Detente - Recognize No Authority Expanded Reissue (CD Review)

Disc One
01.Losers
02.Russian Roulette
03.It's Your Fate
04.Holy Wars
05.Catalepsy
06.Shattered Illusions
07.Life Is Pain
08.Blood I Bleed
09.Widow's Walk
10.Vultures in the Sky
11.Blood I Bleed (Tiina Teal 2010)
12.Genocide (Tiina Teal 2010)

Disc Two
01.Shattered Illusions (Demo I 84)
02.Vultures In The Sky (Demo I 84)
03.Widows Walk (Demo II 84)
04.Holy Wars (Demo II 84)
05.Chemical Joy (Rehearsal 85)
06.Murder Inc (Live 05/12/85)
07.Diseased (Demo III 87)
08.Wasted Time (Demo III 87)
09.All That Remain (Demo III 87)
10.Red To Grey (Demo IV 89)
11.Coming Down (Demo IV 89)
12.Loves Death (Demo IV 89)

Catalepsy
13.An Offering (Demo I 87)
14.Evil Within (Demo I 87)
15.Obituary Fear (Demo I 87)
16.Under The Influence (Demo II 88)
17.Law And Disorder (Demo II 88)
18.Who Can You Trust (Demo II 88)
19.Piece Of My Heart (Demo II 88)

Detente (Original Line Up)
Dawn Crosby (Vocals)
Ross Robinson (Guitar)
Steve Hochheiser (Bass)
Caleb Quinn (Guitar)
Dennis Butler (Drums)

Catalepsy:
Veronica Ross (Vocals)
Ross Robinson (Guitar)
Steve Hochheiser (Bass)
Caleb Quinn (Guitar)
Dave McClain (Drums)

Detente (2009 - 2015)
Tiina Teal (Vocals)
Dennis Butler(Drums)
Caleb Quinn (Guitar)
Steve Hochheiser (Bass)

Detente were part of the thrash/speed metal scene that came out of America in the early 1980's, female fronted they were in an exclusive group of bands alongside Znowhite and Bitch.
They formed in 1984 in Los Angeles, California. The group's original line-up included Dawn Crosby on vocals, Steve Hochheiser on bass, Dennis Butler on drums and Ross Robinson and Caleb Quinn on guitars.
Their first album, Recognize No Authority, was released on Metal Blade Records in 1986.Within days of the debut album's release, the supporting tour had to be cancelled when drummer and co-founder Dennis was severely burned in an industrial accident, resulting in more than three months of hospitalization.

Singer Dawn Crosby went on to form Fear of God, who were eventually signed to Warner Bros. Records. Ross Robinson later became a producer whose credits include Korn, Sepultura, Slipknot and many other top acts.

Dawn Crosby died in 1996 of liver failure associated with a history of alcohol and drug abuse.

In 1987 Detente reformed under the name of Catalepsy with vocalist Veronica Ross from Canada. With Veronica writing the lyrics and vocal melodies for the songs "Evil Within", "An Offering", "Obituary Fear", "Law and Disorder" "Who Can You Trust" and "Under the Influence". The demos, recorded at Baby O' Studios in Hollywood, California, climbed to the number one spot on the WVVX-FM Underground Radio. The band was set to release a new album titled Beyond the Threshold under a resigning of Metal Blade Records, however, the band members each went in new directions before the album was released.

In 2007 Detente reformed with Hellion vocalist Ann Boleyn, in 2009 she was replaced by  Tiina Teal and they continue to tour and release albums.

This 2 cd set includes the original album and demos and all the Catalepsy demos.

Starting with the original album, have to say its early speed meets proto thrash metal still sounds fresh, Crosby had one helluva voice, the music is clean and fresh sounding.
Intresting that the last 2 tracks with vocalist Tiina are included, vocally so very close but musically a tad more refined and slightly faster.

The demo disc is quite something as well, considering they are just "demos" the standard is high, the music is just bas good as the debut album.
While the quality of the 1987 demos is a little poor in places the music is different, more towards mainstream heavy metal, even an acoustic ballad with 'Diseased', an intresting progression.
The 1989 demos have an even worse sound quality, and the music seems to be trying to recapture their early sound yet trying to be something different at the same time.

The Catalepsy demos are fairly typical of late 80's post thrash bands, vocalist still sounds like crosby.

This is an excellent cd set, one not only for fans of the band but for fans of the thrash/speed genre and its roots.

Rating 10/10
For Fans Of: Bitch, Acid, Znowhite, Arch Enemy, Testament, Exodus

Womit Angel - Maggotmouth EP (CD Review)

01.Maggotmouth
02.Children Of Moon
03.King SM

Vile Anarchy (Drums)
J.Violatör (Guitar)
W.Horepreacher (Bass/Vocals)

Wömit Angel was founded in early summer of 2010 in Tampere, Finland, by three guys who wanted to create music that makes you to drink your ass off and to mosh your head off, just like Impaled Nazarene and Motörhead does, so it was clear from the start that you could hear the attitude in Wömit Angel’s furious and storming music. In December last year long time drummer Vile Anarchy parted ways with Wömit Angel thus leaving the two founding brothers in this rabid wolfpack.

