REVIEW OF THE ALBUM ELDERSLIED BY INCURSED

Incursed is an epic folk metal band formed in 2007 in Bilbao, Spain. The band released three full lengths, debuting in 2009 with Morituri and followed by a great title called Fimbulwinter in 2012; then two years later, last december 2014, Incursed released their last and best album up to date, Elderslied.

Incursed style comes from the melodic pagan and folk sounds in its essence, using orchestrated parts all over and developing really intense epic power metal compositions with instrumentally complicated structures,the vocal parts swaps from clean melodic style to growling sections; got influences from bands like ensiferum or Caladmor, guitars deliver the powerful melodies with technical sections brilliantly combined with sophisticated drums.

Song of the ancient takes us to this melodic folk metal journey, as an orchestrated instrumental intro that evolves metalized in Heart of yggdrasil, being a perfect highlight of the band's style, remarkable compositions on the verses and powerful chorus made with clean vocals, following the act with the acoustic notes of Raging wyverns, soon to be epically transformed in a highly intense slow-mid tempo anthem highly accelerated at some parts.

The wild hunt heralds one of the best riffs of the album, with a remarkable job on the vocals, going high pitched growing and clean style on the chorus, amazing also on the double pedal drums and followed by Beer bloodbath, forging another catchy melodic riff of those of headbanging and moshpiting, awesome job at the end with the in-crescendo rhythmical bomb leading to Tidal waves, good riffs and headbanging pace in growling vocals, followed by Jötnar, with ascending composition, adding nice violin background melodies in one of the best created songs of the band, theatrically brilliant.

After the instrumental interlude of A fateful glare, the action literally explodes with Lady Frost, another lesson of the band's sound in full power, fast paced headbanging bomb with breathtaking compositions on the verses and melodic chorus, the guitar performance is remarkable combined with the keyboard solo, followed by The undying flame, forging some classic folk melodies, in an intense slow mid tempo ballad of well performed growling vocals and clean styled chorus.

The classic opera tunes of Sauren Lurraldea are suddenly boosted with symphonic power metal soul, good rhythm changes and beautiful melodies, with good details on the background keyboard as the next track kicks in, One among a million, increscendo patterns with good harmony on the instrumentals, excellent details on the drum performance and really intense vocal sections, following the same good strategies used previously, finalising with an astonishing ending.

Promise of hope gives the final touch to the album in a instrumental melodic anthem, including orchestrated sections and choir backgrounds crafted at perfection, simply epic.

Incursed really worked hard to create an excellent album, Elderslied is sophisticated and perfect instrumentally, combining very well folk and pagan with power metal including symphonic, neoclassical drippings and also death metal shots, really well elaborated album that, without innovating, will be one of the best of the year on their genre.

8,5 / 10

Line up

Juan Sampedro Bass

Narot Santos Vocals, Guitars (rhythm)

Jon Koldo Tera Keyboards, Vocals (backing)

Asier Fernández Guitars (lead)

Asier Amo Drums

Links

Bandcamp

Facebook

MySpace

Official website

Twitter

YouTube Channel

Promotion by METAL MESSAGE





Post by Daniel Ortiz
Metalheads Union
Metalheads Union FB

REVIEW OF THE ALBUM VIOLENT PROCREATION BY ENTRENCH

Entrench is a thrash metal band formed in 2005 in Sweden, releasing numerous demos before signing with War Anthem Records, bringing to light their debut album Inevitable Decay in 2010, succeeding with positive reaction from the media. After a split with Insane, the band finally released their second work last December 2014 under the name of Violent Procreation, being promoted also by FullBlast.

Entrench style comprises the old school thrash metal pulses but with blackened powerful instrumentals and harsh and sharp violent vocal patterns, drums are remarkably exceptional, changing rhythms from ultra fast black and death double pedalled influences to mid to fast paced genuine thrash, combined with palm muted guitar riffs really well composed; basically following this strategy over all tracks in the album, starting with One with agony where the speed blackened thrash explodes from the beginning with forceful vocal sections and excellent chorus.

