Sadist (2018) Spellbound 'Review'

Band: Sadist
Country of Origin: Italy

Genre: Progressive Death metal

Type: Full Length

Format: CD Digipak

Length Approx.: 37:00 min.

Release Date: 11-09-2018

Release Label: Scarlet Records

IR Classification: Good (4.0 / 5)

Listen to our review! (English)

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A very interesting concept album that leaves you no choice.

Sadist is a band formed in Genoa, Italy since 1990 always playing a high-quality Progressive Death metal in the vein of bands like Atheist, Nocturnus, and Cynic just to mention some bands, their work over the years has been very consistent, However, I have personally kept myself away from their work, only focusing on albums like their debut album "Above the Light", released in 1993 by the Nosferatu record label of Italy, now extinct, "Crust" released in 1997 through Dutch record label Displeased Records, "Sadist" released in 2007 by Beyond ... Productions from Italy and lately "Season in Silence" released in 2010 by its current record label Scarlet Records.

The current Sadist line-up consists of Tommy Talamanca on guitars and keyboards, Trevor Nadir on vocals, Alessio Spallarossa on drums and Andy Marchini on bass. The band's newest album titled "Spellbound" is centered around the life and work of influential filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock. Each of the 11 songs included in the album traces the plot of a Hitchcock movie, including masterpieces such as ‘Frenzy’, ‘Notorius’, ‘The Birds’ and of course ‘Psycho’, with their unique and flawless Progressive Death metal.

The album opens masterfully with "39 Steps" a macabre and fearsome piano intro worthy of any suspense episode of Alfred Hitchcock, rapidly is followed by "The Birds" energetic and melodious keyboards create a dense atmosphere along the song, while the guitar works crushing and belligerent, "Spellbound" delivers spine-chilling nuances through its sound full of oppressive terror, "Rear Window" still carrying that grim and sinister sound the crushing guitars meld perfectly with the ambiance while the drum work is outstanding, "Bloody Bates" is totally demented and offers the blackest and morbid moment in the album, most people who were able to appreciate Hitchcock films will know right away what's this song is all about it, "Notorius" is an instrumental piece with heavy progressive elements, leaving aside the death metal components, let's skip to "I'm the Man Who Knew Too Much" which is able to create a darker, brutal and dynamic vibe in the album like no other song, "Frenzy" is disturbingly chaotic interacting with creative and melodic moments to abruptly attack with its classic sound, "The Mountain Eagle" entangles with superb complexity maximizing the outcome and the last track is "Downhill" another instrumental song that worth the time to listen for, and that's how Sadist manages to drive you through a well-defined concept album with one of the most disturbing stories.

I want to conclude that Sadist been an underrated band, they have been proved themselves once again to be one of the best Progressive metal acts out there, devoted to their roots and firmly stomping as never before, "Spellbound" is a very interesting concept album that leaves you no choice, please don't miss the chance to listen to them.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal…™

Track List:

01. 39 Steps │ 02. The Birds │ 03. Spellbound │ 04. Rear Window │ 05. Bloody Bates │ 06. Notorius │ 07. Stage Fright │ 08. I'm the Man Who Knew Too Much │ 09. Frenzy │ 10. The Mountain Eagle │ 11. Downhill

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Voivod (2016) Post Society [EP]

Band: Voivod

Country of Origin: Canada

Genre: Progressive metal

Type: EP

Format: CD Digipak
Length Approx.: 30:00 min.

Release Date: 02-26-2016

Release Label: Century Media Records

IR Classification: Good (4.0 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

An imminent return to its roots, aiming to recapture some of their old fans and respect of the newest generation

Voivod are one of those few bands who remain and enjoy their creative longevity as anyone, since the beginning of their career they has been pulling album after album of great level, starting with the explosion of the Thrash metal in the eighties they were able to add progressive elements ending with such masterpieces as "Killing Technology" in 1987 or later "Dimension Hatröss" in 1988 and subsequently lead them into a more progressive spectrum to release "Nothingface" during 1989, or the stunning "The Outer Limits" released in 1993, passing through the ephemeral punk progressive of "Infini" in 2009 and lately their successful comeback to their progressive roots embodied in "Target Earth" three years ago, which has revived the flame of their most diehard fans.

