Defiant – “Morbid Spiritual Illness” author by Alek

And so it begins... In front of me and my ears is a very interesting album from the croatian death metal band “Defiant”. If you wonder about the genre of their music, it’s easy, either you know them from quite some time or you will enter their circle right now. I’ll sum it up as a death metal with very smooth and smart flows of black metal atmosphere. The release is fresh from the Miner Records bakery, it saw its light of the day back in october. 

The album opens with a very “nervy” intro and suddenly blows into the first whisper of the album, “Origen”. “Origen” comes in a brutalish and rusty form leaving my ears irritated but in a positive way. It moves the tension just to prepare you for what is about to come in “Padurea Neagra”. I love the bass guitar which does not hide behind the guitars, that’s about a great sign for my taste. Now, behold “Aeons of Erebus”!!! This is where the the band comes to the heterogenic musical expression, drum and bass part with acoustic guitar. And you are already in their way and they pull you with them with the cruel “Har Sinai” (just in case you were left behind). From “Flesh is Nothing” the band suddenly throws some classical metal riffs into their expression and you are starting to think, what else will happen till the end. It’s not my intention to reveal every single detail of the album but my intention is to get you into this great work of metal. There are two songs that step up here, “The Gospel of Ninevah” and “Elusive Serpent” that in some way show the wider musical aspect of Defiant’s espression.

This is my first meeting with “Defiant” and hope not the last. I very much appreciate bands that (not know in a technical manner) manage to flow naturally from genre to genre, from influence to atmosphere, and “Defiant” are just doing it smoothly. I also like what is noticeable from far distance, and that’s the critical approach in the lyrics of the whole spirituality concept. Misanthropic views of people’s fake spiritual idols. I hold on to the point that death metal (and metal in general) must have a message written! You guys have it!

And my “Chordes...” not to remain “...empty” I must admit that I was expecting to hear some solos in their music. Seemed like inevitable. There are many very dinamyc atmospheric parts that could’ve been strongly fulfilled with some solos. “Morbid Spiritual Illness” is by far not a hibrid album, it’s pretty much wide in a death metal sense, but c’mon, let us hear some solos in near future that will pull us out of this “...Spiritual Illness” and will bring us to a new “Gospel...” or “Ellusive Serpent”. And the last thing that could go as an advice is maybe on the next album they should start thinking about dirty-er and more massive sound. I hope that will pull the best out of this crew. 

All in all it was a great death metal travelling through “Morbid Spiritual Illness”!!!

Rating: 8.5/10

Reviews@Groteska - Podzemne Vode

Groteska – Podzemne vode

Label: Miner Recordings

Year: 16.10.2015

Format: CD (Jewelcase)

Country: Serbia

Genre: Rock

Still: Dark, Gothic

I can say that new album of Groteska has been  eagerly awaited, with great excitement, since I've discovered this band on Miner etiquete. Music of this band is completely undiscribeable in terms of the genre, but it is so well executed that listening to this album was real enjoyment. 

Numerous influences can be heard in music of Groteska, from classical heavy metal, doom, goth rock, and all the way to black metal, and who knows what else, and it made very hard for me to do anything else 'till I've been listening to this album. Violines that can be heard straight away reminded me on My Dying Bride. Groteska is the band that for sure cares the artistical impression it will leave with its music, lirics and visual tools (here I mean on numerous videos the band has done so far). In musical sense, in Groteska's music you can hear influence of Sisters of Mercy. Guitar riffs are simple, but unbelievably effective. They are piercing your skin and flesh like a nidles. Predrag Rava knows how to control his instrument (guitar) and to produce on it some of the best rifffs I have heard of some home band. Pavle Sovilj with his vocal abilities for sure gives Groteska's music a special colour, trully unique on Serbian alternative and metal scene. Marko Nicović on drumms shows that he knows how to play this instrument. For all this reasons, Groteska will surely be the band to earn simply. 

 Igor Lončar, himself a remarkable musitian and very bussy sound ingeneer, signed as a produces for this album. Very intesting booklet was designed by Miloš Moravatz Savković.

On an album as compact as this one is, it is very hard to single out any of songs. There is not a second of monotony that botters. High level of qualitiy in musical arangerment, priductionvise filled wall of sound that simply draws you into the vortex of some strange cotton softness. I have to tell you that I haven't expected such a good album, but not because I am not a fan of this kind of music, but simply because this is a first time I am listening to Groteska on a full-length album. But now I was able to complete the impression about the band and the album that this band is able to make. 

Great music.  

