ABDUKTIO - TULI KULJE KANSSANI (2005)

Band: Abduktio

Album: Tuli Kulje Kanssani

Genre: Hardcore punk

Country: Finland

Tracklist:

1. Jäänsärkijä

2. Tämä Kaupunki

3. Kuolleiden Runoilijoiden Seura

4. Murheellisen Maan Laulu

5. Myrsky Ennen Tyyntä

6. Autismidiagnoosi

7. Enimmäkseen Harmiton

8. Musta Surma, Toinen Maailmansota Ja Sinä

9. Maailmanloppua Odotellessa

10. Hiljaiset Hetket

11. Tuli Kulje Kanssani

12. Tarkkailla Ja Rangaista

90%

 Abduktio is a hardcore punk group from the finnish punk city, Tampere. Majorly underrated, and they definitely have their own edgy & catchy sound. The lyrics shouldn't go unnoticed either, views on modern society and the nature of it. Definitely the top of hardcore punk for me, originality and raw energy. This is the modern face of old school hardcore punk.

 This is one of those albums that has been on my playlist for so long without losing its edge.

 Sadly their guitarist & songwriter passed away in 2011 and the band decided to end it there. But if you like what you hear, definitely check their other releases. Their earlier album, Perustuu tositapahtumiin, is one level more raw than this album, and Thermidor, their later full-length goes over to more melodic, 'experimental' sound, but still has that kick to it. I'd describe it as post-hardcore if it wouldnt remind of such a big row of horrible and faceless bands.

http://www.mediafire.com/?7cgz5apnc8nzd66 

GRIMNIR/TRIST/REGNUM/HYPOTHERMIA - SPLIT (2008)

Band: Grimnir / Trist / Regnum / Hypothermia

Album: Split

Genre: Raw Black Metal, Despressive/Suicidal Black Metal, lo-fi

Country: Austria / Czech Republic / Germany / Sweden

Tracklist:

1. Grimnoir - Angst - Requiem

2. Trist - Černá Melancholie

3. Regnum - Unerträglich

4. Regnum - Ich Sehe

5. Hypothermia - Julia

 Now what we have here is quite a mix, with two much more notable artists to the genre, Trist and Hypothermia, in a split with Grimnir and Regnum, two less known names, which were unfamiliar to me as well before this release. Luckily. But more of that soon. 

 The whole split is done with a poor production, familiar to the genre. Sometimes that may fit and enhance the sound, but sometimes it comes out just awful. I'm not a big fan of the whole raw black metal scene but there's always a few exceptions. 

 The split starts with Grimnir's track Angst - Requiem, and like I said I haven't come across this band before and it didn't leave me with much to chew on. Quite typical, repetitive riffs and cold and grim (pun not intended) distorted guitars. After few minutes you already know what the track is all about, it'll only switch verses a bit (aka from double bass drums to normal beat). Not particularly an awful track but might just blend completely into many similar, raw sounding dsbm bands..

42%

 Now onto the next track by Trist, Černá Melancholie. I'm not a big Trist fan, but this track did it for me. Good example how repetitiveness can be good as well. The instruments and vocals go well together into a haunting wall of repetitive noise, which has a hypnotic effect. The atmosphere comes across anxious and hopeless, and the anguished screams gets lost in the hypnotic bleak noise wall. Well put together track that takes you away.

80%

Next is Regnum, with their first track Unerträglich, with the first minute and a half there's an audio clip of a German man speaking. After that the song kicks off with distorted guitars and low tempo. From there on it just goes on and on with guitars as distorted mess and simple bass line and drums mostly getting buried under the guitars. Vocals are out of place and don't give out much.

 The next track by them, Ich Sehe, basically goes along the same lines, except the tempo is faster. A shame that they had to put two tracks by them. A huge downer (not in a way you'd hope) after Trist.

7%

 Finally we get to the last track, which definitely saves the split. Hypothermia's Julia fades in with a lovely intro riff. The drums and guitar work well together, and it builds up the track to Kim's recognisable vocals, that always do the trick. The dynamic work between the guitars and drums keeps it up by building it up and carrying you through the ten minutes. It has a melancholic and gloomy tone to it and the vocals does the job to contrast the harsh peaks of the song. Dynamic and melancholic track that'll covers for the two awful tracks before.

