', which even has got a certain 'Mandatory Suicide' feel to it and 'Metal Means Stupid', which could also have been one of the slow SLAUGHTER (Canada) tunes, in the vein of 'Tales Of The Macabre' (if it had a different tuning / production). So, as you can see, this record by no means fits into any current trend within the boundaries of Metal and therefore can easily be worshipped any time, again and again. A great record, with a very cool album title! Label contact: www.merciless-records.de

Frank Stöver

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SCEPTIC
Pathetic Being
(Last Episode Records)
46:12min

Holy shit!!!! This is brilliant! If you are into technical Death Metal in the vein of old ATHEIST, NOCTURNUS, old CYNIC, GORGUTS, newer DEATH or PESTILENCE make sure to get your hands on this new release by Polish SCEPTIC! The band consists of extremely talented musicians, delivers eight very complex own compositions (+ intro), as well as a perfectly executed cover of the old NOCTURNUS track 'Arctic Crypt' (from the recently re-issued "Thresholds" album). While many other technical acts are often too much concerned about their weird song structures and individual playing abilities, SCEPTIC don't forget about the actual brutality of this genre. That results in some very devastating material which (because of all its little bits and pieces) never gets boring at all and (mainly because of the raw vocals) still comes across very aggressive sounding. SCEPTIC guitarist Jacek Hiro (who's also involved in DIES IRAE and DECAPITATED) formed SCEPTIC with drummer extra ordinare Maciek Zieba back in 1995. Three demos and another full length album ("Blind Existence", 1999) were released prior to "Pathetic Being", the band hooked up with VADER's management and already played on the most important festivals in their home country. So, now it's time for the rest of the world to discover this little gem as well. Impressive!!!!

Frank Stöver>

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CHUCK SCHULDINER
Zero Tolerance
(Karmaggedon)
53:21min

This album features a four instrumental rehearsal of songs that were supposed to be on CONTROL DENIED’s second album and DEATH’s “Infernal Death” / “Mutilation” demos. While the first CONTROL DENIED record never really convinced me completely having viewed it more or less as a DEATH album without the same class, the bulk of material for its never completed successor doesn’t either. Chuck’s supposedly said when he was working on this new record that he wanted it to be an instant classic release in the league of “Painkiller”, “Master Of Boredom” (ooops “Puppets”!) but too many long drawn out / cheesy riffs found their way throughout those four songs. This said, it’s Charlie who was the mastermind behind this and at times the geniuses / killer / catchy lines that come from nowhere and grab you by the balls right away are also here but in minority this time just like one in the second tune (the songs are untitled) or on the third one during a fast part (and saves it from sucking completely) so it’s really average as a whole. Also again most of that stuff could have easily appeared on a DEATH album as there never been such a difference between the two bands musicwise. Then the two demos come in their complete form but it’s a real shame that those recordings didn’t came directly from Chuck’s collection of recordings because what has been used here comes from a fourth generation tape at least. It really sucks considering that this material especially the “Infernal Death” demo showcased DEATH at their best in my opinion (with a line up featuring Kam Lee drums / vocals, Chuck guitar / vocals and Rick Rozz guitar), 'Infernal Death', 'Baptized In Blood' and 'Archangel' are just perfect examples of brutal Death Metal at its prime where everything sounded natural and not forced, massive killing riff after massive killing riff that simply leaves you either breathless or breaknecked (or both in certain occasions) after such an assault of perfection. If you’re a long time DEATH follower like I am, get this as it’s always good to hear material from the man. I won’t comment on the disputes that surround this release, let's just say that I’m quite happy that Guido from Karmaggedon did it, no matter what some might think.

Laurent Ramadier

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SCORCHED-EARTH
Mars
(Novisible Scars)
53:43min

This band may already be on some of your radars, for they were on the bill at the last Black Castle show in late 2009, which ORDER FROM CHAOS headlined. The crowd seemed to enjoy them, and I see no reason why that positive experience should not translate to the privacy of one's home. The studio versions of their live set is reminiscent of the EXODUS slogan, "Good, friendly, violent fun." Yes, this is a thrashy, Death Metal album, but it takes place on Mars, so let's enjoy the ride. On the whole, the album inherits its structure from the simpler, punky side of Death Metal. Although it may come as a bit of a surprise, since this is likely the first many readers have heard of them, but this is the band's fourth album. Their debut was in 2000. For ten years they've slaved away, and this album shows a band still gunning as hard as ever. www.hailscorchedearth.com

Nat Shapiro

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SCORNAGE
Sick Of Being Human
(MDD Records / Mausoleum Records)
39:10min

Raw and aggressive Thrash Metal, that's the stomping ground of SCORNAGE from Germany. With harsh riffing and powerful vocals, they push through ten dynamically arranged songs, well balanced between pushing and groovy parts, which sound a bit like MASSACRA from France and KONKHRA from Denmark. The production is also very good, so all you Thrash Metal lunatics should check out this exquisite output from the German underground. On www.scornage.com you can find a few songs from their releases so far, their first MCD “Ascension“ and  “Sick Of Being Human“, as well as two exclusive songs which can only be found on the website. And you can see the really cool cover showing a radiograph of a pistol inside a skull, maybe a tribute to the cover of the rerelease of NASTY SAVAGE's “Penetration Point“, who knows...

