Soulgrinder Zine issue 2 review

Soulgrinder Zine #2 2014. Editor, Paul Caravasi. Front cover/interior art by Mortuus and distribution by Daniel Thrash. Plus numerous contributors of metal.

Let me start by congratulating Paul Caravasi on another edition of Soulgrinder Zine. I absolutely enjoy every page. The layout for this one is well thought out and retains the feel from the old school death metal borders similar to early 90s Zines. The artwork is sick, gory and brutal. Mortuus continues to delight my eyes with all the horror and comedic touch he brings to the pages. Ninety six pages stocked full of underground death metal from around the world.

Feature interviews with Artillery, Sinaya, all female death metal band from Brazil an interesting read on their point of view of the metal scene in their neck of the woods. Legends Napalm Death, Madrost from California, Kraken interview with Jhonny Villacorta, Corsair, Sunlord from NYC, Amon interview with Eric Hoffman, Desarme, the legendary Nocturnus AD talk about their return to the scene since The Key album. Necroriser, Autopsy, great interview worth reading, Shadow Host from Russia, an excellent interview with Cancer. Interview with my favorite home town band Cardiac Arrest. Attacker, Suffocation, Kobra and the Lotus, interview with Tony Portaros of Whiplash, thrash metal band Zabotage from Peru, The band Cobra, KH, Obituary, an exclusive and in depth interview with this legendary band. 

Tim Gutierrez give us a brief look at Maryland deathfest 2014 of Edison Lot on Saturday. Many awesome bands played including Sacrifice, Tankard, Nocturno Culto and many others. Morbid and comedic short comic by Mortuus, The Vinyl Killer strikes back. A ton of zine reviews plus CD reviews of Amon, Faethom, Ragestorm, Necrofagore and many others. Horror movie reviews by Dave Kosanke.

Overall this issue covers a lot of ground. From reviews, to the the interviews. You can tell a lot hard work was put into it. As rare prints are these days, if you are a true fan of zines, this is one that should be added to you collection.

facebook-soulgrinder zine
soulgrinderzine-blogspot 

 

Ephyra - Along The Path

Ephyra is a six piece Melodic Death/Folk/Epic Metal band from Italy. Members are Nadia Casali – Vocals, Francesco Braga – Vocals, Matteo Santoro – Guitars & Choirs, Paolo Diliberto – Guitars & Choirs, Alessandra Biundo – Bass, John Tagliabue – Drums.

Along The Path album to be released through Bakerteam Records on November 20 2015. My first thoughts are, captivating and adventurous sounds, an exploration of deep emotions. Strong vocal choruses can be found in every song. The production sounds great. Every instrument is clear and defined. Progressive guitar work but not over the top.

After a long period of listen to this album on my distant and short travels, it really began to grow on me. At first only a few of the songs resonated in my mind, but now, I can honestly say every track has something special to delight my ears. 

The harmonies and complex arrangements of acoustic guitars and keyboards in the song "Hope" make it a composition I keep coming back to. The violin parts are amazing, simple, yet very effective in this song. The track "Last Night" is another one to mention and features some interesting bass lines. Both melancholy and somber feelings are expressed in every passage, very well executed. 

In conclusion, the band manages to captivate the senses and stand out above others of the same genres by creating interesting harmonies and catchy melodies that are easy to follow and they continue to resonate in the mind long after the the album concludes. Fans of Melodic/folk metal will surely add this album to their collection, but it has something to offer to every metal fan out there and should not be passed up. ~Artemortifica

facebook-Ephyra

Acrania - Fearless

Acrania is a Latin Metal band from Mexico City. Members are Luis F. Oropeza-Rythm Gtr. & Vocals, J.C. Chavez S.-Drums, Alberto Morales G.-Bass Gtr, César A. Gallegos.-Lead Gtr & Saxophone.

