TTI Archives: June 2000

4/5
AGATHODAIMON
Higher Art of Rebellion
1999
Nuclear Blast
gothic doom black
Having started as a black metal band, Agathodaimon (often referred to also as I Gotta Daemon) are taking the genre to a new dimension with their latest release. This record is a mixture of everything from standard black (very little of it, though), doomishly slow passages, resulting in some 8-min songs, and some weirdo gothic harmonies. The slow, deep and hard ;) guitars are inter-webbed with sampled keyboards, looped samples, blast beat breaks, power metal twin-riffing and drokk knows what else. The singing also varies from black metal screaming, to death metal growling, to clean wicked whispers, to normal signing and to the harsh creepy chanting of the likes of Mayhem's Maniac. The album certainly has a vibe and an ultimate atmosphere to it, which, ironically, turns out to be its only flaw. The eleven songs plus two bonus tracks are just a bit too much of listening to. You simply have to be in some particular mood to enjoy and appreciate the record in full, otherwise you'll just consider it boring, like I did at first listening. Another thing here is somehow all of the songs on the record seem to be longer than they actually are, I know it sounds weird, but that's a fact. We listened to it in the office, and everyone had the same impression as me. Then again, I really hate to repeat myself, but I have all the respect for a band that manages to find a style and a vibe of its own. On, the whole be prepared that it will be hard to get to the end of the record, however if you are patient enough, and if you give yourself the trouble to take a few listens, then you will surely find this album interesting if not amazing.(Troll)

3/5
ANTROPOFAGUS
No waste of Flesh
2000
Beyond Productions
grind
OK, what exactly would you expect from a band called Antropofagus, with the an absolutely incomprehensible bleeding logo and a rotting corpse on the cover and song-title like «The Bloody Art of Postmortem Sex»? Righteeez! Meat Music! Hmm, man, when you put this one into the rack you almost get the smell of a mortuary filling the room. Strangely the record is pretty funny, in its own weird way... Then again this is my sense of humour, which, as I have learned through all of these years, is not necessarily the virtue of everyone. But I mean, just imagine this one: you know them Afro- or Glamour songs when you can here a chick screaming in orgasm behind the music? Like these, Ahh-s and Ooh-s and all, know what I’m saying? Now... imagine the most standard meat music, with everything you need for this to be a classic in the genre, right? Now try imagining a chick screaming in orgasm over this! Moreover, the Ahh-s and Ohh-s are gradually going into Arrgh-s and Burps and besides you can here them Plops and Yaks of decayed flesh dropping to the floor, and all these nice things. Man, is that cool! The rest of the record is very standard, very basic grind-mince-hack-spit metal, very well-played but not too interesting to listen to, unless you are a fan of the genre. You still might want to check it out, though, because it also contains a cover of Slayer’s «Necrophobic». Three fists, for having a sense of humour. (Troll)

4/5
ASPHYX
On the Wings of Inferno
2000
Century Media
death
Boy, has it been a long while since we last heard from this Dutch trio… What was it, 1996? Yeah, well at least under this name. OK, does anyone remember the God Cries album, if you do then it would be an easy pick, because this record is pretty much in the same key. Heavy and brutal as fuck, although not exactly diverse. What I personally have always liked about Asphyx is this strange feeling of being pushed to the edge, the music just gets so intense that you can almost physically sense it inside of you. The hysterical growling really makes one believe the next instance the singer is going to meet his forefathers and the thick guitars only add up to this sensation. All in all, a really good record. Fans might enjoy it a bit more than the rest of the society, so I guess it's more like between three and four fists. 4 - fans, 3 - the rest. (Troll)

4/5
ASTRAL
Filicetum Lunare
2000
Last Episode
dark wave/gothic/doom
Having won everything they could in ice hockey the Czechs have besieged the iron throne of heavy music, obviously with an intention to take over. The music on Filicetum Lunare is nothing but astonishingly beautiful. The integral harmony of the album reminds of the best works of medieval architects. Stylistically the Czech duet could be compared with Mortiis, 3rd and the Mortal, Empyrium, and dark wave, but all put together and mixed. Here one would find everything we like about this type of music, the long and majestic chorals, a lot of acoustic guitar as well as normal distorted guitar, clean male vocals, neat sampled rhythms and a whole lot more. Describing the songs would be absolutely senseless, like one would have great pains in depicting the beauty of the Sistine Chapel to someone who has never seen it. Hence the verdict - if the above trend sounds like your parking lot, do not hesitate to get the record. Besides, even if you are not a fan of the genre per se, this is just really good music. (Troll)

