Sacred Sin were / are one of the most ‘popular’ bands from Portugal, though their popularity has never reached the level of, let’s say, a band like Moonspell. That’s undeserved and a pity. They were formed in 1991 and debuted in 1992 with the EP The Shades Behind. One year later, Sacred Sin released their full length debut Darkside via Portuguese label Musica Alternativa, followed by several other albums and some compilations.
I have never hided my appreciation for this Australian act. I do adore each single release I know about them, but I was sort of anxious because it took quite a long time to hear about these guys again. But don’t worry, because Luke ‘Balam’ Mills and his crew (quite a new line-up!) finally, after almost four years, return with the fifth full length, Ephemeral. Once again much of the material was recorded, mixed etc. by Balam at the Scourge Studio, and drums and vocals were registered at the Adversary Studio.
Northumbria was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in the east of England with quite an interesting history. As from about 500 A.C. on, it was quite an important and mighty kingdom, until Danish Vikings conquered the region in the ninth century. But since we’re not an online encyclopaedia…
It’s also a region not that far away from Toronto, Canada, with a notorious university…
I was aware of an act called Nocturnal Sacrifice, because of their Evil Invasion-EP (from 2010). But apparently there is a Mexican band too with that moniker (the one I knew hails from Peru), formed in 2009. They have one recording on their discography, Igne In Tenebris, which they did release independently in October 2013. Because of the quality of that material, Cold Raw Records, being one of the most interesting young labels lately, decided to have this stuff re-released, about one year after the initial self-release.
After two splits - one with Slaughtered Priest, which is another project Necrochakal’s Ungod is involved with, and one with Texas-based Terrorist - Greek combo Necrochakal release the Profanation Of The Gods-EP via Greek labels Metal Throne Productions (which is run by Ungod) and mighty Fistbang Records.
Spanish duo Morkulv (vocalist Funedëim and multi-instrumentalist Wulfheim) releases its debut Where Hollowness Dwells in co-operation with four labels. It’s an eleven-tracker that starts with a very short yet pretty haunting intro (Prologue - Mork). But then, as from Red, Dark… Infinite on, it’s quite something else. Morkulv bring a mostly nasty, schizoid and malignant form of un(der)wordly Black Metal, quite fast, quite simplistic, quite melodic, but above all: filled with anger and terror.
I had not heard of this German act before, but I do not think I missed anything at all. Apparently they did release seven albums before… With Zombieland, this act around singer Alex Wohnhaas brings fifty minutes of extremely catchy (after ten seconds you can sing each song along) Industrial Metal / Electro Rock with some radio-play poppiness. Gloomy and groovy, then again more integer and emotional, with the mandatory ballads included… Only once in a while, Megaherz open less trendy registers, but it can’t save the damage…
One year and a half after the Arrival Of The Tyrant-EP, Spanish duo Lurking Evil (drummer Nico ‘Guldur’ Morales and bassist / guitarist / vocalist Orlok) return with their debut full length, The Almighty Hordes Of The Undead. The album lasts for almost forty minutes and consists of twelve titles.
Lauxnos are a new solo-outfit by Kirill ‘Katharos’ Andreevich, whom you might know as well from, for example, Emptiness Soul (a couple of months ago, and with sadness as result for undersigned, they announced to stop all activities under this name), The Happiness Cage, Hyperborean Frost or Epitaph Of Life.
This will be a short / quick one: five-piece Karne (craving for a piece of bloody meat right now too?...), hailing from France (line-up: founding member and vocalist Eingeweide, drummer Bael, guitar players R. and H.K.A., and bassist Hraesvelg), finally release their debut full length, the first official release after the 2012-demo MMXII (extremely original, not?...).
