Vektor - Outer Isolation (2011)

 Coming back with Vektor from Tempe, Arizona as promised. Those guys surely gave us more than we could stand with the release of this album. Great basslines, great lyrics matching with the kind of the music (as always), technical guitar riffs, solos and drumming. The result of all these together? Sci-fi Thrash of course!
 What is stunning with the songs of this album is the duration of the songs, which is kinda long for thrash songs (some songs last 7 or 8 minutes and more), but they still remain interesting and at a really, really fast tempo!
 Also, there are some songs (Tetrastructural Minds, Venus Project, Fast Paced Society) which were previously released with Demolition, but they have undergone some changes that I find satisfying, although both versions are amazing!
 Outer Isolation is an album that you should really check out if you haven't done so yet and if I were to tell my opinion, I consider it the best album of 2011 if not the best thrash album of the coming decade!
 Support the band and go see them live if you are lucky!
 You can find band info here: Metallum Page, Facebook Page
 Download here: Mediafire Download

Vektor - Black Future (2009)

 Vektor arrived from Tempe, Arizona with a demo called Nucleus in 2004, but it wasn't until their first album Black Future that came out in 2009 and made a striking appearance with mind melting riffs, technicality and sci-fi lyrics, that made them more popular and gave a new idea of the Thrash genre...the Sci-Fi Thrash!
 The main idea of Black Future is to take you to another dimension, probably inside a laboratory or in a spaceship, with really detailed dictation used in the lyrics that are connected with a feeling of science fiction and fast technical riffs and drumming.
 However their perfectly matching lyrical themes and riffs, a lot of people insist on the fact that DiSanto's vocals do not match with the band, but on the contrary I believe that there could not be better vocals for a band like this, as they seem to make their songs more realistic, more intense, giving you the clearest idea of what the lyrics mean.
 Other material of the band that you should listen to is Demolition, (Dave DiSanto said that it was a demo, though it seems like an album) which contains some songs that were later released with Black Future and Outer Isolation that is also an album you should listen to and it's their later album released in November 2011, for which I'm going to make a review later this month.  
Support them if you like them and go see them live if you are that lucky!
You can find information about the band here: Metallum Page, Facebook Page.
Download here: (File Deleted, you can find it on Rockbox)

The Ash Eaters

 The Ash Eaters is one of the most impressive and interesting bands I've lately heard of and I consider myself extremely lucky for giving them a chance and checking them out.So,I'm writing this review cause I hope that you might feel the same sometime!The main reason for me to fall in love with them(and especially their "Ruining You" album) was their absolutely unique approach and the fact that they manage to compose catchy and memorable pieces (or riffs at least) despite their unorthodox ways.

 It is really hard to describe their music and so would be the genre classification,but who cares about labels?Just listen for yourselves and gradually you'll get lost in a maze of dissonance.The rythms created by the discordant guitar patterns are constantly changing which leads you to the impression that this band consists of mentally sick members.They must be really insane for coming up with so complicated structures.The guitars are tight and along with the overall weird production may give you the feeling of frostbite or being in a cold,almost frozen lake at the midwinter..yeah,it would be really COLD.The riffs are up- and sometimes mid-paced,bathed in melancholy and nostalgia,always played in a cold, frosty-style.Some of them feel like turning into music a serial-killer's way of thinking..trully an astonishing experience!

 Productionwise the guitars are dominating and the drums and the vocals(when present) are laid back on the mix.As for the vocals,(they are absent in the "Ruining You" album) they're uniquely performed as the music in general.Two of their last three releases,"The Cruel Side"(EP) and the "Ruining You" album,are phenomenal executions of claustrophobic, -mostly-instrumental, chaotic post-black(?) mixed with blues and post-punk elements(just for the sake of giving a possible genre classification) that really got me instantly.I hope they'll do the same for you.
Recommended tracks:"Ruining You","No Road Back","Lightning Strikes"The Cruel Side (EP) (2011)
@bandcamp
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Ruining You (2012)
@bandcamp
download (320)

OM - Advaitic Songs (2012)

