TELMA Telma Band Email Official Website

What does hardcore stand for? What is it all about if not for its aggressive, enraged nature that's filled with ferocity and extremity? That's this music's driving force and that's exactly what the Greeks TELMA are here offering us with their tight 6-track demo work! Their compositions contain the epitome of this music which means they are packed with aggressive riffs, sharp and heavy guitars, a heavy rhythm section and they are topped with a pissed off vocalist who conveys the intensity of the songs in a really good way! Another thing I liked and found interesting is that TELMA's lyrics are entirely in Greek and the singer does such a nice job that you can understand all the lyrics, without ever losing the extremity and force of his interepretations. The production is very good as well, something that shows the band's passion and committment to what they do!

HELLFIGHTER Damnation's Wings - Demo 2007 Band Email Official Website

United Kingdom in the 90’s and early 2000 was a non fertile ground for classic heavy metal. Some very bizarre and trendy seeds were planted there and most of them where complete nonsense... Just products for the musical industry to get richer. However, lately the underground movement of this country gave us some very good samples of good heavy metal. HELLFIGHTER with “Damnation’s Wings” belong to this category. Actually, in my opinion this demo is one of the best I have listened to lately. I like the way this band mixes the modern elements with the 80’s sound. HELLFIGHTER, as their name indicates, plays a powerful and aggressive metal that carries on the legacy of bands like FIGHT, JUDAS PRIEST(“Jugulator” era), PANTERA and SLAYER (just listen how the track “Revolution Within” starts). A big plus to the good music is the amazing vocalist the band has, Simon Gordon, who can easily sing from classic metal to power and thrash. By the way, the color of his voice reminded me of Florian Reimann the singer of the German heavy metal band DESTILLERY. I think that I have to mention here that the band members of HELLFIGHTER are not new to this sound since previously they played in bands like XENTRIX and KILL II THIS. If you like your metal raw, then HELLFIGHTER will give you a 100% satisfaction. For more info and in order to listen to their songs you can visit their MySpace page.

APEIRON Endternity Band Email Official Website

There are a few bands out there that use this moniker, but here we are dealing with the Italians who exist since 1996. Although they've been out and about for a really long time, up to now they released this demo CD back in 2002 and a few months ago they independently released their latest EP work. It might seem weird to you why we present this demo 6-7 years after it was originally released, but the truth is that we just got it in our hands since the band reactivated only recently. The genre these five Italians have chosen to serve is death metal with lots of melodic elements as well as some classic touches that are intertwined with some technical parts. The rhythm section of this work is really solid and the tempos vary from extremely fast, filled with blastbeats, to doom metal passages, with the latter being scarcely present in some songs to enrich the compositions and underline the melodies. The vocals are very good as well, though they are a bit more aggressive and more brutal than in most melodic death metal releases, something that offers more edge to the end result. All in all, this is a good and decent work that can be appreciated by the death metallers worldwide.

FOOL IN THE BOX Fool in the Box Band Email Official Website

FOOL IN THE BOX is a new band hailing us from Athens, Greece. After experimenting with many styles they have finally decided to put out a seven track promo so that the world would know the band. Their music style is alternative rock with a more heavy sound, something that you will find out both from the vocals and the general playing with the heavy riffs and hard pounding drums. All seven tracks are heard pleasantly and if you like bands such as PEARL JAM, ALICE IN CHAINS, TOLL and NIRVANA the this promo is definitely worth your listening. For me a good pass of time is what I experienced. 

WISHDOOM Up the Hammers - Demo 2008 Band Email Official Website

I am in the happy position of presenting you a band that comes from my city, Thessaloniki and really sounds very promising playing a kind of music that is very rare in our places. This is the first work of WISHDOOM, who seem to have quite a good knowledge of the music they play. To be more specific, the band plays a mid – tempo and in some parts doom metal music with lots of epic elements. Their sound seems to draw a lot of influence from the Italian epic masters DOOMSWORD. The sound of the demo is quite good and the band's performance is on high standards for the kind of music they play. One other thing that deserves to be mentioned is the amazing voice of their singer Christos Paschalidis who has a good pronunciation of the English language and a passionate voice that fits the epic metal sound like butter on bread. Another good thing is that the demo has been well worked and seems more like an official release. A hint that proves the love of the band for what they do... The songs that I liked the most on the album are: “Up the Hammers” and “Zeus (The Thunderer)”. Finally the band closes this release with a medley of BATHORY songs. The foundations are set on a good and solid ground for WISHDOOM, so I believe the friends of epic doom have to check them out (note: you can have a taste of their sound by visiting our MP3 section).

