Black Antlers are a pretty young project with members from both the U. S. of A. (Justin Palmieri, the guy behind the superb i AM Esper-project) and Croatia (Robert Bekič, also involved with different solo-outfits). Both guys worked together before, or better, at least they released some split-material for their solo-projects (i AM Esper versus Mental Cage).
Phrenetix are a very young four-piece from Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, formed in 2011 and consisting of (female) guitarist / vocalist Lina, bassist Daumantas, guitar player Tomas, and drummer Jonas.
Belarus is not necessarily the ‘biggest’ country within the Black Metal scene, though there are several pretty interesting acts out there. Despite quite an impressive curriculum vitae, Zaklon, a project by Temnarod (also involved with e.g. Desolate Heaven, Hreswelgr, Pogost, Defunctus Astrum or Unlight Forest), is not that known at all outside the borders of the former U.S.S.R.
It might seem odd, but Black Metal and India, doesn’t it sound like a weird relationship? Indeed it is. I know a couple of (highly interesting) Death Metal acts from out there, but Toxoid, well, they are my first acquaintance with the Indian Black Metal scene. Once again it is, of course, Transcending Obscurity (at least the India-based sub-label) that gives the opportunity to our half of the globe to learn about them. Thanks, Kunal!
Towers Of Flesh are an English band, formed in 2008, and creators of the 2010-album The Perpetual Paradox.
Temple Of Void are a new band from Detroit, Michigan, with e.g. Acid Witch’s Mike in the ranks.
Before introducing this band and their first EP, some words about Symbol Of Domination Productions. This is a Belarussian label initially run by a colleague of Satanath’s label manager Aleksey. The latter did some PR-work for the label. However, earlier this year, his partner decided to stop his activities for this label, so it gets now sort of run by Aleksey. The label released some demonstrational material in the recent past.
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.
There are quite some bands with the moniker Skoll, but this review deals with the young Swedish one. Skoll were formed in 2010 in Sweden’s capital Stockholm. They recorded two demonstrational / rehearsal recordings, twice extremely limited, in the past, and now they come up with Helvetestromb, once again independently released and once again extremely limited (only fifty tapes are made with one single goal: violently torturing our eardrums).
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.
