New Reviews 3/27/2011

A Pale horse named death- And hell will follow me-CD (SPV)

So we have a band made of Life of Agony, Type O Negative and Biohazard members . And the melodic metallic goth metal elements are very much in touch here with the post hardcore elements that made LOA and Type O so successful in the 90's. There is a very haunting dark melody going on through out this release. The vocals sound like they could have been done on the more somber LOA and Type O tracks. Now by no means is this a light weight album there are some extreme heavy and doomy moments going on here. They have a huge Alice in Chains element going on here from the 1st two albums esp in guitar and drumming. I'm really impressed with what is going on here . This could be a large band in the heavy rock/ metal scene if SPV gives it a proper video and promotion. Were lacking heavy, creative dark rock music that can actually move you in 2011 and this is it..

http://www.spv.de/

BRUCE LAMONT-Feral Songs For The Epic Decline-CD (At A Loss)
Bruce is best Known for plans in Yakuza and other avant projects. With this a solo CD it reminds me a lot of what Steve Von till has done on solo releases. It has a very eastern/ native american/ heathen element to what is going on here. With Droning tones, somber acoustic guitars. Sung/ Chanting and ritualistic vocals sometimes all going on at the same time. Very primitive percussion almost in the way In Extremo or Dead can dance did it in many many tracks. There is a total Dead can dance vibe about this as well. At times if John Zorn was more Ritualistic he would sound like this . There is such a creepy dark ambience about all of this release. Its not going to gain mass acceptance by any means but thats not the reason for releases like this. We who need these are drown to them like moths to flames . If you like Tribes of Neurot or  Trial of the Bow this will impress the hell out of you or if your were into the more experimental Doors moments then get this and get this now... Very very inventive release here..
http://atalossrecording.com/

VASTUM-Carnal Law-CD ( 20 Buck Spin)
You just don't get strong, jaw dropping mid tempo / slow crushing death metal any more and with Vastum you are getting just this and all I can say is hell ya. If you miss the olded Entombed, Incantation,Bolt Thrower, Grave and Immolation. Then my friends welcome home. The rumble of bass and drums and those amazing harmonic guitar and leads with the vocals that come from down so below. It feels like the mid to late 90's is reborn with that fresh death metal assault. Its almost doom metal if not for the vocal and guitar tones . Come on you remember those bands those fringe bands that crossed the Doom and Death metal scenes and styles but never became a Doom/Death  band. There is even a taste of that Northern European Black metal style (IE.) Bathory or Venom in there as well. Vastum is just what the doctor ordered....
http://20buckspin.com/


Haeresiarchs of Dis-In Obsecration of the Seven Darks-CD (Moribund Cult)
Ok lets be serious here for just one moment please. Moribund either blows me away or bores me with their releases . Moribund has always been Black or White for me  ( no pun intended). WIth Haeresiarchs of Dis is the former as there are just times you get chills from Post Black metal music and for the 2nd time this project of Chaos, Mischief, Occult and Ritual worlds is back with a release to just take you to realms that most projects hope to ever see. There is something about controlled chaos in black metal that works so well. Xasthuar, Leviathan, DHG, CODE, Shining (SE), Watain all get it it and its here with full vengence here as well. Love the chants, synths, raw blistering guitars, warm bass and drums that are on the brink of a faulty Drum machine. Mix elements of MZ412, Valefor and Endvra into the mix and you fully have what these nightmares are all about. I tip my skull full of ale to thee for another fantastic blackened epic journey..
http://moribundcult.com/

Septic Flesh Interview is up @ AZM

http://www.septicflesh.com/

1. So its been 3 yrs since the last Release Communion. What has Septic Flesh been up to since then?

Sotiris Anunnaki V: The band spent a lot of time on the road. We had the opportunity to play live around the world, along with famous bands as Cradle of Filth, Moonspell, Behemoth etc. Then on 2010, we were focused more on the creation of our next album.   

2. The New Album "The Great Mass" seems to be more epic and Less Aggressive them the last . Was this the plan for the release?

