From the Vastland - Kamarikan (2013)

One-man Iranian black metal band From the Vastland has produced an exceptional work with Kamarikan. This follow-up to 2011's debut Darkness vs. Light, The Perpetual Battle has sole member Sina on top form in producing some brutal riffs and atmosphere. The album kicks off at pace with The Ahriman Wizard, featuring some classic black metal arpeggio work, with some creative drumming that lends plenty of originality to a song that might otherwise sound rather like Marduk. Mind you, standing alongside the mighty Marduk as a one-man band is no mean feat! The second track, Call of the Mountain Battle, has an unusual start, with deep murmuring voices, before an unholy demon of a riff blasts into action. The song alternates slow and fast passages to build tension.

The album continues in a similar vein throughout, with some interesting spoken passages and acoustic noodling providing contrast with the intense blastbeats and arpeggios. The final two tracks stand out somewhat, with the brutality of Realm of Cadaver Sovereign all too apparent after the earlier mellow passages, and the closing song is a fast and mesmerising one, reminiscent of Moonblood.

Check it out now! Out on Indie Recordings.

http://www.emp-online.com/art_260596/

Psychotic Pulse - Psychotic Pulse (2013)

Psychotic Pulse's self-titled album starts gently, with a mix of acoustic guitar and an electric solo, before gradually building to an explosion of riffs and blastbeats that grab you by the scruff of the neck and throw you around the room like a rag doll! The style is a mixture of deathcore and djent, with industrial elements and a hell of a lot of groove.

The drumming in this Toronto-based band really stands out, with a clear snare sound that cuts right through the mix to lead the sound, Fear Factory style. The songs are agressive slabs of downtuned palm-muted riffs, with angular grooves and rapidly changing drumbeats. Vocal-wise, I can hear Devin Townsend's Strapping Young lad style mixed with some Misery Index-like growls, in typical North American style. The album never gets boring, and the stand-out 'Dichotomy of Rage', complete with lead guitar/blastbeat breakdown is well worth waiting for.

For fans of Strapping Young Lad, DevilDriver and The Berzerker.

http://psychoticpulse.bandcamp.com/

Inside the Sun - Demo (2013)

Insidethsun are a creative three-piece from California, USA who pump out fuzzy riffs in a modern stoner style. So far, their only output has been this 2-track demo and a single track, entitled 'Lich' (which is well worth a listen), but do not mistake lack of quantity for lack of quality. This demo is well recorded, with a beefy and hazy sound in the vain of Down or Electric Wizard. The riffs are energetic, progressing through the songs in a focused way. The first song 'Smoke Creep' starts with a cool 70s lick, then launches into some agressive riffs. The vocals are growled with menace and used sparingly, to give the tracks a jam session feel.

This band have the makings of something special, and I await their next release with excitement!

 
http://insidethesunmusic.bandcamp.com/