SIGMA DRACONIS
De Rerum Natura
(Nocturnal Brights)
54:08min

I had quite a hard time listening to this promo CD-R because it was burnt without care – too much speed, I suppose. Almost half of the songs are at least getting on my nerves because of strange click-noises that definitely don’t belong there and the last 2 tracks finally drove me crazy. Unfortunately, the music on this CD doesn’t really reward me for my torture. Badly produced “grim” Black Metal with a terrible “Bontempi” keyboard sound. So money seems to be a big problem for this band. Carelessness does additional harm: on my favorite track, ‘Ineffable Ode To A Heretical Convivium’, the guitar seems to be slightly out of tune. Or am I already insane? The drummer and the keyboard player seem to have timing problems every now and then throughout the whole album. For that, the production is still too “good”. Despite all these points of criticism and too much monotony (track 6!), SIGMA DRACONIS surprisingly manage to create quite some atmosphere! So, in case the band is locked in the rehearsal room for a while and gets some more budget, there might be something coming up somewhere in the future. www.sigma-draconis.com

Ramon Claassen

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SIGNS OF DARKNESS
The 17th Floor
(Trinity Records)
44:43min

SIGNS OF DARKNESS from Belgium come up with some well executed Black Metal which occasionally crosses the borders to traditional Heay Metal (‘Portraits’) as well as to Death Metal (‘Winters Dying Day’). That’s okay with me although especially the Death Metal riffs used to puzzle me at first. So the music doesn’t get boring easily at least. On the other hand, “The 17^th Floor” completely fails to chill my bones – the final criterium for me to recognise a grand Black Metal album. On the other hand, it’s a little harder for Black Metal bands to make me feel cold over the summer, I admit. My fave track is ‘Silent Cold Enigma’: made to be screamed along and maybe on a depressive winter night it might make me feel like Black Metal, who knows? What absolutely counts for SIGNS OF DARKNESS is that their music works in the summer just as well. But once again, this might be the mood I’m in right now: waiting for the next festival and excessive beer drinking. So be sure to check out their website and listen to their MP3s, okay? www.signsofdarkness.be

Ramon Claassen

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SIKFUK
Teabagged At Birth
(Goregiastic Records)
27:13min

SIKFUK are a gore Grind band hailing from Minnesota (can't be many of those around... INCINERATE maybe?). With an album title like "Teabagged At Birth" and song titles like 'Fucked With A Dildobong', 'Snowballed By Grandma' and 'Tits Covered In Dickhole Sores' you can tell right away that these guys don't take themselves too seriously. Listening to the album only reinforces this. There are samples from the "Dave Chappelle Show" and the movies "Dirty Work" and "Team America"... I can honestly say I never thought I would hear Dave Chappelles voice on a Metal CD. The music itself, which is produced from only two guys (a guitarist/vocalist and a drummer) is sloppy as hell and surprisingly pretty interesting... Definitely not exactly what I was expecting. It's kind of like a mix between HYMEN HOLOCAUST and CEPAHLIC CARNAGE. In one respect it's like your typical low-fi Goregrind with the silly lyrics and themes but then you also have these weird song structures and guitars. The drumming, done by Tardsnake (great name), is actually pretty good, although it is sloppy as all hell. He even throws in a few (sloppy) hyperblasts here and there and overall there is a lot of variation to his style. It's the same with the guitars... sloppy as hell, but interesting and pretty original too. The production is real fucking shitty but it fits the music. The vocals are pretty much the expected low gurgles that are standard for this type of music. Nothing special... but not bad either. All in all it actually ended up being a pretty entertaining listen. I can safely recommend this to fans of low-fi Goregrind, and even the open-minded Metalhead (for the unorthodox guitar and drum segments), but I'm sure the shit production and sloppy nature of the music will put off most people. You can find more info about this band and buy their CD here: www.goregiasticrecords.com

Michael Kersten

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SIKSAKUBUR
Back To Vengeance / The Carnage
(From Beyond Productions / Displeased)
46:05min

In the label's infosheet this fourpiece from Indonesia gets compared to CRYPTOPSY - a fact which I can't confirm as I never really listened to CRYPTOPSY. But at least I can tell you that SIKSAKUBUR musically sounds extremely professional and matured and seems to consist of a bunch of highly talented musicians, especially considering the fact that this ain't a real album, but a re-release of their two cassette only recordings from 2000 and 2001. It's quite unbelievable how intense the music gets performed, how much brutality and technical skills can be discovered in their songwriting, especially if you have a look at the band's pictures (these guys still look like a bunch of young kids!). SIKSAKUBUR definitely already play in the same league as many better known brutal US Death Metal masters! I'm not quite sure (as I only own a promo version of the album), but I suppose that the first eleven songs on this disc will be the newer material (as the quality is so much better), and therefore originally were to be found on "Back To Vengeance", while the remaining nine are probably from 2000's "The Carnage" cassette. Back in those days the vocals were still a lot more in the frognoise vein, which they luckily seem to have changed for "Back To Vengeance", as that material features a deep grunting, and very convincing Death Metal voice already. Musically "Back To Vengeance" has furthermore a way better songwriting to offer, so that the band's next regular release could become a highly interesting one, worth to look forward to. All further info you will get here: http://way.to/siksakubur or here: www.displeasedrecords.com/frombeyond. You may order it here.

Frank Stöver

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SILENCER
Death – Pierce Me!
(Prophecy Productions)
49:05min

When I first had read that Prophecy released the album of a Swedish Black Metal-band, I was astonished, as, although the label is known for very great artists and releases, this somehow wouldn’t fit into the concept in my opinion. When I heard what some people told me about this album, I knew I should try to get my ears on it. And when I finally read their interview in Legacy Magazine, I knew I had to get the album. I have stopped to buy CD’s blindly years ago, but this time, I simply risked it: and I won. This is a total fucking killer release!!!!! These two Swedes (with the assistance of the drummer of BETHLEHEM) have recorded a real masterpiece. Imagine a vocalist somewhere between the HELHEIM-vocalist on “Nidr Ok Nordr…” and “Jormundgand” and the vocalist of Polish Black Metal-legend LEGION on their split with PERUNWIT and expect it a bit more extreme. Mix that up with typical old-school Norwegian Black Metal and BURZUM-like monotony and melancholy and finally add some musical independence and a clear but fitting production (done by Markus Stock) and you will be able to get a vague picture of that album. It is sad to see that the main character behind SILENCER, a guy called Nattramn, is psychially that ill that he is only able to live in a psychiatry and that SILENCER therefore have split up. The lyrics are all rather suicidal and misanthropic (the band states on the first page of the booklet: “We are ready to leave this place.” ), the pictures are sick to the core – I mean I can’t remember to have seen such bandpictures anywhere before – and the thankslist speaks for itself: all that is mentioned are two clincis where Mr. Nattramn may have spent most of his time and the pharmacy companies for having produced several antidepressants. Nevertheless I really would like to say again that this album is already blowing away most of today’s Black Metal-releases by music only and not only by image. Unfortunately there won’t be a second album or the possibilliy to do an interview. Written enough: Simply a MUST-HAVE!!! Drei Blinzeln Kapitän! (Nein, Nicht, Noch Einmal!). http://www.prophecy.cd. You can order it here.

Nhashi

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SILENT OVERDRIVE
Babylon Nation (MCD)
(MDD Records)
16:47min

Here I am again with a release that doesn't really correspond to my personal taste - geee, meanwhile I sort have the feeling that I don't go for German underground releases anymore. Although thinking about this assumption, not quite right... acts such as GOMORRHA, DEFEATED SANITY and DESPONDENCY are awesome because they are extreme... and Metal is supposed to be extreme in my view. This certainly is not extreme at all. SILENT OVERDRIVE are an easy listening act celebrating formations such as... quote from the info-sheet: "AT THE GATES, SENTENCED, HEAVEN SHALL BURN, CALIBAN (...) IN FLAMES..." Well, quite right - AT THE GATES and old IN FLAMES releases used to define uttermost extremity in the olden times... especially IN FLAMES one can state. These guys combine modern Thrash elements with all those fashionable grooves, beautiful melodies others are able to produce in a better fashion. All these impressions may be objectionable --- there we go. This just isn't my kind of Metal... too smooth, too positive in a way, too rock-inspired. I have always detested SENTENCED with their cheesy melodious chord-patterns and pitch-shifter solos... yakyak. Of course, it is true --- SILENT OVERDRIVE are solid musicians, decent production (although not really state of the art), no major flaws or things like that. The guitars sound conventional, melodious, some twists, Metal solos that just aren't spectacular at all... the drummer has a good groove... first song with some SEPULTURA-inspired fills here and there. The vocalist reminds me of CROWBAR at times and a rather mediocre grunter apparently having the awkward urge to produce some shallow rock-melody-lines here and there. No! This certainly is no act I will pay heed to in the future. Band contact: www.silentoverdrive.de, label: www.mdd-shop.de. Also available here.

F.Cthulhu E.