Sotiris Anunnaki V: We never make plans, or follow recipes. Everything is open when we start composing songs for an album. Our inspiration and our emotions at the time, lead us to specific directions of expression. The Great Mass is an album with more diversity than communion but also more intensity.  It is a very vivid, spiritual journey to bizarre dreams. The result is grandiose in an almost visual way, so no wonder why a sense of epicness  prevails.   

3. Will Septic Flesh be coming to the perform in North America in 2011 ?

Christos Antoniou: Yes, definitely we will be in USA end of June for about a month with Big Package but I can’t say anything more than this now. We can’t wait to return back in USA!

4. I very interested going from Holy to another France label Season of Mist what do you see as the major difference? Holy seemed to be much more focused on Europe only? is this correct?

Christos Antoniou: Is big difference. Although we have very good relations with Holy, Season of Mist is one of the best labels on metal. Everything is much better now from interviews to tours and of course the breakthrough to USA. We don’t regret for our cooperation with Holy not at all, but we needed bigger label in order the band to go further.

5. Is Chaostar still in action. This project seemed to be a more electronic verison of Septic Flesh is that the direction the band was born from?

Christos Antoniou: Yes and is more active than ever.

We had our first performance in Athens 2 months ago with Rotting Christ. It was really nice although we had major problems on sound. I am in composition process for the new album which will be based on Medea the masterpiece by Euripides. I hope the album will hit the stores around 2012 by Season of Mist. I don’t think Choastar is the electronic version of Septicflesh. Is totally different musical approach than septicflesh and the only common element s the symphonic and acoustic instruments.

6. Does the artwork to " The Great Mass" play a role in the theme to the album . There seems to be a story to the new Album its is very horror based or am I missing something?

Sotiris Anunnaki V: Each song has a different story to tell. I created each story, as a different psalm, that is also a part of a greater liturgy, The Great Mass. There are unsettling ideas, portrayed on the lyrics, creating a lurking kind of fear. There is also a use of religious symbolism in peculiar, disturbing way. I attempted a deconstruction of their meaning, giving a darker point of view. I have used the specific album title as I found very interesting the wide range of meaning that could be attributed to the word Mass. There is also a reference to the musical term, the symphonic sacred musical composition called mass.

7. Your website www.septicflesh.com is more just a doorway to Myspace, Facebook and Twitter is social media the way for bands to get out there in 2011? Will there be a proper site?

Sotiris Anunnaki V: Yes. Right now, the site has only the main web page, with a teaser video from the new album as the main offering. In addition, each week a different part of the artwork of The Great Mass is revealed on the background. At the date of the release of the album, everything will be revealed and the site will have full functionality and much more available stuff to explore.

8. I love mix of harsh and classical male vocals , choirs mixed with the symphonic Blackened Death metal sound? Is it hard to create an album of this caliber?

Christos Antoniou: It came really natural. There was no recipe for this and no plan. We are all of us fans of soundtracks and classical music. The development from our first “innocent” attempt of song Mythos from our first album Mystic Places of Dawn is big and of course my studies played major role on that. We don’t have to search for someone else to help us for the Orchestra and the biggest bonus is that I know how to construct orchestral music in order the orchestra to have dominant role and not of a simple background. I was studied to do that and is always challenge and fun to write for a big Orchestra.

9. I've also thought Septic Flesh is the reasons like bands like Dimmu Borgir, Emperor and Cradle of Filth moved to a more symphonic sound and you did it yrs before them?

Sotiris Anunnaki V: Our first attempt on the field of symphonic composition, was on our first full length album Mystic Places of Dawn that was released in 1994. It was the last song of the album, called Mythos. The song lasted 8:50 minutes and was completely symphonic in nature, although we didn’t have the luxury of using a real orchestra then, but samplers instead. Gradually, we inserted more and more symphonic elements to our music, on each release, experimenting at first with operatic vocals using Natalie Rasoulies and then a full choir. Now we have reached at a point that we can use the full range of available orchestra instruments, creating very technical and cinematic compositions. We are fortunate that we have Christos Antoniou onboard, as he has a Bachelor of Music composition. He studied at the London College of Music under the guidance of Martin Ellerby, Head of Composition department. So unlike other bands that have to use someone else to make the symphonic arrangements of their songs, we don’t and that gives us100% control of the final result.

