COMPILATION REVIEWS
BLOODY (Spain)
Compilation II
Bloody, 2001
My first CD-R compilation. CD-R is
quite popular nowadays. But BLOODY is no cheap sampler. It comes with glossy
color cover with some band info (nice layout). 15 bands and all are from
Spain and I think these bands don’t have an album (just demo). It is a good
opportunity to discover new bands. AGORAZHEIM, symphonic black metal.
ALENDALUA, doom. *BERSERK, fast black metal. *CAULDRON, death/black like new
Behemoth. *ERED, black metal with key. FLOWING CRIMSON, black. HOLOCAUST,
brutal death, killer! MORTUORIO, death metal. MISTWEAVER, melodic, folk
metal. *NADIR, atmospheric doom. NEMESIS AETERNA, brutal death/black. SADOK,
old style black/thrash metal. SAVATAN, death/thrash. *SPELLCRAFT, black
metal. THE BLEEDING SUN, doom/death. They printed WITCHES SABBATH (means
band number 16) but this track is not in the compilation. I guess they
printed the booklet first before the actual CD is out. The last 2 tracks in
this compilation is not clear. I think the CD-R has some problems. So the
last 2 tracks skipping and that sucks. The bands above marked with * are the
ones that I like.
c/o Dani Fdez, C/ Brasil 37, 2° C, 36204 - Vigro, Pontevedra, Spain.
bloodydani@hotmail.com
c/o Kepa Etxabe, P.O.Box 1 20550 - Aretxabaleta, Gipuzkoa, Spain.
demonlord@mixmail.com
3/5
DEAD ZEPPELIN
A Metal Tribute To Led Zeppelin
Dwell Records, 2000
Another tribute album by Dwell Records. Well, from all their tribute
release, I only possess Celtic Frost and Iron Maiden and I must say this one
might be their best release ever. I did not meant that the original band or
the band covering the songs in those two previous compilation are bad
musically but they are metal. This one is different. LED ZEPPELIN plays rock
and 12 bands here twisted their song and become metal. If loyal LED ZEPPELIN
fans say this release as a blasphemy towards LED ZEPPELIN's music then this
CD succeed with flying colors. From doom, to fast black, fast hard rocking
thrash, heavy metal to death metal with growl or evil grunting black metal
voice. Well, to be honest, almost all the bands here are new to me, except
for SILENT STREAM OF GODLESS DESIRE and Singapore's DOXOMEDON. Every band
delivers their song perfectly to my taste. Others are ARISE, SOLUS, ANNO
DAEMONICUS, VLADIMIRS, POSTMORTEM, WASTELAND, MALAMOR, ASSISTING SORROW,
ORANGE MOON nad BLACK DEBBATH.
5/5
DEEP THROAT (India)
Metal Extracted From The Indian Underground
Throatlatch Records, 2001
A 11 Indian bands compilation and sold at the high price of USD 18! Why the
hell sell a CD at this kind of price if the whole purpose of this release is
to promote Indian underground metal which is not well-known in the metal
scene? Only die-hard Asian metal fans will fork out that amount of money. I
think this will make the scene more 'unknown'. Luckily I got this by trade.
The CDs come with a gatefold cover. Unfold it and you get an LP sized paper
and all info about the band printed on one side while the other side
features some uninteresting artwork. I don't like this kind of format. You
know what will happen if you unfold it many times. Not much info about the
bands available as well, only band pictures, line-up and some lines from the
lyric in low-tone, hard to read text. Too many disappointments but luckily
the bands are quite interesting. I have listened to some of the bands songs
and they have improved or become musically 'acceptable' to my ears. All
bands feature 1 song each. CRANIUM (heavy thrash with some Indian 'feel' in
their music), DEMONIC RESURRECTION (Melodic black ala C.O.F., far better
than before. They look terribly awful in corpse-paint. Spit!), KRYPTOS
(slow, depressive thrash/heavy metal), METAKIX (heavy/thrash with screeching
death vocals), KINKY SKI MUNKY (cheesy name, grunge/rock music), PSYCHOMOTOR
(heavy metal, vocal directly rip off Kurt Cobain), PIN DROP VIOLENCE
(intense music, ala Soulfly but not my type), FATE (melodic black/death),
ARCANE RITUAL (black/thrash) and BLASPHEMY (brutal thrashing death/grind).
