Puerto Rico is a little island that belongs to USA. From this island where most of the people speak Spanish comes the metal band Pacto de Sangre. The bands sings mostly in Spanish and a little in English. When Hector sings on Spanish it sounds really good but when he tries English the singing cracks somewhat. The band loves to experiment and their sound can be described as a cross between melodic metal and thrash. The band also has a good sense for writing catchy hooks that stays in your head. There is also lots of variation in the tunes which is a big plus. With more tracks in the caliber of Ve A Predicar, De Verdad and Amén they can definately reach the top. Pacto de Sangre is very skilled on doing melodic metal, but when it comes to thrash they have quite a few things to learn. Since the band is much better on melodic metal than thrash it would be much better if the band sticked to melodic metal in the future, since that is where they have their strength. Lyrically it is very clear that the band loves Jesus and wants more people to get to know Him. The music is as I said pretty uneven but as a whole Alerta is a good debut album and the band definately has talent. I look forward to hear more releases from this band.


References: Check it out if you are into melodic metal and want something new and fresh.


Orderinfo: Check with the mailorder companys listed here


Homepage: www.prtc.net/~deyaneira

From the USA comes the thrash band Palehorse. Characteristical for their sound is the brutal vocals (that you either love or hate) and their groovy rhythmes. Like Seventh Angel the tempo is not full speed all the time but focus more on groove than full speed. Lyrics are very Biblical and often taken right from the Scriptures. I like Palehorse's sound even though I don't really love it. It's good but not something that totally grabs me. A good album anyway and fans of Seventh Angel should definately give this band a try.


References: Check it out if you are into melodic metal and want something new and fresh.


Orderinfo: Check with the mailorder companys listed here


Homepage: www.palehorseusa.com

Pantokrator has taken several steps forward with this quality Death Metal release. Production is top notch and musically they have incorporated much more catchy harmonies and variation into their brutal sound, than they had on Aurum and Blod. These improvements make their heavy doomy Death Metal so much better! But don't get me wrong this is still brutal to the bone with heavy hardhitting riffs. I really enjoy this album not only musically but also lyrically, since the lyrics are both biblically based and well thought out.

All in all an excellent album and one I highly can recommend.


References: A must have to all Death Metal fans! Highly recommended if you like Schaliach, Terraphopia, Hilastherion, early Mortification etc. If you like Death Metal you gonna love this cd.


Orderinfo: Check with the mailorder companys listed here


Homepage: http://pantokrator.com/

Pantokrator is another of all the talented bands that are coming from Sweden. They have released three demos prior to this mini-cd. But the demos are nothing compared to this quality cd with six tracks. What we got here is in fact some of the very best death metal I have ever heard! Melodic and brutal this is and tight as well. They are also a very good liveband which they proved at this year's Bobfest What a fantastic gig they performed there! Music can be compared to Schaliach and early Mortification but most of all it reminds of Vital Decision (remember them?).

The music has plenty of harmonies but still it's very brutal. The singer Karl Walfridsson got a great growling voice which fits perfect with the music. On Separated By Night he also sings a duet with Marie Berntsson. Her beautiful female voice and Karl's brutal voice makes a great effect. Reminds me of Mercy Lord with Antestor. Most of the tunes have lyrics that's based on the book Song of Solomon in the Bible. Something I really like is also the booklet, great to see an independent band that does such a professional booklet! On the negative side I can't get into their first tune. But besides that this cd totally rules. Get it if you are into death metal, it's an absolute must-have if you are into this genre.


References: A must have to anyone into death metal! Highly recommended if you like Schaliach, early Mortification etc. If you like death metal you gonna love this cd.