10. Septic Flesh is a band going on many Decades of amazing music ... Are you still into new bands or no longer something for you to seek out? If so are there any new bands that impress you in 2011?

Christos Antoniou: To be honest I don’t follow metal anymore as I used to do when I was younger. Also art has been saturated, everything has been said and is difficult something to impress me. The only band that I really enjoy listening is Norma Jean. Their harmony, form and rhythm are unique.

11. What you thoughts on Digital vs old school media do you think Downloading and instant access to music has hurt the indie world or is it just making the cream rise to the top?

Sotiris Anunnaki V: The internet allows the music to spread easier and faster to all countries around the world. So there is more potential now for the smaller bands, to promote their stuff.

12. If there was one band you could tour with that you havent who would it be and why?

Christos Antoniou: Morbid Angel and Celtic Frost. Of course the second can’t happen but Morbid Angel is huge influence for our sound. Altars of Madness was shocked us it is a revolutionary album for Metal. You never know we are also under the same label!

13. Is it hard to create your music live or is it very different live versus in the studio?

Christos Antoniou: Very different as Orchestra plays a vital role in our music we have to use laptop for obvious reasons. To hire an orchestra is very expensive, it can happen but for special occasion and a keyboard player can’t replace the sound of an orchestra is impossible. I would say that this is the only concern we have in our shows. In studio you can hide or add things you have this luxury, on stage you have to be focus on your mission. You have to “win” the crowd.

14. Any closing thoughts place here.

Sotiris Anunnaki V: We are welcoming all wicked souls to attend to The Great Mass.

Clint Listing/ Ross Hagen- Peace Breed War

 Here is a track off the upcoming Collab Release I'm working on it was done with Ross Hagen of Encomiast a few years back and now is seeing the light of day.

  Clint Listing/ Ross Hagen- Peace Breed War by The Doorway to

8 New Reviews 3/19/2011

Blut Aus Nord- 777 Sects- CD (Debemur Morti  Productions)

There is a sickness about this band that grows and festers with every release I hear from them. Blut Aus Nord is Astral, Ethereal, Metallic, Doom, Industrial , Blackened and just damn inventive in there sounds. I would always like to say if Swans, Neurosis, Voivod and Lustmord took a trip into the realm of the Black metal arts this is what Blut Aus Nord is.. If you like bands like Red Harvest , DHG and Virus then your coming close to grips with a band like this. The melodies are actually the creepy parts of the album and they make you want to end your very exsistance with there cold and distant beautiful. The ugliness is in the more Industrial and machine like over tones that come through out the release. Blut Aus Nord are just one of those bands you know who they are from the 1st track of the album . They have a sound all there own. Its Defines 21st Century Industrial Blackened Doom Metal... Godflesh, Phobos and MZ412 would be every every proud...

http://www.debemur-morti.com/default.php

Infestus- Ex| Ist-CD (Debemur Morti Productions)

Oh the Heathen elements of the Black arts is strong this this one Ex| Ist is just that a journey that few any ever try to journey and if they come back they are never the same. The band follows its own path into the occult and the dark woods of the old European realms. If you have interest in bands like Burzum, Enslaved, Mayhem, Middle Period Satyricon , Graveland and Khold this will be a road that you will need to travel. The vocals are so close to the brink of losing ones sanity that they accent the hollow sounding and very droning guitar and bass tones with a drummer trying to drive the demonic forces into your very soul. The acoustics and martial elements work so well as a backdrop to all that is going on as well. This is musical craftsmanship on the highest of orders. Infestus is not for the casual listener. You need to dig into this and understand its bleak and somber beauty..

http://www.debemur-morti.com/default.php

Samael- Lux Mundi-CD (Season of Mist)