Save some money and get this. This is the only few professional release that
you can get from India.
3/5
DIMENSI KEMATIAN
Compilation CD
Edelweiss Production, 2000
16 Indonesian brutal death bands in one CD. I don't know what to say if this
CD does not satisfy the fans of death metal and definitely this CD will sell
thousand copies there. There is not enough info in the CD. There is only 1
page paper. 1 side for CD cover and other side with band addresses and
picture of the bands are put on the CD back cover. So I don't know whether
the band presented their new song or just taken one song from their current
release. I think I don't need to describe every band. Although some bands
have their own style but they pretty much sounding the same. PLASMA WEED,
MANTRA, ETERNAL BLEEDING, KREMUSH, ABHORRED DESPISER, IMPRECATORY, KATARAK,
DESECRATION, VILE, SINUSITIS, BLOODY GORE, PERFECT MAGGOTS, BURNING GRAVE,
QISHASH, HELLJANATISH and TRAUMA. If you want to know more about Indonesian
brutal death metal scene, this is the first thing you should listen to. If
you heard 1 band play different than other bands in this comp, that mean
they are maybe 10 more bands outside that have their own pro release tape.
Oh I forgot. The CD is in black color, not the usual silver color.
3/5
ECUADOR SUBTERRANEO II
Compilation CD
Subterra Records, 1999
I am not sure where should I put this CD. Either you want to call it a
compilation or 4-band split release. 71 minutes, 13 tracks CD and this is
the first time listening to Ecuadorian metal band. The band featured here
play different style of metal with each present 4 songs. All are equally
great and I am having pleasure listening to them. MORTUUM plays melodic
death with screeching black metal vocal. MUTILATED CHRIST plays black metal.
Their 1st track is Bathory-inspired while the 2nd one is a bit symphonic and
the last track is in fast Norwegian vein. Another black metal, LEGION, dry,
raw and fast and a lot better than MUTILATED CHRIST musically. And GRIMORIUM
VERUM probably the best band here. The style is heavy/thrash metal with
blackish vocal and some female vocals. An extreme coincidence, their 2nd
song, the guitar melody sounds like Malay "Ulik Mayang", a Malay folk song.
Mortuum, Cotopaxi 579 y Galapagos, Quito, Ecuador.
Mutilated Christ, P.O.Box 18-01-1296, Ambato, Ecuador.
omarvasc@uio.satnet.net
Legion c/o Donny Macia, P.O.Box 13-01-463 Portoviejo, Ecuador.
donny_macia@rocketmail.com
Grimorium Verum c/o P.O.Box 17-03-784 Quito, Ecuador.
3/5
FROM COLOMBIA WITH HATE
Compilation CD
Sylphorium Records, 1999
17 bands with almost 70 minutes of metal. Every band performs 1 song each
and of course the bands are from Colombia. AGONY (thrash/death metal like
Machine Head with vocals like harsh version of James Hetfield); NEUROSIS INC
(American style of thrash); POSGUERRA (death-core); OCCISOR (brutal death);
ABLEPSIA (brutal death with very low growl); DEATHLESS (melodic death but as
great as Swedish Deathless); INOCULATION (melodic black/death); OBITOR (good
death metal but not the vocal) PLANTA CADAVER (brutal death); LEISHMANIASIS
(grind/death); GORE INSANITY (grind/gore/death but a bit original); ANIMA
(dark/black); NOSFERATU (atmospheric black); SEOL (dark/thrash); INFERNAL
(black); OCCULTUS (dark/black); and INQUISITION(black). From 17 bands, these
are the interesting one: INOCULATION, OBITOR, GORE INSANITY, DEATHLESS,
ANIMA, SEOL, OCCULTUS and INQUISITION and again INQUISITION. The CD 12-page
booklet includes the band bio, picture and logo.
