____








____



____
REVIEWS
Featuring Legendary, Local and Undgeround Heavy Metal.
THE DEMO CORNER
NEW UPDATES
BEST OF 2011
STAFF TOP 10
Jesse  •  M.J.  •  J.A. Burt  •  Peter    
Rottenbucher  •  Chris  •  Phil Wickstrand
Roswell47  •  Garett  •  Greg
THE DEMO CORNER
THE BLOG
REVIEWS
INTERVIEWS
CONCERT REPORT
Finland once again surprises me with something other than that damn gothic/AOR-friendly drivel the country has sadly become too famous for of late. With a brand of thrashy death metal, Intervention really does intervene on behalf of good metal everywhere and take to task the mundane bands of the scene. The wall of sound here is so destructively cool that it nearly left me physically salivating for more. 

In three tracks Intervention slays the ears with some seriously amazing songs and awesome vocals that seem pretty one-dimensional until the high pitch kicks in and shatters your comfortable niche. While not overused, the scream is controlled and fits perfectly when implemented. Otherwise, the growling register is the main melody, but it remains a necessary delivery for this type of music. “Left for the Scavengers” is a tremendous song that is so heavy and well-crafted that I may no longer immediately think of Nightwish or To/Die/for when I hear Finland’s name bandied about in metal conversation.

I will be excited to pass this name along to my friends. I’m anxious to hear more…more please? 
Edge of Paradise, Intervention, Repent & Through Plagues
October 30, 2010
CHRIS
All content © 2011 Metal Psalter Webzine  |  Bands, labels, artists and photographers retain their respective © to their logos, artwork and photos  |  Design and Layout © 2011 Dynamico Designs
*Comments:
*By clicking "Submit" you agree to the following Terms of Use. You agree not to post any material that is obscene, slanderous, or threatening, or that may violate any law of your country of origin or the United States or of international law. Should you wish to restrict viewing of your email address by third parties, you must select "Hide My Email." You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Metal Psalter from any claims, actions, suits, damages, or other costs arising out of any breach of these Terms of Use.
Edge of Paradise - Humanvanity
Brazil has been throwing its decorative hat into the thrash metal scene for many years now, but progressive metal has been vastly underrepresented until Edge of Paradise sends its demo across my blood-and-tear-stained desk. Humanvanity is the band’s first effort and it’s not bad at all.

While not close to the power or style of Dream Theater, Humanvanity dissolves the prog-metal pill under the tongue with relative ease.  At times, vocalist Osni Belotto seems as if he’s trying to call upon James LaBrie, but what I like about Belotto is that he doesn’t try to outdo his own abilities. He has a pretty mid-range level and it appears he’s comfortable in this skin, which makes for a fine performance.  He has a very even delivery that fits the music well.

The band encompasses some fine progressive elements in three tracks of honest, integral metal that, like Belotto, doesn’t seem to try and outdo itself for the sake of show. I really like this demo, especially “Life’s Symphony.” The production for a prog-metal band is always important to me as well, and Edge of Paradise does well there, especially evident in the bass sound.

For only three songs it’s quite good and I’m anxious to hear a full-length from these guys. If they hone the sound a bit more and keep the sensibility of humility they’ll do okay in the long run.    
Repent - Promo 2009
Release Date:  January 4, 2010
Band Self Released

TRACK LISTING:
1.  Vortex of Violence  2.  Vengeance  3.  Rat Race  4.  Howl           -    Total playing time: 11:31
Repent from Germany represents the thrash metal contingency with disheveled rage and brutal head-bashing potency with its 2009 promo of four hard-to-ignore songs of angry Slayer-like structure. The late-80’s sound is so prevalent here, yet a modern heavy Sodom feel exists in the track “Vengeance,” so it’s easy to see the obvious appeal of Repent’s fellow countrymen. In fact, if I had to compare vocalist Jurgen Aumann’s style it would round out Tom Angelripper just perfectly. While it’s hard to remain fresh in today’s market, Tom Angelripper is a vocalist not easily channeled to a proper degree, but it’s quite good here.

While you don’t hear too many really all-over solid thrash bands come out today, Repent might be one to watch for the scene. It’s violent, aggressive music for likeminded fans that wish to release their inner strife with some seriously chaotic music. Great song structure, fine guitar and drum work and, of course, hella vocals make this promo worth obtaining by any means necessary.
Intervention - Words of Violence
Release Date: February 21, 2010
Label:  Band Self Released

TRACK LISTING:
1.  Say it with Violence  2.  Run like Hell!  3.  Left for the Scavengers          -    Total playing time: 21:54
DOWNLOAD Words of Violence FREE from the band's official website: Intervention
Release Date: April 1, 2010
Band Self Released

TRACK LISTING:
1.  Humanvanity  2.  Life's Symphony  3.  Chaos in Mind
-    Total playing time: 15:26
DOWNLOAD Humanvanity FREE from the band's myspace page (click on link above).
DOWNLOAD Promo 2009 FREE from the band's official website: Repent
Through Plagues - From the Depths
Melodic death comes by way of Australia’s Through Plagues, putting out its first EP titled From the Depths. While I’m admittedly not a big fan of this current trend of “melodic death metal,” which, to me, is a less pigeon-holing term for deathcore Through Plagues is interesting enough to keep me…well, interested.

I’m not a total fan of the vocals switching the very typical high-screech-to-low-register with each sentence in a verse as has become the expected norm nowadays, but vocalist Luke is backed by one hell of a band that does pretty well in creating some crisp ‘riffage’. “Ice to see You” is a powerful cut that brings me back to bands that use the technical side of metal to bring out otherwise standard work. Not a bad effort for this sub-genre; there are definitely worse bands to waste time on, and by that stretch Through Plagues isn’t necessarily a waste of time if this deathcore style is your personal forte.

The only other complaint I have aside from the generic vocal deliveries of such music is the inability to decipher one track from another in either guitar work or drumming. The same “chug-chug-chug-chug” chord gets tiresome after a while, but since the music here is catchy and easily enjoyable I offer up a mid-range ‘yes’ vote. “Wings of Damnation” is the standout for me.    
Release Date: June 30, 2010
Band Self Released

TRACK LISTING:
1.  Intro  2.  Goddess of the Sea  3.  Ice to See You  4.  Wings of Damnation  5.  Eternal Silence           -    Total playing time: 14:45
DOWNLOAD From the Depths FREE from the band's bandcamp  page: Through Plagues
TO THE TOP
DEMO ARCHIVE