Velvet Six - Demons Los Divas (CD Review)

01.Twist
02.Demons Los Divas
03.Something Evil
04.Back To Back
05.Lightkeeper
06.Loves Like
07.Underneath
08.The Family
09.Blood Rain
10.I Saw


Olle Wallenius (vocals)
Richard Vikman (guitar)
Christoffer Solborg (guitar)
Henrik Björkgård (drums)
Miro Kronqvist (keyboards)
Matias Muotio (bass)

It was a dark and stormy night when the seed, for what is called Velvet Six, was planted…
That night, in the nightlife of Kokkola (Finland), Olle Wallenius and Henrik Björkgård made the decision to play covers as a duo. Soon they realized that they needed more depth and a wider sound so they decided to look for new band members. Richard Vikman, Miro Kronqvist and Sepi Pesola joined the band, which at that point was known as Hollow.

Fredrik Antaya was soon to follow and now the lineup was complete for the
first time. At this point Velvet Six started to write their own music and the first demos were recorded.
In 2010 Velvet Six signed a record deal with Studio 57 and their debut album, “Dark City
Nightlife” was released in 2011. The album was received well and the band played a lot of shows in the time after the release.
In late 2011 Sepi left and Christoffer Solborg joined a short time later. Sadly, in early 2012, Fredrik Antaya quit the band for personal reasons, but luckily
Matias Muotio replaced him soon after. In 2012 Velvet Six got the opportunity to open for The 69 Eyes in Rytmikorjaamo, Seinäjoki.
Velvet Six's music can be described as gothic rock that combines the atmosphere of HIM, the arrogance of Billy Idol and the multidimension of Muse.
Now the seed that was planted on that dark and stormy night is blossoming greater than ever.

First few songs are good, liking the mix of some obvious influences like HIM and Deathstars, they have a more agressive vocalist and put in some nice synth/programming to give it a slightly symphonic feel in places.
Good strong songs as well, then we get 'Lightkeeper' a naff ballad!

But they get back on track with 'Loves Like' and you start to hear that modern goth influence as well and the last song is quite atmospheric and spooky.

All in all a good solid album and one for the collection.

Rating 8/10
For fans of: HIM, The 69 Eyes, Deathstars

Lachrimatory - Transient (CD Reissue Review)

01.Seclusion
02.Lachrimatory
03.Twilight
04.Clarity
05.Deluge
06.Void

Ávila Schultz (Vocals/Keyboards)
Tiago Alvarez (Guitar)
Alexandre Antunes (Guitar)
Paulo Kolb (Drums)
Wagner Muller (Bass)
Maiko Thome (Cello)

tmospheric Doom Death band from Brazil formed in 1999.
The 15th anniversary of the band is marked by the official issue of the only current full-length band album by Solitude Productions. Originally self-released as CD-R in 2011 “Transient” was rapidly sold out and gained a lot of positive and exciting responses and was a hard-to-get item so far. Now this masterpiece is available as a professionally printed CD with high-quality printed material fully corresponding to the original artwork crafted by the band.

'Seclusion' comes in at a stunning 12 minutes, it is epic, slow drums, simple guitar riff and very downbeat orchestration and cello.
It's when the vocal comes in I have slight reservations, its a typical death growl vocal, I was expecting something more melodic, but as it goes on we do get a variety of vocals from the backing to some spoken parts, so overall I get it and yes it does work.

After the self titled track comes 'Twilight' and this one is layered with some amazing paino work and the pace picks up from doom to extreme.

Both 'Deluge' and 'Void' come in at eleven minutes a piece, both stunning exercises in how to mix funeral doom with classical influence and then pile on the death metal elements with distracting from the overall downbeat structure.

Rating 9/10
For fans of: My Dying Bride, Albez Duz, Witchsorrow, Primitive Man

Kevlar Skin - Transmigrator (CD Review)

01.Dawn Of A Nation
02.Breed Of Salvation
03.Self Proclaimed God
04.Transmigrator
05.Hardware
06.Voluntary Extinction
07.Flatline Famine
08.Rebirth From Collapse
09.La Salvacion De Las Almas


Fer (Vocals)
Stanoyewith (Guitar)
Santi (Drums)
Pedrin (Guitar)
Sebas (Bass)

Formed in 1998 Coming from the south of Spain, Kevlar Skin have been developing their vision of extreme metal for more than a decade. Starting heavily influenced by the american Death Metal scene of the 90's, the band moved forward with every release, keeping brutality as the main core of their music while adding new elements into it. Taking steps carefully and focusing on hard work ethics, they released one demo and various EP's and split CDs throughout the years and it's not until 2008 than their first full length, "outburst", is released, collecting promising reviews in both the spanish and international underground scene.
In 2012 the band released their second full length through Godeater recs, consisting on 9 tracks of intense extreme Metal, mainly influenced by Brutal Death, but not limited only to it.

