WIKING1940 - Destruction of Dresden - (Winter Solace Productions 2017 (2018).) - Italy

This is the debut album from this italian band that I wanted to put in focus. A really great black metal band that have members known from bands as Via Dolorosa and Dødskammer. First song is a intro and then comes a written masterpiece "Beasts of The Sea" that got such great atmosphere that I gets shivers on my back, loves this sound. Next track (no3) is another instrumental intro so we head over to track number 4 "Einsatzgruppen" that is, what can I say one more written masterpiece. It is raw. filthy & almost a bit melancholy dark. This is how black metal should sound like without some fancy expenisve studio sound, this is class. Next up "Spear of Destiny", no real comments needed, have same high class and I love the keyboard that you can hear in the distance, perfection meets rawness. Sixth track "Tiger E (Panzerkampfwagen)" is a short one, but is also a masterpiece. Then comes another instrumental part, I can add that these instrumental parts they have on the album suits so good with their tracks. The eight track, the title "Destruction of Dresden" is also damn good, starts up raw and intanse, brutal blackened metal in it´s best configuration I must say. Last track out of 9 is untitled, but is in the same way, raw, filthy, fast and really uncompromising Black Metal. This band is really worth to check out, the album belongs to one of the better debut albums during the last years so not much more is it to say about it, get it and support the underground.

Scores: 9,5 (10) / 10 

http://www.wiking1940.de

https://www.facebook.com/wiking1940Mcmxl/

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LIGATURE WOUND - Undead of The Night - (Iron, Blood & Death Corp 2016.) - Finland

Here is a debut album from a band that comes from Finland that surprised me quite a lot recently. Ligature Wound is a band that have much of the old school death metal sense that was played in the late 80´s and the early 90´s. So if you are into older stuff as Nihilist, Grave (early), Entombed, Hetsheads, Treblinka and Necrophagia this is the band for you. The band have out from this created a very own sound and raw atmosphere that is really something to check up. In one way this album could have almost been released like 20 years ago, but came this year. Best and my own favorite tracks on this one is absolutely the last one "Obsessed with Torture " that really have lots of that true old school feeling. But also "Undead of the Night" that is the first & title track on this album is very raw & brutal. Over all is all songs very well produced here and keeps up a high class the whole album out from start til´the end. Only negative thing to say, a damn too short album.

Scores: 8,5 / 10

https://www.facebook.com/ligaturewound

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BLASPHMACHINE - Salvation - (Dunkelheit Produktionen 2015) - Germany)

Blasphmachine is a three piece black/death metal band coming from Kota Bharu in Malaysia, a quite new band for me, have known about them for a little more than a year. But their music I have heard from them so far have not been any kind of disappoint, they have always delivered raw blasphemic chaos. So my expectations was already given to hear their debut album. And after hearing the first "Temple of Desolation" & the second  track "Malleus, Maleficarumcan" can I only say that the band still sounds exactly as I thought they would do, no soft or modern sounds here just uncompromising extreme metal of it´s best side :) The album got eight tracks and from start til´end this is a blasting filthy hellmachine that got some of the most raw & heavy riffs I have heard in a long time, the vocalist have also an outstanding brutal voice, not much like others (no copycats). Other bands that this maybe reminds of is the very early days of Necrophagia, Autopsy, Nihilist, Grave, Bolt Thrower, but also Black Witchery and Acheron. This band really sounds a lot like older black & death metal, but they also have lots of some energy & tempo from older grindcore bands. All this combined with raw pure evil anger and a gunpowder filled energy package taken directly from the deepest hell burrows makes the final product more than just amazing, this is a band to be reckoned with for a long time. This album got eight raw/brutal & well produced tracks, includes also a cover of "Into Damnation Eternal" of Black Witchery. A track that stands out a bit from the others on this fantastic album is "Leviathan" that also is the longest, album is short as most of the tracks are between 2 and 3 minutes (but this is not profit metal). The first 100 copies of the album comes with a really nice A2 poster also. A highly recommended band & album for all true black/death maniacs!

