Nile: What Should Not Be Unearthed (Nuclear Blast)
South Carolina’s finest Egyptian themed Death Metal outfit Nile return with another absolutely hammering with their eight album What Should Not Be Unearthed. Following on from the skull crushingly heavy At The Gates Of Sethu in 2012, Nile follow their blueprint of all-out assault. Opener Call To Destruction allays any fears that anything has changed with Karl Sanders writing, for it is he who has penned everything on this album. Catchy titles abound, such as the memorable and not to mention aural assaulting Negating The Abominable Coils Of Apep, the embodiment of Chaos who appears as a giant serpent in Egyptian art. In The Name Of Amun actually has a bit of Egyptian tinged atmosphere before Sanders, Dallas Toler-Wade and drummer George Kollias once again lay waste to all around. If you like your death metal as heavy as a pyramid on your head, then this release is one for you. If you want your Egyptian themed music to be more like The Bangles, you may want to steer well clear. 7/10
South Carolina’s finest Egyptian themed Death Metal outfit Nile return with another absolutely hammering with their eight album What Should Not Be Unearthed. Following on from the skull crushingly heavy At The Gates Of Sethu in 2012, Nile follow their blueprint of all-out assault. Opener Call To Destruction allays any fears that anything has changed with Karl Sanders writing, for it is he who has penned everything on this album. Catchy titles abound, such as the memorable and not to mention aural assaulting Negating The Abominable Coils Of Apep, the embodiment of Chaos who appears as a giant serpent in Egyptian art. In The Name Of Amun actually has a bit of Egyptian tinged atmosphere before Sanders, Dallas Toler-Wade and drummer George Kollias once again lay waste to all around. If you like your death metal as heavy as a pyramid on your head, then this release is one for you. If you want your Egyptian themed music to be more like The Bangles, you may want to steer well clear. 7/10
Kirsiun: Forged In Fury (Century Media)
If you like Brazilian death metal, and let’s be fair who doesn't, you will be fully aware of the brutality of Kirsiun, who has been delivering the death since 1990. An absolute blistering tour de force, Forged In Fury is their ninth release and takes no prisoners. Full of massive hooks and face slashing riffage, powerhouse drumming and a vocal delivery from vocalist/bassist Alex Camargo to die by, this album is a death metal masterpiece. Dogma Of Submission is possibly the killer track if I had to name a mere one, with guitarist Moyses Kolesne and drummer Max Kolesne destroying all around. However, picking out one track on an album of such death metal quality is an impossible task, with massive tracks like Soulless Impaler, the frightening opener Scars Of The Hatred and the furious assault of Burning Of The Heretic all stunning. Taking the best of the old school thrash of Sodom, Kreator, Morbid Angel and the like, Forged In Fury is nearly an hour of aggression which will leave you wanting to punch a hole through the wall. The only down side is a pretty uninspiring cover of Sabbath’s Electric Funeral which really doesn't suit the gravel growl of Carmago. Otherwise, I'm with it all the way. 8/10
Kadavar: Berlin (Nuclear Blast)
In a year where quality albums are simply falling from the trees, Berlin, the third album from German Stoner/psychedelic rockers Kadavar is yet another of those juicy apples. From the groove of opener Lord Of The Sky with its 70s feel through to one of the tracks of the year, the hook laden riff heavy Stolen Dreams which has one of the most infectious hooks I've heard for years, this is top dollar retro-rock. Their sound reeks of a power trio who kick out the jams as often as possible. Christoph "Lupus" Lindemann (vocals and guitar), Simon "Dragon" Bouteloup (bass) and drummer Christoph "Tiger" Bartelt cram the hard edge of Sabbath with the bluesy feel of Zeppelin amongst a raft of others (for example, there is essence of Groundhogs on Last Living Dinosaur) into 45 minutes of top quality hard rock. Berlin is a real grower and really benefits from repeated plays. Another stunning release and one you really should not miss. 9/10
If you like Brazilian death metal, and let’s be fair who doesn't, you will be fully aware of the brutality of Kirsiun, who has been delivering the death since 1990. An absolute blistering tour de force, Forged In Fury is their ninth release and takes no prisoners. Full of massive hooks and face slashing riffage, powerhouse drumming and a vocal delivery from vocalist/bassist Alex Camargo to die by, this album is a death metal masterpiece. Dogma Of Submission is possibly the killer track if I had to name a mere one, with guitarist Moyses Kolesne and drummer Max Kolesne destroying all around. However, picking out one track on an album of such death metal quality is an impossible task, with massive tracks like Soulless Impaler, the frightening opener Scars Of The Hatred and the furious assault of Burning Of The Heretic all stunning. Taking the best of the old school thrash of Sodom, Kreator, Morbid Angel and the like, Forged In Fury is nearly an hour of aggression which will leave you wanting to punch a hole through the wall. The only down side is a pretty uninspiring cover of Sabbath’s Electric Funeral which really doesn't suit the gravel growl of Carmago. Otherwise, I'm with it all the way. 8/10
Kadavar: Berlin (Nuclear Blast)
In a year where quality albums are simply falling from the trees, Berlin, the third album from German Stoner/psychedelic rockers Kadavar is yet another of those juicy apples. From the groove of opener Lord Of The Sky with its 70s feel through to one of the tracks of the year, the hook laden riff heavy Stolen Dreams which has one of the most infectious hooks I've heard for years, this is top dollar retro-rock. Their sound reeks of a power trio who kick out the jams as often as possible. Christoph "Lupus" Lindemann (vocals and guitar), Simon "Dragon" Bouteloup (bass) and drummer Christoph "Tiger" Bartelt cram the hard edge of Sabbath with the bluesy feel of Zeppelin amongst a raft of others (for example, there is essence of Groundhogs on Last Living Dinosaur) into 45 minutes of top quality hard rock. Berlin is a real grower and really benefits from repeated plays. Another stunning release and one you really should not miss. 9/10