Reviews
\r\nKarcinoma is an old chapter in the Russian Metal scene. The specific album was released in 1998, but when the band signed its contract with Stygian Crypt, it re-released it. Something else that we must mention is that Karcinoma had split-up, but The Night... Apogee Of Madness is regularly in stores. Despite the fact that the cover artwork and in general all the artwork, refers to something atmospheric and melancholic, the band introduces us a mix of symphonicBlack / Death Metal with some atmospheric elements.
\r\nIt is obvious that One Man’s Bands in Russia are not few. But what is the reason to be put a blame on it? Tears Of Mankind is the name of Philipp Skobelin "band", whose purpose is to make as bored with his debut album, Without Ray Of Hope. Monotonous until death, uninspired to the edge of suicide and without no way of existence, is simply what it could be characterized. Due to its author it is a very good Doom / Death / Gothic album.
\r\nSoulskinner are veterans in the Greek scene. They were created in 1997 under the name Terra Tenebrae and with this name they released the Demo Masks Of Deathly Joy and album Subconscious. In 2000 the band changed its name in Soulskinner that as they say, this represents them more both in lyrics and music. In 2003 the group releases its second completed album, named Breeding The Grotesque and today, after certain changes in their Line up they release Non Stop Killing, an album that will be discussed as for the Greek situation it is something unusual.
\r\nWell, this band has always evoked a sympathetic feeling in me not only because they are so similar with my favorite Dark Throne (of their early days) but because their music is truly engaging, not so much technically as emotionally, forcefully and above all aggressively making once again a loud statement to the black metal community that great black metal has nothing to do with overdosed keyboard melodies or female vocals. It’s only infernal, blasphemous and primitive. So, when their new release dropped into my hands I was more than thrilled as you can imagine.
\r\nThe album is in the stores for one year already, and, even though I tried to, I can’t say that I might be interested in it for some reason. The style is Rock N’ Roll, Guns N’ Roses like, yet the result is totally different, and uninspired. Music paths that we have already seen over and over again, poser-like vocals, “light” songs, that do not add a thing to what we already know from this music scene. This style is not new, and it seems that the number of the really good album releases keeps decreasing as time goes by. \r\n
\r\nSilverdollar from Sweden formed before some years as tribute band. Thus therefore they released an album with covers, which in reality is their first completed album. The recipe is simple (and usual). The band occupies with melodic Heavy Metal sound while they also exist certain reports in Hard Rock but also Power Metal (something that is particularly obvious that Hammerfall and Dream Evil have their honour). Evil Never Sleeps is not a bad album, but in my opinion is does not have something original and different to offer us.
\r\nBelgian black metallers Armentar are releasing their debut album "Baptism By Hate" via Absorb Records. Their sound is raw black metal churning out a continuous barrage of fast, melodic, riffs. The entire album is sustained by an evil spirit, a flowing, unstoppable pace, and a great deal of aggressive virtues. The guitars even if somehow simple nevertheless remain pure and shredding creating a dynamic sharp-edged riffage.