CD

Although I’d heard of this band before, it’s the first time I actually listened to one of their albums.

Seether is a South African post-grunge/alternative metal band founded in 1999 in a city Pretoria. Originally was it formed under the name "Saron Gas" en renamed in 2002. In 2002 the group gained some popularity with the single "Fine Again" and in 2004 with "Broken". Current members are Shaun Morgan (lead vocals, rythm guitar, lead guitar), Dale Steward (bass, acoustic guitar ans backing vocals), John Humphrey (drums) and Bryan Wickmann (lead guitar, backing vocals).

This year, Immortal Frost will release two splits with Sarkrista involved. In a couple of months (probably towards the end of 2014) there will be one with Forbidden Eye and Sacrificium Carmen, but first we have the mini-album with Unhuman Disease, one of the many projects by Nocturnus Dominus. That’s the same guy, by the way, who’s involved with Forbidden Eye (the band that will appear on the upcoming split I just mentioned).

Nightmare are a French band, that have been plodding the metal scene since some 35 years or so, with a break between 1987 and 1999..

In Scandinavia, this second album from Swedish singer/songwriter Jay Smith was already released at the end of 2013, June saw the release for Europe. However pure hard rock/metal lovers should be warned. The music on this album is not hard rock, nor is it metal.  No, it’s a combination of many different rock genres, with some pop, country and blues thrown in as well, but culminating in a very good, pleasing album.

Embrace Of Disharmony are a new Italian progressive metal band, hailing from the Rome region.  They are fronted by Gloria Zanotti, who sings the main vocals, whereas Matteo Salvarezza plays the guitars, and does the harsher vocal parts. So far they had only released a demo and an EP.

Crystal Eyes was formed in 1992 In Sweden by Mikael Dahl and Niclas Karlsson to keep the legacy of heavy metal set in the 80's by Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Accept etc. Current members are: Mikael Dahl - Vocals, Guitar / Niclas Karlsson – Guitar / Claes Wikander – Bass / Martin Tilander – Drums.

California Breed is a new band, consisting of two old timers – so to say – in the persons of Glenn Hughes and Jason Bonham, both formerly busy in Black Country Communion and newby Andrew Watt, a singer-guitarist.

This album is in the vein of the latest one, meaning no more (Black) metal anymore, yet another Ambient-laden recording; what was going on? Is our dear Count sentenced to prison once again, or didn’t he want to caress his guitar strings anymore? I do not know, I have no idea, but just like last year’s Sôl Austan, Mâni Vestan, The Ways Of Yore is rather comparable to albums like Daudi Baldrs or Hlidskjàlf- though there are differences for sure as well.

This release is a compilation of material written and composed by Ross ‘Korihor’ Major, who’s active in Murk Rider as well, and formerly in Folivore and the defunct Black-duo Lurid. MMXI - MMXII consists of five hymns, lasting in between seven and thirteen minutes. Most tracks are taken from hard-to-get splits (with the likes of Nattferd or Korium, a.o.