Svartsyn - Wrath Upon The Earth (2011)

1. Intro 2:24
2. Wrath of Leviathan 4:34
3. My Mountain 6:44
4. Deathsworned 4:49
5. Dawn of Triumph 4:00
6. Pyramids of Deathlight 4:46
7. Blood Temple 4:35
8. He Who Knows 4:40


Genre: Black Metal
Rating: 8/10

Iskald - The Sun I Carried Alone (2011)

1. Alucinor 01:33
2. Under the Black Moon 05:14
3. Natt utover Havet 05:35
4. Forged by Wolves 05:42
5. I Lys av M¸rket 07:26
6. The sun I Carried Alone 05:30
7. Rigor Mortis 02:17
8. These Dreams Divine 06:01
9. Burning Bridges 11:03

Genre: Melodic Black Metal
Rating: 6/10

In Tha Umbra - Noire [ep] (2011)

1. Intangível 07:17
2. Shadow, Caressing Shadow 05:45
3. The Weight of Fire Shall Harvest the Wine of Twilight 08:03
4. Alva Angústia 01:41

Genre: Progressive Black/Death Metal
Rating: 5/10

Pessimist - Longaevus (2010)

1. Sapiens 04:28
2. Øád 04:24
3. EZH 05:04
4. Ve Stopách 04:27
5. Závist 03:56
6. Hledání 2010 05:15
7. Klam 05:31
8. TriBalet 02:58
9. Longaevus 04:53
10. Marast (bonus track) 04:10

Genre: Progressive Death Metal
Rating: 7/10

*Not to be confused with the US band.

Negative Plane - Stained Glass Revelations (2011)

1. The Fall 02:25
2. Lamentations & Ashes 07:02
3. Angels of Veiled Bone 08:04
4. The Third Hour 01:49
5. The One and the Many 08:29
6. Charnel Spirit 01:13
7. All Souls 09:48
8. The Number of the Word 08:20
9. Stained Glass Reflections 02:47
10. Stained Glass Revelations 11:30

Genre: Black Metal
Rating: 7/10

Excavated - Ad Libitum (2011)

1. Awake 06:36
2. Enslaved In Hatred 05:47
3. Dressed Of A Giant 03:33
4. Enemies Of God 01:01
5. Blinded By Faith 04:05
6. The Red Rebirth 09:26
7. Neglected To Oblivion 07:29
8. Deep In Throat 00:53
9. Demise 05:22
10. Passage 04:15
11. Departure To Negativity 03:04
12. The Greed Of Tyrants 03:32
13. Leaving Jesusalem 01:27

Genre: Death Metal
Rating: 8/10

The Noob Exchange: Devin Townsend- Terria (2001)

Devin Townsend, certainly a very unique individual with a flare to constantly adapt and shake things up no matter what project he may be a part of. Whether its producing albums or creating them with his numerous projects one thing is for certain. The man can not be pigeon holed into any one particular genre. He can do just about anything he puts his mind up too and for me on this record certainly holds true. The reason i chose to review this particular album is simple. Although it doesnt hold the comedic feeling of "Ziltoid" or the scientific induced craziness of "Physicist". Nope, "Terria" to me holds something even more special. It has ATMOSPHERE. Sure, you can hear atmosphere probably on any particular song in Devin's long storied catalog of songs but never one whole particular album.

Im not just talking about a certain sound either. Nope, im talking about genuine atmosphere encased in cloudscapes of bizarre and beautiful arrangements of thought provoking music. I often compare this album to a Pink Floyd album based off this feeling and emotion when listening to this record. Devin's ability to experiment and toy with the listener just shows how underrated as a musician he really is. Dont get me wrong, "Terria" has plenty of bite that SYL fans will still love but he is able to incorporate it to work in the structure that he has put together here. Take a track like "Mountain" for example. The song starts out with a thunderous boom but then becomes layered with the harmonic vocals of Devin and company. Midway through the song it takes a progressive leap of unsuspecting proportions before returning to Devin's high scream and the thunderous booming again. All the while he continues to have mixed different sounds behind the music itself for added effect.

The next track "Earth Day" is a more peppy 8 minute or so song that continues with the common theme of the album. "Deep Peace" is a more mellow tune but features what i think is some of the best things that Devin does on his albums to incorporate into his music. Just like the Star Trek solo from "Material" and the horse screeching of "We Ride" Devin is able to mix in the sound of orcas singing behind the music being presented to you which to me adds a surreal effect. Not to leave out the outstanding solo work done by Devin this song is one of my favorites off this record. With "Canada" Devin continues to add crazy and unique sounds while still keeping the songs intact and without drawing any attention away from the main riffs and lyrical content. Something i feel that Pink Floyd was able to master throughout their career hence the comparison. By far my favorite song on this album is "The Fluke" which is also the heaviest on here.

It has the total vibe of SYL but still manages to stay within range of the rest of the tracks and doesnt get lost in the shuffle. The only thing i dont really care about is the useless drag at the end of the song that adds nothing to the song or album. Devin has a tendency to do this on other albums as well which still makes no sense. But then again, this is Devin Townsend we are talking about here. The songs "Nobody's Here" and "Tiny Tears" are excellent and well written ballads that hit home without fault. Again the solo work on "Tiny Tears" is exceptional in every way and really showcases a whole other side to Townsend. Finally, there is "Stagnant" that ends the album very well filled with great lyrical content and more interesting arrangements both vocally and musically throughout. To me, you simply cannot be a progressive fan and not really enjoy this album as it truly reaches outside the boundaries of the ordinary progressive arrangements.

