Seance-Awakening of the Gods
(Pulverised Records, 2009)

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited about Seance being back together. While the sound of the band has certainly changed with the reformed line-up, there is a lot to like about this album and many of the trademarks of the band are still alive and present. If you are expecting an exact replica of the early albums you may be slightly disappointed.

Long time fans of the band will be glad to know that the rhythmic nature of the early days is still here. The band has definitely added a great deal of thrash into the mix now and has a similar feel to The Haunted from time to time. The band was of course fast on the early albums and demos and the same type of blasting is used from time to time throughout the album. A song like Your Time Has Come seems to be slightly more similar to what people might expect from the band. The thrash elements took me by surprise but they definitely aren't something that hurts the album at all. These moments are incredibly energetic and really help to bring the album to life.

The awesome thing about this album is simply the fact that even if the album doesn't sound exactly like what you remember Seance sounding like it is a kick ass metal album none the less. The band has added modern elements to great effect and this has just enough riffs that relive the past to make fans of the early days enjoy this as well.

Tribulation-The Horror
(Pulverised Records, 2009)

While death metal has always been a fast genre it is somewhat lacking in the energy department from time to time. Tribulation certainly does not have that problem though. With a sound in between black metal, thrash, and old school death metal, the band rips and tears with an energetic and extremely memorable assault. Similarities could be drawn between this band and Nifelheim but there are more then enough unique qualities to make this album more than worthwhile.

The album is certainly a whirlwind of speed but there is a lot of thrash and early Brazilian death metal influences that come out throughout the riffing. There is also a black metal feel to the album at times and the vocals have more to do with the aforementioned genre than death metal. The snarling vocal approach definitely fits the music perfectly though and a growl would just seem out of place in my opinion. Also if you take into consideration the name of the album, the band definitely adds in a creepy vibe from time to time. Little instrumentals are scattered throughout the album with many of them ending the songs to great effect. There is a definite Goblin feel to the instrumental sections and its a shame the band didn't incorporate them more into the actual songs.

If you like your metal fast and with a horrific vibe, Tribulation definitely deserves your attention. Every song on this album hits with the momentum of a runaway train and the razor sharp riffing makes every sonic punch worth it.

Deceiver-Thrashing Heavy Metal
(Pulverised Records, 2009)

Getting a band back together just to release a swansong album might seem a bit pointless to some but when the album is this good you definitely won't find me complaining. Deceiver was not trying to be clever with the album title, this is indeed what the band plays and it is that simple. Mercyful Fate mixed with Judas Priest might be an ideal way to describe the band. It is somewhat in the same vain as a band like Bewitched but with a bit less speed at times.

What really makes the album stand out is the fact that there are absolutely no frills or bells and whistles added. This is classic metal through and through and even though the vocal performance is gruff there is absolutely nothing modern about this album is any way. You won't find any blast beats, sweep picking or breakdowns here and thank god (satan?) for that. The band keeps things entirely by the books and never resorts to any unneeded modern influences. The production is also very solid yet still manages to not sound overproduced. The production matches the no frills approach of the band perfectly. This sounds like a band playing and never sounds mechanical or over layered.

I'm hoping that this album receives an amazing response and hopefully the band reconsiders calling it a day. A band capable of releasing an album this solid needs to be together and releasing new music. In a time when the true spirit of metal is very hard to find an album like this only stands out more. This one comes highly recommended.

Khors-Mysticism
(Paragon Records, 2009)

I was expecting this to be rather raw but the opening instrumental really took me by surprise. Through the Rays of Fading Moon is essentially a beautifully crafted song that is both melodic and hypnotic. Acoustic guitars, clean guitars and synths are layered creating an epic yet somber opening for the album.

Raven's Dance follows and the blackened side of the band shines through much stronger. The somber feel is still present although the guitars take a much heavier feel on. The songs are epic in nature but not incredibly lengthy. The longest song is 7 minutes while most are between 3 and 5 minutes long. That said the songs always feel fleshed out and this is a band that never seems to rush. They let the music really breathe and never seem in a hurry to leave a part behind before it has had the chance to really soak in. This is also a band that never relies on speed to make an impact. This is actually one of the few black metal albums I've ever heard that doesn't rely heavily on the blast beat. In fact I don't think they used it once throughout the entire album. That said, speed just wouldn't fit the somber and majestic nature of the music. Even the harsher moments of the album aren't all that harsh and to say this album is a breath of fresh air would be a definite understatement.

Black metal might just be the most multifaceted subgenre of metal there is. A band like Khors has absolutely nothing in common with say Mayhem, yet they both fit perfectly into the black metal genre. If you are looking for a somber and epic approach to black metal that leaves the harshness normally associated with the genre absent, this Ukrainian band is worth checking out.

