Official Swirl "Rise Up" video (feat. scenes from 'Ditch Day' movie)

MAGHI DI OZZY – Ho Perso L Eden Review

MAGHI DI OZZY – Ho Perso L Eden

Independent

Facebook

Yep, the name of the band is intriguing, but they have nothing to do with the singer of BLACK SABBATH. They are probably influenced by the tale of wizard of oz. Their name I think is something like the magicians of ozzy and their album in English is titled “I have lost Eden”.

EPICA - The Holographic Principle Review

EPICA - The Holographic Principle

Nuclear Blast Records

Homepage

My first impression: generic. After listening to it a few more times I'd say that it's actually a step up from "The Quantum Enigma". It's more thrash oriented guitar work alongside Simone's beautiful voice and her symphonic liking of the orchestrated staff on-board. I like the fact that this one is heavier than its predecessor. The more guitar mixed with it makes them seem like their most thrash/symphonic/power metal. The leads on here again are wicked!! I like how they've seemed to balance everything on here. You get the best of all worlds in EPICA's songwriting. I never took a peak at their lyrics I'd have to say that the music is what's drawn me more towards this band. The fact that Simone seems to sing on here more makes it even better to listen to than just orchestration galore.

Ο ΜΕΓΑΣ ΘΕΟΣ ΠΑΝ

Το βιβλίο αυτό είναι μια συλλογή διηγημάτων του συγγραφέα Άρθουρ Μάχεν. Συγκεκριμένα συμπεριλαμβάνει τα διηγήματα: "Ο ΜΕΓΑΣ ΘΕΟΣ ΠΑΝ", "Η ΛΑΜΠΕΡΗ ΠΥΡΑΜΙΔΑ", "ΟΙ ΤΟΞΟΤΕΣ", "Η ΝΟΥΒΕΛΑ ΤΗΣ ΑΣΠΡΗΣ ΣΚΟΝΗΣ", "ΤΑ ΧΑΡΟΥΜΕΝΑ ΠΑΙΔΙΑ", "ΑΠΟ ΤΑ ΒΑΘΗ ΤΩΝ ΑΙΩΝΩΝ" και "ΤΑ ΠΑΙΔΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΝΕΡΟΛΑΚΚΟΥ".

Αυτό που χαρακτηρίζει το έργο του Μάχεν είναι η αγάπη του για την πατρίδα του και την παράδοσή της (Ουαλία, Αγγλία), αλλά προσδίδει σε αυτήν κάτι το μυστηριακό και σκοτεινό. Επίσης, κάτι που συναντάμε και στον Λάβκραφτ, είναι ο τρόπος που χρησιμοποιεί το φυσικό περιβάλλον και κατ' επέκταση το σύμπαν σε σχέση με τον άνθρωπο. Το παρουσιάζει, δηλαδή, ως μια δύναμη ή κατάσταση που ο άνθρωπος δεν μπορεί να κατανοήσει και να εξηγήσει πλήρως, αλλά αν το τολμήσει, τότε θα πληρώσει μεγάλο τίμημα. Χαρακτηριστικό παράδειγμα αυτών που περιγράφω είναι τα διηγήματα "Ο ΜΕΓΑΣ ΘΕΟΣ ΠΑΝ" λαι στο "Η ΝΟΥΒΕΛΑ ΤΗΣ ΑΣΠΡΗΣ ΣΚΟΝΗΣ" που μου έκαναν και τη μεγαλύτερη εντύπωση.

Ίσως κάποιοι που έχουν συνηθίσει στη σύγχρονη λογοτεχνία φαντασίας και τρόμου, θεωρήσουν τα διηγήματα αυτά παρωχημένα, αλλά αν δούνε στην ουσία τους θα αντιληφθούν ότι είναι ακόμη επίκαιρα. Χαρακτηριστικά να αναφέρω το δίηγημα "ΑΠΟ ΤΑ ΒΑΘΗ ΤΩΝ ΑΙΩΝΩΝ" που μεταξύ άλλων διαπραγματεύεται και τις διαστάσεις τερατολογίας που μπορεί να πάρει μια ανυπόστατη φήμη (το βιώνουμε συχνά με τα μέσα κοινωνικής δικτύωσης του διαδικτύου).

Κλείνοντας θα έλεγα ότι το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο ήταν ένα εξαιρετικό ανάγνωσμα για εμένα κι επίσης με έκανε να συνειδητοποιήσω το πόσο επιδραστικός είναι ο Άρθουρ Μάχεν σε όλη τη λογοτεχνία, αλλά και τον κινηματογράφου του φανταστικού - τρόμου, ακόμη κι αν δεν απολαμβάνει την ίδια φήμη με άλλους συγγραφείς αυτού του είδους.

CRIMSON SLAUGHTER - Cycle of Decay Review

CRIMSON SLAUGHTER - Cycle of Decay

Independent

Bandcamp

CRIMSON SLAUGHTER comes from Spain, Madrid and contains four heavy talented thrashers.

“Cycle of Decay” is an album with 10 songs of old school thrash metal with super production, fast guitar rhythms, intense vocals and a machine gun rhythm section.