Scores: 10 / 10 

https://www.facebook.com/blasphmachine

http://blasphmachine.blogspot.com/

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BLACK BLIZZARD - The Art of Evil - (Selreleased + Satanica Productions 2015) - Germany)

This band is from germany and have a very unique and a bit odd dark atmospheric blend of sound between doom, death and black metal. Black Blizzard is also a quite old band in the game and have kept on going since 2004, but as musician in over 20 years. Too sad is that the band is too underestimated and have not got the respectful respond & positive feeback that I think they would get and deserve. This is not a full length, but one hell of a good (and long) ep release from the band that was released in february this year. First track out is "The Art of Evil" (title song) and is absolutely a real killer track that make me think of the early Amorphis, Behemoth and Darkthrone in one, this one I can hear over and over again "damn excellent". Second up "Edge of Death" that is a bit slower, but still got this perfect dark feeling sound in it. Third track "Grave of Slave" starts up good, but does not really have the same energy & sound in it, but is good but a weaker track. Fourth one "Master" delivering some great blackened art in the same position as the first one, this is brilliant! Fifth track of this ep made me think of later Celtic Frost & Triptykon, damn this is great with such a nice sound from the start to the end. Last track "Erased" is just an outro song, but a melodical and dark harmonical one that got the feelings from later Bathory (a bit pagan/folky over it). Over all I can just say about this band that have so far done over nine full lengths and also some ep´s & demos is that if you not have heard or knows anything about this band? You just have to check them out...hmm or him as it is a one man band, Black Blizzard is something to count for. ;)

Scores: 8,5 (9) / 10

www.facebook.com/black.blizzard666

www.black-blizzard.de

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EVIL FORCE - Ancient Spores - (Headbanger Force Productions 2014 - Paraguay)

Here we got the debut album from the thrashers Evil Force from the land of Paraguay. Honestly have I not heard so much of this band before except for an old split with them and an old demo. But this release I really felt I needed to check out for real. And it was not a bad idea at all, hehe. First track that is the title one starts up damn good, melodic, but with a raw thrashy feeling. But second track "Speed metal evil" is one hell of a track that you should not miss, got fast playing riffs that make me think of some bands from late 80´s. Third track is one of my absolute favorites "Unleash your fury". Fourth track is almost same good as the others, but also a instrumental song can be found on this excellent album "The Rise of Enki" that got a really nice solo in it, but is a little slower, melodical. The whole damn album is really good and is really worth to have in your own collection and specially for all those who love the classic old Bay Area thrash sound, but also the newer one that especially latin america stands for the most good and respective bands and names of today. Whole South America got lot of promising bands ;) This is truly a good debut one!!

Scores: 9,5 / 10

www.facebook.com/evilforcepy

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OSSIN - Pyramid Lockdown Universal Keys and Portal of Eternal Prism Portal - (Selfreleased 2014 - Sweden)

The swedish one man band Ossin have been active for many years now. And during the time he have made lots of albums, dvd´s & other productions. And one thing to say for sure is that if you are not afraid of very experimental music (avant-garde) & here I mean "very" special you should really consider of checking out this band. This album is brand new and as the title say is this not some ordinary metal release. First track "Repulse" is probably my own favorite on this CD. Other tracks worth to mention on the album is "White power" and "3166688" that I think is very creepy and truly dark ambient and is almost on the edge of r.a.c rock/industrial and stoner/drone metal. This maybe sounds strange, but I can say that this band is not just a band out of many. Ossin have something very odd in his music & even if it sometime can be a bit discontinuous can´t you never really stop listen as it is so originally. Lyrics can be a bit offensive & radical so you have been warned. Other track I also want to say is a really good one with heavy riffs in it is "Third Reich III". I can also add this! Don´t go after the track titles here as it is not always as it says. Give this very long lived metal band a chance because every release he have made sounds completely different, say how many bands today that does that for real ;)

Scores: 7,5 / 10

https://www.facebook.com/Ossinmetal

http://theossinmetal.tk

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SEHLAH - Ignoring The Cult - (Selfreleased album - 2012 / Panama) 