Christoph Göbel

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SCORNGRAIN

THE SCOURGER
Dark Invitation To Armageddon
(Cyclone Empire)
59:55min

This is the second album from the Finland based band THE SCOURCER, a band which carries ex-members of bands as GANDALF, THE WAKE or DIVINE DECAY. To be perfectly honest, fans of melodic Death / Thrash Metal will surely like this album. It’s filled with cool melodies, cool guitarsolos, cool songs with a certain “mainstream” approach (e. g. ‘In The Hour Of Ruin’, ‘Never Bury The Hatchet’ or the title track), the music is tight played and includes a sound just the right one for this type of music. Fans of newer THE HAUNTED or CHILDREN OF BODOM won’t make a mistake in ordering this record. Others on the other side would complain their lack in originality and lack of own ideas. Once more it is a matter of taste, the quality on this record can not be found in its originality but what you get are 11 songs (plus 2 bonustracks) of modern sounding Death / Thrash Metal the way you hear it quite regular these days and the way so many fans are currently looking out for! An album which doesn’t hurt and which pleases the ears of fans from the above mentioned bands. Nothing more, nothing less. www.cyclone-empire.de 

Well, this is quite a lot of music for the money and although I was never much into this kind of atmospheric Black Metal, I have to say honestly, that SEAR BLISS’ new album is pretty good for this kind of art. It is far, far, far away from gay bands like CRADLE OF FILTH or HOMO BORGIR!!! I would describe SEAR BLISS’ “Forsaken Symphony” as a mixture of raw, epic Black Metal that even can be compared with JUDAS ISCARIOT’s “Heaven In Flames” and ethereal, complex synth arrangements, that are spiced up with real trombone / barytone parts. It is definitely nothing for the “ultra-true”, but it deserves attention, because it is not such commercial shit, but music that certainly comes from the heart. Andras Nagy’s vocals are very grim and often sound like the Norwegian Black Metal legends, when they were still good (check out the great ‘The Hour Of Burning’, he sounds like Abbath of IMMORTAL), the guitars sound raw and traditional and the synth stuff is not cheap and shitty, but very professional and aimed arranged. Only the coverartwork by Kris Verwimp is not very beautiful, it shows a burning witch, who has big tits and some flying ravens over head (the latter suggest a connection to the old SEAR BLISS releases), but it does not ruin anything. So if you are interested in Black / Dark Metal, that respects its roots and risks to go beyond the boundaries of its traditional style you should be extremely happy with this “Forsaken Symphony” by Hungarian SEAR BLISS. Highlights are according to me ‘My Journey To The Stars’ and ‘When Death Comes’, as well as ‘The Hour Of Burning’ which I mentioned above. The band’s Website: www.searbliss.hu The label’s website: www.redstream.org

Stefan Franke

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SEAR BLISS
Deacade Of Perdition (DVD)
(Red Stream)
approx. 120:00min

"Decade Of Perdition" is a DVD containing 3 chapters. The first one shows a concert in Budapest which was the band's 10 years anniversary show on February, 22nd 2004. Ten songs which lead through SEAR BLISS' whole musical creations and which show that these guys are, besides being creative and innovative (especially the incorporated trumpet has always been something outstanding for me), also a solid live-band. Chapter 2 includes some backstage stuff, interviews and studio shots while chapter 3 is the photo gallery. Note that this DVD is not one of those high polished releases à la CRADLE or BORGIR, this is more undergroundish and that circumstance gives a certain charme to this. Fans of the band will nevertheless buy this, for others it is a good opportunity to get to know this, in my eyes, underrated band. www.searbliss.hu, www.redstream.org

Andi Bauer

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SEARING I
Bloodshred
(Black Lotus Records)
42:35min

Since their formation in 1999 Sweden's SEARING I have recorded four demos so far, and now they have released their debut album “Bloodshred”. It contains 14 songs of modern Death / Thrash Metal, with an intense combination of aggression and melody. The band makes sure to offer a good variety of speed within the songs and spice them up with melodic guitar leads and harmonies between the crushing riffs. The aggressive lead and backing vocals go with the music perfectly, every now and then they even bring in some rough harmonies, too. I can't find any flaccidities on this strong album, the production is massive and the songwriting is excellent, so I can recommend it to all fans of modern Scandinavian Death / Thrash Metal. Receive first impressions by two songs from their demos on www.searingi.com. Labelpage: www.black-lotus-recs.com.

