Legion of the Damned (2019) Slaves of the Shadow Realm 'Review'

Band: Legion of the Damned

Country of Origin: Netherlands

Genre: Death / Thrash metal

Type: Full Length

Format: CD

Length Approx.: 38:00 min.

Release Date: 01-04-2019

Release Label: Napalm Records

IR Classification: Good (4.3 / 5)

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Slaves of the Shadow Realm is by itself a destructive gust.

For many, Legion of the Damned doesn't mean a lot and usually they are overlooked, but the truth is hidden because of drummer Erik Fleuren and vocalist Maurice Swinkels when they started off their career with their first band called Occult from the Netherlands around 1992 and under this name, they were able to release five full-length albums from 1994 up to 2003. Due to unknown reasons, the band name was changed to Legion of the Damned. So far, they have released a total of seven albums including their latest album entitled "Slaves of the Shadow Realm" that was released a few days ago.


Legion of the Damned plays a very aggressive and riff-driven thrash with an utter death feel as few bands have been able to achieve like Sodom, Destruction, and Kreator with some rawness of early Slayer sound. The band currently is formed by drummer Erik Fleuren, the vocalist Maurice Swinkels, bass player Harold Gielen (Inhume) and guitarist Twan van Geel (Soulburn).

"Slaves of the Shadow Realm" is by itself a destructive gust holding nine tracks that barely reach the thirty-eighth minute mark. Leading this attack comes "The Widow's Breed," it blasts your speakers due to the heated guitar riff with ferocious snarling vocals which at some point throw me back to the "Agent Orange" era of Sodom. The next track is "Nocturnal Commando" which delivers such a sense of animosity and punishment for the intense blast beats and the corrosive guitar riffs that were played by Teutonic masters of Kreator. Then come "Charnel Confession," which keeps the tone and pace as the previous track with blistering drums and a crushing riff, the entangling vocals are always at its top range that delivers the right feeling. "Slaves of the Southern Cross" takes a slower and rhythmic approach, but it sounds heavy, sharp and punitive like Destruction does. "Warhounds of Hades" grabs the sledgehammer and practically smashes your brain with such an instigator guitar riff that it achieves a rawness that I can only compare to Slayer beginnings. Then comes "Black Banners in Flames," which brings a fresh feeling to the album due the old school harsh riff suchlike Sodom and Kreator and I mean it, "Shadow Realm of the Demonic Mind" seems like shifting things away from its natural path because the exquisite piano introduction, but soon as it ends, the slaughter begins lashing out with their axes and beheading everyone around when the drumming turns intense and devastating, while the galloping guitar riff comes effectively to complement this track. "Palace of Sin" again retakes the rawness and aggressivity scourged similarly like "Hell awaits" from Slayer or "Endless Pain" by Kreator, the last track in the CD version is "Dark Coronation / Outro" it's not exactly what I was waiting for to end this album, I missed the intensity in the drums, I missed those sharp riffs that they showed throughout the album, vocally it is not so effusive or outstanding.

"Slaves of the Shadow Realm" brings up a pleasant vibe, currently a few bands like Legion of the Damned are capable of creating a Death / Thrash metal just as they do it, the album carries a great variety of inspiring riffs and don’t forget the drums which were very engaging and precise, while the vocal department doesn't have much to complain because Swinkels knows how to fit smoothly on each track. The negative, is the CD version is to short, so go for the limited edition which includes two bonus tracks "Priest Hunt" and "Azazel's Crown," the other unfavorable point is the closing track, which wants me seeking more unrelenting forcefulness.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal…™

Track List:

01. The Widows Breed │ 02. Nocturnal Commando │ 03. Charnel Confession │ 04. Slaves of the Southern Cross │ 05. Warhounds of Hades │ 06. Black Banners in Flames │ 07. Shadow Realm of the Demonic Mind │ 08. Palace of Sin │ 09. Dark Coronation / Outro

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Izegrim (2016) The Ferryman's End

Band: Izegrim

Country of Origin: Netherlands

Genre: Thrash metal / Death metal

Type: Full Length

Format: CD Ltd. Edition
Length Approx.: 41:00 min.

Release Date: 03-25-2016

Release Label: Listenable Records

IR Classification: Good (4.2 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

The Ferryman’s End becomes the best Izegrim effort to date

Dutch melodic death thrashers Izegrim are back with just under two and a half years of the release of their previous album "Congress of the Insane" which I believe it was the first conceptual album of the band, delving into evilness and falsehood of the human nature, now with twenty years in the scene they are offering us their fifth full length titled "The Ferryman's End" released once again through the French label Listenable Records, the album contains eleven tracks in the vein of bands like Kreator, Arch Enemy, At the Gates or their countrymen Legion of the Damned, "The Ferryman's End" keeps lyrically the same concept format approaching us to the death row, where an inmate is awaiting for his execution, every cut describes the complex stages into the criminal's mind before he got executed by the end of the album, no doubt a very interesting topic.

