Metal

Artist: Eldkraft Label: Sony UK

Artist: Venom P Stinger Label: Drag City

Artist: Venom P Stinger Label: Drag City

Artist: Reagan Youth Label: Cleopatra

Colored LP (limited edition 300 copies + bonus track) out now on BASEMENT APES / GET A LIFE! / PLAY THE ASSASSIN. General Lee 'Raiders of the Evil Eye' finds a band that has developed into more than just giants of the epic metal underground, they are now fully formed sonic titans.Departing a bit from earlier works, reshaping their sound, this mindblowing 7-track album is perhaps one of their absolute strongest albums thus far. It further reinforces how broad and captivating General Lee's abstract melancholia is. A decidedly harsh record with its disheartened tones and harsh, distorted yelled vocals. A must-have. Record Label: Basement Apes Industries Style: Metal

So you think you can tell, heaven from hell, blue skies from pain. If you can, perhaps you have a universal theory ready. A theory that incorporates the theory of gravity and the quantum physics into one, creating a theory that can explain every occurrence in nature. Can it be that this spanish duo has found it? is that what their name and mystery timeline entails? Well, judging by the spanish scientific record I see that as highly unlikely but who knows, the album cover holds some fancy symbols that anyone with any kind of knowledge or interest in science should know. It is a rather nice album cover I think and it sort of presents this band in a very interesting way. Is it so that their music actually can offer something interesting and exciting like the cover suggests or are they just trying to sell their debut in a way that is misrepresenting the content? I think that they do have substance to back this cover as their music is atmospheric and deep. It traverses many different moods from romantic to melancholic and darkness to light and such things. It is a diverse album, over eight chapters of story telling, or eight points in a mystery timeline if you like. I think it is a rather complex album, you can describe it as a bit gothic in its presentation and then add a bit of psychedelic elements along with some male and female vocals, mainly male with female backing, and some other smaller elements to mix it all up. It is not complex in the regard that it is difficult to take in but in the regard that it is a very layered story that is being told, and it is told in a short frame without being too difficult to keep up with. A very strong approach, which is why there is not really a problem that the singers aren’t that impressive, they suit their role but nothing more. I think it is an impressive production, plain and simple. And it is a good one, I have really enjoyed listening to this album several times now. It is easy to get into but it doesn’t bore you in the long run, it is exciting and keeps you occupied as a listener. Definitively an album for all of us who doesn’t like our music moulded in a particular shape, this one has several interesting angles of attack. It is a likeable album which should be taken in as an album considering that there isn’t really any standout track that should suit the playlist geek or those you just buys single tracks. It doesn’t seem aimed at such an audience, and neither are we at Hallowed so it is a great match for that target group. I think this is an album to take a closer look at, one that you will probably find interesting as long as you are interesting in music that doesn’t just follow in the paths of others. A decently original piece by a band I have enjoyed getting to know and hopefully will see more good stuff come from as time passes. It is an impressive piece, a story told really well and in a short frame of time which is not a disadvantage, I wish more bands could do the same. Maybe not a universally perfect album but a really good one that I think anyone with an open mind and a taste in music will find interesting. Record Label: Metal Hell Records Style: Metal

Terraphobia’s EVILUTION is simply full on brutal death metal. Heavy guitars, guttural vocals and enough speed to give a bullet train a run for its money. Michael Jelenic of Mortification plays all the instruments and handles the vocal duties as well. From the opening strands of the title track through album closer Phase 6 this album is relentless. If you were a fan of the first three Mortification albums then you’ll understand musically where this album is coming from. I hear tinges of Possessed and Morbid Angel. Jelenic’s guitar playing demands your attention and I will add he’s got the chops. It’s a wonder why he’s not mentioned in the more elite musicians of our scene. Hooks are not necessarily the aim of a good death metal album, but melodies should be. There are several here that really stand out. Soldiers of the New Millennium, False Prophet come immediately to mind. However with a track like Golgotha, that’s probably not the main point, charging like chainsaw through a wheat field this song is a killer. The production elements are strong and powerful. A nice thick wall of sound greats the listener where everything is spaced well in the mix. Lyrically Jelenic tackles many different areas from the Crucifixion to abortion to politics, from a Christian point of view. Yet if I didn’t tell you that, you might miss it, which isn’t a bad thing. Death Metal fans should line up in droves to grab this album. It’s that good, and you’ll play it loudly and proudly. A seven axe review should tell you what you want to know. A keeper this one is. Record Label: Soundmass Style: Death Metal

