Incidium - Realms of Darkness - 2011

Incidium

Realms of Darkness

2011

Incidium – Manchester

Links:

http://www.Incidium.co.uk

http://www.myspace.com/incidiumuk

http://www.reverbnation.com/incidiumuk

Genre: Metal / Thrash / Melodic Death Metal / Groove

Incidium is a 3 piece band and have their roots based in the Manchester area. After seeing the guys live at Metal Assault 2.7.11 I knew they had to return to the Zanzi stage once more and not only did they return but they devoured all in their wake! Seeing is definitely believing!

These guys mean business and that is exactly what you get right in the smacker! And now I have the great honour and indeed pleasure of reviewing their latest EP “Realms of Darkness”

I can hardly contain myself as I put this disc into the player and wait excitedly for the overwhelming brutal onslaught that is about to eat me from the inside!

“Realms of Darkness” bellows with the savage intensity of drums, perfectly vengeful vocals and is all so very disturbingly brutal! It indulges the listener into a narrow corridor of broken glass and nails and then gets them to run blindfold through it! A lot of casualties will no doubt be left scattered around as this track unfolds with break neck ferocity but it does have its beautiful melodic side too which will heal the wounds!  It will send chills down your spine infecting every vein so beautifully compelling and showing the bands multiple influences. I defy any metal head not to be utterly and totally awestruck when listening to this track!  

“Moments of clarity”

Thunderous drumming from Chris and deftly compelling strings from Gabe plus no nonsense bass in ya face this track is supremely constructed and bears all the intricate markings of holding the aggression to its utmost highest! Again this band delivers some top notch superior tracks in overwhelming and thrashing proportions! And not forgetting that awesome groove that just adds to the melting pot. It is harsh reality but Incidum know just how to hit the spot and do it with increasing ease and ability.

“Only the strong survive”

Very aptly entitled as I don’t think my neck is going to last the entirety of this one! High powered and fiercely ferocious it belts out some strong punchy beats with some amazing guitar.  It expresses fantastic emotion as Gabe growls out more extreme vocals to a blistering shredding guitar! I doubt this will leave the player very long as it is like a drug, you want more and more.  I think it is very mean of the band to put only three tracks on this CD...  call me greedy if you like, but hey this is music to the extreme and extreme is what my ears love! So come on guys give me more!!!

If you like your music, powerful, and to the higher end of extreme! - Then what are you waiting for?  Get a copy of this EP and walk into the Realms of Darkness, but be careful of the broken glass it is gonna cut you up so bad! But don’t worry your wounds will heal in time! Until you play it again... Then they will pour sulphuric acid into the scars and laugh in your face!

One of the best EP’s I have listened to in a while – be prepared for the brutality in overwhelming and epic proportions!  Fantastic listening! And highly recommended to be played at the highest volume possible!

Track Listing:

Realms of Darkness

Moments of Clarity

Only the strong survive

Members:

Gabe Mitri – Guitar & Vocals

Chris Topham - Drums

Joe Radcliffe - Bass 

Incineration

Blasphemous Theologies

Alternative Death Records

2007

www.myspace.com/incinerationbrutality

Incineration – Athens – Greece

Genre: Brutal Death Metal

                   

Incineration was formed way back in 2004 in Athens.  2007 was the year that the Blasphemous Theologies CD came into being, but from 2007 to 2010 Chris the band’s guitars and vocal sound had to complete his time with the army – (they have no choice over there but to complete their three years, service) that saw the band for want of a better word “stagnate” but since Chris’s return to suburbia the band have now up to present day completed 10 new songs of brutality, and gore, just waiting to be recorded! The new album is expected at some point to be released around March-April 2012! They are under no label and are working only with distribution companies, which I don’t think is a bad thing, as at least a band has more control of what they write and release.

The cover as you would expect is of the somewhat brutal nature, depicting a gore soaked faceless image on a cross, using some very eye catching colours which immediately draws the attention, even more so if you like death metal – I however love the genre, so it’s really right up my street!  The inlay has the lyrics printed out with the track listings on the back. 

The CD was actually made by Chris Dimopolous and Nick Tettris as depicted on the inlay sleeve as Stefanos Kokkalis and Nick Gotsis had not yet joined the band.

Rather an epic eerie opening to the track “Entering the dark corridors” which does send a tingle down the old verve centre. Nice use of keyboards... melodic and atmospheric and a great opening to the CD.

The “Barbaric invocation of death” Still has that eeriness about it, with vocals being spoken at the beginning with a rather doomy sound surrounding them. Being the longest track on the CD, at over 4 minutes, the vocals sounding nice and gruff then set a slow pace with the guitar issuing forth simple chords to a clean drum beat. It does progress onto faster beats further on in the track.

