CD

The number of Metal bands that I do know from Liechtenstein, a country sweetly floating in between Switzerland and Austria, is very limited, especially when it comes to ‘my kind’ of Metal. There are a couple of acts I do like within the Dark Goth / Ambient / Classical genre (WeltenBrand and the likes), and we do / did have bands / projects like Elis / Erben Der Schöpfung, but when it comes to Death / Black / Funeral Doom / … material, this country remains quasi-virginal. Liechtenstein isn’t but a very small country, of course.

Moss’s Horrible Night is grim, bleak, desolate, distorted, sombre, painstakingly slow yet the infernal pandemonium Chris Chantler-drums, Dominic Finbow-guitars and Olly Pearson-vocals/bass whip up is intoxicating.

From Prague comes a very nice Progressive Rock/ Metal act (with additional elements), formed in 2006 by singer/ guitarist Martin Schuster (formerly of Arawn and currently also a member of Pessimist), bassist Adam Palma, and drummer Filip Kittnar (formerly of Hell, he also bashes the drums in the band Lammoth).

Evil Invader’s music is built upon the structures of 80s speed/thrash and fans of bands like Savage Grace, Agent Steel, Razor, Exciter and Jaguar will want to give this one a spin.. The disc spins off with “Victim of sacrifice” a pounding riff-monster played in 80's nwobhm/thrash tradition, rolling on gripping repetition leads and a double-bass drummed drive. If you like this track, you’ll surely also love the rest of the album.

I did have the goated honour to review Milking The Goatmachine’s former releases Back From The Goats, Seven… A Dinner For One, and Clockwork Udder (see this wonderful site’s archive section in case you do goatly care), and now our pretty website’s boss grants me with this crazy combo’s newest play, Stallzeit. Time to go to bed, dear goats, but not without those sweet lullabies during bedtime-porridge!

I have to admit: I’ve never been a ‘fan’ of this Dutch band. Holland is known for its huge so-called ‘female fronted’ scene, i.e. Gothic, Symphonic or Epic oriented (Heavy) Metal with a female singer, and more than once this country exceeds the international colleagues / competitors easily. In many cases, the Netherlands indeed are spectacular country (I won’t start enlist a selection of bands, because whatever…), but La-Ventura did never please my ear drums or grey cells at all (cf. a full length and an EP during the first decennium of this century).

Now that they have found their way to Relapse Records, Inter Arma’s unique music will be available to a much larger crowd. From black to doom to post and to sludge metal Sky Burial is comprised of  innovative, inventive and incredible crushing metal The band's versatility shines through on every track and the band is able to pull each song off without sounding like any. I was totally captivated by this band from the beginning. These guys can mangle your intestines just as easily as they mangle genres.

The Italian quartet Heretic’s Dream did record this full length at Apex House Studio (production, engineering and mix) with assistance of e.g. Steve Russell, whom I do know from his studio assistance with Metalcore-oriented acts specifically.

His contribution led to a clean, rather polished and modern sound for sure, which fits to the musical approach of Heretic’s Dream. Translated: modern, poppy material…

Not sure if they're a sludge, crust or grindcore band, Call of the Void decides to be all three at once with their 2013 release Dragged Down A Dead End Path. Musically the disc is complex full. The guitars chop, thrash and wail. The bass and drums lay down an amazing blast beat with the vocals providing a backwash of anger. Call Of the Void sounds as if they carry the weight of the world on their shoulders and must create angry bulldozing music for catharsis.

Only recently received, even though originating from the end of last year (so are many releases, so WTF…).

Objective info: Alms And Avarice was recorded at Black Coffee Sound by Clay Neely (Elder, Black Pyramid, Killslug) during last year’s summer.

Half-and-half, subjective versus objective info: Doom stuff with a chilly atmosphere and powerful sound, balancing in between tradition and experimentalism.