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Atlantean Kodex - The Golden Bough - Cruz Del Sur - 2010 [ CD ] If you ask me about one band that delivers pure Epic Metal nowadays I would with no doubt point Atlantean Kodex from Germany. Being around so many years they are delivering this kind of Metal that was presented during the glory days of Manowar and Bathory, re presenting it through some really powerful live shows. Their name was spread quite quickly through the underground but it seems that this debut full length was the big step that everyone was waiting for: The dedicated fans would have their... [ read more ] Review by Countraven Crystal Tears - Generation X - 7hard - 2010 [ CD ] If there were awards for the "really hard working bands" and for "people who keeps the vision alive" both would go to the Greek Power Metallers Crystal Tears and their main man Chrisafis Tantanozis. I really follow the band since their very first steps and demos and I can assure you that there is a lot of blood, sweat and tears spread until they reach to the high top that they have climbed now. Yes high top my friends, cause I can hardly think of such an album that includes that passionate a... [ read more ] Review by Countraven Acid - Live In Belgium 84 - Femetal Records - 2010 [ CD ] As the title says this is a captured live show by one of Belgium's most popular Heavy Metal bands and of course I am referring to Acid. If you are still missing their three classic full lengths (Acid, Maniac, Beast Engine) you would better move fast and grab your copies and bang your head their ACID mix of Heavy and Speed Metal. On the other hand if you already got those masterpieces then you simply know what Acid means. This live recorded captured on 2nd of June, 1984 at Leuven, Belgium is ... [ read more ] Review by Countraven Anvil Chorus - Blondes In Black - Leviathan Records - 1982 [ 7 ] Here we have the only official release of this San Fransisco band except from their magnificent debut that was finally released a couple of months ago. The 7” contains two tracks “Blondes In Black” and “Once again” which was re-released in the debut album of the band but this version of the song is heavier and I really liked more than the album version. “Blondes in black” is also a really great song. We should point here that the band has also a couple of demos which have more than 10 tracks ea... [ read more ] Review by Countraven Astronomikon - Dark Gorgon Rising - Self Financed - 2010 [ CD ] Here we have the first demo of a new heavy metal band from Cyprus. The leader of the band is the bassist of Arryan Path, Paris Lamprou. In this new group the singer is Nicolas Leptos the singer of Arryan Path. The demo contains three songs: “Dark Gorgon”, “Rocka Rolla Sword” and “Dramatis Personae”. The demo has quite good production but the songs will be re-recorded again for the band’s debut album. The band will record in Germany with Vagelis Maranis, the singer of Sanvoisen which also appeare... [ read more ] Review by Countraven Crowned In Earth - Visions Of The Haunted - Shadow Kingdom Records - 2010 [ CD ] I guess that people around British Doom Metal scene are somehow familiar with the name of Kevin Lawry, he has already put some iron in the fire being the main spirit behind Doom / Death Metallers Silent Winter, holding the axe of the British Doom Metallers Khthon -another band that you should focus at if you are into this gloomy and foggy kind of British Doom Metal-. In Crowned In Earth Kevin is joining forces with drummer Darin McCloskey (Pale Divine, Sinister Realm, Falcon) in order to de... [ read more ] Review by Countraven Saharra - Times Forgotten Sands - Arkeyn Steel Records - 2010 [ CD ] Saharra from New York USA delivered some really excellent and elegant US Steel in the vein of Queensryche and Crimson Glory. Their "Times Forgotten Sands" debut demo (released back in 1992) was always on the top of the US Metal collector's want lists and if you give a chance to song like "Listen" and "25th Hour" you would understand the reason why). Indeed this is high class US Steel my friends. Fortunately Arkeyn Steel Recs re packed the demo together with an outtake and if "Times Forgotte... [ read more ] Review by Countraven Feanor - Hellas - Secret Port Records - 2010 [ CD ] There are some bands holding the flag of Heavy Metal high on a simply and straight forward way: by playing passionate, wild, iron fisting and pounding Heavy Metal. No fake posts on the Internet, no poser and wannabe attitude, no fake words: just FIRE and STEEL. Having not only their name but their music as well inspired by the Fire Spirit, Feanor from Argentina is with no doubt one of those bands. Those who are taking a serious look in today's Heavy Metal scene would be of course aware of thi... [ read more ] Review by Countraven Astral Doors - Requiem Of Time - Metalville - 2010 [ CD ] The mighty Swedes are back with their 4th album (5th if you wanna get technical and count their "Raiders of the Arc" EP). If you're familiar with the band's style you know full well what to expect... And that is classic melodic yet powerful heavy metal, heavily influenced by Dio, especially evident in Patrik Johansson's outstanding vocal delivery. Sometimes speedy and others more anthemic mid tempo, "Requiem..." has its share of enjoyable songs (and a few kick ass ones), though my general fee... [ read more ] Review by Asgardlord Ea - Au Ellai - Solitude Productions - 2010 [ CD ] The third release of this enigmatic band combines the conceptions laid in their previous albums: the exalted lightness of «Ea Taesse» and absolute darkness of «II». However it is a fact that their third album finds the band in an ultimate crescendo of inspiration as they present a deep and apocalyptic Funeral Doom mixed with atmospheric ambient. There are also some touches of classical music here and there thanks to the melancholic piano that is probably one of the strongest musical features... [ read more ] Review by Countraven Realmbuilder - The