Though an album which is no rush to immerse and transfix the imagination, the self titled debut from Finnish occult rock band Jess And The Ancient Ones is a real highlight of the year. The release is quite stunning, a collection of songs which wrap their skilled charm around the senses for an experience of melodic splendour and captivating majesty. Quite a few debuts have stood out already this year but very few as elegant and inciteful as that from Jess and the Ancient Ones.

The band was formed in 2010 by guitarists Thomas Corpse and Thomas Fiend, their intent to explore magical realms beyond the mundane. The band grew with third guitarist Von Stroh, bassist Fast Jake, drummer Yussuf, and Abraham on keyboards being added alongside the stunning vocals of Jess. Their sound is an evolved fusion of psychedelic rock and metal with wide influences from the likes of Mercyful Fate, Roky Erickson, Iron Maiden and Abba adding inspiration and texture to their imagination. Signing with Svart Records in 2011, the band released debut single ‘Breath of the Zodiac’ to great acclaim inspiring eager anticipation for and rewarded by their album.

‘Prayer for Death and Fire’ opens the release and right away has the senses fully awake and enamoured. The song is a wonderfully crafted piece of melodic enticement which smoulders within the primal energies of riffs and rhythms. Once the glorious voice of Jess weaves its mesmeric charms and the rumbling and scowling bestial lines of Fast Jake prowls ravenously, the song moves to a higher plain.

It is a powerful and elegant start which is immediately exceeded by ‘Twilight Witchcraft’, a psychedelic folk flavoured piece of musical shadow. The track has a warmth which is siren like but within its safety a venomous dark energy pervades every second of the rapture, a seductive mistress with black intent.

The album though merely seven songs in length is a full feast of musical alchemy, the likes of ‘Ghost Riders’ and ‘13th Breath of the Zodiac’ offering an unpredictable expanse of emotive energies and persuasive pleasure which envelopes fully.

The album closes with the excellent pair ‘Devil (in G minor)’ and ‘Come Crimson Death’. The first is an irresistible tease of jazz swagger and wanton beauty whilst the last a twelve minute gem of evocative harmonics and inciteful imagery, a startling end to a truly impressive album.

Pete RingMaster

Band info: www.jessandtheancientones.com

Label info: www.svartrecords.com

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Though not a release which has excitement boiling over, Life Apocalypse the second album from Canadian thrash band Titans Eve definitely makes for a thoroughly pleasing time. The album is the follow up to their critically acclaimed debut The Divine Equal of last year, and to be honest is pretty similar. Possibly there should be and is disappointment that there is no noticeable evolution in the sound of the band, but as accomplished and satisfying as it is on Life Apocalypse, it is hard to be over critical.

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No matter what you think of the returning Spineshank’s new album there is no dismissing the anger and venom which soaks every note and word within its walls. Guitarist Mike Sarkisyan stated "Some of us were going through divorces, others lost people very close to them and that's what basically surrounded us during the creative process." This emotional turmoil and its heightened shadows inspired an openly evident atmosphere on Anger Denial Acceptance for a release bruising and raging storm.

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It is not a rarity to be impressed by something with the constant thrust of new releases year in year out but it is quite unique to be left truly stunned by one of pure brilliance and imagination so that nothing but praise can be offered. Made in China from South Wales band Kyshera (pronounced K-eye-she-ra), is one of those rare treats. It offers a kaleidoscope of ideas, invention and intrusive imagination within a maelstrom of captivating and challenging ingenuity, quite simply it is exceptional and the best album so far this year.

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For all the great and easily accessible straightforward albums which appear every month sometimes one wants and needs to be stretched and asked questions of. “Half Blood” the new album from North Carolina band Horseback is one such release, a testing imaginative and evocative creation which works the senses and emotions.

Horseback is the creation of guitarist, vocalist, and producer Jenks Miller and follows on from his previous acclaimed albums including “Forbidden Planet” and “The Invisible Mountain”.

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Miseration had somehow managed to elude these ears until now so with the band being labelled as death metal the expectations of what would emerge from the band’s new album “Tragedy Has Spoken” was far different from what actually exited and ignited the senses. With a heavy intense core of death metal the band and album explores and draws on an ever evolving feast of ideas, sounds, and technical creativity. The result is an album of unpredictable and distinctive imagination, a release as brutal and intrusive as they come but with a breath of pure diversity and ingenuity.

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It is hard to call the debut album from Atlanta rock band Royal Thunder anything other than stunning, it really is that impressive. “CVI” is a triumphant feast of rock music which leaves one searching for true and expansive enough adjectives to place upon it. The band brought ears and attention to bear with their debut EP of 2010 but “CVI” surpasses that with a creativity and aural grandeur which is nothing short of brilliant.

The quartet of vocalist/bassist Mlny Parsonz, guitarists Josh Weaver and Josh Coleman, and drummer Lee Smith, bring weaves and conjurations of classic rock, southern tinged blues, and progressive artistry into a pulsating and hypnotic blend with added veins of stoner and metal rippling throughout.

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Over twenty plus years Paradise Lost has continued to treat the ear and senses with impressive and stirring albums. New release “Tragic Idol” is no different, an album which thrills and excites with mesmeric skill. Across their thirteen albums the band has evolved their original metal/ doom sound, drawing upon and fusing in many distinct flavours to persistently offer sounds which excite and drew strong acclaim. Over recent albums they have looked more towards their early sound again losing the electronic elements which emerged a decade ago.

