…Guaranteed, we’ve never seen the vargan (a.k.a. mouth harp) played so gnarly. Any metaller could easily say “why didn’t we think of that before?” So much for folk metal, bring on the vargan metal! If there’s one good reason own this album, it’s that “Incarnation Memory” pretty much makes it worth it. Contemplation is a fairly good album, but for the most part best as a one-time listen because the dense structure seems to grow weaker every time it…
…and hounds’. The story goes on to tell how his pregnant lover (metaphorically represented as ‘a fallow doe’) comes to his body, tends his wounds and takes him away to be buried; apparently leaving the ravens without a meal. The story is a tale of spirituality that seems to represent how the strength and loyalty of one’s kin can overcome adversity, even in the event of their master/partner dying.” One And All, Together, For Home was assembled by DR…
…think no one was seeing that wasn’t going to happen. We have a festival in Ukraine in July, but it’s in the western part. It’s 1,000 miles from Crimea, and I spoke with the organizer and he told me you don’t see any of that shit in the western part. I think it’s safe to go – Deicide just played there a month ago. Dead Rhetoric: It’s pretty scary considering the history Finland has with Russia. Luttinen: You never know what the fuck is going on in…
…released all year, and with phenomenal musical acumen, these guys absolutely, positively rip! (Check out “Sadness in Summer Rain”) Best newcomer of the year: Caladan Brood / Xanthochroid. No doubt that since my favorite album this year is also their debut, I have to give this distinction to Caladan Brood. But, I also want to give a co-naming to a band that likely missed many a list last year due to their December 2012 release date, and that is Xa…
…rn Crusade. Jason Newsted re-enters the metal fray with Heavy Metal Music. Ukraine’s Munruthel nearly score a perfect ten with CREEDamage. Mike “Gunface” Mackenzie releases his solo album, Stomach Earth. The news in ten 1. Death Angel announces a fall North American tour. 2. Inter Arma makes plans to hit studio less than a year after the release of Sky Burial. 3. Unisonic back to work, this time on album #2. 4. Iced Earth wraps recording for their…
…s an absolutely enjoyable journey of musical depth and weight. It features guest vocals from Arkona’s Masha “Scream” as well as one of best Bathory covers that you’ll hear. This multi-instrumentalist seems, to me, to be painfully unknown or at least, under-reviewed. Not unlike another criminally unknown artist (an Aussie who goes under the name Aquilus), Munruthel deserves to be heard, for he has created something truly special. Munruthel on Bandc…
…VADER’s lead guitarist Marek Pajak recently recorded guitar solos for the new HELL:ON album titled The Hunt. HELL:ON is finishing up the recording of their fourth full length album at T.A. Productions in Kiev, Ukraine, which is slate for release this fall via Ferrum Records. Andy LaRocque, who renowned for his works with heavy metal band KING DIAMOND will also be a special guest on The Hunt….
…snow-covered mountainous glory – aren’t the only black metal band from the Ukraine worth fussing over. Obviously, Khors is the other and if their countrymen weren’t so imposing and majestic, they’d be the first name in Ukrainian black metal. And there’s no real signpost for Khors like Burzum is for Drudkh; rather Khors is their own secular entity and band that should be taken seriously thanks to the strength of their fourth full-length,Wisdom of C…
…ters , thus resisting the temptation to speed things up, which would probably soil this well-plotted land of Gothic BM gravestones. Across the board, Mysticism gets high praise here, as it’s the type of release that ultimately props up black metal and keeps the subgenre fresh and varied. However, don’t mistake this as your dyed-in-the-wool Cradle of Filth “Goth” BM outing – this is darkness, a dish best served cold, Ukrainian-style. www.myspace.co…
