V/A - BETTER UNDEAD THAN ALIVE  

code 666


In so many years I’ve listened too many use-less compilation but this one is something completely different, first of all there are a lot of unreleased and exclusive track and the overall quality is impressive. Code 666 have decided to expose its squadron. I’ve already talked about the Aborym outstanding album "With no Human Intervention", here there’s a rough mix song from that one and a very interesting remix of a song from the previous, a more experimental side of their already creative-destructive Industrial Black Metal, this make me feel that for the future that will surely have the opportunity to develop further. Thee Maldoror Kollective come out with a superb song, a different interpretation of the Industrial darkest side of music, with metal rhythmic elements and keybords\synth. played in a awesome way, a psychotic travel hallucinated by sombre colours.
I can’t say to be avery excited by Black-Death-Thrash bands but Bloodshed are one of those who have something to say, but after all they’re a bit outside the path of the most innovative band of the label, but if you like that kind of old-style metal aggressive fusion they’re great.
The Enid song is one of those few that I personally don’t like, there are good ideas but I can’t stand the opera-like choirs, their music is a sort of folkish medieval music, with a very moderate metal hedge, but there are too pauses and the involvment is too frequently broken.
Negura Bunget is where music become mysticism, an unique band, I simply love their art, they’re a Romanian band to totally support, completely involved in their land spirituality, the unreleased track present here is another example of their excellence, another picture, vision, made in the darkest lands. It’s very sad how the bands that have come from the black metal have regressed to thrash-death clones of past memories, this is a totally different way, Negura Bunget have opened their mind to capture forlorn energies, going to another level...a special band.
Ephel Duath have been already reviewed and they’re one surprising avant-garde act, here there’s a remsatered song from their last, like Atrox, a band that have always followed their emotions and instinct, their "Terrestrialis" is an album that I’ve listened frequently, the new song is a bit more metal and rhythmic, but without losing the psychedelic and creative side of this Norwegian sensation. Aghora are a surprise for me the song start very metal and rhythmic but it’s only a moment, than a new horizon open, and it’s total a avantgarde excellence, like Atrox they bear some psychedelic and progressive elements, here melted with an impressive ability, sometimes I think to Fleurety, but it’s only an idea of mine because they’ve a personal research in their music, this one is a very sophisticated music. There’s a skill-full female singer involved in the large spectrum of their music, a surprise for sure...
Time ago I’ve listened to some Handeful of Hate material and I wasn’t impressed but this song that I listen here can blow-up the last Dark Funeral form, straight in the face Black Metal powered by very fast and devastating drums and monumental riffs, a storm of holocaust, hope they will keep this quality in the future...
Void of Silence
have something to do with doom metal, but their interpretation is electronic and sometimes influenced by ambient music, it’s like to open eyes in a world of shadows, sad and slow melodies for a feeling that you will not forgive.
Manes where a black metal band, very sombre and full of extreme sadness, this pre-production song from the very near album that will be released in this year haven’t nothing to do with their past and it’s more suitable to a dance-floor, just listen to the vocals, the better parts are those who have a far contact with their roots, if this is the new face of Manes I think that they will lost the respect of the majority of their past fans, I don’t think that dance-like rhythms and melodies are something cool and experimental, just to say... let’s see if it will be the same with the final result of the album.
Nothing bad the two Rakoth songs, they play folkish influenced metal with quality, a clean singing sometimes a bit strange but after all original, melting metal riffs with a different sensibility, a band that I will look forward to listen in the future...
Wait those guys are going to drive me to madness!!! I don’t know what the "hell of scouts" Code-666 have but they’re putting up a deadly assault, Unmoored come here to my hears  with a demo-track that show a band about to explode, Death metal, Black Metal played with strength and precision then a brake with an evasive clean-vocal part, to re-start back with they rhythmic side, amazing...a way to express something already done in a fresh way.
When I listen to Diabolicum it seem to me to have a industrial version of the Setherial Black Metal, the band where also plays of one of its member, nothing bad, it’s surely something interesting, another option to the deadly Aborym-The Maldoror Kollective experimental coldness.
Abortus aren’t of my taste, the play a typical death-thrash, rhythmically executed, with a mature song-writing for this genre but they aren’t able to express the outstanding emotions that the other band present here do, they’re really old-fashion and probably this is the right band for the right people but sometimes in the fast parts they’re aren’t so impressive.
What to say after that long journey? This compilation is outstanding and it show very dedicated label that is trying with success to create a trademark of quality, where extreme music doesn’t only means something static...looking forward to hear their future releases.   

 

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