3/5
Gerilya Magazine Sampler
(Indonesia)
Edelweiss Production, 2001
This is only a CD-R sampler which
is limitedly release and available for free for those who bought the first
50 copies of the Gerilya Magazine. But this sampler is cheaply available
from Agung (of KOMA). Featuring 15 bands with a track each. The bands..
death metal; Abhorred Despiser (with a cool intro/outro of people shouting 'reformasi'),
Gory Inhumane Despiser (with a bit of grind and with cool Indonesian
lyrics), Qishash (cool band! like slow version of Slayer with death growl
and a bit melodic), Katarak, Gethebong, Vile, Imprecatory (grind/death with
cool vocal effect), Decomposed, Troops Of Brutality. Black metal; Soulsick
(straight Norwegian black, reminds me of the local bands Nebiras if minus
the keyboard), Envelope (what a name! melodic with female vox and keys),
Almarhum (similar with Malaysian band with the same name but less thrashy.
Well executed black metal, not too dry like Soulsick), Besessen (another
good band, fast with a bit of melody), Bedebah (thrashy black) and an
atmospheric outro by Ababil. All the tracks are taken from the bands current
or future releases. Listen to variety of bands is good sometimes and the new
songs from certain bands do surprise me, especially those thrashy one. This
sampler only comes with a xerox cover and track info.
3.5/5
HEADBANGALORE (India)
Compilation CD
A compilation featuring 4 bands from Bangalore, India. I think the name of
this compilation taken from the word headbanging and Bangalore. So I expect
some kind of headbanging metal feast, something violent, fast
death/thrash/black metal but I guess I am expecting too much. Not that I am
disappointed but I am expecting something better than this. For sure the
sound can be improved. The bands can’t be categorized in one style. In one
song they play this style and then play something else. Or maybe they are
covering songs and put 1 their original song? KRYPTOS starts the CD with a
rock/heavy metal song with clear vocal and some screeching black metal vocal
with a nice solo but overall this track sucks. The other 2 tracks are much
better, heavy/thrash with that screeching vocal. PHALLUSY plays thrash,
death, heavy and sometimes melodic (Are they sharing the same vocalist with
Kryptos? I heard the same screeching vocals). MINDSNARE plays fast heavy and
thrash/black metal. THRENODY, thrash metal, covers Zep’s “Paint It Black”
and plays 2 of their own (long) songs. Every band contributes 3 songs except
for MINDSNARE, which only play 2. The ‘best’ tracks here are from THRENODY
(except for that cover song), KRYPTOS (minus the crappy “Forsaken”),
“Demented” (PHALLUSY) and “Unreality” (MINDSNARE). A good compilation for
you who haven’t discovered Bangalore metal scene but this will be better if
its include DYING EMBRACE. Where the hell are they?
2.5/5
HIDDEN THRONE
Sampler Issue #1, 2001
I don't review sampler CD that comes with zine or magazine. Usually I review
it together with the zine/mag. But this one is exceptional. I bought HIDDEN
THRONE #2 and Adnan sent me the sampler of his 1st issue and ask me to check
out some Bosnian bands in the sampler. That is exactly what I am doing here,
giving you some info about the Bosnian bands. In the sampler, there are 12
bands, 7 are non-Bosnian (Ethereal Spawn, Monolith, Defender KFS, Amethyst,
Cadaverous Condition, Krvestreb, Metal King). Bosnian bands; MEPHISTO, Adnan
plays guitar and this track is an old recording dated 1997. Great fast
black/death metal! PATH BEYOND SERENITY is also here. A new track, melodic
death metal and still with drum programming. TOXICDEATH, black/thrash metal,
death growling vocals, melodic solo and drum machine. Not bad musically but
the drum is. AGONIZE, melodic thrash, horrible black metal vocal and also
put some depressive moment. They killz! The last one, SILENT KINGDOM. Black
metal with oriental feelings. Raw music and .. not another drum machine.
Honestly, the Bosnian bands (with the track presented) are not bad (except
for the drum part). The other bands in this sampler is not bad either.
c/o Adnan Hatic, Vladimira Kazora 2 7/29, 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and
Herzegovina.