Here we have a real spit in the face of all that is called religion, have not heard a evil band like this since Deicide entered their throne a long time ago. This is really something out of the rawest that can be brought from hell. Sehlah from Panama had I never heard of before so guess I got nearly smacked down on floor when I heard those guys the first time. First up on this ep/mini album is an intro that warms up for the first track "Ecclesia Luciferis", no words is needed, it is raw and totally insane and the speed limit is taken several times already. Next track the third one is called "In Hell We Trust" that starts up heavy and almost a bit like in the same veins as earlier Cannibal Corpse, Blasfemia, Behemoth to come up with some. It is also very melodic here and there and suits perfect with their raw and hammering sound. Fourth up is "Subconscious Manifesto" that is a smash in the face of god right from the beginning and here it really feels much Deicide sounded combined with earlier bands mentioned + a bit chilean Unblessed and early Bolt Thrower too. Can just say that this band suprises me over and over again with their raw, filthy hammering underground sound that even can make the most hardest band get weaker, hehe. Anyway next up on this masterpiece is "Closure" that I really likes a lot, it has a very cool mixture that sounds a bit of some early thrash and death, Sehlah does it their own way and that they do damn good too. Much nice melodies and a great musical performing from the band members and not to forget their vocalist that must have been found very near the gates of hell. This is just so evil. Last up is an outro that is much like the intro but sets up a good end for this too short album. Last to say if you are into bands like Deicide, Behemoth, Bolt Thrower, Blasfemia and Cannibal Corpse this is the band for you I can guarantee.

Scores: 9,5 / 10

www.myspace.com/sehlahdeathmetal                  www.facebook.com/pages/Sehlah

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NETHERION - Sphere of Terror - (Selfreleased album - 2012 / Syria)

Here we have a real surprise release from Damascus in Syria, Netherion have done some demos earlier, but is nothing that you can compare to this new "Sphere Of Terror" album so here we go now :) First out is an intro track "Into the Decay" that is really a good one with lots of power and with a great rhytm. Second track "Chains Of Slavery" is a real blasting one with a great drumming and it has a perfect combination of both earlier death metal and also some black thrash in it. It reminds me a lot of bands like early Morbid Angel, Melechesh, Mystic Circle, Al-Namrood and Cannibal Corpse. The track has a real nice female vocalist in it too, hmmm wished it maybe have been more of it in the song, but the track is anyway a real heavy and damn good one if not perfect! Third one up "Words Of Perdition" starts up with some heavy riff that is a bit like the one before, but this one is more gore/grind sounded especially when it comes to the vocal parts in it that is so awesome, likes it a lot, really enjoys Netherion´s perfect switches between raw growling death metal and almost screaming vocals like in some black metal. The fourth one called "Mutilate the Ignorance" is not much to say about just that I after hearing so far on the album gets really much vibes from Behemoth, Death & Obituary here and there in the music that makes it so raw and hard. The albums title track "Sphere Of Terror" starts up with great melodies and here like in all the other tracks you can also hear a lot of oriental melodies that together with the raw, hard and fast drumming and the heavy guitars gives a perfect dark atmosphere :) Still I think that the second track is the best, but this one is around the second best one so far. so go to the next one "Breeding Paralysis" that is number six on the album comes out with a slow, short but beautiful melody that goes fast over to their raw fast playing combined with hard knocking grunts and screaming that makes it so brilliant. A perfect symphony of pure darkness and rawness absolutely. "Catastrophic Reality" starts also slow first and with some nice guitar playing that turns over to heavy drumming and heavy riffs. Track is a bit more experimental than the others, but still so great and has a real dark atmospherical middle part that I liked a lot. Loves their oriental touch they got in the music, not so many bands does it so good, but Netherion is really good on it I must say. and if I would compare the guitarists with more known ones I really feels a bit dragged to the well known man Yngwie, but with death metal melodies in it, hehe Enough with that, track number eight "Dogmatic Separation" starts up with some thrashy guitars that has also the great oriental touch combined with good played death. Track nine "New Dimension" is an instrumental one, but here you can really hear the great musicians do it. And without any doubts they are good on it. "Legion Of Redemption" is the next one, great and a totally awesome track that I also like a lot, one of the better ones too on this album. The solo guitars is just so great, loves their sound on it too, suits so good with the hard music the plays. Last track up is "Kill With Hate" that starts slow and melodical, but dont you think it is some soft music. After about 30 seconds a heavy and thrashy blackened guitars starts pumping and the track is on. The track ends with a dark, but nice melody played on piano that is a perfect ending for a real great album of this year. Also must add that it now reminds me much of Morbid Angel, Behemoth and even a bit of the brazilian death/thrashers in Chaos Synopsis too that is also a band that I likes a lot. Some last words about this awesome band from syria that is also pretty new for myself, they has some real great melodies combined with raw and heavy grunting death metal and on that a brilliant oriental touch that makes this very special and unique. And for those who did missed it, I can recommend this album/band for those who likes early Morbid Angel, Melechesh, Mystic Circle, Chaos Synopsis, Al-Namrood, Obituary, Death and Cannibal Corpse. And the album has some great tracks that I likes more than others of course, but to be more fair in this I think the whole album gets better every time I hears it and it is wrong to say that just one or two tracks is better than the others. This is really worth a whole listen and the sound quality is good too in my opinion as I have seen some bad complaints on it earlier, but if you maybe are a fashion metal kid/person that prefer money metal you would not like this undergound band. The underground is for the real musical metal lovers \m/ The album is also all free to download so why the hell complain then? Hails and salutes to the real stuff!

