Deacidified - Deceitful Wisdom

Artist: Deacidified
Release Title: Deceitful Wisdom
Year: 2016
Label: Self-Released/Independent
Genre: Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. For the Time Has Come
2. Premonition
3. Servants of Lies
4. Dethroned
5. Inverted Logic
6. Disambiguation of Insanity
7. Impending Doom
8. Headless Belief

Formed in 2014, Greek death metal newcomers Deacidified come together by the three Sven brothers Vaios, George and Sven who form the vocal, bass and guitar positions in the band with Sakis Spiropoulos on drums. Finally preparing to release their debut full-length, the effort is independently released March 18, 2016.

For the most part the band here manages to display a rather dynamic impression of simple, straightforward death metal as the group here is plainly adept at doling out generous rhythms within their tracks. With simple-minded, tight riff-work at the forefront of the album, this here is wrapped around a determined charge that manage to feature some tight, fervent riffing that does generate plenty of intensity within the tracks as it maneuvers around the album’s mostly mid-tempo paces. It manages to whip up plenty of tight, churning rhythms as well when it breaks free and decides to up the ante on the faster rhythms when it does decide on generating even more speed and intensity here for the rhythms that manages to bring out some more intense arrangements. However, this also manages to bring out the album’s main flaw in that there’s just a never-ending series of wholly simplistic, one-note tracks here that it seems like a major accomplishment to have the tempo get changed up some. It seems to simply pick one pattern or rhythm and keep them there until it’s concluded and there’s little about the tracks overall that really change much as when there is some deviation it’s usually to interject a sprawling, atmospheric section into the tracks which just aren’t that interesting as the remaining music isn’t dynamic enough to warrant that kind of variation when it’s all pretty similar-sounding to begin with. Of course, the fact that the album doesn’t have the chance to do this with barely three-minute tracks is another big problem, with the songs here not really giving it much of an opportunity to really do that since it seques over into another effort right when it’s finally getting interesting and draining some of the momentum that’s being gained here. This, though, is simply growing pains with their first professional release and should be fixed in the future.

Though it’s obvious from the start that there’s some passion and enthusiasm on display here, the fact that the band doesn’t really have the chance to showcase their true potential either with bland segments or no time to really let their work breathe makes this only for the most devout and forgiving death metal aficionados who collect everything regardless of intent or professionalism.

Score: 73/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
http://deacidified.bandcamp.com/releases

Insision - Terminal Reckoning

Artist: Insision
Release Title: Terminal Reckoning
Year: 2016
Label: Sevared Records
Genre: Brutal Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Among Us
2. Ominous Spiral
3. Infected
4. Shapeshifting
5. Old Ways
6. Cold Air
7. XXVI.II.MMXIV
8. Resist (God Does Not Exist)

One of the genre’s foremost acts, Swedish brutal death metal legends Insision have been at the scene since the late 90s, but a series of lineup issues has plagued the band’s output in recent years. Finally getting stabilized as Gustav Trodin on bass, Ljusebring Terrorblaster on drums and Adam Ramis on second guitar join holdovers Roger Johansson and Carl Birath to finally issue their fourth full-length after a near-decade gap in releases on January 1, 2016 on Sevared Records.

As would be expected in a band around this long, there’s a wide range of tight, deep churning riff-work to be found here as the band manages to get through the paces quite nicely. The swirling lead rhythms and frantic, blasting drumming on display keep this charging forward at quite steady paces which  is given even more to work with as that allows the riffing to dredge up the tight arrangements that make for a sterling display of brutality while also managing to develop a more traditional old-school atmosphere in these arrangements that brings out the rather immersive swampy atmosphere to the proceedings. It’s all the better here with the way it manages to add the swampy, old-school atmosphere here to the tight, frantic riff-work buzzing along to the varied tempos as that helps out in the brutality stakes as well with the songs shifting nicely between the frenzied, faster tempos as well as the slower, more mid-tempo charges that are alternated throughout here with plenty of rather impressive rhythms that give this one a great balance. Even the old-school-style soloing is nicely on point here and generates a fiery, dynamic atmosphere that as well comes off with a type of melodic air against the tightly-wound, deep churning riff-work elsewhere on display that they really stand out in contrast, which is another nice touch on display here. Being that the band has obviously been around for awhile they’re able to generate plenty of proficiently-crafted rhythms and patterns here, but it does manage to come off as somewhat perfunctory, as though the band is simply going through the motions in their playbook and hitting them expertly but don’t really generate any original moves with them. It’s all quite apparent where they’re going and it does strike up a small note against this one, but it’s all that really hurts it overall.

