Wratheon is an entity hailing from USA and this is the first e.p. containing five songs. Now this is what I call fine e.p. that just made my day and made smile return to my face and my old metal heart beating faster. Music of Wratheon is fast mixture of blackened thrash with almost some hardcore punk song parts thrown in here and there or is it only me. I was blown immediately away with superb melody and aggressiveness of In Seance but all got even better song by song. A Fire Burns is also fast song made to pump your fist in the air and ride to battle with, but having also almost sad and anguished melody behind all of the darkness and flame with clever use of keyboards in some song parts. Vocals are black metal like but you can understand almost all what is being sung, so it is another plus. With Crimson Eyes is an all out thrash metal attack with blackened vibe and double bass destroying everything in its path and blast beats bringing black metal in the forefront of aural assault yet also having wicked melody in guitar work. Life is an instrumental with lots of changes in tempo and showing more guitar oriented side of the band. Unescapable Null is for me somehow the darkest song on this e.p. ending in me wanting more and eagerly awaiting for the full length.
UK´s legendary NWOBHM veterans Saxon released an album with cover versions of the songs by musicians and bands which had an influence and served as inspirations for their long year running stint as UK´s premier heavy metal band besides Iron Maiden. This one contains 11 songs of more or less known songs and I somehow like The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Motorhead covers the best. I am usually not eager of bands delivering cover albums because they often mean only record contract fillers with labels but this is an okay album and I have nothing but respect for Saxon being in the scene for so long throughout the years and all ups and downs of their career and the scene itself. Biff´s specific voice is really fun to hear in these songs and it is an interesting choice of covers.
Serbian black metal institution The Stone released brand new, ninth full length opus. Existence of this band goes back to 1996 when they were called Stone To Flesh but let us speak of this new opus. It contains eight songs of pure and merciless black metal with some thrash and death metal influences in some songs, but mainly it is black metal, fast, atmospheric and without gothic or sympho parts, only pure black metal evil the way it should be done. Most of the songs are in Serbian language and since we basically speak the same, I understand all of it. Lyrics are not your typical in your face, but rather deep and personal, dealing with inner evil and fighting your own demons and darkness. Besides blast beats and speed, there are some slower melodic and melancholic parts that add to the drama, emotions, anguish and aggression. My personal favorites are: Okamenjen, Kosturnice and Jebes pero dodaj mac. For sure one of the best black metal releases this year.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 