This CD contains OLD GRANDAD’s 5-track EP plus a live 6-track bootleg. This crazy band features Max Barnett on bass/vocals, Will Carroll on drums/vocals and Erik Moggridge on guitar/vocals. As you see there are three vocalists in O.G. and it make their range of vocals really colorful. Musically, they stands for old-school Death Metal, though their music combines a lot of other influences besides the traditional ones like thrash, hard core and yet punk elements as well. It’s a bit strange mix of Death Metal, isn’t it? Erik’s riffs sounds as massive as possible and the solos come in a rather thoughtful way, while you should spiced all this by the crushing sound of Max’s roaring bass. Will’s drumming is cool, but he plays mostly simple-bass based rhythms. I think their stuff will be much better if they add some complex riffs as well as some double-bass parts to their songs. The live tracks are sounds quite good and gives back all the energy they had in their studio songs. In a word, if you into the music I’ve decribed here, don’t waste your time and order it right now!

"Dedication" is the first full-length album of this russian doomy band. On this release took part the following musicians: Dmitry Grygoriev (guitar/vocals), Andrey Zimenkov (bass), Evgeny Trefilov (drums), Alexey Koscheev (guitar) and Andrey Konstantinov (keyboards). The album consists of six well-composed songs in the way of quite slow, sorrowful and melancholy-filled Doom Metal with clear vocals. To cut it short, it's a professional release beginning from the sound quality and ending with the cool full-coloured booklet of the tape, which contains some abstract graphics, photo, lyrics (all lyrics came in Russian language) and additional info about the band.

OVERSUN is a side-project of the formers of ENS COGITANS, namely Oleg Alimov (vocals) and Sergey Ponkratiev (guitars). This MC contains 6 tracks in a very strange way, they mixed modern computer technology with metal. I don't see the necessity of such kind of bands nowadays 'cause that's for popsters and definitely not for metalheads, I think so... And it seems to me that soon it will become a new trend amongst the metal bands to do some electro projects instead of cool metal albums. In a word, OVERSUN combines lots of weird effects, samplers, distorted vocals and so on… But it's not for metal fans even if the guitars sounds metalish and even if their music mostly resembling to ENS COGITANS' style. I don't advise this stuff for metal fans at all, let the others price it.

Complex Death Metal is what PESSIMIST cultivates in their 9-song repertory. Their second album up to date includes an essential Death Metal stuff with own ideas and sound, of course. However, the music itself combines a lot of DEICIDE and CANNIBAL CORPSE-type guitar riffings. In spite of this fact, I enjoyed a lot their ultra brutal blasphemous Death Metal assault. As for the vocal-style, it fluctuates from deep guttural growls to high-pitched screams. Their drummer plays really precisely yet fast all the way and can crush all that is holy. There's also an interesting bass guitar sound which makes this stuff totally killer. Another thing that I like in PESSIMIST is goes to the well-executed solos and cool instrumental parts in such songs as "Unborn (Father)" and "Wretched of the Earth". My favorite pieces are "Century of Lies", "Unspeakable Terror" and "Tunnel Rats". In short, if you want to have an uncompromisingly brutal & unholy stuff, then order "Blood For The Gods" which is something you should hear before die!

RAMPAGE is back with its new and this time incredibly blasting old-school Thrash/Death/Black Metal stuff. The band's line-up has remained intact, and combines by the evil forces of Lord Vic (lead guitar and vocals), Paul Bearer (drums), Earwhig Ringworm (rhythm guitar) and Tom Coffinsmasher (bass). This 13-track album makes me drown into the unforgettable feeling of 80's bands such as VENOM, POSSESSED, DESTRUCTION, MAYHEM and the list goes on. Their songs are really well-crafted, though those has less of originality due to the similarities with the bands above, but for me was important that their music came from their veins and it means a straight release which should be checked by all the true fans of old-school Metal. Songs like "Satanic Symphony" and "Born In Hell" are rather interesting complex Thrash tunes with killer riff-passages and flawless drum-work. Moreover, the bass parts were quite well-structured and add lots of variety to their powerful music, while the raw vocals gives more brutality and aggression. And if all this isn't enough for you, they added two bonus tracks for the end, from which one is the cover version of the famous MERCYFUL FATE's "Black Masses". Be sure to order this brutal old-school stuff right now!

