Bloodtruth (2018) Martyrium 'Review'

Band: Bloodtruth

Country of Origin: Italy

Genre: Technical Death Metal

Type: Full Length

Format: CD
Length Approx.: 33:00 min.

Release Date: 09-28-2018

Release Label: Unique Leader Records

IR Classification: Good (3.7 / 5)

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Martyrium a worthy piece for the listener.

From Italy, Bloodtruth released their sophomore album last week, the title for their newest album is "Martyrium," which took them about four year to put this album out and as we can guess during all this time came up some changes within the band, vocalist Luigi Valenti has departed, but the band's core remain intact with lead guitarist Stefano Rossi Ciucci, bass guitarist Riccardo Rogari, behind the drums Giacomo Torti, welcoming to rhythm guitarist Stefano Clementini and their new vocalist Luis Maggio.

Debut album "Obedience" released back in 2014 was sickening and surprised everyone with their brutal but refined fast pace. Their songwriting encloses a hellish torrent in the same vein as the mighty Nile and their country-mates Hour of Penance, if you think they could not be better with their following album you were wrong! "Martyrium" surpassed many expectations with a more cohesive songwriting, despite the conceptual album they were able to craft lyrically, there is no remote chance to sacrifice their signature sound, they still sound heavy with brutal tones, technical nuances inducted by a tireless drumming and devastating growling vocals; that's what makes "Martyrium" a worthy piece for the listener.

I don't want to diminish a great job by Bloodtruth, but the downside for me is the length clocking with only thirty-three minutes, the time flies by and it just leave me craving for more; I would have liked at least two more tracks, reaching the forty minutes or so.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal…

Track List:

01. 1184 P.C. │ 02. Centuries of Intolerance (Danse Macabre) │ 03. Schismatical Crusades │ 04. Inner Resurrection │ 05. Peste Noire │ 06. Prelude to Havoc │ 07. The Tome of Suffering │ 08. Persecution │ 09. The Last Prophet │ 10. Martyrium

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Arkaik (2015) Lucid Dawn

Band: Arkaik

Country of Origin: US

Status: Active

Genre: Technical Death metal

Type: Full Length

Format: CD
Length Approx.: 54:00 min.

Release Date: 10-30-2015

Current label: Unique Leader Records

Release label: Unique Leader Records

IR Classification: Good (4.0 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

Tech Death metal that captures the essence of the subgenre

The Inland Empire's metallers has returned with a stimulant dose of Progressive Tech Death metal, Arkaik, came out more than ten year ago and since then, they have always treated us with creativity and brutality spreaded in their songwriting "Lucid Dawn" is the fourth full length in their discography and who else could released this album, well no other than Unique Leader a label reputed by acts like Deeds of Flesh, Fallujah, Inanimate Existence and Gorod just to mention few ones, the band current lineup is Jared Christianson on vocals, Ivan Munguia in bass, Alex Hernandez-Bent on drums, Greg Paulson on guitars and Miguel Esparza as lead guitar.

Tech Death metal is a very difficult subgenre to be successful, because it demands a lot of creativity, intensity and precision all blended in a cohesive form to explode in the right way at the right moment, loaded with a shredding riff, accurate blast beats and tempos that lead you into a labyrinth with chaotic sounds but disciplined.

"Lucid Dawn" captures the essence of the sub genre and packs it in a tremendous production, the albums kick off with a classic guitar "Intro" and rapidly takes you to the next track "From the Void" with ambitious riff and devastating bass lines supported by exceptional drums by Alex Hernandez which collide with sickest vocals of Jared Christianson, "Digital Shroud" made of a groovy riff and blunt vocals works out to shine the jazzy bass solo by Ivan Munguia, "Awaken the I" is an astonishing track that delves in groovy riff interwoven with melodies and a vicious guitar solo by Miguel Esparza, "Fleshwalkers" defies the beautiful chaos with that intro and suddenly it is immerse in nauseated riff and relentless drums, the onslaught is inevitable for the listeners, the self titled album "Lucid Dawn" is indisputably the kind of Tech Death metal that holds up this album, vibrant, intricate musical structure with sharp riff, powerful vocals that lay on a meticulous drum, the closing track doesn't let this album down at all "Temple Aflame" with a crushing riff, raspy vocals that rip your ears apart, actually the track is listed to last almost sixteen minutes, but end up around the minute 4:50 playing some outer sounds as wood burning in a pit and then a sample that talks about space, time and cosmic creation.