This album doesnt go out and try to wow you with overly technical playing. It (as with most of the music by Townsend) is too create emotion and deep feeling within the writing and playing. To this day, this album is still my favorite outside the SYL circle. I believe it showcases everything that Devin Townsend is as a song writer and performer. As Devin says "Its just entertainment folks!" and this album is very rewarding to the listener. While you will never say that Pink Floyd would actually put an album out like this you will say "Wow, i need to get some LSD and put this record on!" as it is a beautiful and bizarre musical journey that will enlighten the senses in every way. Pretend that your sitting in a IMAX theater and this is the soundtrack, then you will know where im coming from. A perfect masterpiece that just simply cannot be overlooked.

The Noob Exchange: Mastodon- Crack the Skye (2009)

So what is it that makes a band different? What is it that separates one from the rest of the pack? How can a musician or band remain memorable not only during their career but afterwards when all is said and done? Perhaps ingenuity, creativeness, or just sheer guts to step out of bounds from the norm. And with "Crack the Skye" Mastodon have once again pushed the limits and boundaries of their music. Mastodon in its simplest terms is like the catapillar that has slowly morphed its way out of its cocoon with bright colors and ultrasonic sounds. Once again Sanders and company have gone out of their way to explore even more territory than on their greatest achievement "Blood Mountain".

Starting off with the song "Oblivion" it doesnt take long for the listener to understand they are not getting the run of the mill record nor are they getting "Blood Mountain II" either. Nope, its quite clear from the get go that Mastodon have gone in a more melodic and harmonic state with even more experimentation musically. One thing that i absolutely love from Mastodon with not only this record but the last is that they dont shy away from the retro sound of classic rock n roll from the 60's and 70's. They are unafraid to incorporate their inspirations without becoming to copycat or run of the mill. Its one thing for a band to show skillsets and expertise playing. Its another thing entirely when the band does it with style. And Mastodon is one of the very few right now in this day and age that doesnt need to do a solo every 5 seconds to show off their talent.

If i had to be perfectly honest, i dont like this album as much as "Blood Mountain". Mainly because the boys have somewhat strayed away from using more harsh vocal arrangements or crunching riff patterns as on previous efforts. This isnt an album so much for brutality as it is for musical exploration and insight. Although i do believe "Crack the Skye" is just the tip of the iceberg into what these guys plan to do im still hoping that the next record will have a somewhat return to form with some of the more crunchier guitar and vocal tone. But, this album is also a lot of fun and full of exotic noisescapes that right now can only be matched by the band Cynic.

Its hard to believe the transcendal progression that this band has taken since its incarnation so many moons ago. The cleverness and originality that Mastodon bring is what will eventually make them legends in the genre. For once they were clouded among the scourge of the nu-metal chaos that surrounds them yet they found a way to overcome that separating themselves from not only those bands but the other bands from the underground. Mastodon seem to go into every album and continue to challenge themselves musically and never shy away from that task. With songs like "The Czar", "Ghost of Karelia", "The Last Baron", and "Divinations" they continue to push the boundaries of music.

So although overall i still prefer the acclaimed "Blood Mountain" to this release "Crack the Skye" is still a very solid effort that leaves this band with a very promising future. Mastodon dont pull any punches and have zero restrictions on themselves when creating an album. And make no mistake, just like Ozzy Osbourne, Ronnie James Dio, Type O Negative, and King Diamond. Your never going to mistake who this band is when hearing them on the radio. They have that originality and uniqueness about them that cant be missed. They have cornered a sound that simply cannot be replicated by any other band. And that my friends is why this band will be around long after the slew of metal and rock bands are gone. Mastodon keep pushing the envelope from album to album and musically and creativity wise they are just getting better.

The Noob Exchange: Esqarial- Discoveries (2001)

Every once in a while you come across a album that will just blow you away and jog your memory of why you became a metalhead to begin with. Such is the case with Esqarial, the band seems to be on a mission to help restore death metal as kings of the throne much like their other Polish brethren Decapitated and Vader. The Opening track ' World in Flames ' is just laced with dual guitar solos from Pajak and Vitt that mezmerize you into surreal landscape of eternal beauty. You say, why is this in my death metal! fear not my friends, the unholy aggression is all there but it is the outstanding guitar work that is what embodies this band. The aggressive nature of the band is done in a similiar vein of Morbid Angel. Somehow the band with their guitar playing cross the boundaries between Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and a sound somewhat derived from Testament yet also give the listener a somewhat classic rock feeling. This could be why it would be so easy for this band to become a power metal band if it wantedtoo.

