NIGHTFALL - ASTRON BLACK AND THE THIRTY TYRANTS (2010)

genre : melodic black/death

origin : Greece
strong spot : production, performance

weak spot : lack of diversity

NIghtfall are definitely one of the most famous bands from Greece. After splitting up some years ago, they are back again with a new album. Efthimis Karadimas proves his compositional skills once again and provides us with an album full of melodies, advanced guitar and drum work, war atmosphere and aggression. My main objection is that some tracks follow similar recipe making some of them easy to forget. Their video for ''Ambassador of Mass'' is one of the most innovative and interesting videos I have ever seen.

8,8 out of 10 goatheads

Download here:

http://hotfile.com/dl/65828622/ff122e0/N_10_ABaTTT.rar.html

SIGH - THE CURSE OF IZANAGI 7''EP (2010)

genre : avantgarde black

origin : Japan
strong spot : a ''must'' for vinyl fans

weak spot :it includes only one new unreleased track (the rest are a filler and 2 covers)

This EP has no reason to exist, apart from the fact that it targets the die hard vinyl fans. The new track is mediocre and the covers are quite bad.

6,5 out of 10 goatheads

Download here:

http://www.bunalti.com/?p=136392

CRADLE OF FILTH - LILLITH IMMACULATE (song from the upcoming album )

genre : symphonic black

similar bands : Cradle of Filth
origin : UK

This is a track from the band's ''Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa'' upcoming album scheduled for release on November 2010.

Download from here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?o2kx7xkmi43b3tj

DIMMU BORGIR - GATEWAYS (single) (2010)

genre : symphonic black

similar bands : Dimmu Borgir
origin : Norway

This single shows the new direction of the band that inclines towards their masterpiece ''Death Cult Armageddon''. I am really curious about the album!

Download from here:

http://metal-krieg.blogspot.com/2010/08/dimmu-borgir-gateways-single-2010.html

AGRYPNIE - 16(485) (2010)

genre : melodic (with avant-garde influences) black/death

similar bands : Shining, Rotting Christ, Dark Tranquillity, Saattue
origin : Germany
strong spot : songwriting

weak spot :no obvious weak spot

This is a very moody and melodic album. The band builds the atmosphere relying mainly on the guitar duo and denies the overuse of synth sounds. The album reminded me of some really cool melodic death bands I used to listen when I first started listening to metal 16 years ago. I wonder what the album title means...

8,6 out of 10 goatheads

Myspace

Download here:

http://www.4shared.com/file/LFmAq4Aa/Agrypnie_-_16485_2010_AmusLadm.html

HAKEN - AQUARIUS (2010)

genre : experimental, progressive metal

similar bands : Yes, Dream Theater, Shaolin Death Squad, Emerson Lake and Palmer
origin : UK
strong spot : diversity, compositions, orchestrations

weak spot : I'd prefer a darker atmosphere (some melodies are too happy for my ears)

Haken's music is extremely interesting and beautiful. Some tracks are more metal-oriented while others are closer to progressive, experimental art rock. They are definitely influenced by Dream Theater but they also unfold their own ideas and style. The majority of the vocals are clean and melodic but there are also some growls here and there (personally I would prefer even more growls).

9 out of 10 goatheads

PREVIEW myspace

Download here:

http://godstorment.blogspot.com/2010/08/haken-2010-aquarius.html

ARCANA IMPERIA - BETTER THAN NOW (2010)

genre : atmospheric, symphonic black

similar bands : Emperor, Carach Angren, Limbonic Art
origin : Russia
strong spot : orchestrations

weak spot : artificial sound in the drums

Russia is not my favorite country when coming to metal music. Arcana Imperia are not something extraordinary but their latest album has diversity(it's not entirely based on blastbeasts) and the music never gets boring.

7,5 out of 10 goatheads

PREVIEW myspace

Download from:

http://www.bunalti.com/?p=132618

FUNERAL REVOLT - THE PERFECT SIN (2005)

genre : industrial/melodic extreme metal

similar bands : Moonspell, Rammstein, Paradise Lost, Ensoph
origin : Greece
strong spot : orchestrations, nice blend of industrial soundscapes and metal riffs

weak spot : I'd prefer more complex songwriting

I just discovered this album and I enjoyed it a lot. Distorted vocals, electro loops, samples, heavy guitars, dark atmosphere.

8,5 out of 10 goatheads

DOWNLOAD from :

http://darkmetal-doom-gothic9.blogspot.com/2007/04/funeral-revolt-perfect-sin-2005.html#comments