Ablaze My Sorrow from Sweden were one of the first melodic Swedish death metal bands that I have listened to in the nineties with their opus ‘If Emotions Still Burn’. I was very happy to see that they are still active and releasing opuses, last two full lengths being in 2016 and 2021. This is brand new e.p. out with Black Lion Records. This one contains 4 songs and band now continues where it left off last couple of years. ‘Transfiguration(The Way Of The Strong)’ starts with fantastic clean vocals and atmospheric parts only to turn into full blooded melodic death metal like we are used to from these legends. ‘Boundless’ starts with synth intro and turns into my favorite song on this e.p. having such genial and memorable guitar main melody theme, not being too fast song, but hits you in the eye with its power nonetheless. I love how this band manages to mix almost sad and lonely dark vibe with all known aggression of death metal making me remember why I love Swedish death metal more than American school of death metal. Lyrics deal with inner battles, depression, suicide and misery, being something I can relate to last couple of years definitely. I must also mention ‘Rotten To The Core’, fastest and harshest song on this record, reminding me a lot of At The Gates in many parts, not being a clone, but as an influence. ‘Enclosed In The Crystals Of Ice’ ends this one like it should, icy, dark and melodic. Nice one, indeed!
Death Reich are hailing from Sweden, being active in the scene since 2018 and this is their second e.p. opus out with Non Serviam Records.
This one contains four songs plus one Entombed cover. You guessed it, Death Reich are playing old school death metal with no holds barred blast beat aggression, growling vocals, blistering guitar solos and some d beat and subtle melody thrown in here and there only to remind they play Swedish death metal. Yet, the music of Death Reich also leans heavily into American school of death metal, Floridian masters a la Morbid Angel, Deicide come to mind immediately, also mixed with their own Swedish old school sound. Of the songs, my personal favorites are The Creator and also The Night Will Fall. Now, these guys released two e.p.-s, now it the time for full length opus and I am sure it will be a lesson in death metal.
CHUGGER is a five-piece death machine hailing from Gothenburg, Sweden. Sonically they walk the razorwired border between groove metal and death metal, expertly navigating and picking between the two. Like a bastard child of Lamb of God and Machine Head, fused with a healthy dose of old-school At The Gates, this groove death metal monster proves that the golden days of Gothenburg metal is far from over. Visually the band dips their blood stained fists in buckets filled with Rammstein, Slipknot and the horror movies we all love to hate. On stage CHUGGER is a well oiled machine that has delivered intense performances on top stages across multiple continents all over the world, even praised by the founding father of Wacken Open Air himself. If you have the opportunity to catch them live – buckle up, kid. You’re in for a treat!
“Every track really shows what Chugger is truly capable of after years of honing their craft to the point where it’s extremely deadly to the touch.” “Chugger is part of a terrific group of contemporary bands that keeps Sweden at the very forefront of modern metal.” “Fits along side the likes of Lamb of God, In Flames and Arch Enemy”
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 