Unbelievable atmosphere that stays present during the album. For sure the album that should be checked out and owned in personal collection.

Written by: Igor Vlad Cepesh Živić

Rating : 10/10

Reviews@Alister - Otrov (CD)

Alister – Otrov

Label: Miner Recordings

Year: 16.10.2015

Format: CD (Jewelcase)

Country: Serbia

Genre: Rock

Still: Heavy Metal

Originally released by BS Production in 2010, the album Otrov (Poison) by the band Alister surely deserves a re-release of this quality. The band hails from Jagodina, and it originated in 1999, but untill Avgust 2001 it worked under the name Poltergaist. Then they are changing their name in Alister, and recorded their first ful-length Obscurity. In the same year they've won on first Jagodina guitar contest. Already in the next year they've released their second opus Memories and Dreams, under the etiquete of One Records. Third album Where Angels Bleed from 2006 was never officially released, so that makes Otrov their fourth album. It was recorded during 2009 in studio Wolf in Jagodina. This album kills on 15 ways, and by that many songs on the album bend certainly shows high level of professionalism. All lirics are on Serbian. Booklet is  well designed on 20 pages, manufactured CD, great production, but these are only technical data that could be the interest for some one who is into graphics, or designer, or drawer. But, we are listening to this album because of its music, and the music is very mature. It was mature when the album was originally released, and it sounds as mature as then.  

Intro „San“ (Dream) opens the album, and then follows real thunder roar of a song „Potraga“ (Search).  Lirically, „Gavran“ (Crow) reminds on Edgar Allan Poe and with its sinisterity captivates each ear.  Songs are closely knitted for each other, and are well arranged at the album, so there are no some surprising jumps, unexplicable mooves. Everything is subordianted to hellsih recepy of thrashers from Jagodina. On the album is trully increadible song „U mraku svemira“ (In the Dark of the Universe) dedicated to tragically deceased Boško Radišić, original vocalist of the band Space Eater. Exactly somewhere around the middle of the album its place have found a half-ballad „Znam“ (I Know), but it does not mean decrease in the atmosphere.  It is a skillfully positioned and it makes a turning point in the sense that it clearly divides one half of the album from the other half; it represents some kind of musical bridge.  If you carefully read song titles,you will get the impression that they are talking one storyline, or that they represent a kind of a dialogue - „Da li znaš šta je bol“ (Do You Know What is Pain), „Čas je poslednji“ (It Is the Last Hour), „Znam“ (I Know)...

Fantastic dual guitar work of Marko Vučković and Darko Mladjenović, seasoned by fantastic Mladjenović's soloing, excelent mastering over the drumm set on the side od Ivan Dulić, high quality of bass lines plaied by Ivan Petrović. Vocal of Igor Miladinović fits in perfectly in final mix, so the whole package sound trully remarkable.

Miner Recordings decided to release this album after 5 years, which surely tells us so much in the support of the fact that Alister is the band, and Otrov (Poison) is the album, because Miner is well known by its ability to recognise the quality. One more release of high quality under their belt. Maibe this time the album will get the credits it deserves.

Written by: Igor Vlad Cepesh Živić

Rating : 9/10

Reviews@Stimulans – See the Light (CD)

Stimulans – See The Light

Label: Miner Recordings

Year: 16.10.2015

Format: CD (Jewelcase)

Country: Croatia

Genre: Rock

Still: Heavy Metal

Stimulans is a heavy metal band from Split, that is active since 2001, and See the Light is their second full-length. Music and lirics are credited to Mario Čuljak, vocalist and guitarist of the band.  For very interesting artwork and graphic design of the booklet guilty as charged is Vlada Vulić. The album was recorded in Wave studio, with Darko Grubišić (guitar) behind the production desk, untill the mix and master is done by Ivan Jurić from Sound Kitchen Studio. Musically it is very hard to determine the influences that defined the direction of bands music. Songs are mostly of middle tempo (except speed acceleration in songs „Sailing On“ a typical NWOBHM headbanger in the manner of the best songs of Saxon from their earlier period, and „Hopeless (Warrior)“, but with heavy rifffs. There is everything in their music, from mentioned Saxon, over Maiden (especially in lead work), Dio.... Lirics are very interesting and in style they've reminded me on almost occult lirics of Led Zeppelin.