Dark Dimension II - 1:1 Banner Exchange

3/5
BURIED DREAMS
Perceptions
2000
Oz Records
black, speed, thrash
This one is kind of strange, I mean, you wouldn’t normally expect a band from Mexico to play Nordic school, would you? Well, Buried Dreams do, although, I’d assume this is more the influence of their producer, whose name suggests he would somewhere from Sweden or Norway. The musical concept of the band is pretty close to the likes of Children of Bodom or Bridgestone but a bit more into thrash metal. A solid record from a solid band, that obviously has a really good potential, however what it lacks is drive and what you call the face of a band. My guess would be the guys tried to make something different, from what other people in Latin America do and ended up copying the now popular European sound. This is surely original for Mexico, but, unfortunately, not for the rest of the world. Another important thing, you can’t really make a distinct decision after you are through with the album, like whether it was actually good or not. But well certain things come with age, so I suppose the wine has to mature a bit. In any case it would be pretty cool to listen their next record, cuz I’m positive these boys will have their say yet. (Troll)

3/5
CARCARIASS
Sideral Torment
1998
Impacts records
progressive death
I’ve always said that the French scene is generally underrated, although they do have some really great bands. They have few of them yes, but usually what you get from there is like major good, like French Cognac or Red Wine. Like Les Garcons Bouchers or Pigale, or Massacra. You might dislike it, but you have to admit the quality. This is the case by the way. I didn’t really like this record, but that’s me - I don’t like progressive, still at the same time I can’t deny the superior quality of this record, especially given the fact that the band is a three-piece. Unfuckingblievably professional although not exactly original. OK, off with emotions and impressions, back in the gig - music: progressive death metal, with the solos that are so exaggerated and long that at certain points you really stop taking them seriously, more than commendable work on the drum rhythm breaks and extremely powerful bass, but the bad thing about it is - it lacks the drive. Well, this is not the first time we turn to the example of Death’s «Sound of Perseverance» but, hell, it is just the most graphic as far as the genre goes - anyhows, but quo vicit Jovi, non vicit bovi, there should be more drive and guts to it. Still, I’d recommend paying attention to the band, especially if you are into technical stuff. (Troll)

4/5
CEPHALIC CARNAGE
Exploiting Dysfunction
2000
Relapse Records
progressive grind core
Strange as it may seem but progressive grind core is starting to evolve more and more as a separate trend of extreme music. In May reviews we have already mentioned the Dutch-based Kuntaut Cult, and now comes this release. Although not as funny as their colleagues from the Netherlands Cephalic Carnage will undoubtedly have a serious impact on the listener, even if the poor soul is not specifically into the genre. The classic grind core elements on Exploiting Dysfunction are elegantly inter-webbed with jazz rhythm breaks and thrash and death metal pieces. The singer/singers? go in traditional low-pitched gore growling and what sounds to me like something in between black and death metal screams. The sheer energy and freshness that comes through this pile of rotten meat and blood clots is nothing but amazing. I would not advise any of the tracks separately since this is the one album that has to be taken in full. Overall, an excellent record from an excellent band. (Troll)

5/5
ALICE COOPER
Brutal Planet
2000
Eagle records
horror rock
It seems, like this time we got all of them old dudes in the reviews. Like the Iron Maiden release this also gets a fiver, but here is where the similarity between the two records comes to an end. Unlike the above-mentioned brigade the old horror-rocker is doing what he does best and that is surprise everybody. Like Maniac said, Cooper's never done anything people expected him to, well, true, absolutely. I've never really been a major AC fan, so I might not have followed his latest releases that carefully. Moreover, to tell you the truth, I was buying this CD with a clandestine intention of putting it under the hammer of my words and crushing it with full force and giving it something like no more than 2 fists. Well, I couldn't be more wrong. If I could compare this CD to anything, the closest thing that comes to mind is the last Bruce Dickinson record: extremely heavy guitars. No, really, seriously, when you talking Alice Cooper musically you expect something closer to glam rock or something. Well, not quite. Brutal World contains 11 tracks that once again take you to the scary world of horror movies and nightmares, both music- and lyrics-wise. 10 out of 11 songs are heavy, experimental (but not that kind of experimenting everyone does, like this industrial thing, you know, no, this one's smarter than that), concise, brutal and catchy. The 11th track I left out is a more traditional ballad, that has really good lyrics, and although, it is like usual glamour, it is still pretty good. In all, one of the rare albums, I could listen to two times in a row. (Troll)

