Synful Ira - "Between Hope and Fear" [2012]

Artist: Synful Ira

Title: Between Hope & Fear

Genre: Symphonic Metal

Country: Italy
Year: 2012

Track List:

1. Sound of Life
2. True Lies
3. Behind the Suspect
4. Shining Tracks
5. Revenge of Mind
6. Inside My Fears
7. My Friend
8. Hope
9. 8.45
10. New Love
11. Fatal Temptation
12. Destiny

Italy is well known for having a very big symphonic/gothic metal scene, but as I've said in my previous entry, I prefer quality over quantity. Knowing that Synful Ira were a Nightwish & Evanescence cover band in the beginning, I initially didn't expect much from them, but "Between Hope and Fear" turned out to be quite good for a debut album. Reminds me of Lacuna Coil's early stuff (namely their first 3 albums, before they started to play blatantly commercial alternative rock).

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Reenforced - "Time Shift" [2013]

Artist: Reenforced

Title: Time Shift

Genre: Progressive/Groove Metal

Country: Russia
Year: 2013

Track List:

1. Clockmaker Paradox (instrumental)
2. Land of Ice and Chains
3. Time Shift
4. Eyes of a Child
5. Gravity
6. Eclipse
7. Wrong
8. The Fountain
9. The Phase
10. Atmosphere
11. Alchemistry (instrumental)

Reenforced are a relatively young (formed in 2011) 4-piece band from the Urals (Ekaterinburg). Unlike many other female-fronted metal bands, they doesn't play stereotypical symphonic metal; their music is best described as "cosmic" progressive/groove metal. "Time Shift" is a very atmospheric release, quite impressive for a debut work; Irina Marchuk's vocals are clean and beautiful. The band isn't very known outside their home region yet, so I hope my blog will help at least a little. According to the band members themselves, they're going to make "Time Shift" officially available for free download, and will be thankful for any help with giving it more publicity.

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Baradj - "Nardughan" [2012]

Artist: Baradj

Title: Nardughan

Genre: Folk/Pagan Metal

Country: Russia (Tatarstan)
Year: 2012

Track List:

1. Suz Bashi
2. Nardughan
3. Khiyal: Shefeg Jile
4. Sumbul-Nauruz
5. Dala Iyase
6. Khiyal: Dever Sulyshy
7. Irek
8. Kachkyn
9. Khiyal: Lale Chechek
10. Lale Chechek
11. Khiyal: Bure Sheulese
12. Ashina
13. Harkemnen
14. Khiyal: Qunaqchyllyg
15. Qurai
16. Bars

Unlike most bands from the "exotic" countries that I've posted here before, this band comes from a city that's only 400 km away from me (Kazan). Yet they're pretty unique; at least I don't know any other metal bands with lyrics in Tatar language. Not to offend anyone, but all Turkic languages (not only Tatar) sound like some incomprehensible babble to me when I hear them spoken on the streets; however, this album shows that the very same language could sound quite beautiful when used in songs. As for the music, it isn't quite your typical pagan metal: Baradj have released several post-rock EPs prior to this LP, and this one has a certain post-rock/metal touch as well. The vocals are dual (male and female), but mostly female (like in case with Infinite Tales, especially taking in consideration that "Nardughan" has some elements of MDM as well). To give you an example, here's one of the best songs from "Nardughan":


The whole discography of Baradj is officially available for free, so if you liked this album, feel free to check out their earlier releases as well - but keep in mind that their instrumental post-rock EPs and singles doesn't sound much like "Nardughan". Their first demo "Altynchen" is worth listening to as well, even though the quality of production isn't very good and the lyrics are mostly in Russian. I'd describe it as less heavy and more melancholic than this album.

Hope I'd be able to visit Kazan this summer, and maybe even see Baradj playing live. By the way, happy Nauruz-bayram to all Tatars who might be reading this post (I know for sure that at least one half-Tatar will read it ;)).

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Divahar - live at Highland Metal Fest [2012]

Artist: Divahar

Title: live @ Highland Metal Fest

Genre: Symphonic Black Metal

Country: Armenia
Year: 2012

Track List:

1. Areakan
2. Kraki Kanch
3. Otary

Beside Mystica Girls, there are several other relatively obscure all-female (or at least female-fronted) metal bands that deserve more publicity. Let's start from a very unlikely place for having such bands - Armenia.

Divahar were formed in 2008 (or early 2009) by Dev (vocals) and Urubani (guitars) with an intention of becoming the first all-female metal band in Armenia. The lineup was completed by Skadi (guitars), Freya (bass) and two session members (drums & keyboards) during 2009-2010, so they were finally able to play their first concert on 6th of March 2010. Since then, they've played live over 10 times, both in Armenia and abroad (including the "Metal Heads Mission" festival in Crimea, and released an official video for the song "Alien". They haven't released any album yet, though (mostly because of various problems with the studio and the people they're cooperating with), so I can post only a recording of their songs played live at the Highland Metal Fest 2012 (the only international metal festival in both Armenia and Georgia).

