Tag Archives: gothenburg

Album Review – Thermality / Concept 42 (2025)

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The new album by this Swedish melodeath outfit marks the dawn of a new creative era for the band, one that fuses technical mastery with raw emotional power.

A Melodic Death Metal and Metalcore band that started in autumn 2020 at the Academy of Music & Business, a school for 16 to 19-year-olds situated in Vara near Gothenburg, Sweden, with their musical style having its roots in the melodeath movement that was big in the 90’s and early 2000’s, the up-and-coming Thermality are unleashing upon us their third studio album, titled Concept 42, following the global breakout of their 2024 release The Final Hours (which dominated international metal charts and entered the official Swedish sales rankings). Recorded at the iconic Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, and displaying a cinematic artwork by Andreas Marschall (Kreator, In Flames, Blind Guardian), the new album by Ludvig Sommar on vocals, Noel Hoflund Jonsson and Walter Hamilton on the guitars, Ture Skärfstad Stål on bass, and Hampus Sätterlund on drums marks the dawn of a new creative era for the band, one that fuses technical mastery with raw emotional power where each track is part of a larger conceptual journey.

The band quickly transports us to their wicked world in the opening track Friction, exploding into sheer Melodic Death Metal savagery led by Ludvig’s harsh vociferations, while Noel and Walter take the lead armed with their scorching riffs in Helix, once again inspiring us for some wild action inside the pit. Brainstorm sounds and feels heavily inspired by giants the likes of Soilwork, In Flames and At The Gates, with Ture’s bass and Hampus’ drums making the earth tremble, followed by Inception, not as exciting as the other songs of the album, with even Ludvig’s vocals sounding less aggressive. Concept 42, the song that carries the name of the album, kicks off to the rumbling bass by Ture, evolving into a melodeath beast overflowing harmony and rage, whereas Reminiscence starts in an ethereal, almost melancholic manner, quickly exploding into another blast of heavy and piercing sounds by Thermality.

Breaking Point then blends the classic Gothenburg sound with nuances of modern metal styles, with Noel, Walter and Ture once again giving a lesson in heavy music with their intricate and fierce guitars and bass lines, and it’s time to bang our heads together with those beyond talented Swedish boys in The Hollow, where they speed things up, offering Ludvig exactly what he needs to bark like a demented entity. The band brings forward another song with a more melodic intro that quickly morphs into classic Melodic Death Metal made in Sweden entitled Bright Side, with Hampus making sure there’s plenty of heaviness flowing during the entire song. “SMILE” again showcases that traditional Gothenburg sound led by the striking riffage by Noel and Walter, turning into an excellent option for their live concerts; and get ready to bang your head like a true metalmaniac to the sound of Lost Inside, with Ludvig barking and screaming in great fashion for our total delight. And last but not least, their harmonious yet visceral sounds will penetrate deep inside our minds in Tomorrow, with its guitar solos and breaks adding an extra kick to the music.

“Writing music is absolutely the best thing we know. Music gives us the most support and joy in our daily lives, and we hope it can do the same for those of you who listen to our music. The response we have received since starting this band has been incredible in so many ways. So we wanted to take a sec here and thank you and appreciate all those who came before us in this genre, all the feedback we have received on our previous releases, and everyone who listens to and supports us.
We truly hope you enjoy the album and approach it with an open mind when you listen to the music. With this album, we feel we have taken another step in the direction we want to go-one more step toward reaching the level our music deserves to be at,” commented the band, and if you’re a fan of bands like Gojira, Architects, Lamb of God, In Flames, and Fit For An Autopsy, you should definitely give them a try. You can also find those talented guys on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their music on Spotify, and purchase their new album from their own BandCamp, from Sound Pollution, or by clicking HERE. Concept 42 will most definitely take Thermality to new heights, keeping the flames of Swedish melodeath burning for many years to come through the band’s undisputed music.

Best moments of the album: Helix, Concept 42, and Lost Inside.

Worst moments of the album: Inception.

Released in 2025 Black Lodge Records

Track listing
1. Friction 4:30
2. Helix 3:56
3. Brainstorm 4:00
4. Inception 4:15
5. Concept 42 3:53
6. Reminiscence 3:41
7. Breaking Point 3:40
8. The Hollow 4:00
9. Bright Side 4:13
10. “SMILE” 4:35
11. Lost Inside 3:32
12. Tomorrow 5:00

Band members
Ludvig Sommar – vocals
Noel Hoflund Jonsson – guitar
Walter Hamilton – guitar
Ture Skärfstad Stål – bass
Hampus Sätterlund – drums

Album Review – The Halo Effect / March Of The Unheard (2025)

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Let’s join this Swedish melodeath juggernaut in their march of the unheard to the sound of their incendiary sophomore album.

Gothenburg, Sweden’s own Melodic Death Metal outfit The Halo Effect may have begun as five old friends just making music for fun, but they’re now one of the most beloved new bands in Heavy Metal. Now in 2025 fans of bands like Dark Tranquility, Insomnium and Soilwork have a lot to celebrate with March Of The Unheard, a triumphant successor brimming with everything that made their 2022 debut Days of the Lost an instant breakthrough, showcasing all the talent and passion for heavy music by frontman Mikael Stanne (Dark Tranquillity, Grand Cadaver, Cemetery Skyline), guitarists Jesper Strömblad (Ceremonial Oath, Cyhra, Dimension Zero) and Niclas Engelin (We Sell The Dead, In Flames), bassist Peter Iwers (Fleetburner, In Flames), and drummer Daniel Svensson (In Flames, Diabolique).

Their Swedish melodeath vein pulses harder than ever in the opener Conspire To Deceive, with Jesper and Niclas slashing their axes in the best Scandinavian style, followed by Detonate, which will work majestically if played live, a pedal-to-the-metal creation by the band where Mikael’s roars and Daniel’s beats match flawlessly; and there’s no sign of slowing down at all, as the quintet continues to distill their Melodic Death Metal attack in great fashion in Our Channel To The Darkness. Then investing in a more cadenced, traditional sound, it’s time for Cruel Perception, led by the classic drums by Daniel, followed by What We Become, one of those songs perfect for some sick headbanging thanks to the pounding drums by Daniel, supported by the metallic bass lines by Peter.