I was expecting a full on nasty assault of the worst kind, smashing drums, screaming guitars and deathly vocals from the pits of hell, all wrapped up in short bursts of agression....
And that's exactly what i got, simple, stunning and in your face blend of punk and extreme metal.

Rating 9/10
For Fans Of: Venom, Warfare, Impaled Nazarene, Mayhem

Tanzwut - Freitag Der 13 (CD review)

01.Brot Und Spiele
02.Brüder Im Geiste
03.Freitag Der 13.
04.Spielzeugland
05.Die Zeit Heilt Alle Wunden
06.Ohne Sünde
07.Der Zeitdieb
08.Niemals Mehr
09.Des Teufels Braut
10.Vorbei Ist Vorbei
11.Spiegelkabinett
12.Bis Der Morgen Graut
13.Wenn Wir Untergehen


Mike "Teufel" Paulenz (Bagpipe/Vocals)
Der Zwilling (Bass/Bagpipe)
Thrymr (Bagpipe/Shawm)
Pyro (Bagpipe/Shawm)
Shumon (Percussion/Keyboards)
Oually (Percussion/Key Drum/Electronic Drums/Riesentara/Keyboard)
Martin Ukrasvan (Guitar/Bagpipe/Tromba Marina)
Rene (Guitar)

German band formed by Teufel in the mid 1990's. starting life as a ska/punk industrial metal band, having felt he had done all he could in that field he put togtehr a new line up featuring members of Corvus Corax in 2011 to add medieval instruments to his original hybrid and created a new sound.

Last may i reviewed their album 'Eselsmesse' and was very dissapointed and gave it 3/10 for what was essentially an album of pretty naff bagpipe music as opposed to the medieval/industrial mix it was promoted as, so here we go again another album, i wonder what this will be like?

Well 'Brot Und Spiele' certainly starts off well, nice dark spoken vocal intro over some pagan metal sounds, and yes it's good, basically this comes over as Rammstein with some folk undertones.

Those bagpipes are back in 'Bruder Im Geiste' but this time they dont dominate the song.

More dark Rammstein for 'Freitag Der 13.', slow brooding, punctuated with simple riffs and minimal keyboard and a little bagpipe, all makes for a great well balanced song.

It all keeps going well till the really naff ballad 'Niemals Mehr', so i shall ignore that one and say that the rest of the album is very good.

Rating 8/10
For Fans Of: Rammstein, Turisas, Black Messiah, Arkona

Graveyard After Graveyard - Hellhound On My Trail (CD Review)

01.Out To Feed
02.Giant Of The Undead
03.Infernal Catabombs
04.Screams In The Night
05.Learn To Burn
06.Feeding Of The Hellhounds


Jocke Ringdahl (Drums)
Mika Lagreen (Guitar)
Rogga Johansson (Bass/Vocals/Guitar)

Project by Swedish musician Rogga Johansson attempting to play a different style of music, leaning more towards the thrashier, blackened spectrum of death metal. Teaming up with the "Grave" guitarist Mika and drummer of "Sinners Burn" Jocke, the trio play some invigorating black/death/thrash metal that will have you tapping your feet and bobbing your head furiously. There's a trademark riffing style, a subtle groove and lots of force in the music. This stands apart from the weak-sounding black/thrash revivalists and oozes sheer power and confidence. This is a very potent, compact and relatively fresh-sounding release featuring the tireless legend.

Here we have five furious and highly agressive songs full of pounding thrash riffs perfectly blended with death and black metal influences, the vocals are a bit rough but does fit the style well.

Last track is just a weird almost industrial noise piece, what did surprise me is the lack of a cover version of Robert Johnson's classic 'Hellhound On My Trail' now that would have been intresting.

Rating 8/10
For Fans Of: Deicide, Toxic Holocaust, Destroyer 666

Deprive - Into Oblivian (CD Review)

01.Catacombs Of Betrayal
02.Nightsky Revelation
03.Fall Of Entropy
04.Infamous Ossuary Of Tribulation
05.Dethroned Messiah
06.Apocryphal Mausoleum
07.Immemorial Ritual Beyond Death
08.An Oath Of Necrotical Mist
09.Into Oblivian
10.Divine Blood Of the Deceased


Erun Dagoth (All Instruments/Vocals)

Hailing from Santander Deprive is a one an projected created by Erun Dagoth in 2013.
He recorded "De Vermis Mysteriis" demo and was released on cassette by himself.

In 2014, Till You Fukkin Bleed Records from Poland re-released "De Vermis Mysteriis" with three songs of another old demo of a previous project as bonus tracks.

Later last year, Memento Mori offered to release his first album in early 2015, and now its here the death/doom metal album "Into Oblivion".

For a one an project have to say the opening track 'Catacombs Of Betrayal' is very impressive, superb attention to detail with every instrument.
Musically it switches from near funeral doom to full speed black metal, the vocals whilst fairly typical of the genre do have a certain quality and you can actually hear most of the words, something rare in the world of all things "death".