Canadians Voivod have been fairly constant with respect to line-up changes, being the most significant the lost of their former guitarist Piggy who passed away in 2005 and the bassist Blacky, the current line-up is Away behind the drums, Snake performing vocals, Chewy in the crushing guitar and Rocky in the rumbling bass, with this formation Voivod record their latest work an EP entitled "Post Society" which contains five tracks, so let's take a look and find out what they have to offer for our delight.

"Post Society" is the first track and gives it the title to this EP, the bass roars loud with some post punk effect and rapidly is joined by striking guitar riff sharp and catchy, Snake vocals is still in good shape, while the drums lead the pace, "Forever Mountain" this track was included in a split with Napalm Death and tends to be in a slower pace, but overwhelming and sullen, the next track is "Fall" with a slightly peaceful guitar work, it turns into a eccentric and dissonant piece with a delirious guitar solo make this one the favorite of the EP, "We Are Connected" is another track previously released in a split with At The Gates one year ago, aiming to recapture some of their old fans and respect of the newest generation, here they shown us a more powerful work as unit, succeeding in every aspect from the fastest riff to the intense and slower pace, the closing song is the cover track "Silver Machine" from the English rock band Hawkwind which is really fun, how they imprint they own style and at the end come to be seriously catchy.

Voivod has been always very distinctive from the pack, at some point I could consider them as the lonely wolf of the prairie, in such case there is no boundaries for them and their creativity and their thirty-five years in the field, it proves how unique they are pick any decade and you will find out, what I'm talking about, definitely Voivod has earned a special place within the metal scene.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

01. Post Society

02. Forever Mountain

03. Fall

04. We Are Connected

05. Silver Machine

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Obscura (2016) Akróasis

Band: Obscura

Country of Origin: Germany

Genre: Progressive Technical Death metal

Type: Full Length

Format: CD
Length Approx.: 58:00 min.

Release Date: 02-05-2016

Release Label: Relapse Records

IR Classification: Good (4.2 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

Akróasis retains all the rhetorical and distinctive elements which makes their sound unmatched

Obscura the German progressive technical death metal band has come with their newest production titled "Akróasis" it took almost five years to put out a record to Obscura's mastermind guitarist and vocalist Steffen Kummerer, but it wasn't easy after a full reformation of the band, until he meets with fretless bassist Linus Klausenitzer, drummer Sebastian Lanser and guitarist Tom Geldschläger, who left the band after recording the album allowing the lead guitarist Rafael Trujillo took over duties, with this facts in mind, it’s hard to answer the question if they were able to top off their previous album "Omnivium" released in 2011, as soon as you listen to their new record, you will figure it out.

"Akróasis" retains all the rhetorical and distinctive elements which make their sound unmatched, versatility remains a key part, very well structures arpeggios supported by a classic jazzy fretless bass, while the drums keeps up its endeavor tracing paths of intricate precision and the balance of the album fumbles between the chaotic and melodious moments of "Cosmogenesis" and the rabid progressive speed of "Omnivium", without a doubt it's complex and unpredictable.

