What introduction can I prepare since Amon Amarth surely are one of the ‘biggest’ names within the international Extreme Metal scene. I do follow them since the earliest years and I’ve always appreciated what they did, for Amon Amarth are one of those bands that pay tribute to the Old School, but translate this passion with a very own, specific interpretation. For sure Amon Amarth are one of the best bands ever in their specific genre.
Principles Of Chaos isn’t but the debut album by Greek outfit Shadowcraft, even though the band was formed eight years ago. Shadowcraft recorded two demos during the early years, and a promo in 2009, but this first full length shows the band in its most matured, professionalised expression.
The Québec-based Black Metal scene is one of the most interesting ones since a long time. I did refer to it in the review of Csejthe’s newest full length (see update June 2nd 2013). The productive region houses some other bands that are about to release new material; the review on the new Monarque-album Lys Noir will be published in a couple of days.
Grot are an extreme act from the British Islands, consisting of Warpath / Cold War vocalist Eoin Broughal, guitarist / bassist John Roche (of Gamma Bomb-fame), and on drums the well-known Kevin Talley - think Hate Eternal, Six Feet Under, Decrepit Birth, Dying Fetus and Misery Index amongst others.
For more than two decades, Gravewürm must be one of the most active projects from the American Undergrounds. As from the very early nineties, Mister Funeral Grave did record tens of demos, tens of splits, a handful of EPs and eight full lengths. Infernal Minions is the ninth and those who are trusted with the abyssal and primitive Doom-Black will be pleased again. No, it does not differ that much from the latest efforts, and therefore this album might be ‘another Gravewürm-record’, one of the many.
Polish band Evangelist consists of members who want to remain anonymous. They are a Christian formation with one full length on their roster, In Partibus Infidelium. Doominicanes is the second one, consisting of five tracks that last for about forty five minutes.
Dutch act Swazafix was a band with Theo Loomans in its ranks. He formed this band in 1990 after he left Asphyx (he reformed Asphyx a couple of years later, by the way). Those who are ‘into the Dutch Old School scene’ will remember his name as well from bands like Soulburn, Evoker or Gomorha (back then always active in these bands’ demo years; we’re talking about the end of the eighties!). He died in 1998.
I never hided my passion for Sweden’s Svartsyn (why should I anyway?), and with this seventh full length, I am only more convinced of the superiority of this band. The new stuff was recorded in the Mortsella Studio and mixed and mastered in Clintworks Studio with Dennis Israel, whom you might know from his assistance with bands like Katatonia, Void Of Silence, Opeth, Paradise Lost or Amon Amarth.
Pretty young band Simulacro (formed in 2009), with members of e.g. Cold Empire, Ancient Skin and Vultur, and hailing from the isle of Sardinia, Italy, debut with Fall Of The Last Idol, a couple of years after their self-called demonstrational promo. The album brings almost forty minutes of melodic and rather fast Black Metal, with a certain Swedish-styled approach (i.e.
Accuser (vocals, guitars, bass) started Revelation’s Hammer (named after the Zyklon song?) a couple of years ago as a solo-outlet. After a while, he joined forces with percussionist Myrvoll of Nidingr-fame, who still acts as permanent session drum-monster. Accuser wrote some material, which he, and Myrvoll, started to register on master tape throughout the past years (due to different circumstances, it took quite a while before having the whole finished in its basic form).
