American Black Metal band HELLISH TORMENT has released
their new self-titled album, which was recorded, mixed, and mastered by CJ
Gardineer at Red Wolf Michigan Studios. Formed in 2016 in Grand Rapids,
Michigan, the band consists of Tom "The Soulbutcher" Gillis
(vocals/guitars), Patrick "Dragginballs" McCarty (guitars), and Mike
"Evil" Oehmen (drums). They debuted with the demo "Unholy Isolation"
in 2020 and have since been performing live in Michigan.
Marta Gabriel, band leader of CRYSTAL VIPER, describes
their new single "The Silver Key" as one of the most epic tracks on
their latest album, drawing inspiration from metal legends like Ronnie James
Dio, Tony Martin-era BLACK SABBATH, and MANOWAR. The song’s video features
studio footage and clips from their performances at the Full Metal Cruise
festival. The album's lyrics are inspired by H.P. Lovecraft, continuing themes
from their 2021 release "The Cult." Although initially titled “The
Cult II,” "The Silver Key" stands out with its unique identity, being
heavier, faster, darker, yet more melodic and epic than previous works. The
band has shifted fully to pure Heavy Metal, paying homage to classic acts like
IRON MAIDEN and JUDAS PRIEST while incorporating elements from various metal
subgenres. Produced and mastered by Bart Gabriel and recorded by Rafal
Kossakowski, the album features cover art by Guatemalan artist Mario Lopez.
Despite the "female-fronted" label, CRYSTAL VIPER remains true to
their serious, traditional Metal roots.
The track is taken from the band’s new album "The
Awakening" that is released on March 8, 2024 as Digipack CD, Curacao
Transparent Vinyl limited to 300 copies worldwide and digital
streaming/download format.
Norwegian Black Metal band NORTHERN KRIG has released
their debut album, "Concept Of A Suicidal Journey," on Rat Covenant
Records. The album was recorded and mixed at Icelandic Fire Records by Erik
Lund and mastered at Totenklang Studios. Northern Krig was formed in Oslo,
Norway, in 2021 by former members of Skyrsdag: Morfran (vocals), Erik Lund
(guitars), Mikkel Stein (bass), and Jonar Gunnarson (drums). Their
debut demo EP, "Myrk Blóðfórn," was released in 2022.
German symphonic metal band ELVELLON has announced
their new single, "The Aftermath Of Life," from their upcoming album
*Ascending in Synergy*, set for release on May 17, 2024. Accompanied by an
official music video, this single promises an immersive auditory experience.
ELVELLON, praised as “heroes of tomorrow” by Metal Hammer Germany, previously
garnered acclaim with their 2018 album *Until Dawn*. Their track "Born
From Hope" achieved over 1.3 million views and 2.5 million streams. Since
their formation in 2010, ELVELLON has performed at notable festivals such as
RockHarz Festival, M’era Luna, and Rock Fest Barcelona. "The Aftermath Of
Life" blends heavy guitar riffs, dark keyboard sounds, and catchy
choruses, exploring themes of aging and making peace with life's inevitable
decay. Pre-orders
for the album are now available.
ROTTING
CHRIST, The Heretics (2019)
Season of Mist
Αιρετικός δίσκος.
Η
ναυαρχίδα στο στολίσκο της ελληνικής σκηνής, ειδικότερα της Extreme Metal πλευράς, στο τελευταίο κατά κυκλοφορία
άλμπουμ μέχρι στιγμής (έρχεται το επόμενο φέτος, σε μερικές βδομάδες!) βρίσκει το συγκρότημα
να συνεχίζει στο πιο mainstream
metal
μονοπάτι που έχει χαράξει τη τελευταία δεκαετία. Όχι το συγκεκριμένο άλμπουμ
δεν διεκδικεί δάφνες της πάλαι ποτέ Mediterranean Black Metal ομάδας στην οποία ξεκίνησε η ιστορία
τους το '89. Μιλάμε για μοντέρνο Metal με
σκοτεινό υπόβαθρο αλλά σίγουρα πολύ πιο εύπεπτο και κλασικότροπο
κιθαριστικά περιεχόμενο περισσότερο
ακόμη κι απ' τη δεύτερη εποχή τους μετά το 2001! Το μόνο που θυμίζει το μαύρο
παρελθόν του σχήματος του Σάκη Τόλη (κιθάρα κι φωνή) είναι το αρχικό λογότυπο
της μπάντας που έκανε διακοπή στη χρήση του μόνο τρία χρόνια (τα πιο "Gorh" άλμπουμ τους A Dead Poem 1997 , Sleep of the Angels 1999 και Khronos 2000 δεν το φέρουν στο
εξώφυλλο) και που θυμίζει το ακραίο παρελθόν τους απομένει. Μας χαλάει αυτό; Αν
ναι κρίμα. Αν όχι εδώ έχουμε έναν δίσκο που που ακόμη μία φορά μας δείχνει τί
μπορεί να κάνει αυτό το γκρουπ βετεράνων της χώρας μας. In the Name of God , Ветры злые (άνεμοι του κακού στα ρωσικά!), Heaven and Hell and Fire, Hallowed Be Thy Name (όχι δεν είναι διασκευή στους Maiden), Dies Irae, Πιστεύω (για όσους λένε ότι δεν έχουμε
στοιχεία απ' τη γλώσσα μας στιχουργικά), Fire God And Fear, The Voice of the Universe, The New Messiah The Raven είναι οι τίτλοι των κομματιών.