Darkane-Demonic Art
(Nuclear Blast Records, 2009)

After a ridiculously epic and ass kicking intro, Leaving Existence kicks off the album and shows the band continuing to tread the line between melodic death metal and thrash with razor sharp precision. At face value the sound could be compared to a cross between The Haunted and Strapping Young Lad but if you've been following the band for any length of time you know that this sounds like Darkane through and through.

I've been a fan of the band since I first heard them on the War Dance compilation and they have only become better over time. Demonic Art shows the band reaching a level of ridiculous precision. The band always amazes me with how they manage to morph slightly to sound more modern but never lose the aspects of the band that showed the initial promise during the early years of the band. The band just has a class missing from a lot of similar minded bands out there. There are indeed many bands that play a style similar to Darkane but few manage to pull it off with even a fraction of the success that Darkane has.

The band also manages to throw the scream/sing combination right on its head with very unique vocals during the choruses. The Strapping Young Lad influence really jumps out during these sections but I'll be the first to admit that it isn't a bad thing. Don't worry though, if you enjoy the fast aspects of the band they are indeed still here and in great numbers. This is a fast album first and foremost and the cleaner elements just further cement the brilliance on display here.

In Flames-The Jester Race/Black Ash Inheritance
(Nuclear Blast Records, 2009)

If someone had only heard the newer In Flames album they would definitely be surprised by just how different the band once was. The Jester Race was my first exposure and the album still holds up well to this day. It has a slightly more cryptic style and is much more death metal in a lot of ways bringing to mind early Amorphis quite a bit in a lot of moments.

The song structures used on this album are definitely much more involved than what the band explored on later albums. The catchy side is there but there weren't really anything in the way of choruses and the band really moved the songs in a linear fashion moving from one riff to the next. This fact makes the album more rewarding in the fact that you really had to spend time with the album for all of the nuances to really stand out. Hints of the Whoracle sound are present with Artifacts of the Black Rain really standed out as being similar in style to what would come in the future. Graveland shows the bands fast side and proves that they are indeed no slouches when it comes to blazing speeds. Dead God in Me also shows off the bands fast side to great lengths.

This is definitely a much more raw and primal version of the band but even if the band had broken up right after this album was released they definitely still would have made quite the impact on the death metal scene. If you are new to the band this is defintely a history lesson you will enjoy sitting in on.

In Flames-Whoracle
(Nuclear Blast Records, 2009)

When it comes to In Flames my favorite album is definitely Whoracle. When the album was originally released I listened to the album almost constantly. The sound was fresh and the band was doing something very unique with melodic death metal. While their contemporaries where worried about speed, In Flames had a more deliberate and melodic approach almost blending classic metal with melodic death metal. It kicked ass when it was released in 1997 and it still kicks ass today.

Picking out standout tracks is definitely hard but only because the entire album is so well put together. Episode 666 is probably the most well known but you can't look past Jotun, Food for the Gods, and Gyroscope. My personal favorite from the album is Morphing Into Primal. It is by far the fastest album on the album and it hits with a ridiculous amount of power. The band also did amazing things with acoustic guitars on this album and it is a shame the side of the band isn't explored much today. In a lot of ways it seems like this album almost showed what the folk metal genre would come to encompass in the future. It's only slight but it is definitely there.

If for whatever reason you have never heard Whoracle you definitely need to pick it up and you might as well get the Reloaded version to get the extra content. If you are a fan of melodic death metal and you haven't heard this album you are really missing out. This is amazing from beginning to end and I'm sure other people out there are like me and consider this to the bands best album ever.

In Flames-Colony
(Nuclear Blast Records, 2009)

I've been a fan of the band for a number of years but for some reason I missed out on Colony the first time around. I think in a lot of ways this is were the band took a different road and the modern style of the band really started to take shape. The speed was less frequent and the riffing was taking a slightly more stripped down approach. While I have to admit the last few albums from the band haven't really lasted very long with me, there is no denying that Colony is one hell of an album that shows just how damn good this band is capable of being.

The album opens with Embody the Invisible and the band hardly ever lets up for the duration of the album. I've always liked the fact that the band plays with an incredibly energy no matter what tempo. A lot of bands really give 'er on the fast moments but the slower stuff just doesn't have that same energy. In Flames puts 100% into every tempo they bang out. This is also the first album where the band really explores the clean vocals. Ordinary Story is one of the catchiest songs the band has ever written and it really sets the stage for the following album Clayman. In many ways this album shows the direction the band heads on Clayman and listening to the albums back to back they are very similar albums.

The Reloaded series is known for extra material and Colony is no different. You have the inclusion of one bonus track, and a cd-rom section that has lyrics, wallpapers, videos and photos. If you missed out on Colony the first time around like me, then this is the ideal version of the album to pick up.

In Flames-Clayman
(Nuclear Blast Records, 2009)

Clayman for me definitely ranks in the bands top three albums of all time. There is just something about the 1-2-3 punch of Bullet Ride, Pinball Map and Only For the Weak that sucks me in every time. The rest of the album isn't quite as amazing as the first three songs but is very solid none the less. The title track is right up there in terms of quality.

