Track Listing:
1. Dystopia (0.33)
2. Amongst Marble And The Dead (5.21)
3. Disembodied Steps (5.42)
4. Flesh Epistle (3.24)
5. Passion Of The Weak (4.35)
6. Winds Of Chains (5.38)
7. Encountering The Divine (3.54)
8. Perimortem (4.41)
9. Plague Of Nations (3.35)
10. Epos (7.43)
Synopsis: What needs to be said about Grave? They were one of the first bands I discovered when getting into death metal via their debut "Into The Grave", the title track is a seminal classic, and I still get excited by each new release. "Endless Procession Of Souls" is their tenth album and, much like Asphyx with "Deathhammer" earlier this year, there are few surprises to be had but that simply doesn't matter because Grave have a formula that works. In some ways that consistency makes a review somewhat redundant however it is still worth noting that Grave remain potent after all this time and can show the new breed of Swedish death metallers how it is meant to be done.
www.grave.se
Track Listing:
1. Children Of Doom (7.20)
2. Funeral Mounds (6.47)
3. Doommonger (7.28)
4. Ulterior Gods (6.18)
5. Cthulhu Rising (7.06)
6. Confiteor (6.35)
Synopsis: Poland is a nation more readily associated with death metal yet Evangelist are here to change that with their release "In Partibus Infidelium" (rough translation: "In the lands of unbelievers"). This is epic doom metal that adheres to all the traditions of the style and, whilst it would be difficult to argue originality given the references that readily spring to mind, it is done with aplomb. Evangelist leave little doubt as to who the unbelievers might be, you need only read the tirade on the booklet, but they back this up with a robust interpretation of the style that you can't help but appreciate.
www.facebook.com/evangelistmetal
Track Listing:
1. Atra Mors (11.54)
2. Descent Into Chaotic Dream (11.13)
3. A Tenebrous Vision (2.19)
4. Grim Eloquence (9.40)
5. An Extrinsic Divide (10.11)
6. Requies Aeterna (1.59)
7. The Unechoing Dread (9.47)
8. Into Aphotic Devastation (10.07)
Synopsis: Profound Lore could not have chosen better than "Atra Mors" for their 100th release as such a milestone is only enhanced by releasing one of the best albums of the year and the most complete Evoken work in their illustrious career. Whilst this is every part as heavy and bleak as predicted, what really takes "Atra Mors" to the next level is the way each song, indeed the album as a whole, builds over its duration. The lighter moments spread throughout, including the two brief interludes, prove just as potent as the crushing doom, a method that Evoken have long utilised but have truly perfected here. From the outset my expectations for "Atra Mors" were very high yet, somehow, Evoken have exceeded them. Brilliant!
www.facebook.com/pages/Evoken-Official/91505789372
Track Listing:
1. Rapid Fire (A Tyrant's Elegy) (5.12)
2. A Girl Called Cerveza (4.14)
3. Witch-Hunt 2.0 (5.42)
4. Masters Of Farces (4.08)
5. The Metal Ladyboy (4.59)
6. Not One Day Dead (But Mad One Day) (4.01)
7. Son Of A Fridge (5.53)
8. Fandom At Random (5.27)
9. Metal Magnolia (5.07)
10. Running On Fumes (5.30)
Synopsis: Tankard have built a lengthy career, thirty years and counting, around their drunken thrash however their recent output has been inconsistent to say the least as previous albums were a bit hit or miss as far as the overall quality of the songs went. Maybe it's the jump to Nuclear Blast or the abundance of thrash competition but their latest album "A Girl Called Cerveza", whilst not straying from their inebriated formula, seems to rectify this problem to some degree. Some of the songs and humour still fall flat but a song like "Witch-Hunt 2.0" shows what Tankard are capable of when they get it right.
www.tankard.info
Track Listing:
1. Hubris (1.28)
2. Sworn To Obey (3.54)
3. Thrown To The Lions (4.29)
4. Storm Within (4.06)
5. Gleaming Like Silver (3.50)
6. By My Own Hand (3.42)
7. The Fall Of Man (4.03)
8. Reawakening (4.35)
9. Destined To Collapse (4.40)
10. A Final Procession (4.42)
11. Perpetuated (3.16)
Synopsis: It could be argued that Dew-Scented have pretty much released the same album repeatedly such is the consistency of their sound and "Icarus" isn't likely to change that perception. Still, they have their own take on thrash that doesn't sound like anyone else in particular and, despite line-up changes, it is performed with the confidence of band that is experienced and clear on what they do. As someone who discovered the band on "Ill-Natured" and have followed them ever since I, personally, have no issue with their ongoing adherence to their chosen style, especially when it's as good as "Icarus".
www.dew-scented.net
Track Listing:
1. Opulence Contaminated (4.25)
2. Violent Abolition (3.31)
3. March Thru Pain (5.16)
4. Shattered By Reality (3.46)
5. Toxic Attack (5.01)
6. Into Madness (3.55)
7. Oblivion (5.36)
8. Pleasure On Illusion (4.38)
9. Deviance (5.32)
Synopsis: No-one has enjoyed the recent thrash revival more than I however it is getting more difficult to find bands that bring something new to the style. Case in point, Dust Bolt and their debut "Violent Demolition" which ticks all the boxes you would expect of a thrash release, from the artwork to their actual sound, but doesn't push beyond the standard formula we have all come to know. That said, there is nothing inherently wrong with what you hear and "Violent Demolition" is a thoroughly enjoyable release with some strong ideas so it remains a worthwhile investment where you will know exactly what you are getting from the outset.
www.facebook.com/dustbolt
Track Listing:
1. The Veil (1.11)
2. Blood Calls (5.12)
3. Driven By The Dark (6.00)
4. Casting The Shroud Aside (4.37)
5. Under Ancient Stone (5.32)
Synopsis: Ancient Ascendant have wasted little time in following up last years "The Grim Awakening" and the decision to do so is easily justified by the music on "Into The Dark". The first thing that strikes you is the magnificent artwork, which isn't your typical fare for a death metal band, yet this is the level of quality throughout. Ancient Ascendant manage to combine a degree of complexity with straight forward aggression and subtle streaks of melody that grab your attention and never let go. Given that "Into The Dark" was mixed and mastered by Dan Swano at Unisound it has a great sound, in fact, there is scarcely any fault to be found with it so I only hope that Ancient Ascendant can keep this standard moving forward. If so, they will be a force to be reckoned with.
www.ancientascendant.com
