Ivan Tibos.

For more than two decades, Gravewürm must be one of the most active projects from the American Undergrounds. As from the very early nineties, Mister Funeral Grave did record tens of demos, tens of splits, a handful of EPs and eight full lengths. Infernal Minions is the ninth and those who are trusted with the abyssal and primitive Doom-Black will be pleased again. No, it does not differ that much from the latest efforts, and therefore this album might be ‘another Gravewürm-record’, one of the many.

Polish band Evangelist consists of members who want to remain anonymous. They are a Christian formation with one full length on their roster, In Partibus Infidelium. Doominicanes is the second one, consisting of five tracks that last for about forty five minutes.

Dutch act Swazafix was a band with Theo Loomans in its ranks. He formed this band in 1990 after he left Asphyx (he reformed Asphyx a couple of years later, by the way). Those who are ‘into the Dutch Old School scene’ will remember his name as well from bands like Soulburn, Evoker or Gomorha (back then always active in these bands’ demo years; we’re talking about the end of the eighties!). He died in 1998.

I never hided my passion for Sweden’s Svartsyn (why should I anyway?), and with this seventh full length, I am only more convinced of the superiority of this band. The new stuff was recorded in the Mortsella Studio and mixed and mastered in Clintworks Studio with Dennis Israel, whom you might know from his assistance with bands like Katatonia, Void Of Silence, Opeth, Paradise Lost or Amon Amarth.

Pretty young band Simulacro (formed in 2009), with members of e.g. Cold Empire, Ancient Skin and Vultur, and hailing from the isle of Sardinia, Italy, debut with Fall Of The Last Idol, a couple of years after their self-called demonstrational promo. The album brings almost forty minutes of melodic and rather fast Black Metal, with a certain Swedish-styled approach (i.e.

Accuser (vocals, guitars, bass) started Revelation’s Hammer (named after the Zyklon song?) a couple of years ago as a solo-outlet. After a while, he joined forces with percussionist Myrvoll of Nidingr-fame, who still acts as permanent session drum-monster. Accuser wrote some material, which he, and Myrvoll, started to register on master tape throughout the past years (due to different circumstances, it took quite a while before having the whole finished in its basic form).

Even though they might not be known that much, Ukrainian act Paganland was formed more than fifteen years ago. At the end of last century, the band released a demonstrational record (Gods Of Golden Circle, on tape) and except for some local shows, nothing of importance happened. Eventually Paganland split up, but not officially.

Does Rogga Johansson ever sleep? Or is he a five-piece entity? Five persons in one? For sure he must be one of the most active and creative musicians on Earth.

It took quite a while before Wisconsin-based band Jex Thoth recorded some stuff again. The last thing this band did, was the EP Witness in 2010 (review: Concreteweb’s Archives section, posted on 29/09/2010). However, in mean time Jex Thoth toured the globe, performing on festivals such as Hammer Open Air, Tuska, Doom Shall Rise, Roadburn or Rock Hard. Finally the band found the time to write, and record new material.

Forlorn Path are a young act from New Jersey, formed in 2008 by Yuriy Garnaev, Ray Dib, Alex Fiore and Dave Imbriaco in New Brunswick, NJ, US of A. In 2010, the quartet recorded a first EP, called Being Towards Death, followed in 2012 by a second EP, Intifada.