Samael are back for this review in a form not heard since Passage!!!!. The Occult Industrial Dark metal sounds that made me fall in love with this Swiss group of Power, Mastery and Control of the the Darkened Hymns is all here. The vocals of Vorph are razor sharp. Xy classical/ industrial synth arrangements are second to none again and those guitars are filling the airwaves with bombastic deep full tone.  I feel with Above the band lost it way a bit and tried to relive a past that wasn't needed. Samael are best when they embrace there technology of 21st century and add there eastern and dark metal elements to the electronic they weld so well. I feel like with each song on Lux Mundi we have a grand leader telling us what the course of humanity will be and the masses are listening and understanding every word to help with the cause..  Lux Mundi is massive in sound and compostion. Season of Mist has 4-5 albums coming out right now that will rule 2011 underground music world hands down..

http://season-of-mist.com/

ARKAN-SALAM-CD (Season of Mist)

So what we have is the 2nd release from the former drummer of Old Dead Tree new project.  If you like Old Dead Tree then this will blow you away because all the melodic Death metal and Classic metal elements are all there plus added a major Oriental vibe and female vocals. Arkan have so much in common with Orphaned Land  that members of that band are on this releases. The eastern vibes flow so well here  think of bands like Rajna and Dead Can Dance mixed with powerful death metal riffs and drumming. Arkan are an adventure to say the least.  The mix of Eastern chants, Guttural vocals and lush sung female vocals is so just down right brilliant. Fans of Nile would be interested in this as well though not as brutal still all the fantastic and inventive...

http://season-of-mist.com/

MurkRat - Drudging The Mire- CD (Aesthetic Death)

Is haunting an under statement for an album like MurkRat for sure. This is doom in the same way bands like Dolorian, Skepticism, Thergothon and Ras Algethi did back in the 90's . Organ filled , slow and molasses like with tormented vocals and lumbering passages and arrangments. Love this kind of Doom/Death. They remind me a lot of early Madder Mortem and Opera IX esp because of the female vocals. MurkRat are what the meaning of darkness and sorrow are in the realm of Doom metal. With a style of music you have to live it and understand it or it will just pass you by. MurkRat is not for everyone for sure. There is a very avant element to all that goes on here. They are akin to projects like Devil Doll and Shining (Sweden) at times with the madness it creates for sure. The Piano and Synths sometimes play a major role in the mood of the music, other times its that deep long droning doom guitar and those sickened distanced female vocals/ cries.. MurkRat is something that really just needs to be heard to understand. I would say Bethlethem and Deinonychus fans would wrap themselves in this band as well..

http://aestheticdeath.com/

Negura Bunget- Poarta de dincolo-CDep (Code666)

So the Romanian Avant /Experimental Black/Dark metal force is releasing a final ep on Code666 before the move to Prophecy Productions for good. We have here the haunting Occult and heathen acoustic heaet of Negura as always with the Blackened vocals and the heathen clean sung vox. The music is a mix of Acoustic Woodland music , Black metal, Doom and straight out folk. This is what makes the band so interesting to keep up with and listen to. Though being an ep to leave a label it seems to be very impressively done and the songs don't sound short changed in any way, It's actually quite the opposite it sounds like Negura Bunget took extra time to make this a very special goodbye to Code666. If your a fan of the band this is a must have and it goes from delicate to masterfully dark and epic...

http://www.code666.net/

Haiku Funeral- If God is a drug- Pro CDR ( Hikkiomori Records)

Blackened Industrial Noise/ Avant Electronics with a nod to bands like MZ412, Valefor , Ulver, Manes, Neubaten, Pigface and Skinny Puppy. Haiku Funeral is odd to say the least but it works in way that Ulver's Themes works as its a cross over from the Metallic to the Electronic. This very much what If God is a drug comes to mind with.. The spoken word and electronic elements are very Ulver to say the least and yet again the eastern musical elements come out seem to be a flavor of this review section this time out. I didn't know what to expect from a new label sending me material but if even half there releases are this interesting this will be a new label to follow and grow with.

http://www.hikikomori-records.com/

Tiny Little Blackouts- Daly City- CDEP (Robot123)

