Melencolia Estatica - Letum (2008)
Aeternitas Tenebrarum Music Foundation

This is the follow-up to their previous slef-titled album & debut which left me with a very good impression.Letum is again a very good effort by Climaxia (yeap,the mainwoman of the band).With an improved production in terms of warmth and an organic feel 'Letum' hits off strongly with an Ulver inspired song that sets the mood convincingly. The melodies have an authentic nineties black metal feeling, an era rightfully revered by many. Now I'm not a guy that dwells in the past but it made me feel a bit nostalgic. Melencolia Estatica avoids clichés gracefully and therefore keeps it relevant. The melancholic mood is preserved throughout the album even though the blast-beat is the dominant rhythmic backbone. 'Letum' carefully balances between emotive parts and high-speed aggression. The result is an emotionally engaging black metal album of high quality.

8,5/10

Fen - Ancient Sorrow (EP,2007)

Northern Silence

Ancient Sorrow is the debut EP from atmospheric black metallers Fen. Mixing aspects of folk, ambient, black metal and prog the band create music that expresses loss, sorrow, exaltation and a sense of ancient pride, sounding like a cross between Rush and Mayhem. There are three tracks, the first, Desolation Embraced, an eight minute brooding track that follows a simple arrangement through epic guitar riffs and gentle keyboards. The harsh vocals utter their bile fuelled words across the uplifting melodies. The second track, The Gales Scream of Loss, is a rousing similar track, with a clean choir-like backing tethered to the tormented darker vocal deployment. Finally, Under the Endless Sky, clocking in at 12 minutes, is a step up in gear, and the rapid drum work is the only real difference to the otherwise still prevailing atmospheres of the previous track.With Ancient Sorrow Fen have created something dark and evil yet, at the same time, something majestic. Opening track “Desolation Embraced” is nearly nine minutes of experimentation with darkness. Surreal vocals layered over epic guitars and an atmospheric drum beat create this weird and wonderful maelstrom.Clean arpeggios (love it), distorted riffs,sometimes leaning more toward a whispered sort of grunt and discrete atmospheric keyboard passages following the pace of a kicking bass/drum duo. The heaviness mentioned comes from these last two elements, especially noticeable in the over-prominent bass drum sound.

8/10

In Vain - The Latter Rain (2007)

Indie Recordings

Four years into the making, In vain is ready to unleash their debut “The Latter Rain” to the world. From the point of not knowing anything about this new experimental extreme progressive metal act, I now am filled with desire to explore their creative paths to a full extent. Six full time members and fourteen guest musicians have created a unique product which will leave marks in the current international extreme metal scene. To tag In Vain as being “newcomers” is a blatant understatement as The Latter Rain is remarkably professional composed and produced.The Latter Rain consists of 10 tracks, clocking in on more than an hour of total playing time. What we're dealing with here is extreme metal with a great deal of melody, atmosphere and growing ability, music that has a complexity so grave that there's no chance you can pass judgements after just a couple of spins...It is customary at some point in a review to construct a frame of reference by naming some well-known representatives of a certain genre with which the band in question shares musical inclinations or directions, but with 'The Latter Rain' that would be a waste of time, as too much is happening to label everything specifically. Suffice to say that during the more that sixty minutes duration of this record, there is no dull moment to be found. It is not every day that something as good as 'The Latter Rain' is released!

8,5/10

Virgin Black - Requiem-Fortissimo (2008)
The End Records

This is the second of Virgin Black's Requiem trilogy. Last year saw the release of "Mezzo Forte", with Pianissimo still to come. "Pianissimo" means quiet, "mezzo forte" is medium-loud and "fortissimo" is loud. That means this CD will be the most intense of the three.Definitely heavier than its predecessor, Requiem - Fortissimo is another landmark for Virgin Black. Singer and mastermind Rowan London left his clean vocals home on this one. Growling from the first second to the last, this might take listeners by surprise. But true to himself, Rowan showcases once more that he is one of the best singers out there, managing to bring emotion, melancholy, and variation to his growls. At times, it sounds like Satan is in the house and can become quite disturbing if you are unprepared for this kind of vocals. Plus Rowan's vocals are often coupled with disturbing background vocals, either male or female. If I had to rename this album, this one would be called "Land of the Dead". It's so dark, it feels like we are projected into a twilight world where the dead are talking to the living.Virgin Black is one of the best Gothic/Doom bands of our days!

