Desecration-Forensix
(Metal Age Productions, 2008)

The long running UK death metal band Desecration is indeed one of the best bands to ever come out of the country. They may not be as heralded as say Napalm Death, but their musical output is just as vicious as Napalm Death in their prime.

Combining the blasting strains of death/grind with a groove based approach, the band brings to mind Harmony Corruption era Napalm Death but with a slightly more modern slant. The riffing is somewhat simple and straight to the point never wasting any notes. Even the fast riffs stay rather simplistic making the entire album quite catchy in the process. The stripped down nature of the riffs also gives the album a slight thrash feel from time to time. The band also keeps the songs short which helps to keep the energy level high throughout the entire album.

This is one of the few death metal albums I've heard lately that is solid from beginning to end. This is a band that knows what works for them and never really stays from that. This is an old school death metal album armed with catchy riffs, a ridiculous amount of energy and enough groove to crack the walls in your house. In other words, just buy the damn album already.

Sylosis-Conclusion of An Age
(Nuclear Blast Records, 2008)

I'll be the first to admit that I am becoming cynical about any new bands receiving any type of hype in the thrash metal genre. The labels set the expectations so high that letdowns are all too common. Then comes an album like this one. An album that is very modern in approach but just manages to do everything right. There really isn't anything here you haven't heard before but the way the band combines thrash metal with many different styles of metal is definitely working for them.

While I would definitely hate to say the band sounds like a cross between thrash metal and metalcore, the comparison does indeed fit. The band has a similar sound to say a band like Trivium or Bullet for My Valentine but is much more vicious and a great deal more technical. What helps to differentiate this band from similar bands is the strength of the songwriting and the fact that this wasn't written for mass consumption. There are definitely memorable parts but this isn't stripped or watered down in any way shape or form. It's a more challenging version of a style that recently slumped into mediocrity.

I'm sure there are numerous metal fans out there that will take this album at face value and say it sounds just like every other band out there right. And while it does fit in nicely with modern thrash, the band definitely is doing some unique things and are incredible songwriters. If you are a fan of thrash and you aren't opposed to modern influences being introduced into the genre, this is definitely an album to check out.

Drugs of Faith-2008 Demo
(Self-Released, 2008)

Drugs of Faith are easily one of the best American grind bands going right now. This demo is basically just a tease as it is only three songs not even breaking the 5 minute mark. The great thing though is that the band manages to more interesting in under 5 minutes than most bands are on an entire album.

Race to the End starts the album off with blazing speed mixing rapid fire riffs with a dissonant rock riff in the middle of the song. The speed returns at the end capping a song that is essentially a minute long masterpiece. Anemic continues the dissonance explored on the first song and is a much slower song yet still incredibly energetic. This song is a perfect example of what truly makes Drugs of Faith so unique. It's like Deadguy, Crass and Napalm Death combined which is a treat for the ears to say the least. The Age of Reason speeds things up again with noisy hardcore styled riffing and thrashy drumming. Some surprising melodic elements are added while still maintaining the speed. Definitely an excellent song to end the demo with.

While the band has yet to release a full length album, this 3 song demo only adds to the amazing material released by Drugs of Faith. If you are a fan of inventive grindcore or at the very least sick of bands using the same formulas, this is definitely a band you need to invest some time in. This is a demo I can't recommend enough as these three songs are just ridiculously good.

Viking Skull-Doom, Gloom, Heartache and Whiskey
(Candlelight Records, 2008)

Amazing doesn't even come close to describing this latest album from Viking Skull. Gruff vocals and memorable riffing attacks your sense leaving a permanent impact on your unsuspecting ears. While the band certainly draws influence from the glory years of metal and hard rock, there is still a modern feel to the album at times. Think Mastadon mixed with Black Sabbath, Motorhead and AC/DC and you'll somewhat know what to expect from Viking Skull.

There is no denying the power of a solid metal riff. Sure showing your chops works for some bands but writing a riff that sends shivers down your spine has always been what metal bands have been striving for. The guitarists in the band certainly know how to write riffs and the songs themselves are built on simple ideas that stick with you for days. If you look at a band like Motorhead they had a ton of songs that have riffs that sounded very similar. Same goes for AC/DC it really helps you associate a certain sound with a band. There is definitely that consistency from track to track here. The band knows what works and doesn't stray from that path. It definitely would have been a train wreck had the band attempting to add say death metal influences to the sound, although the band does share a few qualities with the death rock style Entombed utilized on a number of their albums.

The albums only stumble comes in the form of the closing song Drink. It's going for a saloon type sound with piano and silly lyrics and while it is somewhat amusing it somewhat ends the album on a sour note. It would have worked better as a hidden song that started awhile after the album has finished. That said there are some amazing songs to behold in this album. If you are a fan of any of the bands mentioned in the review or possibly Priestess, pick this album up ASAP.

Anael-From Arcane Fires
(Paragon Records, 2008)

There is a common misconception that all black metal is speed driven. Granted the majority of the genre is fast in nature, but with a band like Anael speed is almost an afterthought. Epic in nature, the album boasts long songs and remarkably creepy pacing. The 12 minute opener starts off with simple drum rolls before the guitars coat the sound with a dark entrancing feel. While it certainly is black metal in style, it isn't typical and shows a band willing to take the genre down more creative paths.

The album is rather ambient in nature at times. The band soaks certain sections in feedback and even the moments that seem more typical of the genre feature riffs dripping with atmosphere. The reverb soaked guitar sound is adequately heavy but much more spacey than you would expect. The first taste of speed comes around three minutes into the third song. It works extremely well given that the song opens with a noisy clean guitar section before slowly building up the pace. Epic and brooding would both be ideal ways to describe Anael. This is tortured and elegant at the same time.

