Featuring members of critically acclaimed Australian band Ne Obliviscaris, technical band Vipassi has released a compelling debut album entitled “Sunyata” which focuses on a rich instrumental progressive metal influenced work of music.

“Gaia” is surrounded by a subtle mysterious atmosphere that effortlessly embraces a series of complex guitar tremolo riffs and melodic leads. There is a solid rhythmic backbone but the lead guitar work tends to become the center of attention with wild borderline aggressive riffs as well as more mellow jazzy melodies.

“Benzaiten” follows a similar scenario as heavy guitar riffing evokes extreme metal roots rendered more enthralling by meticulous tempo variations in proper prog fashion and highly ethereal introspective moments.

“Elpis” channels arcane beauty and poetic atmospheric depth while the impressive guitar work creates various intricate, yet surprisingly fluid, sonic textures. Ghastly growls in the background add a blackened mood among crushing tight guitar riffing and prog oriented melodic leads.

“Samsara” delivers decadent atmospheric accents embraced by precise staccato rhythms, powerful bass lines and incredibly rich guitar riffs that offer an abstract blend of extreme technical metal and prog signature elements.

Music connoisseurs will certainly appreciate the fancy compositions of “Sunyata” which tends to rely on similar complex patterns but easily stands out for the excellent musicianship and thorough attention for stylish details.

Italian band Klimt 1918 might have been silent for several years but in reality has never ceased to work on new music and now the time has come to listen to the new grandiose release “Sentimentale Jugend”. Featuring a unique blend of shoegaze, dream pop and new wave from the 80s/90s, “Sentimentale Jugend” is released as a double album that showcases an emotional collage of life experiences and genuine passion for music.

“Montecristo” has a darkly poetic soul elegantly expressed in the lush shoegaze style guitars surrounded by generous dreamy layers and softly tormented vocals.

“Comandante” begins with a somber atmosphere where charming melancholic guitar melodies seem to come to life through a series of foggy memories and faded images.

“La Notte” features reverberated guitars that build an understated catchy rhythmic crescendo while vocals and synths evoke a murky eerie atmosphere that holds a decadent poetic soul.

“Sentimentale” is filled with emotionally charged melodies, soothing vocals and deeply melancholic vibes but also loads of acidic distorted guitar riffs with a palpable post rock attitude.

A multi layered hypnotic mood on “Nostalghia” enhances a series of delicate melodies embodied by a faintly luminous guitar sound with shimmering retro accents.

“Ciudad Lineal” showcases the dreamy melancholy of shoegaze as fragile harmonies smoothly embrace whispered vocals. A darkened aura surrounds the instrumentation which has the unconscious power of daydreaming as it acquires an electrified and distorted energy.

“Sant’Angelo (The Sound And The Fury)” features fascinating atmospheric layers and melodies that create a cinematic music palette while the guitar riffs become rather blistering with subtle urgency.

“Juvenile” stands out for the rebellious vintage rock temper that provides groovy guitar driven dynamics in the midst of gracefully soulful atmospheres lingering throughout the song.

In the current music scene the magical sonic journey created by Klimt 1918 might remain an underground gem but “Sentimentale Jugend” deserves to be listened repeatedly to fully appreciate the kaleidoscopic nature and to savor its inner nostalgia.

French-American duo Sinner Sinners are ready to release a wild rock punk influenced new album recorded at Rancho de La Luna in Joshua Tree and entitled “Optimism Disorder”. This dynamic full length holds an inner goth soul but is also filled of polychromatic groovy rhythms.

“Last Drop” showcases remarkable post-punk attitude with an inflamed rhythm built by crispy guitar riffs and strong bass lines. A sinister melodic aura is also present and successfully polishes the rough edges to deliver a smooth groove emphasized by harmonious backing vocals.

“California” delivers a rough moody rhythm with wild guitar riffs and savage punk style vocals while the main music core displays also some desert rock accents.

“Hate Yourself” channels disorder and chaos creating an intense groovy rhythm with familiar punk elements and a rather darkened atmosphere amplified by angry vocals and tight guitar riffing.

The cover of “Too Much To Dream” by The Electric Prunes is a super fun song that should be played at every party as it shines for the exquisite vintage guitar style and the surreal trippy mood.

“Preachers” is another raw punk tune that stands out for the high impact rhythmic guitar and keyboards combo and the anxiously catchy chorus.

“Celexa Blues” has a memorable goth mood with irresistible retro crunchy guitars, dizzy rhythm, dreamy keyboards and a compelling flute solo performed by Jesse Hughes of Eagles Of Death Metal.