After that, we face the epic, imposing interlude This Curse Of Silence, working as an intro to the title-track March Of The Unheard, offering our avid years an overdose of first-class Melodic Death Metal with nuances of classic Heavy and Power Metal. Needless to say, Mikael is once again bestial on vocals, which is also the case in Forever Astray, another great option for banging our heads while the band’s guitar duo continues to deliver sheer electricity form their sonic weapons. A grim start then evolves into another massive feast of hammering drums and sharp riffs in Between Directions, albeit not as powerful as the other songs; whereas in A Death That Becomes Us the band gets back to a more ferocious yet very melodic sonority, with Mikael leading his horde in another strong candidate for their live performances. There’s more classic Swedish metal music for the masses with Mikael roaring to the riffage by Jesper and Niclas in The Burning Point, before the album ends with the stunning Coda, an atmospheric and epic outro that puts a climatic conclusion to the entire record.

After all is said and done, March Of The Unheard isn’t just another opus of Gothenburg melodeath; it announces that The Halo Effect still have fresh ideas for the genre, 30 years after their members helped catapult it to international acclaim. Now united under one banner, they are gunning for global success once again, and you can know more about the band and enjoy their classy music by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by subscribing to their YouTube channel, by streaming their music on Spotify, and of course by purchasing their new album by clicking HERE, joining The Halo Effect on their exciting and metallic march of the unheard.

Best moments of the album: Detonate, What We Become, March Of The Unheard and A Death That Becomes Us.

Worst moments of the album: Cruel Perception and Between Directions.

Released in 2025 Nuclear Blast

Track listing
1. Conspire To Deceive 3:57
2. Detonate 3:58
3. Our Channel To The Darkness 3:29
4. Cruel Perception 4:04
5. What We Become 3:47
6. This Curse Of Silence 2:01
7. March Of The Unheard 2:59
8. Forever Astray 3:41
9. Between Directions 4:29
10. A Death That Becomes Us 4:07
11. The Burning Point 3:48
12. Coda 3:54

Band members
Mikael Stanne – vocals
Jesper Strömblad – guitars
Niclas Engelin – guitars
Peter Iwers – bass
Daniel Svensson – drums

Album Review – Walking Corpse / Our Hands, Your Throat (2023)

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Let these Swedish Grindcore beasts put their hands around your throat to the sound of their infernal sophomore opus.

It’s not too often that you come across a Grindcore album that gives you the kind of thrilling intensity that you’ve come to expect from this style of music, and at the same time there’s unpredictability in the writing which keeps you hooked. That’s exactly what you’ll get in Our Hands, Your Throat, the sophomore beast by Gothenburg, Sweden-based Grindcore animals Walking Corpse, following up on their 2020 debut The Fear Takes Hold. Displaying a sick artwork by Portuguese artist CVSPE (aka André Trindade), the new album by vocalist Henrik Blomqvist, guitarist and bassist Fredrik Rojas, and drummer and bassist Magnus Dahlin showcases the band’s most aggressive and innovative side, providing variations to break monotony and even predictability without compromising on the pure blistering, cathartic expression of Grindcore and, therefore, being highly recommended for fans of Rotten Sound, Fuck the Facts, Bathtub Shitter, Terra Builder, Spurn, Antigama, and Ernia, just to name a few.

Dreamflesh Navigator is absolutely devastating and evil from the very beginning, a demented Grindcore tune led by the unrelenting drums by Magnus while Henrik sounds inhumane on vocals. Then, Fredrik hammers his guitar in great fashion in Born in Hell, adding a touch of progressiveness and dementia to the trio’s already incendiary metal music, or in other words, it’s one of the most infuriated Grindcore songs you’ll listen to this year, followed by the title-track Our Hands, Your Throat, bringing forward more of their wicked sounds with Magnus crushing his drums like there’s no tomorrow in a lecture in extreme music and insanity by such talented group. And investing in a more melodic sonority with elements from Hardcore and Thrash Metal we have The Wheel, perfect for “dancing like a monkey” to the slashing riffage by Fredrik, whereas in Brainworm we face less than two minutes of pure violence spearheaded by the venomous, deranged roars and barks by Henrik.

Slowing things down a bit while also enhancing their obscurity, the trio fires the metallic Falling Through A World of Wounds, with their bass jabs hitting you hard in the face, and nonstop savagery and hatred flows from their riffs, bass and drums in Malediction, while Henrik continues to growl like a beast, followed by The Last Laugh, one of the most depraved songs of the album where Henrik sounds even more infuriated than before, resulting in a Swedish Grindcore party at its finest. Nothing Grows Here, the longest of all songs, will drag your soul to a realm of insanity and evil, where Magnus once again kicks some ass behind his drums supported by the razor-edged riffs by Fredrik. And how about one minute of pure aggression as the second to last song of the album? That’s what you’ll get in Forever Sleep, setting the tone for the obscure closing tune Eye of an Angry God, where Magnus dictates the song’s pace with his caustic beats while Fredrik will pierce your souls with his riffs, putting a brilliant ending to the album.

Those merciless Swedish Grindcore marauders are waiting for you on Facebook with news, tour dates and other nice-to-know information about their music, and of course you can also stream all of their insane creations on Spotify to properly disturb the peace of your neighborhood. Furthermore, above all that, don’t forget to show those unrelenting Swedish metallers your utmost support by purchasing a copy of the excellent Our Hands, Your Throat from their own BandCamp page, as well as from the Transcending Obscurity Records webstore as an 8-panel digipak CD (in the US or the EU), or as a very special CD + shirt combo (also in the US or the EU) sooner than you can say “violence”, letting Walking Corpse put their damned, blood-soaked hands around your throat in the name of classic Grindcore.

Best moments of the album: Born in Hell, Our Hands, Your Throat, The Last Laugh and Eye of an Angry God.

Worst moments of the album: Malediction.

Released in 2023 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. Dreamflesh Navigator 1:37
2. Born in Hell 3:58
3. Our Hands, Your Throat 3:36
4. The Wheel 4:57
5. Brainworm 1:38
6. Falling Through A World of Wounds 3:38
7. Malediction 1:48
8. The Last Laugh 2:27
9. Nothing Grows Here 5:17
10. Forever Sleep 1:09
11. Eye of an Angry God 3:58

Band members
Henrik Blomqvist – vocals
Fredrik Rojas – guitars, bass
Magnus Dahlin – drums, bass

Album Review – Grand Cadaver / Deities Of Deathlike Sleep (2023)

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This Gothenburg-based horde is back with their breathtaking sophomore album, offering us all ten visceral songs exhaling classic Swedish Death Metal.

When the world abruptly shut down due to the global pandemic in 2020, people started looking for other ways to communicate with each other and engage in various projects during the lockdown. That’s exactly what five longtime friends and seasoned musicians from Gothenburg and Stockholm with a mutual love for the classic Swedish Death Metal sound did, bringing to life what’s known today as Swedish Death Metal beast Grand Cadaver. Now in 2023 the band currently formed of vocalist Mikael Stanne (Dark Tranquillity, The Halo Effect), guitarists Stefan Lagergren (The Grifted, Treblinka, Expulsion) and Alex Stjernfeldt (Novarupta, Let Them Hang, CHILD), bassist Christian Jansson (Pagandom, Dark Tranquillity), and drummer Daniel Liljekvist (Vordor, Disrupted, Katatonia) is unleashing upon us their sophomore album, titled Deities Of Deathlike Sleep. Recorded by Per Stålberg, Kalle Lilja and Daniel ‘Dollars’ Deurell at Welfare Sounds, mixed by Per Stålberg, mastered by Johan Reivén at Audiolord Mastering, and displaying a sick artwork by Illusive Illustration, the album is highly recommended for fans of the most visceral form of Death Metal made in Sweden, proving why those guys are already in their second album within only three years of existence.

Daniel takes the lead in the fast and furious The Forever Doom, offering us all straightforward Death Metal with Mikael growling in great fashion in a nonstop, high-octane tune that will surely sound fantastic when played live. It’s pedal to the metal with Stefan and Alex burning our damned souls with their scorching riffs in A Crawling Feast of Decay, a headbanging extravaganza that lives up to the legacy of Scandinavian Death Metal, followed by The Wishful Dead, even darker and more menacing than its predecessors, spearheaded by Mikael and his demonic roaring while Daniel keeps dictating the albums wicked pace behind his drums. After that we have Serrated Jaws, a great name for a heavy-as-hell, mid-tempo feast of darkness by Grand Cadaver where the sinister guitars by Stefan and Alex are nicely supported by the metallic bass by Christian; whereas the title-track Deities Of Deathlike Sleep will go straight to your jugular, with the band’s guitar duo delivering a lesson in Death Metal riffage while Christian continues to hammer his bass mercilessly.

The band needs just a few seconds to ignite an insane circle pit in Vortex Of Blood, adding elements from Thrash Metal and Crust to their core deadly sounds, all of course spiced up by the demented growls by Mikael; and more of the band’s crushing, visceral music comes in the form of Funeral Reversal, with all background elements darkening their sonority even further, not to mention how bestial Daniel sounds once again on drums. Then switching gears to a Doom and Stoner Metal-infused vibe it’s time for True Necrogeny, a neck-breaking creation by the band where Mikael’s deep roars walk hand in hand with the low-tuned, thunderous bass by Christian; and back to a more direct Death Metal sound, the quintet will pulverize our senses with Stabbed With Frozen Blood, where Mikael keeps barking nonstop accompanied by the crushing beats by Daniel and the always flammable riffs by Stefan and Alex. Last but not least, Grand Cadaver will hit us hard one final time with Necrosanctum, bringing forward almost five minutes of sheer brutality blasted by all band members to perfection, resulting in a superb ending to the album.

“We never even planned to release a full-length album, and here we are with our second! ‘Deities of Deathlike Sleep’ was conceived and recorded with the same mindset and the same team as our previous recordings, keeping it quick, spontaneous and enjoyable. This time it turned out a bit more dynamic, with the pummeling fury interspersed with some doom, gloom and darkness. But still, it’s simply ten tracks of Swedish Fucking Death Metal, the way we love it,” commented Grand Cadaver about their newborn beast, and you can put your dirty hands on such infernal album by purchasing it from their own BandCamp page, from the Majestic Mountain Records’ Big Cartel as a digipak or a gatefold LP, various bundles from Trust No One Recordings, the Bengans Edition limited to 100 copies, different versions from Napalm Records, from Apple Music, and from Amazon, and don’t forget to also follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram, and to stream their wicked creations on Spotify. In the end, all that leads to a simple question. Are you craving some first-class Swedish Death Metal? If your answer is yes with a deep guttural scream, then you’ll certainly have a blast with Deities Of Deathlike Sleep.

Best moments of the album: A Crawling Feast of Decay, Deities Of Deathlike Sleep and Stabbed With Frozen Blood.

Worst moments of the album: True Necrogeny.

Released in 2023 Majestic Mountain Records

Track listing
1. The Forever Doom 3:02
2. A Crawling Feast of Decay 3:16
3. The Wishful Dead 3:35
4. Serrated Jaws 4:23
5. Deities Of Deathlike Sleep 3:26
6. Vortex Of Blood 2:24
7. Funeral Reversal 3:15
8. True Necrogeny 3:29
9. Stabbed With Frozen Blood 3:06
10. Necrosanctum 4:51

Band members
Mikael Stanne – vocals
Stefan Lagergren – guitar
Alex Stjernfeldt – guitar
Christian Jansson – bass
Daniel Liljekvist – drums

Concert Review – Helloween (History, Toronto, ON, 05/23/2023)

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The most beloved pumpkins in the universe finally returned to Toronto after a decade for a flawless night of old school, thrilling Heavy Metal, fists in the air and, believe it or not, a lot of mosh pits.

OPENING ACT: Hammerfall

What a night, my friends! What a night! History was made at History (pun intended) last night when HAMMERFALL and the almighty and unparalleled metal institution HELLOWEEN took the city of Toronto by storm with the US and Canada leg of their United Forces Tour 2023, a dream come true for the thousands of fans who were brave enough to leave the comfort of their homes on a Tuesday night (the second worst day for concerts, only behind Monday) knowing they would be absolutely exhausted today for work or school. The weather was simply perfect, as it wasn’t neither too hot nor too cold, plus of course the fact that History is an awesome venue for a night of old school metal music. Kudos to the security team for being so helpful and polite, including letting me use the bathroom inside, get back out, and then enter with my friend, and kudos also to Embrace Presents for making a dream come true for me personally (and I’ll talk more about that later).

The line for the merch stands was absolutely insane, concentrating perhaps more people than the crowd that was already positioning themselves for the opening act on the floor section, Sweden’s own Heavy/Power Metal horde HAMMERFALL, but as soon as the clock hit 7pm sharp and their concert started I think a good chunk of the fans waiting to buy merch abandoned their spots in line to enjoy the concert (and they made the right decision, of course). Although their latest albums are not something we can call “exciting” or “masterpieces” compared to their early discography, when Joacim Cans, Oscar Dronjak and crew hit the stage they showed Toronto everything they got with a solid setlist, playing songs from their 2022 album Hammer of Dawn as well as classics the likes of The Metal Age, Let the Hammer Fall and Hearts on Fire. The entire band was visibly happy to be in the city playing their music to an avid Torontonian crowd, making us all forget that it was Tuesday night, therefore looking more like a Friday night of fun and metal.

One of the funniest moments was when Joacim was introducing the song Let the Hammer Fall, saying that whenever he said “let the hammer…”, the fans should shout “FALL!”, but apparently a few fans were either sleeping or too slow to understand such “difficult” instructions, making Joacim point to the name of the band at the back of the stage and joke about it, something in the lines of “not sure if you noticed, but our name is Hammer… FALL!” Also, it looked like every single song with the word “hammer” on the title or on the chorus was the cue for Oscar to sport his hammer-shaped guitar, like in Hammer of Dawn and Hammer High. I have no idea if that guitar is good or bad, I mean, how much it impacts his playing skills, but it looked really cool specially when he raised it high in the sky like the hammer of Thor. That was basically a good depiction of the level of energy flowing throughout their set, sounding and feeling as electric as Mjölnir, and leaving their diehard fans avid for maybe a headlining tour in Canadian lands in a not-so-distant future.

Setlist
Brotherhood
Any Means Necessary
The Metal Age
Hammer of Dawn
Blood Bound
Last Man Standing
Hero’s Return / On the Edge of Honour / Riders of the Storm / Crimson Thunder (Crimson Thunder 20th Anniversary medley)
Let the Hammer Fall
(We Make) Sweden Rock
Hammer High
Hearts on Fire

Band members
Joacim Cans – vocals
Oscar Dronjak – guitars, backing vocals
Pontus Norgren – guitars, backing vocals
Fredrik Larsson – bass
David Wallin – drums

HELLOWEEN

When I said last night’s concert was a dream come true for me, I wasn’t joking. Finally, after over 30 years being a diehard fan of German Power Metal masters HELLOWEEN, I was able to witness the band live with Michael Kiske on vocals, plus of course the awesome Andi Deris and Kai Hansen, but it was Mr. Kiske who stole the show with his unique voice. None of you have any idea of how much I used to listen to Helloween in my teens (and I keep doing that until today, of course), and how much I dreamed of seeing them live with Kiske. As soon as they hit the beautiful stage at History with their new 12-minute classic Skyfall, from their 2021 self-titled masterpiece, I was already voiceless for screaming the song’s lyrics together with them. By the way, talking about new Helloween songs, during the hard-hitting Mass Pollution, the one and only Mr. Andi Deris, who’s by far one of the most entertaining frontmen in the history of metal music (and owner of a breathtaking voice), made a joke saying he wouldn’t have to translate one of the lines of the song to ask us all in Toronto to “make some noise”, generating some good laughs form the mesmerized crowd and, obviously, a lot of noise for the delight of the entire band.

Although this was my first time seeing them with the three vocalists from all of their phases, I think it’s during this United Forces Tour that they started “breaking” their setlist in three different acts; the first one with Skyfall as an intro to the entire band and all vocalists; then from the majestic Eagle Fly Free (thank you, Kiske, for such flawless performance during that classic!) until the old school Heavy Metal (Is the Law), Kiske, Deris and Hansen would take turns singing the songs; and finally, from then on they joined forces by singing all remaining songs together. I personally think that was an amazing way to entertain their fans during the entire show, keeping things fresh and vibrant until the very last second. Moreover, one of the nicest moments of their set was when they played the fast and metallic Save Us, not only providing us with one more unforgettable vocal performance by Kiske, but also igniting some sick mosh pits on the floor section. Yes, you read it correctly, mosh pits at a Helloween concert! That’s something you can only see in Canada, I guess! Not only that, Kai Hansen was also responsible for keeping the mosh pits moving well with his medley of old school German Heavy Metal anthems, including Metal Invaders, Ride the Sky, and especially Heavy Metal (Is the Law), and if you’re familiar with those songs you know how furious a circle pit can get while they’re being played, right? Thank you, Kai Hansen, for being so metal!

After such fantastic journey back to the band’s early days, it was time for a serene moment with Forever and One (Neverland), where Kiske and Deris sat down, explained in a funny way that the song was written by Deris for his “beloved ex-wife”, and delivered a passionate and very emotional vocal duet, followed by a soulful solo by Sascha Gerstner. However, that moment of peace didn’t last for too long as right after that it was time for the band to crush us all with their new hit Best Time, an inspiring song that put most of the fans (including myself) to dance so cool it is! And what can I say about the following songs, Dr. Stein and How Many Tears? I personally consider How Many Tears one of the best and most metal songs of all time, and seeing the entire band playing it live to perfection was priceless. And although Michael Weikath, Markus Grosskopf and Dani Löble didn’t talk much during their entire set, they did speak through their instruments, with How Many Tears being the ultimate display of their dexterity, feeling and passion for heavy music. Do I need to say that song ignited some more wicked mosh pits?

The show was almost over, but not before Andi Deris got his famous top hat for their David Lee Roth-like classic Perfect Gentleman, followed by 13 minutes of pure metal awesomeness with Keeper of the Seven Keys. Damn, that was superb! And their coup de grâce came in the form of nothing more, nothing less than I Want Out, a genre-defining masterpiece that became even more thrilling with all the black and orange giant balloons thrown to the crowd. Try imagining mosh pits going on during such classic with those balloons flying around the venue. That’s how perfect the night was, got it? I was exhausted after all was said and done, but at the same time I was ready for more Helloween in Toronto (or anywhere else in the world), and hopefully it won’t take another decade for one of my beloved bands to return to the city. Toronto loves you, Michael Kiske! Toronto loves you, Andi Deris! Toronto loves you, Kai Hansen! Toronto loves you, Michael Weikath! Toronto loves you, Sascha Gerstner! Toronto loves you, Markus Grosskopf! And Toronto loves you, Dani Löble! Please come back to the city for more as soon as possible! You’ve got the POWER to return! You are divine!

Setlist
Halloween (Snippet / Intro)
Orbit
Skyfall
Eagle Fly Free
Mass Pollution
Future World
Power
Save Us
Walls of Jericho
Metal Invaders / Victim of Fate / Gorgar / Ride the Sky
Heavy Metal (Is the Law)
Forever and One (Neverland)
Guitar Solo (Sascha Gerstner)
Best Time
Dr. Stein
How Many Tears

Encore:
Perfect Gentleman
Keeper of the Seven Keys

Encore 2:
I Want Out
For the Love of a Princess (James Horner song)

Band members
Michael Kiske – vocals
Andi Deris – vocals
Kai Hansen – guitars, vocals
Michael Weikath – guitars
Sascha Gerstner – guitars
Markus Grosskopf – bass
Dani Löble – drums

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Metal Chick of the Month – Akane Liv

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Sing with Akane Liv! Be brave! Free your soul!

Do you know what happens when the Land of the Rising Sun, the Land of the Morning Calm, the Land of Fields, and the Elongated Country are combined in the name of heavy music? Well, the result is our metal lady of the month of March, and I’m sure you’ll fall in love with her beautiful vocals, stunning looks and undeniable charisma after knowing more about a woman who perfectly unites Japan, South Korea, Poland and Sweden in her blood. Her real full name is Akane Okamoto-Kaminski, but everyone knows her by her stage name of Akane Liv, the multi-talented frontwoman of Japanese Symphonic Power Metal band Liv Moon, owner of a unique voice that will bring warmth to your soul during the last month of winter in the northern hemisphere without a shadow of a doubt.

Born on August 24, 1978 to a Polish-Swedish father and a Korean-Japanese mother in Gothenburg, a major city in Sweden situated off the Göta älv river on the country’s west coast, Akane Liv was actually raised and educated in the ultramodern yet traditional Japanese capital Tokyo. After graduating high school, she joined Takarazuka Revue, an elite Japanese all-female theatre troupe introduced to her by her aunt who was already a fan of the project (and she took Akane Liv there for the first time when she was still in elementary school), having performed with the company for six years before departing, enrolling at a small international college in Oxford, England. Whilst in England, Akane Liv took lessons in classical singing and performed at the 2004 edition of the Beckenham Music Festival, where she was named the Singer of the Year and, therefore, attracted a lot of attention worldwide. Despite being accepted to the prestigious Royal Academy of Music, she didn’t study there for long. Following a solo recital in Poland, she returned to Japan in 2005, where she continued to perform, graduating from Takarazuka Revue and meting producer Tatsuya Nishiwaki, leading to the founding of Liv Moon in 2009 while also releasing music under her own name, Akane Liv. Furthermore, when questioned about the main reasons why she left Takarazuka Revue the first time, Akane Liv mentioned that after seeing how musicals work in other parts of the world she felt that Takarazuka Revue was a dream world where she had to stay in character and wear makeup and costumes all the time, something very demanding for her.

Needless to say, there’s no Liv Moon without Akane Liv and vice-versa, with our metal lady being the heart and soul of the band since their inception in 2009. Currently formed of our diva Akane Liv together with Tatsuya Nishiwaki on keyboards, Masaki on bass, Kentaro on the guitars, Hideki Harasawa on drums, and Saori Hoshino on the violin, Liv Moon play beautiful Symphonic Power Metal dealing with topics such as tragedy, poetry, love and dark romanticism, having already released the full-length albums Double Moon (2009), Covers – Scream as a Woman (2010), Golden Moon (2011), Symphonic Moon (2012), The End of the Beginning (2012), and more recently Our Stories (2022), as well as a compilation called The Best of Liv Moon (2015), the EP R.E.D (2016), and a series of live albums and videos, those being Liv Moon Club Show Golden Moon (2011), Liv Moon Club Show 2012 “Symphonic Moon” – Black Night (2012), Liv Moon Club Show 2012 “Symphonic Moon” – White Night (2012), Liv Moon Club Show 2012 “Symphonic Moon” – White Night & Black Night (2012), and Liv Moon Live 2012 “The End of the Beginning” (2013). If you want to have a taste of the music by Liv Moon, you can enjoy the official videos for Escape, Never… and El Dorado on YouTube, or simply stream all of their releases on Spotify.

As aforementioned, our beloved diva also has her own solo project since 2013, simply named Akane Liv, having released her debut album titled Liv back in 2014. From that album, you can enjoy Akane Liv’s mesmerizing vocals in songs such as Night Parade, Summer Shadow, and Hikari, where you can easily see how she managed to blend international rock and pop music with Japanese pop. Apart from that, you can find Akane Liv as a guest vocalist in the songs Angel of Salvation, from the 2012 album by the same name by Japanese Neoclassical Power Metal act Galneryus; Incredible Bass Show, from the 2013 album Psycho Daze Bass by Japanese Heavy Metal/Shred project Masaki; Alone, from the 2010 album Crying Stars – Stand Proud!, and Chaotic Reality, from the 2019 album Vorvados, both by Japanese Neoclassical Power Metal project Syu; and Poison Eyes, from the 2013 album Devils in the Dark by Japanese Melodic Power Metal/Shred project Takayoshi Ohmura.

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A huge fan of Queen and Bon Jovi, playing songs such as Livin’ On A Prayer to cheer herself up, our diva mentioned in one of her interviews that she opened her eyes and ears to Symphonic Metal after listening to The Phantom of the Opera on the radio in a taxi while she was studying in England. She said that everyone in that musical showcased a powerful voice, saying she was moved by that, and also mentioning that The Phantom of the Opera has a strong rock vibe even among musicals, with its bass and drums sounding truly heavy. She also said that she doesn’t think Symphonic Metal and Takarazuka Revue are too different, because when she sings Symphonic Metal she also play various characters, sometimes even a different one every four or five minutes when a new song comes up (as opposed to Takarazuka Revue, where she used to play only one character for one hour or two), as Symphonic Metal has a stronger theatrical element than most metal styles. For instance, she mentioned that the role of Madame Red in Black Butler is a character that she couldn’t have created if she hadn’t invested in a darker and heavier world with Liv Moon, as that was a character full of jealousy, passion, affection and all kinds of emotions that are common to most women, whereas on the Liv Moon side, she wants her fans to have a very theatrical experience as if they were watching a theater group like Takarazuka Revue.

Having played a male role during a considerable amount of time with Takarazuka Revue, Akane Liv believes that the project’s appeal is that it expresses men and women of all ages as one single gender, with all of its gorgeous costumes making the whole experience of watching it even more compelling. Perhaps the only “issue” she had during her time with Takarazuka Revue was that she often sang only low notes despite being a good soprano, albeit that also helped her build her own layers when singing with Liv Moon. Lastly, despite being an accomplished singer and performer, Akane Liv said she still feels a little shy when she has to speak in front of an audience instead of singing, which by the way happens to several amazing artists out there, as after all is said and done, we’re all humans and we all have our fears, weaknesses and flaws, right? And being not just a great vocalist and artist, but above all that, an amazing person, is what turned Akane Liv into one of the most interesting names of the current Japanese music scene, as well as into our beloved metal lady this month.

Akane Liv’s Official Instagram
Akane Liv’s Official Twitter
Liv Moon’s Official Facebook page
Liv Moon’s Official YouTube channel

Album Review – Mustasch / A Final Warning – Chapter One EP (2021)

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Celebrating 20 years since their first record was released, these Swedish rockers are inviting us all to hit the dance floor to the sound of their new EP.

3.0rating

mustasch-a-final-warning-chapter-one-ep-2021With their straightforward and uncompromising attitude, Gothenburg, Sweden-based Heavy Metal/Hard Rock squad Mustasch is ready to celebrate 20 years since their first record was released now in 2021 with two new EP’s, the first being A Final Warning – Chapter One, followed by A Final Warning – Chapter Two (to be released in October). Comprised of Ralf Gyllenhammar on vocals and guitar, David Johannesson on lead guitar, Stam Johansson on bass and Robban Bäck on drums, Mustasch started way back in 1998 and have quickly become one of the most important Hard Rock bands of the Swedish scene, provoking many and having their music loved by many more, leading the band to win two Swedish Grammys so far in their career.  In A Final Warning – Chapter One, the band sounds more incendiary and melodic than ever, offering fans 20 minutes of pure Mustasch and, therefore, leaving us all eager for the second part of their celebrations later this year.

Without further ado, it’s time to ignite your rockin’ engines to the sound of the sharp riffs by Ralf and David and the rumbling bass by Stam in A Final Warning, blending the heaviness of classic Hard Rock with modern nuances and epic background effects, whereas going back to the golden years of pure Heavy Metal the quartet fires the metallic extravaganza Contagious, where Robban kicks some ass on drums while Ralf declaims the song’s lyrics with tons of energy and aggressiveness. Then investing in a more modern version of Hard Rock and Rock N’ Roll we have Albert Einstein, again showcasing classic, in-your-face guitar riffs while Ralf delivers a mix of System Of a Down and The Cult through his enraged vocals. Stam’s bass brings the groove to the dancing and sexy You Are Killing Me, and you better get ready to bang your heads nonstop together with the quartet as Ralf steals the spotlight on vocals accompanied by Robban’s crushing beats; followed by Searching for Long Range Communication, sounding as if it was taken from a 70’s action movie. In other words, it’s sheer Rock N’ Roll with Stam and Robban jamming like there’s no tomorrow until the melancholic and smooth outro To Be Continued puts an end to the EP.

mustasch-2021You can hit the dance floor by listening to the full EP on Spotify, but of course in order to show your support to the guys from Mustasch you should purchase your copy of the EP from the Sound Pollution webstore, from Napalm Records, from Season of Mist, from Apple Music or from Amazon. In addition, don’t forget to follow those unstoppable Swedish rockers on Facebook and on Instagram, getting to know more about the band and warming up your senses for their upcoming EP. Will Mustach outdo themselves in the next chapter of A Final Warning? Stay tuned for the wild conclusion this October, my friends!

Best moments of the album: Contagious and You Are Killing Me.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2021 Tritonus Records

Track listing
1. A Final Warning 5:03
2. Contagious 3:01
3. Albert Einstein 3:25
4. You Are Killing Me 3:52
5. Searching for Long Range Communication 3:49
6. To Be Continued 1:28

Band members
Ralf Gyllenhammar – lead vocals, guitar
David Johannesson – lead guitar
Stam Johansson – bass
Robban Bäck – drums

Album Review – Ov Shadows / I Djävulens Avbild (2020)

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Arising from the darkest pits of Gothenburg, this Swedish horde is ready to stun us all once again with the Atmospheric Black Metal guided by chaos and darkness from their sophomore opus.

“Come forth from eternity
Beyond the paradise and tempt me with the forbidden fruit
Tempt me with knowledge and power and let me become god
I’m willing to leave the paradise
Mother of blasphemy and fornication
Dark goddess Lilith”

Gothenburg, Sweden’s own Black Metal entity Ov Shadows is rising once again form the pits of the underworld to stun us all with their sophomore full-length opus, titled I Djävulens Avbild, which translates to English as “In the Devil’s Image”, the follow-up to their 2018 debut album The Darkness Between Stars. Featuring a beautiful artwork by artist Vandraren, also known as Mister Snowpulse, the new record presents the band comprised of RA on vocals and bass, AA and AF on the guitars, and JW on drums at an unprecedented ferocity and forward-momentum, and apparently very intent on proving that to their listeners immediately, as pummeling drums and a heavy galloping riff fill the speakers within seconds of the album. “Ov Shadows is about exploring and embracing the dark aspects that dwell within us all – your ‘shadows-self’ as Carl Jung expressed it. Our vision is to create an atmospheric Black Metal guided by chaos and darkness,” commented the band, inviting us all to join them in their obscure and austere realm.

As aforementioned, the opening tune Den Eld Som Tär Och Förvrider (“The Fire That Consumes And Distorts”) offers us all an infernal sonic devastation from the very first second, with RA showcasing his welcome card in the form of his otherworldly screeches while JW shakes the foundations of the earth with his thunderous blast beats, whereas in Blasfemiskt Crescendo (“Blasphemous Crescendo”) we’re treated to more of their demonic Black Metal where AA and AF sound like two chainsaws with their cutting riffs, providing RA all he needs to thrive with both his wicked roars and rumbling bass. And an imposing and grim vibe will penetrate deep inside your soul in the Atmospheric Black Metal tune titled Under Dödens Vingar (“Under the Wings of Death”), where the band’s guitar duo continues to fire lancinating riffs through their axes nosntop while JW keeps the pace as heavy and thunderous as possible behind his drum set.

This Swedish quartet keeps slamming our skulls with their strident and sulfurous Black Metal in Anakoretens Gap (“The Maw of the Anchorite”), sounding very rhythmic, somber and doomed, spearheaded by JW’s bestial drumming and the always venomous growling by RA, while the title-track I Djävulens Avbild (“In the Devil’s Image”) keeps bringing to our avid ears Ov Shadows’ dense fusion of old school and contemporary Black Metal with Melodic Black Metal and even Doom Metal nuances, with the spine-chilling guitars by AA and AF giving you nightmares during your sleep. Then blazing guitars and a feeling of hopelessness will invade your senses in Spotsk (“Defiant”), another Stygian creation by Ov Shadows presenting some interesting breaks and variations amidst all the havoc crafted by JW and RA with their devilish kitchen, followed by the closing aria Av Kunskap Krönt Till Gud (“By Knowledge Crowned God”), even more demonic and dark than its predecessors, or in other words, a lesson in Melodic Black Metal led by RA’s hellish screams while AA and AF keep bringing fire and wrath to the musicality with their sick riffage.

