Raising the Veil - Yvcatanimvs - 3 track E.P - 2012

Raising the Veil

Yvcatanimvs

3 track E.P

2012

Gruesomely evil - Yvcatanimvs from Raising the Veil!

Raising the Veil – Vienna, Austria

Links:

http://www.reverbnation.com/raisingtheveil

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Raising-The-Veil

Genre: Technical Progressive Death Metal

Formed in 2010 Raising the Veil have scooped up a mighty 11,400 fans on Facebook and emanate from the beautiful scenic Vienna but have produced some of the (and in a very good way) vilest and most brutal metal to hit your ear drums - you could very well say “The hills are alive with the evil sound of death metal!”

These Austrian guys know just where to hit taking their influences from such bands as The Faceless, Necrophagist, Origin, Rings of Saturn, The Contortionist, The Haarp Machine, Animals as Leaders, Born of Osiris and Veil of Maya - you get the picture?

Georg - the Veils front man will be releasing some death grind with his French/Austrian band “Monument of Misanthropy” in December 2012 – not long to wait now! So watch out for that!

Raising the Veil

Complex rhythms and a cornucopia of beats will reign down on you like acid rain whilst the more shrill vocal will leap out and throttle you and the gruffer vocal will hold you down whilst the act is carried out! The clean vocal will give you a respite, be it a small one, from the obnoxious battering’s you received earlier on in the track. Superb right to the very end it will compel you to listen with terrifying results!

Keepers of Omniscience

Opens with some evil vocal it sounds repugnant and harsh with a lot of resonance and thunderous blast beats that will give your ears a good pummeling. The gruff vocals will take the first layer of skin off your face, and probably the second layer too!! And the technical riffs will crush the remnants – highly delicious listen but not a long track – sadly.

The Delegates

I think hell must be having a party and on the bill is Raising the Veil this is the most scathing savagery I have heard in a long, long, time! This track not only incorporates gruff vocals but banshee type screams as well as clean vocals.  There is also a feisty heap of blast beats blending with mesmerizing guitar riffery and chunky bass which all add up to a party with a difference!

Watch at your peril! The Delegates

Well if we are all going to die on the 21^st December 2012 I will die happy knowing that I have experienced this amazing brutal wizardry from Raising the Veil – no wonder they have a score of likes, with their music being at a very high level caliber and I think they just arrived in time for the big bang!

I can honestly say that these three tracks are just three of “My favorite things” and you won’t have to “Climb every Mountain” to sample them - Just go to Amazon:  Where you can buy this amazing E.P Yvcatanimvs.

http://www.amazon.com/Yucatanimvs

I have not got a clue what Yvcatanimvs stands for let alone say it - all I know is that it must stand for something brilliant as what has been heard and witnessed is nothing less than astounding.  The vocal dexterity alone is astonishing and melded together with the savage riffs, remarkable beats and interwoven rhythms is just something to behold.

A must for any death metal entrepreneur – this has to find a place in your collection – to describe in a sentence “It is like having your eyes washed out with lemon juice!” In other words - it is what’s known in the metal scene as “fookin’” brutal! 

10/10

Track Listing:

Raising the Veil

Keepers of Omniscience

The Delegates

The mighty Raising the Veil

Members:

Georg Wilfinger - Vocals

Franz Fakitsch - Guitar

Oliver Lasselsberger - Bass

Florian “Flo” Musil - Drums

Thomas Grabner - Guitar

Psilocybe Larvae - The Labyrinth of Penumbra - Buil2kill Records/Nadir Music - Released 5th November 2012

Psilocybe Larvae

The Labyrinth of Penumbra

Buil2Kill Records/Nadir Music

Released 5^th November 2012

Brilliant new release: The Labyrinth of Penumbra - out now!

Psilocybe Larvae – St Petersburg - Russia

Links:

http://www.psilocybe-larvae.com

Genre: Haunting Dark/Death Metal

If there was ever a time to learn Russian now must be the time as there seems to be a lot going on with PL at the moment and has been since 1996.

         

The story of Psilocybe Larvae started in 1996, in the Russian city of Vyborg, when Vitaly "Larv" Belobritsky (Vocals/Guitar), Denis Vinogradov (Guitar), Oleg Peshkichev (Bass), and Eugene Ushakov (Drums) formed the band to indulge their passion for melodic and haunting death/dark metal.

