Convulse - Inner Evil (Svart, 2013)

Track Listing:

1. Inner Evil (5.55)
2. God Is Delusion (6.05)

Synopsis: I guess it's appropriate for all these death metal bands to exhume themselves from their dormancy and you can add Convulse to that list. Having released a well regarded album, "World Without God", they are back together after a lengthy hiatus and "Inner Evil" is a good way to reintroduce themselves. Even though each song is lengthy that doesn't necessarily mean they have evolved too far, it is still primal, dark, death metal at work and it certainly bodes well for a possible full length though I can't help but feel like there's still work to be done to ensure they are still relevant.

www.facebook.com/convulse

Necrowretch - Putrid Death Sorcery (Century Media, 2013)

Track Listing:

1. Ripping Souls Of Sinners (2.37)
2. Purifying Torment (3.21)
3. Goat-Headed (3.04)
4. Putrid Death Sorcery (3.52)
5. Impious Plague In Catacombs (3.35)
6. Spewed From Hell (3.29)
7. Defiler Of Sacrality (3.16)
8. The Anthropomancer (4.26)
9. Soiled Into A Crypt (2.26)
10. Recollections (3.03)
11. Repugnizer (2.35)

Synopsis: At first glance this might appear to be another in the plethora of "old school" death metal bands however, upon listening to "Putrid Death Sorcery", it becomes apparent that there is something different about this young French trio. Sure, there are ample references to the classic Swedish sound but for every Entombed or Dismember moment there are equal parts Merciless or Grotesque and it does give them a different sound to a certain degree. Besides, it is a short release that doesn't outstay it's welcome and there is certainly the potential for even better things lurking in this particular crypt.

www.necrowretch.net

Xanthochroid - Blessed He With Boils (Earth & Axen, 2012)

Track Listing:

1. Aquatic Deathgate Existence (3.00)
2. Blessed He With Boils (7.29)
3. Winter's End (5.01)
4. Long Live Our Lifeless King (8.55)
5. Deus Absconditus I (3.58)
6. Deus Absconditus II (5.36)
7. The Leper's Prospect (5.51)
8. In Putris Stagnum (6.26)
9. Here I'll Stay (2.39)
10. Rebirth Of An Old Nation (9.00)

Synopsis: "Blessed He With Boils" is a fine example of a young band with obvious talent and ambition that, considering it is their first full-length and independently released, can't help but impress. The music is highly complex, bringing to mind Emperor or Borknagar at times, yet despite the melodic, blackend intensity that serves as the basis of most of their compositions the use of orchestration and acoustic moments are exceptionally well done. If there is one criticism, and it is minor, it is the production which is decent but a bit underwhelming considering the strength of the music. Of course, this in no way diminishes what Xanthochroid have achieved here and if they can make the slight improvement in that area they could be unstoppable. 

www.facebook.com/xanthochroidmetal

Moonloop - Deeply From The Earth (Listenable, 2012)

Track Listing:

1. Awaking Spirals Of Time (2.11)
2. Beginning Of The End (5.15)
3. A Life Divided (4.34)
4. Fading Faces (5.02)
5. Strombus (6.15)
6. Deceiving Time (7.22)
7. Legacy Of Fear (4.18)
8. Wailing Road (6.18)
9. Landscape (6.25)
10. Atlantis Rising (11.00)

Synopsis: For some reason it took me a while to purchase a copy of "Deeply From The Earth", the second full length from Spain's Moonloop and it has turned out to be quite an interesting release. Their take on progressive death metal does bring to mind Opeth, without the classic prog influences, but also more aggressive bands such as Death through numerous twists and turns that find the music coming from many different directions. It isn't perfect, some of the transitions between sections can be abrupt and could be refined further, but there is no denying that there is a maturity and ambition at work here that challenges without being too obtuse and ultimately leaves you satisfied.

Agalloch - Faustian Echoes (Dammerung Arts, 2012)

Track Listing:

1. Faustian Echoes (21.34)

Synopsis: Agalloch are widely revered, and rightly so, as they have always been a law unto themselves yet there is also an integrity and depth to their music that never wavers regardless of the path they take. "Faustian Echoes" is the longest song that they have recorded however this has proven no challenge as they take the classic Goethe tale and weave a metallic tapestry around it that retains your attention the whole time. The balance between the epic black metal and more introspective moments is finely balanced and the samples of dialogue add to the effect. Who knows what Agalloch will come up with next but whatever it might be it is sure to continue expanding their already impressive sound.

www.agalloch.org

The Gardnerz - It All Fades (Abyss, 2012)

Track Listing:

1. Don't Look Back (7.24)
2. A Horrible Disease (7.50)
3. Transilvanian Hunger (6.54)
4. It All Fades (4.48)
5. Melatonin (3.48)
6. Erasing Bad Specimen (5.13)

Synopsis: I didn't seek out The Gardnerz' first release "The System Of Nature", in no small part due to the unfortunate band name, however I must admit that they have surprised me with the follow up "It All Fades". This is death metal that somehow retains an old school sound whilst at the same time incorporating cleaner, melodic elements to give them some semblance of an identity. Undoubtedly this release will garner most attention for the interesting interpretation of the Darkthrone classic "Transilvanian Hunger" which isn't heavy in the least instead relying on clean guitars and female vocals, I am still not sure whether this is insanity or genius. I still stand by my first impression, The Gardnerz isn't the best choice of name, but you can't argue with the music which is simple but effective death metal, the aforementioned cover aside.

www.thegardnerz.com

Indesinence - Vessels Of Light And Decay (Profound Lore, 2012)

Track Listing:

1. Flux (0.59)
2. Paradigms (14.10)
3. Vanished Is The Haze (8.22)
4. Communion (6.00)
5. La Madruaga Eterna (4.03)
6. Fading (Further Beyond) (14.48)
7. Unveiled (13.42)

Synopsis: There is an inherent assurance of quality that comes with Profound Lore, even if everything they selectively release isn't to your taste there's no denying their attention to detail. My point? "Vessels Of Light And Decay" looks simply magnificent, the small picture above doesn't do it justice, and the music itself is no less impressive. After an ominous intro this release shows Indesinence to be another fine example of death doom done with conviction, imposing in its sprawling, crushing, miserable weight yet never lacking in substance. It has certainly been a good year for doom and "Vessels Of Light And Decay" stands high on the list.

www.indesinence.co.uk