Ivan Tibos.

This review deals with last year’s split in between the Belgian act Scum Noise (not the Brazilian Hardcore / Crust / Punk-formation with the very same moniker), and U.K.-based Grindlover, which did release the album Deep Dives Into Holes Of Love on Symbol Of Domination Productions (which originates from Belarus, actually), a Satanath-sublabel, shortly before this split-album. Once again the release was strictly limited, but there are still some copies available… Contact the label now!

I have no idea what’s going on with Spanish label Xtreem Music. 2014 seems to be a highlight in many aspects, and those aspects are tens of superb releases by great bands, which I will come back to immediately. First a very limited history. David ‘Dave Rotten’ Sánchez González, whom you might know from notorious acts such as Christ Denied, Avulsed, Yskelgroth, Putrevore etc.

The scene from Cyprus isn’t that impressive when it comes to the number of bands out there. With exception of Arrayan Path, I can’t remember having written a review (for Concreteweb) for a band or project from that Mediterranean island. Enter Vomitile, formed in 2007, and creators of two pieces before: the nameless 2010-7”EP and Igniting Chaos, their debut album from last year.

What a band-name this is… Burning Butthairs, do you smell it? And then, the lay-out of the booklet (full of pictures, some even worse than others), the cover painting, the song titles (Die Axt In Dein Gesicht, The Milwaukee Cannibal, Butchered Raped Tochter, The Vampire Of Hannover, The Meat Eater etc.), does it give you a clue? Pop Music? Electro-Rock? Nu Metal? Vega New Beat? Grind-f*cking-core? Indeed, we have a winner, haven’t we!

I have to admit that I have never been that crazy about Abysmal Dawn, but throughout the years the evolution wasn’t but in a positive direction. I made a review for all former albums (From Ashes, 2006 – actually it was the 2012’s re-release that I reviewed; posted within the second Relapse-special on July 23^rd 2012 / Programmed To Consume, 2008; apparently this review isn’t available anymore / Leveling The Plane Of Existence, 2011 – see update February 18^th 2011).

Formed in 2011, Copenhagen-based act Piss Vortex spent three years in the making of their debut album. The quartet, i.e. Simon S. Christensen (v), Christian Bonnesen (g), Niclas J. Sauffaus (d), and Rasmus Moesby (b), finally recorded the material in three days, mainly live to maintain a raw, improvisional and organic sound. The material was produced by Jakob R.

Malamorte are a completely new project with members of e.g. Lord Vampyr and Cain. It was formed by vocalist / guitarist Alessandro ‘Lord Vampyr’ Nunziati (also currently or formerly active in e.g.

Black Antlers are a pretty young project with members from both the U. S. of A. (Justin Palmieri, the guy behind the superb i AM Esper-project) and Croatia (Robert Bekič, also involved with different solo-outfits). Both guys worked together before, or better, at least they released some split-material for their solo-projects (i AM Esper versus Mental Cage).

Phrenetix are a very young four-piece from Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, formed in 2011 and consisting of (female) guitarist / vocalist Lina, bassist Daumantas, guitar player Tomas, and drummer Jonas.

Belarus is not necessarily the ‘biggest’ country within the Black Metal scene, though there are several pretty interesting acts out there. Despite quite an impressive curriculum vitae, Zaklon, a project by Temnarod (also involved with e.g. Desolate Heaven, Hreswelgr, Pogost, Defunctus Astrum or Unlight Forest), is not that known at all outside the borders of the former U.S.S.R.