MOSHPILL Moshpill Band Email Official Website

Yeah! These guys have something going here! They are newly formed and only count a few months as a band, but they've already written and released their debut self titled demo work that showcases a powerful quartet delivering catchy and groovy music! These 4 compositions contained here have powerful rhythms and thrash-like vocals and generally give off a party and live energy vibe... which means I agree with the label these guys have chosen for their sound... this is definitely mosh rock, though to be more precise I'd rather use the term mosh metal, because their sound is quite aggressive and sharp! I'm really happy and pleased to find out we have such promising bands here in Greece who play something different and try out various sounds and elements in their music. There are only two things I've noticed that I'd like the band to improve in their next work and I'm talking about the production that sounds rather muddy and thick and I'd also like the singer to improve his English pronunciation and accent at some parts of his interpretation. Keep this band in mind and try to check them out!

DRAGONSCALE Demo 2006 Band email Official Website

When the band sent me all of their releases they had told me that they think only their new EP titled "Thor" deserves our attention, since they consider it their most professional and complete work up to now (You will soon read the review for that release as well). So, when I put this CD in my CD player I had in mind that I would listen to a very amateurish work. Things though turned out to be different and left me with good impressions, especially if we take into consideration the young of the age of these guys. Their sound now draws many influences from the German 80s power/speed metal with some influences from the U.S. heavy and thrash metal scene. To be more specific I noticed influences from bands like HELLOWEEN ("Walls Of Jericho" period), BLIND GUARDIAN, RUNNING WILD and OMEN. Their ideas here might not be very original, but they play with such a passion that they left me with a feeling of content. In general this demo shows a very promising and talented band that the 80s metal fans have to check it out. The only weak point in my opinion is their last song titled "Apocalipsa".

VERDICT DENIED Promo 2005 Official Website

Well, 3 years have passsed since this promo was released, but I have to say that it still sounds fresh and it was a pleasure for me listening to it. VERDICT DENIED are no others than the band VERDICT that I have presented a while back. By listening this new work of theirs I have to admit that they are a great force in the Greek metal scene and it is a pity that they haven't yet attracted the interest of a serious metal label. Not much to say about their sound... They play thrash metal in the way that bay area bands do. So it's not necessary to mention that they are sounding close to bands like ANTHRAX, ICED EARTH and many more that play the same way. However VERDICT DENIED seem to have some good ideas that give a new and fresh air to the thrash metal sound. For example in the song "Battle Within" they have used operatic female vocals. An elements that makes their sound more interesting and it is something that we don't listen to very often. The promo consists of 3 compositions of top quality thrash metal music that you can download for free at the band's website.

ETHEREAL OMEN Relics of the Ash - Demo 2008 Official Website

5-piece melodic death metal here from New Jersey and let me tell you these guys kick some serious ass! One caveat though, the demo quality mixing wasn't the greatest but still all 8 tracks are good. I just wish that the guitars by John Paul Lombari (lead guitar) and Mike Gill (rhythm guitar) could've been louder. The band doesn't have an official web site yet or album cover but they do have a MySpace page that you can view here. The instrumentals are way cool also. Acoustics on "Lamentation Of The Sky" and keys by James Bilotta on "Ifalnas Lullaby" definitely are killer. I think this band has sure potential. The way that they can sound like heavy death metal on the vocal and bass by Rob Lombari to a melodic sound kept me really digging this. The keys give the sound which is very atmospheric. Like I mentioned, I think the mixing could've been better. The high end screams and low bellowing vocals were well in there. Same goes for the keys and Frank Bull on drums. The guitars as I said just needed to be louder. It's difficult to hear the rhythms and lead guitars. Otherwise I'd give the rating a higher mark. My favorite tracks are "The Organ Throne" and "Mani's Descent". But I definitely dug all of the tracks. Also, the lyrics were very well written. It wasn't just blood and guts each song definitely has great meaning lyrically. They talk about nature, existence and mythologies. Once this band gets signed I'm sure that they are going to soar to the top of the charts in the melodic death metal scene! Talk about innovation, it's way here!