8,5/10

Tiamat - Amanethes (2008)
Nuclear Blast

Tiamat was one of those bands that started out death/doom and really got the whole doom vibe hyped up in the early nineties, then became gay as shit gothic, gained a bunch of fans and lost a whole lot more (or less, who knows).Amanethes is the first record in 5 years and nobody really expected that Johan Edlund and Co would tie in with the class of an “Astral Sleep” record. Well “Amanethes” doesn’t sound like “Astral Sleep” at all, it rather sounds like a best of Tiamat and every single Band influence can clearly be heard out!From the Hippie sounding ballad rock song “Meliae” with nice soulful guitar solos over to the typical 80ties rock song “Summertime is gone“, to the evil rock and goth song “The Temple of the crescent moon”, Tiamat shows the listener that they have great skills in mixing different styles without sounding boring or immature.With “Amanethes”, a mixture of the best Tiamat has ever created, they will target a lot of the older Fans but they will also get the attention of the rest of the music world!

8/10

Children Of Bodom - Blooddrunk (2008)
Spinefarm Records

Children of Bodom's 2005 album "Are You Dead Yet?" was successful in bringing the band greater exposure in North America. However, it also created a rift between fans who preferred their older neo-classical style (I was one of them as well) and those who were attracted to the heavier, yet simpler, industrial song structures of "Are You Dead Yet?" Now, at the dawn of their sixth studio release, "Blooddrunk," we see Alexi Laiho and company attempting to please old and new fans alike. Surprisingly, it works.My hopes for this record were not particularly high, and I was honestly expecting another one in the vein of Are You Dead Yet?, if not worse. This may not be a return to their former creative prowess, but it is certainly much better than their last effort and harks back to classic Bodom at certain times. Unoriginal as the formula may be by now, Blooddrunk still sees the guys putting out a better-than-average release, with Alexi and Janne’s guitar and keyboard virtuosity as delicious and hooky as ever.Overall, "Blooddrunk" serves up one strong all killer, no filler dish of in-your-face melodic death-thrash metal.Welcome back guys!

8/10

Alcest - Souvenirs D’un Autre Monde (2007)
Prophecy Productions

This first full-length album balances these two sounds in a series of five slow-moving, majestic compositions. The songs are shot through with field recordings, children playing, the ocean, on low volume, as if heard half-asleep. The whole thing is meant to describe Neige’s fantasy world, a place he visits in dream.A simple description of what is going around here could be the marriage of Black Metal riffing a la EMPYRIUM, AGALLOCH or OCTOBER FALLS with fairish vocals, calming waterish drumming. The music has nothing to do with Black Metal but you can easily see that its composer surely is listening to thus music; note also the Neige is also a member of PESTE NOIRE a very good and different I could say Black Metal horde from France. "Souvenirs D’Un Autre Monde" has a dispersion of acoustic relaxing guitars and a female voice like you are close to a Nereid. Everything is colored white, the color of brightness, of happiness.Truly beautiful MUSIC!

8/10

Eluveitie - Slania (2008)
Nuclear Blast

Eluveitie is a classic example of a fast growing band and they really deserve it. They actually do add something to the exploding pagan metal scene with their enthusiastic blend of melodic death metal - vocalist Chrigel is a diehard Gothenburg scene fan - and authentic folk with a wide range of mostly acoustic instruments. 'Slania' is the first album for new label Nuclear Blast and the minutely executed music got a sparkling mix of Jens Bogren at the famous Fascination Studios.On my first listen to this release, I was heard to remark, ‘I would travel thousands of miles to see this band live!’. I am sticking by this statement. Eluveitie have managed to dredge up in me that childish excitement that we forget as we get older. Add to this the fresh sound, the fantastic musicianship and the writing, and you have an album that for many will be held in high esteem.If you are a fan of the European melodic death sound and are open to other styles of music like folk, go buy this album right now. Its that damn good.If you're a fan of folk/pagan metal you might have already purchased it! ;)

8,5/10

Dismember - Dismember (2008)

Regain Records

This band was part of the Swedish Death Metal movement that kicked in the Metal scene somewhere in 1988 with famous acts like AT THE GATES or ENTOMBED. DISMEMBER did not follow the evolution path of their homeland’s Metal scene towards the so-called Melodic Death Metal genre, but remained loyal to their prime sound. I figured the songwriting department would be where they really took a hit but Dismember have managed to pick up the slack left by his departure. The songs themselves are similar to what Dismember have been doing forever but the production on this album really makes it work. This album is going to blow out a few speakers, not just mine. This is no-bullshit Stockholm style death at its finest. It warms my heart to know someone is still doing this, now to hope Bloodbath come up with a good one to tide me over until the next Dismember record.Now go and grab it you pussies! :P

8/10

Dark Fortress - Eidolon (2008)