Songs like ' Travel in Lust ' which is one of the instrumentals on this album comes across serene and angelic like. Esqarial is also careful not to become to technical and this is what seperates the band from the likes of Decapitated and bands like Theory in Practice. It is the emotional roller coaster that the band seeks to convey to the listener. My favorite track off the album is ' Sacred War '. A very pumped up tune that comes right at you and blisters the listener like a scorching hot day. The riffs are outstanding here as the band truly shows its death metal colors here. Towards the end of the solo break the band kick into a semi-spanish acoustical and then revert back to the main riffing. The fifth track ' Nightmare ' has a dark and melodic intro reminding me somewhat of old Atrophy but done with the ever so popular Eyptian sound. The song has a very cold and dark vibe about it creating a sense of dread within it. Again, Vitts and Pajak's solo work is astounding which adds a somber feeling to the mood the song creates.

Around track seven comes ' Atlantis ' another head turner. The band pummels out the riffs and carnage holding nothing back. Using quick licks throughout the song while Pajak bellows out his deathly growls. The song ' True Lies ' adds yet another element to this bands resume as it is filled with a sort of folk sounding riffing. The End of the cd is where the listener gets a real treat. The song ' Guitar Explosions ' is a nine and half minute musical journey that sweeps the listener into a light and beautiful barrage of emotion. Simply put, Discoveries dares to take death metal where so many few fear to tread. Although lyrically, Esqarial doesnt astound you nor does bassist Lud or drummer Bart but as with all machines you need every part to be effective and with this pair of guitarists it all works out with its own fine chemistry.Esqarial is without a doubt taking a que from other progressive death bands like Opeth but have essentially dubbed a style all their own. They have become one of my new favorite bands and are severely underrated and have not garnered the attention they absolutely deserve. It is in my honest opinion that Esqarial will be a force to reckon with.

The Noob Exchange: Strapping Young Lad- City (1996)

Its no secret about my passion for Devin Townsend and his work and there is logic to my reasoning. Devin and the music he creates exemplifies everything that i love about music in general. It can be in a somewhat classic rock vibe, a thrash vibe, a bluesy vibe, or just plain old pop rock. And it is with this that Devin simply unleashes all the fury and frustration of everyday life which in turn becomes Strapping Young Lad. The opener is a blasting and upbeat intro that opens up a astral gateway to the madness that awaits you. Then the song All Hail the New Flesh is one of the most ferocious and earth pounding songs on this record. It totally numbs you with a sonic boom as if you had just witnessed a earthquake. with a opening lyric Hey man, im going to fuck this shit up you know you are in store for a wild and crazy ride. The band is truly at the top of its game here and while Devin and Jed rip open your lungs with their screeching guitar riffs, Hoglan is crushing the atomsphere with his immortal drum playing. The way that Devin screams on this song makes you envision yourself losing your soul which is trying to escape your very own carcass.

The song Oh My Fucking God opens up with a narration ( perhaps taken from a movie? ) while the riffs come crashing on you like waves of thunder and all the while Devin sings so fast that it almost becomes incoherent.Other parts of his vocals on here feel as if Devin is heeving up his internal organs. The keyboards add a nice touch to this song as well especially towards the end where it feels as if a bunch of ants are crawling all over you. By far my favorite song not only on this album but of all time is Detox. The amount of energy that Devin and the boys create here is overwhelming and powerful. Using a basic chug riffing at the beginning it takes no time for the rest of the band to jump in and create havoc. Without a doubt this song was made for moshing and i cant keep myself from continuely headbanging to this classic.

It seems that Devin has poured a lot of energy and emotion into this song as if he was screaming for help only to meet frustration. My favorite part of the song is during the break and Devin jumps into this lyrical passage How, did i get here tonight?, what am i looking for?, how did i reach this state?, how did i lose my sight?, Im lost. Im freaking. and everybody knows, everyone watching. So here's, all my hopes and aspirations, nothing but puke, God, its so lonely This passage speaks volumes not only in this song but to me as a person. i cant help but get emotional while listening to it. There are many songs that people listen to unleash their frustration, anger, and sadness and this song is one of them.

Underneath the Waves has a rip like riff from the get go and it reminds me a bit of early Megadeth which can never be a bad thing. This is probably one of the more chaotic songs on this album in terms of riff arrangement. Listening to this song it is so amazing to see how Devin can keep up his vocal range as he has long drawn out screams of chaotic lunacy. The keyboards are a very nice touch at the break point giving the listener a sense that maybe a brooding war is about to commence. The song is just unrelentless from start to finish and i wouldnt change a FUCKING THING ABOUT IT. Probably the most diverse and odd song on this record is Room 429. Starting out with a creepy keyboard sound much in the likes of King Diamond Devin starts to kick out his dark and morbid vocals.

One can get a sense from this song that Devin is maybe sounding like a very twisted version of Captain Howdy. Even some of the background vocals remind me of movie scores like The Omen or The Amityville Horror. It has that creepy sound yet is almost laughable at the same time. The band has a lot of energy and chemistry and it shows throughout this record. If there are any problems on this record i cant find any. This is Devin and crew at their most extreme and excellence. This album will forever be a landmark in this band's career and a ode to the emotional turmoil that we all suffer while we continue our journey in life. There are many other albums and styles that Devin has created but this is one that truly stands out. For anyone who hasnt had the opportunity to check out Devin's work this would be a great starting place.