It’s wonderful to see a married couple passionately involved in the creation of edgy music as these strong sentiments and great chemistry are crucially embedded in the musical themes of “Optimism Disorder” which also happens to be a rather entertaining work of music.

California based band Kill The Precedent has released a wild punk/thrash influenced EP entitled “Some Version Of The Truth” which promises to be a reckless and spontaneous work of music.

“Two way Mirrors” is mosh pit material with abrasive enraged screams and heavy guitar riffing but the guitar leads tend to steal the scene with catchy polished licks.

“Lesser Of Two Evils” adds loads of modern electro tricks to a speed metal influenced rhythm that keeps alive the heavier side of the song while a smooth guitar solo adds a pleasant melodic vibe.

“Irrational Anthem” channels some chaotic punk roots mixed with catchy electro beats to deliver an edgy energetic rhythm spiced up by anger driven harsh vocals.

“A Song For Slit Wrists” features an interesting blend of music genres as a raw guitar driven rhythm is smoothly embellished by heavy industrial elements and a more laid back combo of melodic guitar leads and electro atmospheres.

Referring to themselves as “seven maniacs from Sacramento”, Kill The Precedent works hard to deliver an unpredictable collection of songs and “Some Version Of The Truth” successfully conveys an overdose of fury and savagely caustic rhythms that will have a high impact live on stage.

American deathcore act Suicide Silence returns with an ambitious self titled album in which the bands decides to experiment and explore new musical depths in order to deliver a more interesting work of music.

“Doris” packs aggressive tight guitar riffs that recall primordial metal roots and create a sort of structured chaos where scattered nu metal elements jump in the mix to add random dissonant accents.

“Silence” is all about chaotic feelings that need to be released to find a necessary balance as narcotizing slow guitar passages create a contrast with nervously caustic riffs and screams.

“Dying In A Red Room” is charged with anxiety and anguish deeply and inevitably embedded in the slower rhythm. The whole song recalls Deftones’s music style as whispered emotional vocals linger over discordant riffs and melodies stuck in an oppressive distorted reality.

“Conformity” is filled with desperate melancholy portrayed by soft guitar chords and mellow vocals. The melodic aspects of this song create an introvert mood rather than trying to channel some healthy groove and when guitars acquire a distorted energy everything remains trapped in a foggy confusion.

Suicide Silence’s self titled album is a raw chaotic music realm that attempts an avant-garde approach with atypical melodic features, and supposedly a change in musical direction that has generated turmoil among the fans, therefore it might appeal mainly to a specific underground audience.

Finnish heavy metal act Battle Beast is still young enough to have loads of opportunities to explore the grandiose realm of music but on the newest release “Bringer Of Pain” the band focuses on nostalgic themes recalling some forgotten glorious days of metal.

“Straight To The Heart” is a full blown 80s tune with cheesy keyboards and over polished guitar sound that make everything sound happy and fun. New vocalist Noora Louhimo screams with all her passion and devotion as the rhythm attempts to build a highly energetic groove.

The title track channels some dated classic metal combo of tight simple guitar riffing and mid paced drumming while a pompous power metal aura is emphasized by typical warrior style choirs.

Even if the 80s vibe might sound overwhelming to some listeners, “King For A Day” delivers a catchy rhythmic core with guitar riffs that could have been more dominant and dirtier to benefit the general mood but overall it is a rather entertaining track for nostalgic metal fans.

“Beyond The Burning Skies” has the melodic melancholy of classic metal ballads while Noora Louhimo delivers powerfully sincere vocals over repetitive melodies that recall many other popular power metal songs that we already heard and loved.

“Lost In Wars” is the only song that will truly stand out immediately for the compelling vocal duet with Tomi Joutsen of Amorphis. Also, the metal nostalgia is still present but toned down by a more modern groovy approach with crunchy guitar riffs and an enjoyable smooth melodic core.

Undeniably stuck in the 80s, “Bringer Of Pain” might lack the necessary creative energy to leave an unforgettable mark in the music scene but nostalgic listeners might still find something enjoyable in what Battle Beast is trying to deliver.

Featuring members of iconic rock band Thin Lizzy, supergroup Black Star Riders certainly knows how to write a catchy collection of rock songs. Therefore, it’s not surprising that the latest release “Heavy Fire” comes with a true dirty vintage attitude that can and will attract a wide variegated audience.

The title track relies on inflamed catchiness deeply embedded in a series of retro rock guitar riffs that would sound even more vibrant at a live show. Ricky Warwick on vocals delivers a smooth rocker style performance as the rhythm gains dynamics and momentum with sharper guitar riffing.

