Stay Pure D.I.Y

Stainless – ‘Beerquest’ – Ep – 2011

Matt and whole Stainless have been my good friends since I first enter into the metal world trough my first band. I had an interview with them in my first issue of ‘Noise Gate’, and I also released their two demos on one cassette, which is still available for purchase. Their way of existing is just singing about beer and metal and not giving a fuck about anything. They suffered many line-up changes, they still didn’t got a label offer, but don’t plan on stopping and create a demo after a demo. And this precise release is a Macedonian special addition from the guys to express gratitude towards our local scene which supports them a lot! I must say that with time they get even better and better and their heavy metal is getting pretty awesome and tasty. The three new songs seem great by production and arrangement, and the two more re-recorded are waaay better with Matt on vocals than the vocal on ‘Magic Trig’ demo. Just keep up the good work guys and you’ll come across your chance!!! I have spare copies but they are only available for Macedonian readers…

Band: www.stainless-metal.decause

Gang – ‘V’ – Full-lenght – 2010

This piece of plastic is the latest release of this French band, which has 3 more albums put out, couple of concert DVD/VHS’s and 2 demos. They have been formed in 1990, and since then they carry the flame proudly in their hearts! On this album we have 10 songs that are in the heavy/thrash spirit. I don’t know why, but this band reminds me much of ‘Exodus’ in the Zetro time, although they are much softer than them. The compositions are solid, even though whiles I was listening I noticed that somehow the riffs keep to repeat and the vocal melodies too. Considering the technical skills of the band, I guess that the years and experience did their job here, the completely rule over the instruments! I especially admired the vocal that has fierce voice! The highlight point of the album is the dynamics which makes the listener NOT to stay in one place only. I recommend ‘V’ to every listener of heavy/thrash that wants to have something different in his collection! 

Tiran – ‘Demo 2010' - 2010

Maybe for the band itself, this is simply a preparation for the heir of ‘Demonia’, but for me this is true rock’ n roll propaganda. After ‘Tiran’ had success with the first album, they continued working on, and after almost 2 years we get this!!! Maybe the fellows reached almost the maximum in their musicianship, or I don’t know what it is, but this is one of the best shits I’ve come around recently. It’s titled as rehearsal, but you’ll come across pretty good and clear production within these 4 songs. The band crossed over the boundaries of the common ‘riff, riff, chorus’ routine and came up with more thoughtful and complete songs (not that the ones before weren’t good). Starting with the more ‘death sided’ track ‘Genocide’ and then ‘Children Of War’, I can sense the dynamics and energy of transferring the common riffs into brutal and catchy melodies, accompanied with untiring blackened vocals. There is only one guitar, but the bass lines and drums make it more than enough to have only one. Later on the disc come ‘Room 16’ and ‘Forever Underground’, which are the most thrash and rockier part of this demo. Great instrumental parts and partial rock’ n roll riffs! The speed metal anthem ‘Forever Underground’ is instantly my hit, so my final line for every interested listener is this: ‘Forever Underground, Forever rock‘n Roll!!!’. Available at my distro!

Herpes – ‘Doomsday’ – Demo - 2010

HERPES isn’t something you would really like to interact with, but if you are a metal freak, you would DEFINITELY love to interact with the French band named that way! It was almost impossible avoiding these guys. Because of 2 reasons: ‘Carbonized Cells’ Zine & ‘Nihilistic Holocaust’ Distro! Firstly Julien and then Gab took ahead to promote their French compadres to promote to the world. I waited long for this kind of good, possibly great, release!!! It’s the first and only stuff from ‘Herpes’, and with its own ups and downs, represents a descent start. Whiles listening to that death/punk lowed tuned, over gained guitars and drum section - you’ll only feel loose, free and damn right ENERGETIC! Put together, all of this sounds really, really dirty. It’s unavoidable, tasty and provocative. As a bonus you get the rockish solos that’ll make your day… After that you feel, hmmm, complete… It’s written that this represents traditional death metal, but no matter how you like traditional death, if you are a metal freak you won’t be disappointed. Highlights moment is ‘Spinal Ashes’!!! I have it on my distro on both formats, don’t hesitate to ask for it!

Band: [email protected]

Trunar – ‘Christ not christians’ – Full-lenght – 2008

Even if it has 9 songs and it’s released in pro format, this piece is still called a demo… You can’t really expect something surprising or spectacular, buy anyway you can find a good portion of black metal. Some songs may start fiercely, (for example the intro to the album), and yet some with slower and heavier, melodic riffs, though all of them keep progressing with every new second of playing. If you hate plastic sounds, the drums might be irritating at some parts, but there is always the superb tight scream and the cool and lowered guitar sound to wash that out… As aforementioned, there are constant developed riffs and rhythms, so one as a listener can get himself really flowing deep into the music, with the needed amount of concentration of course. My personal favorite ‘motherfucker’ is the heavy-black anthem ‘Časy tryvožnyja’, honestly a killer track! The lyrics are mainly in Ukrainian, but English one are presented too.

Label: Gorbanev A.D. – Lenina 22-26 – Velikie Luki – 182100 – Russia

Scattered – 'Introspection' – Full-lenght – 2010

One of the latest albums from the Macedonian UG comes from the ultimate metal town of Struga. I went on the live promotion of the album, and the whole gig was great, and I do have a review about the event, so you'll see what was going on there. Before this, 'Scattered' have another release, entitled 'Liberation' (2007), which was and still is a great demo that pushed the band forward. 'Introspection' is self-released material, consisting of 8 hymns of heavy/thrash/power riffs and rhythms. The most noticeable, or recognizable elements, so to say, are definitely the vocals of Pece (Pechur), which impersonates couple styles of singing, so the words and messages are clearly shouted. From production aspect, I give it about 8/10, that's quite solid I mean, it's mostly dry one and it's pretty clear which riffs or leads are being played. The arrangements are something which can beworked on, 'cos besides the songs featured on the demo previously, the new ones are kind of just filling space and are rushed. Overall, the songs are played as squared pieces, and more dynamics and detailed elements should've been used. However, this album gave me a pleasant time while listening, and it's a good way for the band to promote abroad, 'cos this scene is way too small for them, or any other band for that matter. So guys, you have my utmost support to continue doing this the best you can! Available at 'Stay Pure' Distro.