Christoph Göbel

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SEASONS IN BLACK
Deadtime Stories
(Black Attack)
51:40min

"Deadtime Stories" seems to be the debut full-length if we can believe the lines of the (famous) promo-sheet(s) of Black Attakk! Started as a Gothic / Death Metal Band, they changed their music to a more Industrial sounding one. After one demo and a mini-album we now can listen to "Deadtime Stories". Announced as a morbid symbiosis of brutality and insanity a melange of Black, Gothic and Death Metal! You see, SEASONS IN BLACK is trying to sound innovative, extraordinary and up to date. This must be sounding horrible to all outside who tend to call themselves ''oldschool' maniacs etc.! Those guys should do a further step and better read any other review. To all others: SEASONS IN BLACK just reminds me on an even more bad copy of CREMATORY, and of course not the Swedish outfit. The keyboards are over-used, irritating moments ('Happy Doomsday To You'' i.e.) are the rule and some dark moments are to be found. If you can call yourself 'open-minded' or 'innovation-hunter' you can try this outfit. People who have found themselves comfortable in music of TIAMAT (1995 - 2000), CREMATORY and the likes could risk an ear. By the way, sometimes I also feel even reminded on old PUNGENT STENCH on their "Dirty Rhymes…" album, mostly due to the voice. The limited first edition of "Deadtime Stories" is coming with two bonus tracks. www.black-attakk.de

Hurricane

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SECRETS OF THE MOON
Stronghold Of The Inviolables
(Cicatrix / Red Stream Records)
30:43min

It’s really a pity to see how these guys from the northern part of Germany still have to struggle… For unknown reasons they never really managed to gain the recognition they surely would’ve deserved for quite a while already. It almost seemed to me that the four guys in SECRETS OF THE MOON are cursed or something, cause ever since their origin they always delivered convincing raw Black Metal in its most traditional format, but with that obviously didn’t exactly fit into any of all these stupid money making business machines that dare to call themselves “record labels”. Even their debut album “Stronghold Of The Inviolables” originally only came out in a limited edition of 200 vinyl copies on the small underground label Sombre Records over a year ago. So, I bet most of you didn’t even know about its existence (me included…). But luckily the Red Stream sub label Cicatrix was nice enough to re-issue the material on CD format, so that a couple more people will finally be able to experience the band’s qualities. I was actually kinda surprised that none of the seven tracks that originally appeared on the ’98 promo tape (which also included ‘Through Golden Spheres’, the track off the split-7” with LUNAR AURORA) made it on this album, but that luckily doesn’t mean that SECRETS OF THE MOON have chosen a different musical path these days. It’s still raw, cold and eerie Black Metal with grim vocals, the usual guitar tuning and mostly fast drumming. But SECRETS OF THE MOON were clever enough not to play full speed ahead all the time, but incorporate lots of slower, dark and quite emotional passages into the material instead, which make the album even more enjoyable as it never really gets boring this way. Mainstream Black Metal fans should obviously avoid this release by all means, but all those of you who still prefer bands that musically still express themselves in the original vein of this once so rebellious genre, should definitely check out “Stronghold Of The Inviolables” as this is really Black fuckin’ Metal the way it was meant to be performed! www.redstream.org

Frank Stöver

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SECRETS OF THE MOON
Live In Bitterfeld
(Arkana Musik)
approx. 55min

As the German support for the “North American Black Metal Invasion Pt.I” - tour in December, SECRETS OF THE MOON played a couple of gigs in Germany and Belgium with GODLESS NORTH, INQUISITION and KRIEG. One of them, the one at the “Festung” in Bitterfeld, was recorded and now released as a limited live-tape (200 copies) on Arkana Musik. This tape is really able to bring you forth the power that S.O.T.M. are able to create live – an energetic yet spiritual gig that if you see them for the first time, leaves you speechless. It is no doubt that they really were the best band on the evening at the tour when I saw them. This livetape includes a good mixture of old (‘Caller Of The Moon’) and newer still unreleased songs (‘Kaosthrone (Destroy To Kreate)’) presenting for the first time their new drummer Thrawn on an official release. Especially the new songs show that S.O.T.M. become more and more outstanding, so hard to compare to any other act, so supreme in their own way and style that although the loss of MOONBLOOD and NAGELFAR is hard, the flag of the German Black Metal-scene is held up high so easily by this three-piece and if bearing in mind such bands which are few, we can forget about most of all these childish rumours, struggles etc. that nowadays paint the picture of the Black Metal-scene. I simply cannot find words for some bands, S.O.T.M. are among them. The sound is impressingly good for a live-recording, there are even worse live-recordings on CD, the only thing that I don’t like is that all songs are cut out as the live-feeling gets lost this way, but I doubt that this really matters. The tape comes as a professional release, printed inlay, sticker and hand-numbered! A must-have! http://www.arkana.de.vu

Nhashi

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With last year's exceptional full length album "Carved In Stigmata Wounds" Germany's SECRETS OF THE MOON finally managed to gain the attention they had deserved a lot longer already. The record was a highly impressive and extremely unique sounding musical statement, easily proving everyone wrong who considered the raw Black Metal style as a rather limited form of music. This three track MCD is their first release ever since, but according to a statement of the band "in no way a reflection of the style of the next album!" Well, I personally wouldn't mind getting a full length record like this as it once again became really outstanding, yet a little different from their previous offering... The overall writing formular seems less sophisticated and more straight ahead, yet still very focused on a clever songwriting (an aspect that many bands seem to forget about while trying to sound extreme these days). This ain't the usual leftover songs that weren't good enough to be included on the last album, but freshly recorded new tunes (well, in case you still consider January 2005 as "fresh"...). The overall atmosphere of the EP is very cold, surprisingly heavy, the songs do offer great dark and always very crushing riffs and the vocals get performed in an excellent grim manner... Needless to say that the whole session was once again perfectly produced by MK at Studio E, so expect nothing but a raw, yet very powerful sound here! Next to the two own tunes ('Bleakstar' and Exhibitions In The Grey Zone') you're about to experience SECRETS OF THE MOON's interpretation of the DARKTHRONE classic 'Under A Funeral Moon', which turned out incredibly strong as well. So, if you're seriously into the secrets of the black arts, you should make sure not to miss out on this MCD as well. It will be out on September 17 as a limited (1000 copies) digipack. Links of interest: http://come.to/secretsofthemoon, www.lupuslounge.com. Order here. 