hiddenthronezine@yahoo.com
IN SEARCH OF WEIRD TRUTH
Compilation Tape
Weird Truth Productions, 2000
Another compilation by Weird Truth and I can say that they are a bit
creative because both of their compilation comes with extra-ordinary
cassette sleeve design. As said by Makoto (the label's boss), it is common
in noise scene but I rarely see something like it in our scene. As for this
compilation, it does not comes with the normal size cassette sleeve, but in
a separate glossy paper, which a bit large than the normal CD booklet. All
infos (bio & logo) cramped in all 4-page. 11 bands in this compilation and I
already familiar with BLOODY GORE (Indonesia, 2 tracks from their demo),
APOCALYPTIC RAIDS, SERENADE (Scotland) and BEAST PETRIFY (Singapore, 1 song
from their debut CD). Others are GNOME (Japan, black metal, combines old-Bathory-like
and with some keyboards and at certain time reminds of Dutch COUNTESS and
German DESASTER. The repetitive riffs are great!), MOURNING SHADOW (Japan,
Makoto also plays in this band, doom metal, 8 min song like old MY DYING
BRIDE), VERACIOUS GANGRENE (France. brutal death), 7TH MOON (Spain. A kind
of gothic metal with great music and great female vocal.), NYARLAHOTEP
(Japan, another Makoto project and really strange metal and I couldn't get
into) and WORSHIP (France. Doom metal, only for those that can stand for 11
min of slow depressive music and certainly not me).
3/5
LÄRMBELASTIGUNG
Krach Propaganda Compilation Vol. 7
22 tracks in this CD so there are a lot of songs to hear from different
styles of metal. I believe all the songs are taken from the band's current
release. MALEVOLENCE put their famous track (which you can hear in other
compilation as well) "The Brotherhood Of Christ"; MARTYR, Canadian thrash
with hardcore-ish vocal; VOICE, German melodic power metal with the voice
like Messiah Marcolin; ABUSE, brutal death/grind USA with really great harsh
hardcore vocals; TAETRE, Swedish thrash; READING ZERO slow/hard rock;
PESSIMIST, ABORTED, and SEPSISM brutal death; MEGACE, starts like the new
Amorphis. Mixing heavy hardcore/metal with both male female vox; GORGUTS;
ROTTEN SOUND; CAGE, hardcore metal; 2 trax from MORTICIAN; OBTRUNCATION;
DEATH AND TAXES, INTENSE, EKPYROSIS and THOUGHTSPHERE are progressive metal
but their style with each other are different; DECEMBER WOLVES, killer
black/thrash!; FLESHLESS, Czech grind, similar to Mortician but minus the
heavy sounding guitar. The booklet contains the band address, not much info
available and that is quite sad. Fine selection of bands but the booklet
does not comes with the same standard. After finish listening, the next
thing is to get stuffs from MALEVOLENCE, DECEMBER WOLVES, VOICE, DECEMBER
WOLVES, ABUSE, DECEMBER WOLVES, PESSIMIST, DECEMBER WOLVES, MEGACE, DECEMBER
WOLVES, INTENSE, DECEMBER WOLVES, EKPYROSIS and DECEMBER WOLVES.
Karim Daire, Jurgensstrasse 11, 21073 Hamburg, Germany.
3/5
LEGIONS OF THE DARK
Compilation CD
Sonic Wave, 2001
It is so irritating looking at the big, stupid and not attractive-looking
price sticker and to make it worse, they stick it on the front cover. It
ruined the artwork you fool! So I have to carefully peel it off. Last time
we have VSP doing like this now Sonic Wave Malaysia. Think as a fan, will
you? This compilation was supposed to be release as a free CD for DARK
LEGIONS Magazine issue #3 but Makhluq change the plan and I think it is wise
to do so. Firstly, there are lots of new, not yet release tracks. Secondly,
there are lots of Singaporean bands and they might not hear by many fans
especially from oversea since the magazine distribution only ranged in the
Singapore/Malaysia. 17 bands, each presents 1 track. The booklet comes
complete with band pic, logo, info and including the band's genre. Only the
background color is not really in my liking. I am not paid to say this but
all our Singaporean brothers and sisters are almost equally great! Some
present new, not yet release track, while few (or maybe just FENRIR?)