The amazing thing about Clayman is that is sounds just as fresh as it did 9 years ago. I still listen to my original copy of the album quite often and while it doesn't happen often in metal these days, this may just be what people consider to be the timeless classic from the band in the future. It doesn't have the speed of the early albums yet it just comes together so much better than previous albums. The band has always had amazing songs mixed in with good but not great songs. This album basically kicks ass from beginning to end. Say what you will but I still feel that Only For the Weak is one of the strongest songs the band has ever written. It has that anthemic quality that will make the song live on for years. The band probably caught flak for the song from long time fans when it was originally released as did the entire album, but in this case the change was definitely for the better.

Clayman being so good is kind of a double edged sword. On one hand it shows the band at their finest yet at the same time it saddens me that the band never really built on the momentum started with the album. Reroute to Remain followed and showed the band adding in nu-metal influences to poor effect. The band is somewhat back on track these days but they have yet to top Clayman.

Three Inches of Blood-Battlecry Under a Winter Sun
(Sonic Unyon, 2009)

While I was a fan of Advance and Vanquish, this is a band that I've never really paid much attention to. The aforementioned album had some standout songs but just seemed rather gimmicky in nature. This is a re-release of the bands debut album from 2001 and while there are elements that I enjoy there are still some that I just can't get into.

The vocal approach for one is really hit or miss and has certainly improved over time. The combination of screaming and falsetto does work for the most part but it does get old after awhile. Not to mention when the singer tries a lower register the vocals just don't work well at all. The bands greatest attribute are the riffs in my opinion. The songs are well put together and really nail that classic metal feel. The problem with this album is that a lot of the songs are built on fairly similar ideas. It was the same with Advance and Vanquish. Exploring a few different tempos might have worked for the album. I know Iron Maiden seldom changes things up but that is also why you probably only hear people talking about certain songs and not entire albums.

If you are a fan of the band, given the hard to find nature of this album you'll definitely want to check this out. For me this is a band that I enjoy in small doses but can see what people like about them. Maybe in the future the band will floor me with a new album but it hasn't happened yet.

Harpoon-Double Gnarly/Triple Suicide
(Interloper Records, 2009)

The first words that crossed my mind listening to this album were holy shit. Featuring members of Lair of the Minotaur, 7000 Dying Rats, Gun Kata, and Crazy Stallion, the band plays a bulldozing form of drum machine fueled grindcore. Think Agoraphobic Nosebleed but much thrashier and with hardcore influences creeping in from time to time.

The energy level is set to the boiling point and even with a drum machine the band manages to really get album moving. A lot of bands using drum machines sound sterile but there is a lot of grit and intensity on display here and the production is raw enough to hide the fact that this indeed a drum machine. The blast beat sections are of course more noticeable but it never hinders the band in anyway. I'm amazed by just how awesome the riffing is on this monster. Everything from classic Napalm Death styled grindcore to grooves similar to Deadguy are used and the band pulls it off remarkably well. The thrash elements also come as a surprise but are also handled quite well. The band also manages to blend the different styles quite well. Nothing stands out and the changes never halt the momentum of the album.

This is an album that will just appeal to a ridiculous amount of people. Fans of grindcore, crossover, thrash, hardcore, early metalcore, noise and even doom metal will find elements here to their liking. The band might be fast as all hell but they certainly manage to pack a lot of different ideas into each blast of speed. If you like your music extreme, infectious and unique this one is for you.

Pyramid Theorem-Voyage to the Star
(Self-Released, 2008)

Despite the fact that this is a young band and this is their first demo, there is already a lot of potential on display for this band. The Dream Theater meets Deep Purple style of the band is very cool and with a bit of work in the vocal department the band would really be onto something.

One listen to Voyage to the Stars and it is apparent that the band definitely has talent. They run through interesting rhythms and time signatures with ease and the lead work on both guitar and keyboards is both impressive. Opener The Aegean Sea is a solid song but the vocals aren't quite there yet. The potential is there and I enjoy the vocal patterns and what he is going for vocally. With time his voice will strengthen and this song would take on a completely different level. One thing the band is slightly lacking and it may very well be the recording, is energy. The songwriting is solid but the songs need to leap from the speakers and they just don't right now. The rhythmic riffs should be rattling your fillings loose but they don't have quite enough steam right now. But like I said that may have more to do with the production than the band itself.

There is definitely a lot of potential on display here and I'll be keeping my eye on this band to see just how they evolve over time. With this being their first release, they are well on their way. I find myself enjoying the two instrumental tracks more than the songs with vocals, but I have a feeling the next time I hear the band the vocalist will surprise me. If you are a fan of Dream Theater or Deep Purple check this Canadian band out.

http://www.myspace.com/pyramidtheorem1