Profetus-As All Seasons Die (2014)

One of the characteristic qualities of this album has to be its hypnotizing melodies. In fact, the main philosophy of this record is quality over the quantity. The songs do not have many riffs, yet music is not boring, but very dramatic, and emotional. Certainly, some people, the music may appear too repetitive, but it works in a magnificent way. The melodies are delicate dark masterpieces which stick in the listener head for days. The music has a tendency to put the listener in a trance like state mood using simple yet effective melodic foundations done using lead guitar melodies, and harsh misanthropic brutal vocals as the central instruments. The drumming, base, rhythm guitar and other effects provide groundwork for everything else, a certain wall of sound. Somewhat thin production give the additional bleak, and hollow atmosphere to the record makes the dark melodies, and growls even more effective. The story of the album is pretty depressive, but somehow it converts negative energy into a positive one, which was probably the main goal of the musicians. In conclusion "As All Seasons Die" is a good album in the metal underground. It seems to have a melodic doom death metal tag, but in my view the term may be contingent since many groups mix things up. I would just call it funeral doom metal from Finland. If you haven’t heard it, it is a must have for any metal head, Profetus write a honest emotional music with feelings.
www.facebook.com/SaturnineDoom
www.weirdtruth.jp
Review by Paul Caravasi

Basilisk-End Of Catastrophe (2013)

Well, I can't say that there's much black metal on here, but this is fucking true death metal, starts off with a big kick to your face with a furious blast, before going to a half time grind. Damn! That's catchy! Like every song on here, pummelling riffs and nasty drumming coming in at you from all angles. The drumming on this Japanese band just sounds malevolent, as if the drummer wants to punch you in the face with each beat, excellent riffs, rawer sound. The drums on here, especially, don't sound triggered. Hell, even the guitars have a ripping sound with a minimum of special effects. This gives the album a very badass sound. Very death metal, and very underground. Interesting band singing in Japanese, and this is Death metal to the bone.
www.weirdtruth.jp
Review by Paul Caravasi

Faithxtractor-Razing The World Of Mith/Project Trauma (2014)

This is a compilation of early Demos from 2006-2007. The vocals are double-tracked and are often deep, decayed growls that sound as if they are coming from the grave. Every once in awhile vocalist will unleash a blood curdling shriek or do something else unexpected which further adds to the horror of the music. The production on this compilation album is incredible. It is thick and dirty sounding, yet clean enough to hear everything that is happening on the album. Sick, twisted, and absolutely fucked up. Faithxtractor blends death metal and grindcore beautifully into one of the sickest sounds ever. The riffs are groove-laden and catchy. The bass rumbles along underneath the riffs providing more earth shaking tremors. The drums are possibly the best musical attribute on the album. They are some of the most interesting patterns in extreme metal, technically very impressive. They are constantly present and blend with the music extremely well.This is a great, somewhat obscure album. Killer !!
www.facebook.com/pages/Faithxtractor/340370382698945
Review by Paul Caravasi

FaithXtractor-The Great Shadow Infiltrator (2013)

Let me start this review by saying that when it comes to death metal I am all about the old school. I've always preferred the older and dirtier death metal to the more modern over produced technical guitar masturbation that is called death metal now. Don't get me wrong I like some of the newer stuff and appreciate the talent it takes to write and play in these bands, but its not the same and most of it is not for me. Sometimes change is good, sometimes its for the better but not always. In the case of Faithxtractor I'm glad they retained that signature of the old school sound, to me the lyrics are dark, humourous and nothing more, it brings a certain sense of fun to death metal that I think is missing these days. The genre takes itself too serious at times and it takes a band like Faithxtractor to inject some B-movie horror lyrics and silliness into the equation.The musicianship on this album is impressive, very good guitar solos. Its blended together in a way that tells a story rather than just another song about gore and murder.This album is a must have for Death Metal fans, its fun, silly, gory, sludgy, aggressive and raw. They're bringing back a part of death metal thats been missing for a long time. Its worth your time if you're into the old school sound so go buy it now.
www.facebook.com/pages/Faithxtractor/340370382698945
Email: faithxtractor@hotmail.com
www.deathgasm.com
Review by Paul caravasi

Three Sixes-Know God, No Peace...(2014)

Three Sixes is a controversial metal band, and that it may very well change metal, this band is creative and brilliant, many could attack this album as simply only having various songs that all feature almost the exact same riffs each time. And though that's true ,what they are able to create with one single riff is amazing. Their style of making music is creative, each instrumentalist playing something in a different time signature. This sort of experimentation truly pays off in the long run, as it leaves listeners scratching their heads and wondering just exactly what they heard featuring odd time signatures, aggressive drumming and guitar playing, and the signature brutal vocals from Damien grabbing the listener the moment they hit the play button. The band also experimented with slower ambient pieces, and these help to transition the listener from part to part, giving them a much needed break from the familiar riff that dominates the main theme of the song. Three Sixes is not for everyone. But if one has the patience and open-mindedness to listen to this band, then this album is clearly the place to start. It's the first album of theirs I listened to, and at first I truly did not know what to think. But after relistening to it a few times, I saw the genius in their work. Is it flawed? Of course, everything ever made is flawed (here, in particular, the repetition can get a bit tedious). But is it still a fantastic experience from start to finish? Also includes an interesting cover of Ac/Dc. Yes. And it's worth every second.
www.facebook.com/threesixes
www.threesixes.com
Review by Paul Caravasi

Signs Of The Evil-Crucificcion De La Peste Cristiana (2014)

This original demo was recorded back in 2007. This is where it all begun with Signs Of The Evil. That 30% or so of black metal bands who play this style that sounds like nothing but chaos to the inexperienced and at its best represents the dizzying heights that black metal can be taken to. Influenced by Beherit, Proclamation, Conqueror....and a few touches of Blasphemy as well. Combining the speed of grindcore, the hardness and grit of the evil of early black metal (such as Mayhem – Deathcrush), there is also a bit of a more typical black metal rasp to them. The lyrics are the best kind of black metal lyrics, songs about war, genocide, and satanic rites, you’ll see the all-pervading influence of the mighty, the one and only Blasphemy on this one. If you like Anti-Christian lyrics, check this Peruvian Black Metal band.
www.facebook.com/signsoftheevil
Press Contact: lord_belcifer@hotmail.com
Review by Paul Caravasi

Azotador-Insertando La Sustancia (2014)

The style of this Bolivian Band is pure thrash metal like only in the 80's bands were able to do. So here we mosh, headbang and jump. The rhythmic guitars are always quite technical in their fast riffs. The drums are on up tempo and the opener shows great tempo changes with fast, tapped solos, we can find true technical parts in this kind of thrash metal, especially in the guitar galloping riffage and the solos. Azotador reminds me bands like Heathen and Vio-Lence, for guitars virtuosos. The vocals beside are not excessive but thrash anyway. The fast bass drums moments are great; the guitar sound is extremely crunchy, a bunch of thrash riffage. Total impact. When you think that a song could be a bit more melodic or slower  here the thrash riffs suddenly return and the melody is erased, fast and technical Total thrash to headbang. All in all, this is a quite good effort, worth getting for the sound quality and the riffs, if you enjoy this genre, get it!
www.facebook.com/azotadorbolivia
http://facebook.com/AzotadorThrash
Review by Paul Caravasi