Despite not really coming through with any kind of truly original work here, the fact that the bands’ experience and professionalism manages to overcome that with a slew of utterly enjoyable, varied tracks that do have many common elements in play here manages to make this a wholly worthwhile addition for fans of the bands’ past efforts or just fans of brutal old-school death metal.

Score: 88/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
http://insision.bigcartel.com/product/terminal-reckoning-full-length-cd-2016

Game Over (It) - Crimes Against Reality

Artist: Game Over (It)
Release Title: Crimes Against Reality
Year: 2016
Label: Scarlet Records
Genre: Retro Thrash Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Abyss of a Needle
2. Dawn of the Dead
3. Mountains of Madness
4. War of Nations
5. Overgrill (El Grillador loco)
6. N.S.A.
7. Bleeding Green
8. Another Dose of Thrash
9. Evil Clutch
10. Tupa Tupa or Die

Initially formed in 2008, Italian thrashers Game Over quickly formed an attraction to old-school thrash as well as a love for similarly old-school horror films which has been a part of their sound from the beginning. Not really offering much deviation or change-ups, this ripping and energetic third album came out April 1, 2016 from Scarlet Records is yet another incredibly enjoyable and rousing blast of revival-inspired thrash metal from one of the most impressive bands in the style.

As has been the case with their previous albums, this one offers a lot to really enjoy with the guitar-work which is packed with tightly-wound, intense rhythms. These are paced much like true speed and thrash running along in tight formations along frantic paces in that these tracks are played in a boundless sense of energy which makes them work quite nicely. The density layered across the rhythms here makes for quite an effective punch by keeping the entire thing in urgent mode with the exception of a few smartly-placed breakdowns which act as melodic breathers before going back to those more intense rhythms throughout this featuring fiery, spindly-delivered leads along the solo sections while placing just enough melodic crunch in the main sections. These tightly wound rhythms offer plenty to like in terms of raging solos and pounding drum-work to give a really kinetic offering, while there are only a couple things that stick out here. One of those is the fact that there are so many tightly-wound rhythms that the songs are all short, tight thrashers without really getting any room to grow that it never really shows off any variation in its rhythms. A few tracks display technically-complex rhythms but that’s about it in terms of variety as it never takes advantage with its density which results in some reused patterns to keep going along and holds this one up. The other minor bit of contention here is the real lack of unique rhythms throughout, tending to utilize very commonly-used patterns that further the bands’ familiarity rather than uniqueness. This isn’t a detrimental flaw though and doesn’t impact this all too much.

There’s a lot to like here with this enjoyable, energetic release that really doesn’t have a lot wrong here and manages to get a lot of ravenous thrashing in order which makes this an addictive outing overall. Though it can come off a little familiar at times and doesn’t really deviate much from the norm, it still gives off an infectious attitude to make for an enjoyable experience for any thrash fan to enjoy.

Score: 90/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:

https://gameoverthrash.bandcamp.com/album/for-humanity-re-release-2015

Precognitive Holocaust Annotations - Procreation of the Artificial Divinity

Artist: Precognitive Holocaust Annotations
Release Title: Procreation of the Artificial Divinity
Year: 2016
Label: Permeated Records
Genre: Brutal Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Neural Dematerialization
2. Reverse Effect
3. Cellular Preconnection
4. Humanity's Backup Failed
5. Calculating Magnitudo
6. All Gods Abdication
7. Waking Hallucination
8. Intermittent Collapse

Initially a wholly international act, Italian slammers Precognitive Holocaust Annotations have seen their ranks change over the last few months to shed their German influence to become a now-fully Italian act with singer Max Santorelli replacing Konstantin Lühring. Now time for their debut effort, this effort is released August 12, 2016 on Permeated Records.

