U.D.S.: "Too Fast for Love"

Thuggish grindcore beatings

Self-proclaimed practitioners of goreviolence, U.D.S. curate their brand of ghetto grindcore with all knobs turned to maximum. They're not too fancy to not include a bunch of pitch shifted vocals to go with their devastating low-end grooves either!

Defilementory: "The Dismal Ascension"

Restless power erupting in sun-fire torrents

Though three years between releases isn't all that much, it felt like forever when it took so long for Danish technical death metal practitioners Defilementory to release their debut album after the phenomenal Infatuated With Deformity EP from 2011. What originally made them stand out was the prominent bass work, and the fact that they so finely balanced their levels of brutality and technicality in a mix which was both impressive and extremely enjoyable.

Asilo: "Comunión"

Sonic attacks on the mind

Turmoil breeds frustration and anger, which in turn breeds outlets for that frustration. South America has had a rich history dating back to the early 80s of metal bands expressing their anger through their music and lyrics, and like those legendary and trendsetting bands from the days of yore, the four-man group Asilo from Argentina presents a lyrical universe revolving around themes such as politics and the suffering it can bring, set to a soundtrack of furious and often dangerously calm mix of doom-laden drones drenched in grimy sludge.

Licrest: "Misery"

Oppressive and heavy in every aspect

For those not initiated in the cult and dogma of American musician Armon Nicholson, his body of work is impressive in size and stylistic span. Of all his projects, including blackened death-thrash project Only A Shadow Remains and many many others, his doomed-out death metal band Licrest is arguably the most well known.

Malichor: "The Serum"

Lovecraftian metal that presents the author's more visceral side

We come to find ourselves once again in the company of Australia's Malichor, brandishing the proud tradition of blackened thrash metal with wild fervour as per usual. From previous experience with the band I have come to expect nothing but the best in ruthlessness and riffing that takes to straight to Lovecraft's most tenebrous nightmares. Inspired by equal measures Re-Animator and From Beyond - Two absolute classics of Lovecraftian horror cinema, both starring Jeffrey Combs - we're being spoiled with a take on the classic mythos, but without the by now standardised Cthulhu/Azathoth shtick.

Deus Otiosus: "Rise"

Unadventurous, yes, but highly addicting

Deus Otiosus from Denmark showcase just how important real songwriting chops are in metal. Death metal truly isn't just death metal - It takes riffs, devotion and skill. From the release of their critically acclaimed debut album Murderer in 2010, the seasoned group have toured extensively before signing with Deepsend Records. For those unfamiliar with the band, their prime objective has always been returning to the roots of thrashy death metal with a modern sound and approach. The individual members' involvement in various other prolific Danish metal bands has yet ensured a tormentingly high quality of ruthless content.

Countess: "Ancient Lies and Battle Cries"

This album is the very definition of hit-and-miss

Countess from the Netherlands has released an almost unbroken line of black metal albums since the early 90s, each being met by the band's cult following with enthusiasm. The band has for the most part been a one man project by songwriter Orlok, but the release of Ancient Lies and Battle Cries in 2014 marks the return of Countess as an actual band with the return of guitarist Zagan to the lineup, who had previously played on a 1997 EP.

Sguaguarahchristis: "Der Nacht"

High class black metal

One can hardly blame a band with a name like Italian black metalheads Sguaguarahchristis for coming up with a shorter abbreviation for convenience - So SG666 it is. Der Nacht forms the second act of their dark, anti human performance, with a few smaller offerings closing the gap between the 2012 debut and their 2014 sophomore album.

Possession: "Anneliese"

Roughed-up and scar-faced metal brawl

In 2013 the newly formed band Possession hailing from Belgium released their first demo His Best Deceit, causing quite a rucous in the heavy metal underground. They were lauded for breathing some semblence of life back into deathly black metal with talented mixtures of high and low tempo cuts under the signs of death, black and thrash metal. Welding torch vocals cutting through a backdrop of drop hammer drums and hellishly sawing guitars aplenty, His Best Deceit sparked enormous interest in the band and the scene.

Messenger: "Illusory Blues"

Highly recommendable variety in murky depths

Messenger from the UK may not have the most original of band names, but the trio played as warm-up on Katatonia's acoustic tour in England and comes recommended by none other than Kristoffer "Garm" Rygg of Ulver fame. Credentials like that aren't easy to come by, and with Messenger they seem very well deserved.

Second Chance - Part 2: Perturbator "Dangerous Days"

Continuing in the series of returning to albums that didn't originally strike a fancy, we return now with Perturbator's fourth album, Dangerous Days from 2014.

James Kent, aka Perturbator

The Frenchman James Kent, to most probably better known as Perturbator, is by now a mainstay in the synthwave scene. His shadowy cyberpunk sound has captivated many, and he has more or less become the epitome of the darkest variety of synthwave music. At the very least he forms a crystal clear vision of the potential within the scene, both sonically and commercially.

E-Musikgruppe Lux Ohr: "Spiralo"

A journey to 70s Germany with a group of Finns as tour-guides

Some claim that the German music style known af Krautrock (and to an extent the various subgenres the Kraut movement spawned) never quite went out of style. Though Tangerine Dream's mastermind Edgar Froese passed away not too long ago, the group was active right until his death. Others like Klaus Schulze (of Ash Ra Tempel) and the band Faust are still going strong, as if they've forgotten about the passage of time. In addition newer groups are crawling forth from various scenes all over the world, inspired in some degree by the landmark German movement.

Second Chance - Part 1: Bombs of Hades "Atomic Temples"

Inspired by the "Giving it a second chance!" thread on the Metal Archives forum by user droneriot, who also writes at http://droneriot.blogspot.de/

Some albums just don't do it for you when you first listen to them. It can potentially ruin your enthusiasm for a band if you were really riled up over a new release. Seeing the band perform the songs live can sometimes sway you, I know it did for me when Symphony X released Iconoclast. Then there are those that don't click right away but just needs to sit for a while. Maybe even for years. There are albums that never click, usually the ones which are too different from what you'd expect.