Orderinfo: Contact the band at Song_of_audun@hotmail.com


Homepage: http://pantokrator.com/

This is a split containing Pantokrator's cd Songs of Solomon and Sanctifica's cd In The Bleak Midwinter. And this is a perfect combination! In The Bleak Midwinter was originally released as a demo but not it's finally available on cd. (You can read a review of it at the demo-section)

Typical for this cd is the bands great combination of melody and brutality. Favourite tunes are King of Kings and Lord of Lords with Sanctifica and Separated By Night with Pantokrator. Sanctifica and Pantokrator are definately two of the very best death and black bands that are out there. If you like brutal death metal with melody and harsh melodic atmospheric black metal this is a must have. Definately two of the absolute top christian bands when it comes to brutal metal. Check it out and you will be pleasantly surprised. With quality bands like these there is no need to listen to secular bands like Emperor or Suffocation.


References: A must have to anyone into melodic death metal bands like Schaliach, early Mortification etc or likes atmospheric black bands like Antestor and Emperor.


Orderinfo: Check with the mailordercompanys listed here


Homepages: http://www.panto.tk
http://www.sanctifica.com

Parakletos are hailing from Osterbothnia in Finland. In this region most people speak Swedish and that's why they are singing in the cool Swedish language. (Nice to hear some black metal in Swedish!) Before I start talking about music I want to give the band credit for the megacool booklet that truly is metal to the bone. When it comes to the music there are many great tunes to enjoy. Something that sets this band apart from many other black bands is that the music has plenty of melodic harmonies and tasty guitar riffs. Music is overall both varied and well thought out. This makes the music very enjoyable.

I totally love the lyrics! They are as Scriptural as they can be. Parakletos have even done a black metal version of the Lord's Prayer! Many lyrics are taken directly from the Bible and I can really feel the presence of God on the whole album. I really feel uplifted in my spirit when I listen to this cd and it draws me closer to God.

My favourite tracks are the Antestor-influenced track I Denna Mörka Timme (In This Dark Hour), Äktenskapsbryterskan (The Adulteress) and Den Eviga Morgonen Gryr (The Eternal Morning Dawns).

On the negative side the band hasn't a real drummer but are using a drum machine. With a real drummer this band has the potential to be one of the absolute top bands in black metal.

I give Parakletos a big metal salute for this excellent debut album. It really makes me hungry for more!


References: Highly recommended to fans of melodic black metal like Vaakevandring, Vardöger and Antestor.


Orderinfo: Check with the mailorder companys listed here


Homepage: http://www.victoryzine.com/parakletos

Pergamon is another new talented band hailing from Sweden. I had the privilege to see them live at Bobfest (Europes biggest christian metal festival) and man did they rock! Tight, furious and melodic death metal with a black metal voice. Really like the melodic harmonies this band have. The mini-cd consists of three tunes which all are very good. The lyrics to the first two tunes are too dark in my opinion. But the tune Betrayed has a great lyric that talks about a man that was trapped in Satan's lies, but in his need cries out to God and got saved. All in all a quality release with good production. I really look forward to hear more from this talented band.


References: Highly recommended to anyone into melodic death/black metal.


Orderinfo: Available directly from the band's website below.


Homepage: http://listen.to/pergamon

Symphonic Metal fans rejoice! Now also Brazil has a cool band in this genre. Lead by Michelle Rodovalho sweet operatic vocals Perpetual Legacy surely know how to rock. Like the band HB the music is both melodic and heavy. Overall it is very catchy and symphonic. Cool stuff!

Also love their Christ centered lyrics! Here is an example from A Beautiful Truth: "He lives, Jesus Christ lives. Has faced death and risen. He lives, Jesus Christ lives. The Holy Lamb who's saved us." Amen. Overall the presence of God can be felt all over the album.

All in all the album is very enjoyable. Production is also top notch.


References: Highly recommended to fans of Symphonic Metal in the veins of HB & Nightwish!


Orderinfo: Available directly from the band's website below.


Homepage: https://www.facebook.com/PerpetualLegacy/

Petra is back again! After a decade of soft, wimpy music they finally release a real hardrock album again. Yes!! I had given up hope about this band but with this album they show that they are back again in the heavy school. Bob Hartman is once again back in the band and John Schlitt sings like he used to do during the late 80s. One thing I really enjoy is the guitars that are very heavy especially in the title track. Some other fave's are Test of Time, I Will Seek You and the incredible good tune Life As We Know It. The last tune I mentioned reminds me of Petra's classics from the 80s/early 90s. Of the softer tracks I really enjoy the beautiful ballad Till Everything I Do. Lyrics are soulsearching, uplifting and to the point, lyrics that really draw me closer to God.