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Bringing all the elements that have made them standout previously US riff monsters Torche return with their third full length album “Harmonicraft”. The band again unleash the things that made earlier releases like “Meanderthal” and “Songs For Singles” so infectious and enjoyable, but whilst strapping them into place within “Harmonicraft” the quartet has managed to make them even bigger, better, and more addictive. The album offers up what one would expect from the band without truly stretching into new pastures but it is just larger, bolder, even more in the face, and simply an immense enjoyment.

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This year has seen Portuguese bands release some impressive albums and Smooth Comforts False from Thee Orakle is no exception. A blend of mesmeric and imaginative progressive metal layered with jazz influences, Middle Eastern essences, and symphonic metal, the album is an inventive and unpredictable feast powered by a spine of groove and tech metal to make it consistently enthralling and perpetually exciting.

Formed in 2005, Thee Orakle took no time in building a fine reputation at home before finding similar responses further afield.

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1995 saw the release of the excellent and inspirational debut album from Portuguese gothic metallers Moonspell and the emergence of a band that singularly forged their own path and sound to inspire rather than follow current trends. Through the equally impactful “Irreligious” the following year to their acclaimed eighth album “Night Eternal” in 2008, the band has trodden their own musical path to be one of the more important bands in goth metal. Their new album “Alpha Noir” keeps their presence at the fore of the genre with more sounds sure to inspire.

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Abrasive, angry and unforgiving the new album from US hardcore band When Tigers Fight, shakes and challenges the foundations whilst pulling one in with some mightily crafted pinpoint grooves and caustic melodic play that re-inspires the buckling senses from the surrounding attack. "Dead Songs" is a persistent wearing down of the ear and beyond but a provocative and testing release that offers more substantial rewards than many other similarly aggressive confrontations.

Released through Closed Casket Activities, "Death Songs" is the follow up to the band’s debut album "Ghost Story" of 2006 which succeeded a self titled EP the year before. Though not prolific the band do leave a mark with each release that is hard to shrug off.

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Presenting The Problem from Norwegian rock/metal band RIBOZYME is what all releases should be like, unpredictable, thoughtfully crafted, bursting with ideas and imagination, and most of all unreservedly infectious. The fifth album from the band and the first released through Indie Recordings, the release is a marvellous delicious weave of captivating melodies, mesmeric harmonies and a thoroughly engaging blend of rock and metal. The term of crossover is used a lot but it certainly applies to the deeply diverse and wide spreading sounds of RIBOZYME. 

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“The Treachery Of Senses” the debut album from Finnish band Oddland, is a wonderfully unusual beast, a creative journey which encompasses the dark and its lingering shadows alongside light’s melodic warmth, the union an enthralling experience. Inventive and mesmeric the progressive metal quartet’s release is startling and thoroughly captivating. Though it is an album which draws one in deeply it does at times seemingly try too hard, the album swinging from full engagement to a progressive similarity which allows attention to waver. Despite that “The Treachery Of Senses” is never less than intriguing and overall deeply satisfying.

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From the first play the debut album from German metal band Pigeon Toe is eager to start an affair with the senses, successfully instigating a warm connection that is vibrant and intriguing. ”The First Perception” though is working with a deeper intent and it is within the third or so listen that one realises how deeply into its creative bosom one has been led with the album’s intelligent ingenuity and inspiring melodic prowess. The release wraps itself around the ear before delving much deeper with a progressive metal sound which draws upon and lights up emotions, it’s finely composed flowing sounds and impressively structured unfussy journeys bringing a constantly mesmeric pleasure.

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“Structures In Chaos” from Dutch death metal band Temple is nasty, a beast full of pestilence and disease that crawls over each and every sense violating and infecting them. It is also rather impressive. Though one has to work hard to emerge into the maelstrom of ideas and sounds living beneath the grievous surface, once there the album opens up avenues and dark corners to get lost within eagerly.

From the opening demonic spewing of first track “Rituals Of Marduk”, the album hunts and ravages the ear like a carnivorous hungry animal.

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The recent re-release of “Malevolent Rapture” from Dutch black metal thrashers Legion Of The Damned was in dedication to former bassist Twan Fleuren who committed suicide in May 2011. Repackaged with extra bonus tracks and a DVD, the album renamed “Malevolent Rapture - In Memory Of” is a reissue of the band’s debut from 2006 which Twan played upon. As a tribute to their former band member and friend, the album is a reminder of his massive contribution to the band and of the formidable entry into metal that Legion Of The Damned made at the time.

Released through Massacre Records the album is a thoroughly riveting collection of songs which either as an introduction to one of the more explosive black metal bands or as a reminder of the band’s beginnings is an appetising release.

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Before entering the imposing walls of “A Perfect Absolution” the new album from French metalers Gorod, grab a canister of oxygen because by the time its staggering destructive power and heady exhaustive creativity has departed all that will be left of you is a shattered rag doll like body gasping for air. The album is toxic and invigorating, crippling and energising; A Perfect Absolution is simply genius.

Formed in 1997 though not until 2005 did they adopt the Gorod name, the quintet has seized attention and acclaim especially with previous release "Transcendence". With “A Perfect Absolution” the band has moved into a new sphere that very few will match let alone exceed.

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As one would have expected with the trio of musicians behind it the debut album from Adrenaline Mob is a formidable animal, a release that prowls and paces up and down the ear with a confident assuredness and a mischievous cockiness. “Omertá” is a vibrant and accomplished collection of songs which without offering anything particularly new or managing to stretch inventiveness, emerges as a rather infectious pleasure that one is eager to engage with even if wishing it had more.

The linking up of Symphony X singer Russell Allen and supreme guitarist Mike Orlando known for his “Sonic Stomp” releases set the seed for the band and with the coming in of drum master Mike Portnoy (ex -Dream Theater and Avenged Sevenfold) Adrenaline Mob found a defined heartbeat to add to its breath.

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