Izegrim current line-up has remained pretty stable during the last eight years, with founder and guitarist Jeroen Wechgelaer, the bassist and attractive vocalist Marloes Voskuil, guitarist Bart van Ginkel and drummer Ivo Maarhuis, I want to believe that due to this unity they were able to achieve a very outstanding songwriting and therefore "The Ferryman's End" becomes the best Izegrim effort to date.

"The Ferryman's End" from the beginning offers a crushing melodic death metal dose with "White Walls" built in heavy riffage and somber pace while the drums occasionally slip into a measurable blast beat, "Time to Run" starts with an unrestrained riffs, challenging drums comes in all directions and you feel surrounded by hell itself, Marloes delivers a rawer vocals that strike fear, "Endless Desire" slow paced its way, somewhat predictably when they shift pace, but never reach the ferocity of the previous tracks and sounds bland, "The Evil Within" it charges back with demolishing and fearless riffs, the bass lines sounds outstanding in the background, Marloes raspy vocals owns the track while in the interlude softly adds the whispers, it is followed by "Absolute Necessity" the drum pattern takes the lead due to the intricate, solid  and consistent drumming, the song counts with a brief yet melodic guitar solo, "Reclaim My Identity" is absolutely faultless with filthy riffs and darkly bass lines, open the window to throw some clean vocals by Marloes, "Insanity is Freedom" takes an approach into a blackened death sound, while "Reflection of Redemption" fluctuates between obscure and heavy passages, "Through a Glass Darkly" with a more varied structure, brings freshness and versatility with the vicious riffs involved, "Lost in Tranquility" it's the prelude of the story with some generic death metal riffs and blasting drums doesn't make an impact imminent, the last rack in the album is the self-titled "The Ferryman's End" unorthodox start with pummeling drums and sick riffs, as the track keeps going on, turns into a mid paced theme with a dense and brutal rhythmic section, ripping vocals that shatter into a delightful chaos, to end up with the protagonist execution.

"The Ferryman's End" clearly puts Izegrim as one of the bands that aging doesn't affect or soften their skills playing a persuasive death-thrash metal as always with extreme and relentless virtuosity and brutality, be sure to grab your copy and enjoy this album, you might regret if you don't.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

01. White Walls
02. Time to Run
03. Endless Desire
04. The Evil Within
05. Absolute Necessity
06. Reclaim My Identity
07. Insanity Is Freedom
08. Reflection of Redemption
09. Through a Glass Darkly
10. Lost in Tranquility
11. The Ferryman's End

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Funeral Whore (2016) Phantasm

Band: Funeral Whore

Country of Origin: Netherlands

Genre: Death metal

Type: Full Length

Format: CD
Length Approx.: 41:00 min.

Release Date: 03-18-2016

Release Label: F.D.A. Records

IR Classification: Good (3.9 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

Infectious riffs that grind your eardrums and scourge the last of your senses

Funeral Whore the Dutch band rooted in the old school death metal, they were formed around 2006 in Beverwijk, North Holland, they are bringing a hell with them while releasing their second full length, under the label F.D.A. Rekotz, entitled "Phantasm" containing eleven tracks of the most pure and relentless death metal, commanded by guitarists Kellie and Roy, also in vocals, together with Nick behind the drum set and Van Dune in the bass, were able to reincarnate the proper sound of early bands as: Autopsy, Pestilence and Bolt Thrower who were pioneering the genre at the beginning of the nineties.

After their debut album "Step into Damnation" released in 2012 which it was quite welcome by the underground community for their ferocious approach and raw sound, they earned a place within the local scene in the Netherlands, giving them the confidence and strength to continue in the dark path and it is not until four years later when they give us their follow-up material and it sounds even more devastating.

