OLD MAN GLOOM - ''Seminar III/ Zozobra'' CD

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It looks like this is the third part, third CD of this modern sounding all-star band from the states. I haven't heard the other two releases yet so I can't tell you if there is any connection between. I just hope this is going to continue into next Seminar because this is good. It's the new wave of hardcore. Sad, melancholic and slow metal influenced heaviness filled with all kind of samples similar to Isis and Neurosis. There is just one 27 min long song, but totally worth its price. The whole thing is like a long, lonely and thoughtful trip with a train that leads through the desert. TORTUGA RECORDINGS, P.O. BOX 15608, BOSTON, MA 02215, USA www.tortugarecordungs.com

BURST - ''Conquest: Writhe'' LP

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Another Swedish fine release. I don't know much about Burst except they have a split 7'' with Lash Out on Impression records (Check out the review I wrote a long time ago). As I remember I liked their side of the record a lot. Anyway, here is a full-length. At first I was a little confused because of the layout. I thought it's another split. Well, I'm glad it isn't. Here we have 10 songs of sad and dark music where dominate fast and mid-tempo drumming and guitar melodies. Sometimes rhythms becomes pretty fast and that's what makes this record different than most of the bands of that type. On the other hand guitar melodies make this record melancholic and original. Sometimes they remind me on Eclipse '' the Jehovah Congress'' album, but Burst definitely have style of their own. Obscure personal lyrics dealing with sad and dishonest world we are living in, and searching for the essence of life. If you are into Swedish hardcore you have to get this one! P.F.C., RODRIGO ALFARO, BOX 7092, S-200 42 MALMO, SWEDEN http://fly.to/putridfilth

ANALENA - ''Arhythmetics'' CD

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In a short time Analena become pretty well known band and it's not difficult to figure out why. Their music, live appearances, nice people… yep, they know how to fascinate the audience. Their music is some kind of mixture between emocore, punk and noise with screaming and singing female vocal. It can be pleasant and listenable as for hardcore kids as also for mainstream side. There are 8 diverse songs full of emotions with rather simple structures but far away from something bad. They have two cover songs of Black Flag and Kylie Minogue. I'm wondering what is ''Confide in me'' of Kylie Minogue about? I mean, I heard this song already as a Systral version and I liked it a lot. Fuck, it was the best song on their ''Fever…'' album, but I don't remember I ever heard it in its original version. Anyway, ''Arhythmetics'' is good but if you want to see/hear Analena in a full light you have to check them out live. GET OFF REC., BAHNHOFSTR. 2, 74072 HEILBRONN, GERMANY www.analena.f2s.com

STANDSTILL - ''The ionic spell'' CD

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Standstill is a hot Spanish band and this must be their second album. Once I borrowed their first CD and as I remember it was quite good. Maybe it was even better but definitely not as mature as this one. ''The ionic spell'' contains 12 songs which pretty much differs from song to song and including also some instrumental improvisations and samples breaks. Each song has it's own speciality like beautiful tender parts and following sharp guitar hitting for instance. Screaming vocal is dominating, but they have also some singing and speaking moments. Whole thing reminds me a lot on Croatian band Clean except the song titled ''Sunrise people in sunset days'' which is a reflection of some Boy Sets Fire easier song. The production is great and the lyrics are beautiful! There was a lot of work, no doubt! BCORE DISC, P.O. BOX 35221, 08080 BARCELONA, SPAIN www.bcoredisc.com

QUATZEL - ''Dead end tracks'' CD

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Comparing to their previous release titled ''The messenger lies bleeding…'' I like this one much more. I like just a few songs on ''The messenger lies bleeding…'' but here I like more or less each song. They are doing this beautiful emotional music with screaming/singing vocal and untraditional rhythms, which are sometimes wild and next time totally calm and relaxing. Everyone in a bend is doing his part great. It sounds really original and sometimes it's hard to imagine they are coming from Belgium. The lyrics are simple but quite interesting. Personal thing. Beautiful! CONSPIRACY RECORDS, PO BOX 269, 2000 ANTWERP 1, BELGIUM www.conspiracyrecords.com