present a track from their latest release. BEAST PETRIFY has more 'oriental'
feeling in its speed thrash music. Makhluq is as vocal in BUNUH, SAKARATUL
MAUT and ABATTORY and he vary his voice in each band. BUNUH is heading for
more brutal death and so does Makhluq voice. ABATTORY is still with their
fast death/thrash but a bit faster now. SAKARATUL MAUT has musically
improved especially now with a human drummer and the vocal is too distorted,
chaotic black metal type of voice. I knew ENORTHED and WRATH OF GIBRYLE as I
link them from my website but they are release-less band back then. ENORTHED
blew me away with their great speed metal!!!! WRATH OF GIBRYLE plays melodic
thrash at certain part sound a bit like Venom. RESURRECT and EREBUS play
melodic death but RESURRECT is much better with vocal variations. VRYKOLAKAS
(review of their CD elsewhere in this issue) and SADISTORY are in the same
league, brutal death metal. Others are ELYSIUM (Germany; new Sonic Wave
band; death), ENFORCE (Australia; released a split CD with SW; quite
interesting death/thrash), MALICIOUS SECRETS (France; black), DARKNESS
ETERNAL (Canada; death/doom), CENTAUR (Australia; death/thrash) and INNER
WAR (USA; death). Other things beside the background color that I dislike
are the drawing of the devil tied-up to a stick and the letter 'T' looks
like a cross. Combining these two, I can say that LEGIONS... is a positive,
'white' metal project. Is that Sonic Wave marketing strategy? At least the
logo/pentagram looks great.
4/5
METAL COMMAND (Malaysia)
Volume 1
Compilation Tape, 2001
A d.i.y. compilation tape consists of 7 bands. Malaysian brutal death
DREADED and melodic death/black ARKHAYTUL contributes 1 song while the rest;
HYPOCRAS (France), GODLESS TRUTH (death, Czech), OVERLORD (thrash, Poland),
GODEN (black, Holland) and DESECRATED DREAMS (doom/death Slovakia)
contribute 2 songs. Every band put their best songs here since I like most
of the songs but this tape suffer serious sound problem. It somehow down
tuned the quality of the songs. I got 2 versions of the cover and I don’t
know how many version/color they made but I like the glossy (xerox) black &
white instead of red. I don’t know the price of this tape, perhaps at the
‘standard price’ RM 7? Compilation like this a good promotion for the bands
to be known in the local scene but I suggest this compilation to be sold at
a cheap price or improve the sound the next time. No purpose of making good
printed cover with this kind of sound because the songs are things should be
highlighted.
Shukri Shaari, 91, Kampung Alor Gunung, Mukim Pumpong, 05150 Alor Setar,
Kedah, Malaysia.
krypthor@yahoo.com
Azidin, 60, Tmn Kita Fasa 2, Jln Sultanah Sambungan, 05150 Alor Setar,
Kedah, Malaysia.
2.5/5
METAL GEMPUR 666
Compilation CD
Nebiula Production, 2000
A compilation CD to celebrate Nebiula 6 years, 6 month and 6 days in
underground metal scene. What's so special about this release, as it was
released to celebrate such glorious moment? I couldn't find any strong
reasons for that. I think to celebrate such special 'event', this CD somehow
must possess a bit of specialty. The price is still the standard CD price,
the same tank used in BAZZAH "Death Is All I See" booklet being used again
here and from 16 bands featured here, 9 of them have released something
under the label and their song is taken from their respective releases and
the other 7 are from oversea. What does a fan like me that have all SIL
KHANNAZ, VOCIFERATION ETERNITY, HELOISA, LANGSUYR, ARADIA, HAIL, AS SAHAR,
MESMERIZED and BAZZAH release get from this CD? Maybe for the long running
time of this CD, which almost runs 80 min so that's a bit value to my money?
I am lucky I didn't bought anything from ABHORRENCE, CARNAL GRIEF, IN
MEMORIUM, ETHEREAL SPAWN, XENOMORPH, AMBIVALENCE and NE PLUS ULTRA. So I
only get to hear 7 new songs. For me, this release supposed to feature a
track each from all their releases and include info, picture, etc. This is
the way to celebrate 6 years, 6 month and 6 days because the time like this
only comes once.
2.5/5
MODERN OZZ DEMON - PSYCHOTIC EASTERN BLITZ
99-666. Vol. 1
Compilation CD
Psychic Scream Entertainment, 1999
This is the longest title for a compilation. It can be said that this CD is
the sampler CD of PSYCHIC SCREAM ENT. and MODERN INVASION (Australia)
because it only feature bands under these labels. 14 bands present 1 song
each except for few bands with 2 tracks and overall, 17 tracks available.