"Phantasm" the opener track that has a dramatic theatrical intro that evolves into heavy riffs that blow up, while also having pounding drums with frantic devotion, while the deeper growling vocals remind me the early Sinister, "Evil Manifestation" is the second track the guitars sound massive and morbid with a very infectious pace they succeed throwing riff after riff, "Reanimated" it's bold and barbaric in the drumming section carries a varied pattern allows the shredding guitars, leads the repulsive melodies towards dark passages, "The Graveyard Silence" it's brutal and the lead guitar sounds very violent and frightening, it excels managing the mood with slow pace and later on unleashing a hellish and rabid pace, "Down the Abyss" is an interesting track with a very well mix of thrash and death metal riff it is fast and ceaseless, "Only the Coffins Remains" is structured in a mid-pace inferno, with infectious riffs that grind the eardrums and scourge the last of your senses, "The Mortuary at Night" closes this album with demolishing and vibrant riffs while the double bass drum sounds impressive and ruthless there is no doubt that Funeral Whore are emerging from the deepest depths, as a lethal force to reckon with, few acts nowadays are able to infringe such level of brutality.

"Phantasm" is a truly enjoyable death metal record, influenced by the old school; Funeral Whore only took the best elements of yore to culminate in one of the most overwhelming and cataclysmic records to date during this year, fans of the old school death metal will love this deadly dose, seems like somehow a renaissance of the true death metal is on the way, let's see what else lies ahead.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

01. Phantasm
02. Evil Manifestation
03. Reanimated
04. The Tall Man
05. Population None
06. The Graveyard Silence
07. When Life Turns to Ashes
08. Down the Abyss
09. Morningside Cemetery
10. Only the Coffins Remain
11. The Mortuary at Night

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Bleeding Gods (2015) Shepherd of Souls 'review'

Band: Bleeding Gods

Country of Origin: Netherlands

Status: Active

Genre: Death metal / Thrash metal

Type: Full length

Format: CD

Length Approx.: 41:20 min.

Release Date: 02-23-2015

Current label: Punishment 18 Records
Release label: Punishment 18 Records

IR Classification: Good (3.7 / 5)

Straight brutal death metal uncompromised

On this occasion I want to talk about this band from Holland, first when I hear the name of Bleeding Gods, their origin and the genre they play, immediately came to my mind names like Asphyx, Sinister and Thanatos all of them practicing a brutal and powerful Death metal, which defines the bands from that country, Bleeding Gods were formed at the end of 2012 and they are experienced musicians who have been played in bands such as Sinister, Supreme Pain, Deadcell, Houwitser, Mirdyn and Debauchery to name a few.

At the end of April 2013, they released their first EP entitled "Blood Symphony" the theme of their lyrics is based on war and history, ancient gods, the Mayans, the ancient Egyptians, Greek gods, etc. Bleeding Gods, play groovy riffs and a shredding Death metal with Thrash influences.

"Shepherd of Souls" is an album that contains a powerful, direct, and brutal Death metal without compromise, explosive drums, aggressive vocals and bestial guitars that puts you at the threshold of hell, the first track "Abyss of the World" fits perfectly with this description "Into the Depth of Misery" by mixing chord thrash with a Death metal lethal, the growling vocals are powerful inflicting pain to your senses, the track that gives title to the album "Shepherd of Souls" begins with a killer guitar riff, crushing unceasingly drums give proportion to this track that turns out to be catchy for the time being, "Rise from Ashes" is  a track that dwells in the thrash metal side of the band, however they know how to infuse death metal essence in their notes, “Ixmucané (I)” effective! Sensitive! acoustic section, fits very well in this part of the album these notes, will take you to the next hell, “The Lords of Xibalbá (II)” definitely the track most thrasher in the album composed by sharp riff  and unexpected speed changes are a constant in this song a true piece of Thrash metal, “Glorious Relentless Destiny” is a brutal thrash/death metal discharge in your face, powerful guitar riff along the song, relentless drums and a guitar solo, which takes you to the edge of the abyss, follows “Empire of the Immortals” this track keeps the spirit of the previous song, here you can hear a huge amount of riff, one after another a very solid piece, “Human Weakness” crushing guitars, blasting drumming, cryptic vocals well defined thrash/death metal song don't forget the furious guitar solo as dictates by the Old School Death Metal, “Symbolic Sculptures” great way to close a good album, excellent instrumentation seems like a mid pace song but almost at the end they release again their wrath to wreck down what remains of you.

I am pleased to tell you that this is a great album full of good riff, appalling drums, bestial vocals and brilliant lyrics all mixed in a current, fresh and clean production but retaining the essence of the Old School Death metal, Bleeding Gods is a band that meets the expectations that only experienced musicians can provide, here there are no regrets, just a direct and brutal death metal uncompromised.

Stay True... Stay Metal... Stay Brutal...

Track List:

1. Abyss of the World

2. Into the Depth of Misery

3. Shepherd of souls

4. Rise from Ashes

5. Ixmucané (I)

6. The Lords of Xibalbá (II)

7. Glorious Relentless Destiny

8. Empire of the Immortals

9. Human Weakness

10. Symbolic Sculptures


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