Grot are an extreme act from the British Islands, consisting of Warpath / Cold War vocalist Eoin Broughal, guitarist / bassist John Roche (of Gamma Bomb-fame), and on drums the well-known Kevin Talley - think Hate Eternal, Six Feet Under, Decrepit Birth, Dying Fetus and Misery Index amongst others.
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).
Pretty Maids have been around for some thirty odd years now, I still remember their first album ‘Red, Hot and Heavy’ from way back in 1984, hey, I’ve recently even bought a copy of this album on CD.
And this new opus ‘Motherland’ once again shows what a great band they are. It’s heavy metal that should be revered. The songs are tight, not overcomplicated, but do just what good music should do to you, and that is bringing a smile on your face. The songs are very catchy, and after hearing them once or twice you can almost start to sing along.
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.
