March 24, 2004
%: ft i ay '

Grave Digger

>> Rheingold
>> 2004 Century Media

Two words: Teutonic Metal.
Translation: Medieval themed German
death metal. Or at least that is the best
way that I can define this newest release
by Grave Digger, a band still around after
making their first release back in the mid
eighties. Rheingold is one of the most
original albums that I have listened to
thus far. These twenty year old grave
robbers have actually produced some-
thing creative and entertaining through
an artistic mix of new age death metal
and medieval storyline. Together these
two elements combined makeup a new

kind of metal that goes beyond anything
that I have heard before. Aside from that,
the tracks themselves are very well com-
posed, illustrating that this is a group
that has been around for a little while
and knows what it’s doing. Those of you
who are involved with that club here that
does medieval enactments and combat,
or just think you were born a few cen-
turies too late, might want to check.this
band out.

1X

~ Russell

Eyes of Fire

>> Ashes to Embers
>> 2004 Century Media

Eyes of Fire entered the American
metal industry back in the mid nineties
and have just released their newest full
length album “Ashes to Embers”. They
have spent some time touring with other
more well known groups like Strapping
Young Lad, Lacuna Coil, and as a num-
ber of other bands that I haven’t really
heard of. Their sound is quite unlike
what I am usually exposed to, especially
from an apparently “metal” band from
the States. They are almost comparable to
other bands like Opeth but not nearly as
good. If anything I would say that they

sound like an Americans’ attempt at
melodic progressive death metal.

This album wasn’t too bad for what it
was: a slower, lighter sounding approach
to modern American heavy metal. The

_ band tries to be heavy but it comes off as

being so mellow that I have a hard time
staying awake while listening to it. They
don’t sound overly energetic, and their
songs seem to be about bad relationships
more than anything else, but they aren’t
that bad either.

B

- Russell

Children Of Bodom

>> Hate Crew Deathroll
>> Century Media 2003

I have to say that I was a little bit dis-
appointed with this album, but only just:
a little. While this release contains all of
the hate fuelled carnage that one comes
to expect from Finland’s Children Of
Bodom it isn’t quite up to the standard
that their last release set. The 2001
Follow the Reaper album was by far one
of the best death metal albums that I
have ever had the pleasure to listen to.
Unfortunately, like a rusty scythe, Hate
Crew Deathroll just doesn’t deliver in
quite the same way.

Anyone who is a fan of Children
already or just likes'a' pood death metal

thrashing |here and. there could not go
wrong to check out this release. The
Children’s sound has matured some
what to be more bass intense these days
as most death metal groups are typical of
doing (hint, think Sentenced). This
results in a sound that better appeals to
the metal mainstream but kind of ruins it
for those of us who preferred the more
raw sound. All things considered this is a
great release for Finnish death metal fans
everywhere, and if that isn’t what you
like, then I don’t like you either.

B+

- Russell

HateSphere

>> Bloodred Hatred
>> 2002 Century Media

HateSphere is a relatively new group
to dig its way up from the dark bowels
of Denmark. Formally known as
Necrosis this Danish thrash metal band
carries a sound similar to that of In
Flames, Arch Enemy and Soilwork.
Their music is new, yet refined, raw yet
enjoyable, and fuelled with bloody red
hatred yet... well that’s about it actually.
Tracks like number five, Disbeliever, on
this album are what makes thrash metal
the rage inducer that I can’t live without.

Maybe I’m just depressed, frustrated
and insecure but I think that this is a
really great album. That's if what you're
into is angry European thrash metal.
Although, some of their songs do sound
a little too raw for my personal tastes
and tend to be a little too erratic instru-
mentally. There are a couple tracks that
make this band, and its progressive
sound worth looking into. .

Bt

- Russell