OCTOBER TIDE - A THIN SHELL

OCTOBER TIDE
A THIN SHELL
Candlelight

Back in the days of yore, when Katatonia briefly fell into slumber, October Tide arose and three waves fell to the shore. These three waves were supposed to be all that would be heard from the band but things change and, with the departure of Fred Norrman from Katatonia, October Tide is back.

Anyways, what we have here is classic October Tide which in turn is classic Katatonia. This is a popped up version of the second era of Katatonia. Forget the good old melancholic days of "Dance of December Souls" and lean more towards "Brave Murder Day."

All in all not a bad album and a good choice for anyone that thinks good things shouldn't come to an end.

MALHKEBRE - PROSTRATION

MALHKEBRE
PROSTRATION
AHDISTUKSEN AIHIO

Black arts lead to everlasting sins. It's a proven fact. Back in the days of Varathron & Necromantia I doubt few people would have believed Black Metal to become as perverse as Malhkebre have made it.

On "Prostration" Malhkebre present us with four songs of devil worshiping Black Metal that were originally released on vinyl by Battlesk'rs back in 2006.
These songs don't sound old or outdated. They have as much impact today as they did when they first saw the light of day.

Malhkebre create Black Metal that is dangerous. It stings and goes all over the place, both musically and emotionally. This is music for the people that enjoy the French’s perverse take on Black Metal. This is music for the people that wish they’d had the chance to taste a bit of Dead’s brain.

BLACK ANVIL - TRIUMVIRATE

BLACK ANVIL
TRIUMVIRATE
Relapse

I never heard Kill Your Idols but apparently they were legendary. Why am I mentioning that band? Because the members of Black Anvil all used to play in it, that's why. Kill Your Idols was NYHC and perhaps, if you're like me, images of Agnostic Front, Warzone, Freddy Madball and Merauder pop into your head when somebody mentions that.

Black Anvil are not NYHC, though. No, if I had to peg Black Anvil anywhere I would say they were melodic Heavy Black n' Roll. They offer us a medley of some of the best moments of melodic Black Metal 'til now laced with a bit of groove and bite. If you look hard I'm sure you can find a bit of core there too.

Triumvirate is one of those albums that is good to use if you want to get people to listen to more extreme music than they are listening to at that moment. It's a safe record that will warm every newcomer's heart.

SAHG - III

SAHG
III
Indie Recordings

With albums like "III" no description, however grand, will do them justice. With "III" Sahg have created the ultimate Heavy Metal / Rock N' Roll album of 2010. I'd nominate Olav Iversen as this year's best vocalist, as well.

Sahg have matured since "II", getting even more rock n' roll than last time and creating music that people can and most likely will move to. Without hurting one another.

If you can't start at the beginning start with "Downward Spiral." It's my personal favorite and that organ solo is awesome!

ALGAION - EXTHROS

ALGAION
EXTHROS
Pulverised

Yeah, it's the same Algaion that back in '95 released "Oimai Algeiou" through Full Moon Productions. The Swedes also released an ep and another album through Wounded Love before fading into obscurity around the turn of the century.

They have risen now and with their third album through a third label, Pulverised, which has been picking up a band or two that did good back in the days most don't remember, for one reason or another.

It seems Algaion have forgotten very little in the nine years since their last ep was released. Rather classic & melodic Swedish deathblack is the thing here, although there's a hint of Greece here as well, especially with the Rotting Christ / Thou Art Lord covers this album includes. I will not go so far as to say that the greek influence is ruling here, it shows without a doubt where Algaion come from. Algaion are Swedish and this album shows it clearly. If you can't get enough check it out!

CAUCHEMAR - LA VIERGE NOIRE

CAUCHEMAR
LA VIERGE NOIRE
Nuclear War Now!

There's been a real resurgence of everything Heavy Metal during the last couple of years. Band after band dropping the screeching thunderscreams of Black Metal for more subtle sonic blasts to the old godz of Metal. Gone are the days of The Valknött, enter the realm of fuzz.

Cauchemar probably don't belong to that group but it wouldn't matter if they did, it would change "La Vierge Noire" in any way.

Five songs that pass us by too quickly. "La Vierge Noire" only lasts for five songs. Five songs of nostalgic Heavy Metal doom that go by too fast and leave you wanting more!

What sets Cauchemar apart from most of the other NWoRHM is the fact that they don't sing in English. Cauchemar deliver the hymns in French and as well as giving the young ones a chance to hear how the bands back in the day did it, they also show them that not only the English can do this.

SATANIC WARMASTER - NACHZEHRER

SATANIC WARMASTER
NACHZEHRER
Werewolf Records

Five years after "Carelian Satanist Madness" the Satanic Warmaster returns!
For some of you the Warmaster was never gone, but those of us that only keep track of the albums have had to wait for a long time.

After the intro it's straight down memory lane. Well, perhaps not for those of you that didn't rape the shit out of "Tyrannendunkel" when it was released. Now, don't get me wrong, this isn't "True Blackness" all over again. What I'm talking about is the style + feeling I get when the keyboards hit hard in "Satan's Werewolf", that primordial, germanic feeling.

The sound & style of Satanic Warmaster has always been compared to LLN bands and it's still there. More than once while listening to this album I've had to resist the urge to go look through my old FMP catalogues searching for old Vlad Tepes ads.

Satanic Warmaster is more than a mere copy of what has already been done. Paying homage to what you like isn't bad as long as you put something of your own into the mix. Does the Satanic Tyrant Werwolf manage that and once again slap the faces of his detractors? Yeah, I'd say he does.

If you still have reservations about Satanic Warmaster or just don't want to check this album out for whatever reason, so be it. However, if you are new to the game I'd say "Satan's Werewolf" and "Utug-Hul" are good haunts to hang out in.