For a debut offering there’s a surprising amount of maturity found here which infact comes from the strong riffing at the album’s core. Littered with tight, impossibly-blistering deep groove patterns this is a fine display of brutality that’s wholly immersive and mechanical-sounding that generates the slow, lurching sound of the genre impossibly well as it lurches from the slow breakdowns to the mid-tempo chug and then wrapping it all in a slice of blistering drum-work. These slightly technical rhythms are boosted along by the albums’ rather decently composed slams that take on a rather impressive amount of slams brought into play here which really work quite nicely here in giving this the kind of full-on brutal onslaught that focuses on the tight, churning rhythms and dragged-out paces of these tracks. That does highlight the fact that this one just doesn’t really have all that much to really work with here with it being so short to the point of almost being an EP release as the barely-two-minute running time of everything here really gives this a short, frenzied pace of barely managing to get anything accomplished here as this one just moves on to it’s next destructive mission. This one probably could’ve used a little more to stand-out here, as this one simply begs for more with the utterly impressive and dynamic work featured here, yet overall it’s still got plenty to like here.

A rare case where this one really could’ve used even more to work with here as the impact is just over way too quickly to let anything positive come from it and instead really lets the positives work for the few who really enjoy their slamming-style brutality or just straight-up brutal death metal aficionados.

Score: 74:100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:

Hitten - State of Shock

Artist: Hitten
Release Title: State of Shock
Year: 2016
Label: No Remorse Records
Genre: Traditional Heavy Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Wrong Side of Heaven
2. Don't Be Late
3. Can't Bring Me Down
4. Victim of the Night
5. Rites of the Priest
6. State of Shock
7. Liar
8. Endless Race
9. Chained to Insanity
10. Eternal Force

Coming together in 2011, Spanish traditional heavy metallers Hitten have wasted little time building a discography that pays tribute and worship to the greats of the genre’s past with their first releases issued within a calendar year of formation. With a solid lineup focusing on delivering classic metal formulas, the group releases their second full-length album March 1, 2016 on No Remorse Records.

Right from the start this one here is so overtly and unashamedly old-school that it’s impossible to tell that love blazes through their music as it simply unleashes a cavalcade of classic heavy metal workouts into their music. Focusing on charging dual speed-metal rhythms that bring about a rather impressive and dynamic energy to the music with the full-throttle charge featured working nicely together with the furious crunchy riff-work. This blend of old-school influences is great at perfecting this atmosphere where it’s able to generate fiery, full-throttle ragers dripping with classic speed metal patterns and a furious crunch to go hand-in-hand with the album’s more epic, restrained mid-tempo attitudes that are quite well measured against these more fiery and frenetic rhythms which produces a compelling balance between the two genres. While it’s one thing to be able to hit that kind of energy and attitude, the fact this is accomplished with the whole production taking on that kind of approach is quite another with this one really driving forward in that kind of attitude and infectious energy that conjures up the tone and atmosphere found in the old-school which is what does knock this one down somewhat as the album is such a hugely influenced throwback that it really doesn’t do much of anything truly original or creative. Instead, it relies far more on it’s engaging spirit and infectious playing to win over the listener, and while that works incredibly consistently the fact that not enough of it is really unique or creative does allow this one to slip slightly even though that infectiousness is what makes it so fun.

This is clearly one of the more impressive and enjoyable groups in this particular style and manages to get so much right here that it’s set of minor flaws are so kept in check that there’s much more to like here as this one is perfectly suited for any fan of the old-school metal sound or the revivalist bands using that style.

