Sweden’s Dead Awaken were formed in early 2002 as a quartet. Throughout the years, the band recorded and self-released a handful of demonstrational stuff (Death Before Dishonour, 2002; Instrument Of War, 2003; ..Tomorrow We Die.., 2004; Scar Graced Earth, 2006; and The Noble Art Of Agitation, 2008) and they were able to play at interesting local gigs, but the band’s popularity remained limited to their home country.
This is one of those bands with its lows and its heights. I am glad that the lows were situated in the band’s past, while the positive evolution, once initiated at the beginning of this century, did not shrink away.
Formed in 2008 in Denmark, Cerekloth recorded two fantastic EP’s, Pandemonium Prayers and Halo Of Syringes, respectively in 2008 and 2011, both of them released through Hells Headbangers. And like most Hells Headbangers stuff, I did really like this material.
Cain were based in Minnesota and those who already are familiar with Cain’s first legendary hard rock album will be pleased with 1977’s Stinger as well. Though the slick blend of driving hard-rock, smooth balladry and progressive textures can get on your nerves too.
After the recording of a demo and an EP (released via Detest Records), Olympia, WA-based Bone Sickness entered the studio to record seven new songs, to be released on vinyl and digital download.
I'll be honest: The first time I sat through A New Dawn I wasn't impressed. Maybe I didn't give it the attention it deserved, or maybe I just wasn't in the mood for that type of music but, throughout my first run-through of this CD, nothing really grabbed me. But this is where it gets interesting, because on my second and subsequent listens to this CD, I found myself enthralled.
This '70s-styled Hard Rock act from Oslo, Norway, was founded in 2005 as a trio, and immediately made its mark in the USA, where their single “44” (part o their demo EP 44 Collection) won the Make A Star music contest that same year.
Arroganz are a pretty young German band (trio) with two highly respected releases before (Burning Souls, EP 2010, and Dark And Deathless, 2011). Besides, the band performed on different festivals with bands like Demonical and Dark Funeral, and especially in their (chauvinistic) home country, they reached a status of high-acceptance.
I have to admit that although the name Vreid was familiar to me, I have never even heard one song from this Norwegian black metal band and thus Welcome Farewell is my first venture into their world.
Veneror are a project from Italy that debuts with Percussimus Foedus Cum Morte via Dutch label New Era Productions. The trio brings, with this studio release, a personal and timeless form of melodic Underground Black Metal with a grim, occult atmosphere and an eerie, freezing sound. An Italian band indeed… (I cannot, and will not, ignore my passion for the Italian scene). First the artwork: what a great cover design!
