In Australia’s burgeoning progressive metal scene Circles has the potential to stand out and conquer new fans with the sophomore release “The Last One”.

“Winter” unleashes an overdose of technical metal elements embedded in the fiery guitar work that certainly showcases the unpredictable nature of prog metal with sudden tempo & style changes and an engaging blend of harsh rhythmic segments, featuring prominent heavy bass lines, melodic guitar phrases and emotionally charged vocals.

“Breaker” follows a similar intricate music pathway but this time the heavy guitar riffage is accompanied by futuristic electro accents and soothing melodic accents can be found in the softly contemplative breakdown while the rhythmic complexity might not have an immediate impact but rather requires multiple listenings to be truly embraced.

On “Arrival” rich atmospheric synths, warm guitar melodies and vibrant vocals become quite crucial as the band doesn’t completely abandon heavier dynamics but definitely explores more widely accessible music territories.

“Resolution” immediately focuses on introspective vocal delivery and a graceful mix of dreamy guitar melodies and subtle synths layers which will lead to an inspired atmospheric crescendo and charismatic lead guitar work.

On “Dream Sequence” guitars take the spotlight offering variegated progressions that hold remarkable prog metal aesthetics as well as modern djent dynamics leading to several impactful tempo changes amplified by the technical approach.

“Alone With Ghosts” aptly feels haunting with a generous dose of ambient atmospheres surrounding a series of gentle guitar melodies and emotive layered vocals yet the band packs some powerful guitar driven grooves without disrupting such dramatic mood.

On “The Last One” Circles skillfully offer a well balanced work of music where the modern technical style genuinely embraces an emotional turmoil and the audience will be curious to hear what the band will craft next time.

After a long hiatus Swedish act Craft returns triumphantly to spread obscurity with the intense blackened force of the latest full length “White Noise And Black Metal”.

“The Cosmic Sphere Falls” marks an absolutely majestic beginning with its unmistakable blackened soul leading to charismatic & savage rhythmic crescendos and guitars proudly deliver waves of brutally gelid tonalities and sinister melodies definitely amplified by the venomous growls.

Without the need for breakneck speed “Again” sounds immensely ominous with massive blackened grooves, guided by precise vicious drumming, that arise from a recognizable & beloved dark abyss yet sound utterly catchy with addictive wintry melodies and excellent guitar licks.

“Tragedy of Pointless Games” welcomes you to a realm of misery and yes everything will remain dark and hopeless courtesy of belligerent rhythmic blasts but captivating guitars also offer impeccably darkened melancholic melodies.

On “Darkness Falls” the rhythmic section possesses a massive raw energy that will trigger a black ‘n roll mood with an infectious riffing rampage while guitar leads effortlessly channel pure melodic obscurity.

The cosmic darkness of “YHVH’s Shadow” cannot go unnoticed as the band unleashes a chaotic devilish black metal core where faster menacing drums and asphyxiating guitar riffs become essential yet the moody melancholic guitar harmonies prove that this track doesn’t rely exclusively on sonic aggression.   

Craft is very comfortable within the extremely dark universe and the misanthropic black metal approach expressed by each and every song on “White Noise And Black Metal” which therefore is bound to delight acolytes of this genre.

Among the many amazing bands from Iceland Kontinuum certainly stands out for the poetic gloom and charming post-rock melodies that continue to have a strong presence on the new album “No Need To Reason”.  

“Shivers” begins with extremely somber yet very accessible guitar melodies that gently accompany passionate vocals creating profoundly emotional waves that will inevitably influence the entire instrumentation.

On “Warm Blood” colder & darker nuances emerge in the mix as guitars acquire a crunchy distortion amplified by uptempo grooves and slightly heavier dynamics while vocals effortlessly shift from poetic delivery to harsher tones.

The title track returns to tranquil soundscapes following a slower tempo to favor the compelling lead guitar work and passionate vocals in the midst of introspective atmospheric layers yet both vocals and instrumentation will occasionally embrace a darker momentum.

Featuring dreamy atmospheric crescendos “Stargaze” focuses again on rich sonic textures and spacey harmonious guitars that naturally build an eclectic mixture of gentle melodies with hints of shoegaze style and significantly darker instrumental segments.

The remarkable soothing poetry of “Two Moons” will lead to increasing feelings of nostalgia & melancholia as guitars smoothly craft moody melodies with a cinematic approach and a distinct introspective nature.

“Black Feather” might amplify the dark side of the band even more with a striking somber melodic ensemble featuring inspired atmospheric arrangements and captivating guitar work that will briefly acquire extra obscure vibes & rhythms yet the recurring hazy harmonies still feel widely accessible.

