Satanic Death - 2004 - Black Mass

From Argentina comes this Black Metal horde. Just recently they released their second demo containing four tracks. Presented here are three tracks of thrashing, mostly mid-paced Black Metal with blastbeats, and an outro.

Musically there are traces of Ophthalamia and early Marduk, with lots of Blodulv like riffing in it. Throw in a few guitar solos for good measure as well and you have Satanic Death. This sounds like very early '90ies Black Metal with a chaotic twist to it all.

The vocals are similar to early Marduk as well, being just a bit more guttural and with a bit more echo to them. The soundquality here is not at all bad. Something to get, I would say.

Standout tracks are "Demonic Chronicles" and "Sadistic Ritual".

Monday January 10 2005, by :Vragh:

Rimthurs - 2004 - Demo 2004

Swedish Black Metal act Rimthurs has released this, their first demo upon the world. Presented here are six tracks of mid-paced to fast, slightly melodic Black Metal with a touch of heathenism. Musically this mostly has similarities to Allegiance, with some Thrash here and there. The track "Vitekrist" even has some parts that remind me of early Ophthalamia. Very well executed, this. The instruments are handled very well, and the material is quite good.

The vocals are mostly more towards being growled, and at times screamed. They sound similar to those done on the Allegiance albums as well, but being a bit deeper.

The soundquality here is well above average demosound, but still slightly murky, which is just the way I like it. The production sounds very much early '90ies Black Metal. Can't go wrong with that.

Standout tracks are "Krigvind", "Vitekrist" and "Må Du Bli Till Is".

January 30 2005, by :Vragh:

Decrepit Cauldron - 2005 - Wirkligkeit Altera Pars

Out of the Ukraine comes this Black Metal outfit with their 5 track debut. Presented on this album
are 4 long tracks of mid-paced to fast, slightly melodic technical Black Metal with an epic feel. Apart from the intro, all of the tracks are over 10 minutes long.

Musically this reminds me of a lot of different bands. Stiny Plamenu, Kampfar, Sorhin and Ophthalamia are some of the bands I hear in the mix here, as well as some Metallica-sounding
parts plus influences from both Death Metal and Thrash. I heard quite a few later Ophthalamia parts, which was somewhat unexpected. There is at times a rather Eastern European feel to the music as well, but it is surprisingly absent most of the time.

The vocals remind me somewhat of those by Kampfar, though more muffled and distant, as well as those in early Fleurety.

The soundquality is not at all bad. At the front of the mix there is the drum machine and the keyboard, followed by the guitar and then the vocals further back. The drummachine does get a bit annoying at times, I must say, though I am not fond of the sound of one, so I might be extra sensitive to this. However, this is a rather interesting and quite unpredictable album to listen to, which is most refreshing.

Standout tracks are "Prae Porta Ad Noctum", "Incarnation for the Blackest" and "Opus Aexestentialis". If you like your music varied and quite unpredictable I suggest you check this out.

Sunday October 12 2008, by :Vragh:

Bergraven - 2004 - Fördärv

Here we have the first album by this Swedish one man Black Metal act. Seven tracks ranging from slow to fast and furious Black Metal is what you get here. The demo tracks have been re-recorded and are present as well as four brand new ones.

The sound is much sharper and clearer than on the demo, with the drums feeling a bit less mechanical, and the guitars sounding much more aggressive and  deadly.

Musically this is a continuation of the demo. I still hear both Shining and Taake in the music, mixed with the own ideas, but the new material is more towards the faster spectrum of Black Metal. The vocals are better and harsher here, mostly reminding me of those done by Legion on Ophthalamia's Via Dolorosa album and Vorph of Samael. This is truly a crushing debut! Limited to 1000 copies.

Standout tracks are "Den Förpestade" and "Autofagia".

January 10 2005, by :Vragh:

Behead Christ - 2005 - Do You Want Our Blood??!!!

This is the second release by this Chilean Avantgarde Black Metal band, which collects their three demo efforts on one disc. The music here is slow to mid-paced, and as interesting as their fullength. Similarities to Fleurety, Ved Buens Ende..., Ophthalamia and early Beherit are very much present here.

The vocals are made up of two voices, one whispering and screaming, one being abit more theatrical and at times talking. The vocals remind me a lot of those on Beherit's Drawing Down the Moon album. The vocals add great power to the music, giving it a rather creepy atmosphere.

The soundquality is very good for being a collection of demo recordings, I must say. The drums are a bit unclear, perhaps, but that is nothing that is annoying. None of the tracks here appear on the fullength. If you want something out of the ordinary this comes very highly recommended!

Standout tracks are "Nosotros La Sombra del Mundo" and "Voces Aclaman Silencio".

Saturday October 21 2006, by :Vragh:

Behead Christ - 2004 - In Our Name

Out of Chile comes this Avantgarde Black Metal band that after three demos has released this, their fullength debut. Quite an unusual album, this, I must say. Musically this mostly reminds me of Fleurety, with a touch of eastern European Black Metal, Ophthalamia and Ved Buens Ende... references. Some parts of this album also remind me of the latest Tormentor album, Recipe Ferrum, and earlier Benighted Leams. Very interesting, and extremely good. The music is mostly slow to mid-paced, and has an eerie feel to it, somehow.

The vocals are quite interesting too. There are two vocal tracks on all the songs, one that consists of whispered growls that in some tracks change into screams, and one that is more theatrical that at times change into spoken passages. An excellent idea. Interestingly enough the track "U 513 A"
has the lyrics sung backwards.

The soundquality is slightly muffled, but this works great with the mood in the music. The vocals and the guitars can clearly be heard in the front of the mix, pushing the music forward. Of the eleven tracks here the shortest one, apart from the outro, is six minutes long with the others being between seven and nine minutes.

Standout tracks are "The End in Your Eyes", "U 513 A" and "The End of Your Light".

Monday March 7 2005, by :Vragh: