TYRANONAUT - "Marble Eye" (Full-Length, 2020)

This album is one of the reasons why I have decided to go back to writing short reviews.

I guess that when we talk about TYRANONAUT we could openly talk about a band that is the heir of WITCHFINDER GENERAL, not only  musically. Just as WITCHFINDER GENERAL understood back in the day the key of the wall of sound that BLACK SABBATH created, TYRANONAUT are in my own opinion the direct descendant of WITCHFINDER GENERAL's mindset. 

In their music there is not only the W.G. imprinting, but there is also the "American  heaviness" of  bands like DREAM DEATH/PENANCE mixed with the rarefied atmosphere of certain obscure European metal (someone said RITUAL from Belgium?). A must have album.

For fans of: WITCHFINDER GENERAL, RITUAL (Belgium)

F.C. & I.S.

MALLEUS - "Your Nightmare Calls" (Full-Length, 2020)

When you try to review "Your Nightmare Calls" everything you can write down seems reductive or just an understatement. I could just say this is a band active since 1980 and that disbanded in 1984 formed  by a living Legend: Andro Coulton, previously bass player for WITCHFYNDE, a band that doesn't need introduction in the underground metal releases. 

But it is still not enough, I could ask you to imagine the hardest song by Hawkwind getting played from hell, but it would not be enough. We could say that we had been waiting for a Malleus album for almost four decades but also this would be reductive. 

For fans of: HAWKWIND, WITCHFYNDE

F.C. & I.S.

CRYPT SERMON - "Demo MMXIII" - Demo 2013

CRYPT SERMON is a US-band and American is their major influence that first comes to the ears of their listeners: SOLITUDE AETURNUS.

The band plays solid Epic Doom Metal in the best tradition, absolutely well-played, that follow the path drawn by the Great masters of this genre. 

A band that's not a champion at authenticity but absolutely the right band that will blow you away!

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For Fans of: SOLITUDE AETURNUS, WELL OF SOULS(U.S.A.)

TAROT - "Dying Daze" - EP 2014

The track available on Youtube called Dying Daze EP gives the impression that this Australian band is a "PAGAN ALTAR-like band". WRONG. Every single song of this three track EP is more original and different than the next one. TAROT play Heavy Rock that is reminiscent of URIAH HEEP. No shame in using synths.

In few words, a band with the right attitude. The only way to judge TAROT is by buying their tape.

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For the Fans of: THE WIZAR'D , URIAH HEEP

F. C., I. S.

PROPOVED - "Onaj Koji Niko Jeste" - Demo 2012

Between me and this demotape there's a big barrier, language. PROPOVED are Serbian. Other than that the band has the capacity to transmit a clear and solid image to the listener. The tape presents itself with an artwork that can be described as expressionist and minimalistic exactly like its music. Heavy Doom Metal, classic at the maximum level but authentic, sung in the mother language of the band members. Some remnants of NIGRO MANTIA (Denmark) and the influence of obscure Metal bands from the 80s make the demo a pleasure for the listener. 

My only take on this work is its production: too raw guys!

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For the Fans of: NIGRO MANTIA , SEVENCHURCH 

F. C. ,I. S.

DEMON HEAD - Demo 2014

The number of Scandinavian bands that use the word "Doom" referring to soulless music is uncountable. There are simply too many bands  that one would automatically assume that all the Scandinavian bands are without inspiration. It was rather with distrust that I ordered the demotape of this DEMON HEAD, simply named "Demo 2014". DEMON HEAD are  proof that it is still possible to make "Pentagrammish" Doom Metal without falling into the shitty "retro-70s-revival" trends of these years. Check out DEMON HEAD!

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For Fans of: PENTAGRAM!!!

F. C., I. S.

OATH OF WOE - "Oath of Woe" - Demo 2011

During the 90s, many demotapes of forgotten, underrated and sometimes unlucky international Epic Doom Metal bands were released. ICEFALL (U.S.A.), MILLARCA (Japan), FORLORN (Sweden) and others belong to this category of bands, whose demos are surrounded by a cult aura that makes these bands one-of-a-kind. 

One of the best examples of bands that were influenced by this wave of 90s Epic Doom Metal is the Danish OATH OF WOE. In their only self-titled demo, which is by no means a purely authentic release, OATH OF WOE have proven to be a "little" gem in the scene of Epic Doom Metal.

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For Fans of: ICEFALL , MILLARCA , FORLORN

F. C., I. S .