So the gang from Tiny little blackouts sent me there new 3 song Ep to review as I really dug their last album and I can safely say there is nothing here not to like if your a fan of Trip hop and Jazzy indie rock with a strong Shoegazer overtone. This reminds me so much of the mellower moments of Anneke  (ex the Gathering), Mazzy Star and even elements of projects like Curve and Slowdive.  The Pop/Americana elements are flowing through this a well were fans of Neko Case will really enjoy this ep. Love the way the acoustics of the guitar and warm bass and simple percussion work so well with the female vocals and odd electronic and left field musical elements mix in to it all. Sometimes just a good indie record is all you need to make the day a bit better and Tiny Little Blackouts do just that...

http://robot123records.com/

OVO interview is up 3/16/2011

 

OVO

http://ovolive.blogspot.com/

1. I know very little about this Duo of Chaos and Power . How did OVO come to be?

We started in 2001, and have toured as much as we can ever since. We've always been a bit out of every scene, being initially identified with the improv-noise style, and lately more and more with the heavy scene. And we played a lot of squats on tour in Europe, because that's where we come from, but I guess it didn't help to spread our word into a more official music scene. Anyway, here we are. A big Italian guy and a small Italian girl, bringing noise to town.  

 

2. Is it very difficult being a duo live and creating such a massive and experimental sound?

We need a lot of help and complicity from the sound man! We use our instruments improperly, and this confuses a lot of sound men...

 

3  You were working with RI Noise/ Hardcore Doom label Load and now working with  Supernatural Cat how did you come to leave the one and sign with the other?

Load is a great label and Ben is a great guy, but over the past few years he had to slow down the label for personal reasons. Also, a European label is easier for us at the moment. It's easier to get the records without annoying tolls and customs problems, and we can communicate faster. We talk with the Supernatural Cat crew daily, following every step of the record, it's great. And it's a step toward the heavy metal audience, which is more reactive to our music, lately.

 

4. The Vocals in OVO sound like Torment pure and simple . I've read there are no effects on them . This must be torture on your throat especially live?

Actually, for the first time we used effects on a couple of songs for this album. But it's the first time, and anyway there's no effect live. She has no problems, apparently, it's the way she sings and it comes naturally. Great, isn't it?

 

5. You  seem to perform with all different genres of music. Do you find the more experimental or more extreme crowds with a better response to you shows?

We love to play and listen to different music styles, and so we love to play with all kinds of bands. As I said, lately we have better responses from the most open-minded metal audiences. But we still love noise! 

 

6. If the members of OVO were to explain the sound how would the both of you do so?

We have no idea, really. It's what comes out from our souls and guts, but we don't know how to explain it.

 

7. You seem to mix visual with the music.. Do you feel a mix of both is needed esp live to give OVO an edge in 2011?

When we started, we had no idea about the whole masked scene in the US; we didn't know Load Records at all... it was just what we came up with. Stefania started to perform masked in 1997, with her female band ALLUN. It's a very important part of being on stage for her. When you perform, you become someone or something else. It's always been like that, since the Greek theatre.

 

8. What are some of your favorite bands to tour or perform with?

Recently we performed with Nadja and Thrones and it was very good. We toured a lot with Rollerball, a band from Portland, Oregon, and they became our American family. Among the bands we always like to play with, I'd like to mention Ludicra, Lightning Bolt, White Mice, Zu, Vialka, Zenigeva. We toured the US with Subarachnoid Space, but they split. We wish Melynda all the best for her new projects. 

 

9. Is there a running theme in OVO songs or just a collection on nightmare and madness?

There are themes that influence the music, but Stefania's lyrics have no real meanings. For example, the last album Cor Cordium is about Shelley's grave in Rome. The previous one, CroceVia, is about the themes of the cross.

 

10. Would you ever think about expanding members for live show or is it the duo that makes it all the more special?

We were an open band at the beginning, then, after a bad experience, we became a duo. And being a duo definitely makes it special.

 

11. What are your thoughts on the Indie music scene in 21st Century? had it lost its magic from 90s and early 00's or is it something that now you really need to dig into to find the really interesting bands?