And as PSE trademark, their compilation comes complete with band pic and
info. You already know about DESTROYER 666, LONG VOYAGE BACK, ANATOMY, VORAK,
BESTIAL WARLUST and ABYSSIC HATE from Australia. All are good band and the
song is taken from their recent or previous releases. The same goes to PSE's
PAGANIZER (except for a track from their demo), KOFFIN KANSER, and NO
PROMISES (read my previous review on them). Only RITUAL ORCHESTRA, TANDUS,
MISTIK and MaNDATORY comes with previously unreleased track. These bands
have progress a lot, especially TANDUS. Until now (in year 2001), there is
no new release from MISTIK and TANDUS except for this CD. And this is the
'soft' reason you should get this CD.
3/5
PANGGILAN PULAU PUAKA III VOLUME 2
Compilation CD
Psychic Scream Entertainment, 2000
This CD supposes to be reviewed together with volume 1 in our last issue but
time didn't allow us to do so. Still maintaining the same booklet layout but
I don't know exactly what is the aim of this compilation. Looking back to 2
previous chapter, it is more focusing on S.E.Asian bands and the 3rd one
have add few non-SEA bands (but in PSE's rooster) but now... Maybe just
another sampler? This volume features UNVEILED (Malaysia, brutal death, a
song from their recent split CD with TRAUMA. At that time, it was not yet
release.), EBWA (Philippines, melodic death, a song from their last demo),
DYING EMBRACE (India...? Metal does exist everywhere), PRIMITIVE SYMPHONY
(Sweden, death metal), DEAD SUN (Sweden, melodic death by members of
PAGANIZER), SIGH (Japan. A song from PSE recently distributed "Scorn
Defeat"), AVULSED (Spain, death metal with a song from "Stabwound..."),
SURRENDER OF DIVINITY (Thailand, black metal, a track from their raw reh/demo.
Killer!), TRAUMA (Indonesia, brutal death, from their spilt with UNVEILED),
MURDER CORPORATION (Sweden, brutal death, a song from split CD with
GRINDBUTO), BLUTTAUFE (German, black metal) and FENRIR (Singapore, melodic
black/death). Some spelling mistake, which I think a pro-comp like this
should not have. Good selection of previously released tracks and listening
for the first time to these bands, urge me to check them out a.s.a.p. (DYING
EMBRACE, DEAD SUN, BLUTTAUFE and AVULSED)
3/5
PANGGILAN PULAU PUAKA IV VOLUME 1
Compilation CD
Psychic Scream Entertainment, 2001
A new chapter of PSE most famous compilation and stated by them as local
best selling extreme metal compilation, which I think right to certain
point. With the name like PANGGILAN PULAU PUAKA is too catchy to be ignored.
This time they have change the layout of the booklet but still all necessary
info, logo and band pictures included. 11 bands and mostly are new bands
with yet unreleased tracks. SURRENDER OF DIVINITY comes with a new song
(maybe from their forthcoming debut CD) and still as great as before.
DESTINY, a French band and surprisingly PSE's new signing. Mixture of C.O.F
and brutal death metal but C.O.F. influence is too strong but still
interesting to check their new CD. ISTIDRAJ (Singapore) has develop into
fast black metal and much greater than their debut CD "Metafizika". MIND
SNARE (Italy) presents a brutal death song from their debut CD release by
PSE. 1 song from KOFFIN KANSER (read the review of "69"). INFERNAL POETRY,
interesting Italian death metal band. What a surprise to hear MANTAK new
song, probably taken from their soon release debut EP. Their black metal
kills this time. Remember the time listening to their debut demo, which
should get 1/5 in Steel Madness but now they are Sabah new hope in the metal
scene. Perhaps SATANATION is Malaysian first electro-noise band and I think
their EP release soon will be great release in the local scene. WAR 666,
another Malaysian black metal didn't change a bit since I last heard their
demo. Fast raw, Norwegian black metal. DEMIZER, another Sabahan band,
interesting melodic death metal. Maybe not as fast as those Gothenburg bands
but sound very promising. Lastly ZHALIM, Indonesian black metal band with a
new song. Fast black and I wonder how they sound in their last demo released
last year. This CD is a great purchase if you buy it quick. Some of the
songs are new and I don't think it will be a rare song. I strongly believe
it will be included in the band's next release.
