Alberto Gaggiotti
“Sacro Culto” is the second of three Opera IX records with Cadaveria in the vocal slot. Of the three it is the most ethnic, pagan and Mediterreanean sounding. High on atmosphere and ethnic instrumentation it is a refinement of what “The Call Of the Wood” did four years earlier. Much
Amon
Deicide is one of the original Tampa death metal bands. Their career is one filled with exciting highs and depressing lows. In the first part of its career Deicide seemed destined for superstardom thanks to its solid line-up and two promising early albums. “Deicide”, the band’s debut from 1990,
A&M Records
In the early 2000s Vanessa Carlton was considered one of the most promising young female songwriters along with Michelle Branch, Alanis Morissette and Nelly Furtado. Born in Milford, Pennsylvania Vanessa Carlton graduated from the American School Of Ballet, but pursued her interest in music instead. She demoed, and was signed
Caedere
On its second album Dutch death metal band Caedere started to develop more of its own identity. Still heavily indebted to Severe Torture “Clones Of Industry” has Caedere slowly letting loose of its direct influence towards something more individual sounding. More of a refinement than a reinvention “Clones Of Industry”
Ancient Rites
On “Laguz” enduring Belgian underground pillar Ancient Rites makes its long awaited return after a near decade of uncertainty, lineup instability and general malaise. The much-anticipated follow-up to 2006’s “Rubicon” is the first for its new label home Massacre Records, and sees the band trimmed down to a quartet.
Alan Collado
“The Seeds Of Abysmal Torment” saw Chicago bruisers Fleshgrind move into slightly more technical and challenging territory. In the decade-plus that they were active, from 1993 to 2005, they released three albums, of which “The Seeds Of Abysmal Torment” was the second. Moving away from the trite gore – and horror
Brodequin
Much like formative act Cannibal Corpse before them Southeastern power trio Brodequin was a band with a clearly defined, singular focus. Like its more popular Buffalo-born/Tampa-residing progenitor the trio of Jamie and Mike Bailey with drummer Chad Walls set out on a very specific course. In the decade that
Brazil
Of all the early South American underground metal acts Belo Horizonte natives Sepultura would prove the most influential, and the most enduring. Along with local upstarts Armmageddon, Genocídio, Holocausto, Mystifier, Sarcófago and Vulcano they set the global scene alight with their highly aggresssive, unashamingly primitive early records. Launched towards worldwide
death metal
“Reduced to Ashes”, the fifth Deeds Of Flesh record, had the band comfortable within its more linear writing style. Since “Mark Of the Legion” the trio opted to increase the level of technicality, and “Reduced to Ashes” is the apex of that evolution. The increase in production values is both
Alberto Gaggiotti
“The Call Of the Wood” is the first of three Opera IX records with Cadaveria in the vocal slot. Of these three it is the least symphonic of the three, and most conventionally doom/death metal oriented in construction and pacing. Combining sweltering Mediterreanean mysticism with esoterica, occultism, and a
A.J. Magana
“Consuming the Forsaken” is the first Disgorge album to not feature long-serving vocalist Matti Way. In its classic constellation, which lasted from 1992 to 2006, Disgorge released four albums on a variety of labels, of which this is the second. The working title for the album was “Dissecting Thee Apostles”
Caedere
“Mass Emission”, the somewhat unassuming debut of Dutch death metal combo Caedere, lends itself to the assertion that it was inspired at least in part by American – and European institutions of the genre. In particular the likes of “Stabwound Intercourse” era Gorgasm and “Feasting On Blood” era Severe Torture. Not