Wednesday, May 7, 2014

new reviews dong on 11-3-09

dark greetings!!
thanks to all who have stopped in to check out our newest blogs of reviews!! i would like to announce we have a new "writer" for winter torment e-zine.robert who recently started up his label "naturmacht prod."the first 3 releases are now out and availble for order so if you are interested in dark,pagan black metal or expirmental black,ambient defintly check out robert and naturmacht prod. here:http://www.myspace.com/naturmachtproductions

we are always on the lookout for new bands/labels to work with so if you are looking to work with a honest zine get in touch!!!
best regards,til next time
patrick and winter torment e-zine
http://wintertormentzine.blogspot.com
arkona-goi,rode,goi cd {napalm records}{reviewed by patrick}
russia's pagan/folk metal metal masters are back for a new battle! fourteen hymns of blackend,epic folk metal.the band really took their time to creating the music for this release.mixing in upper-tempo fast moving folk music and epic,dark metal.the guitars and espically the drums at times give off the sound and influence of fast,chaotic black metal with insane guitar riffs and extremly fast drum beats.to keep the interest of the more traditional/melodic fan the arkona incorporate beautifully well-sung femal vocals along with the more harsh,violent scream/scratchy vocal pattern.and for a real treat {and one i personally hope the band uses again in coming releases} is a full-choir only adding to the brillant and epic sounds of arkona.fans of dark,epic folk/metal will not want to miss out on this masterpiece.
label contact
http://www.napalmrecords.com
band contact
http://www.arkona-russia.com

circle of ghosts-collecting memories cd {beneath the fog prod.}
{reviewed by robert}
First, when I started my player with the first song of that new full length master piece of “Circle of Ghosts”, I thought: Oh no. But just one second. After some rhythm mistakes, which are maybe planned, the song started fully and developed its great atmosphere and it was just taken me with it to a dark, mystic journey into eternal shadows. The sound quality is maybe not the best, but the music is so intensive that it takes you immediately into its cold hands.
You can find on ten tracks complete ambient or black metal songs and either some which are traveling between those both genres. The black metal songs are mostly in mid-tempo, which is the best decision for the whole atmosphere. “Hauntings” is a good example for that. I really like that change between this both contrasts bm and ambient. It is making your mind free for every new song which is starting and with that either your heart for letting the unique atmosphere crow in it. Supporting this, the songs are never to long that they are going to be boring. I never have the wish in mind that a song please should stop or that I am becoming impatient. Either the voice is greatly used: Screams, whispers, cryings. Goosebumps!
Reviewed by Robert

Contact:


deep pression-blunt razor cd {beneath the fog prod.}
{reviewed by robert}


I rather prefer to die than change for those humanoids", that is a quote of the member M.v.K. of Deep-pression, a five-man band from different countries, and can be taken as a main thought of the music itself. Next to „fucking life“, nature and dark feelings like depression and disillusion, also the deep thinking of existence finds its influence.
With the dark lyrics, which are spoken, the music is dreamy but in a dark, sometimes creepy and deep way. With the main use of synths and some distorted guitar shadows in the background, the particular use of full guitar and bass riffs and drums (for example in „Names“) the compilation „blunt razor“ with 6 tracks is a individual mirror for their influences and keeps your mind flying through a black tunnel with some gray, pale spotlights of self reflection and melancholy.


eterul-verso ascendence cd {beneath the fog productions}
{reviewed by robert}
This great and young black metal band from New Zealand, formed in the years 2008 and 2009, plays on its first debut album “Verso Ascendere” great individual black metal with nice acoustic parts which are fitting perfect to the whole atmosphere. Doesn't matter if it is the undistorted guitar or the piano, either the synths, which are giving the album a touch of ambient, they all underline and create with the fast and depressive riffs of heavy e-guitars and drums a great atmospheric sound. The Vocals are screamed and the vocalist and guitarist Tagovornik makes a pretty good job. That the drums, though they are programmed, are not sounding like that is a proof of the high skills of Keberous who either plays the guitar next to the synths and the bass.
Lyrically they are singing about misanthropy and the existence of us itself in six songs full of coldness. Everyone who likes fast cold black metal but with some acoustic changes and melodic thoughtful parts should not hesitate to buy that album. I love it!