Frank Stöver


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SECRETS OF THE MOON
Antithesis
(Lupus Longue)
58:41min

I have been listening to “Antithesis” numerous times. I have used headphones. I’ve been driving my car way too fast and I have played it at my stereo at home. As they say in the incredibly funny movie Top Secret (1984): “This is not Mel Tormé!”. “Antithesis” is not “Now, Diabolical”. It’s not even close, despite the more direct approach in “Versus”. It is rather the album I hoped “Now, Diabolical” was going to be. “Antithesis” is one of the strongest extreme Metal albums of all ages. Is it Black Metal? Is it Death Metal? I don’t really know, but it’s very very dark. Yes, it is darkness enfolded into a crystal clear production. 70% of the album consists of mid-paced parts that evolve all the time. If you take the whispering 'Metamorphoses' it appears as being rather monotonous and somewhat boring. The bombastic start-stop-start-stop rhythm in the first part of the track evolves into a monstrous rhythm-Godzilla. This track is cleverly placed in the middle of the album, giving us time to breathe. But Secrets Of The Moon is not only bombastic. In 'Confessions' the melodies sneak upon you. The first few times it didn’t grab my attention as I found it a bit tiresome. It takes like 5 minutes before the band chooses to change the tempo noticeably… as they slow down and give us a graveyard section. It’s like they lay in their graves playing this short segment. Slowly but surely 'Confessions' grow into our minds, leaving its mark in our souls. However, it’s the track prior to 'Confessions' that opened my mind to “Antithesis” as a whole. After 1:15 minutes the band bombs us with a part that lasts 55 seconds. There’s nothing that hides in the mix, they have not included keyboards, female vocals or whatever you desire into these 55 seconds of brutal Metal. It’s just brutal Metal. And the best is yet to come. After Secrets Of The Moon has repeated the words “You Cruel King” a few times, they just change direction completely, only to reveal one of the most colossal parts I’ve heard for years. After 2:55 minutes the band gives us a part that has (slow) headbanging written all over the place. It could be that this is unintentional, but it works wonders for me. No, I’m not getting to the point yet. 'Ghost' has a great drive coming from the fine melody in the beginning. You can actually hum along with it. And here’s one point. Secrets Of The Moon writes dark music with some melodies that could easily be considered too light. But these are balanced with heavy drums and regular tempo-changes. And a voice that must’ve been spawned in hell. It is raw and crisp. And varied. Not only in the said track, but in the album as a whole. The vocals are whispered, shouted and sung in a grim manner. “Antithesis” has a levelled production. The instruments are clear and present, and those few effects they’ve added appears equally clear with the exception that they are often mixed lower. The keyboards part around 6 minutes of 'Ghost' appeared after more than three spins. But there are effects that are more prominent. In 'Seraphim Is Dead' there’s a horn-section that appears only once. I won’t reveal to you exactly how it is and when it appears, but I promise you that it should make more impact than those on the mentioned Satyricon album. And it’s just so cool that Secrets Of The Moon uses this only once instead of repeating it. This improves the impact even further. While being on 'Seraphim Is Dead', I must add that if you come to think that 'Confessions' and 'Metamorphoses' were too monotonous, the band makes amends for this “monotony” in the progressive highlight that is named 'Seraphim Is Dead'. The track contains all the ingredients you need to describe Secrets of The Moon to your neighbour. Even the cymbal-solo towards the end of the album feels in place. And just when you thought you’d heard it all, the band gives us the gigantic 'Lucifer Speaks'. It’s doomy, it’s incredibly heavy and it’s like a knife piercing your flesh. You know you shouldn’t do it, but it feels good anyway. 'Lucifer Speaks' gives me the chills. It feels so good. As it says in the lyrics: “…this colossal darkness…”. Even when they gather speed, 'Lucifer Speaks' is heavy. And deadly. If I shall criticize anything it has to be that the band has an intro and an outro that feel superfluous. I am sure there are reasons for these short pieces of Metal, but they don’t add to the mysticism. I would’ve preferred (musically speaking) that the album began with 'Versus' and ended with 'Lucifer Speaks'. Then this would’ve been the perfect extreme Metal album. With “Antithesis” this German band has managed to make a massive album of original extreme Metal that grows on you. I didn’t quite catch it the first few spins, but it grew on me and it still does. The musicianship is strong and arrogant (if you will), because these guys don’t show off. They just give us their vision of utter darkness, with small signs of hope and light. And the strangest thing is that even if the production is clearer than ever, they still fail to remind me of other bands, just as they didn’t do with “Carved In Stigmata Wounds”. But be patient, because you need to give “Antithesis” the time it demands. www.secretsofthemoon.org, www.lupuslounge.com (the album will be released in mid September, but you can already pre-order a copy here - Frank)

