ALIENGATES - DARK DAYS QUANTUM
Right from the cover and quality layout of this demo one can see that this Swiss deathrash bands intends to work professionally to establish itself. The artwork, photography and strong sound on this 20+ minute CD confirm the band's intentions. Musically, however, the report card is mixed. Aliengates is a fairly exciting bands with above average chops. The influences are derived from Night In Gales, Kreator, Demolition Hammer with the vocalist sounding like a cross between Mille of Kreator and any Gothenburg singer of note. Aliengates' strength lies in the riffing. Two riffs, in particular, are well above average. Honourable mention goes to the incredibly exciting riff that kicks off Fever The Mind and begins and closes the title track - world class! Having said that the tracks do overstay their welcome; seemingly a tad too long for their own good. What brings the band down is two-fold. First and foremost is the lackluster drumming. Acting as a follower, the man behind the kit should really consider picking it up a notch. As is, he is content with following the rest of the band. Secondly, the introduction of the ever-trendy female vocals on Heartless is both cliche-ridden and sordid given the offending female's voice. All in all though, many metallers will be pleasantly surprised given the accomplished nature of this MCD. Write to Hauptstrasse 27, 8588 Zihlschlacht Switzerland or visit www.aliengates.com.

ZAFIRA - EMBALMED
Zafira hails from Chile and with Embalmed has issued a second release. The band being doom metal, the cover is suitably morose and the band delivers a sound to match. Listening to the CD it becomes clear that Zafira is inspired by Paradise Lost. The guitarist cries and leaves a trail of sadness which the listener can follow. The singer is also similar in voice and dynamic to what Paradise Lost attempted until 1995 albeit with a more gruff voice. The man can probably do with a better technique but things are not abysmal either. The eight tracks weave slowly in and out of doom and sorrow with the lead guitarist clearly knowing to where he wants to go. The Passages sung in Spanish are less successful especially when sung over the acoustic interludes, for those amplify that effect. Like it or not these passages give the impression of Zafira being a Spanish rock band to listener, not a doom metal band. Still, all the more power to Zafira if that is where they need to be going. Contact zafira79@hotmail.com.

DISEMBARKATION - RANCOROUS OBSERVISION
As soon as one sees the religiously-motivated cover, one knows he's in for something different with Canada's Disembarkation. Born in Joliette, Disembarkation is as unconventional and complex as bands like Death, Cynic or Obliveon dared to become and more. Unconventional arrangements in the music are the norm here along with a Classical instrumental adaptation and so forth. The issue with bands such as this quintet is how one man's experimentation is another's man's tedium and ultimately the band is left holding the bag having not penetrated the scene for conservatism or steadfast regard for the genre - call it what you will. Either way special kudos to the singer, Martin Frechette, who attempts more vocalizations than that to which most are accustomed. He howls and growls and then sings and screams. Oh sure, he is an acquired taste. Lyrically too disembarkation is trying different things here and there. They are certainly looking to convey a message. Although any objective person would have to take exception to the band's quoting one of the more prominent perpetrators of genocide in this Century (US president Kennedy) whose quotation on this album in an anti-war context is an affront to the thousands who died in East Timor, Vietnam, etc.

ATELLO - WELCOME TO THE WRECKING BALL
New York's Atello and its new full length CD is one welcome surprise here at Metallian Towers. It's not being lazy or lackadaisical to say that these four guys are the perfect crossing of Motley Crue, Skid Row, Kix, Big House and Poison. Just listen to any of the twelve tracks here to get the idea. Glam metal fans will dig this. Larry Atello has the perfect pitch for this style, coming across like the successor to Vince Neil and Jackyl's Jesse Dupree. The band should have packed in a couple more up-tempo and speedy tunes for my tastes, with the majority of the tunes being mid-paced, but fear not for the fast songs do kick in. There is the not so unusual jingoistic American chest-thumping on the title cut, but it can safely be ignored for the music is rocking. Then there are the requisite number of ballads, the good sound and the fun cover. These guys are so unglamorously glam metal that one can only admire the true and hard-nosed rock attitude. No price is given but do write to P.O. Box 60892, Staten Island, NY. 10306 USA or see www.atello.com.