Stone Throwers - I Hate Records - 2010 [ CD ] Terms like "obscure" have turned to be a little cliché as they are used very often and for the wrong reason (rarity of a release) to describe some bands. Well no this one is not a rare recording from the past and I will use the word obscure just to describe their Epic / Doom Metal. This debut Summon "The Stone Throwers" on I Hate records by New York based RealmBuoilder will stick on the very high slots on my list with this year's favorites. Yeap I know I should not have been that lazy and I s... [ read more ] Review by Countraven Disharmony - Shades Of Insanity - Self Financed - 2009 [ CD ] Almost a year has passed since Disharmony has released this Promo CD that contains 8 tracks and was mostly given away for free during their live show on Hermoupolis Indie Rock Festival (a fest taking place every year on Syros Island, Cyclades, Greece) on 25th of July 2009. The first edition was for fans only. After this the band designed a full promo kit given away to labels and media. So let's see what we got here. Even those who are already familiar with the music of one of the most talent... [ read more ] Review by Countraven On The Edge Of The Netherrealm - Different Realms - Badmood Man - 2010 [ CD ] This should be checked by everyone into dark, heavy music. I mean everyone. It is a perfect mixture of depressive meanwhile emotional Atmospheric Metal and mysterious, apocalyptic Doom / Death Metal. What I really liked in the stuff of this album is that many of the songs are carrying a special atmosphere based in one of my favorite instruments: the piano. Do not expect weak stuff in here as the guitar are really heavy and the rhythm section is slowly hammering each single part of each singl... [ read more ] Review by Countraven Garden Of Worm - Garden Of Worm - Shadow Kingdom Records - 2010 [ CD ] Finally the debut. After various releases my favorite Doom Metal band from Finland presents to the masses their self titled album. What really hooked me to the music of this band was that they were always manage to mix some really great dark Progressive stuff in their Doom Metal. They must have studied the sound of Revelation very closely and they must have been great fans of 70s stuff as well cause their letting the old 70s spirit to flow in the music as well. Fortunately all this stuff is re p... [ read more ] Review by Countraven Dustynation - Echoing Lullabies - Self Released - 2010 [ CD ] I remember that I first noticed this band around 2005 on a small live stage on Thessaloniki-Greece. They caught my attention as they were doing a Candlemass cover (it was Demon's Gate as far as I can remember well). I grabbed a drink and watched their set until its end. I was really attracted by their music that was really difficult to be identified due to the many influences that someone could hear in their music, but it was dark, melodic and heavy. The show was over and I have just discovered ... [ read more ] Review by Countraven Inner Wish - No Turning Back - Ulterium Records - 2010 [ CD ] It was about time... After so much waiting for the latest album of the Greek Metal pioneers Inner Wish it was just the right time to have the entire album available for review, the play button is pressed and the Steel reigned supreme. The album was recorded during 2009 at Deva Soundz Studios in Athens, Greece, mixed at Studio Fredman by Fredrik Nordstrom & Henrik Udd and mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios. It contains twelve tracks and it is the fourth full length album in the band's ca... [ read more ] Review by Countraven Wheel - Wheel - Eyes Like Snow - 2010 [ CD ] Having missed the 2009 demo of the German Doom Metallers Wheel, their debut album arrived in my hands as a big surprise as I was simply unaware of their existence. The front cover and the band name somehow prepared me for a band ready to bring the retro 70s music straight on my stereo speakers. But I followed the good old advice that says "never to judge a book by its cover", yes the advice is right. I discovered a treasure in here as Wheel have nothing to do with retro stuff (that I generally ... [ read more ] Review by Countraven Equal Vector - Aspectations - Steel Gallery - 2009 [ CD ] This is an Athens-based Greek melodic-lyrical Progressive Metal band. This is the debut album of the band with great production, a beautiful cover and a thick booklet. In this band the vocals are made by Leonidas Hatzimixalis which has participated in a bunch of older Greek metal bands including Sapphyre, Retrospect, Fatal Morgana (the band’s demo which was released back in 1996 is highly recommended!!!) and Imaginery. For all Fates Warning (Perfect Symmetry era) and in general Progressive Metal... [ read more ] Review by Countraven Implosion - -lucidity In Quietus - Steel Gallery - 2009 [ CD ] This is a Thessaloniki’s (Greece) Progressive Metal band. This is their debut album in the veins of known Progressive Metal bands. In this album there is a guest musician named K. Gildenlow (ex-Pain Of Salvation). The production of the album is really good because the album was mastered at the famous Finnvox studios. The tunes that in my opinion stand out are “Holy Sin” and “Temptation”. This a really good effort for a new metal band and even I am not into progressive metal I liked them. Re... [ read more ] Review by Countraven Until Rain - Reign Of Dreams - Steel Gallery - 2009 [ CD ] This is a Greek (Thessaloniki based) melodic Prog Metal band released by one of the oldest active metal record labels in Greece. The band was formerly known as Delirium and Theimeurgía. This CD is their debut concept album with great production, and a nice cover created by the famous artist Mattias Norén (Statovarius, Kamelot, Epica, Ayreon, John Petrucci,) and a rich booklet. The homonym track is one of the best in album and so “Oneiromancy” and “RK” are. The band is suggested to the fans of Dr... [ read more ] Review by Countraven

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