Surely, here we have a band which carries its colors with pride and is not ashamed of what it is. From every tone you cah hear that all band members are musitians with experience.  The band sounds tight and you can hear in their music a lot of hours spent in their rehersal space. Songs are pretty much in one tempo and that can be a minus for this album, but in the case of Stimulans it somehow works in their account.  It is for sure that Stimulans have fans who will listen them to, because love towards real old school metal never dies out.  What is expecially goot is the fact that there are people on the territory of ex-Yugoslavia who are ready to push that old vibe, according to many worn out, but they will do it only because they like it that way. Maybe somebody will call their name out because they think Stimulans are playing on safe card because they play music  that they know will have fans.  This might be true. But is looks to me that in what Stimulans is doing there is a bit more than that. They really enjoy in the music they are playing.  

It might be that previous album is better, or more diverse, but this might be not true. In any case, Stimulans is one of those bands that has started its musical voyage, they know their final destination, and they surely know how to get there. If you are the lover of Dio-era of Black Sabbath, Dio-solo project, already mentioned Saxon, and other bands which created and made popular genre of NWOBHM, then this is band for you. Album worhty of your listening time.

Written by: Igor Vlad Cepesh Živić

Rating : 8/10

Reviews@Defiant - Morbid Spiritual Illness (CD)

Defiant – Morbid Spiritual Illness

Label: Miner Recordings

Year: 16.10.2015

Format: CD (Jewelcase)

Country: Croatia

Genre: Rock

Still: Death/Black

Defiand is a croatian death black metal band formed in 2005, that after two years of innactivity, with new line-up, has recorded Morbid Spiritual Illness in Armageddon Studio in Osijek, under the production magic-stick of Eldar Ibrahimović Piper.  

This is a third full-length in bands carieere and represents a huge style shift. On first two albums band was playing a melo death metal, but after mentioned two year long period of innactivity (2009-2011) band makes sharp change of musical direction and decides to switch to death-black metal. Very interesting cover-art by Ana Sambol Lobmas, is a picturesque cover for in total of 11 songs. 

The album beginns with the intro that is credited to bands drummer Leonardo Marković, and after the intro, it follows a song „Origen“ for which a lirics-video is done. Great song that stylistically reminds on early works of a band Belphegor, 'till lirically texts are full of biblical terminology and symbolic. Next song that stands out is „Aeons of Erebus“ with a prog part from 2:42 untill somwhere around 3:22, that is just too good not to mention it. It is just one more evidence that the bend is consisted of excelent musitians.  In the song „Har Sinai“ we can hear again this belphegorish flavor and again some progy feeling, here and there during the song itself.  This is one more of those songs that make this album interesting, although in Defiant's music there is nothing new, but all and the same elements, only repacked.  „Flesh is Nothing“ is real destroyer of the song in which Kova (singer) for first time on the album uses some half-clean vocals that perfectly fitted in the song.  

I will mention the song „Empty Chords“ too, with great death metal riff, that at moments remind me on swedish school of death metal, with trademark killer heaviness that turn your brain into a mash. Album is closed by „Earth Cancer“ lead by drumm beat as a piper a bunch of rats that follows him.

Mindblowing speed of the main riff simply leaves you out of words.  Great album.  

I hope that we will have the opportunity to see them live in Serbia, maibe on some of future Invasions, who knows?

Written by: Igor Vlad Cepesh Živić

Rating : 9,5/10

Reviews@Counterignition - Medioicrity Deadlock (CD)

Counterignation - Medioicrity Deadlock

Label: Miner Recordings

Year: 16.10.2015

Format: CD (Jewelcase)

Country: Serbia

Genre: Rock

Stil: Thrash, Groove, Progressive Metal

What attracted me to this band and this album is the fact that it is the first release of our band that has a mark „Parental Advisory“, but if you look better, in bottom row of an inscription is reads „Explicit Truth“ in stead of „Explicit Lirics“. Idea is of a genius. I don't know was that a small matketing trick, I do not know whose idea was that, but at least in my case it was very succesfull. Very interesting cover-art just amlified the impression, so even without some times to classical cover-arts with expected band logo and the album title, Counterignition decided to give up that idea completely.  Wise decision, because everybody who notice this detail will surely want to know what is the truth that is being revealed.  

