Norwegian act Extol return after a long period of relative silence. The band was formed during the first half of the nineties, and throughout the years, they recorded a couple of EP’s (1999’s Mesmerized and 2001’s Paralysis) and four full lengths: Burial (1998), Undeceived (2000), Synergy (2003) and The Blueprint Dives (2005). The latter, by the way, was nominated in Norway for a Grammy Award.
The name should already point into the right direction. Normally I'm not responsible for writing black metal reviews because I'm not the biggest fan of this music and that’s an understatement. But From The Vastland from Iran certainly can claim to be very different from other bands in that genre.
Once formed as a temporary side-project, Blake ‘Azentrius’ Judd’s Hate Meditation was supposed to be a tribute outlet to bands like Blasphemy, Von, Profanatica and Beherit. There was a three-track demo in the first half of last decennium, but then things went silent.
With crushing album after crushing album, somehow multi instrumentalist Munkeby and his blackjazz legion of lethal musicians demand of themselves to kick it up several notches every time they come near a studio.
Norway has always been one of my elected countries when it comes to so-called Nordic-styled Black Metal, of course, yet also when talking about whipping, possessing Traditional Folk Music. I’m not only referring to, for example, some of the project done by Black Metal artists (like Darkthrone, Satyricon, Windir with a couple of folkish side-projects), even though, when introducing this band, I have to refer to the Norwegian Black Metal scene as well.
Steak Number Eight are a band who are comfortable with the style they produce which always makes for a solid and worthy listen and their new release is no exception
Hailing from France, Hacride is another entry into the alternative metal field. Hacride take sheer musical force and commanding vocals to new heights. Intricate guitar work collides with masterful tempo changes, the rhythmic patterns are furious yet inventive in their splendour. Luiss Roux’ vocals are an additional strongpoint as they fit in with their sound perfectly, but hopefully he will restrain his singing a little bit, less is more.
I have to admit that although the name Vreid was familiar to me, I have never even heard one song from this Norwegian black metal band and thus Welcome Farewell is my first venture into their world.
Since the band released their former effort (Grand Feast For Vultures) in 2009, and because three of the members started another band / project (Mongo Ninja) around that time as well, I thought Blood Tsunami were no more. But praise the Gods of Trash! Blood Tsunami are back! This time, the band comes with a new bass player (a guitar player from Sweden, Carl Janfalk) and a new label they signed with (Indie), but that is not the most important difference with the past.
Altaar is the project of Andreas Tylden (guitar,vocals), but along the way Andreas has picked up Sven Ove Toft (guitar, organ) Espen T Hangard (guitar, synths), Didrik Telle (bass) and Kenneth Lamond (drums).