5/5
CREMATORY
Early Years (CD 2 - Remixes)
2000
Massacre Records
doom/death
As for me - I'm a fan of this German band. I like their songs and of course I was looking forward to listening to this record. I have read the pre-release review material and had the idea of the CD's content. But what I have heard surprised me one helluvalot. From the very first minutes you understand that it's not usual cover versions of Crematory hits - they combine weird dance techno sounds, death doom Crematory riffs and Felix's (lead singer) growling vocals. You may consider this to be a disadvantage - but these songs can be even played at the discos. To my mind - it's an amazing attempt for Crematory to attract new fans. Covers were made by Das Ich, K.K., DJ God, Raymond Boye and other specialists in their musical field. The record is crowned up with a medley of all the songs on the CD. The best song, in my opinion, is 'Ist es Wahr'. Now the song is even more pathetic and melancholic than it used to be. Now, let's wait until September to have a brand new Crematory CD. (Felix the Katt)

4/5
DESPERADOS
The Dawn of Dying
2000
Drakkar Records
thrash-country
Recently I was browsing through the Troll's Independent page and noticed I did not have the review on this record, although it did come out several months ago. Well, better late, than never, as I always say. First things first, this is not an Tom Angelripper project, as many think, the idea behind the CD belongs to some other dude whose name I don't remember, and Tom was simply invited to do the vocals. Nonetheless, this should not affect your judgement in any way. So what is this all about. Ever seen them spaghetti-western movies, with Ennio Morricone music? Now imagine this crossed with thrash metal - bingo! - Desperados in town. To tell you the truth, I think this CD should have been called, Cowboys from Hell but the name turned out booked by Pantera - tough shit… Anyhows, off with the CD, the overall impression of is kind of controversial, since it has some really good songs, and some really average ones, you know the ones you usually skip to get to the next good song. The absolute hits of the album are My Gun and Me, Rattlesnake Shake, Riders in the Sky, Jumping Down the Running Train, Devil's Horse, Desperados (this one is like a mock-Bon Jovi song), and the Oriental Saloon. In fact the album could be reduced to these tracks and then it would be a fiver. However, the rest of the songs simply do not fit the concept of the whole record, it just seems like they do not belong here, although they are still good songs per se. Four fists solid. (Troll)

5/5
DESTRUCTION
All Hell Breaks Loose
2000
Nuclearblast
horror rock
Beware, The Mad Butcher is back! From the very first bites of this CD we do recognize the old thrash veterans DESTRUCTION. Seems like there were no 10 years behind them. The guys are fresh and ready to devastate the world. The music is the same speedy and disastrous dynamite! An absolute hit is 'The Butcher strikes back'. The album's meant to cause you headbanging. This is what a reunion should be like. At the same time it has to be said that there's nothing new in the music. I mean of course, if you are a fan than it's your record, but if you simply like thrash metal you'll find nothing here but the same old-type stuff the guys used to create 10-13 years ago. So decide fer yourself. (Felix the Katt)