“Paradise of Depravity”

A rather tinny drum beat to this track, with the same grisly vocals to accompany it.

“Hybrid Stigmata”

Nice and heavy! With some chunky guitar, grinding bass and grisly vocals – my idea of bliss! Really head moving stuff with a good ending!

“Bloodstained Incest”

Reminds me a bit like the band Devoured, whom I saw at the Snooty Fox last year. Blast beats more prominent on this track. The music just surges at great speed! I can imagine this track inciting a mosh pit!

“Hymn to the Devine”

Great guitar and vocals on this one!  The pummelling blast beats are fantastic! Fiendishly uncompromising, a really thunderous guitar riff with a nice fade out ending. My favourite track so far!

“Carnal Desecration”

Blast beats galore more or less constant through-out this devilishly awesome track.

“Into the Grotesque”

I am sure that the songs are getting more and more ferocious as the tracks progress! Nice infectious riffs that just keep on coming at you in face melting fashion. A murderous drum beat to accompany it, and a nice chunky bass line...

“Blasphemous Theologies”

A constant and totally uncompromising riff with blast beats to match. Some awesome growling on this track makes it another favourite of mine.  A simple quick finish, but leaves you wanting more! Another awesome track that I think they should rename “Blast-phemous Theologies!”

“Devoured while in Decomposition”

The track names really do give out some strong messages, summoning up all sorts of nasty images in the mind. A more Slower paced track that quickly turns into a more up tempo beat. Thunderous growls with a delicious pummelling on the skins that then slows but never really loses intensity.

The only negative comment I am going to make here is that a lot of the bands songs do tend to sound the same, so I think there needs to be slightly more variation in there somewhere, but other than that a really great well produced CD. If you love “old school death metal” then “Incineration” is well worth checking out!  You can check the band out on the link above and give them a “LIKE” on facebook too!

Track Listing:

Entering the dark corridors                 1.16

Barbaric invocation of death                4.19

Paradise of depravity                          1.31

Hybrid Stigmata                                  3.19

Blood-stained incest                           2.47

Hymn to the divine Necrophagy           2.42

Carnal Desecration                             3.09

Into the Grotesque                              3.12

Blasphemous theologies                      2.23

Devoured while in decomposition         3.33

Members:

Nick Gotsis - Drums

Chris Dimopolous – Guitars/Vocals

Stefanos Kokkalis - Bass

Lazarus Syndrome - Flatline Promo - 2011

Lazarus Syndrome

FLATLINE Promo CD

2011

Lazarus Syndrome – Liverpool

Links:

www.lazarus-syndrome.com

www.reverbnation.com/lazarussyndrome

Genre: Melodic Death Metal

Lazarus Syndrome came into being in early 2011, when Mike Hollows (Guitar) and Jamie Hall (Guitar) got together and started to discuss about playing Quote “something that most metal bands don’t play” Un-quote. The recruitment of Dave Larkin on (Drums) came soon after and then two months after that the band drafted in Tom Parker (Bass) and Peter Ford (Vocals) Lazarus Syndrome was now complete.

Barely four months had passed before the band decided to embark on recording a 4 track demo entitled “Flatline” and this was before the band had even started playing live!  If there was an award for the quickest working band it should go to Lazarus Syndrome!

The EP is still in the various stages of needing artwork but this band move quickly and wanted the reviews to coincide with the EP release which will by then have the artwork completed. This baby is so “new” it’s not yet been born!

Despite not having artwork readily available for this fully mastered CD the band kindly have sent a couple of badges and ten stickers – but I am really interested to see the finished artwork that will make this CD complete!

Forsaken

Making impressive waves is “Forsaken” that powers in with a feisty beat and some great sound effects. The vocals are extremely remarkable by Pete who can growl deeper than a bear! But yet has a very melodic tone to his vocal chords! A very powerful track, that has a very catchy hook line and one that will no doubt be put on repeat as time goes by. The guitars are chugging and have a predominately defined edge to them. With punchy bass! Great track!

Devoured by Conflict

Shoots in next and with skull-crushing effect! The dual vocals (although done by one man) are just incredible and really attention-grabbing material. The track is intensely punishing and increases with heaviness in delivery!

A Path less travelled

Opens with some great drum work and clean vocal.  The guitars offer some beautiful melodic strings courtesy of Mike and Jamie, whilst Pete’s voice sounds ballady but yet still intense! The melody to this song just lifts you with increasing awe. Vocals come in and growl at about the middle of the track with immense ferocity, with a fantastic consistent drum beat from Dave until the ending of the track.