The Noob Exchange; Bryan Thomas (Westering) Interview

First off, I want to thank you Bryan for taking the time out to do this interview with me. I know your quite busy working on the following up to "Help a Body" which was just a fantastic debut and I cant gush over it enough. I guess we should start with how Westering came about and what the thought process was when you created this dark monster?

I started Westering in 2007 as an extension of an earlier project. I had recently moved here to Seattle from Phoenix and I didn't really know anybody, had a lot of free time on my hands, and had a lot of anxiety about everything. I really felt like the world was going to end, or I would be run over by a car, or whatever. I felt like everything I was doing musically was awful, so I started over with Westering.

Does the name mean anything in particular, how did the name come about?

Yeah, more or less. But I definitely encourage that it not be thought of as being a very strict meaning. I was just thinking of things westering; celestial bodies, ships out here on the pacific, etc.; and I was thinking of that being a metaphor for dying.

I know in private discussions you and I have talked about the influence of bands like The Ruins of Beverast. Ive seen reports that maybe Joy Division may be an influence so I was wondering what other influences does Westering share? I find it interesting because I am a big Project Pitchfork fan and they have a whole darkwave vibe which I can kind of see in your music.

I never really sat down and took an inventory of influences. The way I work, I really can't listen to anything too similar to what I'm doing because I want to avoid ripping another artist off, and in any case, the result is mostly a series of happy accidents so it would be pointless anyway. I think the record reflects a certain perennial interest of mine in big, dramatic, reverby music with guitars and synths. So whether that be The Chameleons, or Swans, or older Ruins of Beverast, I can't really include Westering in that tradition, but that was my intention anyway. I read books and watch movies too, that may be an influence. I live in a city, surrounded by forests, the weather here is rainy, etc.

I am personally very impressed with your work and yet find that there isnt quite the buzz yet about this record aside from those who have read my own writeups on the record. Is it maybe a little frustrating that there hasn't been more responses about it?

At times I'm a little frustrated. But by in large, I'm so focused on moving on from Help A Body that I don't particularly mind that no ones hearing it or writing about it. That being said, I do greatly appreciate what little has been written, yourself included. Part of the reason for the silence about the record may be that these songs are fairly old, and they reflect an approach to black metal that was maybe timely, or maybe even prescient when they were made, but by now may seem a bit tired to a lot of listeners. Help A Body may be riding the backlash against shoegazey black metal. Which is fine. I never intended it for a particular type of listener, the songs are there, so hopefully that gets noticed.

Although I share a love for many bands, genres, etc. I have a huge admiration for solo musicians who can create entire albums basically by themselves (Trent Reznor, Devin Townsend, VLE, Sig:Ar:Tyr, etc). Although im sure you get guest musicians to help out it would seem that the brainchild is primarily your own vision correct?

I did everything on the record. I'm not a great drummer, so I programmed those. But I played every instrument.

How long have you been a musician? Is this something you just woke up one day and decided to be or did you know from a young age what your passion was?

Well, I wouldn't really call myself a musician. At some point, years ago, I decided I wanted to make music, but I was surrounded by truly talented musicians. I was too intimidated to try out for bands or expose my interest in making music, so for years I made songs and never showed them to anybody.

As I kind of previously stated ive been a huge rock/metal fan for years and im aware of the scene that Washington has with bands like Alice n Chains, Soundgarden, Nevermore, and most recently Wolves in the Throne Room. Is there a serious black metal fanbase in WA or is it still primarily a small core group as the state isnt really know for its black metal prowress?

There's fairly large interest in black metal here in Washington. There are quite a few black metal bands, or black metal related bands, but maybe not as much as in Oregon. Interest here tends to fall into two camps, and I identify with neither of them.

One of the great things I love about "Help a Body" is how it flows so perfectly together in sound and atmosphere but I was wondering if there is a deeper concept to the album in terms of lyrical content? Where does the inspiration come from?

I would say yes, but again I would caution against a strict interpretation. In the end, all I can say is that Help A Body is about the struggle against the gravity of our own inner capacity. The fight against our innate limitations. Our DNA I suppose. But while making We Buried Him Preciously, for instance, I was thinking a lot about the animator Richard Williams, who was unable to finish a film he'd been working on for decades, which is a horribly depressing idea to me. So that's not the same thing exactly, but maybe not all that different. And maybe it fits loosely with the currents that run through the other songs.

Another thing that is highly impressive here is the production and mix of this album. For me personally, I have a pet peeve when it comes to black metal in general regarding production. Im not a huge fan of the rawness or demo-esque feel that you often find in the traditional black metal recordings. You have come out and given it a polished and clean sound yet you don't lose any of the cold raw atmosphere or musical integrity on this record while doing so. Was that the intention or just how it ended up turning out?