I believe that Arkaik has delivered a solid album within the subgenre, clever songwriting, clean production as demanded by the style, the potential contained in this album, can put them clearly into the eye of the storm, but definitely it requires them to explore and stretch the boundaries for their next recording, meanwhile if you liked Suffocation, Obscura or Decapitated, well you should try Arkaik, you might end up enjoying them.

Stay True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...

Track List:

1. Risen

2. From the Void
3. Digital Shroud
4. That Witch Lies Hidden
5. Awaken the I
6. Fleshwalkers
7. Fusion of Epochs
8. Lucid Dawn
9. Conjuring
10. Temple Aflame

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Kronos (2015) Arisen New Era

Band: Kronos

Country of Origin: France

Status: Active

Genre: Brutal Death metal
Additional: Technical 

Type: Full length

Format: CD

Length Approx.:  37:00 min.

Release Date: 07-24-2015

Current label: Unique Leader Records

Release label: Unique Leader Records

IR Classification: Good (4.1 / 5)

Listen our review! (English)

Tech death metal to blow your mind away

Kronos is a well known act from France they have been playing around since 1994 where they were simple teenagers, the band was formed in Thaon-les-Vosges, Lorraine; Kronos first line-up was Grams and Marot splitting duties in guitars and vocals, Jeremy playing the bass and backing vocals and Mike in the drums all of them were between 13 and 17 years old playing at that time some kind of Heavy Thrash metal, but times passed and they began to evolve their sound and with that… came up line-up changes, as usually happen for such of a young band, Marot departed from the band to be replace by  Nicolas Temmar in guitars and Christophe Gérardin joined the band doing vocals ending up with the released of their first demo “Outrance” in 1997, before they record and released a split with their own side project band named None Divine, Jeremy left the band and he is replaced by Tom in the bass and backing vocals, this line up last long enough to release their album debut “Titan’s Awakening” in 2001, under Warpath Records, but one more line-up change will happen before they enter the studios to recorded their sophomore album, Nicolas Temmar part ways with the band and Richard took over guitar duties, then “Colossal Titan Strife” is recorded and released by 2003 and their third album “The Hellenic Terror” released in 2007, both albums under the Spanish label Xtreem Music, it took them over eight years to record and released their fourth and newest album “Arisen New Era”  for Unique Leader Records, but not without before undergoing through more line-up changes, their all time drummer Mike and the vocalist Chistophe departed from the band, being replaced by Anthony in the drums and Triv as vocalist, so; Grams remains as the only original member of Kronos.

Being said a brief history of the band we can focus in their newest album “Arisen New Era” which brings a hell out of the Greek mythology loaded with technical and brutal riff that blends one after another, blistering drums and hellish vocals the first track “Infernal Abyss Sovereignty” fits perfectly with this description, adding a guitar solo to make it memorable, while the production stands out for neat and clear due to the current standards it doesn’t feel empty, meanwhile “Zeus Dethroned” is fast and aggressive which contrast pretty much with “Soul-Voracious Vultures” for the catchy riff incorporated from the beginning, merciless double bass drum to harmonize the guitar riff , “Rapture in Misery” kicks off with a tremendous riff, despite the huge amount of riff in the album, Kronos managed to succeed without sounding a big mess and getting lost into riff, “Klymenos Underwrath” has a really interesting mid section transitioning fast tempos to mid tempos and vice versa, actually I think it was smart to launched as the single to promote their album, “Aeons Titan Crown” is brutal but the melodic acoustic guitar ending takes to another level this cut, “Brotherlords” and “Purity Slaughtered” are a clear example of the endless creativity of this band, putting together a piece, sharp guitars, demolishing drum section and lethal grunts, the last track in this album is “Hellysium” it will blow your mind away with that mixture of technical riff and brutal drums, Kronos know how to keep you engaged until the last minute.

To resume, “Arisen New Era” evidence the endless creativity of this band, despite the long time out of the studio, they managed to bring an album that redefine somehow to compose, record and produce Technical Death metal, “Arisen New Era” means a lot more than you think, new members, new label, new decade, new fans and many more, so be prepare for Kronos and their saga of brutality.

Stay True... Stay Metal… Stay Brutal…

Track List:

1. Infernal Abyss Sovereignty

2. Zeus Dethroned

3. Soul-Voracious Vultures

4. Rapture in Misery

5. Klymenos Underwrath

6. Aeons Titan Crown

7. Brotherlords

8. Purity Slaughtered

9. Hellysium

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