One thing I miss on the album is solos. On next cd I would like to hear plenty of guitar solos! There are a few tracks I don't like but most of the tracks are really good and definately give a lot of promise for the future so I give the album 4 guitars.


References: Wow! If you loved Petra in the 80s this is definately an album for you. Real hardrock with heavy guitars and plenty of catchy hooks. If they continue in this heavy direction and include plenty of guitar solos next album will be even better than On Fire and Beyond Belief.


Orderinfo: Check with the band's website below.


Homepage: http://www.petraband.com

Tell the truth is Philadelphia's first album dating from 1984. If you like Saint you should definately check it out since the sound is very reminscent of old Saint. One tune also sounds a lot like Jerusalem. There are plenty of nice shredding guitars to enjoy on this cd. The absolute best tune is Razor's Edge with it's crunchy rhythm. More tunes in this vein could definately take this band to the top. One thing I really like with this band is their 100% commitment to serve Jesus Christ. The cd ends with a couple of bonus tracks that Philadelphia fans gladly will add to their collection. Sometimes though the music takes too long before it kicks off like in the tune New Jerusalem. But overall a good debut that I can recommend. I give it a 3+. Saint fans gonna eat this up.


References: Check it out if you are into Saint, Jerusalem and Judas Priest.


Orderinfo: Check with the mailorder companys listed here


Homepage: http://www.philadelphiarev37.com

This is one of the pioneering bands from the 80s. They have recently reformed and rereleased their two LPs on CD. Soundwise this album has that typical mid-80s sound. This may have been very groundbreaking at that time but now it ain't nothing that sticks out. I love 80s Metal but there are many bands like Stryper, Rage of Angels etc that do it much better than Philadelphia. It sounds ok but nothing that hits you to the ground. I want more hooks and speed to really get into it. They got some great tunes like Judgement Day and some others but that's not enough. At their best moments they are reminding of Saint but unfortunately not as much as on their Tell The Truth album. As an extra bonus there are two newly recorded bonustracks at the end of the cd. The lyrics are very biblical and full on for Christ.


References: Pick it up if you are a hard-die-fan of this band of if you are very much into the mid 80s hardrock sound.


Orderinfo: Check with the mailorder companys listed here


Homepage: http://www.philadelphiarev37.com

Ready for some serious guitarshredding? Then, this can be what you are looking for. On this album Pastor Brad has cool guestplayers like Richard Lynch and Dee Harrington from Saint, Jon Hooper (Unforsaken), Andy England, David Jacob and several others. The result is a guitarshredding party for anyone that love guitarsolos. The album is really enjoyable and it's all instrumental, save for some speaking voices. The only thing that holds the cd back and blocks it from getting a higher rate is the drum machine. Please Brad get a real drummer to next release, cause that's the only thing this album lacks. Besides that this cd just shreds! If you are like me and love guitar solos this cd is a must have.


References: Must have if you are into guitar solos! Fans of Slav Simanic, Rex Carroll, Joe Satriani etc will love this.


Website: www.guitarjams.net


Orderinfo: Check with the mailordercompanys listed here

Brad, the guitarshredding pastor is back again! This time he has got help by his fellow shredders Jon Hooper (Unforsaken), Andy England and David Jacob. And man these dudes truly know how to shred! Cause what we got here is a cd filled with enjoyable guitarsolos, tasty riffs and hooks. It's really enjoyable and all instrumental. The only thing that holds the cd back and blocks it from getting a higher rate is the irritating drum machine. I really hope Brad can find a real drummer to next release, cause that's the only thing this album lacks. Besides that this cd just shreds! If you are like me and love guitar solos this cd is a must have.


References: Must have if you are into guitar solos! Fans of Slav Simanic, Rex Carroll, Joe Satriani etc will love this.