folkstorm-de stemmen van het woud mcd {thorn laceration rec.}
this is a band you will have to listen to a few times to full experience their sound and make a decision on whether their your kinda band or not.from the netherlands folkstorm has created a impressive mcd of music here.five songs of atmospheric,folkish black metal metal.the cd starts out with midpaced rythm guitars,drums and keyboards to welcome you to folkstorm's dark atmospheric world.the second song the band really kicks in with the black metal guitar sound and some harsher vocal lines.without loosing or overlaping any of the melody or atmospheric influences.each of the five songs stays within the same formula of mid-paced dark music never going into the more violent straight forward style.i will admit a few times throughout the cd some parts were a little drawn out and repetitive but for a newer band and for the style of music folkstorm play their not bad at all.will be interesting to hear their future releases and hear them grow.
label contact
http://www.myspace.com/thornlaceration
band contact.
http://www.myspace.com/folkstorm14


goat tunnel--window dancing in the grave of the blessed cd {death worm records}{reviewed by robert}Goat Tunnel”, a one man project from Espoo laying in cold Finland next to Helsinki and formed in 2007, plays a creepy and raw downtempo doom metal. On the the new demo are appearing three songs full of coldness and sounds, which could be directly from a horror movie. A deep cawing and cowling makes the whole thing even sicker. There is mostly not really a melody. The songs are more a mix of riffs and accords with the intense using of the creepy voice. There is no drum or keyboard nor a bass. The whole music is very minimalistic, but that means not, that it would not go under the skin of the listener.
Everyone who likes such kind of dark, sick and cruel music, should give this EP and the other demos a listen. The price of the demo is low, so for such a person it´s a good investigation.


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labyrintheory-in memoriam demo #1 {self-released}{reviewed by patrick}
labyrintheory is a new funeral doom band from the new england area.the music was written by matthew davis {vocals,guitars,keyboards,drum programing} and is a mesmerizing blend of crushing funeral doom with some nice melody and atmospheres compliments of matthews impressive keyboard writing and the nice violin work of aurora grabill who adds nicely to the dark,haunting sound of labyrintheory.the vocals are arranged and pulled off excellent with some varied styles ranging from traditional clean vocals to a more harsh/brutal vocal pattern.i know this is a strange comparison but matthew's more vicious growl reminded me alot of john tardy from obituary's early days.this is a debut demo release and a great demo of funeral doom with waves of dark atmosphere.not to be missed by fans who enjoy crushing,dark doom.
band contact
http://www.myspace.com/labyrintheory

nocturnes mist-southern storms cassette {thorn laceration records}{reviewed by patrick}
ever since i became involved in the underground scene australia has always had an amazing scene.no matter which genre the australian's never cease to amaze me.
nocturnes mist have a great debut release here.7 songs of mid-paced heavy black metal.evil sounding screams and shrieks along with some amazing drum work and patterns not usually found with this style of band.fans of agressive,straight forward black metal mixed with some dark melody within some tracks will want to check out nocturnes mist. another good release for thorn laceration rec.
label contact
http://www.myspace.com/thornlaceration
band contact
http://www.myspace.com/nocturnesmist

oculus infernum--the hand of satan cd
{self-released}{reviewed by patrick}
oculus infernum is the new band featuring gonark {atrocious depression,r.i.p} on vocals,guitar,drum programming and lamia {guitars,lyrics} the hand of satan starts off with a somber almost peacful sounding intro. but the duo quickly change that with the blazing thin,raw guitar riffs and gonarks demonic screams overlap the insanity of the guitars and drums being brought out.the duo do keep some traces and influences of melody within their violent sound as they have some acoustic and more mid-paced guitar patterns.gonark also changes his vocals around in a few songs using clean vocal chants and screams on a few tracks.this is a defintly good release of old-school black metal with touches of doom.nothing too original but the duo do a great job of creating memorable and intense old-school black metal.
band contact