Those who exceed follows the same path creating an addictive riff of pure thrash and drippings of death metal, also good progression going in crescendo to a mid fast tempo thrash attack, exploding without a break with Adjust to summit, another thrash anthem with death metal melodies and added epic slow parts trespassing the doom territory and ascending amazingly to mid fast technical death thrash combo.

Chemical holocaust keep the technical pace on the riff and drums, alternating mid and fast pulses, this time on the death metal pattern, leading to an excellent chorus to scream fist in the air, nonstop headbanging moshpit continued by Devoid of life, fast death thrash all the way with remarkable palm muted guitar riffs and wrathful vocals that will blow your mind.

Calm the urge explodes literally with an exceptional performance on the drums, pure speed and mid tempo thrash metal rhythms lead the act with interesting vocal sections, as the process of Annihilation continues the thrash strategy changing rhythms amazingly well,with predominant mid tempo parts, with a good harmony between great theatrical vocals and instrumentals.

The guitars of senseless slaughter well give you an idea of the patterns of this track, one of the best speed thrash metal songs of the band, finding drippings of Exumer meeting Exodus on those riffs backed by thunderous drumbeats, excellent headbanging job continued by the last song, apathetic existence, another great ascending evolution from mid to high speed thrash, with bits of death metal here and there making this another highlight of the band style.

Entrench created a really enjoyable album, excellent compositions completed with changes of rhythms, not extremely technical but headbanging from the first riff, taking you to a nonstop moshpit of genuine thrash metal that will equally delight death metal maniacs.

8 / 10

Links

Youtube

Facebook

Bandcamp

Line Up

Victor Holmström (R.I.P.) (Drums)

Fredrik Pellbrink (Vocals, Guitars)

Joel E. Sundin (Bass)

Review by Daniel Ortiz from Metalheads Union and Metalheads Union FB

INTERVIEW WITH KAMIL "MADNESS" FROM THUNDERWAR

The epic death metal band Thunderwar released their first EP Birth of Thunder last year 2013, getting global recognition and generally very positive feedback from the media (click here to read the review), and now they are getting ready for their first studio album that could come to light anytime in 2015.

Meanwhile I had the chance to interview the vocalist and bass master Kamil "Madness":

- Hi! It’s a pleasure to interview you so Thank you for taking the 

time.

Hail to England!

- Thunderwar is a new band that released its first EP in 2013, tell me 

the beginnings, how did you choose the name and how the band was formed?

It's a long and boring story. I will try to shorten it.  I’ve known Vit, 

the drummer for a long time. We both played in thrash metal band when we 

were kids. When our squad broke up, we decided to create new, heavier 

and more devilish pack. We were looking for good guitarists, who love 

death metal.

We met them by chance. I knew Olszak and Witold by sight from concerts. 

I didn't know that I will play with them in Thunderwar. They came to the 

rehearsal and they were delighted.  They had the experience and they 

were hungry for metal, just like me and Vit. From the start we were on 

the same page. Now we are true friends.  At the beginning we were called 

Perun, in the name of the pagan, Slavic God - Perun The Thunderer. Then 

we recorded the first single called "Eagle of Glory" - our metal 

interpretation of Polish national emblem. We changed the name because we 

wanted to be more understandable to foreigners and also still to refer 

to the old name. So now we are Thunderwar. Word formation at the level 

of a high school student, but we think it sounds cool.

- How long did it take to create the birth of thunder? Are you happy 

with the result?

First and foremost, EP "The Birth of Thunder" is just a remain of the 

first album that was never released. We chose the best tracks from 

rejected by us album, and this is the way how The Birth of Thunder 

appeared. We are happy with the result. People like it, we also like it. 

If that record came out in that shape back then, surely we wouldn't be 

in such good moods today.  That material really sucked. Not because 

compositions were weak. Sound and mixes were totally fucked. We had to 

rescue our stuff but only three tracks survived.  I think that the whole 

process of creating our debut took more than one year.