The album opens with "Sermon Of The Seven Suns" it release all the intensity towards the infinite power in a rampant ecstasy, the jazzy elements sprout out through the varied soundscape, the vocals fall in a Schuldiner-esque, while the drums got beaten with determination and precision, "The Monist" reveals some nuanced of the early Florida tech death (Atheist, Nocturnus), the vocals take care of the brutal side in the cut, "Akróasis" the album self-titled track set a state of mind unique with a broad and compulsive sound spectrum, mesmerizing how are they able to retain you with subtle disharmonies, "Ten Sepiroth" bursts with a delicate acoustic guitar which works perfectly before unleash a hell of fast riffing, freezing blast beats shake the ground and open the way to the magnificent "Ode to the Sun" a beautiful mid pace track full of malevolence, heavy and dense riffage, the orchestral percussion are impressive and almost at the end of the cut, a choral arrangements are integrated exceptionally, "Fractal Dimension" skillful guitar work followed by a ceaseless drum builds passages and walls of cosmic sounds converging in a masterful guitar solo that vanishes in eternity, "Perpetual Infinity" remain overwhelming with very creative riff delighting the listener, the bass works towards the song complementing but forgetting the jazzy interludes for a moment, "Weltseele" this track is a subtle display of talent that scales through various hues and mergers of elements, creating a superb songwriting where can appreciate genuine riff death metal, mixed with acoustic guitars, violins, cellos, and double bass as well as clean vocals in narrative form and of course snarling vocals, the drum section play an important role giving the support to lay the pace and moods to this utterly masterpiece within their entire repertoire, the last track is the instrumental "The Origin of Primal Expression" which works pretty good as an end, giving the sense of tranquility and peace.

It is true they took a long time to perform their fourth album "Akróasis", but it is also true that you will not be disappointed, however if you are expecting somehow they follow the steps of "Omnivium" I fear you might question this album because lies more on elements we hear in "Cosmogenesis" but still I cannot clearly defined as a progeny of it, due to the expansive work in their songwriting and arrangements as ever before, it is highly recommended for enthusiasts who likes to venture in the intricate of the subgenre progressive and technical.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

01. Sermon Of The Seven Suns
02. The Monist
03. Akróasis
04. Ten Sepiroth
05. Ode To The Sun
06. Fractal Dimension
07. Perpetual Infinity
08. Weltseele
09. The Origin of Primal Expression 



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Borknagar (2016) Winter Thrice

Band: Borknagar

Country of Origin: Norway

Status: Active

Genre: Progressive metal / Viking Folk metal

Type: Full Length

Format: CD Ltd. Edition Digipak
Length Approx.: 57:00 min.

Release Date: 01-22-2016

Current label: Century Media Records

Release label: Century Media Records

IR Classification: Excellent (4.7 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

Winter Thrice grant the listener a satisfying experience

Has passed quite a bit of time since we heard the latest Borknagar production "Urd" released almost four years ago, "Winter Thrice" is their tenth full length, Yes! You listened right, they have just released a new album starting this 2016 in the best shape as they could and being honest with you guys, during the last fifteen years I haven't heard anything that matched their opus titled "Empiricism" back in 2001, were Borknagar began to experiment with some progressive elements rooted into Viking mythology, cosmos and nature.

It is undeniable how Borknagar has evolved over time, polishing their sound that wanders between a mixture of progressive rock, black metal, folk and atmospheric among some other elements, "Winter Thrice" grant to the listener a satisfying experience taking them through a varied landscape of soft tunes built over complex musical structures, vocally speaking they lead you to an epic climax that lingers from the beginning to end.

Borknagar current lineup seems to be the most talented they were able to put together, such an alliance would have been impossible to see a decade ago, but time and space work in wonderful ways and today we can appreciate their work with Øystein Garnes Brun on lead guitars, Jens F. Ryland on rhythm guitars, ICS Vortex on bass and vocals, Lars Are Nedland on keyboard and vocals, Vintersorg on vocals and Baard Kolstad behind the drums all together offer nearly a masterpiece in my opinion.

The first track of the albums is "The Rhymes of the Mountain" built over melodic guitar riff and blasting drums, while the clean vocals battles the harsh vocals, the keyboard layers some fine tunes striving to create an epic ambience, followed by "Winter Thrice" which opens with a soft keyboard and suddenly explodes in your face, seriously this track takes you into a journey between heaven in hell, formidably aggressive and calm at the right moment the wide vocal range gives the whole album another feeling, next is "Cold Runs the River" speed takes over by infected black metal riff layered brilliantly, powerful drums while the growl vocals stand out with terrific clean backing vocals, the remarkable part of this track comes in form of a superb guitar solo, "Panorama" goes more experimental, diving into a more deeper progressive current, but still sound refreshing for a midway album, then comes "When Chaos Calls" with a slightly reminiscence of Vintersorg, it seems that few riff were borrowed by Borknagar and these were infused in this cut, "Erodent" teases the listener with a varied harmony that rarely blast the moment, "Noctilucent" the shortest track in the album reflects the calm and grandiosity that simplicity can achieve, subtle vocals with lilting pace, "Terminus" delivers some vicious black metal riff blended with clean vocals engaging the listener, with countless twist here and there to sound interesting, the limited edition digipak contains a bonus track titled "Dominant Winds" which is an excellent closing track because simply doesn't break the balance crafted along the whole album making worthy to get this version.