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SILENT OVERDRIVE
Disease
(MDD / Black Attakk)
36:35min

Metal Core / Modern Thrash Metal may be the right description for the style performed on “Disease”. There are many bands around playing this sort of Metal, but most bands in this genre did not manage to write any good songs, which means for me personally that those bands are winding up in mounting riff on riff and thereby losing the feeling for the song. But SILENT OVERDRIVE manage to escape this trap by using clean vocals, melodic guitar attacks and some nice rhythm changes. Of course “Disease” is mostly based on modern Thrash Metal and you will not find the mentioned aspects in every song, but just when you think it is getting boring, SILENT OVERDRIVE are breaking in on adding some variety to their Metal Core. This is the first full-length release by this German outfit and once again the thesis that playing live supports bands - especially new bands - regarding both technical skills and the ability to write songs is verified. So after the EP “Babylon Nation” and many live shows, SILENT OVERDRIVE are on the right track to become more than a promising newcomer. www.silentoverdrive.de. You may order a copy here.

Mirco Szymyslik

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SILVETH
The Elemental
(8th Sphere Records)
25:00min

Really I am kind of at a loss with this band. After repeated spins of this disc I still don’t know what to think about SILVETH other then they seem to be trying too hard to please everyone in their practice room. Meaning, that whether you like Scandinavian melodic Death Metal, crushing Black Metal, or even what the kids are calling Mall-Core or Metal-Core these days. It’s all here for you. Mish-mashing riffs in every song presented, from almost every genre of Metal that you can think of, or might listen to into some kind of mental awareness game. A game where any given band member (or the listener for that matter) can see if he can remember what riff goes where or what’s coming next at any given point and see who can actually make it to the end of each song without getting lost. Honestly, from track one 'Stone Gazer' through to track three 'Storm' I contemplated getting up and going to the kitchen more than once, as I didn’t think I had enough popcorn in my bowl to help me get home. This said the real issue here obviously is with the overall songwriting. It’s all over the place. And I know there are those out there that like the frantic, A.D.D. inspired passages that for some unknown reason are so readily accepted in present day Metal songwriting, yet to these ears it’s just a hodgepodge of noise. No matter how well executed. ALICE COOPER has an advertisement on MTV, the basis of is the subject of what I am talking about here and it has to deal with bands who have played before him, and who have the inherent skill to play their instruments, and are totally capable but just can not deliver when it comes to the actual song played. That is the dilemma with SILVETH. Their songs aren’t strong enough to stand on their own, there’s nothing memorable about any of the five tracks on this disc. Each of these songs are as interchangeable as they are conversely disproportionate to logic. Rendering the listener ultimately flat-lined, unsatisfied and as empty as when the CD was first placed within the carriage. Contact: mereck@gmail.com or www.silveth.com or www.myspace.com/silveth or www.8th-sphere.com

Wes Rhodes

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SINISTER
Creative Killings
(Hammerheart Records)
36:11min

SINISTER is back with their first album for the new millennium, with a new record contract and new line-up. I have never been a dedicated fan of the band in the past, because I saw this four piece always coming with cool but somewhat run of the mill material. It is true the band have remained faithful to their roots and stayed far away of the hottest trends of the day throughout their more than ten years long career, creating a sound of their own instantly recognizable among a crowd of copycats. But on the other hand, SINISTER never came with a groundbreaking classic album which could have put them among the ranks of the elite. I am sorry to say the story repeats itself with “Creative Killings”. The album is strong enough to make fans of brutal Death more than happy, but to listen to it in its entirety could be a boring experience, because all of the songs tend to sound the same after a while. The SINISTER music is essentially based on heavy splattering riffs, somewhere between slow and mid-tempo, with some frantic outburst of speed here and there; but unfortunately all the song are structured the same way. I have found two standout tracks on this album though: 'Moralistic Suffering' and 'Altering The Beast', in which the band experiments something newer and which break the monotony of the whole. But the real shame comes from the fact the best track of  “Creative Killings” is the cover of the POSSESSED song 'Storm In My Mind' (from the “Eyes Of Horror” MLP), perfectly played the SINISTER way, and where the band show their full talent. New singer Rachel (ex-OCCULT) handles her duty with passion, and the excellent production compliments her deep and growling voice very well, expect a sick performance! The lyrics are interesting to read while the music flows, and SINISTER escape the trap of gore for gore's sake and instead choose a more abstract way to express the violence and brutality of our time (for instance, I think the song 'Reviving The Dead' is about the ethnic war in Rwanda). Add to all this the beautiful cover art by Jon Zig (visit his site at http://www.jonzig.com, it is worth the try!) and you obtain a very good but a somewhat restrained offering in the end. On sale here.

Edouard Vergriete

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SINISTER
Savage Or Grace
(Nuclear Blast)
30:26min

The Dutch premier Death Metal band SINISTER had its musical peaks with the crushing debut "Cross The Styx" (1992), the hit "Bastard Saints" (1996) and the excellent kind of a comeback album "Aggressive Measures" in 1998. But several vocalist-changes, which finally lead to OCCULT’s Rachel joining the band, have undoubtedly weakened the musical force SINISTER once represented. Although the riffs still kill, the drums still furiously blast and the songwriting is as convincing as always the woman violating her larynx on "Creative Killings" (2001) and "Savage Or Grace" simply isn‘t as good as the previous SINISTER-frontmen. At least I loved about Mike and Eric that they were brutal shouters but you could always understand what they were singing, now that’s my problem with Rachel. The lady is definitely brutal as hell but her growls lack of the clarity and intensity I enjoyed on SINISTER’s first five releases. To make a long story short: "Savage Or Grace" is a good Death Metal CD and with the titletrack, ‘Conception Of Sin’ and ‘Collapse Rewind’ it offers some really cool songs, but SINISTER albums used to be a little bit more in the past. Listen to a song like ‘Doomed’, ‘Into The Forgotten’ or ‘Awaiting The Absu’ and you will know instantly what I mean. For additional information and a sound clip surf to www.nuclearblast.de and find out for yourself if you can live with SINISTER 2003 or not! The CD is available here.

SINISTER
Afterburner
(Nuclear Blast Records)
45:04min

I think that, like every fan of the band, we didn’t know very well what to expect from this new SINISTER album after a nearly three-year hiatus, especially with a completely new line-up where only Aad is the only original member but not as the drummer anymore, just as the vocalist. So there’s not even one characteristic element of the band left. Anyway, after the great 2nd album of INFINITED HATE, there was some hope… Right after the first listening of “Afterburner”, the sensations were more than excellent!! Fuck, everyone could recognize it’s SINISTER in no time!! I don’t know how they did it!! Perhaps it helps that Alex Paul, former bass player and now guitarist, has perfectly captured the true essence of the SINISTER style. But the truly positive thing about this album is that they have known how to progress and offer new elements always respecting the band’s style, this is powerful, brutal and intense Death Metal in its purest form, with Aad singing with a grim and gutural voice, in the truest SINISTER tradition!! In various moments this album reminds me on the glorious “Hate” album, it has killer riffs and killer songs!! They include new rhythms and melodies that they didn’t do before, dark midtempo passages… Even the drummer has more variety than Aad and now you can hear very fast blast beats that were missing before. All in all, I think SINISTER have made a great step forward after various average albums (in my opinion), and that brought a touch of fresh air to their career. This is already one of my fave albums of the year so far… Pure Death Metal!! You can order the CD here.

Dave Rotten

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SINISTER
The Silent Howling
(Massacre Records)
47:46min

By all accounts, SINISTER have improved steadily since "Savage Or Grace" in 2003. As it is with most great bands, their best material will likely never be equaled, but that does not mean they cannot come close to re-kindling old flames. SINISTER employ all of their old chops on "The Silent Howling". The deep, driving pulls and block upon block of furious Holland-style riffs. All are present, and all fit.Yet the problem, as with so many other bands both young and old, is that beyond good musicianship, the album lacks the bold character its early predecessors had. It does go places, do not mistake. SINISTER couldn't produce a truly awful album even if they tried. They can, however, do this, which is go through the motions with much more vigor than they have for the past five years. There is one outstanding exception to this rule, and that is the sixth track, 'Palace Of The Fates'. The song doesn't quite attain the majesty of a long IRON MAIDEN song, but it does have properly savage melodies, and for SINISTER, that spells awesome. Another "Cross The Styx" doesn't seem likely, but another "Silent Howling" wouldn't be bad at all. www.myspace.com/sinisterwingsofdeath, www.sinister-hailthebeast.com, www.massacre-records.com

Nat Shapiro

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SINNERS BLEED
From Womb To Tomb
(self financed)
38:01min