Psilocybe Larvae entered the studio in 2000 to record their 1st full-length "Stigmata". This self-released effort garnered some favourable feedback, including the "demo of the month" award in Germany's Legacy magazine, so Black Side Productions decided to re-release "Stigmata" on CD in 2001. The 2nd album "Agony" followed in 2003. Having gained good critical response, both albums were re-released by Russian major label CD-Maximum for CIS states in 2005.

After headlining the Ukrainian "Triple Interaction" tour 2006 Psilocybe Larvae entered into a studio in 2007 to record their 3d album "Non-existence". It was released in 2008 Russia, Ukraine and Belarus via Mazzar Records. In March the band headlined a Russian "Non-existent" tour to support the new album.

During 2008 the collective continued to promote "Non-existence" by doing shows in Russia and taking part in a Belarus tour named "Creative Breath of Death".

In 2009 Psilocybe Larvae signed a deal with Dark Harvest Records (USA) for the "Non-existence" worldwide release.

Having made quite a reputation within the underground with released 3 full-length albums Psilocybe Larvae finished the recording of a new album "The Labyrinth of Penumbra" and look forward to bringing their music to the world.

Being active on a live circuit Psilocybe Larvae have shared the stage with such bands as Anathema, Sadist, Swallow the Sun, Norther, Vesania and others.

You would be wrong in thinking that Russian bands are not part of the music scene in fact Psilocybe Larvae have come into their own and fulfilling a lot of dreams.  It is a lot harder for bands in Russia to make their voices heard but thanks to the internet Psilocybe Larvae are growing not only in recognition but producing some amazing stuff.

They have the language barrier and a tough government regime to navigate and this is hard in itself - but the band have proved they have staying power and are not down and out – fighters of the metal scene they will continue to grow and flourish and I can only raise the metal horns and say – Bring it on!

Soul Trekking

This weird and wonderful offering brings you solid blended strings and haunting melodies. An eerie vocal, rasping and delightful will pound your ear drums with thunderous force. It is a delightful track with lots to get your teeth into. It is harmoniously spectacular with plenty of depth and variation. The keys are simply amazing and add to the already delicious sound that is Psilocibe Larvae.

Haunting

As the title suggests this is indeed very haunting! A barrage of melodious strings and keyboard will literally leave you open mouthed as the onslaught continues – beautifully produced and well balanced in a myriad of rhythms with superb growling vocals.

Shining Shambhala

Amazing plethora of beautiful chords and neat little rhythms will leave you spellbound. It builds to a mighty crescendo with a raspy vocal continuing the onslaught. Skilfully executed by the band it houses balanced and unyielding harmonies that are precisely cut.

Trial by Fire

Jerky beats and nifty chords building to some excellent rhythmic sounds the gruff and uncompromising vocals lead you into a maze of faster beats that will fire up the listener with a resounding banging of the head as the flurry of mesmeric sound enters the audial canal.

Into the Labyrinth

The slow paced strings and bass lead you into a well beaten track of sumptuous and colourful beats that build to a high level of powerful resonance. Temptingly superb ambient and dark it will lead you into the Labyrinth and you won’t be able to escape its twists and turns that meet you as you turn each corner.

Contemplation

Haunting and eerie this track is laced with extreme complexity as it winds along and opens up interesting doors of unparalleled beauty. Nimble fingers pluck strings and softly the chords materialise into one awesome track.

Fortress of Time

Evil drum beat and haunting melodic keyboard ushers forth and then a clean vocal takes over. A mighty crescendo of sound builds to one of jaw dropping quality and continues until the next breakdown where the clean vocal comes into play building once more to bring you a supreme quality track.

River of Remembrance

Keyboards come into play here fast and frenzied with a solid riff and dirty rasping, scathing vocal that will eat you alive! Superb substantial rhythms will carve you up with some delicious blast beats. Pure and unadulterated this is powerful and not for the feint hearted.

No Escape

Sneaky little bass hook clever stringed arrangement and thundering vocal leaps out, grabs the jugular and will throttle you alive slowing temporarily in fact just enough for you to regain your composure and you are hit with some superb melodious rhythms. Quick change in tempo and back to a more moody feel full of ambiance and intrigue - soft vocal takes charge and then the track becomes inflamed with a ferocious and powerful rhythm of riffs and beats with a stable and uncompromising flow of white noise – amazing!