There will always be good music around. But everything changed since the 90's, we have to accept it. Indie means something very different now. And the ways to look for good music changed too. We always have to be able to surf these natural changes, instead of refuse them. There's a lot of interesting music out there.

 

12. thanks for the interview  any closing thoughts here?

Thank you, we'll be on tour in the US after summer, see you there!

 

New Reviews 3/12/2011

Virus- The Agent that shapes the Desert-CD (Virulent Music label/ Duplicate Records)

I will start off by saying I'm so glad this turned out to be a Virus release and not an Ved Buen Ende release (there is far to much baggage and hype over that project to ever allow a new release to breathe on its own). As we all know this is members of VBE and Beyond Dawn and many other projects from the Norway Post Black metal scene . hat Virus has done on their 3rd release is broke the band into a sound and experience all there own. Were the last album " The Black Flux" was too unfocused and sounded rushed to me . Virus as created what that did with VBE and Carheart there debut and then added Avant indie rock sounds of bands like Polvo and Slint into a stew of not only sonic but Poetic brilliance. Virus will alway have a fantastic off kilter Jazz/Spoke word element to the music tornado of dissident and left field harmonic tones. With " The Agent" it all comes full circle for them. There is such a outsider catchy vibe going on here. At times I even hear moments of love of bands like The Police, Genesis, early Pink Floyd as well. Virus is a band that you need to take time with and understand the massive undertaking is each note created. This band is as complex as any modern composer or symphony..  Virus give me hope with bands like Code , Ihsahn, Ava Inferi that complex music can be something that is as inspiring as wonderful to listening to. Virus self funded this gem so support them with tens of thousands of copies sold so they can tour and release more music majesty..

http://www.myspace.com/czral

Amon Amarth- Surtur Rising - CD (Metal Blade)

Amon Amarth as always reminded me of a more Thrash and Melodic metal verison of Bal Sagoth with their Viking and Death metal elements always being a major focus here. There is a major melody going on with Surtur Rising . Where this band use to be more about going at the throat for the guitar and vocals. I think this is a major plus or any fan of the Swedish death metal sound. The complexity and layers that go on with Surtur Rising seem to so much more then in past releases. You can hear the guitars, bass, under lying effects/harmonics and drums were it used to be more a sonic wall of power and fury. The vocals while still vicious as ever. its the guitars that go from acoustic in nature to full on Melodic Death metal. Lets make it clear they are on a conquest for the heathen realms and Amon Amarth have not let us down on this journey for sure...

 http://metalblade.com/

Thinning the Herd- Oceans Rise- CD (St Marks Records)

So what we have here is a Classic Doom Rock band with one of the truly worst out of tune vocalists I've heard in years. The band is really good musically and rather impressive in that Cathedral, Kyuss, Monster Magnet sound  and when the vocalist isn't doing that horrible worbling / whining vocal. You can really get into the heavy thick grooves of it all. I've now listened to 3 songs and they remind me a lot of the Band Trouble too just without any vocal power yet again. I just can't take it any longer. I'm Done.

http://www.tthmusic.com

Lekamen Illusionen Kallet-The Second Wind-CD (Nordvis)
So this is one of the oddest releases I've had to review in some time . Is there a such thing as Southern Country Black metal with a Goth over tone??? Yes in deed and we have it right here right now . Imagine Johnny Cash mixed with Nick Cave singing and mixing there musical heritage to a black metal band and you have just what Lekamen IIusionen Kellet have spawned on this world. Its beyond unsettling as they love that Diamond head guitar sound as well so its almost as its Classic Blackened thrash with the Country element through out. I just can not wrap my head around this . I know I like it but I'm not sure why or if I really even should. Its just so damn out there I think they are were post black metal are venturing to. This will be way to much for the avg music listener. So take it in steps and see if it kick your creativity in music open as well..
http://nordvis.com/ 

Endstille-Infektion1913-CD (Season of Mist)