http://www.myspace.com/oculusinfernum

orbseven-the linear divide cd {self-released}
{reviewed by robert}
This is a powerful one man project of Anthony, who plays really everything. He founded “Orbseven” in late 2004. Since 2005 he worked on this album. A quite long process. But the long work was worth it.
He created a very individual style by using depressive black metal guitar lines, a hard death metal drumming and a changing rhythm setup. His voice is distorted and either a mix of black and death metal. Then there appear either typical complete death metal songs. The ambient sounds developing then a quite unique sound. I cannot yet remember any band which is sounding like “Orbseven”. The only help here is the female singer of the band “Gaia” from Florida. Which fits very good to that quite science fiction style.
The quality of the sound is for a underground project very good and the skills and the quality of playing are very high. It was a pleasure to hear this stuff. As play-tip I could tell you: “Whereas None Remains Infinite”.


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pestilent grave-esoteric blaspheme cd
{svartgalgh records}{reviewed by patrick}
if you enjoy your black metal raw,dirty and with no signs of melody or modern influence in their sound you will love pestilent grave! england's pestilent grave start things off with a harsh scream and raw guitar chords.the band defintly draws it's main influence and sound from the more violent/harsh gods of the early ninety's.such as blasphemy,beherit.
production wise think early dark throne.but vith {all vocals,instruments}doesnt completly rip-off the above bands sound instead taking them to a newer more raw level with his own dark and blasphemous musical ideas.fans of raw,dirty straightforward black metal will defintly want to check out pestilent grave.
label contact
http://www.myspace.com/svartgalghrecs
band contact
http://www.myspace.com/pestilentgrave

seelenfrost-im schatten toter cd {self-released} {reviewed by robert}
Imagine cold rain falling in big drops and rumbling thunder. A smooth undistorted e-guitar starts some lonely and sad tunes. The song “Als kalter Regen...” (When cold rain...) is a nice break after the two fast songs in the beginning, but then a cut: the next song and the typical “Seelenfrost” sound comes up. A fast and raw coldness of black metal with much blast-beets and a atmospheric guitar riffing. I like very much that there are still some short moments of speakings or some ambient sounds, they make the album a great varied one, because there are appearing either some songs which are not fitting directly in the concept (e.g. D.S.O.N).
The band itself is coming from Germany and includes three (source: homepage) guys. The founding year is 2006. This reviewed piece of music is their first Album, but one split and five demos are preceding. The lyrics are moving between dark nature mystic and sorrow of the human existence.
I really appreciate the listening to this band. Everyone who likes German underground black metal can grab this without any doubting. You can order it over the homepage.


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sjenovik-zephaniak cd {beneath the fog prod.}{reviewed by robert}
I am very impressed of this two man project. This upcoming album “Zephaniah” is a great individual and intellectual master piece, using psychedelic sounds, heavy guitars, mid-tempo and blast beats and awesome acoustical parts. The voice is screamed and fits perfect to the whole atmosphere and getup of this six songs. The guys behind all this are Shane Ball (drums & electronics) and James Johnson (guitar & voices). The lyrical topics are mythology, philosophy and occultism, rooting in the slavish roots what you can either see from the name. But there are no folk elements as you maybe would now expect and which appeared on the album before named “Covenant and Nihilism”.
Next to this one, there are a split made this year and some demos from 2006 on, which is either the born date of the band.
Sjenovik created here in 37 minutes a wonderful artistic black metal experience and everyone, who likes something special and new should not hesitate to buy this album.
I hope that there will come yet much more from this two guys.
Reviewed by Robert