Overall, the intriguing melodies of “No Need To Reason” will attract lovers of darkly emotional songs that Kontinuum has carefully crafted following a rather natural music evolution.

Led by multi-talented composer Tamás Kátai Thy Catafalque is already renowned in the underground metal scene as a profoundly eclectic studio project and the new album “Geometria” definitely continues an interesting exploration of multifaceted music territories.

The enigmatic nuances of “Hajnali csillag” lead to rich atmospheric arrangements and refined soothing violin melodies that certainly hold a deeply melancholic mood smoothly enhanced by enchanting guitar harmonies resulting in a highly cinematic work of music.

“Szamojéd freskó” marks a drastic change of scenario as guitars become rather dominant delivering a generous dosage of crunchy heavily distorted riffs that will later evolve into complex prog oriented dynamics.

Another significant change occurs on “Töltés” which seamlessly embraces modern electronic nuances with fragile melodies and ethereal ambiance accents that gently surround Martina Veronika Horváth’ melancholic vocals.

“Lágyrész” offers a darker sonic vision where guitars often deliberately borrow the ominous force of extreme metal with evident blackened accents while the melodic aspects of this song focus on particularly gloomy & surreal tonalities.

The avant-garde spirit of “Tenger, tenger” is immediately palpable as a violin solo evokes chaotic yet exquisitely elegant nuances that will be followed by uplifting guitar melodies and consequent mellow rhythmic crescendo with dreamy folk vibes.

On the intense final song “Ének a búzamezokrol” an obscure creative force returns fiercely with ominous guitar riffing leading the way to a cold sonic realm where dramatic guitar melodies are suddenly juxtaposed to charming folk chants and peaceful arpeggios.

On “Geometria” there is a lot going on as Thy Catafalque are constantly & effortlessly searching for a unique identity, pushing boundaries to blend diverse music styles in order to create contrasting sonic textures that will inevitably surprise the listeners.
Geometria (Ltd. Ed. digipak CD)

The second release from the mighty Alkaloid, proves that these guys are evolving and growing immensely as musicians. Truly progressive, which seems to not be so common these days.

“Kernel Panic” starts the album off with a very Rush/King Crimson vibe going on. Which then leads into some more traditional death metal elements. It sets the tone for the journey that this album will take you on.

“A Decreed By Laws Unwritten” opens with an absolutely mean riff in the style of Morbid Angel, but more intricate. Even the vocal approach is similar. I love that these guys mix the old school sound with the modern sound so seamlessly. There’s a very eerie clean break that leads into some grooving riffing, and some ripping soling… of course. An overall very cool track.

“Azagthoth” opens with some very eastern sounding percussion and rhythms, accompanied by some interesting use of harmonics. It then starts to groove like no other, with a ton of different vocal styles. I really dig the riffing in this track. And the “Azagthoth!” sounds so evil. You get a lot packed into this track.

“Liquid Anatomy” has a very cool melodic clean intro, with some really haunting vocals. The overall vibe changes things up a bit on the album. It showcases a different side of the band.

“Chaos Theory And Practice” opens about as “in your face” as it gets. Very chaotic and dissonant, followed directly by a very badass riff (Again very Morbid Angel styled) which I absolutely love! There’s a very cool riff that bounces back from heavy chords and scattered harmonics, with a haunting lead over it. It creates a very cool vibe, with some very memorable vocals on top of it. The same idea gets played around with throughout the song. This is one of the highlights for me, being that it really showcases the band’s versatility and compositional skills.

“Rise Of The Cephalopods” is the 20 min epic on the album. There’s an interview where Hannes talks about how he came up with the initial musical idea for it. It’s definitely my favorite track. We’ll just leave it at that…

For me, this was one of my top albums of the year. Every track stands out on its own. Truly progressive. I recommend buying this, and supporting these guys.
Liquid Anatomy

Norwegian cult black metal stalwarts Tsjuder are proudly releasing a new edition of their first EP “Throne Of The Goat” which includes the original tracks and a complete re-recording.

There are two full track on this EP and both the 1997 original recording and the new versions share the same raw blackened energy that will inevitably characterize the band’s entire discography.

The new version of the title track is certainly more polished and benefits from fancier gear but the cult black metal dynamics are still intact with thunderous guitar riffing galore, demonic growls and super fast & brutal rhythmic segments.

“Dying Spirit” often follows a breakneck speed and as traditional black metal dictates evokes absolutely bleak soundscapes with evident oppressive feelings fully expressed by raw guitar riffs, ominous growls and scattered diabolical melodic moments.

Needless to say the sonic realm of “Throne Of The Goat” is made of undiluted darkness and hellish nightmares hard to leave behind as Tsjuder shows the fans how it all started.
Throne of the Goat