89%

Download link:

http://www.mediafire.com/?ymtxje34zml

ROME - FLOWERS FROM EXILE (2009)

Band: Rome

Album: Flowers From Exile

Genre: Neofolk, Apocalyptic folk, Martial Industrial

Country: Luxembourgh

Sounds like: Of The Wand & The Moon, Death In June, Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio

88%

Tracklist:

1. To A Generation Of Destroyers

2. The Accidents Of Gesture

3. Odessa

4. The Secret Son Of Europe

5. The Hollow Self

6. A Legacy Of Unrest

7. To Die Among Strangers

8. A Culture Of Fragments

9. We Who Fell In Love With The Sea

10. Swords To Rust - Hearts To Dust

11. Flowers From Exile

12. Flight In Formation

 Rome was formed in Luxembourgh in late 2005 by Jerome Reuter, and joined by co-producer Patrick Damiani in late 2008. The duo plays martial and dark kind of neofolk, being very productive in recent years, Flowers From Exile stands out among other albums. It's dreamy and beautiful with a bit of melancholic feeling to it. Fans of the genre might know better that it may not sound that unique among other similar artists, but I'd choose Rome to represent apocalyptic folk, they have the best and the vital parts of the genre.
 The album is well assembled, the tracks flow well together. Highlights are firstly The Accidents Of Gesture, which builds up the feeling of the album after the intro. Next highlight The Secret Sons Of Europe comes off a bit mellow, bringing in a bit folkish spice to it. Definite favourite is To Die Among Strangers. Nostalgic and melancholic track in the middle of the album makes it the peak of it. Swords To Rust - Hearts To Dust wraps it up well. Once again, well assembled album with more ambient tracks in between makes it flow well.

 Acoustic neofolk mixed with pessimistic martial and industrial themes are put together into one album, and it works.

Download link:

http://www.mediafire.com/?ibby36q9i7e1sqk

PROJECT:KOMAKINO - THE STRUGGLE FOR UTOPIA (2009)

Band: Project:KOMAKINO

Album: The Struggle For Utopia

Genre: Post-punk, Cold Wave, New wave, Experimental

Country: UK

77%

Tracklist:

1. Kv-1

2. Penumbra 1

3. Syndrome

4. E X O D US

5. Nebula

6. Civility

7. Walking On Glass

8. Age Of Satisfaction

9. Temple

10. Syndrome - Tom Furse Remix

11. Syndrome - E. Gold Remix

 What started as a solo project of Kris Kane, Project:KOMAKINO formed in 2007 and already split up in 2010, so needless to say they were left mostly unnoticed. They drew lots of influence from the 70's british post-punk scene, mixing in with some electronic and more modern sound. The music sounds bleak, cold and empty. Overally underrated but successful album.

Download link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?m1jji2kmgmv

TUKKANUOTTA - VIIMEINEN NISTIRETKI - EP (2009)

Band: Tukkanuotta
Album: Viimeinen Nistiretki
Genre: Death/Thrash, Death'n'roll
Country: Finland
Sounds like: Goresoerd

82%

Tracklist:

1. Viimeinen Nistiretki
2. Tee-se-itsemurha
3. Kuoleman Kieli
4. Ragazzi Raflis
5. Kylpylässä 

 Tukkanuotta is a local finnish deathrash band from Helsinki. They've released three EP's so far, this is the first one, and I'd say their sound is a great mix of old school and more new and urban death metal, with thrashy and catchy riffs. They definitely success on delivering that death'n'roll vibe.
 The lyrics go around with urban themes such as violence, suicide, drugs, alcohol, and a hint of humour on the side of it. "Viimeinen Nistiretki", "Tee-se-itsemurha" and "Kylpylässä" are the dominating tracks on the record.
 They've gotten a good response within the local underground circle and are definitely on the rise. If this EP makes you crave for more, definitely check their later EP's aswell, it only gets better. And make sure to keep an eye out for the full length.

Download link:
http://www.gamefront.com/files/17358297/

MAGRUDERGRIND - S/T (2009)

Band: Magrudergrind

Album: S/T

Genre: Grindcore, Power Violence

Country: USA

Sounds like: Pig Destroyer, Rotten Sound

91%

Tracklist:

1. The Protocols Of Anti-Sound

2. Pulverizing Hate Mongers

3. Rejecting The Militant Promise

4. Assimilated Pollutants

5. Abuse of Philanthropic Self Gain

6. Fools Of Contradiction

7. Heretics

8. Bridge Burner

9. Cranial Media Parasite

10. Excommunicated

11. The Price Of Living By Delinquent Ideals

12. Built To Blast

13. Lyrical Ammunition For Scene Warfare

14. Rise And Fall Of Empires Past

15. Heavier Bombing

16. Martyrs Of The Shoah

17. Bonus Track

  

 Urban, catchy, brutal. Magrudergrind grrrinds the shit out of your ears with its fast and distorted sound, and their self-titled album from 2009 is definitely their most powerful release. I wouldn't be exaggerating if I said this might be one of the catchiest grindcore/power violence albums I've heard so far. Grindcore with punky drums and DIY attitude,  it'll easily reaches more people than just the typical grind scene.
 The problem with grindcore releases is that the short tracks often blend into each other, but with clear song structures and memorable choruses as well as awesome audio clips between the tracks (more important than you'd think) that doesn't happen with Magrudergrind. I'd recommend you a few tracks to check out but you better go through the whole goddamn album because this is one all-around good, solid one.
 Not much else to say, it's straight out and catchy urban grind. Coming from Washington D.C., Magrudergrind won't leave you cold. Check this album out.

Download link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?odbat5d06pb2e4p