- How did the international media respond after the release of your 

first EP?

We owe the big response to our managers. They shipped the material 

wherever they could. The result is the increasing number of fans from 

all around the world, especially from USA, UK and Brazil.  It's fucking 

awesome when someone from the other end of the globe can hear and  

appreciate our blasphemous work.

- Could you describe the metal scene in Poland?

Poland is a powerful metal bastion. Every metal maniac should know bands 

like Vader, Behemoth or Decapitated. We are very proud of these bands. 

But our metal scene isn't only those three hordes. There is a fucking 

great underground scene in Poland. Most of these bands are just amazing. 

We played national tour with mighty Pandemonium, Hellspawn and Deep 

Desolation.  Unforgettable memories and well spent time.  Also we played 

with Azarath, powerful formation from Tczew. They went on tour with 

Morbid Angel in Poland. I can’t forget to mention our friends from 

Bestiality and Morthus, young bands with great potential and talent. I 

especially recommend you polish black metal bands like Furia, Mgła, 

Plaga, Morowe or Infernal War.

- The epic death metal style of Thunderwar is really well composed and 

performed, what are your influences?

Thanks! It is hard to say. We listen to a lot of music. Blues, hard 

rock, heavy, thrash, death and black metal. It is our religion. But I 

think our greatest idols like Bathory, Dissection or Morbid Angel have 

the greatest impact on us. Of course, we always try to create our own 

climate. I think we succeeded, but people usually associate us with a 

mix of American and Swedish metal scene. Maybe they're god damn right.

- Are you preparing a full length? If so, how is the process going? 

Could you anticipate some details?

Actually we are recording a new album. Drums and guitars are done. Next 

step - bass and vocals.

Want some details? Hmm... Full album is going to be darker and more epic 

than "The Birth of Thunder". You won't be disappointed.

- Have you signed with any record label?

No, we haven't yet.

- Are there plans to tour Europe in the future?

There aren't any special plans for now. But when we are finally done 

with our LP, certainly we will think about conquering Europe.

- Which countries would you like to play?

We have never played abroad, so we’re going to be excited no matter 

which country it would be.

- You have shared stage with big names like Amon Amarth, which other 

bands have shared stage with Thunderwar?

We have also shared stage with such stars as Carcass, Obituary and 

Azarath. We hope the list will be much longer in the future!

- One of the bands you play with are Morthus, I see they share similar 

tastes, and also are a new band with one EP, do you know them? How is 

the relation with Morthus?

Yeah, we know these bastards.  We are often sharing the stage together. 

I really like them!

- Which bands would you like to share stage in the future?

Hmm… tough question. I would love to play with pioneers of death and 

black metal, who motivate us to fight. I don't know, maybe Morbid Angel, 

Watain, Behemoth or Entombed?

- Tell me how do you remember your best moment on stage.

It was when we played before Carcass in Warsaw. The place was full, it 

was our first performance with such a large audience. When we played our 

death metal epos – Vimana: The Chariots in Heaven, I showed them horns 

from the stage.  Almost the entire audience responded with the same 

gesture. It was very meaningful and memorable moment for me. I was 

exhausted but it filled me with extraordinary energy and gave me 

strength for the rest of the show.

- Could you leave a message for your fans?

What can I say? Wait for new album, and be ready for freezing cold, and 

demonic blizzard, because The Thunderer doesn't show mercy!  Stay heavy.

- Thank you so much for your time and also thanks to your manager Slawomir for making 

it possible, hope to see you soon in London!

