Octavia Sperati-Grace Submerged
(Candlelight Records, 2007)

Usually when you say an album knocks you to your ass typically you are talking about an aggressive and hard hitting album, but this album knocked me flat on my ass and to be honest it isnt all that aggressive. The band is a heavy combination of haunting melodies and doom sensibilities. Think the Gathering meets Black Sabbath and youll somewhat have an idea what to expect from the band.

What really stands out here is just how original this sounds. The band is very moody and the heavy guitars clash with the vocals in a way that just seems new to my ears. Female vocals over heavy guitars are nothing new, but the female vocals arent a selling point here. They sound very natural and of course you know that the band isnt using female vocals to make a name for themselves due to the fact that the band is entirely females.

I think calling this doom metal really doesnt work because it is hard to put into words just how ethereal and atmospheric the band is. It basically sounds like smatterings of Isis and The Cure thrown into a doom type setting. When you read it sure it sounds like it would be strange, but once you hear the band and realize what they are all about it will make perfect sense.

A few of the softer songs will have the tough metal guys pretending like they dont dig it, but from beginning to end this is a unique and well written album. Atmosphere and metal dont always work when they are combined but this is a shining example of it working perfectly.

Sonic Syndicate-Only Inhuman
(Nuclear Blast, 2007)

If I remember right the last album I heard from this band had a very similar style to newer Soilwork and was a solid albeit by the numbers album of modern Swedish death metal. With this latest album the band has changed a little bit and come across like a cross between Soilwork and Atreyu.

The Atreyu influence is definitely a new thing and it really stands out to me for some reason. The clean choruses and some of the heavier riffs definitely sound a great deal like Atreyu. The overall sound of the band also seems a bit simplified. Im not sure if they are trying to make the band more accessible or if this is just came naturally when the songwriting was taking place. It certainly does make the album more accessible, but to me it really doesnt seem like the next logical step after the bands last album. It seems like taking a step backwards.

The main problem with me saying that this album is a step backwards is that if I hadnt of heard the last album first I certainly would have enjoyed this album more. Dont get me wrong though this is indeed a damn good album. The band just seems to be wearing their influences a bit too out in the open. With time Im sure the band will mature into a more original band, after all this is only their second album.

Swallow the Sun-Hope
(Candlelight Records, 2007)

The first two albums by this band were two of the best doom albums of recent years and this recently released third album finds the continuing that streak albeit with a slight change in sound.

The band is exploring clean vocals much more with this album and the album in general has a much more melancholy feel to it. It somewhat reminds me of a bit of Katatonia being added to the Swallow the Sun sound and it really works in favor of the band.

The slow and heavy riffs are still here as are the trademark grunts that always reminded me of a more doom influenced version of early Amoprhis. With this album the heavy elements and guttural vocals have much more impact because they have the counterpoint of the clean vocals to play off of. It adds a completely new element to the band and makes them have a much more rounded sound.

I can honestly say that if you are expecting this to be in the exact same vein as the previous two albums you are going to be disappointed. The band obviously wasnt content with just revisiting what they had done in the past and wanted to take a leap forward. It still sounds like Swallow the Sun, just with more clean vocals and even more melody. I would consider this a mandatory purchase for all fans of doom metal, and while you are at it, if you havent picked up the first two albums from this band do so immediately as you wont be disappointed.

Nightrage-A New Disease is Born
(Lifeforce Records, 2007)

With a new label and a slight change in approach Nightrage is back with one hell of an album sure to please fans of the previous albums and make some new fans in the process. Essentially this is still the fast and tight thrash you would expect from the band but the melodic side of the band has been explored more and from what I can remember this is also the first album from the band to include clean vocals.

Do the clean vocals add a lot to this album? They most certainly do. Not only does it help the songs themselves become a bit more memorable, it also allows the band to explore new ideas musically. The band has always been melodic, but this is easily the most melodic album to date from the band. Dont worry though as the album has no shortage of venomous screams and to be honest the new vocalist has a terrific harsh vocal style that lives up to what Thomas Lindberg contributed to the last album.

The band has had a revolving line-up that has included many well known metal players, but with this album the band has brought in an unknown drummer and vocalist and they have basically hit it out of the park. This is the most distinct and powerful the band has ever sounded.

Fans of the previous albums will no doubt enjoy this album as it treads now a similar, albeit more melodic, path. If you enjoy thrash, or melodic death metal this is definitely an album you will want to check out. And just a note to the masses of metalcore bands out there. If you want to take a thrash base and add clean vocals, here is a blueprint of it done right.

Ensiferum-Victory Songs
(Candlelight Records, 2007)

This latest album from Ensiferum is the first time Ive heard the band, although I have known the name for quite some time now. If I told you the band was Finnish would you already assume what they sound like? They have the thrash meets folk metal sound complete with keys and harsh vocals that the country has become known for. But Ensiferum is just a bit different. They have a very fast and tight sound that somewhat reminds me of a more folk influenced version of the first Children of Bodom album.

What I think really makes the band stand out is the overall feel of the band and the fact that this has battle music written all over it. If a warrior from the Middle Ages somehow ended up in modern times this is no doubt the type of music he would find himself enjoying. That whole analogy sure sounds like a bad movie though doesnt it?

I also really like the fact that this definitely isnt a flashy album. A lot of similar bands has two minute keyboard solos and truth be told some rather flashy and cheesy guitar solos. This is more of a working mans form of the genre. It has the bare essentials, the meat and potatoes of the genre if you will and it works wonders for the band. They stay on track for the entire album and there isnt a misstep to be found.

Of course if you go into this one expect constant blasts and growling you are going to be disappointed. If you go in expecting atmospheric and beautiful music mixed with some kick ass thrash and heavy metal riffs however you wont be disappointed. This is an album that Conan would give two thumbs up to!

Middian-Age Eternal
(Metal Blade, 2007)

Middian was formed after Yob called it quits surprisingly after releasing their best album yet. This is fairly similar to Yob but much rawer and a hell of a lot more aggressive. It isnt exactly what you would expect to rise from the ashes of Yob entirely, but there is no denying this is a good album.

The guitars lay down a foundation of mammoth grooves with flashes of dissonance that sound somewhere in between Black Sabbath and Mastodon. The songs are lengthy and seem to be lacking in dynamics at times. Dont get me wrong, these are well written doom metal songs but they do seem to meander at times and could have been a bit more concise at times I think.

Vocally the album is a pretty fair mix between clean vocals and screaming. The screaming is very effective and really suits the heavy and noisy nature of the band at times. The clean vocals tend to be a bit too quiet in the mix and it is really hard to hear exactly what is going on with this style. They also seem to have an Ozzy type vibe so I do wish the volume would have been turned up considerably in the mix.

This isnt what I would call a perfect doom album, but it is a very solid effort for a band that is just getting their legs and learning how to walk so to speak. If you were a Yob fan or you are into Grief this is definitely an album you will want to check out.

Lord Belial-Revelation-The 7th Seal
(Regain Records, 2007)

This friend is what you could call black metal perfected. Ill be honest when I say that I am very sick and tired of the typical minor chords played incredibly fast being past off as songwriting. This is a varied album that is cold and calculated and features some of the best riffing I have heard since Marduks debut album Dark Endless.

Tremolo picking is used to great lengths here and the riffing is dark yet very memorable. Surprisingly enough there is actually warmth and depth to the guitar tone so your ears will not be bombarded by an endless stream of treble. The band also utilizes tempo changes to great effect and never does this album turn into an endless blast fest. I like blasting as much as the next guy but 40 minutes of it is just too much for anyone.

Guitar solos arent extremely common in black metal but they are used to great lengths with this album and it works wonderfully. A few of the solos are a bit whammy bar intensive but the vast majority are surprisingly melodic and really help the songs fell complete and satisfying.

Production values have a tendency to be lacking with black metal albums but this is a damn fine sounding album. The production is clear and truly brings out what the band has to offer. The guitar lines ring through clear and the drums have the clarity needed for this style of music. The production keeps the album firmly planted within the black metal genre as it still has enough grit to keep the band sounding dangerous during the faster moments.

Im completely blown away with this album. Ive been a fan of the previous albums Ive heard from Lord Belial but this is just better in almost every way possible. This is an album that all fans of the genre need to hear.