PIG DESTROYER - ''Prowler in the yard'' CD

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Brutal layout, brutal lyrics and brutal music. If I wouldn't like this I would have stopped right here but matter of fact I like this a lot. As I know Pig Destroyer released quite some stuff, which were released on various smaller hardcore labels but this time they released their new material on a major label Relapse and it's not hard to figure out why the label picked them up. 22 songs of extreme blasting grind with screaming distorted vocal and incredible technical guitar and drums playing. It's surprising there are just 3 guys in a band (drums, guitar and vocal) but when you go through the songs you almost don't notice that…or I should say you don't missing other instruments. At least I'm totally pleased with the music this disc offering to me. The lyrics are very messy but I think there is some connection between - together with the text in the booklet and the layout. Frightful sick lyrics are a little too much for me and I don't know what can I think about it, but there are also some of them that I like. ''Murder blossom'' - Dyed red hair, a forest green dress and a pair of kitchen knives. It was the last time I ever saw a rose. RELAPSE RECORDS, PO BOX 2060, UPPER DARDY, PA 19082, USA www.relapse.com www.loudnet.com/pigdestroyer

NASUM - ''Human 2.0.'' LP

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This is amazing stuff. All together 25 songs of top notch Swedish super fast technical grindcore. Sometimes it's a little hard going through all this songs instantly but there are days when I'm listening to this again and again. The lyrics are great - just the way they should be: simple, direct and intelligent - touching social and political problems in our society. Great stuff! I hope I will have a chance seeing them live someday. RELAPSE RECORDS, PO BOX 2060, UPPER DARDY, PA 19082, USA www.relapse.com www.nasum.com

DRIVEN - ''s/t'' CDR

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Driven have been one of my favourite bands from the very first time I heard them and their show I attended about a month ago has proved they are really amazing band. ''Cowardice consumer of the west'' was great and I was really looking forward for a new material. Now I have here their CDR with two songs ''Outshining leviathan'' and ''11th Hour''. These two songs have taken them quite some time but that's totally understandable since I heard their singer is studying in the states and the rest of the guys are in Holland. I can't imagine how their practices looks like. Anyway, this two songs pretty differs from their older material. They are more technical and there is not that much emphasis on the guitar melodies like on their previous release. Songs are quite unpredictable and there are some cool crossings. The production isn't really shining and so the vocal isn't like we would expect to be but that doesn't ruin the feeling here. If I move on to the lyrics I must say they are amazing too! Thoughtful and full of metaphors. I think they both dealing with those who are above us - those who making our lives miserable. I can't wait to see what's up next! www.crimethinc.com

MAHARAHJ - ''Repetition'' CD

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This is probably one of these releases I was looking forward the most. And I think it was worth waiting. I mean, the lyrics aren't really my thing - they are too apocalyptical and most of them don't make any sense to me. But the music… sugar! Don't expect something like ''Chapter one: The descent'' because this one is far more complicated, faster and of course better. Songs are technical, chaotic and very messy with tons of sick riffs. There are also some breaks where acoustic guitar or piano takes its place which match perfectly with all this painful music. Their new style actually reminds me on Creation is Crucifixion a lot! I definitely want more from this Canadian crazy guys! NOW OR NEVER RECORDS, 61 RIORDAN PLACE, SHREWSBURY, NJ 07702, USA www.noworneverrecords.com www.eccentrica.org/maharahj

NBP - ''For those who drink their coffee black'' MCD

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Netherlands is known as a country with a huge number of old school hardcore bands. Well, Nbp is definitely not one of them. This time they released six new songs, which are much different like I would expect according to their older material. The music on this disc is mid tempo emocore with some metal influences, screaming/singing vocals and nice catchy guitar melodies. Pretty good actually but not as attractive as their full length ''…and the plot thickens'', although I think there are many of you who like/ will like this record more. Lyrics dealing mostly with inner oppression and are not really my type of lyrics. HECTIC RECORDS, RIETBERGSTRAAT 78, 7201 GK ZUTPHEN, THE NETHERLANDS www.nbp.nightwork.org