English
Text:
Heretical disc.
The flagship of the Greek scene's fleet, particularly
the Extreme Metal side, in its latest album release so far (the next one is
coming next year, in a few weeks!) finds the band continuing on the more
mainstream metal path they have carved over the last decade. No, this specific
album does not claim the laurels of the once Mediterranean Black Metal group in
which their history began in '89. We are talking about modern Metal with a dark
background but certainly much more digestible and classically-influenced guitar
content, even more so than their second era after 2001! The only thing that
reminds us of the black past of Sakis Tolis' (guitar and vocals) band is the
original logo of the band, which was only discontinued for three years (their
more "Goth" albums A Dead Poem 1997, Sleep of the Angels 1999, and
Khronos 2000 do not feature it on the cover) and which recalls their extreme
past. Does this bother us? If yes, that's a shame. If not, here we have a
record that once again shows us what this group of veterans from our country
can do. "In the Name of God," "Ветры злые" (Winds of Evil
in Russian!), "Heaven and Hell and Fire," "Hallowed Be Thy
Name" (no, it's not a Maiden cover), "Dies Irae,"
"Πιστεύω" (for those who say we don't have elements of our language
in the lyrics), "Fire God and Fear," "The Voice of the
Universe," "The New Messiah," "The Raven" are the
track titles.
Τάκης "Ε-Μortal One" Γιώτης
RISING
FAITH – The Arrival
Limb Music
What I love about the power metal sound is its ability
to seamlessly integrate various musical elements from other rock and metal
genres without ever losing its intrinsic sense of melody. This unique quality
allows power metal to offer a rich variety of listening experiences and evoke a
wide range of emotions. Personally, it is the genre I hold dearest, alongside
classic heavy metal.
One band that particularly exemplifies these qualities
is the Swedish group RISING FAITH. Formed in 1998, they had a brief but
impactful career, releasing a demo titled "Demo 99," an EP called
"Imagination" in 2000, and their debut album "The Arrival"
in 2003.
It's this debut album, "The Arrival," that I
want to highlight. From the moment I first heard it several years ago, it has
consistently left me with the same uplifting impressions. Despite their Swedish
origins, RISING FAITH is not the typical melodic power metal band we often
associate with that country (not that there's anything wrong with that). From
the opening notes of the album, it's clear that their music is a distinctive
blend, featuring strong thrash and speed metal elements reminiscent of early
METALLICA and ANNIHILATOR. The track "Rage," for example, includes
passages that strongly evoke these Canadian thrash legends.
Moreover, RISING FAITH doesn't shy away from classic
metal influences. The track "Imaginations" showcases this perfectly,
with influences from ACCEPT that are unmistakably clear, and its melodic hooks
are irresistibly catchy. This album beautifully enriches the European power
metal sound with thrash and heavy metal in a harmonious, creative, and
imaginative manner. If HELSTAR and SAVAGE GRACE were Europeans, they might
sound something like this. Additionally, the album reminds me of early works by
MANTICORA.
Overall, "The Arrival" is a work
characterized by its distinctive personality and inspiration. Crafted with
passion, dedication, and a deep love for the genre it represents, it’s a true
gem. It's genuinely a shame that RISING FAITH didn't continue their journey, as
their music had so much to offer.
Νικόλαος
Παραστατίδης