 Meditation and spirituality are the words that could best describe this album, as Al Cisneros didn't disappoint us for one more time. Advaitic Songs is the last album of OM released in July 2012. In this specific album, more instruments are added (mostly traditional ones from a variety of countries), the style is more melodic and calm, but the lyrics remain really interesting, just like most of the OM songs. Even though the songs of this album lack the intensity and the distorted bass-lines, they do not differ from the original style of OM. The artwork follows the concept of the previous two albums, as it is a visual hagiography of John the Baptist.
 It is a truly impressive album, consisted of interesting compositions and lyrics. Personally, I really admired the instrumental variety used in every song of the album. I suggest you buy it, or better, go see the band live! You can find information about the band here: Metallum Page. Download here: Mediafire Download. Support them if you like them!

  

Ghast - May the Curse Bind (2008)

 Originating from Swansea, Wales, and previously known as Souldust, Ghast is a trio that has a great potential of establishing their name in the Underground scene. "May the Curse Bind" is their first full-length release and consists of 5 lengthy songs of crushing doom and grimness.
 In my opinion their main advantage, if we were to compare them with the millions of other typical black metal bands, is that they capture a feeling of epicness, misery and anger in the same time. Apart from this, their songwriting abilities are astonishing as they continue to keep you interested thoughout every single song, even if you're listening to "Pale Robe", that even though it is a rather monotonous and repetitive piece of funeral doom-like procession, it still stands out as the most mournsome and miserable one. There are some fast passages that might remind you of old-school Darkthrone (such is the opening riff of "Crawl,Brighted and Afraid" ) and some mid-paced more groovy in a Celtic Frost/Darkthrone (again!) - worshipping way (like those heard in "Give your Wrists" and "Hexed and Moon" ). Overall the musicianship is pretty solid, the drums keep up with the rythm set by the well composed guitar-riffs, of course, some blast beats are present. Something that caught my attention was the THICK basslines. They're seriously thick, adding a sludgy tone to the weeping, discordant (in a good way) guitar-riffs. As for the vocals (or rather screams), they seem to describe the pain and anguish of a man in solitude or trapped in a dark and moist basement, and that's what totally suits with the general feeling of despair that surrounds the music. The guitars are simply awesome. Low-tuned, obscured by the thickness of the bass, dragged and trapped into a mud of dismay created by themselves, but gentle(in a mournful way) and touching at times. The
production fits the music in a perfect way as well.. it's simply putrid and filthy.
 I would stongly recommend to all of you to check this band, if you're a fan of old-school black and doom metal and you like something that exceeds the standards of the oversaturated black metal scene. As I said in the beginning, they have a great potential of even reaching the top and I hope that they'll do so. Standout tracks? The whole album, but "Give your Wrists" is my personal favorite. Support!
Download
Band's Facebook Metallum

Elder - Spires Burn/Release EP (2012)

 Back with one of the favorites, Elder gave us a clear idea of what is going to follow by releasing this stunning EP some months ago, as I've already said.
 Truly impressive bass, melodic solos that bring a feeling of nostalgia, epic lyrics and a fantastic artwork (personally, one of my favorites) take you back in time with a magical way, the way Elder want to! By the time you will have listened to Spires Burn, it's going to get stuck in your head for days! Release is a less, let's say, intense song, but the melodic parts are striking, as the style remains the same in both songs.
 As I don't have nothing more to say, I assure you that it surely is an interesting EP that I suggest you buy it!
 You can find information about the band here: Facebook Page and Bandcamp Page or here Metallum Page and you can download the EP from here: Mediafire Download. Support them if you like them!

Ancient Sky (2009)

 Psychedelic and romantic, those fellers from Brooklyn, New York released a really, really fascinating album someday back in 2009. The album has the same name as the band and, however its rather ugly (truth must be told) artwork, it consists of some songs that could really suit you, if you're the bluesy, psychedelic type in need of some moody songs followed by some intensity too. Together with some good drinking stuff, this album can be a great friend for a night of bad mood. I suggest that you give 'em a try whenever you are in the mood of listening to such songs and I promise you people, you won't be disappointed. You can find them here: Bandcamp Page and you can also download their album from here: Mediafire Download Support them if you like their stuff!