4/5
RESURRECTION OF THE GODS
Underground Metal Attack From China
Mort Productions, 2001
Metal from China! I have been waiting a long time to hear some metal from
this land. This is a 12 bands compilation and I swear all bands here rules!
They play death, black or thrash. But they all have 1 thing in common; all
bands and songs are in Chinese. Chinese alphabet can create a killer
death/black logo! The label puts an English translation on the band's name
and their track so that helps a bit. It will be better if the band's name
and song is spelt with English pronunciation to preserve the 'exoticness',
if you know what I mean. There is some info about the band in the thick
booklet but they left out the band's address. It seems that most bands here
will release something under this label and they also have some demoCDs out.
Why don't they put the address!!?? The bands are: Gate Of Meditation,
Suffocated, Ritual Day, Beeline, Vomit, Bloodbath, Seraph, Purgatory,
Cankered Corpse, Crimson Flag, Endoputresnce, Hades (cool band, but the
booklet said they r.i.p.). This compilation is highly recommended!
4.5/5
STILL SUPREME Chapter
3
Compilation Tape
Firstly, I don't understand what Zamani said in his flyers, "The first
compilation with lyrics". Are they the first compilation tape included
lyrics in the cover sleeve? Wow, a new world record then. It is sad actually
because this is the last chapter of this compilation. This is a good sampler
of SEAsian new bands as they feature the song from the band release, which
mostly are demo. The sound of the songs varies from band to band but the
whole sound of this compilation is not good enough but the band worth the
attention. Only TRAUMA (Indonesian death) and CRUSADE (Indonesian vampiric
black) feature the song from their album. NETHEREALM (Singapore one-man
black metal) put a new (and unreleased I guess) song. The rest are Malaysian
DARK SENDON, ZUBIRUN, PYRON, INTERFERHON, NEFARIOUS AZARAK, DREADED,
NARRATOR, TANTRUM, MORTUARY ANCESTOR, PENANGGAL'S, SUNDEL BOLONG and
Indonesia MORBIFIK and KOMA. Some of the bad are pretty average for me and
you can find the review of them elsewhere or in the previous issues. This
tape is a fine example of how mostly Malaysian new band sounds like. Tape
are pro-done with glossy black and white cover.
Zamani Othman, 227 Jln Imam Isa, Ketari, 38700 Bentong, Pahang, Malaysia.
3/5
THE TRUE IDEAL REALIZED
THROUGH THE UNDERGROUND
Part 2
Bloodbath Records / Underground Warder / Weird Truth, 2000
A 18 tracked, 10 band compilation Japan. This is one of the good showcase
of Japanese death metal. It comes with an 8 page booklet with all info,
except for some mistake on BASILISK phone number. About the band, 3 tracks
from DECAPITATION (brutal death metal), MORTALIZED (brutal death/grind),
HYDROPHOBIA (death) all of them contribute 3 songs each. 2 songs from EVOL
(grind/rock, check out the review of their old demo in our previous issue. 1
song actually, the other one is only 40 sec intro) and CAVE IN DEPTH
(atmospheric melodic dark/doom). And 1 tracks from; STILL BIRTH
(death/doom), SACRED BLOOD (melodic death/black), BAKED BOMB, BASILISK, and
CRYPTIC REVELATION. There are some good bands and also not-so-good bands but
this is a good preview of the current Japanese death metal scene.
3.5/5
WEST COAST RAGE :
CHAOS AROUND THE BAY Volume 1
Powerslave.com, 2000
I don’t have any info about this compilation except it features bands from
the west coast of USA (California). I think you can guess that from the
title of this CD. Powerslave.com sponsored this album, which feature 16
tracks from 16 bands. Lots of bands but does not offer diversity since
almost all play hardcore metal. The bands are DOWN FACTOR, REFUSE, ODDMAN,
FELLATIA, PCP, 3D HOUSE OF BEEF, HOSTILITY, AGONISTIC RESEMBLANCE, 3RD RAIL,
BEARING, GIRTH, MUDSLINGER, BREACH, KAOS, ANTAGONY, MR. ROPER. I don’t think
I will listen again to this CD after. The highlights of this CD are ODDMAN (Soulfly
rip off), AGONISTIC RESEMBLANCE, MUDSLINGER (a bit ‘doomy’ and depressive),
KAOS (Slayer?).
http://www.powerslave.com
2.5/5