It's been quite a while since I've been so much impressed by a self financed release! SINNERS BLEED are hailing from Berlin / Germany, have been around since 1997 and already released two demos previously to this debut full length ("Awakening" in 1999 and "Restless" in 2000). Unfortunately I missed out on both of them (as usual...), so I can't really comment on their musical improvements. But fact is, that the band nowadays sounds so incredibly professional in every aspect, that I don't really understand, why "From Womb To Tomb" had to be released without the financial help of an established label. So, for obvious reasons, another big fuck off definitely goes out to all the deaf, dumb and greedy trendhoppers out there... Instead of constantly trying to sign the next big thing from abroad, you better keep your eyes on the locals, as there's quite a lot of potential to be discovered! Anyway, all those of you, who expect SINNERS BLEED to be an ENTOMBED inspired bunch of Swe-Death maniacs (because of their bandname), think again, cause these four guys are a lot more talented, convincing and brutal! SINNERS BLEED play brutal and very intense Death Metal on the highest musical level, mostly very fast (not grinding though), but with so many little bits and pieces incorporated that I could listen to the album over and over again, without getting bored. Some may call them "technical", which they definitely are, but unlike most other acts of this sub-genre, SINNERS BLEED still focus on a fluent songwriting instead of simply building their music out of countless different parts. So, in this department they are certainly a lot closer to late DEATH than, let's say ATHEIST, for instance. But while in DEATH's case the overall brutality pretty much suffered from the increased technical approach, SINNERS BLEED are still very heavy and crush everything in sight without mercy. Another band that made a similar impact on me is NECROPHAGIST. This Berlin bunch combines sheer brutality with great guitarwork (they aren't even afraid to incorporate little acoustic pieces) and furthermore often vary in speed. The production courtesy of Andreas Hilbert (formerly of GOLEM and FERMENTING INNARDS) couldn't be any better and compliments the killer material in the best possible way! So, if you have been bored by the Death Metal genre lately, because most of the bands sounded too much alike to you or ended up using the frog-noise vocal style (which SINNERS BLEED luckily DON'T!), you need to check this album out for it is a real gem within the flooded market! Awesome debut! Contact: www.sinners-bleed.de, www.lostinberlin.com

Frank Stöver

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SINNERS BURN
Pre-Mortal Autopsy 
(No Colours Records)
32:21min

The Swedish scene owes an awful lot to Chris Reifert and his efforts in AUTOPSY and ABSCESS. There wouldn't have been much of a scene without him. But there is a danger in attributing the Swedes' musical prowess to one band, or a group of bands because it detracts from their highly original songwriting. SINNERS BURN belong to the newly revitalized scene in Sweden spearheaded by bands like NOMINON, KATALYSATOR, DEGIAL, EVISCERATED and TRIBULATION. The band has clearly done its homework. Their Death'n'Roll (?? - Frank) is directly traceable to UNLEASHED, ENTOMBED and ABSCESS. It's a recipe of influences that produces no less than Swedish Death of the highest quality. We're all familiar with the much plagiarized Death'n'Roll formula, but no matter the number of times it's heard, there's still something undeniably cool about it. That is SINNERS BURN. www.myspace.com/sinnersburn

Nat Shapiro

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SINOATH
Under The Ashes
(Elegy Music)
54:45min

My old Italian love SINOATH is back again with a new album. All of you who read the interview that I did with them for Voices From The Darkside should know how much I love this band. So, what can we expect from “Under The Ashes”? Is it my expected mix between “Forged In Blood” and “Still In The Grey Dying” (in my eyes still 2 of the best Death Metal demos ever recorded) or the feared 2nd edition of the rather lame “Research” album? To be honest, nothing of both! On their myspace-page the band writes something like “55 minutes of cold macabre Doom Black Metal” and “the target to getting better than the "Forged In Blood" periods was completely scored”. Hm, now I’m kinda confused, because I wouldn’t describe this new output of SINOATH using words as “cold macabre Doom Black Metal” and I see no link at all to the “Forged In Blood” period. This starts kinda negative, but it is not supposed to be that because “Under The Ashes” is a very good album, unfortunately not the one I expected and definitely not the one I waited for. To be honest this is nothing else than my personal problem because I’m a narrow-minded fart living only in the past, haha. Let’s skip the past of SINOATH and see “Under The Ashes” as what it is, an album of an original band. What we get is melodic Death Metal (perhaps with hints of Black Metal, to show some kind of democracy) with a permanent use of keyboards. The strange thing here is that the guys used only 70s instruments to record this album and therefore this record sounds in a way kinda old-fashioned and not brutal or heavy in the common sense of the word at all, though I’m sure it was never their intention to be brutal and heavy. This is a really original kind of Metal with a great guitar sound which I’m sure I haven’t heard often before and a way to use keyboards which is utterly outstanding. If I should compare this record with one band than I’d say “Under The Ashes” is, to be really careful, something like a mix between TIAMAT’s “Astral Sleep” minus their gloominess of this time and - fuck, I have to correct me - a hint of “Forged In Blood”. This album takes time as it is not what you expect from an album which you usually buy in 2008, still it is everything else than old-fashioned. From time to time it is a tough job to write reviews, because an album like this is very hard to describe, haha. After listening to “Under The Ashes” approx. 20 times I can say that this is a fuckin’ awesome album, outstanding, original and something completely different, with great riffs, great melodies and awesome songs as ‘Burn The Stars’ or ‘Come To The Sabbath’. If you are looking for another “Forged In Blood” or “Still In The Grey Dying” than you are wrong here, if you are looking out for something different then feel free to try this. Check out www.elegymusic.com, www.myspace.com/sinoath or get in touch with Salvatore directly at elegy_hawk@hotmail.com.

Thomas Ehrmann

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SIN OF KAIN
The End
(Vic Records / Cyanide Syndicate Records)
45:41min

The weapons of modern Metal mass destruction are a spreading illness and these days nobody seem to be frightened of mixing all kinds of influences into one big Metal melding pot. Especially DIMMU BORGIR – with their keyboard supported and clinical sound - have established a platform for this style and the Hungarian band SIN OF KAIN are even extending the borders. Founded in 2002 the band is playing (as basis guideline) Black Metal but the band is not following any kind of scene rules – something like Black Metal must sound raw, ugly and misanthropic. The guys are working on a very high technical level and you can find electronic influences and keyboards within the massive dose of hatred and aggression. So the basic elements for a good release are given but SIN OF KAIN are not in the position to differ their main influences to a degree that the songs become distinguishable. The album starts with 'Mother Died' - a 5 minutes song with a lot of energy and ideas (please also check the good video for this song on the wellknown platforms) but the identical ideas can be found in every of the seven songs. Needless to say that the whole becomes predictable after 3-4 songs and “The End” is a proof that even a wider horizon is no guarantee for variety within the musical concept. www.vicrecords.com, www.sinofkain.com

Matthias Auch

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SIRIUS
Spectral Transition - Dimension Sirius
(Nocturnal Art Productions)
50:47min
 
SIRIUS hail from sunny Portugal but their excellent Black Metal is cold as space! Strongly influenced by EMPEROR they even managed to get three of their idols for guest appearances on "Spectral Transition - Dimension Sirius", namely ex-EMPEROR drummer Faust, Samoth (EMPEROR / ZYKLON) and Daemon (LIMBONIC ART / ZYKLON). This album is variable in many ways: speed, vocals (screams vs. occasional grunts or spoken passages), etc. Finally, SIRIUS even recorded a cover version of EMPEROR's 'The Majesty Of The Nightsky', but surprisingly these guys don't turn out to be faceless clones at all! Being their second album, "Spectral..." is described as more guitar-oriented but still the keys play an essential role in the band's sound. Their symphonic use creates majestic, yet threatening images of space: SIRIUS obviously are prepared for taking over the old elite's place for the new millennium as other bands very often fail in giving new impulses to the scene. Still the guitars are important as well: especially the leads make your mind wander, whereas the riffing forces you to get up from your sofa! SIRIUS' music is on a very high level and should appeal to everybody into symphonic Black Metal. This album is truely amazing and should be the soundtrack for a VERY dark science-fiction movie! Enter DIMENSION SIRIUS now! http://www.neverland.nu/sirius. On sale here.

Ramon Claassen

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SITHLORD
Labyrinth To The Gods
(Bleed Records)
30:35min

Not exactly a new release as it was issued in Australia back in 2000, but due to the fact that the band is currently putting the final touches to their forthcoming album (on Barbarian Wrath Records in Germany) and considering the quality of the music, I had no choice but to write about this one.  SITHLORD hail from Australia, the land of  Metal without compromises, far away from trends. No surprise then that “Labyrinth To The Gods” turned out to be so godly. In fact, if you are a fan of old  DESTRUCTION and KREATOR, you better stop reading this and go buy the album without delay, because SITHLORD resurrect with success the golden age when these two German bands ruled supreme over the Euro-Thrash kingdom. No wonder then that the Aussies borrow some characteristics from the ancient Metal Gods, for instance their logo resemble very much to the DESTRUCTION one (I mean, the typesetting is the same), and the title track made me heavily think about the song ‘Death Trap’, included in the “Infernal Overkill” classic album. Add to this the voice of guitarist / vocalist Saundies (also involved in ATOMIZER), which shares strong similarities with those of Mille Petrozza and Schmier, and I guess you will understand fairly well what SITHLORD are about.  “Labyrinth To The Gods” is more a MCD than anything else, because it only offers five real tracks (including the rough mix of a song from their new album, out in July 2002 if all goes well), but what excellent ones they are! SITHLORD have a way to write catchy songs, and you can easily forget the over hyped Swedish Neo-Thrash because SITHLORD are the real thing you know. The music let out menacing overtones like in the days Death Metal was still an mere extension of Thrash.  Don’t hesitate to listen to SITHLORD, they made my day and they could make yours too, no joke! This is an essential release, and be sure I will keep you posted on the new one as soon as possible! Meanwhile, contact Barbarian Wrath Records at http://www.barbarianwrath.org to order this CD and also to visit one of the most interesting label websites I have seen until now, simply because it is less about selling stuff  than to share a devouring passion for music. You will be welcomed by the Barbarian himself, Blackgoat, who is a fast and reliable bloke, and above all a true fan of pure Metal.

