Ghost of Mary - Oblivaeon

Artist: Ghost of Mary
Release Title: Oblivaeon
Year: 2016
Label: Revalve Records
Genre: Melodic Gothic/Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. The Moon and the Tree
2. Shades
3. Last Guardians
4. Nothing
5. The Ancient Abyss
6. Oblivaeon
7. Black Star
8. Something to Know
9. The End Is the Beginning
10. Nowhere Now Here

Formed in early 2014, Italian gothic/death metal newcomers Ghost of Mary have come together to add a great new voice into the genre with articulated and melodic progressive architectures and immersed in a dark atmosphere. Based on the original tale written by Daniele Rini as a sort of allegory about life and death, the group’s full-length debut was released December 2, 2016 on Revalve Records.

Coming off as a complete surprise, this here was quite the impressive and utterly surprising release that goes for the impressive and dramatic side of the spectrum. Ostensibly based on melodic death metal, the band wholly utilizes those rhythms and riffing structure with speed-driven, swirling patterns in their style to create a stylistically heavy, up-tempo album with plenty of galloping guitars and drumming together propelling this one along with the atmosphere found within a nominal melodic death metal band. Though this represents the main factor of the music, this is blended together incredibly well here by the inclusion of symphonic elements more in keeping with gothic metal in terms of using these elements to create a warm, romantic atmosphere within the music. This creates the appealing dichotomy of ripping, raging melody-tinged death metal with high-speed tempos alongside slower, lush atmospherics that goes together so well that there’s quite the intriguing and sound overall here. The main element against this one, though, is the fact that the album’s wildly-veering sonic style manages to make the vocal shifts appear wholly disproportionate for the type of music present which is somewhat of a stumbling block in the later half of the album. Given that deep, guttural style growl for a large portion of the melodic music just sounds awkward with the short, warm melodies and the cleans don’t fare much better either with their crooning becoming laughable in their attempts to interject melody into their rhythms especially on the attempts at balladry. Given that this is a debut offering, though, much of this is somewhat forgivable and doesn’t detract from this one all that much.

As it stands, there are a few problems here with the disparate vocal stylings throughout here, but the fact that being a debut there’s always a chance to fix this and it doesn’t distract much from the music at all which is far more enjoyable gives this one quite a lot of appeal to melodic death metal fans of those intrigued by darker gothic metal as well.

Score: 88/100

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http://revalverecords.bigcartel.com/product/ghost-of-mary-oblivaeon

Afterlife Symphony - Moment Between Lies

Artist: Afterlife Symphony
Release Title: Moment Between Lies
Year: 2016
Label: Revalve Records
Genre: Symphonic Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Half-Moon Night
2. The Abyss
3. Under the Sleeping Tree
4. My Existence to You
5. Broken Breath
6. Dreamer's Paradox
7. Seventh
8. Last Hope
9. Novembre, Pt. 1
10. Novembre, Pt. 2
11. Genesis of Eternity

Finally making their mark on the genre, Italian symphonic metallers Afterlife Symphony added the last segment to the name yet still keeping their blend of orchestral grandiosity with the strong sense of progressive riffing which strikes as quite the impressive overall attack. With the re-branded group finally prepared to unleash their pleasing sound, the groups’ second full-length album was released September 9, 2016 on Revalve Records.

Even with the name change, it’s still quite obvious the band has still kept up their glorious sound in full force throughout here which really goes for the grandiose and the symphonic throughout this one. The riffing in particular keeps itself aligned mostly in the mid-tempo chugging realm while still being draped in harmonious melodies and mesmerizing symphonic rhythms throughout here which makes for a much lighter and immersive experience here by bringing in plenty of the orchestral elements not to add bombastic grandiosity but more of an operatic approach here which goes hand-in-hand with those chugging mid-tempo rhythms in the riffing. This offers up the kind of challenging, swirling rhythm-work throughout here that gives it a progressive tinge to the music while still offering up that lighter atmosphere to give this the kind of near-Gothic approach that mixes in the warmer melodies rather than enhanced speed, leaving this one quite dramatic and emotional which goes so well with the professional arrangements and the gorgeous female vocals. Indeed, the fact that this one is at it’s fastest in the mid-tempo realm might be seen as a detriment to some by keeping this one solely devoid of the main element in favor of it’s appeal here with the gregarious power and over-the-top grandiosity, as the heavily emotional feel derived from the rhythms here aren’t that typical style and highlights this factor somewhat throughout here. Still, that’s clearly not the main aim here and there’s quite a lot to really like here.

Offering up plenty of enjoyable elements here even though the album’s main focus on going for the mid-tempo style leaves this one feeling quite sluggish at times if the focus is clearly kept away from their assumed intentions which makes this one quite enjoyable for fans of Gothic-tinged power metal or emotional symphonic metal in general.

Score: 89/100

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http://revalverecords.bigcartel.com/product/afterlife-symphony-moment-between-lives-preorder-start-29-08-2016

Reapter - Cymatics

Artist: Reapter
Release Title: Cymatics
Year: 2016
Label: Revalve Records
Genre: Progressive Thrash Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Repeat
2. Tsunami
3. Time Lapse
4. The Alchemist
5. Life and Horror
6. Behind a Mask
7. Useless
8. Fallen Angels
9. Tram Out
10. Omega Revolution

Following the success of their last album, Italian thrashers Reapter have continued to utilize their solid basis of mixing classic thrash metal with solid traditional metal rhythms and a hefty dose of prog to great effect.Telling ten captivating stories about a term coined by the physician Hans Henry to describe acoustic effects of sound wave phenomena, the group’s second full-length effort was released after a six-year gap September 23, 2016 with a CD release October 7, 2016 on Revalve Records.