The main source of inspiration for Divahar is mythology, both Armenian and Norse. Since a lot of names from the ancient Armenian mythology are used as ordinary names in everyday life, some members of Divahar chose to take Nordic-sounding pseudonyms instead. According to Dev, her moniker literally means "demon", and the word "Divahar" comes from the same root, meaning "possessed (by a demon)" or something like that. Divahar position themselves as a non-religious band in a strongly religious country:

"It’s definitely not religion which makes us love and be proud of Armenia. What inspires us about our fatherland is it’s glorious past. It's that our roots are going back deep into time, and various values which sadly are unknown to the world. In fact, DivahaR doesn’t follow any religious view as upon our comprehension the religion always was and remains a violent, rude form of control over humanity and nothing more"

Divahar's music is mostly influenced by classic Norwegian black metal such as Burzum, Emperor, Limbonic Art, Dimmu Borgir, Immortal, Satyricon, Dark Funeral, etc., as well as other well-known bands such as Slayer or Morbid Angel - so don't expect to find anything particularly innovative or "exotic" on this record, even though it isn't bad at all. The "Alien" video is quite good too, even by the Western European standards:

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Mystica Girls - "Metal Rose" [2011]

Artist: Mystica Girls

Title: Metal Rose

Genre: Heavy Metal, Gothic Rock

Country: Mexico
Year: 2011

Track List:

1. My Dinner
2. Rabia
3. Mi Sangre
4. Metal Rose
5. Tortura
6. Diluvio

After listening to Elfica, I didn't expect much from this band (which is also an all-female metal band from Mexico). However, it turned out to be better than I initially expected - not great, but still nice and showing a certain potential for the band's musical growth. A lot of sites call it gothic metal/rock, but I think it's just plain heavy metal for the most part. I think today would be a perfect day to post it, for an obvious reason ;)

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Zerokarma - "Mathematics" [2001]

Artist: Zerokarma

Title: Mathematics

Genre: Industrial Metal/Alt-Rock

Country: Russia
Year: 2001

Track List:

1. Lifedawn MMI
2. Waiting
3. Moral Holocaust
4. Hate/Negate
5. Adore You
6. Karmaphobia
7. Zerokarma
8. My Goddess' Charms
9. Freedom And Love
10. Fatal Submersion
11. Erebus Brine
12. Broken Pride
13. To Where Wander Eternally
14. Eternity (Metalbioindustry Version)
15. Солнышко (Демо cover)

First I heard this album shortly after it was released (around 2001- 2002), and it left a great impression on me. Back then I was a teenager listening to Rammstein and Oomph, and it was a revelation for me to find out that there's a band playing such kind of music in Russia (and, more surprisingly, not in St.Petersburg or Moscow, but in the Far East). Of course this album sounds naive by modern standards, but it was a major breakthrough back then. Despite obvious associations with Zeromancer (both the sound and the band names are similar), there's no plagiarism, I think - since nobody in Russia knew about Zeromancer back then. However, this comparison will give you a good idea of what you'll hear on this album.

What's interesting about it - I generally prefer ballads/love songs (such as "My Goddess' Charms") over more agressive tracks with political/social lyrics ("Hate/Negate"). Almost all songs are very catchy, except maybe for a couple of filler tracks close to the end. The last track is a cover of a very well-known Russian pop song of the late 90's, and it sounds completely hilarious. The band is still active today, and has 3 albums in their discography so far. While the first one, "Eternity" (1999) sounds mostly like "hey, look how we can play our instruments!" (but no, I'm not saying it's bad), the latest one, "The 7th Dimension" (2007) is quite similar to "Mathematics" in terms of sound. "Mathematics" is still the best album out of all 3, though.

 Zerokarma back in early 2000's:

Zerokarma now:

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Dreams After Death / Nagaarum - "Kuiper" [2013]

Artist: Dreams After Death / Nagaarum

Title: Kuiper

Genre: Dark Ambient, Atmospheric Black/Doom Metal

Country: Hungary
Year: 2013

Track List:

1. Dreams After Death - Beyond the Planets
2. Dreams After Death - Gate to the Unknown
3. Dreams After Death - Frozen Light
4. Dreams After Death & Nagaarum - Kollidum
5. Nagaarum - Impakt
6. Nagaarum - A Peremnél
7. Nagaarum - Dave
8. Nagaarum - A Null-dimenzióhoz

Here's one more proof that space-themed avantgarde music from Hungary is one of the best worldwide. Well, maybe calling this split "avant-garde" might be a stretch too far - because it's nice but not particularly mindblowing. Dreams After Death is an one-man funeral doom project from Budapest, of which I haven't heard before. Nagaarum is an one-man project too, whose only member have played in Sunseth Sphere, Éjfény, Guilthee, and a few more obscure projects. As I have already said, their split turned out to be good, but nothing outstanding (and a bit too lengthy). However, if you're into space-themed music (dark ambient and doom metal in particular), or Hungarian underground scene - you won't be disappointed IMO.