Definitely for the “serious” metal-head Psilocybe Larvae offer sophistication in their attack on the senses with no compromise. Hauntingly unique around every corner with more twists and turns it offers brutal and savage with a more beautiful element attached. It lingers on the ears superbly and is indeed compelling and a great listen.

If there was any time to start learning Russian it’s now!

Удивительный!!!  Поразительный!!!

10/10

Track Listing:

Soul Trekking

Haunting

Shining Shambhala

Trial by Fire

Into the Labyrinth

Contemplation

Fortress of Time

River of Remembrance

No Escape

The superb Psilocybe Larvae

Members:

Vit “Larv” Vocals/Guitars

Alan: Drums

Andrey “Luke” - Guitars

Alex “Liga” - Bass

Dmitry “Chaos” Keyboards

Recorded and mixed by Yury Smirnov at studio Kontakt during 2010-2011.

Mastered by Mats Lindfors at Cutting Room.

Produced by Psilocybe Larvae and Yury Smirnov.

All music and lyrics: by Vit Belobritsky.

All arrangements: by Psilocybe Larvae.

Composed during 2008-2010, except “No Escape” which was composed in 1996

Cover art by A-Ra Design.

Leaflet design by W. Smerdulak

Band photo by Max Malevich

Sober Man's Secret - 6 Tracks - 2012

Sober Man’s Secret

6 Tracks

2012

Sober Man's Secret

Sober Man’s Secret – Kent UK

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sober-Mans-Secret

http://soundcloud.com/sobermanssecret/predatory-behaviour

Genre: Trance/Dub-Step/Psytrance/Ambient

Not really much is known about the artist Allyn Nichols from the Kent area of the UK other than he has produced these six tracks incorporating trance, dub-step, psytrance and ambient that are quite quirky and some tracks more memorable than others.

Being a reviewer I have managed to broaden my horizons and tried not to stick to one genre despite loving metal I do find myself taking different paths some being more extreme than others and it has led me to the conclusion that if you keep your eyes and ears open there are always new pathways to take and enjoy. Some may not be as enjoyable but if you don’t listen then there may be a lot you are missing. I enjoy taking a stroll down an unbeaten path just to see where it leads...

Predatory Behavior

Shrill and creaky noises emanates freely to a haunting rhythm of pulsating beats and a high pitched sampled voice that sounds evocative. A male sampled voice is then added to yet more bouncing rhythms – Good track!

Predatory Behavior

Soul in a Brief Case

Lots of clever use of samples, with some eerie ambient sounds and clean drum beats that incorporate spooky and peculiar little rhythms with a great echo finishing off the track.

Witch Hunt – S.M.S Vs – Digital Skunk

Clinical beat with whispered vocal done to the weird and wonderful pumping rhythms of dub step with the squeaking melodious synth is something else amid a repetitive edge.

W.M. Dubz

More sampled voices to an eerie ambient sound. The familiar all-encompassing sound of dub step starts up with a bubbling and rigorous sound of a single haunting tinkle of the keys.

Sickdubz W.I.P.

The tolling of bells to an ambient melodic sound with evil whispered vocal slow menacing and reverberating - it has its appeal but far too melancholic to do anything to other than listen.

Columbian Beans

A swirling of mesmeric keys and rhythms amid a sampled superficial echoing voice and spiky ambiance to surround it with the now familiar bubble and squeak of a continuous melodic pumping keyboard that is a sure fire winner for me! Best track so far as it is something you can whole heartedly get into

You can’t sing along to any of them and you could only dance to a few however, although all the same things are incorporated i.e. samples, synth and drum beat Allyn manages to get something different each time which is quite an achievement. 

My favorite tracks are Predatory Behavior and Columbian Beans mainly due to their hypnotic quality and mesmerizing rhythms.  The other tracks plod and have their own agenda.

7/10

Track Listing:

Predatory Behavior

Soul in a Brief Case

Witch Hunt – S.M.S. vs Digital Skunk

W.M. Dubz

Sickdubz W.I.P.

Columbian Beans

Allyn Nichols

Members:

Allyn Nichols