Out of all of the subgenres of extreme metal, black metal seems to be the only one right now that still shows a number of bands moving the genre forward. It is a genre that is often chastised for being filled with similar sounding bands but that is usually from people who aren't familiar with the genre to any extent. From Arcane Fires is a journey filled with surprising melody, stark riffing and an excellent combination of funeral doom, black metal and ambience.

Hellveto-Neoheresy
(Pulverised Records, 2008)

Here we have yet another band pushing the black metal in creative ways. Hellveto is a one man project but from the richness of the music you really have a hard time believing it. This is an album that really pushes back the harshness of the black metal genre. The cold feel it still there but the overall feel of the music is somewhat mechanical and slightly industrial in nature. The band manages to be grim, melodic and epic at the same time which is no small feat.

The vast majority of the album is somewhat mid tempo. The riffs have a slight rock feel at times and the band manages to shake the typical black metal tag by basically just not being a typical black metal band. They essential throw convention to the wind and seem to have no boundaries for what is fair game in their music. Only the third song is somewhat typical of the black metal genre bringing in blasting and a more straight ahead riffing style. The band still manages to be unique by using clean vocals intead of the harsh style you might expect. Speed shows up very rarely in the remaining songs and it is quite refreshing to see a black metal band that doesn't rely on the blast beat.

Creative and brooding, Hellveto has a unique take on the black metal genre and has managed to create a 35 minute journey of surprising diversity. The cover art might make you think this is going to be just another black metal album but that couldn't be any further from the truth.

Vulcano-Tales from the Black Book
(I Hate Records, 2008)

All fans of Brazilian death metal should be familar with Vulcano so a history lesson shouldn't be necessary. But for those of you that don't know before there was Sepultura there was Vulcano. There is a reason why the band is mentioned along with Sarcafago and Mutilator as being some of the most raw and bestial metal ever recorded. Tales from the Black Book was originally released in 2004 and is now being re-released by I Hate Records. On behalf of metal fans everywhere I say thank you.

What is remarkable about Tales from the Black Book is just how damn good the album is and just how well the band has captured the spirit of their early material. This is a raw and primal album built on savage energy and memorable riffs. This could have easily been released in the early 80's and that is exactly what fans of the band were hoping for. Modern influences are nowhere to be found and the band has even opted for a raw and old school production. The sound fits perfectly allowing the stripped down nature of the band to really shine through.

It amazes me that this album really never received the accolade that is certainly deserves. This is basically the album that fans of old school death metal and thrash metal have been waiting for and yet you basically hear nothing about it. Hopefully with I Hate re-releasing the album more people will take notice this time around. Vulcano are legends in their own right and the fact that they reformed and recorded an album this good is utterly mind blowing. If you missed out on the album when it was originally released in 2004, don't miss out again.

Root-Hell Symphony/The Book
(I Hate Records, 2008)

Root is one of those bands that I have heard of for years but for whatever reason have never actually heard. Thanks to I Hate Records my ears have been introduced to the unique black metal played by this Czech band and I am definitely impressed. It makes me wish I didn't miss the boat on this band and could have been listening to them for years.

Hell Symphony was originally released in 1991 and while the album does sound dated it only adds to the charm of the album. The band had a very unique take on the black metal genre complete with shredding guitar leads, an abundance of melody and a vicious vocal approach. The riffs themselves are rather straight forward and somewhat doom based. This is definitely from a time period when black metal was not primarily based around speed. The fast moments are thrash like in nature and there isn't a blast beat to be found here. The album itself is ridiculously varied and the band really never settles into one type of sound. Along with the 10 songs that originally appeared on the album, you have two bonus songs from an earlier re-released of the album as well as three live tracks.

The Book was released originally released in 1999 and shows the band focusing on a much more epic approach with clean vocals and an abundance of acoustic guitars being added to the mix. The outcome is now less unique than Hell Symphony if not more so in a lot of ways. Calling the band black metal on this album really doesn't sit well with me. It is indeed dark but the album seems to be the predecessor to today's folk metal than it is a black metal album. The songs all have a fairly similar feel and a hint of rock is prevalent in a lot of the riffing. The atmospheric side of the band is also amplified greatly with this release. It boggles my mind that this might just be one of the most unique metal albums ever released and Root is still a relatively unknown band.

This is my first exposure to Root and I am just blown away by the creativity and odd nature of the band. The band has undeniably had an impact on many bands and yet they still remain unknown. If you are a fan of unique, dark and somewhat odd metal, The Book comes highly recommended. If you are a fan of old school black metal but still want that creativity, Hell Symphony definitely delivers. Or just do yourself a favor and pick up both.

Nervo Chaos-Quarrel in Hell
(Ibex Moon Records, 2008)

This Brazilian band is somewhat hard to pigeonhole. While the style is most certainly death metal in nature the band throws a lot of variables into their sound. There is definitely a slight war metal feel that not only brings back memories of early South American death metal but also gives the band a slight Aussie feel at times as well. Regardless of what type of riff the band is throwing at you, they do it with incredible energy. Calling this high speed would definitely be an understatement.

What really stood out to me was just how unique the band is. The overall sound is a combination of death metal, thrash and black metal but the resulting sound really is quite unique. The band doesn't rely on the usual cliches in the riffing department and as a result manage to write unique riffs that still sound tremendously heavy but are still fresh as well. Vocally the band uses a guttural roar that is downright devastating. It fits the sound perfectly and helps to cement the band in the death metal genre quite firmly.

Brazil has a long history of amazing metal bands and this band has been adding to that legacy for 12 years now. This very well might be your first exposure to the band though. If you are a fan of dark yet unique death metal, Quarrel in Hell comes highly recommended.