Ved Buens Ende - "Written in Waters" [1995]

Artist: Ved Buens Ende

Title: Written in Waters

Genre: Post-Black Metal

Country: Norway
Year:1995

Track List:

1. I Sang for the Swans
2. You, That May Wither
3. It's Magic
4. Den Saakaldte
5. Carrier of Wounds
6. Coiled in Wings
7. Autumn Leaves
8. Remembrance of Things Past
9. To Swarm Deserted Away

Speaking of avant-gardge metal - here's a band which was already mentioned on my blog several times. Ved Buens Ende were arguably the first band to play what's now called "post-black metal", and their only full-length release sounds very innovative and unusual even today. The Wikipedia article on "Written in Waters" describes it quite accurately:

"The album is unique and unusual. It incorporates many elements from various music forms (for example the whole song Autumn Leaves is without distorted guitars nor any grunted vocals), from usual Norwegian Black Metal (like at the end of Coiled in Wings) to jazz-inspired and dissonant riffs. Vocals on this album are mournful and sad by Carl-Michael Eide's crooning (accompanied by Kristine Stensrud) which makes a part of the album's uniqueness. As usual Eide's lyrics are rather unconventional and apparently deal with fantasy and dream. Whenever Vicotnik appears on vocals, his style of strident shrieks is just as much original for the time...

William York of AllMusic wrote, "Ved Buens Ende's sole full-length, Written in Waters, is an album of esoteric, experimental black metal that, years after its release, still sounds like nothing else...""

For me, the general mood and atmosphere of this album is more reminiscent of the 90's death/doom metal than Norwegian black metal. "Written in Waters" is a masterpiece and another great example of Norwegian avant-garde metal of the mid-90s (along with early In The Woods and Fleurety). For some reason, no other country and time period has had so many metal bands with this unique kind of sound.

Watch My Dying - "Klausztrofónia" [2004]

Artist: Watch My Dying

Title: Klausztrofónia

Genre: Technical Death Metal

Country: Hungary
Year: 2004

Track List:

1. Idomtalan
2. Carbon
3. Klausztrofónia
4. Nullpont
5. Horizont 16:9
6. Technika Angyala I
7. Technika Angyala II
8. Túladagolt Idő
9. Nicht vor dem Kind
10. Gyúlékony Csíra
11. B-Terv
12. Nyers Hát
13. Kék Ég, Zöld Fű

Now, for a change, have some Hungarian avant-garde metal that's not based on black metal. Watch My Dying are playing a kind of technical death/thrash metal with a lot of "industrial-esque" elements since 1999, and have released 3 full-length albums so far. "Klausztrofónia" is their debut full-length, released in 2004, and it's officially available as a free download off the band's site. I personally liked it better than, say, their 2009 album "Moebius" or their latest EP "4.1" (these ones are good too, though, but in a different way). I'd recommend "Klausztrofónia" to those who likes Machine Head, Fear Factory and other industrial/groove metal bands that are known for their aesthetic obsession with technology.

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Angel Reaper - "Exhumált Világ" [1992]

Artist: Angel Reaper

Title: Exhumált Világ

Genre: Proto-Black/Thrash Metal

Country: Hungary
Year: 1992

Track List:

1. Exhumált Világ
2. Élve Eltemetve
3. A Halál Határán
4. Reinkarnáció
5. Nukleáris Pusztulás
6. A Kéj Birodalma
7. A Brutális Gyilkosság
8. Vérengző Evolúció

Speaking of experimental Hungarian black metal, here's a very early example of said music. Surely the quality of recording is horrible (no more horrible than on many other classic 1st-wave black metal demos, though) - but this is a rare example of a raw black metal release that truly carries the atmosphere of insanity and apocalypse, and not just claimed to be "bestial", "misanthropic" or whatnot. As I already have said before, not a lot of "true" black metal albums do it for me: "Deathcrush" and "De Mysteriis..." by Mayhem, "The Blood Must Be Shed" by Zyklon-B, this one, and not much else (maybe Abu Lahab also should be mentioned, even if his music has little in common with black metal). That was the main reason why I decided to post this demo instead of the earlier one, "A Végzet Utolér" (1989). "A Végzet Utolér" sounds more interesting and not monotonous as this one, but the atmosphere on "Exhumált Világ" is much gloomier and unsettling.

Angel Reaper is often referred to as "the Hungarian Bathory", and while their music indeed sounds similar to the first two albums of Bathory, for some reason they remind me more of early Nord'N'Commander with their specific "blackened metal" sound. ...And yes, both Angel Reaper and N'N'C have espoused some questionable ideologies, but I don't think it's that big of a problem.

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