Website: www.guitarjams.net


Orderinfo: Check with the mailordercompanys listed here

Rock You Up is the second cd for the rock guitar player and Pastor Brad Windlan. Since he is Pastor he has put a lot of energy into the lyrics that are loud'n'clear. I just wish he had put just as much effort into the music as he has put on the lyrics. Cause the big problem with the cd is that it isn't consistent in quality. Some really great tunes are mixed with tunes that are boring and repetetive. What's great though with this cd is the guitarplay that is really promising and definately above average. Another good thing is that the music has plenty of 80s influences. Still I miss something to lift the cd above the average. I hear talent and great focus but what I would like to see more of in coming releases is more variation, more hooks, more guitarsolos and also improving of the vocals. It would also be good if Brad hired a producer next time to be able to lift the production to the next level.


References: Fans of 80s hardrock/metal can give this a try.


Website: www.guitarjams.net


Orderinfo: Check with the mailordercompanys listed here

Here is a Norwegian band, but unlike many other metalbands from this country this is not Black Metal but Progressive Metal. Usually I don't like this kind of music but this band is a big exception. I really like their sound! This is quality Progressive Metal with lots of variation and at times really catchy melodies. It took some time before I started to like this EP but now I totally love it. The production is really good and the lyrics are evangelistic. So to say it short here we got something that really sticks out! On the negative side I can only say two things, first it contains only 3 tunes and leaves me hungry for more! And secondly sometimes it gets too progressive for my taste.


References: Fans of Fates Warning are gonna love this EP! Even you who usually don't like Progressive Metal might like this talented band, so give it a try. I did, and I'm very satisfied.

Orderinfo: Try the mailordercompanys listed here

Enjoy Doom Metal? Well, then this band is for you! Place of Skulls gives us true slow and very heavy doom metal. What's cool with this release is also that the music is more varied and catchy then what usually is the case when it comes to doom metal. This makes music really interesting. What really strikes me when listening to the album are the riffs that are extremely heavy! I also really enjoy the Biblical lyrics that really lifts me up and inspire me.

The only negative I can say about this release is that the intros often are way too long, but other than that this is a great album. I give it a 4+.

If you enjoy Veni Domine's first album Fall Babylon Fall you will totally enjoy this. Also fans of bands like Black Sabbath, Trouble, Pentagram etc will also really enjoy this excellent album. Definately a must have for all lovers of Doom Metal!


Website: http://www.placeofskulls.com


Orderinfo: Check with the mailordercompanys listed here

Place of Skulls has now rereleased their long gone EP Love Through Blood. They have also added the live tracks Wartime and Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood. The result is a EP filled with slow and Heavy Majestic Doom Metal and Christcentered lyrics. Really cool stuff! Really enjoy 4 of 6 tracks so I give it 4 downtuned guitars. Also be aware that since this is a very limited release you better get it before it is out of print again.

If you enjoy Veni Domine's first album Fall Babylon Fall you will totally enjoy this. Also fans of bands like Black Sabbath, Trouble, Pentagram etc will also really enjoy this excellent album.


Website: http://www.placeofskulls.com


Orderinfo: Check with the mailordercompanys listed here

Hurrah!! Finally a metal collection from Sweden! With so much talent and so many bands hailing from this country it was about time. The bands featured on this cd are all on the swedish label C.L. Music & Publishing (now known as Rivel Records). The bands have two tunes each except Laudamus, Sons of Thunder and Crimson Moonlight that sticks to one each. Wisdom Call kicks the the cd off with the title cut from their cd Power From The Sky. I can't really get into this tune, feel like something is missing. Wisdom Call's other tune is Never Satisfied and this one kicks! Fantastic good melodic metal tune with great solos by the two guitar players Stefan Olsson and Fredrik Åberg. Definately one of the highlights on this cd.