Record Label: Unicorn Digital Style: Power Metal

Montreal’s Derelict this year hits fans of tech death with their brand new record, Perpetuation, their third full length release to date. Yet unlike the aforementioned, Derelict takes a more melodic approach to their brand of technical death metal. Record Label: Maple Metal Style: Death Metal

Record Label: Masterpiece Style: Black Metal

Genre-splitting at its finest!!! Maryland bands never fall short on extremity. Since the mid-0s STRONG INTENTION have been punishing the underground with their own blend of New York-influenced hardcore breakdowns and blistering grindcore attacks. They recording 13 new tracks early this year by Steve Austin @ Austin Compound Boston, MA with help Derek Engemann of CATTLE DECAPITATION who did Bass and backing vocals and Sparky Volyes (x-Dying Fetus and Misery Index) on lead guitar. Jason Netherton of MISERY INDEX did some guests vocals. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION --- This grind is Energy. This grind is Rage. A big wall of sound of the finest in brutality. A big punch in your mouth that makes your heart go BOOM ! Influenced a bit by Brutal Truth, Napalm Death, Kill the Client, 13 songs of French, frenzy and sexy schizo-grindcore that cook the groove with testosterone Record Label: Power It Up Style: Grindcore

Recorded within the realms of MEDIUM FIDELITY at HANGING TREE - Tim Done's home/studio/archaic equipment museum - using all the 1950s equipment available has resulted in a record where almost all the instruments can be heard. Add in Brent Griffin/SPOD to the mix with his injection of fuzzed out reverberating budget psychedelia and IT?S HAPPENING! was born. Straight Arrows began with Owen Penglis yelling about getting dumped and kicked out of bands into a four-track cassette. He was soon joined by Alex Grigg, Angela Bermuda and Adam Williams - all friends with colourful musical pasts. Slowly the four honed their reverb-laden, fuzzed out, punk garage into scrappy perfection. Finding it tough to get shows, Straight Arrows went down the DIY path and decided to put on their own raucous parties at New South Wales? notorious (and now abandoned) gay bar, The Newtown Hotel. Around the same time they put out their first 7? ?Something Happens/Can?t Count? on their newly formed label Juvenile Records. Figuring the only way to sell these records (and make their money back) was to force them, photocopied sleeve ?n all, into the hands of drunks and connoisseurs. Straight Arrows started driving up and down the east coast of Australia, playing parties, warehouses, bars - wherever they could - and in the process gained an outstanding reputation for being ??the band that will make you start your own band??. By late 2010 Straight Arrows sold out two more 7s, toured with friends Thee Oh Sees, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, The Black Lips, Jay Reatard (RIP) and Ty Segall amongst others and released their debut album It?s Happening to a flood of praise, landing them an invite to perform at the Goner Fest in Memphis, Tennessee playing alongside garage punk royalty The Gories. Bands began to queue-up for Owen Penglis to record and produce their music at his home studio and in 2012 Owen produced and recorded the who?s who of Sydney / Brisbane Garage scene for the 40th Anniversary tribute album to the seminal Nuggets compilation, originally compiled by Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith band). Record Label: Agitated Style: Garage Rock

Style: Electronic

Following multiple acclaimed albums, ep’s and splits, enigmatic Italian Black Metal icon VARDAN unleashes his Eleventh full length "...Dreaming …Living My Funeral". Grim, cold and depressive Black Metal filled with acoustics, inhuman vocals, contra bass and droning overtones, all wrapped in a shroud of mystery and darkness. Gloomy, mesmerizing passages filled with sorrow, suicide, Satanism and personal emotion are delivered with an atmosphere and conviction not heard since the early days of the Norwegian black metal scene. Dream with VARDAN…and begin living your funeral ! Record Label: Moribund Records Style: Black Metal

Style: Death Metal

Record Label: Church Within Style: Heavy Metal

Artist: Artizan Label: Pure Steel Records

Artist: the Dream Syndicate Label: Bang!

Artist: Dark Sermon Label: Nuclear Blast Int'l