Blind_Justice
Universe builder
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2012
- Posts
- 3,179
My bi-monthly dose of Deaf Forever magazine just landed and after sifting through a rather slim picking of new releases, I found some stuff to put on my shopping list.
First off there's Alitor from Serbia. They play a blazingly fast and technical blend of speed/thrash metal. Reminds me of the early Megadeth and later Death albums. On top of that, the singer has some decent chops, able to do more than just stupidly bark his lyrics into the ether. Have only heard a few songs so far, but that album "II" will be bought once I have some money left over. It will be the first pure thrash record since Trivium's early works. Might be worth a listen for the other prog-heads too, there's enough time changes and mind-blowing instrumental gymnastics to put on five records on here.
Next up is Communic from Norway. Since the disintegration of Nevermore and the untimely death of Warrel Dane, these guys are among the few people playing progressive power metal I can stomach. The new record, "Hiding From The World" has all their trademarks - excellent use of volume, tempo and aggression levels to get their haunting lyrics across. I didn't realize I missed out on one (2017's "Where Echoes Gather") but I'm happy they pinged back onto my radar. Insta-buy. They have yet to write a bad song.
Scratching my current Epic Metal itch is Possessed Steel from Ontario. Their sound sits squarely in the no-man's land between Manowar, Atlantean Kodex and Doomsword. High fantasy storytelling delivered by a capable singer, accompanied by a well-oiled band. This one has a nice, mystical touch to it, probably caused by the insane amounts of reverb on the vocals. Still, sounds fantastic and is a nice bit of soul food. Nothing world-shattering, nothing remotely innovative, but delivered with passion and skill. Album is called "Aedris" and well worth a listen.
On the other end of the aggression meter sit Demonical from Sweden. Its not like I didn't get my death metal fix last month already, but you can't have enough high-energy brute force anyway. Their latest, "World Domination", picks up where the last one, "Chaos Manifesto" left off. NIcely oscillating between face-melting brutality and raise-your-fist battle hymns Amon Amarth would kill for, this is another feel-good monster.
Next up is Ecclesia from France with their "De Ecclesiae Universalis". This one sounds like something Candlemass could have put out just after "Chapter IV" in the early '90s. Sitting on the fence between Doom and Power Metal and dipping into both genres, it combines the heaviness of Candlemass or Sorcerer with occasional bursts of uptempo. The vocalist has a nice range, going from smoky storyteller to almost James LaBrie-esque screams in the high register. Another concept album, this one goes all in with its Inquisition theme, including liberal use of fat church organs.
Belated mention to the last Dark Tranquility record, "Moment". In contrast to their contemporaries In Flames, DT never forgot their roots. There is unmistakably Swedish Death Metal in their sound, only enhanced with clean vocals (on occasion) and a good helping of crisp, modern electronica. Another difference to the last couple IF records - Mikael Stanne can actually sing. Much like the last Enslaved record, this one is over far too quickly, clocking in at barely 50 minutes.
First off there's Alitor from Serbia. They play a blazingly fast and technical blend of speed/thrash metal. Reminds me of the early Megadeth and later Death albums. On top of that, the singer has some decent chops, able to do more than just stupidly bark his lyrics into the ether. Have only heard a few songs so far, but that album "II" will be bought once I have some money left over. It will be the first pure thrash record since Trivium's early works. Might be worth a listen for the other prog-heads too, there's enough time changes and mind-blowing instrumental gymnastics to put on five records on here.
Next up is Communic from Norway. Since the disintegration of Nevermore and the untimely death of Warrel Dane, these guys are among the few people playing progressive power metal I can stomach. The new record, "Hiding From The World" has all their trademarks - excellent use of volume, tempo and aggression levels to get their haunting lyrics across. I didn't realize I missed out on one (2017's "Where Echoes Gather") but I'm happy they pinged back onto my radar. Insta-buy. They have yet to write a bad song.
Scratching my current Epic Metal itch is Possessed Steel from Ontario. Their sound sits squarely in the no-man's land between Manowar, Atlantean Kodex and Doomsword. High fantasy storytelling delivered by a capable singer, accompanied by a well-oiled band. This one has a nice, mystical touch to it, probably caused by the insane amounts of reverb on the vocals. Still, sounds fantastic and is a nice bit of soul food. Nothing world-shattering, nothing remotely innovative, but delivered with passion and skill. Album is called "Aedris" and well worth a listen.
On the other end of the aggression meter sit Demonical from Sweden. Its not like I didn't get my death metal fix last month already, but you can't have enough high-energy brute force anyway. Their latest, "World Domination", picks up where the last one, "Chaos Manifesto" left off. NIcely oscillating between face-melting brutality and raise-your-fist battle hymns Amon Amarth would kill for, this is another feel-good monster.
Next up is Ecclesia from France with their "De Ecclesiae Universalis". This one sounds like something Candlemass could have put out just after "Chapter IV" in the early '90s. Sitting on the fence between Doom and Power Metal and dipping into both genres, it combines the heaviness of Candlemass or Sorcerer with occasional bursts of uptempo. The vocalist has a nice range, going from smoky storyteller to almost James LaBrie-esque screams in the high register. Another concept album, this one goes all in with its Inquisition theme, including liberal use of fat church organs.
Belated mention to the last Dark Tranquility record, "Moment". In contrast to their contemporaries In Flames, DT never forgot their roots. There is unmistakably Swedish Death Metal in their sound, only enhanced with clean vocals (on occasion) and a good helping of crisp, modern electronica. Another difference to the last couple IF records - Mikael Stanne can actually sing. Much like the last Enslaved record, this one is over far too quickly, clocking in at barely 50 minutes.
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