4+/5
DEVASTACION
...Que Lo Pario!
2000
Icarus Records
death. No, even like that: DEA-AAARRRGGH-TH!
It seems like Latin America is finally starting to emerge on the world’s metal map. Following the putrid spawn of macho-music-likes of Dicky Martin and Carlus Saint-Anus and the even more pathetic breed of latino-dancing salza-bands, some real badd bandidos are coming our way. Think about it, just a few years we only knew Sepultura and Sarcophagus. But the hot place it is Latin America was bound to smith some of the most bad-ass steel, and indeed it has. Krisiun, Brujeria, Buried Dreams and many more. Now this list can be added by Devastacion. The four-peace gang, coming from Argentina, brings us what can be considered as the cream of the crop of death metal, any day of the bloody week. «Que Lo Pario» is a concentration of all of the best features of the genre: a 25mm-armour of riffs, pounding drums, and excellent growling, that can be put into the same ammo clip with the likes of David Vincent, early-Chuck Shuldiner, Martin van Drunen, Dan Swano, and Glen Benton. Each of the songs is a nail into the coffin of those who buried death metal in mid-nineties. Death is coming back, man, and in a big fucking way too. The 13 tracks of the album are brutal, driven, and heavy. In fact, in my opinion, this band is the closest thing nowadays to the undisputed kings of the genre - Morbid Angel. And I’m not talking a rip-off either, I’m talking about the quality and the innovation when making their music. Moreover, Devastacion had to go even a bigger way than their renowned predecessors, because they managed to make a good death metal record, in the period when the style has really been down and out for a long time. It is indeed real hard to beat the kings or put oneself on the same platform. Time and time again - Devastacion have made it. If you still remember how cool death metal used to be back in its better days, you won’t regret laying your filthy grip on this album. You gonna die for me, Argentina!!! (Troll)

Unrateable
EVA O
Ride the Madness
2000
Massacre Records
gothic, I guess...
All right, I can live with that... I just did not see a point in this record. Like, why the hell did they make it, in the first place? Well, yeah, I like all the sick and weird stuff in music, but the problem is I really don’t remember hearing much music here, not per se at least. Just a buncha odd sounds and a woman singing, or at least thinking that she is singing. There definitely is something to this album, because I still can’t call it an altogether bad record, but the problem is, that this something is so obscure, that I should assume even the people who did the album would not be able to say what it is. Once again, the rare case when the title would tell you more than any review... Ride the Madness. (I think I’ll take the cab...) (Troll)

3/5
HIM (His Infernal Majesty)
Razorblade Romance
2000
BMG Records
It took HIM three years to record the follow-up to the marvellous "Greatest Lovesongs Vol.666" album. However the result turned to be far less interesting and impressing than their debut. The music stayed basically the same, comprising elements of heavy metal and doom and often sounding similar to Sentenced and Black League, but softer. Add to it the suicidal mood dominant in many songs, and you'll pretty much get the picture. This is all great, but there is one problem: the band failed to write tracks as impressing as, for example, "Your Sweet Six Six Six" from their debut album, and did not include cover songs, which they had done so great before. Overall, the album is good, but I expected much more from HIM after such a smooth start. (Maniac)

5/5
IRON MAIDEN
Brave New World
2000
EMI
NWOBHM
It has arrived, the long-anticipated new album of the kings of the NWOBHM is here and so is Eddie hovering over a fantasy-town on the album sleeve. I don't know about you folks, but I have been waiting for the record with a sort of a mixed feeling of agitated expectation and troubling worry that it just won't be as good as I wanted it to be. Luckily enough my fears were groundless - the six-strong inquisition squad is back with what can definitely be called their best album in the past 10 years. No, I mean, No Prayer for the Dying and Fear of the Dark were simply too weak to be Iron Maiden, let alone the sad Blaze Bailey-period works, which are just plain painful…. Now this one, try to imagine everything you like about the band put in one LP and you get the BNW record. The overall impression, as I've already said, is that it is a mixture of everything best in between 1982 and 1988 releases, with a touch of Bruce Dickinson solo works here and there and a couple of non-standard steps, but on the whole a typical Maiden classic. It also seems as if the boyz have made it just a bit more romantic, than their previous albums. Of course I ain't talking glamour ballads or stuff like that, no there's just something in the air, something you can't really put your finger to, it is a tiny bit slower, a tiny bit more melodic, you know what I' saying. Sort of puts you in a nostalgic mood, y'know. Like this good ol' 80ies feeling of holed jeans and white sneakers, and long hair, and all that. It is a bit like I'm-15-again music. Then again the lyrics suggest the usual Maiden partly serious and thoughtful and partly ironic stuff, but once again here you also will find a touch of romanticism. The three guitars indeed sound amazing, and, although at times the solos are probably a bit too long, they are never exaggerated and are inevitably done with taste. Well and last but not least, the performance - well, if you know Iron Maiden you won't really expect any drop in the performance quality, and if you don't - you shouldn't be reading this far, really. The only thing worth mentioning here, is that Bruce Dickinson is singing clean and clean only, no yankee-style hacking and hoarsing around. Right on, mates, a fivefister and a barrel of Guinness. (Troll)

2/5
KATAKLYSM
The Prohpecy (Stigmata of the Immaculate)
2000
Nuclear Blast
death core meets angry metal meets black vocals
Guess what would happen if you tuned the guitars down two steps, play some major heavy but fabulously primitive riffs, put grind/black vocals over it and make a dozen of songs that are all very angry and all very much the same? Check out the big brain, that’s right! - You’d get the new Kataklysm record! I just keep wondering once again what you couldn’t do with a good PR campaign? Not that I have anything against NB as a label, I’m not the one to slag people just because they are big - they got some really great bands, and they do a lot to promote good-quality heavy music on the markets, which is always a good thing, but, man, I said it once and I’ll say it again, at certain points their judgement is way down. Which, unfortunately is the case with Kataklysm. 45 Minutes of the most unoriginal and at the same time the most trendy metal. Aggressive - yes, heavy - sure as hell they are, but they are also extremely boring. I mean, how heavier than that you can get, but is this the point, may I ask. I would have understood this if they were signed to some small underground label, that is basically interested in going against the grain, but not Nuclear Blast. Once again, I ain’t saying trendy is bad, one can be trendy and original at the same time, but issuing a record just for the sake of issuing one is something I can’t understand. There is a couple of good riffs here and there, and a couple of interesting moments, so that’s why it is not a PLOP - but this doesn’t go any further than a hand-grenade. Sad, sad and depressing. (Troll)

NO techno mixs, NO rap-like, gothic, clear vocals, no keyboards - just pure all-crushing devastating death grindcore from England. A highly professional record made and produced by four death/grind/black monsters. Let's have a look at the line-up - take a deep breath in - here we go: Peter Tagtgren (Hypocrisy, Abyss, Pain), Nick Barker (Dimmu Borgir, Cradle Of Filth), and Shane Embury & Jesse Pintado (Napalm Death). I'd guess, all-star projects like this one are usually made under the influence of excessive amounts of beer. The music is rough death metal a-la Hypocrisy mixed with grind stuff from Napalm Death (well, surprise ;). Each of the participants has put an equal excellent part in the music: Peter's vocals are usual - I mean if you have ever heard Hypocrisy, you would definitely understand what do they sound like - killer growling sometimes turning into screaming. Nicholas produces some of the best drumming ever with excellent double bass, blast beats - in fact, it seems like he is going to break the kit; as for the Shane and Jesse - these two could easily win an Alaskan wood-cutter tournament with what they do with their axes. Now go the lyrics - you know them explicit stuff ('Triple Six Suck Angels'), the same we heard from Napalm Death's Harmony Corruption - but as the guys put it - '..don't take ...lyrics too seriously - it's just English humour...' (although I guess there's a drop of Swedish in it, which should explain a lot… ;) Overall - five fists - cause regardless the musical recurrence they are brilliant. (Felix the Katt)

3/5
MACTATUS
The Complex Bewitchment
2000
Napalm Records
commercial black
This is a very controversial work. On the one hand, I see a definite progress in comparison with the previous album of the band, which, although it had been pretty good, somehow seemed incomplete to me. As if the band hasted to put it out so much, that they forgot to mix it properly and stuff. So this one is much better if compared to the previous release. On the other hand, however, this is nothing new either. And I mean - nothing. Being an obvious progression for Mactatus the record brings nothing to the development of the genre. The music is a mixture of the two latest Immortal records and sympho-black of Dimmu Borgir and their ilk. I don't know, I am not the type to cry rip-off whenever and wherever possible, because, as I've always said, when it comes to the basics - the notes are just seven. Still, I just couldn't help thinking of Immortal when I was listening to the riffs. I am not saying it is an intentional rip-off but it does sound like Immortal. I mean even the vocals have turned a bit Abbathish. But well, that's it for the drawbacks of the Complex Bewitchment. Rip-off or not, original or not, whatever - it is simply good music, and that is already a bonus these days. The power riffs are blasting and catchy, the keyboard passages are in the right place, the vocals are angry and bad-ass, and well, the cover - boy! - this alone is making the album too cool. I mean, you can almost see her thingies! Man, I'm almost drooling all over it. Summing it all up, the record is not to be put on the hot shopping list next time you go to the CD-store, but it is worth listening to, especially if you like post-era black metal.
P.S. When you're through staring at the chick notice this subtle inverted cross on the right… If you put these things on your cover - make'em visible or else not put them there. Hiding it like this is a shame. (Troll)

