Pandemonium - 2006 - The Autumn Enigma

Out of Sweden comes this band, presenting us with their second fullength. What we get here are 8 tracks, including an outro, of rather melodic, progressive Death/Black Metal. Musically this reminds me of Embraced and Amorphis.

The main vocals are rather deep but still quite clear growls, slightly towards those by Dan Swanö in early Edge of Sanity, with clean sung passages that remind me of Amorphis, as well as vocals sounding similar to those by Kalle Johansson of Embraced, and somewhat towards the Cradle of Filth kind of vocals. Perhaps also a bit of Chuck Schuldiner in them.

The soundquality is very good. The vocals are ever so slightly in the front, with the drums close behind, but you hear all the instruments in the mix. A keyboard is used throughout the album, but this is done very well. It is not used, as in many symphonic Black Metal bands, too excessively and in the front of all the other instruments, but as one of the instruments, and that is just the way to do it. The keyboards mostly remind me of those on Amorphis' Tales from the Thousand Lakes album, but varies from track to track.

Standout tracks are "The Fire", "The Nameless Season", "Autumn Enigma" and "Reflecting Mirrors".

Monday November 27 2006, by :Vragh:

Eschaton - 2006 - Causa Fortior

Out of Greece comes this Black Metal horde with their first fullength album. We are presented with six tracks of mid-paced to fast and slightly melodic and depressive Black Metal. The music and sound has changed quite a bit since the demo from 2004, but this is still very good. This reminds me somewhat of Taake, for some reason, as well as the music presented on the 1349 mini cd. Some parts earlier Marduk are also present.

The vocals are rather reminiscent of the vocals by Garm on the first Borknagar album, if a bit more guttural, with parts Chuck Schuldiner of Death.

The soundquality here is slightly muffled and a bit chaotic, and there's more bass in their sound now than on their demo. The sound reminds me of the 1349 mcd mentioned earlier, as well as of that specific sound many of the Eastern European bands have. Very nice.

Standout tracks are "Glorious Crusade", "Transfigured Visions" and "Steel Glowing in Darkness".

Saturday October 21 2006, by :Vragh:

Bloodoline - 2005 - Storm and Brilliance

Out of Spain comes this Black Metal band with their first album. The material on this recording has been waiting for a few years to be recorded, and judging from the songs here, this was not at all a bad thing. This is an album that is very well executed, and it seems the arrangements are well thought through. We are presented with thirteen tracks on this album, with six instrumental interludes
and an outro. Musically this reminds me of a lot of things. I find both La Masquerade era Arcturus and some 1349 here, but mostly I think this sounds like early Borknagar with a twist of Zyklon-B, the Norwegian allstar band. This recording sounds very Scandinavian. Really good.

The vocals sound like a mix of Chuck Schuldiner of Death and Garm of Borknagar, being somewhat similar to those by Garm on their first album, but a bit more growled and sounding quite desperate at times. The instrumental interludes sound like a mix of earlier Mortiis and the instrumental Borknagar tracks that usually are present on their albums.

The soundquality is quite good, you hear all the instruments and the vocals clearly. The vocals are slightly in the front of the mix, being the driving force with the guitars. Be sure to check this album out! To be released by Blackend Records in March 2005, so it should be available to order from your local store or distro.

Standout tracks are "Warlike Spirit", "Aeons End" and "Nihil Storm".

Monday March 7 2005, by :Vragh:

Among the Living/Dominatör - 2005 - Split

Two bands from the Netherlands are presented on this split effort. Among the Living play slightly melodic Thrashing Death Metal, with some small amounts of Doom in the mix, and are represented
here with four tracks. The music is actually really heavy, reminding me of both Slayer and early Metallica.

The vocals are barked out, reminding me more of Punk/Hardcore style vocals. They actually remind me somewhat of Max Cavalera's vocals, mixed with something I can't put my finger on at the moment. Can't really describe them better than that. At first I wasn't really that fond of them, but after a while you notice that they actually fit the music rather well.

The soundquality is very good indeed. The instruments can be heard clearly in the mix, and the sound is sharp. I would say that this is actually a lot better than average. This was the bands last recording.

Standout track is "Drown".

Dominatör plays a somewhat slower Thrashy Death Metal, with more Doom in the music, and are represented with five tracks, the last one being a live track.This is slower than Among the Living, and with a different heaviness as well. Traces of Slayer are present here as well, as a bit of Megadeth and even some slight amount of Testament.

The vocals are somewhat similar to those by Nathan of Graves at Sea, and they also remind me a bit of those by Chuck Schuldiner of Death, although these are not as highpitched.

The soundquality is somewhat murkier than the tracks by Among the Living, but I like it, and the individual instruments can still be heard clearly. The live track has a remarkably good soundquality, as well.

Standout track is "600 Days".

Saturday October 21 by :Vragh: