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A
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Grade
Scale adopted at MetalKings.com (starting from the lowest)
1
- Shite
2 - Could be worse
3 - Could be better
4 - Damn good
5 - Killer
 5/5
ABORTED
Goremageddon (the saw and the carnage done)
2003
Listenable Records/CD-Maximum
FM-friendly pop rock with female vocals (Eh?)
FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! Jeeeezuz fucking Kraist and all the other
fairy creatures! Shit, and I have nearly lost all hope to hear anything
truly worthy this year - in metal, at last. And… I mean, think about
it - who? Aborted?! As our beloved Ms. Editor-in-Chief usually says
in these cases: "Who in the hell are these people????" Whoops, I blew
it. Then again, what the fuck, what difference does it make - yes, I
admit I have never ever heard anything by this band before. I did hear
the name a couple of times, but no tangible record. But, once again,
what difference does it make? What does matter is how these Belgians
(!) managed to get yours truly in such a wound up mood. Well, first
of, by being Belgians per se. With all respect, this tiny Eruropean
kingdom would hardly strike me as the world capital of brutal death
metal, in the first fucking place, no, correct that - I would not associate
Belgium with metal at all. But that's too beside the point. I cannot
remember hearing anything even slightly close to this band, both music
and quality-wise. I guess the only band that would be in the same ballpark
at least stylistically, is the Swedish Deranged, and even those three
lads, to be completely honest, when compared to Aborted… well I wouldn't
really want to say suck, cuz that would be an exaggeration, but let's
put it this way - when compared to Aborted, Deranged look a rather erm…
innocent and, in fact, a nice bunch of chaps. I wouldn't even try to
analyze the musical contents of "Goremageddon" - it just won't work,
too much emotion and exclamation marks. FUUUUUURRRGHHHCK!!!!! (Troll)
4/5
ANTARES
Made in Fear
2003
promo
techno death
I have lost the count of how many times have I sit down to review
this album, which the Antares-boys have sent to us about a hundred years
ago (if you are reading this, guys, I really am deeply sorry for taking
that long). I guess the main problem is that this not exactly my type
of music in the first place, but what the hell, we can manage. So (number
#1 rule of review-writing: if you don't know where to start - start
with comparisons) imagine a mould of Opeth, Death, early Tiamat and
Dark Tranquillity, add some keyboard-based neo-classics, a good deal
of healthy pathos and voila - we are starting to get somewhere. The
whole mixture is done as some would say pretty inventively with an obvious
loving touch on behalf of the band and at a good professional level.
Then again, apparently, due to some objective reasoning, the realization
of some of the ideas here, let's say, leaves room for perfection. That
is, it is clear what the band wanted to do, but for budgetary, experience,
or some other reasons didn't quite make it. In all a solid four fists,
and… will somebody, please, sponsor the guys a two week vacation in
Fredman Studios and I swear you won't recognize this record. (Troll)
 2/5
CHARON
The Dying Daylights
2003
Spinefarm Records/ÔÎÍÎ
dark metal and love gawthic
The most boring record, as blank and idealess, as is its cover. I mean,
I can hardly believe this is the same band that recorded the last year's
smashing "Downhearted". And now wonder that right upon the release of
this depressive and desperate piece of junk, guitarist Jasse Von Hast
decided to leave the band. According to the band's version he has family
problems, but Hast himself is openly stating that Charon is facing a
creative dead-end. Well, not quite a dead-end but rather that dusty
abandoned hut from the cover, the one you would enter only when its
raining cats and dogs and preferably not at night. Moreover after listening
to such "masterpieces" as "Guilt on Skin" and "Every Failure", one can't
help but ask "And so this is what J.P. left the obviously promising
Posionblack?! Where exactly did he concentrate his creative effort here?!
Where exactly did he implement the traditional claims of becoming even
more dark and cool?!" As for the nagging female vocals in the back,
these are really beyond good and evil. The only eatable track on the
album is "Religious/Delicious" that had already been released as a single,
and even that, I guess, is largely thanks to the guest presence of Marko
Hietala of Nightwish. (Debbie Boink)
 5/5
DIMMU BORGIR
Death Cult Armageddon
2003
Nuclear Blast
melodic black metal
Strictly speaking there isn't that much need in this review really (like
basically in any other review written on this planet - he-he), because
everything had been pretty clear with this record before it even came
out. Though… To be completely honest with you I did have serious doubts
that the "foggy fort" will manage to overcome the success of "Puritanical…",
but - surprise-surprise - they did, and in a big fucking way too. The
best thing about it is how. The recipe is so awfully simple that it's
even impolite, without much ado, the Norwegians basically did the same
thing they did with the previous release, but better. There is nothing
radically new on "…Armageddon" compared to what we all heard two years
ago - everything here is exactly the same, only better. Heaps better,
at that. I guess this is just that rare case when the traditional interview
promises of making the next record "more mucher and gooder" than the
previous one actually come true. The symphonisms have become more symphonic,
the drums - more thundering, the guitars - more riffing, Shagrath have
become much shagrathier, while ICS Vortex much Demis-Russosier than
ever-ever before. In one word - MAGNIFICENT! (Troll)
 4+/5
DISSENTER
Apocalypse of the Damned
2003
Coldblood
Industries/CD-Maximum
brutal death metal
Interesting, judging by the goat head on the cover of this CD I would
of imagined that this Polish trio are coming from some farm or something.
The thought that truly puzzles me though is what could possibly turned
the "panowe" into such all-out rage? What on earth could have inspired
the 45 minutes of this merciless death metal-battle? Hey wait a minute
this is not just a head, it's a skull! Hmm, interesting I guess that
devastating murrain, that swept the Europe in the beginning of the millennium
did not pass Polish valleys by either. I guess, that's been a lot of
dead cattle, if these farmers are still mad about it three years later
in 2003. It's quite good, this one, I have to admit that. The guts in
the music, that have grown much tougher since the times of the previous
"Bloodlust & Blasphemy", now appear to be a quite healthy and lively
sound mutant, that has put morbid angel wings on its back, took a club
made of a dead-cannibal's cannon-bone in his hand, and has stolen a
peace of a Canadian tombstone for a lucky charm. The growling vocals
are especially amazing. I mean these vocals are so ear-shredding that
one forgets totally about the lame-arse soloing, which is really the
only drawback here! (St. Ded)
 3/5
GAIA EPICUS
Satrap
2003
Sound Riot/CD-Maximum
speed power
If the pyramids flying against the background for cosmic endlessness
and the title of the songs like "Keepers of Times", "Star Wars", and
"Freedom Call" do not tell you anything about the style of the band,
then you really should insert the CD into the deck, because this basically
means that your acquaintance with metal started only a week ago, and
the style of speed metal and the names of Gamma Ray do not ring your
bell. Then again you better listen to Gamma Ray themselves - I mean
they are the classics and they are the inventors of all the harmony
moves and tricks that are these days used by a whole armada of followers
and copycats… Hint! Hint! Second option, if a day without power metal
is a day without sunshine for you and if the melodies that have already
been played over a thousand of times by over a thousand of bands do
not confuse you, then this CD is definitely your thing. It's absolutely
not a must-listen-to-disk and was never planned to be anything inventive
or novel, but suppose, that just out of plain curiosity you would be
interested in how they play Kai Hansen in Norway, with this one you
are in for some mid-to-fast tempo songs, professional musicianship and
awful pictures inside the CD-inlay. (Fireball)
 4/5
GEEZER
Black Science
2003 (1997)
Eagle Records/CD-Maximum
nu-thrash
Better late than never - it's been six years since the release date
but finally the official CD-market of Russia saw a licensed copy of
ex-Sabbathian Geezer Buttler, who in 1997 changed his number plate from
G/Z/R to Geezer. In case some of you do not know what the hell was going
on in the last century with the founding fathers of one of the most
respected and influential bands in the scene here's the story (quite
predictable I should say): they all got interested in the so-called
nu:metal. The great and the horrible grew into being an opening act
for the likes of Infectious Grooves and Therapy?, Tony Iommi became
pals with the suddenly "heavy-weight" rapper Ice T and other progressive
youth of the times, and Geezer Buttler, who back in the 70ies crushed
the world with the unbelievable bulldozering drive of his immodestly
tuned-down bass, pursued the new direction of alternative thrash metal.
And - boy - did he pursue it! His vast experience, unique technique,
and never-resting inventiveness mixed into an adrenaline-fuelled cocktail
with manic energy of the new nihilists of metal going from morbid depression
to crazy hysteria. (Fireball)
 3/5
HARD RAIN
When the Good Times Come
2003
Eagle Records/CD-Maximum
soft rock
The good times are back for the participants of the 8-ies legend Magnum
in the new millennium. Especially lucky in this aspect is Bob Cately
who is now probably more popular than any other rock-veteran. Nonetheless
his participation on the new album of his old friend Tony Clarkin -
Hard Rain - was obviously willing. The bare look at the cover will tell
you everything - this is just a bunch of ole' friends and their relatives
who pretend to be nothing more than that and who are not trying to chase
the fashion in any manner. They had a good, party, drank some wine,
recorded the whole thing and wrapped it all in a photo. A typical British
family act in the style of "Winnie the Pooh and Everyone Else Has Tea
at the Mad Hatter's." The material is just the same - unimposingly traditional
and a little dull. The only song that really got stuck in my memory
is "Rock Me in My Cradle" - an emotionally-tensioned hit with catchy
choruses - very British. ;) (Fireball)
 3+/5
INRI
Hyper Bastard Breed
2003
Coldblood
Industries/CD-Maximum
Charismatic Christmanglers
I guess the Dutch really have something going with God. The blood-drenched
curse-flow of most blasphemous nature does not stop for a second throughout
the whole playtime, giving one an impression that the boys from the
Insane Non-Commercial Rock Institute (which is what the abbreviation
in the title really stands for) have made it a point to outmouth that
ole' phucker Glen Benton. This in itself is a goal quite commendable
but I'd say they really should of paid a trifle more attention to the
music. I will surely mention the good parts in the soloing, but the
word that is really jumping with impatience on my keyboard is mediocrity.
I mean Death Metal is always Death Metal: mid-to-fast tempo, heavyweight
guitars, beatin rhythms and fastish drumming. If to this date you've
been into the likes of God Dethroned or Deicide then I seriously doubt
this work will be of any revelation to you. (St. Ded)
 3/5
IRON MAIDEN
Dance of Death
2003
EMI
the biggest heavy
metal swindle
Never would I have thought that I'd live to see the day, when I would
rate the album of my once absolutely favorite band, which opened this
music for me some 15 years ago, at a mere "3". And nonetheless. Of course,
there is a difference in the approach, depending on the status of the
band so whatever I am saying here can only be applied to Iron Maiden
and not my estimation of this kind of music in general, but I guess
what I am really trying to say is that, despite all their previous feats,
Bruce and Co. did screw up on this one big fucking time. Yes, it indeed
is 100% Iron Maiden of the 80ies standard, with their trademark twin
guitarring, trademark melodic shifts, and, off course, the trademark
voices of Bruce the Air Raid. However while the return of the prodigals
(Smith and Dickinson) in 2000 with the "Brave New World" album has been
truly triumphant, then three years later the "Maidens" have obviously
run dry. Kill me, but "Dance of Death" just does not have this special
something, which made this band absolutely the best in the world, which
made you heart beat faster, and which made you believe that while such
music exists in this world, we still have a chance. Shit. And that is
not to mention the cover artwork… Well, it's either that I've just grown
up finally, or else… (Troll)
4-/5
JACKHAMMER
The Ultimate Martyr
2003
Promo
thrash/speed/heavy
It's hard to make any judgment based on a mere four songs, but it
certainly appears like these guys do have something to say to the world
of heavy metal, or rather, remind this world of something. I really
cannot remember last time I heard anything like Jackhammer, but I did
hear it - that's for sure. The style of this Milano-based quintet can
be characterized as classic euro-melodic-thrash of 21st century (hmmmm…).
I wouldn't go as far as to claim that the ideas of these Italians sparkle
as new and original, but, then again, at least these are not the flat
and dull guitar solos and high-pitched vocal howls of the 90% of modern-day
power metal bands. Indeed, on may say that the material of "The Ultimate
Martyr" is traditional, possibly even, overly traditional, but again,
considering the amount of downright awful Muzak that festers on the
skin of nowadays metal, these guys definitely deserve some respect for
their professionalism and musical beliefs. (Troll)
 4+/5
KATAFALK
Storm Of The Horde
2003
Coldblood
Industries/CD-Maximum
thrash/death
Hey-hey-hey, mate - hold your horses. The debut of this Dutch quintet
is a tribute of respect and adrenaline to the epoch of 1980ies - the
times of bardy and spiteful metal naivete. Speed, aggression, and beat
- these are the three flatfish that this record reels upon. If we go
into tagging (t the image and likeness of the Black Metal-terrarium)
and start splitting death-metallers into those ones who are true-and-evil
and those rest who are… (insert any appropriate curse-word(s) here),
then Katafalk would definitely make it into the first cat. along with
the lucky few. The ideologically educated Dutchmen have recorded a CD
that is simply cursed to find response with the hearts of those who
still believe in the metal ideals: Sodom, Kreator, Vader something of
later Immortal and a tiny bit of Judas Priest melodism - this is a rough
description of what Katafalk hammer out of their poor instruments. What
is even stranger is that the materials of these lads is one hundred
percent recognizable - now that is really something antediluvian. (St.
Ded)
 5/5
MACHINE HEAD
Heallalive
2003
Roadrunner
Records
angry
Excellent, just excellent. And I don't care how much this live album
was processed in the studio, it's still excellent. I mean, seriously,
if that is the case, I really wanna say "RESPECT" to the sound-engineer
who was processing it, because he managed to preserve and show the atmosphere
and intensity of MH's performance at the London Brixton Academy in the
most outstanding way. The material presented on the record (as usual)
covers all of the band's albums starting from "Burn My Eyes" and thru
"Supercharger". Describing a live record is rather pointless, so I will
just say go and hear it. Excellent sound, top scenic professionalism,
that - more importantly - does not interfere with the sincerity and
naturalness of the performance (which, sadly, is quite often the case
with a whole lot of bands), mind-twisting drive, that comes from the
charismatic and outspoken Sir Flynn, and the spectacular performance
of the remaining three quarters of the band. In short this is the best
live album I remember since "Decades of Aggression" (Slayer) and "101:
Proof Live" (Pantera). (Troll)
 3-/5
MANEGARM
Dodsfard
2003
Displeased
Records/CD-Maximum
ancient viking pop music
An accurate and honest but a too ascetic album. I mean their brothers
in arms such as Mythotin have already created enough of aesthetical
and picturesque sagas, for this band to continue the good tradition
of hailing battle feats of the old days in such a dull and creativity-lacking
manner. Yes it is atmospheric, yes it goes exactly by the book, but
it's also irreversibly dull. The picture is partly improved by episodic
violin accompaniment, but a decoration is just a decoration, it's does
not save the situation here. The Manergarm-made drakkar is drifting
through the songs, passing the cold acoustic streams, thundering the
sea with battle screams, and there is no end in sight - that's what
I really call blue cheer. Clean vocals delivered by Erik Grawiso - pure
and powerful, but man, couldn't they have put at least a bit of diversity
into his parts. After listening to that - listening to dark ambient
is like the apotheosis of joy, bliss, and heaven, and the musicians
start looking like one of the best stand-up comedians. It's just doesn't
work, this one. (St. Ded)
 4+/5
MISTWEAVER
The Aftermath
2003
Mistweaver/CD-Maximum
dark/pagan/power metal
An extravagant and in very many ways remarkable record. It is very rare
that one would find such a huge variety of different music schools stuffed
onto one round piece of plastic: the harder things here are represented
by monumental Dark Metal, freeway Pagan and desperado Thrash, the melody
is embodied in the splendor and rhythms of Power Metal, mysterious Gothic
keyboards, cradling ringing of the Spanish Guitar and even some Operatic
influences. The vocals are growling and groaning most of the time with
an occasional clean female voice insert. Samael, Therion ("Theli"),
Death (early 90ies era), Bal Sagoth, Blind Guardian (IFTOS), Nightwish
and some guitarreros put together would of given a rough picture if
the mixture would not have been so odd. Off with the complimentary part
though, taking into account the fact that this is already the third
baby for this band, it is a bit disappointing: surely they could be
more laconic and complete. (St. Ded)
 3/5
SEVERE TORTURE
Misanthropic Carnage
2002
Hammerheart/FONO
grind-gore
Not being the most original representatives of this genre, Severe Torture
are rather more of the so-called work-horses of the scene, whose truly
hard and (regrettably) non-rewarding labor lies in expanding the narrow
piste once trailed by the early settlers to the size of a 16-lane motorway.