Edouard Vergriete

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SITHLORD
The Return To Godless Times
(Barbarian Wrath Records)
70:06min

Since the issuing of their first MCD ("Labyrinth To The Gods ", reviewed elsewhere on this site), Australian Thrashers SITHLORD have refined their recipe for power to the point of perfection. One year ago, I already strongly advised you to keep an eye on this promising band, and I am happy to report that my first enthusiasm is still totally relevant. The main exploit SITHLORD achieve is to offer us a synthesis of the style of the groundbreaking Thrash bands of the 80’s (KREATOR, SODOM, DESTRUCTION, SEPULTURA and even primitive DARK ANGEL) without sounding derivative or unoriginal. In fact, if you can single out familiar elements here and there the whole result comes out fresh and captivating. The vocals of guitarist "Darth" Saundies still remind me of those of Mille Petrozza and Tom Angelripper and contribute to settle down an atmosphere rooted in the past. SITHLORD are expert on assembling very simple riffs together to create complex songs with lots of different parts and very cool breaks, hence the running time length I could refer to as great value for money (please note I am discussing here about a limited special edition including the first SITHLORD MCD as bonus; but even without it, the album remain comfortably long). I would not like to give you the false impression SITHLORD rely only on nostalgia to gain some attention from some old horses like me, because "The Return To Godless Times" proves that a particular music style is in fact timeless if played with passion and conviction. And far from being followers of some "retro" trend, the SITHLORD maniacs deliver their music with their heart, without giving a damn about knowing if they fit or not into a particular scene, and I can say this fact is sensible only by hearing the album. So don’t expect fossilized attitude and fake poses, but instead sincerity and love for music. Add to this a very dynamic production emphasizing the buzzing guitar sound and a very cool Boris Vallejo’s cover art, and I guess you can get this one without too much questioning. Believe me: SITHLORD deserve your attention because they will give you a rare and pleasurable listening experience. As long as such bands exist, I will keep faith in the future of our beloved Metal music. Stay faithful to your roots and worship SITHLORD! More info at http://www.barbarianwrath.org.

Edouard Vergriete

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SIX FEET UNDER
Graveyard Classics
(Metal Blade Records)
46:14min

I know that cover-track albums are a love-it-or-hate-it type of thing and especially with the long announced SIX FEET UNDER "Graveyard Classics" record, I wasn't really sure how much sense this output is gonna make. Then again the album is the band's pretty honest tribute to their favorite old tracks and comes up with the following tracklisting: 'Holocaust' by SAVATAGE (solid), 'TNT' by AC/DC (probably the most remarkable version on here), 'Sweet Leaf' by BLACK SABBATH (Ozzy just misses...), 'Piranha' by EXODUS (again a song that stands and falls with the vocals...falls, that is!), 'Son Of A Bitch' by ACCEPT (solid), 'Stepping Stone' by the SEX PISTOLS, 'Confused' by ANGELWITCH (both OK), 'California Über Alles' by DEAD KENNEDYS (rather lame), 'Smoke On The Water' by DEEP PURPLE (well, it has been covered too often already but I guess this one is OK...), 'Blackout' by SCORPIONS (raw version featuring John Bush from ARMORED SAINT / ANTHRAX on guest vocals), 'Purple Haze' by JIMI HENDRIX (listenable...) and last but not least 'In League With Satan' by VENOM (several other bands like VOIVOD did this one much better before...). I suppose SFU maniacs are gonna love this and I have witnessed already several times that songs like 'TNT' really work in a Metal disco. Then again, for more "neutral" customers: please consider that all versions are in the typical catchy and technically simple SFU-Death Metal type of playing (you know, AC/DC's winning formula of a maximum of 3 straight-forward riffs each song...) and also the recording quality is pretty rough and not really powerful if you ask me! Cool item only worth purchasing for people into SIX FEET UNDER... Available here.

Leif Jensen

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SIX FEET UNDER
True Carnage (4 Track Advance Promo CD)
(Metal Blade Records)
8:59min

Can somebody please explain to me why the fuck these guys have become so incredibly successful throughout the last couple of years?! Is this simply another example of major magazine manipulation and extensive hype?! I don't know… But I mean, c'mon - compared to what some of the members already delivered in their old bands DEATH / MASSACRE and CANNIBAL CORPSE this is nothing but pure bullshit! Chris Barnes' unnatural deep vocal delivery may have fitted the brutal CANNIBAL CORPSE style, but it definitely sounds ridiculous in combination with the lame and uninspired songwriting of SIX FEET UNDER. This ain't brutal and it ain't heavy either. There's lots of oldschool Death Metal bands around in the worldwide underground these days that are easily cabable of writing way better material - material of really dark, obscure, blasphemous and brutal nature, material which still maintains the right atmosphere and feeling. But unfortunately those bands haven't been discovered by bigger companies yet and therefore don't get the same attention. Well, at least they still know what this music is all about… a fact which SIX FEET UNDER obviously have forgotten. Remember, last year Barnes & Co already decided to release an embarassing cover album on which they proved how talentless you can interpret old Heavy Metal classics. And when they recorded their new album "True Carnage" they were obviously completely out of their minds as they even decided to team-up with a fuckin' rap star (Ice-T) on 'One Bullet Left'!! The result is one of the most horrible crossover songs I've ever heard since BULLDOZER released their almost similar stupid 'Dance Got Sick' EP. You should count how many 'motherfuckers' this BODY COUNT asshole did use in his lyrics. Fuck man, do you feel more tough by doing so, or what? This promo CD only features three songs (including the just mentioned one) and an additional video for the song 'The Day The Dead Walked' (which visually turned out really nice'n'bloody…), but it was already prove enough for me to avoid another full length release by this highly overrated "megastars".

Frank Stöver

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SIX FEET UNDER
True Carnage
(Metal Blade)
34:19min

I really don't know how to start because SFU are not my favourite Death Metal band at all, probably because they still refuse to go real fast from time to time. I'm far from being a high speed junky but having groovy songs all the time can become a bit boring. Apart from that, SFU have always offered high quality and "True Carnage" doesn't break with this tradition. Instead, two SFU fans add some colour to this output: Ice-T and Karen Crisis (great!) contributed some guest vocals and after some time you'll even accept the Ice-T song (actually, 'One Bullet Left' is one of the most intense songs on here)! A good reason why one should go for this CD might have been the PC video clip 'The Day The Dead Walked': a hilarious splatter-zombie-short movie! Dead cool! But you can download it from the Metal Blade homepage which shows that both the band and the record company are sure that the music on "True Carnage" doesn't need another selling point! If you didn't like SFU before I doubt you will like the new CD, but you should definitely go for the video and maybe afterwards you might decide that you like SFU from now on? You may order it here.

Ramon Claassen

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THE SIXTH INCUBATOR
Live-Reincarnation-Ground Zero
(Cudgel Agency)
44:27min

"We don't want to produce Hightech - Death Metal - albums, we just want to keep the spirit of experimental Death Metal- / Grindcore music alive." Cool. All right with me. "THE SIXTH INCUBATOR was founded to release experimental Death Metal / Grindcore - albums in an old form like old PUNGENT STENCH / CARCASS releases..." Great, gimme that CD! "... with a modern, industrial touch." Hurrgh! Grmblfx! Have mercy! Former INCUBATOR member Chris Mummelthey joined forces with producer and main songwriter Stefan Schunke (SHELLFISCH) in order to get on my nerves, I guess. I just can't listen to this CD on a row (still, somehow I managed - and survived!!!)! Solid, yet not too exciting old school Death Metal ideas are destroyed by annoying computer sounds or even dance beats like on 'Dance-Gore'. As I really have to watch my language concerning this so-called "live" album, I better stop now. Limited to 500 copies (as long as they don't get the Rock Hard magazine title of the worst CD of the month I wonder if they can get rid of that amount), this album is only worth checking out for computers (or maybe people into both Death Metal and Industrial). Not my cup of tea AT ALL! Death to false Metal! I won't fucking dance! (Sorry, I AM being pathetic, but that's not my fault)

Ramon Claassen

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SJODOGG
Landscapes Of Disease And Decadence
(Osmose Productions)
46:17min

Sometimes music is closely connected with good / bad memories from the past and listening to the latest Osmose release I remember the times when nearly every Osmose release was a pure classic, easily explained by the fact that almost all Black Metal hordes from Scandinavia found their way to Beaurainville in France. In 2007 Osmose is still releasing fresh blood from all over the world but nearly all classic bands left Osmose to find the gold at the end of the rainbow somewhere else (except for Impaled Nazarene!). Their latest release is the debut from SJODOGG a band consisting of Enthral, Crest of Darkness and former The Flesh members and honestly speaking due to the fact that especially Enthral is in my opinion based on one of the rare jewels on the dark Norwegian sky I expect a lot from “Landscapes Of Disease And Decadence”. SJODOGG don’t disappoint the listener because "Landscapes..." shows how Black Metal can / must sound in 2007 to avoid the well known term “nice but nothing new”. The first two songs easily show the potential of this band by combining their trademarks; dark guitar walls flow together into acoustic parts - if you close your eyes you can feel the funeral fog all around you! I’m nearly sure that SJODOGG will agree to the assumption that Mayhem and Keep of Kalessin gave some inspiration to “Landscapes Of Disease And Decadence“ but if a unworthy journarlist is naming some of the cult Black Metal bands to review their debut you should not complain! The whole album is really worth to find their fans even if you need three or four rounds to really get into SJODOGG’s universe. Osmose is maybe an old dragon in the business (I think the term rabbit is not completely matching) but they still have a hand for bands which could but should release their music to keep the “flames alive”! www.osmoseproductions.com

