To be quite honest I find compilations pretty annoying and even underground samplers like "Altars Of Mad Death" can’t keep my attention for too long. In a way they seem pretty outdated considering the fact that you can find MP3s at almost every underground band’s website. Of course a sampler is pretty convenient as it presents a big amount of bands and when you’re no big friend of the computer screen like I, this is still a good option to find out about new bands. Still, I prefer hearing or reading about bands first, then check out what they sound like and finally buy their CD. There is a reason for it as well: I hardly know samplers where more than half of the bands keep me awake, let alone impress me! One song usually doesn’t exactly represent a band anyway. Finally, on "Altars Of Mad Death" some singers are sort of mediocre – or at least not my taste and therefore spoil good songs (e.g. CARNAL LUST). Of course there is some light on here: the opener MAELSTROM (pretty technical); HYPNOSIS with dance beats and additional female vocals or old schoolers BLOODY SIGN. Certainly not a bad CD but I’d never buy it. Maybe directly check out the featured bands instead? Well, at least it attracts some attention. Available for 14,- Euros postpaid in digipak. www.diamond-prod.com