Roy Kristensen

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SECRETS OF THE MOON
Privilegivm
(Prophecy Productions / Lupus Lounge)
65:26min

Since nearly 15 years I’m a close observer / fan / supporter of the German Black Metal underground but even after all those years only a few German bands are considered by the world-wide Metal community as a so called cult act. Next to LUNAR AURORA without a doubt SECRETS OF THE MOON are one of the bands who deserve this title due to their never-ending search / fight against invisible scene boundaries. What began over ten years ago with their fabulous "Promo Tape 98" – still one of the best underground releases ever, proved by the fact that the material has been re-issued countless times – has finally brought the band the status as of one the leading Black Metal acts. “Privilegivm” is the next and third chapter under the wings of Prophecy Productions and the expectation had been enormous high. So what can we expect from a band which was forced to return from the abyss after the unavoidable band ‘modifications’ (the last remaining founding member Daevas has left the band in 2007)?  The album is a consequent follow up to their former releases “Carved In Stigmata Wounds”(2004) and “Antithesis” (2006) and the first track 'Sulphur' (with a short interludium) is a perfect example for the SOTM sound anno 2009. The times of pure aggression – as reference the songs ‘Psychoccult Hymn’ or ‘Kaosthrone’ from their debut- are in some way gone, but that does not mean that the music sounds bleak or dull, they just channel their emotion in a more controlled / effective way. The band has reached a new level for their music and I really think that it deserves the definition as Black Metal art. Nearly all songs on “Privilegivm” are reaching the 7 minutes barrier but the music needs this time to capture the essence of its creation – especially the perfect interaction of the guitars and drums is remarkable – and even after listening to the 13 minutes key song 'Harvest' dozen of times the song is still in the position to offer several new layers. There are only a few bands which can recreate their style again and again and still stay true to their roots – “Privilegivm” is not a standard release, far away from easy listening Black Metal and maybe too complex for some listener – but a bottle of red wine is also becoming better year after year and time will prove me right with this release. For more info check out: www.secretsofthemoon.org, www.lupuslounge.com, www.myspace.com/secretsofthemoon. On sale here.

Matthias Auch

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SEIDE
Dogma (Demo 2009)
(self-financed)
24:45min

This is melancholy music coming from a dreamers with an edge. SEIDE are a four piece band from France that play, in their own words, Dark/Black Metal. And that would be a perfect short description of their sound - Black Metal aggression tools used with the backup of Dark Metal melancholy note of heartfelt pain and loneliness. One thing that stroke me before anything else is the humility of their approach. In stark contrast to the most Black Metallers, these guys are not shrieking their contempt for the world thinking they are the new messiahs. For me that is a big, big bonus. And now the music. This demo consists of 5 songs and is crafted well with guitars, bass, drums and vocals each getting equal share in the mix. The guitars are languid and piercing at the same time, the bass provides a good grounding and ads heaviness and the drums pinpoint the sound with the flow. The vocals range from the raspy shrieks to doomy semi-growls and come from the depths of desolate life experience. The songs are varied and contain aggression, mournful slow parts and epic heights all used with the measure and style. The production is extremely clean for Black Metal, let alone for a demo. Its airiness is wisely used, because the kind of darkness that this demo represents is clean and breathable, without a usual filth and decay found in Black Metal. There is a strong current of decadence flowing beneath which also needs clarity to best express itself. So, the production is flawless. With track names such as 'Unbeliever' and 'The Outsider' you can already get the impression of their lyrical content. I don't know if the latter song has any connection with the books of Colin Wilson and Albert Camus that go by that same name, but I find toying with this idea amusing. The interesting side of this record is that it will appeal to fans of aggressive Black Metal, but also to the more quiet types that like to drown in forlorn atmospherics. Maybe to the latter even more because a certain amount of introversion would be most helpful to appreciate this and SEIDE scales of Dark Metal are slightly more tipped to this side. You can call it a coincidence, but I see it as a good fortune to find this album in early spring - it is the melancholy of this season, with the still, crisp air and the shy sun, that brings out the pain of the most peculiar kind. And "Dogma" is its ideal musical background. Even without a proper album out this alone would be an enviable accomplishment. Very good. www.myspace.com/seide666

Branko Matijašević 

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SEIRIM
Kill.War.Chaos
(Cudgel Agency)
45:13min

In my opinion the term Death / Black Metal gets used way too often nowadays… Mostly by record labels or journalists who are a bit uncertain how to categorize a band’s music in an appropriate manner. Fact is that the majority of those kinda bands not necessarily delivers a product that comes up with elements of both genres in a similar way. It’s more like, they either play brutal Death Metal with Satanic lyrics or Black Metal with deep grunted vocals or whatever… But in SEIRIM’s case everything finally seems to fit together very well. This German four piece spits out the material on their second full length “Kill.War.Chaos” with the sheer aggression of Black Metal, but performs everything in such a brutal manner that Death Metal fans should easily get a kick out of the 8 featured songs (+ 3 short intros) in the same way. The only negative aspect of the whole record still is the lack of catchy song structures, which isn’t meant in a commercial or melodic way of course. It’s just that SEIRIM’s material is nothing but intense yet with no real standout track. Everything was basically composed on the same level - mainly played fast forward and always straight into your face. So maybe the guys should concentrate on some more effective, crushing riffing or memorable chorus lines in the future a little bit more in order to better capture the listeners attention the whole way through. To really understand my little complaint make sure to check out the latest albums by DEW-SCENTED or VIU DRAKH. Even though both bands already understood the importance of those elements, they nowadays sound even more intense than ever before…! But apart from that - SEIRIM are definitely on the right way, so keep an eye on them.

