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