I really dislike the demo sound you mentioned. I hate that stuff. I don't understand it. As soon as I hear white noise, in the red, guitars, or a 'practice space' sound to the drums, I completely check out. That stuff seems to be everywhere these days too. Like I alluded to earlier, a lot of the production was the result of happy accidents. The guitars, for instance, sound the way they do because I was trying to obfuscate the sound by running it through different near-broken processors and shitty amps. I recorded four tracks of some guitar part, layered them, and listened back and liked the result. It was a fairly random process. I don't particularly agree with lofi-as-an-aesthetic approaches to making music, though I have to admit that my taste often tends toward lofi or necro records. But when it's a process, a 'necrotizing' process, it feels a little dishonest to me. There was a push/pull in this regard while making the record. I needed to do some obscuring with the use of reverb and layered distortion, etc., but I didn't want to use those tools as a crutch. Apparently my ear errs on the side of a slightly clearer sound than is often exhibited by the world of one man black metal bands. I'm using very shitty equipment mind you. There's no reason for people out there with fancy computer programs to be making crap, 'raw' records just so they can release 6 albums a year.

Do you have any favorite tracks on "Help a Body" ?

I'm still fond of We Buried Him Preciously and To Lurch And Fall.

Now being that Westering is basically a one man project do you perform live or can you do it live?

I'm in the early stages of trying to put a live act together for Westering. It's hard. I don't want to half ass it. Obviously, a lot of one man projects end up as a guy with a guitar and a drum machine. I would never do it that way. The new songs have a lot of sequenced stuff so I'm trying to figure out how that would work with one or possibly two drummers, as would be my preference.

Now, I know your working on a new record so how is that coming along? Last I saw you had at least 3-4 new songs that were still in the early stages yet.

The follow-up record is all done except vocals, which I may do in a friends studio. We'll see. But it has ten tracks.

Is the plan on the new record to be a continuation of "Help a Body" or are you going to try different things with the new one? And do you have a working album title yet?
It'll be very different from Help A Body. I would say it's a somewhat cleaner and much more dynamic record. Less claustrophobic. Agoraphobic maybe. No title yet.

Is Westering the only project you have or are you involved with any other musical endeavors at this present time?

I have one other project at this time, but I'm getting some help in the vocal department, so until that's done I'm keeping it under wraps.

Well Bryan, I want to thank you for taking the time to sit down and do this with me. Again, I love this debut and look very forward to future releases from this project. I definitely wish you luck and look forward to speaking too you again. So im going to give you the last word here to speak your mind and tell the fans whatever you wish.

Well, I just want to thank you Anubis for this forum. Cheers to everybody.

The Noob Exchange: Westering- Help a Body (2010)

01. We Buried Him Preciously
02. Only Forever
03. My Naked Hands
04. To Lurch And Fall
05. An Old Confusion
06. I Soon Will Be Myself Again
07. Gestures In The Dark
08. Vestiges
09. Whitehaired

So yea, its been a while since ive written a full blown review and lord knows there has been some pretty good releases this year. But with this album I just had to sit down and write one because as of now its my favorite of 2010 hands down. I cannot state enough how happy I am about this record. Or maybe happy is the wrong term as this record is downright depressing and foreboding. The record is a blend of black metal, ambience, and cold suffocating atmosphere. I've read other snippets about the album in which they throw in the term "shoegaze" which continues to baffle me. I swear there are new terms for music everyday when it really isnt needed. I also have seen punk thrown in there as a influence which I don't sense at all on this record. Fans of Velvet Cacoon and The Ruins of Beverast will enjoy this record immensely. The record is the debut from a lad out of Seattle, Wa by the name of Bryan Thomas.

He performs a eerily clausterphobic and haunting record here that ensares you from beginning to end and never lets up. Even the album cover in all its simplicity does its job to encompass the dark atmosphere of the record itself giving it a feel of total isolation and loneliness. This album would be fantastic to spin while sitting in a dark forest with a thick heavy fog swirling about. Help a Body is a voidic journey of eternal darkwave bliss. Throw in some great percussion and acoustic interludes and you got a recipe for a total suicidal and psychotic meltdown. My favorite tracks on here are "We Buried him Preciously", "My Naked Hands", "To Lurch and Fall", "Gestures in the Dark", and "And Old Confusion".

Fact is, there is no bad track on here which is refreshing. The arrangements are just so top notch throughout this record that it flows seemlessly from start to finish. Some of the keyboards remind me a lot of the work done on The Enigma Prognosis by Veneficum which is probably another reason why I love this record so much. The haunting atmosphere cannot be overstated here because it is such a huge part of what makes this album flow. But here I like Thomas' vocal approach much more which doesn't overtake the music itself or try to drown it out. But even with the translucent nature of the music there is still a angry and furious approach to how the music is conveyed to the audience. At this present time the album is limited to 500 copies (one of which I now own) and is totally worth the price of admission. We are heading for the downstretch of 2010 and although that's plenty of time for another record to shine for me I seriously doubt there will be one as I have played this record at least 2-3 times a day now for over 2 weeks. At this point in time Help a Body will be a serious album to contend with for the album of the year for me and deservedly so.