Frank Stöver

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SEKHMET
Opus Zrudy
(Aphelion Productions)
54:10min

Czech Republic's SEKHMET releases "Opus Zrudy", their third full length. There are no keyboards, no Gothic influences, no female vocals, no atmospheric stuff, just good old Black Metal. The most notorious influences present in "Opus Zrudy" are drawn from the early full on speed attack of DARKTHRONE and the evil vibe of early BATHORY, even though SEKHMET's song structures are more complex than the aforementioned bands. Production wise, the album has that thin demo feeling from the 90s, not heavy enough, yet a 'signature' sound for the genre. Surprisingly, the mix is really clean and you can listen to every instrument. The vocals are just high enough, shifting from the usual shriek to a hoarse grunt in some passages. The rhythm foundation, bass and drums, works really well as the backbone for the guitars' minor scale riffing. To sum it up, this is a solid 'oldschool' (am I allowed to say that?) Black Metal album from SEKHMET. Recommended. By the way, there is a cover version of DARKTHRONE's 'Under A Funeral Moon' included as a bonus track. For more info check out www.myspace.com/sekhmetczech, www.aphelionproductions.net

Alfonso Perez

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SEKTARISM
L’Offrande (MCD)
(Insidious Poisoning Records)
17:01min

SEKTARISM from France have chosen to walk the path of pain & sorrow and this release gives the term without doubt a new definition. Since SILENCER I really can’t remember a band which transfered their physical pain so convincing into any kind of  recording. The obscure release is offering one 17 minutes track of ‘Satanik Funeral Doom’ and even if the extreme level had been pushed really hard within the last decade I can’t avoid the feeling that "L’Offrande" is real morbid music for real morbid people. Not sure if every Black Metal head is ready for such a trip but in the world of SEKTARISM is for sure no room of any kind of light. www.insidious-poisoning.com

Matthias Auch

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SEMARGL
Satanogenesis
(Deathgasm Records)
55.12min

Sometimes less is more, but sadly SEMARGL did not have this in mind when they recorded their first full-length. At its best moments this album offers fast Death Metal like DEICIDE and Black Metal that reminds, especially the mid-tempo and slow parts, of GORGOROTH. But the tracks are repeatedly interrupted by enervating noises, something like Industrial or whatever. The reason for this is completely beyond my knowledge, but I know that those interruptions are entirely destroying the whole album. Maybe the band is trying to be avantgarde or modern, maybe they did not have enough material, maybe the person responsible for the noise is some kind of egocentric. Like in other bands, when the guitarist is forcing another and another guitar solo, the computer programmer in SEMARGL is constantly unleashing this noise. The problem is, there are good and enjoyable moments of Death and Black Metal on “Satanogenesis“, but the keyboard / synthesizer attacks makes this release inaudible. If it were just interludes, then the listener could easily skip to the next song, but the Industrial attacks are embedded within the songs. In fact they disfigure the songs, because it is just absolutely inappropriate. You listen to some fine piece of Metal, then suddenly a noise that reminds of a tape being “eaten” by the player appears and then the music is tipping over into Industrial. I do not mind non-Metal influences, but they have to fit to the music. Again and again I tried, but it is really hard to listen to this output from the first to the last song in one piece and every time I did so I nearly lost my nerves. So for next release SEMARGL should definitely leave the Industrial noise behind and concentrate on classical Death / Black Metal - sometimes less is more. www.semargl.com.ua

Mirco Szymyslik

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SEMARGL
Manifest
(Deathgasm Records)
71:00min

This act is really an odd choice for this American company, Deathgasm Records to reach all the way to the Ukraine to sign such an average horde and contemporary conscious Black Metal act like SEMARGL. On two fronts - the first being Deathgasm is more noted for their support of heavy American Death Metal and Grindcore than this type of blatant and illicit fodder. Secondly ultimately what is delivered on this 13 track third album (if you haven’t been following this band’s catalog SEMARGL’s debut CD was released in 2005 entitled “Attack On God“ then subsequently punished the world again in 2006 with their sophomore attempt “Satanogenesis") is just more taxing regurgitation of DIMMU BORGIR, SATYRICON mixed with a few trappings of EMPORER and vocally the very latest influences from Poland’s BEHEMOTH. Aptly said and stated, I can not understand, other than the clear production featured on this CD, what exactly this band has to offer to the buying public that lust after the very latest Black Metal? I am not a fan of this style by any means yet even I can hear enough blatant copying and uninspired travesties to want to fast forward through to the next track, and then the next track and so on until it’s over. That said, I know there’s a loyal contingent of you out there that couldn’t even give a shit about originality and just want more Black Metal and for you specifically here’s a few words about SEMARGL from the band, that just might get your fingers just a little bit faster into your wallet for that credit card next time you’re up on Deathgasm’s site. Our idea of music is based on Black Metal. Our purpose is a demonstration of Satanism. Our action is a propagation of Chaos. Our principles are dynamics and development. Our way is a War and Expansion. Our message is: God should be destroyed. Our responsibility is duty and discipline. Our revelation is an accession to Immemorial Non-existence. Our will is a perception of Satan. Our essence is a counteraction of herd instinct. Our superiority is Satanic Infernal fire. Our becoming is a promotion of Darkness. Our flesh is the Infernal fire. Our weapon is Black Metal! Contact: www.deathgasm.com or www.semargl.com.ua or www.myspace.com/semargl