Scores: 9,5 / 10

www.facebook.com/Netherion.Official       www.reverbnation.com/Netherion

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TERRA AUSTRALIS - Slave to The Moon Shadow- (Selfreleased - 2010 / Australia) 

After four demos, one split album, one best of /compilation and one full length album that came earlier last year. Is the australian black metal horde Terra Australis back again here with their second full length that also came last year, in december. And this time they really have done it better than ever, this is so fucking brilliant, raw, evil, dirty and at the same time very much old school sounded. Just in the same veins as very much early Bathory and specially a bit of the first album of Marduk and maybe also early Beherit and of course Darkthrone. Sometimes it even feels like you put on the first album of Bathory or his second one "The Return". It has that same feeling and atmosphere and to be honest this must be one of the better rawer black metal albums that have came out in 2010. Some tracks to recommend and that is better than the best is "Blazing Towards The Sky As White As Snow" , "Satan´s Soldiers Elite" and "Black Candles Black Wine". It is real hard to say that any track would be to bad here as the whole album has good class of black metal. But if you prefer high classed symphonic and high quality sounded black metal, this is probably nothing for you. This is so pure raw, dirty and old school sounded black metal with a touch of Satan himself nearly in it:)

Scores: 10 / 10

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VINTERSLAV - Revifying the Whore - (Hellspell Productions - 2009 / South Africa.

This is a debut ep from this raw black metal band hailing from South Africa and is a pleasant surprise. We can also mention that the band consists the member Vinter from the well known Frozenpath. The ep includes six tracks of ultra raw hammering black metal from start til´the end. It has also a very own and unique sound that is hard to describe and most of the tracks are real brilliant and a total knockout for true lovers of the black art. Some tracks that is a bit of that extra is "Revivifying the Whore", "Impure Disruption" and my own favorite track "Descend Into the Depths of Winter" that is a total masterpiece and comes last. I can absolutely recommend this band for all fans of pure raw black metal without compromises. But if you are into more melodical stuff this is nothing for you. I also guess that a full album from this band will not leave anyone disappointed. This is a really good production that is worth to check up.

Scores: 8,5 / 10

http://www.myspace.com/vinterslav

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MARA - Mörkertid (Dark powers) - (Selfreleased Demo) - 2010 / Sweden

From sweden comes a really great surprise from this new black metal band that has some touch and influences from some pagan/folk metal too. This is a selfreleased debut demo from this one man project /band that is even great all from the intro "Forest" to the end. And to hearing the intro give me personally a flashback of early Nokturnal Mortum some how. The first real track on the demo is called "Mörkertid" or Dark Powers translated from swedish and is a real stone mangler and has a truly old school sound. And also here you can find some of the roots from good old Bathory, but also I think personal a bit sound of old Hellhammer even if it is maybe not on purpose. But tells a bit of this great demo. Last track and also absolutely the best one is "Hulders Spell" that has that special and unique combined rawness with some more mysterious and heathen parts that really gives this demo that extra push. If you have the chans to get this one, I really then recommend you to buy it. Extra notice is that this one is strictly very limited, but I have much hope in this band as it got something special and is not another typical band that just seeks and try to be the worst and most evil one. Truly heathen and with the spirit of ancient times. Hail black metal!

Scores: 9,5 / 10

http://www.myspace.com/marvittra