Crimson Moonlight delivers a previously unreleased cut called Touch of Emptiness. More progressive and advanced than their previous material but still very good and sure to please all who like atmospheric black metal. Another brutal band featured on this cd is Pantokrator. They are known for their tightness and good sense of combining melody and brutality and these tunes doesn't dissapoint. Some of the very best melodic death metal that are out there. Laudamus keeps classic metal alive. Hailing from Piteå in northern Sweden they have been around for quite some time delivering one fullength cd titled Unlimited Love and one mini cd called Ready or Not. The tune featured here is Unlimited Love. While not their best tune it still gives a hint of the band's good qualities in playing real classic metal.

Oblivion plays metalcore and have included two tunes that will appeal to fans of Meshuggah. Sons of Thunder hails from Stockholm, the capitol of Sweden. They deliver straight ahead metal with heavy guitars and sing-a-long choruses. The track Jesus Viking is one of their best, a crunchy melodic war anthem that is a call for us christians to stand up for our faith and be bold, just like the vikings. Ayenna continues with keeping melodic metal alive and well. Earlier known as Mercenary they changed name to Ayenna just before the release of these two tracks. The music on both tunes are tight melodic metal with plenty of hooks and guitarsolos. Yeah! This is music that always puts a big smile on my face :-) especially when I have the pleasure to hear such a good guitarist as Marcus Bergström.

Sanctifica have included two of their tracks. One from each of their first two cds In The Bleak Midwinter and Spirit of Purity. The music on both tracks is atmospheric black metal with plenty of atmosphere and a good shrilling voice. Fans of black metal will definately love this band. Last but not least is a brand new band called Heaven. I really like their tune Calls My Name. Really good melodic commercial hardrock with great lyrics. Their second tune Know It's True doesn't really do it for me. It starts off good but then goes out of hand. But in despite of this Heaven is still a promising band to keep an eye on in the future.

All in all this is a great collection of the christian metal scene in Sweden and it's a cd I most highly can recommend. I'll give it a 4. It's definately a must-have and one cd you don't wanna miss. Last but not least I want to give a big salute to Christian Rivel (formerly Liljegren) from Narnia and Wisdom Call for all his hard work in putting this collection together.


Orderinfo: Try the mailordercompanys listed here

Prison contains mainly of members from Acer. The EP consist of 3 tracks. Musically it definately reminds of Acer with a glam metal 80s feel all over it with plenty of hooks. Ah, I really like the hooks. :-) Another thing that is typical for Prison's sound is that they use plenty of keyboards/hammond organ. Music really sounds glammy and has that typical glammy happy feeling in it.

I found the second track Never Leave a bit too slow. More speed would be good to this tune. In coming releases I would like the band the speed up the tempo a bit and include more guitarsolos. Production is above average demo quality and over all it's a really nice mini-cd. Good work dudes! I give it a 3+ rating.


References: Recommended to fans of bands like Stryper, Talisman and Skid Row.


Orderinfo: Check the band's website.


Website: http://www.prison.just.nu

Purge is a new band that plays heavy groovy metal with some speed influences. At their best moments they remind of Eternal Decision's first album and early Deliverance. But unfortunately the tunes often gets repetetive and boring. Purge needs to make their tunes more crunchy and melodic. They are on the way on some tunes especially on Born Again but they need to go all the way. They should have a credit though for their Christcentered lyrics. The last tune is the best, a really good melodic ballad. This band need to make their tunes more fluent, melodic and crunchy if they want a bigger audience.


References: Groovy Metal for fans of Sin Dizzy and Stone Temple Pilot.


Orderinfo: Available from the band at their webpage: http://www.purgation.com/

Purgation formerly known as Purge continues on with their heavy groovy doom metal. This minicd has 4 tracks. The tempo is for the most part slow, way too slow to my taste. They need to speed up and get more melodic to reach a broader audience. At times though they do speed up, but it's way too seldom. Another thing I feel this band has to do is to incorporate more guitarsolos to their sound. The singing can also be more variated and melodic. Well, this is not really my thing, but if you are into doom metal bands like Solitude Aeturnus you will definately like this cd.


References: Heavy Groovy Doom Metal with a hint of Tool for fans of Black Sabbath and Solitude Aeturnus.


Orderinfo: Available from the band at their website: http://www.purgation.com/