Wes Rhodes

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SEMEN DATURA
Vineta Part I
(Twilight)
37:23min

If I'm not completely mistaken, Vineta is the name of an ancient island which according to the legend drowned in the baltic sea some thousand years ago. Kind of a nordic New Orleans if you will... Since this was my first association when I first received the second longplayer by SEMEN DATURA I expected something like a conceptional record. Strangely enough I found absoutely no response in the lyrics, since the only "maritime" track 'The Pearl Of The Baltic Sea' deals with the beautiful island of Ruegen, which seams to be the home of this German five-piece. Anyway, when it comes to the music, I've to admit that there's nothing bad to say about it. Unfortunately there's not too much good to say about it either. This is probably the prototype of what you would call a professional, modern Death / Black - album. The playing abilities and the production are flawless, the style is best described as a mixture of the early Gothenburg-sound and the more melodic Black Metal approach that Swedish bands are known for. What I miss in this output (and dozens of others that flood the market each and every month) is something that sticks with you and gives the music a unique character. The main problem in today's scene is not necessary the lack of quality but the lack of originality. If you're into this kind of music for a while, you've probably heard everything on this record before. It's no question that we're talking about very talented musicians here, but they're simply not able to create something clearly recognizable as their own (yet). Die Hoffnung stirbt zuletzt... www.semendatura.com. The CD is available here.

Torsten Gründig

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SENESCENE
The Artificial Enemy
(self-financed)
36:40min

Doomdeath from East Frisia, Germany! These psychos will take you on a trip to strange spheres. Growls as well as clean vocals are trademarks of this outfit you can compare with old MY DYING BRIDE or ANATHEMA. The good thing is: they have already developed an identity of their own and the more I listen to "The Artificial Enemy", the more I like it. (probably also because the weather is getting worse, autumn is coming). Today I don't even hate the drum computer that much any more, still I think SENESCENCE should look for a kick ass drummer as drum computers are boring, especially live! This CD is cold, depressive and evil and the multimedia section is quite big (the video clip sucks, though, cos you can hardly see anything). Check out their their forthcoming split CD with the progressive death hopefuls OF TREES AND ORCHIDS! http://www.senescence.de

Ramon Claassen

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SEPIROTH
Breaking The Codes Of Silence
(Crossfirecult Records)
36:40min

First contact with these Dutch deathbanger quartet was seeing them open for OBTRUNCATION and SINISTER in 2007. They put up an energetic and convincing show despite their young age. The same goes for their debut album "Breaking The Codes Of Silence". Their Death Metal is a juicy and powerful mix of groove, brutality and intensity. Just the way I like it and something I hope to find more in the Dutch scene. There's not that much info I can give you on them except that they started as a Black / Death outfit but today are shaped into a buldering Death Metal machine. After a demo and the "Dying For Hatred" EP from 2007 Dutch Crossfirecult Records released this first full-length. On one hand you're served a heavy dose of groove which warped me to the godly ninetees Death Metal from Sweden and Finland like GRAVE, DISMEMBER or even PESTILENCE (yeah, I know; weird to mention Finnish without naming an actual band, but you'll get my point) with dark and evil riffing. While blasting they crush on a scale like MYRKSKOG and SINISTER. Speed is variating which is another big plus. The melodies are cathcy but not like glue and always with the right dose of brutality and power. Vocalist Ben's voice reminded me of Karl Willetts of BOLT THROWER and I'm pleased to hear such a brutal growl. It adds an extra dose of oldschool vibe! Everyone gives all he got and that's yet another plus. For a debut this a nasty and venomous effort. A very cool one, played and produced tight but without any significant standouts or highlights although a track like 'Dying For Hatred' increased my body-temperature with a few degrees. Although they're rather unknown at this moment, I hope this will change 'cause the potential is there and I feel a huge monster can grow out of SEPIROTH. So everybody: check this band, support them! Go to www.myspace.com/sephirothnl where you can find the entire album for download. A very cool initiative and this should be honoured by extra support (and plus). So check this album, it's a blast!