Thank you very much! We will visit London for sure, it's just a matter 

of time!

https://www.facebook.com/thunderwarofficial

LINKS:

• Facebook 
• YouTube 
• Merchandise 1             
• Merchandise 2

CONTACT   thunderwarbandofficial@gmail.com

Post by Daniel Ortiz from Metalheads Union and Metalheads Union FB

REVIEW OF THE ALBUM LOBOTOMIZED BY BIOTOXIC WARFARE (19/01/2015)

Biotoxic Warfare is a thrash / death metal band from Heraklion (Greece), formed in 2012, and releasing their first EP Baptized in blood and greed in 2013 receiving positive feedback from the media. The band went to the studio in september 2014 to record their debut album, Lobotomized, due to be released the next 19th January 2015 and signed with Slaney Records,

Biotoxic warfare sound comes from the aggressive speed thrash metal taking influences from Exodus, Kreator to Slayer, including some thrashy Venom era style, guitar melodies are feed by pure death metal structures (memories from Death or Obituary) combined with oldschool thrash riffs, followed by a technically perfect drum style, mixing thrash and death rhythms continuously in the album; vocalist give it all in every track, showing an aggressive and powerful attitude with raw harsh mid-high pitched vocals, making the whole combination a pure bomb of headbanging metal.

The album starts with a death metal feeling instrumental track, Mors indecepta, as the evil notes lead to a combo of thrash action where the drums make a remarkable job in perfect harmony with the guitar performance, being a good warm up for Proclaim the gospel of lies, this time death metal guitars riffs explode together with thrash metal drumbeats, awesome fast paced track totally neckbreaking, continued by Baptized in blood and greed, one of the best of the band, as a super fast galloping and furious thrash metal attack, with short and straight vocal shots and changes of pace with astonishing palm muted riffs.

The same headbanging fuel continues with Dysphoric Reality, genuine oldschool thrash that amazingly is transformed in pure death metal at some parts, fast to mid tempo in a good anthem that encapsulates the band spirit.

The acoustic atmosphere surrounds you as the explosion of authentic furious thrash burns your soul with the tittle track, Lobotomized, remarkable guitar play and amazing mid fast drumbeats with added double pedal in an excellent composed structure and followed by another highlight for the band, Lust for hate, included previously in their first EP, the patterns taken here includes death metal drippings under a fast killer thrash fire, but creating a great bridge that leads to one of those chorus to scream and bang the head.

Parasitic life and As we Rot(promises of heaven) follow the same force and even raise up the aggression levels with a more notorious drumbeats in two of the fastest songs of the band that will your necks, special mention to As we Rot, introducing death and growling vocals in a vertiginous fast missile combining successfully all the elements the band have experimented along the album creating an inevitable mosh pit.

Biotoxic Warfare made their point of entry to the main thrash metal scene with Lobotomized, succeeding in terms of crystal clear production with the first album and forging surprisingly good album, if you want thrash metal, with death metal drippings, straight and strong, Lobotomized is what you are looking for.

8,5 / 10

Line up

Mike Kavalos – Vocals 

George “Dimator” Dimitrakakis – Lead Guitars 

Stelios Sfendilakis – Rhythm Guitars 

Panagiotis Polioudakis – Bass 

Orestis Drapaniotis – Drums 

Links

Email 

Facebook 

Reverbnation  

 Soundcloud 

Release by Slaney Records

Post by Daniel Ortiz from Metalheads Union and Metalheads Union FB

REVIEW OF THE EP THE LOST ONES BY BLOODRED

Bloodred is a blackened death metal band with epic influences, formed in 2009 in Stuttgart by Ron Merz, being a solo band with him composing and playing all the instruments, recording the first EP released in June 2014 digitally with physical copies in August, Joris Nihenkuis recorded all the drums, leaving the band as a studio project at the moment.

Bloodred drink from the roots of the blackened death metal as they well demonstrate on the first track Spirits of the death, the drums heralds a sophisticated performance changing death and black metal style with the guitars, even showing parts of folk melodies; the essential epic structure is present and goes in crescendo to become the key point of this song.

The harsh and growling techniques on the vocals are correctly managed and boost the final sound to a forceful and headbanging feeling, special mention to the vocal performance on their second and final track of their EP, The lost ones, playing with death and thrash metal elements backed by a remarkably headbanging galloping pulse, evolving in intensity and finalising with folk based notes within an epic and powerful structure.