While "Winter Thrice" can be really appreciated by fans of Opeth, Enslaved, Mastodon among others, there is another fact in the other hand for fans who want to join the progressive metal wagon this is a excellent choice to start with, for old fans lovers of "The Olden Domains" is not yet time to live those glorious days of yore, but I firmly believe there will be a time for it.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

1. The Rhymes of the Mountain

2. Winter Thrice

3. Cold Runs the River

4. Panorama
5. When Chaos Calls
6. Erodent
7. Noctilucent
8. Terminus
9. Dominant Winds (Bonus track)




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Gorod (2015) A Maze of Recycled Creeds

Band: Gorod

Country of Origin: France

Status: Active

Genre: Progressive Death Metal

Type: Full Length

Format: CD
Length Approx.: 44:00 min.

Release Date: 10-16-2015

Current label: Listenable Records

Release label: Listenable Records

IR Classification: Good (4.2 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

Gorod delivers an extraordinary mix of Jazz, Funk and Progressive to fuse with their Tech Death metal

When you think in Gorod the French Tech Death metal band, you might think of another bands name within the genre as their fellow countrymen Gojira, the Canadians Beyond Creation, the Germans Obscura or the Americans The Faceless and even the mighty Nile, then you think; Why Gorod isn't there among the pack? if they have enough arguments to be respected as the aforementioned bands, "A Maze of Recycled Creeds" it is their fifth full length in their discography, preceded by their controversial album "A Perfect Absolution" in 2012, which was criticized by many, but hailed by others, however this occasion they simply decided to go further and make clear enough how Tech Death metal should be played.

"A Maze of Recycled Creeds" dwells into a mix of well balanced jazzy riff, funky passages and grooves that add boldness, their riff switches back and forth with a singular smoothness, that make the complexity, dynamic and brutality merge in a subtle and convenient manner, placing this album as one of the best Tech Death metal of the year.

Since the opener cut "Air De L'ordre" a smooth piano intro which does not represent or belong to "A Maze of Recycled Creeds"  you're clueless to what is coming, but suddenly the intricate guitar work that "Temple of the Art-God" carries with it, the drums are blunt and the raspy vocals complement this song and right away links to "Celestial Nature" what an awesome track with funky bass notes rumbling in the background perfectly integrated in their Tech Death sound, which takes you into an unpredictable twist, "Inner Alchemy" keeps up in the same vein, you have to listening loud, the guitars are fresh and sharp without interfere at all with the low frequency of the bass, only Gorod were able to pull off such amazing notes and conjoining them into a single track, "An Order to Reclaim" in my opinion could reach the top of the album, it's plagued of funky riff that are aggressive with nauseating drums to make another perfect twist by the end slowing down the pace until reach what I could call a strange fusion of Funk and Doom metal, "From Passion to Holiness" the grooviest track in the album resembles what the band did in their previous album, but this time adding some refined low tones, "Dig into Yourself" displays an inventive progression chords defiant and fearless to bring one of the best guitar solo in the album, "Rejoice Your Soul" and "Syncretic Delirium" anyone could close the album, both tracks are magnificent, the very last track in the CD is an alternate version of “An Order to Reclaim”, which is not included in the 12 inches version.

Gorod got engaged with themselves to deliver an extraordinary mix of diverse styles varied from Jazz, Funk and Progressive to fuse almost perfectly with their Technical Death metal sound, there are few aspects that prevent this album be what deserves to be, the piano intro simply get lost in time by the end you barely remember it and "The Mystic Triad of Artistry" for some reason I just don't get it, I could say the riff doesn't feel convincing or the crushing pace alters the previous balance, but there something that doesn't flow as it should be, however this is an album that you cannot miss, so what are you waiting for?