3/5
YNGWIE MALMSTEEN
Anthology 1994-1999
2000
Pony Canyon
neoclassic heavy metal
This Japan-only release contains the best tracks from the last five full-scale albums of the once-acknowledged guitar genius. However many years have passed since Yngwie made a breakthrough in guitar playing, and now everybody takes pride in slagging off the man. I personally consider 1994's "Seventh Sign" and the next year's "Magnum Opus" to be his greatest albums ever and if this anthology comprised only tracks from those two releases, I would have instantly given it five fists. However it also features a considerable share of tracks from later mediocre and repetitive discs, and they pretty much kill the impression left by the first half of the songs. The three unreleased tracks thrown in the package are also of different quality. The opener, a cover version of ABBA's "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" is a total killer. But the two instrumentals added in the end are ordinary, adding nothing new to Yngwie's achievements. It looks like that the Swede is once again trying to prove that he's the world's fastest guitarist and pretty much forgets about the quality of the songs. The new tracks seem especially helpless when compared to live versions of early classics "Rising Force" and "I'll See The Light Tonight," also featured here. I still expect another breakthrough from Yngwie, but my hope is vanishing with each release he puts up. (Maniac)

4+/5
MISANTHROPE
Recueil D’ecueils: les Epaves... et Autres Oeuvres Interdites
2000
Holy Records
death, thrash, speed, power, black, progressive and funky disco!
The phenomenon of French music nowadays is that it produces very few bands, compared to the rest of the world, but it is always superior quality and superior professionalism. Beats me why. But, well, let’s just take a brief look: Aggressor, Massacra, Carcariass, and surely Misanthrope. This album with an absolutely unpronounceable name is a sort of a gumbo-soup of a lot of styles (see above) but (and that’s major important) it also has integrity. It’s not just - take a bit from here and a bit from there and put them all together, Misanthrope did one hell of a job to make it a structure. A very complicated and a very pompous one, but a structure. The seeming incompatibility of most of the elements of the music if taken separately, surprisingly form a well-balanced and harmonic «one». Moreover, and that is also a major bonus, this organised chaos is coming gradually. Usually, when you get the records of this type, the thing is being poured out at you like a hurricane and you just stand there not really knowing what to do. Misanthrope, on the other hand, starts from pretty simple stuff and then just starts spinning you around until you flow into some other dimension, of which you can’t really say that it is good or bad, because it is so different. Yet another thing I want to draw special attention to. Once again, unlike most of progressive albums, this one does not give you the impression of professionalism being sort of pushed forward onto you. It is not a refined technique for the sake of a refined technique. Everything is done very naturally and as a result you get very sophisticated and intelligent music, which is actually not boring. There is no need in pointing out any of the songs, because of the already mentioned oneness of the whole album.

4/5
MOLOTOV
Apocalypshit
1999
UML
rap metal
To tell you the truth, rap metal is not my glass of screwdriver, and I don't know much about this type of music. However this band seems to be among the leaders of the genre. Mexican-born Molotov strongly remind me of Rage Against The Machine, but the Latinos are less serious and much more entertaining. The lyrics are in Spanish, and mostly deal with sex, politics and… the end of the world (see the title!). I guess most metal fans don't know Spanish enough to decipher these faster-than-lighting raps, but it is not necessary, as the music says its all. Unfortunately, the record somewhat fails to capture the raw energy of the band's live performance. You just have to be there to see that, if played properly, rap metal is actually something worth listening to.
P.S. Even if you hate rap more than any other type of music, try to check out at least two songs from this release - the outstandingly hilarious "Rastaman-Dita" and the touchy pseudo-ballad "El Mundo." I don't think you will be disappointed. (Maniac)

