I think one of my first acquaintances with Lower Silesian Stronghold must have been when I bought Nekriki Mistagogia, a mini-CD by Greek project Aasgard. Shortly after that release, frontman Aethyr started working on what would become the second full length, being Morbid Celestial Desecration. The material was eventually released on vinyl in 2012 via Unmerciful Death Productions.
It was a sad thing to notice that Psychomanteum broke up a while ago (even though they only short-lived), but it’s a pleasure to see that half of that act, i.e. Robert C. Kozletsky, decided to start an own outfit, called Apócrýphos within pretty much the very same vein. With The Prisoners Cinema, he debuts via mighty Cyclic Law, and it won’t disappoint the fans of Psychomanteum; that’s a promise!
This will be a quick one, this review. Tyrania are an act from Ukraine that brings so-called ‘Sympho Gothic Metal’. And that’s correct. But you have quite a large scene, so the question is: where will Tyrania be placed?
This is the first studio album from the Neal Morse Band since 2012, which does not mean Mr. Morse hadn’t been busy in the mean time, because he’s released an album with Transatlantic, an album with Flying colours and also his own album ‘Songs From November’.
And what does this prog master have I petto for us on this album ? Well, to sum it up, only five songs, although it must be said one of the songs is over 26 minutes long, It also contains the ubiquitous ballad, and two short, heavier songs.
After some years of relative silence, Vologda, Russia-based band My Darkest Fury return with their second full length album, which was recorded in 2010 and 2011, produced by band vocalist / lyricist Artem and I. Sobolev; mix and mastering were done in between 2012 and 2014 at the Portal Records Studio in My darkest Fury’s home town. Hectic Existence clocks half an hour, and that’s a pity for the quality begs for more; at least if you’re a fan of this kind of un-beauty.
I do remember the sweet Mexican guys from Milicia Oscura from the Ante Christo album especially, which was released in 2013 via one of the most worthy labels nowadays, Satanath Records. I will, by the way, write a review on this album too in a (very near) future, because it’s worth it (ask Satanath’s frontman Aleksey if you do not believe me!). That one might deal (once again) with older stuff, but as a matter of fact, this specific review deals with even older material.
Poland-based Old Temple have a fine-tuned nose for everything that reeks of nastiness. That was one of the reasons to join forces with Embrional a while ago, the latter being a band that was formed more than a decade ago (initially as Embrional Necrophilism, by the way). This act released a first full length in 2012 (Absolutely Anti-Human Behaviors, once again via Old Temple), which received great response all over our metalized globe. Undersigned too was modestly enthusiastic about that effort.
Pretty soon I will come back to the new full length by Dirk Serries - you know, the guy behind acts like (defunct) vidnaObmana, Microphonics, Continuum, The Void Of Expansion, Fear Falls Burning, Streams Of Consciousness and so many more. That album, for your information, is called Unseen Descending And Lamentations and has been released as well via ConSouling Sounds; stay alert!
Last year I got in touch with Krzysztof, the guy behind The True Underground’s Lower Silesian Stronghold-label.
About one decade ago, Nicholas Onfray (think also: Black Moon, Ruined Sanctuary, Horns, The Last Knell etc.) formed the outfit Animus Mortis. He joined forces with vocalist Sid, and as a duo they recorded the demonstrational recording, called Desolate Landscapes.