SACRAMENTUM without any doubts plays an integral part of swedish Death Metal community. Their third album shows the same brutal uncompromising Death Metal vein as their ancestors "Far Away From The Sun" (1996) and "The Coming Of Chaos" (1997). It's another unadulterated work which amazed me with its toughness against the popular Black trend. Again produced by Andy La Rocque in Los Angered Recordings, that means crystal clear sound quality. Nowadays SACRAMENTUM combining by the magic forces of guitarists Anders Broylcke and Nicklas Andersson (also known as member of LORD BELIAL), vocalist/bassist Nisse Karlen and last but not least drummer Nicklas Rudolfsson, whose name is well-known by the appearance in such Death Metal hordes as SWORDMASTER, DEATHWITCH and RUNEMAGICK. Ten tracks of excellent blasting Death Metal filled with hatred, aggression and brutality. These things makes a special atmosphere for songs of "Thy Black Destiny". Complex guitar-work, precise drumming and cruel growling the marks of SACRAMENTUM. It's not a basic material of Death Metal style, but I can frankly say it's a constituent part of it. To get this fiendish masterpiece you should contact Century Media!

"Anywhere Out Of The World" represents 8 brutal Death Metal compositions in the vein of American Brutal bands with a lot of melodic stuff. The members of SARCASTIC are: Palo Gillar - vocals, Palo Gablík - guitar, Jiro Petøík - guitar, Palo Laššák - bass and Juro Šulek -drums. Palo Gillar's growls are deep which sometimes turns into nowadays popular high-pitched Black Metal vocal parts. I like a lot the guitarists' riffing as well as their riff-structures brutal and at the same time too similar to my favourite scandinavian type of riffing. The solos are worth of mentioning too. There are no bad tracks at all only complex Brutal Death Metal tunes. Most of all, I like the tracks like "(Beautiful?) Gray World" and the last one which is actually a cover version of humorous Louis De Funes's Fantomas Trilogy and called "Fantomas Never Dies". Well, I leave you with these lines hope you might be interested about SARCASTIC's stuff.

"Lay Eden In Ashes" is a work of three swedish hell-bastards: Patrick Johansson on guitar & bass, Roger Lagerlund on drums and Fredrik Sundin on vocals. The trio have done nothing outstanding in this 10-track album. I can’t lay stress on any of songs ‘cause all from the same series. And sometimes it is rather difficult to tell them apart. These tracks are fast, aggressive, raging Black Metal tunes mostly. They’re follow the way and ideology MARDUK, DARK FUNERAL and THE ABYSS started somewhere in the past. The lyrics-wise is evil, unholy and of course satanic. SARGOTH storming well on this 36 minutes album. Songs like "Path Of Sin" or "Evil Dawn" are worth of mentioning. But without less of originality I’ve recommend this material only for fans of fast, extreme and brutal Black Metal. By the way, there are some parts reminiscent to IMMORTAL as well. The sound is O.K. So, if you haven’t enough quality Black Metal albums in your collection then enlarge it with this stuff. You can take a probe with SARGOTH maybe it will be a worth election for you.

This is the second full-length album of russian Death Metal leaders SERMON. Their progression is evident. The ten well-structured and composed tracks show us what is the way they following now. Actually, this way called melodic Death Metal. Though, sometimes the music of SERMON drown into thrash metal and other interesting styles, for example to jazz. My favourites are: "I Want To Reach The Dawn", "Eternal Progress" and "Eclipse" which one is in Russian language. The material is full of harmonic guitar solos, emotional high-pitched vocals and galloping drum parts. Concerning the sound I must to admit it’s perfect. All the tone coming from their instruments give us a clear and remarkable picture of their art. No doubt, SERMON is a serious band. Everything they do on this circa 50 minutes album can be characterized by one word which is professionalism. The enthusiasm is there and that’s count nowadays. Strong out-put. Recommended for all the freaks of melodic Death Metal.

Well, it’s a bit old release but I decided to review it here. "Ornaments Of Mutilation" is the art of pure brutality and devastating Death Metal. There are no slow parts in their music just only the full speed ahead aggression. Eight tracks in circa 19 (!) minutes. I guess these numbers enough for every Brutal Death/Grind fans to think better of buying this stuff straight away. Fast, piercing, grinding beats, massive guitar riffs and all this came with extra-deep growling vocal ground. You see these guys don’t joking. The lyrics of songs like "Cold Bitch" or "Necrosick" isn’t about flowers or love or shit like that, hope you know what I’m basically mean here. Be the part of SICKNESS or die! You can order this brutal stuff for $12 World. The CD includes lyrics, photo, additional info and a very nice cover.

After two successfully released demos SUFFOCATE is back with its first full-length album "Exit 64". There were some changes in their line-up and now the band consists of Gellért Pásztor (vocals), Zsolt Hölgye (guitar), Attila Pócs (guitar/backing voc.), Zoran Koèiš (bass/backing voc.) and Erik Balogh (drums). This album shows a strong release which includes nine brain-washing Death Metal songs in a quite experimental way. Can I say this stuff original? Sure! Why? Because they had combined all their brutal Death Metal tunes along with interesting special effects, clear vocals and unique song-structures. This band has a big potential in song-writing and it counts a lot today. On the second hand we have a great musicianship and excellent sound here. Gellért's growls are deep like the voices coming from a bear's stomach. Zsolt and Attila brings the complex mega-brutal riffs. Zoran with his weird bass parts seems to me came from a jazz band and last but not least Erik gave a precise and fast drumming to all these components. Songs like "Duplicity", "Soaring" and "D.D.D." kills with its intense grinding parts. If you like technical, brutal and total destructive Death/Grind music you shouldn't miss SUFFOCATE's "Exit 64"!

