They almost lost me by the end of the intro, but then the crushing “Tragedy Eternal” started up, and I knew I was in for a Death/Doom masterpiece. My friends, this is how it should be done. Diabolically heavy, expertly played, and at well over an hour long, not a second (other than the last 1:45 or so of the rather lengthy intro) that does not fully command your attention.

Brutal Death Metal just the way you like it. Fairly memorable songs and excellent sound give this a little edge.

Supremely evil slow Death Metal. Brutally heavy with utterly demonic vocals. The sound isn’t awesome, but these tracks also appear, in apparently remastered form on EI’s debut CD [Blood of the Saints] on Deathgasm Records, which also contains the cuts from their previous, self-titled, demo.

Only in New Jersey could people this fucking retarded exist. Looks like these trendies saw a picture of Cradle of Filth and decided to start a Black Metal band. Evil Divine is to Black Metal what Taco Bell is to Mexican food. A cheap imitation. The vocalist’s name is Demonica. Wouldn’t that be a better stage name for a female? What’s even more hilarious than the CD is the show review they enclosed with their bio. At the gig reviewed they cover an Anal Cunt song, hey that’s pretty evil, and Demonica dedicates a song to his girlfriend, which I know first hand is a bad mistake. He’ll be sorry when the cunt leaves him, and if she’s heard this demo she probably already has. [I wish we had the space to reprint these poseurs’ press release, as it is the most unintentionally funny thing I have ever read. -Editor]

Imagine Thrash, maybe like Dark Angel, but with more Soundgarden-ish (from the Badmotorfinger era) vox. Evergrey play with such conviction and skill, and these songs are all so instantly memorable, that you just can’t help but to like it. And upon repeated listens, you begin to understand just how awesome this LP really is. Like all masterpieces, it reveals a little more with each spin, and although it might only take once to like it and remember it, you’ll need to let it play a few times to really start to appreciate how much they put into this, and how close to perfection it really is. Which is ex-fucking-tremely. And it just might also possess the coolest packaging I’ve ever seen, with a clear-tray digipack and full color booklet. Did I mention that they have a guest solo from none other than Andy LaRocque? I may well look back on this later and wish I’d given it a 10. It’s that close.

This is some Black Metal from Finland that sounds very Norwegian. I know that some bands in Finland would take that as an insult, but Evemaster sounds a lot like their neighbors, Emperor. That’s not saying that they’re clones. Evemaster have some major differences from Emperor, but on the whole, you can tell that they were influenced heavily by that band. Imagine if you will, Emperor with more of a Gothic edge to it. This has a definite atmosphere of its own and you can tell that they are talented and have put together quite a good album. Considering that I knew next to nothing about this band (only that they were from Finland and played Black Metal, to be exact), I was surprised at how good that they were. If you can find this at your local record store (or if you find it on a distribution list), this would definitely be one to consider picking up.

Another band from the Polish Invasion, this CD has a lot of Thrash influence. Guitar dominated, this trucks along very quickly. The music is tight and well arranged. They remind me of the old school Speed band Annihilator. The bio talks about their “virtuoso” guitarist and there is a lot of wanking on here. The solos are dull, but the riffs in the background are good. Complex riffs and great playing with aggressive music.

Strange to see a band like this from the United States. E of U plays very aggressive Black Metal, with suitably screechy vocals. Plus some pretty complicated songs, that are really memorable thanks to the superior riffs and drumming. Well, actually there are several different vocal styles used here, and the fact that I don’t think some are as excellent as others keeps this from perfection, but not by much. Hail true Tennessee Black Metal!

Well, Enthroned (the European one, not one of the five or six American ones out there) have returned once again, this time with an EP that pays tribute to their late drummer Cernunnos. This is some fast, chaotic Black Metal in the veins of Marduk, or Dark Funeral with hints of early Emperor in places. Some have criticized this band as being unoriginal but Hell, that’s a criticism that slaps about 90% of all bands in the scene today. In terms of ass kickage, this band is pretty good at what they do. They’re fast and intense and the music has that Bathory-on-speed feel down pat. They even do a cover of “The Conqueror” by the almighty Sodom! All the songs are tight and rage from start to finish. The oldest track, “Satan Never Sleeps,” was written when Cernunnos was in Morbid Death and though it sounds a bit different than the usual Enthroned fare, it doesn’t sound all that dated compared to the newer material on display. As a tribute to him, Cernunnos would be proud. His brothers have done a good job.

Aside from the first riff in “Sweet Solitude Tears,” which resembles something you would hear in a cheesy ’70s made-for-TV action series, the singer’s completely unnecessary spoken passages, some upbeat, happy rhythms, and poor usage of keyboards, I suppose this isn’t totally worthless. Every once in a while they’ll try very hard, but for every good riff, there are four shitty ones. They have good intentions, but not the skill to match. I was very much looking forward to hearing something that Varathron’s vocalist, Necroabyssious, helped mix, but overall I would have to say this is a let down.