On first listening, music of the band reminded me on a bit heavier version of a band Verka, and if I did not know that boys are from Kovin, I would be ready to bet on them being from Macedonia. This impression was enlarged bu the fat that they covered song „Makedonia“ of the band Time, and that even Dado Topić apeared as a guest on this song, which is highly respectable. Second highly present influence in terms of the music is the band Machine Head, which is definitely guilty for groove thrash segment in the bands music. Then it shouldn't be cosidered to be a miracle that I've met singer Aca Krculj on not so long ago briliant gig of Machine Head in Belgrade. So, musically, we are talking here about thrash grove metal core with, just to repeat, some strange Macedonian flavour, still inexpliceable. The album is opened by a song „Strike“ with a killer drumms beat that tells you right at the beginning that band members are great musitians. Simple song that speaks about cruel everyday life we all have to face with. Trully hard and heavy riff that throws the truth in everybodies face, ignoring the fact that we are maybe so used on puting our own heads in the sand. Every song has very interesting lirics that slapp you right in the face. It is being followed by a song „Divide and Conquer“ with this already so much known macedonian riff that gives the music a backbone. And again heavy riff, heavy as soil. Guitar duo Krculj/Kosovac surely know how to create a killer riff and to make of it a skeleton, so that it can glue on it enough meat. Bass of Marko Djukanović thunders in the background ensured that you will be properly beaten. „(No) Hope in Proles“ leads us with its music in the world of George Orwell and his 1844, and lirically it pictures the world of Big Brother, world in which people are learned to think less and blindly accept everything on the plate. Then it comes a ballad „Try“ so filled by the desperation of the state every individual is in, that the only question is if he is conscious of that state or not.  Song „Corpocracy“ add some speed and thrown into our face the truth that we are all slaves of big corporations that literally decide the look of every single day of our lives, and puts a pressure with its clear definition, 'till freedom loving spirit does not burst in our chest and destroys everything he comes accross. „Handshaking Frenzy“ by it almost funky rhithm kicks ass how good it is. Wery well measured and directed exchange of half-growls a la Max Cavalera and clean vocals guaranties very satisfying listening experience. At the beginning of the accustic „Endurance“, all the way up to 1:57, then return to the formula tried so many times 'till now, and song that klicks on 13:29 (!?). To long? Well, I don't know. Maybe? And maybe not?  Maybe just one of those songs that is to eclectic, that its howling riff simply draggs you into itself and throws you into the state of complete trance. And just before it becomes monotonous, 9:11 comes and everything goes mental and real thrash riff almost begins third song in one song, this time something so similar to Metallica. It simply pushes you endure untill the end. This song is like cofee, 3 in 1. After this gigantour of a song, it comes „Middletown“, thrash-groove destruction so awaited for. Krculj is tearing his throat apart. And then even longer than „Endurance“, song „Enemy Within“ that brings againt that Machine Head feeling, so good, that even the length of the song does not botter you. Maybe you are asking yourself should those two long songs even enter the album both, when they together take all 27 and half minutes. The real hit I have had to wayt on 'till the very end of the album. In this song there are the influences of Testament and Bay Srea thrash school, if you ask me the most fruitfull in terms of the number of good bands. Great thrash sweet! Album is closing already mentioned cover of the song „Makedonija“ of the band Time, in which his guest appearance has even Dado Topić himself, that enriched this song with his vocals, guitar and bass. 

A bit strange choice for the cover song, but in Counterignition version this song got some heavyness it did not have in the original version. I am sure that even Dado Topić was satisfied with the song at the end. If you notice the lirics of the song, it represents some kind of an answer on all social negativities represented in the songs. That is exactly what we need, a land that does not allow to be spoiled by those who live in it, quite often. Great album, maibe too long, but only maybe.

Written by: Igor Vlad Cepesh Živić

Rating : 8,5/10

Reviews@Superhammer - Superhammer (EP/CD)

Superhammer - Superhammer (EP)

Label: Miner Recordings

Year: 16.10.2015

Format: CD (Jewelcase)

Country: Serbia

Genre: Rock

Still: Stoner

Band Superhammer hails from Indjija, and they've decided that by re-releasing their first EP to revard their faitful fans.  And then they've done even more than that. They've succeded to make of this release a must have collectionary item.  Naimely, three songs of their EP - „Boogieman,“ „Emptines Inside of Me“ and my personal favorite „The World of Today“ - are completely re-recorded, with the vocal duties covered by Luika Tower Matković, whose credits are for the production, mixing and mastering of the material in his Citadela Studio.  Luka, Luka, what have you done with those songs? You breeded in them completely new life, somehow hidden in them all this time, gave them some new wings, that for some reason was not used 'till now.  Well known rifffs of master Milan Brkić have got some new poison on this release, some additional strength in their punches, even if they were already leaving deep bruises. Solos are even more convincing, played with extra emotion in them, which is the evidence of additional work on the same old songs, and that is for respect, because it gives us a picture of Superhammer as the band that never finishes none of its songs, but constantly seaks new ways to play those songs even better. Respect! Stevan Voivod has mastered his drumms and follows Igor Jimmy Stanić on bass, both protecting the back of one guitar.