MECHANICAL GOD CREATION ...And the Battle Becomes War Band Email Official Website

This band from Italy plays deathcore metal with quite many brutal tinges, but there's something really special about this band and that's definitely Lucy, who's not only in the band's line up, but she is actually one of the two who formed it and she is handling... the vocal duties. Yes! You've read right! Actually she does a kick ass job and her singing style and technique can easily embarrass most of the male singers of the genre! "...And The Battle Becomes War" is a 4 piece demo work that contains some pretty aggressive and brutal compositions with harsh riffs, a sharp and heavy rhythm section and dual vocals from Lucy and the band's guitarist who's offering us a more guttural interpretation. The production is well taken care of, clear and with the necessary volume and the artwork is very good and suitable for the band's music!

ELEMENT Smoke - Promo CD Band Email Official Website

After a quick search on the net I found there is one more band under this moniker who play brutal death metal and come from the U.S. The band I'm presenting to you here is from Poland and though they are also filed under the wider genre of death metal, their music is quite unique and characteristic. So we could say that these guys belong to the more melodic branch of the sound, which they enhance with a great deal of modern elements and quite a few metalcore tinges. The thing is that "Smoke" has a pretty distinctive sound that sets Element apart from most bands of this genre and this is why these guys have successfully and correctly, if you ask me, named their music neo death metal. The 4 songs presented on this promo CD are really something and open the apettite for more Element music, plus they are given in a kick ass package! First of all the production is very good and renders the right sound to the songs and secondly this isn't the typical promo CD we get from most bands. Element have done a lot of work on this promo, which is a multimedia CD containing all relevant info on the band, so it's like entering the band's website whilst enjoying their music. A terrific piece of work that deserves our attention and support!

TRADEWIND Aspects Band Email

I have no words for this really! I have mixed feelings after listening to this release and since I don't want you to jump into conclusions let me explain myself. I have mixed feelings because I found this demo work simply stunning and I was really enthralled with the sound produced by this band from my hometown Thessaloniki, but on the other hand I felt really frustrated with the record labels that tend to sign bands with no character or personality just because they have someone famous in their line up or because they copy a successful and famous band, instead of supporting groups like this one, that really deserve our attention. I can surely and definitely say that Tradewind have managed with this CD, which is their first demo work, to create a personal sound and quite unique and innovative music in the wider genre of doom metal. So the foundation of their sound is doom metal, but upon it these guys have added layers of death metal, mainly in the vocals and in some guitar riffs, and some progressive elements that make the end result sound more complex and beautiful. The songs are really atmospheric and emit a feeling of sorrow and depression, but in a beautiful and sweet way. Keep an eye on them and make sure you get in touch with the band!
Address:  Tradewind, Stavros Basdras, Ioanninon 11, T.K. 54639, Thessaloniki, Greece.

THIRD HORDE The Way to Ades - Demo 2007 Official Website

Thirdhorde is a bellicose black metal band hailing from my hometown Thessaloniki, Greece and they move in the unholy old school branch of this music. Actually their music is so old fashioned and cold that sounds as if it comes from a Norwegian black metal group. This is the feeling I got from this demo work... as if I was listening to a band from the north, which means that this trio has done a worthy job! Their sound is raw, with no keyboards, harsh guitar parts, blast beats and demonic screams, all wrapped up in a really dark and frozen atmosphere. Yeah this is good old fashioned black metal!

BUILDING CHAOS Promo 2007 Band Email Official Website

This is mind blowing material!!! I've listened to this promo CD countless times and the verdict is more than positive. I've had a blast with these 3 songs and at the same time I felt really happy knowing that we have such worthy bands that can represent us abroad and make us proud! Building Chaos is a truly remarkable and full of inspiration band that plays crossover music, a modern crossover between thrash metal and hardcore as it's been set and carved by such great bands as PANTERA, MACHINE HEAD, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and BRAND NEW SIN. The songs are filled with catchy riffs, a really concrete and powerful rhythm section, kick ass pissed off vocals, an aggressive attitude and quite a few a la Zakk Wylde false harmonics and licks. Hell yeah! This is a great band!!! 

