BATTLE HELM

ALIEN KEN
“Son Extraordinary”
(-)
I have no idea why Roswell and its UFO history still fascinates people almost 70 years later but if we get anything good out of it I’m not one to complain. The whole aura surrounding Norwegian Alien Ken is that of abduction, secrecy and paranoia. And that is just the outside. The music is a whole different kettle.

ASARU
“From The Chasms Of Oblivion”
(Schwarzdorn Records)
I don’t know if the band got the name wrong from the start but I thought that they were called Asatru (as in the worshiping of the Ancient Nordic gods) but the name is actually Asaru. Either way works fine for me. This is supposed to be one of the oldest black metal bands to come out of Belgium.

DISAFFECTED
“Rebirth”
(Massacre)
The name Disaffected seem familiar but I can’t say for sure if I got them confused with another band or if I’ve read about/heard of them previously. Don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older or because I get subjected to so much music that certain bands tend to fall of my radar.

DIZZINESS/LYKAUGES
“At The Whirlwind Of Our Storm”
(War prod)
OK so split records aren’t my thing really. Not when they come on CD and you get two bands crammed into one small, tiny space. I can take it on vinyl where each band gets a side alone to show off. But what am I to do when I’m presented with two bands on one single disk? Crawl up and cry or take it on like a full grown man?

ELECTROCUTION
“Inside The Unreal”
(GoreGore records)
This Italian band is new to me even though this is a re-release of a twenty (20) year old album. Were the hell where I in 1992. Not anywhere near this, that is for sure. And that was at the high point of my fanzine buying days. There must have been something that put me off even trying to look this up back then.

THE FORESHADOWING
“Second World”
(Cyclone Empire)
Italian doom/goth metal isn’t the most frequent participant to my increasing collection but I’m no stranger to checking it out if it is any good. The Foreshadowing at least have a cool band name. Hopefully the music will match it. I guess with the success of Katatonia more and more labels see a market for this kind of melancholic metal.

THE GROTESQUERY
“The Facts And TerrifyingTestament of Mason Hamilton: Tsathoggua Tales”
(Cyclone Empire )
With a name like The Grotesquery you just gotta love it. This can’t be anything but some gory death metal. Like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre put to music. Not having had the chance/opportunity to check this outfit out before this will be my first encounter with them. And I’m looking forward to it.

HAK-ED DAMM/BLACKHORNED
“Split”
(War prod)
This is a split between a Canadian and a Danish black metal troupe. That might not sound like the most enticing set-up but give it a chance and you’ll see that this isn’t too bad at all.

FLYING
“Graceful Murder”
(Metalscrap Records)
I’m not gonna comment on the band name. That is what it is. Flying are death metal of the kind that has nothing to do with metalcore or melodeath. This is death metal (with maybe a slight thrash feel to it) the way it was done in the 90s with lots of riffing and vocals from hell. It chugs along like a chainsaw on a mission sawing everything that comes in its way to bits.

LION SPLICER
“Valkyrie”
(-)
I liked Lion Splice’s first attempt at an album. There was potential to be found. Now these metalheads are back with a new EP. It’s going to be interesting to see if they’ve managed to take it one step further this time round. If they can add to the groundwork they did the first time round. I don’t know why but I come to think of Primus listening to this EP.

RELINQUISHED
“Onward Anguishes”
(Noisehead Records)
Dark melodic metal. Heard that one before? That Relinquished sound like any other band influenced by Gothenburgian metal is beside the point. Or is it? How many more bands can we take that sound like a rehashed At The Gates or a Dark Tranquillity MK 25?

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK
“34613”
(Battlegod Productions)
OK, I’ll say it once and then I won’t say it again in this review. For me to go mad over another project it got to have something very special. I don’t see the purpose of just writing an album and then invite a bunch of known names to perform on it. Norwegian metal project Tomorrow’s Outlook might be just another project among many

SYN – ZE –SASE-TRI
“Sub Semnul Lupului”
(Code666)
It is not enough to just be weird if you want to stand out. You actually got to have something to show for too if you don’t want to end up just a joke, or at worst trash on the floor. Syn-Ze-Sase-Tri might have one of the weirdest names I’ve seen in a long time but that shouldn’t be the end of it all. Musically this isn’t weird in any way.

VORKREIST
“Sigil Whore Christ”
(Agonia Records)
The French black metal scene might not be the greatest in size but it has over the years brought us some of the more innovative artists. Some more successful than others but all with their integrity intact. Vorkreist might be on to album number 5 but this is my first real encounter with them. It is with some trepidation but also with some anticipation that I approach this album.

Saxon – “Heavy Metal Thunder Live: Eagles Over Wacken” DVD / 2CD (UDR Music)

‘..where were you in ’79 when the dam began to burst?..’ – NWOBHM legends Saxon were one of the front runners that’s for sure, and also one of that movement’s most prominent proponents, playing the first Monsters Of Rock festival back in the 80s and continuing right thru that decade until the decline of English heavy metal in the late 80s. But in Germany, the scene was starting to take off and in 1992, Saxon were invited to play the Wacken Open Air, and in a similar relationship with the Donnington fans, have since been adopted by that festival’s fans as ‘their’ band – indeed, promoter Thomas Jensen is also Saxon’s band manager! It is indeed a rare opportunity for any band to be associated with two iconic events in heavy metal history, let alone enjoy a rebirth that has arguably made them more popular than ever before! “Heavy Metal Thunder Live: Eagles Over Wacken” is Saxon’s most ambitious live product to date, reveling in the majesty of both their legacy and continuing title as key headliners as demanded by the fans: a DVD highlighting Saxon‘s Wacken shows in 2004, 2007 and 2009 with no less than 30 songs, plus 2 live CDs with the entire Glasgow Apr 2011 performance, complete with behind the scenes footage and slideshow extras. As OTT as their 1 ton eagle, it’s available in a variety of packages from a 1,000 copy limited edition (since sold out) to a bumper digipack to a 3 gatefold vinyl edition. All in all a fitting tribute both to the longevity of this enduring band and their fans both young and old!

