Füneral Rain Press Cörps

Genres: Doom, Viking Metal
Label: Napalm Records

“…My soul cannot rest…”
The End is so damn good. Doomy as hell, but not the plodding variety. The faster, more Black Sabbath-tinged variety that’s heavy as hell. Think The 11th Hour or November’s Doom.
I just realized as I typed that that The 11th Hour and Ereb Altor are label mates. Damn those people at Napalm sure know how to pick ‘em.
Anyway, like I was saying, this is a damn good album. It’s got the doom going on, as well as the Viking metal sound, something like a heavier Tyr or a less death metal Amon Amarth.
If you’re a fan of any of the bands I’ve just mentioned, you might want to check out Ereb Altor. The band, for your own info, consists of Ragnar and Mats, the two gents behind Isole’s doomy anthems, and traces its origins to pre-Isole under the name Forlorn, in the 90′s.
8 out of 10.

Ereb Altor on MySpace.

Genres: Gothic Metal
Label: AFM Records

The newest, and tragically the last, album from these gothic metal pioneers is also one of their finest.
Since the 90’s they’ve been kicking ass and taking names, pretty much starting the trend of dark, haunting metal music with a beautiful siren’s voice, full of dark imagery and emotion.
Forever is the World, in both album and the song, is a bright light of dark music, something that helps to redefine the blueprint for female-fronted gothic metal. It’s a heart wrenching, sorrow filled album full of wicked hooks that are catchy, and choruses that are twice as much so.
If you’re a fan of Napalm Records’ roster of gothic metal (Sirenia, Trail of Tears, etc.) you’ll love this album.
8.5 out of 10.

Theatre of Tragedy on MySpace.

Genre: Melodic Power Metal
Label: AFM Records

The title track off Heavenly’s newest album Carpe Diem is also the leadoff track, and it’s a gorgeous example of power metal, in a similar vein as Hammerfall and Elegy, but with more melodic tendencies.
Vocals are fairly ranged, from the soaring, higher register to a nice tenor, and guitar riffs are lightning fast with wicked solos that make me think of Judas Priest and Queen.
Thinking of Queen, the song “Farewell” reminds me strongest of them; vocally, riff structure, piano and all. It’s a really wicked song, too. Freddy Mercury would be proud.
In all, the entire album is strong, with epic songs full of fist-pumping metal. Not the best out there, but still worth buying.
7.5 out of 10.

Heavenly on MySpace.

Genre: Brutal Death Metal, Death Metal
Label: Hell’s Headbangers

From the sounds of things, Disfigured Dead is a few young guys who were exposed to tons of old school death metal albums like Death’s Scream Bloody Gore and Leprosy and Grave’s Into the Grave, with some thrash classics as well. They’ve taken the lessons taught by the masters of the genre, were dutiful in taking down the notes, learning what was being taught rather than just mimicking it. And it shows in the great riffs, the solid drums, and the wicked ass vocals, all of which are fairly original.
As a plus, these guys are definitely not following the recent trends in death metal to incorporate hardcore elements, which makes me happy, and they aren’t venturing into the techdeath territory which of late is getting to be somewhat stale.
This is old style death metal the way death metal should be. Think Cannibal Corpse, Headhunter DC, Asphyx, Death, Grave… in fact, if you’re a fan of Ibex Moon’s current roster or early 90’s Century Media and Roadrunner, I think you’d be a fan of Disfigured dead.
Favorite tracks are “Mentally Mutilated”, “Screamatorium”, which also wins the Coolest Song Title of the Album Award, and “They Hear Your Heart Beating”, with honourable mention for “Eternally Entombed”.
7.5 out of 10.

Disfigured Dead on MySpace.

Genre: A Cappella Metal
Label: Napalm Records

For those of you who don’t know, Van Canto is an a cappella metal outfit. Huh? Weird right? No guitar. No bass. Just five vocalists and a drummer. Skeptical? Yeah, me too… so let’s have a listen and see where the unique sound of a cappella metal’s champions Van Canto and their third full-length album Tribe Of Force takes us.

…within seconds of the first track entitled “Lost Forever”, I am completely and utterly blown the fuck away! Lead (male) vocalist Phillip “Sly” Schunke has a set of pipes on him that would undoubtedly take him and any band he’d choose to join, far. Lead (female) vocalist Inga Scharf enchants with her melodically haunting siren song (which is showcased in Lost Forever and Magic Taborea). As for the Rakkatakka vocalists, (Stefan Schmidt – Lower and “guitar solo” vocals, Ross Thompson – Higher vocals, Ingo “Ike” Sterzinger – Bass vocals) they come off as a mixture of impressive and comedic. Impressive: the fact that someone can go, “Bumbumbumbumbumbumbum” throughout the entirety of a four minute song and not pass out is nothing less than extraordinary. Comedic: the fact that someone is going, “Bumbumbumbumbumbumbum” throughout the entirety of a four mintue song. Oddly enough, the drummer (one Bastian Emig) damn near overshadows most of the vocalization with his creative rolls and flourishes that paint the backdrop to Van Canto’s fantasy world.

Oh yeah! Grave Digger vocalist Chris Boltendahl guest’s on Van Canto’s cover of “Rebellion”! How sweet of a plum is that? And speaking of covers… they do “Master Of Puppets”. Cool? I guess…

Overall: A cappella metal? Yes it is. Should it really be called that? No. Let’s stick with a ca-power metal or something much less lame. Tribe Of Force is eleven tracks of sheer brilliance with one Grave Digger cover (which is fucking awesome!) and a Metallica cover (meh). Don’t pass this up if you’re a power metal geek or like bands that function outside the metal norm.

8.5 out of 10.

Van Canto on MySpace.