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.
Arktau Eos are a Finnish project, formed by A.I.H. and A.I.L. (Anti Haapapuro and Antti Litmanen). They do not consider themselves as ‘artists’, but through Arktau Eos they try to express… Well, actually, I don’t know… Their music stands for an aural experience, a sonic state of trance with a psychedelic undertone.
Arktau Eos are a Finnish project, formed by A.I.H. and A.I.L. (respectively Anti Haapapuro of Halo Manash / Aeoga / I.Corax-fame (when it comes to same-minded material), and involved with several (Black) Metal bands, and Antti Litmanen, known from Babylon Whores).
Somewhere in 2011, when Death Metal act Bloody Sign from France went on hiatus, two members, the Uibo-brothers Kalevi and Ilmar (originating from Finland, if I’m not mistaken), decided to form a new band (both of them were / are active in several other bands and projects as well, like Chaos Echoes Duo Experience, which can be considered the creepy Apocalypse-Death-Ambient side-project of Chaos Echoes - FYI).
The French horde Destinity celebrated its fifteenth anniversary last year, entre outre with the preparation of album # 8, Resolve In Crimson. This record was recorded again with Jacob Hansen (!) and it features guest vocals by Stéphane Buriez, whom you might know from another great French Extreme Metal act, Loudblast.
Resolve In Crimson (42:40) goes on in the vein of the last album, XI Reasons To See, with nothing less, yet nothing more either (at all, unfortunately), to add.
