AT THE GATES – “At War With Reality”

At War With Reality

There are probably quite high expectations for At The Gates to live up to with this, their first album since 1995’s landmark melodic death metal opus, Slaughter Of The Soul. I’m certainly feeling a certain sense of trepidation hitting the play button, but my hopes are high after hearing the preview title track. Continue reading

SOREPTION – “Engineering The Void”

SorepDespite forming in 2005, this only the third release, and second full-length from tech-death Swedes Soreption. Its predecessor, “Deterioration Of Minds”, released four years earlier in 2010, was somewhat of a behemoth, so this time around they have some significant living up to do. Continue reading

BEAST – “Dead Or Alive”

Beast DOAFrom the same Youtube Surfing session that led me to Wet Nuns also led me to these Swedes, although in a roundabout way, the song is question was “Needle Fever” by The Horsehead Union, a great retro rock anthem to tattooing that was greatly enhanced by the guest female vocalist.

Suitably impressed by her my research led me to discover her day job band: Beast. Continue reading

EVOCATION – “Excised And Anatomized”

EvocKnown for their relatively unique sound Evocation utilised both aspects of Sweden’s famous death metal scene, that of the traditional crunchy Stockholm and then the later emerging Gothenburg scene with its stronger focus on melody.  Perhaps fittingly, then, they have decided to cover 5 tracks from legendary bands which incorporates a variety of sounds from two distinct death metal country power houses. Continue reading

SOEN – “Cognitive”

SoenSoen are a new band on the scene, but were of instant interest to me.  Featuring the bass talents of Steve DiGiorgio of Death and Sadus fame, Martin Lopez formerly of Opeth on drums, one could be forgiven for expecting something pretty damn heavy and progressive from their previous work. Continue reading