Matthias Auch

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SKADY
Eyn Raunen Im Tannicht
(Asatru Klangwerke)
39:23min

The German underground, especially if it comes to all kind of Pagan Metal combos, is currently a very efficient machinery and the expected burnout of this new scene is more a solid fact than future telling. SKADY - the old goddess of the hunt - is a further newcomer and their style can be very easily summarized as typical German Pagan Metal. Maybe this has in some way a negative touch, which was not the intention, but after listening to their debut release, which still owns a demo character in some way, a handful of bands coming into my mind especially one band which dominated the growing scene over a couple of years - RIGER. Founded in 2006 they are releasing their official debut album with “Eyn Raunen Im Tannicht” and next to the typical war tunes the band offers also some more traditional tunes (‘Der Mühe Lohn’) which gives this release a refreshing note. Luckily this isn’t another “drink beer and have fun” album with a lot of metalized blood in its veins - a solid underground release which again shows that Pagan Metal needs to concentrate on the second word Metal to in order to survive the next decade. www.myspace.com/skadymetal, www.asatru-klangwerke.com

Matthias Auch

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SKALDIC CURSE
World Suicide Machine 
(Dark Essence)
43:06min 

The first thing to hit the listener here is the interesting use of harmonics that burst like sun spots in the background. This band has a firm grasp on how Black Metal can work. Sounding a small bit like EMPEROR on "Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk", especially when they play fast, SKALDIC CURSE do a fine job of weaving a harsh, but elegant stream of hate filled Metal. The album is rich in atmosphere, but the harmonics might wear the patience after a while. Still, all in all, this is an excellent sophomore effort. For a band that hasn't been active for very long, they've a more than adequate understanding of who they are as musicians. With time the strong, almost imitation EMPEROR riffs will morph into something entirely their own. You've heard this album before (by EMPEROR), but it's nice to hear another group perform the craft so well. www.myspace.com/skaldiccurse, www.karismarecords.no

Nat Shapiro

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RAT SKATES
Born In The Basement (DVD)
(Kundrat Productions)
approx.66min

I personally discovered New Jersey Thrashers OVERKILL around the time when their self-titled EP on Azra / Metal Storm Records came out sometime back in 1984 / '85. And even though I grew up with the music of those guys, I was never really aware of the fact that the driving force behind them was actually their drummer Lee "Rat Skates" Kundrat... So, it's even more weird now that I started to loose interest in their music pretty much around the time when he left the band (after their second full length album "Taking Over" sometime in 1987)... "Born In The Basement" is a documentary, created by Rat and his wife Lori, that kicks off with some background info on the birth of a new, early 80s movement called Thrash Metal, but quickly heads over to Rat's personal career, from his early days as a Skater until his departure from OVERKILL (and everything of importance in-between). The info he reveals within the approximately one hour long movie is very detailed and highly interesting, especially when it comes to the early days of his former band THE LUBRICUNTS and how they finally ended up becoming OVERKILL. Younger people that grew up with the internet and the possibilities of Photoshop will most certainly be surprised to see how much creativity and hard work was actually needed to promote a band back then. In that respect Rat definitely completely worked his ass off to establish OVERKILL! But with this do it yourself attitude he quickly not only created the wellknown green band logo (based around a "borrowed" O from the famous IRON MAIDEN logo) and lots of merchandise stuff, but also an impressive stage-set and -clothing... and all that with very little to no money at all. No surprise that he became very disillusioned about the fact that he earned at least a little bit of money with the band when he still did everything on his own as opposed to the time when OVERKILL's second album got picked up by a major label (Atlantic Records). Yeah, the music industry really sucks indeed and already destroyed more great bands than it helped them on their way up. All those of you that first discovered OVERKILL when their debut album "Feel The Fire" came out (or even afterwards) will also get to hear (and see) some really interesting things about the time when the band still wore ghoulish make-up and almost looked like Zombies (heavily inspired by KISS and THE MISFITS)... A very amusing part about this period you'll also find in the bonus section of the DVD, when original guitar player Robert "Riff Thunder" Pisarek recalls that he got kicked out of a band that looked like that, first and foremost because he was wearing a WHITE leather jacket... The bonus features (in total about another hour long) also include some amusing anecdotes by THE LUBRICUNTS vocalist Billy Vector, an old OVERKILL TV broadcast (live on stage plus interview), a short documentary from 1986 in which all four members talk about their experiences with the Germans as well as two very crazy radio interviews from 1986 (audio only). So, all in all this whole DVD turned out really entertaining and is addressed to all oldschool Metalheads in general and OVERKILL diehards in particular. My only points of criticism are: a) the German subtitles are completely hilarious and often don't make any sense at all and b) lots of the vintage pictures that you get to see throughout the movie go by way too quick, so that you often can't even read who's on them and c) new interviews / statements from the other former OVERKILL members would've been nice... Apart from that: well done! You can check out a trailer of the movie here. For ordering info go to www.myspace.com/ratskates (as www.ratskates.com didn't work by the time I wrote this).

Frank Stöver

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SKEPTICISM
The Process Of Farmakon (MCD)
(Red Stream Records)
18:31min

I really have no idea who's supposed to buy this. I mean, I seriously doubt that these guys are already established enough to release a 2-track only MCD, which is rather expensive and usually just works for a band like METALLICA or something... Furthermore the packaging (even though it comes as a digipack) is ugly as fuck - completely in a bunch of different blue colors and probably more suitable for a strange Pop act than a heavy underground band. Musically you get two rather long tracks of depressive slowmotion Doom with deep grunted deathly vocals. Can't stand this at all as it's monotonous and boring and the annoying keyboard (hammond organ?!) gets on my nerves in the same way as the stupid sounds of bubbling water in the second song... In case you consider yourself a fan of SKEPTICISM, you better wait for the next full length instead of wasting money on something like this.

Frank Stöver

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SKEPTICISM
Farmakon
(Red Stream Records)
62:22min

Funeral Doom… being the third full length this album will most probably appeal to all the fans of their previous releases. Musically this is depressive slowmotion Doom with some melancholic moments and harmonies but more varied than before concerning speed and arrangement. You still have downtuned guitars playing rather simple and static lines accompanied by an organ that adds a certain symphonic quality to the long and slow songs (or dirges, if you prefer). Here and there an acoustic guitar fades in and disappers again while slightly tribal drum rolls pound on… generally the bands works with “loud – calm” – dynamics to create atmosphere. The uttered cryptic lyrics of doom and depression lie in between deep grunts and whispering, sometimes shortly turning into a manic direction, laughing (in the untitled fourth song). The package also fits to this rather monotonous offering: the cover is almost all black showing a thin thread of smoke in the vertical with the band's name and the album title printed in grey simple fonts, following the aesthetic line or concept known so far by the band. Even though I grew to like this record after listening to it repeatedly I have to admit that I prefer acts like EVOKEN, the mighty and unique ESOTERIC or UNHOLY on the desolate plains of Doom. If these acts appeal to your senses it might be a good idea to give SKEPTICISM a try and deceide for yourself – if you consider yourself a fan you will have bought this already most probably. The two song from their previous MCD “The Process Of Farmakon”  are also featured on this disc but in different versions, by the way. SKEPTICISM email contact: skepticism@farmakon.com, homepage: www.farmakon.com. Label contact: Red Steam, P. O. Box 342, Camp Hill PA 17001 – 0342 USA, email: redstream@aol.com.

Ulrich Kreienbrink

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SKINLESS
Foreshadowing Our Demise
(Relapse Records)
40:09min

Finally this New York band gets a good record contract with a pretty good label, after many years on the indie circuit. Their last album "Progression Towards Evil" sold 11.000 copies for an independent release!! However they are back with 9 groovy, very Death Metal tracks. Most tracks have hilarious samples then the power crashes in. The style ranges from very slow brutal groove inducing riffs, to blast beated mania. If you want comparisons lets go with JUNGLE ROT, DYING FETUS meets BLACK SABBATH in the back alley and have a brawl and that's what this sounds like. Beautiful brutality. On sale here.

Dimitri Ganatsios

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SKINLESS
Trample The Weak, Hurdle The Dead
(Relapse)
36:44min

Sometimes there is really something to be learned from promo-sheets. The good people at Relapse, who usually seem to know what they’re talking about, proclaim in the “overview” that accompanies this promo, that SKINLESS are considered “on of the worldwide forerunners on the New York Death Metal sound, which is the most widely popular sub-set in the Death Metal Genre”. Well, obviously I missed out on something there since I couldn’t relate to any “New York Death Metal” besides SUFFOCATION and their endless list of clones. Anyway, if you tend to order your records alphabetically and sorted after genre, this would perfectly fill the gap between SIX FEET UNDER and the aforementioned SUFFOCATION. And more than suitably so since their brand of Death Metal can be best described as a mixture of the simple and groovy mid-tempo-sound of the first and the intense technical brutality of the latter. SKINLESS have a reputation as killer-live act which is easy imaginable since their songs are overall quite catchy. Yet the fantastic releases by MISERY INDEX and GADGET make this look a bit pale in comparison. Still a solid offering for all those who find SIX FEET UNDER too stupid and SUFFOCATION too complicated. 
www.4SKINLESS.com. On sale here.