2/5
OPERA IX
The Black Opera
2000
Avantgarde
black
Man, I can’t even begin to tell how boring is this record... Honestly, I expected a much better album from Opera IX. When you listen to it you get an impression that this one very long song, and moreover a damn boring one. I mean some time ago, when death metal was still big, there was a certain standard to the genre - an open six string, now, I guess we’re talking about a new sympho black standard - 3-4th string harmonies. I dunno, prob’ly the band thinks their riffs major original or something, but then they are in for big fat surprise - their «trademarked» guitars were invented some 20 years ago by a relatively unknown British band called Black Sabbath. I mean, it’s not that its bad, or unprofessional, or talentless, no, once again - its just plain boring. Each song from this album would sound nice and interesting on a compilation among other bands, but 70 minutes of this! No fucking way. To the best of my knowledge this is already the third official record of Opera IX - well, that’s disappointing. (Troll)

4/5
ORTH
Feed the Flames
2000
Morbid Records
death with a good deal of humour
Aye, like it was said in Carmageddon: Big. Bad. And German! «Feed the Flames» is the funniest thing I’ve heard in music since Chronicle Diarrhoea. From the technical point of view this is death metal, Florida school, extremely technical, with a lot of rhythm-shifts and burping vocals (as opposed to traditional growling ;) It would have been. But for one thing, this is all a huge joke! When I was buying the record I thought something was wrong with the cover, but, boy, was I laughing when I stuck it in the rack. Yaba-dubba-doo! Forty some minutes of musical and stylistic chaos that keeps pumping you in with its sheer energy and a fair deal of irony. I mean, when you are listening to it, you start smirking almost automatically, cuz this is just so damn good and funny. Four fists solid. (Troll)

3/5
RITUAL CARNAGE
Every Nerve Alive
2000
Osmose Productions
thrash/death
What do you get when you take a bit from Discharge, Sodom, Leprosy-era Death, first records from Unleashed, Massacre and combine it with Slayer? This would definitely be RITUAL CARNAGE. If you are a real headbanger and you like thrashy pieces of music - 'Every Nerve Alive' would be one of your all-times-favorites. So - the music is painful, thrashing death metal with hardcore-like vocals with a hint of Gus Chambers (Grip Inc.). The guys really love what they are doing. The velocity of music is incredible (End of an Ace, World Wide War) - excellent doublebass drums, ruthless guitar and bass. The treat of the CD can be definitely a cover version of Metallica's 'Hit The Lights'. Music-wise it's Florida thrash/death, which could be surprising (to put it mildly) for a band coming from Japan. I mean, when you're talking Japanese bands you mostly think noise and all that type of thing. The answer to the puzzle is quite simple, Damian Montgomery, the founder of the band, is a native of Florida. He started his career in Tampa early back in 1983. In 1993 he went to Japan, recruited Japanese musicians and that's how it all started. Another point worth mentioning is their touring with Immortal, Benediction, Impaled Nazarene, Krabathor and Marduk. Three fists. (Felix the Katt)

4/5
SCARVE
Translucence
2000
War Music
thrash/death
These guys have definitely listened to a lot of Voivod in their time, although, this is far from being a rip-off of the Canadian trio. In the very beginning of the record it sounds just like very basic, although high-quality thrash/death, but don’t let this mischief you. Just several minutes into the album you won’t be able to tell what it is, where it came from and where it will all end up. Then again, you don’t really have to know because this musical labyrinth is carrying you along by itself and all you need to do is relax and enjoy. Acoustic bites would flow into reaping thrash riffs that in turn will be replaced by Voivod-like semi-distorted guitars and jazz-shifts only to give way to amazingly aggressive death parts and then again slow down in some keyboard passages. One thing, like in the case with Vampir - at a certain point it gets too complicated and incomprehensible - so four fists here as well. (Troll)