Silent Stream Of Godless Elegy - Návaz (2011)

1. Mokoš 06:21
2. Zlatohlav 04:50
3. Skryj hlavu do dlaní 07:32
4. Přísahám 05:16
5. Slava 04:02
6. Sudice 03:40
7. Dva stíny mám 04:19
8. Pramen, co ví 06:47
9. Samodiva 05:52

Genre: Folk/Doom Metal
Rating: 7/10

Abysmal Dawn - Leveling The Plane Of Existence

01. The Age of Ruin
02. Pixilated Ignorance
03. In Service of Time
04. Rapture Renowned
05. Our Primitive Nature
06. Perpetual Dormancy
07. Leveling The Plane of Existence
08. Manufactured Humanity
09. My Own Savior
10. The Sleeper Awakens

Genre: Death Metal
Rating: 6/10

The Noob Exchange: Factory of Dreams- Melotronical

For as long as ive been alive and known rock/metal music i still find it amazing when i can discover a band or even just a song or album that catches my breath and excites me to the core. And ironically when it comes to this cat it doesnt have to be the loudest or heaviest of albums as long as i feel it has substance, feeling, and least above all emotion. Last year Westering took me by surprise despite some of the naysayers and the same will happen this year as well as Factory of Dreams has encaptured my soul with their new opus Melotronical.

Factory of Dreams hails from Portugal and consists of music mastermind Hugo Flores and Swedish singer Jessica Lehto whose vocals are both mesmerizing and beautiful. Both members are also involved in other musical projects beyond FOD but for me it would be hard to believe how it could get much better than this. The music is a strong blend of gothic symphonic rock with a strong dash of progressive elements. The way that Lehto sings on this album at times comes off almost Enya-esque in terms of vocal delivery that mesh really well with the mood and atmosphere of the musical genius of Flores and his exceptional compositions.

Although i am a avid fan of bands like classic Lacuna Coil or Leave's Eye's a band like Factory of Dreams brings more to the table for me and at this time seems to have gotten lost in the thick of a very saturated scene of bands with a similiar vein and theme. With the opener "Enter Nucleon" it sets off the album very energetically with a combination of vocal from both Lehto and Flores. Next up is my favorite off the album in the title track with has a very moody intro with a nicely placed piano piece. Lehto's vocals are just haunting in every way which begin to crash into the crunchy guitar riffs that erupt in the middle of the song. This track is a perfect example and feel of bands like Ayreon or even my favorite mastermind Devin Townsend.

One thing that i can ultimately appreciate about composers such Hugo Flores and the above mentioned names is that they try and make every song a stand alone piece. Meaning, its not overdone and yet there is no filler. Each track off of Melotronical is exceptional with perfect craftsmanship that envelopes the listener to hunger for more. The one thing that i feel strongly separates FOD from the other bands in the same genre is the fact that they are not afraid to dive into the more pop oriented culture rather than try to hard to force the metal sound into their music. There's just the right amount of edge and crunch while still holding the beauty and tantalizing atmosphere that they make with the melodies and vocal deliveries. The true beauty of the album is that its the atmosphere and intensity that excells within the harmonies and operatic vocal work. Despite the obvious gothic oriented overtones there is still quite a bit of diversity throughout each track that never loses focus of the endgame.

Whether its the synth-percussion, the fluent guitar riffs, or the overwhelming dynamic energy of Lehto's vocals it does not matter. The chemistry between the two is fantastic and the worlds that they combine flow flawlessly together. Some of the great tracks on the record are "Melotronical", "Echoes from Earth", "Obsessical", and "Back to Sleep" which really reminds me a lot of the Enya feel that i mentioned earlier. Overall, the album is just fantastic and beautifully written and keeps the listener engaged throughout the record. Although i have not heard their previous efforts i will be making that a must and look very forward to future works from this band. If you like bands in this vein that can combine elements of synth, goth, and progression with excellent vocal work from both parties than this definitely for you. If you want to see how a band does it perfectly and the right way than this is a must for your catalog. The orchestration and dramatic combinations of sounds and atmosphere are dramatically driven home with a hell of an album here which is already my favorite of 2011.

Factory Of Dreams - Melotronical (2011)

1. Enter Nucleon 03:42
2. Melotronical 05:26
3. A Taste of Paradise 03:39
4. Protonic Stream 08:05
5. Into Oblivion 04:40
6. Obsessical 04:23
7. Back to Sleep 03:18
8. Whispering Eyes 04:18
9. Subatomic Tears 04:33
10. Dimension Crusher 04:24
11. Echoes from Earth 04:25
12. Something Calling me 03:37
13. Reprogramming 04:09

Genre: Gothic/Symphonic/Progressive Metal
Rating: 10/10

Mourn Code - Paradise Of The Walking Waste (2011)

01. Unfolding The Drawn [01:02]
02. Rats And Gin [03:26]
03. From Ear To Ear (Confession From A Deranged Mind) [03:15]
04. In Honor To Hate [03:40]
05. Disaffection [02:41]
06. Mourns Of The Sick And Perverted [03:40]
07. She Died A Virgin (Letter From A Deranged Mind) [03:37]
08. Ablazing The Grudge [03:29]
09. Wreath For Eradication [03:31]
10. The End Of New Life [03:11]
11. Gross Thread And Rusted Needles [05:51]

Genre: Death Metal
Rating: 6/10

The Neologist - The 26 Letters Of Your Universe (2011)

01. The 26 Letters Of Your Universe
02. Event Horizon
03. 3.0
04. The White One
05. A Dress Rehearsal For A Funeral
06. Number 55
07. Cyclical Timing
08. A Place Where The Dead Don’t Bother Me
09. The Infinity Of Thought
10. Dead Winter Inside
11. Zombiatic Nerve
12. The Hive (In Flames Cover)