As a bonus songs on this release we have the track „Diamong Gates“ from bands first full-length Sneaknest, with their ex-singer Boris Supan on the mike. After Supans deaprting, his boots were filled up by Miloš Krsmanović from band Thundersteel. This change, at least in my ears, brought a little change in the bands sound. Naimely, bend has moved more towards classical heavy metal sound, but with still present stoner foundation that simply cannot be errased and become unnoticeable. So, this song we could describe as modern stoner classical heavy metal song, fresh and new. Would that mean that the band will continue in this direction, we will see, if Krsmanović would stay in the band and if succedes in imposing his style. Personally, I believe that he should be left to develop in Superhammer singer as he sees himself.

Great release, better, more modern, more poisonous, in comparison with the first EP.  During the time of awaiting new album of the band, this release serves as something to quiet our hunger for new Superhammer material, stoner a la Indjija. Well done guys!

Written by: Igor Vlad Cepesh Živić

Rating : 10/10

Reviews@ENEMY INSIDE - One More Time (CD)

Enemy Inside – One More Time

Label: Miner Recordings

Year: 16.10.2015

Format: CD (Jewelcase)

Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Genre: Rock

Still: Speed/Thrash

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This band and album got me interested for two reasons – video adverts for them were done by Dante and Rage od Venom, and legendary Kirk Windestein of Crowbar. So, if they say that guys from Sarajevo are good, then they must be good. And I have to tell you, these people know what is good.

Besides that, it is equaly worthy of noticing that the founders of the band Enemy Inside are original before-war guitar player of a cult band Bombarder, Zlatko Zlaja Slatinac, and since 2014 behind the drumm kit is siting no other than one of the best drummers in the region Ivan Perović (Sacramental Blood). With them, in the band are lead guitarist Mirsad Sommy Čović (Dozer, Snake Eater), and bass player Serdjo Slatinac (Pad Sistema, Dozer). As a second vocalist in the band is Filip Filtha Kolarić from Zagreb.  

First full-lenth is released through the label Miner Recordings.

Musically, Enemy Inside floats on the surface of speed-thrash metal, although since the very beginning, with the help of huge experience that stands behind each band member, they have managed to built their own sound. In tempo, songs are varying from faster to slower, ane that fact makes this album very interesting. Trade mark marching intro on the drumms followed by guitar rif is replaced by the opening track „Slaves ’till the Grave“, that carries in itself some ovekill-flavor, especially from the earlier albums of this band.  Pummeling rif hits you straight in the head.  After this one, comes the title track „One More Time“, slower in tempo, but no less heavy weight one. Ivan Petrović is killing on drumms and in this song he shows his qualities. Fourth song „Thrashin’ Way“ is in the manner of legendary Motorhead and venom and it can be experienced most fully during the travel in the tour buss, or on some bike-tour, real speed metal mindblower worthy of the band which is plaing it. Solo of Sommy is the brightest point in the sea of light this track shines out. „The Machine of Hate“, „Brothers in Arms“ and second title one „Enemy Inside“ are closing this release and are perfect showcase that in front of us we have a new band that much will be expected from in the future. ,Realistically, they have abilities to produce what is expected. It might be that Enemy Inside music need more variety and that unvaried rhythms  tend to overextend, or at least give this impression.

Influences are clearly heard, and there are many of them. From time to time, Enemy Inside remind on some thrash band from Bay Area school, and sometime on some european thrash band, but all this is seasoned by some our, balkanic flavour, so that influences are present only in traces, skillfully hidden. As the unit, the album is definitely well executed and for sure it will gather many fans of speed and thrash metal music in this area. As bonus, on the album are two and half covers.  And here is the reason why two ald half. Here are covers of two songs of legendary band Bombarder – „Horde“ and the hymn of the band „Metalni bog“.  And then, in well recognized style, there is a song „Čelična ruka“, the one that is half-cover of Motorhead song „Iron Fist“, in which guest vocals are done by the man himself – Nešo from Bombarder, the legend on ex-Yu metal scene, and all that gave this song some special feeling.  

All in all, this is one true brogherly release, like some kind of family reunion, reunion of brothers in arms. I do not know was there any cooperation of brothers Slatinac and Nešo from Bombarder, af it wasn’t, this one was for sure eagerly awaited.

Written by : Igor Vlad Cepesh Živić

Rating : 8,5 /10