OBSECRATION Chronicles of Sadism - Promo 2008 Official Website

Obsecration is one of the oldest active Greek metal bands and they've been around since 1989. Quite some time don't you think? So after 4 full length albums and enough demos and singles they are producing and recording their next opus, which I assume will bear the same title as this 3-track promo CD? To be honest with you I don't know. So here we have a small sample of what's in store for us from this band and as you must expect it's nothing else than brutal death metal with a few interspersed black metal touches here and there. You will find here all those elements that have been characteristic for the band ever since their formation, so we are talking about brutal, uptempo songs with sharp and heavy guitars and really deep growling vocals that are enriched with some occasional keyboard parts. All in all "Chronicles Of Sadism" is a classic Obsecration album.

SYMPHONY OF DESTRUCTION In the Valley of my Soul - Demo 2008

Don't let the name mislead you. Most probably the band took this moniker from the well known MEGADETH song, but other than that the similarities with the U.S. metal band are few. The sound of Symphony Of Destruction is simpler and more ito the roots of heavy metal. the band is strongly influenced by the N.W.O.B.H.M. movement and more specifically their sound has many similarities with such groups like HOLOCAUST, early BLITZKRIEG and DIAMOND HEAD. It's a band that you will either like, especially if you are into the N.W.O.B.H.M. movement or they will leave you totally indifferent and bored. There's no other way. Personally I like them a lot because their compositions have simple structures, yet they are catchy and easy to remember. Especially, the song “Lonely And Tired”, in my opinion is their most complete and by far their best composition. Now, the things they need to improve are: 1) to add more variety in their compositions and 2) they need more dynamic vocals, without me implying that the existing ones are bad or lack in anything at all. So, the fans of the N.W.O.B.H.M. genre can get in touch with the band at the following address: Dimitris Kouniados, Irakleous 46, P.O. BOX 19500, Lavrio – Attiki.

NIGHTSHADERS Rougayah's Revenge - Demo 2007 Band Email Official Website

What I have come to realize these last few years is that you find diamonds and strong underground scenes in places and countries you'd never imagine, something that consequently leads me to advise you to keep your eyes open for underground bands cause this is where the beauty of heavy metal truly lies. Anyway let's get back to this review's point, which is to present this fine Malaysian act who have recently released their second demo after a long period of dormancy. The powerful 5-piece combo is responsible for these 4 compositions of catchy death/thrash metal that comprise this demo work and make it really interesting and blasting! "Rougayah's Revenge" contains some really catchy and in your face headbanging material that have an old fashioned, reminiscent aura something that makes the end result even more appealing in a contemporary scene that's all about trends and fashion. Make sure you check this band out!

THE PEOPLE Demo 2008 Band Email Official Website

After, so many power and heavy metal albums I had to present, this demo is a good break! The People is not a band that I present here for the first time and for those who have read my previews presentations of the band's demos, you will know my appreciation and respect of them. Once again the band follows the successful recipe of combining 70’s rock music with punk and blues elements. They sound like JIMMY HENDRIX jamming with THE RAMONES and lots of rock ‘n’ roll twists (just listen to “Gone Away”). Despite the aforementioned however the result is modern and fresh. A band that has originality, nice ideas and yet hasn’t found a contract... And the question is obvious, what the fuck is happening to the labels and haven't yet noticed such a great band? Until the labels discover them, though, continue contacting the band and ordering their demos. Nothing more to add other than a big bravo on behalf of the webzine! You guys ROCK!!!! 

DEUS IGNOTUS Worship the Fall of Man Band Email Official Website

Deus Ignotus is a new black metal act from Greece that counts less than a year of existence and recently they released their first demo containing 5 tracks. Even if I hadn't mentioned that this is a new band, you'd get to realize it instantly for a variety of reasons. The sound is extremely poor and dim. I know this was recorded in a home studio and that it's primitive, old school black metal, but it doesn't mean we have to make our ears bleed in order to be able to fully grasp what's going on in the background, cause believe me the music is in the background and there's a lot of static as well. So, this factor alone lessens the end result a lot for me and I'm a person who doesn't "need" flawless and crystal clear recordings, audible does the work for me. Now the other thing is that they have some pretty good ideas, but they don't go the full way... I mean that the way they have structured and arranged the songs is sometimes inconsistent and the transition isn't made in a smooth way, it's kind of too abrupt if you know what I mean. The other thing is that they hide or better bury their nice riffs and ideas below a wall of endless repetitions of the same motives. It's a shame cause there are some really nice and interesting riffs over there like in the song "Suicide Accomplishment" that starts dynamically, but doesn't keep the same status and quality till the end. I think Deus Ignotus may have something there, but they need to work harder in order to pull it off.