Wel was not expecting this 'Dawn Of A Nation' it's a very well excuted technical death metal workout, superfast drumming, riffs a plenty and a brutal vocal, add some intresting little timing changes and this is one helluva piece.

'Hardware' sticks out next, starting with some synth and sound sample (from some movie?) and then this crushing drum rhythm starts up.

The rest of the album is all pretty much the same a clever and well put together album.

Rating 8/10
For fans of: Fear Factory, Dethklok, Brujeria

Synkvervet - Trollspeil (CD Review)

01.Horns Of Vengeance
02.The Horde
03.Breathtaking
04.Inner Sanctum
05.Marenatt
06.Ektet I Elven
07.Hulderlokk
08.Clearwater Diamonds
09.Angelfall
10.Vandrer Heden

Ingemar (Guitar/Bass/Programming)
Truls (Vocals)
Christina (Vocals)
Niclas (Vocals)
Rino (Drums)
Espen (Guitar)

Synkvervet from Norway, started out as a one-man studio project by Ingemar in the
fall of 2011. The name means illusion and comes from the Old Norse sagas.
Originally Synkvervet was supposed to be a pure instrumental project, but it didn’t
take long before he realized that the project needed vocals.
Not being much of avocalist, he called in his friend and band colleague Truls and together they created the mysterious, trollish and aggressive folk sound.

They released their debut album "Vår Avmakt" in the winter of 2013.
A few months later Truls and Ingemar started working on a new album and decided
to bring in a drummer and a guitar player.
During the recording of the new album, Christina and Niclas were invited as guest vocalists on a few tracks they soon joined full time.

So having given this album a first listen I was somewhat taken back by the overall quality of the sound and at the same time slightly confused.
From the blurb supplied by the band I was expecting a "mysterious, trollish and aggressive folk sound", but thats not what I heard at all, no this is something much grander this is Symphonic Black Metal with acid-folk undertones and frankly its awesome stuff!

Lets take 'Horns Of Vengeance', starts with military style drums over chorus vocal and classical synth programming, then a scream of pure black metal comes in over hyper drums and mid tempo riff like Cradle/Dimmu all in one.Then gets symphonic with a clever timing change and we are now in early Tristania territory, then back to black metal riffs and then ending with a mixture of both styles no folk anywhwere to be heard.

'Inner Sanctum' represents a different approach, still symphonic but with a superb clean almost operatic vocal then later joined by the darker vocals to create a wonderful dual vocal attack on the ears! Oh and not to forget some great piano playing two thirds in to add another layer.

Finally get to hear some female vocals singing as opposed to creating those beautiful harmonys in 'Hulderlokk', another great symphonic track blending Black Metal elemnents to perfection.

The last song 'Vandrer Heden' seems to bring every element together, its operatic, dark, symphonic and brutal, each seemingly taking its turn to create a near masterpiece of musical delights.

I love this album, it's nothing short of perfect, this band is unsigned? really then this must prove that the best bands somehow get overlooked, this needs to change and soon, there is a world out there that needs to hear this.

Rating 10/10
For Fans Of: Therion, Cradle Of Filth, Dimmu Borgir, Ebonylake

Hrust Kostilyo - Degredation, Manipulation Mobilization (CD Review)

01.Paranoia - The Art Of Survival
02.Mentally Healthy Or Religious?
03.Projecting Justice
04.Managed Hostility
05.Totalitarian Tolerance
06.Degradation, Manipulation, Mobilization
07."Independence" Under Gentle Percentage
08.Destination - Chaos
09.Ordered Accomplishment


Evgeniy Pankov (Bass)
Timofey Dyakin (Drums)
Evgeniy Dyakin (Guitars)
Nikolay Valyukevich (Vocals)

Formed 2012 in russia play a mixture of grindcore and death metal, this is their second EP.

Err okay here we go again and it's piggy squeal vocal time!
The music is pretty solid, punching basslines cut through heavy riffs and some frantic drumming.

Kind of at a loss what to say here, its grindcore, you either like it or dont, we can hardly talk about the complexities of the guitar sound or the intresting timing changes referencing a progressive influence, now can we?

