The Autumn Offering-Fear Will Cast No Shadow
(Victory Records, 2007)

This album took me a bit by surprise. Ive been a big fan of the first two albums and I am a fan of this album although it does take a slightly different direction than the first two albums. Due to a much more melodic vocal performance courtesy of the former vocalist of Hell Within, the band has taken a bit more accessible approach with this album. There are still fast moments, but this certainly explores clean vocals and the rock side of the band much more with this album. While it might be a change that fans of the band might find a bit unexpected it certainly makes the band have a lot more impact and makes them much more than just another metalcore band.

The Swedish styled guitar riffs are still used to great lengths but with the melodic vocals used instead of the screaming it takes on a completely different feel. Screaming is still used but not to the same extent as previous albums. The screams manage to keep up the intensity when needed and seem to have much more impact when surrounding by the melodic vocal approach.

Theres no getting around the fact that the songwriting is just plain better on this album. The songs are layered and feature a wonderful melodic guitar approach. The guitar leads ride the line between technicality and feel pretty much perfectly. The guitarist throws quite a few notes at you at times, but the solos are littered with memorable sections and the solos never come across as being excessive. They have enough sweep picking to please fans of the style, but have a classic metal or even rock feel as well.

If you enjoyed the first two albums youll probably be surprised by how melodic the album is, but will enjoy it none the less. This is definitely a case of a band progressing for the better which is quite rare these days.

Spell Forest-Lucifer Rex II: Celebrare a Furvum Luna in Martis
(Somber Music, 2007)

Lets face it Brazil is not a country that is known for black metal. That is indeed where Spell Forest comes from and surprisingly this is some extremely fierce and dark black metal sure to please fans of Dark Funeral and possibly Mayhem or Burzum.

This is pretty much what you could call meat and potatoes black metal. It is fast and harsh with cold melodic riffs and harsh vocals. That in itself is one of the problems with the album it is indeed well done but it really isnt anything overly new. Lack of originality aside, the band does indeed write some good riffs and the songs certainly have a lot of depth for the most part.

The album ends with four really short songs that almost seem incomplete at times. I think they probably could have left off these songs as the album is already over an hour long, which brings me to my next point, the album is just too damn long to keep my attention. I dont mind long albums for certain genres but 66 minutes is far too long for a black metal album. Trim it down to 40 minutes and youd have a hard hitting and fast moving album without the fat. This is a good album, but there is just too much here. I like the short and fast songs much more as they go for the throat and never relent until the last note.

This is a good but flawed black metal album from a band that seems to be trying to do too much with one album. 9 or 10 songs would have had much more impact, as 16 is just too damn many songs for an album of this sort.

Crionics-Neuthrone
(Candlelight Records, 2007)

With their third album Crionics have further moved away from their black metal tinged first album morphing into a blistering futuristic death metal machine. Taking the best elements of Vader, Decapitated, and Morbid Angel, Nuethrone is a pounding and inventive slab of death metal.

This is a fast album that throws blasting drums and pummeling guitars at the listener with no regard for the damage done. There are certainly surprises to be found here though. The album is littered with strange noises and a much more prominent electronic influence. It adds to the mechanical and futuristic feel of the music and it is quite a different approach, particularly for a death metal band.

The production is top notch and a perfect sound for the approach of the band. The guitars are extremely clear allowing each note to hit with tremendous force. The drums are powerful with loud bass drums and a snare sound that cuts through the mix. I think the vocals could have been just a touch louder as the Vader influenced vocals are very powerful and would have had a bit more oomph if mixed a bit louder.

Although there is no reason to knock the bands first two albums, this album is just much better. It is more focused and the songwriting pretty much never falters for the entire album. If you like futuristic death metal, this one is for you.

Common Grave-Dehumanized
(Twilight Records, 2007)

Taking elements of grindcore and death metal, Common Grave has a sound that is equally rhythmic as it is blast filled. It could somewhat be likened to a cross between Dying Fetus and Napalm Death and the band brings in a slight thrash influence from time to time as well so you could throw a bit of Slayer into the mix as well.

If you like your death metal chunky, this one is definitely for you. There is a strong US death metal influence running throughout the album and while this album is fast the band has no trouble playing a groove. The chugging riffs give an obvious nod to the New York death metal style, but the band certainly isnt what you would call a clone of the style.

The vocals are extremely guttural and I guess somewhat typical of the death metal genre. It may not be an original approach, but it certainly fits the style of the band. A bit more variation would have been nice, but as is the vocal performance is rock solid albeit a bit typical.

This isnt an album that throws death metal into uncharted waters, but it is hard hitting, well written and with energy to spare. If you enjoy Dying Fetus, Napalm Death or Rotten Sound, youll enjoy Common Grave.

Hardingrock-Grimen
(Candlelight Records, 2007)

This is one of those records that your respect for the effort and imagination on display, but this certainly is an album that is hard to get into and listen to regularly. The music is extremely melodic with an almost folk or Celtic feel. If you are expecting extremity because Ishan is in the band you will be disappointed. There are some metallic moments but even those moments are extremely melodic and folk like in their note choices.

Of course the music is impeccably written and quite technical. There are many different layers on display and Ishan is certainly showing a side we have never seen before. There is an almost progressive feel to the music with unique rhythmic ideas and guitar flourishes. There are moments that have a 70s rock feel as well with more than a few riffs that reminded me of a more technical Led Zeppelin.

The vocals are all over the place on the album. You have a female voice used sparingly throughout, a spoken voice and a harsher approach. None of the lyrics are in English though which makes it a bit hard to understand, especially during the extended spoken word sections.

This is indeed a creative and well written album that might have a hard time finding its audience. If you enjoy folk infused metal this will be quite different than what you are used to, but you will most definitely like what the album has to offer.

Mithras-Behind the Shadows Lie Madness
(Candlelight Records, 2007)

There is really no way to get around the fact that Mithras certainly sounds a great deal like Morbid Angel. The spastic lead guitars, roaring vocals and riffing approach all bring to mind Morbid Angel. One big difference is that Mithras has a spacier approach and guitar leads are much more prominent. Not to mention this is better than anything Morbid Angel has released in a long while.

The unique aspect of the band is that they almost seem like two distinctive bands clashing together. You have the blistering death metal side yet the intense riffs and growled vocals are usually topped off with reverb soaked lead guitar lines which gives the music a spacey atmospheric quality. It gives the music a technical edge as well due to the fact that guitar leads appear quite frequently in the songs and for extended periods.

The vocals certainly remind me of David Vincent with a clear and powerful roar. It certainly doesnt help the band move away from the Morbid Angel comparison, yet it is a powerful and fitting vocal approach.

Think of a sci-fi version of Morbid Angel and you would have Mithras. This is an album that shows Mithras having a lot to offer and in many ways evens surpassing the band they seem to be drawing influence from. This is an inventive death metal album with a unique lead guitar approach and a surprising use of atmosphere.

Bereavement-The Advent of Loss
(Independent, 2007)

With a name like Bereavement you know that this isnt going to be happy and uplifting music. What we do have here is melodic doom metal that draws from Opeth and Katatonia but in the end manages to have a unique and varied take on the genre.

This is an album that manages to use dynamics to great effect. Acoustic passages help to break up the heavy guitars, which in themselves are quite melodic. There is a slight black metal feel to some of the riffs and the usually gruff vocals are punctuated with stabs of a harsher approach. The songs are quite lengthy but the band manages to keep things interesting and never become plodding. The band may certainly draw influence from the doom genre, but this is very far from being a slow or boring album.

Clean vocals are used sparingly throughout the album and while they are well done Im glad the band didnt overuse them. Also of note are the excellent guitar solos which really took me by surprise. They are somewhat flashy but not in a way that distracts from the music. They are quite melodic as well which fits perfectly with the bands songwriting approach.

This is one of those albums that you would consider a diamond in the rough. Bereavement plays n interesting and melodic brand of metal that certainly stands out amongst the countless bands playing technical death metal or metalcore right now. Fans of Opeth, Katatonic, and possibly even newer Soilwork will enjoy this album.