JUSTIN’S METAL REVIEWS W/C 17/8/09

CHTHONIC / MIRROR OF RETTIBUTION

Chthonic are proof positive that when I say I search the world to bring you the best metal, it’s not just an idol boast as Chthonic are a Taiwanese symphonic Black Metal band signed to a Finnish label and damned fine they are to.

Their sound is similar to early Cradle Of Filth with one big difference, the band use a traditional Chinese instrument called an Er-hu, which has two strings and is played using a bow and has a strange, mournful, haunting quality, that suits the Black Metal genre very well and sets Chthonic above the competition, listen to the first proper track “Blooming Blades” and you will hear what I mean. When the Black Metal rages like a samurai on a mission the Er-hu’s melodic tones ride above the black noise like some kind of sonic surfer, tracks like “Hearts Condemned”, “Forty-Nine The Urgy Chains” and “The Aroused” are raised well above the ordinary and mundane by the sheer magical quality of the Er-hu.

Chthonic have put Taiwan firmly on the Metal map and if your looking for a really good Black Metal album you will be hard pressed to find one better than this and that’s why its my album of the week, the band have been around for over 10 years and SPV put out a very good compilation called “Pandemonium” that you might like to check out as well.

WEBSITE http://www.chthonic.org/en & http://www.spinefarm.fi

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 44 mins + 11 TRACKS

WINDS OF PLAGUE / THE GREAT STONE WAR

I was very impressed by the bands 2008 album “Decimate The Weak” so I was really looking forward to playing this new CD and I wasn’t expecting something as good as this, this is even better than the lat one and as I said at the beginning of 2009, this is the year of the return of the concept album.

The bands brand of Symphonic Deathcore, is totally stunning to hear, crushing Metallic riffs coupled with some really great Melodies, not to mention the symphonic passages that rage behind the power chords like a phantom beast, at time the band remind me of the mighty Emperor, yes that good. The twin lead guitar runs are abundant throughout the alums, pulling out some crushing shredding, worthy of any of the great guitar maestros, just listen to, “Forged In Fire” and tell me your not impressed or the mighty “Soldiers Of Doomsday” both will knock you flat with one fell swoop of the fret board.

This is a very fine album and if your not aware of the band this is a very fine place to start, listen out for; “Battles Scars”, “Classic Struggle” and “Our Requiem” all of which you will hear on my Hfm and Pipeline shows.

WEBSITE http://www.myspace.com/windsofplague & ttp://www.centurymedia.com

DOWNLOAD “Forged In Fire” & “Soldiers Of Doomsday”

TOTAL PLA\YING TIME – 37 mins + 11 TRACKS