Fearless album self released on April 25 2015. Now here we have some flavorful music. Progressive, Jazzy and Metal to name a few of the the emotions being projected on the album. Indeed, something for everyone. If you only stick to a certain genre then this may not be for you. However, if you like you Metal like a mixed salad, then this will delight your ears. Songs like "Poverty is in The Soul" encapsulate the variety of styles happening from moment to moment. Catchy guitar riffs, trumpets and a vast array of drum fills to keep the listener engaged and attentive as to what's coming next. Overall the music moves the spirit while texturing the aggressive parts with metal. ~Artemortifica

facebook-acraniaofficial

Ditheist - Eternity of Nothingness

Eternity of Nothingness self released debut album on October 2015. Ditheist current line up is Konrad Lysak- Guitar, Narcyz Fortuna- Drums, Jason Dienethal-Vocals, Jarek Badzioch-Bass. Dorian Rainwater guest guitar solos on the songs Crippling Vexation and Eternal Corridors. 

My first impression, good production and straight forward death metal. I had the chance to review their EP (Ditheist- Seduction Of Demons EP) back 2013. This is the bands debut full length album. Although a considerable amount time has past since Seduction of Demons they have improved upon the ground work of that EP. Eight tracks of solid performance. The drums in particular sound really good in this production. Not overpowering or in the background, but steady and brutal through out every composition. There are eight songs, the most stand out tracks to me are the title track Eternity of Nothingness, it offers a total old school dm vibe and catchy verse riffs. Blind Dead, because it sounds like a combination of early Morbid Angel and Malevolent Creation. Finally, Crippling Vexation for its strong delivery and killer solos. The music is death metal in its roots. Many fans of early Monstrosity, Sinister, Grave and Obituary will find sometime to enjoy from this release. Eternity of Nothingness is exactly what is to be expected on a decent debut album. This release excels and adds another layer to their previous demo release.~Artemortifica 

facebook-Ditheist

In Twilight's Embrace premiere the title track off 'The Grim Muse'

Polish melodic death metal band In Twilight's Embrace recently premier The Grim Muse title track from their upcoming album. The additional quality mark of that one is the mighty Tomas Lindberg (of At the Gates, Disfear)

Majestic Downfall releases "When Dead"

Pulverised Records has officially released ...When Dead, the newest album from Mexico's MAJESTIC DOWNFALL. The band's fourth full-length offering of Tiamat and Paradise Lost inspired doom is now available on CD and digital formats at www.pulverised.net.

Further stretching the boundaries of the Blackened Doom / Death genre beyond what is deemed as traditional, Mexican Doom-sayer MAJESTIC DOWNFALL unleashes what is probably the most tormenting album in the group's discography to date with ...When Dead.

Ensorcelled by the mournful bliss of Doom and yet raising their chalice for Black Metal dissonance, ...When Dead is a celebration of the two seemingly unbendable genres enwreathe as one, and the result is an iniquitous atmosphere marred with sublime melodic Doom passages and the caustic nature of Black Metal scowl. ...When Dead was mixed and mastered by Tore Stjerna at Necromorbus Studio, Sweden (Watain, Demonical, etc.).

"This is finely executed doom, catchy and downright innovative, which in this day and age of millions of Bandcamp bands, is really saying something." - Exclaim.ca

"...one of the better doom metal albums we've heard so far this year." - Nine Circles

Death Toll Rising premier video Scorched Earth Policy

Death Toll Rising has teamed up with MetalInjection.net for the premiere of their new video 'Scorched Earth Policy' in support of their latest album 'Infection Legacy'. 

"We are beyond excited to be releasing our first ever music video!  This is one of the thrashers off our most recent album, 'Infection Legacy' and always proved to be a fan favorite, so it was a no brainer to do this track.  We were lucky enough to work with our good friend and director Lindsay Robinson on this project and he pretty much nailed everything we had in mind, it looks sick!  It was great experience and we were able to have a ton of our friends out to party and be in the video, which made it all the more motivating for us.  It was cold, it was late, and it was exhausting, but in the end completely worth every minute!" comments guitarist Drew Copland.

View video at this location metalinjection-death-toll-rising-scorched-earth-policy