These kind of releases just make me smile with that sadistic grim. What Endstille is very clear that are a War Metal band with  PostBlackened, Thrash and Punk elements in the say way bands like Marduk, Bloodstorm and Panzerchrist vomit there sounds of sickness on there where. Endstille just add the element of Hypnotic and Old school Northern European Black metal into the mix of it all. The vocals are in vein of Shining (Sweden) or Watain .. Infektion 1913 is a cry out to the torment and pain that 2011 is seeing all over again its the new Industrial revolution this time its Tech and Science that is making the human race come to the brink. This is music for the feeling the world is currently having.  a must hear extreme metal release..

http://season-of-mist.com/

Nader Sadek- In the Flesh-CD (Season of Mist)

So what happens when an artist or sculptures and masks starts to make and create music on his own. He joins forces with ex members of Morbid Angel , Mayhem  and current Drummer of Cryptopsy . To many a very futurist sound Post Black/Death metal release that sound similar to what Mayhem did on " Grand Declaration of War" with heavy bombastic elements of bands like Nile and Bolt Thrower. Nader seems to be the mastermind behind this . Not sure what he does as it say Conceptual Artist???. Regardless of this its a damn find over the top Metallic event all on its own. I really hope another release comes out of this as this really fucking promising to say the least..

http://season-of-mist.com/

New Reviews 3/5/2011

HEIRS-FOWL-CD ( Denovali Records)

This Australian Crew seem to have fallen into the Post Metal scene with a love of bands like Neurosis, Russian Circles and elements of Post hardcore thrown in for good measure. The Guitars are the Droning Noise Rock mixed with primitive beats and the warm low end bass . The Reviews I'm reading are saying  Swans and Godflesh but I more hear Jesu not Godflesh in what they do and Gira's later not Swans work seems to play much more a major role in there sound. IE " Angel of Light" material. They never seem to become bombastic and full on metallic its a mix of all things that make the whole. Heirs is going to amaze some and bore others to tears as all bands in the post metal style. It's up to you to decide. I find them in the Middle . They have moments but nothing that blows me away..

http://www.myspace.com/denovali

A Life Divided- Passenger-CD (AFM Records)

So this is another in a long line of solid Electro Industrial Hard Rocking units that I would say go into the same style as Stabbing Westard, Filter, Gravity Kills, Oomph!  etc you get a good idea of what this band is doing.. Their songs are catchy as well with the dancey edge in the industrial side but more on a mosh element or a dark and heavy rave side. A Life Divided are very good at what they create. The songs are heavy and rock at the same time. At time I swear they sound like Linkin Park as well. I know this is not what most want to hear but I like this band as they hold the electro industrial element that the Germans seem to love and have enough metal edge to make the guitar rock too. Give them a chance and you will find something to like about them as well.

http://www.afm-records.de/

Cynthesis- DeEvolution-CD (Sensory Records)

So Prog Metal goes in many different directions in the 21st century and Cynthesis mixes elements of Opeth and Porupine Tree and then throws you for a loop were they mix elements of Antimatter, Anathema and Paradise Lost into the table where I would almost call it Experimental Rock/ Prog Metal. This is not an easy listen by any means. There are spoke word moments as well and then goes into full on heavy aggressive Prog metal too. I hate using words like Thinking mans metal but it's truly what we have here.. Love the bass and drum interaction as it really plays off the complexity of the guitar and vocal ranges going on throughout the album. The vocalist reminds me of Mr Cavanagh of Anathema . Cynthesis can get over the ton tech prog metal too so I sure amazing will think this is way to over the top but you know what I really love this band check them out if you can..

http://www.lasercd.com/Departments/Sensory.aspx

Anaal Nathrakh-Passion-CD ( Candlelight Records)

One word comes to mind every time I hear a new album by the UK  force Anaal Nathrakh and that is Chaos. This band is always on the brink of chaos with every track the project to the world. All in the same track the songs of from brutal death, grind blackened post metal elements to a melodic and harmonic power trip. With Passion nothing is different other then the best production any Anaal Nathrakh album has ever had.  This duo always throw as many musical genres as the can into every album for sensory overload and you know what it keeps on working. If Napalm Death and Arcturus could create one band I swear this is what it would sound like. Candlelight has an album of such caliber this year with Anaal Nathrakh it will be something that maybe even go down as one of the all time avant metal albums ever. This this there best album of there 6 album career. Horns  and Wine glasses up for this one folks...