Torsten Gründig

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SKITSYSTEM
Stigmata
(Ironfist Productions)
33:19min

I’m perhaps not the best person to review this CD as I’m definitely no expert in Crustcore, but I’m a big fan of WOLFPACK / WOLFBRIGADE (R.I.P. – unfortunately!!) and the older releases of SKITSYSTEM, especially their great “Grâ Värld / Svarta Tankar” CD, and this made me really looking forward to put their new recording in my CD-player when I received this promo CD. So what can I say? I’m not sure if this CD is better than the above mentioned album, but we are talking about a great Crustcore album, full of brutality, great riffs and songs that just go straight in your face. Besides that I definitely want to lose some words about their lyrics as they deal with sexual abuse, pollution, the government and, among others, the medial overkill of the current times. More than worth to read!! I think it’s always impressive to see how many different types of musical quality and musical brutality Sweden is offering to us. Please take also a look on their great homepage www.skitsystem.net with a huge bunch of mp3s of all their former releases and support their hardcore attitude! I think they are not here for earning money but to deliver a message to us! Support ‘em and let them blow away your ears!!

Thomas Ehrmann

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SKITZO
Hellavator Music
(Mourningstar Records)
31:29min

Hell, this is fucking sick!!! Just imagine 80’s Heavy and Thrash Metal mixed with psycho Rock and a massive dose of primitive, controversial and disgusting humour (incl. vomit assaults on stage) and you will get an idea what is essential to those barbarians and their “sick-a-delic” sound. SKITZO have been busy smearing their puke over the Metal scene for more than two decades and unleashed 15(!) albums upon poor mankind. Their live shows have become legendary not only because of SKITZO’s cliché-ridden Metal attacks, but also through “blood, sweat and vomit”, especially vomit. Even talkmaster Jerry Springer had to face the front-savage Lance Ozanix in one of his shows, where he spat his lunch on his girlfriend. Those appearances and a few other controversies have not only increased SKITZO’s publicity, but also made them a cult-band in the US, sadly their music can’t stand up to this. Although I expect SKITZO to be a killer act live (proved best by the live-bonustrack on “Hellavator Music”), the six new Studio songs are not more than mediocre Metal songs with a lot of 80’s riffs, melodies and feeling, spiced up by SKITZO’s own humour. Check them out if you like phrases like “fucked up on angel’s blood”, think vomiting is extraordinary funny and love traditional Metal. Email: pukezone@hotmail.com, Website: www.go.to/skitzo . The CD is on sale here.

Stefan Franke

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SKULL
Beer, Metal, Spikes
(Utterly Somber Creations)
37:06min

Hot on the hi-top heels of bands such as CRANIUM, DESEKRATOR, GUILLOTINE and WITCHTRAP arrive now the Colombian Thrashers SKULL. Heavily laden with fast picking, rapid double bass energy, almost dead-on "Zetro" Souza / EXODUS vocals and enough of the exuberance of that bygone era, ultimately making for a mildly entertaining half hour. Not the most original or expertly played Thrash Metal you have ever heard, but not exactly a band you would haul ass and leap to your stereo to remove either. Seven tracks are here for your banging attention plus two live songs captured from the "La Cruzada Del Fuego" festival, that happened on May 23, 2004. Contact: chatarradura@latinmail.com or traumarkhan@hotmail.com or Utterly Somber, P.O. Box 08419, Chicago, IL 60608 USA.

Wes Rhodes

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SKULL COLLECTOR
Depravity Indulged Through Fresh Corporal Parts
(Rotten To The Core)
34:00min

Yes, I like brutal Death Metal and yes, I also like blast beats and growls. And this new record from the Belgian Death Metal combo SKULL COLLECTOR has all these trademarks. But the sound is bad, the guitars are scratching through the songs without something like a structure. On top of it you get the stertorously vocals. The songs whooshed through my ears and nothing stuck to my mind. So, I’m sorry for the short review but there is nothing more to say. It is an extreme and brutal Death Metal band but those of you reading this know where to get better stuff. http://skullcollector.deathmetal.be  or www.rttc.eu

Stefan Hagmayer

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SKULLSHIFTER
Here In Hell
(self-financed)
15:39min

I’m not quite sure why I took over this review when I was approached by the band. Somehow their style doesn’t quite fit into the drawers of Voices From The Darkside. Whatever. Their music rocks. It’s pretty aggressive: a bit like PANTERA or MACHINE HEAD but with a slightly oldschool feeling at some points. Take the creepy beginning of the title track, for example. At least when they’re not getting groovy (which they do quite a bit - and they do it pretty good). I’m not sure whether it’s because there are only 3 tracks on here or because the songs are simply good - but somehow those 3 tracks enter my mind quite easily, especially the last one. The modern scent also seems to be the producer’s work: Simon Efemey (NAPALM DEATH, PARADISE LOST, etc.) put a lot of force and energy but also quite some clinical atmosphere into “Here In Hell”. Definitely recommendable to open minded listeners. http://www.skullshifter.com/

Ramon Claassen

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SKYFIRE
Timeless Departure
(Hammerheart Records)
41:51min

SKYFIRE is a pretty new Swedish band which luckily doesn't walk the path of this typical, aggressive Swedish Death / Thrash Metal which so many of their colleagues walk these days. After a pretty bombastic intro, the real opener 'Fragments Of Time' already gives a pretty good idea where to place SKYFIRE. If you could imagine a mix of the fast and catchy elements of a band like CHILDREN OF BODOM and the melodic (especially the keyboards) and sing-a-long character of a band like THYRFING, you're getting pretty close. The production is very good (Abyss Studio, what else did you expect?), the booklet looks nice and the songs themselves also manage to convince. I do think though that SKYFIRE needs to watch out when they're in the middle of a mid-tempo track and suddenly speed things up from 0 to 100 miles/hour in less than 3 seconds: the keyboarder and the bass-player sometimes have difficulties to follow there in my opinion, and are a bit behind the other musicians which has a bit of a chaotic sounding effect sometimes. Nevertheless a very nice debut. Available here.

Steven Willems

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SKYFIRE
Mind Revolution
(Hammerheart Records)
43:40min

If you love melodic, aggressive Metal like CHILDREN OF BODOM, BRIMSTONE or FINNTROLL you should make sure to get a copy of this album, because meanwhile SKYFIRE have become a serious concurrence for those acts. Although I personally absolutely despise this mixture of melodic Power / Progressive Metal with keyboards and emotionally screamed vocals, I can objectively tell you that anyone who digs this type of Metal should be very happy with “Mind Revolution”. A powerful Abyss-production, skilful melodic guitar playing, powerful driving drumming and keyboard / piano passages that are undoubtedly much better (= easier to endure) than anything CHILDREN OF BODOM have ever quenched out of their synthies (Mr. Franke, it seems to me that you never seriously listened to CHILDREN OF BODOM! Cause if you did, you would most certainly agree that they are far superior in every aspect! - Frank) Swedish SKYFIRE’s second album is a good alternative to all people who were disappointed by the BODOM’s latest releases, so give it a try!!! To get more information about SKYFIRE check the band’s web site www.skyfireonline.net or the one of their label www.hammerheart.com. You may order the CD here.

Stefan Franke

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SLAGMAUR
Svin
(Black Hate Records)
28:00min

The mysterious SLAGMAUR from Norway have recorded a trilogy called “The Three Protocols Of Forsen”, and “Svin” is a part of this trilogy (the two other parts are “Skrekk“ and “Domfeldt“). Originally recorded as a demo and now published via Black Hate. Since I do not know the other two parts of that trilogy I have no clue if this release is embedded within a certain concept, maybe like the first three ULVER releases. Furthermore I have no idea what this band is all about. The first copies of this album are going to contain a “special church-burning matchbox” - provocation for business sake or real ideology? Just a joke? And how to judge the promo-sheet information the bandleader General Gribbsphiiser has been in jail? No further information is given, like generally the band is very sparingly providing any information, seems like they are playing hide and seek with the public. Anyone who is interested may start a deeper examination of the phenomenon SLAGMAUR and its leader General Gribbsphisser, but for this time I will concentrate on the music. Black Metal, slow played, almost near the edge of Doom Metal, desperate, distorted shouting, long instrumental parts underlined with spoken, sampled words - all in all far beyond the traditional Black Metal. The only reference I have in mind is the SUN OF THE SLEEPLESS / NACHTMAHR split-album. Despite avoiding the traditional Black Metal elements, “Svin” is arousing the same atmosphere - darkness, desperation, hate, solitude. SLAGMAUR manage to keep the ancient Black Metal spirit alive, without repeating its musical elements. Quite surprising, for me. So all listeners out there who are wondering if there is a possibility that Black Metal can musically develop without betraying its roots, may, besides listen to the newer SATYRICON outputs, take a closer look on SLAGMAUR. www.slagmaur.com

Mirco Szymyslik

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SLAGMAUR
Skrekk Lich Kunstler
(Black Hate Productions / Nekk Brekk)
33:03min