2/5
TANKARD
Kings of Beer
Century Media
thrash… German…
Man, oh, man, does something ever change in this world. Well, if something does then it's definitely not Tankard beer-thrash-metal. Honestly I've never really been the major fan of the band, I used to have their Chemical Invasion and The Morning After back in my times but very soon I got bored and erased the tapes. This time I thought I might check it out so I bought the CD, after listening to the trailers of the first three songs (first mistake!). No, the first three songs are kind of cool, like fast, non-compromising but easy-to-remember riffs and choruses, well, you know what I'm talking about. But… as I was proceeding with the listening at home (second mistake!), on the sixth track, I was like "…and?", on the eighth track I was like "…COME ON!", and well needless saying I couldn't believe it was finally over when I got the end of the last, 11th track. Let's have it straight, certain bands can afford playing the same stuff and remain cool and enjoyable, like, say AC/DC, or Manowar, or Motorhead, or even Running Wild (which I personally don't like that much) - but, some bands cannot afford this luxury for the basic reason of being bad songwriters, plain and simple. Well, Tankrad is one of those bands. They don't have the ideas, they don't have the drive either, and the only thing they actually do have is a couple of riffs they learned back in mid-80ies and that they have been playing ever since. Two fists for having at least three good songs on the record. Grow up, Tankard! (Troll)

3/5
THEORY IN PRACTICE
The Armaggedon Theories
2000
Listenable Records
death black
There is a certain type of records which the listener isn't really expected to enjoy, that's the one. I mean it is extremely complicated to analyse anything in this key, because, quite often, they are not bad albums, but they are meant to disturb you, put them little pins in your spine, like a dental bore or an annoying dream that keeps chasing you for months. Professionals they are, Theory in Practice give an impression of a very pissed off bunch, which results in 40-some minutes of distorted noises, one would hardly refer to as songs. Partly this could be compared to early Deicide and Morbid Angel albums but with a lot of rhythm breaks and hence much less groovy, all of that covered with black metal screams coming out of the throat of the band's drummer (and we ain't talking Eagles here). Depressed aggression is oozing out of every pore of this record, this is like a spit in the face and a punch in the guts. Some people might want to check this band out, but it is very unlikely I would want to listen to it for the second time. (Troll)

4/5
TRANSATLANTIC
Transatlantic
2000
????
progressive
Transatlantic perfectly fits the term "a progressive band." Here is what it has: the 75-minute-long album containing only 5 tracks, the line-up featuring former and current members of Dream Theater, Spock's Beard and Marillion, and to top it all over, extremely complicated music that can easily turn off anyone who prefers heaviness and emotions to complexity and playing skills. However the album is not as complicated as it may seem. It even contains the hit song "Mystery Train," which will definitely be enjoyed by all lovers of melodic and uptempo hard rock. If you like progressive or complex AOR, I strongly recommend to try this record, but remember the warning: THE DISC CONTAINS NO HEAVY METAL, no crunching guitars, no pounding drums, no vocal screams, growls or grunts. The music here is apparently closer to early Yes and Marillion than to Dream Theatre. Progressive at its best - go for it. (Maniac)

4/5
VAMPIR
Gothic Horror
1999
Serpent Qui Danse
gothic with a lot of samples and a distorted guitar... (or something)
Hmm... This one sounds intriguing. Actually I don’t really know where to start because this is so diverse and, at the same time, so holistic that its kinda hard to put it in words. Well, musically, imagine a lot of samples, jungle-beats, a pretty heavy distorted guitar, and vocals somewhere in between black screaming and death growling, plus a lot of atmosphere and a buncha other stuff (he-he, now no-one will accuse me of missing the point :) Right, back to the record, probably the only minus here is that it is hard to get into it (basic requirements: a set of headphones) but when yer in, you can’t help thinking somebody let you inside an old horror movie (like you wanted to get there!) and you just keep walking around there and see things. In fact, the title of the album - Gothic Horror - is probably as close to a definition of the music therein as you can get. So if the title sounds like your parking lot - then go for it. Four fists (gets to hard too comprehend at certain points). (Troll)

5/5
VINTERSORG
Odermanekens Son
2000
Napalm Records
viking metal
Many times I've heard people saying 'I like black metal but I hate this type of vocals." This album must be their dream come true: the music is very similar to black with a lot of folklore influences, but the vocals are mostly clean and have nothing to do with black. In addition, everything is sung in Swedish. Fans of true-and-evil black will undoubtedly call it a sellout, but I actually like this one. It has cool melodies, nice vocal lines and a decent amount of aggression. Vintersorg is a side project of the mastermind behind the band Otyg, and those who like this folk/metal act, but want something heavier can go for this one. (Maniac)