Score: 93/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://hittenheavymetal.bandcamp.com/

Overtures - Artifacts

Artist: Overtures
Release Title: Artifacts
Year: 2016
Label: Sleaszy Rider Records
Genre: Melodic Heavy Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Repentance
2. Artifacts
3. Gold
4. As Candles We Burn
5. Profiled
6. Unshared Worlds
7. My Refuge
8. New Dawn, New Dusk
9. Teardrop
10. Angry Animals
11. Savior

Having formed in 2003, Italian melodic metallers Overtures has steadily built a solid reputation of utilizing a series of powerful melodies with churning heavy metal prowess. Having reverted to a four-piece now with the loss of second-guitarist Adriano Crasnich, the group prepares it’s fourth full-length released May 27, 2016 on Sleaszy Rider Records.

Clearly having been around a while, the band is clearly a competent and professional act that manages to get quite a lot right here which is highly enjoyable. Starting with the riff-work, there’s plenty to like about the way this shifts so effortlessly from tight, deep chugging to galloping, mid-tempo rhythms that is wrapped up in gorgeous melodic rhythms that contain a glorious sheen over the music. With the riff-work burgeoning on the progressive with the way in which it incorporates some nice technicality for an added benefit to many of the tracks here, the melodies sprinkled throughout here are far more impactful with the steady paces on display allowing the keyboards to mix together with the shimmering guitar leads and the glorious sing-a-long chorus melodies which all shine quite nicely while giving this a warm, inviting presence. As well, once it features the tight, chugging patterns that aren’t really enveloped in those melodies it’s still got a dynamic heavy metal atmosphere that can kick up the intensity quite nicely throughout here as there’s plenty of elements that kick up the tempo into a harder-hitting rhythm and more frantic energy even with the vast majority of the time this one manages to go in the mid-tempo range here to play up the melodies. Luckily, this is kept to a minimum across here as the fact that there’s not a whole lot of these rhythms present here which tends to be the main element holding this one back as there’s way too much of the bands’ admittedly stylish-yet-overly-bland patterns here that don’t really kick up the intensity all that much here, and it all starts to run together into one rather big blur when it comes to these rhythms and riff-patterns overall here. As well, the fact that the progressive, overlong epic here is just way too long and bloated with too many segments and tempo variations just makes it a chore to listen to all the way through as it makes us innately aware of it’s length switching through so many sections. Otherwise, it’s not all that bad.

Displaying plenty of the professionalism and power they’ve become known for here with only a few minor elements that stick out here holding this one back, it manages to come off not only as one of the better examples in the genre but in their catalog as well which makes this appeal to all fans of the bands’ past works and the style in general.

Score: 84/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
http://heavymetalbids.com/auction_details.php?auction_search=1&auction_id=324026&item_type=buy_out&option=basic_search&basic_search=Overtures&keywords_search=Overtures&limit=10

Wisdom (Hung) - Rise of the Wise

Artist: Wisdom (Hung)
Release Title: Rise of the Wise
Year: 2016
Label: NoiseArt Records
Genre: Power/Heavy Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Over the Wall
2. Ravens' Night
3. My Heart Is Alive
4. Hunting the Night
5. Hero
6. Through the Fire
7. Nightmare of the Seas
8. Believe in Me
9. Secret Life
10. Welcome to My Story
11. Rise of the Wise

Built up as the country’s greatest genre act, Hungarian heavy/power metallers Wisdom are without doubt one of the best genre acts in that part of the world as well as their country’s premier act as well. With Anton Kabanen joining on guitars, the group’s fourth full-length effort released February 26, 2016 on NoiseArt Records firmly showcases this feat with the fact at the top of their game.

