King Kobra - Turn Up The Good (Times)

Taken from their new album "King Kobra".

ORIGIN - Entity

I was first introduced to the music of Origin back in 2000, with their self-titled debut album. The first impression was, and still is, that we talk about a very talented band. Their last release is an album that doesn't get away from their pre-defined music path, something that all fans of the band will appreciate. The band is playing Death Metal, but it's so aggressive, so brutal, and violent that will please even the most demanding Death Metal fan. Don't expect melodic things here, nor keyboards and stuff. The drummer is so outstanding, that sometimes makes you wonder about the number of his hands and feet, and along with the rest of the rhythm section, create music that often enough sounds like a machine operating on high speed. There are both brutal and high-pitched vocals, and both fit perfectly with the feeling of the music. The production is almost perfect, and helps the music very much. If you like to explore some of the most aggressive sides of Death Metal, the get Origin as a driver, fasten your seat belts and prepare for the journey. Not recommended for the weak.

9/10

THE SILENT RAGE - Harvester Of Souls EP

The band comes from Greece, and this is their second EP, following their Perished in Flames rehearsal demo of 2006, and the self titled EP which was released back in 2009. The band is playing Power Metal, with touches of Classic Metal here and there to enrich their sound. This EP consists on 3 songs from their previous work, and two new ones, all moving to the same style and feeling. There's talent in this band, both in the performing and in the composing area. The songs are good, with enough energy although they don't avoid certain style cliche, which don't spoil the fun though. The vocals are well worked, with an inevitable Greek accent, but the addition of the harsh back vocals somehow fixes the whole feeling. A very talented band, which I am sure has more to offer. Check them out and listen to their work at http://www.reverbnation.com/thesilentrage

4/5

BOREALIS - Fall From Grace

Canadian Metal scene has a way of creating bands with unique, top quality sound, so Borealis are no exception. Existing since 2005, this is their second release so far. To tag their sound proved a rather difficult job mostly because the band manages to transform their style, and explore various paths in their music. One can say that they are a Power Metal band, but have in mind that their music is closer to the Classic Metal. And, this is the most important, they incorporate enough Progressive elements into their music, something that makes their sound a bit more complex, but in a very fluent and natural way. There are enough melodies here, the vocals are warm and well worked, and the various background growls somehow add to the whole result. If you are a fan of Progressive, then there's enough things to enjoy in this album. If you like melodic and catchy sing-along moments, virtuoso guitar parts, they are also here. But everything is in the correct dose, creating a well balanced, and perfectly performed album. So don't get fooled by their short existence as a band, and give these guys a chance. You won't regret it.

9/10

PAIN - You Only Live Twice

Here's the latest release of Pain, whose mastermind is a guy named Peter Tagtgren, much famous for his work with Hypocrisy, but also in charge of producing the sound of many bands. Pain is another aspect of the talent of this musician, who, while remaining on his aggressive roots, gives a nice and out of the ordinary perspective to his musical vision. According to the newsletter the style of music is Industrial Metal, a term that is partially true. But not always, and this is the interesting part. The music is both aggressive and catchy, with a lot of electronics, and melodic moments, and there are various influences blended together, into a very groovy music outfit. The electronics support the whole result, and adding a hi-tech feeling to the music, which makes a nice contradiction with the almost brutal vocals often used. There is a dark atmosphere in the whole album, that makes the result even more welcome. The songs are good, with nice ideas, parts to sing along, and no weak moments. If you are a fan of the band, then wait no more, and check them out. Also recommended for fans of the work of Peter Tagtgren in general.

9/10

INGESTED - The Surreption

This is the second attempt of the Manchester based band, and although I missed their first one, this second is a quite an interesting release. The band is playing Death Metal, enriched with various Deathcore elements, and it's so damn brutal and aggressive that one can't help but like it. The first thing one notices here, is the vocal abilities of the singer, whose performance is not limited at the Death style, but also is enriched with various other styles, making the songs quite catchy. The songs are fast and furious, like a punch in the teeth, and the tempo stays fast from the first to the last minute. Luckily, the band is talented enough, and the music doesn't feel like an endless noise. To the trained ears of course, since the neighbours might not like much of it. Glimpses of melodies here and there, make things a bit more spicy without sacrificing any of the brutality. If you are a fan of such a style, then this album has enough to offer. Check them out.

8/10