I was anxiously waiting for this release, as Black Hate Productions has done an incredible work with GRÄFENSTEIN and the great MAKE A CHANGE…KILL YOURSELF. In fact, this release is more related to that last band, meaning it is more orientated towards the suicidal side of Black Metal. Few things I know about this Norwegian band, but that this is their second release so far. They claim to be influenced by the first wave of Norwegian Black Metal, referring to bands like DARKTHRONE, BURZUM and MAYHEM. Well, they also add some kind of theatrical atmosphere to the whole to create their sound. On here you will find 5 long songs, which they all seem to have an intro for each one, even if it is a part of the song. The thing is that after giving this one repeated listening, it tends to be more in the early BURZUM vein than anything else, if a bit psychedelic at times (something I suppose was not done intentional, but to me it sounded like that) with definitely way better vocals and production values. I suppose that they do sound primitive and oldschool, but they are wise enough to use and mix their music in such a way, that although it is nothing original, it does sound fresh. When it goes into traditional Black Metal stage, it does sound cold and grim, mostly mid-paced. One thing is for sure, they have recorded everything to have an effect on the listener, more akin to an horror movie than anything else…and they succeed. This is not for everyone, I am afraid, but those into cold obscure, almost orchestral Black depressive Metal, will find it interesting. www.slagmaur.com, www.blackhate.de

Julian Nuñez

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SLAINE
Non (Demo CD)
(self financed)
21:17min

SLAINE come from the Czech Republic and play well played technical / progressive Death Metal with some cool ideas. But what's missing here is a good and challenging sound that underlines the ideas of the band. The sound isn't really bad but it sounds too weak for this kind of music. Especially the snare drums and the guitars are not my cup of tea. But at least all instruments can be heard and distinguished very well. They have a cool bass player in the band who plays most of the guitarlines and sets some cool trademarks with his work! I like that and I hope that the band will have a more powerful sound next time as they know how to write good songs and how to handle their instruments! Thumbs up! Excellent songwriting! www.slaine.ch / contact@slaine.ch

Phil Jonas

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SLARTIBARTFASS
Nebelheim
(Trollzorn)
47:26min

SLARTIBARTFASS' debut from 2007 is a further release from the German Pagan Metal specialist Trollzorn. "Nebelheim" is a tribute to the misty German Donau delta, the home of the band and quite a nice start for this really young band. Think that 15 years ago the album has definitely been released as a demo tape but time goes by and if you have a label which sees potential in your music - take your chance. All lyrics are in German and the core of their music is Death Metal added / spiced with traditional instruments (Bagpipe, Pipes) and the well establish German Pagan Metal band RIGER seem to be a big inspiration for this band. Due to the fact that we are talking about a young band and their debut release, there is obvious room for improvement on the lyrical and musical side (some elements do not work together, and some refrains need serious improvement) but you can feel the will of this band. If SLARTIBARTFASS can work on their weak spots and create more songs like 'Asatru' I'm really looking forward for their second release. www.Trollzorn.de, www.slartibartfass-musik.de

Matthias Auch

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SLAUGHTERED PRIEST
World Wide War
(Time Before Time Records)
40:23min

It's hard to believe that SLAUGHTERED PRIEST is already three years old. Formed in 2007, these crazed Greeks were just in time for the Thrash revival. While critics of the movement (myself included) contend that the so-called return to Thrash is nothing more than nostalgia-fueled hype, there were stand outs who wrote good music. I confess I didn't know of SLAUGHTERED PRIEST in 2007, but if I had, I would have included them in my list of "young Thrash bands who aren't wimps". While their music is more NIFELHEIM inspired, there's a definite Bay Area and Germanic influence at work. For convenience's sake, it would be easier to simply say "inspired by NIFELHEIM", for NIFELHEIM are just like that. In any case, good album, good band, 'nuff said. http://slaughteredpriest.webs.com, www.time-before-time.com

Nat Shapiro

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SLAYER
God Hates Us All
(Mercury Records)
42:34min

After many delays (which also included a label change) it's finally here - the long awaited new SLAYER disc. And, is it worth the long wait? The answer is plain and simple: no, it's certainly not! Unlike fellow Thrashers DESTRUCTION and KREATOR, who both more or less succeeded in releasing great new albums in their classic old style, SLAYER unfortunately decided to continue to walk the path of annoying modern NU Metal with "God Hates Us All". Too bad really, because of that there's a big lack in most elements that made them so popular in the 80's. They will probably call it "musical progression", but I just can't agree with a statement like that at all. If you listen carefully you will recognize a lot of wellknown SLAYER riffs from the past, that simply got recycled for this new record. The tuning is just a little lower and the groovy elements have become more important. Is that progression? I don't think so. To me that's jumping on a bandwagon to appeal to the current mainstream crowd. Besides that, Araya's unique vocal style suffers from a way too big Hardcore influence, which destroys a lot of the songs. He's basically just screaming all the way through. Another big (personal) letdown is the drumming, which always was a very important aspect in SLAYER's songwriting over the years. But ever since Lombardo's departure SLAYER never managed to fill those shoes with an adequat replacement. Bostaph is a killer drummer, no need to argue about that, but to really convince a die hard SLAYER maniac, he still has a long way to go. So, the only positive aspect regarding "God Hates Us All" is the fact that it (at least!) turned out a little better than the previous, rather stupid "Diabolus In Musica" offering. But that wasn't any difficult at all anyway, so... Further info: www.Slayer100.de. On sale here.

Frank Stöver

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SLAYER
World Painted Blood
(American Recordings)
39:49min

It's been a while since the brand new SLAYER record got unleashed, but none of Voices writers took the burden of responsibility of dealing with it so far. No one dares or simply no one cares? Sure, those glorious times when any new SLAYER release meant masterpiece by default are long gone by now, but what the hell, they already have their fair share of groundbreaking records under their belts and must be one of the few bands that any self-respecting Metalhead (regardless of how underground you want to seem) should not ignore. Even if it isn't the easiest stuff to swallow, as it has taken me like ten spins of the record just to figure out if I like it or not in the first place. Yet it surely wasn't any "serious reviewer's duty" alone that made me put big black fucker on and on again. Some dark magic is still possessed by SLAYER, none can take it from them. In a way "World Painted Blood" may be seen as "South Of Heaven" of this day and age. You see, just like it was in the late 80s, SLAYER didn't comfort themselves by just forging one more album by the same mould as it's successful predecessor. However tempting it could be to take the easiest route, they decided against it once again. I wonder why the only song they chose to reveal long before the album's release date happened to be the one misleading the fans into thinking that the new album was going to be along the lines of the previous one, maybe even faster and more straight forward? Some call it Punk, you know. Indeed, early Punk influences has never been so evident in SLAYER's music since "Undisputed Attitude" album back in 1996 until now. At times it even seems like SLAYER had decided to make one more Punk album, this time with their own songs, but found the idea not so exciting in the last moment and generously diluted it with more regular elements taken from "South Of Heaven" up to "Christ Illusion" period of their career, so in the end "World Painted Blood" came out like a huge puzzle. It's contents are so diversified that I believe many fans would find different favorite tracks here. I wonder if the musicians themselves were a bit puzzled by the final outcome? Questions and questions again. Maybe there would have been less of them if I did care to read the numerous SLAYER's comments about the upcoming album beforehand, but somehow I used to trust my ears more than the eyes when dealing with music. Wrong upbringing, perhaps. "World Painted Blood" is professional all the way through, but it lacks a bit of something wild and evil that used to make early SLAYER so special. Instead we are offered carefully put together songs, virtuoso playing and top notch production served on high quality heavy duty vinyl in excellent packaging. The general impression is that too much brain was involved here, I'd prefer the balance being more on the "gut feeling" side, but still it's solid as a rock album, worthy of carrying the proud name of SLAYER. It's great to see the band still being alive and kicking entity, always hiding a surprise or two up their sleeves and ready to amaze their fans. Neither years nor Grammies could turn SLAYER into cold and soulless money-making hit-producing machine. If any summary is really necessary, it would be along the lines of this album asking more questions than giving the answers. So why not put "World Painted Blood" on and try to figure them out yourself? It's better than killing time reading some stupid review anyway. www.slayer.net

Timothy Dovgy

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SLIDHR
Demo 2006
(Debemur Morti Productions)
15:12min

The 2006 demo from this one man project from Ireland contains 15 minutes of oldschool Black Metal in the frozen Norwegian style. The man with the funny name “Gast” clubs through 3 songs, with some rare midtempo parts to loosen the songs and keep the listener interested. Gast made his thing not bad but also not spectacular. The demo is released on cassette, yes mc, exclusive and only the reviewers get a promo CD with 3 demos all together. For this the sound of the production is good and fits to the music. The tape is strictly limited to 300 copies. www.debemur-morti.com or www.slidhr.cjb.net

Stefan Hagmayer

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SLUDGE
Yellow Acid Rain
(Mighty Music)
43:02min

"Yellow Acid Rain" is already the fourth release by Switzerlands SLUDGE, following an EP on Godhead Records in 1996 ("Sweet Daisy") as well as two full length albums on Headstrong Records ("The Well" in 1998 and "Scarecrow Messiah" in 2000). Their line-up features SAMAEL's Marko on guitars / bass, they previously had worked at the famous Sunlight & Fredman Studios in Sweden and used to play a couple of very successful support shows as well as a tour with CROWBAR already... But for some reason none of those facts brought them to my attention before... until I received this newest album here. Recorded in Switzerland this time (but once again mixed at Studio Fredman by Fredrik Nordström) and packaged in a typical modern style "Yellow Acid Rain" features nine tracks of slow to midpaced, crunchy and overall very groovy yet always extreme Metal. Somehow the band is able to create a rather cold and often quite mechanical sounding atmosphere, with extreme harsh vocals and razorship heavy riffing. They do not exactly sound like - but obviously incorporate - influences from slower CARCASS ("Heartwork" period) and later SAMAEL, so fans of those acts with a soft spot for the more slow'n'heavy acts in general or the Swiss scene in particular should definitely check them out. Done very professionally, but for an oldschool Metalhead like myself a bit too modern in its overall approach. More info at: www.sludge.ch or www.mightymusic.dk. You can order it here.