Hailing from Rostov-on-Don (Russia) SUNCHARIOT plays Black Metal with the use of a weird instrument, namely flute, in this kind of aggressive music. It’s something new and unexpected when a band came with such unusual idea. The band combines by the forces of Stanislav - vocals/lead and rhythm guitars, Denis - lead and rhythm guitars, Olga - flute and Konstantin - drums/bass/acoustic guitar. For me it was a pleasant surprise to hear the mix of fast grinding beats, blackish screaming and folk influenced melodies of flute spiced with lots of cool acoustic and distorted guitar parts. The repertory of SUNCHARIOT includes five melodic tracks in circa 22 minutes with excellent sound quality. And tracks like "Mother Ground" and "BOPOHbI" just amazed me with its splendid indescribably song-structures. If you search for another original band to enlarge your collection, SUNCHARIOT is surely for you! Highly recommended stuff!

After releasing of such brilliant albums as "Worship Me Or Die!", "Beethoven On Speed" and "Guitar Goddess", the mighty guitar genius GREAT KAT decided to release another masterful stuff which is actually the first Classical/Metal interactive CD-Rom ever to be pressed. With this CD-Rom, you can learn about 44 of the greatest classical composers, browse in the catalogue of virtual classical instruments, learn musical terms, listen to famous classical works of all time, test your music knowledge, watch KAT music videos and last but not least you can hear 5 cyberspeed KAT songs which playable on a regular CD player as well. The first song "Goddess" come in the usual thrashy way with lots of memorable guitar riffs, double-bass tunes and killer solos. Then follows my fave song "Cyberspeed" with its super fast virtuoso soloing and amazing song-structure which shortly after turns into majestic piece of Wagner’s "Ride Of The Valkyries". And then comes two more fantastic covers, Paganini’s "Caprice #9" and Bach’s "Partita #3". I guess there’s no need to describe those songs because they speaks for itself. If you search for outstanding album to enlarge your collection, that’s it! Make a journey together with the charming lady and her band into the 21st century and discover the power of Cyberspeed she offers you. But don’t forget, to enjoy the whole CD you should have a Macintosh or a PC at least.

Ladies and gentlemen! THE GREAT KAT is back and faster than before. The new masterpiece "Bloody Vivaldi" contains four extremely well-executed Classical/Metal tracks, which stands for pure virtuosity and eminent talent of the mighty Great Kat. She performs all the violins, viola, guitars, conducts, vocals and screams till Jeff Ingegno responsible for the bass lines and Lionel Cordew for the drums. The CD begins with the first cyberspeed version of Vivaldi’s famous piece "The Four Seasons", which comes like a fast bullet and stops only at the end of the last note. I found quite interesting this mix of metal band and chamber orchestra together. The next song "Torture Chamber" offers a nice journey through pain and suffers of hell with lots of crazy psychopatic screams, guitar howling and industrial effects. I’m sure that this tune can give a fantastic sonic pleasure not only for die-hard KAT fans but for all the sado-maso freaks as well. And then come the shortest piece of the album which called simply "Blood" or music against your ears, ha-ha… I am serious, this insane 39-second tune is about massive guitar massacres and blood-dripping lyrics. It follows the last track - Sarasate’s "Carmen Fantasy" - another great cyberspeed version of the Spanish Classical virtuoso, where electric guitars and violins were successfully crossed and performed at indescribably speeds. She really knows how to combine classical music with heavy yet hyper-fast Metal riffs and solos.

Polish Death Metal masters VADER had returned, this time with an interesting mini album which contains six tracks plus one video clip. If you have a PC then you can enjoy the high professionalism of VADER not only audibly but visually too. The CD begins with the "Incarnation" video clip which is from their "De Profundis" masterpiece. And then comes "Creatures Of Light And Darkness" a new song in the vein of their previous album "Black To The Blind". Great song! The next one is a new version of the song "Breath Of Centuries" from their very first album "The Ultimate Incantation". There are no significant changes in it. I mean, the song-structure is remained the same but if concerning its speed then it comes two-times faster and that’s exciting. The title-song "Kingdom" follows the massacre with its slow and catchy guitar rhythms. It surprised me a lot ‘cause I didn’t expect such a slow song from VADER. However it’s a fantastic song. The next one is "Anamnesis" which is a fast track again. It was the bonus track for the Japan version of "Black To The Blind". Well, the last two songs are not impressed me a lot ‘cause these are very experimental remixes and have nothing with Death Metal style at all. These songs are "Inhuman Disaster Mix" and "Quicksilver Blood Mix" which were inspired by two songs of "Black To The Blind" album. It’s a flawless material, even though I must say these two remixes were rather needless in my opinion. Nevertheless VADER still being one of the best Death Metal bands ever. Be sure to check this fast ass-kicking Death Metal material out!