http://candlelightrecordsusa.com/

Ruled by Reason Interview is up

RULED BY REASO

N

http://www.myspace.com/ruledbyreason

1. As most of us know little to nothing about this Extreme Metallic force tell us about yourself..

We're a five piece Heavy Metal band from Cleveland, Ohio. We started jamming together in winter of 2008 with the ambition to make some heavy metal.  We began gigging in 2009 and really from there have just been playing shows and writing a lot of music.


2. You seem to like to mix Prog, Jazz, Power and Death metal into a a stew of chaos and beauty is this how what the sound has always been?

We started this band with the idea to make some Heavy Metal but not really put restrictions on ourselves.  The idea grew into a blend of all our influences and has been evolving ever since. There's always been a pretty strong chemistry between all of us, so it's always been a pretty open minded approach to the style.


3. I feel bands like Meshuggah, Fear Factory, Soilwork and Opeth have played a big part in your sound is this true or am I just hearing these bands by dumb luck?

Definitely true. Every band you stated has really paved the way for the upcoming generation of metal.


4. You are on a very new start up label how did you and The Execution Kollective come to work together?

Nathan Birk is a friend of ours who is working with the label. He liked the sound we had going, and thought it worked well for what The Execution Kollective wanted to have.




5. What you thoughts on the current indie extreme music scene is it thriving or very hard to get any real push with the digital age now?

Its probably a mixture of both.  The digital age is really helping "nobodies" get discovered. Things like Youtube and MySpace really help for the local band to get some exposure they couldn't get without that.  At the same time though, this gives everyone a chance to be heard, and people only have so much time to listen. I guess in the end, good music will be what makes it to the top.


6. Will Ruled by Reason be touring the USA at all in 2011 ?

There is nothing in the works currently, but we would love to and absolutely plan on touring the USA as soon as the time seems right.

7. As I went deeper into the album there was a strong love of very Tech Thrash bands like Forbidden, Testament, Sadus and Exodus do you feel that this is more a layer of the band that one needs to hear as the digest your sound?

Our thrash and tech influences come through since we try to make riffs and songs that are entertaining to perform, at the same time that they're entertaining to listen to. Testament played a large part in showing that and we love to continue it.


8. The vocal harmonies are so powerful do you think the mix of clean and brutal vocals with the very complex melodic music take you a cut above of music of the metal sound today?

I wouldn't say a cut above, but maybe just a different cut.  Bands like Between the Buried and Me do a fantastic job mixing melodic music with brutal vocals. That's always been something that piqued our interest.


9. What is it like in the studio to create " The Dawning of Dystopia" Its it done in layers or a live band then over dubs. There really is so much going on here?

We did everything in layers. During Pre-Production we make tempo maps and scratch tracks. With that our drummer does his thing. Then Guitars,Bass, and finally vocals. Working with Noah Buchanan at Brainchild studios was a blast.


10. Being a newer band to the world . Are there any new or lesser known bands that impress you that need to be mentioned to my readers to support and get the word out?

-We have a thriving scene in Cleveland, Ohio with talented bands that need to be recognized. To name a few: Fallen Captive, Solipsist, Along Came A Spider, Brigmah, Taken by Talons, The Dagger Rebellion. All of them are on MySpace and Facebook. You won't be disappointed.


11. Is there a theme on " The Dawning of Dystopia" or its it a collection of powerful metallic tracks?

Being our debut album, it turned out to be more of a collection of music we had written.  At the time of recording we had 12 songs, so we took our pick of the best. Certain songs were definitely made to be back to back though.


12. thanks for the time to talk any closing thoughts here

We'd really like to say thank you to everybody who's given us the time to listen to what we have to offer. It's a privilege to take part in the current metal scene, and we can't thank everyone enough. Thank you for your time.