Quimera – “Immortal” (www.quimeramusic.com)

‘…what would you do, if you could live forever?…’. Currently based outta NYC comes mysterious contralto tessitura vocalist Quimera, whose namesake band play a powerful and deeply passionate combination of classical, symphonic and cinematic rock. For a relatively unknown band, “Immortal” is highly ambitious given that it is a double album no less with 20 tracks! Sultry femme vocals combine with gothic cellos, operatic choirs, atmospheric keyboards, concerto percussion and the fluid contemporary guitar work of composer Patrick Rundbladh on songs like ‘The Forgotten’, ‘Fleur Du Mal’ and ‘Victoria’s Lullaby’, that are driven by a sweet passion which can only come from a heart crying l’amour, l’amour! On the face of it, there’s really no doubting Quimera’s talents, who not only writes from her soul to touch others across the human divide, but also possesses an enviable professionalism to strive for the highest standards in both songwriting and musicianship.

HeXen – “Being And Nothingness” (Pulverised Records)

Wow, HeXen have been goin since the turn of the century and take off where thrash metal arguably left by introducing huge amounts of progressive melodies into their toons that will either send you nuts or turn you into a true believer! Glass in throat vocals, Hartoonian’s rumbling bass and chopping Kreator-esque thrash rhythms on songs like ‘Defcon Rising’, ‘Indefinite Archetype’ and ‘Walk As Many, Stand As One’ stand shoulder to shoulder with Ronny Dorian and Tak Arayan’s classically influenced soloing and prominent melodies, all in all adding an interesting new dimension that sees “Being And Nothingness” leaping the abyss and bravely pushing out the boundaries of this well defined style in good taste.

Collisions – “Believe In This” EP (www.facebook.com/CollisionsUk)

Fresh offa tour with Hed(pe) comes Collisions, who mix electro metal with DnB (drums n bass) to create a fiery fusion of agit rock highly reminiscent of bands like Senser. Against this heavy dub beat comes Olly’s street ragga raps, with the electronics adding a calming groove thru some cool melodies and overlays. With a matching in-yo-face production, songs like ‘Fire Fire’, ‘Push’ and ‘Chasing Forms’ leap out at you and one can only imagine what Collisions are like live cos man, are they heaving like one big rave! Infectiously addictive thru their no holds barred energy and funky but punky grooves, look out for Collisions, cos they look to headin to tha big time, big style.

Shadowside – “Inner Monster Out” (Inner Wound Recordings)

Brazil’s Shadowside are quite a mix befitting both the ethnic composition of their nation as well as their sound which melds angry guitars and nu metal rhythms with progressive melodies. Added to this is vocalist Dani Nolden whose vocals which remain sexily husky (down boy – Ed) whether she’s being melodic or aggressive, but able to stand their own ground against guest vocalists Mikael Stanne (Dark Tranquillity), Björn “Speed” Strid (Soilwork) and Niklas Isfeldt (Dream Evil) be it on the title-track, or the bottom heavy bounding ‘Habitchual’ as well as their closing cover of Motorhead’s ‘Ace Of Spades’ – where rather than compete with Lemmy’s glass-in-throat larynx, Dani instead thrashes it out Sabina Classen style – yea babaay! Musically, Shadowside seem to reflect a wide range of bands from a heavy Skid Row to Disturbed to even Maiden, who they incidentally supported in Rio de Janeiro last year, and having undertaken a successful European tour supporting WASP previously, this all important 3rd release looks set to move them into the light.

Marauder – “Elegy Of Blood” (Pitch Black Records)

Marauder are Greek heavy metal legends who have been around for over 20 years. In fact, when they first started, Pitch Black Records manager Phivos was sending off for their demo, so he must be really savoring that two decades on they’re now signed to him! Despite their aggressive name, Marauder play a classy brand of power / melodic heavy metal but with enough guts to be worthy descendants of Alexander: vocalist Alexandros Kostarakos can certainly hit the highs while ably shifting into a melodic stance as does the rest of the band on songs like ‘Roman Empire’, ‘Hiroshima’ and ‘Black Gold’ which contain a mixture of heaviness and melody, essentially the components of classic HM. Truth be told Maraude’s music is more likely to appeal to the true metal genre, given its classic style with scarcely any sign of modernity, and is as bold and uncompromising as the Spartans who held Thermopylae!

(Ulterium Records)

This Swedish female fronted band started only a few years back, but suffered a 2 year hiatus when their original vocalist left before Elin Redin joined them. Despite being compared to the likes of Evanescence or Within Temptation, listening to songs like ‘Fallen’, ‘Left In This World’ and ‘Waiting For The Rain’ I’d say there’s really nothing gothic nor symphonic about them but essentially they play hard rock with Erik Tordsson’s guitar being almost Alter Bridge / Creed like in its heavy, fuzzy, post grunge sound, while Redin’s femme vocals, while being high, aren’t in any particular style. Overall, End Of September show a lot of promise musically but having not played any gigs yet, it remains to be seen whether they can take this band beyond a personal passion to that of a commercial one.