Bloodred managed a crystal clear production on their first creation, well feed by sophisticated compositions, a gem of the genre with just the first EP!

8,5 / 10

LINKS
Website 

Facebook

Twitter

SoundCloud

Released by Metal Message




Post by Daniel Ortiz
Metalheads Union
Metalheads Union FB

REVIEW ALBUM AGE OF PANDORA BY NOTHGARD

Nothgard is an epic melodic death metal band from Germany formed in 2009, they released their first full length in 2011 called Warhorns of Midgard receiving positive feedback from the media.Their sound is a combination of pagan epic death metal with drippings of power, black and thrash metal clearly defined by bands like Equilibrium or Ensiferum (note that the vocalist/lead guitar Dom R. Crey joined Equilibrium recently). Age of Pandora will be released on the 12th of September 2014 with Trollzorn label and distributed by Soulfood and AFMRecords (worldwide).

Age of Pandora develop a technical epic death metal combined with power and thrash elements, starting with "Of light and shadow" taking you into an epic instrumental act amazingly effective that links to the tittle track Age of Pandora, one of the best anthems of the record, mixing the aggressive death headbanging metal bomb with changes of pace with the orchestrated chorus. Add to this combo a good dose of progressive neoclassical mayhem on the guitars to enjoy this shot as a masterpiece.

Blackened seed continues the strategy wth a mid tempo epic track combined with pagan melodies and a strong straight chorus made for the crowd to shout in their gigs, followed by Black witch venture as an orchestrated epic death metal mid and fast tempo, awesome job by the guitars forging a theatrical track with drippings of modern melodic chorus.

In blood remained the machine gun start genuine oldschool death metal will make you bang your heads, the evolution take this track to include epic power metal moments in the chorus backed by a victory taste guitar riffs; continued by Anima waking up the same epic power death feelings but this time being the turn of the epic thrash metal missile into your brains, outstanding job on the drums here and also remarkable theatrical act by the vocals.

Obey the king is another excellent creation of death metal, theatrical growling vocals and astonishing composition  structure following classical music as a base for the consolidation of the band as a whole, in harmony every time.

Wings of dawn follows a mid pulsed death bomb wih an astonishing catchy power battle chorus as Moshback children attack you with one of the strongest rhythms and most angry acts, moshpiting riveting track, excellent job combining thrash and death.

No one holds the crown is one of the hits of the album comprising an increscendo structure with death epic roots supported by orchestral and progressive elements, encapsulating the sound of the band's style, headbanging till the end, great shade from the metal attack to the epic orchestra that ends the album.

Nothgard second attack is coming to take you to an epic battle, the composition has been taken care in every detail, from the orchestra to the different shots of death, thrash and power metal, resulting in a real masterpiece, reaching the level of top epic death metal bands.

Age of Pandora will take them to the next level, the production is crystal clear, excellent job, so if you like death metal or epic power, if you enjoy banging your head at thrash metal anthems, you will really like Age of Pandora!

8,5 / 10


Links

Website
Facebook
Twitter

Youtube
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Line Up
Dom R Crey as vocals and lead guitar
Vik S. on the bass
Daniel K with lead and rhythm axe
D Ziegler on the drums
Skhaal on rhythm guitars

Release Date 12-09-2014

Promotion by METALMESSAGE
Review by Daniel Ortiz from Metalheads Union and Metalheads Union FB

REVIEW CD "A NEW DAWN IN THE AGE OF WAR" BY DIVINE CHAOS

Divine Chaos is a Thrash metal with Death metal influences band formed in 2005 in UK. They have previouslyreleased an EP in 2007 "Every empire shall fall". After years in development the band have released their first full length album "A new dawn in the Age of War" via Evil EyE Records. The band is comprise of Ben Friston on vocals, axemasters Chris O'Toole and Matt Gilmour, Dave Bennet on the bass and James Stewart (Vader) on the drums. Divine Chaos' are influenced by bands like Sepultura or Carcass, who were mainly responsible for developing the early 90s thrash metal and death metal combo.