Frank Stöver

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SLUGATHOR
Circle Of Death
(Time Before Time Records)
35:44min

This is the second full length from Finnish SLUGATHOR following their debut “Unleashing The Slugathron” released in 2003. I somehow missed that one, maybe because I liked the first two 7”es but wasn't exactly blown away by them. Well, this time SLUGATHOR deliver a fine slab of brutal and dark heavy Death Metal obviously influenced by the heydays of the Scandinavian, respectively European scene in the early 90s. In contrast to other bands that take their inspiration from that time but incorporate a good deal of melody, like for example HORRID, SLUGATHOR focus on sinister moods and crushing heaviness exclusively. The eight tracks recall the spirit of BOLT THROWER (minus the grind parts and also the leads sound different), early GRAVE, DEMIGOD (demo days) and also ASPHYX (“Asphyx”- era), balancing massive and doomy parts effectively. Tastefully placed, an eerie lead appears out of the midtempo to fast riff barrage here and there, conjuring up a morbid atmosphere and giving a further dark twist to the material like in the track 'Crypt Of The Dead'. While fans of more modern Death Metal will most probably not get into this record due to its stoic and decisive neglect of blasts, US-styled riffing and triggered drums, “Circle Of Death” will appeal to all those lunatics who still worship the old ways of Death and who find their obscure and orthodox cravings answered by the records from FUNERUS, EVISCIUM, FUNEBRARUM and the likes. I  must say this album proved to grow on me which each listening session - I just wished it was a bit longer and contained some more leads but it seems one of their guitarists was unfortunately killed during the recording so that may play a role in that. What remains is a strong album of pure Death Metal nevertheless. In the meantime, SLUGATHOR recruited some new members and if  the band contnues with this quality, the next album could be an absolutely crushing affair. www.slugathor.com.

Ulrich Kreienbrink

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SNIPER
Seducer Of Human Souls
(self-financed)
40:34min

The monicker lead me to think of SNIPER as a band playing classic Thrash Metal all the way but it turned out that it's just part of the truth. Actually, the album opens with a fast Black / Death riff and a looong scream, then a Thrash break comes, followed by grunts and then a midtempo, somewhat oldschool Death Metal riff and so on. So, the label of Black / Death / Thrash Metal is indeed justified and correct as the band mixes all three styles into their own. Admittedly, this approach is not exactly appealing to me but SNIPER are quite good songwriters and competent players – everything is tight and the classic soloing is indeed cool - no complaints on the technical level. The info sheet summarizes the sound of SNIPER as a mixture of SLAYER, old METALLICA, VADER and MASSACRE – quite fitting with the exception that there is no single trace of the Kam Lee - horde to be found here. It paid off that the band invested in Andy Classen to produce this effort as the sound is clear but powerful at the same time. Quite a nice mixture – my only points of criticism would be the sloppy logo and the corny artwork (matter of taste, though) and trading some of the melodic Scandinavian influences for more real Thrash wouldn't hurt either. Ah, and closing the record with a ballad is a funny idea… but nothing more, urgh. Nevertheless worth checking out (especially for Thrash aficionados) as the band is obviously dedicated. www.sniper-metal.de offers several songs to judge for yourselves.

Ulrich Kreienbrink

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SODOM
M-16
(Steamhammer / SPV)
49:02min

After Wacken Uncle Tom and Co. continue celebrating 20 years of sodomy and lust in the sign of evil with their eleventh full length entitled "M-16". Once again they’re dealing with the Vietnam topic. And as both KREATOR as well as DESTRUCTION released some real good Thrash this year, SODOM stick to their roots, so the forthcoming tour of the three veterans in Germany probably won’t disappoint anybody (hey, even Frank is considering to actually leave the house for this tour!) (ho-ho, verrrry funny Mr.Claassen, verrry funny! - F.). Personally, I think the recent SODOM line up is almost too perfect, though, as I will always like the old stuff, but apart from this, "M-16" is probably their best album since "Agent Orange" and I’m having great fun with this one. So after purchasing the new KREATOR album (it RULES) you should go for for SODOM as well, great party album! We got what we deserve! On sale here.

Ramon Claassen

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SODOM
Sodom
(SPV / Steamhammer)
38:55min

When I thought there was nothing more stagnant than "Masquerade In Blood" there you go... SODOM releases this crappy album. I've been a huge SODOM fan for the last 15 years and I've witnessed the ups'n downs of this mighty band but never thought the time of firing such harsh criticism would ever come... but sadly it did. On "M-16" there was fillers and that is always acceptable from a band with the SODOM longevity and back catalog of hard-to-top musical gems. But right before the few initial songs of the new album I cannot do other things than put my hand in my forehead trying to wonder the idea behind this album. It seems like almost the whole album is in the 'Remember The Fallen' vibe which is not bad but obviously gets tiring after few songs. 'Bibles And Guns', 'Lords Of Depravity' and 'Axis Of Blood' can be considered as decent songs but the rest just seem to be leftovers of the last few albums which only contribute to soil the cult status of this band. Nostalgia might be the only reason why you might want to get this album but the term "quality" are nowhere to be found during your listening. It is sad to see Mr. Angelripper slamming fellow cult bands like VENOM or CELTIC FROST because of getting better slots in the European live circuit... he should step back and think that behind that "unfair" happenings there might be a reason and it is that his band might have started to sink! Visit the band website at: http://sodomized.info/. The album can be ordered here.

Mario Cubero

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SODOM
The Final Sign Of Evil 
(Steamhammer / SPV)
49:43min

After their half-assed self titled 2006 album here we have the German masters of Thrash Metal striking back with a somewhat unexpected collection of songs. Personally, I was seeing something like this coming after all those "reunion" gigs they have been pursuing lately. What really caught me off-guard was the fact they went far back in their history to the point of re-recording the whole "In The Sign Of Evil" and adding some bonus to make it a complete album (well, it was originally supposed to be a full length already back in the 80s, but the record company decided to test the market with only a mini album first - Frank). I would have expected something similar to what DESTRUCTION did on their last album. Now, back to the music itself, they have succedded to recreate a raw ambience for the old songs as well as including additional material that even after all these years seems to fit the original EP material given their primitive nature. Let's face it, these new tracks are advertised as "the seven additional tracks are not a real bonus, because they fulfill an album, like it should (have been done) back in 1984" but in my opinion that is plain bullshit and the sole purpose of having this "unreleased" tracks into the new version is because to make the whole thing more attractive (no, that statement is really the truth! - Frank). It is funny how the songs flow because it makes me remember the sometimes sloppy performance of SODOM back in the day given their lack of experience with their instruments. If you listen carefully to the new versions it's definitely obvious that at least Witchhunter and Grave Violator had quite a bit of trouble exercising their rusty gears due to their inactivity in the scene. Grave Violator's guitar playing eventhough inspiring for a whole generation of Death / Black musicians is anything but brilliant. Witchhunter's once outstanding drumming abilities are just a shadow of what it used to be and Angelripper, while being active all these years does not sound as "evil" as these songs originally were recorded. Time passes and leaves its trace... Get this album just for the sake of nostalgia but do not expect anything really overwhelming. Contact the band at: http://sodomized.info. The CD can be ordered here.

Mario Cubero

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SODOMIZER
The Dead Shall Rise To Kill
(Marquee Records)
56:25min

WWWWWWHHHHHOOOOOOAAAAAAAA...you may wonder what way to start a review is that? Well I must say that is the way SODOMIZER will blowout your speakers with the opening themes of 'Blessed By The Virus Of Death' which serves as the perfect introduction to one of the most hellish, satan-possessed and delicously malicious album of the last 3 years. They say "Heavy Speed Devil Metal" and I say HELL YEAH! Hailing from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil these guys will definitely bring back the  old 80s memories when we were enjoying the most deranged releases at the time by VULCANO, CHAKAL, MX, COVA, HOLOCAUSTO and similar classic purveyors of the Brazilian sound. This is not another weekend-retro-project, the guys definitely express their respect to their 80s roots in a very honest way. A phenomenon rarely seen nowadays in this age of copycats. Their song topics are along the lines of horror movie themes, pornography and occultism and that combined with their thrashy / speed desecrations makes this CD the perfect soundtrack to an orgy with your neightbour daughters! Do something for your miserable life... steal, rape and kill for this slab of unrelenting two-horned Metal. Contact them at: www.sodomizer.cjb.net.

Mario Cubero

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