Genre: Progressive/Melodic Death Metal
Rating: 5/10

Profane Prayer - Eye Of Sin (2011)

1. Prologue 03:23
2. The Widow 02:58
3. Sorrow 04:22
4. Eternal Greed 02:25
5. Pain is Taking Shape 02:43
6. Eye of Sin 03:48
7. Under the Black Sun 03:41
8. Apocalyptic 02:36
9. Redemption 06:26

Genre: Black Metal
Rating: 4/10

The Ransack - Bloodline (2011)

01. Missing 04:10
02. Collateral Damage 04:01
03. Vicodin 02:57
04. Zenith 02:57
05. Son Of The Seas 03:34
06. The Last Days 04:06
07. Enemy 03:41
08. My Bullet Your Name 04:26
09. Scars 04:05
10. Trace 06:25

Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Rating: 6/10

Emerald Sun - Regeneration (2011)

1. We Won’t Fall
2. Theater of Pain
3. Where Angels Fly
4. Regeneration
5. Starchild
6. Speak of the Devil
7. Planet Metal
8. Chasing the Wind
9. Fantasmagoria
10. Holding out for a Hero (CD bonus)

Genre: Power Metal
Rating: 8/10

Ulcerate - The Destroyers Of All (2011)

1. Burning Skies 07:34
2. Dead Oceans 07:01
3. Cold Becoming 06:16
4. Beneath 06:56
5. The Hollow Idols 06:06
6. Omens 08:26
7. The Destroyers of All 10:30

Genre: Technical Death Metal
Rating: 6/10

Sirenia - The Enigma Of Life (2011)

01.The End Of It All 04:31
02.Fallen Angel 03:59
03.All My Dreams 04:49
04.This Darkness 04:00
05.The Twilight In Your Eyes 04:00
06.Winter Land 03:55
07.A Seaside Serenade 05:53
08.Darkened Days To Come 04:22
09.Coming Down 04:38
10.This Lonely Lake 03:33
11.Fading Star 04:46
12.The Enigma Of Life 06:12
Bonus:
13.Oscura Realidad 02:33
14.The Enigma Of Life (acoustic version) 5:53

Genre: Gothic Metal
Rating: 6/10

Osamenta - Subversivo (2011)

1. Hambre de Revancha
2. Asesinando a la Vida
3. Clase Mierda
4. Bahía Mortal
5. El Camino
6. Nuestro Lugar
7. Cuando Estalle la Rebelión
8. Algo por Hacer
9. Profecías
10. Fábrica sin Patrón
11. Diez Mentiras
12. Armados Hasta los Dientes

Genre: Thrash Metal
Rating: 9/10

Incrustator - Spectral Whirlwind (2011)

1. (Infrared) 0:38
2. (The Serpent) 3:36
3. (Mad Monster) 5:30
4. (Harmony of Chaos) 4:10
5. (Delusions) 5:12
6. (Spectral Whirlwind) 6:05
7. (Another World) 5:45
8. (Mechanical Prayer) 8:17

Genre: Progressive/Technical Death Metal
Rating: 9/10

Arafel- For Battles Once Lost (2011)

1. Sword's Hymn 07:32
2. Kurgan 06:03
3. The Siege 05:46
4. 1380: The Confrontation 06:47
5. The Last Breath of Fire 03:25
6. Im Feld 04:45
7. Wolf's Hunt 05:44
8. Death of Archaic World 06:14

Genre: Black/Folk Metal
Rating: 9/10

Lazarus A.D. - Black Rivers Flow (2011)

1. American Dreams
2. The Ultimate Sacrifice
3. The Strong Prevail
4. Black Rivers Flow
5. Casting Forward
6. Light A City (Up In Smoke)
7. Through Your Eyes
8. Beneath the Waves of Hatred
9. Eternal Vengeance

Genre: Thrash Metal
Rating: 4/10

MyGrain - MyGrain (2011)

1. Into The Parrallel Universe
2. Shadow People
3. Dust Devils And Cosmic Storms
4. Of Immortal Aeons
5. A Clockwork Apocalypse
6. Eye Of The Void
7. Trapped In An Hourglass
8. Xenomorphic
9. Cataclysm Child

Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Rating: 5/10

Keith Merrow - Awaken The Stone King (2011)

01. From Fathoms Beneath (The Awakening Pt. 1) 04:23
02. Heart of the Sea Nymph 03:46
03. The Piscator 03:35
04. Braving the Dunes 04:42
05. Spirit of the Ancient Siren 03:39
06. Many a Fortnight 01:41
07. People of the Bog 04:00
08. Beheading the Manticore 03:02
09. Paramount Asmodeus 04:22
10. Stone King (The Awakening Pt. 2) 10:34


Genre: Progressive/Instrumental Metal
Rating: 7/10

Defiled - In Crisis (2011)

1. From Alpha 00:23
2. Lethal Agitator 03:30
3. Retrogression 03:33
4. Unconscious Slavery 06:04
5. Paradoxical Chaos 02:49
6. In Crisis 05:07
7. Behind You Pray 04:30
8. Resentment Without End 05:19
9. Intolerant 04:42
10. Maze of Nescience 04:10
11. Revelation of Doom 04:22
12. To Omega 00:10