VALHALLA is a two-men ukrainian formation playing Viking Metal. Who knows why, but Stonecold (vocals/guitars) and Stirbjern (bass/keyboards) chose that way. Their music is O.K., though it was definitely influenced by a few nordic Viking bands as well as by some second-generation Black bands. In their 9-song repertory they mixed mid-paced Black riffs together with ancient Viking melodies, folk-based keyboard parts and lyrics about scandinavian myths. Also, you can find there the usual ingradients of Viking/Black bands such as screaming black-type vocals, clear hymnic voices, grinding beats, razor-sharp guitar sound and so on… There's really nothing special in their music. However, it's a decent release which comes with professional sound quality, color cover, photos, lyrics, etc. For the fans of Viking Metal it's a must, though.

Are you remember the old times when bands like DESTRUCTION, EXUMER or NECRONOMICON reign? If so, you can imagine the music WASTELAND actually stands for. It’s pure ripping Thrash Metal in the best way... The band consists of André (drums), Frank (bass), Stephan (guitar) and Tobias (vocals). "Genuine Parts" is their first full-length album but I can assure you it will crush your brains after listening to it once. 12 tracks of nostalgy filled Thrash Metal mixed, of course, with lots of modern influences like adding some Death Metal growls here and there plus some other weird things like fast nearly grinding drum parts. No doubt, it’s a very strong release with great musicianship. Songs like "Agony Of Christ" or "Infernal" simply kills with its catchy pulsating guitar riffs. To cut it short, "Genuine Parts" is for the fans of 80’s Thrash Metal. Buy or die!!!

O.K. Let's analyse what we have here. WAYD plays technical Death Metal in the vein of early ATHEIST and CYNIC materials but with more melodies and what is strange with the add of keyboards and female vocals. They are four: Milan Savko - guitars/vocals, Brano Kósa - drums, Richard Mayer - guitars and Drahos Jurík - bass/vocals. The music of WAYD mainly based on complex breakneck guitar riffing, intense drumming, rolling bass lines and harsh death metal vocals. However, there are some thrashy vocal parts and guitar riffs in their repertory too. Their 10-track album sounds firmly and has a quite enjoyable sound which sometimes reminds me a bit to the sound of the latest albums of DEATH, though. My fave songs are "The Path", "New Light" and the title track which are the most powerful ones I think. So, if you like the above mentioned bands plus you can imagine how they could sound with keyboards and female vocals then you surely bump into WAYD!

The following is a split release of Cadla Communications. Side A includes four polished tracks of the five-men XENOFANES. Their energetic yet melodic Death/Thrash Metal overthrow me at once. The sound quality is ripping and believe me that's count a lot in such complex themes. Their songs provides a pile of catchy riffs, technical cymbal-works, pulsating bass tunes along with mainly AT THE GATES-style vocals. XENOFANES repertory have a mid-paced orientation even though the drummer plays fast grinding beats here and there. The most attractive part of XENOFANES is in the guitarist's work, they mix all the way different riffs together which I like so much. On the other side, the quartet of CRANIAL DUST defines three tracks in ordinary Black Metal style. Of course, their music is evil, dark and even melodious but as a whole I don't see any epoch-making parts there. Basically, their songs come in a straight and quality way, but sometimes due to less of originality it annoyed me a bit. Nevertheless, "Master Death" I found interesting because of its varied song-structure. Hope the new stuff they will compose in that way. Consequently this is a worthy release. However, only XENOFANES convinced me entirely.

Wow, what a title name?!!! It's in Hungarian and means "Drunken Jesus". And what we have here is 14 songs of antichristian holocaust filled with totally suitable lyrics. Musically, ZOMBIE HOLOCAUST is another cool band that support the movement of 80's Thrash bands. And they do the same as their mates in Scandinavia (INFERNÖ, GEHENNAH or GUILLOTINE for instance). Their music is an excellent mixture of old Thrash, Death and Black Metal. Some songs has weird intros before turning into nostalgic mostly Thrash/Death Metal. The sound is quite raw which I'd compared only to SODOM's "Obsessed By Cruelty" era. So, these four guys (Noszov Valentin - guitar/vocals, Horváth Péter - guitar/vocals, Sági Hubert - drums and Galamb Csaba - bass/vocals) really know how to kick some christian ass off.