Century Media

Dark Fortress has been around since 1994 and managed to cram out 4 albums, all released without seemingly to make any noise what so ever, at least not in my neck of the woods. If they had you probably would’ve seen a review of them by yours truly a long time ago because “Eidolon” at least kicks fucking ass and if this is any indication of the quality of Dark Fortress previous work I think I have some record-hunting to do… bastards.Musically though, there has been a shift towards a more straightforward approach in terms of riffs and arrangements. The result is an overall harder sound and with more aggressive black metal compared to 'Séance', which relied more on the creation of atmosphere and tension. The new approach provides instantly likeable songs. There's a trade-off though, the newfound catchiness and aggression replaces the depth and mysterious character found on 'Séance'. Needless to say, the quality of the songs themselves is beyond any doubt and one would probably play 'Eidolon' more often than its predecessor. Proclaiming either as being better would be nonsense, both are really good but differ in their approach.

8/10

Crematory - Pray (2008)
Massacre Records

After the release of “Believe” in the year 2000, Crematory decided to cease their activity. Three years gone by, the reunion translated into “Revolution” and another two years later a new bet in an album totally sung in German, “Klagebilder”.Available since February 1st through Massacre Records we have “Pray”, a record that we could call “back to the roots” because the good moments offered in 195’s “Illusions” have finally been given sequence.Guitar riffs are more daring and vibrating when compared to the recent past, while lyrically darkness takes the 48 minutes of the CD by storm. Back to the English language – that should never have been traded – clean and guttural vocals between Félix Stass and Matthias Hechler rule in harmony with dark atmospheric melodies. Keyboards have also gone through an upgrade, with orchestral arrangements back in charge, giving the “true” Crematory some more solemnity.I am totally satisfied with "Pray" and also happy because in my mind CREMATORY have reunited and they are ready to produce that good (and hopefully heavier) albums that will renew their high position in the Gothic Metal league.Well done!

8/10

Atrocity - Werk 80 II (2008)
Napalm Records


ATROCITY was born in 1985 and recorded their first demo in 1988. The EP "Blue Blood" saw the light a year later, followed by a concept album about drug use named "Hallucinations". Their second album "Todessehnsucht" ventured into Death Metal, featuring a cover of "Archangel" by DEATH. From then on, the band started exploring other fields. In 1996 the band released "Willenskraft" and introduced industrial elements. Then it was "Werk 80"’s turn, featuring versions of 80’s Disco hits. After some "odd" MCDs and only one full-length album, "Atlantis", I was waiting to listen to something else than covers only.If the idea of metal bands doing covers albums is starting to wear thin, then Werk 80 II is certainly not going to change your opinion on them. Longtime German extreme metal band Atrocity have taken 12 80's new wave/dance/pop hits, and given them a gothic metal spin here, which for some might be a work of pure genius, but for fans of the band's more extreme fare this sequel to 1997's Werk 80 might seem like another complete debacle. Don't expect any of Atrocity's crushing death metal here, not by a long shot. This is safe, symphonic gothic metal, plain and simple, with clean male & female vocals over crunchy riffs and loads of symphonic keyboards. In a few instances, the band actually gives new life to some of these songs, like the Depech Mode classic "People Are People", "Fade to Grey" by Visage, and "Relax" from Frankie Goes to Hollywood, each one with pumping rhythms and symphonic & heavy arrangements. However, for the most part the results here are somewhat sappy and heavy handed, as the band seems to be trying too hard to retain the original feel of these songs and, and in the end they have lost all resemblance to Atrocity the band. We want to know that this is Atrocity playing these songs, but on almost every tune here they come across as a faceless band trying to mimick an 80's new wave act. Simple Minds' "Don't You Forget About Me" and the Eurythmics "Here Comes the Rain Again" are perfect examples of this-there's just no Atrocity stamp at all to these pieces. Where's the growls? Where's the screams? Where's the mammoth guitar riffage?Shame......

6/10

Draconian - Turning Season Within (2008)

Napalm Records

The Swedish gothic-doom-death metal merchants Draconian are back with their 4th release, the powerful and dramatic Turning Season Within. If you've followed the career of this band, even back to their days as Kerberos in the early 90's, this latest is really going to bring a smile to your face. With all the acts that have a bit of gothic touch to their music, it's perhaps Draconian who offer something a tad different, their ability to mix doom & death metal styles into their music, as well as symphonic rock, really works wonders, and the meshing of gorgeous female vocals with brutal death metal growls & grunts is highly effective.In a super crowded field, Draconian has made up some serious ground on the likes of Swallow the Sun and November’s Doom. Both of these bands haven’t created an album as thought-out and memorable as Turning Season Within, thus giving Draconian a whole new lease on life, which is funny, ‘cause this stuff isn’t meant to revitalize the soul, but instead intended to suffocate and suffocate faster.Masterpiece!

9,5/10