Genre: Death Metal
Rating: 7/10

Falkenbach - Tiurida (2011)

1. Intro (1:38)
2. ...Where His Ravens Fly... (7:25)
3. Time Between Dog and Wolf (6:01)
4. Tanfana (5:32)
5. Runes Shall You Know (5:59)
6. In Flames (7:53)
7. Sunnavend (5:51)
8. Asaland (Bonus Track) (4:06)

Genre: Folk/Black Metal
Rating: 8/10

Theatres Des Vampires - Moonlight Waltz (2011)

01. Keeper of Secrets 05:25
02. Fly Away 03:32
03. Moonlight Waltz 04:28
04. Carmilla 04:59
05. Sangue 03:59
06. Figlio Della Luna 04:23
07. Black Madonna 05:00
08. Illusion 05:01
09. Le Grand Guignol 03:57
10. Obsession 04:25
11. The Gates of Hades 03:32
12. Medousa 04:37

Genre: Symphonic Goth Metal
Rating: 7/10

Battlelore - Doombound (2011)

1. Bloodstained 04:34
2. Iron of Death 04:42
3. Bow and Helm 03:56
4. Enchanted 05:40
5. Kärmessurma 04:23
6. Olden Gods 04:21
7. Fate of the Betrayed 05:08
8. Men as Wolves 04:38
9. Last of the Lords 05:43
10. Doombound 08:02
11. Kielo (instrumental) 02:57


Genre: Heavy/Symphonic Metal
Rating: 6/10

Wormfood - Posthume (2011)

1. Les noces sans retour 8:31
2. Vanité des amants 7:27
3. Troubles alimentaires 5:52
4. Passage à vide 7:51
5. Salope 4:20
6. Des hauts des bas 6:25
7. Le seul amour 9:09
8. EWB28IF 4:28

Genre: Dark/Avant Garde Metal
Rating: 6/10

Earthship - Exit Eden (2011)

01. Caught In A Storm [2:12]
02. Sea Of Peril [3:45]
03. Fever Pitch [4:13]
04. A Line Dividers [3:44]
05. Born With A Blister [5:06]
06. Bleak [3:07]
07. Grace [4:14]
08. A Feast For Vultures [4:44]
09. Soul Embedded [2:50]
10. Exit Eden [3:31]
11. ... As If She Were A Black Bird [1:28]

Genre: Doom/Sludge Metal
Rating: 8/10

Monumental Torment - Element Of Chaos (2011)

01 - Nameless One
02 - Slaughter House
03 - Lethargic Sleep
04 - Mental Slavery
05 - Opression Submission
06 - Seek To Destroy
07 - Paradox
08 - Millenium Of Death
09 - Element Of Chaos
10 - Last Voice Of Future

Genre: Technical Death Metal
Rating: 6/10

Secrets She Kept - La Fin Absolue Du Monde (2010)

1. Legion 3:41
2. Carrion Soul 4:09
3. Enemy 2:07
4. Fucking Christ 4:29
5. FleshEater 2:50
6. The Messiah of Pus and Bleeding Excrement 6:46
7. La Fin Absolue du Monde 3:59
8. A Wolf For Every Womb 4:37
9. Undying 3:36

Genre: Black Metal
Rating: 5/10

Legion Of The Damned - Descent Into Chaos (2011)

1. Descent Into Chaos (Intro) 01:50
2. Night Of The Sabbath 03:32
3. War In My Blood 03:35
4. Shrapnel Rain 04:02
5. Holy Blood, Holy War 04:14
6. Killzone 04:02
7. Lord Of The Flies 05:22
8. Desolation Empire 04:26
9. The Hand Of Darkness 04:34
10. Repossessed 04:53

Genre: Thrash/Death Metal
Rating: 6/10

Stratovarius - Elysium (2011)

1. Darkest Hours 04:11
2. Under Flaming Skies 03:52
3. Infernal Maze 05:33
4. Fairness Justified 04:21
5. The Game Never Ends 03:54
6. Lifetime in a Moment 06:39
7. Move the Mountain 05:34
8. Event Horizon 04:24
9. Elysium 18:07

Genre: Power Metal
Rating: 6/10

Mechina - Conqueror (2011)

01. Incipient Tragoedia (2:26)
02. Pray To The Winds (6:01)
03. Anti-Theist (3:44)
04. Non Serviam (3:44)
05. [error 36_48.58_connection Lost] (4:31)
06. Internecion (5:21)
07. The Iron Law (5:27)
08. Conqueror (3:28)
09. A.D. Astra (3:03)

Genre: Industiral Death Metal
Rating: 5/10

Belphegor - Blood Magick Necromance (2011)

1. In Blood - Devour This Sanctity 05:31
2. Rise to Fall and Fall to Rise 06:01
3. Blood Magick Necromance 07:00
4. Discipline Thorugh Punishment 04:05
5. Angeli Mortis De Profundis 03:00
6. Impaled Upon the Tongue of Sathan 05:42
7. Possessed Burning Eyes 05:33
8. Sado Messiah 03:50

Genre: Death/Black Metal
Rating: 7/10