DATAKILL - L' ODIO
Datakill is a hardcore band from Italy who sing in Italian and do so with urgency. It is real stuff too. There is no retarded rapping on the go here or other bubblegum aspirations. These guys are angry and make it sound like Cromags and the originators of the style. They have a full-length ready to go and seek a label. For that, and from a commercial point-of-view, they might be better off singing in English. Should that be a compromise to them, and one can respect that, a good suggestion would be for the band to change its moniker which lends itself to a more technical band than a hardcore one. Here you get five songs of pure core without deviation with the exception being a cover of Suicidal Tendencies' Fascist Pig. Write to datakill@libero.it.

MABUS - HANDMADE
Mabus hails from Germany's fashion district and plays the most unfashionable genre of metal namely, death metal. What pleases this reviewer is the successful sound the band has garnered for the three songs on offer. The production does a good job of presenting the band in the best possible light, but what is the music like? Mabus are purveyors of simple and crunchy death metal and have been at it since 1994. So simple is the music in fact that the first group that comes to mind upon first hitting play is Six Feet Under. As the CD progresses and during Dawn Of Anger and My Beloved a better picture emerges. Mabus is better described as a cross between Six Feet Under and Obituary with a couple of riffs which are reminiscent of early Atrocity. It's simple, it's crunchy and it is well played. More information from http://www.mabus.de/home.htm.

INAVOID - same
When a CD comes up to the Metallian Towers with a cover depicting an astral nebula it can't be all that difficult to guess where the band is heading. The first song, entitled In A Void, kicks off with a very Zeppelin-esque introduction followed by a riff and an attempt at a soulful passage before diving into a slow-paced heavy rock passage where the emphasis is on feeling and variation. Taking the mood and tempo up and then down is a constant with these Danes. They are attempting a complex potpourri of influences which haven't quite gelled yet. This is why they shouldn't stop now. Should it work, things could get quite interesting. Right now though, Inavoid needs to work on bringing the phrasing and the music together. Brindisi (possibly a reference to the Italian town) is the next song and the quintet picks up the pace. One can see what the band is trying but it still hasn't come together. The song is no less than hard rock where traditional elements meet progressive instances. Forgave is the third and last song and begins with a familiar rhythm. Then it's off to the technical races. The song also represents the catchiest song yet and is almost mainstream in construction. What Inavoid has going for them is good intentions coupled with a total absence of keyboards and that is to their credit. It accords them a lot of credibility and originality. This band showcases a lot of variety and ability to grasp at diverse approaches. What they need now is to completely hold and successfully blend the diverse styles. For more information please look at www.inavoid.dk.

THE HANDSHAKE MURDERS - BATTERY AND SUICIDE
First the disclaimer: after listening multiple times to The Handshake Murders this writer still can't say with certainty where from the band is coming. Oh, they are from Arizona down in the States, but musically, well that's another matter. They obviously have a hardcore affinity and the first few notes of the CD had all present ready to smash the disc at that first whiff of mallcore. Banish the thought though, THM are better described as... Voivod with a Tool-meets-Converge sensibility. Well, clearly that sentence was grasping for straws; the comparison is not so far off. Lyrically too the band has things to say and places to go. Just don't expect to get it right away. Yeah, that's just it. $10 for a full length to Jayson Holmes, 1140 Pine Hollow Drive, Van Buren, AR. 72956 USA or email okhardcore@hotmail.com.

BANE OF EXISTENCE - same
Bane Of Existence hails from Massachusetts down in the US and plays death metal. The CD kicks off with a wicked intro sampled from a movie. 'Jesus is dead, Jesus is dead...' sings the sweet girl before the band jumps horn first into Denounced where they leave no doubt regarding their credentials. Speed, heaviness, tunnel-of-wind vocals, power chords, etc. are the order of the day. The distorted bass break here is well worth mentioning. Art Of Fisting is much the same with a particularly exciting tempo change situated right in the middle. Evisceration features more musical violence and is the song where the quartet attempts to vary things and incorporate more intricate riffing. Here the band tries its hand at doom metal (surprise!) which for my money is an odd turn of events. Iconoclast begins with another sample and then its off to the races. These guys may have short hair, but sure play like real metallers. The song pounds with both fast and heavy rhythms. More of the beautifully distorted bass sound can be heard here. The demo songs with another brutal song and one where the band demonstrates their power to create a cacophony almost at will. Aside from the obvious potential for improvement in sound, one thing Bane Of Existence ought to improve next time around is the snare sound. The pots 'n panish drum sound - oft adopted by death metal bands - is annoying and light weight. Having said that, Bane Of Existence is a triumphal nod to the lasting and strengthening power of death metal. Send $7 (US) to Jim Ash, 21 Zana Park Dr., Braintree MA. 02184 USA.