The next few are more of the same but 'Infamous Ossuary Of Tribulation' just has the edge with more of that doom coming through and some clever timing changes keeps your attention throughout.

'Dethroned Emperor' is a furious couple of minutes hailing back to the early days of Celtic Frost.

The final track is a one minute piano piece, beautiful and melodic its a strange but nevertheless clever way to end an excellent album.

Rating 9/10
For Fans Of: Pyre, Darkthrone, Aeternum, Marduk

Nailgun Massacre - Bones Boxed And Buried (CD Review)

01.Where's The Head
02.Boned, Boxed And Buried
03.Stinky Stench
04.I Bury The Hatchet In Your Face
05.Meat Locker
06.Nailgun Messiah
07.Casket Full Of Fun
08.The Doctor And The Beast
09.Mad Road Killer
10.What's In The Box
11.Lower Me Down


Bonesaw (Guitar)
Corpsechucker (Vocals)
Juggernaut (Bass)
Hairybucks (Drums)
Meataxe (Guitar)

Out of the scattered remains of the gorey Dutch underground the band were stitched together in 2010 by some of the scene’s most notorious undead veterans. Heavily disgruntled with nowadays death metal this conspiracy commenced a piercing rampage against blast beats, technique neurotics, hippies and semi-intellectuals. Blunt as fuck, brutal as hell. Bad-tempered with long greasy hair, barely covering their red necks, and a disturbing fascination for powertools, they grimly resurrected to drive rusty nails of eighties death metal into the third millenium’s cripple carcass!

So here we have 10 slabs (yes 10 because 'Whats In The Box' is a 50 second melodic instrumental) of screaming cookie monster vocals and death grunts blended (In a blender?) with pounding drums and guitars, all chugging along with the subtlety of a sledghammer through a skull as provided by a crazed serial killer in a slasher movie.


Rating 8/10
For fans of: Autopsy, Pungent Stench, Macabre, Cannibal Corpse, Death

Minutain - Inwards (CD Review)

01.Hollow Heroics
02.On Derelict Sidings
03.The Crust Of The Earth
04.Void Within
05.Onus
06.Burning Bright
07.Manifest
08.Aphelion
09.Redeemer


Mikko Heino (Vocals)
Jesper Johnson (Guitar)
Pekka Loponen (Guitar)
Jouni Mikkola (Bass)
Antti Ruokola (Drums)

Minutian are a progressively inclined rock/metal group based in Helsinki, Finland. The band aspires to bring something fresh to the world of traditional rock rhythms.

Their influences are drawn from various directions, with some of the more prominent ones from bands like King Crimson, Tool, Mastodon and Oceansize, to name but a few.

The music of Minutian is quite rhythmically oriented and odd time signatures are not frowned upon. The band originates from a three song demo by drummer Antti Ruokola with which he started looking for like-minded musicians. With the forming of the current lineup the music too has found its distinctive form.

After the tragic death of guitarist Jaakko Jernberg in 2012, Minutian dealt with their loss with a lengthy process of writing new material. This work has now resulted in nine tracks of progressive rock music with originality and emotion.

The title Inwards depicts not only the overall expression of the music and the process leading to its creation, but also an underlying theme in the lyrics. A common theme wasn’t as much intentional as it was a result of shared feelings and experiences. The album's narrative tells a story of the protagonist struggling with his visions and seeking ways to mend his shattered thoughts to ultimately find safety. The story encompasses several differing perspectives.

The album is dedicated to the memory of Jaakko Jernberg. The album closes with ‘Redeemer’, a song he composed and wrote lyrics for.

Inwards features piano arrangements by Helsinki-based composer Elias Patrikainen and has been mastered Ronan Chris Murphy, known for his work with King Crimson, Terry Bozzio and Ulver.

'Hollow Heroics' is just a huge mix of melody, stunning vocals at times reminiscent of Snowy Shaw and a superb take on modern progressive rock.
From this point onwards each track simply builds on a framework of layered sounds, brilliant guitarwork and again those vocals just soar out through the speakers.

It's when we come to 'Void Within' that there is some slight change in direction, this is slow and quiet vocal over a simple drum beat, but this one builds with near symphonic backing vocals, a neat little riff runs throughout.Half way through the song explodes and the timing changes, still slow yet upbeat at the same time, then finally the vocals get very high and the power increases.

'Manifest' is another stand out piece, simply because its the heaviest track on the album and mixes it up with the rhythms just like KoRn created when they got past their "nu" phase.

With 'Aphelion' being the longest track at just ver 10 minutes i was expecting some complex prog workout, in fact its a rather downbeat song, full of very quiet music and various keyboards, the vocal has an effect on it, actually this is kinda like black sabbaths 'Planet Caravan' and then later almost gets into doom metal with its drum pattern and slow distorted guitar.

Rating 9/10
For fans of: Sorrows Path, Snowy Shaw, Opeth, Spock's Beard