“When The Night Comes In” is a memorable catchy rock tune with the additions of soul style choirs. Again the guitar riffs dominate the scene with stylish rock attitude while some guitar leads provide easy classic rock melodies.

“Who Rides The Tiger” keeps alive a genuine retro groove featuring a heavier gritty rock approach that doesn’t need modern special effects to grab attention. The hard rock music core holds an insane dose of healthy energy that is further expressed in the incendiary guitar solos.

“Testify Or Say Goodbye” effortlessly keeps a radio friendly classic rock backbone with catchy drumming and riffing while the guitar leads channel some more mellow almost melancholic melodies.

“Ticket To Rise” delivers another winning ensemble of catchy guitar riffs and an irresistible rhythmic groove. Holding all the beloved and popular elements of classic hard rock, this track shines also for the no frills, yet pleasantly wild, guitar work and the harmonious choirs that naturally enhance the main rhythm.

With “Heavy Fire” Black Star Riders channel a proper rocker style without any hesitation and with that special vintage inspired creative spark that calls for long wild nights or just forgotten golden dreams, but someone might still say that it’s only rock ‘n roll.

We all know that Accept is a metal institution and one of those untouchable bands that gained fame and popularity also for the memorable live performances. Now Accept’s fans can enjoy the full live experience sitting on the couch because the band has released a massive Blu-ray/DVD plus two CDs combo produced by Andy Sneap and appropriately entitled “Restless & Live” which includes the entire show played at Bang Your Head!!! Festival 2015.

Featuring new vocalist Mark Tornillo, this live album includes 27 tracks and blistering true heavy metal anthems such as “Stampede”, “Pandemic”, “Shadow Soldiers”, “Fast As A Shark” and “Balls To The Wall”.

With impeccable sound quality and a variegated setlist of classics and newer material “Restless & Live” triumphantly celebrates Accept’s successful musical career and will become a must have for the band’s faithful fans.

 

Death metal pioneers Immolation reconfirm their undisputed influential status with the new full length “Atonement” which marks the band’s triumphant return delivering an inflamed creative force both relevant and unique in the extreme metal scene.

“The Distorting Light” is certainly a strong opener that sets an asphyxiating mood where absolute desolation reigns. Ross Dolan delivers steady ominous guttural vocals that perfectly match the obscure guitar driven rhythm that shines particularly for the dangerous overdose of blistering riffs and doom oriented melodic licks.

“When The Jackals Come” stands out for the darkly precise and heavy guitar work effortlessly supported by furiously intense drumming. Anguished feelings of desolation saturate the atmosphere as slow and heavy guitar melodies gain the appropriate spotlight.

“Fostering The Divide” packs a series of addictively groovy guitar riffs and while the rhythm might elegantly slow down at times a forlorn ferocity still permeates the song’s theme.

“Lower” conveys an intoxicating realm of darkness where brutal growls and fierce guitar riffs lead the listeners into an obscure musical journey. Robert Vigna delivers a smooth melodic guitar solo that shines for accuracy and deeply darkened tones.

The title track stays true to traditional death metal elements with intense speed and rhythmic audacity that create an endless series of dissonant gloomy spirals further enriched by highly atmospheric and melodic guitar work.

“Epiphany” combines a perennial sinister aura with a crunchy brutal groovy combo of ruthless fast drumming and methodical heavy guitar riffs while Vigna’s guitar solos create a mesmerizing melodic dismal force that cannot be ignored.

Old school death metal fans will immediately rejoice listening to “Atonement” as this album holds a particularly darkened force that deserves full attention and feels like a rightful celebration of Immolation’s music legacy.

Swedish folk/ambient multi-instrumentalist duo NOÊTA is ready to lure the listeners into a darkly magical sonic realm with the fascinating debut album “Beyond Life And Death”.

“Beyond Life” captures the enigmatic nature of dreams through a loop of obscure dissonant ambiance textures that are stripped of dynamics or easy melodies.

“In Drowning” showcases powerful introspective emotions effortlessly portrayed by simple fragile guitar melodies and loads of subtle ambiance layers that create a cold anxious atmosphere meant to reach a stylish noisy acme.

“Darkest Desires” will stand out immediately for its inner cathartic nature, surrounded by a vintage folk instrumental palette, and the exceptional hypnotic vocals that add a particularly alluring decadent mood.

With minimalist intensely melancholic acoustic arpeggios “In Void” has a pensive soul that doesn’t need flamboyant gimmicks to naturally shine through dark monochromatic nuances as gentle pensive vocals float above atmospheric layers.

“Beyond Life And Death” is a unique collection of gloomy poetic tunes and lovers of dark ambient music will certainly feel drawn to the elusive intriguing soundscape meticulously created by NOÊTA.