CELLADOR - Off the Grid Review

CELLADOR - Off the Grid

Scarlet Records

Homepage

The first time that I learned about CELLADOR was in a review of their debut album which was released by Metal Blade Records and was entitled “Enter Deception”. I remember that the review was not very positive, because its writer considered the band as another DRAGONFORCE clone.  Sometime later I saw on YouTube the videoclip for the song “Leaving all Behind” which I liked and this made me search more about the band and finally I purchased their debut CD. As for the similarities of CELLADOR with DRAGONFORCE I think it is just their common influences from the German power metal scene.

OPETH - Still Life Review

OPETH - Still Life

Peaceville Records

Homepage

Well when they were still good… This is a sad reality when a change towards the virtual mainstream is just to make money. But I think that with this release their focus was this kind of progressive sort of style which fluctuates between soft melodies to much more deathly ones. The old OPETH (meaning before the fall) delved into things that they were notorious for: progressive metal fluidity never knowing what to expect from this album. It has a conglomeration of mood-swings musically and stays with this for the whole album. Acoustic guitar, clean vocals, heavy guitar, hoarse vocals. That's what I mean by the "mood-swings" here. But this was a staple OPETH displayed for years till they lost heart. Every song on here you don't really know what to expect, heavy or clean? That's the magic about it.

FABULOUS DESASTER - Hang’ Em High Review

FABULOUS DESASTER - Hang’ Em High

Independent

Homepage

FABULOUS DESASTER is a 4 piece band from Germany. This is a ten song full album release and the secret of this band is in the strength and simplicity of their compositions.

VENDETTA – The 5th Review

VENDETTA – The 5^th

Massacre Records

Homepage

VENDETTA is a thrash metal band from the 80’s. They had released their debut album “Go and Live ... Stay and Die” and “Brain Damage” through Noise Records. These two albums which I have on vinyl are highly appreciated by the fans of the 80’s German thrash metal sound. After the 80’s the band hadn’t released anything until 2003 that a demo appeared. After that they have released a compilation and two full length albums in 2007 and 2011 which I haven’t listened to. So, I was really surprised positively that VENDETTA have their new full length album which is their fifth in their career (as the title mentions too) and I was really anxious to listen to it.

NAPALM DEATH - Enemy of the Music Business Review

NAPALM DEATH - Enemy of the Music Business

Dream Catcher Records

Homepage

Totally uncompromising. This album is brilliant, yet quite heavy as hell. The riffs are unique Jesse (RIP) on the second guitar just rips. And Mitch's screaming backup vocals makes the album even more intense. They put forward what they wanted which was just an annihilation musically going back to their roots, yet more death metal oriented than grindcore. But still simply awesome. The musicianship is never to the level of "Harmony Corruption", but still they're kicking ass on this one, no doubt they're hitting no holds barred here.

E.Z.RIDERS- Wishing Well Review

E.Z.RIDERS- Wishing Well

Independent

Homepage

E.Z.RIDERS is a nice Italian southern rock/hard rock band blending in the blues as well. By mixing young talented musicians along with veteran artists on blues rock we get a fabulous release for all the fans of this genre.

ADRIAN WEISS - Criminal Record Review

ADRIAN WEISS - Criminal Record

Independent

Bandcamp

Adrian Weiss is a very talented guitarist and the first time I came in touch with his work was through the band GLORYFUL who I believe that have much to offer in the heavy/power metal genre. It seems though that Adrian’s creative ambitions are not satisfied only through the music of GLORYFUL. He is an artist that constantly searches for new creative challenges and different ways to express himself. This is how the third album under the title “Criminal Record” was created.

HORIZON OF THE MUTE – Horizon of the Mute Review

HORIZON OF THE MUTE – Horizon of the Mute

Independent

Facebook

HORIZON OF THE MUTE is a newcoming band from Finland created only a couple of years ago and having already released this EP I’m presenting to you plus a while later a full length debut album titled “Trobar Clus”. Finland is an important chapter in the heavy metal music mainly dominating the extreme and melodic power metal genres. However, if you are expecting HORIZON OF THE MUTE to be following the well trodden paths already paved by their co-patriots then you are in for a surprise. You see using their name as an indicator you already understand we have something different here.

AFTER DUSK - The Devil Got His Soul Review

AFTER DUSK - The Devil Got His Soul

Independent

Homepage

There is a question that often rises in our heads or in a chat amongst friends, why we don’t listen to songs or even bands that can make us stick with them for a long time. In my opinion the reasons for this are: 1) the overproduction of metal albums in our days which makes it impossible for someone to listen to them all, 2) even when a band manages to achieve something they are pressed by labels and fans to release another album very soon (which is impossible, because the real good ideas need time) and 3) we are living in an era that is cool to copy the glorious 80’s even if that means lack of personality. Is there any hope against these odds? Yes, there is and I believe that AFTER DUSK are on the right path.

EXILED ON EARTH-Forces of Denial Review

EXILED ON EARTH-Forces of Denial

Punishment 18 Records

Facebook

EXILED ON EARTH is a four member heavy metal band from Italy and “Forces of Denial” is a magnificent album with 8 songs of US style 90s power metal with a few thrash metal elements.

CHRONOSPHERE - Before It's Gone (TOUR VIDEO)