Blameless Creator

Sneaky guitars open up this melodic little number and with a mighty bellow the growls reach to an intense level almost immediately and then turn into some crisp vocal which is amazing and goes to show the diversity in Pete’s vocal range. Usually I prefer a nice growl but the melodic vocals I think, in this case really do add a great touch to the whole of this CD. Another great hook line which pulls you into it and I will go as far as to say ear listening candy! A real mosh pit starter!!! As for favourites this has to be the one love it to death!! Slamming and brutal!!

Considering the band have not been together long, they have unleashed a metal monster. They are out there and in your face with relentless ferocity! Each track has savagery in its own way and offers great diversity to the listener.

Check them out!! Another great band from Liverpool is unleashed! Well done guys brilliant effort! Lazarus Syndrome is my guilty pleasure!

Track Listing:

Forsaken

Devoured by Conflict

A Path less travelled

Blameless Creator

Members:

Peter Ford – Vocals

Jamie Hall - Guitars

Mike Hollows - Guitars

Dave Larkin - Drums

Tom Parker - Bass

Soma Dark - Begin - Casket Records 2011

Soma Dark CD

Begin

Casket Records 2011

Soma Dark – Stockport, Manchester

Links:

http://www.somadark.com

http://www.myspace.com/somadark

http://www.reverbnation.com/somadark

Genre: Ambient, Progressive, Metal

Soma Dark is a five piece band and hail from the Stockport area in Manchester. The guys now have their debut 10 track CD out called “Begin” which has been released on Casket Records.

The CD is well presented and depicts the lonely figure of a man in an eerie forest. Which immediately gives off the impression that something sinister and indeed dark is about to happen... On the inside cover is a black and white photo of the band members, but sadly no lyrics.

After seeing the band play live at Helrazer III I know just how these guys operate.  Arun the band’s guitarist also fills in for the amazingly brutal Incidium as well as being in Wolfcrusher! (http://wolfcrusher.blogspot.com) No end to this guy’s energy and talent! Soma Dark work well together as a team and produced a really fiery and energetic set at the Zanzibar – so let’s begin!

“Passengers of time”

This track opens with the loudest screams imaginable. Melodic with a nice kick in the guts! That bass line kicks in and the riffs that follow are just tremendous! Drums clean and crisp but loud and raucous really pull this track together along with some great vocals from Mike making this a great thunderous opener! I can feel the repeat button coming on!

“Lies Behind”

Blistering riffs to open on this amazing song got to say! No holds barred vocals! Although clean still gutsy and heavy! Feel the energy just flowing from this track and loved it live too! Amazing riffs just keep coming at you with face melting speed! Very catchy and extremely addictive track! Love it!

“Mauna Kea”

Distorted opening on the guitar gives it a very ambient dark sound. Pounding drum beats to throttle the ears.  Vocals blend with a thunderous bass line, although slower than the previous track but none the less still grip you. Melodic but still as heavy as a sledgehammer! Great riffs this track offers everything, with a nice fade out at the end.

“Breathe”

Acoustic opening and a lot slower paced, with again clean vocals, but suddenly just when you think it isn’t going to get heavier, it blasts and then the tempo drops back again. This track has some amazing guitar on it. The melody just carries the listener to new and exciting levels.

“Faultline”

Another blistering opener with savage riffs and bass, together with a great drum beat! Vocal range amazing! Chugging, melodic and powerful track!

“Resolute”

Great drum beats with blistering guitars and thunderous bass together with again some amazing chant like vocals. This track is what can only be described as heavy! Your ears will be “fraped” with delicious velocity! Whistling and footsteps and a terrifying scream end this track! Nice touch!

“A tone set for the lace skyline”

A tremendous track with an all-round sound will leave you breathless. Still with that melodic, dark feeling but even more intense! Strange title for a track, but don’t let that put you off! This track will eat you alive and spit the bones out!

It reaches out from the speakers and engages the listener with some awesome savage riffs. Intense to the end!

“Forsaken and Falling”

Earth shattering drum beat with amazing vocals. Chugging riffs and a catchy bass line this track has oomph! It never loses its grip on the jugular! The shredding is acute and extreme and has amazing melody within it without losing the power and intensity!

“2505”

A very clean melodic guitar begins this track. Slower paced and dream like. A great ballad! That shows off the diversity of Soma Dark nicely! Mike’s vocals soft and deftly sung. Drums transpire into some clever slower beats. That quickens pace towards the end of the track then smooth out to fade.  Epic!

“Sundown’s last Raise”

Eerie and dark and then bursts into a fiery guitar riff. Vocals carry the song along to a constant bass line. Drumming blends with a chugging riff that just simply explodes! Another epic track with all the intensity of a raging fire! Vocals really gutsy and raw, and hold the listener with savage interest. A powerhouse of sound that pushes the boundaries to the limit! With some brilliant eerie intense effects at the end which will send tingles down your spine!