Rating 8/10
For fans of: River Freshny, Kunt Puncher, DEOAG

Arstídir Lífsins - Aldafǫor Ok Munka Drottinn (CD Review)

01.Kastar Heljar Brenna Fjarri Ofan Onundarfiroinum
02.Knorr Siglandi Birtisk A Löngu Bláu Yfirborði
03.Þeir Heilags Dóms Hirðar
04.Úlfs Veðrit Er Ið CMXCIX
05.Máni, Bróðir Sólar Ok Mundilfara
06.Tími Er kominn At kveða Fyrir Pér
07.Norðsæta Gatis, Herforingja Ormsins Langa
08.Bituls Skokra Benvargs Hreggjar A Sér Stað
09.Sem Lengsk Vánar Lopts Ljósgimu Hvarfs Dregr Narri


Arni (Drums/Vocals/Cello)
Marsel (Vocals)
Stefan (Guitar/Bass/Piano)

Since 2008, the art of the outstanding Icelandic/German Metallers Árstíðir lífsins (Icelandic for “The Seasons of Life“) truly breathes Old Norse history on all levels. Now, and with their 3rd album Aldafoðr ok munka dróttinn (Old Icelandic for Óðinn and the God of the Monks), Árstíðir lífsins further depict the vivid and cruel Icelandic Middle Ages from the most realistic angle possible.

Entirely sung in Old Norse-Icelandic and with added Skaldic stanzas from the world-known Icelandic sagas, Aldafoðr ok munka dróttinn takes you on a journey to the uttermost vivid and mythic Conversion of Iceland in the year 1000 as it is displayed in the vernacular medieval sources from the stormy North-Atlantic. Árstíðir lífsins, however, represent authenticity on all levels: as diverse as the world views of Christians and heathens are, also the composition and arrangement of music is on Aldafoðr ok munka dróttinn: From ambient archaic folklore patterns, supported by dark chants and classical instruments, to Black Metal elements in their finest Norwegian tradition and epic double-bass driven Viking Metal parts, the musical abilities materialize and teach a powerful lession in real craftmanship. So behold, this profound journey is truly intended to capture the listeners and directly depart them into a long gone time of struggling worshippers of Óðinn and the God of the Monks.

Aldafoðr ok munka dróttinn is a full length album, in all its meanings; to depict and express such various topics of Scandinavian history and myth.

Taking track one on face value, its a stunning, awesome and mind blowing epic 12 minutes of pure musicianship!
From the traditional folk elements it moves into a very dark almost black metal song except every time you think its going somewhere you know it then throws in a different sound, the vocals go from what sounds like chanting monks, to normal vocals then spoken words.
Half way through we border on extreme metal with frantic double pedal work and demonic vocals just as that gets into its stride it drops away for some simple and ambient keyboard and guitar playing.
The one draw back is that it is in their native tongue, but then that never did Rammstein any harm and somehow it doesnt matter it has atmosphere by the ton.

That review covers the next few tracks, each seemingly adding to the quality of the album, when we get to track six however we are treated to a classical piece with some more of that monk chanting style vocal.

The remainder of the album returns to the original style, honestly if i were to write about each song I would just be repeating myself, this is a stunning and essential body of work to own!

Rating 10/10
For fans of: Ulver, Sunn 0))), Rammstein, Mono

Valor - The Crown & The King (Single Review)

01.The Crown Of Evermore
02.The King

Vaggelis Krouskas (Vocals)
Chris Remoundos (Bass)
Spyros Soldatos (Guitar)
Vasilis Kourkoutas (Guitar)
Thanasis Lois (Keyboards)
Andritsos Thodoris (Drums)

Greek epic/power metallers formed in 2002 return with a special limited edition 7” single titled “The Crown and the King”.

Side A features a brand new track (“The Crown of Evermore”) taken off the band’s upcoming album and Side B features a cover of the Accept classic “The King”.

Limited to 250 copies, the 7” single will be released on March 5th.

'The Crown Of Evermore' starts with some nice keyboard playing then joined by the rest of the band, fast drums and some epic guitar playing go to create what I can only describe as an 80's sounding power metal band who grew up on Rainbow.

'The King' is a slightly more commercial sound with a slight nod to Iron Maiden lurking.

Quite typical of power metal but fortunatley not the kind of overblown rubbish we tend to get forced to listen to these days.

Rating 7/10
For fans of: Helloween, Rainbow, Kilmara, Wolfpakk, Edens Curse