Good quality, technical, aggressive, meaty and even phat - but, in all
honesty, not truly exciting. Moreover, had it not been for the last
year's scandal with the censor-banned artwork, I seriously doubt that
this album would have drawn the attention of anyone, but a handful of
those who truly love this good ole' meat. I - personally - would have
check it out on all accounts, and sure as hell would have enjoyed it
(yes, call me Mr. Kink, please), but those who are out of the theme…
I doubt that. (Troll)
 4+/5
SHADOWS FALL
The Art Of Balance
2003
Century Media/FONO
thrash/melodic angry
Having accumulated the magnificent aspirations of youth of their more
renown compatriots, those who once shined with a splendour of a polished
toilet-bowl and are now being righteously (sad but true!!!) stoned by
the public with ripe tomatoes - Shadows Fall had no troubles with spicing
their music with a good deal of original ideas and neurotic fluids of
their own brew and - as a result - presented the world with a powerful
and topical opus. Rhythm, expression, melody, estranged guitar passages,
hoarse screams intertwined with clean vocals - splendid. To further
increase the already pleasing impression of the CD the package contains
a nice bonus stuffed with a bunch of nice trifles such as live-video,
interviews and other interesting footage. Still, I'd catch myself hearing
this or that familiar moment and remembering the good ole days when
I split my throat open crying out "Cannot kill the Bat-Te-Ry!!!". Oh,
shit - it's three in the morning and I am shouting here like there is
no tomorrow… (St. Ded)
 3-/5
STEFAN ELMGREN’S FULL STRIKE
We Will Rise
2003
Eagle Records/CD-Maximum
true power
As any music expert will easily tell you over the past few years "hammerfalls"
are spreading all over the place. Now the cloning process has been enhanced
with a "role model" coming into place. Hammerfall's "Main Baldie" Stefan
Elmgren has joined his forces with Niklas Johnsson (hailing from Swedish
main vocal school - Lost Horizon) and released a product of true Swedish
quality and true Swedish standard. The sound neatly combed by the master-hand
of none other than Fredrik Nordstrom himself, accurately placed (fast
things to fast things, slow things to slow things) music moves, industriously
sung vocal patterns. It all would have been well and good, but this
album really misses one thing, just as much as Suffocation misses fresh
air, and that is some sense of humor! Yes, indeed some self-irony and
what is generally understood under the term "fun" would of done this
release a world of good. I mean you can't possibly keep that true straight
face while singing about dragons and warriors, can you? Now imagine
listening to it…? (Fireball)
 5/5
TAROT
Suffer Our Pleasures
2003
Spinefarm Records/FONO
heavy
Tarot have always
been and still remain one of the most famous and esteemed Finnish heavy-metal
bands. The quartet has been around for over 16 years, and at that, still
keeps its original lineup of founding brothers Marco and Zachary Hietala
and their loyal friends Janne Tolsa and Pecu Cinnari. Their taste has
never ever betrayed them and their talent is measured in units obviously
larger than droplets. The born-to-do singer Marko has participated in
so many different bands and projects that listing them alone would take
a bunch of small-font paragraphs. And being a singing bassist at that
he really is invaluable. I mean it's not for nothing that Hietala has
been staying with Nightwish for several years now. But, let u go back
to Tarot. The album is simply a killer, with each track being a small
masterpiece, be it the rough "I Rule", the balladish "Rider of the Last
Day", or the speedy "From the Shadows." Add Marco's with superb soloing
delivered by Zachary, plus a slight fleur of oriental melodies, and
there you go - new century heavy from true genre vets. (Debbie
Boink)
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