For the most part here, this one is a quite impressive attack that really leaves this one with a solid overall basis on display. The main crunch here from the traditional thrashing and progressive leanings is where this one really works incredibly well as the mainly up-tempo rhythms are technically-challenging and complex with a strong sense of energy throughout, making for some rather fun times here. The fine mixture of ravenous thrashing energy with these complex rhythms gives this the kind of impressive and dynamic crunchy attack while making splendid use of the tightly-wound riff-work for a rather impressive melodic structure to add onto the challenging riff-work which is all highly impressive and enjoyable throughout here until it gets to the second half of the album which is where this one somewhat struggles. Either through the riffing wearing out it’s welcome or simply devolving into a series of weak, spindly riffing that just sounds quite lame and rather forced, there’s little about these tracks that matches the energy, the ferocity or the overwhelming sense of technicality that’s featured here with the main overwhelming sense of these tracks being simply filler in that end. This here is the main factor that holds it back with the positives being quite fun.

Though the weak second half does lower this one leading into the finale, there’s still a strong amount of solid work that works quite strongly here with the ravenous thrashing and complex riff-work that really does come off nicely here for fans of this kind of challenging technically-precise thrashing or more melodic-leaning thrash fans.

Score: 86/100

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http://revalverecords.bigcartel.com/product/reapter-cymatics-pre-order-start-13-09-2016

Abscendent - Decaying Human Condition

Artist: Abscendent
Release Title: Decaying Human Condition
Year: 2016
Label: Revalve Records
Genre: Death/Thrash Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Penance
2. Solipsia
3. Compelled
4. Doppelgänger
5. Nausea

Formed in 2013, Italian thrash/death metallers Abscendent have steadily honed their craft with a multitude of intense rehearsals and live dates that has brought their sound to it’s fullest. With the three-piece able to deliver their thrashing intensity to it’s fullest, the group’s debut release comes out May 4, 2016 on Revalve Records.

Being part of the more modern experience of the tropes, there’s some solid and engaging work to be had here with the band really laying it on thick in regards to the thick, violent riff-work. This one has some rather frantic and furious patterns on display throughout here, ranging from tight, ravenous mid-tempo groove riff-work to a more sprawling series of rhythms that are more a part of classic thrash/death metal groups and manages to do an incredibly fun job mixing these two styles together quite well. The violent stuttering patterns and the classic sprawling rhythms go together very well in regards to mixing it up and providing the kind of jagged thrashing framework into a cohesive whole that’s wholly enjoyable and engaging with a whole lot of explosive sections changing over from a tight chug into a more frantic, furious section loaded with blazing thrash segments, and overall that leaves this with plenty of enjoyable elements. It’s quite short and doesn’t really give itself a lot of opportunities to really let loose with it’s style as the album’s really only basing its variety on the progressively-minded rhythms and it doesn’t get much else of a chance to accomplish that with only five tracks. Though it has a lot of material to work through in that time-span, it’s just way too short and doesn’t really provide much else here with the short running time. Overall, though, it’s all this one has going against it with plenty of otherwise enjoyable elements.

Despite not really giving itself much of a chance with the shortened running order that keeps the album feeling quite short and over too quickly for it’s own good, there’s still plenty to like and enjoy about this one that it’s a solid, worthwhile inquiry for those looking for some enjoyably modern and engaging death/thrash metal without too many hang-ups about it.

Score: 82/100

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Dark Haunters - To Persevere is Diabolical

Artist: Dark Haunters
Release Title: To Persevere is Diabolical
Year: 2016
Label: Revalve Records
Genre: Symphonic Black/Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. In Perseverance...
2. The Burning Eyes of Vengeance
3. Legend of Pai Mei
4. Blood Wolfen Hunger
5. In My Fortress
6. The Tigress & the Prophecy
7. Rising Through the Curse
8. ...Towards the Realm

Born in Atri in 1999, Italian symphonic black/death metallers Dark Haunters initially came together with the intention of playing a gothic black metal with a symphonic classical designs before settling on a more cohesive symphonic design. After years of lineup struggles and numerous concert appearances honing their craft to perfection, the sextet finally unleashes their full-length debut May 5, 2016 on Revalve Records.

What becomes immediately apparent throughout here is the band’s competence and impactful attack, which takes a large dose of inspiration from the symphonic scene with the omnipresent and impactful keyboards that are featured alongside the raging music here. Bouncing along through the music with a cinematic style of accents washing over the blackened soundtrack underneath which manages to merge the raging tremolo-styled rhythms leading along through the deeper, heavy-hitting chugging that comes off as the finest combination of these styles. The riff-work is tight and technical to match the blasting drumming hammering away in the attack, and there’s a nice, heavy-handed sense of fury and intensity in the tracks which makes for a rather immersive symphonic attack within the music, especially when the band fires off into the higher intensity levels. It’s mostly when the band drops down slightly when it stumbles slightly as the group’s tendency towards the slightly sluggish, plodding paces tend to show off it’s rather troubling natures as the riffing isn’t that lively and the symphonics get muted when it’s galloping along, leaving it to feel a little lighter and less dynamic where this appears more often in the second half of the album which does leave it ending on a slightly down-beat ending. As well, this general style doesn’t really leave the band open to explore much in terms of variety causing it to stick to the same general well of attacks for the majority of the time so it can tend to wear itself out through some familiar work at times. Otherwise, this one really does get some enjoyable times in here.

Though it’s not necessarily the most original or consistent act in the scene, this is a solid debut effort that initializes them into the scene in a rather appealing way that at the very least will get those into symphonic black metal to check them out though those who prefer the more traditional works won’t be as impressed.

Score: 83/100

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http://revalverecords.bigcartel.com/product/dark-haunters-to-persevere-is-diabolical