Füneral Rain Press Cörps

Genre: Hardcore, Groove
Label: Regain Records

I’ve been around the block a few times when it comes to hardcore and their founders. But try as I might, I’ve just never really been able to get into Pro-Pain. And I have tried. Believe me. There is something about them that seems appealing… but it’s dwarfed time and time again by something a bit more mundane. Maybe things will be different with Absolute Power…

Well, kinda. Absolute Power is undoubtedly aggressive; full of blue collared rage and political passion. BUT, every track just kind of reminds me of what the Pantera reunion album would of sounded like. And I ain’t digging it so much. The riffing is ear catching enough for the first two songs, but then you start to notice that they keep popping up later tracks… weak. There’s a little to much bounce ‘n’ groove in Absolute Power to fully appeal to the hardcore hardcore fans and there’s not enough variation in sound to get the other metal enthusiasts involved.

Overall: Absolute Power is a heaping bowl of *meh* served with a side of *yawn*. I guess spot-on hardcore vocals and constant blast beats don’t keep me quite as entertained as they used to as a fledgling.

5/10

Pro-Pain On MySpace
Pro-Pain Official

Genre: Death Metal
Label: Regain Records

I’m going to keep this review short and sweet since I conveniently don’t really need to say much about Grave’s newest effort Burial Ground.

It’s been two years since Dominion VIII. Have Grave matured since then? No. Did they need to? No. Is this album any good? Of course. Grave pretty much have their fan base right where they want them and Grave’s fan base have Grave right where they want them. It’s a wonderful symbiotic relationship where both sides get exactly what they desire:

Fans Get: Another album of mid-paced death metal, complete with the same fairly weak, yet serviceable vocals, lots of crashes and snare and plenty of vintage riffs.

Grave Gets: Yet another album under their belt and a little bit of cash for their effort. (Hopefully the gratitude of their fans is in there somewhere as well…)

Overall: It’s Swedish. It’s death metal. It’s Grave. It’s awesome.

8.5/10

Grave On MySpace

Also Posted On E-MetalSpace

Genre: Death Metal
Label: Regain Records

The classic Grave return to haunt the living with their brand of brutal death metal. Catchy, fast riffs grab the eardrum while intense blasts pummel it, in the way that Grave always have done.
If this doesn’t get your head banging, you’re already dead.
Favorite tracks are “Semblance in Black” and “Sexual Mutilation”.
8 out of 10.

Genre: Black Metal
Label: Regain Records

Epkyrosis is a sound for tired ears. Finally a black metal band that’s truly evil sounding, not just evil looking with some okay tunes. True black metal, with a gorgeously melodic brutality woven throughout. And when I say brutality, I’m not just dicking around. I mean Setherial are brutal. The blast beats are pummelling, making you want more and more, and the slower, heavy parts are just that – lead weights around your ankles dragging you to hell itself. Vicious screams pierce the music with an intensity that prove their purpose: to speak blasphemy upon the cross, and to give praise to darkness.
I fucking love this album, and if you’re a fan of old Dimmu Borgir, Gorgoroth, Marduk, or Dark Funeral, you should fucking love this album too.
10 out of 10.

Setherial on MySpace.

Genre: Black Metal
Label: Regain Records

The black metal masters of Belgium return with another album of trve, kvlt anthems to rock out to.
There is a palpable atmosphere of hate and rage with this album, and if you’re not into black metal yet, and you don’t think the genre is your thing, don’t start getting into the genre with Pentagrammaton. It’s the type of listen for only true fans of black metal, and it will weed the posers out of the crowd really fucking quickly.
The riffs are nice and heavy, which is a marked difference from a lot of black metal. Most bands in the genre go for a more hard attack, and this heaviness from Enthroned is a nice treat for the ear. Granted, the hardness is here too, with a ferocity that would make a rabid lion cower in fear.
Blastbeats from hell grab your throat, punch you in the face, and then throw you into a mosh pit full of pitbulls. In other words, the drumming is really awesome, and is one of the highlights of the album.
But it’s Nornagest’s voice that truly takes the spotlight on the album. He has a way of delivery, an intensity to his voice, that is captivating. It’s like you have no choice but to listen to him, and listen well.
Favorite tracks of mine are “The Vitalized Shell”, “Rion Riorrim”, “Magnvs Princeps Leopardi”, and “Nehas’t”.
8.5 out of 10.

Enthroned on MySpace.