Michael Tak

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SEPTICEMIA
Hopeless Age
(self financed)
49:33min

This Austrian five piece has been around since July 1997 and recorded and released a demo CD entitled "Revenge On Mankind" shortly after which sold approximately 200 copies until now. "Hopeless Age" is their first full length album, which they also financed on their own in early 2000 and that's already all I can really tell you about SEPTICEMIA, apart from the fact that they still play a very immature sounding mixture of Death and Thrash Metal, with a few additional, kinda Black Metal-ish sounding vocals here and there. Bands like this you will get to see on a regular base around the corner in your local youth club. They are all still lacking in identity, arrangement qualities and a real musical vision. There's some really good ideas in the eleven songs (plus intro), but certainly not enough at this point to be released on a CD already and I certainly won't play the disc again after this review is finished! All in all it just tends to bore me way too quickly. I mean, the market is definitely flooded enough with tons of average bands nowadays that even get their stuff out through a label (big or small), so I seriously doubt that you're really interested in spending your money on a product which is hardly reaching those standards, unless you're maybe more concerned about the visual side of a release, which in SEPTICEMIA's case looks really good. But hey, who am I to complain?! Maybe "Hopeless Age" is just for promotional manner or to get gigs a little easier and not even meant for sale, so you better get all further information from the following address: Peter Knall, Brentenmaisstr. 56, A - 3012 Wolfsgraben, Austria, email: septicemia@gmx.at, http://www.septicemia.start.at

Frank Stöver

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SEPTIC FLESH
Sumerian Daemons
(Hammerheart Records)
56:07min

I don’t want to sound disrespectful, because I really appreciate what greek SEPTIC FLESH have achieved with their ’94 debut “Mystic Places Of Dawn” and their MLP in 1991, but this effort is absolutely awful! Samples and electronic effects, classical female vocals, orchestral synths, Death Metal growling mixed with a clean male voice at the same time is alltogether simply a bit too much for me. The production (Studio Fredman) is very good and provides enough transparency to make every facette of the complex SEPTIC FLESH sound audible, but personally I think that it is a bit overloaded. To speak objectively, I think, that fans of occult, modern, symphonic Death Metal should check this out, you might really love it, because SEPTIC FLESH are musically not bad. Powerful riffs, a skilled variation between aggressive and atmospheric moments and very individual melodies. I do not  get much off this CD, but it would be wrong to tell you SEPTIC FLESH are total shit, “Sumerian Daemons” just was not made for me. Sorry. The label’s site www.hammerheart.com If you’d like to know more about the band, surf to www.septicflesh.com

Stefan Franke

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SERAPHIM SLAUGHTER
Scum Terror
(self-financed)
32:29min

What more needs to be said about a utterly satanic Black / Punk / Thrash Metal band from the gutters of upper New Jersey, that was formed on the most evil of pagan holidays…Groundhog Day 2002?! Fuckin’ plenty! SERAPHIM SLAUGHTER with the right handling and direction could easily be the S.O.D. of Black Metal. Just the sort of obnoxious kick in the teeth those of that scene - the self-absorbed, elite-est, abyssic fucktards need. SERAPHIM SLAUGHTER specialize in raw, serrated tempered riffs that are played with a seemingly intentional looseness about it all that just pummels through the speakers at crippling velocity. Coupled with nasty, quick witted and hateful humor one can’t help but smile as tracks like ‘Stabbed With An Aids Needle‘, ‘Cervix Ripping Sex‘ and the ultimate crowd chorus scream-a-long marathon that is ‘I’m The Unholy Mutherfucking Master‘ punch you in the balls. Contact: www.seraphimslaughter.com or www.myspace.com/thetrueseraphimslaughter

Wes Rhodes

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Ok, I gotta admit that these guys used to be completely unknown to me prior to this album, so I can't eally tell you much details about them. But as it's a selftitled release I suppose this is SERPENT OBSCENE's debut full length – and a really promising one! These five Swedish youngsters deliver a very intense Death / Thrash mixture with SLAYER / DARK ANGEL – like riffing and raw growling vocals. This is exactly the album that I had hoped their label – and country mates MAZE OF TORMENT would come up with. Crushing from start to finish! 'Evil Rites' is my personal fave and with its catchy and easy to shout along chorus line predestinated to become a crowd favorite! I'm not completely convinced by the vocals yet, but they are still more enjoyable than all those typical and rather faceless screamy type ones that thousands of other bands are using these days. So, all in all this has become a highly entertaining, totally devastating debut, which (just like SLAYER's "Reign In Blood") also comes up with a short yet very effective playing time beyond the 30 minutes mark.

Frank Stöver

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SERPENT OBSCENE
Chaos Reign Supreme
(Black Lodge)
34:02min

On the cover one can see an army of immortals unleashing a merciless attack and this scenario reflects the music perfectly. For nearly ten years SERPENT OBSCENE are torturing the world with their uncompromising Thrash / Death Metal. They simply manage to mix up the best elements of the two genres to build an unbending force. Thrash Metal based riffs join forces with the dark Death Metal atmosphere. All songs are played very fast, giving them a very aggressive touch. Sometimes a fine guitar-solo appears, embedded in mid-tempo part, but then it is again just “fast forward”. The band manages to keep up this high energy level, so there are no lame songs on this output, a total devastating assault from the first to the last sound. “Chaos Reign Supreme” is the third full-length release by this Swedish band, and it is really great how they perform technically brilliant yet without losing a sinister, apocalyptical atmosphere. Many bands (like KRISIUN on their latest release “Assassination“) did not manage to balance on that razor edge. Maybe there are people out there who are into discussing whether it is more Death or more Thrash, but I do not care about such senseless discussions. SERPENT OBSCENE - Death / Thrash at its best. www.serpentobscene.com. On sale here.

Mirco Szymyslik

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