California-based band Vile was formed in 1996 and throughout the years, they offered us more than just a couple of decent recordings. Especially Listenable Records were so kind to please us with Vile’s sweet harmonies, and in 2011 Vile released the long-awaited comeback album Metamorphosis (via Willowtip), which was slightly different from the past.
More than three years after Purulence (The Ajna Offensive), Greek Old School metallers Acrimonious return with their Agonia-debut Sunyata, which lasts for fifty five minutes. This newest studio effort was recorded, mixed and mastered at Sitra Ahra and Unreal Studio, under the professional assistance of Necromorbus Studio.
The history of Gloria Morti takes a start at the end of the nineties in Heinola, Finland. The quartet (back then Gloria Morti were a four-members collection) records several demo tapes and a strong promo-MCD, called Phoenix Caged In Flesh, which marked an evolution from intense and obscure Thrash Metal into a darker and much more brutal form of Death / Black Metal.
The Outside is the second album by Hungarian Black Metal duo Kolp (Jim Jones and Knot), released through Temple Of Torturous (together with Melencolia Estatica’s Hel; the review about the latter can be found on this review’s section as well).
London, UK-based band The Devil debut with a nameless, self-produced album, which I’ve seen being compared to Swedish Ghost. For a modest part I can understand why (like the masked identities), for another modest part I do not fully agree. Main reason: The Devil are less mainstream and much more obscure in theme, while The Ghost appear as a Metal-circus with an image prevailing on content.
Troubled Horse are located in Orebro, Sweden, a city that brings us other Heavy Rock acts like Graveyard or Witchcraft. As a matter of fact, throughout their existence, and still at this very same moment, Troubled Horse do / did feature some (former) Witchcraft-members. But the musical approach of both bands differs in a couple of aspects.
Veér are, as a matter of fact, the continuation of Hungarian act Ravenshades, and consists of (former or current) members of e.g. Witchcraft, Kolp, Koprofaagia, Vortex and Sanguis In Nocte. Within the recent Concreteweb-update, you can check out the reviews on the new recordings by both Kolp and Witchcraft, by the way.
Melencolia Estatica are a one-woman project from Italy, created and elaborated by Climaxia. Hel is the third release under the name of Melencolia Estatica, released through Temple Of Torturous. The very same label also released the new Kolp-album, The Outside, on November 12th; for the review: see elsewhere within this review section.
Process are a Danish act that did work for more than three years on their debut album, Through Acknowledgement Only; main reason: line-up issues (especially in finding a suitable drummer). They did work with renowned producer Jacob Hansen (think: Destinity, Submission, Yyrkoon, Xerath, Aborted etc.) to create a technical approach of modern Extreme Metal.
Hungary is one of my preferred countries when it comes to so-called ‘Underground’ Black Metal, with Witchcraft as one of my favourite acts. Throughout the years, many known names from the Hungarian scene joined the band as session or (temporary) permanent member.