NADIWRATH Nadiwrath Band Email

Nadiwrath is a new black metal band from Greece formed by Nadir and Wrath, the latter of these two is also a member of DRUNK EARTH, KAMPF and DODSFERD, so he seems to be a pretty busy guy and though he involves himself in other bands as well, none of them has a similar sound to the others. This new musical endeavor started out last year and they released this 3-track demo to showcase what they are all about. I'm glad to say that they did a fine job! They play old fashioned primitive, mainly fast black metal, but they also have their slower moments and they emphasize quite a lot on the guitar lines and diversity. Yes it's true! Primitive, old school black metal can be diverse and interesting and this one definitely is!! So this is black metal, but it also has an intense rock 'n' roll vibe to it, rock 'n' black as this sound is labeled and it's enriched with 80s thrash tinges and a punkish twist bringing to mind bands like IMPALED NAZARENE and CARPATHIAN FOREST. It's definitely interesting, it surely is appealing and it proves that these guys have more to give in the future. Keep an eye on them!

EVENTIDE Promo 2008 Band Email

Every time that I have to write a review it gets harder and harder to find words that can describe exactly the band's music. So we all use some cliches and common phrases in hope that we will make the readers understand a few things about the album that we are asked to present. We also try to compare the new bands with some old and known ones, without though trying to say that the group copies these legends. I will try to use the same methods here as well in order to present to you the new promotional CD of Eventide. I'll try not to overuse the aforementioned cliches though. Normally this release should be presented in the official full length releases section, but since the band is looking for a label contract and sends its album in a CD-R format, I think it's more proper to present it in the demo releases. I can't say the opening track "Shadow Of The Past" is the most indicating song of how the band sounds, however it shows that they have variety. So, the first song is a power/speed track close to the standards that ICED EARTH and METALLICA have set. As the album proceeds it is obvious that the band walks on more atmospheric and epic paths, without using cheap gothic metal cliches. Their sound moves on more mid and epic doom tempos. There are moments that they reminded me of groups like SOLITUDE AETURNUS and CANDLEMASS, without copying them though. This release is not the kind of album that will help you improve your headbanging skills. It's music that will grow inside you more and more each time you listen to it, without this meaning that Eventide are "less" metal than other bands. All in all, this is a very mature work that needs you to listen to it with all your heart! My favourite songs are "Semi-Christ", "Final Frontier", "A Mortal Sun" and "Eventide". Try to contact the band and see if you can have a copy of their new release at their email address.

ARTEP Fires of Mortal Deception Band Email Official Website

Are there still out there people who claim that metal music is men's business only? Haven't so many bright examples of women extinguished this narrow minded and naive belief that all women are "fragile" creatures who can't stand noise, darkness and power? If not, then Artep is one more case of a band that will definitely make those men brush aside such preconceptions. This Canadian duo that only counts a couple of years of existence has offered us here with their debut demo work four songs of top quality unholy and anti-Christian black metal, treading on the path paved by the Norwegian underground black metal scene. What do all these stand for? Frozen black metal with a really eerie and unworldly atmosphere that gives you the essence of a phenomenal calmness before the storm which is crushed below some heavy and boisterous drum parts played by Lord Goatesque. The vocals sound like dark and demonic grunts that come straight from the pits of hell and are quite low in the production so that they make you feel as if evil is lurking in the dark ready to grasp and devour your soul. The guitars enrich this unholy canvas with scraping riffs and themes that reek of murkiness and obscurity and the bass creates a concrete foundation along with the drums upon which the whole creation is based and regenerated. This is without any doubts a bright example of frozen and old school unholy black metal! Only if you think you have the guts...