Track List:

1. Air de L'ordre (Instrumental)

2. Temple to the Art-God

3. Celestial Nature

4. Inner Alchemy

5. The Mystic Triad of Artistry

6. An Order to Reclaim

7. From Passion to Holiness
8. Dig into Yourself
9. Rejoice Your Soul
10. Syncretic Delirium
11. An Order to Reclaim (Alt. Version)

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Enslaved (2015) In Times

Band: Enslaved

Country of Origin: Norway

Status: Active

Genre: Progressive Black / Viking metal

Type: Full length

Format: CD (Ltd Digipak)

Length Approx.: 53:00 min.

Release Date: 03-06-2015

Current label: Nuclear Blast

IR Classification: Excellent (4.5 / 5)

A Ferocious and beautiful piece of black metal

Enslaved is one of the few bands that has always caught my attention for their versatility, unique style in the song writing process, their progressive sound with no fear to experience new horizons, that is the reason to set them apart from all the bands emerging during the second wave of black metal, it had its origin at the beginnings of the nineties.

These Norwegians has demonstrated through their twenty four year of career an incredible progression from their Black metal roots leading us by an intricate and complex musical structure, offering us records as "Vikingligr Veldi", "Mardraum: Beyond the Within", "Below the Lights", "Isa", "Axioma Ethica Odini", "RIITIIR" to mention few of their huge catalog, now they approach to us with their latest album "In Times" it consist of six tracks surpassing the eight minute mark each and provide us some of the best tunes they have recorded so far.

The opening track "Thurisaz Dreaming" begins with a furious riff as hell is coming with it, while the harsh vocals by bassist/vocalist Grutle Kjellson are hellish then here we go with a subtle change of pace, and keyboardist/vocalist Larsen show off his clean vocals through the piece and you realize his evolution as singer if you think of him when they released "Isa" in 2004, "Building with Fire" probably the most catchy piece in the whole album and contrary to the previous track this one is more oriented to metal/rock comparable to Amorphis sound, unpretentious riff, aerie vocals gives an ethereal proportion there is a brilliant guitar solo and an exceptional bass interlude, all this elements will stick in your mind for a while, "One Thousand Years of Rain" it has a faint introduction that moves you into a reflection, to shake you off again Kjellson explode his throat to the skies and convey to a pure raw feeling alternating with harmonic and melodic chants battling each other, the wide variety of riff and progression chords are stunning at some time make you remember Opeth's style, "Nauthir Bleeding" comes to be one of the most progressive and diverse pieces in the album, perhaps the most unfathomable in their entire career, Bekkevold delivers a drumming section that sounds epic and flawless, rarely you will find a blending feeling of dynamism and balance alike as this, “In Times” keeps the same path as its predecessor but feels like they are building a wall with those progression chords before exploding into a chaotic commotion filled of blast, tremolo picking guitars and resonant growls, the conclusion of this albums comes by "Daylight" it has an unique atmosphere, dwells in a post-rock layers and it transcends to another plane,  the chants behind the harsh intonations are mesmerizing follows by one of the best if not the best guitar solo in this album, leaving the listener ecstatic kneeling before them and suddenly the final countercharge in form of a lethal guitar riff and hellish growls comes to end with you.

What we have here is that it's unlikely we can match it with any previous record released by Enslaved, what I mean is that it's a ferocious and beautiful piece of black metal, this album has the potential to be enjoyed by the listener little by little in a natural way, you just get carried away by your senses on a journey to the frenzy with subtle melodies, that will take your breath away, it is undeniable that Enslaved has been tracing a progressive path which seems endless while providing enough contrast and smooth transition for many years to come.

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

Track List:

1. Thurisaz Dreaming

2. Building with Fire

3. One Thousand Years of Rain

4. Nauthir Bleeding

5. In Times

6. Daylight









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