This here is such an infectious and utterly enjoyable effort that there’s plenty of enjoyable elements found within this one that really shows off how enjoyable their sound is. The main impetus here is on fiery, bright melodies within the riffing that showcases the dynamic power of melodic power metal while running alongside the tight, thunderous crunch of traditional heavy metal and is made all the better with the album’s infectious energy. That alone here is one of the most impressive elements to be found here as the album stays within this framework for the most part and doesn’t really offer up much deviation at all which is what allows this one to keep the steady pounding rhythms featured here at the forefront as there’s a rather large amount of stylish tempos and arrangements here that come from the deeper rhythm section charging away while the band fires off their melodic power metal firestorm and more uplifting tempos that have a much greater and enjoyable charge throughout here which is what makes the group so lively yet still heavy enough here even on the ballads. At times the bands’ approach drops off unexpectedly into a rather bland mid-tempo chug that sounds completely at odds with the victorious choruses and melodies which cause them to stick out against the much stronger crunchier riff-work that picks up the tempo nicely, but the band is confident enough to leave them in such short bursts that there’s a lot more elements to like here that dominate the album as a whole.

With a few small and relatively minor missteps that don’t really upset the album all that much, this one really does pick out the best parts of the bands’ sound and makes them enjoyable with their dominance on the album that this is surely one of the better entries in their catalog and is wholly recommended not only to fans of the band but of the style as well.

Score: 92/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
http://www.wisdom.hu/webshopeur.php#

Death Courier - Demise

Artist: Death Courier
Release Title: Demise
Year: 1992 (2016 re-issue)
Label: Psychosis (Nuclear War Now! Productions re-issue)
Genre: Thrash/Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Demise
2. Swamplife
3. Copkiller
4. Interior Crushfield
5. Assaulted
6. Mindwarp
7. The Haunter of the Dark
8. Bioartificial Lusts
9. Infected
10. Lunatic Messiah

At the time of it’s release, Greek thrash/death metallers Death Courier were among the few acts in the country that weren’t paying homage to the exploding Scandinavian black metal scene, and originally split up in 1993 almost immediately after this release. Having reformed in 2009 with a new line-up and a second album already released, their full-length debut is now reissued August 15, 2016 on Nuclear War Now! Productions after an initial release in 1992 on Psychosis Records.

There’s a lot to rather like about this release, which starts up-front with the dynamic riff-work. This is rather impressive as the tight, deep-churning riffing is given a wide-berth on the release, managing to utilize either the galloping up-tempo thrash patterns or a slower, churning sprawl that takes the path of death metal acts from that time-period, it’s quite a variance on display that’s more than adept at merging these two styles together as the genres were still blurred in this period yet are still quite prominently featured here. That kind of overtly obvious display makes the material appear even more obvious here with the frantic thrash riffing generating the kind of up-tempo, chaos-riddled madness alongside the utterly furious blasting drumming which is all quite impressively handled while also managing to drop the chaos in favor of a slower, lurching crawl that favors the heavier end of the spectrum. Being able to accomplish all this while being able to feature tight, shortened tracks here is a great feat as well that further makes for a great time here as it manages to get a lot of variety and impact out of a shortened running time, almost contradictory to most other bands who can’t master that kind of variance and dynamics in tracks nearly double the length of some of these. Some of the chaotic material might seem schizophrenic and disjointed to some, but the maturity and prowess demonstrated leaves some rather impressive work featured here.

Despite a case where it does seem to cram too much into itself for it’s own good,that’s a rather nagging and barely worthwhile element to be found here with this one as it’s one of the more clear-cut and enjoyable examples of the styles in the genre and is wholly recommended to all fans of that particular style or just ravenous, vicious thrash in general.

Score: 93/100

Does it sound good? Order the re-issue from here:
http://nuclearwarnowproductions.bandcamp.com/album/demise

Marsh Dweller - The Weight of Sunlight

Artist: Marsh Dweller

Release Title: The Weight of Sunlight

Year: 2016

Label: Eihwaz Recordings

Genre: Melodic Black Metal

Tracklisting:

1. Cultivating the Cosmic Tree

2. The Dull Earth

3. Where the Sky Ends

4. Monumental Collapse

5. Empty Light of Heavens

6. Forks of the River

7. Feathers on the Breath of God

8. The Weight of Sunlight

Originally launched in 2012, Ohio-based one-man melodic black metal project Marsh Dweller has quietly built the band into a rather promising addition to the genre as he’s relocated now to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Continuing to do everything involved in the project himself, this debut full-length effort was released August 15, 2016 on Eihwaz Recordings.