It’s great to see all these ferociously heavy bands popping out of the Chicago area again. I don’t know if these guys consider themselves part of the “Ill-Noize” scene or not, but they’re certainly sick enough and heavy as fuck! The production really holds them back a little, but you can tell once this band gets into a studio that they’re going to wreak immoral havoc! I am reminded of Corpsevomit. And I’m not just saying that because they also worship the goat!

After receiving a perfect 10 last issue [Metal Curse #11] with their The Repentance demo, I was expecting a Hell of a lot from this new one. And it delivers. They couldn’t really improve upon their already flawless sound, so they have wisely not altered it, and the result is 40 minutes of truly awesome Thrashy Death Metal. The intensity of the music combines with their skill to create some of the most amazing compositions you’ve ever heard. I’d have to check to be sure, but this might be the first time any band has ever had two flawless demos in a row. Encumber deserve my highest praise and respect, and everyone reading this had better check out these guys.

For those of you who’ve never heard of them before, Eminenz have the distinction of being the band that opened for the legendary Mayhem (at the time, fronted by Dead) when they played in Leipzig. They also opened for Mayhem once again not long ago when, this time less Euronymous and Dead, they played the same place for a “return performance.” While this band’s first LP was fairly straightforward guitar based Black/Death Metal, this new release is more atmospheric and draws influence from more keyboard based bands such as Emperor. The guitars are prominent and thick, giving Eminenz a more Death Metal sound than 90% of the Black Metal bands out there. The keyboards are also integrated better than most others. When they are used, they sound like they belong there. They didn’t just throw them on. Imagine a band with the heaviness of Death Metal, the atmosphere of a band like Emperor, and enough talent to mesh the two together the right way.

This is an expertly played combination of Black Metal’s structures and speedy feel, with a beefier, more Death Metal guitar tone, and some Doomy and sorrowful passages as well. The merging of these styles and sounds makes for a very captivating and powerful album.

Without the lyrics bogging this down, it might be passable technical Death Metal. But since these guys have the cock of god jammed so far up their asses that it’s cumming out of their mouths, all they ever say is how fucked we’ll all be burning in Hell, and how they get to toss god’s salad for all eternity. Yeah, but all the sluts will be in Hell with us (and unlike you retards, we like to fuck chicks), we won’t have to listen to you idiots preach anymore, and I hear that Venom has a lock on being the house band there. And what will you get in “heaven”? Some resentful angels who think that god should still like them the best, winged babies playing harps, and god still fucking your assholes raw. You won’t even be able to play this kind of music up there, idiots! It must be the case that the really religious x-tian fucks hate bands like this, since they don’t sound “nice.” And all of us with functional brains, who can think for ourselves and know that “god” is a lie, hate this shit, too. So who exactly likes this stuff?

Hey someone has been listening to early My Dying Bride! This has the Death Metal growled vocals, the beautiful female vocals, and the violins. But it’s not as dense-sounding as MDB. The guitars are depressing wails of desolation, but they don’t bury you under an avalanche of depression and crushing weight the way that the masters did on Turn Loose the Swans. Rather Em Sinfonia wisely choose to not completely follow in those unfillable footprints, and give their Doom a unique feel.

Oh man I sure hope this intro is a joke. ‘Cause anyone with the balls to combine the “rain & church bells” intro to “Black Sabbath” with the “air raid siren” intro to “War Pigs” had better be kidding. If not, well… It’s still a joke. Intro aside, Eisregen do play a pretty cool, melodic, Black Metal kind of music. I love the Kreator-ish vocals sung in German. It just makes for some mean growls. Each of the 10 tracks have a separate identity (how often can most bands say that) and each are played with skill and intensity. And with this band, I actually have a reason for not understanding a single word.

Extreme, and somewhat innovative, Black Metal.

[Metal Curse #11 had an additional loose page (“Last Second Additions”) inserted into the centerfold of the zine, featuring a bunch of even-shorter-than-usual “bonus” reviews of stuff that arrived after the deadline for that issue. This is one of those “Last Second Additions” reviews.]

Interesting mix of Doom, Rock, Death, Black & traditional Metal.

[Metal Curse #11 had an additional loose page (“Last Second Additions”) inserted into the centerfold of the zine, featuring a bunch of even-shorter-than-usual “bonus” reviews of stuff that arrived after the deadline for that issue. This is one of those “Last Second Additions” reviews.]

I don’t have any idea how to accurately describe this over-distorted anti-Pop. It’s kind of interesting and disturbing to listen to, and there are drum loops and vocals, so it’s not just random noise. I guess I can see why someone would like this, since it is pretty extreme, in its way, and about as far from the mainstream as you could get, but it’s difficult for me to listen to it all the way through - sort of like looking at some ultra abstract painting that I just don’t “get,” except that paintings usually don’t make my head hurt.