Switzerland’s Bölzer surprised the underworlds with last year’s debut Aura, which was released by Iron Bonehead (who else…). So it was quite satisfying to notice this band returning with a new EP, two-tracker Soma. Both tracks are an ode to the goddess Luna, by the way, ‘set amidst a thematic backdrop of war and the surrender of the fleshly temple’ (taken from Invictus Productions’ biography).
Astarot are a Mexican project by multi-instrumentalist Gonzalo GB, aka Astarot, in co-operation with singer / lyricist Alfonso ‘Tortured’. Both of them are also active in e.g. Suicidal Years and Alasthor (the Mexican one, of course), as well as in Abysmal Depths.
The Russian Death Metal-scene is growing expansively, and 7 H.Target are part of this satisfying evolution. It’s quite a remarkable moniker they carry, but for this Russian horde it’s more than just a bold statement. It’s their expression to define a new level of Death Metal. Also the explicit cover artwork (apparently created by three painters) and the album’s new-generation title are inherent to innovation and progression. They did prove it a couple of times before, and their constantly evolving attitude gets stronger and stronger by each release.
Twilight Fauna are a project by Paul ‘Ravenwood’ Neese with a handful of highly interesting releases (including some splits) on their roster. Ravenwood originally started this solo-project in order to pay tribute to other one-man-armies, such as The Ruins Of Beverast or Burzum (hè, two of my all-time favourite solo-outfits!).
On October 11th 2014’s update on Concreteweb, you could read the review I did for Taatsi’s demo-tape Season Of Sacrifice. It was an omen for the upcoming full length, and it left me satisfied, and craving for more. I was not the only one, because when Forever Plagued heard this material, originally digitally released by Taatsi in January 2014, they signed them with the idea to have an album released. …which is the case as from now on…
The Dutch combo Sin7sinS was formed in 2006 and did release one demo, before fading away in silence. It wasn’t until 2010 before they came up with a first studio album, Purgatory Ltd., which was released via Massacre Records. Press (at least quite a big deal) and audience welcomed the material with open arms, and live shows followed with the likes of Epica and Leaves’ Eyes, as well as Sepultura.
Onheil are a Dutch formation that was formed at the end of last century. The demo-CDs Sterf (‘die’) (2000) and We Hebben De Hel Gezien (‘we’ve seen Hell’) (2002), as well as their first official release, the 2003-MCD The Threat (War Cry Productions), were received very positively in especially Belgium and The Netherlands.
Nosce Teipsum (‘know yourself’) are an Ukraine-based band, formed five years ago and especially known from their collaboration on a split with Lycanthropy (singer Furious is in both bands, by the way, and bass player Führer used to be part of them for a brief period as well) and Lebensabend (also from Russia) (Svartgalgh, 2010).
Nachtblut, the Lower-Saxonian one, are a German quintet that return with Chimonas, the successor of 2012’s Dogma, and their fourth studio recording in almost ten years of existence. Frontman Askeroth and his horde created once again a catchy, well-produced full length with this one, which has a total running time of fifty minutes.
Aysenlur are a band from the Iquique-region in the far North of Chile, close to the border with Bolivia and Peru. They actually started during the second half of the Nineties, and soon they gained a huge fan-base in their home country and neighbour countries; especially live they were well visited. It took, however, until 2006 before Aysenlur self-released their official studio-recorded full length, Call To Arms. I have no idea what happened in mean time, but since then all seemed to fade in silence?...
