Season Of Mist

The American band Solace Of Requiem aren’t a traditional band, nor easily comparable to one or another sub-genre whatsoever. In 2004 they released their self-called debut album, which brought very dense and old schooled Doom-Death Metal. The second one, Utopia Reborn (2006), was quite different, for adding somewhat classic Death Metal with lots of progressive elements. Then the band underwent some internal struggles, so it took quite some time before they were able to return with another album.

Shortly after the release of the fantastic Atrum Tempestas-album Néant (see update November 10^th 2014), very young Portuguese label Nordavind Records release Solace, the second full length of Norway’s Vinterbris. The band was formed in 2008 in the city of Bergen, and there were an EP and a self-titled debut full length before. This sophomore full recording deals with man’s struggle called Life, and its place in history and within Nature.

Sometimes I am ashamed (yes, even in my case it might occur) - I just mean that, apparently, Atrum Tempestas recorded and released an EP before, 2012’s Ne Deus Crede, and I was not aware of it… [weep weep weep and shame shame shame]. That’s a pity, and I will certainly search for that material, especially after having experienced this first full length, Néant (which actually is French for ‘denying’).

Short introduction: Deep In Hate hail from France; two albums before: Only The Strong Survive and Origins Of Inequality (resp. in 2007 and 2011). The quintet (now with drummer Nicolas Bastos, whom you might know from his co-operation with Aborted) return with a nine-tracker that lasts for thirty five minutes.

Two years ago I reviewed a split called Triunity with bands / projects from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus (via Casus Belli Musica), but that has nothing to do with this split-release, which is a French co-operation.

Ad Patres are a French combo that recently signed to Grind / Death label Kaotoxin. As a first result of this collaboration, there will be a re-issue of Scorn Aesthetics. Scorn Aesthetics is an album originally released in 2012 on CD, and it will be available right now on vinyl (limited to 500 copies only, amongst which half of them on red vinyl) and on cassette (limited to 100 copies), albeit remastered.

It is not because I am chauvinistic, but normally we consider the U.S., Sweden and Germany as the most important countries when it comes to Death Metal. I think the Lowlands, i.e. Belgium and (especially) the Netherlands, are at least as influential for the worldwide scene. It was the case in the earliest years, and it has not changed.

Spectral Lore are a Greek one-man project, formed in 2005 by Ayloss, whom you might recognise as well from Divine Element or his assistance for Warbled Arma. He created and released several recordings under this moniker, including I and II (how original), as well as some splits (amongst which one with Locust Leaves, and via the current label, the mighty I, Voidhanger Records, one with Mare Cognitum).

Revelation is the first full length studio album by Malhkebre, despite about twelve years of existence. In the past there was a very limited demo-cassette, an EP (Prostration) and a split-EP (with Aosoth), and that’s it. At the other hand, the band built up a fine live reputation, having shared the stages with the likes of Hell Militia, Antaeus, Ofermod, Embrace Of Thorns, Deströyer 666 etc.

Lorn are an Italian band that were formed more than a decade ago. They released an album in 2006 (Towards The Abyss Of Disease via Eerie Art Records) and some really splendid splits (!!!). The trio recently signed to one of my actual favourite labels, I, Voidhanger Records, in order to release the second full studio record, called Subconscious Metamorphosis, an album with a total running time of an hour.