The album starts with one of the albums hits as a pure thrash metal track, strong and angry headbanging masterpiece, Last Confession delivers a great technical surge from the guitars and outstanding pulse by James on the drums making it a moshpiting intense piece continued by Death toll rising forged with symphonic elements and twisting the best of epic death metal and thrash in a mid/fast changing tempo, and at times, theatrical track where the listener is drawn to appreciate the quality in every band member in detail, truly amazing.

The myth of human progress heralds another mid tempo early 90s thrash metal attack, comprising heavy and forceful verses and dark well done thought-out chorus'. There is a short lull in the attack before they take you back to the deadly moshpit with one of the best of the album, Shadow of God, old school thrash metal headbanging as hell with one of the best catchy chorus' which will be perfect to scream along to at the bands gigs, dripping with breathtaking rhythms as Ignorance Everlasting starts slowly building increasingly into a crescendo of darker sounds reaching a mid-tempo riff that is extremely well created.

Rivers of blood is another of the fast tempo tracks from the album which is dripping with old school thrash fused with death metal influenced riffs, an awesome vocal interpretation with both a high and low pitched harsh style; great tribal ending guys, very effective!

Fields of the Fallen attacks you with the strong sharp axes and a speed heavy thrash machine gun on the drums, with exceptional chorus' where you definitely will break your neck banging your head; this track is full of rhythemic breakdowns all amazingly well linked within the structure of the track.

Sinai Sands is an epic instrumental interlude that take you to the last track, Perpetual War Policy, shooting to kill from the beginning where we find pure thrash metal structure with death elements and dark symphonies; this missile probably encapsulates the style of the band best.

Divine Chaos' first full length album demonstrates a body of work that aims to make you bang your head from start to finish,  James Stewart's drumming is truely remarkable, He is also Vaders drummer and lends the album an unstoppable death/thrash metal combination; the guitar work is exceptional, outstanding and technically superior. The Vocals are in harmony in every song, inspiring hate.

'A New Dawn In The Age Of War' is an excellent album with superb production, riveting from start to finish, a real Thrash Metal Masterpiece in 2014!

9 / 10

Links
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Record Label
Evil Eye Records

Review by Daniel Ortiz from Metalheads union and Metalheads union FB

REVIEW EP THE ABYSS BY MORTHUS

Morthus is a death/black metal band from Poland formed in November 2012 by four death metal maniacs following their influences of bands like Morbid Angel, Unleashed or Dissection, mixing all that to forge a very sophisticated epic death metal with black metal elements.
The Abyss is their first EP, released last 7th June 2014 and has been recorded and mixed on Mandragora Studios.

The EP starts with Torment representing the Abyss as an atmospheric introduction with screams of agony and chaos that leads to the death metal riffs of hell, mixed with banging thrash metal pulse that continues with Beast from the Abyss, where the guitar riff and the death metal drums explodes in an epic structure, taking the listener to a headbanging track, the riffs are something exceptional and I really have to remark the jobs on the drums, so sophisticated where you can appreciate various different elements and rhythm changes all over. The growling vocals makes the perfect job in harmony with the rest of the band, outstanding straight and powerful chorus also to make this the sign of the band as pure epic death metal masterpiece.

But if you weren't surprised yet, next track called In the White Wolf's Kingdom is going to make you break your necks as they develop a mid-tempo black metal rhythm mixed with the death apocalypse, the vocals here are amazingly well played along with the instrumental. The composition in this track is excellent, creating an old school black/heavy metal contrasts with their death metal elements.

Overall, Morthus forged an outstanding, astonishing first EP, the crystal clear production is something remarkable and enjoyable that will take them to the next level. This is a very professional job and I can't wait to see what these guys can do in the future because If they continue working hard like now, they will go very far to be one of top bands of the death metal scene.

8,5 / 10


Links
Facebook
Youtube

Review by Daniel Ortiz from Metalheads Union and Metalheads Union FB