The Stygian and austere creations by Ov Shadows are waiting for you on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course if you want to show your true support to this skillful Swedish horde and your admiration for the darkest side of heavy music, you can buy your copy of I Djävulens Avbild, all sung in their mother tongue Swedish by the way (as opposed to their previous album entirely sung in English), from the Hypnotic Dirge Records’ BandCamp or webstore in regular CD format or as an amazing CD + shirt + patch + sticker bundle, and you can always follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram for new, tour dates and more of their hellish music. Chaos and darkness reign supreme in the musical world brought forth by Ov Shadows in their newborn spawn, pointing to a bright future for the band in their already solid career, and inviting us all to renounce light and succumb to darkness for all eternity.

Best moments of the album: Blasfemiskt Crescendo, Anakoretens Gap and Av Kunskap Krönt Till Gud.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2020 Hypnotic Dirge Records

Track listing
1. Den Eld Som Tär Och Förvrider 6:26
2. Blasfemiskt Crescendo 6:24
3. Under Dödens Vingar 5:44
4. Anakoretens Gap 5:07
5. I Djävulens Avbild 6:09
6. Spotsk 6:34
7. Av Kunskap Krönt Till Gud 6:34

Band members
RA – vocals, bass
AA – guitars
AF – guitars
JW – drums

Concert Review – Amon Amarth (Rebel, Toronto, ON, 10/09/2019)

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A night of epic battles, endless circle pits and heavy-as-hell anthems offered by a horde of Swedish bands to all of us “Vikings” in Toronto, spearheaded by one of the biggest names of the current metal scene.

OPENING ACTS: Grand Magus, At The Gates and Arch Enemy

What a fun night, my fellow Vikings! The Swedish invasion that took the city of Toronto by storm last night at Rebel was beyond entertaining, and I can’t find the right words to describe the heaviness and power from all four bands of the night, Grand Magus, At The Gates, Arch Enemy and the almighty Amon Amarth (all hailing from Sweden, of course). There was a lot of beer drinking, endless mosh pits, lots of screaming, horns in the air, the encounter (although playing at different times with their respective bands) of the talented “Erlandsson Brothers” Adrian and Daniel, and a humongous dosage of our good old Heavy Metal.

The first band of the night was Stockholm-based Heavy/Doom Metal power trio GRAND MAGUS, which I confess I didn’t know much before last night. And let me tell you they kick some serious ass with their fusion of classic doom with Nordic themes, setting the stage on fire with their crisp and thunderous performance. Currently promoting their new album Wolf God, the band comprised of vocalist and guitarist JB Christoffersson, bassist Fox Skinner and drummer Ludwig Witt thanked all fans that were able to arrive early at Rebel to witness their fantastic concert, with their closing song, the battle hymn entitled Hammer of the North, being the icing on the cake to their flawless performance. I hope they return to Toronto soon for another killer concert, and if I were you I would search for their music right now on Spotify or on YouTube as it’s definitely worth it.

Setlist
I, the Jury
Dawn of Fire
Like the Oar Strikes the Water
Iron Will
Hammer of the North

Band members
JB Christoffersson – vocals, guitar
Fox Skinner – bass
Ludwig Witt – drums 

After a very short break it was time for Gothenburg’s own Melodic Death Metal institution AT THE GATES to bring to Toronto all their rage and darkness, inspiring the fans that were already filling up all the spaces at the venue to ignite some serious circle pits. Also, although the band has recently released two EP’s named The Mirror Black and With the Pantheons Blind, it felt like they “ignored” that and kept playing the same setlist used during their tour to promote their 2018 album To Drink from the Night Itself, with songs such as To Drink From the Night Itself and The Colours of the Beast being among my favorite ones of their solid performance. Needless to say, Tomas Lindberg was amazing with his harsh, desperate vocals throughout the entire concert, as well as Adrian Erlandsson, who was perhaps trying to “set the tone” for his brother Daniel with Arch Enemy right after that. A great warm-up concert as usual, and a great band for anyone who loves violence and mosh pits from the bottom of their blackened hearts.

Setlist
Der Widerstand
To Drink From the Night Itself
Slaughter of the Soul
At War With Reality
The Colours of the Beast
Cold
Heroes and Tombs
El Altar del Dios Desconocido
Death and the Labyrinth
Blinded by Fear
The Night Eternal

Band members
Tomas Lindberg – vocals
Martin Larsson – guitars
Jonas Stålhammar – guitars
Jonas Björler – bass
Adrian Erlandsson – drums

The venue was already packed when the one and only ARCH ENEMY hit the stage and began their high-octane, incendiary concert, and within a few seconds the entire floor section was already turned into a massive circle pit for our total delight. The multi-talented frontwoman Alissa White-Gluz was absolutely brutal and unstoppable, reminding us all she was the only Canadian in this tour and, consequently, asking us all to show those Swedish guys how awesome Canadian metallers are. Their setlist was quite solid for the time they had available, mixing a few songs from their latest album Will to Power, released in 2017, with some of their older classics. Also, I guess I don’t need to say how brilliant both Michael Amott and Jeff Loomis were with their axes, right? And if you were there last night, I bet you know what the words Ravenous and Nemesis mean to your neck, elbows and throat.

Setlist
Set Flame to the Night
The World Is Yours
War Eternal
My Apocalypse
Ravenous
The Eagle Flies Alone
First Day in Hell
Saturnine
As the Pages Burn
Nemesis
Enter the Machine

Band members
Alissa White-Gluz – vocals
Michael Amott – lead guitars, backing vocals
Jeff Loomis – lead guitars, backing vocals
Sharlee D’Angelo – bass
Daniel Erlandsson – drums

AMON AMARTH

After all those insanely heavy and electrifying bands warmed us up really well on a not-so-cold Torontonian night, we were more than ready to join the berserkers from AMON AMARTH on their musical journey to Valhalla, and that journey was perfect from start to finish, no doubt about that. Playing a good chunk of songs form their 2019 opus Berserker, which by the way worked really well live as the whole album kicks ass, such as Raven’s Flight, Crack the Sky, Fafner’s Gold and one of my favorites of the night, the battle hymn Shield Wall, the Swedish horde spearheaded by Johan Hegg showed us everything they got, including a Viking ship, a Viking battle, a demonic entity that looked like a skeleton version of Loki, and their traditional beer drinking horn during the party anthem Raise Your Horns.

Not sure if you noticed what I’m about to say, but all my photos of the concert are really bad, and that’s solely because it was impossible to stand still and try to take any decent pictures in the floor section due to the never-ending, gigantic and brutal circle pits happening. There was a bit of everything into the pit, from giant Viking guys to tiny (but still violent) Chinese girls, proving how big Amon Amarth are getting and how their theatrical performance combined with their powerful music is attracting more and more people to their concerts. And what can I say about what the fans did during a good part of their all-time classic Twilight of the Thunder God? I would say more than half of the floor section simply sat down on the floor and started rowing all together, as if they were true Vikings on a Viking ship sailing towards battle! That was a memorable and extremely fun moment of the night (and I don’t recall seeing that happen anywhere else, unless it’s a new thing during Amon Amarth concerts that I’m not aware of), and something that only proves how strong the band has become since their inception.

The entire band was more than happy with the reception they got from us here in Toronto, smiling back to us and banging their heads nonstop, and only stopping all that devastation to say THANK YOU, TORONTO! a thousand times. If that wasn’t a statement that they’re coming back to our city again and again, and every single time with a bigger and better concert, I don’t know what would be. Would Amon Amarth be the next “metal giant” after dinosaurs like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica and Slayer call it quits? Will those classic bands pass the torch to our beloved Swedish Vikings? Well, only time will tell, but based on the quality of their discography and, above all, the high energy and epicness of their live performances, they more than deserve that place among the metal gods. All hail Amon Amarth, and may Toronto witness their epic, heavy-as-hell metal hymns and onstage battles countless more times in the coming decades!

Setlist
Raven’s Flight
Runes to My Memory
Deceiver of the Gods
First Kill
Fafner’s Gold
Crack the Sky
The Way of Vikings
Shield Wall
Guardians of Asgaard
Raise Your Horns
The Pursuit of Vikings
Twilight of the Thunder God

Band members
Johan Hegg – vocals
Olavi Mikkonen – guitar
Johan Söderberg – guitar
Ted Lundström – bass guitar
Jocke Wallgren – drums

Album Review – Dødsfall / Døden Skal Ikke Vente (2019)

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An unstoppable Black Metal force from Norway returns with their long-awaited fifth album, containing 10 new unrelenting tracks of pure hate and anger.

After four years of silence, the unstoppable Norwegian Black Metal force known as Dødsfall returns with their long-awaited fifth album, entitled Døden Skal Ikke Vente, or “death shall not wait” from Norwegian, containing 10 new tracks of pure hate and anger in its best form. And their new album is the result of a huge wave of inspiration that grew up like a snowball after the release of Kaosmakt, in early 2015, resulting in a fresh and creative album holding on to their roots and the sound that was established from the very beginning on the band’s career. It can be described as a successful combination of past and present with new elements and different sources of inspiration, sounding epic, majestic and furious with a medieval touch inspired from the cold lands of the north.

Formed in 2009 in Bergen, Norway, but currently located between Gothenburg, Sweden and Oslo, Norway, Dødsfall is the brainchild of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Ishtar, who together with newcomer Telal on drums (who has been playing with acts like Troll, Isvind, and Endezzma, to name a few) created a sulfurous and dark beast in the form of their new album Døden Skal Ikke Vente. Featuring a crushing, ominous album artwork by underground artist Pazuzuh, who previously worked with the band on the artwork of their album Djevelens Evangelie, from 2013, Døden Skal Ikke Vente will take you on a journey through vast, bitterly cold Norwegian lands, proving once again why Norway is and will always be the birthplace and home of true Black Metal.

Ishatr and Telal begin disturbing all peace and order with their ruthless blend of old school and contemporary Black Metal in Hemlig Vrede (or “secret wrath” in English), sounding very melodic and aggressive form the very first second and with Ishtar’s demonic gnarls being flawlessly complemented by Telal’s brutish blast beats. Their furious and thunderous Black Metal keeps hammering our heads in Tåkefjell (“fog mountain”), another piercing composition where the guitars by Ishtar sound as metallic as they can be, also presenting lots of breaks and variations, and consequently feeling like three or four songs in one; followed by the obscure and melancholic Svarta Drömmar (“black dreams”), where their Black Metal is darkly infused with Atmospheric Black Metal elements, with its rhythm being dictated by Telal’s precise drums and with highlights to Ishtar’s anguished growls.

Putting the pedal to the metal this infernal duo delivers a vicious onrush of violent and raw sounds entitled Grå Himlar (“gray skies”), with the riffs and solos by Ishtar cutting our skin mercilessly, and therefore setting the bar high for the rest of the album. Well, the duo doesn’t disappoint at all in the following track, Kampsalmer (“battle hymns”), a headbanging, marching chant showcasing bestial riffs and demonic roars all enfolded by a truly menacing ambience, and the music remains vile and sulfurous until its epic ending. Then led by the pounding drums by Telal and displaying an inspired Ishatr on the guitar we have the full-bodied, intricate tune entitled I de Dødens Øyne  (“in the eyes of death”), a song tailored for admirers of classic Black Metal who also love to raise their horns and slam into the pit in the name of extreme music.

Continuing with their feast of incendiary and dark sounds they offer us all Ødemarkens Mørkedal (“the dark valley of the wilderness”), an ode to Scandinavian Black Metal where Ishtar growls and roars in a bestial way while Telal keeps crushing his drums nonstop, whereas the heavy-as-hell guitar lines by Ishtar ignite the flammable För Alltid I Min Sjæl (“forever in my soul”), a mid-tempo Black Metal extravaganza where Ishtar and Telal are on fire from start to finish, sounding as infernal and sharp as possible. The last song of the album, named Ondskapelse (“evil hands”), brings more of their hellish Scandinavian Black Metal infused with Melodic Black Metal nuances, with Telal smashing his drums just the way we love it in Extreme Metal, flowing like rapid fire until the instrumental outro Skogstrollet (“forest troll”) captivates our senses with the howling sound of the cold wind, ending the album on an ethereal note.

You can better explore the chilly and vile realm of Norwegian Black Metal crafted by Dødsfall by following them on Facebook, and show your support to such talented duo by purchasing Døden Skal Ikke Vente (available for a full listen on YouTube, by the way) from their own BandCamp page, as well as from the Osmose Productions’ BandCamp or webstore, and from Record Shop X. Let all the frost, hatred and evil flowing from the music found in Døden Skal Ikke Vente embrace you, leading you on a fantastic and somber one-way journey into the absolute darkness and void we learned to love in Norwegian Black Metal.

Best moments of the album: Tåkefjell, Grå Himlar and I de Dødens Øyne.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2019 Osmose Productions

Track listing
1. Hemlig Vrede 4:30
2. Tåkefjell 4:54
3. Svarta Drömmar 5:29
4. Grå Himlar 4:29
5. Kampsalmer 4:50
6. I de Dødens Øyne 5:37
7. Ødemarkens Mørkedal 5:25
8. För Alltid I Min Sjæl 4:32
9. Ondskapelse 5:04
10. Skogstrollet (Instrumental) 1:04

Band members
Ishtar – vocals, guitars, bass
Telal – drums