This CD gives everything and more besides. As the name Soma Dark suggests it has eerie, dark components that melt together. Awesome and melodic but infused together with some heavy riffs and no doubt leaving the listener wanting more!

Check out Soma Dark on the links above and if you get the chance witness the guys in all their glory live! Don’t miss them! Nice work guys!

Track Listing:

Passengers of Time

Lies Behind

Mauna Kea

Breathe

Faultline

Resolute

A tone set for the lace skyline

Forsaken and Falling

2505

Sundown last raise

Members:

Michael Hardman – Vocals

Arun Kamarth – Guitar

Stuart Armriding – Guitar

Luke Jones – Bass

James McMurrough - Drums

Soulride

Lost

Thor Records – 2010

SOULRIDE – Coventry

Links:       

http://www.myspace.com/soulrideband

Genre: Metal/Rock

The Pol’s are at it again, in the shape of Soulride a four piece rock/metal band who formed in November 2008 in Coventry by members of such bands as Mutilation, Jim Lord, Tromsnar, Cordis, Dark Project and Kruk, and acted as main support for Quo Vardis as part of the  Chaos UK Tour in 2010.

Also in the same year Soulride recorded their first 4 track EP entitled “Lost” which includes a bonus video entitled Requiem for a dream.

Moving on in 2011 Soulride have just finished recording a new 5 track promo entitled “Paralyzed”

At this moment in time Soulride are currently looking for a label and working on a full length album to be released at the beginning of 2012 claiming to be heavier and faster than ever before?

The cover depicts part of a face with blackened eyes and the ghostly figure of a woman. The Soulride logo has very 70’s style lettering.  The inside cover has all the lyrics to the four tracks listed with some great pictures of the band members on the inside back cover. Well produced and mastered at Messalina Studios, in Warsaw, Poland.

Homesick:

Dreamy intro that sounds ambient and eerie.  Sound production is indeed awesome on this track, with a great balance and bass kicks ass. Vocals gutsy with a blistering groovy guitar riff. You will find your head moving to this one no doubt! Some nice blast beats in there too along with some very decent shredding. I think I am going to find it difficult to move on to the next track as this is a very addictive melodic track that deserves more than just one play!

Escape:

Another melodic track that provides a great opening balance, with some straight forward crisp sounding drums. The track moves on and has some simple guitar riffs that are just beautiful. But somehow the vocals just don’t seem to coincide with the music here, sounding a bit disjointed, which is a real shame.  Drums and guitar work very well together and that bass line is cheeky to say the very least! Again the guitar cuts in with a very melodic feel reminiscent of the 80s.

Burning:

Thunderous opening on this track with a blistering guitar riff that simply attacks! Awesome bass and the vocals come into their own and actually compliment the track very well. A raucous drum beat adds to the overall sound and another head moving track! Crisp and beautiful the guitar carries it and the listener into a dream-like state, and then with a change of direction and a nice hook from the bass it becomes more metal with a nice pounding beat and offers awesome shredding.  Great track! Time for some air guitar!

Heartbroken:

A melodic guitar riff and some awesome drums open on this track. Gentle and constant until the direction changes to a more up tempo beat and the guitar just melts your face off with some blistering shredding from Pawel and Adam. Drums from Marcin are fierce and strong and give a consistent edge. Vocals are amazing and will no doubt have the listeners singing along!

Requiem for a Dream: Soundtrack by Cunt Mansee

The subtle piano keys together with the passionate voice of “Ewa Kulinska” softly talking over it, with some superb melodic guitar riffs pave the way that gently soothes the soul. The drums are slower but with a certain edge that lifts this song to another level.  Intense with terrific harmonic voice fades alongside a crisp melodic guitar.  I can now see why they are called soulride! A beautiful journey through dream like passages but with a melodic groove twist! This is definitely my favourite track without a doubt! And has indeed been replayed several times over already! But no matter how hard I try I still can’t get the video to work! Would have been nice to have seen this as the music is amazing.

To sum up Soulride: Intense and powerful with an ambient groove that paves the way for beautiful and concise, well produced tracks offering a touch of old school in places. But don’t be put off with that Soulride are also brutal! (Listen to Paralyzed) In other words this CD has a lot to offer the listener who will no doubt be charmed by the various twists and turns that blend these well written tracks together.

These guys are going places and they are getting heavier and faster than the “Lost” CD, but this CD offers a wonderful array of diversity! Love it!

Track Listing:

Homesick

Escape

Burning

Heartbroken

Requiem for a Dream – Bonus Video

Members:

Pawel Tylek – Guitar/Vocals

Adam Wrontak – Guitar

Tomasz Belcarz – Bass

Marcin  Korzekwa - Drums