Contact:




temple of baal-lightslaying rituals cd {agonia records}{reviewed by patrick}

french black/death metalers temple of baal return with their third and most complex,mature release to date.lightslaying rituals combines the brutal intense speed of early 90's swedish black metal with with some complex and heavy guitar riffs/solos the heavier guitar tone give temple of baal a slight death metal sound within their intense/chaotic black metal influence.the drums are just as chaotic but well handled mixing in hyper-speed blast beats with some more mid-paced drum patterns.the vocals are deeper death growls with evil sounding blackend shrieks of blasphemy.fans who enjoy uncompromising,violent blackend death metal will not want to miss out on temple of baal!!
label contact.
www.agoniarecords.com
band contact
http://www.myspace.com/templeofbaal



terra australis-in the lost corners of the carpathians 2 song demo,cdr {self-released}{reviewed by patrick}
terra australis is a new one man band coming out of the ever-growing australian scene.i know i've said it before but damn their must be something in this countries water supply!! no matter the genre this country has produced some "classic"bands in alot of different genres.which brings us to terra australis as mentioned this is a one man band invisus{all vocals,and instruments}does a good job creating the music on this two song promo/demo.the first track "in the lost corners of the carpathians{the land of phantoms}" starts out with a melodic,eerie intro but invisus quickly brings out his darker side with some raw,scratchy screechy screams followed by the raw razor-sharp guitar riffs.the music is pure,cold and just plain eerie in parts black metal.the second and final track "the un-spoken word"is a instrumental and showcases invius going in a more direct and aggressive direction with the music never going to chaotic speeds but still faster than the first song.overall a good release and i look forward to more from terra australis.fans of {old}burzum,xasthur,leviathian will enjoy terra australis
band contact
http://www.myspace.com/terraaustralis

the 11th hour-burden of grief cd {napalm records}{reviewed by patrick}
this is proably one of the best doom releases of 2009!! i know that is saying alot but once u hear the bands magnificent sound and music you will agree.the 11th hour is a two-man band featuring ed warby{clean doom vocals,all instruments,}and rogga johansson{brutal death growls} both of these guys are more known for their death,and brutal death metaal roots.but the 11th hour is six songs of pure doom in many forms and layers.the music is a combination of traditonal doom,atmospheric and crushing funeral doom all rolled into one giant massive wall of sound.the vocals are a nice mix of more epic,atmospheric clean vocal chords and heavy,powerful death growls that fit nicely together with the music being created and played by the 11th hour. it is hard to say exactly or to pin this band to one specific genre of doom.but it defintly a release all fans of doom will want to check out.
label contact
http://www.napalmrecords.com
band contact
http://www.myspace.com/11thhourdoom

the uncreation--dreaming in R'lyeh 2006 cd{self-released}{reviewed by patrick}
the uncreation were cool enough to send this release along with their latest two-song promo.the music on dreaming in r'lyeh is proably some of the best and most brutal black/death to be heard in quite sometime.the band wastes little time getting into the aggression mixing old marduk and morbid angel together nicely.the guitarist seem to be influenced by some of the more "technical" death metal guitarist as you will hear some technical riffs/solo's mixed in with the blackend death onslaught but the technical influence is not used in every song so i really would'nt call the uncreation a tech.metal band.the band also uses some keyboards to help add layers of darkend atmosphere. you can really hear this in the eighth song "the testimony".fans of blackend death with some varied influences will defintly want to check out australia's the uncreation.
band contact
http://www.myspace.com/theuncreation


the uncreation-2 song promo 2009 {self released}{reviewed by patrick}
wow is this the same band?this is a new two song promo/demo from the upcoming cd "the preparation of eternal magicks" cd to be released sometime in 2010.the biggest and most recognizable is the sound.the band seems to have dropped the death metal influence and goes straight for the kill with semi-raw violent black metal.i hear alot of the early swedish gods within the uncreation's new songs. i was a bit surprised but the musicians seem to have a great deal of musical talent and know their instruments to pull off the bands new more violent black metal sound nicely.i can't wait to hear the new full-length next year!!
band contact
http://www.myspace.com/theuncreation
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