Once this one gets going, there’s some rather fun and decent work here as this one manages to adequately build itself into a solid melody-driven black metal effort. This is accomplished through tight, simplistic tremolo riff-work that’s all quite nicely played here in a mid-tempo sprawl that leaves the material without much in the way of fiery rhythms here as that simplistic edge and plodding tempo are never really given much use for it in the first place. In a manner of a few rare occasions there is a rather nice up-tempo burst of frantic drumming and urgent, swirling riff-work that gets put on display here to solidify the connection to the specific genre, yet overall that all seems like an afterthought with the dominance of the other slower material in the arrangements which keep this one much more of a lighter-sounding effort. With the inclusion of the acoustic guitar strains over the rest of the material also getting a big chance to add to that particular facet, there’s some much lighter and melodic washes of black metal in the rhythms here, which is where this one does start to come down slightly. The insistence on keeping the tracks more slowed down and mid-tempo doesn’t generate the level of excitement in the rhythms it really should, focusing far too much on keeping the tracks at a straightforward level rather than offering any kind of variation or dynamics to really enhance the melodies. Likewise, the need for three different instrumentals is a rather curious decision as it feels like overkill to include that much when there’s only a finite number of original tracks featured and makes the album seem a little shorter than it really is. Otherwise, this one wasn’t terribly bad at all.

While it does struggle with somewhat slower tempos than it really should and keeps the chances for work down with the shortened track-list, there’s some decent work on display here to make this one a somewhat passably experience for those looking into the melodic black metal scene or enjoy this kind material.

Score: 68/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:

https://marshdweller.bandcamp.com/

Winterlore - Winterlore

Artist: Winterlore
Release Title: Winterlore
Year: 2016
Label: Slaughterhouse Records
Genre: Old-School Black Metal
Tracklisting:
1. ...in the Frozen Forest
2. Spires of Ascension
3. Marching Hordes on Warpaths Old
4. Lands of Boreal Suspension
5. Ice of Old Night
6. Winterlore

Founded back in 2004, Utah black metallers Winterlore have cited an unhealthy obsession with Nordic-inspired, fast, raucous, noisy black metal, and have spent much of their time honing their craft in the local scene. With the addition of R. Sodomizer on guitars, the band prepares this self-titled second release April 29, 2016 on Slaughterhouse Records where the band’s sound is more heavy and raw, yet more accomplished as well, showcasing their growth.

Frankly this here is such a straightforward and serviceable attempt at employing the old-school black metal style that it’s almost possible to believe it was originally released back then. The riff-work here is straight-up second-wave Norwegian inspired to a tee, firing off majestic, epic swirling tremolo riffing and buzzing speed-metal patterns that generate a blend of deep, churning patterns that allow for some decently heavy arrangements as well as furthering the intense up-tempo paces. This here is quite an impressively up-tempo effort that carries it’s raging, fiery tempos here throughout this one with a rather strong amount of vibrant patterns holding this one firmly in line with the speed-drenched paces of the old-school groups, and when it occupies these raging tempos the band is firing on their style at it’s best. When it does go for the expected majestic sprawling sections that bring the paces back into the mid-tempo while letting the swirling leads become much more melodic and offsetting those straightforward sections it further creeps into the old-school even further here. That in itself is the album’s main weakness for it doesn’t really do a whole lot throughout here that really strikes up any kind of originality, and the whole overall approach is so firmly entrenched in aping this particular brand and style that it never really focuses on anything new, instead merely focusing itself on admittedly-competent retreads of the familiar second-wave school coming from Norway. That makes for a somewhat bland focus at times, but it’s still enjoyable enough here due to that competency.

As it’s such an unabashedly old-school throwback band that doesn’t really do anything new but does what it does really well and lively, there’s some fun to be had here with this only for those who are unequivocally fanatic about old-school-worshipping groups or US black metal attempts at the style, while those looking for more originality are advised to look elsewhere here.

Score: 82/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
http://winterlore.bandcamp.com/